For Sunday, March 7th, 2010

Hello all, transitions, personal and global, are seldom smooth. The transition from a materially oriented life, often fraught with fear, to one spiritually based, guided by a loving concern for the wholeness of humanity, is an especially large leap. For those who feel called to assist this process, individually and communally, it can appear quite daunting at times. With the free will of so many different people involved, the many varied cultures on Earth, political instabilities and environmental concerns abounding, we cannot begin to think that we in any sense are causing the transition to happen. We can only be shepherds. Blessedly, we are not alone.

As with raising a child, or reaching out a hand to a friend, we must honor their own pathway even while holding open the door we have found. Whether you write a rambling paragraph (imagine a smile here) or entire book, whether you run for office, pray in silence, smile at a stranger, hug a loved one, or deliver a needed 'finger-shaking at the tip of the nose' lecture, we can still be only shepherds, loving shepherds with great patience.

There is an old Jewish proverb: If you seek to save the world, put your own house in order first. To that I would add: Share the beauty you find along the way, however it comes to hand.

This Sunday may we sit for transitions, for the patience to endure them, the strength to undergo them, the inner beauty to make them shine.

Thank you,

Richard