The reat reward
The greatest gift is simply love, simple, direct and down to earth. Expressed in homely ways that can bring comfort to those in pain, solace to those who grieve, affection and touch for those who long for a healing touch and also hard words of truth when needed. As the heart expands, the reward for loving is simply to love more, ever deeper, for eternity.
Paradox supreme
Cosmos vast,
no end in sight,
light years countless
it would take to traverse,
yet in a child is Divinity shown;
in a cave born,
small and weak;
paradox supreme.
“And a child shall rule them”.
No matter what the cost
Often when I am in the emergency room with a charge, I will often hear a sound that truly tears at the human heart. It is the wailing of incomprehension, of a very small child, having some kind of medical intervention done. I would think there are few people in the world who are not effected by such a sound. Here is a child, not understanding why its parents are allowing something truly horrible and painful being done to it, and doing nothing to help. No matter how d
When maturity takes hold
Mercy leads to healing, which can take years to accomplish as maturity takes hold and inner honesty takes deeper root. So mercy is yes a grace, freely given, not only by God but also by humans (again I feel a sign of grace active in the world), that is like a leaven, that slowly does its work as we continue on our journey. Perhaps that is what the ‘life review’ is about, that are lived out by those who have a “near death experience”. For we often hurt those whom we
Asking for mercy
Sometimes mercy can be understood and its cost in asking and receiving it, when on occasion something hurtful or cruel is done to a loved one; someone central to ones life and existence’, a wife, husband, friend etc. I have experienced this. The reality of the injustice done can cause deep wells of sorrow and suffering and yes guilt in acknowledging responsibility. In fact the deeper the love of another, so is the corresponding need to accept that the act was one freely com
Shadow of divine reality
(This is one way of looking at mercy, from the perspetive of my being a christian)
To extend mercy is freeing. The one who is the beneficiary however may not understand it, or accept it. Or if he does, it may take time for the work of mercy to bring up the reality of the evil done, by the wrongdoer. I feel that mercy proffered by one human to another is a sign of grace in the world, a shadow of the divine reality of what mercy really is. Of which I believe, we are
Too painful to encounter
Activity keeps boredom at bay, for if what lies beneath the boredom experienced, is far from boring. Noise, excessive activity, the manic desire not to be alone, or quiet, is there for a reason. For there is much in each unique individual that could be either too painful to encounter, or perhaps very dangerous to contemplate until one is to ready allow what lies underneath to surface. Before the ‘inner’ can be experienced, it is important to learn how to breathe in
Billy Love
(William)
William for awhile used to start singing in the morning and go all day long. It was quite remarkable how he did that. He was in a Jazz band when young and from time to time played with Chubby Checker when the twist was popular. Jazz was his first love however and he played the Clarinet. He went under the name of “Billy Love”. He walked like someone who had a lot of soul, was open, frank and at times had a very small fuse when it came to how he expressed himself.
Ability to see
Humility is the ability to see truth, embrace it and the suffering it entails and move on. In the beginning, often, when someone begins their inner journey, there is excitement, joy at the perceived inner depths of their souls, but that fades after a bit, when another level is hit upon. I guess Carl Jung would call that the shadow. A rich and varied assortment, a mob perhaps, of inclinations, desires, rages that have been hidden and repressed, until the time is right to take
What would life be like?
To reject portions of myself will naturally lead me to reject others. What would happen if that changed, if I could embrace everything about myself and stand before God in thankfulness, not only for what I perceive as good, but also, to be blunt, the Sh-t? What would happen? Would I look on others differently, as another self, with both light and dark doing their dance, (perhaps tango is a better phrase)? With the same struggles, failures, and yes successes, though
The hardest thing of all
Christ told me “to love my neighbor as myself” for good reason I think. So if I wish to grow in love of others I perhaps have to do the hardest thing of all; love myself. Love is such a mystery, yet in Christ it is stronger than death, stronger than any ‘crap’ that is within me, deeper than any rage, or lust, or self hatred projected outwards. I can fight all I want, scream, yet Christ gently holds me, coxing slowing the tenderness that is there within me, but hidde
Restless
Lack of sleep, overwork, or simple dissipation of energy in frivolous pursuits, and of course ill health, can be only some of the influences on our inner life that can lead to ‘restlessness’. I think the term “Waiting for the Lord”, deals with this very common experience for human beings, as they continue their journey or pilgrimage through life. For restlessness, at least from my experience, is there to teach something for those who consciously seek God, and yes perhaps for every
Absurd at times
Life can seem empty, grey, and absurd for me at times. The energy that seeks something to rest in is denied me and when I go inward I can often experience the same colorless void. I get restless, though I know that running hither and thither will do no good. Ever so slowly I have come to understand that if I feel dry and nothing seems attractive to me, then I have learned to simply wait, for it will pass. Home is being in the moment, not running from, it is only then tha
Ron’s decline
So quickly his decline, just a few months ago he was working, walking around, present to those around him and could be communicated with without trouble. Then one day he was different. He could not do his job, did not really care, he would just shrug his shoulders. I guess it had been coming for awhile, but he could cover it up, then one day he could not. Then he fell, hitting his head and the decline become more rapid.
Now he does not know where he is at, at times for
What we are called to emulate
Youth is for the young. Getting older is something that should be embraced celebrated, loved even, for that is after all reality, we age. Perhaps there is a reason for this, aging. Maybe life is set up so that as we get older we can have more time to seek more important pass times, more fulfilling and meaningful for that specific time of life. Yes we are slowly backed in corners as the years pile up, but for those with faith this should be an invitation to a de
Our search and our faith
When things get dark, then it is time to draw on faith. If difficult, no matter, for our faith though a gift, is also a choice, one that needs to be made over and over again. We live in a world wherein any belief system has to be based on a certain level of faith. We also have minds, intelligence and I believe we should use it to grow deeper in our understanding of our relationship with God, as well as with those around us. If we don't ponder and grow, then the
Final gift
Old age is feared by many, yet it must come for us all;
for those lucky enough to endure through the years,
bringing with it much joy and sorrow,
pleasure and pain.
Bodies age, lose their original beauty and strength,
yet the soul remains young and supple
hidden beneath a face wrinkled and worn,
either bitter are filled with wisdom.
Our paths are hard, no one spared the trail,
the heart responding to what life offers.
Each enfolded within God’s loving arms,
though hidden a
Not something owned
One of the weaknesses of religious people is the all too human tendency to make their own path the true one, others being left out. When in fact, all images of God are limited and need to be stretched. God is not something owned, not an object to be carried around, nor can God’s work in the world by deduced by certain scripture verses, over used, in order to simply back up ones special place in the scheme of things. No, God is equally involved in all lives, for in God we
Patience
It is only through impatience that we develop the ability to grow in actually being patient. Virtue is at first practiced by simply not reacting in an unthinking manner, which later becomes a habit easier to practice. Though self reflection is always needed and I believe prayer as well.
Vice is the same, the more it is lived out, the easier it gets and more likely than not, less authentic guilt is felt. Humility is the ability to see oneself in a clear light without fear and
Puzzle master
It is easy to demand from others what is impossible for me. When I do that, I just want a world in which I am comfortable. Seeking to make others simple props for my life, pieces on a chess board that I can move about according to my will (like that will actually ever happen, people can’t be herded). Compassion and yes empathy allows love to be impersonal, not based on need, but actually on the need of others. Ok, yes, I do in very imperfectly, but in living that out may be
Buried alive
Strange is it not, how the so called unattractive become more beautiful the more we listen and learn to see them in a different light. To understand is to grow in compassion, which allows the inner light to manifest and so see the humor and courage that people actually have if they feel seen and not boxed in or judged.
Also, perhaps all of us at times are the unattractive ones? Pause and consider how that was and how difficult it is to breathe before one who only see what
You never know
I was at the VA yesterday. Met a few people, talked to an 88 year old who just wanted to connect with anyone and who was an interesting chap with a good story. There was a man in a wheel chair across from me and we also talked a bit. He looked about 40, but was actually in his early 50’s. Later I met him in the ENT inner waiting room after being called backed. As he talked with me, he shared some of his life and I could see that his smiles and laughing covered a great d
Our Ideals
I find it a wonder how we as a species seem to live out the same pattern over and over again, generation after generation without seeming to be able to change or learn. Well perhaps we are learning but it seems at such a pace that it may be too late to save us. I also find it amazing that it is those who don’t believe in freewill (well at least they say they do not) who seem to get the most upset over man’s failures to live up to their ideals.
What touches the most deeply
I am getting old now, my youth far behind me, yet I often feel that I am just at the beginning of my journey, even if I am more aware everyday of the reality of my own mortality and yes my extreme human weakness as well as my strengths. I find that grace uses my weaknesses to touch me the most deeply and it is in those areas that many of my gifts find their roots, though if truth be told, I wish it were otherwise. Yet we can be misled by our strengths as well an
