DOES EVIL EXIST?

            I recently heard a sermon that the following story was presented to make a point.  It’s a fun read, which is why I am sharing it here, but it is not true.  In other words it didn’t happen, but it presents some thought on the unanswerable question: “If God is all loving, why does evil exist in his creation? Why does evil exist?”

            For even more fun stories like this, go to: www.snopes.com/religion/einstein.asp  I especially like the story about the atheist professor and the member of the SEAL team.

            The point to remember is knowing the differences between Facts and Faith.  We need (must) live with both! Not only when it comes to topics like “belief in God” but also when we are driving down a two lane highway – “belief that the oncoming driver will stay on their side of the road!”  Or when getting on an airplane – do you have any idea how many people you have to have ‘faith’ in besides the pilot in the hope and faith that you will safely arrive at your destination!

Enjoy the “story!”

DOES EVIL EXIST?

One day, a professor of a university decided to defy his students.  He asked: “Did God create everything that exists?”

A student answered bravely: “Yes God did!”

“Everything?” asked the professor.

“Yes, everything,” answered the student.

“In that case, God also created evil, correct? Because evil exists,” said the professor.

To that the student had no answer and remained in silence.

The professor was delighted at the opportunity to prove one more time that faith was only a myth.

Suddenly, another student raised his hand and asked: “May I ask you a question professor?”

“Of course,” the professor answered.

“Does cold exist?” asked the student.

“Of course,” answered the professor, “Haven’t you ever felt cold?”

“Actually, sir,” the student continued, “According to studies in physics, cold is the absence of heat. And object can only be studied if it has and transmits energy, it is the heat of an object that transmits its energy. Without heat, objects are inert and incapable to react. Cold does not exists, we created the term ‘cold’ to explain the lack of heat."

“And does darkness exist?" continued the student.

“It exists,” replied the professor.

“Again, you are wrong sir. Darkness is the total absence of light. ‘Dark’ is the term we created to explain this absence of light. You can study light and brightness, but not darkness. The prism of Nichols shows the variety of different colors in which the light can be decomposed according to the longitude of the light waves. ‘Darkness’ is the term we created to explain the total absence of light.”

“Therefore,” continued the student, “your statement that evil exists is false. Evil is the absence of God in people’s hearts.  Evil is the absence of love, humanity, and faith. Love and faith are like heat and light. They exist, but it is their absence that leads to evil.”

Now it was the professor’s turn to remain silent.

What was the name of the student?

Albert Einstein.   (Well, it appears he really didn’t say it! But hey, it makes the story!) 

A Story of Amazing Determination

            I want to thank my son-in-law, J.C. for bringing the following article about a young man who has a heroic sense of stamina and determination, and to thank Sylas Wright for writing such a inspiring story about a truly amazing man! I have taken the liberty to shorten the article; the entire story can be found on J.C.’s Facebook.

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR: GRANT KORGAN – POSITIVELY CHARGED

By Sylas Wright

North Lake Tahoe Bonanza

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Grant Korgan could whip his former self in an arm-wrestling match.

            “Yeah,” he said with a good-natured chuckle, “my guns are bigger than they were before.”

            The 2010 snowmobile accident that left Korgan paralyzed from the waist down clearly did not dampen his sense of humor. If anything, it may only have enhanced it, just the same as his super-positive, glass-half-full disposition.

            In fact, as those who know the man will attest, there may not be a more positive soul on the planet.

            “Grant has the most positive, infectious vibe to him. It's almost like when you see Grant, you are coming into experiencing royalty. He's emanating all this positive energy. You can instantly feel it,” said Truckee's Roy Tuscany, whose own spinal cord injury — and recovery — inspired him to create the High Fives Non-Profit Foundation to help support injured winter athletes.

            “He's slowly turning into this ginormous ball of positivity. You just get near him and it's like, ‘life is so good — every day.' It's amazing. I can't even explain it.”

‘Beyond grateful'

            Korgan has that kind of effect on people. It's part of the reason the 34-year-old Incline Village native has received such an outpouring of support — charity from High Fives to Spine Nevada to complete strangers who are touched by his story.

            With that support, a resolute Korgan has achieved checklists of ambitious goals, including regaining feeling down to his kneecaps thanks to a rigorous workout regimen, and walking again with the assistance of arm crutches. This past winter, he executed a 12-day traverse 75 miles across Antarctica to the South Pole on the 100-year anniversary of Captain Robert Falcon Scott's Terra Nova Expedition — pushing a sit-ski across Velcro-like snow in brutally cold conditions.

            “I'm beyond grateful. My gratitude is through the roof,” Korgan said from Kauai, where he was preparing to compete in a tandem surf-ski race from one island to another. “Both High Fives and Spine Nevada down in Reno are two amazing groups of people. They have enabled and powered my workouts. I can't even put words to the amount of love, light and humanity that people have given to me. It's absolutely beautiful.”

            Korgan explained that, while he “evolves” with every passing day and becomes more aware of his consciousness, it was his mountain lifestyle that instilled in him a sense of positivity from a young age.

            “I grew up in Incline Village, so I had this amazing upbringing,” he said. “I got to live in this recreational paradise, and I was always so grateful for it. The glass was always half full, and I was always so stoked no matter what was happening.”

Life throws a curve

            Everything changed on March 5, 2010.

            Korgan was filming with Alpine Assassins in the Sonora Pass backcountry when he overshot the landing of a jump, violently shattering his first lumbar vertebrae upon impact more than 100 feet from the takeoff.

            Korgan was rushed to the intensive care unit, where he spent nine days. He then spent a full month in a rehab hospital. With his wife Shawna as his personal trainer he underwent multiple forms of recovery. Slowly but surely, the hard work paid off as Korgan regained feeling in his upper legs, then to his kneecaps. He began using hand crutches to get around. And he began dreaming bigger dreams.

            In the summer of 2011, Korgan brewed up plans as part of his active recovery along with Truckee's Doug Stoup, who's recognized as the world's most well-versed polar explorer, and helicopter ski guide Tal Fletcher for an expedition to the geographic South Pole. A date was set for Jan. 17, 2012 — the 100-year anniversary of the first successful expedition to the southernmost point.

            Backed financially by High Fives, Korgan and crew set out to accomplish a series of smaller adventures in preparation for “The Push,” from Alaska to Patagonia and back to Lake Tahoe, where Korgan and a fellow adaptive athlete paddled kayaks 50 miles around the lake in four days.

Choosing a path of positivity

            Amid all the adventure and recovery, Korgan has work to do.

            He recently completed a book called “Two Feet Back,” which chronicles his accident and recovery process leading up to the South Pole expedition. And he has already outlined a second book detailing “The Push.”

            “Who knows? Maybe there will be a book three,” he said.

Aside from writing and promoting on book tours, Korgan travels to public speaking engagements to share his story. He focuses his talks on the power of positivity.

            “Every day we're choosing recovery, and every day we're manifesting more healing,” he said. “And I believe in my heart that no matter how long it takes, I will get to 100 percent recovery. My goal is 120 percent recovery. I want to be stronger than I was, and I believe I will make it.”

            Who's going to doubt him?

            “If anybody is going to do it, Grant Korgan is going to do it!”

Stepping Stones: 

The pathway to awareness!

(Awareness ALWAYS preceeds change!)

"Learning is the beginning of wealth.
Learning is the beginning of health.
Learning is the beginning of spirituality.
Searching and learning is where
the miracle process all begins."

— Jim Rohn: was an American entrepreneur,
                      author and motivational speaker

  "All you need is the plan,

the road map,

and the courage,
to press on to your destination."

— Earl Nightingale:  an American motivational speaker and author

"Never let evil talk pass your lips;

say only the good things people need to hear,

things that will really help them.

Get rid of all bitterness,

anger, harsh words and slander;

do not be the cause of pain or distress to others.

In place of these be kind to your neighbor,

being always compassionate and forgiving,

just as God forgives you."

- From a letter to the Ephesians (4:29, 31-32) written by a follower of Paul (circa. 70-95 A.D.)

"Encourage each other daily while it is still today."

- Author unknown, Letter to the Hebrews 3:13 (circa. 80-90 A.D.)

 

"I cannot always control what goes on outside.

But I can always control what goes on inside."

— Dr. Wayne Dyer: Self-development author and speaker

"Ultimately, what we'll discover, 
as individuals and collectively,

is that while we may 
attempt to hammer our world into submission

through pure force and might,

lasting change will only come from within.

We must become the very change 
we choose to experience in our world."

— Gregg Braden: Author who bridges science and spirituality

"You are the way you are 

because that's the way you
want to be. 

If you really wanted 

to be any different, 

you would be in the process 

of changing right now."

— Fred Smith: The founder of Federal Express 

Our Land, Our Mother, Our Family!

EARTH DAY April 22, 2012

Mother Earth, she sustains us and governs us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs,

Brother Sun, he brings the day and gives us light,

Sister Moon, and the stars in the heavens; bright, and precious, and fair, they give us the brilliance and wonders of the night sky,

Brothers Wind and Air, and fair and stormy, all the weather's moods, they invigorate our lives and propel our boats,

Sister Water, so useful, humble, precious and pure, who quenches our thirst and nourishes the earth,

Brother Fire, he brightens the night, comforts us in the darkness, how full of power and strength.

The Canticle of the Sun, also known as the Laudes Creaturarum (Praise of the Creatures), is a religious song composed by Saint Francis of Assisi.

            This weekend, and specifically on Sunday, April 22^nd we recognize Earth Day.  It is a day and time that we set aside to become better educated and to become more aware of the importance of being wise stewards of God’s creation, and how it sustains us, our families, our communities and future generations.

            “Today the great gift of God’s Creation is exposed to serious dangers and lifestyles which can degrade it. Environmental pollution is making particularly unsustainable the lives of the poor of the world … we must pledge ourselves to take care of creation and to share its resources in solidarity”. — Pope Benedict XVI

“I believe in one God,

the Father almighty,

Creator of heaven and earth,

of all things visible and invisible.” *

* The opening statement of the Nicene Creed – the profession of faith made by every Catholic at every Mass.

             You may be surprised to learn how strongly the Catholic Church addresses the needs and obligations for being stewards of our environment.  The following is taken from the Catechism (a.k.a.The Book of Rules!) of the Catholic Church . . .

280. Creation is the foundation of all God’s saving plans.”

282. Learning about and understanding creation is of major importance.  It concerns the very foundation of human Christian life.

339. Man must therefore respect the particular goodness of every creature, to avoid any disordered use of things which would be in contempt of the Creator and would bring disastrous consequences for all human beings and their environment.

341. The beauty of creation reflects the infinite beauty of the Creator and should inspire the respect and submission of man’s intellect and will.

358. God created everything for man, but man in turn was created to serve and love God and to offer all creation back to him. 

The Seventh Commandment

YOU SHALL NOT STEAL.

2402.  In the beginning God entrusted the earth and its resources to the common stewardship of mankind to take care of them, master them by labor, and enjoy their fruits. The goods of creation are destined for the whole human race.

2415. The Seventh Commandment enjoins respect for the integrity of creation.  Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past, present, and future humanity. Man’s dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbor, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation.

2456. The dominion granted by the Creator over the mineral, vegetable, and animal resources cannot be separated from respect for moral obligations, including those toward generations to come.

Some things we can all do now . . .

PRAYING – Getting in ‘tune’ with God.

• Be mindful and pray about those people most affected by environmental pollution; and for the grace to recognize our own contributions to the problem.  If you have a Bible handy (any edition will do) you can check-out the many Psalms that portray the richness of Creation that the people back then (like 2,600 years ago!) thought about their environment and the beauty of nature.

Psalms: 1:1,3; 8:3-9; 19:1; 23:1-2; 24:1-2; 29:1-11; 42:1; 65:8-13; 66:1-7; 67:6-7;68:4; 69:34; 72:16-19; 74:15-17;78:15-16; 89:5,11-12;90:1-2; 96:5b-6,11-12; 97:1-6; 98:7-9; 102:25; 103:19, 22; 104:1-35;119:89-91; 121:1-2; 135:5-7;136:1-9;143:8;146:5-6;147:5-6;148:1-10;150:1-6.  The Book of Daniel 3:61-82 (don’t miss this one!)

LEARN ABOUT IT!     Awareness always precedes change.

• Check-out the many web sites under “Earth Day” and “Environment.”

ASSESS WHAT CAN BE DONE!    It is time to make a plan.

• Conduct an energy audit of your home to discover where energy can be conserved.

• Consider and examine your carbon footprint to assess how your choices and behaviors contribute to or help reduce carbon emissions.

TAKE ACTION!    Nothing happens until some one takes action!

• Reduce your consumption of energy (act on your energy audit) by updating appliances, adjusting your thermostat – lowering the temperature at night, insulating, etc.

• Drive less and walk more, (not only good for the environment, but good for your own health – and pocketbook too!) combine errands, or use public transportation. Keep your tires properly inflated. Every pound under inflation uses 6% more gas. (Does that surprise you?) And tune up your car. A poorly tuned car can use 25% more gas. (At today’s gas price that would lower the cost of gasoline by almost $1.00 per gallon!)


UPDATE 4/28!  This really works!  Before a recent trip to Detroit - about 80 miles - I made sure my car's tires were inflated to the recommended pressure of 30psi - they had been between 27 and 28psi.  Well the miles per gallon (mph) as displayed on the instrument panel INCREASED from an average of 29 mpg to 32.9 mpg!!  So be sure to check the pressures in your tires!!

• Turn off lights and unplug appliances (especially “instant-on” TV’s and stereos) when you leave the room.

• Unplug your cell phone as soon as it is charged. (I found this surprising!)

• Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs.  (I know, they usually are not as esthetically pleasing as incandescent light bulbs)

• Turn off water when shaving, brushing your teeth and take shorter showering.

• Ride a bike, walk, carpool, or use public transportation whenever possible.

• Use biodegradable soap, shampoos.

• Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. (I know, it’s not convenient! I am the reluctant-recycler.)

ADVOCATE    Get busy, make some “noise!”

• Write, email, or call your members of Congress and urge them that the needs of people living in poverty be a central priority, encourage them to pass the necessary legislation and other policies that address environmental stewardship.

            It is easy to ask, ‘What good will the little I can do make much of a difference on an environment that needs so much help and repair?” 

Let me answer that with a story . . .

            A young boy walking the ocean beach one morning after an overnight storm that had blown tens of thousands of starfish on to the sand, and one starfish at a time, the boy would toss them back into the ocean.  An old man (maybe old in years – or just an old mind set) questioned the boy because of the seemingly uselessness of throwing an individual starfish back – saying “What difference can what you are doing make when there are so many starfish on the beach?” 

            The boy answered, “It will make a difference for this one!” as he tossed another starfish back into the sea.

What is the point of this story?  Every little bit we do DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Let us pray,

            Lord God, creator of all the earth, you have given us the mountains and trees, the waters and the good earth which supports our crops, our animals, and ourselves. Never let us lose our love for our land, which is our mother. Help us to protect the land from abuse and to enrich the soil when we abuse it. Make our mother, the earth, fruitful again. Amen.

This is an expansion of the homily given the weekend of April 21 & 22.

Native American Prayer for the Earth

Earth, Teach Me . . .

Earth teach me quiet ~ as the grasses are still with new light.

Earth teach me suffering ~ as old stones suffer with memory.

Earth teach me humility ~ as blossoms are humble with beginning.

Earth teach me caring ~ as mothers nurture their young.

Earth teach me courage ~ as the tree that stands alone.

Earth teach me limitation ~ as the ant that crawls on the ground.

Earth teach me freedom ~ as the eagle that soars in the sky.

Earth teach me acceptance ~ as the leaves that die each fall.

Earth teach me renewal ~ as the seed that rises in the spring.

Earth teach me to forget myself ~ as melted snow forgets its life.

Earth teach me to remember kindness ~ as dry fields weep with rain


An Ute Indian Prayer

The Ute are Native Americans now living primarily in Utah and Colorado. The name of the state of Utah was derived from the name Ute. The word Ute means "Land of the sun" in their language. Check-out Wikipedia and www.uteindian.com.

Here is some additional information of interest:

MARSHALL, MI — For the past 629 days, since July 2010 pipeline break that sent more than 800,000 gallons of heavy crude oil into the Kalamazoo River.

On Wednesday of this week, 629 days since the spill, a small section of the river has been opened to the public. 

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. "We are not done. We have a lot to do yet.”

The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (aka BP Oil Spill) is turning out to be one of the worst oil disasters in history

The initial oil rig explosion killed 11 people and injured 17 others.

16,000 total miles of coastline have been affected,

Oil is still washing up on shores even though the well was capped in July 2010,

The BP Oil Spill is the biggest in American history, with between 17,000,000 and 39,000,000 gallons spilled in the Gulf of Mexico!

The Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that 1 billion gallons of oil are spilled into the oceans each year, Gulf of Mexico spill notwithstanding!

Welcome to Tom's World - Tales, Trails and Trials

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is located at Incline Village, Nevada, and is the beginning of this Blog's  Trail.  The blog will be all about exploring life's tales, trials, and transformations.  I look forward to sharing the knowledge and experiences, the up's and down's of life. 


Let us explore and grow in this journey together!




THE TRIAL

Randolph Green  1972-2012

On Saturday, March 31, I had the honor and privilege to preside at the Memorial Service for Randolph Green at St. Francis of Assisi Church. Randolph died at the age of 32, leaving behind his wife Amy, his two children, Charlie age 5 and Lilli age 3. Randolph suffered for three long years with esophageal cancer; Amy always at his side caring for him.  

The Memorial Service was a beautiful gathering of Randolph’s family and friends to remember and be thankful for the many ways he touched and influenced their lies.  Randolph was remembered and spoken highly of as a loving, caring, fun-loving Son, Husband, Father, Ski Coach, and Friend.  It was truly a celebration of his life, a life well lived. 

When tragedy like this happens, especially when it involves a young father, someone as dynamic and out-going as Randolph; someone who not only enjoyed many outdoor activities, but was also a devoted husband and father, it is difficult to comprehend why this had to happen.  Of course there never is any good answer to that “why.”

If we believe that God is an all loving God, then how do we reconcile that there is so much suffering in our lives?  Maybe the question isn’t “why is there suffering” but “where is God in our suffering?”

We believe that God so wanted us to know him, that he did the most humanly unbelievable thing, and that is becoming human himself. By taking on a human presence he subjected himself to all the same human conditions we face in our daily lives. In every instance in Jesus’ life on earth, he was all about life, not death.  Because God became human he has given meaning to our lives; by Jesus dying on the cross, and three days later rising from the dead, he gives hope to our own suffering and death. 

We have just commemorated Good Friday; we have seen that God did not allow evil, death, and destruction to have the last word.  Through Jesus we see the workings of God’s “amazing grace” which enables us to make the most of even the worst situations of life, where light and life have the last word.  Easter Sunday is God’s response to Good Friday; life out of death. (Remarks from “Where the Hell is God” by Richard Leonard, S.J.)