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

Name That Author

I'm reading a 1970 biography of Ernest Holmes, written by his brother Fenwicke. In it I found this quote:
"There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual."
I was surprised when I learned who wrote it.
Stumped? Look here.

The Genius Dialog

I'm working on a clearer articulation on individual uniqueness, aura or personal magic. Let me share the process - a silent dialog on genius.
What is genius?  From Emerson's Essay Spiritual Laws--
"A man's genius, the quality that differences him from every other, the susceptibility to one class of influences, the selection of what is fit for him, the rejection of what is unfit, determines for him the character of the universe. A man is a method, a progressive arrangement; a selecting principle, gathering his like to him, wherever he goes." and in Self  Reliance --
"It may be safely trusted as proportionate and of good issues, so it be faithfully imparted, but God will not have his work made manifest by cowards. A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise, shall give him no peace. It is a deliverance which does not deliver. In the attempt his genius deserts him; no muse befriends; no invention, no hope."

Our genius is the expression we do in living or in our our work where we put our heart into the activity and have done our best. It is as a divine pressure or voltage operating through us that wants to deliver an electron flow or current of natural creativity. Genius is the pulse, the squirt of beauty, the magic that is a skill, an approach when you feel a supreme dose of 'Yes!'. In reference to Emerson, genius was the force attempting to come through you- it is unique to you. It is not a statement of an intelligence level or IQ. In the 1840's you would not say, "He is a genius!". Instead you might say, "He expresses his genius in everything he does".

An Exercise To Understand and Reveal Your Genius
Follow these steps in an exercise to explore and recognize your genius. Allow 15-20 minutes, more is fine.

• First, come to a meditative state with music, walking, breath or whatever works for you. Have a pen and pad available for any notes.
• When you feel relaxed ask the question "What is my genius?. Sit in the quiet and listen to what comes as the answer
• Write down the words or images. Ask the question again, "What is my genius?" 
• Continue with this question, "What is my emerging genius?" During our lives we are always developing our skills and recognizing our joys and passion of expression. This meditation recognizes today and allow for greater genius tomorrow.
• From the past, look for things you have expressed or created and see how your genius came through.
• Going forward, whenever you think about a new plan, a new manifestation or creation look to see if it speaks to your genius. 

The genius is a natural or inherent idea, like the spring flowing out of the ground, like the birds flying against the sun setting sky- it pours out, without effort, and in grace. When you are operating from your points of genius you and the world receive all your good. Let this exercise be a natural guidance to the genius that is you.

A New Pledge on this Independence Day

Dr David Ault is an musician and minister at the Conscious Mile Center for Spiritual Living in Mobile, Alabama. He prepared this 7 minute inspirational segment titled 'A New Pledge'. Watch and listen or simply listen in the background.

May I Join the Choir Invisible

 Yesterday at the Center for Spiritual Living, Morristown, NJ we celebrated the Installation of a new Staff Minister, Rev Stephen Bartlett. Rev Stephen will lead the Youth Ministries for the Center. You can see the pictures of his Installation.  The Director of the Center, Rev Frankie Timmers has been a minister and teacher for over 20 years and Stephen is just one of 8 ministers she has  guided and trained.

So as an individual, as a minister this poem by George Eliot speaks loudly.

O May I Join the Choir Invisible!

O may I join the choir invisible
Of those immortal dead who live again
In minds made better by their presence; live
In pulses stirred to generosity,
In deeds of daring rectitude, in scorn
Of miserable aims that end with self,
In thoughts sublime that pierce the night like stars,
And with their mild persistence urge men's minds
To vaster issues.

....

 May I reach
That purest heaven--be to other souls
The cup of strength in some great agony,
Enkindle generous ardor, feed pure love,
Beget the smiles that have no cruelty,
Be the sweet presence of a good diffused,
And in diffusion ever more intense!
So shall I join the choir invisible
Whose music is the gladness of the world.

~ George Eliot ~ 1895

Expansion of Knowledge

This year is the 50th anniversary of the invention of the laser. It is being promoted by the American Physical Society on a website called LaserFest. What drew my attention was the amazing timeline of the inventions which has led to 8 Nobel prizes over the period. From CD and DVD players to defense systems, space applications and optical communications, the invention of the laser has expanded the way we live. It is a demonstration of the Law of Natural Growth described by Thomas Troward (1847-1916) in his Edinburgh Lectures. This law says that the Universe, Nature, Mankind has a natural tendency to expand. Where once was the chance to stimulate microwaves and amplify them further research expanded the principles to light radiation, then to electrons then to x-rays. Each invention relying on foundation principles of the previous generation. This is the way knowledge grows. You see it in humans, science and in understanding spiritual principles.

Parenting with Spirit

I like how Unitarian Universalists (UU's) organize and create their youth education programs. They have a well developed curriculum and many churches have a full time Director of Religious Education and a formal year long 'coming of age' program for teens. They also teach about human sexuality and responsibility in the OWL (Our Whole Lives) curriculum. It is impressive.

This spring I took a course at the local UU Society and today found the blog on UU Parenting . Written by Michelle Richards, it covers a diverse set of topics applicable to families of any faith. Families who support their children in the developing their spiritual awareness create great opportunities to share experiences that enrich family life. In the April 26 topic, "Spiritual practices for children and youth" Ms. Richards points out how youth and teens have different methods of processing their spiritual essence and provides suggestions on how parents can integrate practices into their family life. Take a read and see what fits for you and your family.