One of the most challenging aspects to life is finding a way to reconcile the opposing desires of the physical and the spiritual. To me, that seems to be the primary trial that has played out for thousands of years and most of it has been brutal and violent. We seem to want to focus on the physical attributes of our vessels mainly because we can see them with our own two eyes. But what if we worked to look past the vessel and pear into the spirit of those whom we interact with and even look within our selves?

Are we more concerned with 'having' than 'being'? Is our own greed and consumerism blinding us from seeing past the physical to love and cherish the spirit? Nowhere on this planet is that more evident than the violence I witness around the LGBTQIA community.

There are people out there that condemn violently anybody that has a different viewpoint. My indigenous brothers and sisters suggest that people who are gay are 'Two Spirited'. What an intriguing idea. It got me thinking ...

I think we can all agree that our physical vessel has two genders, male or female. However, due to genetic issues some vessels have been found to have both and some even have neither. But for the most part there are two. However, we are not just physical beings! We are also spiritual beings and what if Spirit has strong tendencies as well that don't match up with the biology of the vessel? Is this enough to engage in violence to condemn these people? Should we even be judging and condemning people? What if spirit chose the vessel on purpose to learn specific lessons?

Those who quote scripture and judge these people can be very violent, even resort to hanging and killing. What part of 'love thy neighbour as thy self', are we not comprehending? Perhaps people don't love themselves and that then justifies their violence against those who view their relationships differently than most.

I will keep quoting this from Bishop John Shelby Spong when he stated in his book "Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism":

The Word of God in Scripture confronts me with the revelation that all human beings are created in God’s image and reflect God’s holiness. All human beings means all human beings … all human beings. Men and women, homosexual persons and heterosexual persons, all races, nationalities, and persons of any ethnic background, all communists and capitalists, rich and poor, old and young, religious and nonreligious, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and Hindus, atheists and agnostics – all persons reflect the holiness of God, for all are made in God’s image. How can I enslave, segregate, denigrate, oppress, violate, or victimize one who bears the image of the Holy One? How can one worship the source of being, the great “I AM”, except by having the courage to be the self God created each of us to be? The Christian is the one called so deeply into life, into love, and into being that he or she can say with a Christlike integrity, I AM!

Make no mistake, the LGBTQIA community engages in violence of their own. There is a war going on and this too must stop. The state has the claim that they are the only ones that can resort to violence and coercion, so everyone is fighting for their right to participate, gain recognition and receive benefits and privileges from that system. People seem to have no issues with engaging in force and violence, especially with the state to back them up. This makes the war very public and brutal!

But what is this issue really about? This is about a conflict between the physical vessel and the spirit! I've met some beautiful spiritual beings who have not only accepted their vessel, they embrace it and govern themselves beautify. They love themselves and they love others. They see the spirit of others and the gender of the vessel makes no difference to them. They found ways to love them self, their body and others, unconditionally.

They don't engage in violence and their spirit shines like a beacon to others. They fully embody the concept of love thy neighbour as thyself because they found a way to love them self. They reconciled the conflict within, between the vessel and their spirit. They found a way to honour their vessel as a temple for their spirit and they love themselves!

When we find that inner peace, nothing else really matters. Is that not what we are all after? There is no greater peace in the world and in my view, this is the holy grail of life on this planet. When the physical and spiritual collide, it could be a train wreck or it can be the most beautiful musical symphony in the universe. To do the work to love thyself, we find that all the conflicts about terminology, sexual preferences, etc all become irrelevant. What is most relevant is that we find a way to have the physical and spiritual work together in harmony.

Nobody ... NOBODY deserves to be attacked or violated. There is no justification for any such abusive, violent behaviour It does not matter what their sexual preferences are, spiritual beliefs, political beliefs, etc. If other people's struggles or life style triggers you, then look in the mirror as the problem is there.

Dr. James Makokis and I - 2017 Men's Conference, Frog Lake

Dr. Makokis exemplifies the unconditional love that I speak about. I am so impressed with the way he lives his life, the love that he has for all beings and for dedicating his life to help heal people. He is a shining beacon and I love this spiritual being.

I love my friends, unconditionally. It does not matter if they are gay or straight, black, red or white, rich or poor, Christian, Muslim or Jew, tall or short. These attributes are irrelevant. What is most relevant is whether they love themselves and can express that love outwards in peace, respect, honour and dignity. If they can empathize with compassion and maintain healthy boundaries, then that is what matters most! If not, then I will do what I can to help them heal so that they can!

ALL of us have struggles and challenges. Nobody is immune. So perhaps we should work on our self first before we start judging others on their own struggles. Perhaps showing support and encouragement may actually bring peace to this earth. Huh. Imagine ...

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