Tuesday, December 6, 2016
CHRISTMAS TIME
12/6/2016
Hello, Everyone!
Hope you are all in good spirits - as we begin the Christmas Season. My companion, Nancy Shaw, and I would love to hear from any who wish to send a Christmas greeting; or if you are near Laramie during the Holidays, come and see us. OK?
Surprise, Surprise! On Sunday, I opened up our local paper, The Laramie Boomerang, and expected to see my next religious column. I did in fact see my next religious column, but it was not the one I was told would be printing. In November, I submitted an article I call THE GENDER OF GOD; and I was told it would print on December 4th. Later, I submitted an article I call CHRISTMAS TIME - and I was told it would print on Christmas Day. So, I expected to see THE GENDER OF GOD in yesterday's paper, but instead, they printed the one planned for Christmas Day.
I'm easy - or try to be. Since The Laramie Boomerang featured CHRISTMAS TIME yesterday, I am going to do the same. See it below - if you wish. In fact, I am going to email The Laramie Boomerang and ask them to hold my article called THE GENDER OF GOD until 2017. If they want another that is strictly "Christmas Holiday" oriented, I will be glad to write another; but if they agree, I think I will hold off on sharing THE GENDER OF GOD until after the first of the year. Some of you have already received that one due to my anticipation of it printing on December 4th. If so, I hope you enjoyed it somewhat.
I do not know about you, but I am already planning for 2017; and one of the things I am planning on is to publish a 6th book and make it available to as many who wish to review it. That might change, but that is my plan as of now. I was going to compile a book of essays and poems of the past and call it IT'S A NEW DAY, but I think that maybe I should do something else first and delay IT'S A NEW DAY until later.
What is that "something else"? It is my interpretation of two ancient gospels about Jesus that I have loved for awhile that almost no one knows about. Let me put it by you. Have you heard of THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THOMAS? Or - THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARY MAGDALENE? My guess is that most of you have not - even though I have featured verses from both gospels in many of my own writings. It is because no one has heard of these two gospels that I think that maybe that should be my next focus - to tell their stories somewhat.
I do not claim to be an expert on either of those gospels, but they have meant a lot to me in my own life, my interpretation of them, of course; and so I think I should share my views on them in my next publication. So, that is my plan. We will see how it goes; but if I do this project, I will probably simply rehash a previous work that I wrote in 2009. Current interpretation of some verses may change, but for the most part, what was done probably still holds. Wish me luck if you wish - or is that, if you will?
What are the Gospels of Thomas & Mary? I do not want to get into that here; but very briefly, they are gospels that may have been originally authored by Thomas, one of the apostles of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene, who could have been considered an apostle as well, though traditional Christianity has opposed that notion. It is an intriguing matter, however, that other gospels may have been written about Jesus in addition to the known gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. My proposed work will not so much deal with the authenticity of the Gospels of Thomas & Mary, but rather - assuming they are authentic - what do their verses express, or at least, imply? Very interesting indeed. Wouldn't you agree? Standby. I plan to do the best that I can. OK?
Bye for now!
See CHRISTMAS TIME below; and share it as you wish. Until next time: HAVE A JOYFUL CHRISTMAS SEASON!
Gently,
Francis William Bessler
Laramie, Wyoming
www.una-bella-vita.com
P.S. My website is currently being modified and may not be available in total. If so, try it again next week - or next month. THANKS! FWB
Christmas Time
By
Francis William Bessler
11/22/2016
When I think about Christmas, I see that baby in the manger scene that very often typifies Christmas. I do believe it is an appropriate image for telling us what is really important about life - and that is life itself. I know I grew up with the idea that the baby in the manger only represented Jesus, but I have long grown up to see far more than just a Jesus as a baby in a manger. I see every baby now - not just Jesus; and I believe that is what I should see - and what the baby Jesus would have me see too.
My, how times have changed for me! In my youth, I believed that every baby needs "saved" - by a grown man we know as Jesus; but now I believe that it is Jesus - and every grown up - who needs "saved" by every baby.
Just think about it! In a way, any baby is "saved" - if it is loved - by simply "being adored." It just looks around and sees everything as wonderful - if grown ups present wonder to it. Right? In the Nativity Scene we are presented at Christmas Time, that baby is shown as being adored by all of those about, including various critters in the stable; and that is the true meaning of salvation, I think - to know you are loved.
In truth, I do believe that is why we love Christmas Time so much. Indeed, need of salvation is the message of Christmas, but what is that for a new born baby - nothing more than being loved. Right? In the Nativity Scene we love so much, Jesus needed to be loved; and he was; and as it was for Jesus, it is true for everyone. We all "need to be loved." We all need "salvation." Do we not?
I have long realized, however, that the need to be loved - and "finding salvation" - need not be dependent upon others loving us, but rather each of us loving ourselves. We all need to be loved. There is no question about that; but if we depend upon others to love us to satisfy that love, we may live a life of empty - and in practice, never find salvation, because we may never be loved. In the end, however, it is love that matters - not who loves us. That means if we love ourselves, independent of others loving us, and fulfill that need by simply looking within - and then proceed outward and love everyone else through that love - then "salvation" is always at hand. Is it not?
So, what does "Christmas Time" tell me? It tells me a simple message of love; but for myself, I need not go beyond that. If I fill up my life with love, it does not really matter if it's the love of others for me - or much more securely - love of myself for me. If I truly love myself, then because everyone else is the same as me, I will love all by beginning with me.
Indeed, Let me look at that beautiful baby in every Nativity Scene and see me; but let me realize that it is not those who stand about me - adoring me - that should matter. It's just me, knowing I am "adorable" because I am the same as every creature that is also "adorable" - and taking that message with me - and turning every day and every hour into a "Christmas Time."
Or so, I Believe!
CHILD OF THE LIGHT
A Song or Poem
By
Francis William Bessler
Atlanta, Georgia
5/2001
Oh, Child of The Light, play as you will.
You have but to live to find your fill.
You can’t understand from whence you came
Just embrace it all joyfully as if it’s a game.
For a game life is, or should be for all.
Oh, Child of The Light, have yourself a ball.
Look at the earth and the sun and the moon
and know that they are all in tune.
The wonder of all of God’s great creation
should fill your mind with jubilation.
Oh, Child of The Light, you fit in well
and you ring as you should as one of the bells.
So, don’t fret and worry and live in fear.
As God is your source, It’s also your care.
Be not afraid as you go forward in time.
Oh, Child of The Light, you’ve a life that’s Divine.