Saturday ponderings . . .

 

“...love...it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our church callings, and our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk.”

― Dieter F. Uchtdorf 

I sat here yesterday morning, as probably did most of the world, watching and listening to the news of yet another senseless atrocity perpetrated against some of our Heavenly Father's children. My heart broke as I listened to the details.  How anyone can kill people to begin with is beyond my comprehension, but how anyone can just gun down a multitude of innocents who are in the act of worship, in a place of worship . . .  is something I just cannot fathom and will never be able to understand. 

My heart breaks at the inhumanity of it all. The ignorance that perpetrated it . . . the total lack of respect for life and humanity. I will never be able to understand or comprehend such a hatred I don't think, and I am grateful for that. 

God doesn't have children of colour, or religion, nationality or sex, etc.  God has children, and He loves us all equally. His heart must ache when He sees things like what happened in Christchurch, NZ yesterday. My heart aches and I am human.  His sorrow must be multiplied a bazillion times more. 

 

I know  . . .  we are only human, but why do we have to put labels on things, on people???  Why do we have to see each other as this or that, as Catholic, or Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Athiest, black, white, Asian, gay, straight, etc. Why can we not simply see each other for who we are??  Imperfect, and frail beings, struggling with our own secret battles, hopefully trying to do our best in an imperfect world, each one containing the spirit . . . . the breath of life breathed into us, and created by our Heavenly Father.  Why must one always seek to be better/stronger/wiser/etc.  than another.  Why can we just not love one another.  End of.  I suppose it is part of our human condition, one of our many weaknesses . . .  that we struggle with this ability to love one another unconditionally with eyes and hearts that see each other only as equals . . . 

 

Perhaps it is a life long struggle . . .  this battle to overcome the part of us that is human.  I said to Todd yesterday  . . . it is only when we can cease to see each other as being different in some way, and accept and love each other as being simply one thing, a child of God, that any progress will be made.  A man, but a man, and a woman but a woman, all equal under God, or not if that is the way your heart leans, but equal.  Acceptance is a part of loving.  It is a HUGE part of loving.

I may not worship God as you do. You may not even worship God.  Does it matter? It shouldn't.  Its your choice . . .  and agency is a fundamental gift from God (I believe).  A person's sexuality, choice of worship, religion, etc. is all up to them . . .  not me/us.  Surely we should have it in our hearts to simply just accept each other and love each other as who we are, where we are, what we are, how we are . . .  Just LOVE. 

I think the Beatles had it right  . . .  all we need is LOVE.  We have a long way to go, but change begins with each of us, as individuals. Today and every day, I choose love, even when it is hard to do so. 

 

People fear what they do not understand.  We need to

work harder at understanding,

and accepting.

Just LOVE.

 

The other day I erroneously suggested putting some things out for the birds to use as nesting materials.  One thing I suggested was hair from my hairbrush. WRONG advice. That is such a bad thing to do. Human hair is so thin that it can easily wrap itself around their tiny legs, etc. cutting off circulation.  You can find out more about what you CAN leave out for them here.   Its well worth a read.   I love the birds in our garden so much and I would hate to think I did anything at all to harm them, or that I would advise you to do anything harmful either! Lesson learnt! 

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *Be the change

you want to see

in the world. •。★★ 。* 。 

 

Baking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  Dad's Cookies.  A slice and bake oatmeal cookie that has been baked in my kitchen for 35+ years now.  

Have a wonderful Saturday.  It is cold, windy and wet here.  Typical March.  Don't forget! 

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And I do too!