First. I want to make clear that I am not preaching. I use sermons and a variety of speakers that I follow for reflection, especially spiritual reflections. I use these also for inspiration and motivation in activities.
I reached a decision recently regarding the direction of my blogs. I consider this part of my mental and spiritual healing and growth. I came to this decision by acknowledging that I need to make changes in my life that support my physical, mental and especially, my spiritual health.
There were a few things that influenced my decision. They include, but not limited to,
Fr. Michale Pfleger, Pastor of St. Sabina Church in Chicago. I came across him on Facebook and was immediately impressed with the first sermon. I have watched their Sunday service on YouTube and any video he and his church put out for the public since that time. Each time I am impressed, inspired and motivated. Fr. Pfleger is an activist for social justice and this is one of the reasons I follow him on social media and watch the St. Sabina Mass service. His activism is what inspires me. His activism comes from his faith (the teachings and preaching of Jesus Christ), from love and trusting that God has anointed his gifts and talents. He uses these gifts and talents to teach and preach the Gospel of Jesus.
It’s February and Black History Month. What is currently happening in America with the suppression of civil rights, women’s rights, etc. has made me understand that I must be extremely active in helping to minimize the damage that is being done to the progress made in the past. With my physical limitations I need to rely on writing. Writing my blogs and sharing on social media, providing on social posts with relevant facts with links for the reader to follow up if they so choose.
Fr. Pfleger’s Sunday sermon was entitled, “You Were Built for This” and it was good. It was very good. One of the comments was: “Gifts and talents are not enough.” He repeated it again. “Gifts and talents are not enough.” Then he said: “Gifts and talents andGod’s anointing is what makes it enough.”
I took the message as a sign that my decision was the right one. That I should have faith that what God has put in my heart is what I need to do.
Therefore, I will be blogging more often and sharing my blog on social media. My blogs will differ on days. They will mostly be about the political environment and countering disinformation/misinformation with facts and links supporting the facts. There is so much disinformation and misinformation that I may find it necessary to touch upon 1-3 issues. I will also be including on the subheading biblical verses that that are relevant to these issues.
As this is a blog post inspired by a Sunday sermon I want to share the following.
As the days go by there will be some activists peacefully walking in protests, peacefully having sit-ins, or participating in “lawful inconveniences,” If you are one of those who agree, encourage them if you are unable to join. If you disagree, remember that in America we have the right to protest. So be respectful.
There are too many people, who have no political interest, who will use events by creating malicious chaos and even vandalism. Avoid confusing the two groups, please.
I will leave this here. Thank you and have a blessed day.
I participated in an online webinar on Civility in early October this year.
Civility appeared to me to be a behavior that most, if not all, people understood as the correct way to treat others.
As I pondered the idea of being civil to everyone, I realized that there was a process to attaining the ability to being authentically civil. Thanks to the creator of the webinar, Teresita Scully, the process was put into a presentation.
The presentation provided each process with a simple explanation. It was a sort of technical presentation with a spiritual undertone. After thinking about it I realized it was up to the listener to reflect on each process and how to understand the connection of each to civility. I did!
I reflected on the processes and wrote about them for my personal blog. My reflections are how I would be able to use the processes to become a more understanding, compassionate, and loving person to anyone who had different view. This was especially true to those individuals that had the ability to push my buttons. (Thank God they were only a few.)
The booklet attached has all the blog posts in one place. I did add to the booklet additional information at the end.
If there are any who are still struggling with civility, I hope these blog posts help provide some beneficial insights or suggestions on how to move forward for a more peaceful and harmonious 2025.
God sent his Son into the World (John 3:17) Photo by Guilman on Pexels.com
Most of my blogs on Civility have been connected to Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas Day. This was not the original intent of my blogs for this topic. It is, I believe, God’s gift to me as an occasion to learn and grow.
My intention was to write about using the skill of civility to bring back a sense of authentic caring and compassion into relationships. I wanted to present a logical reasoning for us all to reclaim our family and friends’ relationship and bring them back into our daily lives. Instead, during the process of writing, love became one of the main themes.
My first blog on October 16th was written with no political or religious references. It was written to share my reflection on the environment that we as Americans find ourselves. An environment where verbal abuse, physical abuse and threats of death have become normalized by many people.
I am in my mid 70’s and clearly remember the hatred and violence that spread across this country in the 1960s. 1970s and 1980s. I am not surprised that we once again find ourselves facing hatred and violence. I have heard it said, “history mirrors itself” and “history repeats itself.” It’s so true. What has surprised me is the extent to which personal political and religious views have infused themselves into the division we are experiencing today.
I blame a good part of this on technology and social media. Because of the lack of critical thinking so many of us apply to what we hear and read. To the pervasive idea of “me” before anyone to the point that we end up believing “I” am better or more important than “you.” What I find sad about this is that, I believe, most people don’t realize that their words or actions are reflective of this belief.
In writing my second blog in early November I realized we were getting into the holiday season. As I am a Catholic, I decided to use the process of viewing Civility through a spiritual lens. I also included some current and past historical events and biblical stories to highlight certain points.
This final blog on civility is also going to focus on the message of the Christmas Season, the “giving” season.
The birth of Jesus, a gift from God, our Father, to us. The gift of all of us becoming children of God and brothers and sister of Jesus. The gift of being one family with God as the Father. The gift of forgiveness for our transgressions.
It has been my belief that the Old Testament was not written only for the Jewish people. The Jewish people was and is meant to be representative of all people…Jewish and gentile. In several passages in the Old Testament, the writers made a point of commenting on how people from other nations should be welcomed and treated with respect and generosity.
We have entered the Advent Season which is time when we wait with bated breath for the gift from God, the Messiah.
It’s a time when healing our relationship with each other is important. We may need to see this time as returning to God and Jesus the gift of forgiveness, compassion, and generosity. I have experienced the Gospel of Luke as the “good news” of divine love and forgiveness.
There’s a section in Luke’s Gospel when he tells his disciples to hate their father and mother (Luke 14:26). Many people have taken this literally. Some have used it as an explanation to divide families. But if a moment is taken to reflect (by reading further), it is reasonable to understand that Jesus is actually explaining what being a follower means. I mean really, think about it. Why would Jesus tell his disciples to dishonor his parents (the Fifth Commandment of God)?
It was not meant to cause division. It was meant to emphasize the type of commitment required to be a certain type of follower. This particular lesson, as I see it, was to teach the disciples that whichever gift was bestowed upon them by God, were to be used with full commitment.
Here are just a few examples of gifts and what may be needed (used with morals and values that reflect the teachings of Christ:
Pastor/Priest – this may require some to be celibate (Catholic Church). These are needed to spend all their time preaching, teaching and providing whatever assistance is needed by the members of their community. This is not a part time position. This requires the person to give their all to the community (believer and non-believer).
Missionary – this may require a person to fully commit one or more years of travelling to a foreign country to help those in need of specific skills to help their communities. This may include carpentry, farming, education, healthcare, etc.
Teachers and trainers – whether they work in public, private or parochial school system or for a business, must have values and morals that honor all students and employees. That what they teach is accurately based on fact and age appropriate. That they treat each student and staff with respect. They are ready to show compassion and understanding in any situation that arises.
Healthcare workers may have to have a certain amount of objectivity while caring for a patient. They need to still be compassionate with these patients and their families. To do their best not to let their opinions come into play because of physical appearance and become hardened by those opinions.
Business owners need to create an organization that will provide a service and/or product that will be beneficial to the public. That they pay a fair wage and safe working environment. To safeguard from profit becoming more important than people.
As for those who take care of children/elderly, are employed by small or large corporations, who volunteer for any organization, etc. that they show the proper appreciation for what they do. Whether or not they are paid, they are serving others and it should be done with compassion and understanding.
As this to say, that we are surrounded by people who have different views (on any given topic) and chances are that we are surrounded by these same people on daily basis. To honor the gift of God’s love, Jesus, we must find a way to receive this gift with grace and dignity and give it with grace and dignity.
Civility is one of the great gifts to share this holiday season. A perfect gift after several years of division. This year is the perfect time to offer a priceless gift – the gift of love.
Send a text, card or letter during this month. If it’s easier, keep it to two sentences. For example,
“I am remembering the good times we had in the past. Wishing (or praying) you and your family have a happy and healthy holiday (or Christmas) season.”
Note: I personally use the term Holiday Season as not all of my family and friends are Christians. There are different faiths that have special celebrations in December. For example, the Jewish people will celebrate Hanukkah on December 25th. It’s also a time when the Jewish people give each other gifts. Allow each person to use the term which they want without judgment.
It is my hope and prayer that this season brings the necessary strength, courage and faith to each of us to mend/heal relationships. That we have the wisdom to realize that we can recreate loving and respectful communities that is reminiscent of what we learned about Jesus.
“The difference between transactional leadership and transformational leadership is that transformational leadership is people-centric and introspective. Transactional leadership never requires introspection.” – Aiko Bethea (rarecoaching.net)
First, as I post about the topic of civility, I realize that there are two truths that I should have acknowledge. Second, my responses to issues that I do not agree with should be handled with respect and dignity.
The first truth:
It sometimes seems like most of the people are uncivil, crude or demeaning but are probably in the minority. I base this on what I have seen on social media (with the exception of X).
It is possible that the frustration people feel comes from a variety of reasons, most of which we have heard. Frustration! Feelings of not being heard. Being Misunderstood. The only way they may know how to express themselves is through anger and, unfortunately, viciousness.
The second truth:
Be willing to respond, not react, to an issue!
It is up to us to choose not to react to an issue or situation immediately. Taking the necessary time, (a minute, hour, or day) to reflect prevents us from making comments we may regret. Sometimes we perceive certain things from only our point of view or an assumption. When we respond, and that may be necessary with questions, we open ourselves to a better understanding. We can then respond appropriately without all the aggravating experiences we feel.
One of the many things I have been learning of late is that I tend to be triggered by transactional issues. An example of this is seeing the idea being spread that this is a nation started as a “Christian” nation. Or as some say, believing only in Jesus as the savior will open the gates of heaven.
I disagree wholeheartedly. This country’s evolution may have many values that are consistent with Christianity, but also Judaism and others.
Transformational issues, as the quote above says, are people-centric. It is based on what is best “for all people” and for the country.
Allowing and accepting people of all faiths is critical for a free, prosperous, and peaceful country. We are all children of God. God is the final judge of all of us.
Two things I am pondering these days:
Am I living my truth? Will I be judged by my own actions, or
Will God’s judgment of me include how I promoted love, peace, and compassion in this country/world?
Millie Padilla 