This is the sad part.. it brought comfort to you so you shared it in hopes that it would also comfort others (and it did) but, now instead of being able to share openly about something that was positive you (or others) will think twice or not share at all. Seems to me like that is more harmful than being able to share a simple prayer/poem. Anything that brings comfort, positive vibe, kindness, compassion, etc., should not have to be censored. Especially when this CRPS journey can be so very dark.. and some sadly don't come out of that darkness.

Thank you for sharing from the heart - I hope you continue to do so in all your future posts!

If it offends anyone they can choose not to continue to read that thread. At least that is how I feel.

Bram,

I'm only sad if you are. I don't want you to be sad. You've been such a good friend and you are entitled to your opinions. I was hesitant to post that poem because it was religious and I know that it's better not bring religion and politics into conversations. I just liked it because it I thought is was pretty, not so much because it was religious.
Maybe posting poems might be fun. If you guys like it too, then I have a few I may post some day. Thanks for not being mad at me and please don't get upset. I totally understand your views. I just wish you all happiness and as pain free as possible days too. Thanks Bram.

I don't want you to be sad either. Thank you for liking the poem and I'm glad it brought you comfort. And thank you for caring enough to post your views too. But I understand and respect all views and can find other inspirational things. Like I told Bram, I love poetry and there's so much out there. Maybe we can start a poetry corner like Bram suggested.
I'm sorry I caused such a stir. I didn't mean to. I hope we can all still be friends, and all I want is to be help all of you through the painful days you have, just like you have done for me. Please don't get mad a each other or me. Let's be happy and try to make the most of this beautiful new day we have. I hope we can just move on and think about things that bring us joy. I hope you have good day too.

Oh dear. It seems to me there is a possible hornets nest thing going on here ....I can remove my post responding to your prayer if this discussion is going to cause problems. I am fine with it all Renee, and i dont have a problem with you or anyone else! But I think zook has been offended, which is a real shame.

Yes, I am uncomfortable with religion, but I don't want to be considered to be censoring content either. I just expressed a differing view, that's all.

Sorry Renee. I never wanted to divert the meaning of this thread into a discussion about the pros and cons of religion. I wish it wasn't so divisive.

Bram

This isnt bickering per say. I believe in God not the power of the church or any one person, but people as a whole. Its wonderful to have a philosophy discussion with people. When I was in Iraq one of the TCNs and I would talk about religion and it didnt get heated or volatile. If it did I would have stopped ina heart beat. I learned a lot about Islam from him. The original Islam not this fanatical stuff today. He also learned a lot about Christianity from me. Hentold me that if you have mutual respect for someone and not fear or a tyrannical point of view you can look at things a different way. I also have friends that are Wiccan, and athiests. I say if you don't push your beliefs on me then I won't on you. I love learning new things all ways have. My mom used to joke I would be the first female pope and I said no thank you I would rather talk to people not just read papers lol. I was a very serious emotional child lol. If I could find a way to get all the politicians together and treat them like I do my son then there might be less bickering, back stabbing, and non help for the constituants that there is now. They are almost fanatical in how they fight over a penny, like a miser that thinks 1 penny equals a trillion dollars. I still like a good discussion though lol. Renee that is a good poem to live by. We all have different points of view and if we were all the same it would be a very boring world lol. Keep smiling and helping each other guys. oh man just realized I am playing peace keeper. Sorry if I sound patronizing or anything lol.

Bram, Zook and Allanira,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and support.
I'm going to share another poem which was a childhood favorite of mine.
It is about cats because I like cats and hope you do too.

The Naming Of Cats

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey—
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter—
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum-
Names that never belong to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there's still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover—
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.

© T S Eliot. All rights reserved

No, No Bram I am not offended at you at all. I respect your alternative views and would have had no problem with your comment except that when you posted " because I find it uncomfortable when religion is brought into any suffering" it seemed to turn something that was innocent and comforting into something that someone should keep to them selves or shameful. This was my only problem. It seems to me that anything encouraging, comforting and from the heart should welcomed and freely shared. I am sorry that faith that differs from yours when shared makes you (or anyone else) uncomfortable but at the same time if it added comfort to even just one person then that is a blessing in the spectrum of things.

Like I said above - I respect diversity and encourage others to share openly because none of us could possibly know what seemingly trivial thing we share might help someone else. If we make others regret commenting or feel the need to worry about posting something then ultimately that takes away from this amazing forum. At least that is how I feel.

Be well,
Tessa

I hadn't heard this in years!! It was always one of my favourites, and I remember my Grandma reading it to us as children....

Thanks so much Renee (nicely diverted )

Bram.

Nice one Renee. Shyanna has three names lol. I call her when she isnt being a devil and beating up her brothers Sweet Princess Love lol. Well she is. She curls up beside me and gives the most contented look ever. Its even better than the cream or canary look cats get lol.
Looks like I am now going to have to look up some of my favorite poems from childhood lol. I love this one particular one from Much ado about nothing lol. It makes me laugh each time I read it.

Love is not love that alters when it alteration finds.
Or bends with the remover to remove.
Oh no. It is an ever fixed mark, that looks on tempests and is never shaken.

William Shakespeare