For Sunday August 2nd, 2015

Hello everyone, looking for serene beauty within extreme difficulties can be daunting, and yet wonderful. When that which is spiritually correct is heart-breaking on a human level, where do we turn? To paraphrase Sir Water Scott, "A willow may survive a storm better than an oak tree." 

In the face of sick and dying children, when hearing incensed orators, or dealing with our own mortality, a calm overview can be helpful. Not that any one thing is specifically right or wrong but can it be weathered with wisdom? 

May we all look within during our times of difficulty. May we take the time. May we find the quiet space. May acceptance accompany good actions. 

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday July 26th, 2015

Hello everyone, the lengthy childhood of human infants drives scientists a little bit batty, in comparison other social animals reach adulthood very quickly. As they busy themselves with evolutionary and reproductive theories perhaps they're missing the point. 

Perhaps, under the heading of 'and a small child shall lead them,' it is us the adults who need the long exposure to spirituality which children naturally bring. Children, having come so recently from spirituality, show us how to see the world through new eyes. They remind us of the joys of wonder. They provide us with giggly love when happy and invite us to reach for empathy when sick or upset. 

May we sit this Sunday for the gifts which children can bring. May we treat each child we meet as a precious piece of the future. May we allow a child to lead us there.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday July 19th, 2015

Hello everyone, as we know, no kindness is ever wasted however small it may be. Even the effect of a simple honest smile, given once, lives on within the receiver of it. 

Here's a thought experiment: Imagine a straight line running from now to far into the future. Now imagine another line starting from the same place but angled just a tiny bit, only half a degree.  In 10, 20, or 30 years the final outcome of those two lines can be far, far apart. 

That's what a simple honest smile can do over the course of a lifetime. You don't know until the end how much change you've actually made with it.

May we sit this Sunday for the smiles we give and share, for laughter which may come, and for the tender lives we touch in loving ways. 

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday July 12th, 2015

Hello all, on this day when Vaughn Boone is 99 years and 1 day old let us look at what a life of service can be. For him, it has included being a singer, musician, ventriloquist, spiritual teacher, etheric surgeon, husband, father, friend and helper to many, many people. It has been an exemplary life, and he is not alone.

A life of service is a mixture of interest and talent infused with compassion, things we all have. If each of us were to follow our interests and use our talents with all the compassion we can muster the world would absolutely change, not only personally but the entire world.

May we sit this evening for this change. May it occur within us, around us, and for us. May it benefit all.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday July 5th, 2015

Hello everyone, we are meant to grow, to move beyond our current selves into the unknown, just as a seed is destined to become a flower, something it has never been.

However, in our righteous desire to connect with the divine, and by the mechanics of our psychology, we often diminish the divine to bring it within our mental grasp. In seeking to connect with the immeasurable, we have defined it in measured terms - and cheated ourselves out of our need to reach and grow. 

May we sit this Sunday for the release of expectations, of what we know, of what we think, of all the known. May a pure and loving spontaneity well up within. May the Divine draw us forward.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday June 28th, 2015

Hello all, this Earthly life is designed to put us into a state of relationship, our inner selves at work in the outer world in such a way that every thought and action tells how we're doing spiritually. 

Then, when we pass from this world, a 'life review' will be a powerful teacher. Taken from the point of view of unconditional Love, with none of the head games which clog our psychological thinking, we will then see ourselves with true clarity.

We need not wait, observing ourselves is available now. May we sit this evening to be aware of our motivations, our intentions, and the effects we have on others. May we see ourselves more clearly than we have before. May we be forgiving of ourselves and others. May we bring forth the Divine within.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday June 21st, 2015

Hello all, as Pope Francis states, our relationship with the Creator is reflected in our relationship to creation. Among many other things this includes the two big P's - individual people and our individual planet. 

Under the heading of 'What you do for the least, you do for me' it's clear to see the application to our treatment of those who live with us now. However, 'the least' also applies to the many generations yet to come and inherit the Earth, of which we currently have stewardship. 

A loving desire to take care of the Earth, our home, is clearly essential. Taking care of the Earth as a future home for those who will come later is the future piece of the puzzle. 

May we sit this Sunday for that desire. May it spread in our hearts. May it spread in the world. May it spread in the hearts and minds of all others.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday June14th, 2015

Hello all, in our humanness we look up to leaders and innovators, those who strive to set the pace and guide the effort. In doing so it's easy to miss the quiet servants, those who attract no attention but are always attentive. 

Both are important in this world. Both have their place and purpose. And it works best when both are servants of the spiritual.

May we sit this Sunday for our own awareness. May we recognize an inner purpose in our efforts. May we be true to our personal callings as we hear them.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday June 7th, 2015

Hello all, in spite of all the world's political machinations Black Elk says, "Peace comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and all its powers." 

Toward this 'knowledge of belonging' we sow seeds. An honest smile, a word spoken or a hand stretched out in compassion, even something as minor as attentive silent listening can be a small piece of oneness occurring one on one. 

Over the course of a lifetime these seeds accrue. Their increase is in the hands of the Divine.

May we sit this evening for our sowing of seeds. May the Divine step in as needed. May the experience, the 'knowing' of oneness, kindle within all.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday May 31st, 2015

Hello all, it is typical and usual for us to desire a comfortable, pleasing life. Yet it is through the process of suffering that we all meet our true selves, that part of us which comes up from the layered depths of our psyche. And it is our anger which shows us whatever it is that we truly hold dear. 

In the ongoing life of the soul these are necessary experiences to have. Over a lifetime and more they accumulatively teach us of our 'relationship to' and 'relationship with' the Divine. 

Our difficulties are our teachers.

May we sit this Sunday for awareness of the deep value of our teachers. May we look them squarely in the eye. May we find ourselves there. May we lose ourselves in the Divine within.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday May 24th, 2015

Hello all, the essence of beauty lives always within us, as a birthright. When we spot it in the outer world it resonates within. As David Whyte says in his book Consolations, "Beauty is the harvest of presence, the evanescent moment of seeing or hearing on the outside what already lives far inside ... the conversation between what we think is happening outside in the world and what is just about to occur far inside us."

As we strive for worldly transformation, may we sit this evening for the expression of spiritual beauty from within. May we be attuned to recognize it. May we join in whole heartedly. May it be.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday May 17th, 2015

Hello all, the ancient Tibetan mantra 'Om Mani Padme Hum' is a six syllable meditation on generosity, ethics / morals, patience, diligence, renunciation, and wisdom; one concept for each syllable. It is an attempt to put that which is ineffable into words, to bring higher beauty down to a scale which can be stated - that it might be passed on. When done well it carries us far beyond dictionary definitions. 

May we sit this Sunday for that opportunity to launch ourselves beyond our typical thoughts, and beyond all thoughts. May we lose ourselves in a greater awareness. May we finally find 'ourselves.'

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday May 10th, 2015

Hello all, to reach out and ask for help when we find ourselves 'missing the mark' is an elegant thing. The simple phrase 'Dear God, fill my heart' carries many changes. Self-honesty is essential to notice our position and a degree of humility is required to do the asking. The final outcome is as much as we can be open to.

May we sit this evening for these qualities. May we find them within ourselves. May we bring them forth honestly. May divine will be done.

Thank you,

Richard