For Sunday, July 24th, 2011

Hello, all the great religions of the world, and all the great prophets, point to the same thing. Though their teachings have been distorted over time by misunderstanding and misuse, their true directions coincide. This can be seen when one reads or listens with an open mind and a view towards the infinite.

 

As Divinity can be seen in all things when viewed through proper eyes, may we sit this week for those proper eyes and an open mind. May we sit with hearts and hands truly open for the greater Will which may be done.

 

Thank you,

 

Richard

For Sunday, July 17th, 2011

Hello all, as we look around the world we see the results of ourselves, our human yin and yang. The growth process appears very slow. The harshness of the lessons implies the strength of our attachments to our frailties.

 

Here in 2011 we poison the land long-term in trade for immediate money. We put far more time and energy into war than into reconciliation. And massive drug trades deplete lives while fueling nations.

 

Yet still, the beauty that is humanity's promise continues to shine through, often on an individual basis. There are hundreds of thousands of people reaching out to others in some form of service. There are innumerable prayer groups with their understanding of spirituality. And there are still great teachers who continue to inspire us.

 

May we sit this Sunday for the beauty we all imbue. May we sit for the beauty of being given the opportunity to learn the lessons. May we sit for each other in this sojourn on this Earth.

 

Thank you,

 

Richard

For Sunday, July 10th, 2011

Hello all, school children are graded on their ability to cooperate with others in group projects. It is considered to be an essential trait for a healthy adult life. At times, when a soul becomes entangled in self, in small worldly desires and the fleeting satisfactions of material forces, when they are disconnected from service to others in favor of service to power, fame or money, we might then call them lost souls.

May we sit this week for our political process. May our decision makers employ humility, honesty, and concern for the common good in all they do. And may we do so as well.

Thank you,

Richard

Oops, wrong date: For Sunday, July 3rd, 2011

On Sun, Jun 26, 2011 at 12:41 PM, Richard Hughson <loopyrich@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello all, the quiet farming communities of northeastern Pennsylvania are being sorely tested by the intrusion of hydrofracking, with its immediate wealth for some - and uncertain future for all. Temptations are presented, friendships are tested, and the need for wisdom is great. May we petition the Divine to send it's Light down to help people deal well with these new and unfamiliar challenges.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday, July 5th, 2011

Hello all, the quiet farming communities of northeastern Pennsylvania are being sorely tested by the intrusion of hydrofracking, with its immediate wealth for some - and uncertain future for all. Temptations are presented, friendships are tested, and the need for wisdom is great. May we petition the Divine to send it's Light down to help people deal well with these new and unfamiliar challenges.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday, June 26th, 2011

Hello all, taking time to care for ourselves is an important part of doing well in the world. As the world runs along with it's challenges and situations the concept of 'wrapping ourselves in well-being' can give a welcome break. This week let's take the time to wrap our collective selves in a blanket of spiritual well-being. May we be warmed and rejuvenated as we prepare to bring out our best once again.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday, June 19th, 2011

Hello all, in the book "The Game of God" authors Hancock and Brugger write that God is an all-knowing, unconditionally-loving being which creates the entire physical universe from a small part of itself. They suggest God does so in order to experience want, loss, and discovery. With a large case of self-imposed amnesia, and our own experiences to guide us, we are involved in learning Love from the ground up.

 

There are times when we are crushed. There are times when we are ecstatic. Yet all of our lives, the difficulties, the chaos, and the wonderful, each minute and second of our lifetime is intended to be a pathway toward rediscovering the truth of Love and the beauty of our spiritual origin.

 

May we sit this Sunday toward that larger vision, accomplished in minute moments, and applied with loving attention for twenty minutes. May it be a re-focusing, a re-joining, a re-discovery of ourselves and what is truly our best.

 

Thank you,

 

Richard

For Sunday, June 12th, 2011

Hello all, the writings of Sidney Saylor Farr are some of the loveliest you'll see. A case can be made that her histories, cookbooks, and simple local stories helped the town of Berea, Kentucky survive a tornado.

 

The concept of 'spiritual glue' is that it's the actual heartfelt connections between people which assists in mitigating some of the devastation of natural events. Sidney's beautiful writings and lifelong loving treatment of others went a long way towards creating those connections in Berea. On the day of the tornado the worst personal injury was a broken collarbone, and it happened after the tornado had passed.

 

May we sit this Sunday in thanks to her and toward the further forging of connections in our own lives.

 

Thank you,

 

Richard

For Sunday, June 5th, 2011

Hello all, many people wish to improve the world. They try through military might, political power, financial wealth, law making, religious adherence, thoughtful debate, angry diatribe, and even prayer. Each has its time and place.

 

However, one of the interesting concepts put forth in Tom Shadyac's movie "I AM" is that it's our tiniest kindnesses, the "Excuse me", the honest "How are you?", and heartfelt smiles, many of which we don't even recall giving, accumulated over a lifetime, that end up influencing the world most.

This concurs with the reports of many near-death experiencers, as seen and learned in their life reviews.

 

This Sunday may we sit for the compassion, the composure, and the honesty to extend ourselves lovingly to the world in even the smallest manner.

 

Thank you,

 

Richard

For Sunday, May 29th, 2011

Hello all, the new movie "I AM" by Tom Shadyac demonstrates our deep connectedness in a very straight forward, impressive manner. It also makes a strong case for the need for more purposefully loving connections in this troubled world. In other words, our treatment of each other is what the world is made of.

 

Everyone on Earth has the desire for the loving connections which are available. It is our free will attachments to lesser, separative desires that trips us up.

 

This Sunday may we sit for the strength and the courage to make more loving connections in our lives, with our loved ones, with those we pass by, with those we see as opposing us. The bond between us exists already. May we find, in even the tiniest amount, the way toward more purposefully loving bonds.

 

Thank you,

 

Richard

For Sunday, May 22nd, 2011

Hello all, much has been written in history about manifesting of the Infinite into the finite and the fruits thereby produced. It is by these 'fruits of the spirit' that we may recognize, and connect with, the underlying firmament of Love supporting all physical reality.

 

When we encounter fruits which are non-loving, un-caring, disrespectful, divisive, elitist, or un-supporting of the deepest meaning of 'One' it can be viewed as an opportunity to see the depth of need within this world as it is.

 

May we search our responses for our own manifestation of the Infinite. May we find the clearest, the most appropriate concerning individual and situation, the most loving which we may attain.

 

Thank you,

 

Richard

For Sunday, May 15th, 2011

Hello all, one model of human psychology states that initially there exists a desire within a person. At some point, immediately or after some years, there comes a decision to act upon a particular desire. At that point the human brain begins searching for a form of justification for taking the action. After a justification is found, or sometimes even conjured up, the desire is acted upon. There is no proof for this other than personal self-honesty, but that alone can be quite convincing.

Many people talk of 'setting an intention' in life goals, which is done on the conscious thinking level. Yet it may be more beneficial to find the true intention or what is happening at the level of desire, deeper than all justification, to see what is truly driving us.

 

May we sit this evening for that self-honesty, that deep seeing which reveals our desires, in order to see our truest intentions.

 

Thank you,

 

Richard

For Sunday, May 8th, 2011

Hello all, there is so much in this life which we cannot see and so much which we do not know is coming, that it leaves all of our judgements as premature. With that said, all that is sad, bad, and chaotic in the world is either scheduled for our ultimate higher good or incorporated into the goal of our higher good as it occurs. What is left for us is to discern our own paths amidst what appears as turmoil.

 

Whether the turmoil we encounter is internal or external, our own path is key. Paying careful attention to that which resonates for us, is in tune with our higher selves, is essential. As the results of the choices we make teach us to make further choices, we grow.

 

May we sit this Sunday for that growth amidst turmoil, that resonating tone, that illumined path within. May we recognize and follow. May we more suredly fulfill our place in the One.

 

Thank you,

 

Richard