I'm finally creating another post after about seven months of not posting anything. The reasons for the delay are myriad, so I won't bother you with them. It is now time to write. I need share some thoughts as well as get some things off my chest.
I have discovered that my drive to write is now more toward things spiritual, philosophical, and immediate. I'm not ruling out fiction as well, but that is not where my current drive is. God bless my friends, the creators of fantastic worlds, the artists, the poets, and the misfits with unbounded imagination. You all have helped me to find my authentic self, to embrace who I am and to now finally move forward toward my passion. I'd like to personally thank some friends who have really inspired me. These are filmmaker and writer, Jamie McRoberts, writer and all-around book guru Michelle Anderson-Picarella, and photographer to the stars, Michael Strider. They have all been supportive of me, even during the times when I have not believed in myself. I've watched these creators follow their bliss for a long time now (even when it has cost them), and am proud to call them friends.
I do have a confession to make. I have held myself back for years primarily for one reason. That reason is fear. All of my life, I have tried to be a people-pleaser. You know the type. I try to make everything better for everyone and try to be everything that others want me to be. I have fought this all of my life, as many of those who know me well will attest. I have failed at times to stand up for others and for myself because I have been afraid of offending those that I care about or love. It has taken me a long time to realize that if any person doesn't like me or is disappointed in me because of what I believe or who I am, then that is the individual's problem. I will love that person as I do what I need to do and follow my path. I will express myself as I am moved to do so, but I have absolutely no intention of arguing. What we believe, each and every one of us, is very personal and very different, even when our beliefs are within the same general paradigm.
I am concerned about the world that we live in. I am concerned about how we treat each other and how we treat our planet. I am concerned about how we deal with the mystery of life in general. I cannot do anything but raise my voice to help others and to somehow heighten awareness.
The time for fear is over. Look for much more to come, my friends. The Journey is just beginning.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Twelve Years
I remember sitting at my desk, going about my usual tasks at work when I found out about the attack on the World Trade Center. We all brought up the news on our computers, and were enventually allowed to go to the cafeteria to watch the television and to comfort each other a bit. I did not know at the time that a high school classmate of mine had perished in Pennsylvania when Flight 93 went down. I found that out later that day. Sandy Bradshaw was a good woman, and I still mourn her loss, as well as that of all the victims on 9/11.
I look at the world today, and I wonder how much we, as the human race, have accomplished since then. I hope that we have moved forward, but I just don't know. In the United States, fear has led to loss of freedoms, xenophobia, and bitterness or hatred toward those who believe differently. Those who look to profit from this fear have fueled the flames and many of us have let them, or even helped them.
Too many lives have been lost on all sides (one life is too many), and the money spent on conflict in the Middle East is overwhelming. Yet conflict is growing. The coalition troops stepped down in Iraq and sectarian violence escalated. Political, religious and sectarian violence are all over the Middle East, and in the United States. If you don't believe that America has its share, look at the number of hate crimes that are occurring in this country. Look at how immigrants are treated. Look at how peoples of different faith are treated. Oh, it may not be a governmental thing, but the undercurrent is there among the populace. It is poison and spreading more than we'd like to admit.
What can we do about this? I don't have the answers, but I have some suggestions.
1) Quit letting the beliefs of others threaten the beliefs that we hold dear. We think that our beliefs are the only right ones and we want to push them on others. Live and let live. If our beliefs can't stand the challenge of being questioned, what good are they? I have friends of all faiths and political beliefs. I have friends who are atheists, who many times make more sense to me than some other people of religious faith. The differences do not bother me in the least. I love them all. My personal belief as a follower of Christ informs my life. I draw strength and comfort from it. If I live a life that makes people want to know more about my faith, I'll share. I have always appreciated people of other faiths who have shared theirs with me. I've learned much and have had my own faith strengthened. We all have to get through this life the best way that we can, to become as whole as we can. Let's help each other to do so, instead of being stumbling blocks.
2) Go out of our way to be nice to someone who is different, especially if that difference makes us uncomfortable. If possible get to know someone like this. Befriend them. We might be surprised at how much that makes us grow.
3) Sacrifice for others, be it time, money, or comfort. Give and see how it is given back in ways that we would never imagine.
4) Let differences help us to make better decisions as a whole, instead of letting these differences tear us apart. Communication with an open mind is the only way to move forward.
5) Finally, spread love as if it is greater than money or possessions, because it is. John Shelby Spong uses the term, "love wastefully". Love not because we will receive something in return, but because we see that which is sacred in each living being. The Bible says that humankind was formed out of the dust of the earth and animated with the breath of God. Carl Sagan liked to say that we are all made of "star stuff". We are all connected in ways that we don't even realize. We must grow into this realization if we are to heal this planet. We are all one.
Shalom, Namaste, Love to all people, everywhere. Blessings to you all.
I look at the world today, and I wonder how much we, as the human race, have accomplished since then. I hope that we have moved forward, but I just don't know. In the United States, fear has led to loss of freedoms, xenophobia, and bitterness or hatred toward those who believe differently. Those who look to profit from this fear have fueled the flames and many of us have let them, or even helped them.
Too many lives have been lost on all sides (one life is too many), and the money spent on conflict in the Middle East is overwhelming. Yet conflict is growing. The coalition troops stepped down in Iraq and sectarian violence escalated. Political, religious and sectarian violence are all over the Middle East, and in the United States. If you don't believe that America has its share, look at the number of hate crimes that are occurring in this country. Look at how immigrants are treated. Look at how peoples of different faith are treated. Oh, it may not be a governmental thing, but the undercurrent is there among the populace. It is poison and spreading more than we'd like to admit.
What can we do about this? I don't have the answers, but I have some suggestions.
1) Quit letting the beliefs of others threaten the beliefs that we hold dear. We think that our beliefs are the only right ones and we want to push them on others. Live and let live. If our beliefs can't stand the challenge of being questioned, what good are they? I have friends of all faiths and political beliefs. I have friends who are atheists, who many times make more sense to me than some other people of religious faith. The differences do not bother me in the least. I love them all. My personal belief as a follower of Christ informs my life. I draw strength and comfort from it. If I live a life that makes people want to know more about my faith, I'll share. I have always appreciated people of other faiths who have shared theirs with me. I've learned much and have had my own faith strengthened. We all have to get through this life the best way that we can, to become as whole as we can. Let's help each other to do so, instead of being stumbling blocks.
2) Go out of our way to be nice to someone who is different, especially if that difference makes us uncomfortable. If possible get to know someone like this. Befriend them. We might be surprised at how much that makes us grow.
3) Sacrifice for others, be it time, money, or comfort. Give and see how it is given back in ways that we would never imagine.
4) Let differences help us to make better decisions as a whole, instead of letting these differences tear us apart. Communication with an open mind is the only way to move forward.
5) Finally, spread love as if it is greater than money or possessions, because it is. John Shelby Spong uses the term, "love wastefully". Love not because we will receive something in return, but because we see that which is sacred in each living being. The Bible says that humankind was formed out of the dust of the earth and animated with the breath of God. Carl Sagan liked to say that we are all made of "star stuff". We are all connected in ways that we don't even realize. We must grow into this realization if we are to heal this planet. We are all one.
Shalom, Namaste, Love to all people, everywhere. Blessings to you all.
Friday, August 16, 2013
On Changing Churches
It has been quite some time since I posted anything on this blog. I've been dealing with a bit of spiritual stagnation up until the last couple of weeks. That said, I seem to be gaining clarity that I have not possessed in quite a while now.
This week, my wife and I were discussing our current church, which we have been attending for the better part of the five years since we married. It is a great church, filled with wonderful people. We've never had a problem with the church or the people there, though we have never been really involved with the day to day life of the church. As the church is about 30 minutes away, it is difficult to spend as much time being involved as we'd like. Having a toddler to take care of does not make the task easier. Just a few days ago, we announced to each other quite spontaneously that we would like to begin the search for a new church. She would like to be more involved and would like to find a church where she would have more mothers of young children to fellowship with. I'd like a church where I could feel that I am getting fed what I need spiritually. Currently, neither of us feel that our needs are being met.
Finding a church where I feel at home is a difficult task. Most churches that I have checked out are theologically a bit too conservative for me. I am a progressive Christian and fit in better with the emergent church movement than any other Christian movement. I am also quite ecumenical when it comes to my beliefs on other religions as well, which does not go over well with some people. The only church where I have felt totally comfortable to be my authentic self has been a Unitarian Universalist church, roughly 45 minutes from my home. Finding a church that is even close to progressive near my home is almost impossible, considering the spiritual climate of the area. At this point, however, I am no longer willing to supress myself spiritually. I am being called to grow and to help others to grow I have thought about reaching out online to see if there are like-minded people, churched or unchurched, who would consider getting together on a regular basis.
My wife is a bit more traditional Christian in her beliefs, and Unitarian Universalism is not a good fit for her. That said, she is a seminary graduate with a Masters Degree in Theological Studies and can understand where my beliefs and convictions come from, even when she does not always share them.
The spiritual journey is both private and communal, a duality that can be difficult to reconcile. The trick is finding a church that we can both feel comfortable getting involved in. There are good churches in this area, as well as good people in them. The trick is finding a good fit for us and a church that we both feel comfortable nurturing our daughter in. The time for prayerful consideration is now.
This week, my wife and I were discussing our current church, which we have been attending for the better part of the five years since we married. It is a great church, filled with wonderful people. We've never had a problem with the church or the people there, though we have never been really involved with the day to day life of the church. As the church is about 30 minutes away, it is difficult to spend as much time being involved as we'd like. Having a toddler to take care of does not make the task easier. Just a few days ago, we announced to each other quite spontaneously that we would like to begin the search for a new church. She would like to be more involved and would like to find a church where she would have more mothers of young children to fellowship with. I'd like a church where I could feel that I am getting fed what I need spiritually. Currently, neither of us feel that our needs are being met.
Finding a church where I feel at home is a difficult task. Most churches that I have checked out are theologically a bit too conservative for me. I am a progressive Christian and fit in better with the emergent church movement than any other Christian movement. I am also quite ecumenical when it comes to my beliefs on other religions as well, which does not go over well with some people. The only church where I have felt totally comfortable to be my authentic self has been a Unitarian Universalist church, roughly 45 minutes from my home. Finding a church that is even close to progressive near my home is almost impossible, considering the spiritual climate of the area. At this point, however, I am no longer willing to supress myself spiritually. I am being called to grow and to help others to grow I have thought about reaching out online to see if there are like-minded people, churched or unchurched, who would consider getting together on a regular basis.
My wife is a bit more traditional Christian in her beliefs, and Unitarian Universalism is not a good fit for her. That said, she is a seminary graduate with a Masters Degree in Theological Studies and can understand where my beliefs and convictions come from, even when she does not always share them.
The spiritual journey is both private and communal, a duality that can be difficult to reconcile. The trick is finding a church that we can both feel comfortable getting involved in. There are good churches in this area, as well as good people in them. The trick is finding a good fit for us and a church that we both feel comfortable nurturing our daughter in. The time for prayerful consideration is now.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
The Devil and the Triple Dog Dare
No one, when tempted, should say, “I am being tempted by God” for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. James 1:13-15
Temptation is a very human experience. We have all been tempted. We have all yielded to temptation. Finally, we have all reaped the fruits of yielding to that temptation. Where does this temptation come from?
How many times have you heard the phrase “the devil made me do it”? Along with that is when someone blames another person for his or her own misdeeds. Unfortunately, it’s not just the kids who say, “he started it”. Let’s be honest here, folks.
Do you remember the scene in A Christmas Story where Flick and Schwartz are arguing over whether a person’s tongue will stick to a frozen flagpole? The argument escalates to the point of the dreaded “triple dog dare”, when Flick finally winds up sticking his tongue to the frozen flagpole and suffering the consequences. But really, what happened there?
James tells us that temptation comes from our own desires. In many ways, desire comes from wanting to fill some kind of hole in our lives and temptation is when we are enticed to fill that hole with something that ultimately will not fill it. Flick really just wants to enhance his relationship with the other kids. Unfortunately, the only way that he sees to do this is to accept the dare. If only he’d seen another way, poor guy!
We all are tempted. Sometimes the temptations are huge. Sometimes they are small. I have a recurring temptation to buy things that I enjoy just to make me feel better when I am having a bad day. It is okay to buy things that you enjoy, but not healthy to do it to try to fill a hole that they will not fill. Rather than doing that, I should turn inward and ask myself what is really bothering me. What hole I am trying to fill? I should ask God to help me to overcome that, to fill the hole with something worthwhile. By doing so, I would enhance my relationship with God and gain greater knowledge of myself.
Many temptations are relationship based. We are lonely and want to feel connection with other people. Again, this can lead down some destructive paths if we try to just fill that hole on a superficial level. It may feel good in the short term, but ultimately, the hole will still be there and the hurt may be even worse.
Several years ago, I experienced the end of a relationship, which we all do. I did not know what to do with myself and was very lonely. I had friends who helped me through it, and I thank God for that. At the same time, this loneliness made me turn inward. I’d let my spiritual life go for so long that spiritually I was almost dead. I reconnected with God and my life changed. I put my emphasis in the relationship with the Divine that mattered most. I grew in all ways as a person because of that. Not long afterward, the woman who would become my wife came into my life quite unexpectedly. By putting my emphasis on what really mattered, the hole in my life was filled in a meaningful way, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
The Bible tells us that Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness after his baptism by John the Baptist (Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13). It is easy to just read the scripture as the devil tempts Jesus and Jesus says something profound. Let’s go deeper, shall we?
John the Baptist had just baptized Jesus. Jesus ministry and mission were about to begin. Imagine the weight of that mission. Imagine the desire to just lead a normal life, to be free of the responsibility of the ministry and, ultimately, the cross. Yet, Jesus went for the most meaningful way to fill that part of his life. He sacrificed his life, not only on the cross, but also in many ways during the whole of his ministry. The desire to have an easier life had to be there, else, according to James’ definition of temptation; he would not have been tempted.
Remember that temptation is a part of life. We are going to have temptation and that is perfectly all right. It is in how we respond to that temptation that defines our character and our lives. I would suggest that by improving our relationship with God, we fill the most important hole first. As a consequence we get to know ourselves better and have better relationships with others. Let us satisfy our desires with the things that really matter. Grace, peace, and love to you all.
Temptation is a very human experience. We have all been tempted. We have all yielded to temptation. Finally, we have all reaped the fruits of yielding to that temptation. Where does this temptation come from?
How many times have you heard the phrase “the devil made me do it”? Along with that is when someone blames another person for his or her own misdeeds. Unfortunately, it’s not just the kids who say, “he started it”. Let’s be honest here, folks.
Do you remember the scene in A Christmas Story where Flick and Schwartz are arguing over whether a person’s tongue will stick to a frozen flagpole? The argument escalates to the point of the dreaded “triple dog dare”, when Flick finally winds up sticking his tongue to the frozen flagpole and suffering the consequences. But really, what happened there?
James tells us that temptation comes from our own desires. In many ways, desire comes from wanting to fill some kind of hole in our lives and temptation is when we are enticed to fill that hole with something that ultimately will not fill it. Flick really just wants to enhance his relationship with the other kids. Unfortunately, the only way that he sees to do this is to accept the dare. If only he’d seen another way, poor guy!
We all are tempted. Sometimes the temptations are huge. Sometimes they are small. I have a recurring temptation to buy things that I enjoy just to make me feel better when I am having a bad day. It is okay to buy things that you enjoy, but not healthy to do it to try to fill a hole that they will not fill. Rather than doing that, I should turn inward and ask myself what is really bothering me. What hole I am trying to fill? I should ask God to help me to overcome that, to fill the hole with something worthwhile. By doing so, I would enhance my relationship with God and gain greater knowledge of myself.
Many temptations are relationship based. We are lonely and want to feel connection with other people. Again, this can lead down some destructive paths if we try to just fill that hole on a superficial level. It may feel good in the short term, but ultimately, the hole will still be there and the hurt may be even worse.
Several years ago, I experienced the end of a relationship, which we all do. I did not know what to do with myself and was very lonely. I had friends who helped me through it, and I thank God for that. At the same time, this loneliness made me turn inward. I’d let my spiritual life go for so long that spiritually I was almost dead. I reconnected with God and my life changed. I put my emphasis in the relationship with the Divine that mattered most. I grew in all ways as a person because of that. Not long afterward, the woman who would become my wife came into my life quite unexpectedly. By putting my emphasis on what really mattered, the hole in my life was filled in a meaningful way, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
The Bible tells us that Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness after his baptism by John the Baptist (Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13). It is easy to just read the scripture as the devil tempts Jesus and Jesus says something profound. Let’s go deeper, shall we?
John the Baptist had just baptized Jesus. Jesus ministry and mission were about to begin. Imagine the weight of that mission. Imagine the desire to just lead a normal life, to be free of the responsibility of the ministry and, ultimately, the cross. Yet, Jesus went for the most meaningful way to fill that part of his life. He sacrificed his life, not only on the cross, but also in many ways during the whole of his ministry. The desire to have an easier life had to be there, else, according to James’ definition of temptation; he would not have been tempted.
Remember that temptation is a part of life. We are going to have temptation and that is perfectly all right. It is in how we respond to that temptation that defines our character and our lives. I would suggest that by improving our relationship with God, we fill the most important hole first. As a consequence we get to know ourselves better and have better relationships with others. Let us satisfy our desires with the things that really matter. Grace, peace, and love to you all.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
A New Beginning
I have been feeling a call for quite some time to help others, to minister to people in some way. Day to day life and my own fears have kept me from moving forward on this. After about three dreams in the last few months that have been pushing me in this direction, I have yielded. It is time to answer God's call.
It is for this reason that I am renewing this blog. I have been mulling about how best to answer the call for a while now, and I was led back to this blog. It is all new, with a new purpose. It is my hope and prayer that others will be aided in life's journey through this blog, and that I can keep as little of Kirk out of this and can become, as Joseph Campbell put it, "transparent to the transcendant". This isn't about me. This calling is to serve a higher purpose.
It is for this reason that I am renewing this blog. I have been mulling about how best to answer the call for a while now, and I was led back to this blog. It is all new, with a new purpose. It is my hope and prayer that others will be aided in life's journey through this blog, and that I can keep as little of Kirk out of this and can become, as Joseph Campbell put it, "transparent to the transcendant". This isn't about me. This calling is to serve a higher purpose.
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