We Have Been It All

 Last week I had an experience in meditation that I endeavored to write down. It seemed to turn into a short story. I have debated what to do with it. Today I decided to share it with you. I hope you find meaning and insight in it. Here goes:

We have lived It all. We have been it all.

It seems to me that I have always been me. I may have experienced and participated in creation in its multitudinous forms, yet the essence of me was there. At times I remember or know things that there appears to be n logical explanation for that memory or knowledge. Sometimes I know what is true or false with no prior known knowledge  of the particular thing or person time. At times, I think there may be some DNA memory from my ancestors. I ponder the old Atomic Energy Commission study with radioactive isotopes that showed in a year 98% of the atoms in our bodies are replaced by other atoms. I think of the idea that the Big Bang sent forth all of the atoms that now make up all of the planets and all of the stars. Do those atoms in me remember where they have been?

In meditation a few days ago, I had a vision. I am going to share it with you in story form. See if it tugs at the corners of your memory.

The Story

Once upon a time, as so many stories begin, I remember some very interesting beginnings. I think you might be interested to hear this, because you were there too.

 The Amazing One. told us that it was time to expand, so that we may have more varied experiences. And something astonishing happened. The Amazing One sent forth a burst of immense energy. dancing atoms. whirling, swirling, going everywhere into a whole new dimension. It was delightful and glorious to watch.

But then the Amazing One said go and ride those atoms. Experience the flow and explosion of creativity. Let creativity fill your soul. so that you know that  it is not just my nature. But it is your nature too.

So we did. It was really before time, but you might say it was for a very, very long time. We had the exhilarating experience of riding dancing atoms as they went on their way, eventually making stars and planets and more. We went so fast and so far.. It was not like anything that we had ever experienced before this. Sometimes it was a bit scary, but generally it was a heck of a lot of fun. Oh my goodness, we went so far. We went so fast. We gave praise to the Amazing One for giving us this glorious experience.

Eventually, we started to notice our atoms were feeling attraction to other atoms, and we began to sort of clump together. The more we grew as a clump, the more we attracted others, and eventually we became relatively crowded, at least compared to before. Our atoms packed into rocks or flaming balls of fire. It was almost claustrophobic, you might say, because we were so much closer together and not as free as when we were soaring around in empty space. But we felt how strongly attached the atoms were to each other, attracted irresistibly. Actually, because the atoms we rode were relatively far apart, we had a lot of space around us.  We began to shift from our awareness of the atom to something else that we experienced from the inside. We felt a pull at some point. It seemed like it was from that ball of fire over there. And then we began to go in a sort of circles around that ball of fire. We were going really fast, but it didn’t seem so.

It was really hot inside of that ball., But it was a new experience and in some ways quite enjoyable to be so warm. Some days, though it was hard, because it was really hot. After what you might call billions of years, it got cooler, and we started feeling changes happening. A bunch of atoms came closer together and formed something new.We were in some sort of a space that seemed to want to stretch. And as we stretched and stretched, the outer part of us cracked, and part of us started moving up to the top of the ball. And as we did, we saw light from the fireball we were going around. And we drew in something, I think in the future they call it carbon dioxide. And then we burped out oxygen. We felt ourselves stretching and stretching, changing every day. The Amazing One told us that we were creating an atmosphere for more and more life to be able to come to this rock, this ball. So we all worked hard to stretch and reach out and breathe in the carbon dioxide and breathe out the oxygen. We began to see the difference happening right before our eyes.

We were alive. We were part of something astonishing that was happening! I can’t tell you how exciting it was. Maybe you remember. We were the Amazing One’s pioneers. We remembered the Amazing One told us that not only was the Amazing One full of creativity, but so were we. So we just began to become more and more. We helped to create new colors and new shapes. And we spread out across the ball on the surface and under the water. Because we had ridden on atoms that became everything, we got to be part of everything, dancing from one to the other new creation. We grew leaves and flowers and fruits and berries and nuts. Eventually, some of us dared to even experience how it was to be trees. Trees were always special because they stood watch for many years over everything that was going on around them. They were like sentinels. They grew tall, they grew roots deep into the earth, and branches high up into the sky like they were trying to reach to the fireball. There became so many different kinds of us and of the trees. The forms we experienced kept changing, while at the same time, our essence was stable and also learning mountains of things. Some forms didn’t last very long because they didn’t work too well as they were, they changed into another variety of themselves. I got to see some of the changes happening, and of course, I changed too. Just by being honored to participate in all of the Amazing One’s imaginative, pioneering creation. Everything was changing. It seemed like the changes were coming faster and faster. We had the opportunity to experience it all.

One funny thing was that the atoms were constantly dancing around and circulating between all the forms. So they were part of a certain thing for a while, but all the time there was a dance of the atoms going here and there from one to another, and yet the forms stayed the same, even though the atoms in them kept circulating, that is until it was time for them to change into something else. That dance continued clear up until the present day.

They changed forms in lots of ways. They dried up and dissolved into the ball. They got eaten and became digested into an altogether different form. They adapted to become a new version. They went extinct. None of the original forms, as far as we know, are still around, although there are some very ancient ones still holding their form.

I remember sometime after that some of us found ourselves in the water, and not as we had been before. That is, we were in something not attached to the earth. We could move around freely, although totally unlike the exhilarating rides on atoms as we came into this dimension. We could wiggle and stretch and move. It was a wonderful sensation. When we first figured out how to do this, we were very excited, as you might imagine. As before, we felt the urge to join together. We were as if magnetically attracted to others like us. We created new forms and shapes. We got bigger and more complex. 

Being creative and pretty much pioneers too, someone figured out that they could crawl out of the water and wander around the dry land. That was definitely a daring move, unlike anything any of us expected. Most of us stayed in the water, though, waiting to see what would happen. And as always, more and more of us got together and created a wild array of creatures. Most of them are no longer here; the atoms just had to keep changing and adapting. Creating is something that’s not static. Brilliant new ideas seem to flick into existence with a moment’s notice, or no notice at all, and then suddenly there’s this new thing.

In not too long a time, some of us had the bright idea that we could fly. That led to some monumental flops as you can imagine, or maybe remember. However, some of us managed to actually fly. And then the trees got to be very useful. Not just beautiful, not just observers, because these flying creatures could rest on the branches of the trees, giving them some time-outs. They could also build nests there where they laid their eggs. And then some of the little creatures could run up and down the trees and get exercise, or hide from those who couldn’t climb trees, or pick nuts to eat and to save. A tree became a busy network of creatures, offering them all kinds of comforts. It was quite an honor to be chosen to be a tree.

Of course, the Amazing One, being a master creator, could not just stop there. The next thing was that we were able to be conscious of ourselves in a new way. This was a new level of awareness. There were new kinds of things as we interacted in groups, learned to talk beyond simple alerts, to share, to create more and more advanced things, and to do things far beyond what any of us had been able to do before.

This, of course, was a big leap. It did have its downfalls, its pitfalls. Because as this new life, which we call human, emerged, some of them began to think they were equal with the Amazing One, and Hubris was born, along with jealousy, hatred, rage, and violence. On the other side, love, hope, generosity, and kindness were also born. Now there was a pushing and pulling from one way to be to the other. Most, however, forgot how they were part of everything and how it was all a sacred creation by the Amazing One in conjunction with all of us who had been there from the very beginning.

Religion was born. The Amazing One was put on the outside. We were told that we were not together and had to do what we were told by those in charge to somehow get in “his” good graces. The Amazing One was given many other names. But for most, “he” was banished to an outside place or to the corner as a myth, and “he” was usually thought to be male. What a strange notion.

Some of us still remembered. At almost all times, there was someone who remembered and told everyone who would listen. Sometimes the rememberors were listened to, sometimes they were punished or their bodies were slain, as if that was all they were. Some forgot that our essence cannot be destroyed and is sacred.

It is hard for me to believe that people could totally forget anything of such importance.

We experienced a huge series of inner shifts as these new humans. While survival was essential, invention, art, and the birth of philosophy and the quest for knowledge came too. The innate creativity that came with being part of the Amazing One made it so that most of us really could not refrain from creating, but there have been those who tried to resist. They were and are uncomfortable with change, maybe having an overload of change from the beginning of this dimension to now. There have always  been a few, sadly, who totally forgot they were supposed to create positive things just as the Amazing One did. They created and still create quite a mess. The rest of us have to get a surge of creativity to overcome their messes, even disasters.

Well, maybe that’s our purpose now – To set things straight and help people remember. We are all one with the Amazing One. We’re a part of the Amazing One. We have a sacred and divine nature that we need to shine into this world. Our Shining. Light can make a difference. Let’s remember together who we really are, and be that!

 

 

Love = But Who? How?

Love has a convoluted meaning in our modern world. It often leads us to think of the closing scene in a romantic movie. It leads to perplexing questions. How can I love my neighbor who's actually a stinker? How can I love someone across the world whom I've never met? How can I love someone who has opposite views from me? How can I love someone who has hurt me bitterly? On and on it goes.

It occurs to me we need to rethink how we hold love in our hearts and minds. Sure it can be romantic love,but that's not all it is. Let's add some more words around love such as: compassion, empathy, non-judgmentalness, lifting,  kindness,  understanding, caring, hoping and praying for the best for another or oneself, seeing the Christ light in each and every person. In this way we begin to lift the idea of love into the more spiritual realm where we're called to see the spiritual truth of each and every person, each and every experience. We're called to look beyond appearances and judge righteous judgment.

By adding the cluster of these words and more to our definition of love, we experience life in a new way and we give the gift of unconditional love to others. 

We never know fully the valley that someone else is walking. We never know their inner motivation for or doing or saying something. Not everybody shares their hurts and wounds. As spiritually awakening people, we can give others the benefit of the doubt And be love to them in such a way that includes all of these words we added that expanded what we are as we,express full unconditional love.

Update

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Do You See God As You See A Cow?

 

Some people want to see God with their eyes as they see a cow, and to love Him as they love their cow—for the milk and cheese and profit it brings them. This is how it is with people who love God for the sake of outward wealth or inward comfort. They do not rightly love God, when they love Him for their own advantage. Indeed, I tell you the truth, any object you have in your mind, however good, will be a barrier  between you and the inmost Truth.                 ---Eckhart

My favorite mystic, Meister Eckhart, speaks truth in plain words. This quote strikes me as  important  to consider. 

Loving God, or another person, for what they can give us is more a transactional kind of thing than love. It's not that transactions are wrong or bad, it's that, when they are mislabeled as love, it does a great disservice to love and to our ability to understand our relationship to God and to other people, as well as to ourselves.

I recently wrote about love and all the various words you could hang on it to understand it more deeply. I urge you to reread that part. But mainly today I just like us to consider shifting out of transactional attachments and calling them love, to be honest with ourselves and endeavor to move our lives to unconditional love, which is what we are really called to do.

The "True Believer" Problem

 A long time ago in the university a series of professors Assigned us to read Eric Hoffer's book, "True Believer." I also took a profound class called "Social Control" with a very deep-thinking professor.Aldous Huxley wrote about this too, particularly in the extreme , such as the swastika waving masses at Hitler's events, the red flags of the early communist movement In Russia, 

Pretty much anytime we see people emotionally driven, in one group or the other, we see people in the sway of propaganda and tools of mind control. We see it when people get hysterical about political or news events. We can tell which channel they're watching. There are channels promoting left and right positions. Depending on which ones a person watches, they can get riled up over whatever the talking head says.

I saw a small example of that yesterday when my granddaughter went to get the mail for me. I had political mail  On one side there was a colorful large card attacking a certain candidate for this and that.  There was an equally colorful and large card on the other side expounding an absolutely opposite statement about that candidate My granddaughter held them up and said which one is true? She had a quizzical expression as she raised them.up in her hands. Obviously, both could not be true for they were 180° apart. 

 If I do not have personal direct knowledge of something, it is difficult for me to know which if either holds the truth. That applies for most things. If we take a newscaster's word for it, we forget that they're just reading a script written by someone that has an agenda, on a station that has an agenda. They're no longer just reporting news they're trying to make news and sway people's minds. The same thing with advertising, with programming, and so much of modern life.

Sometimes I see television commercials where one candidate talks extremely negatively about his or her opponent's point of view. He or she believes this or that. I want to tell them that don't want your assessment of the other person. I want to hear from the other person what they actually believe and say. It really irritates me when they're trying to speak for someone else. Perhaps that's born in my experience, when other people try to speak for me and say the opposite of what I mean.

If we got caught up so that we are exceptionally emotional about a "cause", we need to look carefully at what's going on in us. Our emotions lead us away from our higher brain functions and our abilities to think logically. 

For me, it's important to be as control of my own mind as I can be. It is important for me to not be controlled by others, but to use my intelligence, logic, and God-given wisdom to make decisions, and to act from a deep place. 

I recommend,  before jumping off the deep end for any cause, take time to meditate and contemplate, read something from the other side's point of view, and balance everything in yourself. Ask for guidance. Weigh everything. Stay calm. And participate in life fully when you know that you considered everything and have a deeper understanding, not just slogans.

Announcement

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You Are Beloved

 I am rereading Henri Nouwen's  book, Life of the Beloved.  His beginning premise is that we are all God's beloved, but we get so busy with the outer things of life that we forget. We forget where we came from and where we're going, and that in every step of the way we are God's beloved.

He goes on to say that remembering or learning that we are God's beloved isn't all there is, it's just the beginning. There is another step. We must become the beloved. That is we must think, say and do what God would have us think, say, and, do. We must act like the beloved, believe we are beloved, and give that sense of being loved to others, even strangers. Sometimes we give it with a smile, sometimes we give it with a hug, sometimes with deep and abiding friendship, , sometimes with wise and loving counsel, sometimes with a sweet note. There are a myriad of ways that we can give that love to others and show that they are beloved, remind them that they are beloved, and remind ourselves at the same time.

We can trust in God's love. Notice in the scriptures people are always messing up, sometimes huge mistakes. God loves them anyway and calls them back to waiting arms so to speak. Interestingly, we have responsibility to share that love on earth.

When we get comfortable realizing God loves us, it becomes easier and easier to love others, nd and to give them the gift of knowing they are beloved. By our actions, even our tone of voice, we convey love or rejection, acceptance or judgement, sarcasm or sincerity. Let's ask ourselves, what are we broadcasting with the energy of our lives? Let's get on the wavelength of the beloved.

Hubris to Nemesis

 The Greeks believed that hubris was always followed by nemesis, that if you went too far you would get a knock on the head to remind you that the gods will not tolerate insolence on the part of mortal men. --- from Perennial Philosophy

This morning I read that part of Perennial Philosophy, and I had a quick thought I want to share. It seems to me there's an awful lot of hubris being flung around this earth right now. Quite a few people seem to need a knock on their head, as the Greeks called it 

It seems to me that today's hubris is a little more dangerous and far-reaching than in the ancient world. We now have incredibly horrid weapons that could wipe out all life on earth. We have the lack of understanding of the sacredness of this earth and of all life, and so treat it with little respect. We have the decline of spirituality and the turn to the shallow, mind-numbing games, Soul soaking up violent movies and programs, all manner of dark things. We have huge paedophile rings, human trafficking, ever more dangerous drugs with more and more people who are using them, seemingly trying to escape real life and responsibilities. 

Our leaders all over seem to have gone mad in the pit of hubris.

 I never thought I would ever say anything like this, but God maybe it's time you give a few select people a good knock on the head and wake them up - particularly in the leadership in this world. Please help us save ourselves and our world. I pray that the door opens in many hearts to turn to God, to decency, to developing their spiritual muscle,  to be everything good and wonderful they are capable of bein.g In a moment's notice, if that happens, all of this mess could turn around. Help me, help us all,, be part of the turnaround.

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"The Book of My Life, I Wouldn't Believe It Either If I Hadn't Lived It" by Marlene Oaks

Dualism or Oneness?

 

Only when freed from hate and love does it [the Way] reveal itself fully and without disguise...To set up what you like against what you dislike— this is the disease of the mind. .. Be serene in the oneness of things, And dualism vanishes of itself. --- de Caussade

 In many traditions, the ultimate goal is the realization of Oneness. One of the practices then is to eliminate duality in our thinking. ~That means nomore"Us"vs"Them"mentality. We do not draw a line --- on this side of the line I love, but on the other side I hate.

In other words , division and hatred have to go. It is essential we realize that all is sacred, the divine is in each and every thing, each and everyone, even though wre may not be able to see it. What to do?

St. Paul gave us a clue in the gifts of the spirit. The last one he listed is  is self-control. I think that is true but little considered.We have to get control of ourselves, our thinking, our minds, and our lives, so that we can let go and welcome Spirit without resistance. It is a great paradox, relaxing and letting go lead to serenity, and serenity leads to being able to hear the guidance that's coming to us. 

I have come to realize every moment of my life is an opportunity to grow, to see differently, to expand, to move closer to God. Everyone and everything is my teacher. When I relax into that knowing and stop resisting my life, then amazing things begin to unfold. As de Caussade  said, "Be serene in the oneness of things, And dualism vanishes of itself. "

I would add - actually have faith/trust in the More/God/Higher Power. Life here is a  temporary gift. None of us stay here forever. We are to go beyond appearances, develop spiritually, and prepare our souls for the next thing. Let us not waste our precious time. 

Seeing Resurrection

 As I have noted in the past, Resurrection is all around us all of our lives, if we're but paying attention.

We can see it in the transformation of the caterpillar to the butterfly, in the dry desert coming to life with a riot of wild flowers every springtime, this morning's breakfast being turned into us in all parts of  bodies, two half cells turning into a human being, and on and on.

Everywhere we turn we can see the miraculous. We are told the atoms In all things are, relatively speaking, as far apart as the stars and planets in the galaxy, so that material things are actually mostly empty space. 

On this spinning planet we orbit our sun traveling about 584,000,000 miles a year, plus our solar system is moving at Incredible speed through the Milky Way, and the Milky Way is moving at fantastic speed, everything's moving rapidly, and yet we think we're standing still.

Our brains are only 2% of our body weight, but they use about 20% of the body's total energy and oxygen intake. The average adult brain weighs about 3 pounds. And yet it contains every memory we've ever had, vast amounts of information, so much information it would take a tower of stacked of CD's, each packed full of data, to go past the International Space Station in order to contain an equal amount of information as the average adult brain. 

We've just looked at a tiny tiny bit of what we know about life in the universe. But with even this amount,of information,how can we not believe the miraculous? It seems to me we live within the miraculous, we are filled with it, surrounded by it. It is what the universe is. So to believe that resurrection is going to happen to all of us, that is, that life continues beyond the physical existence, does not seem to be much of a stretch to me.

Jesus did it visually so people would know. A good many people on earth alive right now have seen people who have left their bodies. Many people have had near death experiences that all have very similar qualities. I absolutely know that life continues beyond our physical experience.

 Let us join with the rest of the world today and say - He is risen, He is risen indeed. And add so will I.

Have a blessed Easter.

Resurrection

 Christ himself does not act as a dead or passive point of convergence, but as a centre of radiation for the energies which lead the universe back to God through his humanity, the layers of divine action finally come to us impregnated with his organic energies... In it we recognise an omnipresence which acts upon us by assimilating us in it, in unitate corporis Christi.  --- Teilhard  de  Chardin, "The Divine Milieu"

The 1st thing that stood out to me this morning in the above quote is the word radiation. I had just read an article about new scientific research on the Shroud of Turin which basically says the image was created by radiation in a way unknown to us. The  writer of the article felt that it validated the shroud as having been the burial wrappings of Jesus Christ. If true that it was radiation that created the image, this is an astounding result, an earth shattering reveal about the shroud.

 Teilhard de Chardin  of course did not have access to modern studies at the shroud. His reference to radiation however was interesting to me. He goes on to say that we get infused, impregnated with the divine energies. It is reminiscent to me of Paul speaking of putting on Christ, the Christ within, and his various Cosmic Christ references. Paul seemed to move away from the person of Jesus. He wrote practically nothing about his life and teachings. But he went on to experience and write about a more Cosmic Christ whose energy we can reach. take on, incorporate in us, and be ncorporated into.

It is the general mystical idea of Unitive experience. In general this is the aim, whether realized consciously or not, of all spiritual practice. In other words we come to live in the idea and experience of Oneness - Oneness with God, Oneness with all life, part of the Cosmic Flow.

Perhaps this is our personal resurrection. In Oneness We live a new kind of life We know who we are and what we are about. The veil has become thin. We live a tune to the infinite.

May you find your way to this place this Easter season. God bless you!

Divine Milieu

 I am enjoying Reading The "Divine ilieu",  I I want to share with you today some ideas that came to me while reading his book.

 One, he says that our intention behind anything that we do is important.  Whether it's a small thing or a major thing, our intention permeates it and sets its character. It is important that we don't do things from an ego position but from, as far as possible, an unselfish, and God centered perspective. 

 Also, he focuses on the importance of our development of our souls.  Everything we think, say, and do either develops our souls or diminishes our souls. I have often said that earth  Is a school for souls, sometimes a mountain climbing school, and we are to flex our spiritual muscles here and develop ourselves in a unique situation that we find on earth in the 3rd dimension. It is a privilege and and an honor to be given the gift of life on earth. 

Some come here and forget. They bat their heads against the walls of earth's challenges and wail and scream, sometimes becoming violent. But some see this opportunity is a challenge and dig into it and do their best, thereby they develop their souls, And oftentimes make a positive difference for others as well as themselves. 

Just a small shift in perspective can change our experience while here in earth. To see this is an exciting challenge, an opportunity to develop our souls, a gift from God, leads us to live a different kind of life than the life of those who resist the exciting opportunities and challenges offered here on earth just for us.

Discovering Spirit and Healing Our Shattered World

 Rufus Jones said, "We shall not be able to rebuild our shattered world until we recover Our faith in eternal realities and we shall not do that until we discover spirit within ourselves."

This past weekend I led a retreat entitled "Practice the Presence of God." I began the retreat By asking everyone to pick a number between 1 and 14 because  I wanted them to learn to listen within and select something they felt guided to choose. 

I have discovered That most people, when they speak of regrets, say I knew I shouldn't have done that. How did they know? Because they had guidance, but they didn't listen to it.

I chose 14 quotes from 14 different mystics that have influenced my life. I told them to intuitively to pick the one that was right for them for today. Then I handed out the paper that had all 14 quotes, and told them they could contemplate the other ones as they felt led in coming day,s but today they had one that was their mystic. Everyone reported after the exercise that they indeed had picked the perfect one for them.

The beginning quote on this entry , from Rufus Jones, was one of the 14. Rufus was a Quaker mystic, and I deeply love his writings. Part of the purpose is to train ourselves to realize the Holy Spirit is always speaking, always guiding, and the thing we need to do is to be still so we can hear it and then follow it.

We are part of this shattered world.  We can begin to heal our own shattered mess. ,In fact we cannot help heal a shattered world, if we are shattered ourselves. I can just hear someone thinking that they wonder what exactly does she mean by shattered? Fractured -  unfocused - fragmented - inconsistent - broken - ineffective -  insecure - all or some if these.

what to do? Begin some regular spiritual practices for a starter. We began with Lectio Divina._So begin with me with the quote above. Read 'it slowly at least five times. Close your eyes, let those words fill your mind. Be with them five minutes or so. Then write in journal for five minutes without censoring what you write. Just write. Then read what you wrote.

Do this everyday with a quote that has some meaning to you or you'd like to understand the meaning. It could be from scripture or poetry or the writings of some enlightened person. And in a short time you'll discover that wisdom is coming to you, that you know more than you knew on your own. And in a short time you'll discover that wisdom is coming to you because you joined with the Holy Spirit. Once you experience this, you'll realize you're never alone, and the shattered pieces are coming together to form a beautiful you.

Prophetic Wisdom

 Jesus’ own Wisdom teaching was not a doctrine of ascetic renunciation, but rather an invitation to reckless self-abandon to love. Jesus modeled a life of faithful surrender to the unpredictable movement of the divine Spirit. --- The Gospel of Q, Jesus' Prophetic Wisdom 

 When we examine the teaching of Jesus that we know about, we see his instruction about how to be, how to live, what to be. We do not see a description of what we have to believe,  or of any dogma in particular, other than love and surrender to God's Way.

His teaching is very much aligned with the wisdom teachings of the ages. Of course he has his unique view of it. In agreement with most wisdom traditions, he includes time apart, being still, emptying of the little self, listening to God's voice, following God's guidance, being good to everyone, and continually trying to be a better person. 

I recommend the book from which I took the quote at the top of this entry. Q is generally agreed upon by the majority of Biblical scholars to be the document that Matthew and Luke used for the material they have in them but it is not in Mark. In this book he pulls out that material, so you can read it all together, and so you can see the great wisdom and teaching that he's offering and calling us to. 

I think throughout history some, maybe many,  have belabored and mutilated some of his points, so that it's hard to know what he really taught.  It is thought that Q was written between the year 50 and 70, so, if this is accurate, it predates the Gospels. 

Even before I knew about Q, I was particularly drawn to the parts that turned out to be from Q. I find this material from Q has been the guiding light of my life. I hope it will be for you too. It cuts through the murky twists and turns of theology, back to a time before speculation distorted Jesus: precious message.  Just maybe this gives us a glimpse closer to sitting at his feet. 

How Many Moons?

In every puddle , in every lake , In every ocean, and in every. body of  water  there is a reflection of the moon each night. Yet there is only one moon orbiting our earth.

So it is with God. There is one Supreme Divine Energy reflected in all beings, all creation. 

It is up to us to clean out all sludge accumulated in us so that we can clearly shine that light. 

Forgive, release, take charge of thoughts, words and deeds, spend time in silence, send send deep roots into the Infinite One. 

You will thereby be the best person you can be. The Light of God will shine without distortion through you. And you will realize all, everyone is sacred, seeded with this Light. All will be well 

The Gopel of Truth

 The place to which they extend their thoughts is their root, which elevates them through all levels to the Father. --- The Gospel of Truth

In 1947 ancient writings From the very beginnings of Christianity were dug up in the deserts in Egypt They became known as the Nag Hammadi find, and later  were called Gnostic Gospels, although not all of them were exactly Gnostic. The Gospel of Truth is one of those ancient manuscripts. 

There is so much in this Gospel that is fascinating. I am currently rereading it and discovering gems that are meaningful. The above quote struck me this morning. Is the root in us reaching to God through thought, word, and deed, which grounds us in spiritual principles? As we extend and stretch our roots into the spiritual domain, we are fed, guided, and lifted. All of life is different. 

 A question to ask ourselves then, Is what are the predominant thoughts and words and deeds we are engaging in regularly in our  lives?  Are we focused on the trivia of life, the outer of life, ultimately meaningless things? Or are we rooted in the More?  Are we simply skimming the surface? Are we sinking our roots deep?

The prophet's words come to mind, "Like A tree planted by the water, I shall not be moved."

 

Coming Soon - Watch for My New Book

 

It Is Who We Are That Matters

 

you still ought to strive in every effort towards goodness, but this is not reliant upon what one does or the nature of work itself, but upon how one is, for such is the ground of all works. --- Meister  Eckhart

 When we come from pure goodness inside of our minds and hearts, whether we do small things or large things, they are blessed and a blessing because they come from a pure heart, a good heart. Who we are cannot help but show up in all we do. 

 Therefore, if we come with inside anger toward people or criticism or negative energy, if we are manipulating and have ulterior motives, no matter what it is we do, it's going to be distorted in a negative way. It will definitely not turn out to be a blessing either to ourselves or to others, for our shadow will show up and sour what we do. 

As Meister Eckhart said in the quote above, it depends on who one is. I think he is correct. Which leads us to contemplate how we can make our selves right inside so that we are doing things that are Good and come from the ground of our being that is good? How can we heal our issues and our traumas and our fears and pains that we carry inside of ourselves and serve as a distorting lens to all that we think and feel and do?

My experience tells me that we have to have intention to do that healing work inside of ourselves. We have to give up our excuses. We have to get clear that our target is to be a clean clear avenue of God's work here in this world. We need to be committed o do what healing work needs to be done inside of ourselves. 

 A simple beginning includes monitoring our thinking. Whenever we think a negative judgmental or angry thought, stop immediately and turn it around and think something positive and healing and uplifting. Choose to align our thinking and speaking to what we know is right and good and holy.

 As we gain control of our own minds, then our actions begin to change. We notice that service is an important aspect of spiritual growth. We realize that we're not alone here on this planet, for we share it with all life. And so we expand our hearts to include everyone in this planet, and find ways that we can lift maybe just 1 person, and then maybe 10. As we grow in our hearts to be more and more good and pure, life changes, doors open, understanding expands. It is a kind of rebirth. 

Perhaps this is one of our purposes for coming to earth. We seem separate from one another, yet we are in another way one, one people, inhabitants of one planet. Just maybe we are accountable for what we do here, and who we become is important. I completely Believe that each of us were created on purpose with a purpose.

I invite you to think on these things.

 

Women In Church

  Just looking historically, In the Jewish tradition, women were not allowed to participate as leaders. In the time of Jesus there was some loosening in the Roman world where women were able to excel in certain areas,  especially the upper class women. Of course the poor women of the low classes worked, it was a necessity. 

In some ways Jesus broke the mold of bias against women. Contrary to Jewish tradition, he talked to women in public, scandiously to women he didn't even know or who were of ill repute, and he had women friends, as well as some women in his following.

Paul praised women, even calling one of them an apostle. And he declared that in Christ there is no male or female slave or free etc. His writings seem to argue both directions, but mostly it's because of pseudo Pauline writings.   Later works that were written in his name, but not written by him, such as the Timothy s and Titus, spoke harshly against women doing anything in church.

In the beginning of the Jesus Movement, some women had a fairly prominent role, at least more than in most society. But by the end of the second century, that was obliterated. 

That was one of the points of debate among the orthodox and the Gnostic leaders. The orthodox position was very patriarchal, arguing that God was male, and they argued from Genesis two rather than Genesis 1. Gnostics argued from Genesis one, and they placed women, for the most part in places where they rose and were encouraged to become prophets and to participate in the sacraments, even lead the sacraments,  and also preach. This was pne of the reasons the orthodox were horrified and declared them heretics. Plus the Gnostics saw God as the masculine and feminine principle. Being creative by birthing all of creation was the feminine aspect, and thinking it up in the 1st place was the male aspect.

There were other distinctions of course. For More details, I recommend Elaine Pagel's book on the "Gnostic Gospels".

The orthodox thinkers and leaders called everyone who disagreed with them heretics and in some cases put severe penalties upon them, even imprisoning them or having them executed. The early orthodox writings used extremely negative violent words and of actions upon those who disagreed with them, excommunication, shunning, even torture. The leaders had gosoels they did not like burned, and those hiding them punished. 

It took centuries for women to gain agency in churches again. Even today there are some churches who do not know history Do not recognize the origins of the Jesus movement as pro or at least inclusive of the feminine.. As late as the 1970's, the Pope stated unequivocably that women could not participate fully as "our Lord was a man." And so still in some churches today, not just Catholic, women are a subservient and substandard species not able to lead or preach or teach. Some profess women must be subservient.to men. 

History Can be our teacher, if we pay attention to it. I think it's time that we let go of the ancient irrational patriarchy and realize God created us all, male and female.

Hear My Talk/Sermon

 To hear and see my Sunday Sermon

Go to either Facebook or YouTube

Temecula United Methodist Church

February 15-2026

"The Gift of the Mountain "

It was my honor to be invited to speak. 

I pray it touches and lifts you. 

Letting Go

  A friend once said, That everything she ever released had claw marks on it, because she held onto it so tightly even while trying to let it go.

Sometimes in life we have no choice but to let go. My longest and dearest friend died Saturday night. I have to let her go for she's no longer here. It's sometimes hard. In many ways I'm happy for her because she had so many physical problems and was in such agony. It is really a relief that she is free and no longer in pain and suffering. My reluctance to let go was about me not about her. My grief is about the hole left in my heart, while my joy is about her happiness that she is free now and having a grand adventure.

Sometimes it seems that we humans have a hard time letting go. We have a hard time with change.   When we hold on to negative things such as  anger, resentment, negative memories, ETC, we are eally hurting ourselves.We're hurt by our resistance and own negative thoughts and fears, negative charges running through our bodies and holding us back. The most spiritual thing we can do with that is to live in the moment and release the past - because in the one moment where we are alive and breathing, we can be the best person we can, touch the presence of G,od. We can be guided. We can remember we are whole and holy.

Ultimately we come to remember that one of our prime missions in life is to learn unconditional love toward ourselves and toward all other people. Opening ourselves to love unconditionally opens us to awareness that we are living in the presence of God, realizing we're not alone, realizing that we have guidance available, that we are loved unconditionally, and we should pass that love on.

Instead of holding on to the past or to the stories of how we wish it was, let us learn to let go and live fully and gloriously in each moment. We can't change the past But we can make the moment that we are alive the moment where we are, the second in between seconds, that glorious moment make it a moment of love. Let's go forth today and shine that love, let the light of love lift us and lift everyone who comes in contact with us. What a wonderful day you're going to have God bless you.

Knowledge, Where Does It Lead?

 This morning it occurred to me the huge difference between knowledge of something and use of that knowledge.  A simple example - reading a recipe, understanding the ingredients and directions, and putting it down and never making it. Versus then actually making the recipe, sharing the results and enjoying eating it. 

For those of us on a spiritual quest, the example can also apply. There is a difference between reading, say the Sermon on the Mount, understanding what is asked of followers of Jesus, and putting it down without actually applying it in our lives. 

Christians are criticized for being hypocrites. Reading the Bible, going to church, wearing a cross does not make one a Christian. Going out and bad mouthing someone, being harsh and judgemental, being unforgiving and not shining unconditional love tells the world and God you are Christian in name only. You know God's recipe for living His Way, but you don't implement it in your life. 

If we want to really awaken spiritually, want to make a difference with our lives, be responsible with the gift of life, we need to examine our own lives and get to applying what makes us actually a follower of The Way. 

How Do We Approach Problems/Opportunities?

 In meditation this morning I saw the anger and strife erupting all over the world.

A question presented itself  - Where are the spiritual leaders leading with spiritual principles?

Where are large groups praying for us to remember we are one human family, praying for peace and understanding, for win/win solutions, for ways to live the things we know to be the highest and best?

Where are the great teachers reminding us we are accountable for what we do on earth?

Where is the spiritual response? Where are the potential leaders that are to remind us of who we are, to speak of higher choices, to awaken us out of ego's dream that leads to destruction?

Oh wondrous God, awaken Your people. Awaken visionaries to lead us out of the trap we have fallen into, helped to create. Open us to Your solutions, to the ways we need to think and act to move the future to higher ground. Inspire us. Open our eyes and ears and hearts. Save us from ourselves. Tap just the right people to speak and lead us to spiritual sanity while there is still time.  May the highest and best prevail. Amen

Cooperation Factor

 

For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God. --- Teresa of Avila

How profound is this little quote!  It might seem like a new idea here in the 21st century, but it goes at least as far back asTeresa in the 1500's. 

Consider what a friendship entails. In general, it includes trust, support, cooperation, communication, and shared experiences that build deep bonds, among other things. Prayer (and I would add meditation and contemplation) helps us develop all of these aspects of friendship with God, with The More.

The more in tune with God we are, the greater our trust in God. The primary way we get in tune with The Infinite is prayer. We feel supported as we experience the Presence in our prayer time, and this support carries us throughout the day.

We may not have thought of cooperation, but it seems to me that we have to do our part in this relationship. We need to cooperate with the things asked of a person in relationship with God. Forgive our trespasses as we forgive, judge not, take care of others, show mercy as mercy is shown to us, let our light shine, etc.  When I think of cooperation, one of the scriptures that also comes to me is Matthew 25:31-46, the parable of the sheep and the goats. I urge you to re-read it today. It is a clear picture of what is asked of us. As we share in God's work here on earth, it changes us.

Add cooperation into your equation of how to live spiritually, and something truly amazing will unfold. All aspects of your relationship with God will expand and deepen. And just maybe, if enough of us do it, it will change everything for the better, helping to create the long-held vision of the kingdom of God on earth.

Bread and Wine

The wine  is the wine of divine wisdom. The bread is the bread of life: these nourish the soul and enlighten the mind of the spiritual body.   --- Origin

 First, concerning the cup. We thank thee, our Father, for the holy vine, David thy Son, which thou hast made known unto us through Jesus Christ thy Son; to thee be the glory for ever.And concerning the broken bread. We thank thee, our Father, for the life and knowledge which thou hast made known unto us through Jesus thy Son; to thee be the glory for ever.  -- The Didache

 We see from early teachings a different view of the Eucharist than is common later on.  

It makes more sense, particularly when we consider the Jewish understanding of blood, for example, having to be drained from an animal before cooking it.  The idea of drinking blood and eating flesh would have been abhorrent. It still is abhorrent. 

I think the early ideas above would make the experience more meaningful. 

Knwing God Is Not Just a Mystical Event

My love of the mystics and my own mystical experiences are something I cherish. And, knowing God can be practical as well.

Yesterday I decided to wear to church the pearl ring L.B. gave me our first Christmas so long ago. I tell the story in my book I hope to publish soon. He was the father of our children and a great love. He had an aneuyrism in his brain Christmas 1976 and died on New Year's Day 1977. This ring was all I had left from him because of Gilbert's disasters (see entries starting in April, 2025)

I stopped at the car wash and a grocery store after church. I was putting away the groceries and realized the ring was not on my finger. I panicked. I looked everywhere I had been in the apartment and in the trash and recycle bag, retraced my steps, and thorouhly checked my car. Then I texted several people to see if they had seen it at a church, called the car wash and grocery store. 

I cried deep grief. I had lost so much.  Not this precious reminder of love too, please God NO. I prayed and prayed - God You know where it is. Lead me to it, bring it to me.

Finally, I went to bed after 11, so exhausted I couldn't even pray anymore. I woke up praying, and I had an irresistible urge to look in the recycling in the kitchen, even though I had gone through it yesterday. Nothing. Then I saw the crumpled-up plastic bag that friends at church had given me, filled with their homegrown lemons. I had looked in it too yesterday, but I now had a strong, strong urge to do so again. I looked and saw nothing. I ran my hand through it and felt a lump under the fold in the corner. I turned it out, and there was my ring!

Yes, God, I was almost hysterical yesterday, even though I prayed. You just showed me, again, that You are here with me in large and small moments. Thank You, Thank You!!!!! 

If I had focused on that Truth, I could have saved myself a pile of emotional turmoil. But, it did show me how raw I still am over all of the losses due to Gilbert. There is definitely more healing to do. Scratch the surface, and tears lurk there.

Dear and Wondrous God, my heart is overflowing in joy and gratitude for the return of my pearl ring from L.B. What a powerful lesson, and what a powerful reminder of the need for more healing.

I ask that You guide me to find the way out of this valley of darkness and grief. Help me release Gilbert fully to You. Help me to release my treasures so that the pain is neutralized. I am thankful that I once had them, and I do miss them so. I realize I shall never have them physically again as they are scattered to the winds via the auctions. Please grant me peace.

I am incredibly thankful to know You hear my prayer and are always with me. I give thanks in advance for my healing.

I release this all to You as I seal it with the ancient seal of faith and integrity, Amen, Amen and Amen.

The Second Coming

For two thousand years, Christians have been waiting for the second coming of Christ. Predictions of the day have come and gone countless times. People have given away all of their possessions and eagerly awaited the appearance in magical clouds with angels and trumpets. But, as we know, that has not happened.

Over the years, I have pondered this escatology. It seems more in line with Greek and Roman gods than with the Jesus I know in the Sermon on the Mount.

I have done a lot of study, trying to understand the first century, trying to get back to the original Jesus before speculations from men piled upon him and hardened into dogma - before the fights and intrigue, and sometimes murder and war over theological ideas.

Dr. James Tabor suggests the closest we can come to the historical Jesus is Q (the material in Matthew and Luke and not in Mark), the book of James, and the Didache. These are before the Pauline idea took hold that it was only about his death and resurrection, not about his life and teaching. Q is the Sermon on the Mount and on the Plain, parables, one liners, etc. It is the Jesus that has framed my life.

I have a theory about the second coming, maybe a stretch for you who are "reular" Christians. In Luke Jesus says that you have looked "lo here and lo there" but the Kingdom is within you. I think the second coming is when we open our hearts to the teachings of Jesus, letting them guide our lives, doing our best to be like him, letting the Divine Light of Christ fill us,  lead us, and instruct us. It is when we become followers of The Way, the Sacred Way, so much so that we embody it.

When we say "Marantha" - we really say come into my heart Lord Jesus. 

The Two Ways - The Didache

 Once upon a time, I read of the Didache, and I recently decided to download a copy so I could read it. What is it you might ask? It is basically a first-century instruction manual for new Christians, mentioned in ancient writings, but no copy was extant in modern times. That is, until 1873 when a copy was discovered in the library of the Holy Sepulchre in Constantinople. It generated a lot of excitement in scholars, theologians, and lay people alike. It was written as early as 50 CE! It bridged a gap of silence between then and the early writers, often called church fathers, in the middle and late second century and on.

This morning, I decided to open it and begin reading. The beginning chapters are about the two ways - The Way of Life vs The Way of Death. There are similarities to the Qumran community writings of the contrast between light and darkness, truth and falsehood.

Flashing before my mind came my Genine vs Impostor values that I have just been sharing on this blog. I thought they were heavily inspired by Aristotle's book on Ethics, but - they also somehow seem directly related to the Didache's Two Ways!

Not that the Didache has a long list, but the lists it has are in harmony with "my" lists, plus two ways are the same concept.

Did I somehow tap into this very early Christian way? Did I read it in the past, and it came up expanded from my subconscious? Did God inspire me to write them to bring the Two Ways to more eyes and hearts?

I don't know the answer, and it feels significant.

If you are interested in all of this, please do download the Didache (pronounced DidaKay) or buy a copy and see what you think.