For Sunday May 1st, 2016

Hello all, there is a spiritual journey which which is common to us all. It crosses our bumpy landscape of human frailty. Our common dis-eases slow us yet our hearts go out, our prayers go up, and our efforts continue for all concerned. Whether our wishes come to pass or not we find satisfaction in our attempts and intentions. The journey can be slowed but in the end is inescapable. 

This Sunday may we sit for the completion of our journey. May we honor the bridges we build. May we live as though our arrival is today.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday April 17th, 2016

Hello everyone, it doesn't matter what the "ism" may be, conservatism, liberalism, socialism, democrat-ism, republican-ism, or any of the seemingly endless supply of varying ideologues, they are all a product of human thought. And human thought, being a product of material experience and observation, guided by opinions formed in the material world, is necessarily a limited, limiting process. 

We tend to cling tightly to our thinking as if it were our only precious saving grace. Yet, we are actually permeated with and supported by a far greater existence. Our built-in access portal to this existence is through the heart. 

Our compassion for and kindness toward others is our true saving grace in this world. Our ability to connect with compassion and express it to others is unlimited, except by our own thoughts and ideology. 

May we sit this evening for our true saving grace. May we find our hearts and the greater intelligence it offers. May our journey through this world be a blessing to all, and thereby to us.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday April 10th, 2016

Hello to all, for us to rely on thinking to be a guide in life is backwards. The full breadth and depth of spirituality cannot possibly be grasped by thinking. And, as the ancients tell us, thinking is intended to be a supportive function of true guidance, which comes from the heart.

A concept may be logical, well reasoned, and intensely delivered but if your heart doesn't resonate and begin singing it's own song in response, perhaps a second look is in order.

May we sit this evening for our saving grace - our true hearts - to be our guides. May we hear the songs within us and may those songs be expressed through our thoughts, words, and actions.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday April 3rd, 2016

Hello everyone, it's easy to look at the great people and events of history and wonder how to help, how to be of service. We each have our place and our power in this world. When we act from our hearts we fulfill ourselves. When we act from our hearts we fulfill the promise of humanity. Here is a poem by Naomi Shibab Nye;

"I want to be famous in the way

a pulley is famous

or a buttonhole, not because it did

anything spectacular

but because it never forgot

what it could do"

May we sit this evening in gratefulness for all that is done, for each of us, and for being our truest selves.

Thank you,

Richard