I saw a Facebook posting today from a man listing some of the things he loved. He ended it with, "Love is so cool!" Yeah, baby. Love is so cool!
It's even cooler when we treat it as a verb -- when we "commit random acts of love" during our day. Send somebody an e-mail telling them you love them. Take a moment to pray for all your friends or coworkers, or for the whole world! Drop a card in the mail to someone saying, thanks for being part of my life.
Every single one of these random acts of love is powerful beyond our knowing. Each one is like a stone dropped in a still pond -- it ripples out, and ripples out, and ripples out, touching so many people we can't even know.
Once, years after the incident, someone came up to me and told me something I had said to her -- one of those random acts of love -- had pulled her out of a dark place and reminded her that life was to be lived joyously. I had no idea.
Your act of love will touch one or two people, who will touch one or two people each, who will touch one or two people, and on and on it goes. Love multiplies itself.
And then it finds its way back to you. It may come in ways you would never expect, from sources you don't yet know, but it will find its way back to you in that multiplied state. That's how the Universe works. What we give, from our hearts, with no strings attached, is set free to multiply itself, to work powerfully in the world, and it returns to us. "As ye give, so shall ye be given unto." It's the truth, and it's so cool!
Put it on your Ipod, your Blackberry, your Smartphone -- an appointment to commit a random act of love each day. Love is so cool!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
Jesus Has a Bad Day
I recently had a bad day: one where I forgot about my own inner spaciousness, my own divine nature. I did something that offended some other divine/human beings. I apologized and really delved into my own mistake, because I don't want to do it again. I really, really don't.
Jesus had days like that -- remember the day he cursed the fig tree so that it never bore fruit? He cursed it because it had no figs on it -- even though it was out of season for figs! And of course, he had a meltdown in the temple. Instead of responding to the money-changers with love, he became angry and turned over their tables and raised all sorts of noise and upset.
I think the point of these stories is, regardless of who we are, we have those completely human moments or days when we forget that it is all about love. Even when we are "spiritual leaders" or "fishers of men" we "fall off the pedestal" (which is a very narrow place to stand) and sometimes forget to check our words and actions with our innermost being. If we are very lucky, or if we really do want to expand spiritually, we remember to do it at some point, learn the lessons that always come with these mistakes, and next time we are hungry, angry, lonely or tired, we have a better chance of not reacting from our anger, but instead responding from love.
Can we ask more than that of others? I think we're all doing the best we can at the moment and that when we are open to learning from our mistakes we get a new "best we can" -- we learn to do better than our old "best." That's spiritual growth. Sometimes we do it in public; sometimes we do it only in the privacy of meditation. Whatever way we do it, doing it is the important thing. Isn't that why we are here?
Jesus had days like that -- remember the day he cursed the fig tree so that it never bore fruit? He cursed it because it had no figs on it -- even though it was out of season for figs! And of course, he had a meltdown in the temple. Instead of responding to the money-changers with love, he became angry and turned over their tables and raised all sorts of noise and upset.
I think the point of these stories is, regardless of who we are, we have those completely human moments or days when we forget that it is all about love. Even when we are "spiritual leaders" or "fishers of men" we "fall off the pedestal" (which is a very narrow place to stand) and sometimes forget to check our words and actions with our innermost being. If we are very lucky, or if we really do want to expand spiritually, we remember to do it at some point, learn the lessons that always come with these mistakes, and next time we are hungry, angry, lonely or tired, we have a better chance of not reacting from our anger, but instead responding from love.
Can we ask more than that of others? I think we're all doing the best we can at the moment and that when we are open to learning from our mistakes we get a new "best we can" -- we learn to do better than our old "best." That's spiritual growth. Sometimes we do it in public; sometimes we do it only in the privacy of meditation. Whatever way we do it, doing it is the important thing. Isn't that why we are here?
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Stickin' with Love
I saw today a quote attributed to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: "Today, I'll stick with love. Hate is just too great a burden to bear." What a terrific reminder that hate, divisiveness, anything other than love is a burden.
Ernest Holmes, in one of his sermons by the sea, reminded us to be "for something but against nothing." This is a high ideal, but I have just been reminded by a friend how important it is to aspire to. To be for something means to bring the force of my consciousness, my love, my energies into alignment with and support for what I believe in.
So today, I am FOR love. I am FOR looking for the oneness instead of the separation. I am FOR awe-filled respect for all the forms of God I see around me. I am FOR caring for one and all. I am FOR peace for every form of life on the planet. I am FOR living in such a way that my presence is a boon to the world. I am FOR love. I am FOR love. I am FOR love.
This means I am always willing to learn from everything that crosses my path -- even my own "mental lapses." I am willing to see myself honestly and change my behavior to be in closer alignment with what I truly want for myself and the world. And that means I am for being open and humble enough to apologize and then strive to not have anything further to apologize for.
Ultimately what it means is total freedom -- because there is nothing to hide. There is nothing to clean up after. There is just love.
Ernest Holmes, in one of his sermons by the sea, reminded us to be "for something but against nothing." This is a high ideal, but I have just been reminded by a friend how important it is to aspire to. To be for something means to bring the force of my consciousness, my love, my energies into alignment with and support for what I believe in.
So today, I am FOR love. I am FOR looking for the oneness instead of the separation. I am FOR awe-filled respect for all the forms of God I see around me. I am FOR caring for one and all. I am FOR peace for every form of life on the planet. I am FOR living in such a way that my presence is a boon to the world. I am FOR love. I am FOR love. I am FOR love.
This means I am always willing to learn from everything that crosses my path -- even my own "mental lapses." I am willing to see myself honestly and change my behavior to be in closer alignment with what I truly want for myself and the world. And that means I am for being open and humble enough to apologize and then strive to not have anything further to apologize for.
Ultimately what it means is total freedom -- because there is nothing to hide. There is nothing to clean up after. There is just love.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
It All Counts
This past Sunday in my message I stated that every relationship we have is the way it is because of the way we are -- no exceptions. The message was a demanding one, because it takes courage to face the truth that we create, within our own minds, the state of our relationships.
At the end of my talk, I heard someone whisper, "I'm exhauuuuusted." I wanted to say, "Hey, I understand -- I've been there!" It is exhausting to be vigilant with our thoughts -- but only for a while. It becomes second nature quickly, because it bears so much fruit! It is exhausting to take note of everything we think, say, and do -- but it becomes easier and easier because it delivers our freedom, our "salvation," right into our hands!
So, the good news is, we're 100% responsible for our lives. The "bad" news is, we're 100% responsible for our lives. We're responsible not just for what we say out loud, but for what we think, what we project through non-verbal communication, and what we do.
I read a story recently by a woman who stopped to pump gas on a long trip home. The pump didn't respond to her request to pay inside, with cash. She pressed the button for assistance, and she could see the two employees inside laughing and talking. The pump continued to read "please wait" and no assistance came. Finally, one of the employees stuck her head out and asked if she wanted to pay in cash. The writer squelched her impulse to snap and said yes, but the pump wouldn't respond. The employee walked over, pushed a couple of buttons, and smiling, apologized for the problem. She then wished the customer a great day.
The writer said, "my ego instantly deflated. I was grateful that I hadn't snapped at her for my assumption that she didn't care about me, her customer. I made the assumption that I wasn't being valued, and withheld the tithe of my spirit, the tithe of my thoughts. I had rude thoughts instead. I recognized the thoughts and chose to make my actions kinder and more compassionate. Because I valued the clerk with my actions, she in turn valued me with her words and actions."
It all counts. Our thoughts, our non-verbal communication, our actions, and our words. They all contribute to the kind of relationships -- the kind of life -- we have. They all contribute to the way the universe, including other people, responds to us.
Wonderfully, it all counts -- every time we recognize what we are doing and choose to make our words and actions and thoughts kinder and more compassionate, we move closer to the mountaintop. Every time we see that the other person is acting out of either lack of knowledge or their own inner pain, we move closer to the mountaintop. Every time we lovingly redirect ourselves to take the high road and the higher road, we move closer to the mountaintop.
Yes, it all counts -- and that is freedom!
At the end of my talk, I heard someone whisper, "I'm exhauuuuusted." I wanted to say, "Hey, I understand -- I've been there!" It is exhausting to be vigilant with our thoughts -- but only for a while. It becomes second nature quickly, because it bears so much fruit! It is exhausting to take note of everything we think, say, and do -- but it becomes easier and easier because it delivers our freedom, our "salvation," right into our hands!
So, the good news is, we're 100% responsible for our lives. The "bad" news is, we're 100% responsible for our lives. We're responsible not just for what we say out loud, but for what we think, what we project through non-verbal communication, and what we do.
I read a story recently by a woman who stopped to pump gas on a long trip home. The pump didn't respond to her request to pay inside, with cash. She pressed the button for assistance, and she could see the two employees inside laughing and talking. The pump continued to read "please wait" and no assistance came. Finally, one of the employees stuck her head out and asked if she wanted to pay in cash. The writer squelched her impulse to snap and said yes, but the pump wouldn't respond. The employee walked over, pushed a couple of buttons, and smiling, apologized for the problem. She then wished the customer a great day.
The writer said, "my ego instantly deflated. I was grateful that I hadn't snapped at her for my assumption that she didn't care about me, her customer. I made the assumption that I wasn't being valued, and withheld the tithe of my spirit, the tithe of my thoughts. I had rude thoughts instead. I recognized the thoughts and chose to make my actions kinder and more compassionate. Because I valued the clerk with my actions, she in turn valued me with her words and actions."
It all counts. Our thoughts, our non-verbal communication, our actions, and our words. They all contribute to the kind of relationships -- the kind of life -- we have. They all contribute to the way the universe, including other people, responds to us.
Wonderfully, it all counts -- every time we recognize what we are doing and choose to make our words and actions and thoughts kinder and more compassionate, we move closer to the mountaintop. Every time we see that the other person is acting out of either lack of knowledge or their own inner pain, we move closer to the mountaintop. Every time we lovingly redirect ourselves to take the high road and the higher road, we move closer to the mountaintop.
Yes, it all counts -- and that is freedom!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
The Glory of Human Nature
"The tasks facing us today are enormous, but it is the glory of human nature that there will always be those rare individuals who say, Let there be dangers, let there be difficulties -- whatever it costs, I want to live to the full height of my being, my feet still on the ground but my head crowned with stars." Eknath Easwaran, The Compassionate Universe
I think the first enormous task is to face the fact that we primarily act not from our conscious thought, but from our old habituated thinking patterns -- which are found deep in our psyches, in the "ruts" and "abysses" of our history. There is a very easy way to see what those old patterns are, however. Just look around.
Our own judgments and feelings are perfect mirrors for our own old stuff. For example, if you get defensive in the face of every criticism, realize that it is an old abyss in your deep consciousness that needs to be backfilled. Take every opportunity to breathe deeply, let the criticism flow in and through and out. What happens with the abysses is, they trap everything and we wallow in the resulting sludge! If we let the criticism just flow on through and out of us, it doesn't add to our habit of thinking, wallowing, feeling bad about ourselves and angry at others.
Take every opportunity to see what it is that life is reflecting back to you. It is the quickest way I have found to alert myself to the old habits that can control my behavior and my feelings. Then I can take the discovery into meditation and go deep with it, and then begin to backfill that rut or abyss with love and compassion.
Take affirmative action too -- praise those you are angry at, praise those you judge, thank those who criticize you. That kind of affirmative approach helps form a new habit of thinking and feeling -- one based on loving kindness. When someone really ticks me off, I know it is time to find things to thank them for and praise them for. As soon as I begin, I can feel the relief -- my abdominal muscles and my shoulders relax, the knot in my solar plexus begins to ease, and I can again feel positive about life in general.
Once I begin to face the "dangers and difficulties" within myself -- which are the scariest ones of all -- I feel my head moving toward the stars. I feel my own height increasing, my own power moving through my being. I feel myself infused with energy for another beautiful day of life!
I think the first enormous task is to face the fact that we primarily act not from our conscious thought, but from our old habituated thinking patterns -- which are found deep in our psyches, in the "ruts" and "abysses" of our history. There is a very easy way to see what those old patterns are, however. Just look around.
Our own judgments and feelings are perfect mirrors for our own old stuff. For example, if you get defensive in the face of every criticism, realize that it is an old abyss in your deep consciousness that needs to be backfilled. Take every opportunity to breathe deeply, let the criticism flow in and through and out. What happens with the abysses is, they trap everything and we wallow in the resulting sludge! If we let the criticism just flow on through and out of us, it doesn't add to our habit of thinking, wallowing, feeling bad about ourselves and angry at others.
Take every opportunity to see what it is that life is reflecting back to you. It is the quickest way I have found to alert myself to the old habits that can control my behavior and my feelings. Then I can take the discovery into meditation and go deep with it, and then begin to backfill that rut or abyss with love and compassion.
Take affirmative action too -- praise those you are angry at, praise those you judge, thank those who criticize you. That kind of affirmative approach helps form a new habit of thinking and feeling -- one based on loving kindness. When someone really ticks me off, I know it is time to find things to thank them for and praise them for. As soon as I begin, I can feel the relief -- my abdominal muscles and my shoulders relax, the knot in my solar plexus begins to ease, and I can again feel positive about life in general.
Once I begin to face the "dangers and difficulties" within myself -- which are the scariest ones of all -- I feel my head moving toward the stars. I feel my own height increasing, my own power moving through my being. I feel myself infused with energy for another beautiful day of life!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
On Being a Force of Nature
I have been contemplating Francis of Assisi's famous prayer lately. It begins, "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace . . . ."
While it sounds as though one is talking to a "Lord" who is out there somewhere, a slight change in perspective allows me to speak to the Inner Divine, the force of Life itself. That force is Peace. When I remember that, the whole prayer becomes a very powerful mind-changing "event" for me.
I am asking my Inner Self to change my perspective so that I am an instrument of peace. What does it mean to be an instrument of something? It means that my whole being -- my effort, my thought, my words, my actions, my very feelings -- is dedicated to one thing: peace. It means I am willing to be peace.
There is something monumentally powerful in being an instrument. When I am willing to be the instrument of a higher feeling or force, like peace, it means my life is a trust for something greater. My talents, training, compassion, intelligence, and energy are all focused on bringing peace to my world.
In his wonderful book The Compassionate Universe, Eknath Easwaran writes, that a person who looks upon her entire life as a trust "will never burn out, feel defeated, or get depressed or bored." Now that is quite a statement!
George Bernard Shaw repeats it in a wry and insightful way: "This is the true joy in life: the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, the being thoroughly worn out before you're thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote iself to making you happy."
Well, that sort of brings me up short! It makes me realize that I sometimes act like that "feverish little clod" complaining that the world is not making me happy. How truly fine it is to realize that and to remember what I am: I declare myself to be a force of nature, not waiting around to be made happy, but claiming happiness now. I claim happiness because I claim my life to be a trust for peace and joy, for freedom and faith in something bigger than a feverish little clod.
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Every moment, every day, in every breath.
While it sounds as though one is talking to a "Lord" who is out there somewhere, a slight change in perspective allows me to speak to the Inner Divine, the force of Life itself. That force is Peace. When I remember that, the whole prayer becomes a very powerful mind-changing "event" for me.
I am asking my Inner Self to change my perspective so that I am an instrument of peace. What does it mean to be an instrument of something? It means that my whole being -- my effort, my thought, my words, my actions, my very feelings -- is dedicated to one thing: peace. It means I am willing to be peace.
There is something monumentally powerful in being an instrument. When I am willing to be the instrument of a higher feeling or force, like peace, it means my life is a trust for something greater. My talents, training, compassion, intelligence, and energy are all focused on bringing peace to my world.
In his wonderful book The Compassionate Universe, Eknath Easwaran writes, that a person who looks upon her entire life as a trust "will never burn out, feel defeated, or get depressed or bored." Now that is quite a statement!
George Bernard Shaw repeats it in a wry and insightful way: "This is the true joy in life: the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, the being thoroughly worn out before you're thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote iself to making you happy."
Well, that sort of brings me up short! It makes me realize that I sometimes act like that "feverish little clod" complaining that the world is not making me happy. How truly fine it is to realize that and to remember what I am: I declare myself to be a force of nature, not waiting around to be made happy, but claiming happiness now. I claim happiness because I claim my life to be a trust for peace and joy, for freedom and faith in something bigger than a feverish little clod.
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Every moment, every day, in every breath.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Just change it!
Today I was thinking about the idea that, in order to solve a problem you have to "own" it first. For example, many say that in order to forgive abusive parents, we have to claim the abuse.
I'm not so sure. It is possible that claiming or owning or dwelling in the anger, abuse, frustration, resentment, or other negative emotion justifies more and more self-absorption. Ernest Holmes said it it is simply not necessary to define and resolve the source of our mistaken thinking; what is necessary is to begin to think differently. So if someone has resentment toward his or her parents, it is necessary to pour in thoughts of love and forgiveness. It is not necessary to dwell on the source of the resentment.
If a person is in lack, it is, I think, a mistake to dwell on why the lack exists. Instead, it is important to develop gratitude for all the person does have and to open the mind to the possibility -- the certainty of more. Holmes also reminds us that we don't get what we say we want, we get what we think about all the time. So thinking about the problem, in the guise of "claiming" or "owning" it just perpetuates it.
Instead, think about what you want. Focus your mind's eye on the good result you are bringing into your life. Affirm that it is yours, that you deserve it, and that it is on its way right now.
Have a positive day!
I'm not so sure. It is possible that claiming or owning or dwelling in the anger, abuse, frustration, resentment, or other negative emotion justifies more and more self-absorption. Ernest Holmes said it it is simply not necessary to define and resolve the source of our mistaken thinking; what is necessary is to begin to think differently. So if someone has resentment toward his or her parents, it is necessary to pour in thoughts of love and forgiveness. It is not necessary to dwell on the source of the resentment.
If a person is in lack, it is, I think, a mistake to dwell on why the lack exists. Instead, it is important to develop gratitude for all the person does have and to open the mind to the possibility -- the certainty of more. Holmes also reminds us that we don't get what we say we want, we get what we think about all the time. So thinking about the problem, in the guise of "claiming" or "owning" it just perpetuates it.
Instead, think about what you want. Focus your mind's eye on the good result you are bringing into your life. Affirm that it is yours, that you deserve it, and that it is on its way right now.
Have a positive day!
Monday, June 6, 2011
What's Virtue Anyway?
In a recent article, Sakyong Mipham discussed courage from the standpoint of vision. Having a vision for your life that incorporates our Basic Goodness, our Inner Divinity, creates bravery of a certain kind. The bravery he refers to is the bravery that lets us engage always in virtue.
Some people think being present to life means doing whatever comes up in front of you. That is not enough. We must address whatever comes up in front of us, moment by moment, with virtue. The virtue I am speaking of is not a simple thing; it involves being clear enough to judge quickly what the situation of that moment requires and then doing it. It involves knowing ourselves well enough to be able to see through any deception we might throw onto the "screen" in an attempt to justify something less than virtuous behavior. It involves the strength to act with virtue, to do the right thing, regardless of that deception.
"Deception" is often synonymous with "justification." We justify things like overspending, gluttony, selfishness and self-centeredness all the time, without even knowing it. In fact, we often simply do not even see that we are justifying. That is what we can throw up in front of what is presented. If we act according to our justification, we often take away from ourselves and others. That is not virtue; virtue means looking at the situation with clarity and wisdom.
"Virtue" is not something we can glean from a list of terms, although such lists can help us in the beginning to identify certain virtuous actions. Virtue means being true to our inner nature -- the Divine that each of us truly is. It means acting as if we truly ARE the Presence of Spirit on earth.
While the Divine is unknowable, there are certain things we can be sure of: God/Spirit/Universal Intelligence is rooted in Life and Love; therefore any action that takes away Life from another, or from ourselves, is not Divine in nature. Any action that is unloving is not Divine in nature. This all gets complicated in situations where we have to quickly balance the consequences: for example, if we see a bus heading for an elderly person and a child, and we can only push one out of the way, which do we choose?
This kind of decision making is always an individual matter -- based upon our knowledge of our self and our Self and the clarity we gain from our spiritual practice. Any time we act from our Inner Goodness, our True Self, we will act with virtue and wisdom.
This is why spiritual practice is so important -- it is what lets us know ourselves thoroughly and be able to anticipate the justifications and deceptions we carry around with us. It is what lets us experience our Basic Goodness. And once we get a taste of that inner truth, virtue becomes our very nature.
Blessings!
Some people think being present to life means doing whatever comes up in front of you. That is not enough. We must address whatever comes up in front of us, moment by moment, with virtue. The virtue I am speaking of is not a simple thing; it involves being clear enough to judge quickly what the situation of that moment requires and then doing it. It involves knowing ourselves well enough to be able to see through any deception we might throw onto the "screen" in an attempt to justify something less than virtuous behavior. It involves the strength to act with virtue, to do the right thing, regardless of that deception.
"Deception" is often synonymous with "justification." We justify things like overspending, gluttony, selfishness and self-centeredness all the time, without even knowing it. In fact, we often simply do not even see that we are justifying. That is what we can throw up in front of what is presented. If we act according to our justification, we often take away from ourselves and others. That is not virtue; virtue means looking at the situation with clarity and wisdom.
"Virtue" is not something we can glean from a list of terms, although such lists can help us in the beginning to identify certain virtuous actions. Virtue means being true to our inner nature -- the Divine that each of us truly is. It means acting as if we truly ARE the Presence of Spirit on earth.
While the Divine is unknowable, there are certain things we can be sure of: God/Spirit/Universal Intelligence is rooted in Life and Love; therefore any action that takes away Life from another, or from ourselves, is not Divine in nature. Any action that is unloving is not Divine in nature. This all gets complicated in situations where we have to quickly balance the consequences: for example, if we see a bus heading for an elderly person and a child, and we can only push one out of the way, which do we choose?
This kind of decision making is always an individual matter -- based upon our knowledge of our self and our Self and the clarity we gain from our spiritual practice. Any time we act from our Inner Goodness, our True Self, we will act with virtue and wisdom.
This is why spiritual practice is so important -- it is what lets us know ourselves thoroughly and be able to anticipate the justifications and deceptions we carry around with us. It is what lets us experience our Basic Goodness. And once we get a taste of that inner truth, virtue becomes our very nature.
Blessings!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Remembering, remembering
I know I'm late, but I have been thinking about Memorial Day for a week now. For some people it's a day to visit the gravesites or other memorial sites for loved ones they have lost. For others it's a day to honor members of the armed forces killed in action. For some, it's a day to play golf!
I understand honoring the deceased -- I really do. I understand missing them -- and I still miss my dad, especially. And others, of course. I understand the patriotic honoring of those who have been killed in war.
What I don't understand is why it keeps happening with such regularity. Isn't it time to move beyond killing each other over anything? Isn't it time to stop sending our young people, our children, overseas to kill and be killed?
This is not an anti-military post. It is an anti-WAR post. There is a huge difference, in my mind. I hope that someday we will evolve beyond even needing a military, but first we have to evolve beyond killing each other over resources, religion, insults (real or perceived), language, customs, and all the other things we have waged war about.
It's time to remember that we are truly one, that we are truly in charge of our own evolution, and let God/Spirit/the Universe express through us as love. Love. Only love.
Be blessed!
Rev. CC
I understand honoring the deceased -- I really do. I understand missing them -- and I still miss my dad, especially. And others, of course. I understand the patriotic honoring of those who have been killed in war.
What I don't understand is why it keeps happening with such regularity. Isn't it time to move beyond killing each other over anything? Isn't it time to stop sending our young people, our children, overseas to kill and be killed?
This is not an anti-military post. It is an anti-WAR post. There is a huge difference, in my mind. I hope that someday we will evolve beyond even needing a military, but first we have to evolve beyond killing each other over resources, religion, insults (real or perceived), language, customs, and all the other things we have waged war about.
It's time to remember that we are truly one, that we are truly in charge of our own evolution, and let God/Spirit/the Universe express through us as love. Love. Only love.
Be blessed!
Rev. CC
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
God will remember it
This morning, a quote from Frithjof Schuon: "True charity [meaning giving to others] gives nothing without giving inwardly something better: the art of giving requires that to the material gift should be added a gift of the soul: this is to forget the gift after having given it, and this forgetfulness is like a fresh gift. . . . As an old proverb has it, 'Do good and throw it into the sea; if the fish swallow it and man forgets it, God will remember it.'"
This "gift of the soul" is a fresh gift to the one receiving it, but even moreso to the one doing the giving. Whenever we give with an idea of "keeping score" so we can be sure to get back as good as we gave, we tie ourselves up in knots. When we give and then forget the gift, we instantly feel ourselves expanding, like a good breath expands. We feel ourselves becoming lighter and more luminous.
In short, God remembers our gift -- meaning we instantly feel ourselves more in touch with the Divine Presence within. It is so simple -- yet often our first impulse is to note down our gift so we can be sure it really does come back to us.
When we just give and let the gift be, it comes back to us instantly as this "fresh gift." And it comes back later with interest -- because that's the universe's law. As we give (without thought of getting "equivalent value") so shall we receive (freely given by an always-giving God). Let it be so!
This "gift of the soul" is a fresh gift to the one receiving it, but even moreso to the one doing the giving. Whenever we give with an idea of "keeping score" so we can be sure to get back as good as we gave, we tie ourselves up in knots. When we give and then forget the gift, we instantly feel ourselves expanding, like a good breath expands. We feel ourselves becoming lighter and more luminous.
In short, God remembers our gift -- meaning we instantly feel ourselves more in touch with the Divine Presence within. It is so simple -- yet often our first impulse is to note down our gift so we can be sure it really does come back to us.
When we just give and let the gift be, it comes back to us instantly as this "fresh gift." And it comes back later with interest -- because that's the universe's law. As we give (without thought of getting "equivalent value") so shall we receive (freely given by an always-giving God). Let it be so!
Monday, May 9, 2011
What our friends mean to us
I just read a story about an antelope whose best friends were a woodpecker and a turtle. One day a hunter came and set a rope snare, and sure enough the antelope got snared by its back leg. Immediately, his friends sprang into action. The turtle began gnawing at the loop around the antelope's ankle, and the bird flew to the hunter's cottage to delay him from coming to kill the antelope.
The next morning, the hunter came out and immediately the bird flew into his face, flapping its wings. The hunter, thinking this was a bad omen, went inside and went back to bed. Later, he thought, "I'll go out the back door this time." The woodpecker saw him, and again flew into his face, wings flapping. The hunter ran back into his hut, thinking, this bird really doesn't want me to go! Finally, the hunter came out again and just kept walking. So the woodpecker flew very fast, back to his two friends.
The turtle had almost gnawed through the loop - but his beak had broken and he was bloody. As the hunter approached, the antelope leaped, broke the remaining rope, and bounded away. The hunter arrived to find only a beat-up turtle. He picked up the turtle and put it into his bag.
The antelope saw that the turtle had been captured and thought, I must save my friend. So he started to limp and stumble. The hunter saw him, and put the bag down on the ground and started after the antelope. The antelope led the hunter through the woods, far away from the turtle. Then he sneaked away and ran back to the turtle. He picked up the bag on the prongs of his horns and tossed it upward, flinging the turtle out.
The turtle slipped into the river, the woodpecker flew high up in a tree, and the antelope crept silently off into the woods. The hunter returned, to find only an empty bag, some blood on the ground, and a single black feather. He thought, I must hunt again and hope that next time I find prey that does not have so many friends!
The next morning, the hunter came out and immediately the bird flew into his face, flapping its wings. The hunter, thinking this was a bad omen, went inside and went back to bed. Later, he thought, "I'll go out the back door this time." The woodpecker saw him, and again flew into his face, wings flapping. The hunter ran back into his hut, thinking, this bird really doesn't want me to go! Finally, the hunter came out again and just kept walking. So the woodpecker flew very fast, back to his two friends.
The turtle had almost gnawed through the loop - but his beak had broken and he was bloody. As the hunter approached, the antelope leaped, broke the remaining rope, and bounded away. The hunter arrived to find only a beat-up turtle. He picked up the turtle and put it into his bag.
The antelope saw that the turtle had been captured and thought, I must save my friend. So he started to limp and stumble. The hunter saw him, and put the bag down on the ground and started after the antelope. The antelope led the hunter through the woods, far away from the turtle. Then he sneaked away and ran back to the turtle. He picked up the bag on the prongs of his horns and tossed it upward, flinging the turtle out.
The turtle slipped into the river, the woodpecker flew high up in a tree, and the antelope crept silently off into the woods. The hunter returned, to find only an empty bag, some blood on the ground, and a single black feather. He thought, I must hunt again and hope that next time I find prey that does not have so many friends!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Honoring ALL life
I know that some people think animals are just animals -- to be used, eaten, "managed" (a la the wolves in the western US), and farmed for profit. I think they are life forms too close to us to be treated in these ways. If we're going to eat them at least we ought to be humane to them before we do. And we ought to kill them in ways that are not savage and pain-inflicting.
So I rejoiced when I read that the annual baby seal slaughter in Canada only resulted in the "harvest" of 7% of the total number of seals sanctioned to be killed by the Canadian government. The demand for baby seal skins has been reduced, mainly because of the videos that have been taken and shown around the world -- videos of how those skins are "harvested."
The same thing is happening in other areas -- factory farming, fur production, commercial fishing. We are seeing the results of our clamor for cheap eggs, meat and milk, and "luxuries" like fur coats. When we actually see what happens, we lose our appetites for such things.
Why? Because human beings are innately good. They do not want to cause pain and suffering to other life. It is part of our makeup to honor life. Some part of us knows we share it with every other living thing. As we evolve, I believe we will find ways to act humanely in our food production and ultimately reach a balance of living on earth that honors every life, every animal, every plant. We will be more joyful, less guilt-ridden, and more physically healthy as a result.
And that will be a world that works for everyone, because as we evolve we also come to understand that our fellow humans, as well as animals and plants, are one with us -- all of them! We come to know that it is okay for others to have opinions and beliefs that are different than ours. We come to see that all these different faces, opinions, beliefs, and ways of acting are part of the Divine Panoply -- God manifesting itself in every shape and form and way of life.
So I praise every step that is taken in that direction. I am grateful that the seal hunt in Canada is coming to its natural end, forever. I am grateful that we are now seeing the results of factory farming showing up in antibiotic-resistant meat in the store coolers and egg recalls because of salmonella. What we do to them, we do to ourselves. As we learn to be more compassionate we also are more compassionate toward ourselves. As we learn to be more compassionate with ourselves, we are more compassionate with our fellow human beings. We grow more loving and peaceful. And when we do that, the whole world changes!
Blessings and joy,
Rev. CC Coltrain
So I rejoiced when I read that the annual baby seal slaughter in Canada only resulted in the "harvest" of 7% of the total number of seals sanctioned to be killed by the Canadian government. The demand for baby seal skins has been reduced, mainly because of the videos that have been taken and shown around the world -- videos of how those skins are "harvested."
The same thing is happening in other areas -- factory farming, fur production, commercial fishing. We are seeing the results of our clamor for cheap eggs, meat and milk, and "luxuries" like fur coats. When we actually see what happens, we lose our appetites for such things.
Why? Because human beings are innately good. They do not want to cause pain and suffering to other life. It is part of our makeup to honor life. Some part of us knows we share it with every other living thing. As we evolve, I believe we will find ways to act humanely in our food production and ultimately reach a balance of living on earth that honors every life, every animal, every plant. We will be more joyful, less guilt-ridden, and more physically healthy as a result.
And that will be a world that works for everyone, because as we evolve we also come to understand that our fellow humans, as well as animals and plants, are one with us -- all of them! We come to know that it is okay for others to have opinions and beliefs that are different than ours. We come to see that all these different faces, opinions, beliefs, and ways of acting are part of the Divine Panoply -- God manifesting itself in every shape and form and way of life.
So I praise every step that is taken in that direction. I am grateful that the seal hunt in Canada is coming to its natural end, forever. I am grateful that we are now seeing the results of factory farming showing up in antibiotic-resistant meat in the store coolers and egg recalls because of salmonella. What we do to them, we do to ourselves. As we learn to be more compassionate we also are more compassionate toward ourselves. As we learn to be more compassionate with ourselves, we are more compassionate with our fellow human beings. We grow more loving and peaceful. And when we do that, the whole world changes!
Blessings and joy,
Rev. CC Coltrain
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Pattern and Perfection
The title of this blog is "A World That Works." It is my intention to focus on things that help me to create a world that works for everyone, at least in my small corner of the world.
Today I was reading the May "Science of Mind" magazine and found a quote from Ernest Holmes:
"If I . . . can get back to the spiritual reality of my being, I shall be made whole, not because the spiritual reality is pleased with me or that there is a power which will do it for me. Rather, it is because the divine pattern is perfect and when we stand in its light, that which was imperfect disappears."
I love this -- it reminds me that we have the perfect divine pattern within us -- every single one of us. When I stand in its light, perfection appears. I can see it. I know it exists, like the sun still exists at night - it's just on the other side of the planet.
When I remember this, it doesn't matter that the conspiracy theorists are going wild about 9/11, Osama bin Laden, and whatever else they believe involved. It doesn't matter that some are using the death of bin Laden to argue that we should send in more troops and "wipe 'em all out." It doesn't matter that I cannot "fix" the frightened people who come to speak to me about their loved ones, their troubled souls, their fear of death.
All that matters is that, as often as possible, I look from my place in the divine light so that I can see the perfection of the pattern. Then, whatever words I bring are the right words. Whatever attitude I carry to the day is one of peace and love.
Today I invite you to stand in the light of the Divine Pattern. Look at your life from there. See how intricately and beautifully made you are. Know your thread is an essential part of It. You are the Beloved.
Blessed day,
Rev. CC Coltrain
Today I was reading the May "Science of Mind" magazine and found a quote from Ernest Holmes:
"If I . . . can get back to the spiritual reality of my being, I shall be made whole, not because the spiritual reality is pleased with me or that there is a power which will do it for me. Rather, it is because the divine pattern is perfect and when we stand in its light, that which was imperfect disappears."
I love this -- it reminds me that we have the perfect divine pattern within us -- every single one of us. When I stand in its light, perfection appears. I can see it. I know it exists, like the sun still exists at night - it's just on the other side of the planet.
When I remember this, it doesn't matter that the conspiracy theorists are going wild about 9/11, Osama bin Laden, and whatever else they believe involved. It doesn't matter that some are using the death of bin Laden to argue that we should send in more troops and "wipe 'em all out." It doesn't matter that I cannot "fix" the frightened people who come to speak to me about their loved ones, their troubled souls, their fear of death.
All that matters is that, as often as possible, I look from my place in the divine light so that I can see the perfection of the pattern. Then, whatever words I bring are the right words. Whatever attitude I carry to the day is one of peace and love.
Today I invite you to stand in the light of the Divine Pattern. Look at your life from there. See how intricately and beautifully made you are. Know your thread is an essential part of It. You are the Beloved.
Blessed day,
Rev. CC Coltrain
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Life holds you in its hand
I read recently that most people would rather suffer physical pain than experience uncertainty. Amazing, isn't it, when you consider that all of life is uncertain? Being human carries with it all sorts of uncertainties -- about relationships, about jobs, about life itself.
I also ran across this stunning poem by Rainier Maria Rilke:
You mustn't be frightened
if a sadness
rises in front of you,
larger than any you have ever seen;
if an anxiety,
like light and cloud-shadows,
moves over your hands and over
everything you do.
You must realize that something is
happening to you,
that life has not forgotten you,
that it holds you in its hand
and will not let you fall.
This is what the Spirit/Self knows. Life never forgets us, never lets us fall. The Universe is always there, offering us the gift of everything. Fear and anxiety are simply emotions; we do not have to live by them. When we get caught up in them, we actually make them worse. I don't know how many sleepless nights I have spent after a small fear came into my mind and I picked it up and started listening to it. Listening is like feeding the fear - it grows and grows and takes on new shape and new ominousness. If instead I simply say, "Hello, friend," to fear, like I would say it to fondness, it is merely there, sitting quietly, instead of in control.
Learning to befriend our fear is not complicated, but it is difficult. We have been trained to fear our fear! That must be true if we as a society would rather suffer physical pain than uncertainty and its inherent fear. Here's the secret: It's just another feeling. We have feelings all the time. If we just acknowledge that, and let them flow through us while noticing the teaching they bring, then what was fear of fear turns into grace.
Remember, life holds you in its hand. You are the Beloved.
Blessings,
Rev. CC
I also ran across this stunning poem by Rainier Maria Rilke:
You mustn't be frightened
if a sadness
rises in front of you,
larger than any you have ever seen;
if an anxiety,
like light and cloud-shadows,
moves over your hands and over
everything you do.
You must realize that something is
happening to you,
that life has not forgotten you,
that it holds you in its hand
and will not let you fall.
This is what the Spirit/Self knows. Life never forgets us, never lets us fall. The Universe is always there, offering us the gift of everything. Fear and anxiety are simply emotions; we do not have to live by them. When we get caught up in them, we actually make them worse. I don't know how many sleepless nights I have spent after a small fear came into my mind and I picked it up and started listening to it. Listening is like feeding the fear - it grows and grows and takes on new shape and new ominousness. If instead I simply say, "Hello, friend," to fear, like I would say it to fondness, it is merely there, sitting quietly, instead of in control.
Learning to befriend our fear is not complicated, but it is difficult. We have been trained to fear our fear! That must be true if we as a society would rather suffer physical pain than uncertainty and its inherent fear. Here's the secret: It's just another feeling. We have feelings all the time. If we just acknowledge that, and let them flow through us while noticing the teaching they bring, then what was fear of fear turns into grace.
Remember, life holds you in its hand. You are the Beloved.
Blessings,
Rev. CC
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