Seems like ‘meaningful’ songs are on my mind. A few days ago, it was Peggy Lee’s version of, “Is That All There Is?” today it’s Alfie – “What’s it all about, Alfie?” These songs come bubbling up for me, not out of irony, but from a vague sense of dissatisfaction and frustration with what passes for life, purpose and intelligence in the so-called American,‘main stream.’ In fact things have come to such a pass for me, that I find myself agreeing with Sarah Palin, may the great main stream rest her soul, when she referred to it as ‘lame street.’
Nothing in particular triggered my vague sense of dissatisfaction and frustration, it’s become a more or less constant oppressive presence in my psyche, like the gray skies that hide the sun in northern winters. Yet, as I write this, a ray of sun-like optimism illuminates the gloom - the realization that this need not be; that really, the glass is half full, not half empty! And even more and brighter than that, the right answer might be that we have the wrong size glass!!
It’s not enough to be better and better at what already exists, at what we used to be good at. Now something else is required, some innovation, which our collective nostalgia, fear and clinging to past glories obscures. An innovation not just in technology, which we’re still quite good at but will be inadequate, but an innovation in the fundamental way we think and understand ourselves and the universe. We need the larger size glass that can come only from shifting our fundamental conceptual frameworks.
We need to shift from either/or thinking to both/and thinking; from: you’re either for me or against me, to: both you and me, we’re all in this together. Only that kind of thinking will get us where we need to go: to a world that works for everyone and everything. Only that kind of thinking will enable us to put down the half full/half empty glasses we’ve been using and find a right sized glass. Either/or thinking: either spirit or science, has brought us here, to the limits of our effectiveness and the revenge of the planet. Shifting to both/and thinking: both spirit and science may increase our effectiveness and sooth Gaia.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Meaningful Songs
Seems like ‘meaningful’ songs are on my mind. A few days ago, it was Peggy Lee’s version of, “Is That All There Is?” today it’s Alfie – “What’s it all about, Alfie?” These songs come bubbling up for me, not out of irony, but from a vague sense of dissatisfaction and frustration with what passes for life, purpose and intelligence in the so-called American,‘main stream.’ In fact things have come to such a pass for me, that I find myself agreeing with Sarah Palin, may the great main stream rest her soul, when she referred to it as ‘lame street.’
Nothing in particular triggered my vague sense of dissatisfaction and frustration, it’s become a more or less constant oppressive presence in my psyche, like the gray skies that hide the sun in northern winters. Yet, as I write this, a ray of sun-like optimism illuminates the gloom - the realization that this need not be; that really, the glass is half full, not half empty! And even more and brighter than that, the right answer might be that we have the wrong size glass!!
Nothing in particular triggered my vague sense of dissatisfaction and frustration, it’s become a more or less constant oppressive presence in my psyche, like the gray skies that hide the sun in northern winters. Yet, as I write this, a ray of sun-like optimism illuminates the gloom - the realization that this need not be; that really, the glass is half full, not half empty! And even more and brighter than that, the right answer might be that we have the wrong size glass!!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Without Vision the People Will Perish, complete
“Where there is no vision, the people will perish,” Proverbs 29:18.
What did the writer mean by “vision,” and “people”? Did he mean ‘perfect’ ideal people, good and kind, without desires, needs and passions? People who don’t go to the bathroom or fuck? Or did he mean real, flesh and blood people who do go to the bathroom, eat, fuck and have lustful, lascivious thoughts? Did he mean some people, or all the people? Did he mean only people who agree with him, look like him, fuck, think, talk, vote and eat like him, and everyone not like him be damned, and good riddance?
No, I don’t think he meant that. I think the writer meant the statement to be inclusive of all people, like him and different from him. There are many Americans today who would disagree with me – who would say the writer meant people with different sexual preferences, skin color, family ‘values’, educational and income levels, are excluded from the vision and are meant to perish, because people like that are a threat to the ‘true’ vision.
Did the writer mean ‘vision’ as something positive or negative? What does vision mean now? I think, then and now, vision means something positive, something bigger and better than our everyday egocentric thinking, something meant to guide us past the ego and awaken us to our shared reality as spirit.
Vision itself, then, is something positive, but there are visions and visions. There are inclusive visions meant for all people, and exclusive visions meant for some of the people. There are visions of despair and closed-mindedness, or visions of openness and creativity. There are visions of preparing, allowing and encouraging each person to make a unique contribution to a world that works for everyone and everything. And there are visions of preventing, avoiding and suppressing contributions from people that are too unique and different; and the willingness to face the fact that the world will never work for everyone and everything, so why bother?
You and I have a choice about which vision we will choose. Which do you choose? Which have you been choosing? Which would you really like to choose? Which would melt your heart, make it sing and overflow with compassion, joy and innovation? Which would harden your heart, freezing it over with fear, guilt, shame, and blame?
And having chosen, then what? Vision alone is not enough, faith in the vision and deeds to realize the vision are necessary, otherwise the people will perish. Those with an inclusive, heart melting vision of a world that works for everyone and everything, are the ones responsible for implementing it. That’s why the vision was given them. But this doesn’t have to be difficult. Implementing an inclusive vision can range from just taking the next step, being kind, considerate and compassionate to yourself and others, forgiving yourself and others for being human, to going out and organizing a new political party.
Share your inclusive vision, have faith in your vision, act on your vision, if you don’t, the people will perish, even the ones who don’t share your vision.
What did the writer mean by “vision,” and “people”? Did he mean ‘perfect’ ideal people, good and kind, without desires, needs and passions? People who don’t go to the bathroom or fuck? Or did he mean real, flesh and blood people who do go to the bathroom, eat, fuck and have lustful, lascivious thoughts? Did he mean some people, or all the people? Did he mean only people who agree with him, look like him, fuck, think, talk, vote and eat like him, and everyone not like him be damned, and good riddance?
No, I don’t think he meant that. I think the writer meant the statement to be inclusive of all people, like him and different from him. There are many Americans today who would disagree with me – who would say the writer meant people with different sexual preferences, skin color, family ‘values’, educational and income levels, are excluded from the vision and are meant to perish, because people like that are a threat to the ‘true’ vision.
Did the writer mean ‘vision’ as something positive or negative? What does vision mean now? I think, then and now, vision means something positive, something bigger and better than our everyday egocentric thinking, something meant to guide us past the ego and awaken us to our shared reality as spirit.
Vision itself, then, is something positive, but there are visions and visions. There are inclusive visions meant for all people, and exclusive visions meant for some of the people. There are visions of despair and closed-mindedness, or visions of openness and creativity. There are visions of preparing, allowing and encouraging each person to make a unique contribution to a world that works for everyone and everything. And there are visions of preventing, avoiding and suppressing contributions from people that are too unique and different; and the willingness to face the fact that the world will never work for everyone and everything, so why bother?
You and I have a choice about which vision we will choose. Which do you choose? Which have you been choosing? Which would you really like to choose? Which would melt your heart, make it sing and overflow with compassion, joy and innovation? Which would harden your heart, freezing it over with fear, guilt, shame, and blame?
And having chosen, then what? Vision alone is not enough, faith in the vision and deeds to realize the vision are necessary, otherwise the people will perish. Those with an inclusive, heart melting vision of a world that works for everyone and everything, are the ones responsible for implementing it. That’s why the vision was given them. But this doesn’t have to be difficult. Implementing an inclusive vision can range from just taking the next step, being kind, considerate and compassionate to yourself and others, forgiving yourself and others for being human, to going out and organizing a new political party.
Share your inclusive vision, have faith in your vision, act on your vision, if you don’t, the people will perish, even the ones who don’t share your vision.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Without Vision the People Will Perish
“Where there is no vision, the people will perish,” Proverbs 29:18.
What did the writer mean by “vision,” and “people”? Did he mean ‘perfect’ ideal people, good and kind, without desires, needs and passions? People who don’t go to the bathroom or fuck? Or did he mean real, flesh and blood people who do go to the bathroom, eat, fuck and have lustful, lascivious thoughts? Did he mean some people, or all the people? Did he mean only people who agree with him, look like him, fuck, think, talk, vote and eat like him, and everyone not like him be damned, and good riddance?
No, I don’t think he meant that. I think the writer meant the statement to be inclusive of all people, like him and different from him. There are many Americans today who would disagree with me – who would say the writer meant people with different sexual preferences, skin color, family ‘values’, educational and income levels, are excluded from the vision and are meant to perish, because people like that are a threat to the ‘true’ vision.
Did the writer mean ‘vision’ as something positive or negative? What does vision mean now? I think, then and now, vision means something positive, something bigger and better than our everyday egocentric thinking, something meant to guide us past the ego and awaken us to our shared reality as spirit.
What did the writer mean by “vision,” and “people”? Did he mean ‘perfect’ ideal people, good and kind, without desires, needs and passions? People who don’t go to the bathroom or fuck? Or did he mean real, flesh and blood people who do go to the bathroom, eat, fuck and have lustful, lascivious thoughts? Did he mean some people, or all the people? Did he mean only people who agree with him, look like him, fuck, think, talk, vote and eat like him, and everyone not like him be damned, and good riddance?
No, I don’t think he meant that. I think the writer meant the statement to be inclusive of all people, like him and different from him. There are many Americans today who would disagree with me – who would say the writer meant people with different sexual preferences, skin color, family ‘values’, educational and income levels, are excluded from the vision and are meant to perish, because people like that are a threat to the ‘true’ vision.
Did the writer mean ‘vision’ as something positive or negative? What does vision mean now? I think, then and now, vision means something positive, something bigger and better than our everyday egocentric thinking, something meant to guide us past the ego and awaken us to our shared reality as spirit.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Hmm....
“Prayer is not an act of overcoming God’s reluctance, but [at its most effective is] an active acceptance of His highest willingness.” Science of Mind text.
“The point of power is in the present moment. We can make a shift anytime we choose.” Louise Hay.
“Our lack of faith can be a way of accepting the status quo, a failure to move beyond what is comfortable and familiar. We cling to what is, rather than seeing what could be. The spiritual path is a process with no final destination. It is one long opportunity to learn and grow. In difficult times… our faith (in the top two quotes) can transport us to new levels. We emerge on the other side of problems transformed and renewed.” Ron Fox.
“The essence of struggle is to become new, rather than simply becoming older.” Sister Joan Chittister.
“The point of power is in the present moment. We can make a shift anytime we choose.” Louise Hay.
“Our lack of faith can be a way of accepting the status quo, a failure to move beyond what is comfortable and familiar. We cling to what is, rather than seeing what could be. The spiritual path is a process with no final destination. It is one long opportunity to learn and grow. In difficult times… our faith (in the top two quotes) can transport us to new levels. We emerge on the other side of problems transformed and renewed.” Ron Fox.
“The essence of struggle is to become new, rather than simply becoming older.” Sister Joan Chittister.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Live as if Each Day Was Your Last
“When I was 17,” Steve Jobs said, “I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”
Monday, January 23, 2012
Is That Al There Is?
Not only do I go outside first to fix what’s bothering me, instead of inside first - which is the same as ignoring the real, unseen powers of compassion, intuition and forgiveness within me - but, part and parcel with that, I often denigrate - poo poo those powers, forgetting they are what I really want, just because they are always there, ready and waiting, my birthright, and I need do nothing to ‘earn’ them, in fact can’t ‘earn’ them, but can only be aware of them and share them simply by being - being still and quiet and needing nothing. The busyness of the world - the ego nightmare, is designed to keep me unaware of my inner treasures, and focused outside me, on what doesn’t matter and doesn’t bring peace, joy and compassion.
The classic song, “Is that all there is?” (Peggy Lee’s version was popular 40 years ago) nicely captures how hollow life is when lived from the outside-in, instead of the inside-out. The song says we don’t need more thrills and stuff, we need more peace, love and attention, compassion, and encouragement, not from other people, events or situations, but from ourselves, from living inside-out; acknowledging our abundant inner resources, being grateful for them, using them and allowing others to do the same.
All the best things are free. Love is free. Wisdom is free. Joy is free. Peace is free. Everything of true value is given us as our birthright. They are the unseen powers, the gifts of spirit, freely given and available to everyone, even to those in deepest denial. Get off the merry-go-round of materialism, stop living from the outside-in, acknowledge, receive and use the love, joy, intuition and creativity already within you. It’s what the most successful among us do. In fact it’s what their success is all about.
In his commencement speech at Stanford in June 2005, Steve Jobs said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”
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