I have as a goal finding elements of God's nature in everyone I meet. Some days I do better than others.
Someone sent this YouTube of a talented young musician with the same goal.
See how you connect with Victor Wooten's message.
Showing posts with label Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christ. Show all posts
May 13, 2008
Sep 21, 2007
Never trapped
"The Gingerbread Man" story comes to mind. The rascally cookie dashes away from those who care most about him, sprints from others who clearly want to eat him, and ultimately trusts a con artist who cunningly manipulates the tasty treat to achieve his own goal. The carefree little cookie ends up in the tummy of that foxy fox.
The Gingerbread Man is a secular version of the Prodigal Son - except in Jesus’ account, the son comes to his senses before it’s too late, repents of his foolishness, and is welcomed safely home by a caring Father. A happy resolution is so Jesus.
A friend once told me, “Christ always finds a way to go forward.” Christ is never stuck in a corner.
Sometimes we are faced with two bad choices. Sometimes we have to pick the least bad of the two, and keep moving in the direction of least bad choice. It can feel cumbersome, but if we’re faithful in making the best choice available, progress will be steady.
More often, if we can find it, there is a third less obvious, but clearly inspired, choice that comes from sitting down with an open heart and asking that Higher Power variously called God, Truth, Father, Mother, Allah, “What shall I do? What do you want me to do? How can I be of service today?”
When asked from a quiet and honest heart, answers come. This is my sense of Christ speaking to us when we are ready to hear. Sometimes we may not like what we hear because it goes contrary to our “wants.”
I’ve gone kicking and screaming in the “right” direction many a time. When we are willing to follow that answer (with or without the kicking and screaming) the very action of courageous choice lifts the burden of indecision and reaches out to bless others.
Those obstructing mental walls somehow dissolve as we forge out of self-centeredness into participating in God’s good plan.
Even if ignorance, carelessness, or self-will has launched us pell-mell into trouble, Christ always has an alternative.
The Gingerbread Man is a secular version of the Prodigal Son - except in Jesus’ account, the son comes to his senses before it’s too late, repents of his foolishness, and is welcomed safely home by a caring Father. A happy resolution is so Jesus.
A friend once told me, “Christ always finds a way to go forward.” Christ is never stuck in a corner.
Sometimes we are faced with two bad choices. Sometimes we have to pick the least bad of the two, and keep moving in the direction of least bad choice. It can feel cumbersome, but if we’re faithful in making the best choice available, progress will be steady.
More often, if we can find it, there is a third less obvious, but clearly inspired, choice that comes from sitting down with an open heart and asking that Higher Power variously called God, Truth, Father, Mother, Allah, “What shall I do? What do you want me to do? How can I be of service today?”
When asked from a quiet and honest heart, answers come. This is my sense of Christ speaking to us when we are ready to hear. Sometimes we may not like what we hear because it goes contrary to our “wants.”
I’ve gone kicking and screaming in the “right” direction many a time. When we are willing to follow that answer (with or without the kicking and screaming) the very action of courageous choice lifts the burden of indecision and reaches out to bless others.
Those obstructing mental walls somehow dissolve as we forge out of self-centeredness into participating in God’s good plan.
Even if ignorance, carelessness, or self-will has launched us pell-mell into trouble, Christ always has an alternative.
Jul 15, 2007
Toscanini's trumpet player
Arturo Toscanini is said to have told a trumpet player, "God tells me how the music should sound, but you stand in the way."
Glad I wasn’t that trumpet player! Being chewed out by Toscanini would be something to remember. A maestro brings out the harmony, the music’s special messages – its sorrows, and joys, its struggles and triumphs. He or she molds the music by sharing his vision with the musicians.
Christ works pretty much the same way. Christ knows the whole score, the big picture, and shares the vision of what our lives can be -- our lives are the music God has written for us to play. So even while we are participating in the beauty of living the music that is our lives, we’d best not get in the way of it.
What helps me to stay aligned, and to not get in the way, is to keep an eye on what is good and worthwhile and constructive, because that's what God is doing in the world. If I begin to feel burdened or imposed on, or if things are not coming together, that’s a clue that infinite good has slipped from being central to my day. At the risk of mixing metaphors, some wag noted, If God is your co-pilot, change seats.
Because whatever God gives me to do is not a burden – He/She is right there with me, giving me right ideas, helping me bring out the best in others, helping others to see how to give their best. If what I'm doing is burdensome -- it didn't come from God.
Where conflict arises – that means I’ve become Toscanini’s trumpet player. Somehow I’ve gotten in the way of the plan. And usually it’s because I’ve forgotten to ask God what to do next, and just plunged ahead with my own interpretation, my best guess.
The good news is, it’s never too late to ask God what to do, how to do it, where to go. And if we really want to know, God tells us. Usually we have to silence the chatter of our own opinions, anxieties, likes, and dislikes before we can hear. But He/She always answers our honest questions.
When the musicians perform under a skilled conductor’s interpretation of the music, the results can be magnificent.
When we do our part in God's magnificent purpose, humbly and with loving attention to detail, the results are huge in their potential for universal blessing.
Glad I wasn’t that trumpet player! Being chewed out by Toscanini would be something to remember. A maestro brings out the harmony, the music’s special messages – its sorrows, and joys, its struggles and triumphs. He or she molds the music by sharing his vision with the musicians.
Christ works pretty much the same way. Christ knows the whole score, the big picture, and shares the vision of what our lives can be -- our lives are the music God has written for us to play. So even while we are participating in the beauty of living the music that is our lives, we’d best not get in the way of it.
What helps me to stay aligned, and to not get in the way, is to keep an eye on what is good and worthwhile and constructive, because that's what God is doing in the world. If I begin to feel burdened or imposed on, or if things are not coming together, that’s a clue that infinite good has slipped from being central to my day. At the risk of mixing metaphors, some wag noted, If God is your co-pilot, change seats.
Because whatever God gives me to do is not a burden – He/She is right there with me, giving me right ideas, helping me bring out the best in others, helping others to see how to give their best. If what I'm doing is burdensome -- it didn't come from God.
Where conflict arises – that means I’ve become Toscanini’s trumpet player. Somehow I’ve gotten in the way of the plan. And usually it’s because I’ve forgotten to ask God what to do next, and just plunged ahead with my own interpretation, my best guess.
The good news is, it’s never too late to ask God what to do, how to do it, where to go. And if we really want to know, God tells us. Usually we have to silence the chatter of our own opinions, anxieties, likes, and dislikes before we can hear. But He/She always answers our honest questions.
When the musicians perform under a skilled conductor’s interpretation of the music, the results can be magnificent.
When we do our part in God's magnificent purpose, humbly and with loving attention to detail, the results are huge in their potential for universal blessing.
Related links:
Jun 15, 2007
Who's knocking at the door?
“Behold I stand at the door and knock.” I have always loved this image of Christ. Not pushing, not forcing entry. Just knocking. Taking the initiative and then waiting.
The rest of the verse says, “if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
The ball is in our court. Do we want to hear Christ knocking? Because if we want to, we will. It can be a scary thought, or a very cool thing, because if we open the door, Christ invites himself to dinner. What then? How ready are we for that?
Some Christians interpret this literally, as Jesus personally standing at the door of our house and knocking.
My sense of it is more as a mental and spiritual persistence. It’s God, Allah, whatever your name for the Creator, inviting our attention. Eager for an amazing dinner conversation. With us. Why? That’s what we want to know. Why with us? It’s totally humbling to contemplate.
I think it’s to help us understand our purpose. Our Maker wants each of us to know how loved we are, how cared for, valued, esteemed even. Well, that makes so much sense. It’s easier to love others when we feel loved. It’s easier to be generous and patient, when we feel loved.
And, those conversations are on-going. It's our nature to want to know how much God loves us, how we relate to God as children to a Father or Mother. We can answer the door and invite Christ in any time. When we’ve absorbed all we can for the moment, the conversation ends. When we have more questions, when we’re ready to let our thought expand to discover more of God’s love in our lives, we hear that knocking and open that door.
In today’s multi-tasking world, how refreshing to look forward to a one-on-one focused conversation with the Designer of the universe.
What's it been like for you to hear Christ knocking at your thought?
The rest of the verse says, “if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
The ball is in our court. Do we want to hear Christ knocking? Because if we want to, we will. It can be a scary thought, or a very cool thing, because if we open the door, Christ invites himself to dinner. What then? How ready are we for that?
Some Christians interpret this literally, as Jesus personally standing at the door of our house and knocking.My sense of it is more as a mental and spiritual persistence. It’s God, Allah, whatever your name for the Creator, inviting our attention. Eager for an amazing dinner conversation. With us. Why? That’s what we want to know. Why with us? It’s totally humbling to contemplate.
I think it’s to help us understand our purpose. Our Maker wants each of us to know how loved we are, how cared for, valued, esteemed even. Well, that makes so much sense. It’s easier to love others when we feel loved. It’s easier to be generous and patient, when we feel loved.
And, those conversations are on-going. It's our nature to want to know how much God loves us, how we relate to God as children to a Father or Mother. We can answer the door and invite Christ in any time. When we’ve absorbed all we can for the moment, the conversation ends. When we have more questions, when we’re ready to let our thought expand to discover more of God’s love in our lives, we hear that knocking and open that door.
In today’s multi-tasking world, how refreshing to look forward to a one-on-one focused conversation with the Designer of the universe.
What's it been like for you to hear Christ knocking at your thought?
Apr 7, 2007
Easter -- He is risen!
roll away the stones of anxiety, sorrow, and misunderstanding
from the door of your faith and hope,
and point you in a new direction.
Mar 21, 2007
What did Jesus do?
My friend Rose said she really needs Jesus as her Savior. She needs him to show the way. When she is fighting discouragement, she looks to Jesus for some ray of hope. When she is struggling to forgive, she needs Jesus’ example of unconditional forgiveness in order to get there herself. When she is
battling human will, she needs Jesus’ humble, “Thy will be done,” to overcome that strong emotion. When she feels angry, she seeks Jesus’ spirit of calm dominion to help her put down such stormy thinking.
When we feel we cannot go any further, Christ reminds us, “Hey good buddy, you aren’t alone. Didn’t I promise to be with you always? I’m here for you. Lean on me.”
When wrestling with choices, Jesus’ humanity is my favorite option. He was always doing kind things for people; his biographies (the Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) read like a list of kind reassurances and healings:
“Come unto me . . . and I will give you rest.”
“Fear not.”
“Be not afraid.”
“Your faith has saved you.”
“Your faith has made you whole.”
“Go in peace.”
Leaning on Christ, the Spirit of Jesus' life, we can join Rose in looking for solutions in how he lived -- what he said and did -- and go forward in his peace.
"Peace be still" story
Related post: Clutter in our lives. See March 20, 2007.
Mar 20, 2007
Today's good news!
Today's good news:
· The most important relationship there is, is our relationship to God, and that forever bond satisfies because He loves us wisely and generously. It is uninterrupted, constant, joyous, intelligent, fulfilling, comforting. And this security defines and uplifts all our other relationships.
· Divine Love in whom we live, knows no stress/strain/ tension/trauma. Divine Love causes us to be useful, whole, pure. This creative Love causes man to be spiritual, and to seek and relate to the spiritual nature of all things.
· What God gives us to do is comfortable, useful, beneficial, and never a burden.
· Christ constantly approves every good thought, word, and action, and affirms our ability and capability to live and move according to the laws of Life and Love – laws of universal progress
· Christ confirms our worth. You and I are indispensable to God, good. We are totally essential to the completeness of His universe. You are the evidence that God is Life, Truth, and Mind; that God is ever-present good.
· The most important relationship there is, is our relationship to God, and that forever bond satisfies because He loves us wisely and generously. It is uninterrupted, constant, joyous, intelligent, fulfilling, comforting. And this security defines and uplifts all our other relationships.
· Divine Love in whom we live, knows no stress/strain/ tension/trauma. Divine Love causes us to be useful, whole, pure. This creative Love causes man to be spiritual, and to seek and relate to the spiritual nature of all things.
· What God gives us to do is comfortable, useful, beneficial, and never a burden.
· Christ constantly approves every good thought, word, and action, and affirms our ability and capability to live and move according to the laws of Life and Love – laws of universal progress
· Christ confirms our worth. You and I are indispensable to God, good. We are totally essential to the completeness of His universe. You are the evidence that God is Life, Truth, and Mind; that God is ever-present good.
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