Author Archives: Leo Denton

A Personal Meditation on Seeing and Hearing Jesus

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In my last post, I discussed how people of different beliefs can and do work well together on common efforts to attain sobriety and to make peace. I discussed how we can respect each other’s diverse perspectives on our “Higher Power,” and how we can respectfully support each person’s needed spiritual awakening. In response to these thoughts, some Christians questioned my beliefs: Am I Christ-centered enough? Am I a true Christian?

Today, I am sharing a meditation that I wrote to help me on my needed and ongoing spiritual journey. The meditation is based on the Gospel and is based on our common humanity, particularly our gift of love.

The meditation has 10 parts. I like to savor one or two of these parts at a time to help me start my day. I hope you enjoy the meditation, and of course feel free to share with others.

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Today I see and hear
Our Father and our Mother
Our fountain of Mercy and Justice
Gifting Humanity
Through wondrous plants, animals, water, lands, air, and sky
Gifting Humanity
In all places, through all cultures and people, and throughout all times
Gifting Humanity
With wondrous helpers, teachers, humorists, and truthsayers
Gifting Humanity
With wondrous artists, dreamers, thinkers, and story-tellers
Gifting Humanity
With wondrous healers, reconcilers, peacemakers, and prophets
Gifting Humanity
With wondrous children, family, friends, needy ones, and wanderers
Gifting Humanity
With each person

~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~

Let your light shine!
Today I see and hear
Our Mother and Father
Our fountain of Compassion and Strength
Gifting Humanity
With Jesus
A helper, player, and worker
A learner, teacher, and encourager
A healer, forgiver, and peacemaker
Jesus our Brother who lives for us all
Jesus our Revolutionary who dies for us all
Jesus our Savior who has been raised for us all
Jesus the Child of all Humanity

~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~

Today I see and hear Jesus
Come with me serving and caring
I follow Jesus and live with Jesus
Serving and caring

I hear Jesus celebrating people’s goodness
Blessed are you who are poor
Blessed are you who hunger
Blessed are you who mourn
Blessed are you who are merciful
Blessed are you who make peace
Blessed are you who are hated, reviled, and persecuted
You are the salt of the Earth
You are the light of the world
Let your light shine

I see Jesus respecting people
A patient friend
Listening
Playing along
Trusting
Sharing heavy burdens
Accepting people as they are
Welcoming all
Blessing all

I see Jesus turning life around
For the outcasts, the dirty, the disorderly, and the mischief-makers
For the strangers, the lepers, the weird, the addicted ones, and the prostitutes
For the humbled, the abused, the searchers, the conservers, and the broken hearted
For the sick, the hurt, the young, the old, and the dying
For those who have crashed and
For those who have fallen through the cracks
I see Jesus revealing each person’s hope
Supporting and encouraging each person’s joy
I see Jesus
As Child of God
Calling each of us
Even me
As Child of God
Into one Family

Not judging, not condemning, not holding back
I see Jesus showing up and standing up for others
I hear Jesus upholding me
Let your light shine
Rise up and carry our revolution
And wherever you go
Celebrate, respect, and welcome

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Today I see and hear Jesus
Come with me serving and caring
I follow Jesus and live with Jesus
Serving and caring

I see Jesus sharing compassion, wisdom, and encouragement
I hear Jesus building upon humanity’s gifts and
Teaching the Way based on love
As you wish others would do for you
Do so for others
Do not insult or hurt another
If someone strikes you on one cheek
Offer your other cheek as well
Do not return evil for evil
Do not fight or ridicule
Do not even pray
Until you go and seek reconciliation
Be merciful as your Abba is merciful
Love like Abba loves
Generously give to the just and unjust
Love whether people love you in return or not
Love expecting nothing in return
Put away your swords
For those who live by the sword die by the sword
Trust in Abba
Love your enemies

I hear Jesus sharing Abba’s love and
The wonders of nature
Think of the birds
They neither sow nor reap
They have neither storehouses nor barns
Yet Abba feeds them
Think of the lilies
Think of how they grow
They neither toil nor spin
Yet Abba clothes them
More beautifully than royalty
Abba knows your needs
Fear not
Trust
It’s Abba’s joy to give you the Kingdom

I hear Jesus trusting us with stories
Stories of mustard seeds, making bread, hidden treasures, and businesspersons
Stories of fishing nets, lost sheep, banquets, and Good Samaritans
Stories of merciful lenders, weeds and crops, wayward children, and persistent widows
Stories of humble and poor folks, sheep and goats, harvests, and weddings

I see Jesus meeting us where we’re at
Inviting us along our path of renewal
Come to me
All you who are weary
And heavily burdened
And I will give you rest
For I am gentle and lowly of heart
And my work and my burdens
are easy and light
Live in me and I in you
Abba, like a Good Samaritan
Loves and cares for you
Go and do likewise

I feel Jesus stirring me up
I hear Jesus
Let your light shine
Rise up and carry our revolution
And wherever you go
Share love, understanding, and joy

~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~

Today I see and hear Jesus
Come with me serving and caring
I follow Jesus and live with Jesus
Serving and caring

I hear Jesus engaging us
Be good and trustworthy servants
Give food to the hungry
Give clothes to those in need
Visit the imprisoned
Welcome and celebrate strangers
Live and work
So that everyone
Neighbors near and far
Can have and share a good life

I hear Jesus engaging us
Be good and trustworthy family members
Give each one the nourishment to grow
Give each one the love they need
Comfort the sorrowful
Welcome and celebrate each new member
Live and work
So that everyone
Sisters and brothers near and far
Can have and share a good life

I see the goodness
Of light, water, land, air, and fire
Of Earth, moon, planets, sun, and stars
Of rain, food, sunshine, and seasons
Of plants, fungi, animals, and all living creatures
I see Jesus engaging us with the goodness of all things
Be good and trustworthy servants
Preserve nature
Restore all that has been despoiled and wasted
Protect the endangered
Welcome and celebrate all creation
Live and work
So that everyone
Creatures near and far
Can have and share a good life

In my life’s efforts
I see Jesus
Inviting me into an out-of-the-way wilderness
Leading me up a mountain
Stilling the storm within me
Opening me to life’s mysteries
Strengthening me for the journey ahead and
In each step accompanying me
Ask and it will be given to you
Seek and you will find
Knock and the door will be opened to you
Consider life’s mysteries deeply in your heart
Pray that Abba’s Yearning will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven
Give thanks
Give praise
Bless all
Be one

I see Jesus
A stranger, neighbor, spouse, sister, brother, and needy one
Ardently seeking to do Abba’s Yearning
On this Earth as it is done in Heaven
I hear Jesus engaging us
Let your light shine
Rise up and carry our revolution
Love, love, love
Wherever you are
Wherever is home
And wherever you go

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Today I see and hear Jesus
Come with me serving and caring
I follow Jesus and live with Jesus
Serving and caring

Humbled and coming to our senses
For what we have done and not done
We see Jesus
Coming in mercy and compassion
Coming to set us free from all our undoings
We too come to Jesus

I hear Jesus
Rise from your failings
I love you
I know you love me too
Your sins are forgiven
Leave them behind
Forgive yourself
Be happy
Let us put a ring on your finger
And celebrate our togetherness
You are forgiven
Go in peace
Share the joy of your restoration
And live free of sin

Likewise forgive
Whoever has wronged you
Seventy times seventy
Again and again
Forgive, forgive, forgive
Always renewing the Earth with love

I see Jesus our Liberator
I hear Jesus
Peace be with you
As Abba has sent me
I send you
Receive the Holy Spirit
Whenever you forgive anyone
They are forgiven
Let your light shine
Rise up and carry our revolution
As I have forgiven you
Set others completely free of their sins
Forgive and be forgiven
Wherever you go

I wade into the river of forgiveness
Forgiving others
And I find that I am being forgiven too

~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~

Today I see and hear Jesus
Come with me serving and caring
I follow Jesus and live with Jesus
Serving and caring

Jesus comes to heal
I hear Jesus
What do you want?
Trust In Abba
Let me see your sickness, your infirmity, your possession
Feel my hands upon you
My hands upon your needs
Trust
Love
Rise and be healed
Go your way and live afresh
Your faith has made you well
Your faith has saved you

I see Jesus with the sick, suffering, and healed
I hear Jesus
In the same way
With me
Guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit
Heal sickness, infirmities, and possessions
Let your light shine
Rise up and carry our revolution
Being healed and healing wherever you go

~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~

Today I see and hear Jesus
Come with me serving and caring
I follow Jesus and live with Jesus
Serving and caring

I hear Jesus call us to renew the Earth
With all our talents
And with all our efforts
With love and justice
Without harm to anyone
To fulfill our duties
Doing what is needed
To Sustain and give life
For all creation and for all people
To take charge and transform our world
So that our world will benefit all
I have come to set the world on fire
And how I wish it were already blazing

Let us rid and purify our lives
Of all callousness and injustice
Of all exploitation and corruption
Get these things out of here
Stop turning my Father’s house
Into a marketplace and
Into a den of thieves
As the Scriptures proclaim
My house shall be a house of prayer
For all peoples
Throughout the Earth
Just as it is in Heaven

I see and hear Jesus
Let your light shine
Stir up the people
Carry our revolution
Rise up for all humanity
And wherever you go
Renew the Earth with the fire of your love

~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~

Today I see Jesus
I ask Jesus
When, Jesus, when?
When will we be healed?
When will we be victorious?
Unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground
And dies
It remains just a grain of wheat
But if it dies
It produces much fruit
Here’s the way to find the life that you seek
Deny yourself
Lose your life
Take up your cross
Bear another’s burden
And follow me
Serving and caring

Jesus keeps speaking
And I keep listening
To find life
Pass through the narrow gate
Bring others with you too
Distribute your possessions for the needy
Keep only what you need
Speak simply and truly
Do not judge
Do not compare
Do not focus on the speck in your neighbor’s eye
When you do not see the log in your own eye
Do not parade your alms, deeds, or prayers
But in secret without credit to yourself
Do not let one hand know
The good that your other hand is doing
Seek first the Kingdom
Doing whatever is needed
Washing another’s feet with your tears
Standing by another’s cross
Taking the least important place
Being like this child in my arms

I see the child
The child is held by Jesus
Hugged
I hear Jesus
Be gentle and humble
Be cheerful and grateful
Enter into life’s deep waters
Be born afresh
Everyone who loves is born of God
Be born of the Spirit
Becoming a Child of God
For God is Love
Experience all that Abba, your Father, wants for you
Be led by the Spirit
Let the wind blow where it will

We are becoming the child in Jesus’ arms
I am resting in Jesus’ arms
We hear Jesus
Come with me
I have chosen you
Dear brothers and sisters
I have appointed you
To go forth and bear lasting and life-giving fruit
Ask Abba with me for whatever is serviceable
And receive it in love
Remember always that
Abba sends and gives the Counselor, the Spirit
To all those who ask

I follow Jesus and live with Jesus
Serving and caring
I die
I am born
I am raised
My time has come
I am alive
The Child of all Humanity lives in me
I see Jesus
I hear Jesus
Let your light shine
Rise up and carry our revolution
And wherever you go
Bring childlike grace, good news, and life

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Today I see and hear Jesus
Jesus is preparing us for his journey to Abba
Come with me
Even in this difficult time
Let’s celebrate and give thanks
Let’s wash each other’s feet
Let’s break bread together
Let’s pray together
Let’s stay awake together

I see Jesus deeply troubled
I hear Jesus
Abba loves the world so much
But this world is full of hurt and hate
Do not be of this world
The time is coming
When you will weep
And the world will rejoice
When those who kill you
Believe that they are doing God a service
But do not let sorrow fill your hearts
Forgive them
They do not understand what they are doing

We wash feet and break bread together
We hear Jesus pray
Abba may all these your children be one
Just as you and I are one
And through their love for one another
May many others find and experience your love

I see Jesus’ life offered
Placed before me
I hear Jesus
Love one another
As I have loved you
I lay down my life for you
You are my friends
Live in my love
That your joy and your life will be complete

In all this
I am greatly troubled too
I try to stay awake and hopeful
But I find great difficulties in doing this
Still I hear Jesus
I am not leaving you deserted
The Counselor, the Spirit, will come to you
And will always be with you
Rely on our Counselor
Guiding you
And anointing you with all virtue
Keep coming together and I too will be with you
Keep showing up for others and I too will show up for you
Keep standing for all and I too will stand for you
Keep upholding one another and I too will uphold you
Keep awake and I too will be awake at your side
You will fail sometimes
But do not fear
Be bold and courageous
Our present sorrows will turn
To joy
To forgiveness
To healing
And to thanksgiving
My peace I give to you

My hopes are growing stronger
I hear Jesus
Keep letting your light shine
Keep rising up
And keep carrying our revolution
Wherever you go
Yes, Jesus, I am joining your journey
I am dying to myself
I am becoming a friend of all
I am becoming family for all
I am becoming in you a living member
Of the Child of all Humanity
Our renewed Humanity whose members are
Striving always to love as you and Abba love
This Humanity being renewed and coming on the clouds of Heaven
To renew the Earth

Peace be with you
As Abba has sent me
I send you
Serve
Care
Be a friend
Share wisdom
Forgive
Heal
Work
Renew
Be a child
Be a light
Uphold others
Love
And Smile
I see and hear
The Heavens are glad
The Earth rejoices
The deserts blossom
The seas roar
The forests and the hills dance
All that has life shouts with joy
Thank you Abba
Thank you Jesus
Thank you all who love

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War, Religion, and an AA Approach for Peacemaking

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Since time immemorial, various religious traditions have sought to offer humanity meaning, truth, justice, fruitfulness, well-being, love, and peace. By means of stories, rituals, common beliefs, personal and social commitments, and deep openness to divine help; many religions have held societies together and devotedly passed from one generation to the next life-giving experiences, teachings, and virtues. Religions have stirred humanity’s conscience with vibrant art, dance, music, literature, personal example and sacrifice, and much more. Additionally, spiritually inspired people have established remarkable centers of learning and health. Moreover, inspired people have energetically helped to largely remove immense evils that have plagued our world, such as slavery. To achieve these accomplishments, religious people and others have had to question themselves, explore new directions, and work respectfully with those of different beliefs.

We know too that religion and religious fervor have sometimes failed humanity. Even within families and among friends, we see needless divisions and strife emerging from religious disputes. On a larger scale in our history, we see religious groups justifying slavery and other grave injustices, burning heretics and witches, persecuting non-believers, suppressing scientific inquiry, sabotaging peacemaking efforts, and blessing and fueling egregious wars. When looking at these evils, a pattern emerges: the true nature of an evil is being obscured by the unhealthy or deceptive use of religious language and ideas.

AA meeting

AA meetings happen in many cultural settings. Photo by Parinaam and available on Wikimedia Commons.

With this history in mind, all religious groups would do well to realize that much good is accomplished outside the context of their religion, that God works 24/7 with all people in all places, and that much good can be accomplished by working closely together with those of different beliefs, including agnostics and atheists. Moreover, within our own religion, we need to learn how to better see through the obscurations of those who appear as “guardians of truth,” who have little interest in peace, and who push religious language and ideas in such a way as to obstruct peacemaking efforts between diverse peoples.

Today, we, people of my country and of many countries, have been greatly hindered, by cultural and religious obscurities, in our efforts to rid ourselves of war. As a result, we, people throughout the world, often feel that war is a necessity and that the prospects for a just and lasting peace are a far-off dream.

In 1935, in a similarly hopeless and miserable situation, 12 step programs began to offer hope and help to desperate alcoholic persons. Their approach, I believe, holds hope for us all.

These twelve-step programs were founded upon a set of guiding principles whose purpose is to bring recovery from an addiction, a compulsion, or a behavioral problem. Aha! Recovery! Like world peace!

12 step programs began with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Through AA, alcoholic persons began working together, supporting one another, and leading one another to an ongoing recovery from alcoholism and to the reestablishment of sobriety in their lives. AA’s success in helping alcoholics led to the formation of similar groups: Cocaine Anonymous, Clutterers Anonymous, Co-dependents Anonymous, Debtors Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Workaholics Anonymous, etc. There’s even a philosophically related group called Peace Anonymous.

Here are the 12 steps in their general form as found at 12step.org with added thoughts bracketed to highlight peace applications.

  1. We admitted we were powerless over our addiction [to enmity, violence, injustice, and war] – that our lives [and our world] had become unmanageable
  2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity [and peace]
  3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God
  4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves, [our groups, and our country]
  5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being[s] the exact nature of our wrongs
  6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character
  7. Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings
  8. Made a list of all persons, [groups, and countries] we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all
  9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others
  10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it
  11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out
  12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs

Notice, surprisingly, that these 12 steps do not include an admonition against giving in to our addictions. There’s no step, for example, for the alcoholic person, to not drink alcohol. Why? Because these steps address our needs on a different level, a spiritual level that brings us to the roots of our addictions and guides us toward a “spiritual awakening” in harmony with each of our own understanding of God, that “power greater than ourselves” (in the original AA version) active with each person.

Thus, AA and other 12 step groups firmly rely on our “Higher Power” while working together to achieve recovery and sobriety. Moreover, persons engaged in 12 step programs rely on that “power greater than ourselves” to guide each person in becoming spiritually awakened. However, 12 step members don’t further specify God’s name with other cherished names exclusive to particular religions when meeting together. Why is that? What good are these groups achieving by limiting themselves to these very plain phrases to describe God such as “God as we understand God” or “Higher Power?”

This approach is similar to a family who has difficulties sharing well about religious topics, and whose members decide to limit in some way how they discuss religious topics. Why this decision? Because the family has some understanding of their own personal limitations and of the limitations of their own belief systems, which at times jeopardize the effective sharing of respect, love, and support that is needed and called for within the family. Like this family, our human family and our world has difficulty sharing well about religious topics.

Imagine for a moment a meeting of weak persons – we’re all weak – who identify themselves as Baptist Christian, agnostic, Jewish, Shiite Muslim, Catholic Christian, Sunni Muslim, atheist, Taoist, Mormon, … who, while being who they are, are all effectively working together, all energetically nurturing each other and encouraging each person to remain on their chosen path of spiritual awakening empowered by their Higher Power. Imagine such a group, that does not allow itself to be side-tracked with discussions of particular religious differences, but rather is focused on the needs of the moment, for example, the needs of the newcomers who have just arrived and who need huge help in getting through the next few hours and next few days in coping with their addictions. I am fortunate, that a friend used to bring me to AA meetings, because I have seen this kind of meeting in action over and over again.

Imagine another similar meeting of needy persons, who do allow themselves to get involved in faith-specific theological discussions and friendly debates, and who at times promote their own specific religious beliefs when other needs are pressing. How will the needy newcomers fare in this group? Will the group’s work get done?

Those hoping and working for peace can learn a great deal from AA meetings. Everybody needs to be humble. Everyone needs to regularly admit that he or she has serious problems. As peacemakers, we need to spend time getting to know each other. In our interactions together, we need to be energetically centered on our common problem. And, like AA, we need not harp on each other’s failures, but rather seek understanding, forgiveness, support, and recovery.

Create a world that works for everyone!

“Give peace a chance!” Create a world that works for everyone!

12 step groups are fellowships of people who share their experiences, strengths, and hopes to continually overcome their common problem. The only requirement for membership is the desire for this recovery. Equally so, God doesn’t want war, and most people don’t want war either. But, in order to accomplish this, we too need to be in fellowship and to continually be centering ourselves on overcoming our unhealthy acceptance of enmity, injustice, violence, and war into our lives. As peacemakers, this is our common problem. Such a pursuit, guided by practical and specific steps, can lead each of us to a growing spiritual awakening where we will become better agnostics, atheists, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Taoists, … and where we will become better peacemakers and better human beings.

Through the use of many elements in this 12 step approach, we can further our hopes to end the wars that are now destroying people’s lives and end war before it destroys humanity. So let us be “fearless” in recognizing our “addiction.” Let’s work on our “common problem” with each other and with “God as we understand God.” And let’s step by step bring our world a fresh and enduring “sobriety,” “fellowship,” and peace.

My point in all of this is not that we should never humbly and mutually share the treasures of our particular faiths, but that we, while involved in the work of peacemaking with those of different beliefs, have much to learn from the approach of the 12 step programs, and that whenever we do humbly and mutually share our faith treasures that we do it in a way that in no way belittles others or jeopardizes our needed common work and calling toward real peace with others. Finally, I would like to gratefully acknowledge that I have learned so much and been enriched so much by listening well to those of other beliefs and faiths, including the wisdom I have gained from listening to agnostics and atheists. I hope too that whenever I do share the treasures of my own faith, that I do it in a way that only positively benefits others and that my sharing contributes well to our mutual healing and reconciliation.

Peace folks!

Making the Leap to Peace

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Franz Jagerstatter

Franz Jagerstatter pictured on the cover of a book of his letters and writings from prison.

He was in many people’s eyes just an uneducated farmer. He had made mistakes in life, like all of us, and he had his faults. Many people, including his parish priest, bishop, and many close friends, thought he was crazy. His name was Franz.

Franz was born in 1907. He was a loving husband and a devoted father of four young daughters. He had been inspired by a dream in 1938. In his dream, he saw a marvelous train coming around a grand mountain to pick up a large group of people. For the people, young and old, the train was the latest craze, the rage of the moment. Almost everyone rushed to get on the train, but then Franz heard a voice, “This train is going to hell!”

Physically waking up, Franz understood the train to represent the Nazi Regime. Spiritually waking up, Franz then refused to fight with the German armed forces. Because of his refusal, Franz was arrested and later beheaded in 1943.

Today, just as in Franz’s Austria, we, like the Austrians, are being propagandized into wars. No doubt, there are grave evils to be addressed, but war, if it should ever come, should only come as a last resort.

It’s deadly wrong to leave the causes of conflict largely unaddressed, not seeking first to create peace through the establishment of justice, and then when people get caught up in the fight, decide to vanquish them through military might.

Yes, in this moment, all this applies to the United States, to my beloved country, to us. Obsessed with our own comforts and security, and blind to the needs and grievances of others, we have spent trillions of dollars on war efforts while investing relatively little time, effort, or money into justice-making or peacemaking. For this reason and others, our current war efforts are not wars of last resort; they are not just; and they are not of God.

I am not talking about our soldiers; they are good people, and most are sincerely seeking to serve our country and humanity.

I am talking about the current calls to war, deceptively scripted for our consumption. Our leaders, our media, and all those behind this are urging us further into war, further into perpetual conflict, and further into something worse. We may feel the lure of their war train calling out to us, “All aboard!” and yes, it may all look marvelous but “This train is going to …!”

Please listen deeply to this story.

While an innocent man was still urging his close friends to pray and resist temptation, an armed crowd, led by a another friend, arrived. Determined to arrest the innocent man, they grabbed him. Immediately, a close friend drew his sword, swung it, and cut off a man’s ear. But the innocent man said, “No more of this!” and he touched the man’s ear and healed him. The innocent man then said, “Put your sword back into its sheath! For those who live by the sword, die by the sword!” He was then bound and carried away.

Jesus healing Malchus' ear

Jesus healing Malchus’ ear. May we all reach out in love to heal each other.

This is the only time in the Gospels that a follower of Jesus caused someone grave physical harm. Jesus’ first response is clear and direct: “No more!” and “Put away your sword!” His subsequent, more reflective words speak of a death, which all who live by the sword experience. While physical death is not to be excluded from Jesus’ meaning, we know that not all who live by the sword, physically die by the sword. Here Jesus is speaking of a deeper death, a spiritual death that comes whenever we live by the sword. From this story’s perspective, by our own actions, we all share in this death, but this death can be remedied by the healing touch of the Messiah, the innocent man, who allowed himself to be bound, taken away, beaten, and killed for our benefit.

Postscript:

While the Catholic Church, which I love, sadly did not support Franz Jagerstatter well during his life, this church in 2007 did honor him as a martyr for his faith and now calls him “Blessed.” In the words of Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, “In a time like ours, the testimonial of Blessed Franz, his unbroken bravery, and his imperturbable strong conscience is a shining example.”

Prayer:

Learning from our past, let us pray that all of us from every faith and from every good spirit will not wait too long to recognize the path to peace, and that we will earnestly seek healing and justice for all, and do all that we can now to avoid war and work for peace. Let’s pray too that it’s not yet too late for each of us to join together and say, “No more!” and to leap off our train and leap into the loving arms of the Spirit for Peace.

Thanks all and thanks be to God!

Righting our Capsized Boat

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Last week, I dreamt that I was in a capsized boat. I kept trying to figure out how to right the boat or to find safety. But it was dark, and I was just stumbling through the boat, waste deep in water. Abruptly, I fell forward but caught hold of a handrail. My head was still above water, and as I caught my breath, I began to think how older folks, like me, with a few years left in their life, were needed to get the boat righted. I thought of young people too and all kinds of people working together to right the boat. Then I woke up.

Later that morning, I reflected on the dream and our world situation. I wrote:

Our boat is capsized
not all see it or feel it
but look around
the needs – the news
the storms

Our boat can be righted
not so much for ourselves
we have slept too long
but for the young and for the future
the alarms are ringing

The Seawise University (formerly RMS Queen Elizabeth) capsized in Victoria Harbour (Hong Kong). Photograph by Barry Loigman, M.D., July 1972.

The Seawise University (formerly RMS Queen Elizabeth) capsized in Victoria Harbour (Hong Kong). Photograph by Barry Loigman, M.D., July 1972.

Some of the wisest words, ever spoken, were spoken by Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” These words compliment Jesus’ perception: “How can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? How fake, how bogus! First take out the log in your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck out in your neighbor’s eye.” To right our boat, each of us needs to start with our own self, not accusing anyone else of anything, but continuing to focus on our own improvement and the improvement of our own groups.

To right our boat, we must also work together! This requires that we practice respect, trust, forgiveness, and love for one another – whether the other be Agnostic, Atheist, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, or a believer in another religion. Let us open our eyes, not so much to what the propaganda machines or the accusing Satans want us to see, that’s focusing on all the specks in our neighbor’s eyes, but focus on “whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, … excellent, … worthy of praise …” (Philippians 4:8). In this way, we can grow together in peace, righting our boat with joined hands, step by step, benefitting from each other’s perspectives. In this, we are ultimately trusting in God, who has placed all these extraordinary people and perspectives here for us and for our benefit. Trust! For “whoever trusts in God, God will suffice!” (Qu’ran 65:3). As we look forward in trust, we need also to forgive the many transgressions of humanity. As the Jewish book of Proverbs teaches, “Love flourishes whenever an offense is forgiven” (Proverbs 17:9). Finally, it’s each of our answers to the call of love that matters. This is beautifully expressed in Shantideva’s prayer:

May I be a guard for those who need protection
A guide for those on the path
A boat, a raft, a bridge for those who wish to cross the flood
May I be a lamp in the darkness
A resting place for the weary
A healing medicine for all who are sick
A vase of plenty, a tree of miracles
And for the boundless multitudes of living beings
May I bring sustenance and awakening
Enduring like the earth and sky
Until all beings are freed from sorrow
And all are awakened.

In doing this, we will see Christians standing for Muslims, Muslims standing for Buddhists, Buddhists standing for Jews, Jews standing for Hindus … Africans standing for Australians, Australians standing for Pacific Islanders … and in this solidarity we will discover and win “liberty and justice for all!”

May each of us work to right our boat: being the change we seek in the world, focusing on bettering ourselves, working together, patiently trusting each other, generously forgiving, and loving all, just as God loves each of us.

Finally, be assured, that each of our parts in this is far greater than we can imagine. Even our seemingly “small” positive actions are having extensive effects beyond what we see. Each of us is part of a much bigger picture, that is beyond our comprehension, and that is creating a new and better future for us all. But we need to work well together now to right our boat.