A Drop in the Bucket

Let's do Blessings, Prayers, and Thoughts about Religion

Hi Folks,

This week has been very rough on me. How about you? I awakened screaming one morning, trying hard not to scream and whimper. Something was crushing my left insides. I could hardly stand it and had to have my son help me, sort of lend a hand out of bed. Quickly I went to the bathroom, but it took 10 minutes to walk 15 feet. No blood in urine, no foul odor, no bubbles, maybe a kidney stone? Good God. “Why are you punishing me?”, I asked. My son was frightened and offered to call an ambulance or take me to the ER.

“Idk,” I said. I felt weak and weaker then. The day didn’t go well. I thought I about to die. But, gradually, it went away as I sat at the computer, but not totally. “What now?” I thought. As usually my litany to God began. I begged, Hail Mary, Our Father… I was sure he wasn’t listening as I hadn’t been to confession in years. Even before Covid-19. I could rationalize. “Well, I’m sick and on oxygen @ 6L, that’s pretty bad.” And, I’m behind on my newsletter (which I really love). But, it’s not up to par yet.

However, I wanted to talk about religions because no one wants to hear about it anymore. It so seems things are outta wrack. Yes, I mean it is torturous to hear about the Evangelicals and that they love Trump and follow him like Jesus. What the hell?

Admittedly, I love Jesus. I love everything about Jesus. Do I have a personal relationship with Jesus? Idk exactly. It’s not like we have conversations or anything. But,what I learned about Jesus has been good. What a terrific person he was. Yeah, some people don’t believe he was the Son of God. Okay I get that. Even if he wasn’t to me he was the most outstanding person who ever lived. Every ounce of his being was crafted with an wrapped in love. He loved people and he wanted to help them. He died for our sins, it is said. And, he lived. He was real because the account of his life was not only written in the Bible, albeit, 100 years so or later, but he is listed in the history and archives of kings back then.

Unfair, I say to myself, but this is not what I want to talk about. Unlike strict Catholics, out of mind Trump following Evangelicals who think he’s like Jesus, I don’t fit in. And, today to top it off, some Catholic schools out there are saying it isn’t according to God’s plan to wear the masks as we are defiling God’s image by not showing our true selves. What bull! It’s hard to be a good Christian these days. C’mon now, we aren’t stupid babes just born here. Everyone should be wearing masks right now. Everyone! To not wear masks is irresponsible and deadly to ourselves and others. Major hospitals now have an over load of young patients with the Delta variant. Family members of the youngsters are now crying and recanting on their beliefs. Many have started wearing masks. Too little, too late?

To me, Jesus taught us to live by example. If you want to be loved, give love. If you want to know peace, show peaceful actions. If you want to be forgiven, forgive others. Not so easy to do, but good advice.

In the world today where he have so much hate, so much decay, so much war, and so much disharmony, we need Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit more than ever before. Why? Because we can’t rely on friends, family, others, society, and government all the time. This is why we are all hurting deep down inside. We tend to look at ourselves and take apart our psyches piece by piece. It’s the same with our bodies. We inspect them as if they were knock offs needing a make over, or a redo. Others are so preoccupied that they are consumed by their looks and like to flaunt it about.

Can’t we see that while maybe one’s nose may be too big, but one’s eyes are spectacular! Stop the feeding into wanting to be like the covers of magazines. The people on and in the magazines are all air brushed. The ideal is not ideal, it is an idea. So much for that.

The teachings and the ways of Jesus give comfort to me. And, for those who are huffing, puffing and say they don’t believe. Fine it’s your choice. And, agnostics and atheist they’re okay with me. They are very good people. And, it’s true that many act better than the so called Christians out there. Now, don’t turn against me Christians. I am not lukewarm when it comes to Jesus. But, to honor Trump and vote for him when he is such a cheat, a liar, and into sinking Democracy into a tar pit. Never mind our oceans, our bridges, our roads and educational system are being destroyed.

The problem is mixing politics with religion. They just don’t mix. Too many politicians take advantage of a religion and twist it to accommodate their campaigns and belief system. But, isn’t it really the bottom dollar that they adore?

Too many lies have been spread in the name of religion. Fascist ideas have spread and are endangering the very lives of people daily. Common sense seems to have gone out the window. Some people are mortified as to what is going on in society today. There is division. There is too much hatred. Money and Capitalism are the personified evils in society.

For whatever religion one chooses, or not, one should aspire to live in a way which they leave the world in a better place then before. Should we not? Even in a very small way. One should love they neighbor as oneself. And, if one believes in God, love God above all things.

God is love and wants to share that love with you. The problem is that living has consequences. Nature and our animalistic selves are fighting to survive. Our spirituality sometimes goes out the window when one has the living daylights scared out of them.

What does that mean? Do we need semi-automatic weapons to make our families feel safe? How any why? Do we really want to cause harm and kill someone who steals your TV, or your solar panels off your home? If one is a good person and values others, I would say, “No.” To take someone’s life for stealing a few possessions seems wrong. Of course, the person who is stealing should face some consequences.

But, today’s society is unfair and skewed to assist the filthy rich in becoming even richer. What is all this hording about? Why is this okay? I think we have a responsibility to give back when we have a lot. Too many people all over the world are suffering, dying, hurting because they have not. Too many people have millions, and billions of dollars that they can’t possibly spend in their life times. Society is out of balance.

We need to step back and think about why we are here and what duty we have to society and to people. So here is where we begin.

What do you believe society, people, government, YOU need to do to help out our fellow humans, mother earth and all it contains?

Infrastructure is very important. China, for example, already has worked on the waterways and improving their whole system. They have one of the cleanest water systems in the world. In the USA, our water structures and plants need a lot of rebuilding and safeguarding from lead, listeria, zinc, mold and other toxins. If not now then when?

Housing, roads, highways, bridges all need to be repaired or recreated. We’re in danger of being caught up in a collapse.

Our educational system needs to be improved upon. The USA is no longer in the top 10 among other nations. How is this going to fare well in the future? Who is going to want to hire our people?

So these are some of the issues we should be focusing on. Do better and make the USA thrive and grow. Help each other. Gather together and offer assistance. Volunteer, if you can.

I just wonder where we are going to end up and why are we where we are today. So much emphasis on money and capitalism. Too much focus on Individualism. Incorrect information about Socialism, Democracy, and Communism.

We need to reassess where we want to be. We need to face the facts and stop bashing the media. They are trying to inform us as best they can. Problem is some news stations like FOX are not really NEWS. They’re there for entertainment.

Our focus should be on helping, being concerned, doing what we can to help our friends, neighbors, and those in need. People are hurting all over in different ways. We need to be kinder and aware of our differences. We need to appreciate diversity.

Sometimes, all that’s needed are kind words, a smile, showing interest, concern and appreciation. We are all unique, yes, but we are in many ways the same.

People are feeling isolated these days. Reach out to people. Be kind. Share what you have. Give what you can. And, if you can’t give because you don’t have, don’t beat yourself up about. A smile can be uplifting to a walker by. Cutting your elderly neighbors grass can be a God send to someone who can’t do it.

When I first started on Twitter, I could not believe that I had Joyce Meyer and Pope Francis follow me, but I think they no longer do. And, it’s because I have questions for them. Questions they don’t want to answer.

For instance, Joyce Meyers is a televangelist and I really liked to listen to her way back. She had some good stories and amplified the teachings in the Bible to back it up. I had an affinity for her. But, I haven’t heard a word from her about what she thinks of Trump, the children in cages at the border, or what she is doing with all the money she collects from her books and events. She has a good program called “Helping Hand” and they help children in other countries and do good works. So that is good. Still, I’d like her to have the guts to say Trump’s behavior in NOT Christian like, at least, that much. Now, Pat Robinson who is another TV evangelist of the 700 Club, is more into politics than he is talking about the teachings of Jesus. Joel Olsteen has a new Ferrari, but failed to allow people to use his building as shelter form storms, tornedos, and flooding. Jim Baker was selling fraudulent potions to combat Covid-19. Now that’s just awful.

Having said all that… We’ve had enough of religion of that kind. People need to rely on each other and reach out for those who need help. All of us are in this together. Let’s form a decision to be kind and stop finding fault with the poor, the immigrants, people who are different or disabled. Let’s all love one another. Love one another right now. Right now!