If we can only plant the seeds we have inherited from our ancestors, grandparents, parents, or society in the garden of our own life, we may have to be careful what we allow to be planted. We may have to choose wisely what we let take root in our lives. As Thich Nhat Hanh notes, we can receive seeds of all kinds, both good and bad. They can be seeds of joy, peace, and happiness, as well as seeds of... Read more
Kurt Vonnegut was one of the most brilliant writers ever. He took a look at everyday life and translated it into a language of whimsy and absurdist fancy. At the same time he cut to the core of the human experience and conveyed an all-knowing sense of how we got ourselves into the big fat mess we’re in. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and as he wrote in Slaughterhouse-Five and other books, he witnessed, as... Read more
“Within the heart of every person there is a compass pointing at the best path to follow. There are no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ paths. There are just paths. And every path leads to a different destination.” The difference lies in the destination you want to reach, what you hope to receive and most importantly what you ultimately hope to give. As Seamus Heaney reminds us “we are all hunters and gatherers of values” and it’s up to us to “persuade... Read more
The way we understand the evolution of justice is to follow the progressive release of Divine revelation. The purpose in the direction of justice is to evolve a moral code that meets the needs of each period in history. Humanity’s evolution, as a whole, has moved through stages where individuals and families were the primary unit of consideration, to where tribes were, to towns and cities, and eventually to nations. Now, the emerging global community – taking in the entire... Read more
I was treated poorly at a car dealership service center, and my son was more outraged than I was. When asked in a service survey, he told that that they had "disrespected his mother." I had taken it in stride. His response put me on notice to practice the Quaker testimony in all my affairs and on my own behalf. Otherwise, I was part of the problem. Read more
Bad moms, good moms, we are all struggling and figuring out how the heck to raise our children in this rapidly moving society where education is trying to keep up with globalization and kids know more than we think they do with the internet and all. If you enjoy adult humor and are a mom, go and see Bad Moms for light relief! You may even see yourself somewhere in the movie... Read more
Could it be that these meditations were in some small way preparing her for the moment when she would glimpse the “Grand Luminosity” and dive towards it? Read more
Our common spiritual heritage represents our shared sacred story; it is all of ours to remember and reclaim as our own. The “priceless heritage” referred to by Baha’u’llah is the uninterrupted, continuous story of the Creator’s hand in every era of our history, which has been told and retold in each era by the founders of every great religion and has been lived out by the followers of all the great spiritual traditions. It is the unfolding story of our... Read more
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” ~Teilhard de Chardin A psychic can be defined as a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception (ESP) such as: telepathy, clairvoyance and precognition. Whether you call it a sixth sense, intuition or gut instinct, some experts say that we all have some psychic ability. What has been concluded is that most psychics are... Read more
I struggled with being a modern, white, liberal pacifist whose ancestors were slave holders. Although I had I worked for equal rights, I still didn't get it that my life is a reflection of the accomplishments of my predecessors and that some of the privilege I enjoy results from slavery. However, when I owned my privilege, I could see how much more effectively I could work for and live the Quaker testimonies of peace, equality, simplicity, community, and integrity. Read more
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