A message from my dad, a pastor

 

 

 

It’s a Leap Year, which gives extra energy for taking, trusting, and believing in Great Leaps of Faith-ing, particularly, for going towards your destinies and striving together to bend the Arc of Justice forward. Although 2023 was a strange, weird, crazy, and simply an unbelievable and unpredictable year that historians, filmmakers, mystics, and children will have abundant stories to document and recall – hopefully, they will start with the climate shift record changes. For instance, 2023 was the year that many climate change deniers woke-up, in the midst of growing fear of hearing the truth. 

For me, 2023 was a great year of working hard to stay optimistic and practicing radical self-care; thank you, Dr. Joi Lewis! In 2023, I was drawn to resting, restoration, renewing; to relationship building, remembering/recalling, rediscovering, reuniting, re-evaluating, re-committing, re-energizing, reflection and so much of re-stuff. In short, 2023, was a grand year for me of being re-grateful for the shoulders I stand on and appreciating still being around to witness the great changes in the Circle of Life that don’t happen overnight or in a few years. 

This coming year of 2024, I plan on sharing monthly more messages and expressions from my partners, allies, and justice intergenerational champions. 

 

I want start the year with sharing a rediscovered New Year’s message written by my old-fashion preacher dad in 1964 for the new world of 1965. Please try to read between the lines of the time period; I believe some of my father’s message is what inspires my brother, Metric, to encourage men to examine their male chauvinist, sexist behaviors and become recovering male chauvinists or sexists, as we both encourage our White allies to become recovering racists. Happy Repeat 1965 New Year’s 2024 message:

Text: “Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good woks.” Hebrews 10:24

“Greeting and best wishes to everyone in the name of Jesus Christ. It’s a joy to me to speak with you about our new world. Sure, I know there are many even some of my good friends, long time pals, who are to blind to behold the new world we now live in. Those whom I pray, always, that God would open their understanding. Oh, that they may look and live. If only they would truly open their heart to the love of God. “The time has come when we be renewed in the spirit of mind; that we put on the new man [and woman], which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore, putting away lying, speak every man [and woman] truth with his [her] neighbor: For we are neighbors of one another.” Eph. 4:23-25. 

While sitting in church New Year’s, singing and praying, praising God for bringing us in and out of the year 1964, and by His grace alive into this year of 1965, I realized that here we were in a new world of changing ways. Knowing that the world we left would never be forgotten. Looking back to the other side as the bell rings the year out, we knew it was the end of another chapter in life. The beginning of a new world, needing the strength, the courage, the cooperation and understanding of every member of the human race of this new world, that would be ever expanding. 

Left behind are many memories both precious and regrettable. We can be thankful for the world of ’64 because it was the year, when the churches both large and small, far and near, here and every where and our land of America, rose to their true colors. Thusly, proving that this is the land of liberty, the searchers of justice, the field of opportunity, the home of the brave, the palace of democracy, the pursuers of spiritual kingdom, and the desires of true brotherhood [sisterhood]. So let us face the new world, a world that has change, because we have changed with hope – new hope. “Trusting not to ourselves, but with all our hearts trust in the Lord, and not our own understanding. But in all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct thy path.” Prov. 3:5-6. 

(Again, my dad was of the King James Bible and the male domination rule generation. Fortunately, my brother Robert Jr. introduced me to the Good News (GN) Bible, which came after the Revised Standard Bible. The GN translation of Proverb 3:5-6 is “Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the LORD in everything you do, and he will show you the right way.” I’m happy that we have expanded beyond the GN version these days). 

For in this good, but not perfect world, new world or should I say better world, it’s true that we must follow Jesus. If there is going to be any real peace and unity, my friends, in this new world, we must practice what we preach or receive the reward of undue rest. From what ever station we serve, be it the church, school, politics, laborers, etc.; oh, let us take the word of God for our blueprint to happiness in life. The new world of our changing times has declared that men [women] everywhere, respect the Golden Rule, to accept that we are all our brother’s [sister’s] keepers. To try and deny this is to attempt to make God’s word devoid. Or, as Jesus says to Saul – “It is hard to kick against the pricks,” meaning the almighty rock of our salvation. But thanks be to God Saul saw a new world, accepted the changed way, a world with new aim and new end, and cried out, “Lord what would you have me to do.” But Christ would have Saul to know there were things he must do, for you and me it is true also. Acts 5:5,6. Yes, we are asking what can we do to make this a world of better understanding of each other. We are getting our answers from everywhere, in all types of communication. Will you join me in the new world, with new determination, to press forward for higher achievements in Christ? The theme of the new world is to do unto others, as I would have others to do unto me. A prayer with you I share: A charge to keep, I have a God to glorify and ever dying soul to save that fit it for the sky to serve this present age, my calling to fulfill. Oh, may all my powers engage to do my Master’s will.

For in Christ there is no east or west, in Him no north or south. But one great fellowship of love throughout the earth. Join hands brothers [sisters] of the faith whatever your race may be. Who serves my Father as son, is sure kin to me.

Best Wishes, The Rev. Robert B. Giles (reprinted from the Mason City, IA Globe-Gazette Newspaper, Jan. 2nd, 1965)

I believe my preacher dad would be okay with me saying whatever your faith, gender, race, culture or way of life, to be optimistic and to Start the Day with Love; Spend the Day with Love; Fill the Day with Love; and, End the Day with Love. Happy New World 2024!!!!

Also, great honor and respect to our veterans and firefighters, Good Apple Peace Officers, health providers, educators and other first responders! Peace and joy to all.

May Peace Be In the Rondo, Frogtown, Hamline/Midway, Como, and Surrounding Communities... May Peace Be In Our Homes & Communities… May Peace Prevail On Earth (MPPOE)!