A Changed Economy

Imagine an economy that supports the greater growth of people, families, our communities and the natural environment. This PBS documentary features David Brancacchio traveling across the US and discussing what a local based economy looks like when it is based on people and communities in accountable relationship to each other. The evidence is that the large, multi-national and impersonal business structure and economy swings from boom to bust. In the 60 minute film David interviews people on alternatives. Watch at 45:30 minutes into the film for the 'hour exchange'. In Portland, ME the hour exchange is a banking system of exchanged services. All services are valued by time, not a dollar amount. By giving an hour of service in your specialty field you receive an hour of service in exchange for receiving an hour in return.

Watch the full episode. See more NOW on PBS.

Ease and Grace (1)

Life is about remembering and living as our Divine nature in everyday situations. With this mindset, with this consciousness, our daily activities unfold more easily. The materialist point of view always looks for specific measurements or results that can be sensed. The viewpoint of the idealist is that inner wisdom is the source of all outcomes. I like to look at my life as a blend of idealist thinking integrated with my skills of discernment on how to do things in the physical world. Being at comfort with this there is no resistance in my life.

The Beloved Interfaith Community Church distributes a daily message(sign up on site)that today reminded me of the Grace in life.

"To offer no resistance to life is to be in a state of grace, ease, and
lightness. This state is then no longer dependent upon things being in a
certain way, good or bad. It seems almost paradoxical, yet when your
inner dependency on form is gone, the general conditions of your life,
the outer forms, tend to improve greatly. Things, people, or conditions
that you thought you needed for your happiness now come to you with no
struggle or effort on your part, and you are free to enjoy and
appreciate them - while they last. All those things, of course, will
still pass away, cycles will come and go, but with dependency gone there
is no fear of loss anymore. Life flows with ease. "

--Eckhart Tolle