tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1979194495561256604.post2290621494307899923..comments2023-09-11T08:13:16.820-07:00Comments on living as if the Truth was true: Living as if the Truth was trueJoanna Hoythttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13447960126998692419noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1979194495561256604.post-48901543225834510492010-01-10T12:46:19.697-08:002010-01-10T12:46:19.697-08:00Thank you, Fran! Sorry to be late responding; I...Thank you, Fran! Sorry to be late responding; I've been away from the blog for a little while. <br /><br />“Even worse, in my opinion, is when we change the truth (ie. distort it, or outright kill it!) to make it conform to our present lifestyle.” <br /><br />Yes, I've experienced that, from both sides. I think it's one of the major dangers of claiming to live the truth as well as knowing it; it's probably better to know and not to do than to falsify the knowing so as not to have to change the doing. <br /><br />Your community's example, our conversations at the World Gathering and Kim's letters encourage me greatly and challenge me to stick close to the truth.Joanna Hoythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13447960126998692419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1979194495561256604.post-90728285410058060082010-01-03T07:26:59.923-08:002010-01-03T07:26:59.923-08:00Joanna, I really enjoyed reading that post. I hop...Joanna, I really enjoyed reading that post. I hope to check more of your blog as time goes on.<br /><br />I think it's true that most people (if not all) do not live up to what they preach. Even when we ARE actually trying to live up to what we preach, we may not achieve wholeness as you have noted. Even worse, in my opinion, is when we change the truth (ie. distort it, or outright kill it!) to make it conform to our present lifestyle.<br /><br />Sadly, that has been my experience in most religious circles, including Quakers. Truth becomes whatever is politically correct and respectable. <br /><br />I do feel that I need to keep trying to live more Christ-like, which is an ongoing journey for me. <br /><br />I always appreciate hearing about what you are doing. Since Kim and I met you at the World Gathering, we have held you in a special place. God bless you as you continue seeking to do His will.Franhttp://jesus-teachings.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1979194495561256604.post-82415317025473808392009-12-30T08:25:18.901-08:002009-12-30T08:25:18.901-08:00Forrest,
I agree that individual actions are boun...Forrest,<br /><br />I agree that individual actions are bound to be inadequate. I am still called to take them. And I'm not trying to keep myself pure in isolation; I am trying to live more faithfully, less harmfully, and to invite others into more faithful ad less harmful living. I do think this behavior can carry an important message. <br /><br />When our guests who come from poorer countries and have tried to buy into the "American Dream' encounter Americans who live below their means and work with their hands, some of them look again and see value in the lives they had at home. Some of our rich American guests say they've learned something from our time with us about the value and satisfaction of a life that isn't crammed with things. We do try to articulate our reasons for living such a life, but I think that whatever real power the speaking has comes from the living.<br />I don't mean to dismiss 'mere words', but I think they are most meaningful when they are embodied.<br /><br />And yes, the important thing is to be centered in God. I often need this reminder--it is easy to get caught up in each day's work and forget why I am doing it. So far I have found that I hear God better and obey God more fully as I attempt to be more available to my neighbors and to harm them less, and that the gap between my words and convictions and my daily life also separates me from God. But if what God has laid on you is teaching, not changing other aspects of your life, who am I to question that? I know that the gifts and callings God gives are diverse. May we both listen faithfully and be transformed through the renewing of our minds.Joanna Hoythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13447960126998692419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1979194495561256604.post-87557251321602626912009-12-29T22:17:56.376-08:002009-12-29T22:17:56.376-08:00Many people have learned to automatically deny the...Many people have learned to automatically deny the fact that our social institutions quite deliberately treat people unfairly--and unavoidably produce inequalities in education by customary priorities in what kind of schooling we provide, how much we set aside for teachers and books, what kind of effort we make to encourage people to learn vs the vast effort devoted, in practice, to making most people consider themselves ineducable!<br /><br />I don't think that one, individual person can somehow arrange to keep our society's innocent blood off our hands, nor would there be much point. We really need to collectively wake up, wise up, prepare everyone to see themselves what needs to change. Mere words are what we have to begin with. Handwashing behavior can carry a message, but not necessarily the message intended!<br /><br />First off, to "live a life so centered in God that all things take their rightful place." That would imply... not only receiving guidance on what we should practice, but probably becoming less centered on rules, less concerned with what behavior can or cannot be "excused," more aware of how widespread alienation from God perverts and disables even the best intentions.forresthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214745625847174676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1979194495561256604.post-65226164757470817212009-12-29T07:33:02.124-08:002009-12-29T07:33:02.124-08:00Thanks for the questions. I need to remember that...Thanks for the questions. I need to remember that some of the terms use as shorthand may not translate well for other people.<br /><br />Systemically, I think of legal ‘justice’ as concerning itself with whether people are abiding by the rules, and social justice as concerning itself with whether the rules are fair and lifegiving. In terms of my own life, ‘social justice’ is shorthand for one the aspect of the imperative to love my neighbor as myself which requires me to take responsibility for my proxy actions--what my government does, what corporations do with the money I give them, what the social structure which supports me does to the people who support it--as well as my face-to-face interactions. <br /><br />Maybe an example will help. The cheap onions are cheap in our local grocery store are supplied by two very large farms in this county. The farmers recruit migrant laborers to work the fields and promise them eight- to ten-hour days, $8/hr and decent housing; on arrival the workers are crowded into housing without reliable running water, paid minimum wage and expected to work 12-16 hours a day. Many of them are legal immigrants, either Puerto Ricans or contract workers, but it’s hard for them to leave; they don’t have their ow vehicles, or (in many cases) valid drivers’ licenses for this country; they’ve just paid to get into the US, and the employer starts charging them for food and housing immediately and doesn’t pay them for two weeks, so they’re in debt; so they stay. One man was told to clean a jammed harvesting machine; it wasn’t turned off because that would have wasted valuable time; when the machine cut his fingers off the boss called him stupid and refused to take him to the hospital until the workday was over. His story wasn’t uncommon. As I’ve read more I’ve realized that these farms aren’t uncommon either. This strikes me as a clear case of social injustice in which I, as an eater, am necessarily involved. There are several ways of addressing this: not buying onions, and growing more of my own food to eat and share; continuing to support groups that offer humanitarian assistance to these workers; supporting changes to the NY labor laws which currently deny farm workers (of any nationality) the right to collective bargaining, overtime pay, days of rest... <br /><br /> I don’t think of social justice as redistributing wealth to those who work less, but as preventing and remedying exploitation. I think it’s true and vitally important that people in difficult situations can still make important choices and live with some measure of freedom and dignity. I don’t think this excuses us if we make their lives unfairly and unnecessarily difficult in order to make ourselves more comfortable.Joanna Hoythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13447960126998692419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1979194495561256604.post-64426128371740813872009-12-28T13:25:16.465-08:002009-12-28T13:25:16.465-08:00Wow. Several things jumped out at me when I first...Wow. Several things jumped out at me when I first read this post, but the one thing that struck me the most was the fact that we share a desire to live our expectations rather than only give them lipservice. As you are aware, this is incredibly hard to do - the daily struggle between self-preservation in this world and conviction living is a constant, but welcome battle. How many people are not even aware enough to know they are not living their convictions? I was also struck by your conviction to live more simply and in harmony with that which surrounds you, something I too am striving for.<br /><br />I'm curious to know, how would you describe "social justice" and "environmental health"? These are both phrases that people banter about, but seldom think through what they mean to them - although I suspect you have.<br /><br />To me, social justice immediately invokes a bad taste in my mouth. Justice being defined as "giving to each that which they are due", social justice seems like a catch phrase on redistribution of opportunities, possessions,and wealth to those less successful than others the identify as possessing the ideal. This sort of thing goes against my grain - regardless of what racists may say, we are all born equal. Regardless of skin color, socio-economic status, or geographic location, every child born has the inherent ability to be successful. The difference is the extent to which a child is exposed to dependency thinking and brainwashed into believing they have no other options. I came from a very poor childhood in a geographic area that had no opportunities, I still managed to belief in my ability to not only define my ideal of success, but work diligently towards that success. So any notion of a need for social justice says to me that we need to stop teaching our youth that their only option is to loot from those who have, instead of working hard towards a goal.<br /><br />As far environmental health is concerned, I haven't really thought about defining that phrase and what it means to me. It produces images of Al Gore and volcanos, honestly, and an excuse to tax me more for working hard. I'll have to give it some more thought, though and I'll get back to you.<br /><br />Great first post - I'm looking forward to more.<br /><br />Kat FreemanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com