Discernment is at the heart of all good religion, and all good science. It is at the heart of life itself. Anthony Stevens and John Price say, in their book, Evolutionary Psychiatry, that the Platonic meaning of the word “science” is “the discovery of things as they really are.” Jesus said, among other things thatContinue reading “Discernment and the Community of Innocence”
Category Archives: An Old Preacher’s Manifesto
Outlets of Grace
We are here, Each one of us, All of us, Worldwide, To be outlets of grace. Grace is to be understood as “unmerited benevolence.” Unmerited kindness, generosity, compassion, thoughtfulness… An unmerited gift of exactly what is needed, Where it is needed, When it is needed, Delivered precisely how it is needed to be delivered. That’sContinue reading “Outlets of Grace”
Of Dreams and Glory, and What Are We Here For?
Joseph Campbell said, “Where you stumble and fall, there is the treasure.” The thing that prevents us from reaching our goal opens the way to the goal. We step into our life with a career plan, a blueprint for success and an itinerary in hand, checking off the milestones as we achieve them, on ourContinue reading “Of Dreams and Glory, and What Are We Here For?”
A Meditation on Light and Dark, Part 2
William Blake, in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, said, “Without contrary/Is no progression.” Jesus said, “Love your enemies.” The work that saves us and saves the world is the work of recognizing, accepting, integrating, and reconciling our contraries, contradictions, polarities and irreconcilable differences, within and without. White/Black, Light/Dark, Good/Evil, Right/Wrong are all dichotomies beggingContinue reading “A Meditation on Light and Dark, Part 2”
A Meditation on Light and Dark, Part 1
The Adams Family (You have to be old to know who I mean) were all nice people in their own way, but they were different. How different can we allow people to be? How different can we allow ourselves to be? How harmonized—how pasteurized and homogenized—do we have to be in order to be aContinue reading “A Meditation on Light and Dark, Part 1”
Good Religion
Early on in what we call The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall passContinue reading “Good Religion”
In Praise of a Second Life
When I ask, “What are you going to do with what remains of your life? How will you use your time in the time left for living?” I am met with blank expressions and empty eyes. Many, no, most, people don’t know what I’m talking about. Tomorrow is going to be just like yesterday forContinue reading “In Praise of a Second Life”
Holy Week
Palm Sunday is when we explain again the un-Christ-like nature of the Christ and everybody thinks how dumb the Jews were to not get it, and we don’t get it again. The Christ is not the Christ! Not then, not now! How hard is that? The Messiah we wait for is not coming! Never was,Continue reading “Holy Week”
Death and Resurrection
There is us, and the life we are living, and the life that needs us to live it. That’s it. We have to be aware of it, And get the ratios right— How much for us, How much for the life we are living, How much for the life that is ours to live. HowContinue reading “Death and Resurrection”
The Messiah Is NOT the Messiah!
Fred Craddock said, “The message of the Messiah is, ‘There is no Messiah!’” The Messiah is NOT the Messiah! Our life is our responsibility. We have to find our life and live it, with none to help or point the way. Well, not quite. We have all the help we need to find the way–Continue reading “The Messiah Is NOT the Messiah!”
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