Faith & Life Inspirational Message

Sometimes in the evening when I sit down to write another one of these inspirational reflections, I wonder, does anyone “out there” read these things?   Fortunately I do not know how many people read them, although I know some do.   I also know that this has become an important part of my own spiritual discipline.   Of course, there are some days when I really don’t want to do a reflection, but I know right now it is a good discipline for my soul.               For one thing since I write every night, it means I need a modicum of awareness as I go through my day in order to “catch” something in life, which is worthy of spiritual reflection.   When I catch such a moment, then it is important to pay attention.   I realize how easy it is to go through the motions of living.   Even though I interact a great deal with people, it is still too easy to give rote answers and not really engage and exc...

I was asked to speak at my friend’s church.   It was not the first time I have done that, but each time is special.   It’s something I can do for him and I like doing things for friends.   Who does not like doing things for friends?   It does not cost me anything but some time and effort.   And it does not cost him anything.   It’s a gift---a gift of talent and friendship.               The theme of the day was Receive My Blessing.   I did not have to focus on that, but it seemed like an appropriate thing to do.   As I began to think about it, my mind wandered in any number of directions.   It was obvious to me that the key idea was the notion of blessing.   I laughed when I thought that blessing is not something that plays much of a role in our culture except when someone sneezes!             It always amazes me ...

When I turned to the lectionary this morning, I began the section called Morning Prayer.   In the world of monasteries this period is called Lauds.   Lauds come from the Latin word for “praise.”   It is easy to see our English word, applaud, in the Latin, Laud.   I like the fact that Morning Prayers is a time for praise.   In a sense it is time to awaken to the new day and applaud what God has done again.             Because of our technology, it is easy to live life without the sense of nature’s rhythms.   When it begins to get dark, we simply flip the switch and the lights come on.   So we continue life as if it is the middle of the day.   If we want to continue reading or sewing, we have no problem.   If we want to wander around in the house at 10:00pm, we are in no danger of running into things we can’t see.             ...

It is fun to read something that makes me laugh and providential when that same reading gives me an idea for these inspirational reflections.   This opportunity came through my daily reading of the newspaper.   I admit I was caught first by the photo.   I turned the page and immediately was drawn to a picture of what looked like a Buddhist monk talking to an African American who was dressed in shirt, tie and carrying his suit jacket.   Knowing that I am a sucker for monks, I quickly went to the article.   I was taken aback a bit when I read the headline: “New York solicitors dressed as monks upsetting Buddhists.”   What, I thought?   The Buddhist monk in the picture is a fake!   It is a scam!   I have been to New York City and Times Square many times.   I have seen the Naked Cowboy, as he is called.   Actually, he stands in the Square in his underwear and cowboy hat, playing his guitar and accepting the money that people---mo...

I was driving along yesterday and spied a bumper sticker on the car in front of me.   I had never seen that sticker.   I have always liked bumper stickers.   They have been around for a long time.   I see bumper stickers as part of American cultural media.   The sticker communicates just as much as a tv advertisement or radio commercial.   Sometimes the sticker is literally advertising some business.   Others are humorous pieces and even others cover a range of communication options.             The sticker on the car in front of me was round.   At the top in fairly bold numbers I read 13.1.   Since I am a runner, I knew exactly what that meant.   It “told” me that someone in that car had run a half-marathon.   A half-marathon is 13.1 miles.   I have run quite a few half-marathons in my life---maybe 50 of them.   Had the sticker said 26.2, I would know there was ...

I have developed the habit of reading stuff that I don’t think I will like.   The reason for this is so I can grow in my knowledge.   Secondly, if I only read stuff I like or that is close to what I already know, then my chances of learning new things and being innovative are about nothing.   In this I do not think I am normal.   My experience is that most folks have developed their own party line---about religion or politics or anything else.   And once that development takes place, it becomes cement-like!   It would take a jackhammer to make any changes. My experience with cement is it seldom changes and never transforms.   When you pour cement, you can shape it as you wish.   It is moist and pliable.   Comparably, that is like our youth.   Through parents, education and so on, we are molded.   Once cement sets, change is over.   While that analogy does not hold true for all people, it is true enough to describe many fo...

I was sitting in my chair at home and mindlessly looking around.   Sometimes I have the television on and, while that focuses me, I am not sure it gives me much for my attention.   It is like eating cotton candy at a county fair.   The fluffy stuff looks good and sometimes even smells inviting.   But then you take a big bite of it and suddenly there is almost nothing in your mouth.   What seemed like so much turns out to be so little! I am not one for many possessions.   Quakers have a thing for simplicity.   That always made sense to me.   As a middle-class American, I know I cannot claim to be that simple.   But as Americans go, I probably do live more simply than many.   It always seemed to me that simplicity is a good corollary to poverty.   I appreciate how the monks and friars, like the Franciscans, take vows to that end.   Most of us “normal people” won’t take a vow of poverty.   But most of us can live with l...