Sunday Musings – November 17, 2019
The right way!
Yesterday I was chatting with an acquaintance whom is a delightful, ,kind, good person. I especially appreciate the way she embraces and enjoys life. When I mentioned that I was pleased with another friend of mine when he was officiating at the swearing in of new United States citizens and suggested we remember that we are all, except for Native Americans, immigrants she remarked that, yes, it is important to welcome immigrants who come here the “right way”. (Actually she implied that or I inferred that when she said disagree on that subject.) One of our state senators sent a video to the same event applauding these individuals for becoming citizens the right way. I can only assume that those who do not have the financial and other resources to be accepted as legal immigrants and who can then do all the hard work necessary to apply for and pass all the tests required to become citizens will be consigned to doing it the wrong way; will have to forego their responsibility to attempt to bring their children and other family members to a safe place. I can only assume that those who travel, often hundreds of miles on foot or in cargo carriers in which many will die, because they are not able to provide for themselves and their families or cannot evade abusive partner or authorities who pursue them because of political or religious beliefs or because they are not good at hiding their sexual identity are doing it the wrong way and, thus, are to be shunned and left to die.
In the gym setting in which I was talking with this acquaintance one cannot have a detailed serious discussion of how we each come to believe what we do. I did say I would love to talk over lunch some times. I never want to come across as self-righteous; as if I alone am the processor of “the truth”. Yet, I really do not understand what is wrong about attempting to protect one’s family when pursuing citizenship in the United States the “right” way is not open to one.
On this Sunday morning I am acutely aware of my life long struggle to be that person who sees life in either or terms; that person who sits in a church, temple or mosque on the Sabbath and honestly believes that one knows the one true god and if one just obeys the rules of that one true god as understood by ones ancestors and current elders that one is assured of eternal life while all “the others” are consigned to eternal damnation of one form or another.
Whether it is the area of the so called justice system, the political systems which decides who is a criminal/bad person and who is good person; in the religious institution worshiping a god who shall judge the quick and the dead; a god who will soon masquerade as Santa and determine whether one has been good or bad; a god who knows that the facts of science does not determine who is capable to considering the needs of others but who is just plain evil; a god who know what sexual acts are “right”; a god who knows that as soon as a sperm and egg have a casual meeting that one has to celebrate a pregnancy and be a parent no matter what emotional , financial or other resources are available; a god who determines that some are born to a blessed life and some are born to poverty, violence and without the resources necessary to be that perfect blond, blue eyed, bright, athletic child who is adored by all.
I really do want to be that person who is able to relax and to be on the “right” side of all the pious, god fearing people who are the holders of the truth and know which of us deserve to be loved; which of us deserve to live in a safe home; which of us should have the resources to be the parents we want to be; which of us are doing “it” the right way.
I really, really do want to relax and be that person but daily my mind complicates my experiences and perceptions leaving me on the wrong side!
Written November 17, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
The right way!
Yesterday I was chatting with an acquaintance whom is a delightful, ,kind, good person. I especially appreciate the way she embraces and enjoys life. When I mentioned that I was pleased with another friend of mine when he was officiating at the swearing in of new United States citizens and suggested we remember that we are all, except for Native Americans, immigrants she remarked that, yes, it is important to welcome immigrants who come here the “right way”. (Actually she implied that or I inferred that when she said disagree on that subject.) One of our state senators sent a video to the same event applauding these individuals for becoming citizens the right way. I can only assume that those who do not have the financial and other resources to be accepted as legal immigrants and who can then do all the hard work necessary to apply for and pass all the tests required to become citizens will be consigned to doing it the wrong way; will have to forego their responsibility to attempt to bring their children and other family members to a safe place. I can only assume that those who travel, often hundreds of miles on foot or in cargo carriers in which many will die, because they are not able to provide for themselves and their families or cannot evade abusive partner or authorities who pursue them because of political or religious beliefs or because they are not good at hiding their sexual identity are doing it the wrong way and, thus, are to be shunned and left to die.
In the gym setting in which I was talking with this acquaintance one cannot have a detailed serious discussion of how we each come to believe what we do. I did say I would love to talk over lunch some times. I never want to come across as self-righteous; as if I alone am the processor of “the truth”. Yet, I really do not understand what is wrong about attempting to protect one’s family when pursuing citizenship in the United States the “right” way is not open to one.
On this Sunday morning I am acutely aware of my life long struggle to be that person who sees life in either or terms; that person who sits in a church, temple or mosque on the Sabbath and honestly believes that one knows the one true god and if one just obeys the rules of that one true god as understood by ones ancestors and current elders that one is assured of eternal life while all “the others” are consigned to eternal damnation of one form or another.
Whether it is the area of the so called justice system, the political systems which decides who is a criminal/bad person and who is good person; in the religious institution worshiping a god who shall judge the quick and the dead; a god who will soon masquerade as Santa and determine whether one has been good or bad; a god who knows that the facts of science does not determine who is capable to considering the needs of others but who is just plain evil; a god who know what sexual acts are “right”; a god who knows that as soon as a sperm and egg have a casual meeting that one has to celebrate a pregnancy and be a parent no matter what emotional , financial or other resources are available; a god who determines that some are born to a blessed life and some are born to poverty, violence and without the resources necessary to be that perfect blond, blue eyed, bright, athletic child who is adored by all.
I really do want to be that person who is able to relax and to be on the “right” side of all the pious, god fearing people who are the holders of the truth and know which of us deserve to be loved; which of us deserve to live in a safe home; which of us should have the resources to be the parents we want to be; which of us are doing “it” the right way.
I really, really do want to relax and be that person but daily my mind complicates my experiences and perceptions leaving me on the wrong side!
Written November 17, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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