on hate

Perhaps you've seen them, or pictures of them, protesting at the funerals -- of military people, people in the news, gays and more -- and other events, holding up signs emblazoned with sayings such as "You're going to hell," "God hates you," "God is your enemy," and one of the worst of them, "God hates fags." They're representatives of that wonderful bastion of family values, the Westboro Baptist Church. The church, founded by Fred Phelps, takes it upon itself to intrude on mourners with their dire messages of hate and warning, thinking they are serving up the word of God as it should be interpreted.

Last week the Winnipeg Free Press, of Winnipeg, Canada, reported Canadian border officials stopped members of Westboro at the US/Canada border, on the way to protest at the funeral of Tim McLean. The Westboro members were determined to protest at McLean's funeral to let the Canadian people know he was murdered on a Greyhound bus as God's response to the hateful Canadian policies enabling abortion, adultery and homosexuality.

Readers will know I'm not Christian. They may not know, though, that I fully support the teachings of Jesus. In my opinion, the greatest of Christ's teachings is that of love and I interpret that teaching to mean loving everyone, without question, even those we may consider enemies.

I have to wonder what will happen to Fred Phelps and his followers when they get to heaven, as after all the Bible teaches: "For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. "But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. (NAS, Matthew 6:14-15)

The Bible does teach the only way to heaven is through the acceptance of Christ into your life and through the following of Christian teachings, and I'm certainly not expecting a warm welcome at the pearly gates. Really, that's ok with me -- I like to think I'll be reincarnated, anyway. But what about the Westboro folks? Can hate of someone different than you -- who chooses _not_ to have an unwanted child, who suffers through a young life attracted to the same sex, knowing they are different and wondering if they will ever find acceptance, or who strays from their marriage bed -- be that strong that you feel compelled to hold up signs exhibiting that hate at their funeral, causing all those who are mourning even more pain? Apparently so; the Westboro faithful believe they are following the five points of Calvinism. They firmly believe anyone preaching other than these Calvinist beliefs is a "Hell-bound false prophet."

I don't pretend to know the truth. It may well be that the Christian faith is the only right faith, though I don't really think so. I like to think that Jesus really did teach that you should love your neighbor, and I hope that most of his followers feel the same way.

What's your take?

the end of the day

The sky of our beautiful planet always interests me, whether it be a clear blue of a perfect day, a storm-clouded threat, or filled with fair weather cumulus clouds. Sometimes, though, the sky can take one's breath away.

Just across the desk from where I type is a small window to the world - the window that looks out upon the parking lot of the condo building where I reside. The usual view is a lot of sky, trees, the building across the lot and various vehicles, and the plants just outside the window where butterflies often drop by to feed. I can see storms coming in, birds flying over, and the neighbors come and go.

Most of the time the view is rather mundane, though nature's creatures always tend to brighten my day as they pass the little window. Every once and a while, though, the view catches my eye and insists I grab the camera and step outside the door. Last evening's sunset was one such occasion. In the window's frame were altocumulus and cirrus clouds tinted with shades of pink and orange.

Camera to hand, and with a call to my husband to join me, I dashed outside to watch the sunset unfold. Words are never sufficient to express the beauty of Mother Nature -- certainly, they can paint a reasonable description, but never really fill the mind's eye with the spectacular sight. Our neighbor came out to see what we were doing and for just a minute appreciated the beauty of the sky, too, before beginning to chat with us.

One of the photos I shot is attached. As always, I am in awe of the beauty that surrounds us. We often forget nature as we go through our busy days, and it seems to me our focus on work, the accumulation of things and what goes on inside the walls around us is often more important than sustaining the beauty and environment of our spinning blue and green globe.

Sometimes, you just have to stop what you're doing and step out into nature. It is key to who and what we are.