Brian’s Reflection: Monday, September 3, 2007


"May God forgive you for what you have done".

- Albino Luciani, installed on this day, 1978,
as Pope John Paul I


Cardinal Patriarch of Venice (something, I confess, I wouldn’t have minded being!! What fun to make pastoral visits in a gondola!)), Albino Luciani was surprisingly elected Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. His health was, unknown to most, not too good - though it was later written in print that he might have been murdered. He became known as “The Smiling Pope”. He reigned for only 33 days.

I have only this to say. Most churches and religions today could do with leaders who are a little more like Albino Luciani. Though Cardinal Patriarch of Venice, he was out of the power structure. This probably contributed to the apprehension he felt at being elected Pope. He was known often to ask, “Why did they elect me?” But, I am tired of people being elected to positions of authority in religious organizations who are “in” the power structure. Christ certainly wasn’t. The Buddha gave it up. Most of the religious leaders who have contributed the most to their faiths weren’t into power. And, in my humble opinion, the mess we are in the world today is exacerbated by the wrong kind of leaders.

Luciano’s quoted words certainly remind one of Jesus’ words from the cross. But a person who can utter such words is just the kind of person I would trust to be a faithful guide.

I think if the word had had John Paul I for some years, the world would be a better place now that what we ended up with.

Brian+

Brian’s Reflection: Thursday, August 31, 2007


It is possible to read the history of this country
as one long struggle to extend the liberties established
in our Constitution to everyone in America.

- Molly Ivins, social commentator, born
this day, 1944, in Texas



As usual (to me, anyway), Molly is bang on. When I read the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, I was truly inspired. But ….. it was too obvious to look around and see how some people benefited more than others from the grand ideas and principles of its founding documents. It was true from the beginning. It is powerfully true today. And it is simply appalling, and hypocritical, and prejudiced - always in favour of those in power. I am a member of a minority, and I experience it all around me every day.

It is also possible to read the history of America (and probably all other states) as one long struggle to extend the blessings and liberties of the Christian faith to everyone in America. And, I expect now, of the Jewish faith, the Islamic faith, or any other faith. American Christians mouth the principle that God loves everyone, but as God’s followers, they do not extend that love to those whom they have judged to be beyond the pale. Those have been many over the centuries. Nor do they extend Divine justice, mercy, compassion. It often only suits them to usurp God’s power of judgment, always seen in the negative - even though the Scriptures expressly forbid them to do so.

Again, it is time to change this. Time to reclaim and to extend to all, without exception, all being sinners but beloved sinners, the blessings of the God of Unconditional Love. As 1st Peter aptly and simply says: God has no favourites.

Brian+

August 29, 2007

Senator Craig of Idaho - a political comment


Well. Senator Craig says that he is "not Gay". Though he was arrested and pleaded quilty for allegedly soliciting a man in a Minnesota airport men's washroom. And the Idaho paper says there have been other instances around the senator's behaviour towards men.

Now: this is all I want to say. It is quite likely that Senator Craig is Gay. And it is equally likely that Senator Craig is constitutionally unable to admit that he is Gay. It seems to me that he is a man who has been in the "closet" all his life. And if he is indeed Gay, he is in that closet because of American culture, which is highly homophobic. It does not surprise me that he is unable to admit to the truth, especially in his position. America condones hatred against Gay people, as well as discrimination on many levels, scapegoating, and ridicule. And this is condoned, overtly or subvertly, by most of American religion. If it were not so, Senator Craig would be able to claim his own sexual orientation without prejudice, despite the pain around his wife and family that obviously results from his being forced into the Gay closet.

So, I give him the benefit of the doubt, if he is lying about his sexual orientation. I understand why. The senator is a powerful object lesson to America: let us cease this brutal abuse of Gay people. Especially of the young, who are still being emotionally and psychologically abused and oppressed and driven to suicide by America's violent and irrational prejudice against Gays/Lesbians.

I wish the Senator, if he is Gay, the freedom to embrace his truth. And I call upon all Americans who believe in the equal application of the Constitution's blessings and freedoms and equality under the law - especially the people of Idaho - to help Senator Craig to be an honest man.

Brian+

Brian’s Reflection: Wednesday, August 29, 2007


On this day, the Christian “church” remembers the beheading of
St. John the Baptist. The apparently sinuous and tantalizing Salome,
egged on by her mother, requested it from Herod, who, in a drunken stupor,
offered the damsel anything even to half his kingdom, for her gyrations
at his party. Hence, the “Forerunner” (latter - undoubtedly unknowingly -
honoured by a Japanese car company), was dispatched. So does politics
and vain worldly glory dispatch those who challenge their power.

- BHOAM, On the Feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist


When, oh when, is either the Christian Church, or society in general, going to take seriously its Call?? It is absolutely clear to me that the Gospel calls for charity, understanding, peace, compassion, respect, the honouring of the relationship of every human being as sister and brother, the working together to make God’s Creation a place in which every human being may enjoy and contribute to the gift of Life that we have been given. And then I look at the antics of the World today, leaders and peoples, headscarves or no headscarves, pork or no pork, alcohol or no alcohol (an abstinence kept mostly in the flouting, as far as I can tell - the hypocrisy of letting non-members of the faith supply it), this prophet or that prophet, blah, blah, blah. Can you tell that I am royally …….????

Get a grip people! We are heading into decades of violence, hate, division, killing, war, fueled by nutcases, religious and otherwise, who profess to be disciples of a benevolent God while really disciples of the Gods of Power and Domination and Hate and Vengeance.

John the Baptists are being beheaded every day by the Herods of this World. All in drunken states of power which, in the end, we dupes have given them, out of our own cowardliness and shallow longing to share in that power.

Are we just going to sit around nervously until the dirty bomb is finally dropped? Until the Religious Police nab us on the streets?

It’s time for those who truly believe in the Love of God and in the commonality of Humanity to take our stand. Time to choose our destiny. Before the whole World looks like the devastated Greece we see on the TV these days - apparently fueled by the greed for money.

Ponder Friends. The time has come.

Brian+

Brian’s Reflection: Tuesday, August 28, 2007


Birds have wings; they're free; they can fly where they want
when they want. They have the kind of mobility many people envy.

- Roger Tory Peterson, birder and guide maker,
born on this day, 1908

I don’t have many avocations. But birding is a wonderful part of my life. A few years ago, my dear friends Mart and Gilly invited me to participate in a three-week birding trip to Madagascar. I saved up, and went. Eight of us met in Paris the day after Christmas, birded the Bois de Bologne (where I saw my first bullfinch and the “real” robin), and the Pere Lachaise cemetery. Then we flew to ‘Tana. On that trip, I loved seeing a new country, and we saw over 160 species of birds, many endemic to Madagascar. Birds have become a symbol of many things in my life.

Yes, we all have “duties”, some imposed, some freely assumed. And responsibilities to friends, family, self, visions, causes. All such things come into play when we are making decisions about what to do with our lives. Birds are “free”, can fly. But they too are prompted by the natural instincts, to migrate, breed, perhaps then die. They are influenced by the availability of food, proper terrain, etc.

But yes, they fly! They seem to us to have the ability to respond to the invitation to explore new things and places. And we can fly too. In imagination, in responding to the invitations to learn new things, explore possibilities, love, grow in heart and mind and spirit. When I go anywhere now, I take my binoculars - they remind me, as I seek out the birds, that if I keep my eyes, inner and outer, open, and pay attention, I may see new and wondrous things - in the world, in people, in myself.

Birds do have a great range of mobility, and larger perspectives. We do too, if we dare to soar, and to imagine horizons.

Brian+

Brian’s Reflection: Monday, August 27, 2007


News Item:
Krakatoa volcano erupts
Over 36,000 die.
August 27, 1883


And so it goes. Of course, the horror is breathtaking. But on the other side is the “One Never Knows” dimension of living on this still cooling planet, “failures” of medicine; consequences of technology (new ways to drill mines in China; collapses that kill many); the body’s amazing durability - then one critical thing goes wrong. Etc. Etc.

Whatever one thinks about an afterlife, I think that an afterlife cannot be substituted for this earthly life. One is not of more importance than the other. This is why some faiths believe in reincarnation - this earthly Life has to be lived completely and fully, learning what must be learned to be a human being. The Afterlife is not a substitute for Here; rather, the Afterlife is a fine tuning. To put it I computer terms, you can’t order the Upgrade if you didn’t buy the Original. Christianity got it wrong if it interprets the Afterlife as a reward for failure.

So: here is sage Buddhist advice:

Let me respectfully
remind you
Life & Death
Are of supreme importance.
Time swiftly passes by.
Opportunity is lost.
Each of us should strive
To Awaken, Awaken, Awaken.
Take heed:
Do not squander your Life.

[The evening Gatha]


Brian+

Brian’s Reflection: Saturday, August 25, 2007


My major regret in life is that my childhood was unnecessarily lonely.

- Truman Capote, who died on this day, 1984

Truman’s loneliness was, I think, always reflected in his face. Certainly in his behaviour. Certainly in his self-destructive tendencies. I wonder what he meant by “unnecessarily”? Did he think that he should have behaved in a different way. That he could have done something about it? No, something tells me that he was making a profound comment on how people who are “different” are rejected and abused by others. I had a rather lonely childhood. It was easier just to avoid the people who taunted me. As I got older, I learned to appreciate my loneliness. And, perhaps more importantly, I learned to find the people who were either like me or nonjudgmental. At that point, I was away to the races. Happily, I wasn’t too seriously affected by those few lonely years. Many people are, often driven to suicide.

Did human beings, out of the depths of their existential loneliness, invent a God of unconditional Love in order to survive childhood and to help us humans to live adulthood? If we did, how sensible. Especially if it meant having to reject the meanness and nastiness often associated with Deities. Human beings can be so dreadfully mean to each other. It is comforting, no, more - it is essential that we know or believe that each of us is essentially OK in our intrinsic humanity. That despite the mean things said about or done to us by other fearful, insecure people, that we are unconditionally loved by the Creator, or the Life-Force, or the Ground of Being, or whatever sustains Life.

Behind Truman’s word “unnecessarily”, I hear a sad, simple plea for us to treat each other with understanding, respect, compassion, care. That’s all. Basically, that’s all that “true” religion and faith are all about. It does more than anything else to make Life worth living for us all.

Brian+