For Sunday July 31st, 2016

Hello everyone, here's a quote from Edgar Cayce - "Unless each soul entity makes the world better, that corner or place of the world a little better, a little bit more hopeful, a little bit more patient, showing a little more of brotherly love, a little more of kindness, a little more of long suffering – by the very words and deeds of the entity, the life is a failure; especially so far as growth is concerned. Though you gain the whole world, how little ye must think of thyself if ye lose the purpose for which the soul entered this particular sojourn."

May we sit for the honest exploration of ourselves and our motives in our lives. May we sit for the betterment of ourselves. May we sit for the betterment of all with whom we interact. 

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday July 24th, 2016

Hello everyone, political seasons have a tendency to lean our society toward being drunk on emotion. In our desire to possess and control political outcomes maturity and balance, i.e. humility, the key to emotional sobriety, gets lost.

So our current situation is to be drowning in information, gorging on emotional rhetoric – and starving for wisdom.

Therefore, may we sit this evening for what may be termed as 'love outgoing' or 'loving outwardly' no matter what the end result may be. May we petition God for divine guidance. May divine will be done for all.

Humbly thankful for each of you,

Richard

Addendum for Sunday July 17th, 2016

Hello everyone, it seems one doesn't know in which direction to pray sometimes, with a political convention coming up and shootings happening at an alarming rate. Still, cry if you must - then pray - then act, as in the ancient decree, "Love one another." 

In difficult times can you find the true depth of, "Be the change you want to see in the world"?

In Reverence,

Richard

Lifetime happiness, a TEDx talk

Hello all, Barbara Whitfield just sent this out and I thought I'd pass it along. I found it quite beautiful.

https://youtu.be/8KkKuTCFvzI

For Sunday July 17th, 2016

Hello everyone, the recent killings of black people at traffic stops; white cops at a peaceful march; and party-goers in Nice, France bring to mind a comment from Tom Sawyer, who was the inspiration for this list. He had been talking about a book, "The Works of Invisible Helpers" by Amber Marie Tuttle. The book details incidences of disembodied entities, or invisible helpers as she calls them, coming to the aid of living humans. 

The psychic interventions she describes by these invisible helpers are surprising, loving and numerous. If you read the book you need to make some concessions for her rural, agrarian background but Tom validated the instances and championed her loving, sensitive abilities. 

So where's the connection? After a lengthy talk about the book Tom gave one last, brief comment, "Now is the time for 'visible helpers' to be at work."

The implication being; there are people living today who have the potential to do the same work. 

May we sit this Sunday for Nothing. May we release all thoughts, emotions, reactions, and beliefs. May we simply Be. And may God's will be done.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday July10th, 2016

Hello everyone, while overall violence in the world has decreased, awareness of and outrage over violence has increased. It may be that we are slowly, quietly becoming more peaceful and tolerant, which makes the violence feel more distressing than it used to. 

Meanwhile, media has found there's a lot of money to be made in sensationalism and constantly throwing events up for exposure. Are we outraged, distressed, and saddened over events? Certainly. But we ought not give up on ourselves as a community of humans.

As the mother of children's television icon Mr. Rogers told him when he was a child himself, "Whenever something bad happens - look for the helpers." Sadly, there are lost souls who commit terrible things but, beautifully, there are many, many more who are helpers who jump in to assist. They are the true measure of humanity.

May we sit this Sunday in appreciation for the helpers. May we give love to those who are lost. May all come together as One.

Reverently submitted,

Richard

For Sunday July 3rd, 2016

Hello everyone, as has been said many times - we are powerful beings. A desire of knowledge inherently creates its own vortex and therefore becomes whatever it is which fulfills the desire. 

Today, much of humanity is deeply involved with material desires. And, since the universe obliges selfish desires as easily as it does spiritual ones, and we carry the responsibility for them, it behooves us to view our desires with great wisdom. 

May we sit this Sunday for that quiet little voice of truth which speaks within. May we discern our innermost desires. May we find them to be aligned with the highest good for all.

Thank you,

Richard