Do you ever have situations in your life when you feel like you’ve done everything you can to produce the desired outcome, but the whole thing just falls apart…or blows up…or implodes?!? I believe we call that “frustration” (among other things!). It can often be accompanied by screaming and fist pounding. Doesn’t sound very “spiritual,” does it? On the contrary, I think it does! We may be “spirit have a human experience,” but the fact remains we are HUMAN. We... Read more
On the same day that thousands of members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police mourned the murder of three of their colleagues in Moncton, New Brunswick, one man was shot on the street in an upscale urban part of Vancouver, on the other side of the country. Meanwhile in the United States, a couple already fleeing from their murderous rampage in Las Vegas ended their lives – and killed yet another man carrying his own concealed weapon – in a... Read more
Are you someone who shuts down at the first sign of disagreement? I’m a recovering people pleaser. Growing up in my family I chose the role of mediator, reconciliator and all-around peacemaker. I made it my mission in life to make sure no one was upset, since upset often led to an outburst none of us wanted to witness. It’s no surprise that I used to avoid confrontation at almost all costs, though usually any costs involved were to my... Read more
Spring is one of those great times of year when we start to see the little ones of life stretch their wings and fly. If you’ve ever watched a robin build a nest, you know that the amount of energy expended by both the adult male and female is enormous. In the early days, it’s the male that flits back and forth to bring food for everyone – including the mother. As the chicks start to grow, the two increasingly... Read more
In the days when I was building my Centre I noticed there was something that occurred quite regularly. As people became more engaged with the Centre, they would often come to me and ask why we weren’t involved in certain initiatives within the community. Sometimes they wanted the Centre to get behind a march against war. Other times it might have been protesting a particular government bill. Regardless of the request, my answer was always the same: we are never... Read more
Have you ever suffered disappointment at some time in your life? I suppose that’s a rhetorical question since the answer is, “Well, duh!” We all experience disappointments. Most of my disillusionments have come from when I fall short of reaching my own goals or expectations for myself, not when others fail to live up to my desires. If you, like me, have been given the title of perfectionist (as if that was a badge of shame!), you are well aware... Read more
Where in your life are you beating your head against the wall? Did you notice I assumed you are “beating your head against the wall?” I can nearly guarantee, with very few exceptions, that you are doing something currently that feels exactly that way. You may feel stuck in a relationship, dissatisfied with your living space, or wondering why you haven’t found a job in the same field as that expensive degree you obtained. But, if you can’t find something... Read more
One of the things people often ask me is: how did I go from being a farmer to being a spiritual leader. It all sounds so high-falutin. And even mentioning it makes me somewhat uncomfortable. And yet the question is asked of me again and again. The reason I think people are so curious is that it’s not about me, it’s about them. They don’t really want to know how I became a spiritual leader (or maybe they do). But... Read more
A few years back it was popular for parents to remind their children to be quiet by saying: “Johnny, use your inside voice!” Back in the old days children were to be seen and not heard. So it was an improvement when parents started to remind their children to keep the decibel level down so that others could be heard. But the other day I caught myself using another kind of inside voice – the voice that is usually rattling... Read more
Do you feel lost at times, almost in a state of paralysis when confronted with making some decision? In my last blog I wrote about our freedom of choice, of choosing the path we desire to walk. But all of us, myself included, can allow ourselves to be so beaten down by the opinions of others or the range of possibilities that we find ourselves confused and overwhelmed. We may feel unable to decide the best course to take. There... Read more
The Principles of Spiritual Living
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