ONE DAY IN AUGUST 2015, I WAS CHECKING THE CONNECTION REQUESTS ON LINKEDIN. One was from a man who had a considerable amount of experience as an author, editor, writer, and co-founder of one of the top fantasy/sci-fi festivals in the United States. I had made some great connections via LinkedIn: one that resulted in my becoming a partner in and a development executive for a production company based in London, England, and another that had me working as a producer for an original supernatural-drama television script.
IMMEDIATELY, I ACCEPTED THE CONNECTION REQUEST, AND SENT HIM A MESSAGE that included some information about seeking a producer, production company or studio for an original period-drama-suspense-thriller TV series that I originated and co-created. My partner and I had recently passed on the offer by another company to produce it. He wanted to know more. I sent him the script, and he expressed interest in helping us package it and get it to his contacts in the entertainment industry, including people with whom he is currently working. We scheduled a meeting. Great!
I DECIDED TO DO SOME MORE RESEARCH ON HIS BACKGROUND. WHAT I DISCOVERED STOPPED ME IN MY TRACKS. He was convicted of molesting three boys, had served jail time, and was currently serving out the rest of his sentence at his home due to health issues. I read news accounts and pages and pages of hate-filled comments about him, and read his account citing his innocence but pleading guilty to avoid a trial due to health reasons.
MY FIRST INCLINATION WAS TO JUST FADE AWAY HAVING NO FURTHER CONTACT, join the hatefest, and to focus on other connections that were promising. No problem. The next day, I continued reading The Sermon on the Mount. Here is the excerpt of what I read that led to a wave of compassion, a reckoning with my own child abuse past that resulted in sexual feelings and acting on them until the age of 12; a renewal of gratitude for the miraculous removal of the inappropriate feelings and behavior by my Creator; a renewed commitment to God concerning the intent of this blog; in short, an epiphany.
"AND SO JESUS SAYS THAT IF, WHEN WE ARE ABOUT TO PRAY, OR REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE ANY WRONG THOUGHTS or hard feelings about our brother man, no matter who he may be, and irrespective of whether the object of our hostile thought be an individual or a body of people, we must pause there and treat ourselves until we have got rid of this sense of hostility, and have once more restored the seamless garment of our spiritual integrity."
So, Jesus provides three (3) clear statements for achieving our spiritual integrity:
He says first, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger.
Second, that to be really or seriously--one may say vindictively--hostile to another, is to be in grave danger.
Third, that to hold so low an opinion of a fellow creature, as to allow ourselves to consider him outside the pale, so to speak, is to shut ourselves off from any hope of spiritual fruit while we remain in this state of mind.
WAS I READY TO HAVE MY FEAR OF THE ANGER AND HATRED IN WHICH OTHER PEOPLE ENGAGE and might even direct toward me removed, and do as Jesus directed in the passage? Was I prepared to write new posts on this blog while connected to a higher form of consciousness to try to help those who are still sick and suffering slaves to the cycle of child abuse, some in deep denial, and obsessive and compulsive against their will? Honestly, I can't say that I was at all. I didn't have the personal courage or strength. Somehow, like in the past, The Creator's power activated within me. All the credit goes to my Creator (who through a human source introduced me to Emmet Fox's book), AND all of you who have supported this blog and it's intent.
Image Credit: http://interfaithspirit.org/ |
IF IT WERE POSSIBLE TO BE CHANGED BY SIMPLY READING The Sermon on the Mount, even just as an experiment, won't you do it? I will believe for you, that you will take this step. It can't hurt.
I VISION THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO RETURN HERE to discover more potential solutions for you as I research, explore and share my findings. I wish you and anyone else affected by child abuse and neglect--FREEDOM from a traumatic past, present and future.
BLESS YOU, and please continue to play, listen, share, fan, arrange, mash-up, and produce All My Life (any version) plus like, tweet, and promote this blog and it's content. Together we can do what we cannot do alone.
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