Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts

Friday, April 15, 2016

Vision



There is a little stone church up on the mountain that has an incredible view.
I do not belong to this church, but it is a popular place, and many come to visit just for the view.   It is a popular place for weddings.  Recently at a memorial service for a friend, I captured the stained glass window as it told a story of its own.  

The Stone Church welcomes all seekers. Our motto is, “Open to people, open to God.” As you walk through the beautiful mahogany front door, you will face a stained-glass window based on the words of the prophet Isaiah: “For my house shall be a house of prayer for all peoples” (Isaiah 56:7). On the window are symbols from eight of the world’s major religions, from Christianity and Islam to Buddhism and Native American faiths.  Our community comes from many different traditions – including Catholic, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist and Jewish. We are gay and straight, married and single, young and old, and we find common ground in the affirming spirit of this remarkable place.
The simple message here and the spirit that envelops you as you enter this church, is one of unity.  Whatever your belief system is, we are one.   As a seeker, you must have the vision of a seeker, and that vision does not come from your eyesight, but from your soul, where the true spirit lies within all of us!

In this lifetime, I hope and pray to witness the true communion of all the peoples of this great land, where the exchange of thoughts and emotions can be realized on a spiritual level so that peace can truly prevail...for one and for all!
Peace be with you on this fine day!

With much Aloha to one and all!

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Spirituality and the Desert Experience



When recently asked by a dear friend to participate in a book discussion, I was hesitant, because the book topic was spiritual in nature, and this is a topic that can be very personal.  Especially in regards to the practice of any type of organized religion.  And this particular community of "worshipers" I discovered, are mostly strangers to me. 

But not wanting to let my friend down, I agreed, knowing full well that with this book, Spirituality and the Desert Experience, by Charles Cummings, I would not be able to just sit idly by on the sidelines while others preached to me about what they believe it all means.  Especially from a religious standpoint.  The topic of spirituality is very near and very dear to my heart, as I have lived through a desert experience, or what I refer to as the "dark night of the soul" and have come out on the other side full of light, and much more wisdom about my own spirituality.  More importantly I realized that I had been fooling myself for a very, very long time. 

Deepak Chopra quotes,

"To make the right choices in life, you have to get in touch with your soul.  To do this, you need to experience solitude, which most people are afraid of, because in the silence you hear the truth and know the solutions."
 

And this is so true.  For when getting in touch with your soul, you are connected to the true life source that is within all of us.  Yes, we were all born with it as humans.  It is the BE-ing part of humans.  From the moment we take that first breath.  It is the part of each of us that is directly connected to God, Spirit, or whatever you choose to call your ONENESS with the almighty Creator of all things.

It is when we let the external forces of humanity define us, which society demonstrates in many ways as essential to our happiness, that darkness creeps in. We are somehow deemed unworthy, or not as good as others if we don't have this, or don't do that.  And this is exactly how we lose our way, because this plays to the ego, and the ego kicks in to demonstrate its ability to fight the true essence of our very be-ing, which is being overshadowed or buried by this negative force of energy being thrust upon us by those external forces.

We must go inward and tune into that life source that connects all things throughout the Universe. The mind babble that is incessant will dissipate if you realize that you are not what you do, or what you have.  If we can only get out of our way, inner peace will come to the surface, and you will be free.

For I am not to be defined as a wife and mother...that's just what I do along with the job that I absolutely love.  And I always express my gratitude for all of which, I, my ego self, must participate in with my human-ness in the material world on a daily basis.  No, as I go about my busy-ness of the daily routine, I have at my disposal,  my true essence, which shines bright and keeps me in tune with God.  And it is up to me to radiate this light, so that others who may not even realize that they are even in the desert, or darkness, can see my spark and tap into the same life force through me.

Seek and ye shall find, for the truth will truly set you free!