Thursday, March 28, 2013

Need for Gun Control

Blacks, women and other suspect classes have faced more than their share of gun violence,threats and lntimidation in the fight for social justice. Mowing down innocent children is as unconscionable as it gets, just nauseating. The use of military scale weapons increases the sense of outrage and presents an urgency to clamor for organized citizen involvement on a scale of the civil rights movement. The heinous nature of the shootings should not incite leaders to increase arms in the public schools as the only workable solution. Communities,elected officials,law enforcement, the military and responsible NRA members have to come together and stop this with everything they have. Background checks and decreased availability of such weapons is a good start. 

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Flight: Very Much Worth Watching ""Whip's" Sober and Free

If you have not already seen this movie, it is definitely worth a trip to the theater. I found it rich in texture as far as the storytelling goes. Denzel's character Whip Whittaker,demonstrates magician like dexterity in bringing a nose-diving jet liner with in excess of 200 passengers on board to a skillful but turbulent landing with more lives saved than lost. Landing in an open field ironically adjacent to a church with a steeple which is torn off in part during the topsy-turvy landing,literally. However, it is later discovered that his blood alcohol levels were well above legal limits. Despite his celebrated heroism for the feat that fact alone if exposed to the public could considerably alter the public's opinion of his piloting skills and also subject him to years in prison for criminally negligent homicide, ending his career as a passenger pilot. It is this complex play of issues brought to life by solid acting which keeps the viewer substantively engaged. Seeing him play a vulnerable drunk and rehab bound airline pilot,was a departure from his usual roles. The movie was also filled with subtle redemption undertones concerning prayer,church,addiction,etc. One of the stewardess's was church bound as soon as the plan arrived to its destination. John Goodman was a sure scene stealer as Whip's street pharmacist. there were scenes that really pull you in and get your attention while providing a window into the degrees of denial that are evident in an alcoholic's or any drug dependent's personality--Whip's alcohol issues are complimented, compounded and ultimately salvaged by his new female friends intervention. She is grappling with her own addiction challenges. There were several scenes which stood out. The crash scene in the beginning had me on the edge of my seat. It was awesome how Whittaker was portrayed behind the pilots wheel and his command of the instruments despite the fact he had been out all night. The scene at the end where he has a heart to heart with his son while in prison and touches on the importance of truthfulness is icing on the cake. He admits to his son that he is finally sober and for the first time in his life he feels free. I was expecting a flight disaster movie after viewing the trailers,but there was so much more to the movie. And, that extra something was a pleasant surprise.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Restoration Harvest

Please listen to today’s selected podcast message at the link below to augment the brief written reflection that follows on “Restoration Harvest”.


https://www.spreaker.com/episode/41182465



Monday, November 5, 2012

Many Voters Continue to Support, Pray and Cheer the Right to Vote On




Churches,community organizations and Get Out the Vote have revved up their engines. Well organized efforts of prayer, voting and volunteer networks have sparked unprecedented early voting turnouts across the nation. Actions have also generated legal challenges in states such as Florida. There voters are embroiled in a legal battle to extend the early voting deadline. "Souls to the Polls","Get Out the Vote", election commissions and persons having insight into the myriad issues local jurisdictions such as Detroit face. A total of 18 separate proposals are on the ballot alone, making efforts to educate and inform needed. One notable such proposal is No. 4 where the fight is on to make affordable home health care available so seniors won't feel,as the President states in the telephone call being made to voters "like they are being warehoused". Me and fellow siblings know this all too well as caregivers to two elderly parents, one faced with daily challenges of adequate elder care. The importance of a proper understanding and resultant vote in favor of making quality home care available cannot be overemphasized. The mantras are typically clear and resounding "Go to the Polls"and "Get out and vote". Rides, child care and any other incentive within reason and geared to assist voters in fully participating in this election,making their ballot count are happily being provided. Poll watchers are being recruited and trained by such organizations as the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. The influential civil rights organization has been running an informative ad on radio networks across the country. It's down to the wire and election eve is upon us. The Presidential race is a tight one and the numbers are close enough to generate nothing more than a dead heat in some states. Some might wonder how the Republican candidate who was trailing Obama just months ago has managed to improve upon his image weakened by a consistently chameleon like wishy washy stance on the issues that matter most. Yet he has managed to do just that with the aid of negative campaign ads and the influx of millions of dollars from super-pacs and super-rich donors. Your vote is needed and could make the difference. Vote your conscience, vote your candidate of choice and vote like your life depended on it!

Friday, September 28, 2012

"Be a Blessing"





Perhaps one of the toughest challenges in our interactions with others,and there are many, is to not repay the harm another has done with the same,but instead repay them with a blessing. New testament scriptures which come to mind are Galatians 5:14: 14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this;Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself and I Peter 3:8-11,"8...be like minded,be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with a blessing,because of this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue` from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek and pursue it (NIV).  In the Old Testament, Leviticus 19:18 states "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself"; 

I don't think it would be an overstatement to say that many have fallen short of the glory of god on this one. Getting even, making sure someone pays for doing you wrong and "tit for tat" can be tempting traps to fall into, if not simply perceived as the needed way to respond. In a world full of trouble, unexpected trials,unfair dealing, push and pull among factions for power and control, to do what is justified and timely to alleviate human suffering borne of war, and the constant strivings of the individual to come out ahead and ontop at the office, the political contest and other public forums is something with which we grapple continually. During this election season, the political ads are fired off with an intensity that makes you wonder if the insults and the tearing down would ever be replaced with a fuller examination of the issues and the candidates true value. Toss into the arena daily back and forths and casual spats among family members and serious slights and abuses which strangers and sometimes close friends hurl at one another either intentionally or unintentionally.

The  Golden Rule which just about every religion and spiritual culture in the world has applied as a principal of ethical since ancient times, crossing the boundaries of religious practice and applied by world cultures to resolve issues,"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" needs to rain down on us today like a mighty cloudburst as it could stand broader and stauncher application today. A great number of prominent religious figures and philosophers have restated its reciprocal, "two-way" nature in various ways...1 
The simple question,  piercing in its accuracy is what will your ultimate act be,how will you respond when flashbacks of the bad things done to you by another i.e., the hurt, the inconvenience,trouble and trauma tugs on your heart and mind?  When your heart strings, your compssion and natural inclination for decency spur you on to do good ,respond to the help for request and be a blessing.  Will you pgive them a drink of water when they are thirsty? Or will you cut off the faucet as you reflect on the ugly things they have done to you?  If they are hungry, do you share your food or instead close the pantry door and lock it up?

Pray to God for guidance as you work through the challenge and strive to"Be a blessing..."

In the words of the song "Go get it,go get your blessing...its your time. You can also be a blessing. Be a blessing. It's your time...

Cynthia Wilson
_________

1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Rule

Friday, March 9, 2012

John Mayer Cancels Upcoming Tour. May Need to Undergo Surgery Again





Photo by Cynthia Wilson


John Mayer,who has been recovering from throat surgery for the last several months, has today announced that he is cancelling his upcoming tour and will likely have to undergo another round of surgery on his vocal chords. The news comes as a shock and disappointment to his music fans and friends so looking forward to traveling to concerts on the tour scheduled to kick off in Bloomington, Indiana on April 9,2012. The tour is in support of his soon to be released record "Born and Raised", which is still scheduled to be released by Columbia Records on May 22.

 John went back to his doctor on Wednesday for a check up after "something did not feel right/sound right" during a rehearsal. His doctor informed him that the condition had returned and he would have "to take an indefinite break from live performing." Let's hope this is not so! It was enough of a shock that he was not among the performers at the White House concert Red,White and Blues in appreciation and celebration of the blues last month. His blues guitar was sorely missed.

  He originally underwent surgery four and a half months ago,which was around the same time that singer Adele had laser surgery on her vocal chords. She has since recovered.

This is such unpleasant news for John who usually manages to maintain an infectious enthusiasm with superlatives like "excellent" and an upbeat spirit. He did remark in response to the doctor's findings, "This is bad news. Because of this, I have no choice but to take an indefinite break from live performing." While this health issue is undoubtedly a setback for the tour and a disappointment to fans, John's health comes first. So, keep him lifted in  prayer that the problem will be corrected this time for sure with surgery and proper medicine. Hopefully, his resilience in combination with our prayers and well wishes will spur him on to a speedy and lasting recovery.

It just may be time to power up an 'interfaith' prayer intensive to help him through this. John,by the way is part Jewish. However, that does not mean you can't pray for him if you are Christian or any other faith for that matter. Get well John! We all love you.

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