Showing posts with label Folk Wisdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Folk Wisdom. Show all posts
Sunday, December 18, 2022
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Woody Guthrie's vision of heaven (and mine, too)
"No debts and no burdens in Heaven,
No mortgage or loans to repay,
No banks on the great streets of glory,
No homes shall be taken away;
There will never be landlords in Heaven,
No rent to take from you each day,
And we all will be equal in glory,
and happy forever we'll be."
Taken from The Woody Guthrie Center Facebook page
Jesus Christ - Woody Guthrie
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
On mountains, journeys, God, and changing the world.
We take mountains to be challenges and as places of power, but we also sometimes take them to be holy or wondrous and mythical places. Below are two thoughts on mountains, journeys, God, and changing the world.
Chairman Mao said:
There is an ancient Chinese fable called "The Foolish Old Man Who Removed the Mountains". It tells of an old man who lived in northern China long, long ago and was known as the Foolish Old Man of North Mountain. His house faced south and beyond his doorway stood the two great peaks, Taihang and Wangwu, obstructing the way. He called his sons, and hoe in hand they began to dig up these mountains with great determination. Another graybeard, known as the Wise Old Man, saw them and said derisively, "How silly of you to do this! It is quite impossible for you few to dig up those two huge mountains." The Foolish Old Man replied, "When I die, my sons will carry on; when they die, there will be my grandsons, and then their sons and grandsons, and so on to infinity. High as they are, the mountains cannot grow any higher and with every bit we dig, they will be that much lower. Why can't we clear them away?" Having refuted the Wise Old Man's wrong view, he went on digging every day, unshaken in his conviction. God was moved by this, and he sent down two angels, who carried the mountains away on their backs. Today, two big mountains lie like a dead weight on the Chinese people. One is imperialism, the other is feudalism. The Chinese Communist Party has long made up its mind to dig them up. We must persevere and work unceasingly, and we, too, will touch God's heart. Our God is none other than the masses of the Chinese people. If they stand up and dig together with us, why can't these two mountains be cleared away?
There is an ancient Chinese fable called "The Foolish Old Man Who Removed the Mountains". It tells of an old man who lived in northern China long, long ago and was known as the Foolish Old Man of North Mountain. His house faced south and beyond his doorway stood the two great peaks, Taihang and Wangwu, obstructing the way. He called his sons, and hoe in hand they began to dig up these mountains with great determination. Another graybeard, known as the Wise Old Man, saw them and said derisively, "How silly of you to do this! It is quite impossible for you few to dig up those two huge mountains." The Foolish Old Man replied, "When I die, my sons will carry on; when they die, there will be my grandsons, and then their sons and grandsons, and so on to infinity. High as they are, the mountains cannot grow any higher and with every bit we dig, they will be that much lower. Why can't we clear them away?" Having refuted the Wise Old Man's wrong view, he went on digging every day, unshaken in his conviction. God was moved by this, and he sent down two angels, who carried the mountains away on their backs. Today, two big mountains lie like a dead weight on the Chinese people. One is imperialism, the other is feudalism. The Chinese Communist Party has long made up its mind to dig them up. We must persevere and work unceasingly, and we, too, will touch God's heart. Our God is none other than the masses of the Chinese people. If they stand up and dig together with us, why can't these two mountains be cleared away?
Monday, April 25, 2022
Wisdom from Vee Lewis---A message to you
Vee Lewis has been a source of light and wisdom in my life for a while now. I follow her on Facebook and enjoy her music and always agree with her politics. I don't know many people as capable and multi-faceted and creative as she is. I almost always agree with her world view. We did a radio show together once that was one of the best of the shows. I was nearly speechless at the end, or perhaps dumbfounded, by her wisdom and truth-telling. Anyway, Sister Lewis posted the following message on Facebook and I think that it has some wisdom and advice in it that I hope everyone will take seriously and start following. I added the scripture that she's referring to for easy reference. Here it is:
For the past week, my Aunt Vannie has really been on my mind, heavily. I've had some major life stressors. I've also been struggling with "carrying the load". In moments of deep thought, I kept hearing Aunt Vannie's voice "YOU follow me!"
She would always remind herself, that she needn't worry about what other folk were or were not doing, when it comes to the heavy lifting. She'd say it's MY job to do what God called ME to do! Baby she done preached a word to me from the ancestral plane! So I had to go Google the scripture to make sho I didn't misquote it or her, and to encourage somebody today! Do What's right. No matter what choices other folk make, YOU do what YOU are led/called to do. #StayFocused
“Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.”
-John 21:22
*
Read the scripture in its entirety for more context.
For the past week, my Aunt Vannie has really been on my mind, heavily. I've had some major life stressors. I've also been struggling with "carrying the load". In moments of deep thought, I kept hearing Aunt Vannie's voice "YOU follow me!"
She would always remind herself, that she needn't worry about what other folk were or were not doing, when it comes to the heavy lifting. She'd say it's MY job to do what God called ME to do! Baby she done preached a word to me from the ancestral plane! So I had to go Google the scripture to make sho I didn't misquote it or her, and to encourage somebody today! Do What's right. No matter what choices other folk make, YOU do what YOU are led/called to do. #StayFocused
“Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.”
-John 21:22
*
Read the scripture in its entirety for more context.
Here is the scripture:
The Appearance to the Seven Disciples.
1. After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way.
2. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples.
3. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”
6. So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.
7. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea.
8. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish.
9. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
10. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”
11. So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
12. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord.
13. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.
14. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.
Jesus and Peter.
15. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,* “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
16. He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
17. He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep.
18. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
19. He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
The Beloved Disciple.
20. Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?”
21. When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”
22. Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.”
23. So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just “What if I want him to remain until I come? [What concern is it of yours?]”
Conclusion.
24. It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.
25. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.
The Appearance to the Seven Disciples.
1. After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way.
2. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples.
3. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”
6. So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.
7. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea.
8. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish.
9. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
10. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”
11. So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
12. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord.
13. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.
14. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.
Jesus and Peter.
15. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,* “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
16. He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
17. He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep.
18. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
19. He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
The Beloved Disciple.
20. Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?”
21. When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”
22. Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.”
23. So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just “What if I want him to remain until I come? [What concern is it of yours?]”
Conclusion.
24. It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.
25. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
Please consider this if you feel that you're losing hope. Take your time; be gentle with yourself. And think about changing coats (see below).
High Road: "Two Coats" - Official Music Video
Friday, March 25, 2022
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
Friday, March 11, 2022
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)