Brian’s Reflection: Tuesday, February 21, 2012

To pray is to take notice of the wonder,

to regain a sense of the mystery that animates all beings,

the divine margin in all attainments.

Prayer is our humble answer to the inconceivable surprise of living.

It is all we can offer in return for the mystery by which we live.

Rabbi Abraham Heschel

It does not have to do with talking some deity into changing Reality.

That is not the way “God” works ….. and we should know better, if we have any common sense.

Prayer is not about negotiating with God. It is about connecting with the Source of Life ….. who wants nothing but our transformation into Fullness.

Relationship is not about Control. It is about “the inconceivable surprise of living”.

Prayer is letting go of our Life into the “hands” (metaphorically speaking) of Love.

Brian+

Brian’s Reflection: Friday, February 17, 2012

Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice,
here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word;
always doing the smaller right and doing it all for love.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, born Jan 2, 1873

The root of the word “sacrifice” lies in “to make holy”. The word has come, in “modern” times, to imply that if one made a sacrifice, it was a giving up of one’s self-worth or of one’s integrity. This is not the case. To sacrifice means to make choices that makes one’s Life holy, and enhances the core integrity of one’s essential Being.

Jesus made the “great sacrifice”. He chose to accept Death in order not to compromise His very essence as a Child of God. But most of the rest of us have simple daily choices to make … the “smaller right”. Kindness. Caring. Loving.

Example: our neighbour lady told us that her husband couldn’t find a good restaurant pasta meal. (Not surprising in Silver City!). We made him some. Why? Because we want small acts of Love to be at the core of our Life. Because it expresses what we believe it is to be a Human Being and a “child of God”.

Today there will definitely be an opportunity (or more) for each of us to “make a small sacrifice”. A kind word. A smile.

Let’s do it! For Heaven’s sake, we are not being asked to do anything spectacular.

Brian+

Brian’s Reflection: Thursday, February 16, 2012

I'll let the racket do the talking.

John McEnroe, “bad boy” of tennis;
he was born on this date, 1959


His tennis racquet was his “instrument”, by which John showed his best self (though he could be very unpleasant), and his ability to do his best, exercising the gifts and skills he had been given.

McEnroe was known around the World for his anger, hostility, bitchiness, lack of control ….. and brilliance at his craft.

So, here’s how it pans out for us.

Our instrument, our “racquet”, our unique Being … Who We Are. It is how we “do our talking”.

What’s lurking behind the “racquet” can be troublesome. It can, badly employed, wreck everything.

But spiritually, our “racquet” is the mystery of the connection we have with the force that lies behind the existence of all Being. All Religion, all Philosophy, is about learning how to merge with this Power, and how then to let that Power lead us into Life.

I have finally discovered that Power. It is far beyond the puniness of what we, through lifeless systems of “belief”, have put in its place.

All Religions, however vivid they may be, are but a pale reflection of the Path that leads us to Union with the Divine …. to our Wholeness.

Most Religions have degenerated into pale ghosts of Guides to the Path of the Divine. Why? Because we Seekers have capitulated.

I say: Take hold of your destiny. Be a Christ. Transform your spiritual community, from a pawn of the secular to a witness of the Cosmic Christ. Let your "racquet" - your superb humanity - do the talking.

Brian+

Brian’s Reflection: Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Stretching his hand up to reach the stars,
too often man forgets the flowers at his feet.

Jeremy Bentham, English philosopher, economist and
exponent of Utilitarianism; he was born on this date,
1748


Why have we humans thought of Heaven? Simple, I think. Human life has its large share of pain and challenge. It’s a “given” of being human. Emotionally and psychologically, it is really helpful to have a vision ahead of us where that pain and challenge loses power. After all, we humans can benefit from a hope which not only calms our fears, but which also energizes us to make the best of this earthly life.

I long ago come to the conclusion that Earthly Life is a kind of parallel preparation for Eternity. To put it another way, if we don’t “get it” here, we won’t “recognize it” there. If we can’t understand how to love here in the Earth, “Heaven” is not possible. Heaven may exist … but we will have opted out

However: the Mystery is, We can’t fully know the “mind of God” ….. and God is infinitely more compassionate than we are able to be.

“Not forgetting the flowers at our feet” is a deep Gospel principle. It is what Jesus Incarnate is all about - that the Divine is found manifested in the Earth. It reminds us that if we are always “stuck in the hereafter”, living for what we gain after death, we will not understand Life … and God wants us to live this Life fully.

The “stars” can call us on, since we are all the children of stars. But, the stars are not now our “home”, despite what Paul says about “here we have no abiding city”.

I think we must passionately live this earthly Life. In doing so, we clothe ourselves in the garments of Eternity.

Brian+

Brian’s Reflection: Tuesday, February 14, 2012

[ In the Western Christian Calendar: St. Valentine’s Day ]

For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne's day 

Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.

Geoffrey Chaucer: “Parliament of Foules”


By the reporting in the Roman Catholic Encyclopedia, there are some 14 “saints” mentioned as Valentine. Three are more commonly mentioned. And: the Encyclopedia pointedly mentions that reportage has almost NO historical value.

A “tradition” arose in the Middle Ages in France and England that on 14th of Feb, birds began to pair. Since Valentine’s (which one?) feast day was Feb 14, the tradition arose that it was a date and a saint specially consecrated to lovers, and as the proper occasion for the writing of love letters and the sending of lovers’ tokens. And (may I cynically say) is it at all surprising that people decided to make money out of it!?

But. I won’t be further cynical. I am quite happy to see a special day dedicated to Love.

I have bought my Dennis a pot of fire-engine red tulips (symbol of “two lips”) and a card with a lovely sentiment from the acerbic Maxine … for a laugh.

I do hope you will resist/have resisted the crass commercialism of this day. Just find time to offer to those you love a simple token of that Love. And for heaven’s sake, gratefully accept any such tokens as you are offered.

The Beatles are right: “All you need is Love.”

I say this to a whole lot of you out there, whom I treasure and value and gratefully love:

Be My Valentine!

Brian+

Brian’s Reflection: Monday, February 13, 2012

It always comes back to the same necessity:
go deep enough and there is a bedrock of truth, however hard.

May Sarton, American poet


I am intrigued that we human beings are so mesmerizingly drawn to the evasion of Truth. Sensible spiritual guides know this. They teach turning away from what is False. Think of John the Baptist: in preparing for the appearance of Jesus, the Saviour, John called the people to come and “repent” – to turn away from self-deception and to embrace fearless self-awareness. Why? Because authentic spiritual wisdom teaches that we can’t in fact “go deep enough” unless we head fearlessly into Truth. Socrates/Plato’s teaching (we don’t know if Socrates actually existed) was “Know Thyself” ….. and that phrase was inscribed in the Pronaos of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.

Now: May Sarton seems to suggest that, if we can indeed go “deep enough”, there is a “bedrock of truth”. I don’t know if I agree with her. Though I would like to.

What I do know is that “hard” is a sign of authenticity. I also know that, when one embraces and welcomes “hardness”, something that Jesus said then makes sense: “My yoke is easy and my burden light”. In other words, when we learn to trust “hardness” and not to fear it’s challenge, Life lightens up, and Freedom washes over us.

There seems to be a “natural tendency” to avoid Truth. But Jesus said, “You will know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free”. If “religion” is useful and worthy of commitment, it will teach us to embrace the Truth … and that will set us free.

Go Deep. Find the bedrock of Truth. Do not be afraid (as Jesus often said).

There lies Peace.

Brian+

Brian’s Reflection: Friday, February 10, 2012

Why can't everybody leave everybody else the hell alone?

Jimmy Durante, entertainer;
he was born on this date, 1893,
on the Lower East Side of Manhattan
[ or maybe Brooklyn ]



When I lived in New England, I often heard the phrase “Live and let live” as a truism about the New England way of Life. And, having lived there for several years, I found there to be a strong commitment to it … as well as the need to control or dominate others.

The World at present, however, seems to reflect no appreciation to “Live and Let Live”. Alas. Now: I think that Jesus was a “Live and Let Live” guy! Oh, yes, He wanted everyone to Love each other. And He famously said, “Those who are not against us are for us”. Contrary to popular thought, Jesus did not (in my opinion) start, or intend to start, a new religion. He wanted His people to understand the true nature of the God of Unconditional Love and to live accordingly. Whoever they were, Jew or Gentile.

I understand why the various religions, particularly Christian (and the various Christian sects) and Muslim and Mormon, want to “convert” everyone, or condemn everyone who isn’t their faith. First: Ignorance. Secondly: Fear. Thirdly: they have serious control issues. Fourthly: lack of vision about what “God” is about and desires. They forget that God wishes us to love each other and embrace each other and honour and respect each other as sisters and brothers.

I would like to have 10 seconds on the Internet to speak to everyone within reach.

And I would say simply what Jimmy Durante … the Schnoze – said as the most profound prayer I could utter:

Why can't everybody leave everybody else the hell alone?


And just love and honour and respect and support each other.

Brian+