Loving Approach 2

One of the ideas that keeps coming up during my meditation is that as a species we need to shift into " a new life in which love, not greed or lust for power, is the new dynamic", including those in power as c.e.os., presidents or dictators. Meaning they need to change their focus, but also they need to be treated with love, not greed or anger. Getting them to change their focus will certainly be a challenge, but there is the additional challenge of treating them with love, necessitating that we put aside our own hurt and anger. As I said yesterday, "We still need the guidance to behave in such a way that honors our environment and the other children [people]".

Perspective

I like the analogy of thinking of humanity as a bunch of children playing together in a huge sandbox. Some of us are a bit older than others but none would be considered old and wise. As with any group of children, we are all beautiful children of God but we are also very capable of self-centered, impulsive and destructive behavior, particularly when we are hurt or angry. As with any children, we need gentle, loving, respectful and very firm guidance. The analogy breaks down since, in general, children do not have the means to be truly destructive, as adults we do. We still need the guidance to behave in such a way that honors our environment and the other children.

Dealing With Pain

I began reading an essay on the "miraculous" effects of spiritual healing and I also had an opportunity to use my own healing techniques on myself since I had considerable sciatica pain. I tried to reduce my pain using a hot pad, a cold pack, aspirin, stretching and a combination of my own healing techniques. My techniques include healing touch, meditation to explore the source of the pain and visualizing healing the tissues. My techniques sound pretty "woo - woo" but I have often been impressed with their efficacy if done with love. In this case they were the only thing that worked. I have also successfully used the same techniques to avoid surgery many times.

Loving Approach

Today I spent most of the day working in the yard. I also spent some time doing household things like paying bills, cooking and cleaning. To paraphrase Mother Teresa, I performed many small tasks, with great love. In the yard I planted a butterfly bush, adjusted a clematis, fertilized a dogwood and transplanted some violets. In each case I beamed love and respect to the plant I was working with. The loving approach to the mundane task of yard work seems to improve the growth of the plants and definitely feels better to me, making the task more enjoyable.

Love and Peace 2

I am struck by the fact that most people are not very interested in the sort of spiritual love-based life I propose. It’s too much work and there is virtually no "instant gratification". In my case and with most people, life has to become pretty unpleasant before turning to the spiritual life I suggest. In the words of Fuchs "He [Jesus] stood before me. He stands before mankind, asking us all, asking the nations and the leaders of nations, the statesmen and the simple people, whether they will destroy themselves or whether they will give themselves to the grip of his power and thereby a new life in which love, not greed or lust for power, is the new dynamic. It sounds simple -----It is not.

Love and Peace

Today I have been reading an essay by Emil Fuchs, who wrote very eloquently of a position very similar to the one I find myself in. He wrote "Nothing which is of imagination can bring out of that revulsion peace: the overpowering awareness of an eternal love whose ways you do not understand, whose will you have to accept without comprehension, but whose reality you know." I experience that revulsion because of the political and militaristic situation I find myself in but also the overwhelming "love, healing, peace, power and presence" I spoke of yesterday. He spoke of Jesus as the originator, I know that the love, power and presence of origin is egoless and does not care about its name.

Silence

I have been reading a Quaker essay on the value of silence and reflecting on silence versus the clamoring of my intellect during my own meditation. During meditation I experience fleeting seconds of silence, mixed with mind wandering, and I have grown comfortable with that. Those fleeting seconds are enough for me to experience love, healing, peace, power and presence. I have enjoyed one of the comments by Walsch; "In the stillness, you will find your true being. In the silence you will hear the breathing of your soul ---- and of God. I have told you many times, and I tell you here again: You will find Me in the stillness."  Time to meditate!

Spiritual Path

Today, and frequently, I feel that my life is a glorious statement of what it is to be human. When I am tired or depressed, my life feels heavy. I have used the analogy many times, but I feel like the cabin boy on a ship that I own. The ship is a beautiful three masted sailing vessel out on the open ocean of life. Someone ( God, as I conceive him/her) else is steering so I have no idea where we are going or what we are up to. I am reminded of the apt comments by Thomas H. Green, S.J., "But for those blessed souls who are able to let go, to float free, a new and mysterious world is revealed. It is a world more mysterious, more exotic and, initially, more threatening than the new world Columbus and Magellan stumbled upon. Those who "stay home" will only know of it by hearsay, and will scarcely believe what they hear. The few whom grace and their own generosity launch on the uncharted sea — they alone will ever really know whether the explorers’ tales are true."

Love and Connection

During the recovery meeting today I met a woman who is dealing with her M.S., particularly the associated speech difficulties. We made a good connection and I was able to make her more comfortable and less self-conscious with her difficulties, for which she thanked me. I beamed love at her and everyone else at the meeting. I also reassured her during the meeting that if they understood me, they would have no trouble understanding her. The feeling of love and connection was very strong and it was great to be part of that. Being human is a struggle by itself and when a disability is added the struggle is more intense.

Near Death Experience

I have been reading about the views of Nikos Kazantzakis. He viewed life, very passionately, as a "luminous interval" between birth and death, focusing on the "ascension" and struggles of a life well and thoroughly lived - which I agree with. He also viewed the periods before and after life as an "abyss". In my case and having had a "near death experience" during which I experienced the feeling of extreme godly love and was told "this is what death feel like", I disagree with his comments about an abyss. I like his approach to life - "Lord, who are you? You loom before me like a centaur, his hands stretched toward the sky, his feet transfixed in mud." [God] "I am he who eternally ascends"