For Sunday January 1st, 2016

Hello everyone, in this season of political and economic discord between the left and the right, fake and real news, haves and have-nots, it may be well to retain a broad perspective. 

Yes, each of us must follow what we find in our hearts and do the work which comes to hand. But even snowflakes with their myriad variations are not in angry conflict. Each is different, some landing among the trees and some upon the ground, yet keep in mind it is winter – summer will come, and all will rejoin.

May we sit this evening for the presence of mind to see the fuller picture, even when delving into details.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday December 25th, 2016

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas, as we celebrate 'the one' whose spiritual job is not yet finished let us work toward the Oneness which is within our reach. Here's a connective process:

Step one; get the hands busy, find or join an activity which can be done with a group. 

Step two; the community spirit which is built during the activity is the engagement of hearts. 

Step three; it is the engagement of people's hearts which changes the brain and thereby the thinking.

May we sit this Christmas Sunday in the unity which is promised but we have not yet delivered. May we reach out and make the connections we can. May Thy Will be done in all things.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday December 18th, 2016

Hello everyone, Edgar Cayce said, "Let thy words and thy meditation be, as ye present thy bodies, thy lives, thy activities before others: "Lord, use me in whatever way or manner that my body may be as a living example of Thy love..." - reading 262-84"

As the saying about Buddhism goes, "It's not about what you believe, it's about what you do." Let us live our highest ideals in the of tiniest ways, even with the least people.

May we sit tonight for our opportunities; to be kind, to be helpful, to show our truest selves, to fulfill the commandment of 'Love One Another' in all we do.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday December 11th, 2016

Hello everyone, two thoughts come together this week. Fr. James Martin says that Jesus didn't come down to us as a book, he came as a human to meet us where we are – with all human frailties intact. 

And Edgar Cayce says, "Know thy ideal, and live to that. For, each soul must give account for its own self." 

As we approach one another; if we can bring our best self forward, if we can meet others where they are, perhaps we can connect. And it's that connection which holds the future for the world.

May we sit tonight for these ideals. May they be foremost in our hearts. May we build the future moment by moment throughout our lives.

Thank you,

Richard

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