This is my newest thought but I decided to add this
thought to the top of my list. Regretfully we
tend to judge other religions on our petty human terms rather than see
them
through
God's eyes. I have read some accounts by so called Christians concerning
our Muslim brothers and sisters which are deplorable and really lacks
an understanding of the Muslim religion and the souls of the devout Muslim.
It is my desire to give an insight into these beautiful souls which I
believe to be most pleasing to our God and their God whom they loving
refer to as Allah. I received these very insightful thoughts from a very
dear Muslim friend, who by the way was my room mate in college: it is
titled, Ten things Allah (God) won't ask
on Judgment Day. We should read these thoughts and in prayerful
reflection take stock as to how we are living our lives. If all of us
conform our lives accordingly as a good Moslem,
Jew, Christian, Hindu, those of any beliefs, or those of no beliefs,
then we would surely plant the seeds for world peace and very possibly
take up our individual residence in the Heavenly mansions God/Allah has
already waiting for us. We are our
brother's keeper!!
I love reading articles from one of my favorite authors,
Father John Murray, in the Catholic Review, a weekly newspaper in Baltimore.
I like reading them because he always seems to say the things that I need
most to hear at the time I need to hear them. Get my drift. In
one article, he gave what he called, Murray's
essential ingredients of happiness. He did one fine job of
giving a recipe for happiness, an ideal code for all of us to follow.
Read it and give me your thoughts. More recently he wrote a "Spirit"
filled article called, Live simply, even in spiritual
life, which gives us a gentile reminder that what we consider important
may not be what God thinks is important.
Pain and suffering is something all of us have trouble
understanding. One day a very good person was recovering from a serious
cancer operation. His name was Doctor Tom Dooley. He had a very
special love of the Vietnamese and Cambodian people whom he served as a doctor.
A little nun came, paid him visit and gave him a note containing some thoughts
about the Cross.
Click on this word and read it, especially if you have a very heavy cross
to carry yourself. If you do just consider it as your Creator's special
note of love to you. Also, if you are perplexed about why pain, I suggest
you read the next article called Pain is Necessary
. It is written by a man who devoted so very much of his life in influencing
world leaders to making this world a better place for all of us. He
is Mr. Wallace Haines who has been the heart and soul of the international
"Fellowship". I have never seen such a insightful description as to
the place of pain in our lives.
I have developed a close friendship with a Christ Like
and Godly man who by trade is a Mechanic, Phil Dawson, and a good mechanic
who keeps my poor old cars running. He shared with me the recent loss
of his brother. His brother died of cancer. Two weeks before his
going Home to Heaven, he wrote a beautiful explanation of the reasons for
suffering. Phil and his Family gave me permission to post this last
testimony of Garland Dawson called, A Summary of Reasons
for Suffering, on this web page. One can see the Holy Spirit speaking
through this man of God. One can see Jesus in this man. Are not
all of us to become like Jesus?
There seems to be something happening in the world.
Do you see it? It is an unsatisfied hunger for the spiritual.
I noticed it beginning to grow with my customers in my business, especially
the young. Now I am beginning to notice it in businesses and the general
public with the popularity of books that addressed higher values, principles.
God given principles. Books like: M. Scott Peck's "A Road Less Traveled",
Stephen Covey's "Seven Habits of Highly Successful
People". People and businesses are recognizing that just as there are
unchanging principles of the physical world/universe, there are unchanging
principles of the human and spiritual element. Conflict arises when
we violate these human principles. Great minds of the past recognized
this going all the way back to Confucius ("Man must first be at peace with
himself, then establish peace within his family, then community, then the
nation, and then the world"). I am particularly pleased at how Covey's
seven habits, based on solid principles, are finding their way to the business
communities and all levels of certain governments. Something great is
happening; I like it and I want to be a small part of it. We then had
a book that helped all of us appreciate the differences between men and women,
"Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus". We had Mother Teresea
who showed the value and beauty of Women. Do you remember what she said,
"A woman is the heart of the home". I also believe that a woman can
be the heart of the work place also provided she is allowed her femininity.
And now we have the promise keepers who I believe are inspired by the Holy
Spirit to show men their value and place according to God's plan. Did
you see the "Seven Promises" of the promise keepers.
So beautiful and so according to God's plan. God gave us Mother Teresea
and Bill McCartney to show us his plan and value for men and women.
None is no more or less important than the other; it is just each has a unique
God given mission that is ingrained into each. Conflict arises when
either goes against that mission and the internal principles that is imbedded
in their souls.
When it is all over and we have finished our mission on
this earth, the bottom line is how we lived. One of the visitors to
this site, Lutul Farrow of the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Class of 2002 has a personal motto we all should
strive for.
Here is a thought on truth
expressed by Pope John Paul II in a visit to the US say it all.
Lately I have been in awl of God. I wish to make amends
for all the times I and mankind have offended this wonderful Creator of ours.
I have this burning desire to make restitution for all of these offenses.
What can I do? What can I give this supreme being? I can at the very least
give Him my appreciation. This little prayer says
it all. I love it so!