The Wounded Child of No Regard

He sits alone in his room.  In bitter anguish, he recalls the most recent exploits of his classmates, and he regrets the day he was born.  The agonizing banter of their scorn resounds in his head; a mock parody for their entertainment!  Finally, he curls into a near fetal position, in spite of his over-sized belly, and welcomes the night.

There is comfort gained from this disappearing act, and silently, he cries.  His tears emanate a private manifestation of his sadness, and a reminder of his most solemn vow; never again would his classmates see him cry. Since he realized that crying incited a plethora of torment, he simply joined the laughter, which invited more hostility.

The day is over; and he prays that tomorrow will not come. His life, now veiled by despair, is no longer worth the trouble; being morphed from inconvenience to trepidation, horror, and an overwhelming dread that looms in the hallways, the locker-room and showers, and even on the bus ride home!

So, he’s fat! So what! He wondered why the kids at school were so compelled to remind him.  Did they think he was BLIND?  His struggle with obesity met several vigorous attempts to lose weight, but these efforts only fostered dashed hopes, because he wanted so badly to be accepted.

He would have been a great friend, given the chance, yet he was just the “fat kid.” No one was aware of his talents. For one, he could draw! He painstakingly drew with such detail that his canvases came alive, yet his art remained obscure and unnoticed.  He sketched people.  Children with bruises, mothers that frowned, and people with empty stares.  His drawings offered solace by recognizing the plight of others, for he was bitterly familiar.

He also was a fierce collector of baseball cards.  What began as a hobby had morphed into a collection that aspired appreciation across the internet.  His online profile, a false reveal, worked to his advantage, for online…he was sharp and savvy!  Here, he became a worthy contender, as his portfolio could attest.

His one trait of common knowledge was his love of food.  He consumed food like an alcoholic consumes liquor, not realizing this compulsion paralleled band-aiding a slit throat.  Eating became a subconscious attempt to deaden his pain; a pain so profound that he feared to ponder it.

His life had become despondent.  A dismal fear, held dear, with such an entangled embrace that he no longer had the fortitude to endure it.  With the decision made and the method researched, his only regret was awarding his classmates their ultimate trophy, the last laugh.  Be so as it may, on the eve of his fifteenth birthday, he ended his life.

The heartaches of the wounded child of no regard are often unbearable, and it is the responsibility of every parent to teach children to be kind to others. Within diversity…be it race, creed, gender, and yes, obesity…is the opportunity to gain awareness through acceptance. Bullying has become so prevalent, and the effect of abusive words are such that the cause is lost by those who have forgotten that charity begins at home.

I marvel at the rhetoric pertaining to this crisis, even though the psychological effects of bullying are monumental, and suicidal ideation has become a notable trend among our youth. As a society, we must commit to re-establish lines that dare not be crossed on our school campuses, and in our communities.

States and school districts now have mandated policies and increased legislative practices that can prevent bullying, yet the bully prevails. Though old habits die hard, especially in the southern regions of the United States, but they do die…with applied pressure! Today, we have the tools at our disposal to ensure a safe learning environment for our children, tools that are deemed worthless when districts go unchallenged. If parents of bullied children must pursue a compensation claim against a school for negligence, so be it!  Diligence and due process are critical, and necessary steps toward rescuing our children.

Easter or Passover…There Goes Peter Cottontail

Before I commit to this blog, let me say that I DO NOT believe that if someone dyes Easter eggs, and fills a basket with chocolate treats for the little ones to empty so they can collect the eggs that the Easter Bunny hid while they were sleeping, is going to hell.  I say this because we, as a nation, have cultivated tradition as it applies to our Holidays so deeply that the mere mention of their pagan origins not only incites hostilities, it almost always ensures a “slammed door” on the conversation. You see, I not only ran with fervor as a child to fill my basket, I faithfully filled baskets for my children and stayed up late to hide the bunny’s loot!  I get it.  I am not suggesting that Easter Egg Hunts be outlawed, or that Peter Cottontail be tarred and feathered; but that the fun and games not overshadow the reason we celebrate Easter…the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Son of the living G-d. For the most part, we as Americans are not aware of the feasts, or festivals that were ordained by G-d as they, among other Torah perspectives, have been perverted from their original meanings. We forget that he first believers in Jesus were all Jewish and not until the salvation of Cornelius, in the tenth chapter of Acts, do we see that the Good News of the Kingdom was opened to the gentiles. When the gentiles became co-heirs of the Kingdom, major changes took place, first among the Jews, and also among the gentiles. The gentile believers were known as the “G-d-fearers”, who left paganism and incorporated the teachings of the Torah with some even attending Synagogue. It is certain that within both groups of believers, the working of Messiah within the Sabbath, the festivals, and customs were understood. In the year 66 C.E., the Apostle Paul died and the Jewish nation revolted against the Roman Empire.  Four years later the Roman Legions encircled Jerusalem at the feast of Passover. Jesus was clear that the generation that was alive at the time of His death would see the destruction of Jerusalem. He had instructed that when the city was encircled by the enemy, they were to flee and this is what they did, enter, The Diaspora, or dispersion. The Jewish people became scattered throughout the Roman world, a world hostile to the Jews, where anti-Jewishness became popular and the opposite was interpreted as not being loyal to Rome. In spite of this, Jews were still becoming believers, as well as many Gentiles. Later, Constantine, the Caesar of Rome who, for political reasons, embraced a group that was now called Christians. In 325 C.E, The Council of Nicaea was formed. Included therein were the leaders of the churches throughout the land, with the exception of even one Rabbi. They prevailed to outlaw the Biblical Calendar, making the Sabbath a Sunday, as well as replacing Passover with Easter, in honor of the Babylonian goddess of fertility, and Sukkot with Christmas, for the Roman Sun God’s birthday.  Hence, the “Christian Creed” and the New Testament Writings came forth from the findings of this council. The faith was now a totally different religion; having Greek names, concepts, and holidays that substantiated the gentiles. Yet, in the 23^rd chapter of Leviticus, we see how the feasts, or festivals represent G-d’s appointed times. They are to teach of Messiah. In the festivals G-d explains, defines, demonstrates, and reinforces Himself, and His Plan. The Festivals are a picture of G-d’s plan for man. The first festival is called Passover. In Exodus 12, G-d instructed that on the 10^th day of the month of Aviv (March 21), each family was to bring into their home a male lamb, without fault or blemish. For the next four days, they would nurture and inspect it.  It is no coincidence that the Lamb of G-d entered Jerusalem this same day. We see in Mathew 21. 7-9, that Jesus, the Lamb of G-d, followed the procession of the Temple Lamb, after which, he was “inspected” for 4 days; and no fault was found in him. Finally, at 3:00, or the ninth hour, the priest would blow the shofar to announce the lamb had been slain; and we see Luke 23:44–46, that this is precisely the time Jesus died. The feast of Passover, when a sacrificial lamb would take away the sins of the world, was a “holy convocation” (Leviticus 23), or recital, which pointed to Jesus as the perfect sacrifice…Jesus was and is enough. It would be precarious for me to even hope that we, as a nation, would integrate the Levitical Feasts into our culture as a social norm, however, I can hope that consideration of the Feast of Passover be honored with a fresh understanding of G-d’s Love for Man.

Is It Too Late?

“…that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”–ABRAHAM LINCOLN

My fellow Americans, our nations bane hasn’t been caused, nor can it be blamed on any one person, or official, because our Constitution was framed to protect us from an overly imposing government.

While Legislative Bills and Executive Orders were redefining our Constitution and Bill of Rights, we slept. Now, we are faced with the unimaginable;  America, rendered powerless to the grip of globalization!

The benefits of being an American have begun to dim, as our homeland bears little resemblance to the “Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.”  No longer are the nations of the world motivated to respect us, and the oppressive nations ostentatiously bewail our demise by their acts of open aggression.

Though I am but one voice, I pray that many will arise; sounding like a mighty wind that will not be denied.  We need to reassess the value of our freedom before it has been ceded to hostile subjugation.  Otherwise, the obvious will prevail… “I didn’t recognize my enemy, because that monster looked just like me!”

An Open Letter to Ministers

It is not uncommon for theological perspective to form concepts which, by a spirit of religiosity, doctrine, and ceremony, obliterates and perverts the  simple message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Sadly, this religious orientation renders the theologian unobservant to the consequences of his actions.

Jesus preached primarily on the subject of The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.  He preached that He didn’t come to abolish The Law but to fulfill them (Mt 5:17).  He said, this is my commandment: that you love one another…(Jn 15:12).  A comprehensive review of The Parables from all 4 Gospels would serve as a reminder of our purpose in the army of The Lord…a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a Holy Nation…a peculiar people that show forth the Praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His Marvelous Light (I Pe 2:9,10).

There are so many people who appear ungodly and unlovable, many wounded from being rejected by shepherds who failed to discern them as a baby lamb, a lamb that the wolves have attacked, or a lamb that knew not a herd.  They probably dress poorly, speak abruptly, and use alcohol or drugs as a coping mechanism for their pain.  Beware!  A quick review of The Parodical Son should serve as a reminder of The Love of God for the lambs you ignore and reject.

There was a homeless man who set out to find Jesus.  He had met Jesus while in prison and the two of them spent a lot of time together.  When he was released, he couldn’t find Jesus on the streets of the busy city, though he searched both day and night.

One day, he saw a church with a big, bright sign above its door…”COME to JESUS!”  As tears flooded his eyes he rushed in and sat in a back pew.  Oh, he wished he had new clothes, a haircut, new shoes… then suddenly, one of the Pastors approached him and asked him to leave and not to return until he made himself presentable!  As the man left sobbing, his hopes forever dashed, Jesus appeared saying, “Dry your eyes, for I am not welcomed here either!”

My final admonishment is to remember the spiritual laws regarding mercy; and yes, there are spiritual laws which govern the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.  Be merciful and judge not.  Remember, you could even be entertaining angels unaware (He 13:2).

The Wounded Child of No Regard

     He sits alone in his room.  In bitter anguish, he recalls their most recent exploits and rues the day he was born.  The agonizing banter of their scorn resounds as he curls into a fetal position that he cannot complete due to his over-sized belly.

     There is a comfort to be gained by such a disappearing act.  Silently, he cries.  The tears are inherently a private manifestation of his sadness, and a reminder of his most solemn vow;  Never again will they see him cry.  They can call him names and laugh at him, but he has learned to laugh with them.  He was only 10 years old when he realized that his tears invited heightened onslaughts of verbal attacks, producing multiplied cycles of torment… a personal assignment each tear.  He soon realized a sense of power over them as he denied them his tears, restricting their amusement by the sheer act of forced laughter.

Finally, he succumbs to slumber as he prays that tomorrow would not come; That he could escape the morning, because he would gladly trade his very breath to escape the school bell as it ushers in another day.  The days of his life have become veiled by despair, and like his own viability, seem nonexistent and void of worth.  His memory is absent of joy and happiness as he tries to recollect a smile of pride from anyone that he knows, but he cannot.

He is acutely aware of the fact that he is fat; He has been overweight for as long as he can remember.  He had been to several doctors, hoping to finding something…anything to blame, but his prognosis was “the speech” and a diet plan.  Every failed effort to circumvent the obvious was met with the cold, hard, truth;  His shame and utter blame for this condition.  He was fat, and he knew it!  Why did the kids at school feel so compelled to remind him with their sneering and name calling?

Was anybody aware of the fact that he could draw? Not even a teacher, from this present year or past, had ever commented on his artwork.  He painstakingly drew with such detail, that the final picture became a remarkable resemblance of it’s subject.  He drew people.  He drew children with bruises, mothers that frowned, and people with empty stares.  These were the people by whom he offered a glimpse of awareness of their plight and bitter familiarity of the wounds within the deepest of hearts.

He wondered if anybody knew that he collected baseball cards.   For years, he had managed a portfolio which aspired appreciation across the internet.  His online profile failed to reveal the real person at the keyboard, which worked to his advantage because online…he was sharp and savvy and popular.  He enjoyed trading online and became a worthy contender as his collection could attest.

The one thing that was sure to become common knowledge was the fact that he loved to eat.  He consumed food like an alcoholic consumes liquor.  He failed to realize that the compulsion was like using a band-aid on a slit throat.  Eating became a subconscious attempt to deaden his pain;  Pain, so profound…he feared pondering it.

His life had become despondent.  A dismal fear, held dear, with such an entangled embrace that he no longer had the fortitude to endure.  With the decision made and the method researched, his only regret was that he resented rewarding his classmates their ultimate trophy, the last laugh.  Be so as it may, on the eve of his fifteenth birthday, he ended his life.

The heartaches of the wounded children of no regard are unbearable, and it is the responsibility of every parent and teacher to teach their children to be kind to others. At every level of diversity, be it race, creed, gender, and yes, obesity, is the opportunity to expand one’s awareness of others, rewarding one another fulfillment.  It is sad that bullying has become so prevalent.  The effect of abusive words are such that the cause is lost in a society that has forgotten that charity begins at home.  Are we the resulting factor of a generation that has no basic moral standards?  Have the baby-boomers been so caught up in themselves that they failed to include “Manners 101” in the rearing of the masses?

As a society, we must commit to re-establish lines that are not to be crossed.  Children need to be taught the basic, human behavior which so necessitates kindness, one to another.  The result of casual name calling and harmful language is futile; It resembles no good thing.   More often than not, the child who bullies has his own identity issues as he seeks empowerment by exploiting the uniqueness of others and, quite frankly, is the lesser of the two and a victim, as well.

I marvel at the rhetoric pertaining to this crisis, yet according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  we find that obesity has nearly tripled since 1980 with 17% of our young people from ages 2-19 are clinically obese.  The effect that they experience prematurely range from cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure, impaired glucose intolerance/Type II diabetes, pulmonary malfunctions, joint pain, fatty liver, gallstones, esophageal re-flux, and the psychological effects are tremendous.  Prevalent social and pathological disorders are associated within the realm of obese children.  Suicidal Ideation has become a notable trend among our youth.   A staggering 63% of the children who are bullied are also overweight.