Catching up Moving Forward

Wow how can it be Friday? ??

Years ago on Morning Edition on NPR Radio there was an interview every Friday morning with Red Barber. He was a retired though well known sports announcer who would do a commentary with Bob Edwards about the week in sports. Now to be honest I don't remember a lot of what he said, I loved his southern drawl and the way he gently would critique the sporting world. Most of all I remember that in hearing Red Barber I would KNOW it was Friday again. Friday, a day that seemed to come around faster than Monday. You understand in the Preachers' world Friday is the day before the day before Sunday and a day for prayer and study and reading and listening.

Our words and our actions betray or belay what we claim we are and what we believe. Jesus said one commandment, Love your neighbor as yourself. What if the whole world lived this? This kind of care for others is part of almost every major religion whether it's followers are living it today or not. We know that we are to look outside of ourselves and be the ones who show extreme integrity and compassion. To look in the eyes of someone who is harming another and tell them it is not the way we live as faithful people is part of our following our faithfulness. We are to reach out to those in need. We don't need to judge, that's God's work. We are to love and to be wholly truthful and congruent. In an article about Islam I found the following Quote http://www.islamonline.net/english/introducingislam/society/Neighborhoods/article01.shtml

--The Qur’an tells us that all of mankind is descended from one couple, Adam and Eve. Thus we are all brothers and sisters, and our differences in languages and colors are but a mercy that we might know one another. Language and race should never be a reason for discriminating against people.
--A Muslim should maintain good relations with his relatives, but he should not unjustly favor them over others. Further, a Muslim must be good to his neighbors, no matter their religion. But the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us that a “neighbor” is not just the one next door but includes all those up to seven doors away - effectively a whole neighborhood.
--This concern for our neighbors can take many forms. It means to ensure that our neighbors have the basic necessities, for a Muslim should not eat if his or her neighbor is going hungry. It means that Muslims should wish for their neighbors what they wish for themselves. It means sharing their happiness and sorrow. Further, it means to not spy on them and respect their privacy, to not gossip about them, to not harm them in any way, and to keep common use areas — such as apartment building entrances, streets and sidewalks — clean.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was told of a woman who prayed and fasted a lot and gave alms generously, but whose neighbors complained of her abusive tongue. He said that she would be in Hellfire. When he was told of another woman who did not do all those extra acts of worship but whose neighbors were happy with her, he said that she would be in Paradise . Thus we see the importance of being good to our neighbors, both in actions and words."


I said a couple of weeks ago people believed Jesus' words because the authority with which he spoke and lived and acted was authentic. It was honest to the bone. It was what we all strive to be. Whole--holy authentic.
In that wholeness and holiness is peace to be claimed by us in all things.
God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey