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Thursday, February 13, 2014

The "Gravity" of Your Situation is Your "Legacy of Light"

I finally saw the Oscar-nominated film Gravity over the weekend.

Visually, it's brilliant.

Story and character-wise, it's flawed.

A brief three-minute exposition at the opening, with Sandra Bullock and George Clooney with their space helmets off would have been nice.

We first meet them in space, and can hardly see them.

They chat a little bit about their lives, and then BOOM - the action begins.

As a result, I felt myself not caring enough about what happened to their characters.

But that's okay - the film wasn't meant to be Shakespeare.

As I say, if anything, it was visually stunning; and a few scenes in particular captured my attention.

Like when Sandra Bullock finds a measure of relief and safety, and she cuddles up in a capsule as if a baby in a womb.  In fact, it was many such "capsule" scenes in the film that were sprinkled with genius imagery....some, too, that inspired and reminded me of other thoughts and images.

Case in point:  When my Mom passed away in 2008, I wrote about how, in my view, our journey and final destination is like a rocket soaring into space. The pieces of us that we don’t need – fall off as we move closer to the Light of God's embrace – until all that is left is the little capsule that holds our soul; how my Mom's capsule, in particular, filled with every loving thought and every act of loving kindness that she ever displayed on Earth - is now not only bundled together, but magnified, multiplied and showcased in Heaven.

And that goes for all of us....whatever good we think say and do is remembered by Heaven; the rest falls away.

In this way, each of us have our own personal, immeasurable, immortal - and priceless "Legacy of Light" that we not only leave behind on Earth - but also take with us to Heaven.

What a wonderful a thing.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Love as a blessing or a curse? It's your choice.

We're only human.

We all swear, or use a "curse" or a "cuss" word from time to time.

When we stub our toe...make a big or little mistake...in a moment of distress, anger, depression, or whenever.

After all, these things can't be helped. 

We live in an imperfect world.

But the only "cursing" that I would suggest that we all should refrain from "expressing," is taking the Lord's name in vain - however you may view or experience the "Lord" or "God" in your life.

Whether you're Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or if, like myself, you are a "Love-tian," then it's ultimately not a "good" thing...for anybody...but especially yourself, if you take the Lord's name in vain.

Here's the deal:

What if anytime, anywhere - anyone who got angry took YOUR name in vain?

That would be a lot of "cursing" coming over your way, wouldn't it?

Of course - and who wants that?

That said, too - and just to be clear, "Christ" is not the last name of Jesus or anything of that nature; and it always makes me laugh when people think such a thing; because that couldn't be further from the truth.

In the original Sacred Scriptures of what we have come to know as "The Bible," Jesus was referred to as "Jesus THE Christ," which when translated from ancient sanskrit means, "Jesus, the Enlightened One" or "The One of Light."

And for whatever reason, later editors of The Bible removed the "The" from in between "Jesus" and "Christ," and today the majority of our world refers to Jesus as "Jesus Christ."

Anyway, when anyone takes what they believe as the "first" or "last" name of Jesus "in vain," that ultimately brings upon darkness, as they are basically cursing "The Light."

By the same regard, when someone corrupts the name "God," which and who is "Love"...or better stated "Love IS God," then they ultimately damn the idea, concept and experience of Love itself in their lives.

And why would anyone want to "curse" that?

Monday, February 3, 2014

The Simple Treasures

I've accomplished a great deal in my life.

For one, I've met and befriended everyone that I've everyone wanted to meet.

Elizabeth Montgomery...Farrah Fawcett...Lindsay Wagner...Lynda Carter....David Carradine....Lee Majors...all my childhood idols and dreams come true.

And it's been wonderful.  Meeting each of them was lovely.

For the last thirty years or so, I've also attended Hollywood galas, and parties and events, and shared numerous other good times, all of which has also been joyous.

And yet, none of it compares to the simple treasures of life...like visiting the corner drug store for the right last-minute decorations at Christmas-time...or just having coffee or playing cards with family members or friends.

Certainly, too, of course, having a family to care for - or be a part of - is an immeasurable joy.

Being a father is one of life's treasures that I have yet to discover.

That too has always been a dream of mine.

But for whatever reason, that has yet to be...and maybe it might not ever be.

It all depends, I guess, I what I truly want...because I do believe that we always get what we sincerely desire...whether we're conscious of our life choices or not.

In the meantime, however, I make every conscious decision to be joyful...to be kind to others...and myself...to always appreciate more than ever the simple treasures of life.

For it's the simple treasures that keep us sane, stable and grounded...simple treasures help us to live a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Yet many, mostly the superstars of our culture, are unschooled in how to attain and hold on to the simple treasures.

Elvis tried...more than most...but he failed.  Marilyn Monroe had a good heart...but she was a lost soul in a land of vipers.  Philip Seymour Hoffman, God bless his soul, was a mammoth talent...but he just couldn't hold on.  His talent and his drive outweighed his ability to appreciate the simpler treasures. 

And while I'm not sure why that happened...I know why I have always been strong enough to see the forest through the trees.

I had a solid if modest upbringing.

I was never taught to feel I was better than other people...and somehow...that filtered into every aspect of my life...in many productive ways.  I always learned to treat people as equals...including Elizabeth Montgomery...Farrah Fawcett...Lindsay Wagner...Lynda Carter...Lee Majors...and David Carradine.

Each of them appreciated that I treated them like real people.  I respected them, but I didn't fawn over them.

Somehow, they knew that I appreciated the simple treasures of life...that allowed me to experience the unequaled riches of life...like having childhood dreams come true.