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| YINGYANGwallaballabingbang!!!
by retroh at 9/20/2009 4:49:23 AM
Even tho' I've never extensively studied the Eastern Religions, mysticisms, and beliefs; I do understand some of their idealisms and Truths. I am a Christian believer, and yet how could one so easily toss the poor, crying baby of other religions right out with the dirty bath water? I am SOOO glad that I'm not the judge of it ALL.
My Grandfather was a muslim practicing the religion of Islam, Grandma on the other hand a devout Christian. YingYang right in front of me. Their Love Story remains our family's shining achievement of what a human heart is possible of.
Commander J.M. Rickly was / is a retired high ranking military man, stoic, stern, had a ceremonial sword !!!, perfectionist, type A personality, not too family minded. Dear Mom is an optimist, Libra in love with life, prone to goofiness, often cackling like a chicken in public to get a reaction, rarely sweats the small stuff, extreme family woman. Yingyang never had it so good with these two.
Alot of my years I was raised by 2 older brothers. Let's just say Ying and Yang should have worn boxing gloves! Glad they taught me how to protect mahself though!!! They fought each other as hard as they played together.
Life is so full of examples of Ying and Yang; a person could go on forever. So, when some Perfect Christian told me that my Grandfather, the muslim, was going to HELL, well, I just didn't know what to say in his defense. But that statement helpted jog me from a deep sleep.
I didn't have a religious upbringing, formal Bible training was not on our play date schedule growing up!
I came to have FAITH as an adult man. I believe this has made a huge difference in my life. The faith and coming to the faith as an adult.
Naturally, I questioned another person I looked up to about the HARSH judgement pronounced on my Grandfather by this person. I was shocked at the answer I received... This man believed that by condemning Grandpa to Hell , the accuser was on his way THERE himself ! Everyone seemed ready to send another to hell for supposed sins of wrong beliefs. Again, Thank the veritable Heavens that I'm only in charge of me; yeah MJ, you were right after all. Start with the man in the mirror. Most Perfect Humans can't handle that axiom though. The eastern philosophies have so many Truths that have been proven it is hard to say "false" in the same sentence as their name.
For me it's about balance. Surprise, Mom is a Libra which is symbolized by the scales. While my sign is a Ram. I read somewhere that Aries men are prone to head injuries; not a big surprise to me !!!
I always viewed Astrology as recreational reading!
( Yahoo horrorscopes stink, don't use 'em ) And yet, if you dig just a little there is alot of truth to the findings of personality and love horrorscopes!
I'm sure there are 'false' religions in our world. I've no doubt of that; right along with false messiahs, prophets, liars, cheats, and the downright ignorant.
Yet, to just have WHOLESALE CONDEMNATION of all beliefs that are not the same as MINE or YOURS, for me, would be ignorance, and I/you/they would be in danger of JUDGING. Condemnation prior to Investigation is the epitome of this aforementioned ignorance.
Recommended reading, The Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Forgive me if I spelled his name wrong. It's a great, great story of a search for truth. Imagine ending up in a life boat with a Siberian Tiger after the ship you were on sunk? Yeah, you'd want to find God in a hurry too !! Check it out. His Honest, quest for God told in this story is incredible. Not preachy and prone to give the spine some chills.
It's actually easy to Preach, Lecture, Yell, Shout, and Demand that mine/yours/their beliefs are this, that AND the other. Infinitely more difficult is to Tolerate, Investigate, and Love One Another.
Who was the first to whine; "why can't we all just get along?"
I remember one mini vacation in Orlando quite well. There was a middle eastern man in the pool that apparently loved to state HIS beliefs and SHOOT DOWN mine/your/others beliefs, openly, publicly and to strangers as well. He was very confident, well spoken, and quite blinded by THE LIGHT. Please note that I am half Lebanese so I wasn't put off by his ethnicity at all. By the time of this vaca I had come to believe in God, studied the Bible, and had some notion of Spiritual matters; as well as facts, opinions, and Love and Tolerance. Well, he thought he " had me ". I was told that 'my bible' didn't say who God was. He claimed to have asked many Religious Dignitaries, Scholars, Priests and Laymen the same question. I told him that perhaps he should read the Bible himself and draw his own conclusions. I think he was ready to drown the Proverbial Baby right there in that Orlando pool !!! After this invitation to keep an Open Mind; I gave him his answer.
Quite simply and without fear or malice I quietly stated that the bible did indeed spell out exactly 'what' God is. "God is Love." The gentleman nearly sputtered and splashed and drowned himself in the exchange. He muttered a few more self held 'beliefs' and we changed the subject to the high price of MickeyWorld or some other topic of non interest.
God made the plan quite clear. Love is the rule of the day. All the past history of man shows that these Truths are truly " Self Evident". Mankind is capable of Love and the direct opposite; Hate.
Yingyang once again, right there in my heart. . .
So, next time you are in traffic or in a heated debate, chill out and just say this mantra...
YingYangWallaBallaBingBang !!! If this doesn't calm you, make you LAUGH AT YOURSELF, or something positive doesn't come of saying it; then... I suggest you get professional help immediately. Or, at least call a trusted friend and UNLOAD the hate. Get it out ASAP! Just try it; i.e. humor, lighten' up, chill, tolerate/even celebrate others differences. I am always AMAZED at how a simple kind word, hug or encouragement, not to mention LOVE, can be in a polarizing situation.
I'd like to leave you with a quote;
" How many lives could be saved by a hug?" author anon. Live/Love Well, my friends. Dave aka Monk
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