God, self, others, creation: February 2010

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Thoughts for today

I am grateful for the many comments I got yesterday. There was one I particularly want to share with all of you. It is an article written by a rabbinical student. Go to www.jewishexponent.com/article/20593. I hope you can copy and paste the address. It is a wonderful piece about a recent interfaith experience. I wish we could all commment on it.

Some of you noted the expression "Shit happens." Jean reminded us of the words of Elie Weisel, Jewish theologian and philosopher. When he faced the question, "How could a good God permit the holocoust"?, he realized that God did not cause it, but suffered it with each one of the victims.

Is God capable of suffering? Is God really in the middle of our shit?

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Back to life!

I did my first posting over six months ago and then... I got sick! Shit happens! But nothing lasts forever and here I am, ready to continue my attempt to have an intelligent, fun, and interesting blog in cyberspace. If you have any suggestions, comments, etc. let me know. I hope to create a safe space where no idea or feeling is stupid or irrelevant. Remember, in this awesome creation, nothing is profane for those who know how to see!

WORDS OF WISDOM

Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’ (Luke 23:32--43)