“Starry, starry night Paint your palette blue and gray Look out on a summer's day With eyes that know the darkness in my soul “Shadows on the hills Sketch the trees and the daffodils Catch the breeze and the winter chills In colors on the snowy linen land
I would not be who I am if those things had not happened. And, yes, I am at peace. It is not my purpose in this essay to indicate my situation so much as to point out what is possible for a person to forgive and move beyond. It is my purpose to point out that God has not moved on, God is not done bringing justice, and a reckoning comes. In the book of the prophet Jeremiah in chapter 6, God says as follows:
"I will unleash my power against those who live in this land,” says the Lord. “That is because, from the least important to the most important of them, all of them are greedy for dishonest gain. Prophets and priests alike, all of them practice deceit. They offer only superficial help for the harm my people have suffered. They say, ‘Everything will be all right!’ But everything is not all right! Are they ashamed because they have done such shameful things? No, they are not at all ashamed. They do not even know how to blush! So they will die, just like others have died. They will be brought to ruin when I punish them,” says the Lord.
The Lord said to his people: “You are standing at the crossroads. So consider your path. Ask where the old, reliable paths are. Ask where the path is that leads to blessing and follow it. If you do, you will find rest for your souls.”
But they said, “We will not follow it!”
The Lord said, “I appointed prophets as watchmen to warn you, saying, ‘Pay attention to the warning sound of the trumpet!’”
But they said, “We will not pay attention!”
So the Lord said, “Hear, you nations! Be witnesses and take note of what will happen to these people. Hear this, you peoples of the earth: ‘Take note! I am about to bring disaster on these people. It will come as punishment for their scheming. For they have paid no attention to what I have said, and they have rejected my law. I take no delight when they offer up to me frankincense that comes from Sheba or sweet-smelling cane imported from a faraway land. I cannot accept the burnt offerings they bring me. I get no pleasure from the sacrifices they offer to me.’”
Yet we have these so-called Christian so-called evangelicals who call themselves Christian Zionists who demand that Americans support Israel's plan to build a third Temple, destroy places of worship in Jerusalem, and offer burnt offerings to God who has said in Jeremiah, in Hosea, and in Amos that God doesn't want their burnt offerings. Your speaker of the house in the District of Corruption, the Johnson that he is, led the way to financial support for Israel. Meanwhile the deaths by vaxxajab, the deaths by abortions of convenience, the deaths by doctors poisoning and murdering patients continue. The police shoot hundreds and hundreds of people every year and kill many. The government is corrupt and evil.
It is not about me. I'm okay. It's about the country. It isn't.
"It probably won’t surprise you at this point that I have been called crazy, including very recently here on Substack ..."
This reminds me of something Niels Bohr said in regard to a physics theory someone had advanced: "We all know your idea is crazy; the question is whether it is crazy enough."
So many socially marginalized people who live through the fires of unjust experience are shaped in character. Some turn out awfully evil but others learn from them and overcome such adversity to rise to shine like stars in the heavens. Every Bible character of any significance appears to have had a similar experience.
Holy shit. Thank you and I honor you and your experience- you gave a lot here. Maybe a book / autobiography is in your future because this read like one.
ok, a memoir then. I think what you've already written about counts as more of an accomplishment than building some company or being a CEO, just my opinion :-)
Thank you. You are very kind. Perhaps it is so. And there must be some market for a memoir of a societal reject, judging only by how very many of our sort there seem to be. -sad smile- God bless you Tess. Amen.
There definitely is. I remember reading a memoir called "The Road to Lost Innocence" by a woman named Somaly Mam who was a sex trafficking victim in Cambodia. That book alone inspired me to travel to Cambodia and meet the foundation she had established out there who was rescuing the victims, along with other community organizations doing work to help people that typically fall through the cracks. It was one of the greatest adventures of my life to date... and it all came from one persons memoir, who was a total stranger to me until I came across that book. You never know what yours will spark when someone reads it. 🙏
Proper respect to you for enduring and maintaining a noble character.
The candle ceremony is kind of moving. We see many candles lit for the passing of some famous person but many times victims of violence are not remembered. Since the loss of the village sometimes their passing is not even recorded.
One of your super powers is clearly the ability to forgive. To do so for a harsh word is easy, you have just cause for genuine grievance yet still forgive. I am blessed with a leaky memory and over time I forget the slights that have been caused to me, also few and far between as I was well cared for and protected so far. However I have found that while I do remember ill done to me I do hold a grudge. The following book I have read to my kids does make it easier to forgive consciously, I can recommend it. (Disclaimer, published by the spiritual faith I follow)
Jesus was being nailed to the cross and said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." I revisit that event every day in the evening when I pray the sorrowful mysteries of the most holy rosary of the blessed Virgin Mary. It is the example that I follow in seeking eternal salvation. Is it a super power? God sent down the Holy Spirit unto the apostles who had come together of one accord. They appeared as though crowned by tongues of fire, began speaking in tongues, healed the sick, cast out demons, converted multitudes, performed other miracles, baptised in water and in the Holy Spirit, and do so unto this day. I believe we are each connected to grace and wisdom through our souls which are created by and connected to God. It is this understanding and power that comes from God that helps me with forgiveness. We pray, "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." We call that prayer "the Lord's prayer" because our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ taught his disciples that prayer. It is important to remember that we are forgiven not because we deserve forgiveness but because God is gracious and merciful and gives us forgiveness. So we have the opportunity to be gracious and merciful, too. This is the path that I follow, the way of Jesus. Amen.
Thank you for sharing your life story and encouraging us to forgive our enemies and to trust God in all these things.
I wish all that stuff hadn't happened to you. But great that you are at peace with it now. ❤️
I would not be who I am if those things had not happened. And, yes, I am at peace. It is not my purpose in this essay to indicate my situation so much as to point out what is possible for a person to forgive and move beyond. It is my purpose to point out that God has not moved on, God is not done bringing justice, and a reckoning comes. In the book of the prophet Jeremiah in chapter 6, God says as follows:
"I will unleash my power against those who live in this land,” says the Lord. “That is because, from the least important to the most important of them, all of them are greedy for dishonest gain. Prophets and priests alike, all of them practice deceit. They offer only superficial help for the harm my people have suffered. They say, ‘Everything will be all right!’ But everything is not all right! Are they ashamed because they have done such shameful things? No, they are not at all ashamed. They do not even know how to blush! So they will die, just like others have died. They will be brought to ruin when I punish them,” says the Lord.
The Lord said to his people: “You are standing at the crossroads. So consider your path. Ask where the old, reliable paths are. Ask where the path is that leads to blessing and follow it. If you do, you will find rest for your souls.”
But they said, “We will not follow it!”
The Lord said, “I appointed prophets as watchmen to warn you, saying, ‘Pay attention to the warning sound of the trumpet!’”
But they said, “We will not pay attention!”
So the Lord said, “Hear, you nations! Be witnesses and take note of what will happen to these people. Hear this, you peoples of the earth: ‘Take note! I am about to bring disaster on these people. It will come as punishment for their scheming. For they have paid no attention to what I have said, and they have rejected my law. I take no delight when they offer up to me frankincense that comes from Sheba or sweet-smelling cane imported from a faraway land. I cannot accept the burnt offerings they bring me. I get no pleasure from the sacrifices they offer to me.’”
Yet we have these so-called Christian so-called evangelicals who call themselves Christian Zionists who demand that Americans support Israel's plan to build a third Temple, destroy places of worship in Jerusalem, and offer burnt offerings to God who has said in Jeremiah, in Hosea, and in Amos that God doesn't want their burnt offerings. Your speaker of the house in the District of Corruption, the Johnson that he is, led the way to financial support for Israel. Meanwhile the deaths by vaxxajab, the deaths by abortions of convenience, the deaths by doctors poisoning and murdering patients continue. The police shoot hundreds and hundreds of people every year and kill many. The government is corrupt and evil.
It is not about me. I'm okay. It's about the country. It isn't.
Loved this post! Well written. Also, Death Starry Night is wonderful.
"It probably won’t surprise you at this point that I have been called crazy, including very recently here on Substack ..."
This reminds me of something Niels Bohr said in regard to a physics theory someone had advanced: "We all know your idea is crazy; the question is whether it is crazy enough."
So many socially marginalized people who live through the fires of unjust experience are shaped in character. Some turn out awfully evil but others learn from them and overcome such adversity to rise to shine like stars in the heavens. Every Bible character of any significance appears to have had a similar experience.
Coming out the other side of all that cruelty and being able to forgive is testament to your resilience and faith.
Tesstamona suggests you write an autobiography and I agree, all in good time hopefully.
I will pray for you.
Holy shit. Thank you and I honor you and your experience- you gave a lot here. Maybe a book / autobiography is in your future because this read like one.
It might could be. Of course, one wants to accomplish something before going ahead with publishing an autobiography.
ok, a memoir then. I think what you've already written about counts as more of an accomplishment than building some company or being a CEO, just my opinion :-)
Thank you. You are very kind. Perhaps it is so. And there must be some market for a memoir of a societal reject, judging only by how very many of our sort there seem to be. -sad smile- God bless you Tess. Amen.
There definitely is. I remember reading a memoir called "The Road to Lost Innocence" by a woman named Somaly Mam who was a sex trafficking victim in Cambodia. That book alone inspired me to travel to Cambodia and meet the foundation she had established out there who was rescuing the victims, along with other community organizations doing work to help people that typically fall through the cracks. It was one of the greatest adventures of my life to date... and it all came from one persons memoir, who was a total stranger to me until I came across that book. You never know what yours will spark when someone reads it. 🙏
God knoweth. Thank you Tess. God bless you for your goodness. Amen.
Everyone has their own story. No two are alike. Tell your stories and people will read them. Don’t stop telling them until they do
Proper respect to you for enduring and maintaining a noble character.
The candle ceremony is kind of moving. We see many candles lit for the passing of some famous person but many times victims of violence are not remembered. Since the loss of the village sometimes their passing is not even recorded.
One of your super powers is clearly the ability to forgive. To do so for a harsh word is easy, you have just cause for genuine grievance yet still forgive. I am blessed with a leaky memory and over time I forget the slights that have been caused to me, also few and far between as I was well cared for and protected so far. However I have found that while I do remember ill done to me I do hold a grudge. The following book I have read to my kids does make it easier to forgive consciously, I can recommend it. (Disclaimer, published by the spiritual faith I follow)
https://rssb.org/book-EN-002-0.html
Jesus was being nailed to the cross and said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." I revisit that event every day in the evening when I pray the sorrowful mysteries of the most holy rosary of the blessed Virgin Mary. It is the example that I follow in seeking eternal salvation. Is it a super power? God sent down the Holy Spirit unto the apostles who had come together of one accord. They appeared as though crowned by tongues of fire, began speaking in tongues, healed the sick, cast out demons, converted multitudes, performed other miracles, baptised in water and in the Holy Spirit, and do so unto this day. I believe we are each connected to grace and wisdom through our souls which are created by and connected to God. It is this understanding and power that comes from God that helps me with forgiveness. We pray, "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." We call that prayer "the Lord's prayer" because our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ taught his disciples that prayer. It is important to remember that we are forgiven not because we deserve forgiveness but because God is gracious and merciful and gives us forgiveness. So we have the opportunity to be gracious and merciful, too. This is the path that I follow, the way of Jesus. Amen.
God bless you. Amen.