What I Want

 

What I want for my sons

Good wives

Good lives

Sons and daughters, my grandchildren

The sons of thunder

Before our world eats up everything good

For you

I wish good things too

A good wife, good life

Sons and daughters

Mark 4:39-40

 

And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” 

And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 

He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 

Pond

 

Sinners

And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Mark 2:15-17

Yom Kippur

If you are observing Yom Kippur,

may you have an easy fast.

This year is the first for me.

The Destruction of Monuments

Lee and Stuart are two of my old neighbors from college. They used to just stand there. Now one, or maybe both, have been covered in paint and pulled down.

I was never a fan of Confederate history. To me it seemed creepy, even in the peaceful 90's, to have these guys line the most beautiful avenue in town. How I felt watching their destruction, however, is something I find difficult to put into words. 

I am not worried about Lee, take him out if you will, I am worried about us. Why? I wasn't interested in American Civil War history. I was more interested in the history of the Russian Revolution. Something bad is happening here. We are losing eachother.

Behind the Stuart monument you can see the red doors of a Lutheran church. I remember standing there one quiet, do-nothing day and my heart was suddenly filled with deep joy. Someone long ago had built that church and hung those doors in honor of the God of my heart. Someone loved Him like I do. That moment is as impressed in my memory as the bright, bold red color you see here. That's the answer to our current problems, the God of our hearts. He's still there. Call on His name. If you don't understand how that will make a difference, try it and see.

Yuri Bezmenov said all this decades ago, but no one was paying attention. Faith is what will save us. 

Yuri Bezmenov on How to Prevent Ideological Subversion

"...that takes one step, one very important thing to do. You don't have to expel all the KGB agents from Washington DC. The most difficult and at the same time the simplest answer to the subversion is to start it here and even before, by bringing back the society to religion, something that you cannot touch and eat and put on yourself. But something that rules society and makes it move and preserve it. A Soviet scientist, Shafarevich, who has nothing to do with religion, he is a computer scientist, did a very intensive research the on the history of Socialist countries. He calls Socialist or Communist any country with the centralized economy and the pyramidal style of power structure and he discovered, actually he didn't discover, he just brought to attention of his readers.

That civilizations like Mohenjo-daro in the River Indus area, like Egypt, like Maya, Incas, like Babylonian culture, collapsed and disappeared from the surface of Earth the moment they lost religion. As simple as that. They disintegrated. Nobody remembers about them anymore. Well, just a few. 

So, the ideas are moving society and keeping mankind as society of human beings, intelligent, moral agents of God. The facts, the truth, the exact knowledge may not. All the sophisticated technology and computers will not prevent society from disintegrating and eventually dying out. Have you ever met a person who would sacrifice his life, freedom for the truth like that? (writes 2x2=4 on board) This is truth. I never met the person who said, "This is truth and I am ready to... shoot me!" to defend the truth. Right?

But millions sacrifice their life, freedom, comfort, everything for things like God, like Jesus Christ. It's an honor!

Some martyrs in the Soviet concentration camp died and they died in peace unlike those who shouted, "Long live Stalin!" knowing perfectly well that he may not live long. 

Something which is not material moves society and helps it to survive, and the other way around, the moment we turn into 2 by 2 is 4 and make it the guiding principle of our life, our existence, we die. Even though this is true (points to 2x2=4) and this we cannot prove (points to God and J.C.) We can only feel and have faith in it.

So the answer to ideological subversion, strangely enough, is very simple. You don't have to shoot people. You don't have to aim missiles and Pershings and cruise missiles at Andropov's headquarters. You simply have to have faith and prevent subversion. In other words, not to be a victim of subversion.

Don't try to be a person who in Judo is trying to smash your enemy and being caught by your hand. Don't strike like that. Strike with power of your spirit and moral superiority. If you don't have that power, it's high time to develop it, and that's the only answer."

They're Lying to You, Violet.

 

What do you mean, Mom? 

You're in love with him, so what's the problem?

They say I should date more to find the one.

Vi, get married. Raise a family, with him.

Maybe I'm supposed to roam the Earth.

You're not a dinosaur. What do you mean 'roam the Earth'? 

I'm not supposed to marry the first one. I need to experience life. 

Can't you experience life with him?

Don't point, Mom. He's watching. 

I don't care. I want him to marry you. 

But, Mom, what if he tries to tell me what to do? 

What's he going to tell you to do, Vi?

I don't know. Maybe to quit my job or stay home or something.

Ok. So? What if you tell him what to do? 

I will! 

So this only works one way? 

Of course not. But they say I'm supposed to live a little. Date more. 

They're lying to you, Vi. Don't date more. Don't do that. Please.

Why not?

It's not supposed to be that way. Just pick one. Forsake all others.

Why?

You're not really supposed to have more than one.

What.

It's not right. You know what I mean. I don't want you to know what I mean. 

I don't know what you mean.

He'll protect you. 

I'll protect myself. 

Vi, it's natural for a man to protect a woman. They want to do that. 

No, they want to control us. We have to tear down the patriarchy!

That's nonsense. 

You're old-fashioned.

Look at our world, honey. Really look. Please trust me.

White Green Gold

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Matthew 13:44

Today

 

I live on a metaphorical island in the middle of everywhere. My husband, my Knight in Shining Armor, is protective and hates covid, so here we are, sequestered. Do you have a hero in your life? It is a gift, one I am amazed by.

I have started watching podcasts. There is one with a scientist who asks other scientists scientists' questions. They answer him with impressive words and complex numbers. Then he asks them the meaning of life and they give him crazy answers. It hurts my heart. I wonder if anyone will tell them they are here on purpose. I won't because I live on this island. I can only tell you guys.

There are leaves in the pond now. How is it September already?

Bless you all for being here.