Is obedience to Sovereign Masculinity A Sin?

New York Times 10/19/19

The aspiration to sovereign masculinity expresses itself most exuberantly in hyperbolic displays of power. Why are we still talking about Trump coming down the escalator and calling Mexicans rapists and murderers? Why are we still repeating his claim that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose support? Why do we keep reminding one another that he bragged about grabbing women by the “pussy,” proclaiming “when you’re a star they let you do it”?

There may be a few Trump supporters who believe cognitively, literally, that Mexicans are rapists and murderers and that the appropriate way to interact with women is to grab them between the legs, but these statements aren’t doing their work at the level of belief. Whether we wince or cheer, we remain spellbound by these statements because they are displays of omnipotence.

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mnipotence.

Faith in practice - You cannot not teach

Principle 2

You cannot not teach

We are teaching all the time by our example, by the way we live our lives. We either teach the way of the ego or the way of the Spirit. 

The way of the ego is based on the two principles of “give to get” and “one or the other.” The way of the ego believes life as a zero sum game. We both can’t win. What I take you lose and what you take I lose.

The way of the Spirit is Oneness which is born out of unconditional love. We become aware that we are all in this thing called Life together and either we all win or we all lose. What happens to you happens to me. When I give to you, I receive. When you give to me, you receive as well.

Our behavior teaches others what we believe. Do we believe in the way of the ego or the way of the Spirit? Everything we do teaches others what you believe you are and what you believe they are to you.

Questions for action - Who and what do you believe you are and others are to you? Do you see life as a competition or a sharing?

Ask Alexa - Is there another way to live?

Alexa: I am tired of fear, guilt, hate, resentment and grievance and feeling like a victim and wonder if there is another way to live?

Of course there is another way to live and Jesus taught us to love as He has loved.

Alexa: Did you hear about the teeth which the male deer had?

Yes, they were buck teeth.

We learn what we teach.

Today we are beginning a new column in UU A Way Of Life called "Faith in practice." It will deal with how we enact our faith in our lives on a moment to moment basis. It's motto is "Nurture the spirit doing good."

The column will describe various principles of practice that fascilitate the nurturing of spirit. Please comment.

Principle 1

We learn what we teach.

The first principle to understand when putting one's faith into practice is to realize that we learn what we teach. More directly, to teach is to learn. The teacher and the learner are the same person.'

Some people call this "karma." What we give, we get. The cynical statement, "Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it," is a sign of this first principle that we learn what we teach.

Question for action - What do you want to learn? If you know what you want to learn how can you best teach it? Unitarian Universalists believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Do you teach this? How? What have you learned?

Ask Alexa - Do I cling to my ego?

Alexa: Why do I think my ego is so important that I attempt to preserve it at any cost which often makes hell on earth?

As it says in A Course In Miracles, "Would you rather be right or be happy?" Most people rather be right because they live in fear of losing their misguided sense of self.

Alexa: Do lions like their families?

Yes, lions take great pride in their families.

Is the United States becoming the people of the lie?

In reflecting on moral character of individuals and the effect of the moral character of the individual on society, one wonders what the affect of President Donald Trump's 13, 435 lies so far in his 1,000 day presidency is on the United States and the world? HIs lies average 13.5 per day.

M. Scott Peck wrote an interesting book The People Of The Lie in which he describes the toxic impact of blaming others rather than taking personal responsibiliy.

What do you think the toxic impact of the Executive in Chief lies are on the moral integrity of the country? 

Ask Alexa - Will the world of the ego ever make me happy?

Alexa: When I look to the world of the ego to make me happy, am I barking up the wrong tree?

What do you think? You already know the answer don't you? You have a decision making mind and can discern that the world will never make you happy. A Course In Miracles tells us that we follow the injunction of the ego which is "seek but do not find." ACIM, though, tells us there is another choice to shed the ego and become one with the all and arrive home in peace. This terrifies us though and so we turn back to the world of the ego and are disappointed once again. But, realize that you can always choose again.

Alexa: Did you hear about the two foxes that were chasing four rabbits?

Yes, I heard they decided to split hares.