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."

Thursday, November 5, 2020

The Anniversary

I've been remiss,.. I've missed an auspicious and monumental milestone in the life of this blog.  This year marks the
10 year anniversary of my observations, commentary and random thoughts. Overall, I have just 68 published entries, --over 10 years--but many more that remain unpublished, unfinished and largely within the confines of my somewhat sardonic and simultaneously bemused brain. 

When I began this blog, it was my thought that conversation would ensue,... or perhaps contrary observations or perspectives.   I also thought that I'd have many more posts than actually appear. Quiet as its kept, I am very opinionate but the abundant posts didn't happen, nor did the overwhelming (or any) discussion that I envisioned.... Oh well,, someone once said  "Our visions are but dust in the wind,.. easily dispersed and spread afar." I'd like to think that in the great scheme of things, that's what has happened in the past 10 years.  Happy Birthday, Dear Diary!!

Movement happens none-the-less!!.

We're in a new decade. Things are moving fast, a lot on my plate and wonder if I can even keep up,. Donald Trump has been  U.S. president for 4 years. Tonight, November 5, 2020, he may actually be the ex-U.S. president,.. wouldn't that be nice.  Well if I can't keep up, I know you can and there's lots of opinion out there. And so I turn it over to you. I'm asking others about their stories, and, with their permission, giving it breath, here. Achieving a few things with this:  Making sure we get closer to the truth, making sure that I pay attention, and, making sure we get all thoughts on paper for posterity.  Let's see if this gets me to keep up. And I'm starting with the genius I live with, We've had some frustrations here lately, what with the "alternate facts" coming out of the Trump White House and how a new direction in the U.S. seems to evade our collective grasps..  My wife, Pat, has some thoughts. Let's listen in:



"To start, I remember the day, four years ago, full of dread and revulsion.  What I am feeling today, is the death to my naivety.   Then could think it was a fluke, a badly run election on Clinton's part, lack of understanding the full measure of the man. Now, fully exposed, so many voted for him. Even if Biden "wins", I will be sad for this country.

That this was not a blowout is such a stain on this country.

I'm so demoralized by the fact that so many of my fellow citizens are so willfully unthinking and/or hateful, that they not only don't mind but celebrate and embrace this aggressive hostility and inflict it on the all of us in so many ways. Now, we must proceed re- building a  civil society in which we recognize science and facts and decency and integrity and caring for our fellow society members."

Well there you have it: Honest and straightforward.  That's the real State of the Union.  

You'll hear from Pat from time to time,.  I happen to like Real.  But I'll ask you for Real too.  Look out, I'm coming for you.

---Peace 

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