Anonymous Giving is the most blessed!
Julian Ayrs
Divine Grace
Collection of Poems
Showing posts with label Giving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Giving. Show all posts
Monday, December 13, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Singers of the Street...sing for Justice & Joy! San Francisco troupe uplifts spirits!
On this past trip to San Francisco, I was delighted to stumble on a patio area- scattered with a handful of table and chairs - that has been constructed at the corner of 17th & Castro (where the quaint old European Street cars turn-a-bout to head back downtown).
For years, this corner was quite an eyesore, and amounted to a wasted desolate space.
Now, the busy corner is populated by an effervescent cross-section of locals and tourists alike - who stop and mingle - with the ultimate aim of taking a brief respite from the hectic bustling streets.
As I plunked myself down in the lazy afternoon sun, I spied one gentleman toss of his shirt, to catch a few rays in a bold-faced hedonistic attempt to perfect a golden tan.
For me, it was a great perch to take notes on the San Francisco scene, as the world - full of life and vitality - passed by.
At one point, my spirits were lifted considerably, when a rag-tag band of street minstels strode up.
The street performers - who referred to themselves as S.O.S. (Singers of the Street) - proceeded to hand out flyers about their entertaining venture - as they coaxed by-standers to join in and sing for Justice and Joy.
Every Wednesday, S.O.S. meets between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to spread their unique brand of comfort to the down-and-out in need of boot-strappiing up in these troubling economic times.
The generous motley crew is a San Francisco-based community choir that provides a voice, a face, and a place for seeking justice, healing, and joy for those living on the margins of society (especially folks who are homeless) according to their mission statement.
In addition to the opportunity to spread joy, participants enjoy other perks, too.
A free lunch is provided to the dedicated few who attend rehearsals, for starters!
If you're ready to take to the streets, and find a mission in life, contact the group.
S.O.S
Metropolitan Community Church
150 Eureka Street
San Francisco, CA
http://www.singersofthestreet.org/
Instruments needed, too!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Salvation Army...feeding needy in streets of San Francisco! Worthy charity!
In a News report tail-end of last week, analysts at charitable organizations whined that donations were down in the public sector, with at least one notable exception.
Salvation Army still manages to rustle up millions on behalf of their kettle in the streets "campaign" each holiday season.
The heart-warming concept charms - after all - the touching images are so "Miracle on 34th Street" and Macy's parade.
Tradition!
One night last week - I was a little weary around the edges after running myself ragged all day - when I ran smack dab into a stranger approaching passers-by out-of-the-blue on the dark dank streets.
“Care for something to eat from the Salvation army,“ he barked out sharply, as he thrust two cellophane-wrapped sandwiches in my direction.
Not wishing to chow down on a nourishing lifeline - intended for a needy homeless person - I was inclined to graciously pass.
Even still, the impromptu encounter managed to “feed my head” (as Grace Slick of the Jefferson Starship might succinctly put it) on an evening when I was lost in my own selfish thoughts.
It was heartening to discover first-hand that charitable organizations such as the Salvation Army are still actively involved in the community and providing a meal (along with a smidgen of hope) to the down-and-out in these troubling economic times.
For this reason, I urge readers to consider writing a check to the “army” of well-meaning do-gooders, since the much-needed funds will surely be well spent.
http://www.thetattler.biz
Yes, there is a Santa Clause
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Michelle Obama...a heartfelt message from the 1st Lady! Giving...
Michelle has a dream!
(to end hunger)
Shortly after I took a lunch break a few moments ago, I returned to the computer to double-check my e-mail before friends, family, and business associates begin to proceed with their plans for the Thanksgiving Holiday - which, for many - includes out-of-town travel to visit with loved ones.
Imagine my surprise (and delight) to receive a heartfelt message from 1st Lady Michelle Obama!
While other citizens around the country are selfishly thinking of themselves, Michelle has been busy getting out a somewhat persuasive message to Americans around the country, on the subject of giving in this great hour of need for so many across the heartland.
Bless her heart!
Here is what the gracious 1st Lady wrote verbatim:
On Wed, 11/25/09, First Lady Michelle Obama
From: First Lady Michelle Obama
Subject: Giving Thanks
To: julian@julianayrs.com
Date: Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 1:09 PM
Tomorrow, many of us will gather around the table with family and friends to give thanks over a feast of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy - and let’s not forget pumpkin pie!
But for some in this country, the feast will not be as bountiful.
In fact, it won’t be much of a feast at all.
Hunger is on the rise in America - hitting its highest levels in nearly 15 years.
A recent report released by the USDA reveals that in 2008 an estimated 1.1 million children were living in households that experienced hunger multiple times over the past year.
To combat hunger this winter, we’re launching, in coordination with the Corporation for National and Community Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the United We Serve: Feed a Neighbor initiative - a program that empowers you with all the resources you need to mobilize against the hunger crisis in your community. Learn how you can get started today:
Barack and I are committed to doing all we can to end hunger by making food programs more accessible to eligible families.
But government can only do so much - it will take all of us working together to put an end to hunger in America.
That’s why we’ve made it easy for you to get involved at Serve.gov.
Find local volunteer opportunities like delivering meals to homebound seniors, offering your professional skills at a food pantry, or planting a community garden and sharing produce with your neighbors.
You can also create your own volunteer opportunity using our anti-hunger toolkit.
This holiday season let’s recommit to serving our communities and working together to feed American families.
Get started giving back today.
Thank you,
Michelle
First Lady Michelle Obama
The White House
This email was sent to julian@julianayrs.com
The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111
A link for the White House Blog offered up the following ways in which you can help:
United We Serve: Feed a Neighbor
Posted by Nicola Goren on November 25, 2009 at 02:53 PM EST
As we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends, let us also pause and acknowledge that many of our neighbors are struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table.
The President and the First Lady are calling on all of us to come together to solve hunger in our communities.
In this spirit, the Corporation for National and Community Service in coordination with the White House and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is launching the United We Serve: Feed a Neighbor initiative. The new initiative raises awareness of hunger issues and equips Americans with the resources to mobilize against the hunger crisis.
Here’s what you can do to get started fighting hunger today:
Find an opportunity to serve by using the keyword "hunger" in our "Find a Volunteer Opportunity" search engine on Serve.gov
Create your own service project using our anti-hunger toolkit.
Raise awareness & learn more about ending hunger in America.
Nicola Goren
Acting CEO
Corporation for National & Community Service
__________________________________________________
Footnote Quote
John Rockefeller said it best:
"Think of giving not as a duty but a privilege"
Monday, June 8, 2009
Receiving...quote!
The ability to receive
is just as important
as the capacity to give
Julian Ayrs
Divine Grace
Collection of Poems
Friday, May 29, 2009
Christina DeRosa...touts "Share This". A practical online service...
Christina DeRosa is a pretty petite beauty who has been garnering a lot of attention over the past year - in part due to her high-profile role on the popular series - "Sex Chronicles".
No wonder, Christina sinks her teeth into everything she pursues wholeheartedly.
Quite the fashion plate, Christina also turns heads wherever she goes!
A few weeks ago, DeRosa lent her considerable skills in the style arena to raise funds for a worthy cause, the "All Stars Fashion Show" (Hollywood).
Needless to say, the high-energy fashion extravaganza - which attracted dozens of dazzling personalities who chomped at the bit to take a stroll down the red carpet lined with frenzied paparazzi - was a surefire success.
But DeRosa is not just a perky actress with an eye on the limelight.
On the heels of that sold-out event, the talented DeRosa threw herself into a rally (and madcap treasure hunt headed up by name stars in the industry) to raise much-needed funds for the Los Angeles Children's Hospital, which also ended on a top note ($$$$$).
Yesterday, I was not surprised to receive an e-mail from Christina inviting me to sign up for "Share This" - a web site venture that provides a simplistic way to "share" information (blog posts, news features, and celebrity profiles) as quick as-a-wink on the Internet.
Although I have not quite figured out the semantics of "share this", upon receipt of the invite, I was inclined to recall that just a few months ago friends urged me to jump on the Twitter bandwagon.
But, when I urged others to sign up, what was their initial response?
Twitter!
Say what?
If Christina is involved with "share this", or recommending the site, there must be some substance to it.
Bottom line, the whole concept of "sharing" appeals to me, anyway.
How 'bout you?
Ralph Waldo Emerson once opined:
"Our best thoughts come from others."
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Aid for AIDS...Go eat Los Angeles! Charitable fundraiser February 26th...
Dine at an elegant restaurant and - at the same time - raise funds for the homeless and individuals and families impoverished by HIV/AIDS!
The annual event is - GO EAT Los Angeles - and kicks off tomorrow on February 26th.
This is how it works.
Chow down at a Los Angeles restaurant and the proprietors will donate 20% or more of their day's receipts to Aid the AIDS-inflicted.
According to the organizers, this is an easy way to support the HIV/AIDS community.
You have to eat, right?
So, when you hop in the car - and head out to squelch that hunger pang in your stomach (during the breakfast, lunch, or dinner hour) - select an eatery from the "Go Eat Los Angeles" list of participating restaurants.
No excuses!
'Cause there are plenty of participating establishments serving up delectable meals in West Hollywood, Silverlake, Hollywood, Long Beach, Pasadena, West Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and the Valley (you go, girl!).
Info: http://www.GoEatLA.org
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Blog Action Day...introduction to 4 posts on "poverty"...
When we think of poverty, many disturbing images float into the consciousness.
Images of young children starving in the streets of an impoverished country, for starters, seem to exemplify the extreme horrors of it.
The thought of young ones being without a crumb to nourish their bodies turns my stomach.
At a time when there is so much advanced technology and widespread global communication, how is it possible that in our reach we have managed to pass over and turn our backs on the truly needy?
After all, we are all "one" in the grand scheme of things.
If one part of us is unhealthy or lacking in nourishment, then each of is, in some capacity.
As Shakespeare said in one of his dramatic plays of yesteryear:
"All are punished!"
In tandem with the "Blog Action" movement today to rise up against poverty - and ultimately effect some healing - I am posting 4 articles.
"World Hunger" has been included for two reasons.
For starters, the article throws a spotlight - not only the waste and superficiality of life in America - but exposes the greed of a few to the detriment of the many.
Further, the statistics underscore the urgency for a call to action.
With that in mind, constructive solutions are also offered up that are not only consciousness-raising, but quite novel in approach.
So, I trust you'll hop on the bandwagon when you peruse that article!
To complement the first post, I have also included a few words from Mahatma Gandhi, written several decades ago in the infancy of our surge for selfish gratification.Even still, the thoughts resonate with truth, today.
In a few sentences, the spiritual leader managed to put his finger on the underlying causes of the ills of our modern-day society - which ultimately - hinder our ability to realize a much gentler, kinder, Garden of Eden.
When our focus drifts to poverty in America, undoubtedly thoughts turn to the homeless who struggle daily in the mean streets of this once-great Nation.
In a world of plenty - how is it possible for an ugly scenario such as this - to have unfolded in our own backyard?
The land of the brave and the free - appears less likely to turn out a good Samaritan or two - willing to lend a helping hand in troubling times.
Such is the width and breadth of our lack of compassion!
For this reason - I have posted "Alms for the Poor" to remind us on blog action day how important it is to give to the homeless - even when a dark shroud has cast a shadow on the rest us considered more fortunate.
Finally, it should be noted, there are many forms of poverty.
On many different levels we are poor, and needy, and wanting.
When it comes to nurturing Mother Earth (for instance) - sentient beings are poor in spirit and slow to replenish a great bounty - once thought bottomless.
In the final analysis, we are all spiritually poor in America.
That's worse than financial bankruptcy in my humble opinion.
Were it not true - each and every one of us would be striving stridently to curb the ills of global warming, anxiously attempting to minimize the carbon footprint, and diligently seeking a way to end all the senseless polluting.
We must end the apathy!
The 4th post focuses on a remarkable woman (who just passed into spirit this past week) - who founded the green movement "Heal the Bay".
Unlike so many others, Dorothy Green was not poor in her ability to rectify a wrong, effect right action, and bring about a positive logical outcome.
Why did she tackle the challenge?
Because it had to be done!
The Dorothy Green post is a tribute to a great lady.
And, the best way to end on an inspiring positive note.
Happy Blog Action Day!
Mother Nature is alive and well and living...
Blog Action Day..."Alms for the Poor" Helping hand for the needy on the mean streets of the city!
Walk down any street in any big American city and a panhandler is bound to ask you for spare change. The beggars have all manner of excuses to wangle the cash out of you.
An old familiar one,
"I'm a quarter short for the bus."
Curiously, if you offer up a bus token, they balk.
Ah, gotcha!
Then, there are those who dash up to you excited and out-of-breath with a gas can in hand, alleging they're stranded because they just ran out of the pricey fuel.
Judge Judy would retort,
"Do I have stupid written on my forehead?"
I find it refreshing when a beggar is truthful, though.
One guy crafted a sign that requested "spare change for beer".
Ha, I expect his honesty paid off.
Maybe not.
Many are reticent about giving on the street; especially if a down-and-out individual has liquor on their breath.
People worry that if they hand over a buck or two the recipient will go off to the nearest convenience store, buy cheap whiskey, and go off on a binge.
Some agonize over parting with the moolah.
Am I really helping such a person, an inner voice whispers from the depths of their soul.
Maybe you're better off taking their hand and escorting them into a restaurant nearby and treating them to a nutritious meal.
I understand Johnny Depp does that.
Others rationalize that if you cave in, panhandling will proliferate on the streets.
When I was in San Francisco a few months ago - excessive begging on Market Street caused some to urge an ordinance banning the down-and-out from asking passers-by on the street for spare change - because the practise affected the quality of life, they claimed.
It appears that some didn't mind leaving their hearts in San Francisco, but thought twice about parting with their cash in the windy city.
In contrast, poet Maya Angelous once said,
"I have found that among its benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver."
Meanwhile, there are those who prefer to give to a charity, instead. At least the money is going to a worthy cause, they speculate.
With brisk fall days just around the corner, I suppose it's the appropriate occasion to suggest that caring individuals consider spending a day at a local homeless shelter to help serve food to the needy.
In my view, when I hand money to someone who's down-and-out on skid row - at least I know the cash is in hand - and it's not siphoned away by administration costs of an organization over-bloated with staff and expense accounts.
Gee, it appears that a simple act of giving on the street is so much cause for consternation!
Others, like John D. Rockefeller, Jr. perceive it this way:
"Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege."
By the way, the scriptures heartily urge to "give alms to the poor".
"Alms are a worthy offering in the sight of the Most High for all who give them."
(Tobias 4:7-11)
But, some judge, nonetheless.
That's one of the problems with begging on the street.
An individual can't help but wonder; is pan-handling just a scam for lay-abouts to avoid work?
In Toronto, there was the infamous case of the shaky lady, which caused quite an uproar a few years ago.
Residents of the fair city couldn't help but notice as they walked by an elderly woman at the corner of Young Street and Bloor in the downtown core that she shook violently and appeared to bear the burden of a troubling disabling disease.
Of course, the image of the poor soul was enough to cause passers-by to dig deep into their wallets, and graciously offer up a fistful of coins of the realm.
Unfortunately - at about dusk one day - an idle stroller spied the shaky lady turn a corner into an alley, then hot-foot it to the rear of a building where she hopped into a late-model car and sped off.
Miraculously, all the shaking and trembling simply vanished.
Oh my gosh! Was there healing power in that hard-won cash?
Once followed by the startled citizen - who was moved by the insatiable urge to uncover the truth - it was determined from some expert clandestine snooping that she comfortably resided in a modest bungalow in the suburbs.
Ah, the shaky lady was not doing so poorly, after all!
The incident was reported to the local newspaper. Within days, the poor woman was the subject of a glaring expose featured on page one of the Toronto Sun.
Needless to say, the woman became the scorn of the city.
Golly, they tarred and feathered her, then sent her packing.
Quite medieval in scope, don't you think?
When she trundled off to Montreal, she thought she had escaped everyone's wrath, until a visitor from Hog Town spied her on the street there shaking up a storm.
Ah, you got it; she was exposed there, too.
Well, that was a bit heavy-handed - mean-spirited, too - if you ask me.
But, it's a dilemma for some.
Who are the needy, truly?
And, is your money being extracted from you dishonestly?
Oh, don't get so confused or downhearted.
Show compassion, continue to give alms to the poor, and follow the Golden Rule.
If the masses were enlightened about the fact that when a dollar is given to one needy person, it is rewarded by the Lord tenfold, I expect the citizenry would be handing out the greenback right, left, and center, eh?
But, the truth of the matter is this.
To God, anonymous giving is the most Sainted!
"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth, that thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly." (Matthew 6:1-4)
In the final analysis, if you let the heart lead, you won't go astray.
What are a few cents, after all, in the grand scheme of things?
"Let not your hand be open to receive and clenched when it is time to give".
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Homeless man gives worker $5.00...Yes, God is watching!
As I waited in the early morning light for Jack-in-the-box to open, I spied a worker scrubbing down a paper stall at the curb.
Frankly, I was surprised. By the look of some of those money-grubbing contraptions, it appeared they were rarely ever cleaned.
Just as the thought crossed my mind, an elderly homeless man shuffled up and muttered to the man, "You're doing a great job".
As the paper carrier was about to recoil in horror, the curious street inhabitant rustled in his pocket and conjured up a crumpled bill.
"Here's five bucks. God bless," the street person uttered gruffly as he pressed the cash into the man's palm with a trembling hand.
Well, the startled fellow could have done one of two things, in my estimation.
He could have recognized the need of the homeless was greater than his own and politely refused the money with thanks.
Or, accepted the gift graciously.
After all, it is just as important to know how to "receive" as it is to give. Yes, on occasion people need to experience the joy of sharing, too.
In this instant case, the worker chuckled in a bemused manner, took the five bucks without hesitation, then watched the indigent man maneuver his body slowly down the pavement.
When a fellow worker returned after fussing about in a company truck, the recipient of the gift could have done one of two things - either kept the incident a secret - or shared the precious moment with his buddy.
"A guy just gave me five bucks for doing a great job cleaning the boxes," he jovially noted to his co-worker.
"Yeah, who?"
"That old guy, that homeless man over there," he chuckled wickedly.
It was obvious to me what was coming next.
His friend chided him, "Are you going to give half to me?"
After all, he was on the job, too.
"No way," the gift-getter cackled.
"This has never happened to me before in all the days I have worked on this job. The Universe is speaking to me."
In a nutshell, he was right. God appears in the humblest of places.
The Universe was not only speaking to him, but testing him as well.
In the final analysis, he failed on all counts.
Heda Bejar once said,
The fragrance always remains in the hand that gives the rose.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Unconditional Love...unexpected blessings in West Hollywood!
As I waited for the light to change at Robertson, a young woman with an infectious smile approached me with a gift in hand.
"This is given with unconditional love," she softy said.
As the lady sauntered off, I spied a couple of her friends passing out similarly-wrapped packages to other pedestrians on the street.
The curious gift was beautifully wrapped in an exquisite paper shell emblazoned with a star motif, topped by a delightful spray of spritely-colored curly cues.
I surmised that when I excitedly tore open the present, the contents would reveal a promotion of some kind. (not so!)
Ah, cynical ole me!
When I entered Java Detour across the street for a cup of soothing organic tea, a patron's eyes went wide when she spied the offering in my hands.
When I relayed the events, she exclaimed with joy,
"Someone received good fortune and now they have passed it on to you. You are blessed."
Sort of like tithing, I guess. Or giving back to the Universe, eh?
Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if people willy-nilly went about their lives each day - passing out gifts to friends, business associates, and strangers on the street, without any strings attached?
Unconditional giving...
Victor Hugo once said,
"As the purse is emptied, the heart is filled."
The giving tree...
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Hillary Clinton...gives to needy!
Well, wonders never cease!
I just received an e-mail today from Hillary Clinton to inform me that her campaign is involved in an on-going effort to feed the hungry this holiday.
In her communication she notes,
At our campaign offices in California, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina as well as our headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, we're accepting donations of nonperishable food to help local efforts to fight hunger. If you're not near one of our offices in those states and would still like to give back this Thanksgiving, here are a few national organizations with information about how you can help.
America's Second Harvest
1 800 Volunteer
End Hunger Network
Hunger Free America
An admirable effort, by any standards!
No matter what your political persuasion, I hope you'll all take a nod from Hillary and open your hearts to the needy this Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 19, 2007
Alms for the poor...giving to beggars!
Walk down any street in any big American city and a panhandler is bound to ask you for spare change.
The beggars have all manner of excuses to wangle the cash out of you.
An old familiar one,
"I'm a quarter short for the bus."
Curiously, if you offer up a bus token, they balk.
Ah, gotcha!
Then, there are those who dash up to you excited and out-of-breath with a gas can in hand, alleging they're stranded because they just ran out of the pricey fuel.
Judge Judy would retort,
"Do I have stupid written on my forehead?"
I find it refreshing when a beggar is truthful, though.
One guy crafted a sign that requested "spare change for beer".
Ha, I expect his honesty paid off.
Maybe not.
Many are reticent about giving on the street; especially if a down-and-out individual has liquor on their breath.
People worry that if they hand over a buck or two the recipient will go off to the nearest convenience store, buy cheap whiskey, and go off on a binge.
Some agonize over parting with the moolah.
Am I really helping such a person, an inner voice whispers from the depths of their soul.
Maybe you're better off taking their hand and escorting them into a restaurant nearby and treating them to a nutritious meal.
I understand Johnny Depp does that.
Others rationalize that if you cave in, panhandling will proliferate on the streets.
When I was in San Francisco a few months ago - excessive begging on Market Street caused some to urge an ordinance banning the down-and-out from asking passers-by on the street for spare change - because the practise affected the quality of life, they claimed.
It appears that some didn't mind leaving their hearts in San Francisco, but thought twice about parting with their cash in the windy city.
In contrast, poet Maya Angelous once said,
"I have found that among its benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver."
Meanwhile, there are those who prefer to give to a charity, instead. At least the money is going to a worthy cause, they speculate.
With brisk fall days just around the corner, I suppose it's the appropriate occasion to suggest that caring individuals consider spending a day at a local homeless shelter to help serve food to the needy.
In my view, when I hand money to someone who's down-and-out on skid row - at least I know the cash is in hand - and it's not siphoned away by administration costs of an organization over-bloated with staff and expense accounts.
Gee, it appears that a simple act of giving on the street is so much cause for consternation!
Others, like John D. Rockefeller, Jr. perceive it this way,
"Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege."
By the way, the scriptures heartily urge to "give alms to the poor".
"Alms are a worthy offering in the sight of the Most High for all who give them." (Tobias 4:7-11)
But, some judge, nonetheless.
That's one of the problems with begging on the street.
An individual can't help but wonder; is pan-handling just a scam for lay-abouts to avoid work?
In Toronto, there was the infamous case of the shaky lady, which caused quite an uproar a few years ago.
Residents of the fair city couldn't help but notice as they walked by an elderly woman at the corner of Young Street and Bloor in the downtown core that she shook violently and appeared to bear the burden of a troubling disabling disease.
Of course, the image of the poor soul was enough to cause passers-by to dig deep into their wallets, and graciously offer up a fistful of coins of the realm.
Unfortunately - at about dusk one day - an idle stroller spied the shaky lady turn a corner into an alley, then hot-foot it to the rear of a building where she hopped into a late-model car and sped off.
Miraculously, all the shaking and trembling simply vanished.
Oh my gosh! Was there healing power in that hard-won cash?
Once followed by the startled citizen - who was moved by the insatiable urge to uncover the truth - it was determined from some expert clandestine snooping that she comfortably resided in a modest bungalow in the suburbs.
Ah, the shaky lady was not doing so poorly, after all!
The incident was reported to the local newspaper. Within days, the poor woman was the subject of a glaring expose featured on page one of the Toronto Sun.
Needless to say, the woman became the scorn of the city.
Golly, they tarred and feathered her, then sent her packing.
Quite medieval in scope, don't you think?
When she trundled off to Montreal, she thought she had escaped everyone's wrath, until a visitor from Hog Town spied her on the street there shaking up a storm.
Ah, you got it; she was exposed there, too.
Well, that was a bit heavy-handed - mean-spirited, too - if you ask me.
But, it's a dilemma for some.
Who are the needy, truly?
And, is your money being extracted from you dishonestly?
Oh, don't get so confused or downhearted.
Show compassion, continue to give alms to the poor, and follow the Golden Rule.
If the masses were enlightened about the fact that when a dollar is given to one needy person, it is rewarded by the Lord tenfold, I expect the citizenry would be handing out the greenback right, left, and center, eh?
But, the truth of the matter is this.
To God, anonymous giving is the most Sainted!
"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth, that thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly."
(Matthew 6:1-4)
In the final analysis, if you let the heart lead, you won't go astray.
What are a few cents, after all, in the grand scheme of things?
"Let not your hand be open to receive and clenched when it is time to give".
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Dreams...Clinton scandal on horizon?
I awoke with a start...
Disturbing images from the night before were still vivid in my mind and they troubled me. After all, I'm not one to take such matters lightly.
In a dream years ago, I recalled falling back against a wall. As I slumped to the cold pavement, I glanced upward, and spied a man firing a pistol straight at me.
When I was riveted back into consciousness, there was a nagging impression in my mind that someone famous was going to be murdered in the street; unfortunately, I was unable to catch a glimpse of their face in the dream sequence.
A couple of days later, John Lennon was shot!
In one segment of the surreal montage the other night, a chauffeur was driving me to the airport where I was expected to catch a plane to journey on to Washington to receive an Honor at the White House.
The driver, an Afro-American male, turned and smiled through the open glass partition.
Then, for some inexplicable reason, he handed me a brand new copy of Bill Clinton's book on "Giving"...
I glanced down at the white cover; suddenly, the outside flap turned pitch black!
The two of us reacted in shock...
The livery service employee quickly noted that there was a bookstore down the street. At this point in the surreal dream, he scrambled out of the vehicle purring at the curb, and dashed up the bustling city street to pick up a fresh copy of the book so the Clinton's wouldn't be upset.
As soon as he departed, I glanced down in wonder at the publication resting in my shaking hands. At that precise moment, the outer jacket transformed back into its original shade of pristine white. Then, I woke up, perplexed.
The next night, I was savoring an invigorating shower. Suddenly - as the steaming-hot jet of crystal-clear water shot forth from the nozzle all over my naked flesh - a dark, muddy pool of liquid began to flow into the basin at my feet.
A voice in my mind said, "Don't drink it. It's contaminated!"
As I wrestled myself from the deep, hypnotic state, I bolted upright in my bed trying to fathom the symbols.
In my estimation, both nightmares were prophetic dreams.
First, it should be noted that dreams never speak to you in a language that you do not understand.
If you're afraid of swimming, for instance, then such an image in a dream sequence may be a warning - a message to pay heed to. If a snake represents evil, the appearance of one is in reference to that.
Both Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung - two leading dream analysts - identified dreams as a dramatic interaction between the unconscious and the conscious minds.
Basically, there are three types of dreams...
First, there is the purely prophetic kind, which essentially peer into the future.
In Biblical times, Joseph was inclined to have profound dreams, which often foretold of cataclysmic events.
In one, he noted to his brothers...
"...behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo [behold], my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf."
In another, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed to him.
God often used him as an instrument to forewarn about events on the horizon to pay heed to. Forebodings such as these are not easy to interpret.
The idea of "prophetic dreaming" becomes compelling when déjà vu is experienced.
After all, déjà vu generally conjures up a feeling of having previously seen or experienced something which may be attributed to having been dreamt about in a similar situation or place, and forgetting about it, until one seems to be mysteriously reminded of the situation or place while awake...
The second kind of dreams arise and spring from daily tension and anxiety.
During waking hours, sentient beings are prone to toil at work, watch television, and listen to the radio...so, cries from the subconscious are often blocked out.
At night, the lower levels of the psyche try to communicate what is amiss, or offer up clues as to what may be irking us, with the ultimate aim of calming our fears and attaining peace of mind.
Some argue that dreams cleanse unhealthy thoughts from the mind during sleep.
On occasion, such a process may be interrupted due to "dream incorporation". This occurrence takes place when an external stimulus - usually an auditory one - becomes a part of a dream, eventually awakening the dreamer.
"Dream Incorporation" is used in research to examining the degree to which preceding daytime events become elements of dreams. Studies have determined that events the day preceding and those about a week before have the most influence.
The third dream state pertains to the individual on a deeply personal level and is connected to personality traits, changes in the offing, and unique aspects of the person's life - not inconsequential, at all.
According to Carl Jung, there is a collective unconscious which a person taps into, at a basic level of the mind, which is common to all races and cultures.
Jung theorized archetypal symbols reside in the universal, myth-making part of the mind, and that myths and dreams stem from the same profound imaginings.
This argument supports the idea that individuals across the "board" are capable of having relatively similar dreams, especially in respect to universal truths. This may account for the ability of a handful to experience prophetic glimpses into the future and discern events that may affect all mankind.
Call it a kind-of primal instinct in the lower reaches of the mind.
The celebrated psychologist doubted that the images were solely related to the subject's personal experience.
To Jung, a fairly insightful, open-minded doctor - symbols of dreams were an efficient language, comparable to poetry, uniquely capable of revealing hidden, underlying personality traits.
Fritz Perls, who coined the phrase "Gestalt Therapy", expanded upon this point of view to say that even inanimate objects represented aspects of the dreamer. For this reason, a subject was often asked to imagine an object in the dream and describe it in order to bring an awareness of the characteristics that corresponded to the dreamer's personality.
Houses, on the other hand, usually refer to the "house" or temple of the individual, or their soul. If the structure is white, then the person may be experiencing a period of cleansing, since white represents purity.
Meanwhile, Sigmund Freud - a leading analyst in the field - conjectured that all human experience was subject to cause and effect.
In his opinion, dreams sprung forth as an aspect of the unconscious mind.
Through a technique known as free association, he surmised he could interpret dreams.
For instance, in a therapy session, subjects were asked to articulate sequences of spontaneous and random connections, using dreams as their starting points.
In his book, "Interpreting Dreams", he further theorized the mind operated on two levels - the primary and the secondary.
The id consisted of the primordial, inherited instincts; while the EGO, was focused on morality, rationality, and logic.
In the dreaming mind (primary process) unconcious desire and fears were turned into symbols; in the waking mind (secondary process) impulses and symbols were repressed through the operation of reason and conscience.
Id acted as a wish-fulfillment, couching them in symbolic form, so that they did not become urgent yearnings; hence, the symbolic musings did not disturb the dreamer.
Dream symbolism was facilitated by the complex mind to permit sleep, he theorized, by allowing the id to express the animalistic desires of the individual without forcing them into consciousness.
He further asserted that dreams functioned on two levels - consisting of manifest content (what dreams seem to mean) and latent content (what they actually mean).
The manifest content disguised the latent by dream sequences such as condensation (multiple dream meanings condensed into one symbol) and displacement (visual metaphor).
Using free association, he felt he was able to make connections that patients made between the symbols, to reveal a dream's content and arrive at a true interpretation
Freud formulated many theories about sexual urges and the id, but others who followed in his footsteps, challenged those ideas vigorously.
Some concluded that far from manifesting the power of some inner demon, dreams were a continuation of and a response to, waking states and events - as I noted earlier.
Not to be left behind, Freud proceeded to make a distinction, too, between those dreams prompted by id and those arising from day-to-day mundane matters.
In contrast, Jung felt dream work was an essential tool for psychoanalysis because dream symbols represented common humanity.
In this capacity, Jung noted they had a religious function; each one led to a path of self-discovery and spiritual enlightenment.
In view of the foregoing, the dream images of the limousine driver and the book transformations, conjure up many intriguing clues - but no cigar, yet!
Maybe there is a "black" scandal on the horizon for Clinton pertaining to issues of "giving", as suggested by the book imagery.
But what of the Afro-American limo driver?
The water sequence drew a blank until this past week when it was announced that Bush vetoed the Water Bill(s).
Ah, the water!
Something about the water.
Don't drink it!
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