Thus saith the Lord:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g9poWKKpbU
This week's challenge; find love in a whole new place. Even if that means an unexplored fragment of your own heart.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Saturday, May 18, 2013
I See You
The problem with beggars is that they beg. It makes people feel uncomfortable. We don't like being put on the spot. Its as though we are challenged: are you a good person? Will you help out the needy? Or are we so callous and indifferent we won't "cough up" the change in our pocket? Observing people's reactions to handling the homeless, panhandlers, and beggars, one can quickly deduce that "blindness" is the most overt strategy employed. I don't see you. You don't exist. Or I can ignore you to the extent you might as well not exist.
Life always presents us choices. With regard to those looking for a handout, I utilize a number of different options depending on how I feel at the moment. One choice I've made is to buy apples and offer an apple rather than change. (this eliminates the excuse they will use the money towards drugs or alcohol) Another is when I go through my closet for Goodwill or the Salvation Army, I throw a few T-Shirts (spring/summer) or coats (fall/winter) in a separate bag in my car trunk. That way I can offer a clean piece of clothing that may be more welcome than 53 cents.
One thing I always try to do is look them straight in the eye. I also do my best to smile. I believe that acknowledging them is worth more than a small amount of change. I think their self-esteem benefits from it. I believe I benefit from it as well and I'll tell you why. It gives me the chance to explore my personal integrity. Do I do things because it is expected of me? Do I do things because I feel trapped? Do I do things and then resent the fact that I did them?
Some people pay therapist's a lot of money to discover those personality traits. Wouldn't it be something if we could view beggars in a whole new light? Rather than a nuisance, perhaps we could see them as street corner therapy. Available night and day to let us monitor where we are at and how we are doing. That's no small gift. Maybe even worthy of some spare change or a dollar bill.
http://hoffman.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/000-homeless/G00005LF5IHFVAlA/I00000qGPvtPLAGk
UPDATE: June 10th Seems as though there is some collaboration going on. It feels good.
http://thefw.com/making-homeless-people-smile/
UPDATE: August 7th Gaining traction. Awesome!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=494748280602313
Life always presents us choices. With regard to those looking for a handout, I utilize a number of different options depending on how I feel at the moment. One choice I've made is to buy apples and offer an apple rather than change. (this eliminates the excuse they will use the money towards drugs or alcohol) Another is when I go through my closet for Goodwill or the Salvation Army, I throw a few T-Shirts (spring/summer) or coats (fall/winter) in a separate bag in my car trunk. That way I can offer a clean piece of clothing that may be more welcome than 53 cents.
One thing I always try to do is look them straight in the eye. I also do my best to smile. I believe that acknowledging them is worth more than a small amount of change. I think their self-esteem benefits from it. I believe I benefit from it as well and I'll tell you why. It gives me the chance to explore my personal integrity. Do I do things because it is expected of me? Do I do things because I feel trapped? Do I do things and then resent the fact that I did them?
Some people pay therapist's a lot of money to discover those personality traits. Wouldn't it be something if we could view beggars in a whole new light? Rather than a nuisance, perhaps we could see them as street corner therapy. Available night and day to let us monitor where we are at and how we are doing. That's no small gift. Maybe even worthy of some spare change or a dollar bill.
http://hoffman.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/000-homeless/G00005LF5IHFVAlA/I00000qGPvtPLAGk
UPDATE: June 10th Seems as though there is some collaboration going on. It feels good.
http://thefw.com/making-homeless-people-smile/
UPDATE: August 7th Gaining traction. Awesome!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=494748280602313
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Thy Kingdom Come
It really is just this simple.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBllzlO5KGA
We've proven we can do it. Can we now put it in a context where we understand that this is the "Kingdom of God" spoken of by the masters? Now is the time, here is the place, you are the person. If you are reading this post, understand you have been called. Selected. Appointed. Anointed. Read the attached link:
http://wpgrogan.blogspot.com/2012/10/not-good-enough.html
Alright then, be about your business. You've a job to do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBllzlO5KGA
We've proven we can do it. Can we now put it in a context where we understand that this is the "Kingdom of God" spoken of by the masters? Now is the time, here is the place, you are the person. If you are reading this post, understand you have been called. Selected. Appointed. Anointed. Read the attached link:
http://wpgrogan.blogspot.com/2012/10/not-good-enough.html
Alright then, be about your business. You've a job to do.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Tired of Being Nice
A friend shared her website with me (see above) and I certainly was surprised. Not only by the name of the site, but how hard it was to find. There are ALOT of links with that title (or slight variations of it). My genuine reaction was; how can you be tired of being nice?
The easy answer is people are "nice" to be acknowledged. Or validated. Perhaps they feel "cornered" and don't have the personal integrity to say, "no." Maybe they feel it necessary in order to be "liked." Quite possibly, they have been nice to another person many times and there isn't any reciprocity (you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours) so they become resentful. Bottom line is that being nice usually comes with an expectation of a payoff. And when a payoff isn't forthcoming, people claim they are being taken advantage of. They quickly tire of being "nice."
Understand it is perfectly acceptable to want something in return for you being nice. Just be upfront about it. Make sure the other person understands it is "tit for tat." (quid pro quo) Otherwise you are engaging in a game of appearances. See how nice I am? Aren't I a good guy? And the resentment of not being acknowledged, validated, or reciprocated builds up to YOUR DETRIMENT. You become an unhappy fellow with negative thoughts constantly circling around in your head. (I'm being used--I'm a doormat--I always do for others and never get anything in return, etc etc) You become a victim.
Know there may come a time when you hold an entirely different view of being nice. That service to others becomes a vocation. That you do nice things for others because it makes YOU feel good. That what another does (or fails to do) has no bearing on your experience of that good inside you. It is the purity (I do this for me) of your experience that allows the essence of your nature free expression. An unlimited stream of "niceness" created by the understanding, "I am you."
Goodness is great
If you're good to yourself
The easy answer is people are "nice" to be acknowledged. Or validated. Perhaps they feel "cornered" and don't have the personal integrity to say, "no." Maybe they feel it necessary in order to be "liked." Quite possibly, they have been nice to another person many times and there isn't any reciprocity (you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours) so they become resentful. Bottom line is that being nice usually comes with an expectation of a payoff. And when a payoff isn't forthcoming, people claim they are being taken advantage of. They quickly tire of being "nice."
Understand it is perfectly acceptable to want something in return for you being nice. Just be upfront about it. Make sure the other person understands it is "tit for tat." (quid pro quo) Otherwise you are engaging in a game of appearances. See how nice I am? Aren't I a good guy? And the resentment of not being acknowledged, validated, or reciprocated builds up to YOUR DETRIMENT. You become an unhappy fellow with negative thoughts constantly circling around in your head. (I'm being used--I'm a doormat--I always do for others and never get anything in return, etc etc) You become a victim.
Know there may come a time when you hold an entirely different view of being nice. That service to others becomes a vocation. That you do nice things for others because it makes YOU feel good. That what another does (or fails to do) has no bearing on your experience of that good inside you. It is the purity (I do this for me) of your experience that allows the essence of your nature free expression. An unlimited stream of "niceness" created by the understanding, "I am you."
Goodness is great
If you're good to yourself
Friday, May 10, 2013
End of Your Rope
When you find yourself caught up in an emotional or mental "firestorm" not to your liking, there is a beneficial way of counteracting it. BREATHE. Lock in on your breathing. Concentrate on the rhythm and depth of your breath. Really focus! Try and slow it down. In through your nose and out through your mouth. Slower--deeper. To the exclusion of all other stimulus. Slower still--deeper yet. Feel the expansion of your lungs when you inhale, the compression when you exhale. If you are in a position to do so, allow your eyelids to close for a short time. When your mind grasps at the thought that upset you, ignore it and refocus on your breath. Stay with the rhythm; ride it in, ride it out. Peace in...distress out.
http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/breathe-slowly-better-health-and-well-being
As you re-engage the situation that upset you, realize you have choices. There is a wide range of ways to react. If the provocation has been overt or even deliberate, it stills does not limit the number of options you have in which to respond. If the adjectives versatile and flexible are appealing to you, perhaps now is the time to demonstrate them. (see the post "Anchors Aweigh" 1-5-13) Whatever you decide to do (as long as you are ready to accept the consequences of your actions) is exactly the right course of action. The gift is in the experience and you are ready for it.
http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/breathe-slowly-better-health-and-well-being
As you re-engage the situation that upset you, realize you have choices. There is a wide range of ways to react. If the provocation has been overt or even deliberate, it stills does not limit the number of options you have in which to respond. If the adjectives versatile and flexible are appealing to you, perhaps now is the time to demonstrate them. (see the post "Anchors Aweigh" 1-5-13) Whatever you decide to do (as long as you are ready to accept the consequences of your actions) is exactly the right course of action. The gift is in the experience and you are ready for it.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
A Partial Portrait
When we speak of God, I am of the opinion context matters. To understand context I think it is important to take a look at the world around us. Because we claim God has certain attributes (Creator for one) I feel it revealing to see what, exactly, we are talking about. I am linking to a site (Khan Academy) which provides some detail to the relative size of everything. I ask that you spend 24 minutes (13 for the Scale of the Small and 11 for the Scale of the Large) getting a grasp of the "physical" aspects of God. (I am fascinated by the subject and recommend exploring "The Scale of the Universe"---upper left hand box---as well, but realize you may not share my interest)
http://www.khanacademy.org/science/cosmology-and-astronomy/universe-scale-topic/scale-small-large-tutorial/v/scale-of-the-small
If you were to meet a person on the street, I think it fair to say their physical aspects would be much easier to generalize about than their mental capabilities. You could, in a glance, see their gender, height, weight, et cetera. Their intellect would be a more involved process. My point is we cannot comprehend the physical aspects of God. Yet Religion would have you believe that they have revealed the "mind" of God, in its entirety! This may be so, but it strikes me as absurd. From the depths of my being, genuinely, honestly, absurd.
Despite that, I just as honestly feel God needs to, has to, interact with His creation. That the interaction is the very POINT of creation. But it is only a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of God revealed in THAT interaction. It would be like trying to force two gallons into a closed vessel with a one gallon capacity. It would burst. But in this case it would be like trying to fit all the oceans of the world into a one ounce container. You would be able to tell what elements make up sea water. You might even see some krill. But to think for a minute you understand the immensity, complexity and diversity of the oceans is laughable. This, though, is the current position of most religions. From their one ounce sample they claim to have been empowered to tell you all about the ocean. If you don't accept their conclusions the worst possible fate awaits you. Eternal damnation.
It is time for a religious, spiritual, paradigm shift. An understanding of "personal revelation" being a conduit to comprehending We instead of Me. That self-realization leads to group consciousness. And that group consciousness is the next step in a better (though in no way complete) understanding of the Mind of God. It is thus; Life abhors a vacuum. Life is anything but static. (all Life vibrates) And Life must be seen as a synonym for God. (otherwise you have removed any and all context for an actual experience of God) Therefore God is evolving. Growing. Expanding. So must we if we wish to glimpse even a partial portrait of this mystery called God.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW6JFKgbAF4
http://www.khanacademy.org/science/cosmology-and-astronomy/universe-scale-topic/scale-small-large-tutorial/v/scale-of-the-small
If you were to meet a person on the street, I think it fair to say their physical aspects would be much easier to generalize about than their mental capabilities. You could, in a glance, see their gender, height, weight, et cetera. Their intellect would be a more involved process. My point is we cannot comprehend the physical aspects of God. Yet Religion would have you believe that they have revealed the "mind" of God, in its entirety! This may be so, but it strikes me as absurd. From the depths of my being, genuinely, honestly, absurd.
Despite that, I just as honestly feel God needs to, has to, interact with His creation. That the interaction is the very POINT of creation. But it is only a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of God revealed in THAT interaction. It would be like trying to force two gallons into a closed vessel with a one gallon capacity. It would burst. But in this case it would be like trying to fit all the oceans of the world into a one ounce container. You would be able to tell what elements make up sea water. You might even see some krill. But to think for a minute you understand the immensity, complexity and diversity of the oceans is laughable. This, though, is the current position of most religions. From their one ounce sample they claim to have been empowered to tell you all about the ocean. If you don't accept their conclusions the worst possible fate awaits you. Eternal damnation.
It is time for a religious, spiritual, paradigm shift. An understanding of "personal revelation" being a conduit to comprehending We instead of Me. That self-realization leads to group consciousness. And that group consciousness is the next step in a better (though in no way complete) understanding of the Mind of God. It is thus; Life abhors a vacuum. Life is anything but static. (all Life vibrates) And Life must be seen as a synonym for God. (otherwise you have removed any and all context for an actual experience of God) Therefore God is evolving. Growing. Expanding. So must we if we wish to glimpse even a partial portrait of this mystery called God.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW6JFKgbAF4
Monday, May 6, 2013
Odds and Ends
Try as I might to avoid this subject, Life won't seem to let me. I fear it will be viewed as ego run amok, but Life keeps shutting down other avenues I wish to post about. So I relaxed into the flow of things and let it carry me here (Odds and Ends). I will leave it to you to determine what to make of it.
On 2-18-13 I posted Flatline. Since then, the visitors to this site has increased dramatically. In fact Germany, Russia and Romania (who'd have believed Romania?!) often have more "hits" than the United States on a daily and even weekly basis. So Danke, Spasibo and Multumesc! To other visitors from the UK, South Korea, China and newcomers like France and Venezuela, as well as many others, thank you all. I am humbled and grateful.
I realize that recent posts have galvanized around events happening in my life. As careful with details as I try to be, allowing just the briefest of details central to the story, I still am wary of this blog being about me. I very much want it to be about you. Your interaction with and experiences of Life. So post a comment! The comment box is set up where you have to work hard to post as anything other than "anonymous." Start out by sharing your city and country. What I didn't know about Romania is embarrassing...and it would be a delight to get first hand accounts of the history of your country. If we never progress beyond that, so be it. It would still be an honor to meet you. (even anonymously)
It has become clear to me that this site is very "mystical." It wasn't intended to be and I wouldn't have thought as much until coming across this: "Mysticism means a direct, immediate sense of God's Presence." (from the book, "The Story of Judaism" by Bernard J. Bamberger) That is the hope I have for you. That you develop an intimate relationship with God. What God is I will leave to you. It could be a Presence, a Power, an Intelligence...or all of the above. What I am sure of is that whatever God is will be revealed to you, if you will just allow it to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0DJ8hWgNes
May this be the start of a wonderful week for all of you.
Later that same day: (3:20 PM) I just "Updated" the 2-26-13 post. If you are so inclined, you could drop in and view it. Might be the true reason Life kept shutting down other avenues. Something more important needed to be expressed, albeit this post opened the channels.
On 2-18-13 I posted Flatline. Since then, the visitors to this site has increased dramatically. In fact Germany, Russia and Romania (who'd have believed Romania?!) often have more "hits" than the United States on a daily and even weekly basis. So Danke, Spasibo and Multumesc! To other visitors from the UK, South Korea, China and newcomers like France and Venezuela, as well as many others, thank you all. I am humbled and grateful.
I realize that recent posts have galvanized around events happening in my life. As careful with details as I try to be, allowing just the briefest of details central to the story, I still am wary of this blog being about me. I very much want it to be about you. Your interaction with and experiences of Life. So post a comment! The comment box is set up where you have to work hard to post as anything other than "anonymous." Start out by sharing your city and country. What I didn't know about Romania is embarrassing...and it would be a delight to get first hand accounts of the history of your country. If we never progress beyond that, so be it. It would still be an honor to meet you. (even anonymously)
It has become clear to me that this site is very "mystical." It wasn't intended to be and I wouldn't have thought as much until coming across this: "Mysticism means a direct, immediate sense of God's Presence." (from the book, "The Story of Judaism" by Bernard J. Bamberger) That is the hope I have for you. That you develop an intimate relationship with God. What God is I will leave to you. It could be a Presence, a Power, an Intelligence...or all of the above. What I am sure of is that whatever God is will be revealed to you, if you will just allow it to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0DJ8hWgNes
May this be the start of a wonderful week for all of you.
Later that same day: (3:20 PM) I just "Updated" the 2-26-13 post. If you are so inclined, you could drop in and view it. Might be the true reason Life kept shutting down other avenues. Something more important needed to be expressed, albeit this post opened the channels.
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