Cloudy Souls

Good morning, LA!

Often in the wee hours of the morn I lay semi-asleep, aware of thoughts and images drifting through my mind. Those are the times I'm somewhere between levels of realities, opening the mental gate to ideas beyond my own mind.

Last night some interesting imagery floated on by. I saw the marine layer that often shrouds LA in a grey, drab fog as a metaphor for the spiritual state of our people. As I gaze on the faces of LA I see so many dim lights. Rather than shining with the joy the Lord, most people appear clouded and grey. They are surrounded by a spiritual cloud of fear and guilt.

I might have forgotten that image upon awakening, as so many ideas dissolve at daybreak, but then my meditation time took me to Lesson 69 in "A Course in Miracles." Here is what it said:

"Think of your mind as a vast circle, surrounded by a layer of heavy, dark clouds. You can see only the clouds...From where you stand, you can see no reason to believe there is a brilliant light hidden by the clouds. The clouds seem to be the only reality. They seem to be all there is to see. Therefore, you do not attempt to go through them and past them, which is the only way in which you would be really convinced of their lack of substance."

The lesson then goes through a meditation to break through the clouds and reach the brilliant light beyond, the Light of the World.

The people of LA need to see the illusion of their personal fogs--the fears, the guilt, the anger and resentments that make up their reality. In truth, they have no substance, they are merely clouds.

Coming to know the Living Christ, being filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit--that's the way to the Light.

Oh Lord, blow away the clouds in the souls of LA. Show us your sparkling, blue sky, your Shining Son.

So Be It,
Mother T

Be Still, L.A.

Returning to LA has been a fascinating and jarring dose of culture shock. There are so many different stratas of society, culture, economics levels, religions and value systems all mixed into the cosmic soup of Los Angeles.

In some ways it's a modern version of Chicago in the 1930's when Al Capone and his fellow gangsters tore through the streets with tommy guns-- The Untouchables. Only 41% of homicides in LA are solved because people are afraid of retaliation. Last November a man on a crowded street was doused with gasoline and set on fire in broad daylight. No witnesses, no suspects.

Fear reigns.

Fear reigns and faith is weak. People here are so busy driving from place to place, scrambling for a living, listening to their I-POD and talking on their cell phone. They can't hear the Voice of God.

"Be Still and Know that I am God"

I believe the Lord is calling to many and they need only learn to be still and His voice will be heard over the din of planes, trains, ambulances, helicopters, lawn mowers and TV's.

Be Still, LA. Find a quiet place, a restful moment, a book of encouragement. Be Still and hear the whisper of Spirit--Fear not, for the Lord is with you.

Oh Lord, help us be Still to feel your presence, to know You. With You all things are possible. With You all fears released. Give us the courage to make our communities safe and filled with Your spirit.

So Be It,
Mother T
Mother_T@yahoo.com

The Definition of Insanity

The funeral for Jamiel Shaw, Jr. was highlighted on the news and recieved front page coverage on the Times. As incredibly sad as this story is, I'm very grateful it wasn't buried or ignored. An editorial about gang violence and interviews with people actually working with at-risk youths also made the paper. Awareness is a positive step.

Interestingly, one of the problems cited for the increase in uncontrolled gang violence is the incarceration of older gangsters and relatives no longer in the neighborhoods to bring an element of control. A new study showed that 1 in 15 blacks are currently in prison. 1 in 32 latinos are in jail.

So, are we safer now?

Lord, show us the way out of this insanity. Give us the courage to take responsibility for our communities and nurture children toward you and away from darkness.

So Be It,
Mother T

Sprinting for God

Homicide Report: Jamiel Shaw, Jr. a handsome black young man 17 years old, shown in his football uniform. He was approached by three Hispanics, asked what gang he belonged to and didn't respond. He was shot by these strangers and then held by his father. He died at the hospital.

Ratchonok Seeswa, a 28 year old Asian woman was stabbed to death in Downey.

Glen Giles, a 47 year old man was stabbed 18 times. He was the Director of New Business for Hallmark Data Systems

Two young men, Byron San Jose and Edwin Arevalo were shot by police officers in separate incidents. There were several comments on these deaths expressing anger at either the police or the young men.

Lord, we lift up these souls and their families to you. We ask you send comfort to those experiencing these losses first hand. We ask for healing from anger.

***

This weekend twenty-seven thousand runners hit the streets of Los Angeles for the LA Marathon. Wow, 27,000!

Paul talks about "running the good race." Wouldn't it be great if 27,000 believers trained and ran as hard spreading the power of peace as those marathoners did for a new Honda?

Think of the possibilities for real change in LA if we all really got charged at the starting line and sprinted to the finish for God.

Think about it.

Mother T.

Women of Courage

More schools were locked down in LA this week in the wake of a shooting spree at a bus stop that ended with five children and three adults wounded. At first the shooting suggested a random act of violence--a crazy man with a gun firing into the crowd. This, of course, caused an escalation of the fear that always grips the city. Random violence means anyone can be the next victim.

But then, there was a small sigh of relief. It appears this shooting was gang related--one target and the others innocent bystanders. Phew, things are back to normal. Gang violence is part of life here, like the beaches and the mountains. You gotta take the good with the bad. As long as the gangs are mainly shooting each other, life goes on.

DOES NO ONE ELSE SEE THE INSANITY IN THIS REASONING?

Now, there were calls for increased police protection and I heard a very eloquent council woman speaking out against the violence and I applaud her. But, it's going to take a critical mass change of attitude in LA for there to be any true change.

My next thought is: what are the mothers doing? Surely there are many women in thousands of households across the city feeding and raising these gang members. They aren't robots with guns. When will the women recognize their power and begin turning things around?

Women can make a tremendous difference when they quit being victims, refuse to accept with the unending cycles of violence. Think it can't be done?

Look to Ireland. In the 1970's Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan met at the funeral of Mairead's young nieces and nephews. Betty had witnessed their violent deaths on the streets of Belfast. They decided enough was enough. Decades of hate must come to an end. They formed Women of Peace, later changed to Community of Peace People and began non-violent marches for peace. They met with a lot of opposition, had their lives threatened, were injured and beaten. But like Gandhi, they grasped the concept that peaceful power is stronger than force. People began to change their behaviors. The women were awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts. Ireland is a much better place today.

LA can be a better place, also. The cycles can be broken, the chains of gang enslavement snapped. It can begin with the women.

Oh Lord, raise up women of courage, strength, and wisdom in this city. Let them see beyond the past, free them from hopelessness, deliver them from apathy. Begin a new work through You of peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

So be it,
Mother T