Love is the Currency. Let It Flow...

“Beloved,let us love one another,for God is love;and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God,for God is love.” I John 4:7-8

Today’s reflection is based on a poem “Love Is the Currency”.

It deals with the value of love and how it is always best to let love flow without “pulling the plug” on that flow because we may not be getting compensated for our good deeds and pure efforts. I’ll be the first to admit that receiving timely and lucrative pay is important.Everyone is entitled to make a decent living and should be fairly compensated for their hard work and energies.

However, I have learned in my experiences that we should continue to love and do good without “always”, and the operative word is “always”, expecting and demanding “tit for tat” compensation in return. The bottom line is that “Love is the Currency” and we should let it flow… There are times when monetary remuneration may not be feasible or plausible under the circumstances. And,the universe’s form of trade can be so awesome,as it’s ratio of return is not limited by man made calculations or expectations.
You will get paid,even though it may not be in the form or in the fashion you had initially envisioned.Now,when “love” and “money” line up perfectly and in order,it is the ultimate combination,yielding endless and boundless prosperity and riches, a currency beyond measure.
So,bless someone with your love and resources today.

Listen in to the podcast(see below) for my recital of the poem along with introductory and closing remarks providing further insight.
Peace,

Cynthia (Revcoolc)

http://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail?pid=16627

p.s. Don’t forget to tithe.


⁠⁠Originally Published: 2007-08-28⁠

Bobby Doe

I promised myself I would write more. More "e" for the blogs.

Today an old childhood neighbor came to mind, Bobby Doe. I say neighbor and not playmate because Bobby was a loner. None of the kids on the block ever really played with him or seemed eager to hang out with him.

I have not spoken with Bobby in at least 40 years. I have not seen him in about the same amount of time. Why he came to mind? I could not tell you. Your guess is about as good as mine. But I feel certain it has significance, as god speaks in a myriad of forms,languages, mediums and symbols. Some I am still attempting to translate and decipher.

Sometimes it seems computer language has gotten to such an advanced stage that it like the computer Hal in 2001: A Space Odyssey, has digressed to the fetal position. In etymology, the science and study of languages such a digression would be back to the time of cuneiform many thousands of years ago, when writing was done on clay tablets.

Oh well, maybe I will categorize this writing today as a "memory sculpture", a lot like a music sculpture, a concept I created several years ago. This is my memories playlist for today, created especially for imparting a Guide for Daily Living or one to put you in touch with all the Bobbies in the world.

Memories like songs can also spin on the cranial jukebox. Before you know it, a song comes to mind and Voila you have an entire mosaic of mediums,images and sound fragments coming together and providing a Kaleidescopic panorama of memory and song. Beautiful things to reflect about and eventually,at some point if you choose, to share.

Sometimes flashbacks like this one are spiced with wafting aromas. Activating my sense of smell as they softly glide up the nose, making more poignant the remembrances like this one that has been dormant for decades. In this instance I think of bright yellow dandelions, their tiny spidery petals,toothpick thin stems sliding into blade shaped roots, emitting a unique grassy scent.

Somehow the weed and its fragrance was more noticeable during childhood. Feels great making that connection now as I reflect about what I recall most about Bobby and the character myth or stereotype he represented in the neighborhood. Bobby you might say was one of the outsiders like a dandelion is to flowers. In his heart he may have wanted to mix and mingle,but the kids just wouldn't seem to let him. I could remember the days when I'd walk down the street headed to the party store. I might see him running or otherwise trying to make himself scarce from some the neighborhood kids who would be immediately behind him or up in his face calling him names and trying to bully him into or out of something. The spirit was almost like that of a gardener who spots a weed in the flower bed. The immediate reaction, to dig it up and throw it out with a quickness. Though I have learned over the years that some of the most attractive floral arrangements might be those with a few decorative weeds tossed in. Simply ironic,wouldn't you say?

Bobby always appeared so vulnerable and helpless. Always running. He cried frequently also,which is a no no for a boy. I would feel so sorry for him. I must have been between seven and ten years old when observing the worst of it.

Bobby. That was his first name. But the name that he was called most and you could say reached a kind of "mantra" level from the mouths of the little boy ruffians on the block was Cissy. Bobby was taunted by that name a lot. I think it was because of his look. He always had an afraid look on his face. It was almost as though he just couldn't relate to or identify with the barbs and disses by the other kids. If I didn't know any better, and I probably don't,since I never really sat down and asked him how he really felt about it,I'd say he was just plain oblivious to it all.

Not only that, he'd take up running as swiftly as a gazelle when any of the neighborhood boys would even look at him in a threatening manner. I never saw Bobby stand up for himself. This probably made him the bullies best victim. The sense of helplessness and vulnerability seems to draw them like magnets. Further, Bobby was not known for standing his ground,which no doubt made him much easier, maybe even more attractive prey. He also seemed to be on punishment a lot on the home front, which may have increased his bully attraction quotient as well.

I'd often ask his mom about him the times I'd pass by the house on the way to the neighborhood market. She would more often than not reply, "Bobby's on punishment." He would get into trouble a lot in school as well. I'm sure her voice traveled so that his intimidators could easily hear the latest news. They knew when and if he was on shakey ground with his family also. The houses on our block were pretty close together. In fact, it was a tight knit community. Everybody knew each others business. Some neighbors' business you knew more than others though. You could credit that to the gossips, rumor machines and other rapid means of getting the word out.

What's the moral of this story?

I think it is that somebody's got to stand in the gap and be there for people who become targets like Bobby. There may be a situation brewing in your community. There may be a pressing need for your presence or for your intercession by prayer or taking specific actions otherwise to show concern about somebody. You may just need to do what is on your heart with no request for anything in return. The quid pro quo bargained for exchange does not seem to fit in this kind of situation.

Right now I am wondering where Bobby is, if he's still alive, if he ever got married, if he went to college,etc.

Do you know a Bobby? If so,you may want to pray for him. You may want to express your care about the situation in a creative way. Send a good book, make a phone call or just drop by and say hi. If there is a more critical condition brewing, then you may be called to do something more expedient to the circumstances. It could be that you are being prompted to help your Bobby in a way that could really make a difference and completely turn the situation around once and for all.

God bless you and I love you.

Cynthia,
The Chaplain of Pop



Listening to:

Oh Where Oh Where Can My Baby Be?

83(John Mayer)

In the Midst of it All (Yolanda Adams)

Stand by Me(Ben E. King)

Tommy(The Who)

Ode to Billy Joe(Bobbie Gentry)

We Fall Down (Donny McClurkin)

President Barack Obama on the View This A.M.

President Barack Obama will make TV history this morning by being the first US President to appear on a daytime television program. The show is-- 'The View': Satisfying 'how resilient the American people are'.
A partial transcript of the show is provided below:

ABC has released some transcripts of the interview early. Barbara Walters speaks with the President about the economy, the war in Afghanistan and his persona in the press.

Barbara Walters: But you know we said this has been a kind of difficult time for you, between the oil and questions of racism and Afghanistan and a few other little things. We understand that you sit at night with your daughters and your wife and you do the rose and the thorn, right? Do you still do it?

President Obama: We still do it. Although Malia is now at camp and Sasha is away at a friend's house, so it's just me and Michelle.

Barbara Walters: We'll do it for you. We'll do it for you. In the last month what has been the rose? And what has been the thorn?

President Obama: Well in the last month the rose has to be a couple of days we took in Maine with Michelle and Sasha and Malia, and we went on bike rides and hikes, and the girls are getting old enough now where they're not quite teenagers yet, so they still like you (AUDIENCE LAUGHTER), but they are full of opinions and ideas and observations, and it's just a great age. Malia just turned 12 and Sasha just turned nine, and it couldn't have been a better couple of days.

Barbara Walters: Thorn?

President Obama: Well, where do I begin here? (AUDIENCE LAUGHTER)

Barbara Walters: At the top.

President Obama: Obviously the country has gone through a tough stretch since I took office. When I was sworn in, I know you showed the Inauguration, we were losing at that time 750,000 jobs per month, the economy was shrinking at a pace of about 6.5%, which is unheard of since the Great Depression, and so the last 20 months has been a non-stop effort to restart the economy, to stabilize the financial system, to make sure that we're creating jobs again instead of losing them, and in the midst of all that we've also had the oil spill, we've also had two wars, we've also had a pandemic, H1N1, that we had to manage, and a whole host of other issues. What has been gratifying is the fact that the economy now is starting to stabilize and grow again, and what's been satisfying is seeing how resilient the American people are. As much as you said it's been tough for me, the truth is, it's not tough for me; you know I've got people, pundits on the news who may say things about me.

Barbara Walters: You noticed?

President Obama: Of course, you think about what the American people have gone through, losing jobs, seeing their home values go down, their 401Ks declining, those are the folks who I draw inspiration from because I get letters every night from them and I read them. And as tough as it's been, they remain hopeful, they remain optimistic about America, and so I don't spend a lot of time worrying about me. I spend a lot of time worrying about them.


The program airs today, July 29 at 11 a.m. ET on ABC.

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!

Its been a while since I revealed a meaningful inspiration. Not that I have not been inspired. It’s just that I have admittedly been so into things seemingly not going the way that I had hoped and prayed they would go for so many years I honestly just about– and I am still trying to catch up with what almost passed me by– missed my Blessing.

I will spare the gory details. Suffice it to say,I am almost too ashamed to tell it. You see, I have been experiencing the proverbial “been down so long syndrome,that I did not realize when I was going up”. I probably should not write it exactly like that,but it is the hard cold and raw truth. Call it hurt,anger,disappointment in not having it my way and being mad at god for taking so long. Yes. That is the not so inspiring half of someone who is supposed to be able to generate inspiration on the toss of a flower or the drop of a hat. Throw in an avalanche of discovering things about life and people and friends that I could have been better off not knowing and wondering wildly to myself how on earth did I take such a detour. And,since I’ve studied some theology and preached a few sermons I have attained a level where I can call the experience my wilderness years. I don’t mind sharing the story straight with no chaser. The only thing I have left to do at this point is actually smile and shout for joy!

And, I can do it now with a purity of emotion that I have not experienced since I was a child who wanted so desparately to travel with her uncle,cousins and brothers and sisters on a special trip over to their home one night but got left behind. I think I can count that as one of the big traumas of my childhood. At least its one of those primal experiences that never leaves the psyche. Anyway,I remember it to this day,just as if I were in that instant so many years ago. I recall the disappointment and hurt as a result of others that I loved and wanted to be with,embarking on a journey without me. Call it separation anxiety, pitching a fit or having a spasm I was railing that night.I must have cried all night long,if not outwardly,the tears were still streaming on the inside.

Now you are probably wondering what this has to do with victory. Well, to tell you the truth so am I. I think I can take a crack at it and say this. Sometimes we can get so tied up in our emotions and wanting things to go a particular way and within a projected time span that we can’t even recognize when god has answered our prayer or already provided what we are brooding, kicking and screaming or pouting about.

Like my mother was patient and understanding with me as I was going through my tantrum that night at home as a little girl whose hopes had been dashed,I am thankful for patient and understanding friends who have waited quite a while until I came to.

God bless you and I love you.

Peace,

Stop the Oil Stream

Poster Art by Cynthia Wilson

A month ago I started a cause on Facebook, "A Call to Prayer, Mission and Action for the Gulf Coast."  In so doing, I knew that there had already been 20 billion dollars  that had been set aside by BP after pointed negotiations with government officials and President Barack Obama. States in the Gulf Coast region have received millions of dollars in tourism, boosting funds as part of an extensive public relations campaign by BP to control damages. So far as a result of the tragic explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig which began this long and monstrous ordeal to contain millions of barrels raging from the ocean floor daily, 11 lives have been lost,thousands of sea inhabitants including shellfish,birds,turtles and dolphins have died. Portions of the  marshlands are oozing with oil, the sandy beaches have been  invaded by tar balls and there are thick gooky globs and strings of oil swimming around throughout vast regions of the Gulf.

Many  are outraged,some have complained,some have sought medical treatment from the resulting depression. Many are feeling like there is little or no hope for the future because they are jobless. While BP is paying their claims and  people put into positions to help speed the process along,fishermen and business owners are still complaining about the amount and swiftness of their pay. In short, there appears to still be issues that need resolving.  After all, while money solves a multitude of problems and is always needed when disasters of this nature strike,there are matters that can slip through the cracks if not handled properly and with care.

One way to make a lot of the problems go away is to just stop the oil stream, get a robust cap in place and keep it there for as long as the oil streams from the well. Channel it up and over the water into a medium it is more compatible with. Today,  a containment process was started, one that appears to be more hopeful than those in the past. At least there seems to be a slow down on the rate of oil flowing from the ocean. So,they say.

Whether this new gadget works or not still remains to be seen. It sure would be a great thing if they got this thing under control. 

Something has got to stop the oil stream. They've tried a lot. Some of everything you might think.  I wonder if any of the big shots pray to god.  I wonder if  they might think it's corny or hokey to even consider a "prayer request" to god to stop the oil stream.  Well, I for one think it would be a great thing to do.  And,we can start doing it together one by one,first at home,then at church, work or the office at community meetings and then move on to a global scale.  Start with yourself first,of course.  Get your friends involved.  That's easy if you are on any of the modern day social networks.  Then, make sure you back that friend network up with the people you touch, feel and talk to everyday. Your next door neighbor,the people at the corner store if you have on still,local cleaners,etc.

There is a saying in church and prayer circles that "prayer changes things".  In light of how long and fiercely the oil has been roaring up out of the ocean,it would seem that a little praying might be in order. It certainly couldn't hurt. That is for sure.

Here are the words to a song I wrote about it and would like to share with you.  


Stop the Oil Stream

What do I see?
What can we do?
What does it mean?
Is life in the Gulf as we know it really through?

Just can't believe
That its a lasting truth
That the sands and the seas would be forever barred
 by a coat of oil and goo

Chorus:

Well, I'm gonna place faith in God
and trust he gave Moses a holy rod
And he can stop the oil stream

How can it be?
with all modern skills and tools
Love for my neighbor,care in my heart for the birds and fish
That does not seem to do?

Chorus:

Well,I'm gonna have faith in God
Know its never too late
 for God
To stop the oil stream

Copyright June 2010   Cynthia D. Wilson

Betty White to Host Saturday Night Live Partly As a Result of Grassroots Campaign by Fans on Facebook

I was reading in the newspaper today where Betty White will be hosting Saturday Night Live this Saturday,May 8,2010. The article found in Express TV Weekend Lookout
nigh states:

The lifetime achievement awards and other accolades showered on the Emmy winner led to a Betty-palooza that continues as she guest-hosts "Saturday Night Live"(11:30p.m.,NBC,Sat.), partly as a result of grassroots campaign by fans on Facebook.

Hit Song About Job Loss: New Movie "Up In the Air" Features A Song Written by Man Who Lost His Job

This was very inspiring. “Up In The Air” is critically acclaimed and poised to pick up Golden Globes in several categories, including Best Picture.It may follow with Oscar wins as well. Whatever its award rake up count come February or whatever date next year the Oscars are scheduled, it is so good to be reminded that it’s never too late to pursue dreams. It seems that in the current “spirit of the times” and as some would say “zeitgeist” if you have the determination, drive and talent you can make it to where you want to be. It appears that the doors are open for the underdog or those who are not so hooked up or linked with heavyweight connections. American Idol, America’s Got Talent and the Susan Boyle-esque rags to riches success stories seem to be the order of the day.

This experience,too, illustrates that the doors can open and true talent coupled with being “in the right place at the right time” can make all the difference. Some call it synchronicity. Some call it luck. I call it a blessing.

Congratulations to the songwriter and to the heavyweights who helped to make it happen for him.

To see a trailer of the movie, tou can also click here.