QuakerJohn’s blog

Once a month at the Friends Mid-week meeting we have a worship sharing.  We turn off the electric lights and light candles, worship in silence for about 15 minutes, then someone reads a quote or query that sets the tone for meditation.  If one is moved to speak, they stand and share the light.  Last night a quote from Mother Theresa was read, "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."

Friends spoke about many things with reverence.  The first thing that I thought of, while chewing this over, was the key word BELONG.  We belong to each other.  This puts us all on common ground.  No one is any higher or lower, we all belong to each other.  One of the reason's that I became a Quaker was because I was so impressed with a Church in which everyone is considered equal, there is no priest, minister, pastor or reverend with a title of honor.  Every member is considered a minister.  When Gretchen and I were married, there was no officiant.  It was us marrying each other in the presence of God, with Friends as witnesses. 

The second thing that moved me was that if we belong to each other that implies a responsibility, a loving kindness and a caring for others.  I have seen this first hand in my meeting.  No one has to ask for help.   If it is known that someone suffers or is in need, people are there and asking "What can I do?" or just start in with whatever they feel a leading to do.  So many people acted  last year to help us when Gretchen almost died.  We were newcomers to the meeting, yet we felt such a sense of belonging because of the love and care we were shown.  That is when I knew we had found a true spiritual home.  We could receive nourishment and in turn nourish others as well,  that is belonging.

Holy Bible: From the Ancient Eastern Text: George M. Lamsa's Translation From the Aramaic of the Pes

George M. Lamsa

Summer I : History , American History 1820-1920,  and Sociology Race Class and Gender

Summer II : Math  Contemporary Math,  and Philosophy Ethics

Fall :  Political Science Intro to Politics,  Sociology Social Theory, and Religion Jesus the Christ.

That means going into fall I will have Junior status.

New books arrived:

I came home last night to find that two books I ordered from Amazon were lovingly placed by my front door.  I am such a Bookworm.  The books are:
Holy Bible: From the Ancient Eastern Text, George M. Lamsa's

Idioms in the Bible Explained and A Key to the Original Gospels

George M. Lamsa

Translation From the Aramaic of the Peshitta and Idioms in the Bible Explained.  Every study should begin with a clear understanding of the vocabulary and ways of expression used in the place and time of the subject.  Since Jesus spoke Aramaic I thought it would be useful to begin study of The Peshitta text of The Bible along with learning idioms and meanings of the words he used.  Some people may disagree with me , but I feel that Western people can not fully understand an Eastern book, why because it was not written for Western minds and the figures of speech used as allegory do not translate well without knowing Eastern idioms. For example in Genesis 19:26 Lot's wife is turned into a pillar of salt.  The Western mind takes this literally and visualizes Lot's wife becomeing tranformed into a pile salt, but the Eastern idiom is quite different. To an Eastern mind, a person when dead is worth nothing but the salt they are made of.  The idiom, "To become a pillar of salt" is a figure of speech that means to drop dead. 

Short version, a math teacher at Cal State was fired for adding the word 'nonviolently' to a required loyalty oath.  She had altered the oath in the same way at previous schools with no problem. 

Click link for article  http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/29/BAQPVAUVO.DTL

Friends (Quakers) refuse to swear an oath even in courtrooms, believing that one must speak truth at all times, and the act of swearing to it implied different standards of truth with and without oaths; this doctrine is attributed to Jesus (specifically Matthew 5:34-37). 

Friends usually get around the swearing by affirming that what they say is truth (letting their yes be yes and no be no).

  Also Friends do not believe in violence, so how could she "support and defend" the constitution, to be clear she added the word nonvilolently  before  "support and defend" so it would be true for her. 

The Coming of the Cosmic Christ

Matthew Fox

I am currently reading this book by Matthew Fox.  I recomend it highly to anyone interested in the Mystical spiritual path of life.

 I got home last night and shared a very good meal with Gretchen at 9:00PM.  Our schedules are crazy this time of year, with her working late and my night classes.  I picked up some take out at India Garden, ( Tandoori chicken, Lamb Rogan Josh, Tadka Dal and Garlic naan ) it was so good and warmed me up nicely after a long day at school.  I slept very well last night, that does not happen often.  This morning I felt great as I got out of bed , made coffee and got online to check my grades.

I was very pleased with my grades from the three tests last week. 

Psychology - 98%

Sociology - 101%  (I got extra credit for answering an optional essay)

Biology - 93%  ( I am really proud of this grade because I do not like the class much it is mostly chemistry labs)

As I sat thinking about  my previous  post, a poem composed itself to me.

Fragrance and memories,
Lilacs wafting on the breeze.
Free and easy barefoot days, 
Grandma's hugs and loving ways.
Prayer was one thing that she tought,
to live in peace as though I ought.
And now I reflect in memories,
with Lilacs wafting on the breeze.
 
By John Richards