God is love and love is God. As God cannot be confined, restricted or limited to any particularcreed, cult, race, similarly Religion of love cannotbe restricted or confined in geographical limitsand boundaries. Sri Guru Nanak Sahib's Religionof Love is cosmic and universal in its appeal,holy folds and dimensions.It is a Religion of perfect and universal Lovetotally free from man-made barriers of colour, caste, creed and status. It is a Religion which radiates with a deep thirst for the Divine andwith the highest gospel of purity of heart,mind, body, speech and deeds.It is a Religion which establishes brotherhood ofthe whole global community irrespective of colour, caste, creed, race and nationality purely on the basis and foundation of love and equality,all being the children of the same lovable God.
(from Sri Guru Garanth Sahib)
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Everyday Lent
Pictures at right from protest in Downtown Watsonville yesterday.
Text from an Editorial in the NYTimes:The Gospel Vs. HR4437
It has been a long time since this country heard a call to organized lawbreaking on this big a scale. Cardinal Roger Mahony of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the nation's largest, urged parishioners on Ash Wednesday to devote the 40 days of Lent to fasting, prayer and reflection on the need for humane reform of immigration laws. If current efforts in Congress make it a felony to shield or offer support to illegal immigrants, Cardinal Mahony said, he will instruct his priests — and faithful lay Catholics — to defy the law....
The cardinal's focus of concern is H.R. 4437...would expand the definition of "alien smuggling" in a way that could theoretically include working in a soup kitchen, driving a friend to a bus stop or caring for a neighbor's baby. Cardinal Mahony's defiance adds a moral dimension to what has largely been a debate about politics and economics. "As his disciples, we are called to attend to the last, littlest, lowest and least in society and in the church," he said.
Cardinal Mahony's declaration of solidarity with illegal immigrants, for whom Lent is every day, is a startling call to civil disobedience, as courageous as it is timely. We hope it forestalls the day when works of mercy become a federal crime.
Monday, March 27, 2006
The Boss is Coming Back
I am so exhausted. So tired. So frustrated. My boss called to complain about a report I've written...not about what I've written, but about the quotes I reported on from people in the focus groups. I can't change their quotes! What they said is what they said!
I feel unappreciated at my job. A little faith and a 'thank you' from bosses goes a long way. I constantly get the feeling that my boss feels she is "settling" for the staff she has, that she feels a large amount of anxiety about doing more, bigger, better, and that she has a thread of disappointment running through her all the time.
And I take all of it very personally. This is my problem. I know where it's coming from with her--she is defensive about her role in a large, international agency, and about the fact that this agency has become less about social marketing in recent years and more about local programming for teens. I'd be happy to make the transition, but it would be a learning curve for me and I'd need some leadership in that direction. And some slack on the 50 hour weeks. Or at least some acknowledgement of the effort.
Of course, I am blogging while at work.
Consider it a mental health minute.
Argh.
I feel unappreciated at my job. A little faith and a 'thank you' from bosses goes a long way. I constantly get the feeling that my boss feels she is "settling" for the staff she has, that she feels a large amount of anxiety about doing more, bigger, better, and that she has a thread of disappointment running through her all the time.
And I take all of it very personally. This is my problem. I know where it's coming from with her--she is defensive about her role in a large, international agency, and about the fact that this agency has become less about social marketing in recent years and more about local programming for teens. I'd be happy to make the transition, but it would be a learning curve for me and I'd need some leadership in that direction. And some slack on the 50 hour weeks. Or at least some acknowledgement of the effort.
Of course, I am blogging while at work.
Consider it a mental health minute.
Argh.
Friday, March 24, 2006
A Glass, Darkly
9ek merouV gar ginwskomen kai ek merouV profhteuomen: 10otan de elqh to teleion, to ek merouV katarghqhsetai. 11ote hmhn nhpioV, elaloun wV nhpioV, efronoun wV nhpioV, elogizomhn wV nhpioV: ote gegona anhr, kathrghka ta tou nhpiou. 12blepomen gar arti di esoptrou en ainigmati, tote de proswpon proV proswpon: arti ginwskw ek merouV, tote de epignwsomai kaqwV kai epegnwsqhn. 13nuni de menei pistiV, elpiV, agaph, ta tria tauta: meizwn de toutwn h agaph.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Sex and Love
"There's a difference between sexual desire and love. Sexual desire is a strong physical excitement. Love is a powerful caring for someone else.Love can exist without sexual desire, and vice versa. Many people are happiest when both love and sexual desire are shared by both partners."
From Planned Parenthood's website.
Hmmm. Yes, I agree that love can exist without sexual desire. Am I happiest when both are shared by both? Maybe I'm happiest at that point in relationships when sexual desire is overshadowed by love and spiritual committment. Not that it isn't still there, but that it is only a small part of a very deep well.
Hmmm.
I'm hyper-aware of all the people around me right now who place a considerable amount of emphasis on physical attraction to a person. I asked the guy I'm seeing if he had a type--a common something that runs through all the people he dates. He responded with physical characteristics. Most people do, when I ask that. There's nothing wrong with that at all, but I do find it curious. It just wouldn't be my first response at all.
Last night, my second mom and I went to a music show to see a guy in whom she's interested play. Later, she was describing a guy who's interested in her. One of the primary reasons she's not interested back is because he has too much gray hair.
My housemate doesn't want to date a guy who seems really right for her (at least right now) because he is shorter than she is.
It isn't that I don't appreciate physical attractiveness. And I'm blessed with dating a person right now to whom I am very physically attracted. But I've also dated people (in fact, at least 1/2 of my relationships) who aren't necessarily physically attractive to me, but they are attractive people. And I'm saying that not to sound self-righteous, or to pat myself on the back for being so PC. I'm saying that as something that feels mostly natural and normal for me.
Curious.
From Planned Parenthood's website.
Hmmm. Yes, I agree that love can exist without sexual desire. Am I happiest when both are shared by both? Maybe I'm happiest at that point in relationships when sexual desire is overshadowed by love and spiritual committment. Not that it isn't still there, but that it is only a small part of a very deep well.
Hmmm.
I'm hyper-aware of all the people around me right now who place a considerable amount of emphasis on physical attraction to a person. I asked the guy I'm seeing if he had a type--a common something that runs through all the people he dates. He responded with physical characteristics. Most people do, when I ask that. There's nothing wrong with that at all, but I do find it curious. It just wouldn't be my first response at all.
Last night, my second mom and I went to a music show to see a guy in whom she's interested play. Later, she was describing a guy who's interested in her. One of the primary reasons she's not interested back is because he has too much gray hair.
My housemate doesn't want to date a guy who seems really right for her (at least right now) because he is shorter than she is.
It isn't that I don't appreciate physical attractiveness. And I'm blessed with dating a person right now to whom I am very physically attracted. But I've also dated people (in fact, at least 1/2 of my relationships) who aren't necessarily physically attractive to me, but they are attractive people. And I'm saying that not to sound self-righteous, or to pat myself on the back for being so PC. I'm saying that as something that feels mostly natural and normal for me.
Curious.
Monday, March 20, 2006
On Liking
Relationships are funny. It is an interesting play of power, and I am so good at the game. So good at attracting people I can own, so I can win. And then, we both lose.
I love the beginning. I love making the first move. It sets up that dynamic right from the start. Only I can never make a first move with anyone I already like. Too vulnerable.
Real relationships are built on vulnerability. They require us to go out on little limbs all the time...show our cards, reveal something of who we really are. And then, that practice of being vulnerable and having someone accept us just that way deepens the canyon of love, like a river flowing slowly and silently through it.
I have to work hard at this one.
I love the beginning. I love making the first move. It sets up that dynamic right from the start. Only I can never make a first move with anyone I already like. Too vulnerable.
Real relationships are built on vulnerability. They require us to go out on little limbs all the time...show our cards, reveal something of who we really are. And then, that practice of being vulnerable and having someone accept us just that way deepens the canyon of love, like a river flowing slowly and silently through it.
I have to work hard at this one.
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