I just finished reading a book about POW's in Vietnam. The two things that allowed them to survive were community and a code. This is the code we wrote:
Code of conduct
I am a beloved child of God. I have been given his grace and have been sent into the world to bring love, healing, and wholeness. I am ready to give up my need to ‘be right and in charge’ in order’ to further these aims.
I will never use strategies or tactics that bring more hate, harm, and separation into the world.
I will take no actions which will support hate, harm, or separation in the world. I will patiently teach and humbly listen to fellow beloved children engaged in the same quest. I will support others engaged in this work in every way possible.
Should I become overwhelmed or discouraged, I will reach out to others to be reminded of my connection to the community. If my fellow beloved children reach out to me in discouragement, I will patiently sit with them and hold them in their distress. Afterward, I will bring them to my heavenly father in prayer and do what seems fitting to restore their hope. When my wrongs are pointed out to me, I will humbly ask for forgiveness and seek to be reconciled with my fellow beloved child.
I will never forget that I am a beloved child of God, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to bringing love, healing, and wholeness into the world. I will trust in my Father and his son Jesus Christ.
I’m going to write out my dream now. Focusing on engaging the goddess elements of life. Dreams, intuition, art, nature, animals, etc. as a conscious counterbalance to the dark negative male happening around us.
Jesus wasn't a Christian and the Buddha wasn't a Buddhist. Where did they get what they had? Straight out of their intuition and imagination by being friends with emptiness/stillness/silence (One thing, not three), and being true to their original naturae, innate virtues (what they did best and enjoyed doing most) and their intrinsic intuition. Body knowing--knowing what our body knows--gets us to the heart of the matter. Head knowing is only knowing what someone else thinks is so. Body knowing knows what is so. What is your body saying to you about what I'm saying? I'm saying, "Do't listen to me! Listen to YOU!"
I’m currently on a news blackout. I worry most about society being kind and respectful to my beloved lesbian daughter and her partner and the many immigrants I know. My nephew has a trans woman working for him and she was so devastated last week that she couldn’t work and is wondering if she needs to detransition, which is truly heartbreaking. These so-called Christians have forgotten the most basic commandment: love one another
In a book I just finished was the phrase “Worry is interest paid on trouble that hasn’t happened yet.” Nice sentiment but hard not to worry. You are not alone Nadia.
In the immortal words of some unknown WW2 Brit wit: "Keep calm and carry on."
Stick to our principles, even in the midst of hell. If the ten Booms could do it in WW2, we can do it now.
I've been reciting two things, over and over again:
The Serenity Prayer "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. and
John 14:27 - "“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
So when are we going to rise up and take back the church? We spend a lot of time lamenting the SBC and other politically active “churches”, but if we really believe in love and grace and the Gospel what are we doing to TAKE OUR FAITH BACK? Sadly, not enough. Prayers for a strong leader to challenge the status quo and start the revolution.
Let us focus on listening to the messages from the heart. Love your self and love your neighbor.
Most people are only looking for a safe place to raise a family and the opportunity to increase their lot in life . What can each of us do every day to help create this environment.
What if logic and reason from the head steers us wrong as often right?
Could it be more healthy choices can be made from the heart?
“When I took my canonical examinations in Arkansas in 1960 in order to be ordained deacon, Bishop R. R. Brown had a favorite question he asked of every seminarian:
“‘If your church burned down, what would be the first thing you would do?’
“The answer he wanted was, ‘I would take up an offering for mission.’
“I believe he was attempting to teach us that there are no circumstances, however destructive, that give us license to give up our calling as disciples to be faithful. We are not in control; we are sometimes humbled by events, but that does not change our calling to proclaim Christ and Him crucified…
“In a time characterized by the words ‘Crisis, Crisis Everywhere,’ what is God calling us to do?
“My answer to that is full steam ahead.
“As Bishop Brown would say, ‘Take up an offering for mission.’ I don’t believe that circumstances, whatever they are, change the shape of discipleship to which we are called. That does not mean that we are unaware of the dangerous time in which we live both in the church and the world, but that doesn’t change what the Gospel demands.”
–The Rt. Rev. Edward L. Salmon, Jr, Address to the 213th Convention (Episcopal), March 7-8, 2003.
Burst of laughter … swore off that little news app so easily tapped everyday … surprisingly not that difficult so far … now portion meals … not so much … miss the ‘in person only’ days … progress in technology usually results in the LoDR … our excessive personal comfort is so over hyped …
I breathed the very same prayer this morning as I was waking up! When it comes to the election, I had made a choice sometime in the spring that I was going to stop listening to news about Trump.
At the time, I didn't recall why but likely, I was just tired of it, Admittedly, I did follow the assassination attempt somewhat. (I still find it odd that no medical reports were made public) In retrospect, I think all the daily back and forth was something I likened to someone always complaining about their ex. It's unhealthy and remaining in that loop, it's impossible to grow past it because it focuses on the problem and the pain associated with that problem. Complaining about something doesn't make it or you better. So, my change in focus led me to something that I hadn't expected. I simply wasn't stressed about the outcome. Concerned, yes! Because I am a devoted worship music listener, I came across something that landed really well with me as it helped to answer my question of why SO many believers were so worried this time around. Part of the answer came from listening to Sherrilyn Ifill- we all have been groomed. More of it came from Amanda Cook in her video on grief in YT- Mark 4:40 "Then he turned to his disciples and said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Haven’t you learned to trust yet?” These 2 things are additions to an internal book I write to myself that's titled "The best advice I've ever received have always come from women!"
I will Cathy. My Dad never talked about any of the wars he'd been in either. He just came home from them and tried his best to be the best father that he could be, not without his flaws, of course, but my harsh judgments of him from my teenaged years have melted away with time and my own experiences as a husband and father and grandfather. Now at sixty-seven, I'm just trying to live up to the good example that our Dad set for me and my siblings.
Hi Nadia,
I just finished reading a book about POW's in Vietnam. The two things that allowed them to survive were community and a code. This is the code we wrote:
Code of conduct
I am a beloved child of God. I have been given his grace and have been sent into the world to bring love, healing, and wholeness. I am ready to give up my need to ‘be right and in charge’ in order’ to further these aims.
I will never use strategies or tactics that bring more hate, harm, and separation into the world.
I will take no actions which will support hate, harm, or separation in the world. I will patiently teach and humbly listen to fellow beloved children engaged in the same quest. I will support others engaged in this work in every way possible.
Should I become overwhelmed or discouraged, I will reach out to others to be reminded of my connection to the community. If my fellow beloved children reach out to me in discouragement, I will patiently sit with them and hold them in their distress. Afterward, I will bring them to my heavenly father in prayer and do what seems fitting to restore their hope. When my wrongs are pointed out to me, I will humbly ask for forgiveness and seek to be reconciled with my fellow beloved child.
I will never forget that I am a beloved child of God, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to bringing love, healing, and wholeness into the world. I will trust in my Father and his son Jesus Christ.
Beautiful!
Would you be willing to share the name of the book?
Succinct and perfect 🤩
I’m going to write out my dream now. Focusing on engaging the goddess elements of life. Dreams, intuition, art, nature, animals, etc. as a conscious counterbalance to the dark negative male happening around us.
Jesus wasn't a Christian and the Buddha wasn't a Buddhist. Where did they get what they had? Straight out of their intuition and imagination by being friends with emptiness/stillness/silence (One thing, not three), and being true to their original naturae, innate virtues (what they did best and enjoyed doing most) and their intrinsic intuition. Body knowing--knowing what our body knows--gets us to the heart of the matter. Head knowing is only knowing what someone else thinks is so. Body knowing knows what is so. What is your body saying to you about what I'm saying? I'm saying, "Do't listen to me! Listen to YOU!"
Yes!!!! How I needed this prayer today. Show me what is mine and stay off the internet!! Live your spirit Nadia!
I’m currently on a news blackout. I worry most about society being kind and respectful to my beloved lesbian daughter and her partner and the many immigrants I know. My nephew has a trans woman working for him and she was so devastated last week that she couldn’t work and is wondering if she needs to detransition, which is truly heartbreaking. These so-called Christians have forgotten the most basic commandment: love one another
Same here. I just can't read anyone's hot takes right now - they aren't helping me
Thank you, Nadia, for making me feel understood and providing a prayer that I think will really help me!
Rebecca Spencer McCurdy
In a book I just finished was the phrase “Worry is interest paid on trouble that hasn’t happened yet.” Nice sentiment but hard not to worry. You are not alone Nadia.
Took the weekend to 'cleanse' my FB 'friends' list. Feels a little bit like a spiritual refreshing
In the immortal words of some unknown WW2 Brit wit: "Keep calm and carry on."
Stick to our principles, even in the midst of hell. If the ten Booms could do it in WW2, we can do it now.
I've been reciting two things, over and over again:
The Serenity Prayer "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. and
John 14:27 - "“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
So when are we going to rise up and take back the church? We spend a lot of time lamenting the SBC and other politically active “churches”, but if we really believe in love and grace and the Gospel what are we doing to TAKE OUR FAITH BACK? Sadly, not enough. Prayers for a strong leader to challenge the status quo and start the revolution.
Let us focus on listening to the messages from the heart. Love your self and love your neighbor.
Most people are only looking for a safe place to raise a family and the opportunity to increase their lot in life . What can each of us do every day to help create this environment.
What if logic and reason from the head steers us wrong as often right?
Could it be more healthy choices can be made from the heart?
Can it possible?
Can the heart rule the head?
Go figure
“When I took my canonical examinations in Arkansas in 1960 in order to be ordained deacon, Bishop R. R. Brown had a favorite question he asked of every seminarian:
“‘If your church burned down, what would be the first thing you would do?’
“The answer he wanted was, ‘I would take up an offering for mission.’
“I believe he was attempting to teach us that there are no circumstances, however destructive, that give us license to give up our calling as disciples to be faithful. We are not in control; we are sometimes humbled by events, but that does not change our calling to proclaim Christ and Him crucified…
“In a time characterized by the words ‘Crisis, Crisis Everywhere,’ what is God calling us to do?
“My answer to that is full steam ahead.
“As Bishop Brown would say, ‘Take up an offering for mission.’ I don’t believe that circumstances, whatever they are, change the shape of discipleship to which we are called. That does not mean that we are unaware of the dangerous time in which we live both in the church and the world, but that doesn’t change what the Gospel demands.”
–The Rt. Rev. Edward L. Salmon, Jr, Address to the 213th Convention (Episcopal), March 7-8, 2003.
Burst of laughter … swore off that little news app so easily tapped everyday … surprisingly not that difficult so far … now portion meals … not so much … miss the ‘in person only’ days … progress in technology usually results in the LoDR … our excessive personal comfort is so over hyped …
I breathed the very same prayer this morning as I was waking up! When it comes to the election, I had made a choice sometime in the spring that I was going to stop listening to news about Trump.
At the time, I didn't recall why but likely, I was just tired of it, Admittedly, I did follow the assassination attempt somewhat. (I still find it odd that no medical reports were made public) In retrospect, I think all the daily back and forth was something I likened to someone always complaining about their ex. It's unhealthy and remaining in that loop, it's impossible to grow past it because it focuses on the problem and the pain associated with that problem. Complaining about something doesn't make it or you better. So, my change in focus led me to something that I hadn't expected. I simply wasn't stressed about the outcome. Concerned, yes! Because I am a devoted worship music listener, I came across something that landed really well with me as it helped to answer my question of why SO many believers were so worried this time around. Part of the answer came from listening to Sherrilyn Ifill- we all have been groomed. More of it came from Amanda Cook in her video on grief in YT- Mark 4:40 "Then he turned to his disciples and said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Haven’t you learned to trust yet?” These 2 things are additions to an internal book I write to myself that's titled "The best advice I've ever received have always come from women!"
Amen . . . especially that last part.
PS: This was my Dad, an American veteran of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
https://open.substack.com/pub/themjkxn/p/smsgt-joseph-jay-hessinger-usaf?r=1qts0e&utm_medium=ios
The book is Tap Code by Carlyle Harris
This book looks wonderful, Cathy. I just bought it. Thank you.
my email is cathyskuntz@gmail.com I would love to know what you think. My dad was in Vietnam, but never talked about it.
I will Cathy. My Dad never talked about any of the wars he'd been in either. He just came home from them and tried his best to be the best father that he could be, not without his flaws, of course, but my harsh judgments of him from my teenaged years have melted away with time and my own experiences as a husband and father and grandfather. Now at sixty-seven, I'm just trying to live up to the good example that our Dad set for me and my siblings.
The older I get, the more I realize people are doing the best they can.
Selah...