Get Out of the Norm

I am a Catholic that left the church for 4 years.  This was a hearfelt decision as I had conflict over dogma and situations going on in the church.  After 4 years, I have recently started attending again.  I minored in Religion in college and have spent most of my life in a serious quest for God.   I believe in the Trinity and had a Re-born experience several years ago.  I consider myself knowldgeable of many Christian religions.  At this point,  I would describe myself as Spiritual not religious.  I don’t really fit into a Christian Religion category mostly because of my purist tendency.  I introduce this asepct of myself because of the article I am about to write.   I am concerned about what President Obama is doing to the Christian faith and do not understand it under the assumption that he is one.   

President Obama has touted himself as a Christian.  The more we heard about the church he attended for 20 years I started to question his spiritual beliefs.  I would argue that the church he attended taught black liberation not Christianity.  Some of the sound bites out of his church, which we all heard,  left many Christians dismayed.   Regardless of arguments among Christian churches over dogma all would agree the words out of Reverend Wright’s mouth had nothing to do with gospel. 

Now we have several examples of President Obama disregarding Christianity.  First he went to Turkey and professed we were not a Christian nation but a nation of citizens.   I can only conclude that since his audience was mostly Muslim he was trying to pander to their faith.   This last week he spoke at Georgetown University.  The White House asked the school to cover a monogram that symbolized Jesus’s name.  I believe this monogram would have been behind his head during his speech.  The White House argued there were several other monograms visible and they wanted a more Presidential back drop for his speech.  Most unfortunate Georgetown complied.  I believe Georgetown University should have suggested another place for his speech because they are a Catholic school and Chirst comes first.

I have pondered these revelations and have concluded President Obama is not a true Christian.  A true Christian would never have used the wording President Obama did with the Turkish people.  Most Christians in America subscribe to the idea that this country was founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs.  Being a Catholic,  I find his request of Georgetown offensive and lacking judgement.  His concern for himself is what is portrayed in both these instances.   I can only conclude he has little regard for Christianity and the things we hold sacred.   This man could not share the stage with Jesus at a Catholic school what is that suppose to tell us?  As we saw him throw his grandmother under the bus during his campaign,  we now see him doing the same to Christ.  The question I am left with is why did he profess he was a Christian?  His words and actions show us something quite different.  What are we to make of this?

Lenny

Jesus said we are suppose to forgive 70X7.  That equals 490.  Does this mean the 491st time we can finally walk away?  I have been pondering this for awhile.   Obviously, Christ was using this as a point of reference.  The truth is forgiveness helps the forgiver more then the one needing forgiveness.   If we hold on to hurts and grudges, we only hurt ourselves. 

Having said that, it is hard to continue relationships where they seem more one sided.  This is especially true with family members.   Although I do believe we picked our family members before we came here, while we are here we feel our family was  random.  If you don’t fit in the tribe, the road seems much more bumpy.   If you are always turning the other cheek,  70X7 seems daunting.  

Was Jesus pointing out there is no road that leads to enough?  As Christians are we called to continually rise up higher.  I do know in the end, picking the road less traveled is the harder choice.  Is it the better choice? I know when I surrender and let go of my stewing, I am at peace.  When I chose to reminiscence on the hurts, I am in pain.  

 Joyce Myers says hurting people hurt people.  Most don’t hurt intentionally and don’t even know they are doing it.  This is probably true but there are also cases where the people know they are hurting you and have no regard.   In those cases, are we still asked to come up higher? I guess the karmic principle of what goes around comes around can be applied here.  Although our ego wants to strike back, 70X7 calls us to never say enough.

Blessings, Lenny

Meditation is good for the soul.  I used to sit in my prayer chair for an hour.  Lately, I find myself busy and before I know it the day is over.  I started doing the Rosary because it requires my full attention but only takes about 25 minutes.   We go in cycles and change is constant.  There are times where we feel more called to connect with Heaven and other times where we ignore it.  If you are in that space of ignoring your spiritual time, find some type of meditation that is easy to do.  We should never forgo our time with God.  Whether it be for 15 minutes or a couple of hours we need the sustenance to keep us focused.  Ask yourself if you are making time for God.  If the answer is no, find that still small voice within and nurture that communion.

Blessings, Lenny

The Bible tells us to choose our meditations wisely.   Where do we put our minds focus?  If we are trying to forgive a wrong, but contemplate it, we will never let it go.  Mulling over situations that have created hurt will not lead us to fruit.  We must be willing to let the past go.  When God forgives, he forgets.  That is a tall order but we must be willing to change our mind’s focus in order to follow His lead.   

My motto for the New Year is getting rid of the old and welcoming in the new.  I can decide what thoughts will prevail.  I can decide to focus on God, His Word, His Promise and His Justice.  If I decide to focus on lack, personal hurts, or injustices then those emotions are what will drive me.  Although it is hard to let deep hurts go, it is the only way to experience part of the Kingdom on Earth.  

I am letting go of old recordings and family tribal dynamics.  They have not served for quite some time now.  It is hard to say goodbye to the familar but I feel that is this year’s call.  Action is power.   

Blessings, Lenny