A New Earth

I started reading the book last week and just this morning watched Oprah's first class with Eckhart Tolle and filled in the workbook.

This is good stuff.
Here are some of my notes from watching:

1. They talked about giving up labels and just experiencing things as they are and Oprah said that she tried walking outside and just being in the moment in nature. This absolutely resonated with me. I learned years ago that not knowing the names of trees and plants can help us to just experience the life within the world. We get out of the mind. And this past year I have spent a lot of time walking in the metro parks here in Columbus and know that it has helped my spirit.

2. They talked about the difference between religion and spirituality. I am, of course, aware of that. I know that our labels for our beliefs and our rituals can get in the way of accessing the holy. But, as a religious woman, I know that the words, music, rituals and community can also be a door into the holy. We really have to give up our childhood faith and be open to living in the mystery and the messiness and the majesty in ALL its forms.

3. I loved when they talked about how Jesus came to show the way of the heart and the Christ consciousness. It reminded me of a book that has been really helpful to me - The Kingdom Within by John Sanford.

4. They talked about when you go deep enough into your own religion that we all end up in the same place. I absolutely believe that - I picture that we are all digging into the well which is fed by the same stream. That is not to say that some places that people dig ends up being dry - because they ARE being led into ego and separation and prejudice.

5. They mentioned some books I will looks for: The Seekers Guide by Elizabeth Lesser and Joel Goldsmith.

6. They talked about our species which looks at people maiming and killing each other for entertainment. Saw that in a new way - !!!

7. They talked about advances in technology and how it brings more ways of violence and death. But I could not help but think about the technology they were using that was literally bringing people around the world together to talk about life. Cool.

8. "Do we understand our responsibility to become aware of our mental processes? Do not amplify negativity. Become aware of your own mind." Yes. This is all about not being reactive but becoming conscious. YES!

9. Our individual fears, doubts, resentments, angers contribute to the collective unconscious. A thought: what in the heck is this election adding?!?!?!?

10. We have a responsibility to mind what is in ourselves.

11. Oprah's prayer has been to ask God to use her. That is really what it is all about for all of us. How can the divine use us in the circumstances of our lives?

12. You don't become good by trying to be good. Allow the goodness within ourselves to emerge. "Be still and know that I am God."

13. "When you look at the self it dissolves." I need to ponder this awhile.

14. Our access point is the present moment - I am definitely working on living in the present moment. I spend way too much in the past and the future.

Political Wondering

Well, I have to admit that I was disappointed that Obama did not win Ohio or Texas.

I just read in the Huffington Post what I had been wondering about. ....what effect Rush Limbaugh had on the results. Apparently he is more popular in Texas than Ohio. He has been encouraging his listeners to vote for Hillary. I think he believes that McCain could win against Hillary because she is so polarizing. I think so too - one of the reasons why I am against her as the candidate.
Anyway, this is what Ben Miller wrote:

"Now, look at Ohio. Once again 9 percent of voters were Republicans, but Obama and Clinton split them evenly, 49-49. Once again, 14 percent of voters were "conservatives," and Obama and Clinton split them 48-48. (Obama did better with them than he did with liberals and moderates.) Those tactical voters who thought Obama could win gave him a 80-18 victory, a margin twelve points smaller than the margin in Wisconsin.It's a similar story in Texas, where Limbaugh has the most listeners of any of these states. Obama won the Republican vote 52-47, but conservatives (22 percent of all voters, up from 15 percent in the Kerry-Edwards primary) went against Obama. For the first time, they were Clinton's best ideological group: She won them 53-43. And Clinton won 13 percent of the people who said Obama was the most electable candidate."

Anyway, not to be dramatic and to give Rush Limbaugh more credit, I think he did have some effect. Because he would like the democrates to be disorder and she is the candidate that many people hate.

I don't hate her - I like her. But I don't want a president who is a fighter. I want a uniter. Not to be naive. But the more I think about it - the more I realize that I am sick of the "throw the kitchen sink" at him and "I'm a fighter."
Now I am reading that Obama is going to go negative. I hope he speaks the truth - but continues to be more thoughtful and hopeful.

Ministry

Tomorrow is my day off and I feel good tonight about ministry.

This morning I planned the worship service for Sunday and worked on the prayer retreat that I am leading on Saturday.
I had a meeting with the director of the YMCA and we talked about the possibility of working with them and having our church be a place where kids come after school for snacks. Then they might go on to the library up the street or the the Y next door. It is a natural for us and it makes so much sense. I get excited just thinking about it.

I also worked on the program for tonight.

Wednesday nights we have a program "Generations in Fellowship Together" (GIFT) and I am just returning from it. We had a really nice chicken and noodle supper and afterward we went into the sanctuary and sang, did a Bible quiz on the story I preached (the healing of the blind man) and then we divided into pairs and took turns being blind people and then we had a discussion.
The whole program took an hour and it was really a lot of fun. We shared our highs and lows and I learned about who is grieving and who is having health problems and all kinds of things.
Afterwards I talked to somebody about their divorce and someone else about their son's illness and someone else about some issues at church. All of this feels good.

Ministry for me has always been about these moments together when we share a little bit of our life with each other and find support and friendship and understanding. I watch some of the adults who relate so well to kids and see what a difference it makes.

I am happy to be doing what I do.

PS

Because Chuck says "it's all politics" and "they're all the same" I convinced him to vote for my candidate!

One more thing about voting

I couldn't figure out how to edit this - so this is an addendum.

My husband has little interest in any of this. He says "it's all politics" and "they're all the same."

I have to say that I am and always will be a woman of hope. I hope that one person can make a difference in the direction that our country goes. I hope that they are not all the same. And I hope that God leads people into a "calling" of politics and can guide them in their campaign and in their leadership.
(I know that God talk by political leaders makes people crazy, but still.....)

Ohio Voting

Today is the day and it is raining like crazy but Chuck and I voted.

We got to the polls at 9 AM and were able to walk right in. But I was were told they had been "slammed" this morning with voters standing in line to cast their ballots.

Four years ago I stood in line for an hour and a half to vote. And I find that there it is basically thrilling to be part of a democratic process where everybody's vote counts.

I start most every morning with "Morning Joe" and listen to Joe and Meka and Willie and many, many political guest and newspeople try to interpret what is happening and going to happen.
But it all comes down to this - individuals casting their votes.

My goal this year is to see at least ONE candidate in the flesh. Sunday both Hilary and Barak were 5 miles away - but it was the only time that I cannot get away - Sunday morning. Hopefully, Ohio will continue to be a key state and we will get more candidates coming here.

Anyway, I will be watching MSNBC tonight - hoping that my candidate wins my state!! I have done my part.

The Big Give

Well, I watched it and I liked it.

And, of course, I cried.

What I didn't like about it was the cheesy music in the background about following your dreams or something.
What I liked was learning about the people who were selected and then the stories of the people who were helped.
Some of the stories were almost overwhelming - a homeless woman, a vet who is recovering and needs a home, a widow whose husband died in a robbery.
But you see ingenuity, compassion, and people who were willing to give alot of money to help someone else.
Pretty good.