I Met God. And God said, “My Mercy is Sufficient.”

My friend shared with me the following profound insight into the Book, “Don Quixote”:

After hundreds of pages of Don Quixote courageously performing acts of unselfish chivalry for what is “Right”, the author dismisses all the previous sacrifice of doing “Good”, and replaces that Principle in the last few pages of the book with: “Don Quixote”, “I met God. And God said, “My Mercy is Sufficient.

This dismissal of doing “Good Deeds”, is congruent to Franciscan Priest, Richard Rohr’s interpretation of the “Letters of St. Paul”: “Ladder Theology is Wrong”. A person doesn’t earn his way to Heaven by Keeping Commandments, Doing Good Deeds, or Knowing Scripture. Belief in Christ’s Merciful Redemption is sufficient

“Ladder Theology” is based on the Pavlovian Principle of: Stimulus. Response. Reward. Our Culture demands a reward for doing a good deed. And nothing for no results. We must earn what we get. That Principle is counter-intuitive to God’s Mercy, Love, and Forgiveness. God’s Forgiveness is “Like the fragrance that the violet sheds on the boot that crushed it”. That’s why Christ said from the Cross, “Father forgive them (Jewish false accusers, & Roman brutal executioners) for they know not what they do”.

WE DON’T NEED “To be willing to march into Hell for a Heavenly cause – To reach the Unreachable Star.”

The “New Impossible Dream” is to accept that God accepts us “AS IS”

God knows that we are Guilty Sinners, but acquits us anyway. Forgives us, anyway. Accepts us “As Is”. God’s 3 attempts in the Old Testament “Covenants with Man” since Adam’s Sin, all failed because man couldn’t keep his part of the Bargain. So, God found a different way to re-graft His “Broken Branches” into the “Living Vine.”

God sent his only Son to become man (Jesus) and suffer & die for the forgiveness of all sins (past, present, and future) so that all who believe in Him, shall not perish, but have life everlasting. Christ came to restore the broken relationship with God. That restoration requires Faith & Repentance. Faith in Christ as the Son of God who died to forgive our sins. Repentance “To create in me a new clean heart.” – Psalm 51. Repentance removes the fog of sin which obfuscates the presence of God in the Sanctuary of our Soul.

Faith in Christ restores our relationship as “Children of God” & ”Heirs to Heaven”. Repentance maintains & cultivates that restored relationship. There is No Limit to the number of times we can repent our sins. No sin, no matter how vile or frequent exceeds the forgiveness of the welcoming embrace, of the outstretched arms, of the Redemptive Cross. Our difficulty is to accept that God accepts us “As Is”. Or That: “God’s mercy is sufficient.”

God sent us The Holy Spirit, to serve as the Gyroscope for our soul to continue to enjoy our Companionship with God.

As a result of accepting God’s Merciful Forgiveness, we will love God and each other. As a result, we will keep the Commandments, do good deeds, and know Scripture. Our new relationship with God is best expressed as a member of the “Mystical Body of Christ”.

The “Mystical Body of Christ” is described as “Christ as its Head, and all members of different talents, all valued the same by God. God’s Gift of Grace flows from one member to another. That’s the functional definition of Love: “Sharing what we have with each other, expecting nothing in return”

That’s the Cosmic Beauty of the “Mystical Body of Christ”: Experiencing the awesome awareness of the presence of God within us, and sharing it with others.

This marvelous new relationship with God & each other is majestically & joyously expressed in the Divinely Inspired Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, with Barenboim conducting the West East Divan Orchestra (of 100 Arab & Israeli musicians & the 200 member London Youth Choral Group).

The above YouTube music video expresses the Divine Inspiration of Beethoven’s Creation of his Symphony No. 9

The Truth About the Origin of “The Star Spangled Banner”

This blog post is written because “Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But No one is entitled to Ignore the Facts, or Change the Facts” – Senator Moynihan (D)

There are many misconceptions today about the Actual Origin of the “Star Spangled Banner”, and the role of the American Flag in the War of 1812. The War of 1812 was about to be lost. If lost, the American Colonies would revert to British Rule. And the United States of America would cease to exist. (The British Army had already burned down the White House.)

There were many ”Prisoners of War” taken by both sides during the War of 1812. Francis Scott Key was a Lawyer in Baltimore, selected by Congress, to negotiate a “Prisoner Swap” with the British. He met with the British Commander, on a British Warship, anchored off the shore of Fort Henry. Francis Scott Key was surprised & pleased that the British Commander agreed to a “One-for-One Prisoner Swap” commencing the next morning.

The British Commander said that the “Swap” was irrelevant. He told Francis to look toward the horizon. Francs saw over 100 black dots on the horizon. The British Commander said that those “Dots” were the rest of the Entire British War Fleet. They would arrive in a few hours to reduce Fort Henry to rubble. Francis said that Fort Henry was also a community for women & children. It would be inhumane to kill them in a random bombardment.

The Commander said it was up to the Americans to determine who & how many would die. The British bombardment would stop immediately, when the Americans lowered the Flag on top of Fort Henry’s rampart. That sign of surrender would end the War of 1812. It would return the colonies back to British Rule. The United States of America would be wiped off the face of the earth.

Francis went down into the belly of the boat to tell the American Prisoners of War (held in the filthiest, inhumane conditions) the conditions of their release. The prisoners all shouted “Never Surrender”. They asked Francis to tell them what was happening at the fort, during the battle. After 3 hours of bombardment, The Flag was still flying on top of the flagpole. The Commander ordered ALL the ship’s guns to be aimed towards the Flagpole. During the next 3 hours of relentless bombardment, the Flag was still seen flying on top of the pole, in the rocket’s red glare.

This YouTube music video best expresses the solemnity of our National Anthem

The British Commander was frustrated and perplexed, “Don’t those Americans understand that they have No Chance. They are dying for Nothing. Their cause is Hopeless.” Yet, in the dawn’s early light, that Flag was still there. (Francis Scott Key then wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner”.)

The British Commander didn’t understand Washington’s Proclamation, “An American would rather die standing, then live kneeling, before an enemy taking away his Freedom.” In the morning, Francis took a boat ashore to see why the Flagpole was leaning at an odd angle. Francis found the bodies of dead Americans stacked up against the pole. They were killed holding up the flagpole, during the bombardment, allowing the Flag to fly on top.

Truly, America was “The Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave” . Those dead Americans were the functional expression of Washington’s Proclamation.

The “Victory at Fort Henry” eventually allowed Andrew Jackson to Win the “Battle of New Orleans”, which ended the War of 1812, and preserved the United States of America.

It’s a pity that Social & Mainstream Media are ignorant of the actual ”Origins of the “Star Spangled Banner” and the significance of the American Flag. If they knew, they wouldn’t Kneel or Raise a closed fist, during the singing of the “National Anthem”. Or spit on, or burn the Flag, abusing the very Freedom that the Flag provides. Earned by the Sacrifice of American lives defeating Tyranny in the Revolutionary War, The Civil War, and WWII.

N. B. The word “Sacrifice” does Not Mean Loss. The word “Sacrifice” comes from 2 Latin words – “Sacri Faciam” – “To Make Holy”. The sacrifice of American Lives for our Flag & Freedom is Holy.

It’s also an act of Love.

This YouTube music video of Ray Charles singing “America the Beautiful” describes an America worth fighting & Dying for.

Once the Origin of the Star-Spangled Banner is known, an American will dutifully place a hand over their heart, and either sing the National Anthem, or bow their head in gratitude for those who died for it.

Those who died to provide Freedom of Speech to others, certainly deserve no less.

 

 

“In Search of Excellence” …To Sell a Home

My friend was excited to tell me the main reason why he got a “Full Asking Price, No Contingency Offer”, the day Before he was going to “List it For Sale”.

The Above YouTube Music Video Teaches the Importance of Doing All the hard Things to Get Something Done, like Below:

Before he told the “Secret of his Success”, he first told me all of the things that he did in preparation to sell his home:

• My friend spent months “De-Cluttering” his home. Every item was examined to “Keep”, “Donate”, or “Throw-Out”. He rented a Storage Unit near his new home for items that he wanted to “Keep”, but move out of his garage or downstairs storage room.
• Rather than try to hide defects from a “Prospect” or Home Inspector, my friend hired a Home Inspector to do a thorough examination of his home, and provide a Report of everything that needs to be repaired or replaced.
• He then hired a “Handyman” to fix everything requiring repair according to the “Inspection Report”.
• He also hired Professionals to inspect, repair, and replace anything for the Furnace, A/C, and Hot Water Heater.
• When all the repairs were made, my friend hired an Appraiser to determine the home’s “Asking Price”, based upon recent sales of comparable homes in the area.
• He then hired a Professional Cleaning Service to thoroughly clean every room in his home, plus wash the windows & clean the carpets.
• My friend then hired a professional photographer to take pictures of every room, from different angles.
• My friend paid a Real Estate Agent to educate him about selling his home, himself. The Agent provided him with a valuable “To-Do” List – “For Sale by Owner”:

1. 1. In addition to everything that he previously did. he prepared a 1-page “Information Sheet” of room sizes, unique features & up-grades, etc. which would be used for posting on “Zillow”.
   2. The “Information Sheet” would also be used as a “Flyer” to be delivered to the newspaper boxes of other homes in area subdivisions and nearby apartment renters.
   3. The “Information Sheet”  also contained the phrase “Buyers Agents Welcome”. (Most homes Sold by Owners are through “Buyer’s Agents”, who normally charge 2.4%.)
   4. He would place an Ad in the Community Newspapers touting “New Listing”, “Original Owner”, and “Buyer Agents Welcome”.
   5. Placed a “For Sale by Owner” Sign prominently seen in his front yard.

My friend did ALL of those things listed above. But None of them, in whole, or in part, were the reason(s) WHY he SOLD his home for Full Asking Price, One Day Before he listed it “For Sale” on the market. The Reason is Below:

My friend is permanently disabled in both of his legs. He uses a wheelchair at home. He can stand, but only briefly. After all of the things above were done, my friend did an “Inspection” of his home. It was in pristine, “Turn-Key” condition. However, when he went into the garage, Horrors. While the garage floor glistened from the recently applied Epoxy floor application. And the storage shelving was better organized than a Library. There were cobwebs dangling at the junction of the ceiling & walls, all around the inside perimeter of the garage.

Then, my friend recalled the sage advice of an Airline Executive, quoted decades earlier in the book, “In Search of Excellence”, “If we don’t clean the coffee stains from the back of the seat drop-lids, customers will think that we don’t do engine maintenance.”

Little Things Mean a Lot in Romance, Selling a Home, or Whatever You Do

My friend realized that if he didn’t take a broom, and sweep away all of those cob webs, Prospects will think that he didn’t do regular maintenance of his home. Prospects would ignore all of the incredible, wonderful work done to make his home shine like a jewel. They will only remember the cob webs, when they leave. And Nothing Else.

So, my friend got a broom. He stood up for moments at a time to sweep a 4-foot section of cobwebs away. He then sat down, moved his wheelchair 4-feet to the right, stood up, and swept away another 4-foot section of cobwebs. My friend repeated that process around the entire perimeter inside his garage, for over an hour, until ALL the cobwebs were GONE. Then, the Prospects would NOTICE All the Other Things That He Did.

The 1^st Person to “Walk Through” made the “Full Price Offer, with No Contingencies, and allowed him 14 days After Closing, to move his personal property to his New Home”.

Cleaning the cobwebs (“coffee stains”) was the game-changer.

Another Benefit of the Coronavirus Quarantine

*Above YouTube Video Enhances Blog Post Below

My friend discovered during the Coronavirus Quarantine that he spent most of his time focused on the current moment. He savored the precious present experience, “as is”. He realized how much time he had previously wasted regretting the past and worrying about the future. Many people live with past remorse or fears of the future.

While the value of the present moment seems self-evident, some prefer to be mired in the acclaim of past achievement. My friend knew a man who would introduce himself with a job title from a previous decade. His 3 jobs since, were of lesser stature. He couldn’t accept the reality of his current position. So, he continued to bask in the glory of times long past gone. This was sad at best, unhealthy, at worst.

He never understood that fame is fleeting. In ancient times, the conquering hero would be paraded through the streets of Rome in a single chariot. This allowed the hero to be the sole beneficiary of all the adulation. Except, his servant would stand behind him, whispering in his ear, “Sic Transit Gloria” – “Fame is fleeting”. Or as Evita sung, “Fortune & Fame are not the solutions they promised to be. They are illusions.”

Others prefer to pick the scabs of old wounds. There is some sinister delight in not letting a spouse off the hook. Rather than enjoy any moments of current happiness, some would rather skewer spouses with the pain of past mistakes. It’s awful to be moored in misery. The seething cauldron of offenses, real or imaginary, are stirred constantly, until they spill over scathing both, the offender & offended.

There’s no escape until they discover forgiveness. “Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the boot that crushed it.” It’s the unconditional Love of the Redemptive Cross, which Christ expressed to His false accusers & brutal executioners, “Father for give them, for they know not what they do”. Only then, can the past be abandoned, and the present, enjoyed.

The beauty of the present moment is that it is constantly changing. There is always something different to enjoy. Each majestic sunrise & sunset differs from day to day. The “Swings of Pleaides” or the “Reddening of a Rose” appear differently each day. The changing Seasons provide series of differing delights: from the blossoming of Springtime flowers, to the verdant pastures & bubbling brooks of summer, to the awesome colors of Autumn, to the breath-taking beauty of a winter’s snowfall embracing bare tree limbs and blanketing barren fields.

When the challenges of daily life can be viewed as “Temporary Inconveniences”,  the disappointment of failed expectations can be accepted “As Is”, and real or imagined fears can be endured, then, the slightest joy from a smile or a hug can be treasured, and the present moment becomes a blessed event, to be enjoyed and savored.

It is not by accident that God described Himself as, “I Am Who Am” -an affirmation of only being in the present. Clearly, by definition, God is timeless, always was and always will be. Yet, He describes Himself as only existing in the present moment. Which, upon reflection, is all that we have. Yesterday no longer exists. Tomorrow is promised to no one. So, “Carpe Diem” – “Seize the Day”.

Don’t regret the past or fear the future. Just enjoy the present, “As Is”.