~~~ PATHOS ~~~

Pathos is a Greek word for passion. One of the most important words in my lexicon. I feel passion is the driving force behind all pursuits in our life. Passion produces an energy that  enhances expressions of humanity.

"To live without passion is like a heart with no beat"

Quote by Stephen Hill

What inspired this post was the Winter Olympics which are about to begin with opening ceremonies in Sochi  Russia.   I have been watching the interviews with the athletes, not just from the US but from around the world. Heart wrenching stories  about preparations for the Olympics and what the families go through to  help the hopeful Olympians. In each interview  the word Passion was spoken. That it takes Passion to be the best at the sport of choice. 

I was blessed to have worked at the Olympic village in Munich Germany  and at first hand see the passion in the eyes of the Olympians from around the world. I worked for the Kempiski hotel chain and we fed the athletes. 

Passion can be contagious when sharing with others. This is the "secrete " Ingredient  for life in general. I am a very passionate person. I never hesitate to cry when someone or something moves me.

I have told my kids that in life that they should find something  they are passionate about and do it as a job and get paid for doing something you love to do. 

Allow your passion to be expressed. Allow others to see your passion. Witnesses to such passion are necessary  to gain inspiration to purse one's goal to achieve in life.

The Olympics can serve as an opportunity to unite all people on this planet as, separated only by the colors of their flag. 

Attached below is a video I used in the last time I posted about the Olympics. Dedicated to the mothers who were the driving force behind their kids achievements with passion. 

Let us all unite all humanity with Pathos

Love and Light to you all!

~~~~THE DARK SIDE OF MANKIND ~~~~

In Aurora Colorado in the US, not far from the Columbine High School massacre which happened in 1999 another senseless killing spray took place and the venue this time ~~~ was a movie theater. A place where people go to take a break from everyday reality. The last thing in their mind was possibly being a victim of a shooting rage from a very misdirected individual, a suspect who was reported to be one of the smartest students at his university with a great future in medicine, ironically to help people.  Some sources claim he was an exceptional intelligent student . Twelve people are dead and 58 were injured. 

Watching the opening ceremonies for this year's Olympics reminded me that  I was hired by the Kempiski Hotel organization of Germany to work in the food service department of the Olympic village in 1972. This was in Munich Germany. Yes ~~~ I experienced first hand, the  terrorism the world had not seen before. I got to know one of the Israeli athletes, before he was shot in the village. We were then threaten by the terrorists that if Germany did not free the two terrorists which were captured at the airport where the entire Israeli team was massacred they would blow up the entire village of athletes and people working there.  Needless to say,  I realized then the world would never be the same again.

The first thing that comes to mind is:

We two legged life forms are the only spices of life on earth who contemplates, attacks and kills  seemingly  without cause or reason. Four legged, winged and finned kill for food and survival.To attack a human one does not not know or seen before in any way is a random viscous killer.  Why can we not live as the rest of the animal kingdom? This suspect was, is totally disconnected with our Creator.

Disconnection with our creator causes all kinds of deceptions of the real world. One becomes so misguided  there is gradual  disassociation with the world. I am not a psychologist nor a doctor to offer possible opinions as to why this happens. Nor do I want to give that condition an energy at all. I rather that we focus on bringing humanity to a place of world peace and unity for the sake of our future on this planet.

It was a little more than 7 years ago when there was talk of Armageddon, that the world could come to an end as we knew it on December 21st 2012 at 1:11 AM.  Much of the world's population would disappear. Ala ~~ the movie "2012".

Then I became fanatic about the concept since as   many coincidences manifested like the numbers  11 or 11-11 that I was attracted to  from a child. Then there are  the called prophecies  and that the Mayan Calender ends on December 21, 2012 at 1:11 AM. Mayans, ~~~ a culture which has predicted every significant astrological event that has taken place in our solar system right down to the date and time of the event correctly.

I believe there will be physical changes in the world that had  been first noticed and recorded 60 years ago as the poles are shifting at a pace faster than ever during our lifetime. This~~and with all the planets aligning in the universe,  cannot help but to have an effect on the planet's atmosphere. We also have done our share of destruction by polluting our air and clear cutting forests from our plant planet for decades.

I say to you all, ~~~ if we all go down on or about December 21st at 11-11 AM it will be at the hands of mankind. It will not be the earth that is going to destroy humanity. It will be humanity that will destroy itself. Mankind's conscientiousness is not in the place it should be.  Events like in the movie theater or the Olympic village in front of the world could happen more frequently and in a greater scale.There could be an event from our atmosphere  that could shut down communications in our world such as cell phones, or any electronic devices because of the changes that are taking place.  Those who have no faith and are  not connected with the divine will be lost and will panic.They will  destroy each other.Thus, it will not be our planet who will destroy humanity, it will be humanity who destroy itself with greed, lust, hatred and mass murders as the events in the described above.

The photo above represents humans, regardless of race or creed, who came together in anguish to comfort each other  as they can also do in total unity  for the sake of life.

 

I had a recent experience at "Trader Joe's", a health conscience store nearby where I live. I noticed an employee who appeared to be preoccupied with something in her mind that generated  her obvious negative disposition.  I walked up to her and commented what a beautiful person she appeared to be.  You   could see how the comment pierced her psyche and  she revealed a beautiful smile and she said with  an obvious pleasant surprise  while we were speaking she said  "that ~~"I had just made her day and she  really needed that"It doesn't matter what was distracting her. She just need some positive energy.

Speaking for  myself: I treat each day as a blessing from life itself. I recognize that at anytime or day my mortal life can be taken and there maybe nothing I can do to prevent it. So ~~~~ having said that, while I am still horizontal and breathing in the Pnevma, ~~ spirit, I will love and treat everyone I am in contact with as if it were my final breath.

Regardless of what happens to us and the planet by the end of the  year, I am in a very peaceful place and ready to transform my energy. In the meantime I will love and respect all life on the planet. The more we preach and promote spirituality  perhaps mankind will survive what ever challenges come our way either in December or anytime our planet continues to exist.

Do you believe that  if some stranger  walked up to the suspect earlier that day or even just before he gathered his weapons at the theater, and treated him with a smile and some pleasantries, ~~  would he have gone through with the killings? Perhaps he would have.  Then again, maybe not. Sometimes random acts of kindness can be a stimulating experience for someone in depression. One thing I know,  ~~ regardless of appearance, race, culture or  creed I will treat each human with love, greetings with warmth. 

When I was with my daughter, Kayley, I engaged in a beautiful conversation with the person who took our order for food at a small restaurant called "Rod's. last night. The person was from Mexico but her Husband is from Greece. We ending up speaking in Greek and Spanish as if we knew each other for years and we were family. I had been to this place hundreds of times when I lived in the neighborhood,  but never engaged in a conversation with her. I actually do not recall seeing her before.

We can help save humanity, by treating everyone  like family. Similar to my previous post. We may not have any control of the changes Mother Earth is going through now, but we will not react in a desperate negative manner when and if when those changes take place. 

There can be peace and life after the storm:

Develop your peace now and share it with everyone you can. Spread the good news, Mother Earth and humanity will survive together! Reach out to the creator and always be cognoscente of his presence.

Spread the word of unity and peace for all!

Love and Light!

~~ MONASTICISM AND CELIBACY ~~

I have always tried to feel the passion of one who has the calling to be alone as a hermit or to live among fellow monks, away from society and fellow humans ~~ except for other fellow human monks whose path is identical. Day in and day out, ~~ non stop praying. There are monks  in most religious sectors.  For the most part,   there are a few common denominators  in their daily life. 

~~First and foremost,  they are Celibate. 

~~They live amongst Mother Nature. 

~~They are dedicated to the service of God, our creator. 

~~That such dedications elevates him and brings him closer to God. With each breath a prayer is said in God's honor. 

On the issue of celibacy: Read from the New Testament : 1 Corinthians ("The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife") In other words, the woman is considered a distraction to the male "workers" of the church. This is not a sexist statement as there are Convents where  women can be also dedicated to the word of God, the creator, and they too are celibate for the same reason. Men could be a distraction to their path of choice.

The church has created cannon law regarding priests and celibacy. This is one among many cannon laws which have nothing to do with spirituality and communication with our creator and yet Celibate priests are asked to give advice on marriages and sexual issues of which the priest may not have any experience and certainly not in the area of raising children. 

Another cannon law, In the Greek Orthodox church you may be married before getting ordained but if your wife dies while you are still young, you may not re-marry. Is this spirituality? Is the church cutting off it's head in spite of it's nose?

Once a believer dedicates his life to God, our creator, it would certainly make since that when he leaves society he places himself in Mother Nature. Every monastery  and convent I have visited was surrounded by incredible beauty by Mother Earth! If these places were available to the public they would all be 5 star resorts if they could tame the wildlife there which is exactly what the monks will never do and rightfully so. This tranquility and peaceful beauty inspires continuous prayer and meditation. 

Here are my emotional challenges on this topic:

When humanity in this world has reached all time lows I view monasticism along the lines of selfishness, and running from the problems instead of helping with their spirituality.  

I have visited Mount Athos in Greece over a dozen times over the years. No women are allowed on the Peninsula where Mount Athos exists. The only way to arrive at the Peninsula is by a boat, taken from a small Greek village called Ouranopoulos which literally means "The city of the sky." When I first went to the Peninsula it felt like a row boat. It was that small and the waves would throw us around like a rag doll. There is no electricity and there is only a telephone at the capital city of Mount Athos. I have posted on Mount Athos before under "Holy Places" some time ago. 

There is no doubt that the monks on Mount Athos have have developed the highest level of dedication. They have left their "old" life behind, never to return to society. Literally the monks abandon civilization. 

While there are 20 monasteries on the peninsula, ~~  there are also hermits who live in huts carved into the sides of the mountain. These humans do not even associate with the monks at the monasteries. Some have not seen another human for years. They feed off the vegetation of the mountain. 

I cannot take my faith down this path, as I feel the need to reach out to society and help the people who may be lost spiritually and work for world unity and peace.

Please see this amazing video on Mount Athos which is one of a two part show from 60 minutes here in the US. I then suggest you see the other videos about this incredible choice of life style and dedication to God.

You choose the depth of your dedication to God, our creator and I say reach out to all humans and living creatures on Earth. You may not  accomplish this in a hut on the side of a mountain or in a secluded monastery, except by prayer. I choose to put myself out there and write blogs, speak at seminars, etc. in my everyday activity.


Peace and Love to all!

~~ MY MOTHER LEFT FOR THE AFTERLIFE ~~

Yesterday my mother left for the afterlife. Her Soul and spirit have moved into a beautiful energy bestowed by the Creator. The Native Americans believe that there is no death, just a change of worlds. In other words, a change of energy.

There are chants the Buddhists monks do when visiting the dying at a house. There are many verses. One is:

"Even the gorgeous royal chariots wear out; and indeed this body too wears out. But the teaching of goodness does not age; and so Goodness makes that known to the good ones."

 Speaking of teachers, our parents were AND STILL ARE OUR TEACHERS OF LIFE.

Below is an excerpt from the poem "Do not stand  at my grave and Weep" by Lucie Storrs at www.thelightbeyond.com

 

Do not stand at my grave and mourn.

I am the dew-flecked grass at dawn.

Where tranquil oceans meet the land

I am the footprints in the sand

To guide you through the weary day.

I am still here; I'll always stay.

My mother left footprints in the universe that will be recognized by those who loved her as long as we still walk this planet. Her passion and love for all animals in this world will be felt when  we look into the eyes of the four legged, feathered, finned , etc.

There were many health and other challenges my mother had to face from  childhood to late in her adult life. She still managed to be a teacher of life, a peacemaker, a mother and a  spiritualist.  I owe who I am today to both passed parents.

I embrace the energy of my mother's spirit and find the strength  through her spirit. I use that strength for the good of the people who survived her passing as this is what our passed loved one would want. 

We may go to the places on earth she liked when she was walking the planet and you will see and feel her energy. We may cry and the tears will be her spirit caressing us, letting us know that her energy is with us and our pain will become relief and happiness. In Greek, it is said, "Zoe Se Sas!" -- Yes, life to the survivors! Life on earth continues and so does my mother's spirit and soul.