Musings from Sol's Third Planet

It is hard not to be disheartened when the leadership of society/government seems to be utterly bankrupt.  We see so many of our sisters and brothers harmed by the selfish and sinful actions of those in power.  We naturally feel the pain, either directly by those actions or in solidarity and empathy.  We do believe that every person is within the Body of Christ.  (- starting to use catholic terminology now, because that is my perspective. You can substitute the word "humanity" for the Body of Christ or the word "universe" for Creation and Kingdom of God, if that works better.)  The next issue is that we cannot stay still and wallow in the situation.  The next step is action and a desire to address the injustices and help lead our society to one that is more just.  Saint Edith Stein, who was killed at Auschwitz by a previous evil government, said, "Those who remain silent are responsible."  This statement is a call to action, a call to resista...

And, another shooting at a school, in Madison, Wisconsin.  Does society find this acceptable?  Statistics indicate that guns kill more children aged 1 to 17 than anything else, including automobile accidents and cancer. Nearly one-third of the deaths for teens between 15 and 17 are by a gun.  Amongst the countries of the world, the United States is unique in this regard.  And, still, nothing - no efforts by government leaders to bring about some reasonable gun regulations that would lessen this bloodletting.  Do we care about our children?  Making change is within our power.  Tell your government representative and vote for the people who will address this terrible situation.  How about the next time we watch a commercial on TV about a curing childhood cancer (which is a great cause) or automobile safety, we think about what kills more children than   those, then do something about it.

  The Day After   It has been more than a month since the US presidential election, and I am still very disappointed in America.   I am struggling to understand how a person could vote for a person who holds the racist, anti-life, anti-human rights, earth destroying ideas and policies that are pushed by DT.   Before the election I thought that people were being misled by the lies, fear mongering and us-versus-them language.   Today, I am not sure, and it makes me very sad.   Having to forgive, I have to believe that the good people that voted for DT were temporarily misled.   Everything becomes known in time.   People who actually support the sinful policies can be dealt with by God, “He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.”   Holy Mary, Magnificat. It seems most human beings are willing to take an easy answer given to them and more than willing to blame someone else or some other group for life’s chal...

  The Name of God The name of God – the breath of God – Creation – the Kingdom, all things that are beyond human understanding, but not beyond human listening and living.   Most challenging and most frustrating is the failure of human beings in attempting to participate in God’s creation.   God gave us the ability to choose, to love and live in God’s light, but unfortunately as co-creators, human beings go down the path of creating institutions, nations, governments and even churches that are not created in the image of God, and often based on control, greed, prejudice, us and them. The new images from the James Webb telescope are awe inspiring in further showing the extent of the Name of God, which is to say, God’s Creation.   What is the extent of creation?   Is the Creation contained in each human being also contained within God as seen in the farthest galaxies?   When God speaks through us, we are empowered to cooperate in creation.   We create...

  America and Energy Resources on the Occasion of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine The rising gas prices and many reactions seems self-centered and shortsighted.   When a tyrannical country invades a neighbor, causing war and sanctions, resulting in shortages and increased prices at the gas pump, is it too much to ask for us to support defense of democracy and peace with paying more out of our own pocket?   Prayers for Ukraine should not be free platitudes but should actually cost something.   Obviously, many people are paying with their entire lives in Ukraine as we complain about higher prices. Another issue that rising gas prices bring up are attitudes toward the environment and climate change.   Energy independence is touted as the reason to lessen environmental controls, increase drilling in sensitive areas and allow greater greenhouse gas emissions.   If a person does not believe in protecting the planet and preserving it for generations to come, then...