For Sunday February 24th, 2019

Hello to all of you, someone recently noted that children will laugh and sing before they can talk, will draw before they can write, and will dance as soon as they can stand. The human need to express joy is endemic, built into us by design. 

This is why an honest smile can bridge massive gaps between people. It speaks to something deep within, something from our core.

May we sit this evening for our own joy. May we share it as comes to hand. May we bridge self-created divides with true purpose.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday February 17th, 2019

Hello everyone, imagine a tall slender flag pole stuck in the ground. Then imagine you push on one side over and over again with just the right timing. After awhile you can get it swinging back and forth a bit. If two or more join you the combined force becomes more powerful and you can really get it to sway.

This is a rough analogy for prayer. The vibrations which emanate from us will combine with others of the same frequency. The more pure our vibrations can be, free of the contaminations of the lower self, the more powerful they will be. So, our job is to pray at the highest level we can attain. 

Let us sit this Sunday for the purity of our efforts. May we find what we need to cleanse from within. May our efforts always be in keeping with Divine will.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday February 10th, 2019

Hello to all, sitting with the pain of tragedy is understandably uncomfortable. We tend to protect ourselves from the discomfort, sometimes by 'fixing' the tragedy with good intentions, sometimes by turning to blame and anger. Offering a 'fix' is to deny the pain while blame and anger creates a hardening in our hearts. 

Yet it is sitting with pain that can soften us. As an ancient saying goes, "God enters our lives through the wounds in our hearts." 

May we sit this Sunday to accept that tragedy occurs in this world. May we acknowledge it fully, and offer our love in return. May acknowledgement and love open our hearts, and lead us forward.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday February 3rd, 2019

Hello everyone, in today's world we often find ourselves drowning in information, gorging on emotional rhetoric, and yet starving for wisdom. If we seek 'foods' that include a sense of ethics, a degree of benevolence, unbiased judgment, human compassion, experiential self-knowledge, self-transcendence, and non-attachment; there we may find wisdom.

May we sit this evening for our own spiritual nutrition. May we discern that which is not fulfilling. And, may we find that which fills our hearts to over-flowing, that we may share with all.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday January 17th, 2019

Hello everyone, from the book "Living Your Divine Life" -- "The enlightened person perceives the Infinite Splendor of Divinity in all beings and the Christ's kingdom 'near you,' among you,' and 'within you.' This is a state of being where every thought and act in life is a spiritual exercise, and our reality is the thought of God manifest in human form." - Orest Bedrij 

It's clear that humanity is far from this divine goal. We tend to operate within an often unrecognized fog of prejudices, biases, self-absorbed desires, and many distractions. And yet - it is our destiny to attain exactly that ultimate spiritual reality.

May we sit this Sunday to release all things of the smaller self, that we may hear the whispers of the larger Self. May we remember that we are already One, and that separation is our own illusion. May we see far beyond ourselves.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday January 20th, 2019

Hello to all, as we come to see the Divine at work in all people and things, our hearts open and gratitude flourishes. It also works in reverse. Focusing upon gratitude opens our hearts, where Oneness emerges as through a fog.

Writer A.J. Jacobs started with something small, a simple cup of coffee. His efforts to thank those responsible for it took him around the world. 

https://www.ted.com/talks/aj_jacobs_my_journey_to_thank_all_the_people_responsible_for_my_morning_coffee#t-917095 

Oneness, being that it is an all encompassing One, can be approached from every direction that exists. May we approach it this Sunday evening from within. May we see that we are all connected, spiritually. May we act, knowing we are all connected in the physical as well.

Thank you all,

Richard

https://www.ted.com/talks/aj_jacobs_my_journey_to_thank_all_the_people_responsible_for_my_morning_coffee#t-917095

For Sunday January 13th, 2019

Hello to all, "We must recognize that the suffering of one person or one nation is the suffering of humanity." - Dalai Lama

For those who know we are all One; whether we inflict it, or condone it, or justify it, or allow it while looking away, we are complicit in the suffering of humanity. 

With all the wars, famine, pestilence, dis-ease, political strife, and personal challenges adrift in the world at this time it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Yet there is always something within our reach. Tom Sawyer credited Kathi Ann Middendorf with changing the attitudes of an entire division of IBM by simply smiling honestly and saying, "Hi" as she walked down the hallways.

May we sit this evening to recognize suffering, to see our complicity, and to find ways of helping no matter how seemingly small.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday January 6th, 2019

Hello everyone, we were created with the seed of unconditional love deep within. We have the ability to love someone who is angry, someone who is fearful, we can even love someone who has done us wrong. To do so is a beginning for unconditional love on earth.

It's also important to love ourselves unconditionally. The self-honesty through which we expose our frailties must be matched by the self-love to release them and forgive. This same forgiveness can be extended to others.

May we sit Sunday evening for our own forgiveness. May we extend it to others. May we begin to touch upon bringing Unconditional Love to Mother Earth.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday December 30th, 2018

Hello to all, in a recent conversation the phrase 'your healing will be your teaching' came up. It refers to the idea that the process of healing from a dis-ease or difficulty can provide you with the knowledge and experience to teach from your healing. 

Many who have faced great challenges have gone on to become great teachers in life, helping others to face similar challenges and beyond. Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, and Elie Wiesel come to mind.

May we sit Sunday evening for the insight to know our weaknesses, the courage to face them, and the love to heal from them. And, may our efforts bring benefit to others. 

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday December 23rd, 2018

Hello to all, the word dissociation is a psychiatric term typically used to describe a state of 'disconnecting from one's surroundings' during times of trauma. It is a survival technique in extreme trauma. But here's a question; in situations which are safe and quiet, can it be learned and used to deepen meditation?

Can we learn to 'step outside our bodies' with meditative relaxation techniques? Can dissociation be crafted and perfected? Can it be used to "leave" everything and clear a path or pathway to the Unitive?

May we sit this Sunday, perhaps with the help of the attached meditative script, to reach beyond the physical, to search for the path to the Unitive, to find our way home. 

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday December 16th, 2018

Hello to all, here's a quote which seems useful at this time:  "Arguments will seldom change the aspects or the views of any. And truth itself needs no champion, for it is of itself champion of champions – and needs no defense; only for self to live according to that which IS the truth!"   – Edgar Cayce 1669-1 

Cayce is asking us to live the truth, but before that we must find what is far beyond our surface life, to find that which is honest, loving, and eternal. 

May we sit this evening for sight which is far beyond the work-a-day world. May we attain some degree of sight into the Divine depths. May we bring it back to live in this world.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday December 9th, 2018

Hello everyone and nearly 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 again 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 Sunday in the unity which is promised but we have not yet attained. 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 2nd, 2018

Hello all, I apologize for the lateness of this posting. Due to illness in other Santas I got caught up doing Santa until 8pm. The original schedule said I'd be done by 2pm. So with this in mind, let's sit tonight for all those who portray, and those who help the portrayal, of Santa throughout the world. Collectively, they bring a great deal of joy to the Earth.

Thank you all,

Richard