The White Parasol

I am with the sinners. Straight up, might as well face it. That is to be aware of being a sinner and that being saved has nothing to do with how good we judge that we are, or can become. In the gospels: MAT 10, 9-13 MRK 3, 15-17 LUKE 5, 27-32 Matthew (also known as Levi) the tax collector was an outcast in his own community and he frequented with other outcasts (sinners). He knew that he did not live in the ways of God; neither do I. But it is not something that you can gain overnight, it takes time and discipleship and, anyway, there will be the element of not having that completeness – we remain  imperfect – even if we spend all of our lives trying; if we ever judge ourselves to be what Christ asked us to be, then we have already failed because we do not have the God given right to judge ourselves or anyone else on earth. And that means anyone from any family, village, city, race, nation or religion. Read the rest of this entry »

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When I consider my soul. . . . it is full of surprises (or sur-prizes)! It exhibits such patience, for it never appears to be encumbered, restricted or limited by my physical aspect. It is large and wholesome, whilst I am small and fragile. How can this tiny frame of my body carry a soul that is so disproportionate? Read the rest of this entry »

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At some point on our spiritual journey we have to meet and conquer what is sometimes referred to as “the dweller on the threshold”.  It is a reference to the “being” or “entity” that is sum total of all the negative deeds that we have performed during our many lives, and every act of suffering that we may have caused.

All of this is built into this “shadow”. In one of our incarnations, when we feel strong enough or supported enough, we have to face this vision of darkness, which is of our own making. It is perhaps the most courageous, the most awesome, the most barrier-breaking, the most freedom-bringing action that our energy, our being has to do.

It is the ultimate search for our soul, Read the rest of this entry »

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Driving along in my yellow mini on the way back from town to my house I was pondering on the illness of my son.  He had been cured we thought and now it was back with a vengeance. It had shown itself by appearing above the clavicle so now we knew that we would be thrown back into radiation or worse and all the surrounding effects.

So at this stage of events I was, yet again, beside myself with fear. With fear of what to do and how to do it and, above all, how to get complete healing. Is it not a very deep and natural thing for a Mother to want her child to be cured and happy and strong and well? Yes it is. And all of my attempts hithertoe had not succeeded then; all my endeavours, trials and praying and going to multiple practitioners of various disciplines – we had tried everything on earth, or so I thought. We were long not over this period but I did not know this at this time. I remember the sunny, clement day and looking out of the window at the trees and the countryside not caring that it was beautiful because my world was not.  There I was voicing these concerns whilst driving– as you do – speaking out loud to the heavens that for God’s sake, Read the rest of this entry »

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Well, they have no right here do they?
They are taking our jobs, our social security, our houses, our
schools, our communities.
They cause us all the problems of a country which is too full: crime,
lack of resources.
If they were not here we wouldn’t have any problems. They are to blame.
Well, the thing is that we are not seeing clearly.
We are looking for someone to blame for the hurt and anger inside Read the rest of this entry »

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about the brolly thing

The White Parasol is our (see "about little me and mrs. overall) umbrella where reflections on the confluence of religious,spiritual and modern, everyday life - with all its conflicting issues - can be looked at without and with prejudices. A practical emphasis to provide another way of looking at the bigger picture, in the midst of the ordinary material life, but without theological restriction (which doesn't mean that it is to be disregarded either). The parasol is to protect us from the heat that the issues generate theologically and politically. To propose and discuss,listen to and open up to, other perspectives without fear of getting burnt, in the hope of moving onwards. A belief is not necessarily a reality or a truth, but a programming. The overriding approach: "Faith is about searching for the truth without fear, so it doesn't matter if we lose all of our beliefs.." (from a compilation of ancient wisdoms spanning all religions in Anthony De Mello's "Song of the Bird). But can we question,without fear,issues which shape families, towns, nations and what wars are made of? Well if all the political diplomacy we have had since time immemorial can deliver only a war-torn earth, even in contemporary and "more enlightened" times two thousand years after Christ came to bring peace, perhaps we should dare to.