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A few weeks ago, I received news of an acquaintance who had ended her life. I was stunned. This is someone whom I did not know well, and unfortunately had lost contact with over time, but the blow was crippling just the same. Especially since this had been the third person in my life since last July to have done so.
These people who are completely unrelated to each other in any way shape or form, finding themselves in such a place as to not only contemplate this, but to go through with it boggles my mind. I'll be honest in confessing that the thought had ran through my mind a time or two since I've been living this incarnation, but had never had a thought of taking hold. Is it that I love life too much or that I'm chickenshit? Maybe it's that my time here is nowhere near complete and I have things to accomplish. Whatever the reason is, I still can't comprehend why someone would just go and do it. I know the world grows a bit darker with each passing, especially folks who I knew to bring so much light with them.
Blazing stars, each of them, leaving an indelible impression upon the sky that I look up to, an indelible impression on my heart and soul as well. I remember while reconnecting with mutual friends that they better fucking live forever, and I think I'm sticking to that thought. I fucking hate funerals, and fucking hate to say goodbye. Anyway, as we fade from this year's Samhain and continue on in the dark to the return of the Sun God, the return of the light or for my Christian readers and friends, the return of the Son of God and The Light, I pray each of you finds rest, and in my prayers and song, this goes out to each of you, P.V., A.F. and T.O...
Fare Thee Well
The lyrics while not exact, say quite a bit and it's quite the beautiful song as well. And for those who worry about my writing, I remind them of a simple but important phrase...
"... and miles to go before I sleep". I'm here for the long haul, even though I might not understand that haul all the time, I'm in it until it's complete.
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Recently, I was posed the question if I were to die today, would I go to heaven and hell and why? The question's poser, being devoutly Christian, sees things from a perspective laid out by their beliefs which of course is only natural. Whether the intent was to cause me distress with my beliefs or to ask an honest question of someone from a differing belief system, I cannot tell. And in the grand scheme of things, such pondering are immaterial to the discussion and indeed to the pertinence of life. So instead of questioning the querant's motives, I simply offer up my response for all to see.
Blessed Be.
Ed.
Question:
if you where to die right now where would you go heaven or hell and why
My Response:
I don't personally believe in heaven or hell in the traditional christian sense. I believe our existence at this time and at other times is that we're a physical embodiment of a spiritual being and that the connection is never severed, there's something akin to a thread that keeps us constantly connected.
I also believe that we are living our lives at this current moment in an educational endeavor, not in an academic sense as we're used to it, but in an experiential sense. I do believe in reincarnation, and I believe that with each life we're here to learn, to experience and to grow from those. Each of our experiences, each thing that happens to us no matter how good or how bad contribute to the whole that we are and to the whole of the spiritual self.
As far as heaven or hell, we set ourselves up for that experience, whether we give into what the bible refers to as the 7 deadly sins, or make a name and a buck or two by putting others at a disadvantage, these things stick to us and leave their marks, just as acting ethically and properly do. It's about stepping up and putting forth the effort to make your life and the lives of those around you better, not more toys, not lustier, not gluttonous, but truly better.
I also think that if we all came to understand that our relationship with the creative force we call God and the many other names that God is known by is personal and will have its own variations that we can allow others to exist and to work towards each of us finding our personal path, our own straight and narrow and peace can exist through that. And that to me is the true love of God.
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Anmorata
mon mar 31 2008
at 10:55 pm
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robert mac ineghe #275544
mon aug 18 2008
at 3:56 pm
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So there will be a good afterlife for every type of person? even the sick pedophiles?
if that is so, i dont want anything to do with that god. |
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Ok, so here's a note to the gentleman with whom my friend and I had the clandestine meeting with at the corner of Frankfort and Ewing Sunday night...
From the 2006 Kentucky Driver's manual for training new drivers for the Commonwealth's Highways (hint, you should be familiar with this considering *your* car's licensed here).
GREEN: If the way is clear, after
yielding the right-of-way to other
vehicles and pedestrians lawfully within
the intersection, you may go straight or
turn left or right, unless such turns are
prohibited.
***Left turns on green must
yield to through traffic coming from the
opposite direction.***
(separation of component text and emphasis added by me).
In other words, I HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY. (1)
When you proceeded to turn ANYWAY, I attempted to stop, to swerve to do ANYTHING to PREVENT THE COLLISION YOU INITIATED BY VIOLATING KENTUCKY STATE LAW.
*ahem*
As a result of your actions, I have lost the vehicle I had just finished paying off, my friend may potentially have suffered career ending injuries (which in fortunately far better than the initial life-threatening injuries that was the initial triage diagnosis). I have missed considerable amounts of work and I will have to figure out how I am to move forward from the setback effectively and efficiently. As this is a very significant problem you have managed to foist upon me in such a careless manner.
Oh by the way, I wasn't really amused by the argument you proposed that I should not have crossed *your* path and the collision was *my* fault. Considering your car is licensed for Jefferson County and that it could possibly be yours, meaning your would be licensed for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, your argument makes you a liar as well as technically a criminal for putting forth the effort that ended in said collision.
The saddest part of this mess is that you probably went home, had a beer, cussed me out and slept well, while I, my family and friends spent the night at Jewish trying to assess the personal damage you caused.
Gee, thanks, fucker.
(1) http://drlic.kytc.ky.gov/drivers_manual/driversmanual.htm
Download the PDF, go to page 13.
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chuck
mon feb 04 2008
at 10:27 am
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Hopefully the courts will agree with you.
Next time, just hit the errant car. Ha!
Best,
- C |
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Well this week has been quite the interesting one... had a meeting with the Red Barn Alumni Association Tuesday, which wasn't all that music, nor about entertainment, but figures in as when discussion came up about an event the next night, I was reminded of the Drum and Bugle Corps contest the next night and that I was going to be there or I would get beat like a drum head... soooo okee, Wednesday was all about the Drums and Bugles.
For the uninitiated, Drum and Bugle corps resembles Marching Band of our High School and College years, the difference being that while the percussion remain the same (snares, tenors/toms/multis, bass drums, and sideline pit percussion), there are no woodwinds on the field and the brass are all valved brass instruments (trombones are replaced by marching baritones, and marching euphoniums are used instead of traditional baritones or euphoniums... all, except for the tuba are held out in front similar to a trumpet. The tubas are not the traditional marching "wraparound" style known as the Sousaphone for their inventor, but are designed similarly to concert tubas and carried on the member's shoulder so that the bell which would normally face up, faces forward and can be quite cumbersome and heavy after a period of marching, including when not marching when they are carried vertically in front of said member). An interesting note, for those who envisioned a boy scout style "bugle", they would not be far from the original idea and design. Just over time and in the interest of both musicality and indeed cost, the bugles first had valves added, one at a time over the years (to account for the musicality in the number of notes that can be physically played) but the instruments were pitched in G. WIth the advent of the 3 valved horns, the governing body eventually relented and allowed for instruments pitched in the much more common keys of Bb and F for the mellophones (marching version of a french horn) so that groups could save money by not having to buy custom horns, and manufacturers could reduce costs by not having to put as much effort into a separate line. There are some subtle differences in design for say a trumpet versus a soprano bugle, but as the line blurs further, the distinctive design of the soprano bugle also fades.
Performances are far more over the top than traditional band performances and definitely dissimilar in theme to movies such as "Drumline" although the competitive nature can and sometimes is far more intense than even that movie portrayed. Everything from Rock and Pop to Classical to Jazz are utilized with varying degrees of difficulty. For instance, one group, the Cavaliers from Rosemont, Illinois did an interpretation of Billy Joel's "And So It Goes" that was phenomenal, in that instead of it being a direct interpretation of the song one would hear on the radio, a classical reworking was employed with grander lines, and development of themes already in the song. Billy Joel would indeed be proud of the music and effort put forth and of course, due to the DMCA and already existing licensing restrictions, he or at least the lawyers who oversee his writings are fully aware of the effort.
Another ensemble, the Phantom Regiment from Love's Park, Illinois performed a conceptual show they entitled "Air" that incorporated many themes and pieces from past year culminating in a very interesting reinterpretation the Finale from Igor Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite". It was a very intense show, with less "fun" per se than the Cavalier's show, but just as satisfying. The win should've been between these two ensembles as their effort was impeccable, the music was tight for 120 total people on the field (that also includes Color Guard/Flag Corps of course, so the number of brass and percussion vary from with a number lower than 120 (in the 2008 season, the total number of performers will increase to 150 members). And of course there's choreography to support the musical efforts. Horn flashes, constant movement and all the pomp and circumstance one would expect from such a show and effort put forth from such a group.
And the kicker of this event? All members performing at this event are listed as being in "Junior Corps", meaning they are all 21 or younger (usually High School or College age, but in the past many have had members as young as 9 or 10). On a funny note, the junior corps are far more competitive than their senior counterparts, who are actually open to any age, again, usually from High School age and up, but senior corps are most often referred to as "weekend warriors", out to have fun more than compete. The junior groups usually begin their camps (weekend rehearsal sessions) as early as November and will rehearse numerous weekends to the begin of the competition season in the middle part of June. The season continues with almost nightly performances culminating in the week that is Drum Corps International's (DCI) finals week. There the groups perform within their class and those in the lower classes whose scores and potentials (both musically and financially) show promise can move to the next class up. Competition continues with quarterfinals, semifinals, etc., until 12 groups remain for the Finals.
And for those decrying no mention of the ensemble The Cadets from New Jersey (who did win the competition), I refer to my brother's thoughts on their performance (also due to lack of space for this entry), "Shut up and play". :)
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kydruid
mon jul 16 2007
at 7:12 pm
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For those who'd like to know more, visit www.dci.org |
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kydruid
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My thoughts on life and the insanity therein. Sometimes uplifting and inspiring, sometimes filled with rage or sorrow. Regardless, it is what I feel, who I am.
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