Rising

In Search of a Wisewoman

Consider for a moment, the motives of those who create division, often misogynistic, rooted in history and seen in major religions. We have the origin story of the tower of Babel where humanity, sharing one language, tried to build a city and a tower reaching the heavens to make a name for themselves resulting in misunderstanding and being scattered across the earth when they suddenly ceased to understand each other. Consider the 10th wife of the Prophet Muhammad, who converted to Islam but influenced certain Jewish themes into his Muslim foundation. Differences divide. Perceived notions of superiority of only one way of thinking blur the lines of commonality where we might find our interconnectedness. Perceived differences destroy real communication and a coming together of what we really value.

What we need to really value is not wealth or power but our children, their futures and their real values. Those who are warping the sound tenets of various religions are a scourge. They drop bombs. They cherry pick out of ancient tomes for reasons to supress others. They commercialize a profound religious message for profit. They cease to recognize the fraud in “influencers” making $700 Easter baskets so THEIR child can know a perfect childhood where maybe turning up at a food bank or soup kitchen and donating both time and money would perpetuate a religious message with more sincerity.

Easter! A time with a message of resurrection of earth and humanity dove-tailed onto a Celtic celebration to overlap it into obscurity and yet the message, like the songs of the beloved Canadian Rankin Family, “We Rise Again,” or Stan Rogers “ The Mary Ellen Carter,” - nonsecular and arousing, exist and exalt. Let us stop and think of all the times we individually have risen from despair. Let us stop and think of who is manipulating us away from truth and just what we could accomplish if we joined instead of divided. Let us rise together while we still can.

Happy Easter to all.