PoM 326

For John:

Child molestation law in Texas:

Texas defines child molestation as “indecency, sexual contact, or sexual abuse…of anyone under the age of 17.” 

Texas says these actions fit under the category of sexual abuse:

  • Engaging in sexual conduct that harms a child’s mental, emotional, or physical welfare
  • Either compelling or urging a child to engage in sexual conduct
  • Exposing genitals or those of a child

For the sexual assault or sexual abuse of a child, there is no statute of limitations. If you commit this crime at any point in your life, the Texas legal system can punish you.

Texas defines “continual sexual abuse of a child” as two or more instances of sexual contact. This crime gets prosecuted as a 1st degree felony and instead of the 5-99 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, you get 25-years to life – without the possibility of parole…

Also, in 2007, under the “Jessica’s law”, Texas reinstated the death penalty for child molesters. So, you can be electrocuted, or legally injected.

The last time Texas did this was 43 days ago…

God is in the numbers…Beware!

PoM 327

There is a very sad and sobering piece of 12 step history…

The First Tradition, which helps the group to function said, in it’s original form; “Our common welfare should come first; personal progress depends upon AA unity."

Later Al-anon, founded and led by Bill’s wife, Lois, modified this Tradition: “Our common welfare should come first; personal progress for the greatest number depends on unity.”

Lois recognized something in her womanly modesty, that Bill, in his grandiosity, did not recognize…that we could not help everyone.

A critical part of spending a successful life in unselfish service to others is to know your limits…which is the very definition of humility.

There are some people we cannot help…

PoM 328

Today was spent, eight hours, administrating arrangements for someone in PrayerCall who is on the brink of very serious legal problems.

This has only happened three times in the last six years, but it does happen.

Other than the most rudimentary self-care I was not able to practice “peace of mind“…Until I got into the shower and could feel the hot water running down my back.

Sometimes the most spiritual thing I can do… Is to take a shower.

Thank you Jesus!

PoM 329

“Suffice it to say that with the gradual disappearance of the carnal appetite, my domestic life became more peaceful, sweet and happy. “
Gandhi 

Several of us are practicing a “finite period of chastity: MJ, Danielle, Saroshe, and Tony.

Pork Rhyne and Francisco are starting as well.

I have been practicing chastity this week because I wanted to use my energy to run 5, 6.5 and 7 miles in the Joshua Tree Desert and Death Valley.

I got an opportunity to newly introduce this to someone last night. The motive is to improve familial relationships.

Somethings are rather obvious, like, if you don’t spend your energy making love you have more energy to be available to your children. That is stated in Mercy Office #6. What is the little trickier is that is also true with one’s partner.

And what is not at all obvious is that the decision to be chaste is a completely different experience from not having sex with a willing partner… that just leads to a snake pit of resentment.

Romance is simply sublimated sexuality. So, if I choose to restrain myself sexually, that energy must express itself and one of the ways of expressing it, if I am smart, is through the newly arising feelings of romance for my mate.

Political advice: You would think that this would be more challenging for men, since our instinctive drive to be sexual is, generally, but not always, greater than women’s. (If you don’t think that’s true go to any sex addiction meeting in the world and see if you don’t find 90% of it populated by men.)

But…It is, by far, more frequent to find the woman in a relationship that finds chastity to be an objectionable state of affairs. (Why is beyond the scope of this office).

That being the case, it might be wise to just, silently, but consciously, practice chastity, by not initiating… Until you get used to this new tool.

Just sayin”