Words from a Heart of Love

Words matter.

Words can teach, uplift and heal, and give life to our spirts. Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'”

When Jesus asked the twelve disciples if they too wanted to leave him, Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)

Yet, words can also do great damage. Deceitful words can sow doubt, cause rancorous division, and create disorder, pain, and division.

Adam Eve and the Serpent

In Genesis 3, we see that the words of the serpent resulted in the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden.

James 3:6-8 says:

And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind, but no human being can tame the tongue–a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

So the words that the tongue speaks can be used for good or evil. In Matthew 12:34-37, Jesus points out that the quality of our words stems from the condition of our heart:

“You brood of vipers! how can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Jesus explains further in Matthew 15:18-20

“… what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a man;”

So if we engage in false witness, malicious lies, of slander, it reveals that there is something wrong with our heart. If our heart were pure we would see God. Our heart would be filled with truth, love, and peace and we would speak words of truth, love and peace.

If we speak evil words, our hearts are not full of love, peace and joy. We feel a lack of love, fear, doubt, and perhaps resentment or hatred. We may be filled with false pride, envy, greed, lust, or anger. These feelings are not healthy for ourselves or others. They will bring us down.

It is not easy to control one’s words. It is not easy to purify one’s heart. But with God all things are possible.

Still Waters

Jesus, the sinless messiah, the perfect man, the true Son of God, died for the sins of mankind. On the cross he prayed for our forgiveness.

We need to pray to our Heavenly Father. We need to ask the Father to forgive us for our sins. God in his gracious mercy will send the Holy Spirit to forgive and comfort us. God will send the Holy Spirit to bring us back to life so that we can be reborn in His love.

When we feel this gift of grace, we need to continue to pray that the Holy Spirit will give us power to sin no more. Old habits die hard. We can not change without the help of the Holy Spirit to guide, teach and comfort us. But with the help of the Holy Spirit we can change old patterns of thought, speech, and behavior. We can be reborn and our hearts can be cleansed and purified. Then God will dwell within us and our thoughts, words and deeds will shine with the light of truth and love. We will become the true sons and daughters of God.

We also must learn to forgive others. The Kingdom of God is not a solo flight. It is a family affair. It includes not just our biological family, not just our race or nation, but everyone in the whole world.

In the Lord’s Prayer, we pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others.”

After teaching the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus said in Matthew 6:14-15,

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Road to the Temple of Peace

Through repentance and forgiveness we can receive the love of God and be born again. Through repentance and forgiveness, reconciliation can occur. Through repentance and forgiveness, God’s Kingdom will come.

If we follow this way, our hearts will become pure and we will speak words of truth, love, and life.

How then do we help those around us who speak lies or engage in malicious gossip and slander?

First of all, do not condemn them, but just as Jesus did, forgive them and pray for them.

The second step is paradoxical and must be practiced to be understood. The second step consists of introspection, self-examination, and purification of one’s own heart.

If we see people engaging in lies, malicious gossip, and slander, we know that the problem lies in the heart. There is a sin problem.

Jesus said in Luke 6:42,

.. how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

The proud will be humbled and sinners will be brought to repentance. God is a God of both judgement and mercy. It is not our job however to humble the proud and bring sinners to repentance. That is the work of the Holy Spirit.

If we repent, sin no more, forgive others and pray for others, then God will show us clearly what we should do. We will see the power of the Holy Spirit at work and if  God wants to use us the Holy Spirit will guide our words and actions.

There is no one-size -fits-all solution to every situation. That is why we pray for divinely inspired wisdom.

James 1:5 says,

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord.

James 3:14-17 clarifies further,

…if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity.

So ask God to purify your heart and deepen your faith. Then pray for wisdom. God will guide you and you will see the power of the Holy Spirit at work.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Our Father, who art in Heaven, thy kingdom come.

Songs and Stories of the Unknown on KKRN Radio

On Friday October 20, I had the opportunity to participate in taping a radio show “Songs and Stories of the Great Unknown at KKRN Community Radio 88.5 FM in Round Mountain. The Show was hosted by Craig Boyer as a part of a regular series he does called “Dig This: Music With a Message.”

The one-hour  show was broadcast at 9 a.m. on Saturday October 21. The entire broadcast can be heard on KKRN.

With Halloween approaching, Craig selected several songs and readings that deal with aspects of the Great Unknown. He invited singer-songwriter Sarah Hoxie, poet Larry Harris, and storyteller Jim Dowling from Redding and myself to join him as guests on the broadcast. Interspersed amongst the music, poetry and readings we discussed what we had listened to. This blog contains a few videos of our discussions and links to videos of some of the music we listened to.

After opening the program with the theme from the Twilight Zone played by the Cosmic Orchestra.

Then Craig played the Monster Mash by the Crypt Masters followed by his reading of a story “Christenstein” by an anonymous author. The story is a parody of the Frankenstein story recounting the attempts of a mad scientist to create a perfect spiritual being. He neglects to include love and so his creature turns out to be a monster.

The story was followed by the song, “God in a Drawer” by Berkley Hart.

After these selections, we shared our thoughts.

The next musical selection was Welcome to My Nightmare by Alice Cooper. Craig then shared a nightmare he had had recently after which we continued our discussion.

The next selection was Ghost Riders in the Sky by Sons of the Pioneers followed by discussion and a poem by Larry Harris.

Then Sara Hoxie sang an original song she wrote about bigfoot.

Craig read the “Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe and we concluded the program listening to “Let the Mystery Be” by Iris Dement.

 

Restoration of Trust

In order to realize the universal world of True Love, trust must be restored.

No one exists alone. We all exist in relationship to God, to other people, and to nature.

Without God, there would be no existence, no life, no love.

Without our parents we would not have been born.

In his description of the psychosocial stages of human development, Eric Erickson says that when a baby is born, the first crisis that he or she faces is “trust or distrust.”

Trust is a fundamental prerequisite of a healthy psyche. Trust is fundamental to loving relationships.

Do I trust God? Can God trust me?
Can I trust you? Can you trust me?
Am I capable of trusting? Am I trustworthy?

In English, the words trust and faith share some common connotations. The word trust is derived from Teutonic: Old English, Old Norse, Germanic. The word faith is derived from the Latin fidere. In origin, both words refer to a common quality of relationship. I can confide in you without fear of betrayal. I can rely upon you. I know that you are true.

So trust is related to honesty, sincerity, reliability, responsibility, vulnerability, and truth.

In the biblical story of the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were naked and unafraid. The existed in relationship with God and with each other. God, Adam, and Eve had  no reason not to trust one another. Their love for one another was growing.

In their relationship with each other and with God, Adam and Eve were creating their reality, and it was a reality based in love and trust. God had created Adam and Eve to be co-creators. God trusted Adam and Eve.

God gave Adam and Eve responsibility. He asked them not to eat of the fruit of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The serpent introduced doubt. Adam and Eve ate of the fruit and trust was destroyed.

When trust is betrayed, it is very difficult to restore. This is true in all relationships. It is true between parents and children, between husband and wife, between friends, between business partners, in organizations, in communities, between leaders and followers, in politics, and between nations.

In order for there to be peace, trust must be restored. In order for there to be love, trust must be restored. In order for their to be happiness, trust must be restored.

Trust is a mystical healing power that comes from opening one’s heart to the power of God’s love.

God can be trusted.
God is the rock, the cornerstone of restoration.
In your inmost heart, call out to God to show you the Way.

God will guide you and God’s love will overwhelm you.

Then we can expand the foundation. Step by step, open your heart to others.

If you are trustworthy others will trust you. If you extend your trust to others, gradually they will reciprocate.

But do not be discouraged if they don’t. Pray for them, forgive them. This is a process. God will guide us to restore a community of trust.

Step by step, dear Heavenly Father, please help us to restore trust in out families, amongst friends, in our communities, in our nations and amongst nations. Help us to restore trust amongst all people of different races and cultures in our world.

In God we trust.

In Silence

Definitely
God can minister to one’s soul in the silence.
In silence, one can experience the presence of God.
In silence, one’s questions can be answered
and new questions can be raised.
In silence, direction can be discovered.
In silence, the balm that heals
mental, emotional, and physical ailments
pours forth and one can embrace
the peace that passes all understanding.

Message to a young “Misfit”

You are at an age of self-discovery. Part of the process is to discover who you are by dis-covering your self to the world.

Crazy is the New Normal

Alas, so much vulnerability is involved. So much courage. Not to mention wisdom when one must test the waters before diving in. Some environments are conducive to openness and trust. In some environments people are fearful of disclosure, largely influenced by the power of social norms, sanctioning in subtle ways those who do not conform.

If one can not freely open oneself then art, music, writing, etc. help.

Socrates said, “Know thyself.” Polonius counseled, “And this above all, to thy own self be true…”

Listen to others to learn who is authentic. Spend time with them. Reveal yourself to them at a rate at which you feel comfortable. If you are authentic you will draw people to you who are authentic, deep, and sincere.

You have a beautiful soul and a sensitive spirit. When you are alone, allow yourself quiet time to get in touch with your soul and feel the love within.

When necessary, sleep, so that through your dreams you can replenish your soul. The streams that nourish your inner world are many and varied.

As you discover peace within, the environment around you will change and the seeds of love will bear fruit in your relationships.

Open the Door of Love

Love is such a journey. Loving God, loving oneself, loving others. How does one open the doors of love. When one has been traumatized or wounded it is not easy.

Rev 3:20 says, “I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in…”

So God is there, ready to come into our hearts if we open up. If we do, we pass from death to life.

We have an inner world and an outer world. However, in relation to the love of God the boundary is somewhat vague.

“Where is the love of God,” my cousin asked me at, shortly after I had opened the door, or in my case, dissolved the bubble that encased me to become immersed in the golden light of love.

“Is it inside or outside,” he queried.

“When you are feeling the love of God,” I responded, “There is no inside or outside.”

God’s love is everywhere. In a sense, it is the absolute reality. The foundation of all existence.

Those who open the door to know the depth of their soul know that we are all one in the love of God even though we are each a unique expression of that love.

Those who open the door to know the depth of their soul know that the inner world and the outer world are both expressions of one reality, two side of the same coin.

What is this door? Where is this door?

Indeed it is the door of faith. It is here now.

If you can’t find the door, perhaps you’re consciousness is preoccupied with thoughts and sensations.

Retreat into the silence and the stillness.

Don’t think about it.

Simply ask, “God, are you there?”

Knock and the door will be opened.

When the door is opened you will find the Way.

Liberation from the evil one

In the Lord’s prayer as I was taught to say it one line goes, “Lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil.” I shared some brief ruminations previously on Lead me not into temptation…

The New Living Translation of the Bible says, “And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.”

This translation is a bit more satisfying to me because it is asking for divine help not to give into temptation. In my mind I may like to rephrase my prayer, “Help me to resist temptation, and deliver me from the evil one.”

James says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” That’s pretty optimistic. I find that these devils can be pretty persistent.

What am I talking about? Who are these devils, and demons, and evil spirits? Who is the evil one? Why are we under the power of the evil one?

I am no expert on this. I see through a glass darkly. My experience of spiritual reality is very limited.

The Divine Principle taught by Sun Myung Moon gives an explanation of the fall of man and also of the spirit world and how spirits influence us. Other Christian denominations have varying explanations of the Fall. Other religions as well have a variety of stories and explanations. Islam talks of Iblis and evil jinn. Buddhism of maya and attachment to desire. The world of religion and shamanism is full of demons.

In modern psychology and humanism, these demons are seen as figurative manifestations of addictive tendencies, archetypes, or biochemical, emotional, mental or psychic imbalances and complexes.

Whatever the explanations, in the existential reality of life we all face challenges. We all experience temptation to indulge in destructive behavior. We all have our personal demons. To different degrees we have periods when we lose control and do things that we regret.

I encourage everyone to seek the truth. To try to understand the nature of reality, physical, psychic, and spiritual. The Buddha says that right understanding precedes right thinking and right action as well as all the other of the eight paths. So seek understanding. It is a lifetime journey. If you think you know the answer, you don’t. When you find the Way, it will be an experience, not a concept.

In Catholic tradition there is a list of seven deadly sins: Pride, envy, greed, lust, anger, gluttony, and sloth. Each vice has a coTresponding virtue: humility, magnanimity, generosity, chastity, restraint, moderation, and optimistic diligence.

In Genesis 4, it says that when Cain’s offering was not accepted by God, Cain became upset. God said to him, “Why are you upset? Do you not know that if you do well, all will be well with you? But beware, for sin is crouching at your shoulder. It’s desire is to master you. But you must master it and subdue it.”

Each one of us is responsible in our individual journey. All religions tell us that if we call upon the supreme God he will guide us and free us from the particular evils that plague us. But also, with God’s help, we need to apply our mind to recognize the triggers of temptation in our own life and apply our will to resist them when we  recognize them.

Bob Marley wrote, “Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can set us free.”

I would add, with God’s help.

Our Father who art in heaven, help to resist temptation. Help us to liberate ourselves from the evil one so that thy will can be done and thy kingdom can come. Amen

 

 

 

Doing without doing

Lao Tzu

Sometime around 2600 years ago there lived a man whom we refer to as Lao Tzu, which simply means “Old Master.” One story is that he was the keeper of archives for the royal court of Zhou. At the age of 80, he decided to leave the kingdom and venture into the mountains to the west. At the border he was recognized by a guard Yingxi, who  asked him to write down some of his wisdom before he left.

Lao Tzu wrote 81 short passages which have come down to us as the Tao Te Ching, or the Book of the Way.

I am not going to try to define the Tao. Actually, the opening statement of the Tao Te Ching is

The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named is not the eternal name

– Tao Te Ching 1

I have been reading Stephen Mitchell’ translation of Tao Te Ching for the past few weeks. The short book is full of wisdom that runs contrary to contemporary Western culture. Our modern culture pursues the vision of Francis Bacon, seeking to dominate nature through science and to create a progressive society organized and controlled by an intellectual elite.

Lao Tzu on the other hand says,

… the universe is forever out of control
and that trying to dominate events
goes against the current of the Tao

– Tao Te Ching 30

Lao Tzu saying

One of the ideas that stands out in the Lao Tzu’s teaching is “wei wu wei,” doing without doing.  The third chapter of Tao Te Ching ends with the advice:

Practice not doing
and everything will fall into place.

Let us briefly imagine this mysterious Tao as the source of all that is and that it is immanent and active in all being. When we are opinionated and willful, our thinking gets in the way of the Tao. We forget where we come from. We forget that we are a part of the oneness that is the Great Tao.

If you don’t realize the source,
you stumble in confusion and sorrow.
When you realize where you come from,
you naturally become tolerant,
disinterested, amused,
kindhearted as a grandmother,
dignified as a king.
Immersed in the Tao,
you can deal with whatever life brings you,
and when death comes, you are ready.

– Tao Te Ching 16

Artistic rendering of taiji

This is kind of like Obi Wan Kenobi in Star Wars saying to Luke, “Trust the Force.” Or like the Christian saying, “Let go and let God.”

Nowadays, there is a lot of interest in ancestry. People want to know where they came from. From a Biblical point of view, we can all trace our lineage back to Adam and Eve, who were the son and daughter of God.

From an evolutionary or scientific view also, we all come from the ultimate source. Where do human beings come from? Where do animals and plants come from? Where do molecules and atoms come from? Where do quantum particles from? As the Tao Te Ching says, all come from one source.

The Tao is infinite, eternal.
Why is it eternal?
It was never born,
Thus, it can never die.
Why is it infinite?
It has no desires for itself;
thus it is present for all beings.

– Tao Te Ching 7

The Tao is called the Great Mother:
empty yet inexhaustible,
it gives birth to infinite worlds.

It is always present within you.
You can use it any way you want.

– Tao Te Ching 6

Stop thinking. Start doing without doing.

Baby Steps

I

Learn many languages in order to enter the infinite sphere of no language

II

Learn many symbols in order to enter the unknown reservoir from which the symbols sprout

III

Learn many symbols in order to experience the infinite source of love and power

IV

Learn many symbols in order to embrace the Mother that nurtures all

V

Patiently concentrating the mind through time one passes through the portal to the Land That Knows No Time

Our life is shaped by our mind

Dhammapada Chaper 1 verse 1

One of the wisdom books that I like to read is The Dhammapada, a collection of the sayings of the Buddha. The translation that I have is by Eknath Easwaran.

The first chapter of sayings is entitled “Twin Verses.” The first verse reads,

“Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draw it.”

The following twin verse reads,

“Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Joy follows a pure thought like a shadow that never leaves.”

Why did the Buddhist monks who compiled the Dhammapada (which means the path of the Dharma) put these two twin verses at the beginning?

What is mind? What is life? What is your mind? What is your life?

You have your mind. You live your life. Do you think that this is true for you?

Is your life shaped by your mind?

Do you become what you think?

Actually the translation of the verse uses the all inclusive first person plural.

“Our life is shaped by our mind.”

What is the relationship between my mind, your mind, and our mind?

You Are Not Alone

Is there a collective mind?

Do only individuals have minds? Do groups, families, tribes, nations, religions, cultures, etc. have some kind of common mind?

“Our life is shaped by our mind.”

How does our life shape our mind?

What does it mean to shape one’s life?

Is the converse also true? Does our life shape our mind?

It seems to me that the mind, while it reacts to life, is stronger, more causal. What do you think?

“We become what we think?”

What is thought?

A thought

What is a thought?

Where do thoughts come from?

How do thoughts effect us?

What is the relationship between thought, emotion, feeling, and action, and result?

How do we become what we are?

What is becoming?

“We become what we think.”

Are you ready to accept responsivity for your thoughts?

Can you choose your thoughts?

Can you control what you think?

“Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draw it.”
“Joy follows a pure thought like a shadow that never leaves.”

 

What is a positive thought?

What is a negative or evil thought?

What kind of a world am I shaping?

What kind of a world are you shaping?

What kind of a world are we shaping?

Do we want suffering or joy?

“Our life is shaped by our mind.”