March 23, 2014

Recent discoveries in astronomy have been mind-boggling.  Roughly thirteen million years ago, the universe began with a Big Bang at a point – where?  About a trillionth of a second later, waves of gravitation – some divine afterthought? - went out from that point.  Since then, the universe has been expanding at an ever-accelerating rate – into what?   
If the entire planet earth were as dense as a black hole, its diameter would be seven tenths of an inch!   
My reaction is, “Dear God, you have a lot of explaining to do!”

Today, the response I get is,

“No.

“I don’t owe you anything. 

“I gave you life and the opportunity to make of that gift the best you can see to do. 

“I gave you tools with which to work: the tools of physical capacities and the senses,

the tool of intellect, and the tools of emotion and compassion.

“I have no explaining to do.

“You have a lot of learning to do.”

March 2, 2014

There is so much trouble in the world. 

It is natural to ask, “What can I do to alleviate troubles in the Ukraine, in the Central African Republic, in Venezuela – or in our country?” 

It is natural to be discouraged sometimes. 

But there are a couple things we can do.  First, we can refuse to permit discouragement to keep us from doing what we can where we are.  Second, we can practice peace.  We can strive to increase our capacity to contribute to peace; to think clearly, to speak truthfully, and to act with integrity, courage and love whenever and wherever we are called.

Goals: nourishment or escape?

I am selfish.  I cannot be selfless.  (See my 1991 essay.)  But I do aspire to a life of service; to be the best example to my daughters and the best representative of my family and friends that I can be; to live up to my countless blessings.  So, when I form a personal goal, big or small, I will try to remember to ask myself whether pursuing that goal will nourish my capacity to serve that of God which is in every person or will simply be an escape.

Justice

Pure justice is like pure oxygen.  It is extremely difficult and expensive to produce.  Most people and organizations are simply unable to produce it.  Most people would have a hard time recognizing it – and wouldn’t know how to use it well, or even safely, if they had it.  But, like the oxygen in the air around us, mixed as it is with other gases and some pollutants, there is much justice all around us if we are willing to accept it in its natural form.

The math of life

We cannot know when our last day of this life will come.  Illness, accident and tragedy strike without warning.  However, if one enjoys every day as much as possible, when the last day comes, one can know that one has had a life of enjoyed days.

Being easily amused

Being easily amused is its own reward.

Resilience

Practice resilience.

Resilience is a combination of acceptance, creativity and perseverance available to every person through reflection, values and choice.

Like a muscle, resilience can be developed.  Exercises include finding reasons to be grateful; forgiving oneself and others; caring for one's health; serving others; and finding humor and beauty in the way things are.

Intelligence, wisdom, integrity, courage, charisma, commitment, kindness and even love are more potent when protected by resilience.

Practice resilience.