One Spirit/Many Voices

Hard to believe it is going to be September tomorrow. So here is the September newsletter. You can download this months issue at http://inspiritual.biz/newsletters/

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

We each have something to bring to the table. You bring what you bring and i will bring what I bring.

LIVE IN THE LAYERS

Recently, a colleague shared with me a poem by Stanely Kunitz called “The Layers.” There is one line in it that stuck out to me, it says, “Live in the layers, not on the litter.”  As I have been thinking about this line over the last few days I found myself having visions of mountains that have been blasted apart to create highways and the layers of rock which are visible in the walls surrounding me as I drive. The layers are a legacy of the history of that rock.

I remember a friend telling me about having a similar experience while in the grand canyon. Each layer tells a story about a different point in time in the development of this piece of nature. I have thought about trees and how there are layers that become visible when looking at a felled tree. Each layer is an important part in the life and history of the tree. Each layer tells a story about what happened during that time, what happened to that part of nature and what was done to it. The same is true for us.

Read More

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What ideals light your way?

LOOKING FOR MEANING

Where do you look for meaning in your life? why? where do you not look for meaning? Why?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

In the midst of the suffering, we find the meaning of wholeness

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You may not have control over what bought you into existence, but you do have control over the meaning you give to your life

ENTERING THE MIRACLE

So here we are at the end of August and it is amazing to me how much I have thought about meaning lately. It is interesting how I have been thinking about why I have been led to sources of wisdom and revelation at certain times. For example, I was looking for a book a few months ago and was drawn to a book by Mark Nepo, which I thought would be awesome for our book club, called Inside the Miracle. It is a gathering of his writings which draw on his experience and transformation because of his battle with cancer.  Most of the people in our book club have had cancer and so I thought this was a book that would really speak to them.

Little did I know that I was drawn to this book for another reason. One of my dearest friends was diagnosed with brain cancer.  Reading this book while journeying with her helped me to enter into the miracle that was to happen in her life. It gave me new understandings of my own health challenges and the journey to wholeness which was coming as a result of this opportunity. 

Read More

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What is it that you experience with your senses that is important and meaningful to you?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

what is the work you are called to do in this lifetime? Do it!

SONG OF THE WEEK

Others may use their words to harm you, but remember that you are not their words, you are the internal strength that created, maintains, and sustains you. You are a skyscraper https://youtu.be/r_8ydghbGSg

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

what are you purposing to do?

PRACTICING MEANING

So I have been thinking about practical ways to practice meaning in our everyday lives. One of my sources of inspiration this month came from one of the women who was at our anniversary celebration. She suggested we have a wall in our kitchen/gathering area where people could write inspirational words or phrases. This got me thinking what if we all did this. What if we create a wall or a mural of proverbs? They could come from one faith tradition, or in our space, a myriad of faith traditions. They could come from the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible or one of numerous other collections of proverbs. Here is a list of three of my favorite collections of proverbs:

• Like a Yeti Catching Marmots: A Little Treasury of Tibetan Proverbs·    
• Soul Would Have No Rainbow if the Eyes Had No Tears and Other Native American Proverbs·        
• African Proverbs, Parables and Wise Sayings

Do you have one you would like to share?

Read More

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Walk in the ways of your heart, not mine or anybody else's

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

everything has a meaning to it, you just have to look for it.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Do you know what it feels like to truly be alive?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What are the spiritual meanings in a cup of coffee?

LISTENING LESSONS

Honestly, sometimes it is so easy to see the meaning in what is happening, but sometimes life seems so busy it is hard to hear you speaking. So right now I am working on slowing down and being intentional about having the time to listen.

What I have learned is that taking the time to listen is like taking a pilgrimage to the Holy Land where I have to enter life and lean in and listen.

This past week I have been reminded that life is unpredictable. By listening to you and your guidance I have found what I needed to lift me up and been able to find new ways of thinking about things. Even what initially felt like the worst of situations became transformative and life giving because you challenged me to enter into the situation, sit with you, and grow.

Read More

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Have you done any good in the world today?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The answer to all questions lives within us.

SONG OF THE WEEK

Lennon singing “Now that I know what I feel must be right, I’m here to show everybody the light” indicates that “love,” by which he seems to mean compassion, empathy, and care for others, is the result of a deeply felt epiphany, a kind of conversion experience. That he exhorts the listener to “say the word and you’ll be free” suggests that love for others is the way to free oneself from the limiting confinement of one’s self-centered fears and insecurities. The answer, he seems to assert, is to give one’s life to something greater than one’s individual needs and neuroses. This is the message in this week's song of the week https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXsbs3ft3zs

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

As we evolve and grow, so do the meanings we give to the everyday

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THERE ARE A FEW BOOKS IN MY LIFE THAT ARE LIKE THIS. EVERY TIME I READ THEM THERE IS NEW WISDOM THAT EMERGES FOR ME.

ENTER!

So this month we have been talking about meaning as a spiritual practice. I have shared with you the writings of the Dalai Lama about how life is like driving a car and talked about the meanings I have gotten from the sculptures of George Segal. This week though I wanted to just write about life. A dear friend of mine is going through a challenging time health wise and it has made me stop and thinking about the meaning of life. As I was praying about my friend’s situation, I was drawn to the book we are reading in the book club called Inside the Miracle by Mark Nepo. The first section of the book is called, Upon Seeking Tufu as a Guide. Nepo wrote:

And so I asked him, how is it God is everywhere and nowhere? He circled me like a self I couldn't reach. "Because humans refuse to live their lives." i was confused. He continued, "You hover rather then enter." I was still confused. He spoke in my ear, "God is only visible within your moment entered like a burning lake." I grew frightened. He laughed. "Even now, you peer at me as if what you see and hear are not a part of you." I grew angry. He ignored me. "You peer at the edge of your life, so frantic to know, so unwilling to believe." Indeed, I was frantic He was in my face. "And now that you have cancer, you ask to be spared." I grew depressed. He took my shoulder. "For God's sake! enter your own life! Enter!"

Read More

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Live your life for yourself. 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Stop looking for meaning in all the big places. It is found in the everyday times and spaces.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Every day we learn more about the meaning in life. 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

sometimes we miss the revelations because we are not listening

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The same thing takes on different meanings at different moments.

Song of the Week

sometimes we get so caught up in the beat and rhythm of a song that we miss the deeper meaning. This week's song of the week is about the growth and healing that comes when a relationship ends https://youtu.be/hLQl3WQQoQ0

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You have the power within you to see the spiritual meaning in everyday experiences. Tap into it.

PEOPLE ON THE BUS?

I have become intrigued recently by the work of sculptor George Segal. Segal used orthopedic bandages dipped in plaster to construct some of the most haunting and memorable figurative art of the twentieth century. He created life-sized models based on his body and those of friends, family, and neighbors. The models are seated at lunch counters, poised on street corners, or waiting in train stations. These figures inhabit everyday spaces, however, because they are sculptures, they are also three dimensional. Looking at them is like looking at a moment frozen in time. Looking at them you wonder what they were thinking about in that very moment that they were captured. His sculptures give us the opportunity to step outside our fast-paced world in order to take a different look at how we function within our world. What does the presence of these individuals mean to us? If we were to walk around and see them from differing perspectives, would the meaning we ascribe to them change.

Read More

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When we are living , we are finding the meaning in life and unlocking solutions and solving mysteries.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Let us look beyond the surface to find the deeper meaning and healing in our own lives and raise the vibrations of the world in which we live.

WHAT BOOK HAVE YOU READ

What book have you read lately that gave you a fresh understanding of the spiritual meanings in the ordinary?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Our lives and experiences shape the meanings  we hold about life and values.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What spiritual practices do you engage in to help you grow and find meaning?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The same is true of spirituality. It opens up to seeing the meaning in everything.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Everything you do or do not do matters and has meaning.

Song of the Week

Austrian composer Gustav Mahler wrote Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth) in 1908 - 1909 shortly after the death of his favorite daughter from scarlet fever and after he was diagnosed with a debilitating heart condition. Consisting of six movements, the composition is based on Chinese poems about loneliness, youth, beauty, renewal, and death. This powerful yet supremely poignant music covers a wide range of emotions as the composer reaches for meaning in the face of death. In the final section, "The Farewell," words added by Mahler reveal that he has found it: "The dear earth everywhere blossoms in spring and grows green again. Everywhere and eternally the distance shines bright and blue. Eternally." https://youtu.be/kQZ51udFtrg

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

If we look for the meaning in all things then everything is steeped in meaning.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO FIND MEANING IN EVERY DAY LIFE?

The August issue of One Spirit, Many Voices

The August issue of One Spirit, Many Voices is now available for download http://inspiritual.biz/s/August-2016-One-Spirit-Many-Voices-Newsletter-1-cjlr.pdf

LIFE IS LIKE DRIVING A CAR

Recently I read an excerpt from a book by Venerable Master Hsing Yuncalled Keys to Living Well. In it he talks about how life is like driving a car. I loved how he saw the spiritual meaning in this everyday action of driving a car. Rather then try to capture the essence of what he said, which i am not sure I could, I am just copying the excerpt here. I know what it means to me and hope that each of you will find your own meaning in this reflection.

"In order to live safely in the world, our conduct must be lawful and orderly like cars having to observe traffic regulations on the road. In this sense, life is like driving a car. The following are five analogies:

"1. To avoid speeding, one must observe proper limits. We all know that speeding can be hazardous, and if we are not vigilant with respect to our own limits in life, it would be as dangerous as exceeding the speed limit on the road. In contrast, if we all abide by our own place and limits, not only will we observe the traffic regulations, but we will also not transgress in our conduct. Each and every car that observes the traffic regulations ensures the smooth flow of traffic and safety on the road. Likewise, when we abide by our proper limits in life, we will be safe in our place and dutiful in shouldering our responsibilities. When we abide by proper limits, we can ensure a happy and safe life.

Read More

EVERYDAY SPIRITUALITY

What helps you see the spiritual in everyday life?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Everything has the potential to be spiritual in your life, you just have to seek out the spiritual meaning in it.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

It is all about finding meaning. The path that enables you to find meaning and value in life is the path that is for you. What is for you is for you and what is for me is for me. May we support each other in our paths.