Sunday, December 3, 2017

First Sunday Of Advent

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. We are getting ready for Christmas Day. How are you preparing? There is the decorating, the buying and wrapping of gifts, the planning for get togethers. It is a busy time of the year.

But the deeper question is how are you spiritually preparing? Are you finding quiet time to clear away the clutter that blocks your awareness to Love's presence in your life? Are you sitting still to listen, to tune into the frequency on the divine channel of Love, Peace, and Abiding Joy? Are you doing other things to help people listen with you to the Peace and Joy we once again intentionally and deliberately focus on and re-member?

As it says in the Desiderata:
    You are a child of the universe,
    no less than the trees and the stars;
    you have a right to be here.

    And whether or not it is clear to you,
    no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
    Therefore be at peace with God,
    whatever you conceive Him to be,
    and whatever your labors and aspirations,
    in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
    it is still a beautiful world.
    Be cheerful.
    Strive to be happy. 

3 comments:

  1. Osho said something that seems very relevant to Advent. To prepare for the remembrance of the divine we need to empty ourselves of our drama and nonsense. Here's what Osho said:

    Man has to be absolutely empty, only then is the space created for God to descend in him. And we are so full of rubbish, so full of junk: even if God wants to enter he will not find any place inside. Our cups are full. Not even a single drop more can be contained. We have to empty the cup completely. This is the whole process of sannyas: emptying yourself of yourself, emptying yourself of all thoughts, desires, memories, hopes, expectations – just a process of emptying.The moment you are absolutely empty and you don’t see anything inside of you, suddenly all becomes light. Suddenly thousands of flowers open in your being. You become full of fragrance and music, a music that has not been heard before, a fragrance that is not of the earth. And you are liberated in that experience, liberated from life, liberated from death, liberated from time itself. You become part of the eternal flow of existence.

    Osho. First in the Morning: 365 Uplifting Moments to Start the Day Consciously, Osho Media International

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  2. As it says in the introduction to A Course In Miracles: "The course does not aim at the teaching of the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love's presence, which is you natural inheritance." And so, Advent is about removing those blocks even more intentionally than usual.

    I too like the work you are doing here. Thank you.

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  3. I am glad to see you maintain an element of my Roman Catholic heritage on your UU web site. I miss the liturgical year, the sacraments, the role of the saints in my UU faith. I want and try to maintain the best of both.

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