God and Sinner Reconciled

The title of this post is a lone from God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. If you understand what thear one line says, you understand Christmas. Have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year/

Where is Christmas?

For years, one if the joys of the Holiday Season is the Seasonal entertainment. I have missed it this year. It seems that Seasons Greetings have been replaced by sales pitches and soggy romances that have noyhing to do with the Season. The only Christmas fare I have seen this year have been Christmas episodes in the ancient Westerns, Bonanza and Wagon Train.
In stores, I hear few carols and definitely none with any hint of religious content.
No matter what your beliefs are, it is healthy to make certain times of the yeat special/ Much beauty and jot is lost when we make Christmas into just a long shopping spree.

I urge each and everyone to make this Holiday special. Merry Christmas to all.

Christmas

Every year someone writes about the need to decommercialize Christmas. Well, this is my turn.
I love giving and getting presents as much as anyone, but some sanity is called for.
Many parents and spouses are all set to go deeply
 in debt to make sure their kids and spouses know that they are loved. That should be known by the actions of the rest of the year. You cannot replace the neglect of the past with some gifts.

By all means, five gifts and enjoy the Season, Just remember that the real Season is about the unity of man and the Creator. Merry Christmas one and all.

The Meaning of the Season

Every tear, folks step forward to remind us of the true meaning of the season. I do not believe they stress the massage enough, understandably, because it is wondrously weird.
And, all too often, they begin over focusing on the vagaries of their own particular dorm of theology.

The meaning of Christmas is simple. God and man are reconciled. WE become linked to our Creator and He/She is fully in our World and in our lives. This is a radical step and the first time that a religion posited the intimate link between the Divine and the human, There is nothing like it in all the history of man

Think how strange this is. Soren Kierkegaard did. He stressed the utter absurdity of the fact that the Creator of this awesome Universe could care so much, nit just about the human race, but about each individual. He believed, rightly in my opinion, that each man and woman had to find their own way to deal with that amazing, and ion the surface, absurd  idea.

That is a daunting task. so get busy. Maybe the line form an old Carol qill help, God and Sinner reconciled.

Christmas

Call me old fashioned, corny, sentimental. Go ahead. I started to say, 'I don't care,' but I do. I will wear those labels proudly.

The old idea od Christmas as a time of closeness and giving is an idea that worked. It is vitally important that humans remember that we are social creatures. We need each other and, with the rise of social media, where you can claim to be 'friends' with people you never spend any real time with, even 'friends' with corporations, is a recipe for disaster.

Christmas is certainly a time for friends and family, but it can and should be a time for extending that circle. Try being a bit friendlier with business contacts and co-workers. Go out of your way to speak to everyone at Church. If you have nit been to Church in years, go, and speak to everyone you see. Volunteer at charities and Community activities.

Be human and you will gain the World. You will realize why the Creator cares so much for us.

Think About Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is here again and rather than recite the usual admonitions about remembering all the things you should be thankful for, I want to discuss the very idea of thanks.

The medieval monk, Meister Eckhart said that really the finest prayer was a simple thank you. Makes sense to me.

When we pray, we all too often are asking for something and that is fine as long as you realize that the answer you usually get is in the form of advice, pointing you in the right direction. Rarely do you get a direct intervention, a miracle. That is just not how the Creator works. But, if we heed the advice, we usually come out in good shape. Mind you, the advice does not come as a booming voice in the sky,, although that would be way cool. No, usually you just get feelings, Be thankful for the advice.

More to the point, we need to show our gratitude f, full  simply existing. We live in a grand Cosmos, full of beauty and wonder, and we need to show our Creator that we are thankfyl for our basic existence, our life.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Beware of Darkness

George Harrison did a great song called Beware of Darkness, although Leon Russell did a better version. That message has never been more true.

Against my better judgment, I spent time recently reading some blogs that try to deal with some of our recently weird events. They are weirder than the events.

I have seen recent news events blamed on Satan, ancient gods and goddesses, extra dimensional travelers, aliens visitors, astrological changes, witchcraft and various branches of the government.

I do not doubt that there are evil doers, both in and out if the flesh, bit, you know what?

Who cares? Really, all of these problems have been here since the dawn of man and the only power they have comes fro our tendency to dwell on them. Why do we dwell on them? Our own flaws drive us there.

The fault, as Shakespeare wrote so long ago, is not in the stars, it is in ourselves.

Of course we mist be aware of dark forces and, when pushed to extremes, deal harshly with the,, byt for the most part, do not waste your time getting upset by such negative ranting and obsessive dwelling on evil.

Instead, focus on the good and, whenever possible, find solutions to problems. Work in tourself to drive out the dark nooks and crannies in your own psyche. Do your work, love when you can, and help whenever possible. The surest remedy for these dark times is to focus on the light,

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Again, another mass shooting. I try to stay calm about such things and I certainly hate making dire predictions, especially g an Apocalyptic nature, but I also know when something truly weird is going.
on.

In about 3 months, the USA has been hit with 4 hurricanes, 3 of them Category 4, a horrific series of wild fires, a Nor'easter that left a million without power, and had 3 mass killings, along with the usual insanity.

This series of disasters is Biblical in scope. Friends, something truly weird is going on.

Demons? Alien invasion? an alignment of the stars? Government mind control programs run amok? Saran> Beats me, but something [powerful that really, really does not like us is trying to raise its very nasty head.

How do you deal with this? That is the easy part. This whatever is attracted to and empowered by our fears, degradations, unclean lusts, and hatreds. Do not feed it.

Keep things light and wholesome, Avoid the dark, trashy areas of our society. Do not be mean spirited. And definitely express love as often as possible. These things alone are enough to defeat this inseen enemy.

Actually, they are a good idea all the time.

Learn to Love Ybcertainty

I hear folks bewail the uncertainty of our times. Avoid thar reao.

All times are uncertain. There are no guarantees save one. Things will change. The only cosant in this world is change. Roll with it, Revel in it.

Sometimes chanfe comes very fast. This is such a time. People say times are bad, byt they resist change. That makes no sense.

Now this does not mean that you should jump on every bandwagon and follow every fad, but it does gibe you a chance to re invent yourseld and that is the key to staying young.

Beware of Daarkness

George Harrison wrote a fine song called Beware of Darkness .Heed thear warning.

After our recent mass murder, I see a lot of online talk about various conspiracies involving the government, demons.old gods, mad scientists and every thing you can think of, including ancient aliens.

here and there in these ranting's, there is some truth and it can be fun to kick around the ideas. But, do not dwell on them. That way leads to madness. See the dark, but strive for the light.

We Will Get Through This

America is being tested, This is the way history works, A civilization develops its own karma . I wish I had a better word, I dislike the word karma but it is the only one  that comes close to what I mean.

The choices we have made lead to certain cruses. How we then respond determines our future, sort of. It is vastly  complex.

WE are now being called on to be creative and compassionate and just. That is really not much to ask and I think we can do it..

Detail

There are 2 old saying. "God is in the detail." and The Devil is in the detail/" Both are equally true.

The point is that truth is complicated. Anything that is worth considering is worth looking at in detail. It is in the subtleties that the Divine hides.

When you just deal with the surface, you miss so much. Consider trees. On the surface, not much is going on. They grow, shed leaves and give nice shade. Even examining there structures, as botanists do, shows just a mass of intricate structures. That kind of looking gives some useful information about how the tree works but that kind of thinking leads to simpleminded materialism.

However, start looking at how all this ties together and works in harmony and you see how incredible trees are. You see the hand of the Divine.

Likewise examine a criminal. On the surface you just see a thief or a killer. Look closer, truly examine that life and you will see the working of the Darkness.

Don't love on the surface.

The Death of a Butterfky

We have had a lot of butterflies this simmer. I love the tiny creatures, but they will soon be gone for a few months/ It was strange to watch one the other day. There were no flowers near by. It just kept flitting around a pile of debris. It rook off and landed many times, then settled down, still beating its wings. Then, it stopped and its life was gone.

HYst kije that, gone. No struggle, no fuss. I learned a lesson.

Prayer

Prayer works. I have no idea why or how, but it works. I think it somehow focuses divine energy. Oh well, how doesn't matter. It works.

That doesn't mean that you get what you want. Do not confuse God with Santa Claus But, you will get guidance and hel[.

{ray for everyone in Texas. It is the least you can do.

Ritual

Rituals are seemingly a needed part of human life. They are symbolic reenactments, a way of seeing the unseen and thinking about that which is beyond thought. They may be reenactments of historical events, or a way to tell myths so that we each feel a [art of that myth. They are not literally true, but they are vital, at least for a while.

As one's knowledge grows, the rituals lose some of their potency, bit they are still lovely and very moving. I know that Jesus was not born on December 25, but I love Christmas. Thanksgiving, is only a reminder of old family gatherings, but it still matters to me.

Humans raised with no ritual, create their won. Certainly, a simple little thought or deed , something personal and pleasant, is a wonderful thing. But, there exist people who do not function the way most do. Why? Well that is beyond the scope of this blog, but their little rituals often grow weird, obscene, and sometimes deadly.

Watch out fir signs of repeated unpleasant behavior in those around you, If it seems to be repetitive, with great attention to meaningless detail. Be careful. That individual may be, or may become, spiritually, or even physically dangerous.

But most often, the rituals we all go through, but, the little daily ones and the big awesome ones are a necessary part of our lives. Enjoy them.

Haunted

Do you believe in ghosts. I do. Many times over many years, I have walked into rooms, onyo houses and was aware od presences. Guess what" Mostly they are harmless. And, nom the air is not always cold where they are.

I have, a time or two, entered rooms where bad things have happened and fely a deep chill and, more telling, a sort of electric smell. like bad wiring. Still, there is no need for fear. Thses spirits have no power over you unless you give them that power..

Some ghosts, just like Casper in the cartoon, are friendly. They are lonely and a bit frightened themselves. They will find their way ti where they belong, but sometimes, they take awhile, and their journey is made harder if they are dealing with folks who are scared and threatening.

There is a sprit where I live now who drops in from time to tie. I can always tell when ir is around when I smell a sweet nice cologne. I always welcome it and remind it that it is always welcome and can stay as long as it wishes/

Ghosts are real and, with very few exceptions, not hostile. I have been in the presence of polterghiest and while they are noisy, if you let them know that you're not scared, they calm right down

Here and there, on their own way, they try to tell you things. Listen and bever be scared.

Talking Without Words

We all talk to each other and every living thing constantly, without sauong a word/ This is not mystic mumbo-jumbo, just pure science..

Electrons flow constantly throughout the body, settling up electromagnetic radiation, wave patterns. These spread from the body to great distances, actually infiniyu, but they do weaken considerably. They interact with other waves from other beings, setting up countless harmonics.

A;; pf these waves carry information about our physical, mental, emoyiona; and spiritual states/ How we feel and think effect those waves. These, in their interactions, effect other beings. Thus, communication.

On top of that, these waves effect DNA and so effect our internal functioning. DNA communicates, both internally and externally, by emitting photons that pass from strand to strand and vene from being to being.

The point? Pay attention to how you think and feel. You cannot hide yourself. The Universe hears you.

America - Feeling Losr in the Insanity

I have not been writing much, partly due to eye problems and partly because I have about given up watching the news. But, I tuned in for a bit the other day and I am appalled by what I see.

Trump cannot govern this Nation, largely because he cannot govern himself. The an is a liar, a thief, and a bully. He weeps crocodile tears over a dying baby in England, while sending drones with bombs all over the Mid East, killing countless healthy children in the process. He talks tough,  but folds like ab accordion when in the presence of Putin, who is an even bigger bully and thief. Trump claims to be a devout Christian. Well, Donald, Christ truly had no use for greedy money grubbers and would be appalled by the monopolistic capitalism of the modern World.

Then, we have Congress. This collection of idiots cannot find their asses with their own hands, They have haffled over health care, to no effect. Several are saying that they should let that go. They cannot pass a budget, so they want to move on to tax reforms, more actually to giving money to the rich. Think. You cannot cur taxes until you know how much money you will need and you cannot figure that until you pass a budget And, you cannot budget until you know how you will spend on health care. Hopefully, when they take their summer breaks, they will be screamed and yelled at by their constituents, but probably not.

Which leads to the next problem. What has happened to the Nation? Have we become that stupid? I fear that the answer is yes. People are woo hooing over Trump and cannot see that all of his proposals are going to do nothing but make the rich richer. Or, they are cursing the fact the the Democrats are out of power, not realizing that they would be no different. Or, maybe the smart ones are the ones who have just given yp on the whole political process. That is where I am heading.

People must take their lives inn their own hands, form communities and take care of each other. WE must fine ways to get around the ruling elite, that loathsome combination of corporate avarice and government inanity.

The Thunder Sermon

Recently, we have had more than a few thunder storms around gere, I have come to take them as sermons, beautiful reminders of our place in the Cosmos.

Electrical storms are dangerous enough to five us a bit of a tingle, but safe enough if you are indoors. They remind us of the World's power. The Creator has given his Creation a might that we cannot hope to match, except with atomics and let's hope we never see those. The incredible force shows us how tiny we are.

But wait. We are able to perceive these storms and contemplate them in a way that our fellow creatures cannot. We have that ability, that gift. Listen to the rumbles as they rise and ebb, as they harmonize with each other. The effect is sublime. And, since we have the capacity to build safe structures, we can enjoy the concert without real fear, unlike my last dog who grew petrified at the tiniest rumble.

Try this, Next thunder storm, turn off the TV and the music and just sit and listen. You will find  a sense of awe, and that is what any worthwhile sermon should produce.

Look

Another short note, I' afraid. My vision is sort of coming and going. I can get around and do most things, but I'm not sure for how long. Bt some  thing for sure, reading and thus writing, is out. I am doing this by using the magnifier feature and it is a pain. But, we persevere

My point is this. Go out and look. While you have your senses, look. Enjoy the beauty. Look deeplu at everything and everyone you love. While you can

Time Paradox

It has been said the time is an illusion. Well, yes and no. Time is a useful concept but impossible to define. Our measurements, days, years, hours, minutes, are constructs, a template we lay over a surface. A surface of what? Beats me. Eternity? Maybe, but again, that is a human construct.

Things do change and there does seem to be a pattern of cause and effect, but that is so comolex that we cannot possible keep track of what really causes what. Yet, we are born, grow old and die, at least the physical parts do. Still, if our essence, our soul continues past physical death, which it does in some form, what has really aged and died? An illusion? Sort of, but it is a persistent and lovely illusion.

You cannot time travel, yet, when you see the stars, they are no longer there since there light takes long light years to reach us. When you see a child, if you look the right way, you can see the adult he will be.

I guess the only thing to do is relax and don't worry about it. Observe time, just don't be trapped by it.

Words Fail

By necessity, this will be a short, simple post. My eyes are strained again. I love words. I enjoy the magic of conjuring images and telling tales with words. But, still, they are often woefully inadequate.

When it comes to speaking of matters of the heart, words cannot describe the feelings, the joy and the angst of falling in love, nor can the fully explain how, over years, those feeling morph from a rafing fire to a wonderfully warm glow.

In the sciences, physicists will tell you, when being honest, that we cannot conceive of what is going on at the quantum levels, even using our most abstract and precise language, mathematics. Biologists have no words to explain consciousness.

In theology, the matter is worse. Countless volumes have been written trying to descrine the Divine and our relation to our Creator and everyone has failed miserably. There are things that cannot be put into words and, as much as I love writing, I am learning to shut off the words and just enjoy the feelings.

Enjoying Nothing

Today, I find myself with nothing to say, nothing on my mind and nothing to do. You know what? Iy's great. What a joy it is to be free from thought for a little while. Oh, I'm sure that before the day is done, or at least by tomorrow, the World will step back in again, but for now, I am going to enjoy nothing. And, with full sincerity, I wish you nothing. Enjoy it.

Find Something to Hold Onto

Ties are weird and getting weirder. Anyone who is honest must see the signs. Now, I am not going to preach a sermon about coming Apocalypses, but I am going to predict that something really strange is in the near horizon and we all need to be ready. It may be awful or it may be wonderful. Most likely, it will be awful followed by wonderful, but we must get through the awful. Some folks will have hard time coping.

How do you hang on when everything is going wrong? That's a tough one and many just give up. Just witness the horrific suicide rate among veterans and the equally horrific opiate problem in the land. I can only give one piece of advice.

Find something you cherish and hang onto it. It can be anything, a human, a pet, a garden, a memory. Just find something or someone, from sometime in your life that always brings a smile to your face and warmth to your heart. Often, the memory or knowledge that somewhere in this odd world there is something good, something lovely, can save you from an ever spiraling sense of despair.

That may seem incredibly simple but, often, the best things in life are simple.

Pride

A certain amount of pride is commendable. One should do their work and live their life in a way they can feel good about. However, don't overdo it.

I have always been proud of my work and generally justified in my opinion. All well and good, but that translated, over time, into a great belief in self reliance, almost an arrogant attitude of 'I can do anything I have to. I don't need help. Worse, I expected the same of everyone.

Well, God, fate, karma, call it what you will, has a way of slapping you in the head when you grow that proud. Recently, I have had vision problems, to the poiny where I could read nothing and was having difficulty crossing streets that had even light traffic. This was, to say the least, disorienting, but it sure gave me time to think.

None of us are all that independent. We all need help and there is no shame in asking. Now, that doesn't mean we should do nothing for ourselves, but, never be embarrassed by needing a helping hand. More importantly, always be ready to help anyone in need. Especially remember those who have physical issues, the result of aging, injury, or just being dealt a bad hand at birth. Your body, no matter how healthy you are, will at some point start to break down and. as you ask for help. you will feel greatly ashamed at the way you sometimes ignored the needs of others.

My vision is returning. I still cannot read small print and can spend little time on line or watching TV, due to the glare, but at least I can cross a street without fear of getting run over and read the settings on the washing machine. Take care of yourself and take care of your friends, family and neighbors. Never begrudge the little bit of time and expense needed to help out.

Don't be overly proud because, in the end, we are all in this together. No one stands alone.

Eue Care

I have been writing very little due to some eye problems. O just want to remind everyone that our Cretor gas given is a beautiful World. Take care of you eyes so you van see every but of it.

Look Deeply

We hustle through our lives, always hurrying, always thinking, preoccupied with the details of our life. Okay, we have to do that, but not all the time.

There are many types of meditation, but here is my favorite. Go outside. Pick any living thing you see. Plants work best because they don't generally move from place to place. Look at it. Look Deeply into it's contours. Note the variation in colors, the shadings, the way the sun plays on the surface.

Look deeply at the veins of the leaves, the patterns in the bark. If there are blooms, look deeply into each, noting the variations in color and textures and the intricate arrangement of petals and sexual organs. Pay attention to seed pods. Examine the way the roots twist and turn into the soil.

Step back and see how the plant fits into its surroundings, how the structures play in the wind and twist and turn in harmony, and here and there, in discord with its neighbors. Watch the trails of insects as the travel around the plant.

Take as much time as you can. Two minutes will do your soul and mind a world of good. An hour may change your life.

Eastern Religions

I spent years trying to understand the Eastern Religions and have finally realized that I never will. I do not believe that this is possible for me because, while we live on the same Planet, and must show each other respect, my World is just much different than theirs.

India, and Hinduism, are ancient, dating back countless centuries. To me, they are a belief from a time lost, the distant past. It seems a jumbled tangle of thoughts, each piled on top of the next, with no direction. I do not write this to be insulting. I simply find it to be an incomprehensible, and unnecessarily complex, system of belief.

Taoism makes a bit more sense. It seems a system designed to teach us how to live in accord with Nature, This would be admirable, but it is unlivable. I love the Earth, but, to be honest, we do not always see eye to eye. If I am sick with a severe viral infection, I will seek medical treatment. If it is 98 degrees and I am in an enclosed structure, I will turn on the air conditioner. I do not and will not always go with the flow of the Natural world. I also find the acceptance of the way things are, as taught in the Tao, to be simply a lazy cop out. It simply is not the way humans are.

Buddhism is somewhat different. It's various schools of belief are all nonsensical musings on the nature of reality. As a religion, it makes no sense and seems to be a system of quasi-religious beliefs suited to those who want a religion without the bother of dealing with God. The metaphysics of Buddhism (and the Buddha told his followers to stay away from metaphysics, advice they ignored) is quite incompatible with what we have learned from scientific investigation. However, Buddhism, when stripped of the surrounding religious trappings, is a useful psychology, for now. It is the only system of thought that deals extensively with the relation between our mind and how we perceive the World. This will change as Western thought begins to explore this realm but, for now, there are some useful thoughts about this that can be gleaned from Buddhism.

So,  again, I have no wish to insult anyone, but I have to tell the truth as I see it. Our Western world and modes of thinking are just not compatible with Eastern thought. We are products of Judeo-Christian theology, Greek philosophy, the Protestant Reformation, and the Enlightenment. Works for me. 

Celebrate Each Day

Each day is unique. Keep that in mind.

We humans see patterns and it is all too easy to fall into cyclic thinking. Monday starts the work week, Friday signals the coming weekend. Saturday is party day. Sunday is rest up for Monday day. Well, it used to be that way. Now, folks work so many different days and hours that what was the norm is no longer normal, but most everyone has some kind of routine to their week.

Then, we have the cycle of holidays and we sort of view the World in those terms. Soon, we will have Memorial Day, although almost no one remembers its original meaning. When I worked at a school, it was, "hooray, school's almost out" day. But, you get my drift.

There is nothing wrong with this cyclic view, unless it becomes a trap, a routine. Then, even Christmas can become just a half boring routine we go through each year. Still, it is human to measure time this way.

But, and this is sometimes hard to do, if you can view each day as unique, and they really are, then you have cause to celebrate each day. Tomorrow is Wednesday, and those of you working and old fashioned work week may want to say, "oh boy, hump day, weekends almost here." Fair enough, but since you do that every week, it's not much cause for celebration.

Suppose instead, that you say, "wow, this is a new day, unlike any other. Then, you have given yourself cause to celebrate and break old patterns. Since you are in a new day, no longer thinking of it as just another Wednesday, you are free to do something totally 'unWednesdayish." Maybe take your partner out to dinner, instead of waiting until Friday, or get together with friends instead of waiting until Saturday. Maybe visit a place of worship instead of putting it off until Sunday.

Think, just by changing the way ypu think, and turning each day into a celebration, you are on the way to changing your life.

Easter

I had no intention of writing about the just passed Easter holiday until I saw a little item flash across the bottom of the screen while watching the news. Americans, on average, spent $680 on Easter. Why?

In the first place, how many eggs and jelly beans can you eat? For sure, it's not my money and folks can spend what they earn however they want, but to spend like that on this particular holiday is kind of missing the point.

Easter is about renewal. The old, pagan traditions of Spring celebrations (the eggs and such) are kept alive and, of course, the Christian idea of the Resurrection  is celebrated. Whether you believe in an actual body being resurrected or a spiritual resurrection is not important, the day should at least be remembered as the birth of a new way of viewing our relationship with our Creator. I do not like the over commercialization of Spiritual holidays.

What was the Resurrection? Was it physical or spiritual? I have no idea. I wasn't there and the accounts from the 4 Gospels are very contradictory. Toss in the Gnostic versions and the Moslem account and the writings from the Talmud and it becomes obvious that we will never know for sure, unless we get busy on making a time machine and that doesn't seem to be in anyone's budget.

I am sure, however, that something extraordinary happened. Christianity spread so very quickly that something must have happened in the life and death of Yeshua, the one we call Jesus, that shook people and forced them to wake up and view life in a new manner. At the time the Gospels were written, there would still have been folks alive who witnessed the events. While memory fails over time, and details get blurred, if nothing of the sort had happened, those people would have spoken up/ That's just human nature.

Any way you look at it, show some respect. I am all for folks having fun and Easter should be a celebration, but it really is not about who gets the biggest chocolate bunny ar who has the most expensive Easter outfit.

War

Not to get all melodramatic, but the drums of war are pounding yet again, and these are pretty big drums. I am not a pacifist. I fully believe that we have a right to self defense and the defense of friends and family. If attacked directly, I believe the Nation should act defensively. But, that is not what we are doing. In Syria, the issue is in part control of oil ports. In N. Korea, it is the manipulation of China. Yes, kids were gassed in Syria and that is nightmarish, but we have conducted air strikes all over the Mid East that, by our own admission, have killed many thousands of civilians, so we have no moral high ground. Yes, N/ Korea developed Nukes. So did England, Russia, France, China, Israel, India, and Pakistan and we did not engage in this stupid game od nuclear chicken with the,.

I am in no way defending Assad or the weird kid in N. Korea. They are monstrous, but, again, we have supported and continue to support, many monsters (just look at our good buddies the Saudis). Again, we have no moral high ground.

The real reason these threats are flying is simple. The leaders of all of these Nations, ours included, are sick, sick with a lust for power and are trying to prove who is the baddest guy on the planet. I believe the Hindus call this being stuck at the third chakra (or the second. O always get them mixed up and my apologies to any Hindus). We must at least try to get a grip on this sick, evil despotism or one day soon, we may all be glowing in the dark and this lovely Planet will be devastated.

Jesus said that if struck, we should turn the other cheek. Ay least that way, we can think and give our assailant a chance to reconsider. We have not even been struck yet. Every side in these conflicts need to slow down and back off. If Putin and Trump and the Iranian Ayatollah and Netanyahu and the Korean Kid want to fight, let the WWE set up a steel cage match, charge as pay per view and donate the profits to charity. It would be quite a show and maybe, when they see how idiotic and childish they look, we can all sit down and talk,

Stop Clinging

I have been a tad cranky of late. I find that I am losing patience with those who try to remain anchored to the past. Thi is especially true regarding spiritual matters.

The Universe, God's Creation, is in a constant state of change. We humans change daily as we learn more and more. Yet, some, no, many, of us wish to remain tied to relics of beliefs.

Like it or not, we are not desert nomads herding sheep and fighting both empires seeking territory and neighbors we can't seem to get along with. We have gone too far and learned to much to continue those patterns of thought. No one in their right mind wants to live by Levitical law (by the way, that is all sharia law is).

Christians speak of 'The Blood of the Lamb' and the sacrificial atonement that Jesus brought. They don't understand that we now know that darn near every culture on Earth has practiced blood rights and scapegoating and it is fairly obvious that the desired results have never been found.

Christians speak of the Virgin Birth, yet we now know that the earliest Christians believed no such thing and that the entire concept is the result of a mistaken translation (the into Greek from the Hebrew word that really just means young girl). We also now that there was nor census at the time of Jesus' birth ( there was one earlier and each Jew was not required to go to the city of his birth) and no killing of babies by Herod. Oh, and Jesus was not from Nazareth because, at his time, there was no Nazareth (it shows up about the 2nd Century.

As far as older religions go, we have figured out, through historical and ancheological investigations, that they were, in ancient times, a mixed up mess, with each influencing and being absorbed by others.

India's Hinduism is a blend of the local Godess belief mixed with the Indo-aryan Vedic religions. Judaism imported beliefs from Egypt, Babylon and especially from Persia Zoroasterianism. Christianity stole from every indiginous belief system it came across, from the Greek neo-platonism to the Afro-Cuban systems of Voodoo.

The point is, we now know that all, and I mean all religions are a hodge-podge of beliefs, yet we continue to insist that ours, no matter where you are, is the right one. Add into that the fact that many beilefs have been shattered by scientific knowledge, and we have no basis for clinging so tightly to our religious beliefs (does any one still think that God stopped the Sun for Joshua. Oh, by the way, Jericho was rubble long before Joshua sounded the trumpet).

Now, we should not throw out these traditions completely. If we view them as mythology, they show deep truths about human psychology. And, especially in the Western Christian system ( which also contains elements from Greek, Roman, Renaissance and Enlightenment thinkers), we are given a profoundly human system of workable, ethical guidelines. But, we must, if man is to continue, stop all forms, repeat, all forms, of literal belief in any religious dogma.

 

Support Small Churches and other Places of Worship

I have made it clear that I am not religiously dogmatic. I really don't care as much about what folks believe as what they do. I really don't care a lot if folks go to Church at all. Some find it a pleasant thing to do. Some get more spiritual charge out of sitting alone outside or hanging out with friends and family.

But, if you do wish to go to a church, mosque, temple, or whatever do yourself a favor and avoid the big gatherings. In spiritual matters, small is often better.

I have been to mega-churches and found them lacking. There are just too many people crammed in together, too mush loose, unfocused energy. And, of course, too much of a big business vibe. Believe me, business is the operative word.

Small churches, and I am going to assume that the same holds for temples, mosques, etc., have a close, warm feeling. Folks have time and space to get to know each other. The Ministers get to know the parishioners. You can take time after the Services to chat, instead of trying to get to your car to beat the traffic.

There are some things in this life that are best when small and quiet.

Bees

Today's blog will be short. It was recently announced that a species of bees has been declared endangered. It has long been acknowledged that many types of bees are dying at an alarming rate. Bees are prolific pollinators. Without them, our ability to produce edible crops will be very seriously hampered. Food prices will skyrocket and famine will develop. There is no way to continue ignoring this severe problem.

I am asking any and every one who reads this blog, no matter what your specific beliefs, to pray for guidance in efforts to figure a solution to this problem. quickly. I am not by nature an alarmist, but this must be solved.
And while your at it, say a prayer for bees. We owe the little guys at least that much.

Stories We Tell Ourselves

We humans experience the World fairly directly through our senses. Then, our brains go to work, and they do a pretty decent job of interpreting those impressions. But, there is a problem.

To put things in a woefully simple way, our right brain grasps a somewhat whole view of matters, placing the perceptions in time and space and interpreting them in terms of shapes and relationships.Then, the left brain steps in and applies logic to the perceptions, fits them neatly into place and give labels, names to them. This is vital if we are to work and communicate with other people, but their is a flaw. That left brain simply does not like to be quiet.

Our brain has a weird need to not just describe, but to make up stories, long detailed stories, about everything. It just will not stop doing that. It provides a useful narrative to our lives, a sense of continuity, of unity, but does not stop there. If presented with something beyond its immediate comprehension, it will begin making up outlandish tales with little basis.

Now, this can be grand fun. I love storytelling. And, in the course of spinning those yarns, it may be finding bits of truth and putting them in a coherent framework. But, the story is not the truth. Herein lies the conflict between spirituality and religion. Spiritual experiences are difficult, almost impossible, to put into words, yet our left brain cannot tolerate such vagueness, so it starts putting the experience into story form. The story gets told, passed along, and before you know it, a Holy Text is developed. At that point, along comes theologians and priests who know that folks long for spiritual experience but, understanding that such experiences are liberating, substitute the Text for the experience. They say, 'Believe the Text and you need not go through all the bother of experiencing yourself."

One problem: the Text will provide a watered down version in words of something that cannot be put into words. The authorities deny you the experience because, when you have it, you no longer need them. They certainly do not want to lose income and power, so the declare any legitimate spiritual experience as dangerous and heretical.

Holy Texts have their uses. They can and should function as sign posts showing the way to experience, but they are not the experience. An old Hindu proverb says that 'painted cakes do not satisfy hunger.'

Spititual Traps

There are psychic pitfalls we all encounter on our spiritual journeys, spiritual traps. Those traps can be deep and difficult to get out of and they all stem from one issue, ego.

We all have ego problems. Let me say first, there is nothing wrong with having a bit of ego. Without that sense of self, we simply could not survive. The problem comes when we get too full of ourselves. A too large ego leads to power issues, with all sorts of side issues, such as sexual, problems, greed, and the search for political power.

But, the spiritual traps that egoism can lead to are the most troubling. It becomes so easy to have a genuine spiritual insight and allow that to go to your head. Next thing you know, you are sure that you have The Answer, the Way. This is how cults start and this is how Religion, in its organized forms, begins. From there, springs dogma and the death of true spirituality.

None of us knows all of the answers, We do not and cannot fully know the Mind of our Creator. We gat nothing but glimpses. Why? Beats me. I'm not the Creator. What is, is what is.

We can use our insights to point others in that direction, like street signs help you get around a strange city, but we cannot make the journey for them, nor should we. In addition, to continue the analogy, they may step off the trail we have told them of and find a second, equally valid path and that path may offer further insights that supplement and amend our original directions.

All of this sounds very vague, I know, but it has to be that way. In discussing spiritual matters, we are entering a realm where words begin to fail. We do the best we can with the tools available, but words can be frustratingly inadequate tools. Again, it's all we have. What is, is what is.

All I can say for sure is this. If someone  tells you that they have The Truth, the Absolute Single Truth, run quickly away. And, if you find yourself thinking that you have the Answer, realize that your pride, your ego, has led you into a spiritual trap. Looks at this vast, unthinkably complex Universe, and realize how small you are; then step out of the trap.

This Too Will Pass

I have been watching the news, a little bit. It is a bad habit and I must get a grip on it, because we are in a state of turmoil. All sides are at each other's throats, arguing about every bit of minutia imaginable. Actually, they are arguing about stuff that doesn't really exist.

Nations are no better, Iran and N. Korea are testing missiles, Russia is in the Ukraine, Syria and Iraq are being reduced to rubble. Seldom a day goes by without someone in Afghanistan and/or Pakistan blowing up a few of their neighbors. Holland and Turkey are threatening each other and the EU is in its death throes.

You know what, don't worry about it. Face it, your worry will not change things one tiny bit. The leaders, the idiots running the show, don't care one tiny bit about what you and I think. They are going to do what they are going to do.

If, in your own life, you have a chance to change something, do so. If you have a chance to help someone, do so. You must change what you can.

But all of these big issues, don't bother yourself with them. Pay attention. You should keep track of what's happening, at least in a general sort of way. Just don't get all caught up in it. Don't let it spoil your day because you only get so many of them.

And, guess what? All of these problems will pass. That is the nature of things. Then, in time, new problems will arise. That too, is the nature of things. The cycle will go on for a long, long time. Don't let it get you down.

Everything changes. New things come, pass their existence, then fade out. Everything, from quantum particles to galaxies, including you, is in a constant state of change. Next time you find yourself bemoaning the latest news, just remind yourself that this too will pass.

Silence

True silence is rare in our current world. I guess that always it has been hard to find. A thousand years ago, when we lived more isolated lives, even a trip to a meadow would bring you some noise, wind, bugs, birds, but nothing like we have now.

I am currently in my apartment with the window open. I can hear the TV next door, traffic passing, birds, a neighbor yelling, wind, a distant train, a plane and a helicopter, and still, I would normal consider this a reasonably quiet day.

Here and there, I like to get up early, 4 AM or so, and go outside, especially if the wind is down. Then, with the birds and neighbors still asleep, things are very quiet. Sometimes, this is a good time to think, but, more and more, I like to go with the feeling and let my mind grow quiet.

No special insights are gained, no spiritual enlightenment presents itself, but, sometimes, not often, I can feel a presence, what Elijah called the still, quiet voice.

Those moments, and they never last long, are special, very special.

Meditation

Meditation is a wonderful practice and given the way folks seem to be attacking each other, it should become part of everyone's routine. A lot of pseudo-theological nonsense has been written on the subject and you can forget all of it.

There are various phrases, prayers, sacred passages and mantras that you can repeat to yourself that focus your attention. This is all meditation is, a focusing on one thing, to the point of releasing your mind from its normal patterns. If you wish to learn those words and any other techniques, there are countless books, web site and teachers around, so I'm not going into any of that.

Instead, I am going to offer a simple technique that will work, with no religious baggage attached.

Sit in a comfortable position. Or, lie down all stretched out. Breath in, following the air as it passes your nostrils. Breath out, again, feeling the air go out. Repeat, for as long as you have time available. Eventually, you'll get to the point where you will just no when you have been at it long enough; your mind and body just automatically tell you when. It does not have to be a long  period. If you are pressed for time, just a minute or two will help you feel calm and centered.

That's it.

Note: if you fall asleep, that's fine. It happens, especially when you are first beginning the practice. Until you get used to it, you may not want to start your meditating fi pressed for time. Again, falling asleep is fine. As you meditate more often, sleep will happen less often. Also, you can do this as often as you like, but, don't overdo it. You want to be calm, not lazy.

Stay in the Light, Part 2

The Enlightenment, The Age of Reason, is perhaps the greatest thing to happen to the human race, ever. We have moved from superstition to science, from magic to the real. Well, guess what? We owe all of that to the Early Christian thinkers, with a little help from the Hebrews, Greeks and Arabs.

Christian thinkers, working from their Jewish roots and from the works of Greek philosophy, declared Jesus 'the Logos.' This literally translates as 'the Word,' but it carries a more subtle meaning. It means that the Word is Logical, rational. The Universe, they deduced is governed by the Creator's rational laws and, as such, is understandable, to a large extent by man. This was a huge moment in human history.

Come the Middle Ages, monks got their hands on the old Greek texts, thought lost. They did this because the Arab scholars had saved them. The Arab scholars shared the belief in God's rationality and devoted much time to the study of the Natural world.

The monks began to do the same. We think of the Middle ages as the Dark ages and nothing could be less true. Great strides were made in architecture and that requires deep math skills and a basic knowledge of physics. Medicine advanced. The body was not understood vey well, but a fine working understanding of herbal cures developed. An understanding of the Earth's make up, the rocks and soils developed as did plant and animal husbandry. The alchemists did not spend all their time seeking the Philosopher's Stone; they had a practical knowledge of basic chemistry.

For sure, the knowledge of that age was basic, but at least a stat was made, and from that start came the Renaissance, and from that, came the Enlightenment.

Without the Age of Reason, we would be sitting in dark hovels, eating scraps of plants and suffering a constant series of debilitating illnesses. No electricity, no cars, no books. I read some blogs, here and there who seem to want a return to the old, pre-Enlightenment days, the old magical paganism. Not me.

Stay in the Light - Part 1

I, here and there, read other blogs, and I pay attention to the news, probably too much. There are certain unsavory trends that keep popping up. Bloggers write of them, sometimes pro, sometimes against. Many of the supposedly spectacular productions seen on TV during award and big time sports, are chock full of these trends.

What are the trends? A sort of pagan revival. I say sort of because I am quite sure that they do not accurately repeat the ancient rituals, and let's hope they don't.

Humans like big showy spectacle. Our modern churches, let's be honest, are fairly drab affairs. So, folks seeing Lady Gaga or Beyoncé or any of a host of performers come out in costume, with lights and explosions and wild dancing, are drawn to it. I understand that, but I doubt most folks are aware that what they are seeing are ancient occult rituals being updated, albeit without most of the spiritual beliefs attached. Actually,  when it comes to the performers, or at least those writing and producing their material, they may understand fully the spiritual aspect.

Funny thing about some kinds of spiritual practices; even if the worker doesn't believe a bit of the ritual, the ritual works. It is almost a mechanical thing and it serves the purpose it was designed for, the summoning of spirits. Yes, spirits exist. However, many of them are not the sort of beings you want to be summoning.

The performers who act out these occult workings have a habit of not ending up in very good shape, with alcoholism, drug addiction, sexual troubles, insanity and even suicide resulting. Well, they don't do the audience a whole lot of good either. In case you haven't noticed, the World has problems. That has always been true, but any objective analysis will show that our current issues have become downright bizarre.

These issue are pointed out all over the internet, by countless bloggers. Many count themselves as experts on and practitioners of occult ritual and speak of a great neo-pagan movement. Others, while pointing out the issues, are seemingly afraid to take a stand against this movement. I suppose they feel that to do so would make them seem old and very unhip.

Personally, I look at the days of yore, when the Mystery religions thrived and pagan rituals filled the eyes and ears of humanity. I know of the days when 'the old gods' were summoned, and I know how they were summoned. And, I know that as long as humans mucked about with these entities, whatever they are, dark times ruled the Earth and mankind struggled mightily to get along, to grow enough food, to deal with disease and the whims of nature.

With the rise of Christianity, things changed. Jesus is referred to as 'Logos,' the Word; but, keep in mind that Logos is also the root of logic. The Word is rational, logical. From here, we began to think of God as being rational in his Creation of the Universe. Anything rational can be studied and its governing laws discerned. From this, we began our understanding of this World and began our long slow crawl out of the muck and mire.

You will often see it written that the Enlightenment, the Age of Reason, developed as a reaction against Judeo-Christian beliefs. Do not believe that. Next time, I will discuss the Enlightenment. Please check back in a day or two.

Civil Discourse

I have a bad habit of watching the news. Yes, I know, it is a terrible habit and I have often sworn that I would abstain, but, like a drunk to wine, I keep backsliding.they have the truth, they and only they. How that works is beyond me bac

It is amazing to me to hear and see the absolute vitriol being spewed by all sides in our current National crisis, and do not be fooled, it is a crisis.

Disagreements are fine, no one, save our creator has a monoply on truth. In fact, I can think of nothing where any one of us has the total truth about anything. We all grope in the dark, finding occasional, small bits of light that we cling to, and, hopefully, try to share with each other. Everything else is speculation.

Yet, to hear those ranting and raving across America, they, and they alone, have the truth. How that works is beyond me since each truth they speak differs from the truths others are speaking. Something is wrong, obviously, but instead of admitting that they may have a bit of their truth wrong, they all start screaming at each other. I am not picking on any one group. All sides are guilty.

The screaming has to stop, as does the inane name calling and all acts of violence. I suppose I should say that we should have love in our hearts for our opponents, but that is not going to happen any time soon. For now, let's just try and show a bit of civility and respect.

 

 

Righteous Mistrust

It is our spiritual duty to be mistrustful of those we don't know. The obvious examples of this are found in the speeches of politicians. Just because a Senator or President says something, don't trust them. Even if you like them. Especially, if you like them.

Rare is the political leader who will speak simple truth. They will twist things to their advantage. Even when using facts, they will pick and choose and slant things to their purpose.

Same goes for supposed pundits, those talking heads who analyze every move made in the land. Just because someone is on a TV news show, doe not mean that they have any real clue what they are talking about, but you will never hear them admit that.

Teachers, Professors, historians, scientists, artists, most of these people have some flaw in their character that prevents them from telling simple plain truths and few of them will ever say the words 'I don't know.'

Further, and reluctantly, I have to apply the same analysis to most religious leaders. I have heard ministers of all faiths get up and spout chapter and verse as if they came from the mouth of God (they didn't; men wrote them) and go ballistic when questioned. I have heard them quote Jesus as if he were standing in the room, when, in fact, sadly, we are not exactly sure what Jesus said (the Gospels were written years after His death, disagree with each other on many points and the there are all of those other Gospels found in recent years). They often overlook the fact that the words they are speaking and the stories they are re-telling only make sense within the cultural  and historic context of their times. It is fine to extract the timeless truths, of which there are many, from those words, but that is far different from taking them literally.

Think for yourself. Be doubtful of what you are told. Maybe it is the truth, maybe not. Generally, the truth is somewhere in there, nut you have to use your brain and sort things out. We have a sacred duty to use our minds.

Let's Try the Truth

I am not going to get political today, but, watching the news now and then, I am struck by the obsession we have developed with secrets. Plans and plots are leaked to the Press and Government officials go ballistic. Internationally, plots abound and covert actions are the norm.

So, I started thinking. What do we have to lose by just telling the truth. If we are contemplating military actions, just say so. Now, you don't have to give exact battle plans, but, face it - once the battle starts, folks are going to know.

Want to manipulate economies - just come right out and say it; again, the truth will come out. At least, if everyone knows, the playing field will be level, sort of.

If we don't like certain people and don't want them here, just say so. Stop hiding behind phony fronts. For once, have the courage to speak your mind. Again, why mislead people when your actions will reveal your thoughts eventually.

By hiding the truth, by behind the scenes manipulation, by secret alliances, we accomplish nothing. This game has been played for as long as civilizations have existed and it is a bad game, a losers game, that never, ever works out well. Instead, things simply get more and more twisted, until finally, well, you see where we finally end up, in our current mess.

From the President on down, just once, I would like to hear someone say what they mean, not just politicians, but business people, educators, religious leaders, mams and dads.

John Lennon once did a song called Give Peace A Chance, a wretchedly simple minded song. Far better would be Give Truth A Chance.

In the Green Tree

Perhaps my favorite Bible passage is Luke 23:21, 'for if they do these things in the green tree, ehat will they do in the dry."

When Jesus is called the Nazarene, we are taught that it is because he was from Nazareth. This may not be exactly true. The name may be derived from the Aramaic word 'nazur,' meaning a green shoot. On a plant agreen shoot is where new life, new growth is occurring.

Jesus can be thought of a the green shoot, the new growth, not just of Judaism, but of Humanity.

He spoke this as he was about to be crucified being beaten almost to death. He was warning those gathered that if they could do this to such a supremely alive man, filled with the Power of the Creator, what horror could be done to those stumbling through their lives half dead.

We have seen evidence of those horrors ever since, and friends, the horror is building.

Calm Down

I like getting excited. I like being noisy on occasion. I have been known to get obnoxiously rowdy here and there, But, I enjoyed those things in a positive atmosphere.

I look at the news and I see people being excited, noisy, obnoxious and rowdy, but in a very negative context. Protesters in the street, on a daily basis, are getting off on being excited in this negative context. If they are at all in their right minds, which is questionable but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, they know that all of their marching, screaming, cursing and rock throwing is doing no good, in terms of accomplishing their stated goals.

All they are doing is further dividing this already broken Nation. Spiritually, they are doing real damage to all. Spiritual growth should involve civil involvement, but first and foremost, you must respect the dignity and humanity of those you oppose and you cannot do this when you are screaming obscenities,  breaking windows, and setting fires.

Protest if you think it is the right thing to do, but, while doing so, keep in touch with your soul and realize that is something you share with your opposition. Then, we can have meaningful, constructive dialogue. Calm down. Do not get caught up in violent emotions, Realize that all you are doing is enjoying the rush of excitement that does more harm than good

Football and Celebrity as the American Religion

In large part, the spiritual life of Americans is not Christian, Jewish or any thing remotely based on traditions. Americans worship sports, especially football, and Celebrity, movie stars, musicians and rich folks in general. These are not original ideas, but they are worth a restatement.

In small towns, Friday night high school football is a ritual like few others. Towns live and die, figuratively, by their school teams. College alumni will give every thing they can to their alma mater while neglecting the poor and sick in their own town. This weeks Super Bowl will undoubtedly draw more viewers than any church around. Heck, I truly think it might outdraw the Second coming if they coincided.

There are people who know far more about Kanye West and Kim Kardashian than the teachings of Jesus. Bruce Springsteen resonates with more people than the Psalmist. Madonna speech at a political rally got a lot more attention than an appearance by the Virgin Mary would.

I am not religiously obsessed nor am I any sort of fundamentalist, I love to see people have fun with sports and music and movies. However, can't we put things in perspective?

Entheogens

On occasion, I look around at various blogs and I am amazed at how much discussion still goes on about what are now called entheogens.

The word means, almost literally, agents enabling the finding of God within. In the old days, we called them hallucinogens and I would have thought that, by now, they would have gone the way of the dodo and the passenger pigeon. LSD. mescaline, Dom. MMDA, and psilocybin were the usual, but, now, the big deal seems to be ayahuasca, a concoction native to South America.

Use of these substances does not show you the 'face of God.' All they do is show you, in a confused, uncontrollable way, the way your mind works and how it perceives and interacts with the World. Ken Kesey, who certainly knew his way around these substances, said that all they really did was turn up the volume, and that's about right.

Now if your mind is fixed on spiritual matters, you may have a profound spiritual experience under the influence. The problem is that you will have trouble concentrating and remembering after and, your vision still must be interpreted and the drugs do not help with that. In fact, they are a hindrance.

Ayahuasca contains a load of DMT, a deeply deranging drug. Yes, it is found naturally in the brain, but we have no idea why and it is not a great idea to overload the brain with it. Remember, we also produce endorphins (internal opiates) and endocannabinols ( similar to marijuana's active ingredients) and you do not want to overload on either weed or opium.

Everyone seems infatuated with the fact that, on DMT, you meet many 'spirit beings." Now, I believe in spirit beings but, trust me, they are not all the same. Some are malevolent, some benign; some brilliant, some sort of dumb; and many are Tricksters. loving to prank humans. Humans must be careful in dealing with spirits and having your head full of incredibly powerful drugs does not promote care.

I hate the term entheogen. We used to call them hallucinogens, but they often produce no hallucinations. The other term was psychedelic, which means 'mind manifesting,' but since the mind is always manifesting, that is a rather silly term. Mind altering is the best term.

To those who view these chemicals as some sort of spiritual aid, let me remind them that LSD was a favorite drug of Charles Manson and the Hell's Angels. That should give you some idea of the spiritual efficacy of these wretched substances.

Again, I thought this subject would have been closed long ago, but, it won't go away. Do not use these substances. If you want to commune with God, ask, and If God wants you, believe me, you will be contacted.

Watch Your Speech

I have, at times, been possessed of a foul mouth and, having a big voice, folks often thought that I was far grumpier than I am. Profanity is, by definition, a crude form of communication.

The way you use the language says a lot about you. It also tells you a lot about yourself. Toning down your use of harsh language is an excellent way to tone down your temper. You find yourself thinking before you speak and, much of the time, you will catch yourself about to say something either a) stupid or b) needlessly cruel or c) something you really don't mean. Controlling what comes out of your mouth is a way of gaining incite into how you go through your day and how you interact with the World around you. Jesus said that man is condemned, not by what goes into his mouth, but by every word that comes out.

Mind you, I am still not saintly. I know no one who is and I am not sure I would want to be. I still, if sufficiently provoked, will let fly a stream of profanity that is actually kind of impressive. But, I do this less and less every day. By slowing down and thinking before I spout off, I n that I really am not all that upset. The angry reaction is mostly just a bad habit.

Something as simple as watching your language is an excellent meditation, easy to practice, and you will benefit immediately.

Questioning

It is part of our nature to question almost everything. Folks sometimes equate faith with blind obedience and that is a horrible mistake. Faith is trust. If you trust that your Creator has your best interests in mind and that, ultimately, this insanity we see in the World will work itself out, that is faith and that is fine.

On the other hand, if you question just how all this works out and just what has happened to bring us to these odd times, that to is fine. You simply are using the clues provided by history and science to solve the mystery. There are those who deny our rights to even question this, insisting on unfounded belief in what we are told by past thinkers. This is to ask us to deny our humanity and it is not acceptable.

We have among our ancestors, predators, hunters. Hunters, by there very nature, think. They solve problems and those problems change every time they set out. Weather, the population of their prey, their own physical condition are all constantly changing. Hunting thus becomes a mystery, where they string together the various clues the environment gives them. This is part of who we are.

Few of us hunt these days, so we turn our brains to the pursuit  of ideas. To ask us not to do thins is to deny a part of the nature our Creator gave us. We must try to solve our various existential mysteries and to deny this is to shut off part of who we are.

Now, will we solve those mysteries? No, absolutely not because the Ultimate source of creation is beyond us, unknowable to humans, except in limited ways. But, that does not matter. Attempting to figure things out is the fun part.

Ego

As you read through the writings of the so-called New Age theologians, you get the idea that having an ego is a bad thing. I say so-called because all of what they write is just very watered down Eastern thought  mixed with up dated Theosophy and a dash of very bad science.

First of all, the ego, itself a term created by psychologists, is a slippery concept. It is your sense of self; your experience of your identity as a separate individual. Well, we are all separate individuals. That is simply the way things are. At one level.

It is also true that we are all linked, that each and every being in the Universe has a deep connection to every other being. That makes us a bit of a paradox, but what is, is what is.

To denigrate the ego is to misunderstand Creation. If God wanted every being to be the same, then that is how things would be and it would be a rather pointless existence. It is the dynamic, the energy, from the tension resulting from the interplay of individuals, that drives this Grand show.

The ego is not a problem. Without a sense of self, you would not likely survive and if you did, it would be a bland existence. An out of balance ego is. If you are completely overwhelmed by your own brilliance and beauty, then you have a problem and you are a problem for others.  But, guess what? Even those imbalances are necessary because they, in their own way, drive the Show.

So, go ahead and enjoy your life and pursue your own interests. Just try to balance that with the knowledge that you are tied to all other beings. You'll be fine. Stay away from half baked theology and psychobabble and you'll be fine.

Respect

This is not a political blog and I will never change that. However, on the day we are Inaugurating a new and extremely controversial President, I will speak of respect.

We are all children of our Divine Creator and we can and must acknowledge that by respecting each other. Respect breeds manners, which in turn creates an atmosphere conducive to dialogue. Dialogue is not screaming idiotic slogans and hurling threats. It is not attempting to shut down conversations over our disagreements.

Without respect, families are impossible and become nightmarish traps. Businesses do not work well without a respectful attitude shared by management and workers. Mutual respect is a huge part of team sports and a cornerstone of successful education.

People disagree and that is fine so long as the various sides are respectful. I have seen many business debates result in unexpected and successful solutions to problems. So, every one out there in American and around the World, chill out. You may disagree with the incoming Administration. You may think them personally unlikeable. That is 100% okay, as long as you deal with them with respect. Of course, they need to show you the same respect in return.

We are all God's children and, as such, we must treat each other with respect and dignity. To do less, is to insult our Creator.

Humor and God

All  too often, religious discussions, ceremonies and sermons are very heavy, very somber and deadly serious. Sometimes, we seem to believe that our Creator is a dour, gloomy being, who wants us to be struggling through this World of woe, this veil of tears.

In a word, no. I do not. cannot, and will not, believe that God intended us to go through these very short lives in such a somber state. This World is glorious, beautiful, and full of fun. We should revel in its abundance and beauty and have as much fun as we can possibly have.

Yes, work is important (although, once you get the hang of it, you can look on work as fun, as a game). Yes, life has sorrowful moments. But, these travails just set the stage for times of joy.

If a loved one dies, of course you mourn, but you need not mourn forever. You may iss them for the rest of your life and you may feel a twinge of sadness when you think of them, but why not remember all th good times you had together. All your mourning will not bring them back, but, remembering the good times you had together can, in a way, bring them almost back.

It's your choice. You can go through your life sober and somber, stern and unsmiling. Or, you can put on a smile, have some fun and enjoy your time. Just don't make the mistake of thinking that God does not admire good humor. You want to avoid humor that is overly cruel, but not all humor is mean. You can find a world of things to laugh about that are completely benign.

Do Not Let the Past Trap You

The past is always with us. You and I are products of our past experiences. There is no way around that.

The problem comes when you let your past trap you. It is nice to remember the good things in tour life and it is useful to learn from past experience, but, all too often, I see people who just cannot escape their history.

You are alive now. Any past even that haunts you, be it blissful or traumatic, is a phantom, a ghost. Ghosts haunt people, but they only have power when we give it to them. Let them go. If Aunt Sally hurt your feelings at a family picnic when you were 4 years old, so what. If Uncle Fred called you a dummy after you accidently broke his favorite fishing rod and your Dad whacked tour butt for it, what does it matter now.

It is nice to look back on life's pleasures, but do not become so lost in them that you ignore today. You can learn from yesterday's pain, but please do not keep reliving them. Life, here and today, is what you have, Before you know it, today is gone. Do not let yesterday's ghosts trap you.

Trust is a 2 Way Street

We are taught and advised to be forgiving and I will not argue with that. Trust is another matter.

If someone steals from me, I will forgive them. No problem. But, will I then trust them?

Maybe yes, maybe no. Eventually, probably. They first have to give me a reason to and that can only come with time and a demonstration of their change.

What brings this to mind is our new President, Donald Trump. Trump, by all testimony and by his own admission, has done some fairly despicable things. He should, without question, be forgiven, It will do neither him, nor anyone else, any good to hold things against him.

He says that he has learned from mistakes and has changed. Maybe. Only time will tell. If he shows evidence of change, by his behavior, not just words, then trust can and should be established. Until then, we are within our rights to wait and see. There are conmen who will work the same con again and again, andwe need to be careful when dealing with them.

But, given demonstrations of change, we learn to trust. However, always keep in mind that trust is a 2 way street. No one can ask trust without establishing reasons to trust.

Go Softly

As we rush through our days, it is all too easy to grow harsh. Yelling, cursing and bulling our way through the world has become a rule of life in our hectic modern times. We all fall into this behavior and, it needs to stop. Or. at least. ease off.

If you are confident in your self, if you are centered, you do not need to be that aggressive and harsh. You should not let others force you to become that way. Our recent Presidential elections were a disgusting display of irrational temper, brutal backbiting, and cruel, tasteless humor.. In my years of working, all too often, I saw employer-employee relations degenerate into such dysfunctional modes.

When discussions reach the point of bitter argument, all sides have lost. Step back, calm down, and be cool. Stay away from harsh words and screaming. If others won't follow, walk away, because not only will nothing be solved, other problems will develop,

Elijah heard  God, not as a tempest, not as an earthquake, but as a 'still. soft Voice.' Slow down, think, and make yourself quiet. In the long run, your life, and the life of those around you, will be much better.

A Request

I'm taking time out today, from my usual ranting and babbling, to ask for a bit of help. No, this is not a request for money, but I have a situation.

I live in Brunswick, Ga, with my long time friend, Deb. We wish to move to N. Georgia, near, but not in Atlanta. This is just not a good place for us to live.

However, in this town, there are no train stations, no Greyhound stations, the only airport is for small private planes, and we have no car. Neither of us, due to vision issues, can curretntly drive.

We would like suggestions on how we might get to N. Georgia. We do not have a lot of belongings and we would be more than happy to pay for transport.

If you have any suggestions, please contact me. If anyone knows the feasibility of using Uber for long trips, your comments would be welcome. If you, or someone reliable who you know, wish to make a little money for about a 7 hour drive , please contact me. Contact me at wrightjohn996@yahoo.com.

Joy

There are countless religious beliefs on this Planet and I have noticed that many, whether they be Eastern or Western, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist or Hindu, are none to cheery. They have a certain distaste for life.

All too often, religious leaders bemoan life as a series of trials winding through our sojourn in this vale of tears. This needs to stop.

Yes, life is, at times sad and we are tested. If that is upsetting, all I can say is get over it. It's just a part of life and if you are concentrating on that, you have some issues to work on. Only a wee, young child expects sunshine and lollipops all the time. If things were always sweetness and light, this life would be intolerably boring.

A religion that does not bring joy, should be discarded. A religious leader who goes on at length about what rotten sinners we all are, should be removed from the pulpit.

Life, in spite of its many problems, is a joy to be celebrated. When you can manage this, you can deal with the downturns with far less problem. In your darkest times, look closely and I will assure you that somewhere in there you will see a spark of light.

Cultural Context and Religion

I heard today, in passing, some minister, on some TV show, talking about the need to start stressing the Gospel again. He seemed like a decent guy, and I certainly have great interest in the Gospels, but, when I heard him start mentioning a few points, I became a bit discouraged.

We do not seem to ever learn one important lesson. You cannot read the Gospels without understanding their cultural context, without understanding the world of Roma and Jerusalem 2000+ years ago. Let me correct that; you can read them without that understanding, but boy are you going to get confused and you will make dreadful mistakes. That is what has happened over the years and one reason Christianity, and, for that matter, Judaism, make no sense to many folks.

Much of what Jesus taught, he taught to people who had the understanding of the World at their time. How else would he teach? It was taught to a specific audience. He had to base his words around what they understood and around their customs. Also, much of what he taught revolved around the politics of the time and the horrible tension between the Romans and the Jews.

Judaism was not a simple thing. Most read the gospels and hear mention of the Pharisees and the Sadducees without having much of a clue  about their very different beliefs. Maybe some have heard of the Essenes, but know little about how truly powerful and how truly weird they were. And that's not to mention other groups like the Nazarites, the Theraputae, all the assorted militant groups and revolutionaries. Even more obscure, but perhaps more important are the differences between the Priests and their version of the Law, and the rural people who remembered the times before the return from the Babylonian exile and the rise of the Temple (remember, much of the Old Testament was not written before the return from Babylon and no such book existed until then). Many saw differences between the Basic Mosaic Law, the 10 Commandments, and the countless addendums of the Priests and resented the power of the Priests.

On top of all that, many Jews had some ties to other, local religions, many had become enamored of the Greeks and the Neoplatonists and were seeking a synchronistic  belief system.

So, you see, there is no way to understand the Gospels without understanding the culture of the times and, unfortunately, many ministers seem to have no knowledge and even less interest in this history. And, just think, I haven't even brought up such issues as lineage (all of those begats) and the systems of Roman and Jewish government. Educate yourselves before you preach.