Change

During the meeting today of a spiritual writing group, I commented that I really did want to “change the world” and was doing that by changing one person at a time.  I would like to see the focus of the world shift away from things like materialism, capital gain and competition, toward things like love, connection and faith.  My belief is that would change the way we relate to each other and this planet, our home.  This blog is part of that effort.  In my view it is unlikely that a person would kill their own brother/sister, who they love, or destroy their own home. I’m a dreamer and I like that!

Being Peaceful

It’s been a difficult couple of days for me.  I was wrongly accused of something and immediately went into the defensive arrogance of thinking “don’t they realize who I am!?”.  I also rehearsed several defensive conversations before realizing that the conclusion that I was being accused of was the most likely one and stopped taking the whole thing personally.  I relaxed to the peace of just doing my best and having the faith that it would all work out.  It did.

The Gift of Getting Help

Many years ago, when I was still using crutches, I was struggling to open a heavy, spring loaded door and, much to his mom’s amazement, a very little boy rushed across the parking lot to help me.  When he was done he beamed his pleasure at me.  Since then, because of my disability,  I have asked for help numerous times, with similar results.  Recently I have been getting a lot of help with the promotion of my book, help happily given.  Today I acknowledged that I needed a new computer and began seeking assistance.  Once again I was met with enthusiastic willingness.  One of the principles of attitudinal healing that I learned years ago is that “giving and receiving are the same”.  Each is a gift to be cherished.

That Force 3

Tonight’s recovery meeting was about spirituality and I did not speak, in part because the subject is so vast, and in part because the subject is so simple and basic.  Several people spoke of their own concept, based on their own experience   The concepts and words used varied a bit with each person, some very Christian, some mixed and some essentially atheistic.  As far as I can tell, the words and names used make no difference.  All acknowledged that there is something there that they can tap into.  That seems to be enough.

That Force 2

In meditating about the unconditionally loving God or force that I have encountered and use in my life, it has become apparent to me that many, perhaps most, people prefer to think of that same God or force as a personified entity with, rules, judgements and other human qualities.  For some reason, I do not feel the same need.  I wish to connect with that force and to have that force inform and influence all of my actions during the day.  The result is that my behavior is very loving and that I have a very fulfilling life.

That Force

During my life journey for the last several years I have come to know an unconditionally loving God or force that does not require any sort of belief or obedience, a God that will never judge me in any way.  It has become clear to me that it does not even matter what name you use for this force, just that there is something. This is a God that will allow me to commit  self-destructive acts or acts that harm this planet or the beings that live on it.  Having experienced the intense love of that force makes it totally clear, almost mandatory, that I do no less than treat other entities with the same love and respect.

Being Open

During this afternoon we had a meeting of several Friends (Quakers), my wife and myself talking about being open to God’s input and gifts.  I realized how important it was that I went through my period of pain, disability and terror in order to give up any preconceived notions or attachments.  Those notions and attachments prevented me from being and, though I did not think so at the time, giving up those attachments was a gift, albeit in strange packaging.

Listening

Maria, my wife, has been constructing and planning for a sweat lodge on some nearby forest service land.  She was going to do one sweat alone, for her own cleansing and spiritual growth and one with several other people.  There have been several “road blocks” or problems, particularly regarding the individual lodge, the last problem being today with leaking, newly purchased water jugs.  Paying attention to the series of problems regarding the individual lodge, we finally realized today that the lodge is meant to be of service to the community, not purely for individual use.  That realization feels right to each of us.

Acting Accordingly

Christians would probably say that my way of life was acting according to the Holy Spirit or Trinity.  Taoist’s might say that I was following “The Way”, while Buddhist’s might say that I was acting according to my “Buddha Nature” and the Lakota people may refer to my approach as the “Red Road”.  Personally, as far as I can tell, all of the various belief systems are talking about the same thing.  I behave lovingly, humbly, with respect for all things and with integrity.  I do that because it feels right.

A Love-based Approach

Tonight I was reading in National Geographic about efforts that are being made all over the globe to reduce carbon emissions, increase sustainability and to be more responsible in the use of resources, even at the expense of a short-term increase in cost, very refreshing.  It is clear that short term material gain or other selfish motives frequently do not increase the integrity of the universe and result in the long-term destruction of the planet.  When I meditate the approach I read about feels more love-based.