We are the Future

We are the future.

We who are people of love, peace, kindness and compassion for all beings everywhere.

We who are people of color. 

We who are young. 

We who are women. 

We who are new immigrants and refugees . 

We who are LGBTQ people. 

We who are Muslim and Jewish and people of every faith, or no faith. 

We who are financially poor. 

We who are hard working people who need and deserve to be able to enjoy life and earn a living.

We who call for equity in law, economics, education, healthcare, housing, and freedom to stand and use your voice.

Regardless of what happens today — even if those who think otherwise regain control of the House or the Senate or both, even if they take over some governorships, even if those who advocate otherwise, create veto-proof majorities in one state or another — 

even their filibusters,  their gerrymanders,  their suppression of votes, their attempts to intimidate us — none of the obstacles and barriers they’re putting in our path will stop  rise.

We are the future.

Whatever the outcome of this one election, be brave and take heart, and believe in yourself and one another.

Vote everyday with all the privilege you possess.

Do good, avoid evil, pray and ask for help and help those who ask.

Wherever it is we need to go , we can already be there, if we hold fast to our hearts desires and

Love one another.

Reflections on Forgiveness

Sometimes we hurt each other, knowingly or unknowingly.

Sometimes others hurt us.

Sometimes we hurt ourselves.

Hurt is only one possibility in relationship and unless you turn your back on it, not the end.

Facilitating groups, I ask for the first agreement to be forgiveness in advance.

Even with our best intentions, our listening, our compassion, we will create occasions to hurt, to harm, each other  and ourselves.

Then we forgive.

Forgive the past, the present and the future.

Forgiving and remembering and being awake to what was, is and will be.

Forgiveness can be a letting go that you can create a happy past.

Forgiveness- the practice of it, even if you only believe it may happen in the future, lightens and opens the heart to all the possibilities beyond hurt, shame, blame and shoulds.

Forgiveness may not prevent the hurt and harmful behaviors from happening again, and it does prevent the hurt from harming your heart.

Modeling forgiveness helps others who are hurting to forgive. You can do this!

Please, call on the hearts of others when you cannot forgive. We are here to care for each other when we are helpless to help ourselves.

If we have a problem between us-let us listen to each other and open our hearts to tech other that we may be friends

If we cannot hear each other-let us ask friends who can help us to do so, that we may know we are among friends and are not alone in our concerns for one another.

If we as a community cannot hear each other-let us seek help ofd the elders to guide us into unity.

May no one, in any circumstance feel alone, or be cast out without a friend.

As I was taught forgiveness, it is not just a moral guideline, it is a way of life.
I weigh myself down wan I insist on holding on to anger, judgement and blame.

When I choose to forgive, I can walk lighter and more cheerfully and kindly in the world.

There are times, when inspire of my doing my best to listen, and forgive, I do have to cast a person out of my life, in the present moment. I can still pray that, that will change. I can still forgive.

When I hold no enmity in my heart, I can have no enemies.

May all beings be happy.

May all beings be peaceful.

May all beings have felt safety and protection from harm.

May all beings be well in body mind and spirit.

May all being s be free.

Comments and prayer requests always welcomed.

Fear Not/ A moment of optimism .

A moment  of optimism:

The current moral panic, is based on a realistic fear, not imagined, that something is happening to encourage us, 

especially our children and young adults 

to have empathy for each other 

and to do what they can to end suffering.

I say to you in this moment, fear not.

You are not alone.

You are not alone.

You are not alone.

Keep repeating this until it is written on your heart and you believe it.

Be Brave.

Let your heart and spirit guide you when, how and what to speak.

Check in with Spirit and community if you feel unsure.

In moments of weakness, call on the heart of the way showers 

jesus, buddha, krishna, allah, the great mother...

You are not alone.

Have Faith.

Even in that which is unseen.

Look at the history.

You have overcome every oppression inward and outward so far.

We know that all the merit of our days is not for ourselves alone, 

and Spirit is eternal in goodness.

Take refuge.

In Spirit.

In the teachings and guidance of eternity.

In each other.

You are not alone.

Together we can and will transform everything into the lighted path.

Remember to be grateful to everyone and everything.

Do good.

Avoid Evil

Pray for help.

While we cannot expect applause, we can take comfort in each other in the present moment.

We are not alone.

In times of weakness, remember those who wish to oppress and dominate, have small, sick, sad, lonely lives, 

Mistakenly, believing controlling others gives them life force.

Look at our beautiful children and grandchildren and all of our mothers and grandmothers who gave and continue to give us

Life

Balance

Happiness

Peace and ease of being

Safety and protection from all harm

Wellness, in body mind and spirit.

And as all one community of life,

we will all continue to do what we can

in this beautiful, perfect present moment.

To end suffering for all beings.

And be free.

Prayer requests, Comments and questions always welcomed.

Protection

 Spiritual protection grows from living with the awareness of inner light and Spirit.

I know this for myself, and I wish to be living witness of this for others.

I see myself and all beings, surrounded and held with unconditional compassionate love of spirit, and each other.

We can know this and hold this, regardless of outward appearances and  circumstances.

Spiritual Strength comes to us through grace, as a gift, and when we can't find it for ourselves,

the hearts of all the way showers and teachers, are available to us to borrow until we can.

I see divine spirit weaving us all together in a comforting and healing garment of Light.

I see all the merit of all the goodness of our lives reviving the world we pray for, for ourselves and our children.

That all beings may be happy.

That all beings may be peaceful and know ease of being.

That all beings may be safe, and protected from all harm.

That all beings may be well in body, mind and spirit.

And that all beings may come to know a perfect end of suffering and be free.

My heart is open, and I pray yours is too.

Please ask if you need me, and that will make it easier for me to do the same.

Comments and Questions always welcomed.

Star Light Star Bright light

 I am a star, you are a star, we are all stars, shining our divine lights as only each of us can, together creating illuminated sky. 

Each of us has our own gifts  and abilities to express as only we can. Each of us has the opportunity to uniquely be living witness to the goodness, grace and unconditional love of God(dess) to all.

This is the truth for you, and me and every being on earth. All included.

Each of us is a light creating together our shared luminous life.

Light upon light creates more light than either can do alone, no light obscuring another, all adding to the amazing unlimited light available to all.

Please, pray with me as we all shine on.

Church of the Creek

 I went to worship today at the church of the creek.

We've had a lot of rain so the messages shared were loud and clear.

A small child came and sat by me, quietly for a while.

They got up, collected a pile of rocks and made the offering to the creek.

They offered me some, and I did the same.

We sat quietly, smiling at each other for awhile.

They said, "We like this creek." waved and walked to rejoin their family.

A refreshing service and deep sermon.

I'm grateful to be a member.

Moment of enlightenment

I got a bit disheartened today. People wanting to talk about how they could push the guidance to stay home and stay safe. Why not, if its not "illegal ".

Why am I so happy and safe, when there is so much suffering.

Moment of enlightenment-code word moment- my ability to be happy, is not just for me. 

It is to be shared with anyone who can't find it for themselves right now.

Practicing love, compassion, kindness, joy and equanimity, when it is easy, is to make it so, when it is hard.

As the busyness and outward layers are taken way, I see what is really important to me remains. 

Love, compassion, kindness, joy, and being that, to and for myself and others. 

As if there even is an other- there is no other- only us.

Which brings me to the gratitude of the day.

I am still teachable!!!

My spiritual director, when I whine about being unpartnered, says, 

"living alone is a gift". 

I say "I want to return it" And now I know it was practice for these times. 

Hugs do not exist in linear time. 

Every hug I've ever shared is still here for me when I need it.

A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.

How remarkable that i have everything I need and more, I am able to be myself, and do what I can- which is enough, no matter what is going on out there.

This is the privilege I bear and carry and share for the benefit of all beings.

I thought about Jesus losing it in the garden- Father, please take this cup from me.

On the cross- why have you forsaken me.

Faith can falter- no judgment, and someone who's faith has not, will be there to carry me through.

That's the other thing my SD says.

"Look at the history"

I got disheartened, angry, and I took a moment to go behind those emotions to the energy behind them, and had a good heart to heart with some trees.

All we really need, they reminded me, is love, and light, clean water and air, and love in our family.

There are lots of ancestors and descendants out there wanting to help and guide us.

The world I see is me- pushed out! and I can dream the world I want into being.

My prayer:

Do good

Avoid evil

Embrace my own lunacy

Pray for help.

Please join me.