[Oe List ...] Just a note about Love

Sat Dec 12 11:08:19 CST 2009

wow.  and it's over TWO MONTHS til Valentines / / /  Thanks.
 Jim

[Pete Seeger] talks about how important it is to him to get an audience singing along. "I guess it’s kind of a religion with me.  Participation: that’s what’s going to save the human race." -- Pete Seeger in The Power of Song

Jim Wiegel
401 North Beverly Way, Tolleson, Arizona 85353-2401
+1  623-936-8671   +1  623-363-3277
jfwiegel at yahoo.com www.partnersinparticipation.com

________________________________
From: Margaret Helen Aiseayew <aiseayew at netins.net>
To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at wedgeblade.net>; slicker at fastem.com; joseph.slicker at gmail.com
Cc: sisters at eiab.eu; atlingo at yahoo.com
Sent: Sat, December 12, 2009 10:01:24 AM
Subject: [Oe List ...] Just a note about Love

National Public radio did a series here for quite awhile 
called "This I Believe."  I stewed for a long time to put it in a three 
minute or less (for reading) treatise.  I may be repeating to some of you, 
but I have decided to share it here.  Breast cancer has not changed it one 
iota.  I love you all.

THIS I BELIEVE
I am an Iowa farm girl and I believe that love is the 
organizing principle of the universe.  I am not talking about a sappy 
feeling that may come and go.  I am talking about the really difficult life 
and death motivation that keeps the world turning.

I believe that the rain drop so loves the earth that it is 
willing to risk freezing or dashing itself into thousands of pieces to get from 
sky to earth where it knows how much difference that love can make.  The 
earth so loves the rain that it will struggle to open and absorb her whether she 
is dry and cracked or absolutely bloated.  I believe the seed so loves the 
sun that it is willing to absorb the rain and swell to the point of splitting 
itself asunder to send forth a shoot, with hope, to reach out to the sun and 
demonstrate with life that only comes from death its obeisance.  I believe 
that love fosters the growth that is trust in the unlimited possibility of the 
future.  Only love can sustain the seed winter long, buried in the freezing 
cold.  Only the love of the sun, expending itself over incomprehensible 
distance, can coax the seed forth come spring.

The fire so loves the forest and earth that it takes the 
risk of consuming it to make way for new possibility.  Fire so loves the 
air that it will struggle for years to reach the point of volcanic eruption that 
lets them renew their relationship.

The air caresses us in every dimension of our being, often 
gently, but sometimes scolding our lack of appreciation.  She kisses the 
water, watches over it, and moves with and through its vast geography of tumult 
and tranquility in motion.  The rhythm of the waves loves humanity and all 
life forms enough to keep hearts beating with regularity.

The earth takes all this into herself.  She pillows 
the seed, holds on in fire and flood, splits wide with drought and earthquake, 
shudders with lightening (or spits it back) and yet is constantly working to 
heal herself.  This is love at its most profound, fixing yourself to make 
things work rather than trying to fix (or blame) the other.

It is this radical demonstration of love that sustains the 
caretaker through seasons of feast and famine.  This love is tough and it 
is gentle.  It is eternal, whether recognized or not.  Everything we 
do to extend and expand the existence and awareness of this love in the 
universe, within ourselves or among our neighbors fosters blessing upon 
blessing.  Anything that diminishes this love, diminishes all of 
life.  Just as in our most intimate relationships it is so difficult to be 
loved unconditionally that we sometimes respond with anger and fear and 
rejection, it is difficult to grasp the totality of the cosmic love that 
sustains us.  It is almost humanly impossible to trust it completely, 
continually and comprehensively.  It is, however, here; present in our 
lives in every moment.  The world is a better place when we recognize it, 
share it, and revel in the joy of it.
Margaret Helen Aiseayew

---- Original Message ----- 
From: clingojr at aol.com 
>To: slicker at fastem.com ; joseph.slicker at gmail.com 
>Cc: sisters at eiab.eu ; atlingo at yahoo.com ; oe ; dialogue 
>Sent: Saturday, December 12, 2009 6:35 
>  AM
>Subject: [Oe List ...] Fwd: [Dialogue] A 
>  Note From Slicker
>
>
>Dear Joe,
>Merry 
>  Christmas to you and all in your family, and to all whom you have spiritually 
>  nourished over these many years.  I am in this early morning hour so very 
>  honored to claim you as a deeply true mentor.  Your friendship for me and 
>  all in my family and for the Order over 50 years has been unwaveringly always 
>  there.  And once again you are mindfully calling all of us to attention. 
>    
>Now, in this moment, and in this season you are bringing us all 
>  back to the Eternal Now. Your "Note 1 to the Order" is my most significant and 
>  cherished gift in this present moment of my life.  It is, for me, a call 
>  to the rebirth of awareness and vocation.  I could not have been bold 
>  enough to ask God for such a clarification for what in this Now time is the 
>  most true and beautiful Word concerning the goodness of our Order journey in 
>  consciousness and in history together.  The Word, in your Christmas 
>  message to us as we participate in the JWM symposium, allows for all of us to 
>  begin again in the beginning.  The deepest absolution!
>In humility, 
>  gratitude and compassion for your wisdom and love of us all, I ask that you 
>  please be well, and be assured that you are a prophetic voice in the midst of 
>  our consciousness and in history today.
>I am awaiting with Christmas 
>  morning anticipation your Note 2 to the Order,
>Charles Allen Lingo 
>  Jr
>   
> 
>___________
>>OE 
>>    mailing 
>>    list
>>OE at wedgeblade.net
>>http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/oe_wedgeblade.net
>>

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