Category Archives: Consider

Consider, Issues

Abbotsford Police Video

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It was not really surprising to view the video of the Abbotsford Police Department officers using excessive physical force in arresting two suspects.

When you have been homeless and/or advocate for the homeless one becomes familiar with the less that professional behaviour exhibited by some APD officers.

Given the treatment of the homeless and others perceived as powerless, seeing the video of the offices walking on, kicking, standing on the neck of and driving the face into the ground was not surprising at all.

Moreover, it was not the physical assault that was the most disturbing aspect of this incident.

No, what was most disturbing was the APD spokesperson’s repeatedly uttering of the reminder that the suspects were arrested on drug dealing charges – as if this fact made the use of excessive force acceptable.

The spokesperson’s statements suggest that the APD has a cultural attitude that it is acceptable behaviour to abuse people who belong to certain groups.

It is not. The APD needs to be told by city council and citizens that everyone officers deal with must be treated in a professional matter.

Consider, Hmmm

Faith must be Lived, Practiced.

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The heading of a Faith Matters column, “Are you ready for the backhoe’s arrival?” had me wondering why Christian religions seem so focused on death and about the implications contained within statements such as “Are you ready for the backhoe’s arrival?”?

“Are you ready for the backhoe’s arrival?” carries within it the threat ‘the unprepared are going to suffer eternal agony’ which has always struck me as extortion. If you don’t worship ME (God), you are going to suffer for eternity. Suggesting that God is someone you do not want to encounter in a dark alley.

Although this ‘or else’ extortion approach tends to explain why Christian religions are so heavily populated by people who show up at church on Sunday and say all the right words (paying off the worship debt owed to avoid the “or else”) but fail to practice spiritual values in their daily lives.

I was raised in this death focused, ‘or else’ religious mentality and never was comfortable with spirituality. As a result spirituality was not something that existed in or impacted my day to day life.

It was not until my path led through mental illness, homelessness and poverty into recovery and wellness that I became comfortable in my own skin. As this journey of self-discovery and self-growth progressed, I began a journey of spiritual discovery and growth as well.

In sharp contrast to my previous experiences with religion and the concept of spirituality, this journey had nothing to do with death or ‘or else suffer agonizing consequences’.

In the same way my internal journey was about LIFE and the joy of a life lived well, this new spiritual journey was about the joy of weaving spirituality into the way I live, celebrate, LIFE. It was and is about establishing a personal spiritual relationship with my higher power, God as I understand her/it/him/unknowable, a relationship that is an integral part of the way one lives one’s life.

It is not a relationship to be trotted out when convenient or as needed. Indeed, it is a relationship that is often inconvenient and uncomfortable as one struggles with spirituality and the effect spiritual values have on how you live your life.

It is not a relationship that has anything to do with extorting worship, ‘or else’ or fear of death.

It is a relationship focused on LIFE and how you live it; focused on living life well and in harmony with one’s spiritual values each and every day.

One’s spirituality and relationship with your higher power becomes an intrinsic element of your life; fundamental to the way you live your life, every minute of your life.

It is not something one trots out for a few hours on a Sunday then puts away and ignores until it is once again Sunday. It is not a religious spirit one dons for a few hours on a Sunday then puts away so that the rest of the week you behaviour can be self-centered, all about yourself without regard to others, the world itself or spiritual values.

In this way it is not faith that matters; rather it is the spirituality, the relationship with your higher power that faith gives birth to in our lives that matters. All the faith in the world does you no good if it does not lead to a deepening personal spirituality and personal relationship with your higher power.

And no, I am not ready for the backhoe’s arrival. I have to much to accomplish, to many people needing help, to much life to live, a spiritual journey to continue and a personal, conscious relationship to explore with my higher power,

As a result of my ongoing journey I have no fear death, pursuing as I am a deep spiritual and personal relationship with my higher power.

behaviour, Consider

At least spend a moment to think of others.

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Greed, selfishness, it’s all about me ….not a very good basis to build a society on; so why have we done just that?

Indeed, greed, selfishness, it’s all about me has become so ingrained, so much part of the fabric of our society that people no longer even recognize this behaviour for what it is.

A, perturbing reality highlighted by the media coverage and the behaviour of the citizens involved and/or affected by the cancellation of the funding for the seniors programs. Threats of not voting Liberal to blackmail them into changing their decision, screams for the funding to be restored, etc …

I think the cancelled program is a good, cost effective program that delivers needed and beneficial services.

What disturbs me is that the reaction was this is taking something away from ME and I want it back.

As a society we have become so self-centred that when anything such as this happens, any situation that takes something away from ME, we scream to get it back without ever asking or considering what the cost to others is. Others? It is all about me!

If the money was restored to the program, where would it come from? If the $86,000 is put back into the seniors program, what program (or programs) loses $86,000?

If the province funds the $86,000 by increasing the deficit then we are simply adding to the burden of debt we have saddled our children, our grandchildren, great grandchildren … with. It is all about ME thinking has become so basic a part of our society that we do not give a passing thought to borrowing money and leaving future generations to pay for our self-indulgent, improvident life styles.

It is about ME; why should I consider the effect on those not ME?

The fact that ME based decision making lacks foresight, is incautious, is unwary and neglects to provide for future needs or the needs of others is not MY problem … until the consequences of this behaviour comes home to roost and good programs begin to be cut.

We can continue to make decisions based only upon ourselves, voting for those who tell us what we want to hear, the behaviour that got us where we are today…

Or we can consider others and the health of our society and begin to address issues, solve problems and perhaps manage to get ourselves out of the deep hole, karmic and financial, that we have dug ourselves into.