“Be a part of the most powerful creative force in the universe – the connecting of human hearts” --on a previous Baha'i ArtShare event flyer made by member Agnes Wolf (see below) Here's an image I found this morning...a many-splendored way to introduce a few events that might inspire us to appreciate one another’s artistic, cultural, religious and racial diversities on this grey morning… ...Listed in CHRONOS-TIME ORDER... ACT I: THEATER NYC - March 14-31 Our friend John Payne (the man in the "gray flannel suit) is in a new play that opened last night in NYC’s La Mama Experimental Theater. It runs through March 31. I’m heading there tonight… The Story Set in a diner off the New Jersey turnpike, two historically-linked American families explore the roots of their trans-generational trauma through difficult conversations on racism and white supremacy. Stricken with guilt, Jim Taney, a descendant of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney, who penned the infamous Dred Scott decision of 1857, offers an apology to the family of Walter Scott, a descendant of the formerly enslaved Dred Scott. Walter, and a Chorus of other characters, investigate why an apology alone will not absolve Jim. As protest theater, the play confronts the concept of white “wokeness”, the boundaries of white liberalism, and unveils the shared national consequences of white supremacy; serving as an entryway into a dialogue on reparations. TALKBACKS (after the show) Friday, March 15: Lynne Jackson, great-great-granddaughter of Dred Scott; Charlie Taney, great-great-great-nephew of Roger B. Taney, Kate Taney Billingsley, and Estelle Parsons Thursday, March 21: Estelle Parsons, Kate Taney Billingsley, Rick D’Avino and more Saturday, March 23: Michelle Greer, descendant of the Hill family Theater Info Tickets (senior prices available) Parking (my favorite "spot") ACT II: AUTHOR SHARE Islip Saturday - March 16 1-2 pm Pramila - a fellow member of Multicultural Solidarity of LI Friendship Circles - will be speaking tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon at the Islip Arts Council on her book about the Jews of Kerala India. Starts at 1:00 pm. Contact me if you'd like to know more these folks and be sure to visit their Facebook page at the above link. No registration needed...FREE...First come...first served... Islip Arts Council 1701 Sunrise Highway, Bay Shore, NY 11706, United States Here’s the Arts Council's very inviting website. INTERMISSION: "If you feed me...I will come..." Those who know me know that besides enjoying many varieties of music, humor, cultures, religions and such...I especially "relish" foods of many nations - and especially sweet ones. My Irish grandma - "Nanny" (Julia Burns) used to quip: "Life's short, so eat dessert FIRST!" At one of our recent gatherings with our Baha'i friends, we were treated to a feast for our eyes and paletes, as a woman who's affectionately known as a "FOOD ARTIST" served these and other delicacies. She's a true Gastronomic Van Gogh. And his, while beautiful, they are not edible... FYI - My daily hangout - Witches Brew Coffee House in West Hempstead practices her "sage" advice by positioning their dessert display right at the entrance to this wonder-filled eatery. When I did some preparatory browsing in anticipation of Pramila's subject, I learned that this tribe of Jewish nomads are known for certain spice cakes and other such sweet treats. Therefore, I am hoping that when I embark on my personal "spice trade route"...I will be able to find a local source. But, don't be concerned...I won't repeat history and try to colonize the place. : ((( India’s Jew Town only has a handful of Jews left. But Jewish traditions and landmarks remain - Jewish Telegraphic Agency How spices changed the ancient world - BBC ACT III: OPEN MIC: POETRY/PROSE - Saturday March 16 @ 7 PM To reserve your FREE place call Harriet: 631-219-1228 Here's a post about our recent ArtShare event where each participant brought their favorite song and, if willing, a story about it's place in their life. The post contains 2 playlists totaling 20 tunes. Monthly themes will rotate among written, visual, performing and musical arts. Baha'i Community ArtShare: MUSIC “Be a part of the most powerful creative force in the universe – the connecting of human hearts” --on the previous event flyer made by member Agnes Wolf ACT IV: MUSIC FILM/TALK East Meadow - Monday Mar. 18 1 PM Keith's presentation info Registration Link (FREE) East Meadow Library Website The Circus is coming to town...MONDAY...with not 1 but 2 ringmasters...ringleaders: Keith Crocker and Mick Jagger....Keith's music and horror presentations are sure to please. Here's a 2022 post about one. With Dr. Faustus, MD (a.k.a, Keith Crocker)...It's not what we see...it's what we don't see... Psssst...Christina served awesome caramel popcorn To view Keith's March & April from my Home Page, select "Events" then "Keith Crocker's Film Presentations": ACT V: OPEN MIC: POETRY/PROSE LONG BEACH - 2nd Wednesdays Every 2nd Wednesday at the Long Beach Public Library hosted by The Shore Poets. Long Beach Public Library website Next Open Mic Registration Link (not currently active - check back soon) This past Wednesday, I attended AND, for the first time...AS A PARTICIPANT...Several friends who live in Long Beach - Tom and Jill - cheered me on (with Shore Poets-supplied noisemakers) as Eileen recorded my first open mic performance (it's in the post). Dear Cadence, glad I came here tonight ACT VI: POETRY FESTIVAL LONG BEACH - April 13-14 Poetry Festival Event Info Long Beach Public Library website This next entry caught my musical ears and eyes - and at a beloved meeting place with Harriet and Ellen and the rest of our friends of Long Island’s Baha’i Fellowship: ACT VII: MUSIC CONCERT SERIES GREAT RIVER - Sunday's 1 pm (2 left) Bayard-Cutting Arboretum State Park Website There are 2 remaining Sunday's in this FREE program that takes place inside the Carriage House. Here's the link to this Sunday's - a piano performance. #music #humor #poetry #prose #ArtShare #JohnPayne #LaMamaExperimentalTheater #PramilaVenkateswaren #KeithCrocker #ChristinaCrocker #IslipArtCouncil #EastMeadowPublicLibrary #BahaiFellowship #WitchesBrewCoffeeHouse #dessert #ShorePoets #LongBeachPublicLibrary #BayardCuttingStatePark #Nanny #JuliaBurns

Alternate titles: It's all happenin' at the Gazebo A "him" to homonyns "Runes" of an ancient seafarer * * in my former life, O Theophilus, I was an ocean rider (surfer) Poem/Post inspired by one of several Summer of 2023 excursions to the "Poetry Under the Stars" events at the Oceanside, NY Gazebo on Foxhurst Road. Thanks to caffeinated poet Mary Phillips for the initial invitation. Another plus, was reconnecting with old friends...Bookends...and Poets: AnnE and Joe Coen... I will be sharing this at tonight's "Poetry Open Mic Night" at the Long Beach Public Library. Runs the 2nd Wednesday of every month 6:30-8:30. See link for details. Okay, enough gabbing... Let Us Play List (all 15 tunes in the post) ..Now, after the fox... START: The Morning After a Night at the Gazebo "Hear's" a recording from my evening offering at the Long Beach Library's Open Mic (06:29). I'm sporting my Witches Brew Coffee House (West Hempstead) t-shirt for good luck. Last evening Eileen and I went back to the Gazebo on Oceanside’s Schoolhouse Green for our second “Poetry Under the Stars” event. As was the case last week, we went to hear a friend’s spoken words. I woke up this morning and went from bed to verse… Dear Cadence, glad you came here last night Miss Spelling mused about 4-letter words Said while 3 is Trinitarian 4 is Humanitarian Her first name has 4 - ending with "e" Herman my Dad his ended with "n" 2 that is And to emphasize this when my last name is misspelled I say yes while I’m a Titt MANN I’m also a leg man Of 4-letter words I was waiting to hear 1 And I was in luck 1 gal had the pluck to actually say _ _ _ _ Some used their pauses Another her paw’s All spoke from their lives and 1 from her best friend’s 1 that is…not feline 9 They spoke with their bodies 1 added purple plumage Memories emerged and with them emotions Of loved ones now gone but never forgotten 1 shared things not often spoken His words sounded like mine His inner world now exposed Awakening compassion But also concern Wondering where it will go I’ve been in my mind it’s such a fine mind Ah, but 1 reader reminded us of a place even better…it’s heart shaped…a shelter from the storm Another’s project brought us to the projects Powerfully, she demanded respect 1 offered bacon and repeatedly so At 1 more mention I was ready to show her I’m not to proud to beg or rub against her leg Reader, remember that “god” is just “dog” spelled backwards “Ennui” was introduced - a word not often heard And certainly not experienced by any listeners on the Green… …As we were collectively and individually being transported to lofty and deeply spacious places. Had to interject an adverb or 2 to pay homage to one of the evening’s wordsmiths Big bright Green pleasure machine “Ennui” was paired with “Henry” - possibly by the artist who counted cross stiches… ---Was it Henri the First…or the Eighth? Or the hippie on his mission across the border below? The New Riders "Henry" looking for the "keys" to turn a profit down south in May He Ko? As I shared this that morning, Eileen broke her silence with a memory that's fit Seems Herman the Hermit like every proper Brit never pronounces his "H's" Giving us "enry"... N...R...Eee Reminded me too that the poet whose first name included an "e" Also complained when folks added an "h" to her 4-letter last name Mixing her with rabbi's and guys named "Myron" Is counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike The same as on Foxhurst Road? Together, as fellow humans, we sat under the stars And allowed the words of the poets to show us our commonality - each in their own ways Dear Canine, glad you came out last night… "Dog" is "God" spelled backwards... Baha Men - Who Let The Dogs Out (Original version) | Full HD | 1080p (03:36) People of Galilee...Why do you stand looking up? Sirius Astrology "Sirius is of the nature of Jupiter and Mars. It gives honor, renown, wealth, ardor, faithfulness, devotion, passion and resentment, and makes its natives custodians, curators and guardians. It also gives danger of dog bites, and two examples of this effect will be found..." in this article: SOURCE "If you remember the '60's..." Age of Aquarius - The 5th Dimension (lyrics) HD (05:00) HAIR 1969 Tony Awards (09:22) "Harry Belafonte gives an inspirational introduction to the original production of HAIR on the 1969 Tony Awards (cast includes Melba moore and Ben Vareen)" On the Subject of Coens, Cohens, Kohens & Moylls ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS Clip - "Rabbi" (1993) Mel Brooks (04:51) Let Us Play List (all 15 tunes in the post) Dear Prudence - The Beatles (LYRICS/LETRA) [Original] (03:51) Experiencing our COMMONALITY... --Their song "A Soul in Wonder" was the inspiration for the name of my site: https://www.asoulinwonder.com/ Humaniversal - Miten (03:39) The words of the prophets are written on subway walls, tenement halls…and pick up trucks… Neil Young - Heart of Gold (Live at Farm Aid 1985) (03:10) Simon and Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence (Lyrics) Legenda Inglês - Português (03:33) The Temptations - Ain't Too Proud To Beg (Live) (01:23) Herman's Hermits "I'm Henry VIII, I Am" on The Ed Sullivan Show (01:02) Kid's got a Grateful Dad... bought the youngun' floor seats... New Riders of the Purple Sage - "Henry"....Live @ Turkey Trot! (05:14) Simon & Garfunkel ::::: The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine. (02:45) This next one's dark...so no images... David Bowie - The Stars (Are Out Tonight) (Video) (05:53) FINAL SONG SUMS IT ALL UP... John Denver - Poems Prayers & Promises with Lyrics - ( Music & Lyrics ) (04:32) "There's a Grateful Dead song for every occasion..." So says my friend Steve...a fellow surfer and the Guru who taught me to "play with cars" as he called fixing our VW's - his Beetle and my '65 Bus....His tutelage led to a success FULL CAReer... YouTuber added " Dedicated to Rachel T. and the brave firefighters in Australia " Shelter from the Storm-Bob Dylan & The Grateful Dead -live Oakland 1987 (05:04) Jerry Garcia Band - Dear Prudence - 3/1/1980 - Capitol Theatre (Official) (10:20) Previous Poetry Posts Dear Cadence, won't you come out tonight...July 2023 A friend's inspiring poetry is riding PA buses...So,"The bus came by and I got on..." Jan. 2024 Post's QR Code #music #humor #poetry #MaryPhillips #AnneCoen #JoeCoen #LongBeachPublicLibrary #OceansideNY #dogs #God #BahaMen #5thDimension #Aquarius #Hair #HarryBelafonte #MelBrooks #Beatles #Miten #DevaPremal #NeilYoung #SimonAndGarfunkle #Temptations #HermansHermits #NewRidersOfThePurpleSage #DavidBowie #JohnDenver #JerryGarciaBand #BobDylan #GratefulDead

This continues the musical ride started in Part 1 - for the skaters at Witches Brew Coffee House in West Hempstead, NY... Since it's St. Valentine's Day, startin' with a love song (sort of) and in Southern California...where it all began... SoCal Roots... DEFYING GRAVITY...It ain't got a hold on me no more... As we saw in Part 1 in Xavier Rudd's "Stoney Creek"...this fun's not just for guys... In flight over the Valley... Tom Petty - Free Fallin' (04:14) Meanwhile, in South Carolina... I first saw Trevor Hall live at Mulcahy's in Wantagh, NY and as I've followed his evolution, I continue to benefit from his musical and personal energy... ...His INK gives evidence... When I think about all the other ways I could have played, All the other simple moves I could have made, All the other cards that I could have dealt, All the books I didn't read upon my shelf, All of the other ways I could have sung my songs, Realized that none of it went wrong, And it was all played. How could it be any other way [x2] Now that the chains are off I'm free to roam, Everywhere I go, I feel like I'm home, Nothing hides, everything is shown. On his version of a go kart...SELF-Propelled... And the "Coffee Bean" helps us motor thru life's ups and downs... Keepin' it simple...Keepin' the child within us ALIVE... Trevor Hall - Other Ways (03:24) In this next chapter, Trevor talks about his changing relationship to time and how ever so gradually, he's learning to see it through fresh perspectives. This insight was helped when his aging grandmother once said to him, "Isn't time such a wonderful gift." In the first 5 minutes of this video, he shares some powerful stories of HOW this is happening... ...Listen in to this musical philosopher... Trevor Hall - You Can't Rush Your Healing - ARISE Music Festival - August 9, 2015 (10:41) Later... Trevor Hall - IN AND THROUGH THE BODY (DELUXE EDITION) [Full Album] (1:41:34) Starting in England, this next musician's pilgrimage led him further...within and without... This next image is very important in that Sam reminds us all that the way we can love one another directly depends on HOW we are loving ourselves... All true spiritual movements have this at their core... Sam Garrett - The Dance and The Wonder (05:28) Meet Sam - Wikipedia Here's a guy living in Paradise...in Hawaii... First met Nahko a few years ago in NYC's Central Park at a Summerstage event. Lotsa fun! Video shows us Trevor Hall B4 he had to cut his hair (see "You Can't Rush Your Healing" story and song above in the section dedicated to Trevor). "Budding Trees" In the moon of the budding trees I was gifted new eyes to see All of the shifting shape and ways you can be Wake the dreams into realities Wake the dreams into realities Sunset diamonds trickle down our cheeks The language of no words is how we speak Pacha Mama spinning firelight And a Little Bear singing by the fireside Out of this city with the wind on our neck That's us whistling upon your neck Moonlit diamonds sparkle into my mouth Feels like hunger and it tastes like salt Feels like hunger and it tastes like salt So, tap me out and tap me into you Heal my brain and my body too Balance my chemistry hydrate these cells Cuz the body talks and the meditation helps The body talks and meditation helps The body talks and meditation helps A little bit of cinnamon pours as we snoot All up on my shit in the morning commute Coastal quiver on a quest through the dunes Sandy toes and bottomless curves of the moon Heavy lifting for Pele's children Hand of the goddess soaking cliffs keep building Plate is full but appetite has dwindled I feel a little sick so I keep the fire kindled You the pillar steadfast light of bravery And I the dimly burning candle still shaking Riddled fear quiver my bones so easy! Well, you're the guru now so visualize healing Yeah, you're the guru now so visualize leaving Let her go for she can no longer feed you And many children need that mana creature Just barely missed you I was finally ready! But you are a long gone too much heavy history Yeah you are a long gone too much heavy history Let go of blame that shit will never serve me! Bless other men investigate your mystery So, tap me out and tap me into you Heal my brain and my body too Balance my chemistry hydrate these cells Cuz the body talks and the meditation helps The body talks and meditation helps The body talks and meditation helps Little spider weaves a wispy web And stumbling through the woods it catches to my head She crawls behind my ear and whispers secrets Dragonfly wiz by and sings now teach it Yeah, dragonfly wiz by and sings now teach it Form on the trail I watch you head up mauka I turn makai and whisper, "thank you sister" Edge of the west where water touches land You are the east with folded maps in hand Time to increase my frequency! Hands of light and bodies talking Gimme some of that wild fox medicine! But, keep me here in this wild present tense Fully supported on new lovers chest Dawning adventures sparkle get some rest! Dawning adventures sparkle get some rest! So, tap me out and tap me into you Heal my brain and my body too Balance my chemistry hydrate these cells Cuz the body talks and the meditation helps The body talks and meditation helps The body talks and meditation helps Sporting the Medicine Tribe's colors: "Time to increase my frequency..." So, tap me out and tap me into you Heal my brain and my body too Balance my chemistry hydrate these cells Cuz the body talks and the meditation helps The body talks and meditation helps The body talks and meditation helps Describing how this song came 2B... "So, it went like from DREAM WORLD...to DRAWING...to WRITING...to...LIFE!!!" " Next vibe's from JAH Maker...West Indies TODAY features a cosmic collision/collusion of loving energy as St. Valentine's Day is happening on the same day as the opening of the new documentary on this life and love of this man: One Love (Bob Marley) feat. Manu Chao | Playing For Change | Song Around The World (05:07) Bob's children are continuing his message of love... Music Is My Ammunition feat. Stephen Marley | Playing For Change | Song Around The World (04:51) TODAY Feb. 14...St. Valentine's Day...new documentary starts... Bob Marley: One Love - Official Trailer (2024 Movie) (02:49) Somewhere in Jerusalem... Finally, back home on Long Island... 2023 Half Step show at the Jones Beach Amphitheater. They are LI's premier Grateful Dead cover band. B4 Show Dead after dark... Life's a BEACH...so, before we're DEAD, we might as well learn how to LOVE one another... On This Day In 1971, The Grateful Dead Jammed With The Beach Boys At Fillmore East The Beach Boys (With The Grateful Dead) - Help Me Rhonda (1971) (04:50) GRATE-full Valentines Day...EVERY DAY... As we head out each day...Let's try to move our efforts to love ourselves...and then others... From the description: "The Wheel" from Jerry Garcia's debut solo album 'Garcia'. Written by Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia. Video directed & created by Justin Kreutzmann (Drummer Bill Kreutzmann's son). http://www.JerryGarcia.com The Wheel Lyrics By: Robert Hunter Music By: Bill Kreutzmann The wheel is turning and you can't slow down You can't let go and you can't hold on You can't go back and you can't stand still If the thunder don't get you then the lightning will Won't you try just a little bit harder Couldn't you try just a little bit more Won't you try just a little bit harder Couldn't you try just a little bit more Round, round, Robin run around Gotta get back where you belong Little bit harder, just a little bit more Little bit further than you gone before Small wheel turning by the fire and rod Big wheel turning by the grace of God Every time that wheel turn round Bound to cover just a little more ground "The Wheel" - Jerry Garcia (04:02) For FURTHUR musings... The Annotated "The Wheel" - David Dodd Research Associate, Music Dept., Univ. of Calif. at Santa Cruz #music #humor #WitchesBrewCoffeeHouse #WestHempstead #skateboard #guitar #TomPetty #ValentinesDay #TrevorHall #SamGarrett #Nahko #BobMarley #StephenMarley #PlayingForChange #PFC #JerryGarcia #GratefulDead #Annotated #CharlieBrown #BeachBoys #HalfStep #JonesBeach #Jesus

To the crew at the Brew...Witches Brew Coffee House in West Hempstead, NY...Skatin' thru life...Dylan, Alvaro, Danny, Jules...any other riders I missed??? Seems like a looooooong time ago I said I was gonna send you some tunes from a few of my favorite music makers and skateboarding was gonna play a part. Before we get into some music for life's roads...let's listen to the wisdom of this 70-year young skater from France. He skates with his son and grandchildren... [from the description] ADDICTED TO THE FLOW tells the story of Franck, a 70 years old surf skater from France who still inspiring and motivating others with his unique style and charisma. This short story was filmed in just two days and is geared to those who gave up a hobby or a sport that they once loved because of the feeling of being too old. It also celebrates every OG surf skaters out there who never gave up, those who still pushing against time regardless of what the system may throw at them. 70 Years Old Skater - ADDICTED TO THE FLOW (06:49) Dylan, this one's for you... Readers, Dylan is one of the crew at the Brew. A few days ago, while on my daily walk around West Hempstead, I met Dylan walking his pooch ROY - a mix that includes a type of bulldog. As you watch, notice at around 00:26 how Otto uses his right front paw to keep the board in motion and break the world record. Otto the skateboarding bulldog - Guinness World Records (01:40) Music for Ridin' with the Wind..."1 if by land...2 if by sea..." This is the Xavier Rudd song that inspired my offering. I love this Aussie guy and other musicians he hangs with, like Trevor Hall. Here's an ode to life's paths that include both road and ocean. The skater/dancer just flows through her moves...and selects her "ride" based on the conditions of the day...at the sea and on the roads... Xavier Rudd - Stoney Creek (04:37) Here's another - While his "Road Trip" trip includes brief skateboarding "footage"...it also "feetures" some ocean-riding boards. Xavier Rudd - Road Trippin' official film clip Here's me with my homemade wave rider...fabricated with some help from a friend. In my apartment...but not sure on which coast...Also, short hair...could have been a job requirement or one of my transitional stages...like the second head shot...from my NYC taxi driver license... Found along the Road Ben Stiller's 'Walter Mitty' Stunt Double Talks About Longboarding In Iceland [from the article] It was almost exactly two years ago that Brian Holden got the call of a lifetime. A student at the University of Colorado-Denver, Holden picked up his phone in February 2012 and received an out-or-the-ordinary request from his cousin, skateboarder Corey Lucero. "Would you want to fly to Iceland and work as a longboard stunt double in a Ben Stiller movie?" Fortunately for [Brian] Holden, Stiller was a natural. The 48-year-old Stiller relied on his experience skateboarding around New York City as a kid in the 1970s. After just two lessons with Holden, Stiller was able to reach speeds of around 35 miles per hour, no small task for someone who had never longboarded before. Ben Stiller skateboarding in NYC (01:11) Walter Mitty - Downhill Longboard at Iceland (02:44) Recreating the Walter Mitty Longboard Scene in Iceland! (02:01) Emergency Essentials for Road Trippin' In case your gas- or solar- powered ride fails...keep one of these in your trunk for driver and each passenger....along with phone and headphones...That speaker will slow you down... Skatin' B4 my 20's: DIY We'd make our own with a "borrowed" milk crate then attach it to a 2x4 or other piece of scrap lumber...add a handle at the top for steering...separate a metal roller skate and mount one half on either end...and then customize it...Bottle caps, streamers... Just found this podcast...Some history... Did you know that the first skateboards didn’t come from a store? Kids had to make them from scratch! And they made for a bumpy ride… This week, Joy Dolo and twelve-year-old pro skater Minna kickflip their way through skateboard history with help from reporter Chris Greenspon. We’ll get the scoop on low-tech early skateboards that were made with roller skate wheels and scrap wood. And we’ll hear stories about the skaters who innovated their way to a smoother ride. Plus, an interview with Neftalie Williams, a skateboarding professor who wants to change the world with four wheels and a deck. You can learn more about the Cuba Skate project and skateboard diplomacy here. You can find photos and videos of co-host Minna skateboarding here. And here is a video of her doing her favorite trick, a backside air, on a “mega ramp” at just eight years old! [Note: "here" links are in the story below] Skateboards: When Roller Skates Met Surfboards - BrainsOn Universe The 1980s and 1990s saw the advent of skateboard videos, providing an outlet for a new pool of music that resonated and still does with us! I’m talking about the videos where we heard fresh music and had to hear more from the band. Skateboard videos gave rise to iconic bands such as The Odd Numbers, Kinghorse, Drunk Injuns, Big Boys, and JFA, just to name a few. In addition to the legends I just mentioned, Skateboard Videos also brought attention to some of the best rap music created during this time. But since I grew up mainly on Punk Rock and Thrash, and I’m writing this piece, that’s the focus! (Just a little humor for you.) Iconic videos like The New Deal’s “Useless Wooden Toys” and Santa Cruz’s “Streets on Fire” and “Risk It” featured these phenomenal bands. Music And Skateboarding Just Like Sardines And Mustard - Seven Ply Society Skatin' in my 20's: Part 1 The comedian begins his tale by explaining how the kids often had to "borrow" (steal) stuff to make their go karts... Bill Cosby - Go Karts (1966) Skatin' in my 20's: Part 2 Make it yourself...or buy it here...Central Skindivers in Jamaica, Queens was one of the first places to get skateboards and surfboards. By Hobie...a "leader of the pack." Check out the gear and other accoutrements... After singing (lip syncing), the boys give a demonstration. Here' "grabbing the rail": Jan & Dean "Sidewalk Surfin'" 1964 (06:31) - Dick Clark American Bandstand Skateboarding to City Hall Signage at Witches Brew putting the city fathers and mothers on notice: And in Callie, where it all began... Here's a piece about how skateboarders in Los Angeles worked together to get city officials to legitimize a skate park that they had built themselves with permits years before in a rough part of town. They reached out everywhere to get support for the park, including construction material. Pro skater Tony Hawk was a supporter. FYI - The article has lots of links to other skateboard-related articles. Best trick yet: How a group of rogue skaters got L.A. City Hall on its side - LA Times (2022) History of the Sport 100 Years of Skateboarding History | Scooters Came 1st? I found this next article when I came upon the milk crate skateboard image above. Echos of the Pop: Skateboarding This article includes this amazing video: The adult version of Hot Wheels: Santa Cruz - Wheels Of Fire (FULL) (42:26) Here's my friend Greg's adult version. He's got a stable full of cool cars with vanity plates to match. Skating and surfing use some similar terms... Pipeline - The Chantays (02:24) For A.J. "There's a Grateful Dead song for every occasion..." So says my friend Steve - a fellow surfer from my youth, we're still friends. Steve also taught me, as he called it "to play with cars"...in our cases, VW's, his Beetle, my Bus, my sister's Karmann Ghia...and eventually, my future wife: Eileen. "Can I give you a tune up?" Pretty cool pick up line, Right! Repairing vehicles and then training others to do this fine art became my CAReer. I'm adapting his wisdom by including "board" with "song"... In the Dead's hometown... Nike SB | Grateful Dead | #WeAreEverywhere (01:54) GRATEFUL DEAD SB - Would You SKATEBOARD In These? (00:39) Skateboarding home... Post's title is influenced by Simon & Garfunkel's "Homeward Bound"... I'm sitting in the railway station Got a ticket for my destination, mm-mm On a tour of one-night stands My suitcase and guitar in hand And every stop is neatly planned For a poet and a one-man band So, at this late hour, I go looking for "skateboarding and railroad tracks" and find this: Man Builds a Custom Electric Skateboard That He Uses To Ride on Abandoned Railroad Tracks ...which lead here... Grateful Dead - Caution Do Not Stop On The Tracks (8-22-1968 at Fillmore West) (05:50) Skateboarding into Recovery READERS: One of the ways Witches Brew gives back to our community is by hosting a closed AA meeting every Thursday from 11:00-11:55 AM. They open for the AA folks an hour before they open for the general public. So, this next article seems like a good place to conclude our look at this sport. Andrew Reynolds: From Drug, Alcohol Abuse to Skateboarding Sober - RollingStone Changed my mind...Here's our closer...(This is what I love most about my posting...It's finding new ideas...new music... Think I'll medicate right now With good music and a one hell of a hill Look for the lightning strike near 00:19... Jacob Sartorius - Skateboard (Official Lyric Video) (02:43) STORY CONTINUES IN PART 2 #music #humor #WitchesBrewCoffeeHouse #WestHempstead #skateboarding #surfing #bulldog #Guiness #XavierRudd #TrevorHall #BenStiller #SecretLifeWalterMitty #BrianHolden #BillCosby #GoKarts #JanAndDean #DickClark #Chantays #SantaCruz #GratefulDead #SteveB #VW #Nike #recovery #AA #AndrewReynolds #JacobSartorius

Lisa, is a fellow member of Multicultural Solidarity of Long Island's Friendship Circles. She responded to a recent request I forwarded to her and others from Dr. Helen Wolf - who serves as the Director of Mission Integration for The Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood. Dr. Helen asked for submissions of crosses and crucifixes that will be put on public display on campus in the Kean Window Gallery in Building 5. This just arrived today in my Inbox: Here's the link to the Registration Form (Google docs). FYI - During the Christmas season Dr. Helen curated a collection of creches from many countries and located them in this same space. You can view it here. In Lisa's email reply to me, she included this personal information with her red cross image: Title   Red Cross Origin: Home Depot Central Islip Artist:  Lisa Roller Medium:  Plywood Description:  It was the Christmas season in 2020, the year of the pandemic. As the neighborhood deals with the lock downs and yard greetings, I wanted to put some faith and hope in my yard. The red color is for the covenant that covers over the weariness the period was in. That's all I got. LisaR I sent her my enthusiastic reply: Love it…Jesus as a Red Cross worker! LISA, Your words immediately reminded me of the Grateful Dead song "Help on the Way." As I looked again at the lyrics, it could have been written about Jesus. BTW- I have a friend who’s said for years, “There’s a Grateful Dead song for every occasion.” YUP! “ Without love in the dream it'll never come true” "Help On The Way" Paradise waits, on the crest of a wave, her angels in flames She has no pain, like a child she is pure, she is not to blame Poised for flight, wings spread bright, spring from night into the sun Don't stop to run, she can fly like a lie, she can't be outdone Tell me the cost; I can pay, let me go, tell me love is not lost Sell everything; without love day to day insanity's king I will pay day by day, anyway, lock, bolt and key Crippled but free, I was blind all the time I was learning to see Help on the way, well, I know only this, I've got you today Don't fly away, 'cause I love what I love and I want it that way I will stay one more day, like I say, honey it's you Making it too, without love in a dream it will never come true Grateful Dead - Help On The Way / Slipknot! / Franklin's Tower (Washington, DC 6/14/91) (24:44) Whoa, Oh what I want to know...is are you Kind? Then give BLOOD... Found this while composing...So, before we DEcompose...let's practice KINDNESS...and share our life's blood with someone in need.... Info about this group Grateful Dead and the Bible... PSALM 121 I Lift My Eyes Up (Psalm 121) - Brian Doerksen (05:14) --there are SO MANY inspiring images in this video... Check out this YouTuber's creative artwork: GRATEFUL DEAD - Help On The Way / Franklin's Tower LIVE '75 (14:46) More Grateful Bible... WWJD...What would JERRY do?...same as the OTHER ONE "wood"... The DISCiples asked, "Lord, teach us to PLAY..." GD & G-d: Grateful Dead & Bible - Chapter 1: St. Stephen (feast day Dec. 26) #music #humor #Lisa #DrHelenWolf #SistersOfStJoseph #RedCross #GratefulDead #MulticulturalSolidarityOfLongIslandFriendshipCircles

In the small hamlet of Malverne, NY...on a small street named Acorn Way...you'll find a workman's heART carved into the shapes on Jesus' cross that hangs in the sanctuary above the altar of the Church of the Intercessor. Eileen and I and our son John spent almost 30 formative years here...a story for another time..."Formative"...but I never graduated Sunday School, couldn't leave...as I loved being with the children... According to Fr. Joseph Ciccarello their Worship Leader, Bob Hulbert's "hands were used in a mold to carve the hands you see on the cross as well as the feet. He also carved the altar trim that is pictured here, as well as the Bishop's Crozier, which he keeps with him. That's all I know. Hope that helps." Fr. Joe added: "Bob Hulbert is living somewhere up in the Vermont area building log cabins." Christ has no body now but OURS... From this point on, I'm offering my own reflections... Prayer is attributed to Teresa of Avila. See below for more about wonderful human being... John Michael Talbot & Michael Card - "St Theresa's Prayer" (03:08) Teresa of Avila - Franciscan Media Saint Teresa of Avila’s Story Teresa lived in an age of exploration as well as political, social, and religious upheaval. It was the 16th century, a time of turmoil and reform. She was born before the Protestant Reformation and died almost 20 years after the closing of the Council of Trent. The gift of God to Teresa in and through which she became holy and left her mark on the Church and the world is threefold: She was a woman; she was a contemplative; she was an active reformer. As a woman, Teresa stood on her own two feet, even in the man’s world of her time. She was “her own woman,” entering the Carmelites despite strong opposition from her father. She is a person wrapped not so much in silence as in mystery. Beautiful, talented, outgoing, adaptable, affectionate, courageous, enthusiastic, she was totally human. Like Jesus, she was a mystery of paradoxes: wise, yet practical; intelligent, yet much in tune with her experience; a mystic, yet an energetic reformer; a holy woman, a womanly woman. Teresa was a woman “for God,” a woman of prayer, discipline, and compassion. Her heart belonged to God. Her ongoing conversion was an arduous lifelong struggle, involving ongoing purification and suffering. She was misunderstood, misjudged, and opposed in her efforts at reform. Yet she struggled on, courageous and faithful; she struggled with her own mediocrity, her illness, her opposition. And in the midst of all this she clung to God in life and in prayer. Her writings on prayer and contemplation are drawn from her experience: powerful, practical, and graceful. She was a woman of prayer; a woman for God. Teresa was a woman “for others.” Though a contemplative, she spent much of her time and energy seeking to reform herself and the Carmelites, to lead them back to the full observance of the primitive Rule. She founded over a half-dozen new monasteries. She traveled, wrote, fought—always to renew, to reform. In her self, in her prayer, in her life, in her efforts to reform, in all the people she touched, she was a woman for others, a woman who inspired and gave life. Her writings, especially the Way of Perfection and The Interior Castle, have helped generations of believers. In 1970, the Church gave her the title she had long held in the popular mind: Doctor of the Church. She and St. Catherine of Siena were the first women so honored. Reflection Ours is a time of turmoil, a time of reform, and a time of liberation. Modern women have in Teresa a challenging example. Promoters of renewal, promoters of prayer, all have in Teresa a woman to reckon with, one whom they can admire and imitate. [Source] Interior Castle Featuring James Finley & Mirabai Starr --Online course offered by the Center for Action and Contemplation --A spiritual journey through the seven mansions of St. Teresa of Ávila’s Interior Castle. Practices of prayer, reflection, humility, and self-knowledge will turn spiritual insights into experiential wisdom. Registration May 29, 2024 – July 9, 2024 Start Date July 17, 2024 Length 8 weeks Cost $120 Registration Link More about the presenters...Both, like Teresa, are deeply rooted in the contemplative tradition Mirabai Starr James Finley Experiencing God Through Meditation - beliefnet --Former Trappist monk James Finley talks about the spiritual benefits of contemplative practice for Christians. CROSS Roads Please go to my blog to see other offerings on the Cross of Jesus...and our own versions... #music #BobHulbert #ChurchOfTheIntercessor #FrJosephCiccarello #TeresaOfAvila #Eileen #John #JohnMichaelTalbot #MichaelCard #Franciscan #Carmelites #CenterForActionAndContemplation #MirabaiStarr #JamesFinley #SaintCatherineOfSiena #Trappist james finley

As I mentioned in the previous Cross post, once Ram Dass introduced me for the first time to a LOVING version of "G-d"...I was handed off to a young Franciscan priest named Richard Rohr. Been with him and the folks he hangs with ever since then - as he and they continue to help me see our shared world with ever-widening vision. Richard will be our Subject Matter Expert as we consider this post's opening question: "Y...did Jesus die?" I'll be using his Daily Meditations from the first week of February 2019. But first, we can benefit from a look inside what Rohr calls the "alternative orthodoxy" of Francis of Assisi to help us see what Francis chose to focus on. Francis emphasized BEING the change: Orthopraxy (correct practice) over Orthodoxy (correct belief) An Alternative Orthodoxy Sunday, September 3, 2023 (2-minute read) [As an understanding of his way of seeing is vital to appreciating the rest of this post, here's the complete meditation. "Francis’ starting place was human suffering instead of human sinfulness, and God’s identification with that suffering in Jesus."] Richard Rohr explains that Francis of Assisi (1182–1226) paid attention to different things than the Catholic Church of his time. Eventually, his prophetic witness and emphasis became an “alternative orthodoxy” through the Franciscan tradition. Richard begins: In the Legend of Perugia, one of the earliest accounts of his life, Francis offers this instruction to the first friars: “You only know as much as you do.” [1] His emphasis on action, practice, and lifestyle was foundational and revolutionary for its time and remains at the heart of Franciscan alternative orthodoxy. For Francis and Clare, Jesus became someone to actually follow and imitate. Up to this point, most of Christian spirituality was based in desert asceticism, monastic discipline, theories of prayer, or academic theology, which itself was often based in “correct belief” or liturgical texts, but not in a kind of practical Christianity that could be lived in the streets of the world. Francis emphasized an imitation and love of the humanity of Jesus, and not just the worshiping of his divinity. That is a major shift. Throughout history, the Franciscan School has typically been a minority position inside of the Roman Catholic and larger Christian tradition, yet it has never been condemned or considered heretical—in fact, quite the opposite. It simply emphasized different teachings of Jesus, new perspectives and behaviors, and focused on the full and final implications of the incarnation of God in Christ. For Franciscans, the incarnation was not just about Jesus but was manifested everywhere. As Francis said, “The whole world is our cloister!” [2] Francis’ starting place was human suffering instead of human sinfulness, and God’s identification with that suffering in Jesus. That did not put him in conflict with any Catholic dogmas or structures. His Christ was cosmic while also deeply personal, his cathedral was creation itself, and he preferred the bottom of society to the top. He invariably emphasized inclusion of the seeming outsider over any club of insiders, and he was much more a mystic than a moralist. In general, Francis preferred ego poverty to private perfection, because Jesus “became poor for our sake, so that we might become rich out of his poverty” (2 Corinthians 8:9). I sincerely think Francis found a Third Way, which is the creative and courageous role of a prophet and a mystic. He basically repeated what all prophets say: that the message and the medium for the message have to be the same thing. And Francis emphasized the medium itself, instead of continuing to clarify or contain the mere verbal message; this tends to be the “priestly” job, one which Francis never wanted for himself. Both Francis and Clare saw orthopraxy (“correct practice”) as a necessary parallel, and maybe even precedent, to verbal orthodoxy (“correct teaching”) and not an optional add-on or a possible implication. “Why aren’t you doing what you say you believe?” the prophet invariably asks. [There's a link at the end of this Sunday Meditation to the rest of this week's offerings on the Franciscan Way.] Reality has a Cruciform pattern Image source Image source Y...did Jesus die? Here are some of the new perspectives Richard's helping me see... At-one-ment rather than atonement...I am loved just as I am...I don't have to try to appease an angry G-d... Restorative justice not retributive justice…Loving rather than punishing... We must transform our pain...or, we will transmit it...usually onto some one, some group Jesus did not come to change God’s mind about us. It did not need changing. Jesus came to change our minds about God—and about ourselves—and about where goodness and evil really lie. Inspiration for this week’s banner image: The cross is not just a singular event. It’s a statement from God that reality has a cruciform pattern. Jesus was killed in a collision of cross-purposes, conflicting interests, and half-truths, caught between the demands of an empire and the religious establishment of his day. The cross was the price Jesus paid for living in a “mixed” world, which is both human and divine, simultaneously broken and utterly whole. He hung between a good thief and a bad thief, between heaven and earth, inside of both humanity and divinity, a male body with a feminine soul, utterly whole and yet utterly disfigured—holding together all the primary opposites (see Colossians 1:15-20). —Richard Rohr SUMMARY [Here, in this summary section, the links at the end of each day's snippet lead to that day's full meditation.] Saturday Summary: Sunday, February 3-Friday, February 8, 2019 Unfortunately, with the widespread acceptance of the substitutionary atonement theory, salvation became a one-time transactional affair between Jesus and his Father, instead of an ongoing transformational lesson for the human soul and for all of history. (Sunday) Christianity’s vision of God was a radical departure from most ancient religions. Instead of having God “eat” humans, animals, or crops, which were sacrificed on altars, Christianity made the bold claim that God’s very body was given for us to eat! This turned everything around and undid the seeming logic of quid pro quo thinking. (Monday) A view of God as punitive and retributive nullifies any in-depth spiritual journey: Why would you love or trust or desire to be with such a God? (Tuesday) The Franciscan School of theology claimed that the cross was a freely chosen revelation of Love on God’s part, meant to utterly shock the mind and heart and turn it back toward trust and love of the Creator. (Wednesday) The Divine Mind transforms all human suffering by identifying completely with the human predicament and standing in full solidarity with it from beginning to end. This is the real meaning of the crucifixion. (Thursday) Jesus did not come to change God’s mind about us. It did not need changing. Jesus came to change our minds about God—and about ourselves—and about where goodness and evil really lie. (Friday) HIGHLIGHTS [In this section, I've selected portions of each day's meditation. The links at the top of each will lead to the complete meditation.] Sunday: Substitutionary Atonement I take up this subject with both excitement and trepidation because I know that substitutionary atonement is central to many Christians’ faith. But the questions of why Jesus died and what is the meaning and message of his death have dominated the Christian narrative, often much more than his life and teaching. As some have said, if this theory is true, all we needed were the last three days or even three hours of Jesus’ life. In my opinion, this interpretation has kept us from a deep and truly transformative understanding of both Jesus and Christ. Salvation became a one-time transactional affair between Jesus and his Father, instead of an ongoing transformational lesson for the human soul and for all of history. I believe that Jesus’ death on the cross is a revelation of the infinite and participatory love of God, not some bloody payment required by God’s offended justice to rectify the problem of sin. Such a story line is way too small and problem-oriented. Monday: An Alternative Story…Restoration…not Retribution The theory of substitutionary atonement has inoculated us against the true effects of the Gospel, causing us to largely “thank” Jesus instead of honestly imitating him. At its worst, it has led us to see God as a cold, brutal figure who demands acts of violence before God can love creation. There is no doubt that the Bible—both Old and New Testaments—is filled with metaphors of sacrifice, ransom, atonement, paying the price, opening the gates, et cetera. These are common temple metaphors that would have made sense to Jewish audiences at the time they were written. But they all imply that God is not inherently on our side. Anthropologically speaking, these words and assumptions reflect a magical or what I call “transactional” way of thinking. By that I mean that if we just believe the right thing, say the right prayer, or practice the right ritual, things will go right for us in the divine courtroom. In my experience, this way of thinking loses its power as people and cultures grow up and seek actual changes in their minds and hearts. Then, transformational thinking tends to supplant transactional thinking. Restorative justice, of course, comes to its full demonstration in the constant healing ministry of Jesus. Jesus represents the real and deeper level of teaching of the Hebrew Prophets. Jesus never punished anybody! Yes, he challenged people, but always for the sake of insight, healing, and restoration of people and situations to their divine origin and source. Once a person recognizes that Jesus’ mission (obvious in all four Gospels) was to heal people, not punish them, the dominant theories of retributive justice begin to lose their appeal and authority. Tuesday: Changing Perspectives This “whole” meditation invites reflection: When we look at history, it’s clear that Christianity is an evolving faith. It only makes sense that early Christians would look for a logical and meaningful explanation for the “why” of the tragic death of their religion’s founder. For the early centuries, appeasing an angry, fanatical Father was not their answer. For the first thousand years, most Christians believed that the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross—the “price” or the ransom—was being paid not to God, but to the devil! This made the devil pretty powerful and God pretty weak, but it gave the people someone to blame for Jesus’ death. And at least it was not God. Then, in the eleventh century, Anselm of Canterbury (c. 1033–1109) wrote a paper called Cur Deus Homo? (Why Did God Become Human?) which might just be the most unfortunately successful piece of theology ever written. Thinking he could solve the problem of sin inside of the medieval code of feudal honor and shame, Anselm said, in effect, “Yes, a price did need to be paid to restore God’s honor, and it needed to be paid to God the Father—by one who was equally divine.” I imagine Anselm didn’t consider the disastrous implications of his theory, especially for people who were already afraid or resentful of God. In authoritarian and patriarchal cultures, most people were fully programmed to think this way—working to appease an authority figure who was angry, punitive, and even violent in “his” reactions. Many still operate this way, especially if they had an angry, demanding, or abusive parent. People respond to this kind of God, as sick as it is, because it fits their own story line. Unfortunately, for a simple but devastating reason, this understanding also nullifies any in-depth spiritual journey: Why would you love or trust or desire to be with such a God? Over the next few centuries, Anselm’s honor- and shame-based way of thinking came to be accepted among Christians, though it met resistance from some, particularly my own Franciscan school under Bonaventure (1221–1274) and Duns Scotus (1266–1308). Protestants accepted the mainline Catholic position, embracing it with even more fervor. Evangelicals later enshrined it as one of the “four pillars” of foundational Christian belief, which the earlier period would have thought strange. Most of us were never told of the varied history of this theory, even among Protestants. If you came from a “law and order” culture or a buying and selling culture—which most of us have—it made perfect sense. The revolutionary character of Jesus and the final and full Gospel message has still to dawn upon most of the world. It is just too upending for most peoples’ minds until they have personally undergone the radical experience of unearned love. And, even then, it takes a lifetime to sink in. Wednesday: A Bigger God Our predestination to glory is prior by nature to any notion of sin. —John Duns Scotus [1] The Franciscan School, led by such teachers as Duns Scotus, refused to see the Incarnation and its finale on the cross as a mere reaction to human failure. God was much more than a problem solver. Instead, Franciscans claimed that the cross was a freely chosen revelation of Love on God’s part. In so doing, they reversed the engines of almost all world religion up to that point, which assumed humans had to spill blood to get to a distant and demanding God. On the cross, Franciscans believed, God was “spilling blood” to reach out to us! [2] This is a sea change in consciousness. Instead of being a theological transaction, the crucifixion was a dramatic demonstration of God’s outpouring love, meant to utterly shock the heart and mind and turn it back toward trust and love of the Creator. [He concludes with this cosmic perspective…] Christianity can do so much better, and doing so will not diminish Jesus in the least. In fact, it will allow Jesus to take on a universal and humanly appealing dimension. The cross cannot be an arbitrary and bloody sacrifice triggered by a sin that was once committed by one man and one woman under a tree between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Frankly, that idea reduces any notion of a universal or truly “catholic” revelation to one planet, at the edge of one solar system, in a universe comprised of billions of galaxies with trillions of solar systems. A religion based on required sacrifices is just not glorious or hopeful enough or even befitting the marvelous creation. To those who cling to Anselm’s understanding, I would say, as J. B. Phillips wrote many years ago, “Your God is too small.” [3] Thursday: Coincidence of Opposites This “whole” meditation invites reflection: The Divine Mind transforms all human suffering by identifying completely with the human predicament and standing in full solidarity with it from beginning to end. This is the real meaning of the crucifixion. The cross is not just a singular event. It’s a statement from God that reality has a cruciform pattern. Jesus was killed in a collision of cross-purposes, conflicting interests, and half-truths, caught between the demands of an empire and the religious establishment of his day. The cross was the price Jesus paid for living in a “mixed” world, which is both human and divine, simultaneously broken and utterly whole. He hung between a good thief and a bad thief, between heaven and earth, inside of both humanity and divinity, a male body with a feminine soul, utterly whole and yet utterly disfigured—holding together all the primary opposites (see Colossians 1:15-20). In so doing, Jesus demonstrated that Reality is not meaningless and absurd just because it isn’t perfectly logical, fair, or consistent. Reality, we know, is always filled with contradictions, what St. Bonaventure and others (such as Alan of Lille [c. 1128–1202/03] and Nicholas of Cusa [1401–1464]) called the “coincidence of opposites.” This is what we all resist and oppose much of our life. Jesus the Christ, in his crucifixion and resurrection, “recapitulated all things in himself, everything in heaven and everything on earth” (Ephesians 1:10). This one verse is the summary of Franciscan Christology. Jesus agreed to carry the mystery of universal suffering. He allowed it to change him (“Resurrection”) and us, too, so that we would be freed from the endless cycle of projecting our pain elsewhere or remaining trapped inside of it. This is the fully resurrected life, the only way to be happy, free, loving, and therefore “saved.” In effect, Jesus was saying, “If I can trust it, you can too.” We are indeed saved by the cross—more than we realize. The people who hold the contradictions and resolve them in themselves are the saviors of the world. They are the only real agents of transformation, reconciliation, and newness. Christians are meant to be the visible compassion of God on earth more than “those who are going to heaven.” They are the leaven who agree to share the fate of God for the life of the world now, and thus keep the whole batch of dough from falling back on itself. A Christian is invited, not required, to accept and live the cruciform shape of all reality. It is not a duty or even a requirement as much as a free vocation. Some people feel called and agree to not hide from the dark side of things or the rejected group, but in fact draw close to the pain of the world and allow it to radically change their perspective. They agree to embrace the imperfection and even the injustices of our world, allowing these situations to change them from the inside out, which is the only way things are changed anyway. Friday: The Scapegoat Mechanism The image of the scapegoat powerfully mirrors the universal, but largely unconscious, human need to transfer our guilt onto something or someone else by singling that other out for unmerited negative treatment. French philosopher and historian René Girard (1923–2015) demonstrated that the scapegoat mechanism is foundational for the formation of most social groups and cultures.  We need another group to be against to form our group! For example, many in the United States scapegoat refugees who are seeking asylum, falsely accusing them of being criminals. This pattern is seen in many facets of our society and our private, inner lives—so much so that we might call it “the sin of the world” (note that “sin” is singular in John 1:29). We hate our own imperfections in other people, and sadly we often find the best cover for that projection in religion. God and religion, I am afraid, have been used to justify most of our violence and to hide from the shadow parts of ourselves that we would rather not admit. Yet Jesus revealed the pattern two thousand years ago. “When anyone kills you, they will think they are doing a holy duty for God,” he said (John 16:2). The Scriptures call such ignorant hatred and killing “sin,” and Jesus came precisely to “take away” (John 1:29) our capacity to commit it—by exposing the lie for all to see. Jesus stood as the fully innocent one who was condemned by the highest authorities of both “church and state” (Jerusalem and Rome), an act that should create healthy suspicion about how wrong even the highest powers can be. Maybe power still does not want us to see this. Much of Christianity shames individuals for private sins while lauding public figures in spite of their pride, greed, gluttony, lying, killing, or narcissism. As John puts it, “He will show the world how wrong it was about sin, about who was really in the right, and about true judgment” (John 16:8). This is what Jesus exposes and defeats on the cross. He did not come to change God’s mind about us. It did not need changing. Jesus came to change our minds about God—and about ourselves—and about where goodness and evil really lie. FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION... Feast of the Holy Cross: How is the Cross any kind of victory? Podcast (07:19) Transforming Pain...so we don't transmit it We shouldn’t try to get rid of our own pain until we’ve learned what it has to teach. When we can hold our pain consciously and trustfully (and not project it elsewhere), we find ourselves in a very special liminal space. Here we are open to learning and breaking through to a much deeper level of faith and consciousness. Please trust me on this. We must all carry the cross of our own reality until God transforms us through it. T These are the wounded healers of the world, and healers who have fully faced their wounds are the only ones who heal anyone else. CROSS Roads Please go to my blog to see other offerings on the Cross of Jesus...and our own versions... #RichardRohr #FrancisOfAssisi #cross #Jesus #RamDass #scapegoat #Clare #DunsScotus #ReneGirard #AlanOfLille #Bonaventure #NicolasOfCusa #JBPhillips #Anselm #AlternativeOrthodoxy

I'll come back and flesh out some of these bullets...But, for now here's the story Raised Catholic by parents who were faithful practitioners, good examples Went to Catholic schools thru my second year of college (there in a religion course, read a book by J. B. Phillips called "Your God is too small." In Fall of 1968, I told the Dean what he could do with his religion and the school, withdrew from Iona College, got my tuition money back and bought a VW Bus, so I could explore all the surfing beaches from coast to coast Around the same time, I had some type of spiritual experience on a weekend "retreat" in my Richmond Hill apartment while eating brown rice and reading Ram Dass's "Be Here Now"...The most significant part of this weekend was being introduced in his book for the first time to a loving version of "G-d." The image and words on this page pierced me and opened my heart and mind. This was the first of many-to-come examples...still happening...of how everything and everybody can be used as messengers of LOVE. In this case, here's a guy, originally Richard Alpert, Timothy Leary's sidekick at Harvard, high priest of LSD, who went to India in search of a different kind of teacher, became a disciple of Hindu guru Neem Karoli Baba, who gave him the name Ram Dass, which means :servant of God). HE introduces me to a G-d of LOVE... On the Monday afterwards, I called my Dad and said I wanted to meet with him after work. When I arrived at his house, I said, "Dad, how come we've never been able to express love for each other?" And hugged him...At the time, it felt like a one-sided hug...but a lot more opening up followed... I returned to the Catholic Church...??? Each summer (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972) my friends and I left for surfing adventures to Southern California. On one of these my younger brother Mike rode shotgun. In 1973 I made a decision to relocate to California. My Dad and Mom asked if they could accompany me...So, we set off to look for America...Dad taking pictures and Mom writing poetry. From 1973-1975 I lived in Orange County, CA...got a civil service job with the DMV giving road tests (had done this in NY as a provisional employee until NYS gave a test and appointed full-timers) and stated attending a Catholic Church that my brother Mike had attended on our summer safari.On that one, while he was inside, I remained outside in my Bus. And, I completed my B.A. in sociology (10 years, 3 colleges and 2 states after I started in 1966. BUT, I was restless...even though I had a secure job, a loving Church community, surfing whenever I wanted...So, In the summer of 1975, I left for NY with my sisters accompanying me on the return leg. Richard Rohr Passionists Meeting the "other" versions of "G-d" Lest we get too serious... With all my medical "adventures"...I still quip, "More parts work than don't" PSALM 139 Psalm 139 CROSS Roads Please go to my blog to see other offerings on the Cross of Jesus...and our own versions...

BACKGROUND: 313 A.D. Creation of an Unholy Alliance of Religion & Power…of G-d & Money… I first learned about the Doctrine of Discovery from my Franciscan teacher Richard Rohr. In order to understand how it was created and justified, Richard described a necessary preliminary step: the alliance in 313 A.D. between the Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire - when Emperor Constantine decreed that the Catholic Church was the official religion of the Empire. See also "In hoc signo vinces" below. “Convert or die!”..."Your land in now our land"... ...now had enforcement powers. And, most importantly, the Church’s perspective switched from a view from the bottom to a view from the top. Richard Rohr's Meditation: The View from the Bottom The conquered cry out... Rainbow Quest: Buffy Sainte-Marie - My Country Tis of Thy People You're Dying (06:43) 1964 --Buffy Sainte-Marie performing "My Country Tis of Thy People You're Dying" as Pete Seeger watches her mournful and powerful tale of theft and murder (From Pete's Rainbow Quest) (from this Nov. 27, 2022 post) Don't fall into the trap of believing your religion is the only way to the Creator. Religion can be quite a trap. Rituals, rites, and rules enable people to feel spiritual, when they really are not. They can, in fact, limit the growth of consciousness, quenching the spirit. Creator is bigger than any religion and cannot be contained in a building nor by the commandments of men. We were all humans until race disconnected us, until politics divided us, until wealth classified us, and until religion separated us. "Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful." - Seneca War Paint...War Songs... Crow has brought the message To the children of the sun For the return of the buffalo And for a better day to come You can kill my body You can damn my soul For not believing in your god And some world down below You don't stand a chance against my prayers You don't stand a chance against my love They outlawed the Ghost Dance They outlawed the Ghost Dance But we shall live again, we shall live again -Ghost Dance - Robbie Robertson Ghost Dance - Robbie Robertson & The Red Road Ensemble (05:08)  Circa 1870 --you may remember Robbie from his time with The Band --video contains memorable photographs of these noble people along with the injustices they suffered because they didn't have OUR G-d on THEIR side... Oscar Jerome - Give Back What You Stole From Me (04:07) In Hoc Signo Vinces “In Hoc Signo Vinces,” Latin for “In this sign, you shall conquer,” is a phrase with historical significance that has been associated with Christianity and the Knights Templar. The origin of this motto can be traced back to the legend of Emperor Constantine the Great, who ruled the Roman Empire in the early 4th century. According to the legend, as Constantine prepared for a decisive battle against his rival Maxentius in the year 312 AD, he witnessed a miraculous vision in the sky. Some accounts describe it as a dream or vision, while others assert that Constantine saw the sun with a cross of light above it, along with the inscription “In Hoc Signo Vinces.” This celestial spectacle was interpreted as a divine message and an omen of victory. Taking the sign as a divine mandate, Constantine embraced Christianity and adopted the cross as his symbol. On the following day, he had a banner made, known as the labarum, featuring the monogram of Christ, a combination of the Greek letters “rho” (P) and “chi” (X), forming the first two letters of Christ’s name in Greek. This banner became Constantine’s imperial standard and was carried into battle, signifying his allegiance to Christianity and belief in its protective power. The phrase “In Hoc Signo Vinces” became synonymous with Constantine’s conversion and his ultimate triumph over Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, a victory that secured his position as the sole ruler of the Western Roman Empire. As a result, Christianity gained official recognition and became a favored religion within the Roman Empire, a significant turning point in history. In Hoc Signo Vinces. The Emperor Constantine sees the miracle of the Cross (01:57) For Additional Exploration Kill the Indian, Save the Man Getting to know you - 2: Local/National Indigenous...from their hearts & lips & drums... With G-d on our Side: The Doctrine of Discovery, unHoly Roman Empire & other matters... CROSS Roads Please go to my blog to see other offerings on the Cross of Jesus...and our own versions... #music #racism #Indian #indigenous #DoctrineOfDiscovery #OscarJerome #ChiefPontiac #OrenLyons #BuffySainteMarie #Cross #SocialJustice #RichardRohr #Constantine #Seneca

"If we don't transform our pain...We will transmit it..." Richard Rohr The Cross and the Lynching Tree - James Cone - Wikipedia James H. Cone begins the book by providing a history of lynching in the United States and its impacts on black lives.[1] Cone criticizes white clergy and academics for not making a connection between the crucifixion of Jesus and the black experience of lynching in the United States.[2] Cone further criticizes the white church for actively participating in the lynching of black people throughout the 19th and 20th century.[3] The second chapter of the book criticizes Reinhold Niebuhr for not speaking out against racism and lynching in the United States.[4] The third chapter discusses Martin Luther King Jr. and his influence on Cone's work.[5] The Cross and the Lynching Tree - Song (James Cone/Billie Holiday) Strange Fruit Song Southern trees bear strange fruit Blood on the leaves and blood at the root Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees Pastoral scene of the gallant south The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh Then the sudden smell of burning flesh Here is fruit for the crows to pluck For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop Here is a strange and bitter crop Billy Holiday Before listening to her sing, please read this next piece...and sit for awhile with the feelings and emotions that rise up... The Tragic Story Behind Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" - Biography.com [One individual who was determined to silence Holiday was Federal Bureau of Narcotics commissioner Harry Anslinger. A known racist, Anslinger believed that drugs caused Black people to overstep their boundaries in American society and that Black jazz singers — who smoked marijuana — created the devil's music.] As you'll read, he persecuted her...to her death... Billie Holiday - "Strange Fruit" Live 1959 (03:18) Nina Simone Strange Fruit - Nina Simone A 3-in-1 Solution for Racism Divine Dance: How the Trinity Confronts Racism | Richard Rohr [I believe racism is often rooted in this distorted view of divinity; rather than reflecting the One who created all things in God’s own “image and likeness” (Genesis 1:26-27), we instead make God into a mascot who, as Anne Lamott brilliantly quips, hates all the same people we do. When you start with a conception of God as an old white man sitting in the clouds, it is of little surprise that white men, preferably empowered white men, are considered the closest to God and the most worthy of respect and value. It becomes a top-down universe, a pyramid much more than the circular dance (perichoresis).] CROSS Roads Please go to my blog to see other offerings on the Cross of Jesus...and our own versions... #music #racism #lynching #cross #RichardRohr #BillyHoliday #NinaSimone #JamesCone #MartinLutherKingJr #MikeMorrell #DivineDance #AnneLamott

This is dedicated to the One I love... ...and hastily-crafted today before we meet on the amazing Brentwood campus of the Sisters of St. Joseph...I came back here and added a few things after our meeting. This post started as my intention to send some humor to Ray - a friend who participates in a group we're both part of: Men2Men. There are currently 9 blog posts about this great group of guys. (On the blog homepage in the Search window type "Men2Men"... Among his many talents is making Nativity crèche's from driftwood he collects. Here's one that greets visitors to our home. When he gifted it to me during a visit to his New Hyde Park home, he said I could take anyone I wanted. Many were MUCH LARGER than this humble shelter...from the storm... ..but this one seemed suitable for our humble adobe...abode...in West Hempstead. 2/1/24: See newly added video of the display below the next three images. Here's Ray entry into the exhibit. He calls it "De Mari" (Latin for "of the sea") Added 2/1/24: It's beginning to look a lot like Crèchemas...(32:47) --Please excuse my amateur status... Okay, now you have my intention...Oh, Lord...my intention is good...Oh, Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood... Post-post Addition At our monthly Men2Men gatherings, before we have our circle time, we chow down in the main cafeteria...with the Sisters (of St. Joseph). So, this morning, I approached a table of 8 valiant ladies and asked if I could speak with them. After receiving permission, I told them that one of our group - Ray - makes creche's from driftwood. At that, one of the Sisters tells me that someone else on campus is getting ready to have a display of creche's and is looking for contributions. WOW! I was led there...like the wise men...I showed them the quick flyer I brought with me that contained a thumbnail of this post along with a QR code to access it. HOW COOL IS THIS? I became the first person in her life to show her HOW to use a QR!!! As I see it, it musta been the right place AND the right time... Now, this next classic gives a different message...But, that won't stop me from sharing good music... Dr. John & Eric Clapton - Right Place, Wrong Time 1996 (05:07) So, here are some of the funny fruits of my wanderings in the online wilderness... How about the gift of HUMILITY...? Or, more practical gifts...from and for the party of the first part...the ones who know because they do the real heavy lifting... Socially Relevant Boy! All we need is a drummer... "All we need is a drummer For people who only need a beat, yeah I'm gonna add a little guitar And make it easy to move your feet" Sly & The Family Stone - Dance To The Music (Audio) (03:00) Epiphany...why I post... In many posts, I DISCover...re-discover...WHY I so love my POST-retirement job...Finding things like this next imaginative interpretation... Candy cane drumsticks... ...that also GLOW IN THE DARK...a smart backup plan...in case the star that guided them was hidden by cloud cover... Christmas Groove 2016: Little Drummer Boy (11:50) I sent this next one to my friends in law enforcement, including those on the BUNCO...BINGO Squads... Next one's for my friend and horror maven, Keith Crocker...(iMDB). He presents at local schools and libraries on topics like horror, other film genres and music. Come join the fun! Here's his Facebook page. More cartoons here: Cartoonstock Closing with sober reminders why "saviors" are still needed... 7 O'Clock News/Silent Night + Lyrics - Simon & Garfunkel (01:57) Let there be peace on Earth...and let it begin with ME... Thanks to Men2Men mate GREG for mentioning this next collaboration at this morning's meeting... Bing Crosby, David Bowie - Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy (04:23) #music #humor #RayPowers #Greg #creche #nativity #Men2Men #SistersOfSaintJoseph #KeithCrocker #WiseMen #SlyAndTheFamilyStone #SimonAndGarfunkel #ChristmasGroove #BingCrosby #DavidBowie #DrJohn #EricClapton

Supervisor Clavin, Town Council Members & Fellow members of our West Hempstead and nearby communities... The Capri - with its lengthy rap sheet of criminal activities - was using valuable police resources that can now be deployed elsewhere In its place, let's build housing that average people can afford - not more luxury units like 130 West and the newest addition: Heritage by Heatherwood Regarding the seizure of the Capri property under the legal principle of "eminent domain" - will the public have access to and be able to make input into your decisions about how this site will be used both short term and long term? To those we've elected: Thank you for the services you provide that enrich the quality of our life. Among my favorites are the musical events and the recreation programs at Echo Park - where I was first introduced to kundalini yoga. Our family moved to West Hempstead 27 years ago. Our son attended all the schools. Retired for several years, my wife Eileen and I are planning to stay here...SO, we are actively involved in working to insure our neighborhood continues to remain the welcoming place that greeted us when we moved in. I recall an early slogan that was used, perhaps by the previous version of today's West Hempstead Community Support Association: As I do my daily walks around town, I am happy to notice that West Hempstead is a wonderfully diverse community.... "Car 504 where are you?" NCPD patrols to help keep our streets safe. One of their local vehicles that patrols the sector in which the Capri is located is Car 504. When the Capri's infamous activities were going on, these neighborhood patrols were at times diverted to handling calls to the Capri. GOOD NEWS We live directly across the street from George Washington Elementary School. Several months ago, while keeping a watchful on on the school's property, an officer in 504 knocked on our front door at 3:00 AM (the bell was hidden behind decorations surrounding the door) to let us know that the rear hatch was up on our SUV - apparently due to a "pocket click" - as I was getting ready to go to bed. I went to the window, thanked him, got my remote and closed the offending door. BAD NEWS About 6 weeks later, nighttime thieves cut out and stole the catalytic converter from our son's RV that was parked in our driveway between our house and a neighbor's. He's going to have to teach a lot of piano lessons to his young students to pay the thousands of dollars needed to repair the theft. Build AFFORDable not more LUXURY housing in W. Hempstead and LI Long Island Leaders and Elected Officials Address New York's Housing Crisis Following Governor Hochul's Patchogue Visit to Highlight New York Housing Compact (March 2, 2023) - New York State --Includes 53-minute video presentation with Gov. Kathy Hochul. There's also a link to the audio transcript. If you're in a hurry, please listen to her challenging and encouraging words (opening 30 minutes). EXHIBIT A: Heatherwood (old National Wholesale Liquidator's site) Today's search results - Notice the advertising of "Luxury" From Heatherwood's website's "About" page: Includes "Luxury": EXHIBIT B: West 130 (formerly the crime-infested Courtesy Hotel) Today's search results - Notice the price ranges These prices aren't affordable for lower or middle income riders. These riders will not likely be riding the LIRR...But more likely opting for NICE's N6 bus to Jamaica Bus Terminal and transfers elsewhere. Eminent Domain...Spirit of the Law...Letter of the Law... Recently, this law concept has appeared in various online articles explaining the Town's justification for the closure of the Capri. I'm including this next brief article about "eminent domain" because it presents in summary fashion how this principle can be both used and abused by governments. This is why I asked earlier if will the public have access to and be able to make input into your decisions about how this site will be used both short term and long term? While dated...the following still applies... Eminent Domain - Cornell University Law School History of Eminent Domain and its Abuse - Institute for Justice --from this article with my emphases : 1954: Berman v. Parker The Berman decision, however, profoundly expanded the definition of what constitutes a “public use” and created incentives for abuse by governments and private developers to circumvent the free market.  In this case coming out of Washington, D.C., the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of “urban renewal”—efforts by the federal government and local officials to revitalize urban areas to supposedly remove slums and eliminate blight.  In this one decision, the Court transformed the words “public use” to mean “public purpose” as defined by a legislature or administrative agency. In Berman’s wake, governments began vastly expanding the definition of blight so they could condemn perfectly fine properties for private development under the pretense of urban renewal.  In addition, many state supreme courts adopted the rationale of Berman, reading their public use clauses the same way.  Continuing down this slippery slope, governments began to bypass the charade of declaring an area blighted and instead used eminent domain to take homes and businesses so that the land could be given to other private parties who the government believed would produce more tax revenue than the current owners. This recent LI Herald article presents some of the confusion in the case of the Town's seizure of the Capri's property: Town aims to take Capri Motor Inn through eminent domain - LI Herald (Jan. 26, 2024) Legislators Gaylor and Giuffre Support the Shutting Down of Capri Motel in West Hempstead - Nassau County, NY #CapriMotel #TownOfHempstead #LIHerald #NYS #CornellLawSchool #EminentDomain #LIRR #NICE