Suffer the little children

Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: For such is the kingdom of heaven (Matt 19:14 KJV). For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matt 16:26 KJV).

"Yes," I thought in my dream, "that young girl

Will someday be a Fay - least esteemed

Notwithstanding." I heard them approaching,

Loving little children coming around the bend.

I heard them gaily looking for the good. One of

Them, I heard her say, “I have my tooth that I

Pulled the other day, and I’m waiting for the tooth

Fairy!” Time passed and no fairy came to her at

This location either. Then in my Spirit-dream, I heard,

"I have lost my tooth since I got here." They looked

For it in the car and in other places, as I watched

Them in my Spirit dream. “I brought it with me

Because I am looking for the tooth fairy. Now,

I don’t have it!" As time went on, no fairies came

Among them, with or without the extracted tooth.

The beautiful little girl became despondent as little

Ones do when they feel ignored and unimportant.

She had lost her extracted little tooth that she

Brought with her but nobody cared. I watched and

Listened to them in my Spirit-dream while they were

Discussing the issue in a bathroom. I could see so

Clearly the sadness and pain in the little girl's eyes.

She had lost her tooth and no fairy came yet.

There is no tooth, so will a fairy still come? I think

Since they had no guidance and no wise one to

Intervene and console her and therefore all of them,

I heard resignation in her beautiful little child's voice

When she said while watching the water flow:

"Somebody said the tooth fairy is supposed to be

The parents." I was shocked at the blatant denial of this

Child’s childish heart wish. In my Spirit-dream, I heard

Myself say, "And the grandparents can be tooth fairies."

Hummm, the parents and grandparents let her down

And shattered her childish dreams. To her, the evidence

Of that was the lost tooth. They even shared the

Truth of there being no real Santa Clause, and

Dumped the tooth fairy in the bag with him. I kept on

Thinking that some of the most unselfish blessings

Come from Strangers even though we are discouraged

From talking to strangers.  However, I also remembered,

In my Spirit-dream, that we are also told to be

Careful how we entertain strangers because we could be

In the face of angels and not know it (a stranger can be an

Animal or a human being. Once, God showed up –

And spoke - in the form of a donkey to get a message across).

Why can God not lighten a little girl's heart by proving to

Her that fairies still exist in this world of trouble as well

As happiness? It just depends on how one chooses to

Conceive them to be or look like. Considering all this

In my Spirit-dream, I exclaimed to those little philosophizers,

"I am a tooth fairy!" Then I said, "I am a Fay!"

The little girls smiled at me but did not ask me what

I meant. They left off the conversation and went out to play.

I thought on this while in my Spirit-dream: why did

I hear this and especially look into the sad little beautiful

Faces of the girls who were lamenting for the disconsolate

One who will one day be a Fay I believe, being so

Little-esteemed (probably sadly unawares) by those

Most precious in her early-little-childhood-life? In my

Spirit-dream, the Fay had the power to make someone

Happy, and the Fay took that opportunity. When the Fay

Announced that the tooth fairy had left something on

The bureau top, the little girl made a bee-line toward it

To see if there was a fairy after all. In my Spirit-dream

I saw and heard all these things. The most precious

Sight was when the little child responded as the child

She was, happy and grateful, with a lovely big smile

And a hearty "Thank you!" In my Spirit-dream I

Remembered to be grateful for being alive for that

Moment on the Wheel, when I was the destined Fay, chosen

Among others either not willing or not able to "Suffer

The little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me.

For such is the kingdom of heaven."  Then, either I

Woke up or I was wide awake all the while. Amen and OM

MaryHandy Moore

10-30-14

Let Us Run and Psalm Ninety One

Let Us Run and Psalm Ninety One

Master and Lord!

It’s time to run again,

I need you to help me run

Help me find my place

Under the Sun,

Eons ago you helped

Me cross the world Chasm

In one stride!

First, you helped me retrieve

The Stone that was in it.

The Chasm is behind me,

The race is not – I’m still in it,

Once again, seeing you beside

Me, ready to show me how

To sprint again,

I’m never afraid. I can run

In the Spirit and actualize

It on my Earth-Mother.

Help me to find my place under

The Sun that you have sanctioned,

Hallowed for Me. When I run,

I will find it because you are the

Guide and the Spirit in my

Holy feet! Let’s run on.

My dad used to say to

You when he needed help in his

Tedious race: “Okay Jesus, let’s ....”

Now, Lord, let us run, and

Let us find my place that you

Have already covered with your

Feathers, and under those Wings I

Will trust as my safe house,

My refuge – When we find it.

Lord, let us run! Amen. OM

Created by Mary Handy Moore

(Under Psalm 91)

October 11, 2014

Thoughts on giving help and withholding help

HELPS IN THE SERVICE OF HUMANITY

Thoughts on the power of helps and its opposite, with thoughts on the articles by Darley and Letane (1968), which is a study on whether and to what extent people will not respond to others in trouble if there are other bystanders around.  People at this stage of personality “stand by” while a victim is suffering because of what the bystander might perceive the other bystanders might or might not do.  It suggests or predicts that a bystander will not act to help someone if another bystander does not come forth.  The other work I studied and meditated on is an article by Letane and Darley (1968), which studied, among others, the real world event of the “Kitty Genovese murder in which 38 people witnessed a killing from their individual apartments without acting, in many other emergencies several bystanders are in contact with and can influence each other. In these situations, processes other than responsibility diffusion will also operate” (Letane & Darley, 1968, p. 215).  This diffusion means that everybody and nobody is responsible for reaching out to help the suffering in collective eyes.

Thus, after researching and studying the above material on the subject of helps and refusal to help others in danger, I garnered the following ideas about what help is and is not:  Nature never made help dependent upon any outside variable such as whether people have a good day or not (Fiske, 2012, p. 355). Some people have very bad hair days, yet they can be the most helpful people who put grievances and afflictions or trials and tribulations aside while helping others in their difficulties as far as possible. They do it with a straight face, washed, greased, and looking like they have no problem in the world (Psalm 42:11).  The researchers did not control for cheery attitudes that influenced their demeanors in those studies (Cf. Fiske, 2012, p. 355, where attitudes or moods influenced helping or not helping others in distress), that is, whether bystanders were in a certain mood or held insensitive attitudes toward the scene.  Further, people are more likely to help others if alone than when in a group; it further suggested that groups should be more prone to help rather than be passive, which was not the case in the murder scene and many present day scenes (Latané & Darley, 1968, p. 216) .  Certainly, some people cannot help others in some situations, but that was not the case in the murder of a woman with 38 witnesses looking on (Latané & Darley, 1968, p. 220, para. 2), unless all onlookers faced obstacles they could not overcome to seek help for the victim. Alternately, what if all bystanders thought it was not their obligation to attempt to help or assist?

Thus, on the other hand, it could be said of all of the onlookers that collectively and individually, they failed humanity by choosing not to come to the aid of the victim (even if only by calling 911 from afar) for any number of reasons including fear (Crisp & Turner, 2010, p. 307; Darley & Latané, 1968, p. 377). For example, the Bhagavad Gita says of fear that, “Many whose craving, fear and anger are gone, who are totally focused on Me, who are purified by austerity and education, attained My level of existence. (Beloved, Chapter 4.10, p. 32). However, the fear factor among those witnesses was not documented or disclosed (p. 355), as it was shown to be a factor in Darley and Letan (1968, p. 377), where fear was an excuse for not wanting to get involved.  That is about the same as other excuses such as it is not one's business that people are being harmed in some way.  That sentiment is not an example of turning the other cheek. Some people, on the other hand, cannot help in some given situations (Fiske, 2012). It might not be their perceived Karma, debt, to act (no matter how much they possibly wish they could) (Latané & Darley, 1968, p. 220, para. 2) in that possibly one has no arms and legs, or one is mute, blind, among other things. 

Another factor could be that the onlookers knew the victim and the culprit, and made judgments calls about those two facts. One thing is not good about helping, which is why people's mere existence needs time to morph into genuine humanness (sublimated). This change enables us to know the difference. Otherwise, we can experience many delusions on the subject of helps. Conversely, the vain-glory helper still blesses the one who needs the service, whatever the reason for giving it.  No matter what the situations are that we find ourselves in, or the circumstances we face in our lives, if there is a need and we can fill it, then that is our need to fill because competent, able, and thus obligated (Crisp & Turner, 2010, p. 207; Latané & Darley, 1968, p. 220; Luke 17:10; Proverbs 22:9). If we do not have what is required to satisfy that need, it is not our obligation to do the impossible because someone else has the wherewithal to fill that Karmic deed – they know in their hearts who they are.

Conversely, people fail themselves and humanness when they are obligated to help in some situation where the help cannot be repaid sooner or later. For lack of altruistic compassion, one can walk past an assigned (by one’s own Inner Guide) obligation to reach out.  That negative response to need therefore generates a karmic debt that must be repaid (good bread versus bad bread: Eccl. 11:1; Proverbs 25:26); it means one has not possessed his or her own soul and is thus not self-directed).  In that case, one may fail to render altruistic service individually or in a group if like-minded. Thus, people refuse to lend a helping hand or fulfill a requirement due to arrogance and other variables (Micah 6:8). When we act as if we see nothing, no matter what the excuse, we have failed as human beings in the name of something, because "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delights in his way" (Psalm 37:23). That something can be fear or envy (the worst enemies) or anything else short of mental incapacity to know the difference.

We are not required to help someone at the expense of our own lives unless conviction persuades us that it is our calling (purpose) and obligation (dharma) to perform it:  soldiers, firefighters, parents, stranger for stranger, etc. are good examples.  According to the Bhavagad Gita (2009), "Thus having understood what is higher than intelligence, keeping the personal energies under control of the spirit, uproot, O powerful man, the enemy, the form of passionate desire which is difficult to grasp" (Beloved, Chapter 3.43, p. 30). If that is the case, it is a good and altruistic sacrifice (with good reward). If we martyr ourselves in any form for vainglory, we will not profit – even if we give our bodies to be burned (1 Cor. 13:3) on the funeral pyre. Further, if it is not our purposed obligation, we bear thorns for fruit (Isaiah 5:6; Proverbs 16:19, 22:6). Our acts are in vain when we perform those acts for less than altruistic (harmless) reasons for the lack of understanding (Fiske, 2012, p. 385; (bit.ly/SnojIs).

Thus, it would not be prosocial behavior (help for the good of others). It would be promoting one's self-serving egoism. For example, in its highest sense, prosocial behavior is not personally biased in that it will help anyone, human or animal, without distinction and unconditionally, being free of egoism or has experienced a sublimated and elevated ego (integrated self). This type of behavior in its highest aspect looks beyond whether the needy is familiar, tied to the actor by blood or common interest (ingroup or my group), or of a certain ethnicity or race. Therefore, there should be no hesitance to help outgroups (not my people; not my friends; not my church; not my children; not my business) when one has the power and resources (not always money) to help the victim – another social being (Fiske, 2012; (bit.ly/SnojIs).

Mary Handy Moore

BA Sociology, Ashford University

Ordained Minister, Independent

MS Psychology,Walden University

References

Beloved, Michael. (2009, November 6). Bhagavad Gita In English. Kindle Edition.

Crisp, R. J., & Turner, R. N. (2010). Essential social Psychology (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.

Darley, J. M., & Latané, B. (1968). Bystander intervention in emergencies: Diffusion of responsibility. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 8(4), 377–383.

Fiske, S. T. (2012). Social beings: Core motives in social Psychology (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Latané, B., & Darley, J. (1968). Group inhibition of bystander intervention in emergencies. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 10(3), 215–221.

Maya Angelou - The bird uncaged

http://www.biography.com/people/maya-angelou-9185388

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqOqo50LSZ0

On May 28, 2014, the bright shining star of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou, died. She was one of the most magical spirits in the world, who left too soon (if some of us had our way) after Madiba (Nelson Mandela) moved on to his long home before her.  So much has been said of Maya Angelou, some not beautiful at all, but deplorable by people who, because of their own insecurities, stereotype other people.  Maya's personality type was that of a strong, Spiritual, and fearless Humanistic aspect, which ran the gamut of what goodness and dignity are.  Her beginnings were very humble, as can be seen in her autobiographies.  

Maya Angelou's brilliant intelligence could not be hid because she had a mouth, with a voice that moved some people to fear and others to awe.  She was that powerful.  Her commanding presence was like the tallest mountain.  I suggest that Maya Angelou was of Humanistic Personality Type because of her many traits that fit the aspects of that type:

She of course believed in free will, simply because human beings have a will (unless they give it away to a foreign entity, such as drugs, for example).  Maya used her will to make things happen for the good of many. She mistakenly, as young children can misunderstand, thought that her voice had killed a man because at that age, she knew she had power for something.  Maya kept her voice caged for five and a half years before she spoke again.  That was a very early revelation of her willpower.  Then, she began to speak.

As triumphs and tragedies continued in her life, her indomitable will persevered through every one of the bad times and she basked in the good ones as her star rose higher and shone even brighter.  Maya became a boon to many and a bane to many others.  She believed in the solace of education and the gifts it brings.  She believed in brotherhood and tried to spread it all over the world through the way she lived in her world.

She was humble in her faith yet strong in her powers.  Maya Angelou's understanding of life helped her see through the dark veils of illusion to Still I Rise.  Maya has mentored the thoughts of countless world students whose lives she touched; they now carry the torch as humanitarians of all kinds.   Maya Angelou died, but her legacy lives on: in and with us.

Bowing the head of my heart

Bowing the head of my heart

I bow the head of my heart

While I consult my Muse.

I humbly receive any Wisdom

Bestowed upon me to use.

As Angels come down here,

Their presence fills me with sheer

Awe and a most Godly fear.

Angels always have a listening ear.

I tread softly as the celestial Muse

Makes peace be still in the ocean of my soul,
with more Wisdom words than I can ever use.

When I need to steal away to pray,

Those wisdom words are always at play.

Cycling, recycling, and recycling again,

Like a regurgitating machine deep within.

I bow the head of my heart

While I consult my Muse.

I humbly receive any Wisdom

Bestowed upon me to use.

As I allow the Spirit to overtake my pen,

I bow the head of my heart time and again.

(MHMoore 1-7-14)