Oneness Ministry

We are One

Jun 16

Pride Meaning 2017

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Seq Face Paint profile 2It’s Pride weekend once again here in Denver CO. As per my annual tradition I ponder the meaning of the word Pride and what it means to me. How does this serve me? (my favorite and most useful question) As an existentialist the answer would be there is no “Me” only “Us”. We are One after all!

But alas, there are many perspectives and points of view, so here we go.

“Gay (substitute your chosen identity) PRIDE is not about being proud of the fact that we happen to be Gay. IT’S about NOT allowing others (There are no ‘others’), to make us feel shame because we are gay, IT’S about NOT allowing others (yourself), to define (y)our worth based on sexuality, IT’S about NOT allowing others, to define the love we share as less pure, less real, less deserving of recognition. GAY PRIDE is about owning who we are, whether we are butch dykes, fem queens, or the always coveted “Straight Acting” gay (again choose your identity). GAY Pride is about valuing the diversity that is humanity in all its varied presentations.”(Tom Guest, Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman, USS BATAAN (LHD-5)] With edits by author of this blog.

I share my perspective here as well as the quoted material as a way of sharing my vision, or at least what I have learned. So to follow is another perspective from Cambridge Dictionary. “Gay(Choose your Identity) Pride: the idea that gay people should not keep the fact of their sexuality secret and that they should be proud of it instead, or the social and political movement that is based on this idea: a gay pride parade.”

So which is it? In the end, meaning is based on understanding and self imposed values. It is up to each of us to decide. So Pride to me is about celebrating my uniqueness while at the same time acknowledging our Oneness. Our specialness lays on the outside and our uniform Oneness is at our core. Knowing this frees us to be ourselves while respecting others and allowing them to be who they choose. I give you the right to hate me (or love me), while reserving this right myself. This is free will and is the only real law of the land. For clarity sake, I choose Love! For Love is all there is. How this Love expresses is not up to me. My responsibility is to allow it without judgment or complaint. I am who I am.

Blessings on your Journey of Love!

Sequoia Elisabeth

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Jun 15

Pride Cometh Before the Fall

by Sequoia Elisabeth

This is a re-post from last year.  It is so important to understand the words and actions we immerse ourselves in.  So read over this blog with a critical eye focused on the inner self. Find the best and share this with the world!

The phrase “Pride cometh before a fall” probably came from the 1611, King James Version of the Bible, Book of Proverbs, 16:18.  Some versions say it this way, “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”  Either way the point is fairly obvious.  A person who is extremely proud of his or her abilities will often suffer a setback or failure, because he or she tends to be overconfident and to make errors of judgment.

Have you ever thought of how Pride fits into your life?  If you are GLBTQ then you have probably attended a Pride festival of some type.  There is an interesting irony to this event, so I would like to share a few thoughts on Pride since June is rapidly approaching and Pride festivals will be taking place all over the USA and elsewhere.

Let’s look at this word a little closer, Pride [prahyd] noun, verb, prid·ed, prid·ing.

Noun ~

1. A high or inordinate opinion of one’s owns dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.

2. The state or feeling of being proud.

3. A becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one’s position or character; self-respect; self-esteem.

4. Pleasure or satisfaction taken in something done by or belonging to oneself or believed to reflect credit upon oneself: civic pride.

5. Something that causes a person or persons to be proud: His art collection was the pride of the family.

If we again look even closer one word seems to jump out in the definition, Ego.  Look at the synonyms for Pride – conceit, self-esteem, egotism, vanity, vain glory, implies an unduly favorable idea of one’s own appearance, advantages, achievements, etc., and often applies to offensive characteristics. Pride is a lofty and often arrogant assumption of superiority in some respect: Pride must have a fall. Conceit implies an exaggerated estimate of one’s own abilities or attainments, together with pride: blinded by conceit. Self-esteem may imply an estimate of oneself that is higher than those held by others: a ridiculous self-esteem. Egotism implies an excessive pre-occupation with oneself or with one’s own concerns, usually but not always accompanied by pride or conceit: His egotism blinded him to others’ difficulties. Vanity implies self-admiration and an excessive desire to be admired by others: His vanity was easily flattered. Vain glory, somewhat literary, implies an inordinate and therefore empty or unjustified pride: puffed up by vain glory – boast.

The antonym is humility!  Jesus taught us to have a humble approach to life and not get caught up in our own achievements.  Life is about what you have to offer – what you give!  Pride has its uses and serves to balance life, but it is a trap so many of us fall prey to.  Celebrate your successes, feel good about yourself, know that you have great worth, and do it with humility, so you can avoid the fall!

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH

😀 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Free eBooks click here

Gender Related Spirituality Transitions

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Jun 15

Pride Month

by Sequoia Elisabeth

The phrase “Pride cometh before a fall” probably came from the 1611, King James Version of the Bible, Book of Proverbs, 16:18.  Some versions say it this way, “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”  Either way the point is fairly obvious.  A person who is extremely proud of his or her abilities will often suffer a setback or failure, because he or she tends to be overconfident and to make errors of judgment.

Have you ever thought of how Pride fits into your life?  If you are GLBTQ then you have probably attended a Pride festival of some type.  There is an interesting irony to this event, so I would like to share a few thoughts on Pride since June is rapidly approaching and Pride festivals will be taking place all over the USA and elsewhere.

Let’s look at this word a little closer, Pride [prahyd] noun, verb, prid·ed, prid·ing.

Noun ~

1. A high or inordinate opinion of one’s owns dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.

2. The state or feeling of being proud.

3. A becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one’s position or character; self-respect; self-esteem.

4. Pleasure or satisfaction taken in something done by or belonging to oneself or believed to reflect credit upon oneself: civic pride.

5. Something that causes a person or persons to be proud: His art collection was the pride of the family.

If we again look even closer one word seems to jump out in the definition, Ego.  Look at the synonyms for Pride – conceit, self-esteem, egotism, vanity, vain glory, implies an unduly favorable idea of one’s own appearance, advantages, achievements, etc., and often applies to offensive characteristics. Pride is a lofty and often arrogant assumption of superiority in some respect: Pride must have a fall. Conceit implies an exaggerated estimate of one’s own abilities or attainments, together with pride: blinded by conceit. Self-esteem may imply an estimate of oneself that is higher than those held by others: a ridiculous self-esteem. Egotism implies an excessive pre-occupation with oneself or with one’s own concerns, usually but not always accompanied by pride or conceit: His egotism blinded him to others’ difficulties. Vanity implies self-admiration and an excessive desire to be admired by others: His vanity was easily flattered. Vain glory, somewhat literary, implies an inordinate and therefore empty or unjustified pride: puffed up by vain glory – boast.

The antonym is humility!  Jesus taught us to have a humble approach to life and not get caught up in our own achievements.  Life is about what you have to offer – what you give!  Pride has its uses and serves to balance life, but it is a trap so many of us fall prey to.  Celebrate your successes, feel good about yourself, know that you have great worth, and do it with humility, so you can avoid the fall!

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH

😀 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Free eBooks click here

Gender Related Transitions

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May 4

Pride

by Sequoia Elisabeth

The phrase “Pride cometh before a fall” probably came from the 1611, King James Version of the Bible, Book of Proverbs, 16:18.  Some versions say it this way, “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”  Either way the point is fairly obvious.  A person who is extremely proud of his or her abilities will often suffer a setback or failure, because he or she tends to be overconfident and to make errors of judgment.

Have you ever thought of how Pride fits into your life?  If you are GLBTQ then you have probably attended a Pride festival of some type.  There is an interesting irony to this event, so I would like to share a few thoughts on Pride since June is rapidly approaching and Pride festivals will be taking place all over the USA and elsewhere.

Let’s look at this word a little closer, Pride [prahyd] noun, verb, prid·ed, prid·ing.

Noun ~

1. A high or inordinate opinion of one’s owns dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.

2. The state or feeling of being proud.

3. A becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one’s position or character; self-respect; self-esteem.

4. Pleasure or satisfaction taken in something done by or belonging to oneself or believed to reflect credit upon oneself: civic pride.

5. Something that causes a person or persons to be proud: His art collection was the pride of the family.

If we again look even closer one word seems to jump out in the definition, Ego.  Look at the synonyms for Pride – conceit, self-esteem, egotism, vanity, vain glory, implies an unduly favorable idea of one’s own appearance, advantages, achievements, etc., and often applies to offensive characteristics. Pride is a lofty and often arrogant assumption of superiority in some respect: Pride must have a fall. Conceit implies an exaggerated estimate of one’s own abilities or attainments, together with pride: blinded by conceit. Self-esteem may imply an estimate of oneself that is higher than those held by others: a ridiculous self-esteem. Egotism implies an excessive pre-occupation with oneself or with one’s own concerns, usually but not always accompanied by pride or conceit: His egotism blinded him to others’ difficulties. Vanity implies self-admiration and an excessive desire to be admired by others: His vanity was easily flattered. Vain glory, somewhat literary, implies an inordinate and therefore empty or unjustified pride: puffed up by vain glory – boast.

The antonym is humility!  Jesus taught us to have a humble approach to life and not get caught up in our own achievements.  Life is about what you have to offer – what you give!  Pride has its uses and serves to balance life, but it is a trap so many of us fall prey to.  Celebrate your successes, feel good about yourself, know that you have great worth, and do it with humility, so you can avoid the fall!

😀 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Free eBooks click here

Gender Related Transitions

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