Be whole and holy

Today is Halloween, the day before All Saints Day. Actually, Halloween was originally known as All Hallows Eve. It's similar to Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. It appears that before we can approach the holy, we need to give expression to the "unholy," the dark or shadow side of our nature.

Unfortunately, Christianity and some other religions have created a dualism between material and spiritual, flesh and spirit, mundane and sacred. This split also exists within ourselves. There is the "good" self that we consciously identify with and present to the world when we want to look our best. Then, there are all those parts of ourselves that we're not real proud of, that we don't want to acknowledge, that we surpress and deny. This stuff is pushed down into the sub-consciousness where it becomes the shadow personality. However, if not acknowledged, it can build up and manifest in uncontrollable, unhealthy acts, e.g. celibate clergy who engage in sexual misconduct.

A healthier way to deal with the shadow is to acknowledge it. As one good book's title says, Make Friends With Your Shadow. When we make friends with our shadow, acknowledging its needs and desires and giving healthy, consciously moderated expression to them, the unhealthy, destructive expressions are minimized. We can then become whole or holy. As Osho says, the goal is to become Zorba the Buddha enjoying a passionate material life along with spiritual enlightenment. It doesn't have to be either/or but both/and. We can be conscious, spiritual beings embodied in this material world living with our heads in the clouds and our feet on the ground. This is the path I follow and teach to my clients.

Peace,
Steve

The move is underway

Today, I began the work of moving my office. After a year at Coopers Landing, I am moving to The Healing Gardens. Coopers Landing is a very nice, well equipped office building where I have an office with wood paneling, a receptionist, waiting room and other amenities. I have good relationships with the receptionists and other staff there, but I do not feel connected to the other tenants except for my accountant and the daughter of some friends who works there.

I hardly know the two women who started The Healing Gardens, but I feel a camaraderie that I do not feel at Coopers Landing. Lois and Patti do massage, Reiki and herbs. We feel that working together with our complimentary disciplines we can better serve our clients and help each other's practices grow.

So, I am paying more money for a smaller office. I believe working with like minded persons in community is worth it. How can one put a price on relationships?

Peace,
Steve

A sad state of affairs

I have been the convener of the Livable Family Income Action Group of West Michigan Call to Renewal for three years. This group is made up of religious leaders, economics and business professors, and other community leaders including the president of the labor council. We have been working to pass a Livable Family Income Incentive Proposal for the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The mayor elect was the principle author of our proposal and a regular member of our group. Yet we do not have the four votes necessary to pass this proposal by the city commission. This proposal is a kinder, gentler, watered down version of a living wage ordinance, and yet we are unable to pass it in this "good" Christian community even though we have the support of Catholic and Christian Reformed leaders which are the two main denominations in this area.

What a sad state of affairs that even Democratic commissioners elected with the help of labor unions and who call themselves Christian are unwilling to step forward to help the working poor in this very nominal way. I believe Jesus said, "Howsoever you treat the least of these, so you treat me."

May God have mercy on our souls.

Steve

Acceptance

We went to East Congregational Church this morning. We decided to walk since the weather was lovely. We were greeted by the pastor at the door and several other persons. The worship was more formal, high church, traditional than I prefer, but my wife likes it that way. I found the worship to be satisfactory.

After all the difficulties I've had with churches, it isn't easy for me to start with another church. However, I know two of the pastors, and their theological and social views are similar to mine. There are about 10 clergy that belong to this 800 member church, so I'll be able to fit in without too much of a problem. They're open to me. I'm open to them. I know a number of persons who attend East. It shouldn't be too hard to adjust. Frankly there aren't a lot of United Church of Christ congregations for me to choose from here since several have interim pastors and several are a bit conservative. I'll make the best of it.

Learning to deal with what is and making the best of it is an important life skill. Sometimes it's the best we can hope for. It's kind of like the Serenity Prayer, "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference."

Peace,
Steve

Love is the key

I just got back from doing the wedding of a nice young couple. Even though I don't know these persons well, it's a pleasure and a privilege to take part in such an important milestone in their lives. I often get a little choked up and emotional at weddings. I know how wonderful and exciting a moment it is, but I also know the difficulties that lie ahead.

Today, most marriages face difficulties at some point and it takes a real effort to make a marriage work over the years. In an age of heightened selfishness and individuality, a marriage requires two strong individuals who are able to respect each other's individuality and yet also become one and give up certain selfish interests for the good of the other or for the good of the two as one. It's a matter of give and take based on the core principle of love. That love has to be more than just a passing feeling. It requires commitment and will to love even when one doesn't feel like loving.

May we all learn to love more. That would solve all the problems on earth. For when we learn to love one another, then this becomes heaven.

Love,
Steve

New developments

What an exciting past couple of days it has been. As part of my morning meditation time, I draw a card from the Osho Zen Tarot to meditate upon for the day. The past two mornings I drew Guidance which advised me to follow my inner guidance. I sure did.

Yesterday, I decided to join East Congregational United Church of Christ and seek a covenantal relationship with them to help maintain my active ordained ministry status in the United Church of Christ.

Today right after my meditation, I got an email inviting me to rent an office at The Healing Gardens holistic health center. I went there this afternoon to check it out. I liked the feel of the place and the two women who run it. I met them at the Body, Mind, Spirit Expo this summer where we were all exhibitors. I hung out and talked for a while, checked the place out and rented the office on the spot. I've been looking for something like this for some time. I've been working out of a large office building with mostly businesses and some NPOs. I think this will be much better. It also has a room I can use for classes and The Gathering which I hope to start up again at some future date. I think it's good to be with other holistic practitioners.

I will move into The Healing Gardens the beginning of November. Our address is 261 State St., Grand Rapids, MI. We are one block north of St. Mary's Hospital. Massage, reiki, electro-acupuncture, manual therapy, raindrop therapy, an herbal program and classes are offered there.

Follow your bliss and inner guidance.
Steve

A call for radical change

Got some chicken legs, yams and vegetables in the oven cooking. Their smell fills the house. My wife is home tonight, and we can spend some quality time together (she works second shift four days a week). It's my son's 22nd birthday. He lives in Montana and is doing well. Life is good. All these things provide a little relief from the problems of our times.

It really bothers me though when I hear W talk about how we're fighting "evil" and his general saying it's a Christian war against Satan and idolators and his brother snatching a woman who's been in a vegetative state for thirteen years off her death bed and the economy is still terrible with so many out of work. When are the people of this country going to say "Enough!" How much more of this pseudo-Christian, neo-con imperialism can we take? Down with fascism! Down with Christian holy war! It's time for a change folks. How bad does it have to be before enough of you wake up and demand change?

Maybe we've been bought off. We have it too good to risk losing what we have. We've seen what happens to dissenters, dissidents, rebels, nonconformists. I'm 56 years old. I've been through a lot. This is the worst shape I've ever seen this country and the world in. We have to make more than bandaid changes, tinkering around the edges with gradual reform and holding back the destruction of a once great nation. We need radical change from top to bottom. The whole system is rotten and corrupt.

The change has to begin within us as we wake up to our spiritual natures and get a clearer, higher vision of what might be. How can we provide peace and justice for all? How can we protect the environment? The answers are there. I know what has to be done. I read books about it. I hear it on the radio. I'm not the only one who knows. Do you know? Do you pretend not to know? What will you do? Contact me if you want to talk about it.

Solidarity,
Steve

New website up and running!

I'm happy to report that I have my website pretty much the way I want it to be now. It was quite a job getting it to this point. I think it was worth it since it has a great new look and new content. I hope you have not experienced any inconvenience in the process. I wanted to add a few more bells and whistles than are currently included, but I decided they are more trouble than they are worth. Too bad FrontPage doesn't provide better documentation/support for using its product even after I dropped thirty bucks for their Step by Step book. I was also surprised to find out that Mozilla was the most used browser to visit my site by a large margin. I am now typing this using Mozilla Firebird which I just downloaded today. I also want to thank Kimmy at Blogger Support for helping me with settings so that my archives could be accessed. I hope you'll visit my site which is linked from this page and see all the changes I made. Thanks for visiting.

Steve

Good and bad

Warm summer breezes blow on this Michigan autumn night. Temperatures in the upper 70s today. How pleasant. How beautiful. Yet on the way home today, I couldn't buy gas. No electricity at the station. I got home and couldn't park my car in the garage. No electricity for the power door opener. Wanted to read. No electricity. I unplugged my notebook computer and let it run on battery power. Fortunately, the power wasn't off for too long, and I was able to occupy myself in pleasant activities. I'll bet this beautiful warm wind blew a tree down on the power line. Funny how the very same thing can work good and bad effects. It's not what happens, but how we react to it that often determines what is good and what is bad. Keep a peaceful heart and mind. That will help you get through most situations.

Blessings,
Steve

I don’t sing very well.

When I was a teenager, I had a radio in my bedroom on the second floor. I would close the door and sing along with the radio to my favorite songs. My father would tell me to keep it down. I kept on singing.

When I was in my twenties, I was in a devotional sect that placed a lot of emphasis on singing God’s praises. I sang my heart out. I thought it’s not how good you sing, but the feeling you put into it. I went to a festival in San Francisco and was asked not to lead the singing. I went and got a motel room down the street from the temple.

When I was in my thirties, I joined a church and was asked to join the choir. I said, “I don’t sing very well.” The choir director gave me private lessons. He said I was a bass and would have a hard time singing melody. I sang with the other basses until he asked me to leave the choir. He said I was the first. I don’t sing very well.

When I was in my forties and fifties, I was a minister. When I interviewed for a position and was asked what my weakness in ministry was, I said, “I don’t sing very well.” I started a spiritual Gathering at my house. It was up to me to lead the worship. I said, “I’m sorry, but I don’t sing very well.”

I love to sing. I play my guitar and sing the songs I love when I am alone because I don’t sing very well. I sing for my own pleasure and joy. I sing because I must. But, I don’t sing very well.

I don’t sing very well, but I play a mean guitar. I play a sweet flute and the keyboards too. I can beat out a rhythm on my drum with the best of them. I preach a rousing sermon and can teach the wisdom of the ages. I can handle horses, fell trees, print books, develop a website, and see God in everything. But, I don’t sing very well.

Steve

New website up

I finally published my new site design and rewrite/edit. It was quite a job and there are still a few glitches to work out. Comments and suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Steve

Here's an article in today's Grand Rapids Press that reiterates what I just wrote. Let the UN take over Iraq. Bring our troops home. 'You wonder if we are doing the right thing'

Support the troops

I spoke to my son last night. He's 21, going to be 22 in a few days. He's living in Missoula, Montana with his high school girl friend. They moved there after he got back from Egypt in January. He was there for seven months with the Army National Guard. He was going to go back to college last fall but had to go to Egypt instead. Now he's working in a restaurant, waiting a year to start school to establish residency so that the tuition will be a little more affordable. They hope to start next summer.

But he hears rumors that he may be shipped out to Iraq. The future is uncertain for him. He joined the Guard several years ago as soon as he turned 18. They promoted the Guard as one weekend a month and a couple of weeks in the summer. It really changed in just the past few years. Now, rather than being weekend warriors, it can quickly become a full-time job. I thought it was supposed to be the "National Guard" not the "international guard." They also promote it as a way to earn money for college. Yet he still can't afford the tuition.

Do I support the troops? You bet I do. Keep them home where they belong not fulfilling Bush's crazy dreams of empire and American dominance. Pay them enough to go to college. Stop the escalating costs of education. Reinvest in the U.S.--rebuilding our economy, reinstating our freedoms, learning to live in peace, having an American dream again that's not a nightmare. My son and I agree we need to get anyone else but Bush in the White House, and we both think Wes Clark is a good choice. I hope you agree.

Peace,
Steve

Website

Since I got my new computer up and running, I've been redesigning and rewriting/editing my website. I'm getting close to the end of the process. It's been quite a chore especially since I'm using a new program to create it which I'm not real familiar with (not that I was that good with the old one either). I was using Dreamweaver. Now, I'm using FrontPage. I'm finding it to be more user friendly. Perhaps that's because I own it and have it at home rather than having to go to the Community Media Center, and I can therefore take more time to learn its features.

The new design is quite different from the old. I hope to have it up and running soon. I hope you'll like it and will be patient and tolerant if there are glitches to be worked out.

I consider a web presence to be vital to my ministry, and I thank you for visiting.

Peace,
Steve

Autumn

Fall is a really beautiful time of year. The temperatures are pleasant (I enjoy wearing a jacket and hat rather than being too hot), the leaves are beautiful, the harvest continues to come in from our garden, there's a certain mellowness to life.

I feel that way about my own life also. I am in the autumn of life and it's beautiful. I've mellowed out and take things in stride. I'm a colorful character and pleased with the person I've become. I have grown in wisdom and insight. I am full of the ripe fruits of a lifetime that I am ready to share with all who are willing to partake. Life is good.

I hope you are able to enjoy and appreciate your life, whatever stage you may be in. I know many people do not. Know that you are not alone. I'm here to help. The journey is so much more pleasant and easy with the help of a guide who has gone down the road before. Let me know if you would like to take advantage of my services.

Peace,
Steve

Business coaching

I have just added business coaching to the menu of services I offer. I act as a sounding board or catalyst. Some companies realize they have a problem and don’t know how to tackle it themselves. As an outside, objective person, I provide honest, constructive feedback and suggestions for handling situations allowing you to explore new options.

Today’s business climate is always changing. I coach around resisting change in business cultures. I am a lubricant to reduce resistance. By adapting in a fluid, flexible manner, businesses are able to maximize profits.

I coach organizational teams on creating a common mission and goals so that the company can move forward effectively. I facilitate and lead groups as well as work one-on-one with key players.

Let me know if you would like to partner with me to make your business as effective and profitable as possible.

Sincerely,
Steve

Love Now!

Everything is new and ever changing. Everything is the same, timeless. How can we experience the exciting freshness of life while centered in eternity? That is the challenge of life. We are eternal beings living in temporary bodies in a temporary world. Fresh, new opportunities present themselves to us daily. We need to learn to take full advantage of them yet not get caught up in the illusory nature of this world. Working with detachment, surrendering the fruits of our labor to the good of all in love, we need to give more than we take. The greatest thing we can give is love. Love for all, love for God, LOVE.

Love is our true nature. Love is God's true nature. Love makes the world go round. The more we can love, the more we become an instrument of love. The more we give love away, the more we get. Becoming transparent via-medias of love is the goal. Letting the self be connected to the Supreme Self as a channel for love is the secret of real success in life.

When we learn to love purely, we will realize our true nature and be blissful in this life as well as in the next. When we become self-realized, we become liberated from the cycle of birth and death attaining our place in the eternal spiritual world which is full of knowledge and bliss. No more illusion. No more suffering. Living in the light of God. Living, loving being in eternity, here, now eternally. Yes!

In love,
Steve

Lost and found

Yesterday's blog got lost in cyberspace when I clicked on the wrong button while trying to publish it. My wife works second shift and often gets to bed around two. I'm a light sleeper, often wake up and sometimes have difficulty getting back to sleep as I did last night. So, I got up did some devotional readings then got on the internet to do more reading.

I went to VNN - Vaishnava News Network - News Desk to see what is going on in the Hindu sect I belonged to thirty years ago. I read an interesting article VNN Editorial - Gaudiya Matha And Lalita Prasada by Swami B.V. Tripurari which then led me to his website. There I found a link to A life in Letters :: 1967 where I was quite surprised to find some early letters from my guru to me (Subala) and my wife (Krishna devi) from 1967. At that time we were starting Krishna temples in Santa Fe and Los Angeles.

I have an autobiography in progress and these letters will prove useful in the writing of it. I have been out of touch with this group for many years. However, I still experience a sense of loss and longing for a very idealistic, spiritual lifestyle that was corrupted by misuse of religious power. It's too bad that religions based on love and devotion can be used for power and oppression.

Om shanti,
Steve

Family values

I've been asked to get up early tomorrow morning and go to the county building to address the commission regarding gay marriages. It seems they're considering passing a resolution supporting a proposal that the state of Michigan pass a constitutional amendment outlawing gay marriages. There is already a state law on the books. What motive could they possibly have other than religious beliefs. Kent county is a bastion of conservative Christian values. However the realities of the 21st century are beginning to crack that veneer. So there is a reactionary backlash.

There is no agreement among Christians on the issue of gay marriage, yet these so-called representatives of the people want to impose their brand of "Christian values" on the rest of us. What ever happened to separation of church and state? I don't care if certain clergy do not want to perform gay marriages because of their religious beliefs. However, they should not try to stop clergy like me from doing so. Whether it is legal or not, I will perform gay unions because God's blessings are available for all persons. The main point is that the state should offer equal protection under the law to all citizens and not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. Marriage has religious implications if a religious ceremony is desired. It also has civil, legal implications and the same protections and benefits offered to heterosexuals should be available for homosexuals. They are also family units and their family values should be respected and protected. Many have children and long-term stable relationships. Let's not limit our concept of a family. We are all part of the family of God.

In love,
Steve

How big is your God?

Here in the Grand Rapids area we have had an interfaith Thanksgiving service the past couple of years. It has been organized by GRACE (Grand Rapids Area Center for Ecumenism), the Interfaith Dialogue Association and others. Last year, I participated in it at a Conservative Jewish temple. I played guitar with a Hindu group that did chanting. There were Moslems, Christians, Buddhists, atheists, etc.. I thought it was a wonderful evening. It was so well attended that more chairs had to be put out at the last minute to accommodate everyone. Most stayed for refreshments and fellowship afterward. I might dare say it was a taste of heaven.

However, this year some influential conservative pastors have criticized GRACE for having Christians pray with persons of other faiths who worship different gods or no god. GRACE is experiencing financial difficulties and fearing the loss of funds has withdrawn from the celebration. This is most unfortunate.

How are we ever going to learn to get along, both within this country and internationally, if we can't learn to accept and respect our various faiths. If God is really God, there must only be one. However, that one God manifests in different ways to different people in different times and places according to their understanding. God becomes known by different names, with different attributes according to language and culture. Why just look at the widely differing views of God within Christianity. How can anyone claim to have a lock on God? God is unknowable except by revelation and even then only partially. No one can know God fully or it would not be God. Many Christians believe Jesus is the final, only and ultimate revelation of God. Even liberal Christians call this Jesusolitry. Jesus is one revelation among many. If you want to follow him, fine, but don't deny others who want to follow other manifestations of God or Goddess.

I am happy to see many letters to the editor of the Grand Rapids Press refuting this narrow mindedness. Yesterday there was even a fair and favorable article by the religion editor about local pagans who held a festival here a couple of weeks ago. I also gave a workshop there. Of course, I don't have a problem with different faiths (except those who's view of God is too small) because I draw wisdom and inspiration from many of them. God's grace and truth are still being revealed to us in many new and unexpected ways. Let us be open to God working in our lives and not try to limit God.

ShalOm,
Steve

Acceptance of life

Today I spoke with my 79 year old mother on the phone. We talked for around two hours and the time passed quickly. She thought it was around an hour. It's amazing how much more positive she's become in the past ten years or so in spite of, or because of, dealing with two or three kinds of cancer and other aches and pains. She told me how she just pre-paid her funeral, how her assets would be divided up upon her death and how she had prepared for the possibility that she may have to go in a nursing home. All arrangements are made so that my brothers, sister and I will not have to worry about anything.

My mother is not a religious woman and hardly ever goes to church. Yet she has a strong faith. She says that when God is ready to take her she's ready to go. She enjoys her life and wants to see me do the same.

It's never too late to grow. I am impressed by how many really good and cool old people there are. Abby Hoffman said, "Don't trust anyone over thirty." Then he said, "Don't trust anyone under thirty." I've found that a person really can't be judged by their age. I've known closed minded, narrow, nasty young persons, and open, broad minded, loving older persons as well as the other way around. We're all unique individuals with a unique mission here on earth. We need to realize who we are, what our mission is and do our best to fulfill it. What more is there in life? Love and be loved.

Peace,
Steve

A new day

Days change, coming and going. Newness is ever present. Each new day is an opportunity to reappraise our lives, to see what is working and what is not. It's good to give projects we undertake a fair chance to make it, to see if they bear fruit or not, to determine if they are worth the effort in time and money that we invest in them. Today is one of those kind of days for me. After six months, I decided not to continue The Gathering. It was taking too much time and effort for the results I was getting. Two options I had for expanding it fell through and other options would have involved too much of a financial commitment. So, The Gathering is officially on hiatus until its success seems more feasible.

Meanwhile, I am focusing more energy on the aspects of my ministry that are working. I am also appreciative of some of the relationships I formed through The Gathering and will continue. I am also glad that I at least gave it a try. At least I'm not left wondering "What if?" Follow your dreams and your passions. When they no longer have energy let them go and dream anew. Today doesn't have to be the same as yesterday.

I'm glad that last week I followed my dream of getting a new computer and software so that today I could update my website from home in a timely manner.

Peace,
Steve

Hurray for a quitter

I am more and more impressed with Arianna Huffington the more I learn about her. I enjoy what I read by and about her in Salon.com, what I hear on the news and now that she has withdrawn from the race for California governor. She's not a spoiler like Ralph Nader, who I used to like but have lost respect for in the last two elections. She's giving her support to Gray Davis. She saw she could not win and decided to support the best of the possible winners. Arianna is a former conservative who became an outspoken progressive. She is willing to say things that may not be popular but need to be said. We need more persons like that. See the article at Salon.com News | Arianna terminates her candidacy

I don't have anything against Arnold Scwartzneger except that he's a Republican and all the baggage that carries with it. Why can't more persons see that the Republicans have ruined our economy, taken away many of our liberties and made us less safe than we were before. As Arnold says, we need to take back our government.

In solidarity,
Steve