RIPPLES...
Rev. John T. Crestwell, Jr.
Where I grew up, if you did not learn the rules of male superiority you were called weak. My teachers were broken black men in the neighborhood trying to give me their best advice. They told us and their sons to “be tough” and “man up” and “don’t throw like a girl.” They taught us to “keep her in her place”. Those misguided brothers told us this toxic stuff because that’s what they knew. When you know better you do better. They thought we needed to hear this stuff survive. They were trying to help us with really bad advice. Advice is over-rated. I've let go of my blame of them. But that doesn't mean that those guys who are now middle-aged don't have a big responsibility in supporting a woman's body, soul, and spirit rights as a sentient being. All men have to make amends and it will not be an easy path to forgiveness.
Black and Brown men in America are a reflection of the virtues and vices within dominant culture (and visa versa).
Wiki says that in science, complementarity deals with "particles and wave patterns of light that have complementary properties". Complementarity is about yin and yang balance which creates harmony and flow. That’s the goal in good relationships--flow and coexistence.
As it is said, "like attracts like". Opposites do not attract they detract. When you are with someone who seems like your opposite, they're just showing you a part of you that has not emerged. That's what's attracting you.
When you become whole you will attract a whole being. Most people attract the parts of others they want to master themselves. Eventually you realize what the other has mastered is authenticity and fearlessness in the area(s) where you think you lack.
With two people they must balance their individual and collective polarities to find harmony in the relationship. Doing it alone is easier. However the magic is two harnessing the power of the cosmos. Two souls create a fractal vibration and that makes three and three is how universes are made. That's why the great teacher said, "Where two or more are gathered there am I."
Joni is seen as white, and me, black. I like to say to her, “Let’s balance the world together, baby!” We are a physical embodiment of yin and yang energy. A fractal pattern changing lives. Sometimes she’s yang and I’m yin. Sometimes the inverse is true. Most of the time we are both yin and yang--balanced karma.
When Adam “knew” Eve they consummated their
union. This is a metaphysical story
about the monad becoming a dyad. 1 + 2 = 3. The yin
and yang consummated their marriage and gave birth to humanity. That's the holy triangle. 1 and 1 makes 3. You could say that Source caused two atoms to became entangled
and reproduce. This is a story of how universes form.
The monad is male and female energy. Its color is gray. Live in the gray.
Scripture says: "If lukewarm I shall spew you out" meaning that gray is choice less and is always judged by black/white or us versus them dualism. Rise above the dichotomy to find peace. When your mind is stuck on one side of the pole, positive or negative, you leave the kingdom of peace and enter the world of loss and suffering which is sometimes necessary.
UNITY
All is one. Look at the pictures from Hubble. When you realize that all is one then you understand that the only war going on is the one INSIDE OF YOU. As you speak peace you begin to live peace. You begin embracing a new reality that makes your life happier, healthier and holy-er.
Look up Krishnamurti and practice his "choiceless awareness" when you need to visit heaven.
What is the circle of life? It is the motion of the earth, planets, moons, and stars is it not? When I’ve discussed mastering your patterns to master your life—when I’m talking about noticing things more—the plain stuff right in front of you—to be here now as many say—to be present to receive your present—the gift of the present moment, am I not talking about the rhythm and harmony in nature?
"To the beat of the rhythm of the night--dance until the morning light." That was a lyric from a hit song by the singing group DeBarge. Remember them? This tune and lyrics represent unity--balancing night and light.
Religion must evolve into spirituality and science must merge with metaphysics. Wherever you find this you will find unity and people who do less harm.
There is no separation between physics and metaphysics, profane and sacred. It’s a false-dichotomy. physics exists because of metaphysics and the profane contrasts the sacred. Both are needed for a human experience.
When we fix our religion, we will fix our science. When we fix our science, we will fix our religion or spirituality. We are all entangled in a giant web of clashing/colliding realities, and our central task is to balance the polarities that divide us internally and externally.
LABOR DAY
This is a critical time in US history and really world history. We are experiencing labor pains and it hurts. We are weary. The contractions are evident. But we are on the precipice of giving birth to something.
The sacred and profane, faith and reason are not mutually exclusive but work together. Many of us must become more ambidextrous with our constructs.
If you're stuck in either/or thinking then your software is out of date. Who keeps a computer 20 years without updates?
There is no separation between physics and metaphysics, profane and sacred. It’s a false-dichotomy. physics exists because of metaphysics and the profane contrasts the sacred. Balance is needed.
Roman Emperors positioned themselves as the center of the story. The emperor was the savior of the world. Rome used this ancient motif to justify its ends. Millions were slaughtered. This has been the prevailing story of power on earth for 2000 years. They were the progenitors of this narrative and they extended it as far as they could east to west. Prior to the Roman Empire’s dominance, human life was different, less global—more local. The point is that time has ended and now we live in an new age of globalization which is spawning spiritualization on the planet.
Just by way of “discovering" land that was already occupied, our forebears became like their fathers and mothers inheriting their mortal sins. Paying down the deficit in 2020 is not the real concern. That is the bloated example of the spiritual part of us that yearns to be satisfied and whole. Paying down the karmic debt is the real story. As we pay that down we will watch our economic problems dissipate.
Earthlings, what new story can you tell yourself to feel better? If we are not conquering or controlling or telling people how to believe, or whom to love what would life be like then?
When White people (even one) sees that there is something corrupt in our systems, where the same stuff keeps happening over and over, keeping the same people down—in a cycle of purgatorial abuse—when a white person recognizes this—that’s progress.
White people writing books about their fragility, supremacy and privilege and their books becoming best-sellers in America—that is progress. When I turn on the TV and see POC and interracial couples on so many commercials that I’m astounded—yes that may be trivial—but that is progress.
When professional sports like NASCAR and the NFL began publishing and publicly chastising individuals and groups who disparage the Black Lives Matter movement then I know that we are witnessing major progress on this planet.
The National Football League is a microcosm of America. The black players do the laboring (for a lot of money certainly) and the white men own the team and have a lot more money.
When the number of NFL owners and quarterbacks is 50% non-white to white, we will have reached equality in our country. That's why Colin Kaepernick is, to me, a national hero because he ignited a flame of reconciliation by demanding to be seen, heard and understood. He kneeled with his fist raised high tying his mission to the past giving it legitimacy. He leads the way for our country and for the NFL. Keep watching this...
Finally! Professional sports owners and commissioners, are speaking up about racism and injustice in sports which has led to a worldwide conversation on skin color prejudice. We are all witnessing the changing of the guard in many sports. It's exciting!
When white people tell me how weird they feel now in all-white paces because they prefer more diversity…that’s progress! It's not near enough but it is progress and that should be acknowledged.
