Peace 2

A large part of the reason that I feel a sense of peace over the political decisions being made is that I realize that they are none of my business, while I am also doing what I can with the actions that are my business. Putting it in terms of the second of the three questions that are the focus of my book (Would I do this in front of God [or whatever you call the power or force behind the Universe]; Is my name really on it [or is it really my responsibility]; Will this increase the integrity of the universe [or is this action motivated by love, rather than fear, acting out of love always increases the integrity of the universe]), those decisions are not my responsibility. I simply continue to act out of love.

Peace

Recently I have listened to the news and read the paper some and I have to say that I do not like what is going on politically and will do everything I can to change it, like my book and this blog, but I am also at peace with it. There have been decisions on immigration, health matters and, most recently, pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement that are counter to the ideas I present in my book and this blog. Those decisions are also beyond my control.  "When one is anchored deeply in the divine solution to all problems, outer turmoil cannot disturb the inner tranquility. It is a peace that surpasses all understanding."

Inner Silence

I was recently asked why I get up in the middle of the night to pray and meditate and I responded that it is then that I connect best with God. I really like the comment by Seeger that "From everywhere, it seems, we are bombarded with the idea that our nature is innately violent, that our chief preoccupation is with our sexuality, and that our main purpose in life is the acquirement of ever more nifty possessions.......Indeed, if is only through the practice of inner silence that we can begin to disentangle ourselves from our culture and its illusions." It is in the middle of the night that I focus best and feel more loving and less "bombarded". It is then that I better achieve inner silence.

Gratitude

Today I performed some simple tasks like shopping, exercise, weeding gardens, bed repair, cooking and other household tasks. For me, being disabled, these activities were very difficult, time consuming and I felt extremely grateful that I could do them at all. I also did some reading of spiritual literature and meditating to maintain my "conscious contact" for which I am also grateful. In the words of Meister Eckhart "A man should receive God in all things and train his mind to keep God ever present in his mind, in his aims and in his love. Note how you regard God: keep the same attitude that you have in church or in your cell, and carry it with you in the crowd and in unrest and inequality.....In your acts you should have an equal mind and equal faith and equal love for your God.....If you were equal-minded in this way, then no man could keep you from having God ever present."

Life

Today was Memorial day and Maria and I attended a cookout gathering of Friends. Once again I was reminded of how different I am. As I commented yesterday, most people prefer their "nifty possessions, technology and other distractions I tend to stay away from." Most of the talk was about those distractions. As they talked I felt fondness and love for the human condition. Living, being alive, is a wonderful and beautiful adventure - so is getting old and dying.

Spiritual Life

There are a goodly number of people in the world that are moving away from the sort of spiritual life I suggest in my book in favor of nifty possessions, technology and other distractions I tend to stay away from. There is also a growing group of people who are moving away from material possessions in favor of love, inclusiveness and relationships. I continue to do everything I can to support the latter. In the words of Patricia Loring "We can cultivate an environment among us which will foster one another’s spiritual growth by directing and redirecting intention and attention to God; by discouraging what draws us away; by loving support for each other in the vicissitudes of our utterly human lives; by respecting and cherishing the uniqueness of each life."