Musings at Midnight

MUSINGS AT MIDNIGHT


Armies are tools of violence;
They cause men to hate and fear.
The sage will not join them.
His purpose is creation;
Their purpose is destruction.

Weapons are tools of violence,
Not of the sage;
He uses them only when there is no choice,
And then calmly, and with tact,
For he finds no beauty in them.

Whoever finds beauty in weapons
Delights in the slaughter of men;
And who delights in slaughter
Cannot content himself with peace.

So slaughters must be mourned
And conquest celebrated with a funeral.
Lao Tze

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS PRESENT IN ALL THE WORLD
CALLING ALL PEOPLE TO CHRIST
BUT THE PEOPLE RESPOND
IF YOUR ACTIONS ARE LIKE YOUR GOD
WE FIND NOTHING TO LIKE

THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS ILLUMINED ALL OUR TEACHERS
SONS OF ABRAHAM
BUDDHA
THE GREEKS AND HINDUS
AND ALL HAVE PROCLAIMED THE GOLDEN RULE


I LIKE THINGS ORIENTAL
FOOD AND PHILOSOPHY
WAY OF PHRASING THOUGHTS
POETRY OF THE CHARACTERS
CASE IN POINT
THE PHRASE
THE END
IT IS FINISHED
USES THE CHARACTERS FOR WINTER AND THREAD
SO CHRIST MIGHT HAVE CALLED OUT
IT IS THE WINTER OF MY THREAD
MY LIFE HAS RUN OUT

IT WOULD BE NICE TO SAY THAT ALL THE PHILOSOPHIES OF THE WORLD
HAVE RESULTED IN PEACE
BUT IT ISN’T TRUE
BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT NEVER GIVES UP
AND IN CHINA’S DARKEST HOURS
THEIR INSPIRED TEACHERS HAVE SAID

A good ruler must possess a clear understanding of the law to be enforced. It should not be enforced just because the ruler has the authority to enforce the law. It must be done in a reasonable manner and with common sense. --Confucius

Let all peoples be happy, weak or strong, of high, middle, low estate, small or great, visible or invisible, near or far away, alive or still to be born. May they all be entirely happy. Let nobody lie to anybody or despise any single being anywhere. May no one wish harm to any single creature out of anger or hatred. Let us cherish all creatures as a mother her only child. May our loving thoughts fill the whole world above, below, across without limit of boundless goodwill toward the whole world, unrestricted, free of hatred and enmity. --Buddha

AND THE SONS OF ABRAHAM HAVE SAID

Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don't stand back and let them die. Don't try to avoid responsibility by saying you didn't know about it. For God knows all hearts, and he sees you. He keeps watch over your soul, and he knows you knew! And he will judge all people according to what they have done. --PROV12:11-12


DO WE NEED ANOTHER TEACHER
TO TELL ALL OF US
TO LIVE UP TO THE TEACHINGS
OF THEIR FAITH
I HOPE NOT
WE WOULD TREAT HIM SHABBILY
AS BEFORE
WE NEED TO PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH
MORE RULES WON’T MAKE RIGHT
IT’S THE HEART THAT NEEDS CHANGING

SAD THOUGHTS AT MIDNIGHT
MY EYES ARE HEAVY
AND SO ARE MY THOUGHTS
BUT THE WORDS OF THE HYMN SOOTH ME

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there

BLESS ALL THE CHILDREN
NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE
OR RACE OR CREED
THEY ALL ARE YOUR CHILDREN
IN YOUR TENDER CARE

FRANK A VOLLMER.