December 13, 2020

It is natural to want to be right; at least to see ourselves as right.

It is natural to want to be right about God and God’s commandments.

But there are inevitably great variations in what humans discern to be right.  People’s convictions about what’s right — particularly what’s true about God and God’s commandments — have led to countless wars and other conflicts.

If I believed that God regarded people who believe differently from me about God, and about what faithfulness to God requires, are wrong and should be corrected, or even shamed or subjugated until they believe as I do, I do not see how I could find inner peace, or relate to those people as equals, when the duty to correct remained undone.

If that’s what being right with God means, I shall not be right with God.  I’ll give up an eternity of peace and joy in the afterlife for peace and joy in this life, and for whatever contribution I may make to others’ experience of peace and joy in this life.  I will do my best to love others, including those of different beliefs, even those who are hostile to me or to my beliefs.  I will encourage others to be right with God their way — and I’ll do my best in mine.  I will strive for a loving relationship with everyone, thus to improve the chances for peaceful relations with others and peace within myself.

December 20, 2020

As the celebration, by Christians, of the birth of Jesus Christ approaches, it seems to me that the essential message of Jesus to us, to every one of us, is this:

“You are never alone.  There is always, within you and accessible to you, a Holy Spirit of love and of infinite reach and power to give you comfort, wisdom, and strength.”

I think I'm beginning to understand koans.

When we look within, when we question ourselves, getting a true answer shouldn't be the point.  Life is not an examination.  It is a series of perceptions followed by choices of action.  

The point of questioning ourselves, of self-examination, should be discerning the best action - the best response to our circumstances - and acting accordingly, with a clear mind, clean conscience, and open heart.

Then we should assess our results and, having learned something, repeat the process.

Our role in this moment

This moment comes and goes — and this moment is always with us.

Once created, we cannot change this moment.

But, guided by a loving Spirit within and accessible to each of us, we are the creators of this moment, of our response to it, and of our perception of its possibilities.

December 6, 2020

This morning I am thinking about the daunting and discouraging number of conflicts in this nation and in the world, and what we sitting here in worshipful meditation can do about it.

Conflicts will be reduced or resolved not by debate; by persuasion; by what one side or the other contends to be cogent, even irrefutable, evidence.  Conflicts will never be reduced or resolved by self-righteousness.

Conflicts will ultimately be reduced and resolved by love in the heart turned into love in action; by a bow and a smile, never by a sneer; by peaceful, respectful listening, starting unilaterally; by showing understanding, acceptance, moral support and, in the political sphere, fair economic and social support – while never rewarding bad behavior.

We can contribute to the reduction and resolution of conflicts around us by representing that of God within ourselves, by seeking and focusing on that of God in each party to a conflict, and by cultivating our capacity to do so.

November 22, 2020

This moment comes and goes — and is always with us.

Once created, we cannot change this moment.

But, aided by the Holy Spirit, we are the creators of this moment.

November 15, 2020

The journey of meditation this morning reminds me of another kind of journey — hiking.  When hiking, as when meditating, many things invite our attention — something imperfect, something in the way, something odd, something especially beautiful.  We can let them all be.

The leaves are dancing — without our doing anything.

The light, or the darkness, or the present mixture, is as it is for this moment — and then it changes, and changes again.

The air, through and with our clothing, caresses the skin.

The pines, roses, honeysuckle, mint and their botanical cousins spray their fragrances with abandon.

The wind, a voice of nature, is speaking; maybe calling us to prayer.

In meditating as in hiking, it is fine, indeed natural, to stop and look around.  There are always gifts of Life at hand, gifts worthy of notice, celebration, and gratitude.  But they rarely require analysis, let alone action.  We can let them all be.