Paris E. Tompkins's Posts - MyPeace.TV2024-03-29T00:31:12ZParis E. Tompkinshttps://mypeace.tv/profile/ParisETompkinshttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2190272600?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://mypeace.tv/profiles/blog/feed?user=2okuclin0nwds&xn_auth=noA Common Experience: a poem of peacetag:mypeace.tv,2010-11-22:1992146:BlogPost:1332992010-11-22T05:14:22.000ZParis E. Tompkinshttps://mypeace.tv/profile/ParisETompkins
<p>A common experience like falling in love<br></br> Is familiar to all it comes from above<br></br> But the common experience of hatred and war<br></br>
Is man’s greatest crime that’s spread from afar</p>
<p>Many know fear and many know pain<br></br> And many know bullets that fall down like rain<br></br> Mothers cry and children scream<br></br>
While fathers and sons take their place on the scene</p>
<p>The enemy comes in with dogged determination<br></br> To wipe out a race, a religion, a nation<br></br> While others look…</p>
<p>A common experience like falling in love<br/> Is familiar to all it comes from above<br/>
But the common experience of hatred and war<br/>
Is man’s greatest crime that’s spread from afar</p>
<p>Many know fear and many know pain<br/> And many know bullets that fall down like rain<br/>
Mothers cry and children scream<br/>
While fathers and sons take their place on the scene</p>
<p>The enemy comes in with dogged determination<br/> To wipe out a race, a religion, a nation<br/>
While others look on or support the infraction<br/>
With silence and guns and covert action</p>
<p>The common experience of hatred is spread<br/> When men stand by and turn their heads<br/>
Or when words of peace they just don’t say<br/>
Or when they allow evil to just have its way</p>
<p>The common experience that we need to spread<br/> Is peace and love and a decrease in dread<br/>
To stop the fighting and killing and such<br/>
An end to racism would help so much</p>
<p>Without prejudice and cultural strife<br/> All of God’s children could have a peaceful life<br/>
A common experience is in man’s control<br/>
All we need do is let love unfold</p>How I got overtag:mypeace.tv,2010-11-13:1992146:BlogPost:1304212010-11-13T00:09:22.000ZParis E. Tompkinshttps://mypeace.tv/profile/ParisETompkins
<p>When I awoke this morning, I had the words of my title in mind, but I was remembering an old Negro spiritual we used to sing in church. “How I got over. How I got over. My soul looks back and wonders, how I got over.” I remember my mother, grandmother and others singing it with gusto, thanking God for helping them to “make it through.” Then I typed in the words on YouTube, and found this song by The Roots, and it changed my whole attitude.</p>
<p>Rather than praise and worship, the words,…</p>
<p>When I awoke this morning, I had the words of my title in mind, but I was remembering an old Negro spiritual we used to sing in church. “How I got over. How I got over. My soul looks back and wonders, how I got over.” I remember my mother, grandmother and others singing it with gusto, thanking God for helping them to “make it through.” Then I typed in the words on YouTube, and found this song by The Roots, and it changed my whole attitude.</p>
<p>Rather than praise and worship, the words, music and images took my heart and mind into a totally different mood of distress, despair and disturbance. Tears began to flow, and my heart began to ache. For I remember, can almost smell and feel, the sensations of the people portrayed in the video; because it wasn’t too long ago that their plight was my own, and it hit too close to home.</p>
<p>I sit now, at my computer, with my heater going full blast in my cozy third-floor apartment overlooking a majestic oak tree, while the capitol building of the state of California is at the end of my block. There are limos, Lamborghini-es, and other luxury cars nightly pulling up to the restaurants, coffee houses and cafes that line my street.</p>
<p>Happy people sitting outside having lunch, dinner or just over coffee fill the air with their laughter and content. They smile and some even nod as I pass, thinking and accepting me as one of them, an equal. But I wonder what they would think about me if they knew that it wasn’t too long ago that I was homeless, living in a shelter with my two kids…friendless and alone? Would their looks be diverted away from me?</p>
<p>This is not the way I envisioned my day going when I woke up full of gratitude and rejoicing this morning. I had no intention of spending my morning revisiting an episode in my life that I seldom visit anymore. Not that I am trying to forget it, because I think it plays a significant part in my current sense of empathy. But today was not going to be one of those days when it would come back to me with such force, with a video as stark evidence that what happened then was real to me, just as now it’s very real to others.</p>
<p>But now that I think of it, both the rejoicing and the pain belong to me. I embrace them as value which has been added to my life. For without the pain there would be no joy. I would not know that it is possible to overcome and not be genuine in sharing that hopeful message with others. I would also not be able to serve as an example to those who think themselves above and beyond the possibilities of becoming like their less fortunate neighbors. It can happen to anyone.</p>
<p>There is a message for all of us in this, I think. For me, reminiscing keeps me grounded. For those who are struggling, I wish them God’s best. For those who are reading this, I hope it stirs something in you to reach out to even one in whatever way you can to those disenfranchised by the state of their birth or whatever life has thrown their way. A simple smile of encouragement will go a long way, and with just a little help one day those who are suffering won’t have to wonder how they got over, they will know.<br/>
<br/>
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</p>The significant youtag:mypeace.tv,2010-11-11:1992146:BlogPost:1303172010-11-11T02:47:26.000ZParis E. Tompkinshttps://mypeace.tv/profile/ParisETompkins
<p>Recently, talking to my oncologist about the treatment she is prescribing for my breast and bone cancer, she inquired about my mental attitude and outlook on life in general. It was not too surprising as everyone has been encouraging me to “stay positive” in order to beat this new health challenge. This idea of outlook on life brings me to the subject of how significant does the average person think his or her life is? I am by no means a celebrity or “star”; never had my name in lights…</p>
<p>Recently, talking to my oncologist about the treatment she is prescribing for my breast and bone cancer, she inquired about my mental attitude and outlook on life in general. It was not too surprising as everyone has been encouraging me to “stay positive” in order to beat this new health challenge. This idea of outlook on life brings me to the subject of how significant does the average person think his or her life is? I am by no means a celebrity or “star”; never had my name in lights [well, actually my name has been but it was for that other Paris (Hilton)], but like so many others, I am striving to be and do something meaningful…to be significant.</p>
<p>Needless to say, I believe that each of us, whether notable or notorious, lives a significant life. When we consider all the people we touch on a day-to-day basis, by saying hello, smiling, shaking hands, showing appreciation, giving a nod or thumbs up, a hug, or prayer, or even if we’ve been less than friendly, we are affecting the universal spiritual field around us and making a change in the dynamics of humanity. Like pebbles thrown in a pond, the ripples of our actions go forth into eternity. We are significant.</p>
<p>Each person brings something unique and rare. No two are alike! The thought of it boggles the mind. We should, therefore, see ourselves as individual representatives of the whole of mankind, and treat others in that same light. When we come…and go…we have changed the world and it will never be the same again. How can anyone be less than positive with that thought in mind?</p>Passion for God, compassion for mantag:mypeace.tv,2010-11-11:1992146:BlogPost:1303142010-11-11T02:27:38.000ZParis E. Tompkinshttps://mypeace.tv/profile/ParisETompkins
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