February 2, 2020

Does God change?  Has God changed over the past 5000 years?  The past 50,000 years?  I do not know.

Does God grow?  As the universe expands in all directions at the speed of light, as countless manifestations of creation grow, and new ones are born, hatched and sprout – and die – every second, does God grow?  I do not know, except by faith.

Does the Holy Spirit of life – not the laws of physics, chemistry, gravity, and thermodynamics, but that part of God which we believe is within, and accessible to, each human being – grow?  As long as we grow, particularly as long as we strive to increase the expression and experience of love in the world and to appreciate and honor the love and compassion in others, how could the Holy Spirit we strive to serve not grow?

January 12, 2020

In every moment there is a seed of growth, love, and mystery.

In every poem and song there is meaning beyond the ken of the poet or songwriter.

Every act of kindness has effects – including on the actor – which are no less important for being unnoticed.

We do not need to understand the full power of grace or the extent of its effects – we do not need to become Jesus, or Muhammad, or the Dalai Lama – to serve well as agents of grace.

December 29, 2019

The light of the Holy Spirit within every person, once seen, cannot be unseen.

Holy Spirit, help us to serve you by sharing, and by contributing to others' seeing in themselves, the light of love, compassion, and peace.

Yearnings, temptations, impulses

Yearnings, temptations, and impulses: fear of them, or of the consequences of yielding to them may avoid trouble.  But who wants to be driven by fear?
Much more effective and fulfilling is consciously asking, and doing, what our highest values require, thus both living up to the examples of the people we most admire and, by being good examples, contributing to those who come after us.

Reality check #13: Ethics

Ethics are situational, but how aware are we of the ethical choices we are making?  How carefully do we consider the ethical choices we perceive? 
Do we act as if what we want to do is what our ethics require, or at least permit?
What is the price of claiming ethical values and not acting according to what one's conscience would have one do?

Reality check #12: What would I give up to get others' holiness?

How would my life improve if I really got that each and every person is a holy person? 
How might I contribute to others' lives if I really got that? 
What would I have to give up to really get this? 
How much self-righteousness am I willing to give up?

Reality check #11: Gears in the transmission of Life

When you feel on top of the world, at the top of your game, what if you are just at the top of one gear - ready to shift into the next one? The next professional or creative gear? The next level of consciousness? The next spiritual gear?
What if, in the transmission of life, the next gear is a deeper awareness and a higher level of service to others?
In the moments when life seems great just the way it is, would you rather stay where you are, ignore or forget that there's a higher gear - how many higher gears? - and avoid the discomfort of growth? Of being a beginner again?