Saturday, July 7, 2018
REMEMBERING DAD'S BLESSING!
7/7/2018
Hello, Everyone!
This is a really special day for me because it is an anniversary of my Dear Dad's passing on July 7th, 1966. What's that - 52 years ago - and I still revere it? Yes, I do, because for me, Dad's passing was a wonderful event - as it turned out. Knowing - or at least, Believing - that Dad was leaving us for another place, his passing was only a temporary Goodbye - not a Farewell forever, know what I mean?
At it happened, I had not seen Dad since the previous Christmas time - when I returned home from my seminary studies in my 5th year of doing that. I attended St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colo for 5 years from 1961 thru April of 1966. In May of 1966, I was terminated from further study because "my thinking is not that of a Catholic priest," but the Christmas vacation before Dad's passing, he and I had one of those really treasured visits.
Before then, Dad had chided me on my thoughts that an Infinite God cannot be separated from anything because he felt like so many do that it is very unlikely that such can be true since, in general, mankind has always believed that God can be separated from us. In fact, that is the very core of most religion - that God and man not only can be separated, but have been since Adam & Eve. I disagreed even back then when I was in my early 20s and had even written a philosophical novel called WISDOM that had an angel "come down" from Heaven to instruct two young kids that the notion of separation between God and man must be folly because it does not make sense. If God is Infinite, as most people believe who believe in God, how in the world can anything be separated from an Infinite God?
Anyway, at Christmas time in 1965, Dad almost shocked me when he told me in our kitchen that he did not think I could convince anyone of my notion that God and man cannot be separated, but - and this was the special thing that happened - he said: Francis, if it means anything at all to you, you have my blessing to try. And that was the last time I saw Dad because in the following July, he was struck as a pedestrian by a truck - whose driver fell asleep at the wheel. That was July 7th, 1966.
Every year since then, I have remembered my Dad on the day of his passing - and I have tried with all my heart and energy to try and change our minds that God cannot be separated from us and that we ought to stop believing it is possible because by believing it, we act like it is so and subsequently fail to realize - as my angel, Wisdom, argued - that this world is really a Paradise because an Infinite God is IN it.
So far, I have not convinced anyone as far as I know that such is so, including all my siblings and even my daughters and their daughters and sons; but nonetheless, Dad's Blessing still holds; and I guess I will keep trying till I die - and even after I die through my writings. As it happened, in the '70s, I lost my only copy of WISDOM and first serious attempt to change man's mind through that probably terribly written story; but the writings have continued over 50 years and I have now published 8 books to help to tell the tale. I like to think of my 8 books like one for each of us kids that came from Mom & Dad. I had 7 siblings. Add 1 - me - and that makes 8 of us. So for each of us, there is one book. How about that?
And I keep trying - though so far no one seems to have listened - at least, almost no one. And I keep reading what others have written too - like writings from my favorite author - Elaine Pagels. Elaine has not "gone off the deep end" like I have in arguing that it is impossible that man and God can be separated and that the ideal in life should be to Praise God and Praise Ourselves for being one with God, but her interest in the lost gospels of Thomas and Mary Magdalene have matched my own. One of my favorite books of all time is Elaine's book called BEYOND BELIEF - which she published in 2003. I highly recommend it. It is mostly about the drama of the 4th Century when the BIBLE was compiled. What a book! Elaine has probably sold millions of books and I have yet to sell any, but who knows? Our paths seem to match somewhat and there may come a day when Elaine & Francis will come together. As I often say, time will tell. Elaine has been a professor of religion at Princeton, N.J. for almost as long as I have been writing. She was born in 1943 as I was born in 1941. I think of us, at the least - as Kindred Spirits.
For what it's worth, I sent a copy of WILD FLOWERS to Elaine Pagels a few days ago. If I have the address right and she does get it and does read it - and there are no assurances of any of that - maybe the connection will produce something of worth. Suppose? It's sure worth a try. Right?
Let me end this "tribute to Dad" with a couple of reviews that were included in my first book - WILD FLOWERS - by reviewers of the publisher I chose to print my 8 books - now complete. My wife, Nancy, and I started our project of publishing books in 2014; and finished the 8th and final book in April of this year. When I began, Create Space, my online publisher, allowed for reviews by some who do those things, but they stopped that feature by the time I submitted my 2nd manuscript. So of all my books, only the first - WILD FLOWERS - has been reviewed so far. For what it's worth, I will feature those reviews below. If you have not read WILD FLOWERS yet - and want to - let me know; and that goes for all of my books that followed too. See my writings website - www.una-bella-vita.com - for links and summaries.
Bye for now!
Be in touch!
Gently,
Francis William Bessler & wife, Nancy Shaw
Laramie, Wyoming
KIRKUS REVIEW:
Debut author Bessler offers a collection of essays and songs about life and religion.
Born in 1941, this former seminarian, divorcee and avid blogger has a lot of opinions to share. Raised Catholic, though by no means adherent to Catholic dogma as an adult, he has a particular interest in the nature of God. He argues in this collection that God should not be thought of as an individual, but as a divine force found in all things. He goes on to say that no one needs to be saved or baptized to be part of God’s presence, “BECAUSE ALL OF US ARE BORN IN GOD and there is nothing about us that should be considered shameful.” He also argues against shame, power and other forms of control, and often focuses on the importance of appreciating the now and of counting others as equal (particularly with the equalizing power of nudity). Not all his thoughts are of unrestrained liberty, however: “Many—and maybe most—may disagree with me on this one, but I think coitus should be restricted to making babies.” How do readers reconcile this view of intercourse with an openness to being photographed naked? The author, who claims to have been arrested for public nudity, is more than happy to explain. But what will readers make of this collection’s frequent citing of the Gospel of Thomas, and its somewhat meandering personal letter to Pope Francis? If nothing else, it’s clear that the author has taken the time to forge his own beliefs. Concepts such as “shame is the foundation of all evil” may not appear extremely insightful, but taken as a collection, they form a picture of an intriguing individual who doesn’t simply regurgitate the beliefs of others. Instead, his opinions come across as well-thought-out and earnest.
Readers interested in a unique belief system will enjoy many of this author’s musings.
CLARION REVIEW:
Four Stars (out of Five)
There is a certain beauty in sameness—picture endless rows of red tulips or fields overflowing with sunflowers—but sometimes wisdom reveals itself on the scraggly edges of such displays, in the wildflowers that refuse to conform. In this aptly titled collection, Wild Flowers, self-described “wild flower” Francis William Bessler enthusiastically broadcasts his musings on everything from the afterlife of the soul to right-wing politics. Bessler’s expansive writing reflects the evolving philosophy of a former seminary student who challenges his traditional religious education with an unconventional view from the edge.
Twenty-seven essays and twenty-six songs or poems make up this volume, a collection of Bessler’s work drawn from pieces he has published on his blog (www.una-bella-vita.com) over the past two years. He’s been writing for far longer—he calls this book a fiftieth anniversary celebration of his writing life—and is quite prolific. Indeed, even though he limits the scope of this book to entries from December 2012 to July 2014, his musings run to nearly three hundred pages. Bessler loves life and is eager to share his inclusive view of the world.
The enthusiasm comes through in Bessler’s writing; an abundance of exclamation points and frequent phrases rendered in all caps make his optimism clear. Although he takes on many individual topics—the authenticity of the Gospels, the meaning of near-death experiences, and the likelihood of reincarnation, for instance—each essay celebrates his central theme: “An Infinite God must be Everywhere and in Everything.”
This thesis is supported with a variety of arguments, some more powerful than others. For instance, when Bessler discusses homosexuality, he rationally argues that if one is created a certain way by God, that cannot, by definition, be ungodly. At other times, though, he resorts to circular logic, often supporting his point of view by the very fact that it is the way he sees things, as when he writes, “I see ONLY GOOD in life because nothing in a Creation from God can be bad.”
Bessler’s poems, or songs (they’re offered up as both), offer lighter fare for the most part, with familiar rhyming patterns and themes that focus on love, acceptance, and light. They’re most interesting read as adjuncts to the accompanying essays, as they offer a variation on the themes Bessler has focused on in his prose.
Some thoughts and themes are repeated throughout the book, creating a rhythm that suggests a series of Sunday sermons. Bessler’s thoughts can be followed from cover to cover but can also be dipped into one essay/poem at a time. Along the way, the message might begin to seem repetitious, but be on the lookout for Bessler’s surprising take on things like the role of the soul in mental illness and the spiritual glory of nakedness. Wild Flowers is at heart a devotional to diversity, and there’s truly something here for everyone.
Along the way in this essay collection, be on the lookout for Bessler’s surprising take on things like the role of the soul in mental illness and the spiritual glory of nakedness.
Sheila M. Trask