The Death Of Illusionary Things

Ego and Soul.

Two seemingly real realities we often cannot distinguish between. Out of the reality of ego, we see ourselves over and against others by comparison, competition, and accomplishment.

Think of all the subtle and petty ways in which we measure our achievements, success, and happiness, rating ourselves in relation to other people and circumstances around us.

Although this kind of reality is a false reality, it can grow more real over time as the reality.

We too often live our lives through things and/or others of which we can’t live up to like: beautiful models and movie stars, successful business executives, world-class athletes, famous religious leaders, Grammy winning musical artists, and so on…

What a terrible tragedy that so many of us are seduced into imitating and wanting what we are not and may never be. No wonder so many of us are so unhappy.

We focus too much on the name brand of our clothing, square footage of our houses, balances of our bank accounts, year and make of our cars, esteem in which others hold us—all the symbols of our own illusionary power and accomplishments!

In contrast, to the extent our soul is alive over our egos, will be to the extent we are truly alive and in touch with real reality. We need God’s help to get there for sure…

Soul is to die to all illusionary things and see more vividly ultimate reality through Christ and the cross.

The greatest power is actually demonstrated through powerlessness, in descent and not ascent, which is counterintuitive to the way most of us see everything, but authentically the way of soul which truly makes us alive.

I recently saw an interview with Dan Rather, former CBS evening news anchor, reflecting on meeting Mother Teresa and about the work she did in the world which completely reframed his understanding of reality…

 “We’re all constantly inhaling a kind of not so great rocket fuel for the ego, and you go through these illusions like you’re accomplishing great things. Hearing Mother Teresa with her humility, accomplishing what you know are REALLY great things, you say, ‘If this women at 4’11”—I doubt she ever weighed 100 lbs—with her humility can accomplish these great things, then why am I wasting my time on these illusionary things?’ ”  ~ Dan Rather 

So, on this Ash Wednesday, I’m praying for the death of illusionary things in my own heart and life as well as yours…

May each of us come to more fully realize, when we are nothing, we are actually in a greater place to receive everything from God, including the reality of everything he created us to be (with soul and without ego).

Previous Lent Post:  Ash Wednesday Prayer     Lent: A Call To Examination

MLK: In The Name Of Love

Martin Luther King Jr. makes my top ten list of most inspiring people of all time.

I never bore of reading everything I can about his life and legacy. It always seems to stir a deeper desire in me to love every human being more, and as my brother and sister.

In honor of MLK today, I’ve compiled below his voice and thoughts which have influenced me the most over the years. His courage to give his life to confronting the evil of inequality has inspired so many of us. He also taught us what it looks like to do so in the name of love and not violence.

Thanks MLK for making me a better man and the world a better place!

The Journey Of Equality Moves On…

“A man can’t ride your back unless it’s bent.”

“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”

“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.”

“At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.”

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a  friend.”

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ “

“Means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek; an ‘eye for an eye’ leaves everybody blind.”

“Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.”

“Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him.”

“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”

“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”

“We must use time creatively.”

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

What Good Is It That Christ Was Born?

Meister Eckhart once said: ‘What good is it that Christ was born 2,000 years ago if he is not born now in your heart?”

We may believe in God, but do we believe in God-in-us? We may believe in God in heaven, but do we believe in God-on-earth? We may believe in God out there, but do we believe in God-with-us?

Lord, be born again in our hearts. Come alive in us this Christmas day that we too might bring joy to the world and peace on earth!

God, may YOU grant us the light of Christmas, which is hope.

The warmth of Christmas, which is love.

The radiance of Christmas, which is purity.

The righteousness of Christmas, which is justice.

The belief in Christmas, which is truth.

The ALL of Christmas, which is CHRIST.

–Wilda English

Reclaiming Innocence – Guilt’s Alternative

There is a difference between the awareness and responsibility of wrongdoing and oppressing guilt that inevitably leads to shame.

The slide from guilt to shame is a dangerously slippery slope. Guilt seems to place us where “sliding downward” is a common outcome of its vice. Guilt and shame are no strangers and have blurry lines of distinction from one another.

Guilt Does Nothing To Help Us In The Now.

It’s an emotion sinisterly drawing us back into a past, holding us there, with no power to move us on. Guilt’s natural slant is a decline, leaving us slipping and sliding backward and downward into the past–while the real power to do anything is only in the present.

Guilt’s Self-Serving Agenda

Guilt focuses primarily on the person feeling guilty (self). If I’m feeling guilty, I am more concerned about feeling good again than I am about the destructiveness of the problem or the way I may have hurt someone. The sad reality is that feeling guilty never made anyone feel any better. Guilt only serves to self-serve more guilt.

Guilt Is The Evil Imitation Of Godly Sorrow.

I’d argue there’s a big difference between “feeling guilty” and “feeling sorry.” When I’m sorry, I’m more focused on making amends with others and not just with feeling better myself.

The deceptive notion when we’ve messed up is that guilt is somehow what we deserve; the price to pay is feeling bad. But, feeling bad is the best that feeling guilty can ever really produce. And how is that useful in any way? There is a more helpful alternative called Godly Sorrow.

Godly Sorrow is about a renewal of the heart and life that moves us beyond feeling bad or guilty, to becoming entirely a different kind of person. In fact, it seems to invite us to experience freedom from guilt altogether…

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”  ~ Hebrews 10:22

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret…” ~ 2 Cor. 7:10

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation! Old things have gone, and look–everything has become new! It all comes from God…” ~ 2 Cor. 5:17-18

Reclaiming Innocence: That’s The Gospel (Good News).

The gospel is not fundamentally like guilt–an endless reminder of all the ways that you have messed up. It’s about the promise, potential, and possibility of reclaiming innocence (guilt-LESS-ness offered by God in Christ) inspiring our lives into things like hope, joy, wonder, and renewal.

Reclaiming Innocence – Disney Was Right!

Are you naturally more of the cynic or innocent in your approach to life?

I think I’m both–it just depends on the day, circumstances, and or the experience I currently see into the present with.

Nevertheless, I’m learning that the way of the cynic slowly erodes our spirits and takes away from us the experience of being fully human, while the way of innocence promotes hope, joy, wonder and renewal.

Cynicism Kills Hope.

When I speak of being cynical, I’m not referring to the necessary critical thinking of seeing and speaking honestly about a particular thing–that’s different than being the cynic.

The world of the cynic is fixed and immovable. Yet, the world is actually quite malleable, and a cynic has no capacity to even see it, killing all hope that it could ever possibly change.

Innocence Is Actually Stronger Than That.

When speaking of innocence, I don’t primarily see it as a thing you have until an experience “takes” it away from you. Innocence is actually a much stronger component of the human spirit than that. I don’t believe it can be completely “stolen or taken away” unless it is relinquished.

If you think you’ve “lost” it, I wholeheartedly believe it can be reclaimed. If it’s being challenged, it’s absolutely worth the fight to not stumble onto the pathway of cynicism.

Seeing Innocence As A Quality.

What if we began to see Innocence as a QUALITY God brings to our lives, of which we continually pursue, and not an early stage of life on the way to experience, which eventually takes it away. I’d argue that an understanding of innocence in this light, would allow for innocence to spring up with great intensity in the face or all experience.

Experience cannot take away this kind of innocence.

 The Real Challenge Of Life. 

Is the real challenge of life dealing with how the world comes to us, or, how we come to the world?  I think it’s how we come to the world that matters most. Innocence that continually pursues hope and renewal is stronger than any experience; leading us to find goodness in everything and making beauty of every ugly thing.

Disney Was Right!

There are happy endings. The GOOD God who created the world and people has not become cynical or given up on it or US. He’s certainly experienced a lot through out history to challenge His innocence and yet still adamantly refuses the path of cynicism…

He who was seated on the throne said, “ I AM MAKING EVERYTHING NEW!” [note the exclamation point]. Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ~ Rev. 21

Seems to me that the God of the universe is already reclaiming innocence for all He’s created. That’s really great news. Let’s join with Him in this cosmic project to reclaim goodness everywhere and for everyone!

Somalia Famine: A Life-Changing USAID Initiative

Drought is inevitable, but famine is not. The current crisis in the Horn of Africa is the result of a tragic combination of factors that are man-made, including abnormally high food prices, lack of governance and security in Somalia, and a historic lack of investment in long-term agricultural development in the Horn. Over the past few years, we lost the political will and public support necessary to prevent the famine – and its causes. As a consequence, tens of thousands of children have died.

We have also missed the opportunity to help 200 million people from poor farming families lift themselves out of poverty. Communities in Africa can cope with droughts and natural disasters. But we need donors to put resources toward seeds, irrigation and teaching farmers new growing techniques. We need leaders to invest in early warning systems and national social safety net programs.

Congress can help keep our commitment to farmers in developing countries by fully funding Feed the Future— a life-changing USAID initiative that is investing in long-term agricultural development and could help put an end to famine for good.

Please sign our petition to Congress calling on them to fund this vital program:

http://act.one.org/sign/hungry_no_more_us

Thank you!

Crisis In The Horn Of Africa

We’re all asking: how can this be happening again?

Parts of Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia are facing one of the worst droughts in 60 years, and more than 12 million people are desperately in need of food, clean water and basic sanitation.

Join me in calling on world leaders to save millions of lives – today and tomorrow:
http://act.one.org/sign/horn_of_africa_us/?source=horncrisistafem

Despite the urgency of the situation, most world leaders are responding too slowly. Immediate aid is essential. Yet at the same time we must not let them drop the ball on long term solutions as has too often happened in the past.

Take action right now at:
http://act.one.org/sign/horn_of_africa_us/?source=horncrisistafem

ONE.ORG |

Prayer: Sitting In Silent Trust

Ian’s thoughts on prayer here really encouraged & inspired me.

I think I’m going to ‘sit in silent trust’ more during August and break from posting.

To check out Ian Morgan Cron’s blog Click Here

Jawbones, Swords, & Crosses

This post is about revenge, betrayal, and the incredible healing power of the act of forgiveness.

Forgiveness Is A Grand Idea.

It’s stronger and more powerful than any act of violence, injustice, abuse, wrong, hurt, or suffering. It can help heal a wounded soul and further bring healing to nations.

Why is the action of forgiveness so difficult for so many of us to choose? Perhaps because we do have other options which often feel like the more natural impulses to choose. What are those options?

Jawbones. Donkey jawbones are options. They’re the choice tool to use to execute revenge [as demonstrated by Samson in Judges 15]. “I’m merely going to do them what they did to me,” or “I won’t stop or rest until I get my revenge on them.” These are impulses that fuel revenge. And, by the way, how do you know when you’ve finally gotten enough revenge anyway?

Revenge never truly satisfies, makes up for, redeems, or heals; it only escalates and is a boomerang that cannot be thrown without retaliation or further harm to the thrower. Spitefully, we still pick up donkey jawbones and go at those who hurt us with them, and without much regard to the consequences of our actions.

In Contrast: Forgiveness is a surrendering of our right to get even.

Swords. Are another option, and we all have them. Swords seem to be the easiest thing to pull out, to lash out of emotion with, when someone’s betrayed or hurt us, or when something was said about us or done to us.

We must learn, what one of Jesus companions learned about swords directly from Jesus [Matthew 26]. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” You’ve heard it said—and it might actually feel like the most natural way to respond—“pull out your sword.” But, I say [Jesus], “put it away!”

Forgiveness means refusing to make them pay.

Crosses. Are an option too. Jesus and the cross, shows us clearly and practically what forgiveness looks like. Parker Palmer describes it like this:  

“The cross says the pain stops here. The way of the cross is a way of absorbing pain, not passing it on, a way that transforms pain from destructive impulse into creative power. When Jesus accepted the cross, his death opened up a way for the redeeming power of love.”  

Each of us has a cross to carry. And, we’re invited to take them up and follow Jesus. [Luke 9:23].

Maybe someone wronged, hurt, or wounded us. Maybe we’re mentally or physically handicapped in some way, or suffer from depression. Maybe we’ve experienced conflict in our families, or are victims of violence or abuse. We didn’t choose any of these. But we can’t ignore, reject, refuse, or hate them either. These are our crosses.

Carrying our crosses is an act of forgiveness in itself. It’s an entrusting of ourselves entirely to God, in full confidence that He is able to take care of justice far better than we.

One Final Thought. Jawbones and swords are options, but only crosses have real power to heal and resurrect new life. Choose crosses!

Creating A New Way To Remember

One of the persistent problems of the human spirit is its remarkable power to remember with little or no power to change what we remember. If what we remembered was only the good, or if we could some how delete all memory that wasn’t, that would be just perfect, wouldn’t it?

Unfortunately, most everyone of us has at least some memory of being abused, wounded, hurt, burned, betrayed, let down, lied to, cheated on, disappointed or taken advantage of. It’s life in an imperfect world of imperfect people. So, if we can’t DELETE our memory, is there perhaps a way to HEAL our memory? Here’s one such way:

Forgiving what we can’t forget creates a new way to remember.

The apostle Paul writes about it like this: “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead…pressing on…”

But Paul’s version of forgetting is slightly different than we might think. It’s not a deletion, denial, or even an elimination of a painful or disappointing past, but rather a new way of seeing it.

It’s as if Paul is essentially saying: “I’ve been fired at, and even been hit a few times, but look how incredible the love, grace, and healing of God are…I’m still pressing on!”

Consider this the next time an injustice or wickedness has be done to you by another…

“Forgiveness is an act of the imagination. It dares you to imagine a better future, one that is based on the blessed possibility that your hurt will not be the final word on the matter.”

“It challenges you to give up your destructive thoughts about the situation and to believe in the possibility of a better future. It builds confidence that you can survive the pain and grow from it.”  ~Henri Nouwen