Birth

The process of birth is transformative. Three elements must be involved: (1) conception, (2) delivery, (3) animation. Humans can birth an idea, birth a product or (with the help of the opposite sex) birth another human. Because humans can create in this way, we are said to be created in God’s image. No other mammal, insect, fish or bird can create in all of these ways.

The critical point for us is always at conception. Without this there can be no resulting idea, product or human. Conception is the spark, the Big Bang, the beginning of creation. All of nature is this way, even to the smallest atom. But is there always intention? Think about it!

Intention implies commitment. All of the natural world acts in this way because there is no other way of being. Humans on the other hand may have intention yet can lack commitment and hence give up on their plan after conception.

Our human nature separates us from all of nature. Or does it? Could this be why Christ was born? This birth is a powerful example of God’s commitment to humanity. From John 3:16…King James Bible
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Jesus immortalized God’s plan for us. His birth and message remains our great hope that no matter who you think you are, God can deliver you (birth you) to an eternity of great Love for all that is, all that will be, and all that can be. Are you open to this Love? Commit to the humility and you can deliver this Love too by animating the grace of forgiveness to yourself and others that is now and forever found in your heart and soul. God’s gift to you. May it be so this CHIST-MAS.

The Cloak of Love and Joy

Imagine, if you will, that you live in a city or town with individuals of diverse family situations, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and religious philosophies. Trying to imagine this in the United States of America isn’t very hard to do, especially if you live in an urban setting. The hustle and bustle of public transportation among densely populated neighborhoods and a variety of commercial buildings is second nature to those who live in these environments. Many times even the suburbs located not too far from these urban areas are bustling just as much. However, there is a great deal of difference when towns are located far from this hustle and bustle.

Small rural towns are more homogeneous, that is, the people in them share a sameness of culture born around a common industry such as agriculture, mining or manufacturing. There is still a diversity of incomes and thought, but race, ethnicity and religious beliefs are typically less different. Our rural identity is just as important to the fabric of our country as our urban identity. Both knit together a unique sense of pride which we call patriotism.

What we build together as communities of hardworking and intelligent citizens is more important than what we take individually. We cannot have one without the other however…My commitment to myself as an asset to my community ensures a lasting civilization. Self awareness is key to prosperity no matter who you are on the spectrum of cultural diversity because it can help you make better decisions, build healthier relationships, lead with authenticity, take better care of yourself, and live a more fulfilling life. Self awareness is your personal cloak of love and joy.

Think of this cloak as your own hero cape! You are a Superhero to all those around you when this cloak has been fully formed by other self aware people in your life. It is like the Biblical narrative of the coat of many colors that Joseph’s father gave to him. In this story Joseph’s brothers did not get one and so were jealous of him. The importance here is that the father only recognized Joseph as most worthy of this gift because Joseph had obtained true self awareness. Of all his future suffering, Joseph would still go on to achieve and share much prosperity while maintaining his humility with God, his family and all those around him…An inspiration for all.

Who will give you your hero cloak and are you deserving of it? Is your character up to the challenge? Can you knit your own with the help of God’s presence in your life? The answer is a resounding YES! No matter who you are or where you’re from it is possible. Our western civilization truly depends on our Superheroes.

As with most anything, there is a balance to achieve when being self aware. The jealousy of others will be present and your perception to this will help to direct your path in life…Trust in divine providence.

Stop the Insanity

An addiction of hate has been allowed to permeate this country. I cannot believe the media attention of the past twenty years given to “unjust” causes. Are these causes really unmerited, undeserved, biased, prejudiced, unfair, inequitable or are they a symptom of something else?

I consider myself to be a very happy and positive person. Mine was a typical middle class (in the 60’s/70’s) home with parents who each struggled through the Depression Era yet were ultimately able to journey together through an improving economy ever mindful of their values. My generation benefited greatly from the experience of the previous generation. The ten year gap between me and my older siblings brought an even greater understanding to my cultural awareness…They were participants in Woodstock and Vietnam, me and my younger sister were participants in neighborhood “white flight” and school busing. I believe my happiness and positivity is grounded in both family and religious values for which I am eternally grateful.

Values are important for discerning the good and bad of this world. I have witnessed the substance abuse of a loved one come on slowly and seemingly innocently. A grueling schedule and hard work lead to a dependence on time off with copious amounts of alcohol. This behavior was the easy part of addiction for me to see and call out. However, it was the secrecy of drug use that mattered most. I could tell something just wasn’t right, but my ignorance around the issue of drug abuse limited my ability to confront it competently. Secrets allowed the substance abuser to control the values of the relationship. No matter how much I tried to talk with him about what didn’t seem right with our situation, it was plain to see that I was on my own. His secrets kept us in separate worlds. Our immediate family and close friends were only helpful once the secret was in the open.

This experience for me has revealed something very troubling about our society today. There is a definite manipulation by the media and government elites to create two different worlds in our country. Their secrets are abusive to our relationship with each other and our shared values of transparency, kindness and independent thought. Their addiction to power has allowed a division between them and us. Do we the people have the insight to recognize their abuse of our necessary relationship to them?

My experience with addiction taught me that anger was the root cause of his substance abuse. Anger? Yes. This emotion can be easily suppressed and then ultimately expressed through addictive behaviors. I am witnessing this now in the context of our politics.

Think about the cycle of anger enveloping some people. What are the political implications? Whether it is about race, gender, a woman’s right to choose, inflation or climate change, we the people are being pushed to the brink! But it’s worse than this because the media and political elites are fueling the anger with their secretive collusion of incomplete or false narratives along with leadership that doesn’t seem to create a real solution. Put simply, clueless angry people will become addicts in need of the next “fix”. It is plain to me that each “fix” is another government handout or a manic act of resistance. STOP THE INSANITY!! Well, this is exactly what the elites want in order to control our existence.

Do not give in to the anger. Let go and let God. Practice the mindfulness that will lead you back to what matters most: transparency, kindness and independent thought regarding yourself and your neighbor. You see the man made manipulation and you must not ignore it or enable it. Take a deep breath in and exhale the anger while saying, “I will follow the will of God and value His blessings above all else.” True moral behavior is grounded in acknowledgement of a Higher Power, not human power.

Transparency, kindness and independent thought are easiest to practice with a clear mind and open heart. May it be so.

Godly Principle vs Humanism

WHY do humans exist? Humans exist precisely because they can ask THE WHY. The universe is vast and the questions in it are infinite. This realm of infinity is anxiety provoking to most humans which is WHY humans should desire a sincere connection to their Creator.

Jesus preached that we all have the ability to connect directly to God (our Creator). We simply need to practice consistent humility with our words and deeds before Him and to acknowledge that our fellow man should be treated with the same humility (do unto others as you would have them do unto you). Moses received the blueprint for living a humble life by conveying God’s Ten Commandments, and Jesus lived this honest relationship while further relaying the Word of God. Neither man had to fight a war to give the lessons, yet both men suffered greatly to pass the lessons forward. Honoring their suffering is WHY WE EXIST, because without their example our earthly mistakes would be even more tragic. These men used Godly principles to teach effective self governance.

Think about it…No kings of man would personally suffer to that extent. Instead the king would send enforcers to implement the king’s rules and dictates. In the United States this method of governing is no different from a bureaucratic system enforcing dictates that are not specifically voted on by Congress. Who or what gives these bureaucrats their authority? Probably a law set in place by Congress who represent us. However, Congress’s power of oversight has been diminished by an ever expanding bureaucracy. Representation and the unalienable right to the self governance of WE THE PEOPLE is therefore diluted. This diluted representation allows the ideology of humanism to take control.

From Merriam-Webster.com : humanism – a doctrine, attitude, or way of life centered on human interests or values. especially : a philosophy that usually rejects supernaturalism and stresses an individual’s dignity and worth and capacity for self-realization through reason : secular humanism. humanist.

As you can see from the definition above, an individual’s ability to use reason to actualize self-realization (of one’s worth, dignity and character) is the preferred ideology for a humanist rather than using their inherent belief in God (supernaturalism) and His natural law. The rejection of His natural law, however, makes it difficult to comprehend any unanswerable WHY.

No one can know everything. No one can know themselves completely let alone another person. An understanding of God’s natural law along with God’s commandments and Jesus’ teachings help to provide an anchor for effective self governance and morality. A successful constitutional republic demands that we have this knowledge. Without it, the governed become susceptible to tyranny and oppression because humanists always attempt to impose their created versions of “moral” values.

Our standards for scientific research, education, governance and economic development are anchored in God’s natural law. To dismiss these standards as antiquated is absurd. We must resist the postmodern humanism that relies too heavily on social activism to force its unreliable and shifting standards.

God help us to see THE WHY and THE WAY.

Unexpected Treasures

There is Hope. We have known about This for quite some time! Only, we ignore Its promise. Such a pity.

Look around and witness all the struggle. The hurt that blossoms forth from this struggling empties out into the world as irrational behavior. We turn heads away in pity. Instead, we must lift our hearts in prayer.

God knows this struggle. His physical world made it possible. Struggle involves mind made darkness. Yes! God did not make this darkness, only the human mind can do that. God’s darkness is only in the free and open night sky. He would never want His creation to dwell in the self created mind made darkness. Well, if that is so, why do we suffer so much? There in lies the struggle.

Whether it’s addiction, hate, despair, grievance or covetousness, our mind has made it up and our behavior has made it reality. This reality is what we are witnessing. Those who are in the struggle are intentionally sleeping in their mind made cold, yet comfortable, darkness. What those in the struggle do not understand is that our witness cannot help them. Our efforts cannot help them. Only God can help them out of the struggle.

But, you say, the struggle these people display affects my life! This struggle harms people and it harms themselves. How can we make it go away? We want to help. We care and we need to make it right!

All we can do is be a guide…Show them the way. There is truly more light in this world than there is darkness. Our prayers are only part of our guide to their path for more goodness and light. God gives the enlightenment.

Any religion or ideology that promotes or dwells on struggle as its basis purposefully brings darkness to our world and that is evil. God does not condone this arrangement. The Judeo-Christian model is God’s guide. The Ten Commandments point the way. We know this! Jesus was and is a living guide to open our eyes and in turn our hearts. Pray that you are like Him, a living guide to light us towards the treasures for which this life is worth living.

Struggle is an illusion. Give the gift of light this season. He made you in His image for this reason.

Houston, We Have A God Problem

As we mere mortals reach for the stars and the moons and the galaxies, we must first ground ourselves in Truth for it is this Truth that paved our way to the stars, moons and galaxies.

God’s creation is an orderly approach to what then become the creations of men and women. Notice that there is nothing humankind can create that isn’t from an existing element which only God could create. In nature, only elements up to atomic number 94 exist; to go further, it is necessary to synthesise new elements in the laboratory. All synthetic elements are unstable, but they decay at widely varying rates: the half-lives of their longest-lived isotopes range from microseconds to millions of years.* Scientific methods are human made. We should not consider ourselves as God because only His creations, including you and me, are infinite.

Alternatively, the human mind is much more than a creation of God. Human kind can use the mind to imagine and act out a multitude of scenarios. The mind is chaotic and requires proper guidance. But who’s guidance? I believe it must be guidance by God. Hence the formation of the Torah, the Bible and other religious books and systems. ‘In the beginning was the Word’ means ‘at the beginning of everything, there was the entity we know as God, who embodied, and created, the rational principle on which everything is founded’. Divinely inspired Truth is the fundamental basis of human thought which lead to the natural rights ensconced in the U.S. Constitution. This is what makes us a free people in America.

Beware the man made “systems” that remove God’s meaning and purpose. Secular is non religious yet was never meant to be non God. Religion is a man made system for being with and relating to God as science is a man made system for being with and organizing God’s creation on earth. Likewise government is a man made system for organizing a community of humans. Humans are a creation of God which He saw as good. However humans have the capability of committing acts both good and bad which is why God also created boundaries by handing down The Word through prophets and articles like the 10 Commandments. This is where secularists and atheists always get stuck…The “separation” of church and state is not a clause in the Constitution. Instead the Constitution guarantees no establishment of one religion for the state or states https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/885/establishment-clause-separation-of-church-and-state … Belief in God and the individual’s practice of religion was sacrosanct.

We have taken this freedom for granted. We can witness this in the human chaos that is all around us. The frailty of the human spirit is reflected in the blatant rejection (“revolution”) of the boundaries of scientific methods, man’s laws and the constitutional limits all of which have been traditionalized in our secular world. This rejection has conditioned many people to believe in human made false gods such as climate change, critical race theory and party politics…Modern day golden idols shining as stars and moons and galaxies for those who worship them and attempt to control others through them. Man’s misuse of the military industrial complex is an unfortunate outcome of this Godless control.

Ground yourself by getting real with God. Place importance in objective truths. If your faith in God is weak then you are vulnerable to the evils, the false gods, the golden idols of our material world. You don’t need to follow a church or a preacher, but you do need to educate yourself with The Word by following a kind and humble path with similar seekers. God is Love, Light and the Way.

*from Wikipedia

God is For Giving

Ah the Holidays! Traditions that give our existence in the United States a meaning that goes beyond the words we know as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year. And meaning is so very important to the human species…We all know these dates exist in earthly time, and attached to these dates there are national as well as religious and family traditions, but reverence is definitely the central theme for them all.

Reverence is a showing of deep respect. The Holidays during November through December allow us to set aside time in our lives to dwell on this deep respect. But what or who are we to be respectful of or to? Think about this for a moment, if we secularize these special days then why would respect ever enter into any part of a holiday’s recognition or tradition? The truth is, these are holy days and the secular has no place in them.

Oh sure, Thanksgiving can be about turkey, Christmas and Hanukkah about lights and gifts, Kwanzaa about community, and New Years about starting anew. We can even give a “sinister” new meaning to them as Thanksgiving has unfortunately acquired because of our ability to associate current human progress with past human realities…Hindsight is always 20/20.

But a nation needs its traditions in order to build upon its positive communal spirit. And the best way to build a positive communal spirit is to give joy and love to our gatherings. God as the “Great Creator” is the silver lining of our most profound loss and the essence of everlasting Love. To revere God is to give the greatest gift of all which is compassion. A nation that builds upon Godly traditions is at its most compassionate. Secular traditions eventually become divisive because there is no unifying principle to humble the communal spirit. Turkeys, evergreen trees, presents, candles and ball-drops are not unifying principles!

Because God is forgiving, God is for giving. Our nation’s year-end celebrations are meaningful because God has shown us the way. May we be blessed enough to know this Love, respect it, and share it always.

You Came To Earth…

Higher consciousness is the place in your mind where you find the transcendent power of your soul. You get to this place (or should I say “space”) by being in full awareness of your actions and affections. You can’t reach this state of mind unless you have been born into our earthly reality which is a powerful act in and of itself!

Why is the transition to higher consciousness important, and when is the right time to act on it? There is no easy answer.

To start, you must live an earthly existence and experience your life with all its joys and sorrows. To have experience is what makes you human, and the daily choices you make relate to who you are becoming. Education is a very big part of this phase; reading and studying all you can on both sides of the spectrum, asking questions, testing theories, observing the actions of your elders. Along with education is your ability to acquire a respect for those things you are unable to control; other’s words and actions, the weather, an animal’s instinct.

Next, you must understand how your own emotions relate to your experiences. You must feel each of these emotions deeply. Cry when you’re feeling the tears move you, laugh when the outcome of your own oddness is funny, be angry when disappointed, be humble when you’ve disappointed another. Along with these expressions comes a practice of letting go which is hard to do at first, but becomes easier as you figure out that life does indeed come with its ups and downs. Everyone has these internal mood regulators which generally come up against your external influencers. Accept it all and find comfort in a Higher Power that loves you for your unique soul. This will help you to know who you are and to find the strength for improvement in your earthly endeavors.

Finally, practice makes perfect! Be intentional with positivity. Let mindfulness be consistent with your daily interactions and you will touch upon the unconditional Love which is required for the transformation to higher consciousness. You can honor this ability by your practice of it because it shows through in your authentic purpose and gives meaning to your life, enriching everyone around you.

How does this spiritual capability work within our secular systems? This is the topic of my next blog post…

A Religion for Our Time

Religion is a practice. Belief in core Priciples along with rituals of song, prayer and symbolism help to engage an individual in spiritual growth. The world’s major religions are practiced by many people, however there are just as many people for whom these religions do not resonate. This does not mean that non-religious people do not desire a spiritual anchor. Many find great meaning in nature, music, movement, and volunteerism. Given today’s active lifestyles there should be a religious practice that would work for most anyone who wishes to engage meaningfully with Devine inspiration, spiritual healing and God. If there was such a practice, how would it be taught? And, would it be necessary to commune with others in a physical church to make it truly a religion?

Polarizing political climates are a symptom of needed spiritual intervention. The focus of each individual must be diverted from physical needs and wants and placed squarely in the hands of a higher power. In my past writings I have pointed out that our mainstream dialogue is trending toward more order which is why more social justice initiatives and socialist programs are being pushed as necessary for equity in our U.S. Culture. The political emphasis on centralizing government rather than respecting individual liberty has huge implications on the human soul. This is patriarchy or what I call the Male Principle in action. It amazes me that women who call themselves “Feminists” are buying into this patriarchal system. The alternative, having a matriarchal system is no better. The “male” symbolizes confidence, protection and humor. The “female” symbolizes passion, modesty, and creativity. In this instance male/female does not connotate sex or gender, instead their meaning is purely related to human nature as order/chaos. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines human nature as the fundamental dispositions and traits of humans. Taken together the male and female traits are present within all humans to various degrees, and our cultures are manifestations of these traits. Witness now the physical focus on trans men and women, race, gender inequality (AKA intersectionality)…Why the need to physically transform oneself into a “category of traits”? Why not instead accept your natural physical presence and utilize your fundamental human traits to transform your spirit and hence your life with all of humanity? I believe the Bible is a guide for this transformation, however its religious message can be incredibly difficult for the average person to understand. You cannot find yourself by expressing feelings through physicality.

Devine transformation occurs somewhere between the human traits of confidence/passion, protection/modesty, and humor/creativity. The Genesis is hidden from the eye, but felt with the heart. The transformation is fully physical in the form of good works not your identity of sex or race or even your material acquisitions. The goal is love, of yourself and others. And if God is Love, then our good works in our homes and communities make us into the image of our Creator.

Now for the teaching…Imagine the egg as a symbol of this transformation. The yolk feeds the embryo (germinal disc) and is attached to the shell internally by a membranous strip (chalaza). The egg white (albumen) cushions the yolk and supplies water to the growing embryo. There is an air chamber that holds oxygen. Inner and outer membranes form the protective layers between the eggwhite and the shell. We know all this exists inside the shell and yet we are unable to actually view it unless of course we dissect the egg. Consider that your soul is the embryo and your human nature is the yolk. The chalaza anchors your soul and human nature to a membrane that protects your emotional maturity. The egg whites cradle your emerging soul and ensure that the oxygen remains removed from you until you are ready for the physical transformation to do good works in the physical world. But the symbolism does not stop here.

Now consider the Easter Egg. Let’s decorate the shell with symbols of the human capacity for love. The diagram below shows the outer shell of the egg with a blue heart near the top, a red heart toward the middle and a purple heart near the base. Out from either side of the red heart internally are two more hearts, one orange and one green. Attached to the inside and opposite to the red heart is a large yellow heart, and the large yellow heart is connected to the blue and purple hearts almost directly like the chalaza of an egg. Everything happening within the shell is not able to be seen, but if you can imagine the internal dimension then you can quite possibly connect to it’s deeper meaning. This rainbow of hearts manifests Devine inspiration and offers a guide for spiritual healing and growth:

God (yellow), man (blue) and woman (red) are primary colors. Chaos (orange) and order (green) are a blend of God with woman and man respectively. Community is a blend of man and woman (as the color purple). This image is very similar to a previous image I created from a previous blog. Order and Chaos balance with Transformational Suffering from which Good Works and Meaning emminate and ultimately connect to God or Christ…This is Devine transformation and can be achieved by anyone willing to believe in the process.

Both women and men must nurture new life and teach good works, doing this with guidance from their Creator. Women and men carry on the traditions of Devine inspiration for their homes and communities to bring meaning. The Judeo-Christian teachings are the basis of these traditions. No matter what gender or race you are, it is human nature that drives your soul and God’s presence is the mystery working in your soul. You are in charge of doing the good in the world on God’s behalf. Understand that each individual shares the same journey of our human race….This is our church, and at its core it is religious.

Hold an egg in the palm of your hand. Sense the frailty of its mystery. Consume the meaning of its message and put it to work in your life.

Shrew U: Local Economy and Balancing Faith with Commerce

The fact that so many faiths can co-exist in U.S. Culture today speaks volumes for our progress as a nation.

In my last blog I stated that balance is a welcome state of being for humanity and very important for all facets of our lives. Because I am finding that certain elements in this country are ginning up much hostility toward capitalism, in this blog I would like to reflect on how we balance faith with commerce.

low angle view of cross against sky at night — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Once upon a time in order for a new community to be established in the North American territories it needed a church and a pastor. Faith was central to existence because life presented a multitude of hardships (One could argue that we still have many hardships, but that is a topic for a future Shrew blog). Many of these communities still exist today with a First Parish Church in its midst. Of course today most of these communities also have several other churches along with perhaps a Temple and even a Mosque. Faith in God or a Higher Power can be a grounding influence for many people, and I believe that religious practice in communities is a key ingredient for goodwill among humanity. The fact that so many faiths can co-exist in U.S. Culture today speaks volumes for our progress as a nation.

So which came first, faith practice or commerce? I think this question is comparable to the chicken and egg hypothesis. We know that Britain colonized America in 1607 at which point the North American resources became valuable to many markets (Again, exploitation of these resources is another great topic for a future Shrew blog). In the very early days the settlers bartered their goods and services, no money was needed to support their basic lifestyles. Indentured slaves and negro slaves were in full use by 1640 thanks in part to the Dutch who brought the first negro slaves…Britain benefited the most from this practice because new markets for cotton and tobacco amoung other things were expanding at great rates and new immigrants to America were smart enough to know that this work on southern plantations was less than desirable. Moving ahead 50 years, the first paper money wasn’t issued until February 3, 1690 to pay for military action during the King Philip’s War (military personnel required payment to make their fight worthwhile). By 1776 the British pushed American “free spirits” to their limit. Because religious freedom was central to the impending free nation, British rule equated to Anglican hierarchical practices. I find it interesting that it took 170 years for these European free spirited transplants to break away from Imperial bonds, but honestly that is what tyrannical control can do to people…dependence on the “Mother Land” is like clinging to your mother’s warm bosom. It took tremendous personally inspired faith to fight for independence.

And so, the land of opportunity was born…Each man and woman sovereign to him/herself with inalienable rights and property protections. Property of course also includes your business and ability to make money which involves a tremendous amount of creativity. God created the Universe and we, as part of this creation, are inspired to also create .

I believe the best economies are local. They reflect the community of people united with threads of purpose. And many times they use the bounty of resources located in their region. These communities educate their young, learn from their past, celebrate their better days, reflect on their challenges, honor Mother Nature and love life through a respectful relationship with their Creator. A nation that respects a community’s innovation to thrive will reap the rewards.

Which came first, faith practice or commerce? One definitely defines the other and in my dictionary faith defines commerce…Just look on the back of our currency! In God We Trust 🙂

The Shrew

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