If the internet is to be believed, the origins of the New Year Resolution date back to Babylonian times when people promised their gods that they would return borrowed objects and repay their debts. The next to take up the challenge were the Romans who apparently made promises to their god Janus, for which the first month of the year is named. But I think the real master of the meaning behind those resolutions is far more likely to be... Read more
Choosing is both a discipline and an art. Practice makes choosing easier as we build confidence and trust in our ability to decide and choose. Practicing making new choices teaches us that we can always choose again. Begin by noticing the kinds of choices you avoid making. Remember that how you do anything, is how you do everything. The choices you are avoiding will show you something about what keeps you from making choices. Next, look at choices you’ve made... Read more
One of my favorite people to fly with at my “day job” is an Austrian-born, naturalized U.S. citizen. You’d never think he was anything but American, at least until you get into a conversation with him. As Americanized as he is, his European roots are pretty close to the surface and a lot of his opinions are, well, very European. Perhaps that’s why I enjoy his company. I live with someone who is more American than apple pie and defends... Read more
Over the years I’ve heard many people bemoan the way in which children ask for so many material things. It’s true – sometimes to our more mature minds, the gifts that pile up under the tree appear to be overwhelming. Some of us are simply happy to spend our Christmas morning opening up the cards that have arrived. After all, isn’t Christmas about the thought, the love, and being present in one another’s hearts? But it is also true that... Read more
Fails my heart… These are the words of the page who is following his monarch, the good King Wenceslas, out into the bitter cold to deliver food to the poor. Through the cruel frost they went together to see to it that suffering would be lessened in the world. However, with each step the page became less confident and more cold. Soon the black darkness of the night thwarted his resolve to the point where he thought himself unable to... Read more
According to the old religion, at 12:11pm, EST, on December 21, the goddess will begin her journey from the underworld back to the light of day, eventually giving birth to spring in just a few short months. Trust me. If you’ve shoveled snow in the past week like we have you don’t care who brings spring, just as long as it comes! Yule, or the winter solstice, brings the beginning of winter according to our modern-day calendar. But according to... Read more
When I was a child, my mother always reminded me to be kind to others. It was our household commandment, although it didn’t stop me from arguing with my brother and sister whenever I had a chance. Every Christmas there is that subtle reminder for us to be kind to others. I hear people saying thank-you more often. I see people opening doors for others. I notice others picking up garbage off the street, or taking time to volunteer at... Read more
I was getting very antsy while standing in line at a store. The cashier had been working with one person for quite a while. I found myself checking the other lines. I wanted to scream “Hurry up!!” or whine “Come on now, there’s a long line here, get another cashier out here.” I even wondered if I really wanted to buy what was in my basket right at that moment. And then I came to my Self. It’s easy to... Read more
I’ve been flicking through the ads on television lately and it’s hard not to notice how glittering everything is. The airwaves are filled with commodities that promise happiness, like toothpaste that will put the sparkle of Christmas into our smile, cosmetics that will add luster to our appearance. Even financial companies get into the act urging us to buy insurance, bonds, stocks, and investments as a pathway to some sort of fiscal nirvana. Children see us coming home with bags... Read more
This past week we’ve had a most interesting example of how to let go of the past through celebration instead of mourning. News reports and videos showing the celebration of the life of Nelson Mandela by the South African people have inspired people around the world. But a few people in our American culture might have found the impromptu songs, dancing and almost party-like atmosphere to be unfamiliar, if not downright disrespectful. President Obama was highly criticized by the media... Read more
The Principles of Spiritual Living
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In