Detectives Wanted
Posted by Veron Graham in Explore Truth Challenge on June 27th, 2009
Sherlock Holmes is the man! I especially felt this way when I was a teenager. Never had I heard of someone who could observe his environment so casually, and determine so many conclusions from what seemed, to the average eye, as insignificant. Sherlock Holmes was the kind of guy that would be called in to solve a case, and could tell by just looking at a suspect, what his profession was, where he was from, medical traits, genetic predispositions, and maybe even whether he stood or sat down to use the bathroom. I mean the dude was sick! Almost psychic in his ability.
I remember admiring, almost envying his ability to figure out the most complicated of mysteries, and to do it all in time to be home for dinner, and a hit from his opium packed pipe for desert. Yes he did have his quirks…
I guess, I’ve always had a thing for mysteries. I mean, even before Sherlock Holmes, there was The Hardy Boys Detective series. These two white boys were simply gangstas. I even enjoyed Nancy Drew. Don’t tell anyone I told you that. I couldn’t get enough of the way these young sleuths fearlessly pursued the clues, often endangering their very lives, all in order to solve the case. People depended upon them to do so. Justice often swayed in the balance, awaiting someone who dared to pursue the truth.
Today it seems like it’s no different. If anything it’s probably gotten worse. I’m all grown up now, almost anyway. And it’s begun to dawn on me, that there’s still a part of me that still likes a good mystery. Something disatisfactory about an unsolved mystery. Law and Order re-runs don’t seem to quite quell my need for a solved mystery(although I will admit, they can be pretty entertaining). Now it seems to be the mysteries of life that I can’t seem to get out of my mind.
It hit me recently that I’m not the only one. It appears that many of the various fields of study are trying to solve the biggest mysteries of all. Life. I guess its something in us as human beings to figure things out. Science comes from one angle. With the physicians peering into the unknowns of the human body. The astrophysicist look up into the sky for clues, as to our origin, and possible extra terrestrial life? Historians, anthropologist ponder the history of mankind, to see if our actions can shed light on who we are and where we are going.
We are searching.
We are trying to make sense out of each breath we take. The WHY, and the HOW drive us to investigate. Now it seems like some of us, are content to avoid looking up, inward, or to the past. There are many who, due to life’s immediate demands and challenges, find it hard to reflect, pause, and to critically examine the truth about ourselves, and the larger truths about life and the point of it all. And I don’t think this should soley be relegated to some existential philosopher, or esoteric debate by cats in ivory towers. I wonder why it is so hard to have a practical inquiry into the meaning of things. What is it that distracts or impedes us from investigating?
Dr. Cornel West on Truth vs Power, & more…
Posted by Veron Graham in Spirituality on April 5th, 2009
This interview took place in 2008, but I found what Dr. Cornel West discusses during the interview to still be of great importance and relevance to this site, and to our current times. What are your thoughts? Feel free to comment below.
Will Anyone Cry At Your Funeral?
Posted by Veron Graham in Life, Personal Development on March 26th, 2009
I could care less what you think of me, or so I’ve tried to rationalize in times past. I mean, deep down, and maybe on a subconscious level, there seems to be something in many of us, that allows the opinions of our friends and family to affect our dreams, goals, and activities. Last year, I read a book called Slight Edge, by Jeff Olson. In it he writes about an experience that changed his life forever. One day he read a magazine article (he doesn’t give the source) wherein he learned that at the average funeral, about ten people cry. He then says, “That’s it? You mean I go through my entire life, spend years going through all these trials and tribulations and achievements and joys and heartbreaks–and at the end of it, there are only ten people who care enough to cry?”
Jeff then goes on to describe that the article claimed that out of those those attending the funeral, the number one determining factor of whether people would go to the burial site, was…the weather…This reality provided a paradigm shift for Jeff. “You mean, I’m lying there, at the grand conclusion of everything I’ve ever said and done, of everything I call my life, in those final moments when my entire life is called to account and acknowledged and memorialized by those nearest and dearest to me, those whose lives I’ve most deeply and profoundly touched…and half the congregation checks out halfway through because of the weather?!” “You know what? I don’t give a [expletive deleted] what anybody thinks of what I’m doing any more. If the odds are that iffy as to whether or not they even cry at my funeral, and chances are fifty-fifty that they duck out anyway before I’m planted if the sky happens to cry for me more than the people do…then why am I spending so much time worrying about what they’re thinking now?”
I’m not sure where this article Jeff read was published, or how true those statistics are, but I his retelling of his experience, and the general sentiments also caused me to think. I believe that we all have the ability to do more, to be more. There are things I’m currently pursuing, that require a certain amount of sacrifice, dedication, and abnormal behaviour. Do I care what you think? If what I’m doing challenges your religious, societal, or employment models. Maybe you can relate. Is there something you want to do? Something that you feel God has designed as your purpose. But sometimes you find yourself allowing someone else’s opinion to hold you back? How do or did you overcome that? Well..I’m no expert, but I have a hunch that most people are usually wrapped up in their own lives to even care what I’m doing anyway 
. BUT, in the slight chance that there may be someone who does object in some way to me pursuing some audacious, obnoxiously large goals, here’s an advance notice. I’m choosing not to obsess or waste valuable energy worrying about the opinions of others, and can give 2 rats (shut yo mouth) what negative people think. Much Love people 
“I’m Sick of Your Religion”
Posted by Veron Graham in Explore Truth Challenge, Spirituality on March 15th, 2009
I take the risk of sounding preachy here. But I got to get this of my chest! Self examination displayed publicly can always be misinterpreted, so to be clear, this only applies if the shoe fits. Even while writing this, there’s certainly blood on my hands.
I ran across a music video from Jon Foreman that I feel, if I interpreted it correctly, sums up the irony displayed in many places of worship all over the world on most weekends. Whether they be Saturday services at a local church or temple, or on Sunday mornings. There may be different interpretations as to who Jon was singing about, but the lyrics to the song are almost directly taken from a passage found in Isaiah 1: 11-17. Check it out & also compare with the source.
I guess in some ways its comforting to know that the plight of humanity, whether within our world at large or within the church walls has always contained similar elements. It seems that the message of loving God, by living a good life displayed by how well love is tangibly displayed to all, particularly those less fortunate has always battled the next best thing. A charade, or pretense of such activities. A denial of this personal need can appear all the more valid when also displayed on a corporate scale. Where a group of people participate in an intricately choreographed performance of the real thing. Where having the correct belief system trumps the practice of the greatest commandment to love. Where flowery political speeches, or singing, writing, and talking about love, although important, becomes the end game. And the doing and practice of love and justice is relegated to some secular groups social justice agenda. Shouldn’t the church be leading that charge?
Was there good occurring within the ancient religious community mentioned in Isaiah? It couldn’t have been all bad right? Well…it appears that something was wrong. It appears that at some point, at least in biblical history, the one who all of the religious activities were meant for, had to step in and communicate how He felt about how he was being represented, and what was being emphasised. In the 1st chapter of Isaiah, the sentiments seem to indicate that God had started to taste vomit. Things were making him sick. Maybe things still are? Maybe a life well lived sounds better than the latest musical praise & worship technique. Maybe the flurry of activities, programs, meetings, and conferences that take place within the walls of churches or even government high offices every week, but rarely spill outside the walls to fight hunger, homelessness, and injustice, serve only to nauseate God.
Just like America has had its high and low moments, the church, and right on down to the individual, is a turmoil, and wide spectrum of conflicting values. I get it. We have all been hypocrites at some point. I know I have, and in my day to day life, this battle between the better me, and its arch enemy continue to wage battle. So if this sounds condemnatory, I include myself in the mix. I’ve seen examples of religious communities who have been, or who currently appear to be moving in the direction of placing more emphasis on love in tangible social issues, even moving so far as to the dismantle structural and traditional inhibitors. I like that, and aim for my actions to be more congruent with this way of living. Now maybe I’m reading somethings wrong. And quite likely there is an even broader way to look at this. And I’m open for comments. This is not an attack on organized religion(well maybe a lil), but more an attempt to interpret whats in the good book, and what I experience in my life and religious experience.
Do you think there is a serious problem with the way religious communities currently exist. Do we ignore social issues like injustice, homelessness, prison system, the sick, and poverty? Does your religious community reflect what’s found in the goat and sheep story. Is there even a real issue across the religious landscape, or are there many examples of religious communities meeting this charge to, “do good, work for justice, help the down-and-out, stand up for the homeless, and the defenseless, found in Isaiah? Does your God still feel sick? Do you? So what exactly does a non vomit inducing religious community even look like? What do you think? I know I just hit you with 100 questions, but what can I say. This and more are running through my mind today Whether religious or not, I’m interested in your thoughts.
Interesting & Related videos:
A take on irony(Peter Rollins)
The truth will…
Posted by Veron Graham in Spirituality on March 6th, 2009
The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable.
- James A. Garfield
Do I give a Sh**?
Posted by Veron Graham in Spirituality on November 25th, 2008
So I ran across this quote the other day. To say the least, it caught my attention.
Tony Campolo, speaking to a group of Christians:
“I have three things I’d like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition.
Second, most of you don’t give a sh*!. What’s worse is that you are more upset with the fact that I said ’sh*!’ than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.”
My first reaction? Honestly? A silent chuckle & smile. Then a short moment of alarm. Then I had to pause to answer the question. The question that I’m sure you may have managed to ask yourself, after your first reactions to the previous quotation.
Do I give a sh**? Or am I more upset that this guy just said the “s” word? Hmmmmm……A part of me wanted to to be offended, not so much about the word, but by the accusation. I felt like saying, well yeah I care about the poor and starving people everywhere! Then I started reading some of the reactions left by various blogs, and reader comments, regarding Mr. Tony Campolo’s statement. On average, most people focused on how unacceptable it was to curse, and even those who moderately agreed with him, still felt the need to focus on how it could have been said differently. It appeared that fewer felt the need to discuss the part of his statemtn that mentioned the 30,000 kids that die every night. Now before I start sounding all high and mighty, II? am well aware of how I typically feel when confronted with the plight of others. Overwhelmed, for starters. And I hope to discuss this in more depth in another post. Now, all of this led me to a related thought, and a conversation I have in my head many weekends before church(one of the conversations anyway:-). I, or some well meaning person usually begins the exchange. It sort of goes like this.
Me: Let’s go to church.
The other me: Why?
Me: Because God says do not forsake the assembling of the brethren…etc etc….yadda yadda, etc…
The other me: What does two or three gathering have to do with Matthew 25:31-45. Gathering is good, but its only a start. Then, in defense of my laziness, I proceed to go on a paraphrased rant about traditional religious communities having become something other than what Jesus talks about in Matthew 25:31-45, and that he’s all about something much more radical. Well don’t take my word for it..check it out.
31-33“When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left. 34-36“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’37-40“Then those ’sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
41-43“Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—
I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’44“Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’
45“He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’
And no, I don’t have that memorized. Nor do I recite it verbatim to myself or others. But usually the two me’s or whoever I am talking to, will typically come to some conclusion. I’ll either stay home, or self talk myself into going to church(the building that is). I guess the consensus that we usually arrive at, is that we notice that a lot of good takes place between the walls of what is called church, but there seems to be an emphasis problem. Ironically enough, the litmus test, the measuring stick, that the founder of the movement many Christians claim to be following, uses at the end time, is one of Love in Action. It’s not even left to our imagination as to what the ticket of entry looks like.
It’s spelled out for us.
Hungry…Thirsty…Homeless…Poor…Sick….Locked up in prison…
Do any of these things take place while I’m at church? Is this on my agenda during the week? When’s the last time my church called an emergency board meeting to discuss the fact that corporately we realized that we virtually have little, if any positive influence on the very people mentioned in our tightly clutched bibles. To borrow Tony Campolo’s statement. Do I really even give a sh**?
The last thing I’d like to come of as is preachy. And maybe even worse is finding myself in a situation where my thinking out loud may cause another to feel guilty. These questions are more an exercise of self reflection for me. You are welcome to participate with me in the exercise. So speaking for myself, I’ve realized that when I search my heart, I realize that I really don’t care enough. And the one day of the week that could be most revolutionary for me and for the God I claim to be emulating, is either spent in bed, or in a church building talking & singing about being loving.
Donald Miller Prays at the DNC
Posted by Veron Graham in Spirituality on September 27th, 2008
Blogged with the Flock Browser
Tags: donaldmiller, democratic convention, blue like jazz, barak obama
My Always Morphing Life Stance. What’s Yours?
Posted by Veron Graham in Life, Spirituality on September 16th, 2008
Ok, so it’s late, and I am grudgingly determined to get this of my chest. As of late, I’ve been attempting to articulate my position on life. My personal Manifesto, or life stance, so to speak. And I’ll be honest, I peeked at Wikipedia, just to make sure I was using the terminology correctly. According to Wikipedia, a manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often a political statement, but can also pertain to a general life stance. I then checked to see what they had to say about a Life Stance. Simply put(I love Wikepedia),
A Life stance refers to a person’s relation with what he or she accepts as of ultimate importance, the presuppositions and theory of this, and the commitments and practice of working it out in living.
For those that care, and I’m sure I’ll expound on this some more, this is a rough ‘Manifesto” that gives voice to what I have been feeling.
Maybe you can relate?
I welcome the challenge of exploring the Truth in all aspects of my life, and the world around me. I will continue to ask the big questions, and push the frontier of what I really know? I value deliberate self education, and critical thinking. Most importantly, I am willing to wrestle with the deepest questions of human existence, instead of avoiding them.
I am unafraid to explore, openly share, discuss, and experience for myself, new understandings of my spiritual experience. I value the intense, personal quest for truth, despite the trappings of religion.
Finally, I choose to tangibly and radically change the world through strategic and creative acts of Faith, Hope, and Love.
Ok…I’m out…:-)
Do you know what the scariest thing is?
Posted by Veron Graham in Life on August 8th, 2008
Do you know what the scariest thing is?
To not know your place in this world, to not know why you’re here.
It’s hard for many people to believe that there are extraordinary things inside themselves, as well as others. I hope you can keep an open mind.
Quotes from the movie Unbreakable
