Spong

In a sort of strange combination, I am reading both "Perennial Philosophy" by Aldous Huxley and "Biblical Literalism, The Gentile Heresy" by John Shelby Spong.

Basically, Huxley wrote about how the Divine has spoken in the hearts and minds in similar ways throughout all of history. I think anyone who has read widely, understands this.

Spong, in his newest book, wrote about the Jewish liturgy and how the writers of what we call the Gospels wrote the story to work into the liturgy. The people were not literal in their orientation and would be shocked to learn that later people took it all literally. The story was that Jesus was the new Moses, the new Joshua, the new prophets like Isaiah, etc. Matthew, for example wrote the stories in the order to be read in the synagogue with the Torah stories. I've only read 29% of this book so far, so I need to see where it goes.

He points out that the writings of Paul were first, in the 50's and the Gospels later, written after the fall of the temple in 70 c.e. and even as late as 100 c.e. or 120 c.e. The magical, fantastic stories are not in Paul's writings or the first Gospel, Mark (the first written, but for some reason placed second). Of course, this is common knowledge among anyone who is paying attention. Just reminding us in the context of this line of thought.

But, he says that by not understanding the actual meanings and placing fantasmic stories in the column of literal, no wonder people are turning away from Christianity in droves. He suggests it is a heresy to take as literal the deep stories that mean so much more. I think that is worthy of consideration. The first century people were trying to speak a powerful message of God's Love, Forgiveness and Healing showing up for them to see and know and try to welcome into their own lives.

This life was so irresistible that just like long before Queen Sheba brought great gifts to King Solomon, so Jesus/Yeshu was worthy of such adoration. Just as Joseph went in Egypt in slavery yet later saved his people, so the baby would grow to save his people, all people. And on it goes, one Torah story after the other, showing up to explain and honor this amazing energy that was Yeshu.

I always thrill at deeper meanings, and real meanings, and uncovering what has been hidden by misunderstanding, ignorance and control dramas. So I go on with my quest.

Pray for Christianity

This morning in church I had strong Guidance to begin the process of getting people to pray for Christianity Itself. Christianity is under siege.

Just a few examples: Incredible violence against Christians in the Middle East, China vowing to get rid of Christianity and so far this year destroying 48 churches and thousands of crosses, only 18% of Americans under 60 attending churches and far less in Europe, the war against Christian holidays and symbols, the coarsening of society, etc.

I think the various divisions within Christianity need to rise above the man-made theologies and consider the core teachings in the original words and deeds. This would be the most amazing and persuasive argument as to why Christianity in its essence is what can save the people of this planet and the planet itself.

Jesus summed up his teaching, and said it fulfilled all, in the Great Commandments. LOVE. Love God. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Imagine peop!e taking these words seriously and doing their best to live them. The ugliness so prevalent would melt away. Evil deeds would not be done. People would not starve to death. On and on Love would go healing, restoring, oneing...

I propose we urgently need to return to what Jesus summed his teaching to be, LOVE. We are being called to restore and save Christianity. Please consider this and ask others to read this and join us in prayer.

Lord, we come this day and offer ourselves to You. Teach us to love fully and completely as You have asked us - unconditionally, without reserve. Wash us clean of any darkness so that Your Light and Love may shine through us without distortion - straight from Your heart through us to all on this earth. We lay down our reasons and arguments, our versions of theological twists and turns, our biases, our judgements of others, all that hinders the free flow of Love. Lead us to bring the world to Your Love so that there is Peace, so that goodness and kindness reign. We ce!lebrate this prayer that has been heard and is even now being answered and seal it in the ancient seal of faith, Amen, Amen and Amen

A Pause

I took a brief pause because so much is unfolding and moving, and I needed to take a breath.

It seems to me that from time to time in life, that is exactly what we need to do - step back, take a breath and relax- before making big decisions, when in a crisis and it is critical to make the right choice, or when we're just worn down and a bit shaky from it all.

In some ways I've been experiencing all of the above for +2 years now. My pledge to myself has been to not allow the deep valley to change me, not give my core, my peace, my faith to the control of "them."  From so many directions, the onslaught has come. It simply has to be cosmic because unrelated, as far as I can tell, people and events bear down upon us, wave after wave. So many promises of "it" being over come and go with no changes apparent.

But I notice some cracks in my resolve. I am not as patient as I once was. I am more emotional. I am not as optimistic. I am not as patriotic. I am more shaky.

I am still participating in life's projects and giving to others as best I can. Yet, I wonder how long can I hold on under the testing or challenge or whatever it is that is going on. But then, what else can I do? When the earthly powers that be hold you in their cross hairs, what are one's options?

So I sit in the Holiday Inn, doing the best I can. I think of so many with even more to deal with. I think of projects that can  be of big help to others, and that we can do once this is over and our finances and life are set free. I think of going home once again, of unpacking our treasures and organizing my sewing studio. I realize the one thing I can do to get there is to pray. I am One with God, which is more important than having control over the earthly tormentors. So I recall Paul's words, this too shall pass.

I cherish Your Presence in my life, for I know You are with me. I ask for Your Guidance to lead us out of this long valley. You are greater than all of the challenges, all of the earthly powers. Give us the insight to know what to do to become free of these false and bizarre restraints. Lead us to freedom. Lead us home.

Working Backwards

More insights keep coming to me regarding the conversation I mentioned yesterday regarding a call on my birthday, March 30. The person also called another relative and reported to her with vehemence that I had said things to him I had not said. And of course related his upset in general. He is extremely attached to his point of view.

I got to thinking about how the great enlightened ones and the great writings indicate the necessity of arriving at non-attachment. I think it is also part of the unconditional, agape love that is called for. From my experience and study, I know that an enlightened person is loving, empathetic, compassionate and also non-attached.

Non attachment does NOT mean not caring. It means, I see you, I observe, I see your journey. Your journey is interesting. I love you, I know God walks with you and you must walk your own path. If you should fall, I will reach out with a helping hand. I care so much about you that I accept you and where you are in the journey. You do not need to change for me.Who you currently are is between you and God, so I will not manipulate you. I care about you, and at the same time I am not attached to some vision of how I want you to be. I love you, period, because who I am is love - it's like Grace. You cannot earn it. It just IS

Let's talk about this for a moment since this is the goal of most spiritual practice. Let's work backwards from the goal to the beginning. We begin with little awareness and develop some degree of it in this lifetime.

Quite a few people are, and have been historically, strongly attached to a box created by a belief system that is very attached, loving only to others in the same box, and does not tolerate any deviation from its ideology. The filters often then distort incoming information through the twisted lenses of the particular ideology. Things have to fit to what is believed and cannot be seen and understood as they are. This can be true of groups and individuals.

When we arrive at non-attachment, we are aware and observant but not manipulative and judgmental. Our peace of mind is not attached to the other behaving a certain way. If others are abusive, we don't have to play the game with them. Their behavior is their current behavior and there is no thought of paying the price of peace of mind because of it. We can take effective action to prevent them from creating harm, or remove ourselves from their reach, and yet we love. Sometimes the most loving thing to do is let them go to hit bottom and find their own repentance. Sometimes we have to intervene to prevent great harm - as with terrorism, fascism, or most any "ism."

Wherever we are on this journey, let us remember we walk each moment in The Presence of God. Our goal is to be awake in The Presence and therefore non attached/loving through and through. We are accountable to The Presence that is so incredibly Infinite that no box can contain It. We can commune with God, be aware and awake in God, but we cannot put God into words or ideologies or anything that has limits. Jesus came closest when he said, "God is Love (Agape, unconditional)."

Muddy Mind

Yesterday I spoke with a dear person who is still railing about things from years ago, and is upset about a number of things in a sort of rage. I felt so sad that he could not seem to hear himself. He seemed to have no thought to how his anger and arrogance were affecting me and others. The love-filled and forgiveness themes of the Lord he says he follows seemed far away. He didn't see the irony of acting in a way opposite of his worship.

This morning I thought of years of meditation, contemplation, prayer and studies with a huge variety of spiritual points of view and saw a glass of muddy water. One of my early teachers told me that the muddy mind is made up of accumulated emotions, thoughts, false interpretations of events, judgments of others, resentments, etc. The job of spiritual practice is to clear out the mud so that clear water is present. This is done one drop of clear water at a time - and over time one forgiveness, one hour of meditation, one prayer, etc. all add up to displace the mud and clear the mind and heart, preparing for actually knowing God and living in Oneness.

It is my belief that deep in all souls, even the most troubled souls, is a profound yearning to be at Peace in the Light of God, to live aware of The Presence, to walk with Guidance. I am sad that many either refuse to do the spiritual practices needed to clear away the inner "mud" or don't even know that there are practices that can lead to wholeness.

It is my wish, my prayer, that all with any, even a smidgen, of "mud" in minds or hearts today begin the practices that lead to a genuine spiritual life walked awake in The Presence. Because my heart is heavy for those in darkness, I see there is much more work for me to do too.

Thank You for the lesson of yesterday and the insight this morning. I come to You this day for Your Guidance on what I must do to see more clearly. Lead me to what I must do to remove any lingering "mud" and to be an avenue of healing for others also waking to the need to clear out all that obscures Your Presence. Here I am Lord, lead me.

I'm Confused

Okay, so life doesn't have to conform to my ideals, but something extremely unusual is going on from the vantage point of my collective years on this planet.

Yesterday I read that only 18% of Americans under the age of 60 attend church and less than 50% believe in God. Alarming. Under the age of 60!!! How do people get a chance to know the Presence and the great words of those who have gone before into the amazing experience of Oneness? How do ethics and morals get ingrained?  What kind of people are developing without a spiritual rudder I wondered.

Well the very next thing that caught my attention was students at Emory University so threatened by seeing chalk words on concrete that said "Trump 2016," that they HAD to have counseling. The university president reinforced this nonsense. Really. Give me a break. What a con. If our youth are really that weak, we're in huge danger as a society.

Then I heard a couple of young men talk about how the young are brainwashed to believe that any point of view different from the far left has to be shut down. The professors teach and insist on this brainwashing, Apparently the parents either don't know it is going on, don't care or are afraid to challenge it and are likely not part of the 18% who do make it to church. What happened to debating societies, to critical thinking, how about the First Amendment?

Then I look sorrowfully at our election process going on right now. Stories of caucuses in some states where all kinds of ballots were passed around, one man saying he had 50 in his hand, candidates who are 3rd grade boys fighting on the playground, socialists and communists and the decent either out or at the bottom of the polls.

What's to become of us? Is it too late? The Roman Empire fell in the 400's due to barbarians at the gates that were ignored. To add to the above lament, we too have barbarians at the gates and our border guards are ordered to stand down by a president who said today that there is no big difference between capitalism and communism and thinks terrorism is a crime problem, and oh yes protects Islam and lets Christians be the object of genocide without complaint.

It seems to me, an awful lot of us will have to wake up and stand up right away to save our Western way of life, our freedoms and our spiritual heritage. If you are reading this, I pray you will be one who does take a stand.

Perennial Philosophy

I'm re-reading "The Perennial Philosophy," and I'm struck by the beginning where he discusses the similar conclusions reached across the ages. He says "the great fact of God as the First Mover of a universe which partakes of His divinity has always been recognized."

He says, "In India the scriptures were regarded, not as revelations made at some given moment of history, but as eternal gospels, existent from everlasting to everlasting."

It made me think of a workshop I used to do where I had assembled quotes on various subjects such as love, oneness, wisdom, etc. from some of the main religions and some of the mystics. I found that across all lines and ages, the words about any given topic were so similar that anyone of the people could have said any of the statements. I had found on my own the existence of a Perennial Philosophy. I put some of these quotes into my book, "Our Spiritual Ancestors Speak to Us Today."

This makes me wonder how this can be. How can ancients know the same thing as enlightened people in the modern world? I came to the conclusion that within each of us is a connection to God that when opened speaks the same sentiments. It lives in us.

My beloved Meister Eckhart said, To gauge the soul we must gauge it with God, for the Ground of God and the Ground of the Soul are one and the same.

At the soul level there is total Oneness. God and I are One. My soul is from the same ground as God. Awakening to know and truly know this, opens the door to the eternal gospels written by the hand of God everywhere. The Universe is waiting for us to turn and open and receive, then share the Light written as if by lightening deep within each of us. The awakening that awaits is a deep turning and transformation, us made new.

Lord of all ages, all centuries, all people, Lord of my depths, lead me to that deep awakening that transforms my life into being a true Light Bearer of Your Eternal Gospels.