Living In Spirit

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Recipe For Unhappiness

Reflect morbidly. Worry about everything. Tell yourself that time is running out and you aren’t getting any younger. Rehash the memories of all those times you zigged when you should have zagged. Visualize all the people who have ever mistreated you and relive the experience. Worry about your health. Go online and search medical databases to diagnose any ache or pain you have and what it might be a symptom of. Money? Have some? Will it be enough, will it last, what if some crook in a suit finds a way to steal it? Don’t have much? How will you get more? What if you don’t? Whatever your financial condition, dwell on all the possible negative outcomes. In short, think about yourself, relentlessly. Do not let any thoughts of God or good dissuade you from your mission and you are sure to be successful at being unhappy.

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Serenity, Enlightenment, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, Addicts Today, Chopra, Jesus, Healing Path Recovery, Einstein, Marianne Williamson, Sayeh Beheshti, AKUA

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

The Settled Science Of Sacred Cows

Have you an open mind? In the course of teaching metaphysics this question is often met with incredulity, a brusque “of course.” It is in the secret place of our heart where this query truly lurks. On important social issues, we must spend equal time studying both sides, to the point that we can intelligently argue either side if we wish to be truly informed. If we choose not to do this out of laziness we then form our opinions based on emotion and snippets of unverified information gleaned from a variety of sources lacking any systematic or logical course of study.

In the 1970’s I was a member of the Futurist Society. Futurists predict the future based on what is deemed the best verifiable evidence extrapolated logically. I accepted their pronouncements at face value, since they had studied and researched the issues (I believed) at depth. I looked forward to the arrival of each issue for one particular writer whose articles were always well written and interesting. The new issue arrived and I attempted to read some of the other articles first, a little delayed gratification, but soon turned to my favorite author. With a smile on my face I began reading. When finished I felt unsettled. I couldn’t put my finger on it but something was lurking in the back of my mind. So after about a week I went to the library to do some research. Firing up the microfiche (remember microfiche and cabinets filled with microfilm) I located the statistics I was looking for and there was the problem. The author had reversed the stats that supported his position! I felt relieved and a little proud. I reasoned that some underling had provided the stats to the author incorrectly and a correction would be forth coming. The next issue arrived however and nothing was mentioned. I surmised that by the time he became aware it was too late for this issue but would certainly be in the next. Well, he did address it in the next issue. The response was one of the most over the top, vitriolic pieces of junk I, to this day, have ever read. Not only did he defend his position and facts, anyone who disagreed with him was an idiot! I was left stunned and breathless. I rechecked the stats to see if I misread them. Nope. A sacred cow died that day.

Spiritually, sacred cows are everywhere. Many are inherited, some have quietly strolled in and we have not bothered to do the work to turn them out, usually because if we do we are afraid of what we will find when they are gone, since sacred cows are notoriously poor house keepers. Living on the Spiritual Basis we must not be afraid to ask questions and seek the truth, since: the truth will set you free. Trust, but verify.

I didn’t renew my membership in the Futurists Society. Looking back, one of their predictions for 2000 (then 20+ years in the future) was, that if we didn’t act immediately the world was about to be plunged into a new ice age, that we instigated. Beyond doubt. Settled science. All the top climatologists said so. Hmmm...

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

God Doesn’t Take Credit Cards

God is never unfair. If we have been busy living life secularly, believing in God but doing little to demonstrate that belief, is it really any surprise when we fail to demonstrate spiritually? Once again, reaping and sowing in action. No real crop (practicing prayer and meditation, being of service) was ever planted and now winter (trouble) has arrived and the cupboard is bear. Since the Universe isn’t a fast food restaurant where if you have a credit card you can get your food on the promise of future payment, for in truth, God doesn’t take credit cards.

The promise of prayer and good works tomorrow is meaningless towards our demonstration today. Faith without works is dead.

So start today to plant the crop you wish to harvest, to stock your cupboard for the inevitable winter days that come for all. To be clear: We cannot live off of yesterdays work, for in truth what our cupboard is stocked with is the reality of our relationship with and to God, that by doing HIS work well TODAY, all our future needs will be met.

So, just for today Practice the Presence of God in every area of life. Salute the spark of the Divine in all you meet. Forgive. Spend a few minutes each day in prayer and meditation. Carry the Good News on your face so that any who hunger can be filled. By planting and nurturing this crop, we will never hunger, our cupboard always full, our good works the demonstration of the Power within.

When we know, who walks beside us, on this path we have chosen, our fears fall from us.