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."

Friday, July 3, 2020

How are we paid?

I've struggled over the years with the concept of being paid for that which we love to do.   Now keep in mind that this is coming from someone who has been paid handsomely for doing what he loved,.. throughout his career. I was blessed so that I had lengthy career in pharmaceutical research for which every 2 weeks, money showed up in my bank account. "Retired" over the past 12 years, that hasn't happened so much these days, and yet I continue to "work" in the career given to me when I was 15 years old.   The word "work" is in quotes because I don't consider doing what is the love of your life, really work.

And so, I wonder what is it that we really aim for when you are engaged in an organizational activity that you've loved all your life.

I'm a University Adjunct Instructor.  Now, let me first say that I don't believe the term "Adjunct" is appropriately applied anywhere in academia. It implies "part-time and the animal "part-time" instructor just doesn't exist.  If you are a teacher, you do it because you're committed to instruction and the word committed implies full time. You're taking student phone calls for either classes or mentorship, grading papers, preparing for classes and in generally thinking about how you, as a guide, will make your students productive members of society.

How are we paid? Monetarily, with part-time pay, no question.  So what drives an adjunct? Why do we get up every morning.  I suppose there's so much more. Here's an example of my pay:

"Reflecting this Father’s Day, I’m proud to say that much of who I am is based on lessons I’ve learned from each of these four men. Thank you Uncle Adrian for teaching me how to be a source of laughter and joy, even in the darkest of times. Thank you Dr. Pitts for helping this young man turn his wildest dreams into a reality and continuing to provide the blueprint on how to use my knowledge, and faith, to empower our community. Thank you Opa for stressing the importance of speaking your mind, maintaining a worldly perspective, and taking in all there is on this "wide open road" called life. Thank you Dad for always being the Superhero of our family and for showing me how to be resilient, selfless, and have integrity through words and action. You exemplify what it means for a man to provide for his family in totality: mind, body, and soul. Happy Father’s Day to you all and I aspire to inspire others as much as you have done for me."
My student, Cameron Golden, included me in a list of influences on his life that included His father, His Uncle and His Grandfather.  Then there's his teacher, me.  Not his only teacher, but one that somehow found a place in is heart.

That's a pay the University can't give me and its worth so much more.

I am so beyond honored, and at the same time, I'm humbled.

Thank you Cameron.
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