Sometime this past summer Jonathan spoke with us about what we think we own and what we really own (nothing). I was immediately reminded of a few songs by a band called, Shelter. The lyricist who penned these songs, Ray Cappo, is Krishna but I find his lyrics to be very similar to Christian values and inspirational.
I also find that sometimes other's words are better than our own so I simply want to share his words here:
Saranagati : Surrender
People in this world actually claim they possess, land and sky and water, but they try to forget, that everything that they build and everything they kill, was handed to them by YOUR free will. Second hand gods, that's all we are. Not creating... manipulating, and leaving the scars. Robbing from the earth and stealing from the trees. Not out of need but greed and false prestige. But it's all YOURS! What can we own? Not family, property,... it's all on loan. But our miserly minds, of "I", "ME", and "MINE", fight in wars for what's not ours so here's my plea for Saranagati, surrender. I'm trying to understand YOU'RE the Supreme Friend. YOU'RE beside me and you guide me like no one else can. Help me see you in everything and everything in YOU; When will I appreciate all that YOU do? Even pain in this world is to help us see the reality of material misery. Please help me transcend, I want it to end. Happiness without YOU, I can only pretend. And cause YOU'RE so kind, YOU give us a mind to choose to love YOU or leave YOU behind. Forgetting reality, we create this duality... and I'm sick of this fallacy... Saranagati, surrender. YOU'RE the roots of creation and we're just some leaves. By fulfilling YOUR desire, we find our relief. Enjoyment apart from YOU just creates more grief. These leaves become dry, we cry, and drop with the breeze. I've tried to gratify my senses, but what have I gained? This so-called pleasure is just a cessation of pain. Fooled myself with love, again and again. Attracted by romance and smashed in the end. Surrounded by people, and left all alone. And even amongst friends I felt far from home. We're one with each other, but YOU'RE different from me. Like a drop from the sea... If we want to be free... Saranagati, surrender.
The loose translation of Saranagati is simply, "The process of surrender"
I first heard these lyrics nearly twenty years ago and I've been trying to work towards that goal ever since.
I wanted to share this with you a while ago, but life got in the way.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
A painting without a painter, absurdity!
Last night my lovely, kind, beautiful, and highly intelligent wife, Stacy, afforded me the opportunity to attend the Evening Prayer and Meditation that Jonathan held in Sanctuary. I went with no idea of what to expect at the service, but was eagerly anticipating the idea. From the moment I walked in I sensed something very special.
Opening the door of Sanctuary provided an even greater change in atmosphere. A great sense of peace greeted me. A few candles and lights provided the way to a seat somewhere near the front. If you were careful enough not to move, you could almost feel the air holding you as if a gentle force had pushed it there and continued to hold it there as well.
I sat there quietly in my own thoughts waiting for the service to begin when I began to cry uncontrollably. What was this? Was I feeling sad? Overwhelmed with joy? Confused? At the time I wasn't sure what to make of it; I simply knew that I pretty much cried from the moment I sat down until the moment I left, with some meditating, praying, and singing thrown in for good measure.
Today, after having time to collect myself I know exactly what the crying was... Unconditional Love. I have been to many churches in many places, but I stand here as a witness to tell you that our Church is truly a special and remarkable place. It is a holy place. It is a caring place. A place of love and joy. It is a home for God, and believe me he lives in our halls. His presence, His unconditional love and the warmth of it is why I cried.
Somewhere in the evening, during a meditation, I had a vision; a truly remarkable vision that lasted a split-second but was filled with details: In some desert, there was a cross and upon this cross was Jesus. People were standing around watching him and whispering their doubts about him to one another. "If he is the Son of God, then why does God allow him to be crucified?", I heard one voice ask.
Upon my arrival at the foot of the cross, I knew it was Jesus. I screamed at the people, "What are you all doing? Why are you letting this happen? Help me! Someone help me get Him down!!!" After a few moments some of the men and women had come forward to help me. They cut some ropes and pulled Jesus from the cross, lowering him down gently into my arms.
His body laid heavily to the ground. I buckled to my knees to gently lower him down. I knelt there holding Jesus in front of me. I could see the pain and destruction of his body. His eyes were dim. I just remember feeling a panic and asking myself, "Why is this happening? Why must this happen?!"
I begged Jesus to let me take his place, knowing my faults and unworthiness to replace Him, still I begged and pleaded. How can I let such a good man, the Son of God perish, while I live with all my faults for the world to see. He gathered strength to answer my question and simply said, "This is the way it must be."
I stared into his eyes for what seemed an eternity and saw the sadness for the hatred men do to one another. I felt the sadness. Mankind can be a horrible species when left ungoverned. A terrible regret for the evil of mankind washed over me. I apologized over and over, "I'm sorry, Jesus. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the wickedness of mankind. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Forgive us, I am sorry." Over and over I begged his forgiveness for all of us, over and over until he perished in my arms.
In that moment the vision was broken. The meditation was broken to the sound of our song ending. It was the smallest of seconds and yet so big. And in that moment I forgave my enemies. I forgave those who have mistreated me. I forgave those who shouldn't be forgiven. I found a sense of peace never before dreamt of by myself. If Jesus can have no hatred for those who took his life, then I can have none for those who try and take mine.
I strongly encourage anyone who reads this to attend our evening prayer and meditation services. If you are not a member, come anyway. I don't know what you will experience but it will be with Him. Praise God and praise Jonathan for bringing us his love. Sanctuary is for all of His children. We are all the chosen few, if we just accept Him.
Opening the door of Sanctuary provided an even greater change in atmosphere. A great sense of peace greeted me. A few candles and lights provided the way to a seat somewhere near the front. If you were careful enough not to move, you could almost feel the air holding you as if a gentle force had pushed it there and continued to hold it there as well.
I sat there quietly in my own thoughts waiting for the service to begin when I began to cry uncontrollably. What was this? Was I feeling sad? Overwhelmed with joy? Confused? At the time I wasn't sure what to make of it; I simply knew that I pretty much cried from the moment I sat down until the moment I left, with some meditating, praying, and singing thrown in for good measure.
Today, after having time to collect myself I know exactly what the crying was... Unconditional Love. I have been to many churches in many places, but I stand here as a witness to tell you that our Church is truly a special and remarkable place. It is a holy place. It is a caring place. A place of love and joy. It is a home for God, and believe me he lives in our halls. His presence, His unconditional love and the warmth of it is why I cried.
Somewhere in the evening, during a meditation, I had a vision; a truly remarkable vision that lasted a split-second but was filled with details: In some desert, there was a cross and upon this cross was Jesus. People were standing around watching him and whispering their doubts about him to one another. "If he is the Son of God, then why does God allow him to be crucified?", I heard one voice ask.
Upon my arrival at the foot of the cross, I knew it was Jesus. I screamed at the people, "What are you all doing? Why are you letting this happen? Help me! Someone help me get Him down!!!" After a few moments some of the men and women had come forward to help me. They cut some ropes and pulled Jesus from the cross, lowering him down gently into my arms.
His body laid heavily to the ground. I buckled to my knees to gently lower him down. I knelt there holding Jesus in front of me. I could see the pain and destruction of his body. His eyes were dim. I just remember feeling a panic and asking myself, "Why is this happening? Why must this happen?!"
I begged Jesus to let me take his place, knowing my faults and unworthiness to replace Him, still I begged and pleaded. How can I let such a good man, the Son of God perish, while I live with all my faults for the world to see. He gathered strength to answer my question and simply said, "This is the way it must be."
I stared into his eyes for what seemed an eternity and saw the sadness for the hatred men do to one another. I felt the sadness. Mankind can be a horrible species when left ungoverned. A terrible regret for the evil of mankind washed over me. I apologized over and over, "I'm sorry, Jesus. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the wickedness of mankind. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Forgive us, I am sorry." Over and over I begged his forgiveness for all of us, over and over until he perished in my arms.
In that moment the vision was broken. The meditation was broken to the sound of our song ending. It was the smallest of seconds and yet so big. And in that moment I forgave my enemies. I forgave those who have mistreated me. I forgave those who shouldn't be forgiven. I found a sense of peace never before dreamt of by myself. If Jesus can have no hatred for those who took his life, then I can have none for those who try and take mine.
I strongly encourage anyone who reads this to attend our evening prayer and meditation services. If you are not a member, come anyway. I don't know what you will experience but it will be with Him. Praise God and praise Jonathan for bringing us his love. Sanctuary is for all of His children. We are all the chosen few, if we just accept Him.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Blue five. Blue five. Hut Hut
A challenge has been posed... go deeper this summer. Well Jonathan, I accept your challenge! Step one, learn to pray. Well, I'm almost 40 years old now, I think I know how to pray already. Ok Ok, so I haven't been the best Christian for all of those years. I may have missed church a few (hundred) times or so. I may have sinned a bit. Maybe I missed a few lessons.
So here we go, "Dear Lord, I need this, this, and this." What's that? You don't just get right down to it and ask?! Oh ok, it appears that there is more to this praying thing than I originally thought. Maybe a little praise is in order here.
"Dear Lord, Creator of All, I am so tiny in all of your glory. I am so small. Yet, you still hear and see me. Your power and truth is majestic. I am in awe of everything you create".
You see, it's important to praise God. It's important to give thanks to God. And there you have it... Prayer isn't just about what we need or want (God already knows that). Prayer is about worship, thanks, and love.
So, almost 40 years old and just now am I learning this. I'm finally learning what it really means to pray and how to do it. And you know what, it feels so much better! I've gone from only knowing how to ask in prayer to not asking at all. I know that isn't the point; I'm making up for lost time I guess.
I've spent the week simply giving praise and thanks in my prayers, asking for nothing. This wasn't really intentional it just happened that way. I have to admit, it felt good to just give praise. It felt better then asking for anything.
So, here I am, still learning and growing. Thank you Jonathan for teaching me something so simple it's amazing I haven't learned it before now. I'm truly amazed at how much more joyous praying has become for me.
I was struck by the thought of giving a quarterback the playbook but not teaching him how to receive the snap, hand the ball off, or pass. What good is the playbook if you don't know the basics first?! How do you run the Hail Mary if no one taught you how to throw the deep ball? And that's how I see church without knowing how to really pray.
So here we go, "Dear Lord, I need this, this, and this." What's that? You don't just get right down to it and ask?! Oh ok, it appears that there is more to this praying thing than I originally thought. Maybe a little praise is in order here.
"Dear Lord, Creator of All, I am so tiny in all of your glory. I am so small. Yet, you still hear and see me. Your power and truth is majestic. I am in awe of everything you create".
You see, it's important to praise God. It's important to give thanks to God. And there you have it... Prayer isn't just about what we need or want (God already knows that). Prayer is about worship, thanks, and love.
So, almost 40 years old and just now am I learning this. I'm finally learning what it really means to pray and how to do it. And you know what, it feels so much better! I've gone from only knowing how to ask in prayer to not asking at all. I know that isn't the point; I'm making up for lost time I guess.
I've spent the week simply giving praise and thanks in my prayers, asking for nothing. This wasn't really intentional it just happened that way. I have to admit, it felt good to just give praise. It felt better then asking for anything.
So, here I am, still learning and growing. Thank you Jonathan for teaching me something so simple it's amazing I haven't learned it before now. I'm truly amazed at how much more joyous praying has become for me.
I was struck by the thought of giving a quarterback the playbook but not teaching him how to receive the snap, hand the ball off, or pass. What good is the playbook if you don't know the basics first?! How do you run the Hail Mary if no one taught you how to throw the deep ball? And that's how I see church without knowing how to really pray.
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