Copper Chronicles

Lyle and I have been through some stressful times together. Since Lyle grew up in the wilderness of Northfield, MA, he’s fairly skilled at survival. As I’ve acquired skill deterring predators with Copper, my favorite hen, and her friends, I am certain camping together is not a terrible idea.

There is always a balance between security and liberty. So I’ll try to avoid building a compound for us, like I did with my hens.

I was concerned about predators in the wilderness location. So, short of an 18′- high cage surrounding them with barbed-wire topping, my hens were in a maximum security prison.

Lady, the beautiful hen, peered at me with piercing displeasure like my mother did growing up. I recognize disapproval when I see it.

Prisons are bad! I don’t want to live in a prison. Of course, rarely people want to be without their natural ability to do this or that, enjoy fresh air, or seek out a friendly chat with a neighbor.

I didn’t realize I have been living in a compound of sorts. A hellish one- where everything is decided for me. Who I am, what I can do, what I may think or believe. Or, not believe.

That explains why my automaton-like programming isn’t winning any acclimation with my new neighbors in Virginia. I try to be relaxed and friendly like people here. But, sometimes I can’t speak, think, and form sentences.

Having escaped the confines of a hyper-systematized and controlled environment, my neighbors here often look at me like I am, well, a malfunctioning escapee from a hellish, hyper-controlled environment.

I am not incorrect when I say Massachusetts can be a stressful, hyper-controlled environment as I grew up there. I lived my whole life there.

It’s sketchy, however, when everything I’ve been told to believe starts falling apart. Like, UMASS? The “Starship” of Public University so-called partners with Coca-Cola. The Athletic Arena looks like a shine to the great god, “Coke.”

Sugary, highly-caffeinated beverages, that are also addictive and dehydrating?? Don’t the professional educators at UMASS know soda is bad for you? I guess you can’t bite the hand that feeds you.

Franklin Medical Center. Try finding something not toxic and addictive to drink there. But, if you express displeasure with any small amount of human emotion, the security team will be ready “to assist” you outside the building.

The Dartmouth Health Care Center in NH, supposedly highly-rated, created a healthcare “Mall.” Several services of healthcare varieties upstairs- Addictive foods substances like greasy pizza, fries, Coke, and other stuff people claiming to be on the front-edge-of- human health should know are not good for human health!

Dartmouth Mall looks like a highly-expensive spa. But with no actual health benefits of green tea, nutrition, fasting, and relaxing that human health requires. It’s like the system is run by sociopaths.

I Am an escapee from a hyper-controlled, hellish environment. That explains why when I talk, I sound like a prisoner pleading for his life on the grounds of his good behavior. 🤔

Please, please don’t give me a vaccine touted as “safe and effective” when your whole healthcare system is neither safe nor Effective. I won’t tell anybody!

{Sigh}

Camping sounds like a good respite. Nature, relaxing, and fresh air. Fresh water. I am not certain I will find fresh, clean water anymore. But, Coke is the beverage of choice at the Federal Park System!

I’ve been searching my soul to identify and describe dehumanizing effects of the modern world. Every effort at devaluing my inherent worth as a human being has left behind an orphan- an idea, hope, or dream of who I may become- that was avoided or forgotten. My soul is a sea of orphans, sacrificed at the altar of “Progress.”

Jung described a childlike part of the self he called Shadow. I believe he means: shadows of people we may have become with concentrated effort directed toward our well-being as children. Where who we are matters. And what we may become – the best version of ourselves- is the goal of parenting.

Public schools cannot replace parents. At school my major take away was: I am only one of many. I have no right to anything but what I have in common possession with the group. That is, the teachers’ attention mostly. As one of thirty, how shall I justify my own needs and questions above so many others?

That is the goal of “socialization,” to inculcate into future citizens of the world “you are not distinct, you are not special.” This is how to “engineer equality” according to 20th public education philosophy. John Dewey’s school of thought, I believe.

The individual, a sovereign being possessing inherent dignity, was not to think critically anymore. Or, independently – for the greater good of humanity.

Perhaps the less-than-genius idea of last century’s educators was: if everybody thought the same, believed the same, had one identity and one communal experience (carefully planned by the social engineers in public education and reinforced by television programming, like PBS), then there would be no wars, ethnic feuds, or rivalry or competition between anyone.

Anyway, I didn’t have an identity when I arrived at school. Living in an environment where I must subjugate my own needs to that of the group constantly proved very destructive. So, that is the path I chose as a young person- one of nihilistic self destruction.

One may claim it was sort of a ‘revolution’ or ‘protest’ of the modern education system on my part. But, people with little to no identity as children can’t claim such sophisticated agendas. At home, I was the last of several children with very little attention. At school, there were 30 more children with whom I shared space. That I did not matter very much at all to anyone seemed a factual reality.

But, I have found sufficient proof that my claims to the universe calling me or drawing me home is true. Henri J.M. Nouwen in his book, Life of the Beloved, says that each of us starts in the heart of God, before our existence in this world. In in his heart, then, we find our home, and who we truly are.

I am free to explore all those hopes, dreams, and orphaned ideas that never were free to emerge before. It’s a crowd, to be sure. But, I am part of the “In” crowd, now!

My long search has led me to realize that happiness is a desirable and achievable state, not rooted in the ceaseless pursuit of material wealth. When Jesus spoke about not pursuing material well-being as a life’s goal, He meant that Truth, Meaning, Purpose, is available to all. And, that He desires us all to experience abundant life.

Living in the materialistic underworld- craving this, that, and the other thing endlessly- does not satisfy the whole person. That is not abundance as defined by the kingdom of God. Living by one’s worldly appetites is slavery actually, Jesus implies. Not a desirable state.

What Jesus offers the woman at the well wasn’t an addictive substance like Coca-Cola- that makes her more thirsty in minutes. The Lord is not tricky, deceitful, and craven like materialistic creatures ruling this current world. What He offers, he says, is Eternal Life. Pure, life-giving water, no strings attached. No red dye #2.

So, the kingdom life Jesus invites us all to enjoy requires respect for and cooperation with His principles. It takes a rewiring of my mind and thoughts, away from creatures-comforts-only lifestyle. Then, Up, up, and away to the greater things He has planned.

I can start cutting loose things I don’t need, like thoughts that demoralize. And, possessions that hold sad memories- and tether me to unhappy places in the past. Bitterness, criticism (from the religious quarters particularly) has no place in my future.

I guess that is why Jesus had to come to earth Himself, so people can see the real deal. The religious people were messing things up with their long faces and demoralizing unbelief.

Somethin’ down south called having chu*ch. This can happen anywhere I go.

Having chu*ch is a little less structured than the Catholic Church I visited. Certainly more spontaneous than an articulately orchestrated Orthodox service. It happens sometimes even at a bus stop or grocery store.

I say: “How are you, today?” Somebody responds: “Hallelujah, the Lord is good!” I say, “Yes, Ma’am, He most certainly is!” Another say, “I’ been sore in my back for months and praise God, it’s feeling better today!”

“Uh- huh…Praise the Lord for His Mercy!” Says another lady, dressed from head to toe like a 1950’s movie star. She’s a knockout. And, she’s like 80 years old!

I like chu*ch. Seems a lot more like people are happy; so much so they can’t help talking about it! Black people and white people together.

A Pentecostal pastor I heard today said: “There is now no more condemnation for those who are in Christ.” He about exploded on stage like a stick of dynamite. Or, a fire hydrant when someone knocks it’s top off- gushing like a geiser!

The urgency with which he spoke reminds me when I was in first grade. There was a giant, frozen puddle on the playground. If I ran really fast and slid on my back, I could slide like 50 feet. It was the coolest thing my 6-year-old-self ever saw.

I ran around shaking the other children in excitement, telling them about the awesome slide! And, they had to come try it! But, nobody caught on. In fact, they looked at me uncertainly and went back to class without me.😔

But, I know now what the preacher was saying. He had experienced the coolest thing ever! He was going to hold on to me and wrestle with me like I was a bone and another dog was trying to steal me away.

He shook and shook and shook and wouldn’t let me go until I got it! (Figuratively speaking). And, I did😃

No condemnation! Shame and guilt do not define me, and cannot control me anymore! Jesus saves to the utmost. He is thorough. That’s the deal for those who accept Him and His forgiveness.

The Lord sees us as He made us. Originals-like at the beginning of all things. Not perfect of course yet- works in progress. But, not mangled and ugly, wanting to hide for fear and shame. He knows us AND He loves us.😃

That haunting, toxic train of thought-criticizing, reminding me of my failures- isn’t a Being who loves me. It’s that Other being.

I’ve heard people say that Scripture. It didn’t do much for me just stored in my head as words. It’s like data stored in a computer. Inoperative. It just exists, like me much of my life.

There’s something to be said for immersive education – experiencing love that shakes us awake. A soul gets sleepy from lack of oxygen and life-giving words of truth.

Maybe CNN which immerses us daily in misery and oppression should hire preachers instead- to tell us news. Maybe they wouldn’t go bankrupt!

Shake, Shake, Shake! Shake us Lord, until we wake up to who we really are and who You really Are! Amen.

‘That’s called Having Chu*ch!

Journeys make more sense when what a person is leaving behind (or escaping) emerges in the tale. This is that part of the story.

It is not clear who, what, or why my childhood was as it was. People ask: How can there be a God (who is benevolent) allow such things? My question is rather, “Why does anyone suppose we are entitled to anything? Ever?”

It’s possible what we view as good is subjective. Like, when I observed the unhealthy media addiction in young people. They seem hypnotized by flashing lights and endless stream of mindless muck. It’s like Hollywood only a thousand times worse in toxicity, in my opinion.

How can one think? Thinking is no longer necessary! The ‘World Controllers’ have had us on track to be obedient, global consumers since my lifetime, that’s for sure.

Human beings no longer need to live lives of meaning, purpose, or pursue ideals. They just need to obey their consciousness streams that have been carefully planned for their subjugation.

I had a dream we all lived at a Mall. There was no nature visible anymore but the sky. It was pale as Death.

In the tightly controlled New World Order, our minds were all that were necessary. It was subjugation and control with the promise of endless distraction.

In the Mall, people went from one media experience to the next, like they were shopping. No families, food, or fun parties. Just Zombies fulfilling their media addiction.

It is similar to my childhood watching T.V. A whole reality was downloaded into my being and made me scattered, disillusioned, confused. What else can we expect but Chaos, when things like television becomes the heart of a culture??

My dark past may be the work of a cold, unfeeling God Who really is not benevolent at all. Or, it could be work of another Being who knew one day, I would carefully expose the canopy of lies that has governed us for decades- destroying the earth and human beings in it. 🤔

This Being seems hell-bent on destroying everything else. Why would I be exempt from its plans?

All the beauty and goodness I’ve experienced has a purpose. It’s for my well-being and pleasure. The earth, the sky, growing things. This Being clearly loves me.

The Other must be responsible for destroying the earth and people in it. Hate seems to be its sole motivation.

It doesn’t make sense that One God is responsible for both peace and chaos; lies and truth; well-being and oppression. There must be two Beings with two opposing natures. And, they are at war.

One is subjugating human beings with fear, chaos and distraction. My Being is liberating us with truth, love and peace.

Is it an act of Love to allow me to live in a dark underworld for a time (my childhood) experiencing all things human beings experience– like pain, confusion, rejection, and terror? If it means I could save some from that darkness, I am glad I did.

My Being, the One I mention in my Chronicles, clearly is able to turn darkness into light. Restore things that are broken. Can communicate in darkness and pain or in beauty and light.

The universe speaks! It’s speaking now. I hear it roaring.