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 It seems that Seasons Greetings have been replaced by sales pitches and soggy romances that have noyhing to do with the Season.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