“SO…HOW DO I COPE WITH THE LATEST INJUSTICE TO MICHAEL?”
(I TURN TO MICHAEL FOR THE ANSWER.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC49th-Jf0s

LOOK AGAIN, BABY SEAL

DANCING THE DREAM BY MICHAEL JACKSON

One of the most touching nature photographs is of a baby seal lying on the ice alone.  I’m sure you have seen it – the picture seems to be all eyes, the trusting dark eyes of a small animal gazing up at the camera and into your heart.  When I first looked at them, the eyes asked, “Are you going to hurt me?”  I knew the answer was yes, because thousands of baby seals were being killed every year.

Many people were touched by one baby seal’s helplessness.  They gave money to save the seals, and public awareness started to shift.  As I returned to the picture, those two wide eyes began to say something different.  Now they asked, “Do you know me?”  This time I didn’t feel so much heartache as when I felt the violence man inflicts upon animals.  But I realized that there was still a big gap.  How much did I really know about life on earth?  What responsibility did I feel for creatures outside my little space?  How can I lead my life so that every cell of living matter was also benefited?

Everyone who began to wonder about these things found, I think, that their feelings were shifting away from fear toward more closeness with life as a whole.  The beauty and wonder of life began to seem very personal; the possibility of making the planet a garden for all of us to grow in began to dawn.  I looked into the eyes of the baby seal, and for the first time they smiled.  “Thank you,” they said.  “You have given me hope.”

Is that enough?  Hope is such a beautiful word, but it often seems very fragile.  Life is still being needlessly hurt and destroyed. The image of one baby seal alone on the ice or baby girl orphaned in war is still frightening in its helplessness.  I realized that nothing would finally save life on earth but trust in life itself, in its power to heal, in its ability to survive our mistakes and welcome us back when we learn to correct those mistakes.

With these thoughts in my heart, I looked at the picture again.  The seal’s eyes seemed much deeper now, and I saw something in them that I had missed before:  unconquerable strength.  “You have not hurt me,” they said.  “I am not one baby alone.  I am life, and life can never be killed.  It is the power that brought me from the emptiness of space; it cared for me and nourished my existence against all dangers.  I am safe because I am that power. And so are you. Be with me, and let us feel the power of life together, as one creature here on earth.

Baby seal, forgive us.  Look at us again and again to see how we are doing. Those men who raise their clubs over you are also fathers and brothers and sons. They have loved and cared for others.  One day they will extend that love to you.  Be sure of it and trust…Michael Jackson

I have read that parable many times, and with each reading, its wisdom becomes clearer.  Like everything Michael has created, be it lyrics to a song, poetry, prose, compositions, storytelling, his very life, there are many layers to peal away.  Instinctively, I recognize the metaphorical nature of this story.  Reaching deep inside the words, I see that the baby seal is Michael.  Decades have seen forces making Michael a victim of human prejudices and hatred and shame.  Human beings have looked into Michael’s eyes and come away with interpretations of what they saw there.  The cynical, the greedy, those desperately wanting fame and fortune have all tried to kill  and take away the “fruits” of that kill.  The inspired have taken away a renewed spirit and focus in their lives.  And, those who found love have simply become more loving.  On the surface, it is obvious that Michael is a voice for the voiceless…nature and the very planet upon which we live.  But, he is making a deeper plea…a plea for life…all life…a plea for mankind to come together as one loving creature…no living thing left out.  The deeper we go into the words, the more we see that Michael is also making a plea for those marginalized and minimized, those undeservedly killed by words instead of clubs. And, amazingly, he is offering an answer…LIFE.  Life is the indestructible power which extends love and caring to all.  In the story, the baby seal forgives those who sought to destroy it remembering that they have lived and loved.  Although Michael says that hope is very fragile, the parable ends with it.  When we think of the travails that Michael was forced to endure, his words told us that he never stopped hoping…he never stopped forgiving and he never, ever stopped loving.

     Of course, you can see why I turn to Michael when the weight of this unjust world takes its toll on my heart.  Michael’s words move me like no other’s…and, I am humbled by his life’s story…his strength and passion for making the world a better place forbids me giving up.  I feel a renewed gratitude being gifted volumes of his creations.  Whenever I see his beautiful face, a smile replaces my tears.   And, I go on.

     Each day of this now 60-month exquisite journey, I, of course, have discovered others of Michael’s Army Of Love.  I will end with an unexpected Michaeler…a member of the civil trial jury.  Her reflections echo what all who knew Michael have said and I want to quote it because in PAYS MICHAEL FORWARD…

“JUST LIKE OUR JURY FOREMAN, I WENT INTO THIS TRIAL ABOUT AS NEUTRAL AS ONE COULD BE TOWARDS MICHAEL JACKSON.  I WAS 7 WHEN THRILLER CAME OUT SO I GREW UP WITH HIS MUSIC AND LOVED IT, BUT I KNEW VERY LITTLE ABOUT HIS LIFE OTHER THAN WHAT I’D SEEN IN THE MEDIA AND I HONESTLY HAD NO STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT HIM AS A PERSON EITHER WAY.  I WALK OUT OF HIS TRIAL COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDING WHY HE HAS SO MANY FANS WHO PRACTICALLY DEIFY HIM.  WHO ARE SO ATTRACTED TO HIS KIND SPIRIT, HUGE HEART, GENTLE NATURE, LOVE FOR HIS CHILDREN AND HIS MOTHER.  I TOTALLY GET IT NOW.

EVERY SINGLE WITNESS QUESTIONED ABOUT WHETHER THEY THOUGHT MJ WAS A GOOD FATHER (AND, ALMOST EVERYONE WHO KNEW HIM CLOSELY WAS ASKED) SANG ENDLESS PRAISES ABOUT HIS LOVE OF HIS KIDS.  IF PRINCE’S TESTIMONY IS ANY INDICATION, MJ WAS DEFINITELY A GREAT FATHER.  THE KID IS BRIGHT, INTELLIGENT, CARING, HAS A GREAT CHARACTER AND A GREAT PERSONALITY AND I TRULY BELIEVE MJ DID A PHENOMENAL JOB RAISING HIM IN THE FEW YEARS HE WAS ABLE TO.  HONESTLY, EVERY SINGLE JUROR CAME AWAY FEELING VERY POSITIVE ABOUT MICHAEL AS A PERSON AND A FATHER.

I KNOW THERE WAS CONCERN  ABOUT MJ’S IMAGE BEING HURT BECAUSE OF THIS TRIAL, AND MAYBE TO OUTSIDE VIEWERS IT WAS BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE DETAILS THAT CAME OUT.  BUT, FOR US IN THE JURY IN THAT COURTROOM FOR ALL THOSE MONTHS, WE JUST GREW MORE AND MORE FOND OF HIM DURING THE COURSE OF THE TRIAL.”

 I have always said that IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO KNOW MICHAEL, you cannot help but fall in love.  It simply isn’t possible.

Anyone who wonders about Michael Jackson as a role model needs only to take time to learn about the man.

Those of us who have been gifted that privilege would describe him as A ROLE MODEL OF A LIFETIME.

And, so, my dear friends, I will leave you today with a beautiful message I received from my husband,Tom, just last night.  “BE WITH ME…LET US FEEL THE POWER OF LIFE TOGETHER AS ONE CREATURE HERE ON EARTH.”  Michael Jackson

I know that life is difficult for you right now and you are trying to find your way through the darkness.  Sometimes we just need to be “where we are” for awhile…feeling the feelings and working our way through the struggles.  I want you to know that my heart is with you…and even though I want to do or say something to make a difference, I realize there is a part of one’s journey that must be walked alone.  I know that soon you will find your way to the other side…where you will see the bright light that has been shining for you all along.  Children of the Inner Light

I am working toward Michael’s light…come with me.

IT’S ALL FOR LOVE

JUDE

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