Yea. The church issue really bothers me. I am not trying to be opportunist, it is just that I keep social ties through the church.

My beliefs lie somewhere between a United Methodist and a Missionary Baptist. I feel that the values as presented by the family of origin are very important to keep. It's not that I bandy about and go "Look here, we need to force conservative people to do xy or z." No No. It is just that the fringe people need to be able to live their lives just as mainstream people do. It doesn't matter what I think of a certain group of people, as long as they don't hurt others, I cannot under any estimation tell them that marriage or lifestyle is within my jurisdiction to judge.

To be overtly honest, and I would never tell the people at home this, I am in between a Hindu and a Christian. There are certain evolutionary strains and ways of being that appear to be genetic. I cannot, as the member of a family that is scientific and humanist abandon the notion of asexual humanity or a anonmaly in the gender of people-that someone is born with a male brain and has female bodily items--I cannot simply reject or censure such a person. This is why I keep the *envelope* just a bit open so that I don't get too dogmatic or discriminatory. I feel that this is my duty--not to reject or censure or call moral foul to thse people. I cannot. It is against my family or of origin's ethics. This is a solid part of my identity that the religious folks cannot move. I guess you might say that in this way, I am a "Star Trek" Christian.

Will You Meet Me in the Field?
"Out beyond ideas of right doing and wrong doing there is a field. I'll meet you there."
Hung on the wall in my home library, this first line from a 13th century poem by Rumi has quietly inspired me with its sheer beauty and only recently has taken on a new life for me. It's hard to explain how this has come about and what that new life feels like. It's part having met with inspiring people, part meditation, part simply the journey I am on. What really matters is that I've had an overwhelming feeling about the importance of humanity and, on an individual level, our ability to see what we have in common with other people rather than what makes us different. At a core level that commonality is simply our humanity.

I've noticed the language of our culture has become increasingly divisive. (Or perhaps I've only become more aware?) People despise others based only on differences and how those differences make enemies.

I believe that if you put away those differences and look into the eyes and heart of your fellow human being, you'll find much in common to celebrate. You'll find love and compassion. That seems like a pretty good platform for dialog and peace.

The whole poem (interpreted into English) says:

Out beyond ideas of right doing and wrong doing,
there is a field. I'll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase each other
doesn't make any sense.

(from Essential Rumi by Coleman Barks)

I'm really tired. I did a little bit of work. I re-sent something out because I got the address wrong.

I didnt' really finish the phone list. I'm bothered by that church issue.

I posted something-the mods will probably have to really edit it.

I have been sitting mostly here at work.

I've been depressed lately-very depressed.

I don't really think that anyone needs to worry about what I put on my blog. Because this forum or set of forums is so large, it isn't as if I can really put a whole lot on here.

This morning, I am really really sleepy. I don't know what plants or flowers bloom or whatever during the late part of the summer, but whatever these plants are, they seem to cause a lot of *allergies.* Allergies my friends---allergies.

I take benadryl more than anyone else I know.

I'm feeling really yucky. I had two yogurts and then I had some mac and cheese, a cheese stick, hawaiian punch and some grapes. I am very tired. I cleaned my office. I will go thorugh periods of intense, brief activity and then I will sit down.

People in the hall irritate the crap out of me.

I'm waiting upon "that time."

I think that here at PF, I probably will be dry, boring and old like a stale cracker.