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A Perspective
You pass from this life... "Uh-oh... Is that it?" A gentle, yet firm voice confirms: "That's it! Now... Let's see what you did with your life..."
Even if you don't believe that this will happen - that your life will be judged based on your actions - can you take the chance that it won't be? I hope you will at least consider this. I recently did when my father and my uncle passed away within 3 months of each other (and I also found out I'd been laid off from my job when I returned from the last funeral). My father and mother raised 3 children and put them through school (that's my dad and I on the home page photo). My uncle was a Roman Catholic priest who freely gave everything he had to the people and parishes he served in inner city Cleveland for nearly 60 years. He took his vow of poverty so seriously that his life was open to all he served practically 24/7. As I look at these influences on my life I ask: "What have I done?"
I present this website in the hope that it might be helpful to those seeking peace. God has seemingly given me the gifts that enable me to be a peacemaker and our world is in dire need of peace! I'm not just speaking about freedom from war. I'm speaking in terms of harmony with our fellow human beings, with nature and with our Creator too.
It's not until you get away from everything (into a church or out into nature) that you realize how warped our world is. Self gratification seems to be all important with little regard for right or wrong. Personally, I don't believe that any human being is worthy of respect. Only our Lord is. Yet, the rainbow, God's sign that He will never again destroy humanity because of our hedonistic ways, is today almost as well known as a symbol promoting hedonistic ways! Another example - murderers on the nightly news and other media outlets! Instead of denying them the publicity they crave as terrorists, we treat them almost as heroes, posting their photos, seeking their motives and looking for information on them! Is it any wonder random shootings continue to escalate!
Well, I can't change minds, but I can give witness to what I believe by adjusting the way I live my own life. For example, I can withdraw support from establishments that support certain things or I can get out on a river or trail and get back to basics, there to be reminded of the beauty and simplicity of life. You can too! My Uncle loved the quote: "If you want to change the world, change yourself. It's easier to put on a pair of slippers than to carpet the world."
I think the world would be a better place if we could manage to internalize a constant state of introspective awareness as we relate to those around us. In every single encounter and in every conceivable circumstance – be it driving, walking down the street or even carrying on a simple conversation - let there be no condescension or contempt. If we disagree with someone can we disagree peacefully? If we encounter ill will can we be heroic and let a potentially vicious cycle end with us by simply not retaliating?
I've dedicated this site to my
grandmother, Jessie Rogge. It was she who first taught me how to truly appreciate the beauty of
things. She'd sometimes say: “I just can’t UNDERSTAND it James!”
What she meant was that she
could not comprehend how wonderful the Lord must be to have given us such
incredible things in this world. She saw His love everywhere. Not only
in the diversity of wildlife, but also in how the trees grow and even in the
formations that the clouds make! Even when her health finally confined her to a
chair in her apartment she still had it all in perspective. This is how I
endeavor to appreciate things.
Now for something a little less serious...
My name is James. Thank you for visiting my website!