Frozen Fields

To look for life in frozen fields

Is to see beyond the day

Under death the truth reveals

How through death~

Life makes her way

In the womb and frozen ground

Silence in the dark and night

Knits together every sound

Which sings of the Eternal Light

We must live in present now

Yet rely on future means

Never knowing when or how

We know it is not as it seems

As in the flame and in the light

Growing in the wintry dark

A blaze approaching through the night

Watching now for fiery spark

The Death of a Friend

The Death of a Friend

You are once again sitting and talking and laughing about something you can no longer remember. Who was sitting in which chair? You think back…it’s difficult. Wanting to go deeper into memory here, to feel it’s movement and heaviness. To hear the vibration of voice and tone of color but you turned your head too soon. The reflection only lasts for light seconds on the surface of things. Your hands and heart can’t hold them there. Quickly dancing off. You went to the refrigerator, so mundane, grabbed two beers and returned to find the darkest of rooms and the emptiest of chairs. You turn and leave.

It has been said that death is nothing to fear. It has been said that death is, “just a natural part of life.” Try convincing the dead of these, “truths.” It is much easier for a man to describe things of history with a certain careless air. Having nothing to do with the actual time or season…being neither warm or cold on our skin but held so safely behind museum cases. Delighted in from the, easy-chair-distance of life. Reflecting precious little on where our souls are headed from here, and with that, how tremendously soon we leave our bodies behind.

Many reason that since we have little say in the matter, or the manner of our own deaths that it makes little sense to give it further thought. So says the one that agrees with the, “death is a natural part of life,” mentality. Many have already stopped reading and have gone on about their lives, uncertain. Preferring to continue dash headlong into the darkness…saving for a temporal retirement and possibly wasting an eternity.

You, who are wise, return to the darkest of rooms and the emptiest of chairs. Turning on the small light in the corner of the room. Take your seat in the chair where your friend was sitting the last time. The last time, yes, realize this could be your last time. It is hard at first to get past the chill you feel in your flesh in the sickening stillness. You marvel how time seems neither long or short. It seems like yesterday, yet so long ago. Time disappears as you consider that a day has just gone by. Do you blame yourself for missing it? You should avoid being too hard on yourself. You’ve made it this far, though imperfectly, it is a worthwhile thought and you should be congratulated for reflecting more deeply than the majority of souls. A strange thought now occurs to you. You wish that you could have warned your friend to be more thoughtful, and careful. A desire so strong to raise a warning comes far too late. Yet you remain in this room pressing against your desire to leave. After all, you left so soon after it happened~ you know now is as good a time as any to remain.

There is nothing you can do for your friend now, except if you are so inclined, to pray for their soul. Advice coming from you is no longer of any value. If he could, it should be your friend, you realize, who should be warning you. But the impassable veil has been pulled between you and will only be re-opened at the hour of YOUR death. It is hard to get past the fact that even memories are difficult to recall in their entirety…just bits and pieces…fragments and flashes. O dear friend! Irreplaceable friend. I can’t get close to you.

From where you sit you rise, turn out the light and go the refrigerator. The bottles from the beer you wanted to share are gone…just orange-juice left. In fact even the picture on the wall of the two of you is fading.

Will you reflect more on your life? Will you honor your friend by making more of your life? Or will you, like the mindless hoards, fail to consider your own soul? Will you neglect your own eternity? Will you simply replace this forgotten treasure with more wasted hours and days? Today might be your last.

Another thought, since it is impossible to know the hour and time we will die it is also reasonable to assume that we are not the ones who can pick and choose the way we should live. If you have forgotten God, Whom you know in your soul is waiting for your whole-hearted return. His desire to embrace you fills and consumes the universe. You are of eternal value~ Become a true daughter or son of God. This life is but a breath. Care enough for yourself to seek the Truth you’ve been neglecting. Let your friend be a constant reminder to you~ You are called to be a child of heaven...a child of God. Anything less than His fullness is meaningless. You have my sincere prayers. Thanks for reading.

"The unexamined life is not worth living."
Socrates, in Plato, Dialogues, Apology
Greek philosopher in Athens (469 BC - 399 BC)

Somebody to Love

“Don’t you want somebody to love…don’t you need somebody to love…wouldn’t you love somebody to love…you’d better find somebody to love….” Jefferson Airplane

Is it true that we need somebody to love? I am thinking about the Jefferson Airplane song from the Sixties where Grace Slick repeatedly begs the question amid guitar riffs. Want somebody?

Questions arise in my mind about the meaning of “love” Jefferson Airplane might have been referring to as, we must know, there is more than one meaning of the word love. Given the general motivation and “mood” and fruit grown on the “Sixties Hippie-tree” I could assume that Grace Slick was not referring to the kind of love which can also be translated, “Charity.” Silly me? Of course even the lowest form of the word love has a root in higher forms. However, the two should not be so easily used interchangeably as this would confuse the true meaning of the higher and raise the significance of the lower above it’s proper place. In other words, love is love but isn’t necessarily true love but is often lust masquerading AS love.

Why is it important to make this distinction? After all, many would suggest, that to “over-think” the meaning and actions of love would strip love of some degree of power, intrigue, mystery etc. I would suggest, however, that one cannot love what it doesn’t know, at least to some degree, and to purposely maintain ignorance about the “somebody to love” demonstrates a decision against True-Love. It is interesting that there is even a term, “True-Love” in existence as it likewise assumes there is something in existence that is conversely False-love…yet all of the fawning and dreamy songs in existence seem to, almost to a song, fall far short of anything True…as Love, if it is in fact REAL cannot be false. It is interesting how language often evolves toward falsehood and away from truth…but that it another topic.

In reality love is ultimate reality as God (Who stands as ultimate reality) has revealed Himself as love. What does this mean though? God is love. Have you thought about that? It is often quoted, placed on many items in Christian bookstores from Precious Moments figurines to inspirational plaques, paper-weights and even something referred to as “executive stationary.” Hilarious! I think this is one of those things that too easily gets tossed around but as a result of over-familiarity with the statement comes our equal lack of understanding of the verse. But for a moment let’s go back to Jefferson Airplane.

In my mind Jefferson Airplane (also later known as Jefferson Starship…later than that just known as Starship...maybe by now they are known as Space-Shuttle…not sure) represents our general lack of understanding of love which truly stands as the most important reality in the Universe...a reality that no space-vehicle can reach. God Himself has revealed Himself as Love and this Love is the highest form of Love. God has been revealed as One God in Three Persons. God is One, yet distinct. One Divine Nature (God Nature) but Three distinct Persons…revealed to us as God, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. I have to give credit where credit is due, however, even if some credit is extended to Jefferson Airplane. They got one aspect of Love right in their question, “Don’t you NEED somebody to love?” Have you ever thought about why we cannot Love without having a distinct “other” to Love? Why can’t we simply love ourselves and call it good? After all God Loves us individually as if we were the sole individual in existence (according to Saint Augustine) right? However, we were created by God, by Love, out of ultimate Love so that we would be able to Love…that we would BE Love…give it, receive it and live in it. It is true that we NEED somebody to love because we were created in God’s image and likeness. God who is love created us to mirror Him. We mirror Him by loving as He loves. We reach our highest purpose…our goal…our “Telos” when we give and receive Love as He does among the Three Divine Persons. So what does this love look like in space and time?

Admittedly the sort of Love that God shares among the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is completely above and beyond us. To use words to describe these realities is almost insulting and anyone who attempts to speak of the such things does so only as a fool. We only avoid being complete fools by the Grace of God and His Loving disposition toward us, His Children, that He created. The grandeur of God is totally other yet at the same time it is something He, out of love, desires that we participate in as fully as possible. I prefer the word, “Charity” because it is clearer in our experience (though also an imperfect descriptor) to the higher form of Love those who love God aspire toward. When we “give to Charity” we understand that we only gain by the giving. Love is total self-giving for the sake of another…which is for the sake of all others. Love is not necessarily a feeling at all but it can surely produce feelings in us…either by abundance or our experience of lack. Love is not an emotion either. Love, like I said above, is God Himself. We know love by this…that God created us to be like Himself in all things…Loves us despite our inability to Love as He loves…and even came PERSON-ally…revealing Himself in Jesus Christ that we might be restored to full-communion with the Blessed Trinity…clearly something we were not able to accomplish on our own. So, do we NEED somebody to love? Of course we do…yet not with the same motivations in operation in the Sixties “love” culture…but for the sake of others…out of our Love for God. Unselfishly. Always seeking the best for others. Always pointing others toward ultimate Truth (God Himself) and doing so in our actions, words…what we do and what we choose not to do.

I want somebody to love…I need somebody to love...so I reach for this goal but, God permitting, will live Love His way, with His constant help...by His Grace. His Grace is indeed sufficient for us…He’s given us all we need to begin to Love. The reality I have EVERYONE to Love. Not for myself, but for the sake of ALL others. So with this I again begin and pray you are encouraged to do likewise.

As Saint Paul proclaimed in his letter to the Corinthian Church:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful;
it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect;
but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away.
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood.
So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

In order to Love we need other people to whom we give it and with whom to live it.

Better Way

"If I am right, Thy grace impart still in the right to stay. If I am wrong, Oh, teach my heart to find the better way."
-- Elizabeth Ann Seton, Saint, foundress and first superior of the Sisters of Charity; in personal prayer just before her conversion to the Catholic faith from Anglicanism

Is the Day Gray or Blue?

Depending on where a person stands~ the sky can be blue or gray. Their view is dependent on what their eyes happen to see at that present moment. This concept is not difficult to understand. We know that weather changes and we are subject to the elements. The same is true for many things like political, racial, social, historical events. All another way of saying there are two sides to every story...and in reality there are often more than merely two sides. We may feel very strongly, in many cases, in favor of one side or another and this is common the world over. We identify most with the side we're on.

The same concept above is not always applicable in every situation. Is it? Imagine a mother who chooses to leave her child in a dumpster or in a field to die because she doesn't want to be responsible for him. We all would know that this is wrong and could hardly find ourselves, "supporting" such a decision. Nearly every human being on the planet, if asked, "Was the mother's decision right or wrong?" would undoubtedly say, "Wrong." Certain streams of reality run much deeper than others.

Getting back to the subject of weather we know that "weather" is present within the atmosphere of our planet. If a person enters a rocket ship and flies straight up through the atmosphere there will be a point where weather is no longer present yet it is common on Earth. If you've ever flown through a storm you'll understand this very easily. On the ground it is raining, you go through some bumps and can't see a thing outside your window...then suddenly the sun comes out, the sky is blue again and you see the clouds beneath you. Your perspective is relative to your position.

Getting back to the mother and child. There isn't a way to "fly above" this situation. Where can she go once her child has died to escape her terrible decision? She could live where it is sunny or where it constantly rains and nothing will change her internal life. The majority of people will never experience a situation as grave as this mother. However, there are lesser decisions that we make, daily, that can also serve to deeply affect our hearts and minds. There is an unseen portion of the human person, a divine part, that tells us that lying is wrong, that cheating is wrong, that cowardice is wrong. There is a place within each of us, a conscience, that exists and stands "above" our particular cultural or social norms. There is an absolute sense of right and wrong within each of us that can have a variety of specific differences the world over. In some cultures it is seen as admirable to kill a lion with a spear and carry it's head back to the village on said spear...people in the U.S. might not "support" such a practice and even vehemently oppose it. Yet in some areas of the world, specifically where there are lions, and lions are a threat to life and property of loved ones...we can see, "how someone might think differently." However, our basic appreciation for bravery or courage doesn't change...we merely express the same character trait, in this case bravery, in various ways.

Is the day gray? Yes. Blue? Yes. But something runs much deeper in the human heart and soul regardless of where a person lives. Something much deeper calls us to goodness and truth~ to compassion and mercy~ to love to the degree that we are able to love. We are all called to identify and "be good" (to quote E.T.) to one another..this goes beyond culture..this goes far above the weather.

Judge Not?

I have encountered several occasions where people have said to me, "Yeah Rob, I agree with you, but you can't judge other peoples' behavior...Jesus taught us not to judge." This statement of others usually comes on the heels of a conversation in which I have stated that a certain behavior (I'll avoid specifics here) is wrong or sinful. I realize that though I might add a perspective that might not be identical to others I found the following article written by Jim Blackburn very solid and probably better than I could have done myself. Please read it and let me know what you think.

Judge Not? by Jim Blackburn

As an apologist at Catholic Answers I often get calls and e-mails from people dealing with the immoral behavior of others who are close to them. They are unsure of what, if any, action they can or should take in the matter.

Typical examples would be dealing with an adult child who’s living with her boyfriend or coping with an adult sibling who has announced that he is gay. The callers often struggle with whether to allow the child or sibling to practice the immoral lifestyle in their home. Do I have to let them spend the night? What do I tell my kids? How do I deal with this in a loving way? Can I truly love my neighbor while rejecting his immoral lifestyle?

Often people in these situations have tried to take some action already, only to be shot down immediately with the accusation that they are being "judgmental," that the Bible teaches us not to judge others, that they should just mind their own business. "After all," they’re told, "I’m not judging you and you shouldn’t be judging me. Read the Bible." But is that really what the Bible teaches?

When pressed to show where the Bible supports this, those who can come up with any response at all usually point to Jesus’ words found in the Gospel of Matthew, "Judge not, that you not be judged." Most people will stop there, with the clear conviction that the Bible teaches that we are not to pass any form of judgment on others. A closer look at this Bible verse and other related verses, however, uncovers a different understanding of Jesus’ teaching.

First, let’s look at the full context of Jesus’ words:

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye," when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (Matt. 7:1-5)

If we break this passage down line by line, it becomes clear that Jesus was not telling his disciples that they could not ever judge the behavior of others. Rather, he was cautioning them to live righteous lives themselves so that their judgment of others’ behavior would not be rash judgment and their efforts would be effective in admonishing their neighbors.

"Judge not, that you be not judged." By itself, this statement could be construed to mean that one may escape even God’s judgment simply by not judging the behavior of others. Of course, everyone is judged by God, so this cannot be a proper understanding. Jesus goes on to reformulate his statement in a positive way: "With the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get." Jesus indeed expects his disciples to judge but he warns that they, too, will be judged in a like manner.

This is reminiscent of the line in the Lord’s Prayer, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" (Matt. 6:12). Much more than a simple warning that God will treat us as we treat others, this is an appeal to each of us to be as much as we can like God in the way that we treat others. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, "there has to be a vital participation, coming from the depths of the heart, in the holiness and the mercy and the love of our God. Only the Spirit by whom we live can make ‘ours’ the same mind that was in Christ Jesus" (CCC 2842).

In the next two lines Jesus cautions against hypocrisy: "Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?" Judging hypocritically is not effective. A petty thief admonished by a bank robber only scoffs at his admonisher.

Jesus then explains how to judge rightly: "First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." Much to the point of this article, there can be no doubt that those final words—"take the speck out of your brother’s eye"—are, indeed, permission to judge so long as it is done rightly.

Other Bible passages which seem on the surface to indicate a condemnation of judging others’ behavior may be treated similarly in their full context. The idea of rightly judging the behavior of others can be found throughout the New Testament.

Jesus told the Jews, "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment" (John 7:24).

He instructed his disciples what to do if someone sins against them:

Go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. (Matt. 18:15-17)

It is not possible to follow Jesus’ instructions without being "judgmental" of another’s behavior.

Paul, too, exhorted right judgment of other Christians: "For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. Drive out the wicked person from among you" (1 Cor. 5:12-13).

Also, "Do you not know that the saints [i.e. Christians] will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, matters pertaining to this life!…Shun immorality" (1 Cor. 6:2-18).

A look at the Old Testament reveals similar teaching: "You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor" (Lev. 19:15).

Clearly, contrary to what many would prefer to believe, the Bible exhorts us to rightly judge the behavior of others. The Catholic Church teaches likewise but cautions us just as Jesus did the disciples:

Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes guilty:

* of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor;
* of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another's faults and failings to persons who did not know them;
* of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.

To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbor's thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way: "Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another's statement than to condemn it. But if he cannot do so, let him ask how the other understands it. And if the latter understands it badly, let the former correct him with love. If that does not suffice, let the Christian try all suitable ways to bring the other to a correct interpretation so that he may be saved." (CCC 2477-2478)

Having said all that, there is a big difference between judging another’s behavior and judging the eternal state of his soul. The latter judgment belongs only to God. Jesus addressed this type of judgment too:

The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself, and has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. (John 5:22-30)

Clearly, in this context, Jesus was speaking of judgment as condemnation or eternal damnation. Such judgment is reserved to him alone.

So, when faced with the immoral behavior of loved ones, how can we be sure to rightly judge behavior? In Jesus’ own words, we must start by taking the logs out of our own eyes—by making sure we are doing the best we can to live lives of good example. We must also strive to form our consciences correctly so that we know sin when we see it. Finally, we must not jump to conclusions about another’s culpability in sin. Doing all this will help to ensure that our admonitions are seen as the loving actions we intend them to be—meant to help our loved ones live their lives in ways that are pleasing to God. Only then can our efforts be effective in helping to take these ugly specks out of our brothers’ eyes.

Choice?

I wonder what she would choose?