August 12, 2020

Practice

¹⁷Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? ¹⁸But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. ¹⁹For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. ²⁰These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”

Matthew 15: 17-20

 

 

Jesus shares something that would have been hard to imagine, for a first century Jew. Their religious life was an attempt to live the religious law with some laws taking precedent over others. Dietary laws were more easily observable, more universally spoken about.

 

Numerous laws were about acquiring, storing, preparing, and the consumption of food. If the rituals were not followed the food and the person could be declared “unclean”. This made them unfit socially, ritually, spiritually.

 

So when Jesus confronted the widely held and widely practiced treatment of foods and their consumption, he was making a stark announcement. It was a shocking declaration if you had been practicing the dietary laws all your life. But to an outsider, or you and me, the fact that a person’s words and intentions were what made them “unclean” makes so much sense.

 

To make it clear we can use an analogy: while most of you are Yankee or Red Sox fans, it’s abundantly clear that the real team of value are the Cleveland Indians…. Okay, let me be more serious now;

While our Declaration of Independence said that all men were created equal, for centuries there was a firm belief that this suited only white men. Not white women, and certainly not Black people or other nationalities. Now we look back on that and realize how foolish our assumptions were.

 

Practice supplanted good sense.

 

Where else might we find that practice is observed instead of good sense?

 

Share with me some day, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

 

Love and Hugs,

 

Rev. Ken

For a simple time of meditation or just plain natural beauty. Click below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk6fj7cRGOo

Riverview Cemetery

North Cove

Essex, CT

Be an Encourager

 April 4, 2020

Be an Encourager

“Be an Encourager: When you encourage others, you boost their self-esteem, enhance their self-confidence, make them work harder, lift their spirits and make them successful in their endeavors. Encouragement goes straight to the heart and is always available. Be an encourager. Always.”

-Roy T. Bennett

 

 

So here’s a quote that I need to take to heart. Recently I’ve complained how the President has not been pro-active enough to stem the deadly tide of the Corona Virus.

Someone had to remind me that I am in the business of hope and encouragement, not blame and discouragement. I know this but had my own feeling of powerlessness overtake me and get me into the blame game.

So that’s a new endeavor for me in my personal life, to overcome feelings of powerlessness with prayers of hope and encouragement. I think I have been one to encourage you in my worship presentations so I will continue to do so there.

 

So today, here are words of hope-

 

The states in the US are beginning to work together to supply one another needed supplies to other states who are in greater need. A round robin of support is beginning to form.

 

As I call your houses on the phone so many have asked if there is something they could do for others. Remember, you are part of a community that sticks together.

 

I am seeing how wearing a mask of any sort is something of a way to discourage droplets from us out into the air- I see people beginning already to adopt this, even on walks outside, just in case.

 

And encouragement-

 

 Pray for the energy to stare down despair and powerlessness.

 

Seek out someone on the telephone today, someone maybe in your neighborhood or in our church directory who you never have spoken to much. Send them words of love and hope.

 

Be safe by going to the extreme in avoiding anything that could possibly infect you. Doing so is never a foolish thing. Your life matters and so going to these lengths matter.

 

May your rest tonight with renewed hope by praying for us all and of course yourself.

 

My Thoughts are with you, may yours be with me and our fellowship.

 

Rev. Ken

Peace

 July 30, 2020

Peace

No quote or saying today.

 

 

How are you?

Have you been sleeping well?

Have you provided yourself with quality foods?

Is what you eat just the right amount?

 

How have you treated those around you with respect?

Can you be of service, and have you offered some?

 

Have you gifted yourself with some time to consider God’s glory!?

 

Do say good things to yourself.

Be your best friend.

 

Take time to be silly.

Go out of your way to get caught, being silly.

 

A gentle inquiry,

 

Rev. Ken

Churn

 July 29, 2020

Churn

“Remember, man does not live on bread alone: sometimes he needs a little buttering up.”
― John C. Maxwell

 

 

Well, let’s get one thing straight from the beginning. Women are in the same boat.

 

You know this statement by Mr. Maxwell is true. It is the nicest thing when you hear another person saying good things about you. When that happens, it seems that anything is possible, that the world is on your side, that things that seemed to trouble you, take a back-seat to the butter that has basted your spirit.

 

Just yesterday a friend of mine on Facebook commented about young child having for the first time, JELLY ON HIS TOAST, and his delight! Mmmmmmm I thought and had to tell her about one of my favorite things, very similar to jelly on toast. My thing is preserves, especially strawberry on warm, already buttered toast! To take it a little bit further, Marmalade!  And then to top it all off, a rich cup of hot, dark roasted, black coffee. Mmmmmmmmmm.

 

We all have a favorite, tasty breakfast item that we could go on about. And just about any food is made 10X better when it’s been buttered. Hence the saying Mr. Maxwell uses to encourage us to say darling, kind, maybe even over-the-top niceties to others.

 

Just think how really inexpensive and available kind words really are! I do know that for some people in our lives, the cost of saying something nice to them or about them can seem extravagant or even wasteful. My, my the heart can be so hard at times.

 

Let’s get foolish! Let’s learn to shed our inner-Scrooge. Let’s churn some lovely butter.

 

It really a practice of letting go of ego and resentment, taking a deep breath of gratitude and throwing caution to the wind- because it costs us nothing but the hope that another person is going to be lifted up by our buttered-up words and maybe even give them the chance at new life.

 

Churn away. Fear not. Be hopeful. Allow others to think you’re just a little off- and say as many nice things, to as many people as you can.

 

You’re beautiful just the way you are.

 

Rev. Ken

Commune

 July 28, 2020

Commune

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

Matthew 26: 26

 

 

This weekend during worship presented on YouTube I will offer Communion. I encourage all watching to have 2 items that can stand in for the communal bread and juice- crackers, bread, cake, a donut! Juice, a Bloody Mary, water, coffee will do as well! I encourage you to take part in both the joy and solemnity of the eucharistic moment.

 

Jesus, in instituting the communion meal was really just making a common event, Holy. For some people any eating event was Holy, as they were hungry, always, and to put food in their mouth might have seemed like a miracle from God! Common, common moments, common events and common lives- they can all be made Holy with the right intention. It does not take a mirrored image of an event to declare a moment “Holy”. I do not believe that God or Jesus looks upon anyone receiving communion with something other than bread and wine/juice as less than or unholy. God takes what is in the heart, within our intentions, and makes that Holy.

 

Certainly Jesus appreciates our attention to detail when we celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion. When the elements (bread and juice) are missing He still holds dear the one who throws their heart into the meaning of Communion and partakes with whatever is available or chosen.

 

And so, Holy moments occur all around us, in regular and seemingly mundane instants. A re-assuring glance for someone trying to do something hard, the first time. The gifting of another household, when another household delivers much needed groceries or formula they could not afford. The calming of one’s political anxiety for the sake of community wholeness. Returning anything, something of great or small monetary value that had been misplaced or lost. A resting of the conflicted heart, so that humanity can shine through resentment or fear.

 

Holy, Holy, Holy- Lord God of Hosts. These are words often reserved for prayer and often worship.

 

Let us reserve them for one another.

 

Rev. Ken

I Am

 July 11, 2020

I Am

I Am.

God

 

It was a dark and stormy night…

 

I don’t know if it was dark and stormy, but it was a bit tumultuous. From the base of the mount, observers could hear rumblings, like thunder. The people Moses had led pleaded with him to not let God speak to them, they thought surely they’d die.

 

But, Moses did bring the word of God down to the people. You know this word to be the 10 Commandments. And, not only did he bring them down once, he had to a second time as well.

 

But, what’s more interesting I think is that Moses spoke to God. The people were afraid to hear God’s voice while Moses had a conversation with God. AND, Moses once asked God if he could see God. Well, that was probably going too far God thought but God did allow Moses to see his shadow walk past- it’s almost as if God let Moses see God’s backside- but that was all.

 

Enough of the trivia and on to the conversation. Yes, there was conversation about Moses and the people and how everyone was acting but what I find most interesting about the conversation was when Moses asked who he should say sent him down to the people with the 10 Commandments. God answered, “I Am. Tell them I Am” sent you.

 

Interesting, huh? I think that too. It wasn’t Abraham or Isaac, it wasn’t Mary or Ruth- it was “I Am”. It’s pretty simple and it conveys a message. But, it didn’t reveal a lot of personality did it? While all the actions attributed to God in the Hebrew Scriptures gives God a great deal of personality, God did not go for it in the name game.

 

I Am. It’s descriptive, active, and concise. It says, God- IS. And, it says it personally.

 

Moses asked God what God’s name was. You’ve been given a name. But if you had the opportunity, or, you needed to change or give yourself a name- what might it be?

I know this might be difficult since most of us have stuck with our given name. I think God called God’s self that because God wanted one specific thing to be conveyed. God thought it important for that one thing to be known about God. “I. Am.”

 

What is most important about you? If pressed, what word or few words would you choose that would serve you well and would tell others what they need to know?

 

Rev. Grateful

Bask

 July 10, 2020

Bask

“I am the light of the world.”

Jesus of Nazareth- John 8: 1-12

 

 

 

A woman was about to be stoned to death. Try to imagine that, having stones thrown at you, not being able to protect yourself! There are times that I do attempt to imagine being the person in peril- atop a tall building on a ledge and then…, or in a ship at sea as it begins to vanish beneath the waves. I am certain I have never been able to finish the morbid fantasy. And so, this woman has been singled out for her sexual activity, and nothing had been brought forward about the man or the other woman with whom she had committed adultery.

 

The issue is brought to Jesus who was teaching at the time and he is asked after having been reminded that the Law of Moses says to stone her death. “Now what do you say?

 

Jesus writes something in the dirt on the ground in front of him and simultaneously responds, “Let anyone among you who is without sin, be the first to throw a stone at her.” Once again he writes and he speaks and soon all have left the area leaving the woman and Jesus alone. He converses with her telling her that no one including him has condemned her today.

 

It’s strange because though everyone has left the area the scripture says he begins to speak to the same people again! Nevertheless he says, ““I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

 

I love light. Whether it is the first light of the day, or, the last shades of blues and pinks and purples, and greys; whether it is from the flashlight on my phone or the strong LEDs in our kitchen, I am immediately filled with assurance and often a warmth of safety.

 

Jesus wants you to feel safe in his light. Like the lady saved from certain death, he stands between you and your worst fear of darkness in our world.

 

Bask,

 

Rev. Ken

Practice

 July 9, 2020

Practice

“God has no religion.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

 

 

Imagine that. Can you? Have you ever thought of this perspective?

Religion is without a doubt a creation of humanity, not God. Not Jesus.

 

So, how do we justify such religion?

Here’s my take and I’d love to hear of yours….

 

I love the fact that people “believe” in God even when they aren’t a part of a group of fellow believers. And yet, I feel concern for every one of them. Not that I need to control what they “believe” but rather, I need them to monitor my own beliefs. Seriously- belief/faith without accountability is pretty lonely and fairly unstable.

 

The program of Alcoholics Anonymous is a group that I think is growing, or, has reached a plateau of membership that is impressive.  They practice “belief” not so much as a cohesive whole, but with individuality and utter respect for the other; they meditate and pray every day each in their own way taught as a matter of practice and they remain accountable for their actions by daily contact with other travelers as they “trudge the road of happy destiny.”

 

So who of us prays and meditates, stays in daily contact with another, and remains accountable to another for our actions? I would guess few.

 

I guess, for the sake of argument, religion is having a hard time justifying itself, other than the fact that billions of dollars annually flow to others in need, millions find solace and belonging in the place of memories, bellies are fed, bodies are clothed, families are housed by the combined efforts of churches around the world.

 

Imagine what we could do if we took up the practices of AA?

 

I’ll forget about justifying religion and instead I’ll celebrate it and seek out the friends of who are AA to suggest a few pointers.

 

How about you?

 

Loving you-  Rev. Ken

Child

 July 8, 2020

Child

“The soul is healed by being with children.”
― Fyodor Dostoevsky

 

 

Oh my. I know that there are a number of new parents or parents with numerous children under the age of 5 who would like to clip this quote into a million pieces with scissors.

 

Remember those days when you were so tired you couldn’t imagine another day of parenting? How about the 2 am feedings that disturbed a slumber you felt was the best you had had the past 4 months? There are times, actually moments, that the above quote would have sounded like the ravings of a mad=person.

 

But c’mon now. I know there some people who receive little joy being with kids, but, with perspective and some distance, returning to the presence of children can soften our hearts, give us a smile that lasts all day, and brings us sigh of sweet remembrance.

 

Now, about the soul. Jesus said, ‘“Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” Dostoevsky would have known the Jesus quote as well. So I understanding where he was going with this.

 

What is the soul? It’s that part of the human that embodies and expresses altruistic values. The presence of children, even if they are loud or annoying, is a time when I know most people adjust expectations, slow their pace, and begin to think more whimsically. A child’s presence invites a person to be more like the child. I think it creates a adult playground for even a moment where we can all leave behind the weight of our worries.

 

So, may a child’s presence slow you down and bring whimsy close to your lips and heart, and in doing so may your soul find room to grow.

 

Rev. Ken

Wilde

 July 1, 2020

Wilde

“I think God, in creating man, somewhat overestimated his ability.”
― Oscar Wilde

 

 

I can hear my wife now, “Don’t publish THAT quote!” Suzanne is very careful that I hold to a limit my own sometimes caustic wit regarding humanity. But she’s done a good job on me over the years, even if she might say differently. You see, I’ve come to her side (oh, and God’s side as well) regarding humanity- that humanity is, for all its failures and indecencies… basically decent.

 

Oscar Wilde though made a career out of his observations of humanity. A homosexual in one of the many ages of hatred, fear, and criminalization of same-sex relations, Mr. Wilde reacted to God’s creation before and after a 2-year conviction to hard labor in prison for what was described as “gross indecency” with men. In reality of course, the only indecency was society’s foolish attempt to snuff out love, or at least attraction.

 

Oscar Wilde as I understand it wrote in a raw way for the times, often having his work censored to not offend or enrage readers/viewers. But, his topics were often about society’s self image and the lengths we and society will go to maintain a certain “look”. Instead of being “real” he would have described his characters as being shallow, for the desire to be accepted and adored.

 

It’s easy to fall into such a state of acting and judging in a superficial manner. Another way to look at this is how we can pigeon-hole someone or stereotype them. What box do they fit in? How can I quickly and easily describe someone to another person? How can I quickly assess another person as to decide if I’ll give them the time of day? These are all things that I know you can find yourself applying to persons you meet on a daily basis. The only way I know, is that I can do it myself. Not to say that all persons are alike, but, all persons are alike. It’s been taught to us and society at times has asked us to give an opinion and harshly so, to do it in times when good judgment and the honoring of introspection should be the route we go.

 

You know the story of Pandora’s Box? The essence is that in Greek mythology Pandora opened a box, unleashing upon all of humanity any number of curses and ill-will. As Pandora went to shut, and did keep shut, the box there was one remaining thing within- Hope! We know Hope to be a word of goodness and comforting reassurance. That Hope was retained is said to have saved humanity from total destruction ( interesting historic comment: the opposite has been assumed by some interpreters of this story, that since Hope was never released humanity is destined to be cursed forever).

 

It’s easy to declare the world lost. It’s easy to label someone or a group evil. It’s easy to whine and fret and despair- because it takes no more effort beyond our negative judgment and it puts us in a place where we are better and right- the their wrong.

 

Hope however calls us to extend the hand of forgiveness, Hope also expects of us effort beyond judgment to look further and deeper within the other, to understand and to empathize. Hope commits us to “stay in the game” and not give up.

For Oscar Wilde’s comment to be rest upon in times like ours is a surrender to self-hate and personal condemnation. For certainly, there is someone else out there thinking and speaking the same way- we cannot escape being a part of their cheap assessment of humanity, something we placed upon them as well.

 

Hope then is still a place of comforting assurance and goodness. Make it so for you and in doing so make it for me.

 

I think God, for all the stories in the Hebrew Scriptures, and the stories and letters in the New Testament was wanting to extend that simple message of Hope, coupled and wrapped in Love.

It’s there for you and in doing so, it saves the world from itself.

 

Hugs abounding,

 

Rev. Ken

Charlie Brown

 June 30, 2020

Charlie Brown

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

 

Is the opposite of angry, happy? Maybe not, but let’s role with it.

 

Emerson suggests that anger is a bad place to be, and most people might agree. And yet, anger can be a powerful motivating force.

Anger can help us win a game.

Anger can give us the courage to fight a battle.

Anger can prompt us to make a change.

Maybe anger isn’t all that bad, even if it was proved to be the opposite of happy.

 

Now looking at happy.

Happiness is definitely Emerson’s preference.

 

Remember the song from the 1970’s, “Happiness”?

“Happiness is finding a pencil

Pizza with sausage

Telling the time

Happiness is learning to whistle

Tying your shoe for the very first time

Happiness is playing the drum in your own school band

And happiness is walking hand in hand”

 

I get from the song lyrics that there is no anger in this song.

And what then is the song promoting? If you remember this musical at al,l this song has Charlie Brown singing the first and the last lines of that stanza, and it’s all about his crush that he has on the little red-headed girl.

 

Anger splits us apart.

Happiness brings us together.

 

Take it from Charlie Brown, spend a good sixty seconds today.

 

Rev. Ken

Seuss

June 25, 2020

Seuss

 

Dr. Seuss had that incredible ability to rhyme his way through an idea or a vision and entrap nearly everyone who read him within an agreeable fantasy. Whether young or old, conservative or liberal, wise or managing- we were led through a fascinating image that tickled our imagination.

 

So, on thinking… much has been made of the pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment. Much also has been made of the emptying of the thoughts. Both pursuits have their benefits for the individual. Strangely just the same amount has been made of the excess of “thinks” and an absence of “thinks”.

 

What was/is your favorite Seuss tale? Abraham was gifted a large collection of Seuss stories when he was just an infant by an inmate at a local federal, medium-security prison where we lived in Michigan. I had answered the request of his sister, a member of a UCC church in Maryland to visit him on her behalf so that he would not feel alone. Brian was a scoundrel. The Baltimore Sun newspaper had deemed him the “definition of campaign finance violation.” He lived up to his reputation. The gift of the book was the beginning of a ploy he had concocted to manipulate me and my church into pressuring the prison for different/better conditions.

 

Brian had lots of time to think and left right, and low and high. His thinks smelled to the highest levels. And so, his was the best of all representation of thinking too much. My visits with him I was constantly trying to quiet him and his thoughts so he could allow what available spirit was anywhere near, to seep in.

 

The chance to sit in peace is a valuable gift. It takes practice to meditate and the only “thinks” allowed are usually “mantras” or focusing words or phrases to aid the slowing of the thoughts. I invite you to move away from the “thinks” every day or so- you could find yourself actually becoming more efficient thinkers because of it.

 

Left or Right, Low or High

May the day be right because you helped it be that way!

 

Rev. Ken

Science

 June 24, 2020

Science

“Science and religion are not at odds. Science is simply too young to understand.”
― Dan Brown, Angels & Demons

 

 

I really like this quote.

 

I am often challenged for my faith, sometimes subtly yet other times very blatantly and in a passive aggressive manner. The tiresome “I’m spiritual not religious” is a pretty good determiner for me to see that someone has really never examined a life of spirit, but rather that is sounds attractive and sexy and “modern” to say. Or the oldie but goodie, “I find God in nature”- to which I turn to a famous living theologian who commented, “any idiot can find God in nature, but can you find God in another human being?”

 

Then there is the manner of people who will be fascinated with science, a very good thing to be fascinated by. Religion or faith or worship is kicked to the side of their street for the “truth” or “fact” that they believe science provides, apart from faith.

 

It’s interesting, that word “truth”. Pontious Pilate asked of Jesus, “what is truth?” Pilate did so in what was billed as Jesus’ trial but really ended up being Pilate’s. Pilate did have a point. “Truth” can be twisted and bent as we have seen in the modern societies such as North Korea. We have our own examples in U.S. politics but I’ll leave that for each party to play with. “Truth” can be what the people in power decide. But Jesus understood differently.

 

Truth and “fact” are often words used interchangeably. And, they are often quite abused just the same. In a world quickly accumulating statistical data which is used to establish ways in order to explain the world around us, we can lose ourselves to the sum total of this equation and that equation. The human being can be reduced to a number, separate from other quantifiable means.

 

But God, one that relies on the interaction with its creations, does not reduce any of them. Our God, my God, the God of Jesus and of Abraham and Jacob and Sarah and Mary, sees each creation as an end to a means. God for century upon century has given the gift of curiosity and creativity and abstract reasoning to humans to raise humanity even higher, above the rest of creation. But these gifts of curiosity, creativity, and abstract reasoning were never meant to become the meaning of life. Worshippers of science can and have often cast aside the intrinsic value of humanity for the beauty of the revelation of an equation.

 

Worshippers of science can find themselves entombed in the concrete of abstract reasoning just like the faithful can become entombed in concrete understandings of creation and spirit.

 

Religion and science have always been intertwined- early explanations of creation were simply the science of the day. But with each new revelation of the nature of the universe, we are simply a step closer (however yet distant) to truly knowing the infinite God.

 

 

I know that this may sound like Ken whistling past the graveyard, for we know that religion is in the state of a steep decline in the hearts of the world. But as we delve deeper into the origins of the universe and contemplate things such as the “multiverse” how much closer do we really think we are to understanding “it” all?

 

Close to you and me, within reach- tangible and sharable to all who would welcome it, is a spirit of “truth” which allows science to flourish but calls even science’s most devoted, to respect the truth of the human being. Unquantifiable, a human being is the end to the means, not the other way around. 

 

And so it has been since the beginning of recordable time.

 

I believe in science, I rely on science, I am grateful for science. I do not worship science nor do I get lost in its promises of fact or truth, which inevitably give way to something far more complicated than before. I rely on the simplicity of love, insisted upon by Jesus’ teachings, created in his relationship with God.

 

Rev. Ken

Our Want

 June 23, 2020

Our Want

“Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

 

I’d like to believe that Jesus felt this way as well.

 

Jesus came and did some miraculous things. He also did some things besides miracles. He did work that was hard to get motivated to do. And I believe his entire effort was to teach us the same.

 

So, being inspired. Are you inspired by Jesus? I think most of us are. But there are times that I think we look at the world in front of us and find it to be a mess, or an effort we think we cannot begin to address.

 

The Christian faith teaches ways to become pious- meaning how to become more in tune with God and to spend time praying and meditating and sharing of that devotion to God and self, and others.

 

But the Christian faith also is about action and service. We cannot live in a vacuum of selfish desires and activities. We are called to utilize the freedom in Christ, first acquired for ourselves. Utilizing what we have learned and lived means caring for and sharing of the gifts given us and the accomplishments we have worked for.

 

What could we be- as it is stated above? We could be known as a great teacher, or a loving provider of food, affirmation, clothing, prayers, or anything else in all of humanity’s abilities.

So, as Emerson let on, we are all looking for inspiration.

 

Take some more time to re-read one of the gospels, read Matthew again from beginning to end again. Observe Jesus in his work and his teaching. You’ll need not look anywhere else for inspiration to be the best person you want to be.

 

I’ll see you in the reading.

 

Rev. Ken

Butterfly

 June 18, 2020

Butterfly

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
― Maya Angelou

 

 

Who ever feels like a butterfly? I hope you do- all beautiful and light. And so if you do, Congratulations! Beautiful and light it is…

 

I always feel like I’m somewhere in the chrysalis. There’s an outer shell that may even reflect pretty colors, but inside I’m a mess, somewhere in-between pre-historic and a recognizable mess.

 

The same goes for troubles or challenges that I feel like I’m in. When I seem to be stopped by criticism or by a lack of insight I can move to a place in my mind where I am just hoping for an end to the moment. I forget that the best way through any criticism or challenge is “through” it. There are no easy answers to criticism and challenge. I have to start with “me” and forget anyone else. Where am I in this mess? How have I acted, what have I said, what have I expressed to make myself misunderstood, or, just plain worng? When I can own up to my personal actions, that’s when breakthroughs occur. So I move “through” rather than around an issue.

 

Someone once told me that in any criticism there is always at the least, an ounce of truth. So then moving “through” an issue is about a time of correction and amending. This is part of what I can see as pre-historic, I don’t like to recognize I’m wrong so I want to avoid that part of me that I find ugly. But there needs to be the recognition that after a thorough examination of the self, comes the butterfly stage.

 

We also have to realize that there will times that no matter what criticism and challenge is laid upon us, and no matter what we do to correct ourselves and amend our ways, that there are going to be others who have no desire to reconcile and will continue to cling to the memory and image of their criticism. We have no control over this. So, keeping our eye on the prize we live our life grateful for the service the other person has done for us. Pray for them and welcome the butterfly within our self.

 

How is it for you? Do you move through or move around issues of criticism and challenge? If you’ve never had the courage to look within, and I know there are many who feel this way, I would be happy to be you confidant, to be your support, to be of service to you so that you may move “through” your challenges rather than avoiding them one minute more. I promise you a butterfly moment when a new practice of personal honesty and correction is learned and lived.

 

To your beauty, I pray.

 

Rev. Ken

Keys

 June 17, 2020

Keys

Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 10:39

 

 

I believe that most of you are familiar with this saying in the Bible. I think it is mighty powerful and says in a short way what might be expected of us- those who would claim to follow Jesus.

 

What is my life that I must lose it?

-money?

-travel?

-toys?

-kids?

-spouse?

-career?

-dreams?

-personal recognition?

-friends?

-health?

-happiness?

 

Jesus suggests that for his sake, all those valued things above are of which I must be willing to let go.

 

It’s not that Jesus says we will lose all these things. Jesus want us to know that knowing and loving him above all other things is the manner in which our life will be given us.

 

Focusing and placing material things above that which is immaterial and spiritual, will simply make them like the keys we lost the moment we walked in the front door.

 

Rev. Ken

The Narrative

 June 16, 2020

The Narrative

“How would your life be different if…You walked away from gossip and verbal defamation? Let today be the day…You speak only the good you know of other people and encourage others to do the same.”
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

 

 

 

I do not know the extent to which gossip flows from your lips or the length you might go to speak words that are specifically damning of another person. But, as I have caught myself in the midst of such a negative act, I am going to assume that you have done so yourself.

 

When we step back and look at it, our behavior can appear to be justified, even level-minded-“If you only knew what I knew…” And then there are other times that we can step back to look at our words and suddenly realize how ugly they really are.

 

Let’s face it, we’re human beings. We take solace at times through the verbal lashing we apply to some other person while others are listening, and maybe even adding to the assault. I do think that there is a certain amount of catharsis in doing this. There is a problem though if we can never move ourselves out of the act of gossip and defamation, as he calls it above.

 

These are strong feelings, I know. Again, I have them as well. And it seems that we can create and maintain strong bonds with other people when we return to these sessions of verbal tearing down of another. There is a strong attraction that this behavior has on our spirits. So strong that a feeling of satisfaction is gobbled up.

 

And then what?

 

Mr. Maraboli suggests that to continue we would be not living the better life we could be living—if we chose to refrain from that frenzy, and instead to generate new narratives surrounding the person of our dislike, we could live a better life. What do you think?

 

There is a spiritual dictum that says to pray for a person for whom we feel a resentment. We are told to pray for their well-being, for all the good in the universe to come their way, to act as if we had nothing but good to say and see in them. After a short time, we are told that the obsessive hold our resentment has had on us will melt away.

 

What’s interesting about the world, is that it really doesn’t exist anywhere other than within our own thoughts. Take away my thoughts of it, and the rest of reality vanishes. So, if we can change the way we speak of one person or the world or the universe, in our realm we can change the universe. I know this sounds somewhat kooky, but, what does anything matter other than how we as an individual thinks? Face it, the universe is, because I experience it. As far as I experience, without me there is no you. So, why not change how we think of others? We can change the world when we do.

 

I encourage you to look deep within yourself. Find those things or those people most troubling. Start changing the narrative you have created around them. Pray for them. Ask that God and the universe provide them with all that they desire and need and wish for. Begin to consider them your friend for whom you have nothing but good will towards.

 

Fake it, until you make it.

 

What do you have to lose other than dreary thoughts and unhappy words?

 

My heart goes out to you and I want you to know that I continually pray for you.

 

Rev. Ken

Dream

 June 10, 2020

Dream

“Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly.”
― Langston Hughes

 

 

Even in the world of science- there are dreams.

 

I can hardly imagine a research scientist who does not dream of their subject and the possibilities a discovery can hold. So I like this quote because it speaks to the creative mind not the analytical mind. An analytical mind is always going somewhere, somewhere into the unknown because the known world doesn’t need more analyzing. It’s the unknown for which we strive.

 

In the realm of faith, I know that dreams are the thing our faith is made of. We dream of a world where all are free and affirmed. We dream for sustenance to be poured out to all. We dream of understanding the reason for pain and death. We dream to understand the reason for all that is.

 

And you, your life, your needs, your loves- they are all things we have dreams about. It is when we stop dreaming that we lose hope. And that stoppage can happen rather easily, much to my dismay. A dashed hope, a broken promise, a moment witnessing hate or violence these all can swiftly move our spirits to doubt that our dreams can ever be.

 

Our dreams allow us to thrive in a world which seems to be determined by cold, hard facts. So it is imperative that we encourage each other to dream. It is imperative that we never tell someone that their dream is foolish. In fact, in the church, we should be dreaming all the time! Part of every meeting, a moment of dream sharing about our collective goals should be mandatory.

 

We should be careful to not adopt the outlook of the broken-winged bird, but instead to adopt the dream of the caretaker who knows of the wing’s promise and that a time of splinting leads to flight once again.

 

Please help me to dream.

 

Rev. Ken

You

 June 9, 2020

You

“Dare to love yourself
as if you were a rainbow
with gold at both ends.”
― Author-Poet Aberjhani, Journey through the Power of the Rainbow: Quotations from a Life Made Out of Poetry

 

 

Dare I say that loving one’s self can, at times, be seen as narcissism? I think in certain times of my life, I was led to believe this.

 

As life has progressed, I have learned that loving one’s self is the only safe-guard against total destruction. We know there are people who would like us to believe their views of us. Another person’s view is, well, another person’s view- not ours. And if too critical, their opinion is destructive and sinful.

 

Now I do believe that it is important to understand other person’s views of us, but to not take them on. Many of you have mastered this by now in your lives. And yet, we find ourselves from time to time relying on someone else’s viewpoint rather than our own.

 

So, the idea that I am a rainbow, with gold at both ends can be used very effectively as a pep-talk to myself. It sounds like such a cartoonish depiction, but sometimes that’s all we can muster, a fantastical image onto which we place our hopes. This image shows us first we are desirable as an image- who doesn’t like a rainbow? Anyhow, to see a rainbow is a magical experience. Such a large painting of color upon the sky- is brilliant. And so, we should consider ourselves to be this rainbow.

 

But the gold, that takes on a whole other idea. That we have value, value that everyone would agree is worthy. And to have 2 sets of that value is pretty awesome.

 

Go ahead and lean back, enjoy the image of a rainbow. Be the rainbow. And in your heart, accept the riches of your being.

 

Rev. Ken