I don’t need saving. I don’t need discussion or convincing. A few words to the wise my friends. Never discuss religion or politics. You cant possibly win. That’s why wars are fought and empires toppled. Try to save yourself 1st, not the rest of the world. Each and every religion has their own beliefs. Each and every political system including communism has theirs as well. Ive written before about this but I see Im going to have to continue. And that in itself is pretty funny. Why should I?
I consider myself a man of the world having been around and around it a couple of times in the Entertainment business. Ive been to different places, ate very different foods, listened to many different languages, music, ideas, ideals and ways and means of thinking. Ive tried my best to LISTEN and understand all the varied differences that make up this world. Colors, creeds, insects, animals, governments, countries, people, places and things. It truly is a wonderful world God has given us. (And if Im true to my beliefs, I have to respect even those of you here that are atheists and don’t believe in a He-She-It God). God Bless you all anyway. Its what God him-her-self would expect me to do. Understanding, knowledge, compassion, tolerance and helpfulness to my fellow man. And there-in lies the point. Judge not unless you want to be judged yourself. So is it written…so shall it be done.
I sat at a conference with a Rabbi, a Priest, a Minister, a Deacon, a Swami, a Monk and a Reverend. I didn’t need to discuss my own beliefs or convert them or try to impress them or the others at that table. Nor did they try to infuse their individual beliefs on me. One thing we all shared in common. What with all those learned men and myself too…it was understood that each person should seek their own path. And I assure you, there are many paths to God. Do good, get good. Do bad, and look out. It will come back to hit you between the eyes.
You will always find me breaking-bread with my Muslim friends, sharing wine with my Catholics friends, and sitting in the synagogue on the Sabbath with my Hebrew brothers and sisters. And that’s what sets me apart. I would NEVER try to convince or corral others into my beliefs. Those at that table did not. They sat in complete respect of one another and their beliefs, however different and no matter what 'GOD" was called in their faith. Tolerance, my friends. Compassion and Love. So too is FAITH. What color, what name, what or which God or Goddesses for that matter…doesnt matter. Oh, it does for all the Holy Roller-Bible Thumping-Burn-in-Eternal Damnation-Kill-the-Infidels converts. But, it is THEY who need converting. Not me. I have a God, I know my God, and HE knows me as well. Who he is or what he is doesn’t matter. Only to me and Him.
I sit amused as all the converters sit and tell me where and why the bible says what it does and doesn’t. What I do know is that they are so cynical of the world and all that’s in it, they have tunnel-vision. One way. The ONLY way. MY WAY! I get so tired of listening to those that do not embrace man, his religions, his ways, cultures and thoughts and beliefs. For they all are beautiful in their own ways. And by compassion and by trying to understand and grow from all these beliefs, I see the world in a far better light than they do. My view is neither singular, wrong, jaded or untrue. Mine is well rounded and well thought out and proved beyond a shadow of any doubt. And it took me many years of study and learning to understand WHY there are differences and WHY others believe what they do.
Embrace the world and its differences. Hold love itself close to you. Find the good in all things and people. Recognize all colors, races and creeds. Learn what they know, what they believe and why they believe it. Increase your own knowledge and gain a better understanding of how faith works in man. And how that understanding can give YOU even more faith in your own.
"If you feel Im mislead…do not try convert me."
"If I fall…do not help me up."
"If I yell…do not quiet my voice."
"If I cry…do not dry my tears."
"If I mis-speak…do not correct me"
My GOD will do them all for me.
Hurricane Duane
