Religion/Spirituality

Wisdom and folly are widely separated, and they are as different from each other as day is from night. He, therefore, who makes choice of virtue, is like one who sees all things plainly, and looks upward, and who holds his ways in the time of clearest light. But he, on the other hand, who has involved himself in wickedness, is like a man who wanders helplessly about in a moonless night, as one who is blind, and deprived of the sight of things by his darkness. - Saint Gregory Thaumaturgus - the Wonder Worker (213-270)

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The last weekend was one of incredible mind-stretching study and tons of enthusiasm. I had the privilige of attending an all-day event at St Joe's that featured a 'mission' (so to speak) given by Father Mitch Pacwa.

" Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thess. 5:16-18).

For the past few months I have been slugging my way through Ralph Martin's book The Fullfillment of All Desire. My purpose has been to learn more about prayer; in particular I want to learn how to be a better woman and to pray better.

The book attempts to pull wisdom from many of the women and men who have walked this path before me, and I am incredibly thankful that Mr. Martin took on this task. It took the man ten years to write this book. I guess it is ok if it takes me a couple of months to read and digest it.

From MPAC, the Muslim Public Affairs Council:

We met Grandpa Doug after our family had been through another series of losses. Grandpa Leonard had died suddenly (doing what he loved; playing golf) and I had said good bye to one of the women I was priviliged to sponsor in my 12 step program (she had died of alcoholism, hooked up to an alcohol drip in the alcohol ward of a general hospital. It was a slow and ugly death, but I had been given the opportunity to hold her hand while she entered into eternal life. It changed me in a profound way).

Not being the brightest or best of the bunch, I remember thinking "Who is this guy?" the first time he showed up with Grandma Bobby at a family function. Slight in frame, brilliant blue eyes and a great smile, Grandpa Doug was quiet and shy. We, on the other hand, are boistrous and loud on our QUIET days and I seriously doubted whether this man would want to hang out with all of us for long.

VanGogh's Good Samaritan

Thankyou to EditorASC (a.k.a. Bob39) who, like Socrates the Gadfly, has persistently countered my thinking over the past six months with this question: “What is ‘moral’ truth, and what is ‘immoral’ truth?” Thankyou as well to Kim Caton Isenhower for helping bring to light that “It is a matter of opinion whether or not babies should be tortured” is a moral truth claim.

I know it is difficult at times, but if for a moment we as a people could step away from our individual problems, or believing that life isn’t fair, or that you deserve more out of life. If for that moment we could think as a human being. Not as ourselves as that human being, but for the entire human race; one human race as one human being.

For that moment, as humanity stands as one, we look at the world about us to take in its beauty. Take time to feel very fortunate to be alive. We feel every fiber of our being work as one. We know that without this oneness, without this coordination of all our parts, we could not stand here today. We could not step into peace.

Ok, here is the Zen blog.

As best as I understand Zen, it is a non-theistic religion. So when I practice Zen, I am making no effort to be 'spiritual', or religous. I used to definitively believe in God, now I just don't know. Through practicing Zen, I have come to not really care whether there is a God or not. That doesn't even seem to be a concern. There definitely doesn't seem to be any room for grace in Zen. It is entirely based upon one's own efforts. As I said before, I go out of my way to not learn about the beliefs of Buddhism. I used to do some reading about the practice of Zen by some Zen masters, but I don't even do that anymore. I dont' want my experience with sitting to be sullied by any expectations. So now I just sit for an hour in the mornings.