Auld Lang Syne

The last hours of 2005 are literally ticking away and soon attention will fall upon events taking place in Times Square. 2005 was extraordinary, but then so is any other year at this point looking back. Violence and poverty throughout the world continue. This year's benchmarks were a wave of natural disasters which reminded us that we are only human and that life is at once both precious and fragile.

Among those we lost this year were an anti-war champion, a king of late night television and a pope. It seems that remembering those who are no longer with us is an integral part of the ritual that marks our annual passage from one year to the next. It reminds me of Yahweh instructing Moses to climb the mountain to view the land of Canaan which he was about to give to the Israelites as their homeland. Moses would only view it from afar but not enter it. And so it is of those we lost. They will not enter the new year with us.

We greet the incoming year filled with all of the hope and promise of the Israelites entering Canaan. It will not take long before we discover that 2006, like every year before it, is not the land of milk and honey. In 2006 we will meet once again achievement and failure, discovery and bewilderment, industriousness and disaster, life and death. Whatever the new year holds for you and I, may we embrace it with acceptance and peace.

Copyright 2005 Don Neale, Jr.
All rights reserved.

Cruisin' to the Tunes!

Throughout the 1980s I was known as 'the deejay priest.' Almost every weekend I deejayed at least one high school dance, wedding reception or parish/community event. I started out modest with a decent personal sound system in 1982 and, with the channel of communication it opened with youth and the personal joy it brought me, my hobby unfolded into a budding professional business. Known first as 'Sound Station' and changing the name three years later to 'Cruisin' to the Tunes!' my reputation as the deejay priest grew by leaps and bounds. The evolution of my deejaying years took me through large music collections in five different formats - first vinyl singles, then vinyl albums, then on to cassettes, music videos and, with the birth of compact discs, on to CDs. I had a professional sound system, full light show and live video with two large monitors on either side of the stage.

I became something of a peculiarity if not an oddity and as interest grew I started receiving phone calls from newspapers throughout southwestern Michigan interested in writing a feature. Many of these features became syndicated. I will never know how far my story spread.

Music has always been special to me, a mystical door to innermost and transcendant feelings. A song by itself not only could elicit a memory and its accompanying mood, but also could actually propel me back in time to the moment itself.

Music has always been special to me, a mystical door to innermost and transcendant feelings. A song by itself not only could elicit a memory and its accompanying mood, but also could actually propel me back in time to the moment itself. Even today as I work within the prison, I have playing in the background collections of music carefully put together to carry my spirit again and again through my personal story.

In 1990 one of the most amazing gigs of my lifetime came to an end, but that's another story for another time.

What one special song has been forever etched into your memory of a defining moment in life? Does relistening to the song elicit the original feelings? Does hearing the song propel you back to the actual moment?

© Copyright 2006 gentlefootprint. All Rights Reserved.

When the Well Runs Dry

What does a person do when the well runs dry, when you have no ideas or feel unimaginative? What do you do when you haven't a clue what to write about? Afterall, the theme of spirituality is somewhat limited in scope

abandonment
abide
ablution
absence
absolute
absolution
abstinence
abundance
abyss
acceptance
account
accurse
accuse
achieve
acquire
actions
activism
activity
actualization
adapt
adequacy
advent
affect
affection
affirm
affirmation
agape
age
alchemy
alive
almighty
altar
amazement
amen
angels
anger
animate
announce
anoint
answers
apocalypse
apologetic
apostle
arrival
art
ascend
asceticism
aspiration
assembly
assurance
attitude
atonement
authority
awakening
bad
balance
balm
banquet
baptism
baptize
be
beatitude
beatify
beauty
becoming
beginning
being
belief
believe
benediction
beneficence
benevolence
beyond
bible
birth
bishop
blame
bless
blessing
bliss
blood
body
bountiful
bounty
breath
brokenness
build
burden
call
calling
calm
canon
captive
care
carry
catholic
celebrate
celibacy
center
ceremony
certainty
chance
change
chant
chaos
character
charism
charity
chaste
chastity
childlike
chosen
christen
church
cleanse
cleric
cognition
collaborate
collect
comfort
coming of age
commandments
commemorate
commitment
communication
communion
community
concern
condemn
confess
confession
confirm
confound
congregation
connect
conscience
conscious
consciousness
consecrate
contemplation
continence
continuation
contribute
contribution
contrition
control
covenant
convent
convert
cooperation
corrupt
cosmos
council
counsel
courage
creation
credo
creed
crisis
cross
crucifixion
crucify
cry
damned
dance
dark
darkness
day
dearth
death
decency
decree
dedicate
defense
deficient
defile
define
dehumanize
deity
delight
deliverance
denial
denomination
depression
depths
descend
desecrate
desert
design
desire
development
devotion
devout
diatribe
differences
direction
disagreement
disapproval
disciple
discipline
discovery
discrimination
disease
disillusion
dispensation
dissent
distance
divine
divinity
doctrine
dogma
dominion
dream
dying
discernment
earth
ecumenical
edifice
ego
ejaculate ; )
elevate
embody
embrace
emotion
empathy
empower
enable
enlightenment
episcopacy
espoused
esteem
eternal
ethics
eucharist
evangelization
everlasting
evil
excommunicate
exercises
exist
existential
expectation
experience
explanation
exploitation
expression
faith
fall
family
faraway
farthermost
favor
fecund
feast
feed
feelings
fellowship
female
feminine
festival
flock
follow
forgive
forgiveness
fortitude
foundation
fragrance
freedom
fruitful
fulfillment
fullness
fundamentalism
future
garden
gather
genealogy
generosity
gentle
gift
give
giving
glory
god
goodwill
grace
gratitude
ground
growth
guilt
hail
happiness
harmony
hatred
heal
healing
heart
heaven
heights
helpfulness
hermitage
hero
heroic
history
holiness
holy
home
honor
hope
hopelessness
human
humanity
humility
hunger
hymn
ideal
ideology
idolatry
illusion
image
imagination
imitate
immaculate
imminence
immortal
impediment
individual
indulgence
infinite
initiation
inner
insight
insignificance
inspiration
instruction
intelligence
intention
intercession
interminable
internal
interpretation
inward
irrelevant
jealousy
journey
judge
judgment
just
justice
karma
kingdom
knowledge
lack
laity
lament
land
laud
laugh
law
leadership
least
leaven
libation
liberation
life
light
likeness
loneliness
longsuffering
lord
love
man
manifest
manna
marriage
masculine
matriarch
matrimony
matter
meaning
meditation
meek
melancholy
mercy
messenger
metanoia
mind
ministry
miracle
modernism
moment
monasticism
morality
mortal
mountain
music
mystic
myth
naked
name
narcissism
narration
nation
nativity
natural
nature
near
necessity
need
negativism
neglect
neighbor
newness
night
nirvana
nomadic
nothing
now
nurture
obedience
oblation
obligation
observance
ode
offering
offertory
oil
ointment
omnipotent
omnipresent
omniscient
oneness
openness
opportunity
optimism
order
ordination
origins
other
pagan
pain
paradise
parish
parishioner
passage
passion
past
path
patriarch
peace
penance
pentacost
pentateuch
perception
perfection
perish
perspective
persecution
person
pessimism
physical
piety
pilgrim
pilgrimage
pity
place
plan
pleasure
plight
poetic
pontificate
possessiveness
positive
possible
potential
poverty
power
practice
praise
prayer
predestination
predetermination
prejudice
presence
present
priest
priesthood
primacy
principle
priority
proclaim
prodigal
process
profess
profound
progress
promise
promulgate
pronounce
proof
prophecy
prophet
providence
psalm
purgatory
purpose
quench
quest
question
quiet
quietude
reality
realm
reason
recitation
reconciliation
reconnection
recreate
redemption
refresh
regimen
relationships
relativism
release
relic
relief
religion
religious
rejection
remnant
remorse
renew
repent
repose
repress
resentment
respect
response
rest
restore
resurrection
retreat
reunion
revelation
revenge
reverence
revival
right
righteous
righteousness
rites
ritual
rubric
rule
sabbath
sacerdotal
sackcloth
sacrament
sacred
sacrifice
sadness
safety
saint
sainthood
salvation
sanctify
sanctity
sanctuary
satisfaction
saved
scripture
seasons
secular
sect
seed
seek
selfish
selfless
separation
serenity
serpent
service
sexuality
shame
shepherd
sign
silence
sin
sing
sleep
slumber
solemnity
solicitude
solitude
song
sorrow
soul
soulful
sovereignty
special
spirit
spirituality
splendor
stain
star
still
stillness
story
strength
success
suffer
suffering
sufficiency
supernatural
surprise
symbol
tabernacle
temperament
temple
test
thankfulness
thanks
thanksgiving
theism
theology
theophany
thirst
thought
tithe
tolerance
torah
tradition
transcendence
transfigure
transition
transparency
traverse
tribe
trinity
triumphant
trust
truth
ubiquitous
ultimate
unbelief
unbounded
uncertainty
unconscious
understanding
unify
unity
universal
unknown
unworthy
uplift
urgency
utmost
validity
value
venerable
venerate
vengeance
verse
vessel
vestment
vicar
vicarious
victim
vigilance
violate
virtue
vision
visitation
vocation
voice
vow
wail
wait
waken
walk
wander
want
wash
watch
watchfulness
water
way
weak
weary
weakness
weep
welcoming
wellspring
will
willingness
wind
window
wise
wisdom
withdraw
witness
woman
wonder
wondrous
word
work
works
world
worship
worthy
wrong
yoke
youth
youthfulness
zeal

Wishing you all ideas and imagination this holiday season!

Copyright 2005 Don Neale, Jr.
All rights reserved.

Angels, Mortal Love & Other Things...

One of the DVDs on my book shelf that never gets old with multiple viewing is Nicholas Cage and Meg Ryan's City of Angels. I love this flick! An angel (Cage) decides to give up his immortality to experience mortal love. After only a brief taste he tragically loses that too when Ryan meets her untimely death.

I believe in guardian angels. At least that's the only real explanation I have for what I've experienced. There have been too many times in my life when I've found my way into serious fixes too impossible to escape only to miraculously be delivered from any harm. Dreadfully scared, without a click of the heels of my ruby red slippers, a blink of the eyes or a twitch of my nose, the trouble just disappears and I find myself safe from any harm other than second guessing the bad choices that presented me with my dilemmas in the first place. Every day I meet people who have stared in the face of the same dark moments I have but weren't as fortunate.

Mind you, my existence is no garden paradise. There are problems and circumstances that weigh heavily on me and the burden of the pain and hurt at times seems unbearable. There are times when I cannot hold back the crying out of my heart, spirit and soul. I wonder why God has spared me from so many burdens yet disappointingly remains silent in the midst of so many things I wish would just go away. But how can I fear? I take comfort in knowing that God, perhaps through messengers, is looking out for me. I just hope that in the midst of such amazing grace that I don't make a decision like that Cage's angel makes that ultimately costs him everything.

What do you think? Ever had an experience of feeling the presence or intervention of angels watching over you? Is there anything in life that you're willing to lose everything for a just a taste?

© Copyright 2005 gentlefootprint. All Rights Reserved.

Walter Cronkite Interviews Gentlefootprint on Scripture

Picture the Bible as a big mansion where God lives. There are all kinds of different rooms in that mansion. Rooms with different decor. Rooms for different purposes. But one house. Now we want to get to know the One who lives inside. Mr. or Mrs. Exegesis enter through the front door and take in all of the different things you learn about the owner as they pass from room to room. They would consider what they found in the context of the room in which they discovered it. They would consider when what they found was acquired, what other choices may have been available and why a particular choice may have been made. Now, on the other hand, Mr. or Mrs. Isegesis slip in through the back door with an agenda. They already claim to know who the occupant is. They'll look around and snatch anything they can find in support of what they already believe. Now which one is going to be able to tell you more about who the occupant living in the mansion?

CRONKITE: Hello again everyone. This is Walter Cronkite. Here with me today is a pilgrim on the spiritual path, Gentlefootprint. Welcome.
GENTLEFOOTPRINT: Thank you, Walter. It's good to be here.
CRONKITE: You recently started your second xanga, Five Minutes for GOD: A Spiritual Journey through the Bible. Why?
GENTLEFOOTPRINT: I didn't see anything like it on xanga. There are a lot of xangas out there that offer reflections on all aspects of spirituality from every possible angle. You'll also find a bunch of xangas that apply the scriptures to every discussion, debate or conversation. When these two come together you'll find a battlefield that many find a turnoff and will run the other way. My goal with 5 Minutes was to show that there is another way, a spiritual way to walk through the passages of the Bible. God's Word is always a living word that continues to create. It isn't imprisoned by the printed pages of a book.
CRONKITE: How do you find God's Word in the Bible?
GENTLEFOOTPRINT: You begin by realizing that the Bible isn't a book at all. It's many different books covering a multiplicity of genres. Each arose from the pen of a particular writer set in a particular place and time and circumstance. That writer belonged to a people who reflected on their particular relationship with God within that context. All this needs to be taken into consideration if you're going to fully understand God's Word. This is the work of exegesis.
CRONKITE: So how do you find and select scripture passages that address our particular questions or issues?
GENTLEFOOTPRINT: A more legitimate question might be should we be doing so in the first place? To take our present beliefs and concerns to the Bible to find vindication for them is isegesis. The true meaning of God's Word in scripture rests with exegesis, not isegesis. Now with good exegesis we unlock the full power of that Word and the truth it contains may well speak to today's dilemmas.
CRONKITE: All this sounds so scholarly.
GENTLEFOOTPRINT: To an extent, yes. When someone sites a scripture passage as the authority on a particular question or issue, it would be good to first question their authority. Are they entering into the conversation from the perspective of exegesis or isegesis?
CRONKITE: Can you make the difference between exegesis and isegesis simpler for us to understand?
GENTLEFOOTPRINT: Sure. Picture the Bible as a big mansion where God lives. There are all kinds of different rooms in that mansion. Rooms with different decor. Rooms for different purposes. But one house. Now we want to get to know the One who lives inside. Mr. or Mrs. Exegesis enter through the front door and take in all of the different things you learn about the owner as they pass from room to room. They would consider what they found in the context of the room in which they discovered it. They would consider when what they found was acquired, what other choices may have been available and why a particular choice may have been made. Now, on the other hand, Mr. or Mrs. Isegesis slip in through the back door with an agenda. They already claim to know who the occupant is. They'll look around and snatch anything they can find in support of what they already believe. Now which one is going to be able to tell you more about who the occupant living in the mansion?
CRONKITE: I like that!
GENTLEFOOTPRINT: And keep in mind that the owner of the mansion isn't stuck in that house 24/7! God gets out every once in a while and visits other places too!
CRONKITE: Let's get back now to 5 Minutes. Is 5 Minutes exegesis or isegesis?
GENTLEFOOTPRINT: It's not intended to be either. It is spiritual. Everytime I reread a verse from the Bible, it speaks something different to me. One of the things that always amazed me as a Pastor was listening after Church to how many different ways your homily or sermon spoke to folks other than the way it had spoken to me. 5 Minutes is just one journey where I share what the passage has spoken to me and invite those joining me for the journey to share something of what the passage speaks to them.
CRONKITE: You do this in 5 Minutes and just a short passage! It'll be a long journey!
GENTLEFOOTPRINT: As a pastor I followed an unwritten rule. If I couldn't say what I wanted to say in 5 minutes, it probably wasn't anything worth sharing in the first place. And as a blogger here on xanga, I start to get uncomfortable when my post exceeds what will appear in the browser window without having to scroll down. You know, Walter, more isn't always better! The value of 5 Minutes is that it shows people how much we can get from just a little bit.
CRONKITE: Truely words to the wise. Thanks for being with us, Gentlefootprint. And that's the way it is, Monday December 5th, 2005. This is Walter Cronkite. Goodnight.

© Copyright 2005 gentlefootprint. All Rights Reserved.