Today we were at a church district meeting. People were discussing, at one point, conferences of the past, memories, fond and not so fond.
There arose in me the sweetness of spiritual gatherings I was blessed to experience over the years, and I saw how each wonderful moment is a grain representing itself in my core.
They join together to strengthen my walk, but they also maintain their own distinctive meaning. From camps of my youth, churches, Asilomar, workshops around the world - the faces are present, echoes of music dance in my soul, prayers, tears, laughter, ah ha moments - live in me. I've not lost them; they are not long gone. They each are a precious part of me.
And I humbly hope in whatever way I have touched others, I live as a little grain in them as they do in me. The millions of moments of our lives walk with us.
Thank You, God, for the gift of each moment, each person, each joy and each difficult lesson. Through it all, it is You present, my Guide, my Love.
Saturday, May 5, 2018
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Tolstoy and Love
I'm fascinated by the ideas of Leo Tolstoy in his little book, The Kingdom of God Is Within You. He shares a number of mind-stretching ideas.
One concept I'm rolling around in my head involves his ideas around the misunderstanding of Christianity. The rational man thinks that all that is needed is moral ethics, so throw God and Christianity in the trashbin of discarded superstitions. Partly this is in the line of reasoning that says humans can, without religion, expand love to ever larger groupings from self to family to village to nation and on to the abstract idea of humanity. History belies this, however.
Partly this is based on the mistaken idea that Christianity is just a bunch of rules, myths, control techniques, the bureaucracy of the church, etc. (Christianity as an organization may be those things, but Christ is not.) Partly it is based on the idea all we need is communism, socialism or some other ism. Partly it is based on the mistaken idea that being a Christian does not require any changes in thought, word or deed.
But, if we go back to Christ, we see love, deep inner kingdom Love. We see that being a follower of The Way is profoundly transformative. We are made New. We love because within is the Seed of God and so it is our nature to love. Our love is inclusive. We love life. We love earth. We love God. As Paul said the Christ within is the hope of glory. We need to step into the awareness that was Christ's and live from the kingdom of God within us.
God within my soul, lead me to Your inner kingdom. Lead me to be a flowing fountain of your Love. Transform me into Your very own.
One concept I'm rolling around in my head involves his ideas around the misunderstanding of Christianity. The rational man thinks that all that is needed is moral ethics, so throw God and Christianity in the trashbin of discarded superstitions. Partly this is in the line of reasoning that says humans can, without religion, expand love to ever larger groupings from self to family to village to nation and on to the abstract idea of humanity. History belies this, however.
Partly this is based on the mistaken idea that Christianity is just a bunch of rules, myths, control techniques, the bureaucracy of the church, etc. (Christianity as an organization may be those things, but Christ is not.) Partly it is based on the idea all we need is communism, socialism or some other ism. Partly it is based on the mistaken idea that being a Christian does not require any changes in thought, word or deed.
But, if we go back to Christ, we see love, deep inner kingdom Love. We see that being a follower of The Way is profoundly transformative. We are made New. We love because within is the Seed of God and so it is our nature to love. Our love is inclusive. We love life. We love earth. We love God. As Paul said the Christ within is the hope of glory. We need to step into the awareness that was Christ's and live from the kingdom of God within us.
God within my soul, lead me to Your inner kingdom. Lead me to be a flowing fountain of your Love. Transform me into Your very own.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Signs of Death
It's another quick thought day. I'm off to teach dyeing, fabric that is. Sharing this with a friend yesterday, her mind jumped to the end of this life, and then she began laughing at the idea I was teaching how to die. That led me to ponder some thoughts on this. How similar in many ways are our entrance and our exit. And maybe there is a need to prepare for our exit.
When we enter this life, our grand entrance is various - early, late, breech, head first, slow labor, quick labor, etc. When we leave earth, that process is also various.
The mother is usually notified of the birth process by pain, water bursting or surgery date. Having been with many at their passing, I know quite a few had an intuition that such a day was near, even if there did not seem to be any physical signs. It's rather like we have an inkling about our expiration date.
One way to consider this the death process is to view it in some way similar to birth, but in reverse. The labor of Death includes a wide variety, from pain to timing. We are also in death going through a birth process into the next dimension. Some slip easily through the tunnel of Light. Some resist mightily. There is a time for each of us to exit here and go there, to the next phase of life eternal. I wish for us, whenever that time comes, we can leave here and enter there gracefully and consciously.
So off to dyeing fabric as thoughts of dying swirl around.
Have a great, blessed day.
When we enter this life, our grand entrance is various - early, late, breech, head first, slow labor, quick labor, etc. When we leave earth, that process is also various.
The mother is usually notified of the birth process by pain, water bursting or surgery date. Having been with many at their passing, I know quite a few had an intuition that such a day was near, even if there did not seem to be any physical signs. It's rather like we have an inkling about our expiration date.
One way to consider this the death process is to view it in some way similar to birth, but in reverse. The labor of Death includes a wide variety, from pain to timing. We are also in death going through a birth process into the next dimension. Some slip easily through the tunnel of Light. Some resist mightily. There is a time for each of us to exit here and go there, to the next phase of life eternal. I wish for us, whenever that time comes, we can leave here and enter there gracefully and consciously.
So off to dyeing fabric as thoughts of dying swirl around.
Have a great, blessed day.
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Wits End
Just a quick thought.
When one feels rock bottom, at wits end, cornered, what then?
The depth of one's character is on display at such a time. Is it rising above, slogging on overcoming; or is it curling in the corner of defeat?
Perhaps everyone has the opportunity to test one's metal at least once in each lifetime.
Lord make us victors of such time.
When one feels rock bottom, at wits end, cornered, what then?
The depth of one's character is on display at such a time. Is it rising above, slogging on overcoming; or is it curling in the corner of defeat?
Perhaps everyone has the opportunity to test one's metal at least once in each lifetime.
Lord make us victors of such time.
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Questing
Many decades ago I came to realize that Infinite Intelligence would not, could not, be offended by my questions or by me seeking higher understanding.
When I was a freshman in college, I read books that made it clear to me that men had made up religion, and their understandings were flawed not only because of their incomplete knowledge, at times also because of control and power issues, but also in many cases they were simply parroting what had been said by others with no critical analysis whatsoever. I realized this was further complicated by translation problems and the inability to understand cultures and ways of those long ago people about whom the stories are told. This is not to disparage those scattered mystical Lights that pop up in the flow of time. The mystics were filled with gnosis and left us hints of the paths to explore. I have been given immeasurable aid by many such as: Hildebrand von Bingen, Meister Eckhart, Jacob Boehm, Brother Lawrence, Mechtild of Magdeburg, Julian of Norwich and many more. And I've been assisted by early ones like Lao Tse, later ones like Thomas Kelly, scholars like Crossan, Borg, Fox, Rohr and hundreds of great and challenging thinkers.
My quest has led me to a rather Gnostic place. I want to know God, not just what others have said about God. I walk a path that is more about interiority than it is about the exterior. And I endeavor to urge others to the gnosis of all things spiritual.
It came to my attention yesterday that it makes a newer person to this path a bit queasy. All the surities are no longer sure. The solid beliefs are just beliefs. The search to know, to know inside and personally is exciting, yet it comes with a tinge of fear. Once begun, the quest will not be ignored. It calls us in profound ways.
I urge you to seek onward, courageous in your quaking heart, yet dedicated to KNOWING. I can promise you it is worth it. Bless you dear friend.
When I was a freshman in college, I read books that made it clear to me that men had made up religion, and their understandings were flawed not only because of their incomplete knowledge, at times also because of control and power issues, but also in many cases they were simply parroting what had been said by others with no critical analysis whatsoever. I realized this was further complicated by translation problems and the inability to understand cultures and ways of those long ago people about whom the stories are told. This is not to disparage those scattered mystical Lights that pop up in the flow of time. The mystics were filled with gnosis and left us hints of the paths to explore. I have been given immeasurable aid by many such as: Hildebrand von Bingen, Meister Eckhart, Jacob Boehm, Brother Lawrence, Mechtild of Magdeburg, Julian of Norwich and many more. And I've been assisted by early ones like Lao Tse, later ones like Thomas Kelly, scholars like Crossan, Borg, Fox, Rohr and hundreds of great and challenging thinkers.
My quest has led me to a rather Gnostic place. I want to know God, not just what others have said about God. I walk a path that is more about interiority than it is about the exterior. And I endeavor to urge others to the gnosis of all things spiritual.
It came to my attention yesterday that it makes a newer person to this path a bit queasy. All the surities are no longer sure. The solid beliefs are just beliefs. The search to know, to know inside and personally is exciting, yet it comes with a tinge of fear. Once begun, the quest will not be ignored. It calls us in profound ways.
I urge you to seek onward, courageous in your quaking heart, yet dedicated to KNOWING. I can promise you it is worth it. Bless you dear friend.
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Knowing - Gnosis
I have come to believe, actually know, that there is an interior space in us all that is an unbreakable connection to the Divine. At the center, the core, of us all is what I call the Temple in the soul.
This is rarely taught, especially after history's turn to the rational, scientific worldview. Most religions teach rules and symbols that imprison the inner Temple so that faith in what they say replaces knowing. Yet a smidgen of knowing creeps through. Who has not said, after making a poor choice, "I knew I shouldn't have done that?" Who has not had moments of intuition and inspiration that seem to come from nowhere? Our gnosis cannot be completely shut out.
Joaquino da Fiore, in the middle ages, predicted that the age of the Son had superseded the age of the Father, and it would be superseded by the age of the Holy Spirit. A hint about what that would mean could be found in other words for the same thing - Comforter, Guide, that which Jesus told us he would send to us to lead us to do greater things, etc. I hope he was correct and we can find our way there.
I propose that in our inner Temple there is a direct connection to Holy Spirit. Part of our quest then is to find a way to that inner holy spot, to listen, to surrender to the Greater, and in the great paradox find ourselves and our freedom, freedom from the mass psychosis of the world and outer forces.
There a sort of insane frenzy that overtakes groups of people. We can see it in history. From Nazis to Hannibal to Pol Pot, wars, invasions, tortures, burnings and hangings. Religions, power greed, insane leaders who shout from their egos lead cultures off cliffs into ugly and evil times. When we cut off connection to Holy Spirit, we humans follow the loudest voice and their rules.
I have heard soldiers, death camp guards, and machete wielding killers later express remorse and say that they knew it was wrong, but got caught up in the frenzy. In our own ways, maybe not that extreme, we get caught up in the world's insanity. We let "news" or politics or some orator lead us astray from our quest to be free and awake spiritually. The Holy Spirit then becomes a faint Voice, shouted down by the voices of the darkness.
I see humanity treading on dangerous ground right now. We have it in our power, because of the devastating weapons we have created, to end history, to end humanity, to end most or all life on earth. I think our salvation from ourselves involves leaping into the Age of the Holy Spirit. Leap with me.
This is rarely taught, especially after history's turn to the rational, scientific worldview. Most religions teach rules and symbols that imprison the inner Temple so that faith in what they say replaces knowing. Yet a smidgen of knowing creeps through. Who has not said, after making a poor choice, "I knew I shouldn't have done that?" Who has not had moments of intuition and inspiration that seem to come from nowhere? Our gnosis cannot be completely shut out.
Joaquino da Fiore, in the middle ages, predicted that the age of the Son had superseded the age of the Father, and it would be superseded by the age of the Holy Spirit. A hint about what that would mean could be found in other words for the same thing - Comforter, Guide, that which Jesus told us he would send to us to lead us to do greater things, etc. I hope he was correct and we can find our way there.
I propose that in our inner Temple there is a direct connection to Holy Spirit. Part of our quest then is to find a way to that inner holy spot, to listen, to surrender to the Greater, and in the great paradox find ourselves and our freedom, freedom from the mass psychosis of the world and outer forces.
There a sort of insane frenzy that overtakes groups of people. We can see it in history. From Nazis to Hannibal to Pol Pot, wars, invasions, tortures, burnings and hangings. Religions, power greed, insane leaders who shout from their egos lead cultures off cliffs into ugly and evil times. When we cut off connection to Holy Spirit, we humans follow the loudest voice and their rules.
I have heard soldiers, death camp guards, and machete wielding killers later express remorse and say that they knew it was wrong, but got caught up in the frenzy. In our own ways, maybe not that extreme, we get caught up in the world's insanity. We let "news" or politics or some orator lead us astray from our quest to be free and awake spiritually. The Holy Spirit then becomes a faint Voice, shouted down by the voices of the darkness.
I see humanity treading on dangerous ground right now. We have it in our power, because of the devastating weapons we have created, to end history, to end humanity, to end most or all life on earth. I think our salvation from ourselves involves leaping into the Age of the Holy Spirit. Leap with me.
Monday, April 16, 2018
Spiritual Growth, Enlightenment, Spiritual Awakening...
I've been giving a lot of thought to my spiritual growth and to spiritual growth in general. I ponder the why of the seemingly small attention to this, when it is in my mind of vital importance not only to the quality of life here and now, but also to our ongoing journey. There seem to be several groupings in regard to this.
There are the already decided, sometimes called fundamentalists, although they really do not go back to the fundamentals of the beginnings of whatever religion they observe. This group sees no need for growth, because their belief is firmly set. They react, sometimes violently, to those who see anything beyond.
There are are post-Enlightenment people who have given ultimate understanding to science. They throw out the great myths and their deeper meaning simply because they have been proven to not be possible scientifically --- a woman made pregnant by a white elephant's trunk piercing her side,the entire world under water, a sea parted, a woman made pregnant by the Holy Spirit, etc.
There are those who are just exhausted by all of this and just throw up their hands. They decide all one needs is to be kind and moral, or to fight everyone, or to worship celebrity, or to make sports their religion, etc.
Yet, I am certain that a spiritual yearning calls from the depths of each and every person.
I'm working on a program to include the whole person to be engaged in the more of life, of Life. Body, Mind and Spirit there are things to do to open to the Great Mystery. I'll just give a bare bones idea of this right now:
There are the already decided, sometimes called fundamentalists, although they really do not go back to the fundamentals of the beginnings of whatever religion they observe. This group sees no need for growth, because their belief is firmly set. They react, sometimes violently, to those who see anything beyond.
There are are post-Enlightenment people who have given ultimate understanding to science. They throw out the great myths and their deeper meaning simply because they have been proven to not be possible scientifically --- a woman made pregnant by a white elephant's trunk piercing her side,the entire world under water, a sea parted, a woman made pregnant by the Holy Spirit, etc.
There are those who are just exhausted by all of this and just throw up their hands. They decide all one needs is to be kind and moral, or to fight everyone, or to worship celebrity, or to make sports their religion, etc.
Yet, I am certain that a spiritual yearning calls from the depths of each and every person.
I'm working on a program to include the whole person to be engaged in the more of life, of Life. Body, Mind and Spirit there are things to do to open to the Great Mystery. I'll just give a bare bones idea of this right now:
- Body - Take care of it. You need it to walk around earth. Appreciate it. Feed it healthy foods. Take it for a walk. Love it.
- Mind - Feed it too. Read new ideas. Stretch it with deep thinkers. Learn to meditate and calm the restlessness it otherwise exhibits. Deal with the shadows. Heal with forgiveness and facing fears and false beliefs that once seemed true, but are not. The child made many decisions with limited input that still pop up from the subconscious. Relish your amazing mind.
- Spirit - Meditate every day. Take a deep breath. Study the great Masters, Saints, thinkers of all religions. Journal. Realize that most of our beliefs come from our culture and families and we would have different beliefs if we were born elsewhere with different families. Examine, ponder, contemplate, explore - move into the Infinite, Unlimited Divine One.
Become a spiritual adventurer. Risk going beyond where we are now to open and embrace more. God is All. There is so much to know and experience. Rich clues are strewn about us.
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