believe 

Pope John Paul ll

....I hope our politicians and world leaders are really sitting up and taking notice of just what it is that the people of the world community respect in a man. The extrodinary outpouring of love, respect, and gratitude that is being shown for Pope John Paul should alert everyone of us who is witness to its unprecedented display, to just what is really impotant to mankind in the end. I would imagine that half the worlds people disagreed with the Pope on some or maybe even many of his church doctrines, but that was not this Pope's primary message...rather it was the message of the Christ which was inclusive, forgiving, tolerant, merciful and loving. This man of God truely knew how to condem a sin and embrace the sinner. I didn't personally agree with the Popes positions on birth control, Africa and aids, Priests marrying, women priests, his condemnation of homosexuality as a larger evil undermining marriage and family, or his dealings with the priest sex abuse scandal in america...but none of those things (those positions and beliefs) mattered to me in the end. He took his position and I took mine, but he walked in the footsteps of our Lord and he showed me how to follow Him in love...Mercy triumps over justice, love over laws.....this was a man whos larger than life heart had room for the humanity that agreed with him, and those who did not. He stated his positions, stuck by them as any good believer does, and then reached out to the world, to other religions, to all mankind and drew them to him. He was a Shepherd of men, just like the Man he followed, and he preached Jesus' message with his every breath, his every step, his every call to follow in the way of Grace. He was bent with our burdens and still he went and still he loved. He was, in my opinion, a Holy man....on a holy mission to the world.
Take notice Kings, and Presidents, Prime Ministers, & Leaders...it is not our differences, but our similarities we should be concentrating on. Make room in your hearts for people of different opinions and beliefs, different religions and different rituals...see the masses of humanity that cry to you...lead us in a way of peaceful resolution.

contemplation 

I Am Watching, I Am Humbled

I am quite taken aback really, by the incredible courage that people come along and display for us. Such beacons of humanity’s light, able to share with us their most naked and vulnerable selves. The dignity with which they bear the burden of illness and suffering in the public eye...to be witnessed by the world.. Pope John Paul 11 was such an extraordinary example of openness, willing to have his physical being laid low before the worlds’ eyes....bent and burdened by limitation and pain...a broken body , the vehicle for a soaring soul...a man true to the example of the Shepherd of man that He followed. I am overwhelmed by the grace that some men display in their willingness to share weakness, suffering, failing and ultimately dying. The Pope’s gift to the world of his authenticity, his human connection to you and me even in death, truly was a holy gift.
I am deeply touched by Peter Jennings’ announcement that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer. And honored that he has chosen to continue to anchor World News for us. To be cranky or not cranky, to be hoarse or not hoarse...to be open and vulnerable and real. To touch our frail humanity with his own and remind us once again, the bell tolls for all of us .
I remember witnessing the raw, poignant, agonizing, beauty of Adrienne Alperts’ public struggle first to survive and then to thrive...and she did it before our eyes... in such an incredibly short time really, she was back on the news baring witness to the fact that we are only limited by our belief in limitation. Courage beyond imagining, showing us the golden links of destiny that are our shared connection to one another. We are all so very vulnerable...
And in this topsy turvy world we live in, nothing stays the same, no power is always in power, no young and vital man remains that way, no youthful blush lasts forever on any rose, the wealthy sometimes lose their wealth and the poor sometimes find themselves on top...but of one thing we can be sure, nothing stays the same, nothing lasts forever and death claims us all but for a moment....some people face their "changes" with grace and show the rest of us how. I am watching, and I am humbled.