Edblog Word

Integration Conference Closing

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:43:00 +0000

On the final day of the conference the closing banquet was followed coincidentally by three pre-Mardi Gras parades which passed directly in front of our hotel entrance.

Judy Morely thanked the following for their participation:

Co-Chairs:
Rev. Andriette Earl
Rev. Emile Gauvreau

Program Committee:
Dr. Pat Campbell
Dr. Steve Gabrielson
Rev. Marquita Pierre
Rev. Sally Robbins (who secured a record-amount of sponsorship money)

Music Director:
Penelope Williams

Support Committee:
Camille Conte, RScP
David Lapedis
Timothy Flower, RScP

BDI Events:
Joe Martin
Melanie Marconi

Book Store:
Rev. Sherrie Quander and Center for Spiritual Living Mobile

Event Staff:
Sandra Reay
Tammi Tucker

Rituals:
Rev. Norm Bouchard
Shaun Furlong, RScP
Eugene Holden, RScP

Meditation and Treatment Rooms:
Eugene Holden, RScP
Rev. Erin Stanlee O'Donnell

Bodywork Room:
Sheila Star Coulbourn, RScP

Thank you everyone for planning a great event!

Integration Conference: Young Adults' High Points, Vetura Papke Award

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:39:00 +0000

Young adults share their high points from the Integration Conference

Kim Kaiser receives the Vetura Papke Great Teacher Award

An afternoon in New Orleans

Who Wants To Go To Bali? Summer airfares are making it possible

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:58:00 +0000

I'm personally excited that airfares to Bali are being offered for around $800 through Jim Omi Cramer's company. It makes going to one of the worlds most beautiful islands affordable. There are many inexpensive ways to travel in Bali - and if you like traveling in spiritual community, ask Jim about the upcoming Yoga Tour he has arranged with William Abel. Or just contact William at wba31@yahoo.com to ask about his gentle yoga classes and the schedule for the tour in March. The land portion of the tour was recently reduced.

I'm thinking of tagging along to Indonesia myself. It's a place in the world where I feel truly peaceful. I love the smells and tastes and sounds of Indonesia. And the people are a trip! I love them.
Last time I was there I brought back a statue of Saraswati carved out of limestone and it is perched in my living room reminding me of the journey, meeting the man who carved it, meeting his family, and laughing and shaking hands when all the bargaining was done.

One of of the things I appreciate about traveling with spiritual community is that it takes me to another level of comfort. I am pretty shy and was raised to be nervous of everything. It took me a lot of therapy to be comfortable in the world, grin... and one of the experiences that helped me the most was being in foreign lands with familiar people who were on a personal pilgrimage with me to study, pray and witness.

Summer Airfares to Bali

Integration Conference: Evan Dow-Williamson

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:57:00 +0000

Evan Dow-Williamson tells about the impromptu Young Adult Group meeting at the Integration Conference in New Orleans.

Location:Chartres St,New Orleans,United States

Cafe du Monde

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:54:00 +0000

Every day, twice a day, this lady plays the calliope on the steam boat Natchez right before the passengers line up to embark. Today on the way to Cafe du Monde we could hear the steam organ from blocks away. Variation in volume is not possible, only rhythm and duration of notes. The next day we took the two hour boat ride on the Mississippi

YouTube Video

Location:Decatur St,New Orleans,United States

The French Quarter

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:31:00 +0000

Thank the heavens we got our voting all done yesterday. Now we are spotting delegate all over the french quarter.

Chris is mesmerized by live jazz at the market cafe

Old friends reunite in the lobby

Location:N Peters St,New Orleans,United States

Dr. Kathy Hearn, Integration Conference 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:11:00 +0000

Dr. Kathy Hearn, first and only elected Community Spiritual Leader of the reorganized United Centers for Spiritual Living recounts the history leading to this conference where the two ranches of our movement were finally united yesterday in an historic vote. Dr. Kathy succeeded Dr. Christian Sorenson, the last Community Spiritual Leader of the former United Church of Religious Science and is succeeded by Dr. Ken Gordon, first Spiritual Leader of Centers for Spiritual Living.

The newly-elected Leadership Council:

Ministers:
3 years: Heather Clark
2 years: David Alexander
1 year: Patrick Cameron

Practitioners:
3 years: Becky Moore
2 years: Deborah Gauvreau
1 year: Drew Johnson

Laity:
3 years: Walter Drew
2 years: Geoffrey Sindon
1 year: Eileen Flanigan

These 9, along with the Spiritual Leader (Ken Gordon), the President (John Waterhouse), and the 3 staff members (Steve Burton, Judy Morley, and Gregory Toole) comprise the first Leadership Council of Centers for Spiritual Living.
.

Integration Conference New Orleans 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:28:00 +0000

Who are these people?

Location:Common St,New Orleans,United States

Centers for Spiritual Living Integration Conference New Oreleans 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:03:00 +0000

It's starting.
Video coming shortly as well as notes from Dr. Kathy Hearn's address.

Location:New Orleans

The Grammarian Was a He, by Jessica Love

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:16:00 +0000

In The American Scholar, Jessica Love wrote a thought provoking article about gender neutral pronouns. I have often wondered what a solution might be and playfully imagined the invention of a pronoun like "shim" to accommodate both genders, Personally I try to work around pronouns by finding a way to avoid the issue. It's not always possible and I end up with the generally regarded clumsy he or she.

I thought that a practice so ancient in our language would not likely change easily until I read Jessica Love's article (which by the way I found on www.newtlist.com). Who knew that it was indeed changed from the generally accepted practice of using "they" as a gender neutral pronoun for both singular and plural subjects. "....prior to the 19th century, “they” was commonly—and uncontroversially—used as a generic singular pronoun.

Grammarians were the ones who inserted the generic “he” into English about 200 years ago in an effort to improve the language."

And delightfully one of the readers provided a comment which shows examples of ancient texts doing exactly this.

I don't recommend "they" in formal writing because...well, not every reader is up to speed with....oh never mind.

Jessica Love has a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology and is currently a postdoc at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

What's Going On Out There

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:16:00 +0000

On a day off like today, I look through my non work related emails to catch up with what is going on in our community and I have to say, what an abundance of fine and fantastic things we produce. I captured some and presented it below, and I know I’m missing things that slip by. A fellow can only absorb so much! Grin. I love hearing from our community and I love knowing what you’re up to and I love being able to share what is going on. I don’t always get the chance to, but today, I’m caught up with work, and I’m reveling in the creativity of our community.

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Sahar

Who knew that one of our favorite drummers, Sahar, is also a talented landscaper? His site says: It is a great joy to assist my clients in creating a garden that meets their needs, functionally and esthetically. Whether you are looking to create a drought tolerant garden or a tranquil paradise, I would be delighted to discuss your needs to determine if I can be of help.

Amazing.

http://www.saharpinkham.com/landscaping.html

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Melissa Phillippe

Melissa is well known to us as a eagerly anticipated substitute musician when our director, Chris Fritzsche has a week off. She does a fine, fine job and has a whole other world too. Here is what her site says: I am currently accepting 3 new Transformation Coaching clients.
Are you one of them? Receive a 10% DISCOUNT if you start before March 1! Sessions are in person, by phone or by Skype.

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=7yuhjjcab&v=001FbEh9Xz0N4KbvuYVnlpwB0J9laN9YwVBYEPPEWH34wIiwcmnUzZa2irzY9ptGzZYYfUzCMoVk60vZtSowWMHPRLh4IztMyFhYQE4LGDif44=

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Valerie Marshall

Greetings! Many of you will know who I'm talking about when I mention the glorious 'cello playing at our Christmas Candle Lighting Ceremony. That is Valerie Marshall and she is playing in two concerts at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts. Both are fund raisers for the Sebastopol Center for the Arts. The first is on February 18 at 7:30 pm. Details below. I love sharing what members of our community are doing to help spread the good.

An Intimate Evening of Glorious Chamber Music

Saturday, February 18, 7:30pm, sliding scale $15- $20
Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 6780 Depot Street, 95472

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William Abel

Many of you know William as the one who decorates our Center stage and some through the yoga classes he provides at the Center. He does not have access to Facebook at the moment so he asked me to let you know about a tour he is leading to Bali in March for 10 days. The tour company has just dramatically reduced the price of the tour to the ridiculously low price of $1898 (not including air fare.)

William has been many times to Bali with me and knows his way around Bali as well as I do and he will be accompanied by expert tour director Jim Omi Cramer.

William is passionate about yoga, creating spiritual experiences for people and loves shopping, er.. I mean meditating and praying. Here is a link to his blog where you can also read about the Balinese New Year celebration which is taking place while he is in Bali with the tour: http://yogawithwill.blogspot.com/

He is the man who schlepped the amazing Ganesha statute in our lobby back to the USA as well as the two standing Buddha statues gracing our stage this month.

You can contact the tour company directly at: jim@baliadvisor.com and you can see the itinerary at http://www.spirit-tour.com/itinerary/bali-2012-NYEIPI-TOUR.pdf

Although the tour is taking place during my Sabbatical and I wont be leading it, I’m thinking of tagging along secretly because of the very low price – I’ll be the one not doing yoga in the morning, and sleeping in and reading books at the pool. Grin. Maybe. I'm seriously thinking about it.

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Sanna Rose

Sanna is the one who keeps the front page of our website up to date with awesome text and photos. She collaborates with Allan Yeager and Georgett Eggel to keep us up to speed. She also wrote and published her first e-book:
Editorial Reviews

The New Thought writers at the turn of the 20th century were predominantly women, and were students of the well known founder of the New Thought religious movement, Emma Curtis Hopkins. The New Thought Movement in its beginnings was a women’s movement. These women writers were Voices of the Angels heralding in a new era, active and supportive of the Suffragettes, the abolition of slavery, and social changes that included humane child labor laws. Their writings are relevant to today, and are an inspiration to women and men alike.

This New Thought Reader creates a literary home for nine, very well known and respected New Thought women leaders of the times who were writers, teachers, and healers. Elizabeth Towne, Fannie James, Nona Brooks, Malinda Cramer, Annie Rix Militz, Dr. Emilie Cady, Ursula Gestefeld, Florence Scovel Shinn, and the New Thought poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox are represented herein.

http://www.amazon.com/Voices-Angels-Thought-Movement-ebook/dp/B006M254WO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328810950&sr=8-1

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Gene Russo

Gene Russo, is the former artistic program director and cofounder of Connecting Through Dance, a local nonprofit organization, bringing dance to the Blind and Visually Impaired community. Gene has over 45 years of teaching experience and a reputation for getting student dancing well, in a very short time. He has been a Bay Area resident since 1989. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Gene began dancing at age seven with tap, jazz and ballet, often performing for community nursing homes, veterans’ hospitals and lodge groups. He taught at the Arthur Murray Dance Studios, moved into competitive ballroom dancing studying in England, and then had his own studio in Philadelphia where he developed his first dance program for the visually impaired. Gene’s goal is to teach his students to enjoy dancing well, as a celebration of partnership.
http://www.freewebs.com/generusso/

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Steve Easterling

Steve sang in our Christmas Eve Candle Lighting Ceremony and is one of those Men who is devoted to our ManSpirit Community. Here’s what I found online about Steve, he has that deep advertisement voice thing going on: Steve's career in Radio and Television and Motion Pictures has put him on the air in the USA and Canada. Steve Easterling's strong, clear baritone voice was perfect for radio broadcasting! Steve went "On The Air" as a radio DJ right out of high school, went on to TV as an On-Camera Spokesman and Program Host. Steve's engaging personality has made him a popular choice to Emcee many social and business events.
http://steveeasterling.squarespace.com/voice-talent/

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Patrick Ball

OK, I know this one isn’t a member of our community, but oh my goodness, what a treasure. Anyway, the connection is to the Occidental Center for the Arts. Daniel Celidore from our Center and our own Chris Fritzsche have been involved in supporting, performing and fundraising for the Center, so I proudly present to you one of my harping heros, Patrick Ball. Jim Strand was the first person to introduce me to Patrick’s music and I’m glad he did.
Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 8 pm
OCA proudly presents PATRICK BALL:
CELTIC HARP AND STORY

Celebrate ST. PATRICK’S DAY with unforgettable music and spoken word. Modern day bard and premier Celtic harpist, Patrick Ball weaves marvellous old Irish tales of wit and enchantment together with ethereally gorgeous harp melodies into a warm and magical performance that will leave you spellbound.

$15 General. Wine, beer, pub grub for sale
For information: 874-9392 http://www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org
http://www.patrickball.com

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Christine McCaull

Some will know Christine from the choir, and I think very few know how active she has been behind the scenes in maintaining and developing our own www.cslsr.org website. From her latest venture I found this:

Speaking a Love Language People Can Hear

We are here to promote more love in ourselves and in the world, to increase happiness and to develop skills for better living. Together, we are building a community to support each other unconditionally in growing into more conscious humans. A meeting includes dinner, a talk, discussion, music & meditation- sometimes, we have special events.
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=158d8d651de22d1b32253c9af&id=cb45173c49&e=52c486bbc4

The Bhagavad-Gita For Beginners: The Song of God in Simplified Prose

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:22:00 +0000

Newt List is a new online ebook publisher specializing in gender neutral language updates of classic New Thought works. Lucky for me Newt List also has an Other section for original works and other works that have spiritual content. I submitted the text I created for the introductory class I teach about the Bhagavad-Gita and Newt List helped design and create my first ebook.

http://newtlist.com/other-newt-list-titles/bhagavad-gita-for-beginners/

There are many things about Newt List that I appreciate, not least among them the affordable prices of these updated texts and the convenience of having so much wisdom carried around on my iPad Kindle app. I'm increasing my e-library with a treasure of New Thought works from Newt List that have been almost forgotten in the New Thought publishing world.

Perhaps because the reading audience for New Thought literature is so small that larger publishing houses hold back from keeping these works in circulation. Maybe the literary styles do represent a true block to modern readers. Now they are available and in a rich contemporary, accessible format and I am loving reading them.

Newt List publisher Randall Friesen connected over our shared interest in contemporary language versions and gender neutrality in writing and I'm happy to say our collaboration helped bring The Bhagavad-Gita to the ebook world

Learning About The Bible As An Adult: What I Learned From Noah Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:49:00 +0000

Our lives can be subject to many influences such as peer pressure, the history of our family, the traditions of our culture, and advertising. Sometimes it happens that we wake up to these influences and decide to make a change and go against the powerful flow of such influences. Such a change may require a radical change in scene, at least for a time, so that a sort of cleansing can take place. It may mean that you have to step out of the sphere of influence of a powerful friend, or you may have to interrupt a compelling habit, and so on, so that the tendency to continue along that path can die away.

Sometimes when people make such changes in their lives, they report that friends who strongly identify with the previous way are disappointed, and the friend fall away with the abandoned habit. And when we are in that change time, it can feel like we are shut up in dark box, floating around in the middle of nowhere.

That is what the story of Noah reminds me of. Here is how I read it: God (that which is perfect in all of us) becames exceedingly sorrowful at the state of the world (our affairs) and decides it all has to go. Obviously not some outer God, but something more like the spark of life or consciousness or perfection or whatever you want to call it. Imagine it whispering to you "this is not right for you! And for you to get out of this, you need a radical change and transformation. You are facing a whole new way of being right now--not later, now-- and you need to start preparing for it immediately."

To be continued...

Learning About The Bible As An Adult: What I Learned From Noah Part Two

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:36:00 +0000

The story describes Noah saying “He walked with God” which I take to mean that he walked in step with Reality, or in the Same direction as Spirit, or whatever words you’d like to use to that captures the meaning. To me it is what makes this main character different from others in the Bible such as Jonah who walked in the opposite direction of God (which, again I take to mean he pushed against Life, he argued with Reality, he resisted the Way of Things, and so on – and of course, in Jonah’s story the consequences are laid out in creative metaphors that are wonderful to read.)

I used to go for walks with a friend around a local lake, early in the mornings. I am remembering those walks and remembering that when people walk together, one can’t go faster than the other. One can’t go so fast that conversation is difficult, because then it becomes a jog or fitness exercise and there is nothing wrong with that, but ahh, to enjoy

company on a walk takes time. And when you have time to give to a walk like that, it makes everything else enjoyable too. Now you can share the wildflowers, the world, the view and take in time to drink in the beauty and wonder about the meaning of things. To walk with someone is a truly intimate experience. I think of that when I think of the phrase “to walk with God” and I am reminded that it isn’t something that can be rushed.

It means just the opposite; to me it means to take unrushed time with Life, to enjoy It’s company and to let the encounter affect everything else in my world. I think that is how Noah managed to stay untouched by the world, because he was regularly refueling from a source of intimate, inspiring, soul nourishing company.

Living a spiritual life is about developing that time. It includes, among other things, the tendency to take time daily to be quiet; the tendency to turn to prayer as a natural response to the events of life; a tendency to examine thought, an enjoyment of reading spiritually uplifting material; engagement with the world through service, loving kindness and giving. To me this is walking with God, and each person does it in his/her own way.

There is another characteristic of Noah that sets him apart from others in the Bible, and certainly contrasts him with Jonah again and probably with many of us. It says he was obedient. If I’m not mistaken it says that about him twice in the story. It goes on to explain that he did everything just as God commanded him to do it. I smile from ear to ear whenever I think of this part of the story, because I have a preference to do things my own way and I particularly do not like to be told what to do and I have a fondness for cutting corners. I think of Noah as that part within us that knows what is right and does it. Jonah, on the other hand is that part of us which knows what is right, and and doesn’t care.

Urgh, this is the part of the story I don’t enjoy. I want the story to say that simple obedience to inner guidance makes everything perfect and easy and manageable. Well, it’s a yes, no, both, and sort of response. This story reminds me not to be fooled by ‘get rich quick with no work schemes’ or anything that promises something for nothing and it reminds me to hang in there as best as I can. And there are many, many times in life when I have needed to hear that message.

You may already know what it is to go against the popular way; to take a stand for yourself; to speak up for what you believe is right; to speak for your family or friends. Maybe you already know what it’s like to take a step out of life habit that is destructive or counterproductive and if you do, you know what the story of Noah is all about already. In a way it is the story of the necessary dying of all that which must give way before the new can be revealed.

Part Three coming soon.

What's On My iPad? Blogsy and Blogger+

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:21:00 +0000

Recently when my favorite iPhone and iPad blogging app, BlogPress, ran into some difficulties distributing a bug fix update on iTunes App Store, the app disappeared for a while from the store. At first I thought it was likely to do with some broken iTunes App Store rule, fake reviews or something like that. So I sighed deeply and bid farewell to an app I really used a lot and enjoyed.

It turns out that BlogPress wasn't gone for ever. Customer Service responded to my inquiry and explained that the app was temporarily removed from the store until an update correcting the bug could get approved, Wow. I was so glad to hear my BlogPress was still in the game. And, while I thought it
had sunk I took some time to poke around for other Blogging Apps. Oh my, they're out there--quite a lot more than when I first started looking for an easy, intuitive way to use my iPhone and iPad to blog from.

For iPad and iPhone I found Blogger+ which allows multiple blogs, is easy to use and has several of the features I had come to appreciate in BlogPress, such as the ability to edit already published postings, saving a post as an online draft (so you can pick it up later from your desktop.) I was happy to find Blogger+ and after learning my way though it's sections and text editor features I could see myself using it especially because it is available on both iPhone and iPad.

I kept on looking and found Blogsy for iPad. No iPhone version. Grumble. After I got over the grumble and tried the app I could see why it would be difficult to fit everything into the iPhone screen. Blogsy is really for the iPad and uses up the whole space available and does so very, very nicely.
This posting is being made using Blogsy and by dictating the text to Vlingo on my iPad. I am a Blogsy fan now, although BlogPress is still my first and best love.

Learning About The Bible As An Adult: What I Learned From Noah

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:31:00 +0000

Learning about the Bible as an adult has been an eye-opening experience. I've read about the challenges early translators had to accurately interpret poetic language in some of the books. I’ve learned about the difficulties of transferring idioms from ancient times to relevant and contemporary ideas. I’ve learned about new ways to view the stories of the Bible, as metaphors to offer insight about inner life, relationship conflicts and resolutions, the courage and strength of ordinary people to face trials just like we do today and so much more. Freed from the weight of all-or-nothing thinking I’ve enjoyed reading both old and new Bible scholars who are uninhibited by the need to take the Bible as the word of God.

American philosopher, Ernest Holmes, wrote “Strange as it may appear, the Bible contains a key to health, happiness and success. It tells how to obtain and what to avoid. When understood, the Bible is a text book for life. But the Bible presents its truths in a mystical manner; its meaning is hidden behind story and fable, work pictures, and figures of speech. We must seek its hidden meaning and reveal the purpose underlying its teaching.”

I think the key contained in the Bible remained hidden from me for so long because I didn’t get the big picture as a child; I didn’t understand the context. I didn’t realize that the world view of the ancient people who authored and heard the stories of the Bible was limited to their understanding of the physical world as they knew it. Bishop Spong’s book Rescuing the Bible From Fundamentalism introduced me to details that seem obvious to me now but which I hadn’t considered: the authors of Genesis thought that the earth was flat, surrounded by water on all sides and that the sky was a dome over the earth into which the sun had been placed to bright up the day and that God was thought to live just beyond the sky, like an earthly king, causing everything to be. I remember the relief of thinking, the people who wrote these Bible stories may have made a few other errors too.

Bishop Spong wrote “The Bible relates to us the way our ancient forebears understood and interpreted their world, made sense out of life, and thought about God. Our task is the same as theirs. We must interpret our world in the light of our knowledge and suppositions. We must, as they sought to do , make sense out of life in terms of our understanding of meaning and values. We must think about God in the light of our perceptions of divinity. The Bible becomes not a literal road map to reality but a historic narrative of the journey our religious forebears made in the eternal human quest to understand life, the world, themselves and God.”

This has been wonderful, freeing me up to read the stories of the Bible as I would and revered stories with an openness to learn their life-lessons and the liberty to abandon what

doesn’t apply and what isn’t understood and more importantly, to contradict that which is inhumane and goes against human rights and/or the current law of the land. I do not embrace the caste system of the Bhagavad Gita and I do not embrace the laws of punishment, human ownership and so on in the Bible.

Now I have inherited something wonderful: stories. I love stories. And the Bible has some good ones. Like the story of Noah, for example. Now I can read about the people who still debate whether or not the story is a literal account of a flood that took place at a certain time, and just shrug; even when I learn that some have spent an extraordinary amount of time compiling scientific reasons why it could or couldn’t possibly have taken place as described in the Bible. Shrug.

As one friend reminded me, he only needed one thing to convince him that the story is a metaphor rather than an actual account of an historic event: the image of a boat three stories high with eight human beings taking care of more animals than a city zoo; for about a year. Think sanitation!

Without neither the bonds of literal reading nor burden to disprove, the story gets interesting quickly. Noah was getting on 600 years of age when the story begins. Shrug. Why not? He is described as being “blameless” among the people of his times—in other words he was unaffected by the ways of the world around him. And it wasn’t just any, ordinary world around him, it was an unimaginably degraded, horribly corrupt society that he lived in. Who says the story isn’t relevant? But he didn’t get all swallowed up by that; he was able to maintain his identity regardless of the pressures of the culture around him.

See now? Isn’t that interesting? Don’t you just want to know how, why, when, what?

I do, because it’s the story of my own life and times and of your own life and times. It sounds like it could be the story of that within you and me which is in its original state of innocence and cannot be degraded by the trends of our time. It’s a story that expands on Henry David Thoreau’s words: If I seem to walk out of step with others, it is because I am listening to another drum beat.

Oh the things I learned from Noah. Let me know if you want to know more.

To risk, To release, To follow through, To trust

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:02:00 +0000

A long while ago someone introduced me to four ideas to consider when starting a new year. They are to risk, to release, to follow through and to trust. I like to review these ideas at New Year to refresh my thinking and to check into my thinking.

1. To Risk: am I risking or settling?

I read a lot about online social networking and how non profit orgnaizatoins can take advantage of free social networking services to promote awareness of thier mission. I recently stumbled upon John Haydon a consultant who works with nonprofits and helps them do what for profit organizations are already doing with social neworking online.

He writes: "“Right now, millions of brands are competing for attention on Facebook. They are using (here he lists some of the strategies being used by corporations).. but what’s evermore powerful is
their willingness to fail. They are not waiting for the perfect idea and neither should you. View everything as a draft – a never ending beta (test). When you do this, you get both a real education about what actually works and also real results.”

As I read that, I thought, in my humble opinion that is a good approach to developing a spiritual life also. It's certainly something I could a little more of. I can see how I have held back from stepping off boldly in the direction of my dreams and I'd like to do that more frequently. Sometimes I have to step off boldly when the trend is around me is to do the opposite. Sometimes family and friend may be contracting while my dream is calling me to expand.

I've asked friends why they don't step boldly in the direction of their dreams. Some say that it is sometimes because they don't feel competent doing so, and sometimes that is because of a wounding, long past or recent.

For example:

Did somebody once tell you that you were no good, and you're still trying on that evaluation?
Did somebody desert you, and you're wondering whether that will be the standard for your relationships from now on?
Did somebody betray you in love, and you are feeling cautious with your heart?
Did a boss fire you and you're wondering about the future?
Did a parent, friend or loved one speak to you harshly to you and you still feel the sting of the words?

Or, did you experience something far worse than any of these?

Maybe you did something that you now regret, something that you were not able to set right - that you now wish you did?

To me, to risk is to take a chance on life, anyway. Risk does not deny that any of these events took place - yet it steps out into life anyway, if not boldly at first, then timidly, but it steps out, anyway.

2. To release: am I holding on where I should be opening up

To me release means it might be time to let certain things be! For my dreams to have full access to my creative juices It might be time to lift up my attention from what no longer serves and turn to the present moment so that I can access that which is already, and always, present.

I remember a teacher once reminding me that "all things have come to pass, and not to stay." It was at a time when I was holding on to a good few things and people because I did not desire for them to change. And as unsuccessful as clinging was so many years ago, it continues to be unsuccessful today - and at the start of a new year it's a good time for me to check in with any possible clinging that may be going on in my life.

I was taught that first I must risk beginning by taking a step in the direction of my dreams - as if planting a seed in the ground, and then I must pay attention to the growth that will naturally spring up when I make that start. And to use that trusty and lovely metaphor of gardening, I may have to do some weeding, watching out for thoughts that pop up after my bold step. For example, if I'm working with the thought "Today I choose to be happy" I may notice something like the following thoughts either rumbling below the surface or springing up strong and bold:

“I’ll be happy once I have the right relationship”

“I’ll be complete once he or she does such and such for me”

“I’ll be worthy once my boss gives me a raise”

“I’ll be perfect once there is a cure for this disease”

“If my parents had done this and such, I could have ....”

“If only I had done x then I would not be in this mess.”

That's where the weeding comes in. However, I learned something about weeding that has been helpful in developing my spiritual life, and that is weeding cannot be done superficially. It's not sufficient to simply say something positive when the weed continues to be there below the surface. I learned that when I was given the task by a friend to weed a certain virulent grass. Because weeding wasn't my favorite thing to do, I simply snipped off the growth at the head. You know the rest of the story, it springs back stronger than before.

I have to get it at the root and the way that works best for me in inner work is to notice any thought that springs up and to take time with it. I like to write them down when I spot them, so that I can really take time with each one and check to see if it is an accurate thought, if it is worthy of my creative nurturing. I find that this kind of enquiry is what allows me to gently life up my attention and place it back in the are I wish to have rich, strong growth.

3. To follow through: am I responding to the guidance from my intuition?

It has become clear to me that inner work leads to out activity and when I ignore the prompting of my intuition and inner guidance I am not taking full advantage of what this beautiful life has to offer.

Often it is the case that I may have to start with small steps. If you're carrying a seed idea around in your mental pocket for a week, such as "Today I choose to love my body" it will be natural for you to come up with associated thoughts about how to accomplish that. It's just the way our minds work. The more you think about something, the more angles you start to see about how the idea relates to your life. I am not talking about obsessing and worrying kind of thinking, I'm talking about making putting the thought "Today I choose to love my body" in a prominent position in your life's activities and trusting that it will produce it's own creative responses in you.

To me "following through is the willingness to develop a exploratory attitude and to try new things when you can. In other words, to go for it, safely and sanely of course, perhaps with little steps which over time will turn in to big strides.

To risk beginning is first, to release what no longer serves is second and then to follow through is next. And all of this takes trust.

4. To trust.

There comes a point where you may have done all the inner work, all the letting be, all the affirming and weeding and you may have taken multiple little and large steps in the direction of your dreams and yet you find that there continues to be this chasm between where you stand and where your dream is - and the next step looks like it is right into nowhere.

Trust is the element that comes into play at this moment and this is the part of the journey that comes without any guarantees and without a user manual. It is a deeply personal moment and each person has to make their own step on this part of the journey.

One of the guest speakers scheduled to speak at the Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa in 2012 is Mike Robbins. He writes about the important and complex nature of trust in our lives saying that it is one of the most critical elements in relationships, families and groups. I concur and add that it is as important in living a spiritual life. Mike writes that many of us have shaky relationships with trust because we may have been taught that trust is to be earned, when in reality, trust is granted. He, like so many of us, learned early that it wasn't always safe to trust people: parents split up, childhood experiences challenge our safety, disappointments affect us. He notes that while that served him to a certain degree as a child, as an adult the resistance to trust was causing issues in his life and in his relationships. And even thought he put people through many "tests" to "earn" his trust, in the end it was ultimately up to him to give his trust or to not give his trust.

That is indeed the irony, that no matter how thick the walls are that we build around our hearts, and no matter how cautious the strategy we learn to keep us safe from disappointment, none of it works because life happens anyway. And the tragedy is if we loose perspective and fall asleep to what is going on we can also loose our innocence and stop trusting where we used to.

Trust understands that the answer to the question Will I get let down, is "maybe." Will I get hurt? Maybe. Will I get disappointed? Maybe. And trust understands that there is more to our lives than the hurts, disappointments and setbacks and invites us to be "consciously naive*."

In summary, this new year I going to dream again, and take what small actions I can in the direction of my dream as prompted by my intuition, and I pledge to try to hold it all as lightly as I can so that I can make space for trusting the spiritual laws that govern the Universe.

* Michael Benard Beckwith as quoted by Mike Robbins

A New Year: Facing Challenges and Remembering

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:37:00 +0000

I was talking to a friend yesterday who is facing big challenges in his life right now. Without prompting he commented on how fascinatingly full his life is in the midst of the challenges. The conversation helped me to remember that when my attention is on what is missing I can all to frequently miss the outrageous supply of amazingness that is all around me.

Ernest Holmes said that our teaching is not a get rich quick scheme and that it isn't to be thought of as a something-for-nothing practice, but rather everything in life is paid for in spiritual coin. I have usually taken that to mean that when I practice charity, meditation, generosity, awareness of the sacred, appreciation, and so on, I'm paying in the spiritual coin that purchases for me a deeper appreciation of what is already present.

Several years ago Alan Cohen sent out an email message about how to relate to the economy. The list called me to be aware of my thinking during a time of tremendous fear.

Reminder Number One
The economy is an expression of the consciousness of those who create it ― all of us. We vitalize the economy with expansive thinking and action, and we deaden it with fear and contraction.

I'm remembering what happens when I believe my thinking without checking into the thoughts. When times are tough, that is the time I want to watch most closely so that my inner world doesn't go unnoticed.

It's tempting to stop practicing when times are good. It's easy to take responsibility for the people and events in my life when everything is behaving well. I'm trying to practice during difficult times as well as good times. Right now in our community many people have been hit genuinely hard with job loss, investment loss and worry and I am humbled by their

courage and resolute willingness to look inward so that they can bring about balance in their lives. Some of the methods they are applying include taking time in nature, getting adequate sleep, exercising regularly and having a daily appointment with sitting in silence.

Reminder Number Two
The economy is not a fixed entity, but is quite liquid, constantly changing in accord with the thoughts and emotions of those who create it.

In other words the economy you I see today is a result of the actions and attitudes that sourced it in the past and the economy I will experience in the future is a result of the attitudes and actions in us today. I'm remembering my Grandfather who would make spaghetti for the family with a can of anchovies and fried garlic. We didn't know it meant that we were poor because of the way he prepared and presented both the meal and the event of making it. To this day the smell of anchovies and garlic makes me happy. He turned this meager meal into something that would have effect on me for years to come.

I'm grateful for that and I'm looking at my attitude about areas of my life that are lacking.

Remind Number Three
You have the ability to create a personal economy independent of the one experienced by the masses. A visionary thrives under all conditions.

I am learning about American history and discovering that it is rich with examples of thriving during bad economic times. The jewels of our two coasts, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Empire State Building were birthed, as I understand it, in the height of the depression. I'm thinking of ways to to apply the idea of creating a personal economy. What comes to mind is the possibility of investing in simply happiness and love. I'm thinking of spending time with people I appreciate and how beneficial that is.

I'm thinking of the power of giving my attention to those who enjoy being in my company and I'm exploring ways to give that don't cost anything.

Reminder Number Four
Engaging in conversations of lack adds to the pool of thought that creates lack conditions.

I am remembering that I don't have to avoid addressing difficult situations to apply this idea. I can be mindful about crossing the line and saturating myself in one-sided inner conversations where there is no balance. The danger in that is that I start to believe my inner conversation. In our degree program at the Holmes Institute we train ministerial students to address difficult current events and to prepare news releases representing a metaphysical response to world tragedies and difficulties. Some of those papers are posted on this blog. I appreciate reading the writings of spiritual, affirmative thinking people, writing about tragedy and suffering and how their insights give me courage and strength to hope.

I am remembering also that Harrison Ford was told he would never make it in the movie business; John Grisham’s first book was rejected by 12 publishers and 16 agents; The Beatles were turned down for by a recording company for being too way out; Charles Darwin was told by his father he would amount to nothing; Beethoven’s music teacher said he was hopeless; Walt Disney was fired for lack of imagination and no original ideas; A producer once told Marilyn Monroe she was unattractive; Sidney Poitier was told by the casting director “Why don’t you stop wasting people’s time and go out and become a dishwasher or something”.

Reminder Number Five
You are wealthy by nature, rich in an infinite number of ways that have nothing to do with money. Money is one thin slice of the greater pie of prosperity. Remember how rich you are regardless of money.

I'm remembering how blessed I am even in the midst of challenges. My prescription for practicing this is to make a gratitude list before bedtime. It is one of the most simple exercises I use and I'm consistently amazed at the power of writing down what I appreciate in my life.

Something else I recommend is to take advantage of the free events that are available in our city and at the Center - and to go to them so that you can be among people. Doing so is medicine for my soul.

Reminder Number Six
In the Chinese written language, the symbol for "crisis" is a combination of the symbols for "danger" plus "opportunity." What opportunity lies before you as an individual and us as a nation?

I'm remembering a friend who went through a particularly difficult break up. I shared with him something a teacher said to me. When you look back at this time in your life, what kind of person do you want to remember being? In other words, looking back at this event in your life, how did you show up for it?

Reminder Number Seven
This is a fertile time to check and reset your priorities. If you end up being truer to values that fulfill you, this "crisis" will have served you well.

I'm remembering my own ministerial training when one of my fellow students' house burned down. We were devastated on her behalf, yet she seemed rather placid when relaying the details. She said something like "It's all ok, it's better than ok, I discovered how much I really love you." She came to a point of quiet dignity in which she realized that everything can, and sometimes is, lost and that what always remains is worth cherishing.

I’ve let loss make me bitter and contracted, I've let my obsession with controlling the future make me careless with people. I've let fear displace my value of kindness and I'm remember to be done with that.

Reminder Number Eight
8. Circulate your wealth. The antidote to financial contraction is to move energy. When you spend money, you become part of the solution. If you don't have money to spend, be generous in other ways. Give of your time, skill, and love. Even giving compliments is a way to stimulate the economy.

I'm remembering that one antidote to stagnation is to introduce movement or flow. Sometimes I get stuck in stagnation waiting for someone else to introduce the flow. This happens in relationship difficulties and forgiveness work with the attitude "I'll shift when you do it first." I'm remembering that flow and circulation can start anywhere, and that it might as well be me. I'm trying to see how I can apply that to my awareness of wealth and I'm looking diligently for ways to share what I have.

Reminder Number Nine
Remember that the tide always comes back in. The entire manifest universe functions in cycles. Every wave has a trough and a crest. No wave has ever ended with the trough. There is always a next crest.

I'm remember a particularly difficult disappointment I had. When I was in the middle of dealing with the situation it seemed like things would never get better. Looking back now I am reminded that the terrain eventually flattens out as I move further away from it and new horizons appear and new mounts have to be climbed. I'm remembering the power of the Solstice and the ceremonial lighting of candles to remind me that the light eventually does return, but never in the same way. Just like no spring is ever the same and no flower repeats itself.

Reminder Number Ten
Don't wait for the economy to get back on its feet before you can be happy. Find happiness right where you stand, and you will be the richest person in the world.

I am remembering.

Not Caught Up In The Holiday Spirit?

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:35:00 +0000

Christmas Day is the day the Christian world celebrates the
Birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the compassionate teacher
Who brought to the world the message that
God is Love.

It is also the time of year for Chanukah celebration,
For the solstice and for Kwanzaa…and other celebrations

I found this online:

Best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral, winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most joyous traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, but with respect for the religious persuasion of others who choose to practice their own religion as well as those who choose not to practice a religion at all; plus... A fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year 2000, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions have helped make our society great, without regard to the race, creed color, religious, or sexual preferences of the wishes.

Disclaimer: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It implies no responsibility for any unintended emotional stress these greetings may bring to those not caught up in the holiday spirit.

(Another version of this greeting here:
http://www.nightscribe.com/Entertainment/pc_holiday_greeting.htm)

"Not caught up in the holiday spirit" Makes me think of the Grinch.

Just before Christmas I rented and watched
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
And remembered the Grinch

Who was not at all caught up in the season.

It stressed him out.

Somehow this season is often accompanied by a lot of stress.
I had forgotten it was Christmas season and wet shopping for a vacuum cleaner.
It was frightening.
And then I remembered the pepper spraying shoppers I read about.
It wasn’t pretty.

And yet it is a season intended to celebrate
Community, Compassion, Spiritual Renewal and so on.

I got to thinking about the Grinch,
And the stress that he felt because of how much the people of Who-ville
Were enjoying the spirit of Christmas… which he hated…

You may already know the story

About how his reaction against the merriment of the season
Caused him to want to just squash it and destroy it
So he planned to steal Christmas
From the people of the village below where he lived

It is a great story about life
About not fitting in
About ruined expectations

And about surviving difficulties
When what is truly important
Is put before everything else.

To me the main thing in the story is this:
On Christmas morning
when the people of Who-vile woke up
and all of Christmas was stolen away?

If you recall,
they had prepared much like we are now…
Every who down in who-ville liked Christmas a lot....

They were totally ready in consciousness (metaphysicians say)
They expected Christmas to come
They were prepared
They had done all the work to welcome in Christmas.
But when they woke,
It had been stolen away by the Grinch.

It wasn’t fair It wasn’t nice It wasn’t expected
They had done nothing to deserve it.

That happens from time to time, doesn’t it?
I know what I do when that happens..
Sometimes I panic.
Sometimes I doubt myself
Sometimes I doubt that there can be any meaning to it all
Sometimes I doubt whether I will be able to get through it
Sometimes I give up...
Sometimes I wonder,
if LIFE is so perfect, how is such a mess possible.

But do you know what the people of Who-ville did?

They gathered in a circle and sang:
“Christmas day is in our grasp, As long as we have hands to clasp.”

I remember when my house was broken into and robbed.
I didn’t feel like singing.
I was mad as a wasp
I was hurt
Part of me wanted the Whos to turn into a mob
And march up Mount Crumpet and show that Grinch a thing or two..
But they didn't they didn’t
Even in moments of extreme trial.

All they had was each other
And they expressed that in song
A quiet song – not fake happiness
A soulful connecting – not pretending nothing had happened

There is a touching dignity in it that I love.
We may have nothing yet we have everything.

And what is even more important to me perhaps is this...
They did not realize the impact their peaceful response would have on one
Embittered, despicable creature.

They could not have known that they were participating in the social rehabilitation

Of the very perpetrator of the foul deed.
There is perhaps no knowing the extent of our effectiveness
When we turn to LOVE in moments of trouble.

When he heard the singing he realizes:
He HADN’T stopped Christmas from coming!
IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?
“It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
“It came without packages, boxes or bags!”
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
“Maybe Christmas,” he though, “doesn’t come from a store.
“Maybe Christmas....perhaps....means a little bit more!”

I know it’s a story – yet I continued to be inspired by it.
Can you imagine what would have happened if they had chosen
Revenge, bitterness, resignation?

And..What is that “more” that Christmas means.
When I think of Jesus' teachings – I think the more is in there:
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart also be…

And he said that the Kingdom of Heaven was within…

Whenever I read the Grinch I am reminded of how
Fortunate I am to have a community of people
And how dear you are to me
And how much I love my friends
And how nothing in the world is more important
Than love.

And as long as we have hands to clasp..
As long as we can reach out to each other in love..
We will surely have exactly what we need to have a joyous season.

I am not trying to minimize suffering.

In a sermon given by Reverend James O. Gilliom of the Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ
He is talking about the passage from Romans 5:3-5 that reads
“Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts.”

And he says....

Well personally, I’m going to go light on Paul’s counsel about suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character....
In my experience, that is not the starting place. It may even be cruel counsel, heaping even more burden on someone who already feels so inadequate, and nearly broken with fear or grief.
In my experience what one really needs in such times is
not a push, but an embrace
not pressure, but compassion
not a pep talk, but a prayer
not an exhortation, but a hug
not explanation, but love.

Isn’t that beautiful?
Isn’t that a perfect message for us at this particular time of year?

It reminds me of Saint Francis:

Where there is darkness, let me bring light
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
Let me bring to the table what is in me already,
And join it to that which is in everyone already..

And to me that is the picture of the Who’s of Who-ville coming together singing

When the Grinch heard the Who’s
Singing and holding hands
It effected him in a profound way...

As the story goes...

Well in Who-ville they say
That the Grinch’s small heart
Grew three sizes that day!
And the minute his heart didn’t feel quite so tight,
He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light
And he brought back the toys! And the food for the feast!
And he...HE HIMSELF....
The Grinch carved the roast beast!”

Proverbs 17:22
“A happy heart doth good, like a medicine”

And if yours is not happy now…
It's not all up to you to mend and heal

It takes a community

We're in it together

You might want to take small steps..
Perhaps you can begin with acknowledging what you do have
Maybe you can make a point to thank those people in your life who have supported you
Maybe you can give thanks for your own life,

John I
“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God.....Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.”

Reality Radio? Chris Michaels

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:13:00 +0000

I have a love-hate relationship with reality TV. I confess to watching The Bachelor now and then. I don’t understand why it is so compelling. It seems so fake, scripted and unrealistic—yet something about it (or me) makes me want to see that next totally predictable step play itself out.

Now my friend Chris Michaels tells me he is going to do Reality Radio! I think that is a brilliant idea and I can’t believe no one has thought of it before.

Raw, unpredictable and completely unscripted weekly steps in the life of four people who interact with Chris live on the air about their progress, obstacles, wins and losses. I’m nervous just thinking about it!. Urgh. I’m probably going to become a fan.

My Christmas Story

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 06:26:00 +0000

A long time ago, a very, very, long time ago, in a land called Judea, lived a young woman by the name of Mary. She was a loving person, a good person, a nice person to be with. Everywhere she went, she felt like she was part of All That Is. And she would express this by saying “God is with me.” When she walked into a room, people would say that it felt like a breath of heaven had come into the room.

Actually, we don’t really know how Mary was, or what she used to say. Nobody does. But I like to tell the story this way to remind me to let Love live in me.

Oh, by the way, not all of the details of this story make sense. Not all the parts of the story are even possible. But that’s what makes a good story – it inspires us to go beyond the possible and dream. A good story should help us walk through our own challenging times. A good story ought to inspire us to feel, like Mary did, that something wonderfully, powerful, is within us.” I hope this story will help you feel that way tonight.

I can’t know what the story of Christmas means to you, or whether you have heard it before…I do trust that if you listen with an openness, as if you’re hearing it for the first time, that you will hear something wonderful, just like Mary did one day when, as we say, an Angel spoke to her. We think of angels as messenger of Divine Mind, and one told her that

something wonderful was about to happen to her. The angel was Gabriel, who by the way was the same angel who spoke to the prophet Mohamed (peace be on Him) and revealed the Koran. So this same Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth to a child named Jesus, and that this child’s message of love would change the world forever.

No one knows when or where Mary’s child was born. Was he born in Bethlehem, as the Bible says? Or was he born in Nazareth, where Mary was when the angel spoke to her?

We don’t really know for sure. So we tell the story just as if it were a modern day movie. You have to use your imagination to fill in the details, and skip over the inconsistencies, or you’ll never get to what the story has to offer: The message.

Now some details. Mary was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph. Can you imagine what Joseph must have thought when his bride-to-be, Mary, told him she was going to have a baby? In those days, it was an issue. So it was a big thing that Joseph decided to marry Mary anyway. Some say it was because he was a kind man and loved Mary regardless of this inexplicable circumstance in which she found herself. Some say he was so tuned into his spirituality that he intuitively knew she was telling the truth. Whatever his reasons, Joseph has ever since been an inspiration to me, to be kind and loyal and to believe the very best about the people in our lives, rather than the very worst.

The story really could have ended right there. But it didn’t. The rulers of the day wanted to get an accurate number of how many people lived in that part of the land.

Today, when we count the population, we mail in the information or the counters come to us. In Mary’s day, it wasn’t that easy. No computers, no US Mail service…each and every family had to get up and go to the capitol, Bethlehem and be counted individually.

Now that wouldn’t be such a bad thing….unless of course you were nine months pregnant, riding on a donkey…and when you got there…every motel, hotel and inn had a no-vacancy sign.

Just imagine, if you will, arriving late at night after everyone has turned in for the night. It’s quiet, freezing cold and there is a buzzing energy over the city, as if something very important is about to happen in the world.

Oh Little Town of Bethlehem,/ How still we see thee lie / Above thy deep and dreamless sleep/ The silent clouds go by

By the way, the hills around Bethlehem were like those in Sonoma County. There were small farms and vineyards outside the city. And although it is not very likely that shepherds were outside in the freezing cold of winter at night with their sheep…that’s how the story goes. So, in your mind, you have to turn up the temperature a little and picture the shepherds of Bethlehem Meditating in the hills while the sheep slept. While shepherds watched their flocks by night…something happened on the hillside outside Bethlehem that night. What happened, divine inspiration again. The angel of the Lord came down. Which I believe is a poetic way of saying that the shepherds were probably so deep in meditation and prayer that they felt completely united with all of creation. In that frame of mind they knew, they just knew, that something good was about to happen for the world.

Maybe you too have felt that moment when you feel so connected to all of life, that it is like a light turns on inside. I think that is why the song says that Glory shone all around. They suddenly got it. “A Goodness is coming into our world.”

The story says the Angels invited the shepherds to Bethlehem to witness the Birth of Jesus.

We might ask, “Why did they invite the shepherds?” “Why not invite the mayor or the bankers or the important politicians?” I think, to make a statement that this Good was for one and all, from the poorest to the richest.

And talking of the richest, and the wisest…at the same time, far far away in another country, the importance of this moment in creation was also being felt. Why in a distant land? I think to remind us that God’s good is not bound by race, geography, nationality – it’s for everyone. It’s a love to which borders are irrelevant. The importance of this love reached and touched the hearts of people even in distant lands. And they came from far away with gifts to join in the celebration. By the way, they didn’t have any angelic invitation, they had to read the signs of the time. They had to consider the heavens. Did you know that “consider” means to go with the star? That’s exactly what they did, they followed a bright star “with royal beauty bright, westward leading, guiding them to the perfect light.”

Back in Bethlehem. Did I mention that every inn, B&B & motel was full? Well they were, forcing Mary and Joseph to search all over the city to find a place to sleep. But so many people had traveled to Bethlehem for the same purpose and there simply wasn’t anywhere to stay.

This part of the story is a powerful reminder that sometimes something wonderful is about to happen – despite the fact that circumstances are not perfect. Think about it! How would we think about couple of out-of-towners moving into the garage to deliver a child? It’s not the cozy Christmas scene we typically think of. But that’s how it was. Again a reminder, I may not think I’m ready, but good is coming anyway. No matter what we’re going through or what we look like, no matter what we have done or failed to do. Good is being born.

Well, someone did let them into the garage for the night. In those days, it was a barn or stable, the equivalent of our garage. It was a place where the animals where kept. And in this plain and ordinary place, “away in manger,” Mary gave birth to the baby that has come to be a symbol of God’s love in the world, which is why he is sometimes called Emanuel, meaning “God with us.”

And there he “…lay down his sweet head, while the stars in the bright sky looked down as he slept on the hay.” And the shepherds, the animals, the wise men, the angels, even heaven and nature all came to pay their respects to the new born baby, just as all the of the Christian world everywhere pauses tonight to remember the birth of the one who’s message was loving one another. And heaven and nature sang “Joy to this world.”

Today we honor our Christian brothers and sisters wherever they are in the world, and join them in celebrating the healing power of love, making room for it to be born in our own hearts and minds.

Black Friday - Come Back To America Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:32:00 +0000

I have been reading about the kinds of products that will be flying out of stores tomorrow, and whereas I know I would purchase a new iPad3 if there was one (guilty), I am also inspired by the suggestions I have encountered to approach gifting differently. There are many ways I can buy American. I remember in a previous post describing how the majority of domestically used American Flags are made overseas and how I searched to find one made in the United States. I did find one! Black Friday could be renamed Come Back To America Friday if you and I did just a little more looking for the American made flags and gifts. Not always possible, but I know for me there is a lot of room for improvement.

One of my books was printed in China (the other three in the USA). Sometimes I use technical web experts in India (comparable services in the USA are way more expensive). Often I purchase food that is imported
and clothing that is made elsewhere (I am starting to look at labels. The other day I stood staring at a bottle of olive oil made in Sonoma County and comparing it to the everywhere present international olive oil I hesitated- it cost way, way, way more. I bought it anyway). Sometimes my choice is driven by quality and sometimes by price. I like that I have options and. I am looking for ways to buy more American. I know I won't aways be able to, but there will be other instances like with the American Flag, in which all it takes is a bit more looking.)

One poster on another blog made suggestions for thoroughly American presents that you and I can consider this Black Friday. For example almost everyone gets their hair attended to, so how about a gift certificate to your loved one's hair expert? (I don't recommend giving a gift certificate to an unknown salon-hair issues are deep and personal. But you probably know that and you probably know where your loved one goes for hair maintenance.) Or how about gifting a months membership at their gym? Or, here is one I'd love, a gift certificate to get a car detailed locally.

I've read all kinds of suggestions that I just hadn't thought of gifting for Christmas--or for any kind of celebration: games at golf courses, yard work gift certificates, house cleaning gifts certificates, owner-run restaurant certificates, or (another favorite) a dozen breakfasts at a local diner.

Or, supporting local artists to perform at parties and birthday, or paying them to paint a picture, sculpt a sculpture for a future gift. Or, and I know dozens of people who own PCs who would love this one, computer tune-up at a local small computer company.

I love my small city. I want to find ways I can contribute to its thriving. Do you have any suggestions?

Patrick Ball: Legends of the Celtic Harp. Review

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 03:15:00 +0000

I attended a shocking and exciting concert at Spreckels Performing Arts Center in Rhonert Park on November 12 to see Legends of the Celtic Harp with Patrick Ball, Lisa Lynne and Aryeh Frankfurter.

Oh my goodness! Patrick's metal strung harp endured a string snapping in the middle of a performance in which the three artists played different instruments and Patrick recited Ursula K. Leguin's famous harp story. Here's the thing: the three didn't miss a beat adapting mid-performance,
communicated regarding who would do what (it seemed) all the while Patrick continued telling the story AND restringing his harp, tuning it, and jumping back in to play.

Seriously, I didn't know what to do. Listen to the performance as intended? Watch beautiful Lisa Lynne and Aryeh Frankfurter in what seemed to be a seamless compensation for a downed comrade? Stare at Patrick Ball snatching time in between spoken word segments? Argh! I loved it. Real live drama. Real live art.

Oh I got so much more than my money's worth. I got to see real musician-artists-magicians. I am a fan for life.

I am concerned that the three of them think I am a stalker. I just stare at them after the performance in the lobby-not yet finding the courage to say anything to them.

It was the same with Barbara Eden. I met her once. I could barely say a coherent sentence. She was so gracious. Perhaps the harp players will be the same.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Alternative Way To Celebrate New Year: Balinese Nyepi 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:16:00 +0000

Here is an idea for an alternative way to celebrate new year: don’t do it in January. Wait till March and go to Bali where the Balinese celebrate Nyepi, one of the holiest days on the Balinese calendar. It is a day of silence dedicated to meditation, introspection and reelection on the past year.

Bali’s usually bustling streets are uncharacteristically silent on Nyepi because even non-Hindus keep quiet out of respect for this day of inward looking. Some pople take it quite seriously and don’t talk, don't light fires and don't travel. The day after is typically celebrated as New Year’s day.

This came onto my radar again because on of my best friends, William Abel, is teaching yoga on a group tour to Bali in 2012 to celebrate Nyepi while practicing daily yoga. He plans to start every day of the tour with 108 recitations of the Gayatri Mantra, followed by yoga and then breakfast (my favorite part). William has been to Bali many, many times and is so excited about taking people to one of his favorite places on the planet, to do yoga (all levels welcome), chant, and visit some of the holiest temple sites on the islands. He was the yoga instructor on a
recent tour that I was on in Bali and I think every person on the trip fell in love with him.

I have been to Bali so many times I seem to have lost track of the count. And every time I have missed Nyepi. I've only read about it and seen photos taken by friends of the giant paper-mache creatures carried around the streets (I believe they are claled ogoh-oghos) on the day before Nyepi. So this time I'm hoping to hitch a ride on William's yoga tour. For once I wont be a working staff member, but a genuin traveler-pilgrim (camera in hand) and I'll be able to bring back my own darn photos of ogoh-ogohs.

Something about a day of silence to prepare for new beginnings appeals to me. Growing up with party style new year celebrations typically left me feeling discouraged about the year just newly started with a hang over. I don't mind waiting till March to begin anew, in fact, i'm rather looking forward to it.

If you want more information about William Abel, or the tour to Bali he is teaching on, click here.

DOMA–Defense of Marriage Act; Not Good For Business

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Viljoen) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:43:00 +0000

More than 70 major U.S. business have signed a formal statement saying that the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act hurts business. Well, I suppose that’s a better-than-nothing reason to dismantle the rule that bans federal government from recognizing marriages between people of the same sex. I’m so confused, I thought the act was already declared unconstitutional in court, and didn’t President Obama and the Attorney General chime in the same?
The statement presents a scenario in which an employer is held accountable for checking into the gender of spouses of employees so as to be able to enforce discriminatory treatment of those married couples who are same gender. I’m confused again. What if the state in which the same gendered married is employed
lawfully recognizes? Is the employer required to maintain two sets of records for different payroll taxes and benefits administration? Hmm, new jobs are being created: Compliance Specialists.
Here is the list of companies which signed the statement: http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com)
Many companies already extend same-gendered couples benefits and ProCon.org has provided a list of 141 Fortune 500 companies that do so, and 35 companies that earn the title of “Gay Un-Friendly” according to their index rating score.
Here is the list of companies signing the amicus brief as reported by David Badash on November 5, 2011.
ABT Associates
Aetna, Inc.
Akamai Technologies, Inc.
Alere Inc.
Bank of New York Mellon Corporation
Biogen Idec, Inc.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mass., Inc.
Boston Community Capital, Inc.
Boston Medical Center Corp.
Bright Horizons Children’s Centers LLC
Calvert Investments, Inc.
CBS Corporation
The Chubb Corporation
Communispace Corp.
Constellation Energy Group, Inc.
Diageo North America, Inc.
Eastern Bank Corp.
Exelon Corp.
FitCorp Healthcare Centers, Inc.
Gammelgården, LLC
Google Inc.
Integrated Archive Systems, Inc.
Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, LLC
Levi Strauss & Co.
Loring, Wolcott & Coolidge Trust, LLC
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co.
Massachusetts Envelope Company, Inc.
Massachusetts Financial Services Company
Microsoft Corp.
National Grid USA, Inc.
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.
New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.
New England Cryogenic Center, Inc.
NIKE, Inc.
The Ogilvy Group, Inc.
Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Partners HealthCare System, Inc.
Reproductive Science Center of New England
Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
Starbucks Corp.
State Street Bank and Trust Co.
Stonyfield Farm, Inc.
Sun Life Financial (U.S.) Services Co., Inc.
Time Warner Cable, Inc.
Trillium Asset Management Corp.
W/S Development Associates LLC
Xerox Corp.
Zipcar, Inc.
Law and professional firms:
Burns & Levinson LLP
Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP
Foley Hoag LLP
Goodwin Proctor LLP
Goulston & Storrs, P.C.
McCarter & English LLP
Nixon Peabody LLP
Parthenon Group LLC
Ropes & Gray LLP
Salera Consulting
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Sullivan & Worcester LLP
Professional, trade and civic organizations:
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
The Boston Foundation
Massachusetts Association of Health Plans
Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, Inc.
The National Fire Protection Association
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
Retailers Association of Massachusetts
And the following cities:
The City of Boston, MA
The City of Cambridge, MA
The City of New York, NY