So many things on my mind lately.
Not the least is my on going struggle with unemployment and poverty. I'm not homeless, but it's really tough. One unexpected expense equals disaster that takes weeks to recover from. I have enough to survive but nothing left over.It stresses out my kids because they can't have the fun their friends do, and it stresses me out for the same reasons. I can't afford to go out to dinner, the zoo, the water park or anything else that costs money. My only luxury is the Internet. I am clever enough to find things that are free, but I miss things like going to The Henry Ford. If I manage to grab some extra cash, I have to consider my gas tank as well. It's all very discouraging.
I have been channeling all of this frustration into cleaning and organizing. I am getting my house into the shape I want it to be. It's really nice having a home in which people can drop by for a visit and I don't have to panic.
The political storm about Health Care is interesting. The age-old battle of the Haves Vs. The Have Nots. All of the protesters in West Bloomfield are so angry that they might have to share. They're horrified by the idea that the Surfdom actually feel as though we deserve to have minimal health care. I don't remember ever seeing the Democrat and Republican parties being so divided. It really does feel like the Right Wing is all about The Haves keeping all they feel is due them and claiming some sort of "Christian" superiority. All of this lead me to seek where this comes from. It lead me to Calvinism and predestination. Here are some of links I found, but please research on your own.
http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/num21.htm
http://www.apuritansmind.com/PuritanWorship/McMahonABriefCritiqueOfHyper-Calvinism.htm
http://reformedtheology.org/SiteFiles/Fall2006/Essay_AmericanMethodists.html
I visited many sites and researched for an entire afternoon. This is the religion of the Pilgrims. The one that excludes any one that is an independent thinker. It's all VERY UN AMERICAN. It was an eye-opener for me. I was a Lutheran for 20 years and have recently converted to Catholicism. It wasn't a huge jump. I NEVER hear my parish speak of other religions disparagingly, but I sure do hear it a lot about Catholics from Protestants. I was never taught to dislike the poor and defenseless in either the Lutheran Church or in The Catholic church. Is it any wonder Ireland has had religious battles forever? I don't understand a position of superiority based on wealth. Being a history buff, I do remember reading about the wealthy families such as the Roosevelt's, believing their wealth was a blessing from God which gave them a sense of obligation to help those in need. That makes sense to me; a hell of a lot more than looking down on someone for being poor as though it was "sin" that brought them there.
Hate abounds all around me and I am always startled by it. Perhaps I'm naive. I look at life as an opportunity to help and love my fellow man. I'm no saint, but aren't we all just trying to enjoy our lives, and love and be loved along the way
Romans 12;1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Matthew 25:41-45
Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least among you, you did not do for me.'
No comments:
Post a Comment