Shining Light into the Darkness
My precious, precious grandchildren, This series of letters is an attempt to have you notice which “ocean you’re swimming in” (remember the fish who doesn’t have any idea of what water is because it’s always been surrounded by it?). I grew into adulthood in a Christian society in which Christianity was losing influence as the …
My dear precious ones As I said in my last letter, it is a basic human need to believe in something transcendent something beyond our own small self that gives our lives meaning—especially when life is difficult or confusing. Part of the reality of adolescence and young adulthood is life is often confusing. I think that is especially true …
My precious grandchildren: I’ve decided to do something a bit different this month. I’m typing this letter out after having taken notes in my journal because I’m still working out my thoughts. Sometimes I do that better on a computer where I can move whole swaths with a click. This letter will mostly define some …
Perception Is Realtiy In a very real sense, our perception creates our reality. However, what we know and understand about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING is dwarfed by what is unknown to us. So… Despite our collective ignorance, so many of us proclaim that we know THE truth and anyone who disagrees is either deluded or ignorant. …
Suffering is often a barrier to peace. Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest, teacher, author, and founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation, teaches that if we don’t transform our suffering, we will transmit it. We can see the truth of this all around us every day. Twin Roots of Suffering: Separation & Fear What …
The World Mirrors Me Great spiritual teachers have used metaphors of mirrors to describe how we encounter reality. One such metaphor is that the world reflects back to us what we project out to it. If we project love, compassion, and mercy we will see love, compassion, and mercy mirrored back to us. If we …
I first posted this on October 2, 2013. It seems relevant again. The first reaction to truth is hatred – Tertullian One of the most difficult things in life is to stand up for truth as you know it. Nothing will bring down public scorn as readily as believing something that is different from what the …
Day 8: Discernment Versus Judgment On this second-to-last day of prayer, I pray that we – and all our elected officials – can begin to listen to one another with discernment and hope; and that bitterness is overwhelmed by compassion. Listening with discernment rather than judgment is one of the greatest gifts we can give …
Perception Is Reality I pray that we are able to recognize that our belief or truth is only part of the whole truth and that those who ascribe to a different belief or truth also have part of that whole. In this recognition, may we be gentle with those who disagree with us, embracing their …
As we enter day 2 of the 2017 Peace Novena, I pray that we all find ways to be kind and to listen with an open heart. (If you don’t have time for prayer and reading this post, choose prayer. Novena rituals and prayer) Suffering Is a Choice Many people are real pain as a …