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.
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Monday, November 20, 2017
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.
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.
Monday, November 13, 2017
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,
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,
Monday, November 6, 2017
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.
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.
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