hi marie

At 21:42 1999/02/04 EST, you wrote, in part:
>... I guess I really stirred up a hornet's nest with some of my replies.
>After some self-evaluation, I would like to share my feelings, intentions,
>and reactions to what I have encountered since joining this list in January.
>I would like to clarify my part in producing such a flurry of responses
>as occurred as soon as God (not religion) was mentioned.
>I've reviewed my  sent mail and my heart-felt intentions and every mention
>of a spiritual nature I've made and ever intend to make is in an uplifting
>manner and only in response to the  perceived appeals from people in need
>for encouragement in dealing with the miseries of PD...

advocating your belief in God or G-d or god or Magic or Bean Sprouts
as a means for someone else to 'feel better'
may have good intentions behind it
but
it can come across more as self-promotion
rather than loving concern

i think it is more prudent to assume that the other person
is of a belief diametrically opposite to mine
until i am informed otherwise

heck
alcoholics anonymous mention a Higher Power
and some non-religious people can be uncomfortable with that generic term

>Not all problems associated with PD are of a physical nature, as so
>many understand, and to leave out discussions other than medicines
>would be a tremendous human loss. ...

emotions and coping and grief and pain and anger and depression
have been addressed extremely well here without 'promoting'
any specific spiritual values

>I have tried to provide comfort and moral support where I feel I have
>experience to address that issue - the same as many share their medical
>experiences. If that is too personal for some tastes, I  felt the purpose
>of this list was to share since there are so many more "listeners"
>than "responders", and we never know who we are really benefiting...

i don't think it's a matter of being 'too personal'
i think it's a matter of being sensitive to or considerate of
others and their existing beliefs and sources of spiritual strength

if you needed a loving word
how would you feel if somone told you
that if you only would put your faith into .. say ..
-------Xena The Warrior Princess-------
She Would Guard You And Keep You Safe From Harm .. ???

on a feisty day
my reaction might be
"hey! butt out! that seat's taken!"

sharing is giving of myself and my experiences
sharing is not telling someone else what i think they should do

the only way we can share is to tell our own stories;
what happened to me; what i did about it; what i may have learned from it

>Therefore, I would like to assure everyone listening, that I have no
>intention of being overbearing, pushy, "proslytizing", preaching or
>anything related to that, and from the replies I've seen directly to
>me, I have not done such things...

there must have been some negative reaction
why else would you describe it as a 'hornet's nest'?
your advising someone to turn to [your] God, appeared that way to me

>The discussions surrounding some of my posts seem to hint of worldly
>conditions and offenses  taken way out of my context, and  I have no
>intention of using this list to discuss theology or even philosophy...

why not?
we parkies and those who love us are going through a trial by fire

why can't we have an open discussion
on theology or philosophy or moon worship
if that is what helps some of us get through the night?

i promise you i won't criticize your beliefs
if you just tell me about them without trying to convert me to them


janet

janet paterson - 51 now /41 dx /37 onset - almonte/ontario/canada
http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/members/janet/index.htm
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