For Sunday December 4th, 2016

Hello everyone, may we sit this Sunday for all those affected by the wild fires in Tennessee and North Carolina. I don't know why with all the other things going on in the world right now that this would call me but that's what's happening. 

May we ask that God's will be done for the highest good of all.

Thank you,

Richard

Re: For Sunday November 27th, 2016

Hello everyone, when kids ask Walter Krehling, "Are you the real Santa?" He answers, "I'm the real Santa Claus that's here right now. There is a Santa Claus that I work for, but he can't be here right now. I'm here. Right here, right now, I'm the real Santa Claus."

Never mind that I cried for ten minutes when I read that, the lesson couldn't be more clear. We are all ambassadors for the 'Big Guy'. However you wish to interpret that term, we are all empowered to be a representative of spirituality in physical form, right here, right now.

May we sit this Sunday in thanksgiving for this great gift, that we each can bring the best of spirituality forward into the physical. May we be cleansed in our soul, even as we stuff ourselves bodily. May we all grow to fulfill our full potential on Mother Earth.

Thank you with Blessings,

Richard

Re: For Sunday November 13th, 2016

Hello everyone, compassion is a universal component of humanity. However, it can be easily lost beneath fear and anger, which ultimately brings pain. And one of the quotes often heard this week is "Wisdom rides on the coattails of pain." 

The fear, anger, and scapegoating which was employed to enact personal gain in this election has already overshadowed compassion in some people. 

Just as pain eventually cracks open the heart's door, it is compassion which fuels the greatest wisdom.

May we sit this Sunday for the quick return of compassion. We can develop compassion within ourselves. We can share it with all others we contact. And by doing so we create more of it in the world.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday November 20th, 2016

Hello everyone, it is possible to love someone who is in a state of fear. It's also possible to love someone when they are angry. It's even possible to love someone despite whatever 'wrongs' they may have committed.

This is useful to keep in mind. You can call it the beginnings of unconditional love when we reach out to others. But it may be far more essential when we look at ourselves. 

The self-honesty which brings an awareness of our own internal difficulties is also a loving doorway for viewing the same difficulties in others. Then the forgiveness we wish for ourselves, once given to us, can be extended.

May we sit this evening for our own forgiveness. May we extend it to others. May we begin to touch upon Unconditional Love.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday November 6th, 2016

Hello everyone, as the various irritations of this year's presidential election come to a head let's look at some basic understandings. Souls do not enter into a material existence just to have a good time or to magnify the ego. There can be spiritual reasons for any particular person to come into a position of leadership. Material success can be an enormous stumbling-block for soul development. And all lessons, however difficult, lead toward Oneness.

This Sunday may we set aside all our mentally preconceived notions, biases, and justifications to find Divine Will. May we face this process and all it's outcomes with courage, strength, and self-honesty. May the truth of Oneness shine through us as we deal with one another in the coming days.

Respectfully submitted,

Richard

For Sunday October 30th, 2016

Hello everyone, in our political strife having anger at the other side is not only common but often encouraged, and used for great effect.  Yet if we hold to the truth of Oneness then we have to ask, "Is anger ever justified?" The moment we are moved to protect an idea, a belief, dogma, something you demand, or something you hold, that very protection indicates anger. And our level of anger is a pretty good measurement of our personal distance away from living Oneness. 

Is it possible see anger under the heading of 'it just is' – that is, without defending or condemning it? Can we get enough distance to see it as an indicator of our own personal awareness?

May we sit this Sunday for 'clear vision', the ability to see without bias or limitation; to see ourselves as we are; to see society as it is; to see ourselves lovingly despite all frailties. 

Respectfully submitted,

Richard

For Sunday October 23rd, 2016

Hello everyone, it's tempting to look upon the problems of today and wish for them to be made better. Our politics, the Middle East, our society, all have their own set of difficulties. In our humanness we often pray for the problems to be fixed or resolved. Yet prayers for the courage, the strength and the wisdom with which to complete the learning process, to gain the spiritual growth, even through the difficulties, may be more appropriate.

This Sunday may we sit for such courage, strength, and wisdom to come down to us and to those in difficulty in the world. May Divine Light show the way, whether by giant leaps or tiny steps. And, may we have the humility to listen.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday October 16th, 2016

Hello everyone, we are told that songs existed long before there were any singers to give them voice. If this is true then every wonderful thing that is to happen is simply waiting for the right time, place, and people to bring them forth. We find ourselves alive now, in this time period. So the question becomes, "Are we listening?"

We all 'sing' in our own way, each adding our part to the fullness of the concert.

May we sit tonight with the internal quietness which allows us to hear the whispers of wonder. May we bring forth that which is given for us. My all join the tune in time.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday October 9th, 2016

Hello everyone, a sad pitfall of our current climate of polarization is the adoption of an attack and defend mentality, as if division and control were the highest callings of humanity. Yet ancient spiritual teachings, from the Hawaiian reconciliation and forgiveness of Ho'oponopono to the Jewish reminder to put your own house in order when trying to save the world, tell us that the future is an inside job.

Whatever we find disturbing in the world can also, with deep enough self-honesty, be found within us – and that is where we have the greatest influence.

May we sit this evening for the ability to see ourselves clearly, without bias or justification. May we identify that which bears release. May we be the change we wish to see.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday October 2nd, 2016

Hello everyone, ten years ago a gunman walked into a small Amish schoolhouse in rural Pennsylvania and began shooting children, finally killing himself. The shooter's funeral was a very small, private affair until a large number of Amish appeared. The Amish formed a partial circle around the funeral scene then began emanating love.

Whatever anger, fear, or retribution they may have felt was set aside in recognition of the abject pain experienced by all, and the much needed healing power of love. While no one would ever wish for such devastation in their community the relationships formed in the healing afterward are priceless to those involved. 

May we sit this Sunday in search of where we need healing. May we forgive. May we offer love. Whatever our current position and attitude, may our future be brighter than our past.

Respectfully,

Richard

http://www.npr.org/series/4516989/storycorps

For Sunday September 25th, 2016

Hello everyone, we live on this Earth in relationship, relationship to each other, relationship to our environment, relationship to ourselves. When seen correctly these relationships are our greatest mirrors because the way we look at anything tells us exactly who we are while observing. Whether we look upon something or someone with anger, fear, paranoia, or love – that is exactly where we are at that moment.

Whether we believe our internal justifications for how we see things or whether we use them as a process of self-examination, of measuring how far we are from being unconditionally loving, will make a huge difference in our spiritual evolvement.

May we sit this evening for self-honesty, courageous, unflinching, and always in search of the greatest overall loving perspective. 

Respectfully,

Richard

For Sunday September 18th, 2016

Hello everyone, the ancient phrase "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me" is the backbone of spiritual life. Whether we are working on personal psychological obstacles or world spiritual transformation it releases responsibility from our small ego-self, freeing us to be clear channels for the Divine. 

Spirituality can make good use of bodily-incarnated humanity when we are clear. We can be excellent conduits for passing energy from the spiritual to the physical.

May we sit this Sunday for our clarity. May we set aside our biases, our obstacles, all of our thinking. May we hold a knowingness of perfection beyond ourselves. May we simply be within it.

Respectfully,

Richard

For Sunday September 4th, 2016

Hello everyone, due to our common human frailties we get caught up in judging, comparing, ignoring, disliking, mistrusting, and even hating. And yet our highest calling is also our most difficult – Love one another. 

The change we want to see in the world, the long prophesied spiritual transformation, is dependent upon loving one another.  

Please understand that we may disagree with others while loving them but love them we must. 

May we sit this Sunday for the insight and self-honesty to see where we may miss the mark. May we find the strength of heart to love when we are disappointed. May brittle lines soften toward Oneness.

Thank you,

Richard