The Five Reasons Why: We Are Our Brother’s Keeper

  Posted on by Kendall Fredrick Person

  32 Comments

My brother's keeper

One of the main task of theology
is to find words that do not divide but unite,
that do not create conflict but unity
that do not hurt but heal
– Henri Nouwen

 

Have you ever walked along the moonlit sand, under a star-filled sky and wondered, “What is the meaning of my life?”  Have you ever given a moment your all, ran your fastest race, but still came in last? Have you ever thrown a penny in a well, blew out all the birthday candles on your cake, yet your wish failed to be filled? Have you ever fallen down and been unable to get back up? Have you ever thrown your hands up high and shouted toward the heavens, “I give up!”  Have you ever faced humiliation or felt the world staring you down? If pain has ever pierced your heart,  and made you feel alone. If emptiness has ever drowned you and sorrow has overwhelmed? Have you ever wondered how you made it through? While your inner strength and fortitude played a vital role, it was because you have a brother, a mother or a friend, who carried your burden, without complaint or expecting anything in return.

 

Brother's Keeper

Unity by kalessaradan

The Five Reasons Why:
We Are Our Brother’s Keeper
by Kendall F. Person

5. Karma
From 2005 – 2009, a sitcom by the precarious title of My Name is Earl aired in original episodes. Earl was a bad guy, plain and simple. But with the exception of a few flashbacks, we never saw that side of him. When the series  opened, he is hit by a car right after winning a $100,000 on a lottery ticket. His immediate change in fortune, did not simply force him to turn his life around, but he realized that for all the wrong he did, unless he made amends, karma was now out to get him.  There exist a multitude of beliefs and thousands of religions. Each with their own interpretations and definitions of what is righteous and what is condemning. And while it is the differences that lead to fiery debates and full-scale war, all contain an element of karma, which plays a crucial role – what goes around comes around. So before we turn our backs on our brothers, watch an episode of Earl. Although it may be fiction, those who believe in its existence will tell you….karma is a bitch. 

4. Wisdom
The only way to keep what we have is to give it away, is a quote said in unison at the beginning of every narcotics anonymous meeting. For those who have undergone traumatic experiences or have battled with addiction and have managed to overcome, part of the ongoing recovery process is the sharing of your experiences – both challenges and successes – with those less fortunate, still caught in the throes of a losing battle. There is wisdom in sharing, for as we teach, we also learn. And while many of us go through the phase – we think we know everything –  it is not a place to dwell, for everyday there is something new to learn.

3. Community
In 1993, in the midwestern part of the USA, the rains would start falling and it appeared they would never stop. Unable to withstand the torrents, one by one, the levees would fail. The Missouri and the Mississippi Rivers would crest at record levels, roaring downstream with a force so destructive, entire towns would be wiped out, and the rains still would not stop. But watching the catastrophe unfold from the safety of the west coast, what I remember most was seeing the citizens of St. Louis ban together to fortify the trenches, working in unison at a feverish pace, stacking thousands of sandbags against the weakening levee, bracing for the river to crest. St. Louis was spared the disaster that had befallen others upstream, by watching over one another and working together, they had saved their fair city.

2.Loneliness
On December 13, 2003 a tyrant by the name of Saddam Hussein was captured in a hole. It was dark, empty and he was all alone. After years of feeding his own selfish ego, caring not for the welfare of his people, of which he was “elected” to serve . After failed invasions and the mass killing of the Kurds. After the plundering of his nation’s riches and isolating his country on the world stage, when his reign finally ended, he had distilled so little goodwill, that the only safe haven to be had, was a hole in the ground. Lending a helping hand to a person in need, creates an emotional investment, that may pay its dividends, simply in the comfort of knowing, someone cares about us and that we are not alone.

1. Empowerment 
Becoming captain of our own ship and master of our own soul is paramount for growth. Growth exalts confidence. Confidence leads to self-empowerment and empowerment can lead to positive change. Once we are comfortable with ourselves, then even with our differences of opinion, status and color, we comprehend it is one nation that binds us together. And when our bond is understood, being our brother’s keeper, becomes more of a privilege and less of a burden.

Unity by kalessaradan

this is… The Neighborhood

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32 Comments on “The Five Reasons Why: We Are Our Brother’s Keeper”

  4. Pingback: The Five Reasons Why: We Are Our Brother’s Keeper — The Neighborhood – ronaldwederfoort

  5. Pingback: The Five Reasons Why: We Are Our Brother’s Keeper — The Neighborhood – A Flawless Feminist

  6. Pingback: The Five Reasons Why: We Are Our Brother’s Keeper | Unchain the tree

  7. Thanks so much, well said. I do have a specific world view, yes; I think much of what you are saying will be appreciated by many.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Reblogged this on Watch and Whirl and commented:
    …..I couldn’t have said it better myself. I write about these things quite often. It fits so well with the teachings of Nichiren Buddhism. This philosophy of living has enable me to be alive today because how we think and act, and what we say, affects the things that happens to us. That is our karma – the good the bad the ugly, the insane, the wonderful parts of our lives.

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  10. This is how I live my life and why I have studied Nichiren Buddhism for the last 28 years. People don’t take the making of their karma very seriously and it is much easier to blame circumstances on everything or anyone except yourself – because you think it isn’t your fault. The law of karma is the law of cause and effect or call it, you reap what you sow, or you get back what you dish out. But most people see it when looking at someone elses life and not their own. Why are we unhappy? why do you have or not have good friends who care about you? Why haven’t you done the things in life you wanted to do, or have you? Everything single thing that is going on in our lives is from the making of a cause in the past – even if you don’t know what it is. it isn’t luck or a miracle if something goes right, it is just the effect of a cause. So what do you want in your future? You can grab the reigns and make good cause and reap good effects. Be good to people. Help them when you can. Have a kind word or a smile to a stranger. Keep your life condition high so that when life hits you you will react to it in a different way. The only legacy we can ever really leave behind is the effect we have had on other people’s lives.

    Liked by 2 people

  12. Reblogged this on sherriemiranda1 and commented:
    Not much to add to Kendall’s post, except that Karma is only a bitch if you are selfish. If you a kind. loving person, Karma is actually a wonderful thing! 😉 ❤
    Do you know a/b my debut novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador”? A young American woman goes to war-torn El Salvador: http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
    My husband made a video for my novel. He wrote the song too:

    Liked by 2 people

  14. extremely well written. I hope you dont mid but I reblogged it. if youdo let me know and I will erase it. Thanks for the words

    Like

    • That is what the reblog button is for, my friend To share with your community what you have enjoyed elsewhere around the blogosphere. I appreciate your sharing of The Neighborhood shows very much. And so good to know you enjoyed the show. (big smile)

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Pingback: The Five Reasons Why: We Are Our Brother’s Keeper | thoughts by an idiot

  17. That may be the politically correct redefinition of theology but ministers are ostensibly messengers whose mission is to deliver the word of God and coalesce people around a belief in God and a desire to live a life consistent with His word.
    Negotiating exceptions to increase the size of the size of a congregation is a commercial pursuit to increase revenue; it has nothing to do with God. In fact it is blasphemous to adulterate the word of God for that or any reason.

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  19. 6. A smiling face..
    I don’t think there would be reasons for frowns and a face that scares the world …but ofcourse, not every occasion is a happy occasion, but we could look back to our past and think “Wow, I had some great moments with this people, why kill vibes because of recent tantrums, I could wear that face that makes it look alright. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  22. While our political leaders (and the press) praise America’s diversity… they prey upon, enflame, and exploit our divisions for personal gain..(ratings and votes) Preservation of this nation will ultimately depend on the will of its people to simply keep loving our neighbor as the good Lord tells us to.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Your point is well taken. But not all. And the advent of social media and blogging and podcasting and…. offers many voices of reason (big smile). Thank you for adding your voice. You are appreciated very much.

      Liked by 1 person

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