It is beginning to look like we are in a nuthouse - that is being run by the inmates - the psycho ward. We call it accepting diversity.

The problem with doublespeak - or could we say ’speaking with a forked tongue’; is not that we tend to accept atrocities as ordinary - originally we are perceptive enough to realize the contradiction and groan within ourselves - even react with disgust.

The problem arises when we can no longer distinguish between the reality and the charade.

At that point - we can be presented with almost any persuasion and we will accept it as valid. We may not like it - but we no longer question its veracity, value or substance.

Our diversity has isolated us to the point that we no longer share our humanity - it becomes an extremely personal experience - and as such - worthy of our complete devotion. We become our own center of worship. We worship ourselves and the ground we walk on.

But the cost is just beginning to emerge.

Imagine yourself vulnerable - and all of those entrusted with your care are no longer worthy of your trust. They will do with you whatever is in their own best interests - including the harvest of your body for needed parts, for the food you eat - or the things you consume. For even less than that really - just because they “want to”.

How well do you think your social institutions will operate under those conditions? And what would happen in emergencies when the ballast effect of those institutions is no longer in operation - or at least temporarily non-existent? Will there be any restraint?

Where will you go when you no longer trust the community you live in - or its youth? What will you do when the lights go out? - because, after all - who is at the switch? Is it someone you trust?

Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other.

War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few. In war, too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended; its influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments is multiplied; and all the means of seducing the minds, are added to those of subding the force, of the people.

[There is also an] inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war, and … degeneracy of manners and of morals. … No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.

James Madison - fourth president of the United States, from Letters And Other Writings

War

by Justin Paone

Last night I had a dream

That I was a soldier in camo green

In front lines I took my place

Then blessed by my commanders face

He said

This war’s for freedom

This war’s for peace

This war’s to conquer those ugly beasts

With that I ran into the fray

My heart beating with the task of the day

I saw a man both strong and bold

But in his eyes the truth was told

I saw his joy

I saw his fear

And heard words from his commander’s call

He said

This war’s for freedom

This war’s for peace

This war’s to conquer those ugly beasts

I saw him and he saw me

So I pulled the trigger to set him free

As I stood there and watched him die

He looked at me with tear stained eyes

And said

I’m just like you with a different skin

What is war but to waste a friend

That day blood was shed

I killed a man

Was it right in the end?

(Call to America)

Lift up the voice of lamentation

For destruction and the whirlwind are upon us

We were as children playing before the storm

Famine, sword, pestilence

We did not heed the call or warning

And they are come upon us unawares

For we were all as in the days of

Prosperity and merriment and festival

We played the carnival

We indulged

We sang, we drank

Lift up the voice of lamentation

Cry aloud

For destruction and the whirlwind are upon us

And there is no remedy for our mistake

Say not His hand is unrighteous

For when did we measure the cost?

And how often did we reflect upon

The abundance and the waste?

Lift up the voice of lamentation

And cry aloud

For destruction and the whirlwind are upon us

And that which had no ending is taken away

As in the night, and in the storm

And in the washing away

And in the flight

We’re tossed and driven

Refugees

For our safe haven is abandoned

Our substance withers

And our expectation vanishes

And we go down the road, heads bowed

Humbled and contrite

Lift up the voice of lamentation

For destruction and the whirlwind

Are upon us.

In that final desperate hour

When we stand or die

Will the beautiful land

Be filled with praise?

Or harsh despair and doubt?

So;…brothers,…for we all shall share

The trauma of emergency -

The famines stalking shadow;

The meagerness and want -

And fear for what is coming

Or clasp hands and set ourselves against

The darkness of the night

And loathe to tread

Yet steadfast - arm in arm

Embracing - on the edge

We fight for all that’s good and true

And sparing naught

No scale or measure

Every thing and all our being

Given as the treasure.

We’ve walked in freedom - prosperous

An open road - delicious

We’ve reaped the fields

Expressed our boundaries

Now comes the judgement day.

It is possible to walk through life and not see the trees for the forest - to sort of amble about with no particular focus - failing to absorb what is happening around you. Those who have experienced extreme isolation often report that it changed their priorities - it changed what they considered to be important in their lives.

It is a matter of intimacy - how much do you really know about your surroundings, and the people you live and work with every day? You may be intimate with your i-pod, but are you intimate with your friends, children, and closest loved ones? What color are their eyes? Do they have a “secret” longing or desire unfulfilled? Do you walk through each day in a flurry of self imposed busyness - always searching for that special someone, that special event, that special place that will make it all meaningful?

God knows ’twere better to be deep

Pillowed in silk and scented down,

Where love throbs out in blissful sleep,

Pulse nigh to pulse, and breath to breath,

Where hushed awakenings are dear…

- Alan Seeger 1888-1916

The spectrum of the human condition is not enough to quench the beauty and wonder that can be experienced - even the meanest of circumstances yields up its epiphanies. We cannot be bound by scourge, calamity, or frustration - “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Paul (formerly Saul the Murderer)

If you walk in the fields, you will most surely come across some form of reed or grass - the reed is universal.

Delicate yet hardy, an emblem in the wind

Waving over fields and meadows

Gilded by the sunsets glow

Beaten with the slightest blow

Rising up again, reaching for the heavens

Wispy in the wind

To know the grass of the field, to understand the birds in flight, to listen to the sounds in the night, of salt and oil and leaven, of wine and wind and song - for blinded eyes to see, the lame to walk, the dumb to speak, the dead to rise - the sky to open and reveal, the full uncovering - of nakedness and need.

Endeavor to walk where you know the reed.

“At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place.” - Luke the Physician

Sooner or later we all experience isolation in some form or another - but how many of us seek it? In our present culture, isolation has a somewhat negative connotation - that is, we would most likely associate isolation with unpleasant, restrictive, or even enforced conditions - something along the lines of solitary confinement.

Understanding the need and benefits of isolation may be easier if we use other terminology.

Instruction, concentration, meditation, contemplation, reflection, evaluation, limitation, consideration, application, information, affirmation, perception, perspective, acknowledgment, certification, being in the spotlight - all require some form of isolation, either in thought, action, or context.

If we are to excel in any area of our lives, we must isolate and then concentrate on - and learn the foundation, structure and processes involved. This is true about everything we do from learning to walk and talk to rocket science (in some cases it is rocket science). If you are going to do anything well, or if you aspire to master a subject, a vocation, a profession, a skill - you will have to set aside the time and concentration for doing so. Very few of us are born savants.

Look around you, and you will see that those who have developed their gifts and talents have done so with a concerted effort - they have embraced isolation in one form or another - and usually with some personal cost involved. It may mean the forsaking of less important activities. It usually means that you don’t run with the crowd. It often takes long hours of concentration and hard work.

And what do they receive in return? This is where the choice to isolate our thoughts and actions bears more than just the desired result - you not only learn or master what you are studying - you also gain the opportunity to be alone with your thoughts. As you master a task or process, you begin to have time to tune into the more subtle aspects of your daily life - and then you begin to view things with a new perspective - a more refined perspective - a more isolated perspective.

They say an artist is one who works with his hands, his intellect, and his heart.

This is what most meditation is about - subduing the cacophony of your surroundings - and entering into a new awareness. In today’s fast moving world - this is a challenge unless you do live in a monastery. We all need our gardens to walk in. If your garden happens to sit in the midst of confusion - a busy city, media, business and appointments, daily responsibilities, personal trials and tribulations - not to mention the problems of the world around you - then it is vastly more important that you set aside the time for isolation, reflection and devotion - it is the concentrated effort that produces the results.

In the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus uses the word “Blessed” -”blessed are ye….”

The word blessed comes from the Greek makarios - which, according to Spiros Zodhiates means, “one who is in the world yet independent of the world; his satisfaction comes from God and not from favorable circumstances.” The only way to constantly receive this satisfaction from God is to spend time in His Temple. There is no way to access this blessed nature through another - each one individually must make that connection herself.

What we isolate in our lives becomes the core of our being, what we concentrate our thoughts and efforts on is who we are, whether for good or evil - that is why Paul admonished, ” Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” - Letter to the Philippians

Jesus the Carpenter warned about the failure to get things in perspective, “Because wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat. Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it.”

Find life - really live! Do more than hear, listen. Do more than talk, say something. Do more than see, use your eyes to partake of the world around you. Do more than what the shallow promises and apathy of the world are calling you to - be blessed.

The Word

Academic skills

Manners

Social graces, self-control, discipline

Industriousness

Vocations

Moral Character & Virtues

2TI.3:14,15 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

You may think that the education and training of a child should be left for a later date - but the research and clinical evidence points to a greater success in starting early.

Parenting is a 24/7/365 job - and you can either invest early and reap early results - or you can delay in your responsibility as a parent - and wind up with a juvenile to care for for the rest of your life.

It is dangerous enough to abdicate your parental responsibilities in regards to education and discipline - but when you allow yourself - indulge yourself and your child - and you apply the same lassie fare attitude to the Word, prayer and moral training - I believe you are headed for trouble.

If you think that allowing your child to develop in all these areas is just too hard a training for him/her - or you? - and you are willing to let a nanny or daycare center, TV, advertisements, video games, movies, secular children’s programming, idleness, unrestricted playtime and some sort of “reasoning” with your child to be the basis of thier soul awakening and moral development - then don’t be surprised when your 4 year old threatens to kill, cut up and bury your 18 month old for touching his scooter.

Unfortunately, difficult individual experiences can taint our ability and resolve in raising our children - but don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. There are basics in raising children - and they do work - and with even greater dynamics when applied with love and care.

The ability to respond requires training.

A History Lesson
From a traditional point of view, the chief way to counter our lack of will and determination is through the development of good habits. An effective moral education would be devoted to encouraging habits of honesty, helpfulness, and self-control until such behaviors become second nature. The idea is that we could then respond to tempting situations in an automatic way, much as an expert tennis player responds automatically to a hard serve. If we become persons of a certain kind, we won’t need to debate our course of action, we will know “instinctively” how to act.
This is how the ancient Greeks and Romans understood moral education, except that instead of talking about “habits,” they used the word “virtues.” In its original sense, the word meant something like our word “strength.” If you had a virtue such as courage, you not only had an idea about what constitutes courageous behavior, you also had the strength to act accordingly. And like muscular strength, you could lose it if you didn’t keep in practice. Aristotle said that a man becomes virtuous by performing virtuous acts; he becomes kind by doing kind acts; he becomes brave by doing brave acts.
If Aristotle was right about this, it means, of course, that much of our modern talk about “choices” and “decision making” is rather shallow. An individual can’t choose to do something if he lacks the capacity for it. For example, running the Boston Marathon is not a choice for those who are out of shape. It only becomes a choice for those who are willing to put in many months of training. In similar fashion, a child’s freedom to choose altruistic behavior over self-centered behavior is severely limited if he has never formed a habit of helping others in need. Far from stifling our freedom to choose, habits actually enhance it. They give us command and control of ourselves.
How did the Greeks–and for that matter, all other civilized societies–go about teaching good habits of behavior? The best way for a young person to learn them was by identifying with and imitating someone who already practiced them.
But the Greeks, and the Romans, did not rely entirely on the power of good personal example. Worthy models, after all, are not always evenly distributed among the population; and some people have the bad luck to be born among thieves. In addition, even the best people are on occasion weak, fallible, and inconsistent. Traditional societies recognized this, and they compensated for it with a generous supply of models drawn from history and legend. A child might be surrounded by crass and uncaring adults, but he could always catch a glimpse of another vision from the storyteller in the marketplace or in the pages of a book.
This idea of molding or forming one’s character according to the example of outstanding men and women–whether from history or legend–prevailed until fairly recent times.

(Why Johnny Can’t Tell Right from Wrong [#16]- I strongly suggest that you read the entire article - Christian Digest )

What we are talking about in failing to teach and train our children - our babes of love - our gifts from Heaven; - is abandoning our cultural and moral heritage - the moral currency of our homes and communities.

Experience has shown that if enough of us do so - then our ability to cooperate and work together will crumble - and we will succumb to the raging seas of the heathen that surround us.

Pathological sexuality

Really?

We live in the era

Of fallout - ever heard

of it?

Just wait until we

have to walk in it

Unprotected

And undesired.

Ye who raise the guitar and drum - the clash of symbols and melodies of wood and wind and brass - and silver carefully wrought -

Ye who cry in the streets and the Arena - and walk on stage and stand before an audience in awe

Remember there the Storyteller

For though your song can break the rock and shatter barriers and walls

It is the seed that grows the tree - the sacred ground that nutures it, the rain and sun and wind upon the garden - simple things like oil and salt and bread and wine

The Storytell finds a way to plant the seeds to grow - the Band shouts out the labor and the praise.

All are welcome who are walking in love and humility – for there is no Enemy among us.

We dwell in peace and harmony – for ours is a home of hearts – and each one gives of his substance accordingly – and everyone receives.

Our children are learning and playing at our feet – and our household is the household of faith – therefore we ask those who walk among us to treat this ground – these dwellings – our meager resources and our loved ones with openness and respect.

It is our desire that during your sojourning here that you are able to express yourself freely – and that in the course of our lives, however entwined – we will with each day find new reasons to appreciate one another.

In this house we can claim no greater accolade then to be called the beggars and servants of Christ – our dearest friend, Lover and King – Jesus of Nazareth.

Ours is to confront any error in speech, or any deceiving way – and as much as it is in our power to restore and retribute in mercy and truth.

We may not comprehend the grandeur of our vision – but our understanding is exalted as on wings of doves – and we pale as the brilliance unfolds around us.

We are the children of an unseen Father – Kept hidden save for the daily gifts and mercies that He bestowes upon us.

This is our home.

And this is our endeavor – that when we are given the chance to walk among you – we will always remember our home – as we traverse yours.

We seek peace, truth – and love.

And the greatest is love.

Though peace be shattered

And truth obscured

We believe that Love conquers all.

Make yourself welcome.

The Living Room

Did you ever see a room

That was living. I mean,

A room that was alive?

Because living is what we do.

But a room – what makes it alive?

Is it the size? Or the wrap?

Or the pristine mountains beside it

That give it beauty and wealth?

Not my living room – and mine is alive

With voices and joy

And whispers of love in the night

Of embrace so satisfying

Of laughter

The breaking of bread

The wine of commitment

The absence of self

Of the living and not of the Dead

A living room – it really is a Living Room.

Sometimes I even think it steals

My socks and favorite pens.

A living room – it is! – it’s true!