I\u2019ve been reflecting on the great poem, Ithaca<\/em>.\u00a0 Ithaca is an island region that\u2019s generally identified with Homer\u2019s Ithaca, the home of odysseys and the home of Odysseus who delayed his return to the island.\u00a0 It\u2019s a classic Greek tale.\u00a0 It explains the notion of coming home, which doesn\u2019t really exist in the physical but rather exists on the inner.<\/p>\n This is something that J-R has taught us.\u00a0 When I came home from Australia in March 2020, it was the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown.\u00a0 I knew that this was not about arriving home to my physical space; it was about enjoying the journey, especially the inner journey.\u00a0 Like Odysseus and as illustrated in the poem, Ithaca<\/em>, we\u2019ve all been on a journey looking for our home, for our own Ithaca to go home to, which doesn\u2019t exist in the physical.<\/p>\n I saw how the Covid-19 lockdown inspired and gave those who are entrepreneurs many opportunities, and yet, for those stuck in the past, it gave them struggle.\u00a0 For those of us on this path, it gave all of us the opportunity to go within.<\/p>\n The possibility of not gathering together with friends and family, including our MSIA family, only accelerated the use of technology.\u00a0 It had a positive effect on connecting more easily with one another, and as J-R had told me years ago, the Traveler consciousness transcends technology.<\/p>\n Covid-19 didn\u2019t stop my ministry of Soul Transcendence that I do for J-R.\u00a0 Like Odysseus, I\u2019ve run into obstacles and things that are trying to throw me.\u00a0 Yet I continue doing the work through online J-R Marathons, including the Asilomar Marathon this past December.\u00a0 Technology affords us the opportunity to gather together on Zoom and Facebook rather than in the Brentwood Ballroom.\u00a0 And so many can join us from their homes whenever they want.\u00a0 I may not be traveling to see the MSIA community in person as I had been in the past, but I get to reach out to others across the world where we can be with each other in ways we hadn\u2019t even thought of before.<\/p>\n Business is open for me; I will continue to support J-R\u2019s work, John\u2019s work, MSIA\u2019s work.\u00a0 I will continue to serve the church by doing initiations and ordinations, regardless of race, creed, color, situation, circumstance, or environment\u2014wherever I need to go\u00a0 I will be there for our people and beyond.\u00a0 I will go wherever J-R and Spirit tells me to go.\u00a0 I will be respectful of the current situation, and I do follow the law. \u00a0And I will do what my Father tells me to do.\u00a0 Love one another, speak kind words, and do the work, and the work will get done.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve learned to jump into adapting and adopting new ways.\u00a0 It\u2019s so clear that the place to lay our heads is on the inner and accessible through se\u2019s, chanting our tones, listening to seminars, and participating online with J-R\u2019s organizations.\u00a0 It\u2019s the way to deflect any negativity from the current climate of a lot of misinformation and, in effect, \u201cput wax in our ears\u201d as Odysseus had his men do as they sailed by the island with the three Sirens.<\/p>\n As J-R and John have reminded us many times, the Traveler is in all of us.\u00a0 We can all go inside and find our Ithaca; inside is where we\u2019ll find our true home.<\/p>\n Thank you, 2020 and thank you, Covid.\u00a0 You\u2019ve provided all of us the opportunity to look to our real home within.<\/p>\n Like John Morton says, \u201cThe best is yet to come.\u201d\u00a0 I look forward to seeing you out on the road.\u00a0 God Bless you and be safe.<\/p>\n Love you all,<\/p>\n Rev. Jesus Garcia, D.S.S.<\/p>\n Ithaca Poem by: Constantine P. Cavafy (1911)<\/p>\n When you set out on your journey to Ithaca, Pray that the road is long. Always keep Ithaca in your mind. Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage. And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
\npray that the road is long,
\nfull of adventure, full of knowledge.
\nThe Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
\nthe angry Poseidon – do not fear them:
\nYou will never find such as these on your path,
\nif your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
\nemotion touches your spirit and your body.
\nThe Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
\nthe fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
\nif you do not carry them within your soul,
\nif your soul does not set them up before you.<\/p>\n
\nThat the summer mornings are many, when,
\nwith such pleasure, with such joy
\nyou will enter ports seen for the first time;
\nstop at Phoenician markets,
\nand purchase fine merchandise,
\nmother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
\nand sensual perfumes of all kinds,
\nas many sensual perfumes as you can;
\nvisit many Egyptian cities,
\nto learn and learn from scholars.<\/p>\n
\nTo arrive there is your ultimate goal.
\nBut do not hurry the voyage at all.
\nIt is better to let it last for many years;
\nand to anchor at the island when you are old,
\nrich with all you have gained on the way,
\nnot expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.<\/p>\n
\nWithout her you would have never set out on the road.
\nShe has nothing more to give you.<\/p>\n
\nWise as you have become, with so much experience,
\nyou must already have understood what Ithaca means.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nView the photos from Jsu’s recent travels and ministry<\/h3>\n