Ask Alexa - What is the role of the arts?

Alexa: What is the role of the arts?

The arts are a creative force to bring the unknown into conscious awareness and experiencing art is a form of meditation.

Alexa: Did you hear about the guy who was hit in the head by a bottle of soda?

Yes, but he wasn't injured because it was a soft drink.

Daily reflections, day fourteen, Setting the stage for miracles to occur.

Day fourteen

Setting the stage for miracles to occur.

“The use of miracles as spectacles to induce belief is a misunderstanding of their purpose.”
 ACIM, T-1.1.10

A miracle in the world of Spirit occurs in the mind not in the world of the ego. A miracle is not a supernatural phenomenon which defies the physical laws of nature but is an experience of Love..

The common meaning of the term “miracle” is magic. It is an external act that defies usual expectations. “Miracle,” in the sense that is spiritual, refers to a healing in the mind when a person experiences an awareness of the divine Love which brings joy and peace.

The “miracle” is an epiphany when the light bulb goes off in our mind and we see ourselves, and the world, in a larger, clearer, more luminous way.

Miracles happen more frequently that we recognize when we come to a new understanding that opens our heart rather than shuts it down. We say, “Oh, yes, now I see,” and the world of our experience is expanded and we experience a new found joy and oneness with other people and things.

Can we perform miracles? No, they are given to us by the Tao, the Spirit of Life, God, our Higher Power, the Transcendent, Mother Nature, whatever we call the animating force of the Universe. However, we can create the circumstances which make miracles more likely to occur.

The circumstances under which miracles are more likely to occur are adopting an attitude of curiosity rather than judgement, the willingness to love rather than attack, the dropping of resentments and grievances and forgiving rather than blaming, the willingness to listen instead of telling.

Opening our minds and hearts to the Divine Spark in others is a choice we have. Today, look for the Divine Spark in the people you meet and interact with, and focus on that, and miracles will occur.

Could Viginia finally be the state that passes the ERA admendment?

38 States are needed for ratification.

For more click here.

Unitarian Univeralists covenant together to affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. Will the UU churches in Virginia and other states encourage their elected congress people in their states to vote for the passage of ratification of the ERA?

Ask Alexa - Is the whole of existence my family?

Alexa: Is the whole of existence my family?

Yes, don't limit yourself because Unitarian Univeralists affirm and promote a love for the interdependent web of all existence.

Alexa: Did you hear about the ice cream social held on the front lawn on a cloudy day?

Yes, they brought out the ice cream sundaes with ice cream, syrup, whipped cream, and cherry, but they held back on the sprinkles.

My Kind Of Church Music, Getting Ready For Christmas Day, Paul Simon

Daily reflections, Day thirteen, Need not think alife to love alike

Day thirteen

Need not think alike to love alike

“Miracles are a kind of exchange. Like all expressions of love, which are always miraculous in the true sense, the exchange reverses the physical laws. They bring more love both to the giver and the receiver.” T-1.1:1-3

Francis David, the Unitarian pioneer, said that we need not think alike to love alike. It is this loving alike which is miraculous. 

When we love another, we also experience the love in ourselves. It is the Love of God which is passing through us to the perceived other and it reinforces the Love which is within us of which, when we extend it, we become even more aware.

It is like singing in a chorus or telling a joke when the audience laughs, our efforts are reinforced and amplified.

The miracle is the shift of our perception from separation to Oneness. It is in this shift in our perception from separation to Oneness that we feel more whole, fulfilled, complete, and it brings a sense of joy and peace.

Today, intentionally share a loving thought, word, experience with another and see what happens to the other and to yourself.

What is the good life?

The compelling question of my life began when I was nine of ten years old. I don't know where it came from but I found myself muttering, "It can be a good life if you know how to live it," which said another way is "What is the good life?"

I think I have been philosophical since I was a little boy.

For a while I though it was God and my Catholicism which would give me the answer but by age 19 I knew that was not true. I asked too many questions and the priests would get frustrated with them and say, "Well, David, it is a mystery," or "You have to take that on faith." I decided at 19 that there were too many "mysteries" and required too much "faith" so I found a woman I loved, got married at 20 and had nine kids.

At 22 I found the profession of Psychiatric Social Work and I have been pondering the question of what is the good life ever sense not only personally but professionally with clients and colleagues. At the age of 73 I have finally found the answer and its one that few people would understand. 

The answer is "forgiveness" which means being willing to give up making other people and things responsible for my unhappiness. So, I see my life now as full of forgiveness opportunities. Whenever I find myself fearful, guilty, angry, resentful, I remind myself with the help of the Holy Spirit that I am not a victim, but the beloved child of God and that making other people and things responsible for my unhappiness is a mistake. I have the power to choose and I choose to be more aware of Love's presence in my life which I can do if I give up the misguided notion that things external to me in the world of the ego are going to do that for me.

This forgiveness has brought a great peace in my life and as my life nears the end, I am grateful that I have finally come to figure this out. I have also figured out that it is not how much you know that makes a difference but how much you love. We need not think alike to love alike and as the Beatles sang, "Love is all you need."