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Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Sages, Where Are You?

I'm reading "The Meaning of the Bible" by two scholars, one Orthodox Jewish and one Christian. This morning I came upon a discussion of Wisdom and Sages. Once upon a time Wisdom was sought and Sages were listened to.

Some descriptions include: knows how to address people and circumstances in an effective manner and thus lives a life that today we might call meaningful, gratifying and full; teachable, not arrogant; generous and humble; can diffuse conflict; is not easily irritated; old age brings respect and deference. There is more, but I think this list leads us toward the idea.

So, it seems to me today's culture does not honor, encourage or teach the importance of Wisdom, which leaves us somewhat adrift. Wisdom anchors us. Sages remind us.

Instead we have the superficial. Celebrities make millions telling us what to wear to make us "cool." Social media turns us into very unwise mobs. The "news" consists of talking points provided by the power interests. We are frantic to be entertained, numbed by substances and fleeing from God and all things meaningful.

Sure there are the genuine wise scattered here and there. Only a tiny few listen, and fewer still follow. But then too there are the phony, pseudo wise who are a bit like circus performers putting on a show for the fun and the money of it. They have their followers for a time.

Let's step outside of the mad whirl and assess where we are. Do we sincerely seek Wisdom? Can we identify with the qualities listed above in the second paragraph? Do we seek out people who have such qualities? Do we value Wisdom? Are we willing to take a stand on the side of Wisdom?

Let's  drop anchor in the vast sea of Wisdom.

Saturday, January 26, 2019

Buttons or Freedom

Once upon a time, when I was active as a clergywoman, I spoke to people about having a "buttonectomy." It occurred to me that if, say, you could push my button, I should thank you for bringing to my attention I had a button or buttons that needed removal.

As long as we have one or more buttons, we are subject to the control of others, maybe even puppets whose strings someone pulls and thereby they have control of us at various levels. They then may control our emotions, our choices and therefore some of our future. I don't want to be controlled by others. I want to be free and in harmony with The More, The Deep, The Divine. I want to be the best me I can be. I imagine you do too. It is exhausting to give over our peace of mind to whoever pushes a button we attached to ourselves along the way.

In order to remove our buttons, several things need to occur. We need to decide to give up all hints of victimhood. This may take time, a process. It's difficult to quit being a victim cold turkey, although it is theoretically possible. Woe is me, poor me, etc. simply have to go.

Sometimes people give control to what I've often called "the psychic Mafia." "They" did it to me. Some amorphous cloud of unnamed beings or social controls hover over some lives. These unnamed beings take control -- "What would they think? We need to fire "them."

We need to own our power. We are human beings, in a position to be in tune with the Infinite, and we are in Truth powerful. We are Spirit breathed beings. We need no power over others, but we need power over our own selves.

We can create an amazing life once we remove the buttons that detour us time and time again. One day, when we leave this life, we are going to be asked if we learned how to love and if we completed our purpose for this life. Excuses and blame will not suffice.

I see so many people who are, or pretend to be, so incredibly sensitive that even people with a different point of view throw them into a tizzy. The term I often hear is "snowflake." They appear to melt over the tiniest word or action of other people. They are covered all over with buttons. This is a miserable way to live. So many with this condition give me pause to wonder what kind of a future can humanity have with snowflakes instead of vibrant pioneers and seekers of Truth? We need the hardy, the courageous, the sincere, the visionaries, the compassionate, those that quest for Truth. I hope and pray that you are one of these hardy ones. You are needed.

 This very day is my day to look fearlessly in the mirror of my life. Do I have buttons needing removal? Am I a snowflake in any area? Am I a hardy leader that moves with freedom and compassion?

Lord lead me to be the whole and holy one You created. Guide me as I pledge to remove buttons and take back my full life. Lead me to live fully and joyously on this incredible planet.

Saturday, January 19, 2019

Dilemma of History

Atonement = at-onement - how did that morph into a violent, bloodthirsty requirement from God to kill his son to in order to be able to forgive humanity? How did this and other absurd ideas get plastered on the life of a man who taught an extension of his native Judaism?

He took the Laws of Moses and went the extra mile. Don't just cease murder, actually love your enemies. Don't just forgive once, forgive  70x7. Don't just refrain from adultery, don't even think lustfully. etc. etc. etc.

I'm reading Bishop Spong's new book, "Unbelievable." He is concerned for Christianity's chance of survival beyond this century if we don't take out the absurd beliefs that got attached to it over the many centuries. Some were just because as Christianity moved away from Judaism, non-Jews didn't understand what things meant. Some were added to control and increase power over people. Some kept changing to opposites, so that what was "orthodox" became heretical and then back again. Just read history.

Think about how many huge variations of teachings and beliefs exist this very day in the hundreds of groups that call themselves "Christian." Perhaps following the way of Jesus is something different than being part of a conflicting " Christian " group.

I join in the quest for the original teachings and meanings. Let's peel off crazy additions that make no sense and are turning people away in the droves.

I've been saying lately that I see to-do lists in the earliest writings, not to-believe lists. And I believe if we turned to actually live as taught by Jesus, most of the world's problems could be solved pretty quickly.

Think on these things.

Saturday, January 12, 2019

Opportunity

Opportunity is everywhere, everywhere! Even now, I'm sick with chest, sinus, tiredness, fever, etc. I've finished my antibiotic course, but I'm not anywhere near up to par.

This has given me the opportunity to read a lot, watch television, watch YouTube and nap. I went outside yesterday for the first time in over a week, but I probably won't go out today as it is cold and rainy.

The reading is mostly spiritual. A book by a Quaker mystic, Rufus Jones; "The Meaning of the Bible" by a couple of professors; a book on blood sugar skimmed; a couple of books on the possibility of reincarnation by researchers; assorted articles online and a bit here and there.

This downtime gave me the gift of just exploring widely and leisurely.

Every moment holds at least one gift, one opportunity up to us. No matter what seems to be happening around us, The More is present. I'm going to strive to be more awake to The More this year, receiving the invitations to opportunity and going with them. Let the adventure expand.


Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Predestination?

In the 9th century, predestination was deemed a heresy. It has come up from time to time anyway, such as with  Calvin. So why was it thrown on the dustbin of wrong ideas?

Predestination makes the church not only unnecessary, but it also makes it useless.  If from the beginning of time each of us was already assigned our destiny, then  nothing  could be done to help the hapless soul bound for hell nor stop the lucky bloke bound for heaven. Therefore, in this system  of thought, no need for a church to tame the wayward soul or cheer on the saint.

I think there are more profound reasons for throwing this idea on the trash heap. It ignores reality at so many levels. At a basic level there is the law of cause and effect/sowing and reaping/karma. Then there is the issue of freewill. I have none, if all has been decided from the beginning of time.

Each moment has before it an array of choices, each with different outcomes, each beckons with a possible future.  Each choice takes us on a journey different from the journey of other choices.  A choice is an incision, cutting off other choices for that moment. I cannot be in Honolulu and Rome at the same time. I cannot experience the same food, people, history, sights, etc. in Rome as I would in  Honolulu.

So this leads me to this thing we call a new year. Laying before us are mountains of possible choices of all magnitudes, from tiny to humongous. What will we do with our mountain?

My hope and prayer is that we the people of earth will rise up and make the choices that lead to peace and plenty for all. We will need to rise above propaganda, we will have to be willing to love or at least accept one another, we will have to learn new ways, we will need to heal our brokenness. We will need to want it and believe it possible.

What  could we do with this year???????


Tuesday, January 1, 2019

May 2019 Be A Meaningful Year

It seems to me that happiness is a byproduct of engaging in meaningful activities. There is quite a bit of research indicating that many psychological and some physical maladies are ameliorated by doing meaningful things.

At the same time, much of modern life is exemplified by the meaningless - great interest in celebrities, consumerism, keeping busy with computer games, staring into cell phones and other electronic devices, consuming mind altering substances from alcohol to pot to hard drugs, watching violent and hyper-sexual movies and television shows, etc.

I was imaging this morning what a meaningful world it could be. Imagine if all the time and energy spent on the above list were spent instead on solving big issues such as violence in all of its forms including wars, homelessness, poverty, starvation and various diseases. I imagine the solutions are possible.

Let's make it our decision/resolution to cease at least most of our meaningless time wasters and turn instead to solving problems. Pick one, say homelessness. What can be done to end it? Who do we need to gather together to brainstorm? What steps can we take? etc.

May we all contribute to making this year a meaningful year for us and for all of our fellow humans, and all life on this planet.