My Shadow

There are two people in my life right now that I do not feel loving and supportive toward when they are not present and I am just thinking about them. However, when I am with them I am genuinely loving and supportive in my thoughts and actions towards them. When just thinking about them I judge them and want to control and correct there behavior. Pretty arrogant and part of me that I am not proud of — but at least I do not act on my negative feelings. On a good day, when those judgmental feelings arise I think "Ahh, there you are again!". "Loving the enemy within ourselves does not eliminate the enemy out there, but it can change our relationship with him." (A.B. Schmookler)

Choices

I have been tasked by the powers that be with renewing my website and to do it in such a way that it helps people make love based, ethical and honest choices and actions, choosing the "good wolf" I mentioned two days ago. I will write about my own experiences, joys and hopes for the future, using myself as an example which people can follow if they wish. As I say on my website "I lead a fairly disciplined life" and I am aware that others would rather not follow that example. I want to make it clear that love is important, not discipline or any particular belief system. Love is inclusive not exclusive. All loving actions, choice and beliefs are included.

Conflict

A few years back I encountered what was titled "Cherokee Wisdom" on the internet. In that piece a grandfather explained to his grandson that within each person there was a struggle or conflict between a bad or evil wolf and a good or loving wolf. The grandson then asked "which wolf wins" and the old Cherokee responded "the one you feed". Right now that same conflict is playing out on a societal level with lies deceit and unethical practices on one side and kindness, honesty and love on the other. I sense clearly that, in an eternal sense, Love will win since love is much more powerful and love conquers all. However, we are not there yet. I will continue to do all I can on an individual and societal level to promote the Love side.

Light and Love

I see and feel the light and Love of God in everything around me at all times, which brings me great peace and joy. Because of that feeling I often find myself laughing or smiling. I feel great joy. For example, yesterday, I went grocery shopping and I saw several very young children with their mothers. I saw their beautiful eyes, smile and they often smiled back. Another example is that tonight I encountered a cockroach, a truly well adapted survivor and I smiled (I still dispatched it while admitting I valued it!). According to Thomas Jesus said, "I am the light which is before all things. It is I who am all things. From me all things came forth, and to me all things extend. Split a piece of wood, and I am there; lift up the stone, and you will find me."

Human Nature

Tonight I keep thinking back to the movie Wonder Woman and her words after her opponent pointed out that humans were self-centered, selfish, aggressive and not worthy of her concern, protection or attention. Her response was to say basically "yes they are — but they are also so much more". We/they are. As in my case, we are quite capable of being loving and other-directed. I am committed to the growth and well being of my brothers and sisters on this planet and I know many others who feel the same. We, unquestionably, have our negative sides but we also have a positive side. We just need to nourish it.

On The Cross

Today, in the monthly meeting of our spiritual reading group, we were talking about "living on the cross", the suffering and the death of our own ego selves as we turn ourselves over to the will of God. As I mentioned, I do not experience suffering from carrying out difficult ministries or turning my life and will over to the care of God. Anyone looking at the physical reality of my life would think I was suffering. I do not. I do feel the " peace, Love and joy I find there", which I spoke of yesterday. As St. John of the Cross said of touches " The delights they engender more than compensate for all the trials suffered in life, even though innumerable"