One thing we can be assured of in Michigan is CHANGE.
Change is as inevitable as the call to morph and be better daily.
Everything must change.
All things.
Physicists tells us that matter and energy are not destroyed but
changed, transformed.
That gives me hope.
Change is a plus, a positive morphing.
Each year, at its finale, burning the past bears fruit:
Burning the resentment of a relationship unforgiven, a boss who doesn't understand or communicate, a self with great expectations, the one who betrayed a relationship, and so forth.
Write down and do the rite of burning.
Then, write a letter to yourself imagining the end of the new year, 2011.
Feel how you will be next December, where, with whom, what work, job, and relationships will be like. Think and write about the end at the beginning.
Change.
In Michigan it is inevitable.
Be all you can be.
Morph.
Heaven in 2011 all along the way!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
New Year Predictions
As Detroit rebuilds and relocates residents into neighborhoods in 2011, the process of outsourcing all the unused land will be purchased by China.
And, grow, Detroit will with China at the helm, while a Middle Eastern country purchases the Detroit Pistons.
Spirituality will be in the news again in the new year, while organized religion is questioned by young adults, among others.
The Islamic community will continue to be the focus of news as terror preoccupies the minds and hearts of Americans.
Media - the lone unchallenged entity and institution - unlike the church, corruption and greed, will remain unscathed once again with turn of the calendar.
Jobs and those without one will continue to occupy the Motor City and metropolitan Detroit.
Weight problems, and stress and strain with diabetes among the young will reign again in new time.
And, grow, Detroit will with China at the helm, while a Middle Eastern country purchases the Detroit Pistons.
Spirituality will be in the news again in the new year, while organized religion is questioned by young adults, among others.
The Islamic community will continue to be the focus of news as terror preoccupies the minds and hearts of Americans.
Media - the lone unchallenged entity and institution - unlike the church, corruption and greed, will remain unscathed once again with turn of the calendar.
Jobs and those without one will continue to occupy the Motor City and metropolitan Detroit.
Weight problems, and stress and strain with diabetes among the young will reign again in new time.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Heartache and Hope
Emergency 9 1 1 is called when one is suffering a heart attack.
Yet, when one is dealing with depression from unhealed grieving at death of a spouse, those standing by wait and watch, even debate with one about getting help.
When Pope John Paul I was ailing in his 30-day pontificate, and later died after refusing medical attention, a Brittish journalist declared that his demise was due to "neglect."
The so-called "smiling Pope" wanting to be treated in Venice, Italy. His staff obliged.
Like cancer that grows in its pathology, other diseases loom large from inattention, even neglect by family who know better.
Even suicide is a process like cancer in its crawling deadliness that finally peaks with one's following through on taking his or her life.
Suicide has always been prached against as an option to life.
Catholics have the least amount of suicides given warnings against it.
That is similar to prevention when it comes to depression, for example.
It must be nipped in the bud, as the saying goes, long before depression does the victim with death.
Perhaps the new year will be a time for families and eye witnesses to be attentive and take action when life and death issues are prone to be left to one's demise without the crucial care and decisiveness demanded.
Yet, when one is dealing with depression from unhealed grieving at death of a spouse, those standing by wait and watch, even debate with one about getting help.
When Pope John Paul I was ailing in his 30-day pontificate, and later died after refusing medical attention, a Brittish journalist declared that his demise was due to "neglect."
The so-called "smiling Pope" wanting to be treated in Venice, Italy. His staff obliged.
Like cancer that grows in its pathology, other diseases loom large from inattention, even neglect by family who know better.
Even suicide is a process like cancer in its crawling deadliness that finally peaks with one's following through on taking his or her life.
Suicide has always been prached against as an option to life.
Catholics have the least amount of suicides given warnings against it.
That is similar to prevention when it comes to depression, for example.
It must be nipped in the bud, as the saying goes, long before depression does the victim with death.
Perhaps the new year will be a time for families and eye witnesses to be attentive and take action when life and death issues are prone to be left to one's demise without the crucial care and decisiveness demanded.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
State Representative Inspires
Anthony Forlini is my new State Representative for the district of St. Clair Shores and Harrison Township, Michigan.
Wednesday, a crowd of family and friends gathered at the Capitol Building to witness him taking the oath of Office before Judge Viviano of Mt. Clemens' Circuit Court.
Others there made promises also, including his parents of fifty years of matrimony, who renewed their marital vows. Tony and his wife, Diane, with their three children nearby, renewed their twenty-five-year marriage commitment.
Diane was delighted with a silver necklace and crucifix she received from her husband as a gift. Her joy was obvious.
Pledges and promises.
We hear them all the time. We make them and break them.
One young adult there at the State Capitol building told me and show me the promise ring to be abstinent until he is married. That was refreshing along with the fresh vigor to live out the promise of married love.
While pledges and promises were abundant, somehow, I sensed a seriousness about keeping these vows fresh and alive.
That sense made the trek to Lansing worth it.
In a world of broken promises, this crowd stood up for cherished values and virtues.
That's good news.
Wednesday, a crowd of family and friends gathered at the Capitol Building to witness him taking the oath of Office before Judge Viviano of Mt. Clemens' Circuit Court.
Others there made promises also, including his parents of fifty years of matrimony, who renewed their marital vows. Tony and his wife, Diane, with their three children nearby, renewed their twenty-five-year marriage commitment.
Diane was delighted with a silver necklace and crucifix she received from her husband as a gift. Her joy was obvious.
Pledges and promises.
We hear them all the time. We make them and break them.
One young adult there at the State Capitol building told me and show me the promise ring to be abstinent until he is married. That was refreshing along with the fresh vigor to live out the promise of married love.
While pledges and promises were abundant, somehow, I sensed a seriousness about keeping these vows fresh and alive.
That sense made the trek to Lansing worth it.
In a world of broken promises, this crowd stood up for cherished values and virtues.
That's good news.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Fear Knocked, Faith Answered
Fear knocked at the door.
Faith answered.
No one was there.
Nothing paralyzed me or made me immobile.
Faith is like that.
I wonder how people get through without it.
Of course, fear has heightened in this nation since 9/11.
So much is lost when fear wraps one's life. Adventure goes.
Confidence flees.
Fear is useless, what's needed is trust, the master Jesus the Christ said in the
Sacred Scriptures.
Yet, people are afraid to trust, especially after being betrayed, or hurt.
Early on in life, a pastor helped me realize that fear is not helpful. We should fear
walking into traffic, jumping of a mountain, and, the like. However, the fear
that traps one and does ones thinking and deciding needs to go.
In 1989, when a gorup of us were in El Salvador, our translator remined us not to let
our fears do our thinking.
That was a life lesson.
Nothing would have progressed there is fear became an obstacle that thought for us.
Fear knocked.
Faith answered.
No one was at the door, thank God, and my willingness to let fear go.
Faith answered.
No one was there.
Nothing paralyzed me or made me immobile.
Faith is like that.
I wonder how people get through without it.
Of course, fear has heightened in this nation since 9/11.
So much is lost when fear wraps one's life. Adventure goes.
Confidence flees.
Fear is useless, what's needed is trust, the master Jesus the Christ said in the
Sacred Scriptures.
Yet, people are afraid to trust, especially after being betrayed, or hurt.
Early on in life, a pastor helped me realize that fear is not helpful. We should fear
walking into traffic, jumping of a mountain, and, the like. However, the fear
that traps one and does ones thinking and deciding needs to go.
In 1989, when a gorup of us were in El Salvador, our translator remined us not to let
our fears do our thinking.
That was a life lesson.
Nothing would have progressed there is fear became an obstacle that thought for us.
Fear knocked.
Faith answered.
No one was at the door, thank God, and my willingness to let fear go.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
War on Culture of Corruption
We hope the culture of corruption is over.
Hmmm....
Are we all not to blame?
The rank and file employee, aides, secretaries, office workers, neighbors, acquaintances knew the Kilpatrick criminal enterprise was operating.
At least, individuals knew something.
And, that could have been enough to stop the corruption.
There were voluminous rumors about "shady" activity. Yet, silence and consent ruled.
No one stood up to speak up against the corruption culture.
Until six years of investigation.
Give me a break.
A youngster starts stealing early on, for example. He or she takes candy. A parent, a teacher, a friend hears, or senses something bad is going on with Judy or Joey.
Everyone failed. All of us. We're all to be blamed for letting this spiral roll into the fiasco it is.
This could have been nipped in the bod at the start.
We knew. Rumors were flying about the Mayor as early as his days as a State Representative.
There is something terrribly wrong with our people, our police, our judicial system, our moral and ethical way of life, our homes, parents, families, neighbors, co-workers, and . . .
Shame on us all.
We hope the culture of corruption is over.
That's a weak refrain. It rings of less than muscle to stop the sin, the stealing, the "getting away with murder," the hens being slaughtered in the barn by the wolves.
This amounts to basics:
It is about time each of us take responsibility.
After all, the great book remins us that we are our sister and brother's keeper.
Hmmm....
Are we all not to blame?
The rank and file employee, aides, secretaries, office workers, neighbors, acquaintances knew the Kilpatrick criminal enterprise was operating.
At least, individuals knew something.
And, that could have been enough to stop the corruption.
There were voluminous rumors about "shady" activity. Yet, silence and consent ruled.
No one stood up to speak up against the corruption culture.
Until six years of investigation.
Give me a break.
A youngster starts stealing early on, for example. He or she takes candy. A parent, a teacher, a friend hears, or senses something bad is going on with Judy or Joey.
Everyone failed. All of us. We're all to be blamed for letting this spiral roll into the fiasco it is.
This could have been nipped in the bod at the start.
We knew. Rumors were flying about the Mayor as early as his days as a State Representative.
There is something terrribly wrong with our people, our police, our judicial system, our moral and ethical way of life, our homes, parents, families, neighbors, co-workers, and . . .
Shame on us all.
We hope the culture of corruption is over.
That's a weak refrain. It rings of less than muscle to stop the sin, the stealing, the "getting away with murder," the hens being slaughtered in the barn by the wolves.
This amounts to basics:
It is about time each of us take responsibility.
After all, the great book remins us that we are our sister and brother's keeper.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Climate and Advent
Roots and relationships have a lot to do with rites or rituals.
During Advent, a time of anticipation and waiting to observe the birth of Jesus the Christ, we walked our way along Van Dyke Avenue on Detroit's east side south to our parish church of St. Thomas the Apostle.
That became a rite of origin.
Rite, rituals are like habits, good practices, strengths, virtues.
Rites become ways of doing things and marking special seasons.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico, began with the season of Advent this year.
Climate change is happening.
It is far from Advent waiting, watching.
Greenhouse gas emissions need reducing.
Catholic Relief Services in Guatemala, for example, are helping with agriculture and its adapting to unpredictable weather. Farmers diversify crop planting and soil practices and production, in turn.
Interfaith Power and Light unite in a Carbon Covenant. It fosters rapport with congregations in the Global North and South to mitigate global warming's influence and deforestation.
Religion does a world of good in union with faith traditions.
Harnessing the power of faith with challenges of climate change is something we do not wait for.
Conversion of heart calls for change not. Climate change included.
During Advent, a time of anticipation and waiting to observe the birth of Jesus the Christ, we walked our way along Van Dyke Avenue on Detroit's east side south to our parish church of St. Thomas the Apostle.
That became a rite of origin.
Rite, rituals are like habits, good practices, strengths, virtues.
Rites become ways of doing things and marking special seasons.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico, began with the season of Advent this year.
Climate change is happening.
It is far from Advent waiting, watching.
Greenhouse gas emissions need reducing.
Catholic Relief Services in Guatemala, for example, are helping with agriculture and its adapting to unpredictable weather. Farmers diversify crop planting and soil practices and production, in turn.
Interfaith Power and Light unite in a Carbon Covenant. It fosters rapport with congregations in the Global North and South to mitigate global warming's influence and deforestation.
Religion does a world of good in union with faith traditions.
Harnessing the power of faith with challenges of climate change is something we do not wait for.
Conversion of heart calls for change not. Climate change included.
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