From The Blurb Blog: The Lesson of Persistence

Persistence Pays

Gandhi was the peacemaker.  He was the true Father of modern-day India and revered as the inspiration for the methods employed by Martin Luther King in the sixties Civil Rights Movement. He embodied the era of the modern peace movement and was an inspirational and beloved figure worldwide. His thoughtful meditations on the nature and actual process of bringing about change in a peaceful manner are still the gold standard for all peace activists.

Gandhi’s statement proves true today. First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win. I think the greatest lesson here is the lesson of Persistence. And the dogged determination encapsulated within the warning of a political fight. You must have a thick enough skin to weather the storm in any profession if you want to succeed.

You may fail, you will not always win every fight, and you should be prepared for tough and at times, unjust criticism. But if you have a belief in yourself and what you are doing, if you feel that it’s the right message that could change lives, as Gandhi did, none of that matters. You will succeed in the end, because in the end, you know you have the right message. As Dr. King said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice”.

Earth Day and the Local Foods movement in Florida

There’s been a push for heatlhy eating trends in recent years, including more vegetarian and vegan fare. We’ve learned about “The Slow Food Movement” which is defined as eating food that is prepared at home, cooked in the oven, and prepared mindfully. This as opposed to “Fast Foods” which are eaten on the run and we are all guilty of indulging in fast foods from time to time.

The Local foods we eat are usually found when we go to Farmers Markets, or if we happen to pass by a small food stand where someone is selling their wares by the road. We should all be aware of the types of food that are grown locally and regionally. Some local foods found in this area (the Tampa Bay area)  include strawberries, tomatoes, oranges and other citrus fruits.

We also need to be more aware of organic farming, and what types of pesticides are used in fields where are foods are grown. When we know more about the process of what goes into the making of the food we eat, we can become more mindful when eating and making choices about the types of foods we consume on a daily basis.

We all have favorite foods. Some of my favorite foods growing up included lots of beef and hamburgers. Now that I know how much land it takes to raise beef, the differences between grass-fed and other beef, and the health consequences of eating too much red meat, I have made different choices about the foods I eat on a weekly basis… The foods that we can eat which are grown locally are much better choices as a rule for our weekly meal planning. However, I do confess that occasionally, I still like to indulge in hamburgers for a special treat!

Here’s a handy list compiled of foods that are locally grown in Florida. The list is from a complete list of all states and growing seasons for produce found at this link: Seasonal Food Guide in Florida.

In Florida, these are some of the native vegetables and fruits we may look for at Farmers Markets and in stores:

·            Asparagus: February March & early April

·         Bananas:  Grown all year in Florida

·         Blueberries: April & May

·         Bok Choy: January, February, March, April, May, November & December

·         Cabbage: January, February, March, April, May & December

·         Cantaloupe: Available April, May & June

·         Carrots: April & May

·         Celery: January, February, March, April & December

·         Chili Peppers: Available all months in Florida except July

·         Chives: Available all year in Florida

·         Citrus Fruits: Available all year in Florida except July & August

·         Clementines: January thru April then November & December

·         Collard Greens: January thru May then November & December

·         Corn: January thru June then October thru December

·         Grapefruit: January thru May then September thru December

·         Green Beans: January thru May then November & December

·         Green Onions: Grown All Year in Florida!

·         Kale: Grown January thru May then November & December

·         Lemongrass is grown all year in Florida

·         Lemons are available all year except the months of July & August

·         Lettuce: Available January thru April and in December

·         Melons: Available January thru May then November & December

·         Mint: Can be grown year round in Florida

·         Mushrooms: Can be grown year round in Florida

·         Onions: Can be grown year round in Florida

·         Oranges: Grown all months except July & August in Florida

·         Oregano: Can be grown year round in Florida

·         Parsley: Can be grown year round in Florida

·         Peaches: Grown April, May & June

·         Peas: Grown January thru May and in October

·         Peppers: Grown January thru May then October thru December

·         Potatoes: Grown January thru May then October thru December

·         Parsley: Grown January thru May then November & December

·         Radishes: Grown January thru May then November & December

·         Rosemary: Can be grown year round in Florida

·         Snow Peas: May be grown January thru May

·         Spinach: Grown March & April in Florida

·         Strawberries: Grown January thru April then November & December

·         Summer Squash: Grown every month excerpt July & August in Florida

·         Tomatoes: Grown all year except months July thru September

·         Zuccchini: Grown all year except summer months of July & August

The Shape of Water and the Value of Humanity

What does it mean to be Human?

The Oscar winning film, The Shape of Water is.a quirky kind of fairy tale that.talks about what it means to be human. The theme of the film deals with the nature of love and compassion for others. This film is really a fantasy, directed by Guillermo del Toro, someone who has directed other fantastic tales, such as  Pan’s Labyrinth. In one of the key scenes, the mute janitor, played by Sally Hawkins, passionately signs to her good friend that the creature being tormented is worthy of love and compassion. And then she goes on to question herself.  If there is no compassion left for the creature that is alive in the laboratory tank, then what does that make her? Is she less worthy of help?

There are many instances in fantasy and science-fiction where the characters must come to a breaking point where they question their own humanity. The original film, adaptation of Bladerunner dealt primarily with the nature of what it means to be human. It was the same theme found in Philip K Dick’s short story, from which Bladerunner was adapted, which was titled: “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” The central question, the one that gets to the heart of the dilemma, is right there in the title. In Dick’s story, all animals have been wiped off the face of the planet, and only a select few humans could afford “Electric Sheep.” So the question becomes one of the intrinsic value that makes us human, and therefore worthy of acquiring electric sheep.

Although the 1984 film didn’t use the particular plot device of sheep, the idea was an open question throughout the film: What does it mean to be human? Harrison Ford’s character, Deckard, begins with the rather callous question when talking about the race of robotic humanoids: How does it not know what it is? And we see the irony in this when he eventually falls in love with a humanoid.

This question of the nature of humanity is asked in many different ways throughout literature, and again in famous films. In Casablanca, Bogart plays the world-weary and cynical Rick, who still believes enough in the power of love to sacrifice his happiness for the sake of others. One of his famous quote is “….It doesn’t take much to see that the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.” So again, with this, Rick questions the value of our lives in the grand scheme of things.

 This same premise is seen in a classic episode of TV’s The Twilight Zone, many years ago. A man from Earth is banished to another planet, with no human contact. His only companion is, a robotic woman. When he is eventually released, he faces the dilemma of leaving and abandoning the only thing that gave him comfort and solace through the many years of his exile.  And the question becomes: What is the value that we, as humans, place upon our souls that sets us apart? We are constantly faced with the questions in literature, and in science fiction as well as in our own lives: What does it mean to be human?

What does it matter if we inherit the entire world, yet lose our soul?…In the Bible, we hear in Matthew 16:26 the famous question: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” And so the theme continues throughout literature. As Christians, we know the answer lies in our acknowledgement that we are all flawed human beings, and sinners, and Christ was the one who sacrificed all and forgave our sins. HIS Humanity gives us the guiding light to clear the path in this crazy world. 

In the end, it's the question that is answered for us in our care for others, and is echoed so often in Christ's teachings. To love others as we do our own family, as much as we do for ourselves, we should do for others. This is the simple and clear message found in Christ's teachings, and the answer to the often-asked question: "What does it mean to be human?"

The Women of the Church

My uncle, a retired Presbyterian Minister, spoke often and enthusiastically about the role that women played in his congregation. There are not too many groups or organizations that don’t swear by the dedication and hard work of the women working tirelessly behind the scenes to organize food drives, to raise money and to recruit volunteers.

There is a good book, She Hath Been Reading, about women who organized and worked in community projects across the U.S. long before it was fashionable for women to have jobs. They would organize by meeting in groups, often called “Shakespeare Clubs”, where they not only discussed literature, but also ways to raise money and create the first kindergartens, libraries, schools and learning centers in their communities.

The role of women in organizing the first churches has been well documented. Jesus spoke often of the devotion and dedication from the women who followed him as he traveled and taught. And even Paul, who has been criticized frequently for some of the passages that have been interpreted as demeaning to women, is shown in a different light as we look at many of the times in his letters where he praises and lifts up the women who helped to form the early churches in the Christian religion.

The women, with names like Tryphosa, Priscilla, Apphia, Chloe, Phoebe and Junia are all mentioned in Paul’s letters   And their roles were vital in many ways, as Paul is counseling and encouraging, giving advice and helping to organize these groups of Christian men and women who met in homes and gathered together to worship, often in secret, as they were persecuted under Roman occupation.

He speaks in Philippians of Euodia and Syntyche as women who have ‘struggled beside me’ in the work of the gospel. He asks the Lord to help them. He speaks in Romans of Phoebe, who is a deacon of the church in her home town. And he mentions how hard Mary has worked, and also Priscilla and Aquila who ‘risked their necks for my life.’ Paul does acquit himself in these passages of simply talking down to women. It is evident in his letters that these women are vital cogs in the wheel, and without them, without their daily courage and dedication to spreading the word, then Christianity would not have been able to endure as a lasting religion.

That is the importance of women to the cause. And we give thanks to the many groups, the ‘women of the church’ who have dedicated themselves from small tasks such as arranging flowers and handling child care (no small task), to organizing Sunday School classes and teachers and raising money, as well as visiting the sick and elderly within the church community. These are the thankless tasks that have carved out and defined the reality of what the Christian religion has become. And it would not have been possible without the women who laid the foundation, the Church’s strong foundation, upon which our faith is built. God bless the women of the church, and all hard-working and dedicated women who are struggling each day to raise their families and make the world a better place for their children.

What I Like About You- An essay for the addictions of our times

The things I love about alcoholics and drug addicts, and all who fall into the category of substance-abusers is this; their honesty is humbling to me. They are at times laid bare in their pain and their purely beautiful naked souls are exposed for the world to see.

And there am I, a pathetic creature of habits and deeds, so tied to my fears and love of habitual societal norms, plus the comforts of home, that I begin to despise my own lack of innate trust and childlike innocence. It’s that loss of perception where you cocoon yourself and mask all your innermost thoughts and feelings that makes you feel smugly superior owing to your sense of control. It’s that control that covers all the elements of your life.

The irony? All those elements of your life are mostly out of your control. Nothing but manifest destiny lies before us, and we need to tell ourselves daily lies to subsist. It’s that daily lie that Horace Greeley made us believe. It says that if we work hard enough and play by the rules we shall overcome. It’s pure B.S. as are most of the other cynical lies we live and die by.

What I like about addicts is that they are stripped bare of the lies and the artifice at times. At times their lives are laid raw and open for all of us to see. They expose themselves for a time and the world may see them for what they are. They are childlike creatures.

I know they are many other things. They are selfish and shallow, unthinking and uncaring. They focus purely on the thrill of the moment, and not on the long-term consequences. But they are childlike and trusting liars all. They live by the Code of Addicts, which has no code. It’s all for one and one for one only.

We see ourselves as superior beings, but in the light of day, our judgments will be measured by the same jury of one. We are all stripped bare of the lies we tell ourselves and of the artifice of our lives. These things that are self-evident will hold true. We must forgive the addicts among us. For they are part of the society that bred and raised them. We must own up and accept their sins and failings. They are always with us and they walk among us now. We are them and they are us. They are our friends and lovers, our children and parents. Their failings are our own.

At the end of our lives, our souls are laid open with all our lies exposed. That is why we can never judge the addicted and tormented souls that walk amongst us. We can look in the mirror each day and decide to keep it in or to let it go. In the end, the decision will be out of our hands. We must let go of the rage and terror and frustration we feel and learn to simply hate the sin and love the sinner.

The roses on Valentine's Day

This year we find that Valentine’s Day, the Day of Love and for lovers, is intertwined with the beginning of the Christian holy day of Ash Wednesday. It should be a perfect opportunity to marry the two topics, as it seems they have at times been at odds with one another.

Jesus had spoken of the personal quest of each individual as we struggle with our own lives, our own sins and sorrows, and as we fall in love and marry, and then commit to our partners as we grow older, we see our lives change. We strive to become closer to our spouses and partners, and in doing so we want to be able to give of ourselves to the ones we love. That should not be a dilemma, and yet, at times, it seems to be a push and pull on our time, on our senses, and on our mental capacity to be a Christian and to be a loving partner.

The answer, as is the case for all our deepest and darkest fears, is to look to Christ to show us the way. He has told us that he will lift the yoke and carry the burden. And we shall be better for it, as we learn to breathe, take it all in, and to realize that we will never be a perfect yin to the yang of any human, no matter how much we love them. We must look to the scriptures that teach us to deal with the admittedly heavy burdens we often share in life.

God never calls on us to be perfect, but always to have faith and to believe in him. If we can learn to let go, and then to heal ourselves not simply one day at a time, but one hour to the next, and with communion through prayer and with steady faith, we see the path forward. Life has never been guaranteed to be a bed of roses, but the idea of stopping to smell the roses is a perfect metaphor for our enjoyment of life, of love and our commitment to each other on this Valentine’s Day.

Beyond the Dream with Dr. King

I have a dream…that one day my four little children will one day live in a world where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”…. That quote from Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr is by far his most recognizable line from his speeches. But the legacy of Martin Luther King includes many more inspiring quotations from sermons and speeches that the charismatic leader of the Civil Rights movement delivered in his short life of 39 years.

Dr. King was also known for his famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail” speech, which was written and published in 1963, before the March on Washington. This famous essay focused on not only the beliefs he held when he was arrested and jailed in Birmingham, Alabama but also on his disappointment with prominent church leaders of his time who remained silent or admonished him for his activism.

Dr. King had also delivered the “I have a Dream” speech before, at different times and variations, and the passage was so well known to him and his followers that one of the women listening, a prominent African American singer named Mahalia Jackson, was heard to say, “Tell them about the dream, Martin!” while he was speaking that day.

Dr. King spoke of the importance of being active for the causes you passionately believe in. And he was one of the most famous activists who lived his beliefs daily as he “walked the walk” for Civil Rights and later, as he spoke out as an anti-war and peace activist. Martin Luther King was working to help garbage collectors organize and to fight for a decent living wage when he was killed in Memphis in 1968. The actions Dr. King took, and the way he lived his life reinforce the fact that his core beliefs were with him to the end.  And though he is known for the famous “I have a Dream” speech, there were many memorable quotes and moving passages from Martin Luther King Jr. throughout his brief lifetime that stirred people to action. Dr. King was only 39 years old when he died, but in his own words, he noted: “The quality, not the longevity of one’s life is what is important”

Here are a few more of Dr. King’s most famous quotes:

     In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends

                       Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase

                      Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend

                        The moral arc of the universe bends at the elbow of justice

                  We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools