Kaleidoscope OC

I just came from a planning meeting of the newly formed Kaleidoscope OC, An Alliance of Faith Leaders affirming the LGBTQ Community. I am very honored to be part of this amazing group of ministers, rabbis, and other faith leaders. What we have been meeting about is to ensure that our communities are safe and welcoming places for members of the LGBTQ community. I felt that this is a perfect fit for us since we are all about unity and oneness.

We will officially introduce ourselves as a group at the Gay Pride Parade on June 25. We will also be participating in a Shabbat Service at Temple Beth Shalom on June 24. Part of the service will be recognizing those who have died from AIDS or hate crimes. Each of us who will be participating will read a part of the service. I will be participating in the service.

Then the following day at 10:30 am, there will be a short interfaith service before the start of the parade; I will not be participating because I do not want to miss Mary Mackenzie, who will be speaking at our Center that afternoon at 1:00 PM. However, if there is anyone who would like to walk (or ride) in the parade, please let me know; I would be grateful for someone to represent us.

Have you ever noticed that the people who are protesting things usually have the loudest voices and the most press? We believe that that will change as we continue to speak up for those beings who have been marginalized. Actually, I think we learned from our teens who make it seem so easy to accept people just the way the are and just the way they are not.

We have the letter of affirmation and the names of the communities who are participating at this point posted on our website on our About Us Page. Please click on the link below to read the entire letter.

http://cslcv.org/about-us/

Children Will Learn

In honor of my mother and for all mothers everywhere, I dedicate this poem and my blog.

2012 Sister  Kathy Hoiness, me, friend  Lois Cole and Mom

Children Learn What They Live
By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

"If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live."

This week as we are honoring mothers, let's see each one in the highest light. Some of my readers will have been raised by wise, saintly women. Others will have not. But no matter how wise or foolish our mothers were, they gave us the gift f life. What we make of it, is now up to us. Let's know that they have done the best they could given where they came from, what they lived through and their perceptions about life. If they had known better, they could have done better.

Let us see ourselves and all of our relations through the prism of loving kindness and forgiveness.

May this mother's day be filled with kindness and love. 

Niece Heather, sister Kathy, Mom and me New Year's Eve