Welcome

Welcome to All. This blog is a discussion site, looking at our lives through our experiences, our spiritual, and, not so spiritual lens, ....what our lives look like at The Front. We are and some would argue, always have been, in interesting times. Servants, past and present have been at constant struggle with whatever the issues of the day have been. Where do we even begin to name them: poverty, hunger, education, shelter, .... and did I mention poverty? Fifty-one years ago, President Lyndon Johnson declared war on poverty, a war by the way, we're still fighting. Then again, we've always been at war with poverty, and yet poverty has remained steadfast. Jesus apparently got it right: "The poor will always be with you." But Jesus was a smart man. Did he mean what we think? Does poverty always have to be with us. Let's talk about this, and whatever else, in real and truthful ways. Let's view our lives from The Front.
If you have come to help me, then you are wasting your time. If you have come because your liberation is linked to mine, then we will work together.
----(Anonymous) Australian Aborigine Activist
--mailto:--neilpitts@aol.com

Contemplative Action

The Rite of Initiation: You are going to die


A shocking statement. Perhaps. But the Franciscan Priest, Richard Rohr,,who has studied the Rite of Initiation has said the following::

"Every initiation rite I've studied had some ritual, dramatic, or theatrical way to experience crossing the threshold from life to death in symbolic form. Some ritual of death and resurrection was the centerpiece of all male initiation. It is probably why Jesus sought out and submitted to John the Baptist's offbeat death and rebirth ritual down by the riverside, when his own temple had become more concerned with purity codes than with transformation. It is probably why Jesus kept talking to his disciples, three times in Mark's Gospel, about the necessity of this death journey, and why three times they changed the subject (8:31-10:45). It is undoubtedly why Jesus finally stopped talking about it, and just did it, not ritually but actually. Death and resurrection, the paschal mystery, is the theme of every single Eucharist no matter what the feast or season. It takes us many seasons and even years to overcome our resistance to death.

"The transformational journey of death and resurrection is the only real message. It makes you indestructible. The real life, God's life, is running through you and in you already. But allowing it to flow freely doesn't come easily. When you do, the spiritual journey really begins. Up to that moment it is just religion. Everything up to then is creating the container, but you have not yet found the contents; you are creating the wineskins, as Jesus says, but you are not yet drinking the intoxicating wine."

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Leadership

Leadership. An important quality in life indeed. Many African countries look to Kenya for leadership in healthcare...particular sub-sharan Africa. But let's add some perspective. Sub-saharan Africa is currently home to over 1 billion people. By the year 2050, this number becomes over 2 billion. And by 2100 the number explodes to almost 4 billion people (the world's population will be over 11 billion). Which means that by the turn of the next century, sub-saharan Africa will be home to approximately one-third of this planet's population. I get blown away by these numbers. I realize that not every one does. But all of us need to pay attention, because in the big picture, we depend on each other for survival. Healthcare is the main topic across the world, NOW. I can't begin to imagine what it will be like in the year 2100 with over 11 billion people vying for resources. But Kenya has indeed taken a leadership role in educating other African countries on the way forward into the next century. Perhaps because there are so many countries conjoined (54), there is a realization the continent's continued growth (and they are growing and progressing) will depend on collaboration. My educational partner in Kenya, Dr. Titus Kahiga of Kenyatta University, left for Ghana this morning to give such a presentation at the 2017 AFREHEALTH symposium on how African health care professions can, and will, work together to manage the needs of the coming population boom. Stay tuned.. and pay attention,.. as this country, and continent, lead the way for all of us, speeding toward the 22nd century.
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