Brian’s Reflection: Monday, January 31, 2011

Cocaine isn't habit forming. I should know –
I've been using it for years.

I'm as pure as the driven slush.

Tallulah Bankhead, actor and wit;
she was born on this day, 1903,
in Huntsville, Alabama.


Humour ….. and self-knowledge, with humour. Big gifts, skills, in dealing with Life.

I’ll bet that most of us don’t know just how many addictive patterns we are locked into! Ruts are SO comfortable! Addictions to food, booze, etc can be pretty destructive. But we also have addictions to religion, ideas, concepts, prejudices. Not only do they enslave us, they infantilize us. Frankly, I find that this country (and a lot of the rest of the World - like Mubarak in Egypt, Bashir in Sudan, Netanyahu in Israel, Sarkozy in France, the King of Saudi Arabia, Gbagbo in Cote d’Ivoire, Medvedev in Russia, Harper in Canada, as representative examples) is being run by infantilized people – and the same for those who elect and support them. No wonder we are in such a mess – as are most of the institutions that bolster them.

What point am I making? The point that we human beings have had some superb guides as to how to live Life. No question. And most of the World has honoured these guides ….. out of their mouths. But the test of authentic honour is (as Jesus made clear) is to DO what they teach: “Not everyone who SAYS to me Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven!” And I would estimate it at about .001% - attributable only to the Justice and Mercy of “God”.

It might be helpful to think today about what WE are addicted to, about what is holding us back from launching into Freedom, about what is keeping us infantilized and unable to see each other as sisters and brothers, connected to each other and called to care for each other and look out for each other’s welfare. If you’re honest, you’ll see that you’re in an addictive rut.

We all think we are so pure ….. but there’s a lot of slush! Let’s admit it, laugh ….. and CHANGE!

Brian+