<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">🤔👍<br><br><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Apr 11, 2020, at 9:35 AM, William Schlesinger via OE <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div>So another thought. When some religious figures read Katrina as God's response to gender and sexuality preferences, we did not agree. They created that meaning, and we saw another reality.</div><div><br></div><div>For those of us in the Christian tradition, our central text contains a story - 'who sinned that this man might be born blind'? And the answer was - 'No one sinned. This is an opportunity to show the works of God' (Matthew's gospel if you needed the citation).</div><div><br></div><div>Viruses mutate. It's in their nature. And some mutations are more effective than others at spreading, infecting, and not killing the host quickly so they can continue to spread. For some of us, this is not 'caused' by human blindness or fear, but is an opportunity to show compassion, embrace forgiveness, and take responsibility.</div><div><br></div><div>Care for the earth - but don't use blaming and shaming in the process.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="gmail_signature" dir="ltr" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>Bill Schlesinger</div><div>Project Vida</div><div>3607 Rivera Avenue</div><div>El Paso, TX 79905</div><div>(915) 490-6148 cell</div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div class="gmail_attr" dir="ltr">On Sat, Apr 11, 2020 at 12:02 AM the telfords via OE <<a href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;padding-left:1ex;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid"><div dir="ltr">A friend sent this to us so we thought we would share it with you all.<div><b><br></b></div><div><div style="color:rgb(29,33,41);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;zoom:1"><div style="font-family:inherit;zoom:1"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-family:inherit;zoom:1"><div style="padding-bottom:6px;font-family:inherit"><div style="font-family:inherit"><div style="width:428px;font-family:inherit;display:inline-block"><div style="width:428px;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block"><h5 id="gmail-m_-60307711866084539m_4993687644967409038gmail-js_0" style="margin:0px 0px 2px;padding:0px 22px 0px 0px;color:rgb(28,30,33);line-height:1.38;font-family:inherit;font-size:14px">The earth whispered but you did not hear </h5><div><br></div><div>The earth spoke but you did not listen,</div><div>The earth screamed but you turned her off.</div><div>And so I was born.</div><div><br></div><div>I was not born to punish you..</div><div>I was born to awaken you..</div><div><br></div><div>The earth cried out for help..</div><div><br></div><div>Massive flooding. But you didn't listen..</div><div>Burning fires. But you didn't listen..</div><div>Strong hurricanes. But you didn't listen..</div><div>Terrifying tornadoes. But you didn't listen..</div><div><br></div><div>You still don't listen to the earth when:</div><div>Ocean animals are dying due to pollutants in the waters..</div><div>Glaciers melting at an alarming rate. Severe drought..</div><div>You didn't listen to how much negativity the earth is receiving..</div><div><br></div><div>Non-stop wars. Non-stop greed. You just kept going on with your life..</div><div>No matter how much hate there was.. No matter how many killings daily..</div><div>It was more important to get that latest iPhone than worry about what the</div><div>earth was trying to tell you..</div><div><br></div><div>But now I am here..</div><div>And I've made the world stop in its tracks..</div><div>I've made YOU finally listen.. I've made you take refuge..</div><div>I've made you stop thinking about materialistic things..</div><div>Now you are like the earth.. You are only worried about YOUR survival.</div><div>How does that feel?</div><div><br></div><div>I give you fever.. as the fires burn the earth.</div><div>I give you respiratory issues.. Has pollution filled the earth air.</div><div>I give you weakness as the earth weakens every day.</div><div>I took away your comforts.. Your outings.</div><div>The things you would use to forget about the planet and its pain.</div><div>And I made the world stop..</div><div><br></div><div>And now.. China has better quality air..</div><div>Skies are clear blue because factories are noy spewing pollution into the earth's air.</div><div>The water in Venice is clan and dolphins are being seen.</div><div>Because the gondola boats that pollute the water are not being used.</div><div>YOU are having to take time to reflect on what is important in life.</div><div>Again I am not here to punish you.. I am here to AWAKEN you..</div><div>When all this is over and I am gone.. Please remember these moments..</div><div>Listen to the earth. Listen to your soul. Stop polluting the earth.</div><div>Stop fighting with each other. Stop caring about materialistic things.</div><div>And start loving your neighbours. Start caring about the earth and all its creatures.</div><div>Because next time I may come back even stronger....</div><div><br></div><div>by Vivinne R Reich - Feel free to copy and send.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Grace & Peace</div><div>John & Elaine</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="gmail-m_-60307711866084539m_4993687644967409038DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2"><br>
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