The Simple Life

March 13, 2020

When the Night

"When the night comes, the land is dark and the moon is the only light... we won't be afraid... stand by me."

Stand By Me

Performed by Ben E King

LISTEN HERE

These words, or words like them could come from various religious texts. Indeed, this is a central theme in human existence. We aren't always sure, not always ready to respond in any compehensive manner when confronted with the unknown, the dark, the fearsome. And like the song, spirtual texts abound, encouraging that we not be afraid...stand by me.

And often we do just that. The moon is the only light we see before the dawn.

May 27, 2019

Home Again

Lovesong

by The Cure

Listen Here

Whenever I'm alone with you

You make me feel like I am home again

Whenever I'm alone with you

You make me feel like I am whole again

Whenever I'm alone with you

You make me feel like I am young again

Whenever I'm alone with you

You make me feel like I am fun again

However far away I will always love you

However long I stay I will always love you

Whatever words I say I will always love you

I will always love you

Whenever I'm alone with you

You make me feel like I am free again

Whenever I'm alone with you

You make me feel like I am clean again

However far away I will always love you

However long I stay I will always love you

Whatever words I say I will always love you

I will always love you

Waking up to something both inside and outside. More than simple knowledge, it is knowledge by experience, "when I am with you..." singing mostly about what is forgiveness and what is love: "I feel clean again, I will always love you."

It reminds me that in its own quiet, almost forlorn way, the lyric gives rise to hope, hope of newness and joyfulness. Ultimately this song sticks out in my mind for its expression of faith: I will always love you. And there it is--love. Those qualities the Christ talked about, love your neighbor as your self : with faith, hope and love, I am listening.

"Wherever you hear his voice, harden not your hearts."

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On Human Labor

However it may be true that mankind is destined for work, and called to it, work is for man. Man is not for work.
Without doubt, human labor has an ethical value all its own, clearly and directly linking to the fact that the one who carries it out is a whole person, a conscious and free subject who decides about himself.
Respect for the objectives and rights of Laborers, every kind of labor, be it manual or intellectual, industrial or agricultural, it must constitute an adequate and fundamental criterion for shaping the whole economy, both individually and in society as a whole.
Labor must not be doomed to be devalued merely as the end result of an economic system which large or small in form, are guided by the criterion of maximum profits. The whole of the person, and his production matters.

Of Social Concern

Today, the social question which continues to inspire us is concern for the poor, those poor either in spirit and/or in body; all the creatures of the earth, both great and small.
The decisions which it inspires in us cannot but embrace the immense multitudes of the hungry, the needy, the homeless, inadequate medical care, and above all, those without hope.
Ignoring these realities for convenience or other motives, "shipping them overseas," ignoring them in our neighborhoods, our communities is like the materially rich man of the Bible who pretended not to see Lazarus, a beggar, lying at his gate. Therefore, live as a servant of the simple, common good.

The Human Century

Situations which arise, strongly motivated and influenced by various ideologies, in which duality or polarization occurs, are those situations in which the dignity and value of a person may be strongly obscured.
Affirm the force and value of a person. Every person bears the likeness of a greater being and therefore deserves your respect. With this awareness duality is healed, divisions are resolved; the coming together of souls occurs for the simple, collected task of activities which are more respectful and affirming of the dignity of persons.

Engage in protest which values; do no further harm.
It then will become necessary to abandon the dualist mentality in which the poor of all stripes are viewed as a burden, irksome and distasteful intruders into others lives, trying to consume what others have produced.
Respect them in the place they are; recognize a right to a share in the material goods and make good use of their capacity to work, so as to create a more harmonious and dignified world for all in common. Promote unity so that man may be better able to live a life worthy of a man. Are we not all One under the sun?