Memory: A Discourse

For publication on May 25, 2020, Memorial Day

Enduring conflict, particularly on a psychological level, is a struggle that is long lasting and for which a resolution can be deemed “search and find.” That could be a long-term endeavor, that is if, we have no connection or lost connection with the Omnipotent.

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.” (Revelation 19:6)

Memorial. What is it? Can you see it? Can you hear it? Can you smell it? Can you taste it? Yes, you can— with all your senses— if you feel it.

It is said, if you cultivate and put to use all five senses, the sixth will manifest itself. What is the sixth? It is “The Omnipresent,” “The Infinite,” “The Author.”

Feeling is an emotional experience. When reflecting on the past (a disturbing past), be aware that you simply want to feel the memory— not indulge the memory and let that disturbing memory take you on a ride. An important part of honoring and to keep alive the memory, is to watch that you don’t keep jumping into your mind with a story about the problem and your emotions. This is an age-old habitual pattern to escape emotional pain. You are thinking your emotions, rather than feeling them. You are caught in the negative thinking, which is turn produces negative emotions. (Proverbs 10:1-32)

Forty-three days ago we, on the 12th day of April, celebrated the memory of Emmanuel’s resurrection. It was a day of awe, reverence, and the sacred. A day of rebirth. A day of becoming heart-centered, being guided by the love and joy of our inherent spiritual natures. A day of letting go of old, dysfunctional structures and patterns that are based in separation, ignorance, and suffering. A day of releasing distorted perceptions and emotions that have been holding us back for thousands of years. A day of experiencing all of who we are and can be. 

I am a survivor of a disturbing past and thinking my emotions. [Refer to Deliverance: A Discourse] I was diagnosed as exhibiting PTSD. 

In October 2000, I was introduced to a woman who was walking a path of a “healer.” She was a student of the holistic school of thought. She proceeded to nourish and nurture me back to mental health. She was employed at Vanderbilt as a psychologist. 

Through the years- what I had noted of her techniques, they were not just of a scientific method. She used motherly skills. As an adjective, mother manifests as parental, familial, lineal, and ancestral. As a noun, mother manifests as fatherhood, fathership, grandsire, matriarchal and patriarchal. The sacred word denotes: “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.” (Genesis 3:20)

During the course of my journey to the here and now, all mental and emotional baggage I carried was required to be left at the door. Each day, I am blessed to awake, to meet the sun as it gives birth to a new day. To leave my mental and emotional baggage at the door will be a challenge; learning to live fully from a place of faith is not always easy. With faith as a guide through, I have thus experienced; I will find synchronicities blooming all around me; little miracles, it is true— miracles exist.

On this the day our nation is reminiscing the past, let us ponder and consider moving beyond the cycle of hatred, recrimination, and vengeance. I agree that the past must be acknowledged, but present life demands that we start anew. It must be understood that when disillusionment leads to despair, we are condemned. We are condemned to have our future defined by our past failures. We have the opportunity to embrace wandering, wondering, and waiting as companions on our journey rather than as enemies. I have found that we need disillusionment to build true hope. We need to yearn from deep within, to hear the groans of creation in all its parts, as if in childbirth. (Romans 8:22-23)

I conclude with a final emphasis: It is fair to say, “The Infinite” is without beginning or end. “The Infinite” is The Author, The Omnipresent, Providence, and The Omnipotent. 

Since being in communication with the Holy Spirit, I’ve learned that there is a clearly defined and harmonizing relationship between “The Infinite” and mothers. Both are, in part, entities and are the source, to the emergence of a new individual and beings. Of course, “The Providence” is the primary “Instructor”, but originally The Mother was the apostle person sent forth as a missionary, tutor, guide, mentor, lecturer, adviser, and counselor. She is a disciple of Christ, and it is incumbent upon her to teach the gospel. 

On this day, May 25, I will join with you and mourn, not just for those who I do not know, but for the first time, my own parents. I’ve hated them all my life for what they did to me. It was because of them, that name they gave me (Jones), I was moved to change to Abu Ali, meaning father, inspiration. 

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (Matthews 18:20)

Work for reconciliation. We are called to work for the restoration and healing of people and their relationships. Our mission henceforth is to align ourselves with “The Providence,” who is working to bring all things together, to heal and reconcile all of creation and particularly a broken, estranged humanity. 

During this time of sickness, both mentally and physically, death is knocking on our doors. On the day mourn and pray for those who are dying. From the eyes of faith, this truly defining moment in history are the points where “The Omnipresent” moves toward us, an estranged and depressed people, to restore and heal what has been dividing us and our Faith. 

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of The Omnipotent.” (Luke 8:11)

Let us pray: “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Amen.

-Abu Ali, the Episcopalian