Deconstructing #Calvary Chapel, DON'T (,) SKIP! #skipheitzig #franklingraham #greglaurie

Deconstructing #Calvary Chapel, DON'T (,) SKIP! #skipheitzig #franklingraham #greglaurie

Bad Shit Happens #dollyparton #timcurry

"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain!”--Dolly Parton

https://youtube.com/shorts/moLHkXL2y9k?si=6OFndPJ8C5zHOxY0

Let me get this out of the way right now: I feel the pain, the loss, the grief. I know that hard ache of losing someone dear to you. Amongst the long six years of recent, my boyfriend and I lost so many between the two of us, like one or more a month, and then March he left me. The grief I hold in missing him is deep and resounding yet I'm not cursing the year I've had, I'm living within that pain.

My life has been anything but rosy, none of us have.  Yet, I do recall a friend saying, when in my early 30s, divorcing my abusive husband, "For a young person, you sure have been through a lot!"  At that point, I was so overwhelmededly flooded with the peace of being free from him that I laughed her comment off.  However, it is true and I knew it just as much as she did.  From an abusive college boyfriend who would not leave, long after I ended the relationship, to a church too confining, teetering on cult-like and embrace of the purity culture, to the abusive husband, a myriad of toxic friendships, the dawn of the new age of Covid19, then the loss of my beloved human...it's been a lot but through all that darkness, I have prevailed, healed, found myself through it, and persevered.

Yep, bad shit happens.  Cars break down, money is tight, loved ones die (including celebrities), corrupt leaders take control and the downtrodden feel the weight of such upon their neck even deeper...it can sometimes feel too much...except it's not.  It is what it is.

That's not a cause of downward spiral into the doom and gloom.  Life is not always to be joyous, laughter, rosy days of love and light...it will be messy, dark, gloomy,  just as the seasons change.  But amidst the darkness, the joy will return and is yet even during difficulties always still readily available.  

In the wake of the loss of Dolly Parton, of Tim Curry, of whoever beloved lost, know that the reason for the tears and deep sorrow is because of the love, laughter, light once shared with them.  And, the reality is, it is still available within you forever.  

I'm not saying never to grieve, to cry and groan, to scream.  Rather, do that freeily, let it all flow outward without constraint, whatever the emotion that befalls in that singular moment.  

My boyfriend, Michael, always said that he wanted his celebration of life to be full of laughter, because God knows he gave us enough fodder. I would reply that yes, I will laugh but I'm also going to cry.  And such continues as I slowly ebb my way through life without him, my human, finding whatever joy I can within the simplicity and the memory.

In life, bad shit happens, rain must fall, but so to, the flowers come anew.  Amidst the pain, we find joy once more.  Joy for the knowing the one we lost, joy for the simple pleasures.  Although the anger of cursing a year or the pleading for 'no more suckiness please' feels justified, the more we balk against the bad weakens the acceptance, the loss of the lesson that life is full of light and darkness, endless circles ebbing about seeming to be out of control lest we surrender. 

Death Is Nothing At All - by Henry Scott-Holland - Voiced by Cesar Vargas

The Ghost Of Del Rio: In Your Own Backyard #rockpointoregon #delriovineyard #hattiehaymond

 The Ghost Of Del Rio: In Your Own Backyard #rockpointoregon #delriovineyard #hattiehaymond

https://youtu.be/vsSnx1NS1WU

Nestled between the Cascade and Siskiyou mountain ranges in Gold Hill, Oregon, sits the buildings now known as Del Rio Vineyards...but Del Rio Vineyard Estate comes with a spooky resident...

Please help my friend, Michael Hearne

 Hello!

I have been slowly seeking to raise funds for my good friend, Michael, over the last 6 months to help him ensure long-term stay in an inexpensive motel so he can focus his attention on finding work & healing from the stress of being unhoused.

Lia

https://gofund.me/b31e4ccc3

Dracula, The Undertaking (teaser) premieres Sunday at 7!

See the teaser of "Dracula, The Undertaking" premieres, Sunday, March 1st at 7:00 pm #draculatheundertaking #livetheatre #behindthescenes #documentary

Dracula, The Undertaking (Trailer Only) #teaser #livetheatre #behindthescenesphotography

https://youtu.be/OHlO2933iy8

Get a peek behind the scenes of a live theatre production with this documentary. From casting call to rehearsals, hear the real life accounts of cast & crew as they share their journeys of getting ready for the big opening & more!

Purchase full length online version: @ https://www.patreon.com/collection/2004951?view=expanded

$25 one time purchase

(DVD copies coming soon!)

Three Fingers Pointing #lookwithinfirst #nohypocricy

 

The other day, I was on Facebook...the start of a sentence that no good could come from...hang on, let me start again.

A friend in recovery and I always quip, after long discussions on the current political climate, "Ah, the world needs recovery, everyone just needs recovery."

So, with that in mind, I was on Facebook and I found this video of a woman critizing, even taunting, Christians for their hypocrisy in claiming to be followers of Jesus while seemingly not staying true to the teachings of Jesus.  Sharing it around, I included two of my current "Fundie-Christian friends".*

Watch here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQb8u74kSww/?igsh=eWsxMjdxOW1qM21p

As I shared with them, I realized instantly their possible reaction, whether they voiced it towards me or not, something that I have had said to me for years since I left Christianity and openly deconstructing over ten years ago.  That rhetoric, "Don't be mad at God, it's the people that caused the pain, people aren't perfect, God is."

Now, early on in my deconstruction, I would react with sarcastic anger, seeming to prove to them their valid point and the open channel of communication destroyed.  Thus, the divide rift widened.  

I don't often share these videos directly with my former, current 'fundie' friends because I know that this will be the reaction.  This maddens me at the inability to admit the truthfulness in such post, to view the reality of their beliefs causing harm, to play victim while they victimize....

When one finger points, three are pointing back. 

Ah, therein lies the rub.  This isn't now an attack on the 'fundie' exclusively, but an attempt to awaken us all to the flaws in our own psyches, bridging the divide with the realization of our own shared humanity.

We all have the propensity to point out when pressed with the flaws in our behavior, beliefs, thoughts rather than admit our faults.  

In the current horror of darkness my country is spiraling, I will continue to post real life monstrosities.  Yet, before I do such, I will do my utmost best to look first at the fingers pointing back, trying to reflect upon my reason for doing, remembering the areas where I have wronged and caused harm.  The desire to help others coming forth from my own healing such that that will be a beacon to attract others out of their own tumult.  

Yes, the world needs recovery, everyone needs recovery and it starts by following the three fingers pointing back.  Recovery is a coupling of inner, active critical thinking with love.

*I use "Fundie" hear as a slang for mainstream Christianity, not meant to be derisive or insulting.  I understand that my Christian friends, whose viewpoints no longer align with mine, still do not see themselves as such. 

No, The Rest Of The World Isn't Laughing At US #wearetheworld

 

This is not my perception. 

A friend in England writes to me on Whatsapp: "Just heard Trump saying an enormous amount of BS at the UN summit.  Basically said climate change doesn't exist, it's a scam, block borders, he brought peace in the world (fake), and America is doing better than ever.  The problem is that he is going to influence those that think the same. "

Then later, he continues: "Is anyone going to stop Trump? People used to get worried about for Obama wearing a tan suit, not this government just went back 100 years and is influencing Europe too. They restricted travel to European Commissioners for something about digital protection, since Trump wants to know whoever said anything bad about his government.  I don't know how he was voted."

Then, a Swiss friend sends a whatsapp message with a video: "Donald Trump just flew over my head." (throw up emoji).  On his way to World Economic Forum in Davos, she explains.  I do a google search and locate a YouTube video of Trump at the forum, blabbing on with his usual drivel about how great he is for the US and his country, a jumble of absurd lies. 

Lastly, a friend from Scotland sends a funny voice text via Facebook Messenger:  "I thought Trump just liked orange but turns out he also likes green."

 No, the rest of the world isn't laughing at us.  Instead, I perceive compassion, as much bewilderment and fear as we in the USA are feeling, and the need to laugh at such absurdity.  For too long now, the general sense in the states has been this mentality of US versus THEM coupled with the wild notion that America is the best country in the entirety of the world.  Then, there are some US citizens who see the atrocities of our government both within and without our borders and believe the laughter and derision from the rest of the world to be an accepted response.  However true that is, it is still a belief in our separation from the THEM.  

Yet, those on the outside looking in, residing in countries both allied and enemy, recognize the global significance of the United States as well the reality that the political strivings and machination of all governments is not the fault of the citizen.  

Perhaps this is our time in the Grand Ol' USA to experience the repercussion for harm done, yet again to be shaken awake from our numb slumber, to the real power of assiduousness that has always been present.  Yet in our suffering and striving to overcome the darkness, know that we are not alone, not a byline by others outward, but compassion is held, empathy and hope given, striving together with us for a better future, not for individual countries, not for the governing powers, but for We The People, citizens of the world, for that is truly what we are.

We are the world

We are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let's start giving

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me

Michael Jackson: We Are the World