Respect.

With desire comes love.

And with love comes respect for the beloved.

What diverts this respect is fear.

Fear of losing out, not experiencing communion.

When this fear is gone we experience respect for the loved one.

Respect for their wishes.

Respect for their rights.


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If Only.

If only

they knew

how wonderful

you are;

how beautiful

and generous,

how constant

and benevolent;

trustworthy,

reliable,

steadfast in love;

we can turn to you

in distress

or in gratitude

and be healed,

delivered,

saved

by your Love.


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Blessing.

Bless him,

deliver him from

the web of evil,

lift him up,

guide him,

touch his heart,

and bring him Home.


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Rock of Light.

You wear light

like a garment,

O rock of

my salvation.


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Blessed.

Future generations will call us blessed.

"How beautiful upon the mountains
     are the feet of the messenger who
        announces peace,
    who brings good news,
        who announces salvation,
        who says to Zion 'Your God reigns'."

Isaiah 52:7 (NRSV)


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]


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Treachery.

When we experience treachery we should realize that the people involved
are acting out of fear and insecurity.

These people don't believe that they can win, so they turn against us.

This is fear.

Fear of losing out.

If we can see this for what it is we can pray for them to be helped with their fear.

Thus we can have a benevolent attitude towards them despite their treachery.

This is what it means to love your enemies.

As Jesus did on the cross.


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Modernism.

Modernism tends to dismiss anything that came before science as worthless.

But religion and philosophy are about life and how we live it.
And this was as true in 3000 BCE as it is today.

Scientific knowledge informs our worldview and our vision which helps to dispel superstition and ignorance.
But the way of the heart is as ancient as humanity.

Science ignores the human dimension of life.
This is why modernism failed.

But Egyptian religion, the Buddha, Jesus and their successors all recommend the way of the heart as the answer to life's problems.

And this is as true for modernism as it was for them.


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