Existential Punk

Nonviolent Peaceforce

A friend of mine has helped organize an event in Washington D.C. in which Mahatma Gandhi's granddaughter, Ela Gandhi, will speak about the 100th year anniversary of Gandhi's nonviolence movement and will also unveil a Peace Bonds initiative. This will be on Tuesday, May, 2, 2006. I am excited as I have the opportunity to attend. I am lloking forward to seeing and hearing Ms. Gandhi speak and have the opportunity to get a glimpse of her grandfather. It should be a very enlightening time.

"Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani?"

Kids Philosophy Slam

My new friend, John, from Lanesboro, Minnesota, founded the Kids Philosophy Slam  and the first one took place in 2001. This year's Philosophy Slam will take place in May in Washington D.C.

"The Mission of the Kids Philosophy Slam is to give kids a voice and to inspire kids to think by unlocking their intellectual and creative potential through a unique and powerful philosophical forum."

"The 2006 Kids Philosophy Slam Question is: Which is more Powerful, Fear or Hope?"

i think this is a wonderful creative outlet that allows kids of all ages to stretch their wings and grow in confidence and creativity while at the sasme time have some fun. Thanks, John, for going the extra mile to give kids the opportunity to have a forum of self-expression and a way to build self-confidence. You ROCK!

Save Darfur!

PLEASE help the people of Darfur at at Save Darfur. Inaction on our part costs us so little but costs the people of Darfur everything. Thank you!

An Honest Prayer

Thanks, Rock, for introducing me to this Thomas Merton Prayer:

Dear God:

 

I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following
your will does not mean I am actually doing so.
But I believe this.
I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
I hope I have that desire in everything that I do.
I hope I never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it at the time.
Therefore, I will trust you always
for though I may seem to be lost, and
In the shadow of death, I will not be afraid, because I know you will never leave me to face my troubles all alone.

 

(Thomas Merton) 

Dear God:

 

I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following
your will does not mean I am actually doing so.
But I believe this.
I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
I hope I have that desire in everything that I do.
I hope I never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it at the time.
Therefore, I will trust you always
for though I may seem to be lost, and
In the shadow of death, I will not be afraid, because I know you will never leave me to face my troubles all alone.

 

(Thomas Merton) 

Let Us NEVER EVER Forget!

Let us weep and NEVER EVER forget THIS. God, please forgive us where we turned our eyes and hearts away as your precious children were massacred. Please help in the rebuilding of the Rwandan society. Help the people to have the courage to face their past, forgive, and find healing and reconciliation. Knock down the pride and power that wishes to dominate. God, we need your grace and wisdom in not allowing this to happen again here and in other places like Darfur and Uganda. Lord, HELP our leaders and the UN to do what is right and grant them favor. Show your children that you love and care about them and that you have not abandoned them even though they may feel alone in their struggles.