When we look at everything going on around us in the world, the easy road often seems to complain, to criticize, to withdraw, to blame. Looking back on 2013, I see so much to be thankful for.
I am thankful for those with vision in the field of medicine who dream and work for cures to cancer, Parkinsons, and the myriad of illnesses that plague us. I am thankful for those who dream of a day when the human right of health care is a reality. I am thankful for the multitude who sacrifice their personal comfort and time making others comfortable.
I am thankful for the selfless millions who give to provide food for the hungry and the thousands who serve that food to families and homeless. I am thankful for agencies dedicated to the reduction, if not the elimination, of hunger in my community, state, country, and the world.
I am thankful for the generous throngs who give coats off their backs or out of the surplus of their clostes so others can be warm. I am thankful for individuals and organizations who brave the elements to find the neglected and bring them in for food, warmth, and clothing.
I am thankful for teachers who sacrifice higher salaries to serve and educate the next generation, sharing dreams, inspiring the next scientists, doctors, public servants, and teachers. I am thankful for these unsung heroes who give out of their own resources to supplement meager teaching provisions so their students will not be neglected.
I am thankful for the caring who visit those in prison to let them know they are humans of worth and dignity and valued as human beings.
I am thankful for the millions who have and continue to preserve our freedom.
I am thankful for poll workers and canvasers who strive to keep the vision of democracy alive for every citizen.
I am thankful for those who bag my groceries and smile warmth and cheer while earning a minimum wage. I am thankful for everyone who supports a living wage.
I am thankful for those who march and protest to remind the rest of us that the dream has not been fully realized yet.
I am thankful for those who serve in public office with humility, honesty, and a passion for everyone.
I am thankful for every person of goodwill, yearning for peace, living the peace so desperately needed in our world, and dedicated to the elimination of violence in our society and world.
My hope and resolution for 2014----to recommit and act in a way that serves others in becoming the people and world we are capable of being.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Friday, December 20, 2013
Imagine a world lit by divine light
Imagine a world lit by divine light! According to the Genesis myth, this is exactly what happened "When God began creating the world," a more correct translation of Genesis 1:1. It was divine light, not physical light. Physical light did not come until day four when God created sun, moon, and stars. It was divine light, and it was present from the beginning. The creation story is about the divinity of the earth and ALL that is in it. The text says, affirms, insists that creation is good----God says so! The text says that before God's light gave warmth and illumination, the earth was a formless void and darkness. This first light and darkness are not good and bad, right and wrong, truth and falseness. Good and evil do not enter God's good creation until humans disobey, and that doesn't happen until Genesis 3. The divine light fills the dark void with meaning and purpose, fills it with God! God is in everything and everything is in God!
It is our failure to recognize the divine light in creation, in ourselves and others, that hides and obscures the potential brilliance yearning to be free, longing to be shared and embraced, inviting all creation to become that for which and to which we were created.
That light, God's light, divine light finds its greatest expression and truest incarnation when creatures yield to the creator, love completely selflessly, seek peace, and mirror the compassion and generosity first given to them.
Love, peace, humility, service to others before consuming ego and conspicuous consumption. The gifts of creation are for the benefit of all, not the hoarding of the few. Divine light exposes the hidden, dark corners of our selfishness and always, always invites our surrender and commitment to divine purposes in the world.
It is the season of light: Feast of Dedication/Festival of Lights, Advent Candles, Islamic New Year and new light of fresh starts, Devali, and on goes creation's longing for oneness with Creator and creatures.
The children's song was never more true and compelling: "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine." May we all, everyday, in every way.
It is our failure to recognize the divine light in creation, in ourselves and others, that hides and obscures the potential brilliance yearning to be free, longing to be shared and embraced, inviting all creation to become that for which and to which we were created.
That light, God's light, divine light finds its greatest expression and truest incarnation when creatures yield to the creator, love completely selflessly, seek peace, and mirror the compassion and generosity first given to them.
Love, peace, humility, service to others before consuming ego and conspicuous consumption. The gifts of creation are for the benefit of all, not the hoarding of the few. Divine light exposes the hidden, dark corners of our selfishness and always, always invites our surrender and commitment to divine purposes in the world.
It is the season of light: Feast of Dedication/Festival of Lights, Advent Candles, Islamic New Year and new light of fresh starts, Devali, and on goes creation's longing for oneness with Creator and creatures.
The children's song was never more true and compelling: "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine." May we all, everyday, in every way.
Monday, December 9, 2013
Summary of definitions of moral
I apologize for taking so lomg in getting back to you as promised. My only excuse is Thanksgiving and the death of a very favorite cousin.
So, here is a "general" description of the responses you graciously shared.
(1) About half of you described your moral framework as religiously or spiritually defined, everything from overt revelation to a universal foundation of consciously avoiding harm to others.
(2) About half of you described what Bishop James Pike in the sixties called "situation ethics." I'm sure this "principle" had been around for a very long time before he popularlized it, but it became a buzz word in philosophy/religion circles.
Some of you implied that we are born with this sensitivity or inner awareness, others hinted at the possibility that morality is taught, learned. You are a wonderful microcosim of every moral position I have ever encounterted.
Along the way I was offered a model for making moral judgments that I found particularly challenging and helpful [I would never claim that I follow it everyday!]. This model says that you begin with a clear understanding of the moral principles/foundation you accept as defining your life and your relationship to the world. With that foundation to guide you:
(1) objectively and as clearly as possible "describe" the way things are.
(2) using your moral principles "describe" the way you believe/think things should be.
(3) now choose and act in a way, determine a course of action, to get from (1) to (2) that is consistent with your moral principles.
(4) revisit frequently to be sure you remain faithful, true to your principles and plan of action.
Obviously this isn't rocket science. But there is a world of difference between saying and doing.
In my opinion, and everyone's got one, most of us are inconsistent and fail to live by the principles we self-righteously proclaim. In the end it is our self-centered and prejudiced desires that drive us and determine the positions we take on practically every issue.
But no one is perfect and what are goals for but to challenge and encourage us. If we share the same goals---a healthy environment, elimination of hunger, a safe world for everyone---then is it too much to believe that reasonable people of all political and moral persuasions can come together and solve the problems facing our generation?
As Mother Teresa said, we are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful.
So, here is a "general" description of the responses you graciously shared.
(1) About half of you described your moral framework as religiously or spiritually defined, everything from overt revelation to a universal foundation of consciously avoiding harm to others.
(2) About half of you described what Bishop James Pike in the sixties called "situation ethics." I'm sure this "principle" had been around for a very long time before he popularlized it, but it became a buzz word in philosophy/religion circles.
Some of you implied that we are born with this sensitivity or inner awareness, others hinted at the possibility that morality is taught, learned. You are a wonderful microcosim of every moral position I have ever encounterted.
Along the way I was offered a model for making moral judgments that I found particularly challenging and helpful [I would never claim that I follow it everyday!]. This model says that you begin with a clear understanding of the moral principles/foundation you accept as defining your life and your relationship to the world. With that foundation to guide you:
(1) objectively and as clearly as possible "describe" the way things are.
(2) using your moral principles "describe" the way you believe/think things should be.
(3) now choose and act in a way, determine a course of action, to get from (1) to (2) that is consistent with your moral principles.
(4) revisit frequently to be sure you remain faithful, true to your principles and plan of action.
Obviously this isn't rocket science. But there is a world of difference between saying and doing.
In my opinion, and everyone's got one, most of us are inconsistent and fail to live by the principles we self-righteously proclaim. In the end it is our self-centered and prejudiced desires that drive us and determine the positions we take on practically every issue.
But no one is perfect and what are goals for but to challenge and encourage us. If we share the same goals---a healthy environment, elimination of hunger, a safe world for everyone---then is it too much to believe that reasonable people of all political and moral persuasions can come together and solve the problems facing our generation?
As Mother Teresa said, we are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful.
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