How far we've come

Today I was sitting in a restaurant when a dear online friend who lives in Sweden sent me a private message on Facebook.  I texted her back and she answered almost immediately.  I know people complain about interruptions with cell phones and texting but I find it amazing.  Why?

Do you remember those days when we couldn't even dial a phone number and we had to tell the operator what number we wanted?

We would pick up the phone and the operator would say, "Number Please" and we'd tell her who we wanted to call.  We also had party lines. We'd pick up the phone to call a friend and we'd hear two people talking on our line.  Sometimes it would take an hour or more to be able to make our call. 

Then came the rotary phones. Do you remember them?  I have had bad dreams of the dials falling off, or the dial sticking.

How many times have we sat beside our phone waiting for someone to call, either for results from a medical test, or a boyfriend to call, or to hear if we were going to be hired for the job we wanted?  Business people were stuck in their offices waiting as were most of us.

Now we are free.  We have cell phones and yes sometimes it is annoying to overhear others conversations and of course the phones should be turned off in church, movies, concerts and other times. But on the whole look how cell phones have allowed people to get out and do things while they wait? If a person is nervous about a pending medical result they don't have to sit by the phone waiting, they can go shopping, visit a friend or do something to help them take their minds off the worrying.

Now we have almost instant communication with Facebook, Twitter and the like.  Sure, it can become too much but that's not what I'm writing about.  I'm focusing on the Miracle of instant communication and Freedom we have now to get our messages on the go instead of being stuck.  Another wonderful thought is that private messaging on FB is FREE.   I have no idea how much it would cost me to call my friend in Sweden or text her but I'm so glad to be able to communicate with her. 

For those of you who never had to sit by a phone and wait, you may not appreciate how miraculous all this is to me.  Yes, we need to disconnect sometimes, get into nature and all of that but we can keep our cell phones in our pockets and enjoy nature too while waiting for an important call.

Love from Jean, an older lady who loves technology

JFK's ASSASSINATION from my Journals - A Unity viewpoint from Rev Mary L. Kupferle

Pages 152 - 156 (These posts were from what I wrote back then- 50 years ago.  Much has changed, not only the world but many of my ideas)

Sunday November 24, 1963.  I knew that something wonderful was going to come out of the Unity Church service. I knew Mary Kupferle would have something healing and comforting to say.  When she came on the radio she said a prayer and asked us to relax, which was very difficult to do. Then she mentioned that only good would come. With that the dam burst in my heart and the healing, easing cleansing tears started to flow.  I had wanted to say only good would come but had not been able to.  I guess  couldn't look beyond the appearances and see good. After the prayer they sang America The Beautiful which I couldn't even hear because of my tears.  The second prayer was almost as beautiful and continued to release the emotions inside me.  Then Gerry Blok sang God Be With You Til We Meet Again which I felt to be directed right to Kennedy and I wept through that too.  By then I was completely released and empty because Mary's talk filled me up with hope, strength - everything I needed. She read from Isaiah chapter 61 which was beautiful.  Then her talk started.

Human nature is peculiar in liking to listen to the negative, and I thought how Mary knows and understands the failings, the weakness of us. Oh what she must have been through to attain this level.  Then she went on to say that there is always something above and beyond appearances and we must take a stand immediately that God is still in charge and the very best can come.  She mentioned how at times this seems completely opposite from the thoughts of the world which is so true.  (We are like pioneers). Nothing is lost in Spirit and neither is Kennedy. We just should trust that some good can come from this and this is what Kennedy would want us to do.  This provides all us in the nation and the world to take stock in our spiritual and personal thoughts. Beloved Mary said how our problems suddenly took a smaller dimension when the bigger came along. This is a great and wonderful challenge. Kennedy is still a thinking, living individual and is true more than ever to his God.  Because of the absence of his personal body and leadership responsibilities he will bring an even greater blessing to our country.  This funeral that is coming tomorrow is nothing but burying a used, discarded piece of clothing and is not Kennedy at all and I must remember this. Whenever problems come we must think of spirit and give ourselves to cause. There is something above the politics of everything, business', home, human relationships and there must be a workable religion (a religion based on spirit and truth) in any situation and we, using this workable religion can use this in any situation and come out better for it. The only water than can sink a ship is the water that comes inside.  This goes for us too.  If i wallow in negativeness and this so-called tragedy this is what can drown me. I must affirm that I am greater than any negative feeling that threatens to overcome me. I, meaning the Christ within. I must ask my self, what is my lesson in the tragedy, not that he, the other fellow will learn the lesson.  

Mary asks herself and says we should ask ourselves, Do I believe in the teachings of Christ or are they just beautiful words? Is this what I believe in?  Do I want to go all the way or not? Self honesty is important.  Jesus could have lingered in the sadness and disbelief of the people.  Instead He went on His way, praying, believing, healing the sick and He continued in faith.  Jesus did not linger in thoughts of lack that other people had, instead He gave thanks for the loaves and the fishes. People saw past the situation and He fed the multitude.

Everything is in a process of changes because that is the growing up in the soul and nature.  I must remember I am greater than anything that can happen to me. 

JFK's ASSASSINATION from my Journals Part III

Pages 156 -158 (These posts were from what I wrote back then- 50 years ago.  Much has changed, not only the world but many of my ideas)

Sunday November 24, 1963

2pm this afternoon Lee Oswald, suspected slayer of President Kennedy died of a gunshot wound inflicted by Jack Ruby!!

Kennedy's body was taken from the White House to the Capitol Building by a caisson of six white horses and a black one. When they got to the Capitol, Mrs Kennedy, Caroline, John Jr and the rest of the immediate family had to stand and listen to Hail to the Chief and two or three Eulogies. Then someone brought in a big wreath and President Johnson helped put it beside the casket. He bowed his head for a minute.  Mrs. Kennedy and Caroline knelt down and Mrs. Kennedy kissed the casket.  I sat watching it and wept and wept.  I could neither stop watching nor could I stop crying.   God love Mrs. Kennedy, she is so courageous and so brave.  She not only had to hold up in front of the public but also in front of her children.   I know I feel drained, absolutely and completely.

Last night our neighbors had a noisy party and I don't understand it. I wish I could just let it go and release it. This was probably their way but have they no feelings? Last night was not party night and I couldn't help but get mad.  I wanted to call them up and yell at them. I got over this but it is still puzzling.

The time is now 7:15 pm Sunday and I am impressed how unreal things seem. Things seem like they are all screwed up and untrue. Each day seems like the same day.  I wonder what Emmet Fox would have to say about all this?  He probably would say that there is a power behind what is going on and it is for good. What does money and prestige and material things matter now? This goes to show how very important peace of mind really is. Health, security and peace of mind far outweighs everything else.

Mother phoned me around 3 and was very upset.  She said that the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald proves this was not the work of a maniac. She says Oswald was killed because they were afraid he was going to talk.  She also said that every Cuban interviewed from Miami said this was the work of Castro. 

Personally I have the feeling that Oswald did not kill Kennedy. Sure all the evidence leads up to it but there was no positive identification nor did anyone hear him confess.

I'm wondering what changes will come about because of all of this.  By changes I do not mean the obvious political but the changes in everyday people. Will this change certain actions of people or will they continue to think about their petty, selfish ways?  Will this change fashion, types of music, ways of doing things like going to church and many many other things?  I think, I believe that this whole weekend has shaken many people up and made them sit up and think.  Surely no one over twenty one will forget this weekend. Surely there will be many repercussions and changes and those must be for the good.

What amazes me is how fast things can change.  One minute everything is going along in sameness and the next minute the whole world seems to have turned upside down.

I feel as though I had lost a member of my own family. I remember how I felt when Daddy died - shock, disbelief, unable to think.

JFK'S ASSASSINATION From my Journals part II

Pages 149 - 151 (These posts were from what I wrote back then- 50 years ago.  Much has changed, not only the world but many of my ideas)


Saturday, November 23rd 1963.

We went to Publix today to do our grocery shopping and the atmosphere seemed like the end of the world was coming. No one had a smile for anyone else and each person's face looked as though it was a window with the shades pulled down. Each person is as though he were walking deep in thought and I can understand why. The current issue of LOOK magazine has a colored cover of John Jr and President Kennedy. Seeing that made tears come to my eyes because it was such a lovely father and son picture. As hard as it is to believe really it is a blessing that John F Kennedy died because the way the bullet hit he would have been nothing but a vegetable. That, to such a vital man like Kennedy, would be a living hell.

All commercial entertainment has been cancelled at least for twenty four hours. To me this seems both good and bad. Without their usual entertainment people are going to be brought up short and forced to do some thinking. MK was so sorry that we wouldn't be able to watch TV our first evening together and I thought maybe it do us good and the nation too. On the other hand people are probably very tense because of this tragedy and entertainment would help ease the tensions and nerves. We maybe should all be able to watch a light musical comedy movie. Also the doctor's offices may be jammed because of this and the sales of pills will probably skyrocket.

 Mayor Willy Brandt of Germany made a public statement to the world via tel star. To me this seems ironic because here we are in the electronic space age and our President gets assassinated as though we were in medieval times. This makes me think of castles and knights on white horses. Just seems unbelievable.

To be continued

JFK's ASSASSINATION from my journals

Page 145 - 149 from my journals (These posts were from what I wrote back then- 50 years ago.  Much has changed, not only the world but many of my ideas)

Friday, November 22nd - six days before Thanksgiving, 1963. Today started out like any other day, which sounds like a cliche but how else can it be said? Today I felt quite happy and I talked to MK on the phone. Then I had lunch, cleaned up and turned on my favorite show GIRL TALK. About halfway through the show an NBC news bulletin came on saying that President Kennedy and Texas Governor Connolly had been shot in Dallas. My first reaction was, "Oh God, I don't believe it." Then the bulletin was repeated and I opened my mouth and frantically dialed mother on the phone. I couldn't get a dial tone and I thought what a dumb time for the phone to go on the blink. I rushed outside to find a neighbor's phone to report the phone trouble and saw the mailman. I told him and he was quite shocked. I had the need to talk to another adult. I ran back in the house, picked up the phone and got a dial tone so I called the repair dept. They said the trouble was because everyone was calling everyone else because the President had been shot. Then mother called and we didn't say very much. I called my mother in law who was without a radio or TV. Then MK called but we just couldn't say much of anything because the shock was too great. Now I know what it feels like to be speechless.
Not too long after that was the announcement that President Kennedy was dead. It was just unbelievable. I cried and called my mother in law. Then I wept and wept not because I think death is so terrible but for Jackie, the children and the family. My faith actually wavered and I wasn't quite sure how to pray. Imagine being so much a part of history! Kennedy is the third President to be assassinated since Lincoln. Wm McKinley was shot in 1901 and James Garfield in 1881.
Shock produces strange reactions. My first reaction was to run away. Where? Who knows. Then I wanted to go out and buy a pack of cigarettes. I thought, "what the hell." Then I wanted to eat. I guess these are just human reactions. I didn't do any of those things and I also thought of having a couple of stiff drinks. Oh brother!
A prime suspect has been picked up for suspicion of killing President Kennedy. His is Lee Harvey Oswald who gave up his U.S. citizenship to go to Russia. They say he was disillusioned and applied for a passport back to the U.S. with his Russian wife. They have a little son. He considers himself a Marxist and not a communist. He was arrested in New Orleans for passing out pro Castro leaflets. Who knows why this happened? Did Russia have a hand in this or Cuba or Communist's or Right wingers or was he just a poor confused person?
The time is 7:40 pm and NBC news is having a special program showing Kennedy's famous speeches from his inauguration, Cuba blockade, and his integration speech. I just cannot believe such a vital man is dead. Oh why am I saying this? He is alive but not on this plane. I hope he is OK where he is for he is a good man.
I didn't say anything to Edward (our 4 year old son) about the President's death because I did not think it was necessary but Edward told Bernie that someone shot President Kennedy and they didn't know who did it. I don't know exactly what to think about this. Of course Edward did hear this because I had the TV on all day since Kennedy was shot but I don't think Edward knows what shot means. I also do not think it is necessary to go into all this. Should I say anything about this or wait for questions?
At a time like this what does religion matter? Most of us were shocked and felt pain at the death of the President and a majority of us cried. Another indication and proof that we are all alike even thought our thoughts are somewhat different.
On NBC at 11:25pm Chet Huntley said that ??? saw Jackie Kennedy kiss her dead husband on the lips and take her ring off her finger and put it on his. What a poignant story! Somehow I have the feeling that Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy is going to become famous in her own right, who knows how?
To be continued ....