Metaphysical

Despair manifest

2007-01-21T22:19:00.000-08:00

It was a timeless moment of Epiphany, of incredible clarity. I had just finished swimming 1500 metres and was floating in the water when suddenly, it was as though I was floating in deep space and could see all these silver and gold lines of energy weaving together the entire cosmos. In that moment I could see the path to enlightenment, not merely for myself but the path that if I walked it would lead the entire race to enlightenment. The path that would lead from a few intelligent individuals scattered through history and around the globe today to the entire human race achieving intelligence and intelligent behaviour.

In that flash of insight I saw, unfolding like a lotus blossom, the path to a glorious future. Of a race making intelligent decisions, shepherding the planet and its life not savaging it, with a spiritual connection to each other, the planet and the universe. A path that led out among the stars to meet others, other children born of star-stuff, so that we could together grow into the greatness which is our heritage, bequeathed to us at the moment of creation when the life possibilities inherent in this space/time continuum were forged in the fires of the big bang.

This entire vision happened in less time than it took the second hand of the clock on the wall to tick off a single second. Tragically before this knowledge could be writ into the electrochemical patterns of my mind I was shocked out of this state of celestial perception by a face-full of ice cold water delivered by he-who-knew-not-what-catastrophe-he-wrought-upon-the-race-of-man. Instantly the vision was torn away and all I was left with was the knowledge of the greatness that might have been and the faintest of impressions of were my path should lead.

In that instant of playful destruction this lifeguard had denied the human race the wisdom needed for a glorious future to begin to unfold from January 20, 2007 forward, upward and outward among out most distant of ancestors – the Stars. His actions condemning the race to continue its self-destructive ways, perhaps even to extinction, of suffering, misery and death. As a race, even though condemned to untold unnecessary torment and affliction, we must forgive this poor wretch for knew not the great disservice he was doing unto mankind.

Fiat.

2006-07-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

I believe in compulsory cannibalism. If people were forced to eat what they killed, there would be no more wars.

Abbie Hoffman

A1

2006-05-28T16:23:00.000-07:00

As I writhed in agony from a blow delivered by that long-legged, leather clad, Harley riding, blonde Moma know as A I knew that I should not have been by surprised by the unprovoked dirty deed. No normal person could be that happy, smiling and cheerful all the time. The question is: What is hiding under that sunny façade? Is this joyousness a result of too much coffee? Perhaps it is a symptom of a less that secure grip on reality.

I can see her as a used car saleswoman, reeling in some poor dupe with that big, sunny smile. Selling this poor sap a lemon that runs just long enough to drive away before it gasps its last and dies, becoming a piece of metal sculpture. Unmoving.

But every once in awhile the biker shows her true colours: “Go away, I can see you anytime.” Beating up on innocent bystanders. With always the threat hanging in the background that if you say anything, she will call in the other members of her biker gang … Oh, excuse me ‘motorcycle riding club’.

Thus, when she assaulted my poor shoulder with those rolled up sheets of letter sized paper, I dared not protest but suffered my martyrdom in silence. Just in case what lurks under that sunny guise is a homicidal maniac waiting to erupt in a volcanic explosion to dwarf that of Krakatoa.

The Matrix as Metaphysics

2006-04-23T15:04:00.000-07:00

http://consc.net/papers/matrix.html

Lisa's Yarn

2006-04-22T19:50:00.000-07:00

Let me bloviate thee a yarn by recounting the handiwork of another visitor to the big cave known by the sobriquet Pulchritudinous Lisa. It could only have been mischance that led me to seek shelter from the elements on that particular eve, the exact same eve She had decided to descend upon the big cave. Sweet and innocent was the face she showed to the world, but within beat the heart of a farceur. She was made know to the habitués by one of the lackeys, one of those who attend to the needs of visiting potentates and is a familiar sight. In a mendacity of galactic proportion all of the visitants were led to believe the She was a gentle and well intentioned young woman, fresh to the moil of servitude in the cave.

As fate would have it, it befell me to be the one to unmask this blackguard’s dastardly facets, to my woe. Now one of the little caves off of the big cave has a stream of falling water that is used for bathing since in an enclosed area such as the big cave, a pungent aroma makes for bad bedfellows. One of the duties of the attendants is to hand out lengths of dry goods, with which those who have chosen to bathe may dehydrate themselves after they cleanse.

So it came to pass that I had received a ‘towel’ from this she-wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing. It was not until I finished my ablutions that I realized the extent of her perfidy. You need to know I have a substantial mortal coil, more along the lines of a percheron as opposed to a thoroughbred. What did I discover as I stepped from the shower and prepared to dry myself off? That that harlequin dubbed Lisa had given me a drying wipe the size of a handkerchief. A tiny mote of textile to endeavor to attain a modicum of non-wetness, and when confronted with her perfidy She put on such an innocent face.

So remember: beauty is only skin deep and that sweet innocence may cover the heart of a mountebank.

IQ test

2006-04-13T15:26:00.000-07:00

Say did you hear about the happenings at city hall? It seems an astronomer or physicist had given a public lecture to a large crowd of staff and council. There came the time at the end for questions and answers. They called on a Bylaw staff member, who made a statement: "The world is flat like a table, and it rests on the back of a gigantic turtle..."

The scientist paused for a moment to think, and then he decided to ask, "Well, what is underneath the turtle?"

The Bylaw staff member replied, "You can't fool or confuse me: it is turtles all the way down...

The Ottawa Manifesto Regarding Poverty andHomelessness

2006-04-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

We, the members of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada’s Roundtable on Poverty and Homelessness, and other signatories, are representative of the many Canadian people of Christian faith who believe that the care of poor and vulnerable people of all ages is a central tenet of our own faith, of good government, and of responsible, compassionate citizenship. We have already committed significant personal and organizational resources to this purpose. We have witnessed the rise of homelessness as a crisis of disturbing proportions, and of societal, systemic and individual complexity. The time has come to add to material action a clear, creative and challenging public voice. We believe that Jesus Christ was and is the unique Son of God, and that he lived, died and was resurrected for our salvation. We believe that the Bible is, in its entirety, God-breathed, and that His voice may be heard clearly throughout. And we are convinced that the teaching and example of Jesus, together with the repeated testimony of the Bible, reveal that God specifically values those who are poor and rejected as having been made in His image, and, therefore, as inherently precious to Him. We are convinced of the fundamental dignity and worth of each and every human being, without qualification.

We All Need Homes, Not Just Housing

A home is more than just four walls and a roof. It’s a whole life situation that means being welcomed into a safe, secure and dignified place to live; healthy, nurturing relationships; the opportunity for education, meaningful work for reasonable pay; and to worship, dream and play in vibrant community. Housing initiatives need to take these values into account, and aim at creating far more than “affordable” space.

We Are More Alike Than Different

Drastically different life circumstances can create the illusion that we are inherently different beings, especially when those external differences are ones that may frighten or repulse us – such as homelessness. These perceived differences allow us to distance ourselves still farther, until we can easily justify our nonengagement with people who are homeless. Yet the closer we get to people, even those whose experiences, circumstances and proclivities seem completely foreign to us, the more essentially similar we find ourselves to be. People who are homeless have the same needs and longings we all share.

Compassion Demands Action

Compassion is more than a feeling. Genuinely caring about people motivates us to take action. We must, therefore, apply ourselves to learn why people become homeless or are trapped in poverty, engage in social and political advocacy, make a point of getting to know people who may live outside our own “comfort zones”, and seek to share our time, abilities and material resources. All of these energies are directed at effecting material change – such as dignified housing, meaningful work, or access to health care or education – in the lives of the people for whom we have compassion.

Grace And Mercy Are For All Of Us

Choosing to help only those who “deserve” help and leaving behind those whose behaviours we may disapprove of is prejudicial and not Biblical. The grace and mercy of God, upon which we all rely, are, by definition, only for people who are undeserving and/or guilty. Christians, knowing themselves to be by nature undeserving, ought to be able to identify with those who appear to be homeless or poor because of their own behaviours. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Ignoring Poverty Impoverishes All Of Us

Abandoning people to poverty increases health problems and welfare rolls, and sometimes drives people to crime – all major burdens for governments, and therefore, tax payers. The generational entrenchment of poverty diminishes hope (the capacity to dream) and the sense of personal value in the individual. Children, the unrealized potential of our nation, when they are born into poverty, start life so far behind others that they may never be able to catch up. The whole of society is enriched when the creative gifts of the poor are supported by governmental and social systems that affirm the value of what they have to offer. When people are shut out because of their poverty, poverty itself “snowballs”, at once increasing our societal burden and diminishing our societal capacity. Homelessness in Canada is a clear and concrete manifestation of this truth.

Justice And Mercy Define Good Government

Believing that our progress is measured by our standard of care for the least privileged among us, we expect good government to formulate policy that not only works toward a level playing field, but offers “second chances” to people who have failed or done wrong. We believe that justice ought to be primarily restorative rather than punitive. We recognize that both social policies and budgets are declarations of a government’s moral intent. We will offer whatever support we can to government initiatives that are just and merciful, and will continue to use every means at our disposal to press governments at every level until such policies are made a priority. We believe that homelessness will be a priority for policy makers concerned with justice and mercy.

Poverty Belongs At The Centre

The Bible teaches clearly and consistently throughout, that care of people who are poor, oppressed or marginalized is intrinsic to both the announcing of the gospel of personal salvation, and the purpose of government. Throughout western history, when governments and the church have put care of such people at the centre of their agendas, both have flourished. For perhaps 150 years, the general political and religious trends in the western world have been aimed at reducing poverty – with a significant level of success. In recent years, however, these positive trends have diminished and further marginalized people who are poor, sometimes to the point of criminalizing certain aspects of poverty. We believe that, if this trend continues, it will ultimately be disastrous for our country and our churches. The church in Canada has a responsibility to provide moral leadership by making a priority of caring for people who are poor, and particularly people who are homeless, in its own budgets and activities.
Government Responsibility Does Not Excuse Church Apathy
While various levels of government clearly have a responsibility to address these matters, the church must not succumb to a theological dichotomy whereby we construe the church’s responsibilities to concern only the spiritual, and the government’s only the physical. As communities of faith, we have different capacities than governments or social service organizations. We must be ready to provide creative leadership in some circumstances, and partnership or humble servanthood in others, in order to create realistic, dignified and sustainable options for people who are homeless.

Christian Groups Make Good Partners For Government Initiatives

Christian groups have for many years been the largest nongovernment service provider to the poor and homeless in North America. In fact, many social services now funded and directed by government were begun by such groups. Since Christian teaching and practice encourages the development of functioning communities, a high level of volunteer participation, and the donation of money and other resources, we can often achieve more with less, adding value and offering a wealth of experience and healthy community context to government resources. Already existing Christian communities offer a holistic context for the development or implementation of services and programs that government is not equipped to create on its own. We encourage Christian groups to support and partner, wherever possible, with government initiatives aimed at the substantial reduction of homelessness, poverty, and their root causes.

Therefore, To Our Brothers And Sisters Who Struggle With Poverty And Homelessness, We Commit to...

LEARN all we can about the systemic, sociological, economic, cultural and spiritual deficits that have left them in this state. We will listen carefully to them, for they are our greatest teachers. We will seek out the knowledge others have acquired, and teach what we ourselves have learned to those who want to care more effectively for people who are poor or homeless;ACT with diligence and integrity to create with them healthy, nurturing relationships, and safe, secure, dignified homes;SPEAK on their behalf when their own voices are not heard, and support them in speaking for themselves, to the end that Canadian churches, governments, media and businesses would make the substantial reduction of homelessness, poverty and their root causes a high priority; andCOOPERATE with others committed to these baseline objectives, respecting differences of approach and philosophy.

Before God, We Make These Commitments In The Places Where We Work And Serve, In Our Communities Of Faith, And In Our Personal Lives

A thought to ponder ...

2006-03-12T14:53:00.000-08:00

No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power.

Patrick Jake O'Rourke

2006-03-04T14:39:00.000-08:00

We so often speak poorly of today's youth - no manners, spoiled, no soul and lacking in appreciation. I met a young man in front of my favourite civic building (Clearbrook Library) who reminded me that in falling into this trap I was acting in the say way as the people and system I complain about labeling us 'homeless' and treating us all the same. But as I say along came this young man to remind me just how varied a bunch we humans are - defying easy labels. I must admit I was surprised by his youth, generosity and sincere spirituality.

With a wisdom that seems beyond his years, he left me with a thought I have come to have a truer understanding of over this past few years. In thinking about the homeless and those in need I felt I should share his:

Something to think about ...

"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" Mark 8:36

Religion is a way of walking, not a way of talking.

2006-02-11T14:00:00.000-08:00

Dean William R. Inge

Do not try to predefine understanding, and do not make a principle out of non-understanding.

2006-01-31T11:55:00.000-08:00

YUNG-AN

I took a few minutes ...

2006-01-25T18:56:00.000-08:00

Just by chance; on the first day of the New Year I was walking outside at sunrise, just as the birds began to stir. There was a stiff wind blowing at the time, which caused some interesting challenges to the birds attempting flight.

First I noticed the crows as their wings flapped at a frantic rate to make any headway against the wind. For a brief moment of time one crow was motionless, hanging in the air in front of me, his flight speed matching the wind speed so he neither moved forward nor backward but just hung in place. As the wind began to push him and other crows backwards they peeled to the side, much like Second World War fighters in the movies, diving for a place to land. Following one pair as they sought to land drew my eyes to a flight of starlings.

The starlings presented a quite different picture. They were much higher in the air and attempting to fly in the V formation we associate with migrating ducks. At the moment they caught my eye they were grouped into a large V and a smaller V. Not for long. Picture a length of rope with one end loose and the other end in your hand. When you flick the rope a hump forms and flows along the rope to the end. That was what the starling flight looked like, a line undulating across the sky. When it reached the end of the line of birds a few would appear to have been flicked away, peeling off from the formation a away as the wind pushed them. I stood there just watching this flight of birds just weave its’ way across the sky.

It was not long ago I would merely have glanced at the first birds, then hurried on my way with my mind worrying over all kinds of different things, whether I could control these things or not. So it seems a good way to start the New Year – standing there totally relaxed, completely in the moment, having let everything else go and totally enjoying a sight as simple as birds flying into a stiff wind.

Sometimes you just have to stop and smell the roses.