I was reminded this morning of a Scripture, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the Children of God.”
Sometimes
life does not go as you wish it would, or even in a way you think is
fair. But the ones who prevail are the peacemakers. Our world lives in
an atmosphere of contention when someone has a viewpoint different than
theirs. Whereas, the Power of Spiritual living is in being
peacemakers... we live in the position of being children of God when we
do.
Some
things were going on in bus route changes. Some changes not to my
favor. Although when on Line 2 yesterday, someone said that there
are signs on Commercial that the bus is not going down Commercial
anymore. I spoke up and told him Line 2 is going down Commercial after
the changes, but only east bound, not west bound.
Just a small point of clarification, maybe made a difference.
Then
prior to this post I had a post on this blog about some frustrations. I
just deleted it. Why?
The top senior executive who oversees the transit operation read it and
gave me a personal phone call. It wasn’t the content of the call that
got my attention, but the spirit of the call.
A peacemaker I thought.
I
was listening to a live feed yesterday of a gathering in Kansas City
called One Thing. The speaker pointed out that our place in life is to
live out the Beatitudes, Matthew 5:3-10. As
I was waking up this morning, this came back to mind... Blessed are the
Peacemakers for they shall be called the Children of God.
(It was almost as if the very voice of God was whispering it in my mind.)
I was reminded that this is my place and has been my spirit for many years. I
am called to be a peacemaker. I deleted my last post, and replaced it
with this.
It
is another lesson learned from riding the bus. I may not get things as I
wish, but in all things I should be a peacemaker in all those things.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Monday, December 3, 2012
Freedom... still our cry
Got
on Line 2 and headed downtown to see the Lincoln movie. The movie
wrapped around Lincoln's drive to have the abolition of slavery
proclamation become the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. He was
influenced by Greek mathematician Euclid to make his point that since
white people are human beings and black people are human beings, it's a
self evident truth that they are equal to each other.
Lincoln: "Even in that 2000 year old book of mechanical law, it is a self evident truth that things that are equal to the same thing are equal to each other."
He felt it was improper for one person to have complete authority over another person and go as far to declare them as property he owned. No one has the right to take away someone else’s freedom. This has become the cornerstone of the reasons and arguments we present today on individual rights for our freedoms.
Having lifestyle freedom is the cry of humanity. This may also be a foundation for why cities host public transit systems. People deserve the freedom, the right, the opportunity to get around. Public transportation is a means to satisfy this freedom, or right to everyone in all circumstances of life. We have transportation freedom options in America... the car, the train, the airplane, the motorcycle, the bicycle, the feet … and the bus. We each have the same opportunity to go to the store, go to a park, get to work, pick up food, go see friends, enjoy a ride, or take a walk. We like our options to take different routes at different times... to have the option, ability to choose which one we prefer.
In transit we may have overlapping options, but it’s a place to experience our freedom as we personally desire. Freedom, independence go hand in hand. Having it the way we want is an American expectation. Although, when we have had a freedom and we feel we have lost it by someone else's decision, of which we are not privileged to be part of, we naturally resent it. If it continues, we have a tendency to rebel against it. People who lose freedoms eventually rise up against those who they feel were responsible for them losing their freedom.
Lincoln had a handle on not only human nature, but a society's nature if freedom were not given to all who rightfully deserve it. If slavery remained in America, he knew America would eventually face another uprising... even maybe worse than the civil war. History has also shown it has to be more than law, but part of the human spirit as well.
When people feel suppressed, the longer the suppression and the greater the degree someone feels suppressed, the greater the level and intensity and destructiveness of an uprising that will follow. The reverse is true. Increased freedoms, involvement by people affected by decisions, the more they naturally work congenially with each other. Authority over others while taking away someone’s voice has never worked.... even more so in a free culture where it is expected.
The bus systems have provided transportation options to communities which keep civility in the community. Even when not directly used, to know it is there, imbeds a sense of option and variety, a sense of freedom in one’s mind. Those who regularly use transit many times tell you that they use more than one bus line. The sense of option produces a sense of freedom, civility, and harmony in social structures. Life becomes productive while enhancing lifestyle for all.
The Lincoln movie was a thought-provoking one for me. The movie got out just in time for me to catch Line 22. I thought on these things on the way back to my place... and still am. I am glad public transit provided me the freedom and option to see the movie, which inspired my life.
Lincoln: "Even in that 2000 year old book of mechanical law, it is a self evident truth that things that are equal to the same thing are equal to each other."
He felt it was improper for one person to have complete authority over another person and go as far to declare them as property he owned. No one has the right to take away someone else’s freedom. This has become the cornerstone of the reasons and arguments we present today on individual rights for our freedoms.
Having lifestyle freedom is the cry of humanity. This may also be a foundation for why cities host public transit systems. People deserve the freedom, the right, the opportunity to get around. Public transportation is a means to satisfy this freedom, or right to everyone in all circumstances of life. We have transportation freedom options in America... the car, the train, the airplane, the motorcycle, the bicycle, the feet … and the bus. We each have the same opportunity to go to the store, go to a park, get to work, pick up food, go see friends, enjoy a ride, or take a walk. We like our options to take different routes at different times... to have the option, ability to choose which one we prefer.
In transit we may have overlapping options, but it’s a place to experience our freedom as we personally desire. Freedom, independence go hand in hand. Having it the way we want is an American expectation. Although, when we have had a freedom and we feel we have lost it by someone else's decision, of which we are not privileged to be part of, we naturally resent it. If it continues, we have a tendency to rebel against it. People who lose freedoms eventually rise up against those who they feel were responsible for them losing their freedom.
Lincoln had a handle on not only human nature, but a society's nature if freedom were not given to all who rightfully deserve it. If slavery remained in America, he knew America would eventually face another uprising... even maybe worse than the civil war. History has also shown it has to be more than law, but part of the human spirit as well.
When people feel suppressed, the longer the suppression and the greater the degree someone feels suppressed, the greater the level and intensity and destructiveness of an uprising that will follow. The reverse is true. Increased freedoms, involvement by people affected by decisions, the more they naturally work congenially with each other. Authority over others while taking away someone’s voice has never worked.... even more so in a free culture where it is expected.
The bus systems have provided transportation options to communities which keep civility in the community. Even when not directly used, to know it is there, imbeds a sense of option and variety, a sense of freedom in one’s mind. Those who regularly use transit many times tell you that they use more than one bus line. The sense of option produces a sense of freedom, civility, and harmony in social structures. Life becomes productive while enhancing lifestyle for all.
The Lincoln movie was a thought-provoking one for me. The movie got out just in time for me to catch Line 22. I thought on these things on the way back to my place... and still am. I am glad public transit provided me the freedom and option to see the movie, which inspired my life.
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