For Sunday, January 31st

Hello all, in a recent conversation about conflicts between people it was suggested that you imagine your Higher Self and the Higher Self of the one you're in some kind of conflict with. These two Higher Selves might pass each other on a pathway and merely nod to each other, or shake hands, or 'high five' as they pass. This imagery, it was suggested, can be useful in getting us out of our ego-based viewpoints and remind us, we're all here for the experience of physical life.

A quick image like that, practiced often, can be a kind of prayer toward Oneness, the intention being to reach beyond our perceived differences. If we can see from a perspective which is above our current divisions then perhaps we can act more effectively on the level of the divisions.

As Einstein said, "You cannot solve a problem with the same level of thinking that created it."

This Sunday may we sit for that Higher Level, that the connections which exist above be reflected here below.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday, January 24th

Hello all, I was listening to a discussion of the history of money recently. Before there was money people traded and bartered in ways which required some personal interaction. After the invention of coins people could accumulate wealth in an unprecedented manner. Concerns about this led to the spread of the King Midas story, as a teaching tool.

In one of the many versions of the King Midas story the god Dionysus grants the wish of 'golden touch' upon the king not due to any special attributes of Midas but rather because Dionysus knows Midas well. In his kindness and mercy Dionysus allows Midas to learn his lesson in the manner of his own choosing. So by the time Midas had turned his food, his water, and his daughter into lumps of gold his heart was broken enough to be open. That is when Dionysus lovingly removed the spell, but he did not restore the daughter. The past is the past.

The timely endurance of this story may be due to lessons yet unlearned of our own. So, this Sunday may we sit for freedom, for the strength and courage to face ourselves, to release our weaknesses, and to open our hearts to that which truly endures.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday, January 17th

Hello all, as indigenous peoples know so well, the Earth is our home. We are thoroughly entwined with this Big Blue Marble which floats in space, an integral part of it's fauna, physically dependent upon it for life. When it 'does it's thing' tectonically we are involved, and often humbled. We find ourselves somewhere within a giant mixing bowl of chaos, karma, dumb luck and human decisions, and our response is key.

Typically there is a spiritual cleansing after a natural disaster as people reach out to each other in ways they may not have done the day before, neighbor helping neighbor, stranger helping stranger. If you feel called to be of help in some way, donations, physical assistance, prayers, or whatever you find comes to hand, please feel free to follow. For this list let us devote our Sunday time, and whatever other time you feel called to, to the people and land of Haiti. May the Love of God come down for the Highest Good of all, in whatever form that may be.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday, January 10th

Hello all, there was an article in the paper recently about a teacher in Seattle, Washington who teaches a class in thoughtfulness. It warmed me to read it. Here is spirituality on the ground I thought or "The game is afoot" as Sherlock would say, only it's a game of the heart. The game of God. Here is a link to the article:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010604939_kindnessclass27m.html

And to the online class he teaches:

http://onlinekindnessclass.wordpress.com/

This Sunday may we sit for thoughtfulness, from the heart, toward ourselves, toward others, and in the world.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday, January 3rd

Hello all, Mary and I recently heard a lecture by Craig Bullock who runs the Assisi Institute here in Rochester, NY. He was talking about how to come before God. Do you bring your aches, pains and complaints? You might. Do you bring your achievements, accomplishments, awards and medals? You might. Do you bring your family and friends, the number of those who love you? You might. After reviewing all these, in terms of what to bring before God, Craig's comment was, "I got nothing. I got nothing but nothing."

This struck me. It's as fine a description of humility as I've seen. How do you describe that which is a lack of things we typically name? A lack of the things which we often hold dear in our attempts to deal with this world? How do you describe leaving it all behind and just being before God? I don't know a better way.

So this Sunday may we sit for that attempt, to bring 'nothing but nothing' before God.

Thank you,

Richard