Amani na Mapenzi: Love & Peace

My mother had a saying “If it weren’t for common sense, there would be no sense at all.” She would further expand on on the fact that all the education –book learning is what those born before 1950 called it, in the world cannot compensate for a lack of common sense. Today I call it educated ignorance.

Most, if not all of the drama and trauma we have in our lives is self-inflicted. We tend to plunge head on into situations that if we stopped and thought for a moment, would have different outcomes. Remember the definition of insanity is doing the same thing the same way and expecting a different result.

Are some problems really worth solving? Do we bend and twist our perceptions to make problems? Are some situations best when left alone? Here is an old tried and true method to determine the answer.

Common sense tells us to move on when solving the problem or improving the situation takes more than…

Five minutes

Five hours

Five days

Five weeks

Five months or

Five years

What is common sense? Many scholars, theologians, psychologists, psychiatrists, medical doctors, teachers, and even parents have tried to define the term. Let’s just say common sense is paying attention to the obvious.

Mark 4:37-39 “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”

Do you suppose Jesus gave very much thought to this situation? It probably took longer to awaken out of his sleep than to foster his own common sense solution. In this situation, he showed his caring by calming the storm. Suppose instead Jesus started questioning the whys and what for, or had to make sure everything was to his liking before offering his rebuke.

Matthew 8:24-26 adds a little more flavor to the mix. “And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm?”

Do you get it?  In other words, depending on the scope of the problem or situation, insanity kicks in if any of the timetables of five have passed and nothing is resolved.  Move on and try something different, or let it be. Sometimes tabling a problem is not a solution because the resolution dies on the table.

So next time you or someone ponders a perceived problem, or believe there is a need to improve a situation…ask; “is common sense in use?”

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© 2010  Sharon Moore Stenhouse -All Rights Reserved-

February 14th, 2010 | Tags: Faith | Category: Faith Walk | Leave a comment

Stained glass windows artfully depict

Biblical scenes glowing in sun lit color

Illuminating the line of votive flames

Flickering their golden dances of prayer

While kneelers wait for Him whose will

Carries loved ones holding on…

Some already gone

To the peace of their eternal home

Shadows across the sanctuary waltz

Quiet no longer hushed

Distant voices grow into chatter

Breaking the silence

One by one, in twos and threes

They come filling empty pews

Eyes glancing, heads nodding

Acknowledging one’s presence for now

Turning as they reverently bow

Hands crossing head to heart

Shoulder to shoulder

Preparing the minds of some

For silent whispers

Offering thanksgiving

In search of atonement

Brought forth in supplication

From murmurs faint and low

As organ pipes cry in agony, breathe

Ancient dirges, processional hymns

Songs to escort the ritual entry

Sunday morning has begun ♥

© 2008 – Sharon Moore Stenhouse – All Rights Reserved

Stenhouse, Sharon Moore. Amani na Mapenzi: Love & Peace Volume Two-The Poetry and Essays of a’Kihoro. Baltimore: Lulu, 2009

February 13th, 2010 | Tags: Faith, Poetry, Prayer | Category: Articles, Poetry | Leave a comment

Love is love.

Or is it God

Is it with God

Can it exist without God?

Self love is love.

Or is it God

Is it with God

Can it exist without God?

Being in love is love.

Or is it God

Is it with God

Can it exist without God?

Making love is love.

Or is it God

Is it with God

Can it exist without God?

When I think about love in its truest form; I think of God. He loves us so much he gives us the gifts of Agape love, being in love and making love. To be in love is human…to make love is human…to be human is to be in the image of God. To make love I must be in love; to be in love I must love myself. Every fiber of my being every hour of my day, is needed to make love

Making love is when I care about your well being more than I do my own; it is when your happiness makes me happy, your sadness makes me sad, your desires give me desire and your presence brings me joy.

It is being with you anywhere, anyplace, anytime to take in the majesty of  God in you, the hours spent together in solitude, the harmony of feeling like we are important to one another in that moment.

Making love is bonding while delving into the intellect of each other, learning each other’s likes and dislikes; and to understand through respect without wanting to make you change.

Love is consideration your needs, your wants, your haves, your not haves, the personal necessities of your daily life, and missing you when you’re not around.

Making love is being able to say I’m sorry, making amends, knowing what is important and what is not, forgiving and learning to forget.

It is sweet discretion in public when no one knows but us, yet everyone around us feels our love.

Making love is looking into your eyes to see your soul; looking into your eyes from across a room; looking into your eyes to see the tears; looking into your eyes to feel the fears, with compassion as I see the compassion in you.

Love is the touch that calms; the touch that warms; the touch that caresses; the touch that holds, and that feathered touch heating the blood while raising the hairs at the base of your neck, creating a tingle in the tips of your fingers and toes, causing you to shiver as you become, engorged with an erection of anticipation.

And, when the time is right we’ll look into each eyes in the throws of passion as we become one, making love in the beauty of the exploration of each other’s bodies…blending, exploring every inch of each other, with gentle intensity and erotic care…nurturing the love built over time together into an explosion of ecstasy that completes us. ♥

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© 2006  Sharon Moore Stenhouse -All Rights Reserved-
Stenhouse, Sharon Moore. Amani na Mapenzi: Love & Peace-The Poetic Writings of a’Kihoro. Baltimore: Lulu, 2007

February 13th, 2010 | Tags: Love, Poetry, Prayer | Category: Poetry, Prayer | Comments (1)

How resolute are we as regular, everyday people? Each year we sit down and make a list of things we need to do or should have done thinking this will make us a better person. We resolve to stop doing things that are unhealthy, discouraging, unfaithful, and ungodly. What is the purpose of being resolute?

Resolute = characterized by firmness and determination, as the temper, spirit, actions, etc.

This year we leave behind a decade of world wide turmoil, political storms, wars, increased poverty, climate changes causing more quakes and tsunamis, and both natural and unnatural destruction.  The last year of this decade saw the inauguration of the first African-American president of the United States -who is also awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, the death of a lion (Senator Edward Kennedy) and his sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics, the fall of media icons and politicians Going Rogue.

One of the most difficult loses for millions of people around the world in the last year of this decade is Michael Joseph Jackson.

Are we committed and determined enough to stop hatred, wars, and unkind actions? Perhaps we are willful enough to do as we please regardless of the consequences. Perhaps we are willing enough to let go and let God; let God handle needs. In other words… Have FAITH!

When you (I) sit down to ponder what you (I) will resolve to do, not do, stop or change, always (I will) remember…

• Noah was a drunk
• Abraham was too old
• Isaac was a daydreamer
• Jacob was a liar
• Leah was ugly
• Joseph was abused
• Moses had a stuttering problem
• Gideon was afraid
• Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
• Rahab was a prostitute
• Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
• David had an affair and was a murderer
• Elijah was suicidal
• Isaiah preached naked
• Jonah ran from God
• Naomi was a widow
• Job went bankrupt
• Peter denied Christ (3 times!)
• The Disciples fell asleep while praying
• Martha worried about everything
• Mary Magdalene was promiscuous
• the Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once…
• Zaccheus was too small
• Paul was too religious
• Timothy had an ulcer…

AND
Lazarus was dead!

Now!  No more excuses! God can use you (me) to your (my) full potential, and when you let go and let God you (I) won’t have to ponder over making your (my) annual New Year’s resolutions.

© December 30, 2009 – Sharon Moore Stenhouse – All Rights Reserved

December 30th, 2009 | Category: Articles, Commentary, Faith Walk | Leave a comment

Marriage is a covenant with God first, then it can be defined as a partnership between two people. It is very important in this day in time, as opposed to biblical time as we’ve come to read about, that we know what we are getting ourselves into. In many cultures, marriages are pre-arranged by the parents of the bride and groom. The religious belief during that time was out of duty to God, the people should be fruitful and multiply. People married very early in life, and any person who has passed the age of 20 without being married has not carried out the will of God.

In ancient Jewish culture, there existed prenuptial agreement of sorts. Called a dowry, the compensation paid to the bride’s family for the loss of their daughter and the services she could have provided to her family, had she remained with them. Families tried to provide each daughter with a dowry; property handed over by her family at the time of her marriage and afterwards owned by the wife. It was her share of the family inheritance, enough to act as an income for her should she be abandoned or widowed.

The purpose of marriage vows allow both parties to speak openly before a community of witnesses whose assurance to watch over the betrothed couple is sometimes part of the ceremony. The symbolic unbroken circle the wedding band represents completes the covenant. Here is a dissection and interpretation of what the traditional Christian wedding vows represent.

Number One:

In the Name of God, I, (Name)., take you, (Name)., to be my (wife) (husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.

Or, the more familiar version…

Number Two:

I, (Name)., take thee, (Name)., to my wedded (wife) (husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I (plight) (give) thee my troth.

• “to have and to hold from this day forward.” Nowhere in that statement does it say anything about letting go, giving up, throwing in the towel. You have just promised God that you’re in it for the long haul.

• “for better or worse,” that’s a hard one. Human beings are selfish. It is difficult for even the most ardent believer to accept even the best in people, let alone the worse. When we are hurt by the other we often become self-absorbed -often shooting from the hip, with rage and blame rather than taking a step back to look at the situation. We often fail to assess the whole situation –including ourselves, to determine the root cause. We are often reluctant to admit that part of the root cause may be our own doing, most likely from a decision we made without thinking or something we chose to ignore early in the relationship.

• “for richer for poorer,” what I bring to the table is not material. Sinful man lusts after material things, which can be lost and destroyed. After assessing the fire, we realize that all material things were lost however, what remains is the relationship we have with each other.

• “in sickness and in health,” doesn’t just mean physical health, we are talking about mental and cognitive health as well. Should we be so quick to look the other way or run when something goes wrong? Aren’t we bound by the first covenant statement in the marriage vows to assess the health of the relationship? Then, once an assessment is made are we not bound by that same covenant to administer the necessary aid for corrective healing?

• “to love and to cherish,” means that first I have to like you as a person before I can love and cherish you. Often we fall in love with an image of the person, not the person himself or herself. As humans, we are the highest degree of animal on the planet –at least according to science. We think, therefore we reason. Now if I don’t like you that means I have a problem with your persona (personality). Your personality is what makes you uniquely you; including all the warts and funk that linger in your spirit. When you like someone, you will find forgiveness of that person’s sins comes much easier than it does for someone you dislike.

• “till death do us part.” Some might say that this is the spiritual death of the marriage, not the physical death of one of the partners. If we live within the marriage covenant, will a real spiritual death occur? If we take the time to really get to know the person, whether we share the same values or even if we like each other, the only death that will separate the two should be physical.

Now I suppose when couples write their own vows, as has become common in today’s pop culture, they can work their way around the original covenant.

Do you know people who have remained married for years, even decades? Ask them how they did it and they will tell you it wasn’t easy but they managed to stand by each other… including standing in the gap.

I have to confess that I am divorced. The marriage vows didn’t mean as much to my ex-husband as they did to me, although this marriage was a truly unique example of being dead in spirit from the very beginning. You’ll have to read my two books Amani na Mapenzi: Love & Peace (2007) and Amani na Mapenzi: Love & Peace Volume Two (2009) to understand the true story.

© 2009 Sharon Moore Stenhouse – All Rights Reserved

December 19th, 2009 | Tags: Faith, Love, Spirit, Thoughts | Category: Articles, Faith Walk | Leave a comment