Before the temples turned to gold, Before the creeds were bought and sold, A simple teacher walked the land, With wisdom flowing like the sand. He spoke of kingdoms deep within, Not built by might or marked by sin, But found in hearts that dare to see The truth that sets all spirits free. “The sacred dwells in daily bread, In kindness shown,” the teacher said. “Not in the halls of marble white, But in the sharing of your light.” No hierarchy did he command, No doctrine carved by human hand, Just love that breaks through every wall, And mercy rising when we fall. They took his words of golden worth, And bound them tight in rules of earth, Built churches high with spires of stone, While simple truth walked on, alone. But still today, for those who hear, The message rings both far and near: “The kingdom’s not in wealth or might, But in your heart’s own inner light.” So let the institutions fade, The power structures man has made, And find again that simple way: Love freely given, day by day. Through centuries of changing times, Beyond the bells and chanting chimes, The truth remains as clear and free As waves upon an endless sea: “To find the sacred, look within, Where wisdom’s light has always been. No priest or emperor holds the key To what your heart can help you see.” So walk the path of simple grace, Find truth in every human face, For this was all he meant to say: Love lights the golden inner way.
Milton Friedman’s shareholder enrichment approach has been the dominant business philosophy for decades. However, there are a number of reasons why we should stop embracing this approach and focus on the Golden Rule, quality, and sustainability instead. First, Friedman’s approach is based on the idea that the only social responsibility of a business is to increase its profits. This is a narrow view of business that ignores the many other stakeholders that businesses have, such as employees, customers, suppliers, and the environment. Second, Friedman’s approach has led to a decline in the quality of products and services. When businesses are only focused on making profits, they are less likely to invest in research and development or to make sure that their products are of high quality. This has led to a number of scandals, such as the Volkswagen emissions scandal and the General Motors ignition switch recall. Third, Friedman’s approach has contributed to environmental problems. When businesses are only focused on making profits, they are less likely to invest in sustainable practices. This has led to an increase in pollution and climate change. Fourth, Friedman’s approach has led to a decline in worker satisfaction. When businesses are only focused on making profits, they are less likely to invest in their employees or to provide them with good working conditions. This has led to an increase in employee turnover and dissatisfaction. Fifth, Friedman’s approach has led to a decline in trust in businesses. When businesses are only focused on making profits, they are more likely to engage in unethical or illegal behavior. This has led to a decline in public trust in businesses. In contrast, the Golden Rule, quality, and sustainability focus on the long-term health of businesses and society. The Golden Rule teaches us to treat others as we would want to be treated. This means that businesses should treat their employees, customers, suppliers, and the environment with respect. Quality means that businesses should produce high-quality products and services that meet the needs of their customers. Sustainability means that businesses should operate in a way that does not harm the environment or future generations. There are a number of things that businesses can do to focus on the Golden Rule, quality, and sustainability. First, they can adopt ethical codes of conduct. Second, they can invest in research and development to improve the quality of their products and services. Third, they can use sustainable practices to reduce their impact on the environment. Fourth, they can pay their employees a fair wage and provide them with good working conditions. Fifth, they can be transparent about their business practices. By focusing on the Golden Rule, quality, and sustainability, businesses can create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.
I must begin with an apology to the lady who caused me to start this post. I am sorry about how things evolved, yet I am thrilled at a new beginning. I was looking forward to exploring what could be now I am.
I also appreciate how my spiritual foundation differs from many. In this post, I will attempt to share what I believe.
There are four great teachers Lao Tzu, Siddhattha Gotama, Confucius, and finally the King of Kings Jesus. To these four, we must add the Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, and the other great scholars whose words graced the libraries of Alexandra and other great centers of ancient learning.
Their thoughts and ways of looking at life and our surroundings transcend time.
Jesus easily sailed these waters and beyond
Jesus, between age twelve and thirty, I suspect, walked the northern silk route and traveled home along the southern maritime route, searched, and explored all of their thinking. He probably voyages around Europe with the Phoenicians.
When he emerged, he taught.
He was a truly enlightened man.
He taught us a new way of living together.
He was the conclusion of all of the world’s thinking into one simple rule. In order to honor the creator God, we must adhere to the Golden Rule.
The Golden Rule Is How We must Live
Stories told of Jesus established a deep feeling of love for Jesus son of Mary and Joseph a martyr who died on the cross preaching peace and harmony.
If only those in power had embraced the love, he shared. Instead, they took control of the image of Jesus and God.
Western civilization wants to claim it is superior. In earlier times the lord God was used to establish the power of the monarch. The hubris of one tribe to claim their Book was better than any other book is where the division across this great planet emanate.
That arrogant better than thou feeling is our greatest sin.
Look at the tower of Babel. We once were one. The people who wrote that passage wrote of our inability to work together. They blamed God for our human failures. The story is of us. Instead, we turn the text around and blame God for our inability to live together in peace.
We could not create a society
Capable of standing up and saying to God.
Father, you can be proud of us
We are one together on earth Bound together in peace and harmony Honoring the one common rule given to all of us by the Creator
My return from a world where chaos ultimately produced the order we see 》 Happened in 2005 while living in Canada. 19 year abroad thinking of coming home. I stopped drinking; we joined the three-week-old community church in Markham, Ontario. There, I began to study the bible. When I came back to the United States in 2008 and settled for a time on St Simons Island, Georgia, I joined the local community church. Moving up to Atlanta, I joined with my sister and attending Johnson Ferry Baptist Church.
Supposedly reborn I tried to learn and listen for God’s words.
Is that not what Jesus told us was our task?
I was taught that he died on the cross so in his name we would come together as one, both Gentile and Jew? Instead!
What happened next resulted from several evangelicals better than thou experiences.
They demand – I see things their way.
This better-than-thou attitude caused me to run back to the Episcopal church.
Tribalism:
Party, nationalist, MAGA, slave owner, racist, sexist, cults, schools, churches, temples … whatever holds one group together divides us. This is our failure.
We did not listen to those four great teachers
I don’t think the evangelist understands the words of the world of the great Teacher and King Jesus Christ.
We are not listening to Jesus. He knew and had learned from All the many before him
With this ancient depth, even he has not convinced those now living and those who came before to come together as one family. He asked us, in the name of the creator, to be the stewards of this planet and friends to any who enters our space.
This is who we are expected to be
Look at us today. We have not been true to his teaching.
Those that follow, including Mohammed, Luther, Calvin, Joseph Smith, Guru Nanak, and so many others, sought to promote their unique way of thinking. Instead, they ended up creating even more division.
In 2017 my mother died. It was late February. We had just elected a racist President. Two priests Robert and Tom stood talking as friends. Of two different disciplines, these men told me the local spiritual leaders met for Lunch – Dinner – Musical … whatever.
Years later Tom and Allan (Robert’s replacement) along with the local rabbi took a group to Palestine.
They told me who did not wish to be part of their ecumenical movement.
The Imam did
At the beginning of 2020, living once again in the Golden Isles, I attended three of the churches here on St. Simons. I listen with great respect to Alan & Tom as they tended to their Presbyterian and Episcopalian flocks. I also had a chance to experience Catholics sharing their faith. The feeling of being connected to God is absolutely present in each of these congregations.
I stayed away from most people during the pandemic, especially those rude people who would not wear a mask and do not want to accept the free vaccine and become part of the herd immune society.
May 2021
A lovely woman asked the question of my spiritual beliefs.
before she adamantly professed her beliefs
I was at peace with My spiritual foundation
Now that she has reentered my life
I have a new appreciation of the value of community
and the necessity to change the way we treat each other
While cycling one beautiful afternoon along the Chattahoochee, I listened to one particular way of interpreting the Tao.
After listening to the full series, the Trinity became nothing more than an element of the mythology used to help people find a common purpose.
For me, our purpose should be to find union with all. People should not insist we all believe in the Jesus described in the Nicene Creed. Instead,
We could all agree
Jesus Is
The Greatest Spiritual Teacher
a King of Kings
a divine individual
Many tell me I must give God my full and undivided attention. They tell me he will fill my mind with heavenly wisdom and knowledge.
They tell me – he has plans for me.
They tell me they see and hear greatness in my ideas. Can it be true?
Is God calling and asking me to step up
Reach higher and prepare to do more than I can imagine?
My therapist believes I have a calling. Others cause me to fear the burden God wants to place on my shoulders. The woman who caused me to write told me she heard greatness in my ideas.
Sometimes even I wonder if I am destined and here for a reason
In 1976 I grasped hardware, software & networks achieving the equivalent of a 4-year master’s in computer sciences. 1982, while replacing the back pages of the WSJ with computer screens, I saw how marginal satisfaction is not a human instinct and was confronted with trying to grapple with the advantages and disadvantages of socialism and capitalism. 1986 off to Europe for 15 years.
1991, I moved into senior management and saw the world through the eyes of Mastercard and Visa. I helped them grow while focusing on securing the world of payments and heralding in eCommerce.
Big data, identity, and cryptography take me into today.
The fourth industrial revolution is underway; it calls us to embrace machine learning, natural language interfaces, 3D printing, and the internet of things.
How God fits in begs the question of why God would put Putin and Trump in power. Why would income inequality be so raw and health a profit center? Those waving the Trump and MAGA flags worry me. Their supremacist attitude solidifies for me one thing. Tribalism is our greatest sin.
Has he put me here to address the real issue!
Stop believing in the absolute truth of One book. Instead, we need to collectively believe in the one creator who taught the four or more ancient scholars the truth. They all have one common message.
It is time to listen and embrace The Golden Rule.
If this is my destiny, I need help. I need the OMI cheerleader. Moreover, I need to meet men and women of faith who have experienced a truth and have grown to see the truth.
Together we can build and promote We need to embrace The Golden Rule
Jesus the King of the World for 18 years wandered this earth. As our teacher he stands before us with one truth. Love each other. In so doing you love and honor God.
Matthew 25:40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,* you did it to me.’
