“A spiritual leader does not say, ‘FOLLOW ME!’  A spiritual leader says, ‘I’LL GO FIRST!”  Decide today to take the oath…I promise to go first in demonstrating forgiveness, compassion, understanding, generosity, kindness, cheerfulness, positivity and love.”

Neale Donald Walsch

“HAPPINESS IS WHEN WHAT YOU THINK, WHAT YOU SAY AND WHAT YOU DO ARE IN HARMONY.”

Mahatma Gandhi

This week, I received two books.  I must admit, I thought long and hard before ordering either of them.  Much as Michael did, I am very careful about what I give my mind and resources to, having been burned all too many times when it comes to writers who claim to honor and respect Michael, and then, follow those words with brutal bashings.  My practice has always been to initially cruise through writings, noting areas that touch my heart.  This didn’t take long.  REMEMBERING THE TIME offered little.  It’s purpose seemed to be about self-serving the authors and diminishing Michael.  Dedicated to Michael’s children, my prayer is that they never read it.  I ended late in the night, laying my head on the pillow and crying tears of regret.  I have often written, and will repeat, I know of no other human being who has had his life put under a microscope, picked apart and judged, judged, JUDGED.  My collection of research grows daily.  I have seen a pattern time and time again…writers saying how much they love Michael, how they cared about him…and then, tearing decisions, isolated incidents, apart.  When I began writing my blog, I made a promise to myself to let Michael do the talking.  It is HIS STORY, HIS LIFE.  “Don’t judge my choices until you understand my reasons.”  (Michael Jackson)  Two and a half years with a person does not offer explanation and insight to an ENTIRE life.  The authors would have had more credibility with me if they had stayed with the actual time spent with Michael and his children.  They did not. “To try to guess a person’s thinking process, or even to attempt to project further meaning to statements that a person has made in order to extract meaning, is dangerous.  In fact, it is an invasion of his privacy to the highest degree.”  I found that quote some days ago and I am sorry I do not have its author…but, its message rings true.

“Say YES to life, even though you know it will devour you…because among the obstacles and, to be sure, the cruelties of life, are signs that we are a primary spiritual adventure.”

Stephen Larsen

With a heavy heart, I moved onto MICHAEL JACKSON, INC. expecting it to bring me down once again.  Surprisingly, the author’s agenda was to factually represent Michael’s business acumen.  “I have avoided the use of press clippings and secondary sources as much as possible.”  (Zack O’Malley Greenburg)  I breathed more easily.  When reading a piece, I put a line through media-myth-making trash.  My pen was amazingly idle…not too much.  “Every time someone buys a copy of this book, a person in need will receive a free meal through  the United Nations’ World Food Programme.  Why?  Michael Jackson donated tens of millions of dollars to various charities over the course of his life and 20 percent of his financial legacy to good causes.  I figured it would only be fitting to make a contribution from my author royalties.”  That gave validity with me.

At the heart of these two books is MONEY.  It is the theme.  When asked how important money was to him, Michael said, “I guess it gets things done…to fulfill some dreams you need to have financial backing.  However, I think everything starts with a thought, like if you plant a seed which then cultivates itself, everything comes out of that.  I never really thought about it when I was little, I always felt that I was compelled to do the things I did, I really did.”  Michael often said that money was the root of all evil.  The truth of that existed for Michael as he was forced to endure all who tried to lay claim to his fortune…”In 1995, it was easy to view the next track, ‘Money’ as a continuation of Jackson’s personal grievances.  Fortunately, years later it can simply be appreciated for what it is: an intricate sonic gem with an all-too-familiar message denouncing greed and materialism.”  (MAN IN THE MIRROR Joseph Vogel)

MONEY

LIE FOR IT SPY FOR IT KILL FOR IT DIE FOR IT

SO YOU CALL IT TRUST BUT I SAY IT’S JUST

IN THE DEVIL’S GAME OF GREED AND LUST

THEY DON’T CARE THEY’D DO ME FOR THE

MONEY THEY DON’T CARE THEY USE ME

FOR THE MONEY

SO YOU GO TO CHURCH READ THE HOLY WORD

IN THE SCHEME OF LIFE IT’S ALL ABSURD

THEY DON’T CARE THEY’D KILL FOR THE MONEY

DO OR DARE THE THRILL FOR THE MONEY

YOU’RE SALUTING THE FLAG YOUR COUNTRY

TRUSTS YOU NOW YOU’RE WEARING A BADGE

YOU’RE CALLED THE JUST FEW AND YOU’RE

FIGHTING THE WARS A SOLDIER MUST DO I’LL

NEVER BETRAY OR DECEIVE YOU MY FRIEND BUT

IF YOU SHOW ME THE CASH THEN I WILL TAKE IT

IF YOU TELL ME TO CRY THEN I WILL FAKE IT

IF YOU GIVE ME A HAND THEN I WILL SHAKE IT

YOU DO ANYTHING FOR MONEY

ANYTHING, ANYTHING, ANYTHING FOR MONEY

WOULD LIE FOR YOU WOULD DIE FOR YOU

EVEN SELL MY SOUL TO THE DEVIL

INSURANCE?  WHERE DO YOUR LOYALITES LIE?

IS THAT YOUR ALIBI? I DON’T THINK SO

YOU DON’T CARE YOU’D DO HER FOR THE MONEY

SAY IT’S FAIR YOU SUE HER FOR THE MONEY

WANT YOUR POT OF GOLD NEED THE MIDAS

TOUCH BET YOU SELL YOUR SOUL CUZ YOUR

GOD IS SUCH YOU DON’T CARE YOU KILL FOR

THE MONEY DO OR DARE THE THRILL FOR

THE MONEY

ARE YOU INFECTED WITH THE SAME DISEASE

OF LUST, GLUTTONY AND GREED?  THEN WATCH

THE ONES WITH THE BIGGEST SMILES

THE IDLE JABBERS CUZ THEY’RE THE BACKSTABBERS

IF YOU KNOW IT’S A LIE THEN YOU WILL SWEAR IT

IF YOU GIVE IT WITH GUILT THEN YOU WILL BEAR IT

IF ITS TAKING A CHANCE THEN YOU WILL DARE IT

YOU DO ANYTHING FOR MONEY

YOU SAY YOU WOULDN’T DO IT FOR ALL THE MONEY

IN THE WORLD I DON’T THINK SO IF YOU SHOW ME

THE MAN THEN I WILL SELL HIM IF YOU ASK ME

TO LIE THEN I WILL TELL HIM IF YOU’RE STEALING

WITH GOD THEN YOU WILL HELL HIM

YOU DO ANYTHING FOR MONEY

Michael Jackson

Michael led us by going first.  His was called upon to endure great tragedy and pain, and each time, the motives were driven by greed, a force so strong it clawed its way through a lifetime.  Each and every aspect of cruelty, both in life and in death, snarls and rears its ugly head reaching for MONEY.

“Spirituality lies not in the power to heal others, to perform miracles, or to outstand the world with our wisdom, but to the ability to endure with right attitude whatever crosses we have to face in our daily lives and thus to rise above them.”

Sri Daya Nata

Michael Jackson’s dreams and aspirations allowed the universe the pleasure of working with him and through him, evoking wonders of magic.  His life was an act of faith, tested time and time again.  He achieved so many dreams because he wanted them so badly, and, was willing to work tirelessly for them.  He began a LOVE REVOLUTION that grabs hold of hearts across this planet today…a lasting revolution in the shape of his FAN FAMILY.  Many writers have attempted to define Michael Jackson, some more successful than others.  But, the common weakness comes in the shape of guessing, attributing their agendas to his…taking one aspect of the multilayered, complicated life of a genius.  What Michael thought, said and did were all in harmony.  The lust for money on the part of those around him, on the part of those seeking their five minutes of fame today, stumbled into his acts of faith.  Living within the source and substance of his creativity was soul.

For Michael’s FAN FAMILY, our strength comes from his carving the path out ahead of us…his walking through fires and showing us how it is done.  We see the whole man.  We feel the entire story.  Our  spiritual adventures are uniquely and inextricably tied…WE ARE ONE VOICE…ACTIVISTS DEFENDING MICHAEL’S LIFE AND LEGACY.

I love you!

Jude

HIS tory

MYstory

YOURstory

OURstory