Diane Vogel Ferri’s full-length poetry book is Everything is Rising (Luchador Press). Her latest novel is No Life But This: A Novel of Emily Warren Roebling (Atbosh Media) Her essays have been published in The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Scene Magazine, and Yellow Arrow Journal, among others. Her poems can be found in numerous journals such as Wend Poetry, Blue Heron Review, Rubbertop Review, and Poet Lore. Her previous publications are Liquid Rubies (poetry), The Volume of Our Incongruity (poetry), and The Desire Path (novel). She has done many poetry readings locally. Diane’s essay, “I Will Sing for You” was featured at the Cleveland Humanities Festival in 2018. A former teacher, she holds an M.Ed from Cleveland State University and is a founding member of Literary Cleveland. Her poem, For You, was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and Best of The Net 2023

Monday, June 15, 2009

Coexist XXIII - Romans 14

In rereading these familiar passages the other day I found them to be an excellent description of COEXISTING, which to me, includes tolerance and respect for differing viewpoints, lifestyles and beliefs without anger and judgment. The following are excerpts from the 14th chapter of Romans (NIV):
Accept him whose faith is weak without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.
One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced of his own mind.
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.... if your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, (or replace these words with politics, religion, lifestyles etc) but of righteousness, peace and joy ...

3 comments:

Cliff said...

I like this. It sort of goes hand in hand with one of my favorite expressions that arrogance is not a spiritual gift.

Ghost Dansing said...

amazing isn't it?

Ms Hen's said...

beautiful