Interfaith Spirit Quest

Planetary Shift - Birth 2012

Calling all visionaries, evolutionaries, change leaders and heart-centered humans:

This is your opportunity to give your highest gifts in creating a Planetary Birth Experience that can shift our consciousness and evolve our world.

Join us for this historic event!  Interfaith Spirit Quest is signed up to participate and we hope you will too!

Training Session:  Agents of Conscious Evolution (ACE) Training with evolutionary pioneer Barbara Marx Hubbard!

You are invited to Activation Day – 21 months in advance of the day many luminaries are declaring as our Planetary Birth Day – the symbolic start of a new era in human evolution.

What if Dec. 21, 2012 marks the passing of one phase of evolution and Dec. 22, 2012 marks "Day One" of the next epoch of evolution – for the next 26,000 years? A time we can collectively set our intentions for a more evolved world?

The catch is that it likely won’t happen if we sit back and hope for something cosmic to occur. Instead, we can decide to come together now and co-create the greatest field of love, resonance and social synergy in the history of the world.

Barbara Marx Hubbard, a futurist and evolutionary thinker, has stepped forward as our prophetic voice for this Day One event. Deepak Chopra calls her “the voice for Conscious Evolution in our times.” She has become the subject of much excitement as more people recognize that she holds key codes to help activate this historic event.

More info here. 

Training Session:  Agents of Conscious Evolution (ACE) Training with evolutionary pioneer Barbara Marx Hubbard!

The Shift:  From a worldview built on separation to one based on oneness. Rewiring of beliefs, identity, morals, economies, and even politics - an evolution of consciousness AND culture.

Shift  / from > to:

 

•     Materialism   >   Sacred, living universe
•     Protected borders   >   Open exchange
•     Cutthroat capitalism   >   Socially responsible business
•     Tribal, racial or national identity   >   Global human family
•     National defense   >   International alliances
•     Consumer waste   >   Restorative cycles
•     Competing religions   >   Global spiritual pluralism
•     Patriarchy   >   Masculine-feminine balance & partnership

This IS happening, but how can we best accelerate it? 

More info here.

Training Session:  Agents of Conscious Evolution (ACE) Training with evolutionary pioneer Barbara Marx Hubbard!

 

Doing what you love

The latest craze is to find something you love and then make a living at it. And I'm all for it, but maybe this is not always the best way to approach your career. The problem with this idea is that once you make work of the thing you love, it could start to look more and more like just another job, and then you may not love it anymore.

Hobbies are supposed to take us away from the stresses of the real world. They put us in the zone, a place we like, because this is where we feel the Zen, where we can relax and just enjoy life. Some people like to fly in hot air balloons. We can easily see how this could translate into a great career. Charge people money to fly in your hot air balloon and right there you have a fantastic business model. But what happens when the weather is bad, or you live in Wisconsin, where we have winter for almost half the year? What happens if someone falls out of your balloon or gets hurt simply trying to get in the thing? Uff da. Pretty soon, the hobby starts to look more and more like a job and you don't enjoy it as much as you used to. It used to be that when the winds were just right, you would automatically start thinking about your beautiful balloon, now, you think of how many people you can fly around before the day is over because tomorrow it might rain! You know what I mean?

Hobbies, whether they are the kind you do alone or with others, are the equivalent of a personal, spiritual relationship with God. Enjoying the things we love is a form of worship. When we practice our hobby, and we receive the joy that comes from this practice, we are relating to God, who loves connecting with us in our happiness.

If you are unable to make a living while doing what you love, don't stop doing what you love. ABUBAKAR JAMIL

Somewhere between information overload, boredom and Zen

  
Do you feel like you're on information overload?  Is your brain so overflowing with information that you feel like it's going to bust open one of these days?  I wonder if there's a sweet spot somewhere between information overload, boredom and a Zen-like feeling.  Do you think so?

 

We are living in the information age, no doubt, and too much information makes it difficult to make decisions, having a computer with an Internet connection at your fingertips only multiplies the problem.  If you can call it a problem.  There is a natural urge, a human instinct, to search for new information, so we can survive another day.  Instead of searching for our next meal however, we find ourselves searching for more and more information, we find and read the next email or follow a newsbite or two, or three; we become like cyber-butterflies and down the rabbit hole we go. Several hours later, we can't figure out where the time went!  24 hours later we can't remember half of what we discovered the day before!

Email has turned us into 'lab rats' reports Nick Collins in a recent Telegraph article, desperately craving activity and interaction, we learn how the reward system works, and we make the rounds just like a rat circling its cage looking for food.  It's that survival instinct.   Eric Schmidt, chief executive of Google, believes that all this instant information is affecting our deep thinking process, creating 'thin and scattered' thinking, making learning and retention more difficult. 

There are billions of pages and websites on the Internet and we cannot get through even 1% of them, believe me, I've tried!  So maybe we should stop trying so hard. 

Human attention is a scarce commodity, you need to know that you are the only one who can mange this resource.  You must guard your attention at all times, or you may lose your ability to do so.  The advertiser is looking for your attention and they are very good at getting it.  Advertisers know what you're looking for and they give it to you. 

From the Wikipedia section on 'Attention Economy' - here's what the advertiser gives you: 

1. Immediacy - priority access, immediate delivery
2. Personalization - tailored just for you
3. Interpretation - support and guidance
4. Authenticity - how can you be sure it is the real thing?
5. Accessibility - wherever, whenever
6. Embodiment - books, live music
7. Patronage - "paying simply because it feels good"
8. Findability - "When there are millions of books, millions of songs, millions of films, millions of applications, millions of everything requesting our attention — and most of it free — being found is valuable."

We like all this personal attention, so we buy whatever they're selling, it makes us feel good.  We are bombarded with these messages wherever we turn:  Computers, Television, Billboards, Shopping Malls, shops everywhere, restaurants, grocery stores with a million items on their shelves....and on and on.  We do not need, and we cannot have it all.

There's a new term out there now called 'social interaction overload'.  That's when you spend too much time on Facebook, forums, groups and other online social connections.  A little is fun, a lot is not good.

One approach to solving the problem of information or interaction overload is to regulate it.  I don't care to much for that idea, because there's too much information to regulate!  Sounds more like a way for somebody to make money rather than a solution.  Others feel that we have a filtering problem, we let too much in to begin with; when we should be using our natural filters to keep useless information out.

Another approach is what I like to call the Zen approach.  This requires a little discipline, but it all boils down to making wise choices.  We choose what goes in and what goes out.  You've heard it said 'our thoughts create our world'?  It's true. 

We tend to operate within varying degrees of the following mental states:  Flow, control, relaxation, boredom, apathy, worry, anxiety, and stress.  The trick is to remain in control of the flow of relaxation.  Zen.  LOL    We require stimulation.  We have created a world that is full of stimulation.  Autistic children who are overstimulated will sometimes go off in a corner to be alone, away from people and stimulation; this is called 'stimming'.  We are becoming over-stimulated and are in need of a time-out so we can 'stim down'. 

When we are challenged, we are appropriately stimulated.  If however, the challenge exceeds our skill or knowledge base, we become stressed and anxious.  On the other end, if our skill exceeds the challenge, we feel a sense of control; which can turn into boredom as the challenge becomes less and less challenging.  So we seek another challenge and more stimulation. 

In my mind, the way to reduce the information overload and guard our human attention, is to put yourself in a situation where there are fewer choices, or opportunites, for overload.  Begin by making incremental changes in your daily habits:

1. Set a timer for the amount of time you'll spend on a particular task, such as email, research, social interaction, or other Internet related activities. 
2. Make a list of what needs to be done and determine, choose, to remain focused on that list.  Remember to put fun things on the list too - this is the procrastinator's problem - they never schedule time for fun! 
3. Set a timer for each item on the list and put all your effort into the task at hand.
4. Take time to relax and daydream (deep thinking)... control the flow of relaxtion.  Spend time in prayer and meditation - get away from it all!  Ahhh....Zen. 
5. Reward yourself at the completion of each 'task'.  Maybe get up and walk around, or go for a walk outside.   Enjoy some healthy refreshments. 
6. Create filters to keep out the distractions.  Turn stuff off, move stuff that's distracting.
7. Create your own strategy, you know you best!  Think about what you want to accomplish, and then create a plan that works for you! 

This is a long post, lots of information to read.  I hope this doesn't put you on information overload.  This is not a productivity article, it's a being human quest for rest!  The bottom line is that it's really all about choices.  You know what you really want, you just have to be dilligent and make wise choices.  

May you remain in control of the flow of relaxation and may your life be joyful.  Ahhh....Zen.

Online activity and mental health of teenagers

The headline in an online newspaper reads: 

Online night-owls risk mental illness:  Sleepless nights blamed for rise in teen depression - read more here.

The mental health risk applies to people of all ages, but particularly to still growing young brains.  Whether it's being on the computer, watching TV, playing video games, or texting on a cell phone; all these electronic activities have been shown to over-stimulate the brain.   This over-stimulation keeps us awake at night when we should be sleeping.  Sleep is necessary, in case you didn't know, because the body needs rest, it needs to process the days activities and heal itself.  Lack of sleep presents a concern not only about the onset of mental illness, but also about our general overall health.  Some of these activities have been compared to taking drugs.  This article on video gaming compares 2 hours of video gaming to taking a line of cocaine.  Wow.

So what's a parent to do?  Slowly, but surely now, step away from the (computer, TV, cell phone...) screen.  In my personal observations, I have noted a difference in teens, and grown-ups too, that when they are away from their electronics, they are different people.  Connected to nature, the differences are even more noticeable.  Perhaps a non-scientific experiment is in order.  :)  Take a day trip or weekend trip without the computer laptop, without the cell phone, without the video game system; without any distracting, time occupying electronics of any kind.  If you can't go cold turkey, then settle for a TV set or radio.  Visit a natural area, go camping or stay in a cabin.  Have planned nature activities from the early morning until supper time in the evening.  Teaching and learning together is also an important part of the process.  Of course I believe a little spirituality is good for the soul, perhaps the beautiful creation will inspire you to comment on the Creator here and there.  If the activities are productive, that might even be better; ie chop wood, carry water.  But if home life is all work and no play, then I would definitely opt for a little play time. 

See if you don't notice a difference in their attitude, even a slight one.  The first day might be all about missing their electronics and complaining about everything, or they may surprise you right off the bat.  Hopefully, you will begin to see the real child poking through before the trip is over.  Your personal experience is the only evidence you will need to understand the effect all these electronics are having on us and our children.  

The best way to make any sort of change in your everyday personal habits is to incorporate one thing at a time.  For example, turn off all electronics one hour before bedtime.  Just relax in the living room with your children, talk about the day, read books, get ready for tomorrow, showers, clothes, etc.  It is as much for your benefit as it is theirs.  Drink a glass of water before bedtime to help your body perform its healing magic during your sleep time.  Hug and kiss your kids goodnight and tell them you love them.  This is the beginning of something wonderful.  Amen.

See the following related article on Interfaith Spirit Quest:

Positive results with this daily routine

Positive results with this daily routine

Do you stress out easily, are you gloomy, distressed, jittery, highly frazzled and disorganized?  Does your life feel out of control? Are you constantly worrying or anxious? Well then, maybe this guide can help.

Experience positive results with this daily routine, an Interfaith Spirit Quest - natural guide for your day.  Keyword is 'experience', the idea being to put these ideas into practice and not just think about them.  You will know if it works when you see the results of your efforts after putting this guide into practice.

Keep this in mind: Incorporating spirituality and nature into your day will boost your mood and increase your productivity, naturally. 

• Wake up one hour earlier than is typical for you, for a great start to a great new day.  Relax these rules a little on your 'days off'. Be thankful for this brand new day, share your waking thoughts with God.  God is with you today and everyday.
• Drink a large glass of water.
• Exercise before the shower, before breakfast, get the muscles working earlier in the day to sustain all through the day. This is the time for stimulation, choose your favorite physical activity and make it your morning workout.  Like to exercise in your living room or at the gym?  Fine.  Prefer nature?  Fantastic!  Enjoy audio books on your mp3 player or visualize your day as you work out.
• Shower - personal hygiene - important to your sense of wellness, helps you feel alive, refreshed and presentable.
• Eat breakfast.  Eat healthy meals throughout the day.
• Begin your workday by reviewing your list (the list you created the day before).  Tackle the most important, most difficult jobs first.  Your brain energy is at its best earlier in the day.  Working in this way allows you to enjoy the latter part of your workday more, because the easier tasks are saved for the time of day when your brain and body are seeking a little rest. 
• Eat lunch.  Eat healthy meals throughout the day.
• Tackle your easier activities during this time period - typically the afternoon for those working daytime hours.  Check your emails, handle business calls at this time.  Adjust accordingly to your own schedules.
• Incorporate a short walk, or perhaps a simple exercise, between lunch and dinner, or shortly before dinner, for the purpose of refreshing the senses through nature.  Feel the breeze, the sun, enjoy the natural environment or surroundings, appreciate the blessings of nature, even if the only natural thing you experience is outdoor air.  This is a time of personal meditation, reflection and contemplation. 
• It is helpful to write a to-do list at the end of your day for the next day.  Documenting your future tasks allows you to fully enjoy your time away from work instead of spending your free time thinking about what you need to do tomorrow.  You will sleep better as well.
• Be present with your family, talk about your day with your family, a friend, or friends online on the various social networking sites.  Connect with people in some way at this time of day. 
• Tend to details at home, mail, phone calls, change your clothes to be more comfortable, take another shower if necessary.
• Eat dinner.  Eat healthy meals throughout the day.
• Spend the rest of your evening, or free time, , doing things you enjoy.  This is your time to refresh, renew and rejuvenate. 
• Turn off all electronics at least an hour before bedtime. Computers, TVs, cell phones, etc. over-stimulate the brain, making it too much for your system to deal with right before bedtime.  Read a book, listen to relaxing music, be present with your family, make love to your significant other, enjoy the peace and calm that these moments provide.  Yes it's difficult, but real positive results will come to you if you can make this change to your daily routine.
• Drink a glass of water before bedtime to help your system perform its healing magic during your sleep time.  
• Be thankful for this day and share your end of day thoughts with God.  Sleep well.  Tomorrow is another day. 

Of course everyone's schedule is different and crazy, you should make the necessary adjustments in this guide to suit your personal schedule.  Of course these are only suggestions, and you free to change things up, we welcome your ideas to help us improve this guide, feel free to leave your comments below. 

Think about your daily life, your present routine.  How much of your day is spent doing the exact opposite of these healthy life suggestions?  Now you know how to right the ship, make those changes beginning tomorrow morning.  Deal? 

You can do it!

Interfaith Spirit Quest 50+ Natural Senses

Over a morning cup of coffee/tea at the Atlas Coffee Mill near the river in downtown Appleton, we discovered some of the 50+ natural senses documented by Dr. Michael J. Cohen, Ed.D., Eco-Psychologist, and we learned the importance of nature to our well-being and our spirituality.

ISQ members headed outside for the natural systems part of the program and then returned inside to share their experiences using a special list of 50+ natural senses, sensitivities and sensations. Each person had a unique experience and it was interesting to hear how they were affected by their brief outdoor adventure into the nature area surrounding the Atlas Coffee Mill - which proved to be an excellent location for this spirit and nature activity. 

We all know about our main 5 or 6 senses:  Taste, touch, smell, sound, sight, and intuition/psychic.  But there are many more and Dr. Michael Cohen, Ed.D, Naturalist and Eco-Psychologist has discovered and documented over 50 of these natural senses. 

In our 50+ Natural Senses - Spirit & Nature - Rejuvenate & Refresh program, we learn how to return to nature to restore our true natures, healing all sorts of psychological and even physical issues along the way.  It is a well known fact that it takes only a few minutes in a natural setting to calm our spirits and rejuvenate our energies. 

Through this program, we can create spiritual connections, moments of peace, rest and calm, a sense of adventure and excitement; we can discover problem areas and begin to solve these problems.  We can allow nature to nurture, strengthen and rejuvenate us through the reconnection with nature process, allowing it to become more of who we are everyday and in every way. 

We hope to expand this program to other groups.  This program can be conducted in a 2-3 hour workshop format, a 5 day workshop, a weekend retreat, or a 5 week program.  if you would like ISQ to present this program to your group , please contact the Organizer either by leaving a comment, or by giving us a call at (920) 968-7738.  

Sand art drawing, an Interfaith Spirit Quest nature event

Sand Art Drawing - Interfaith Spirit Quest (click on image to see a larger image)

This sand art drawing was created by fellow Interfaith Spirit Quest members at a scheduled nature event on August 7, 2010.   We drove up to Point Beach State Forest - a state park in the Two Rivers, Wisconsin area, and created this new art on one of the beautiful sandy beaches of Lake Michigan.  Sometimes life is just a day at the beach, ya know? 

This idea was inspired by another sand drawing artist, Jim Denevan. 

How we did it: 

• Searched for and selected the perfect spot on the beach - quiet - away from the main swimming areas
• Raked the area clean and smooth
• Decided on the design - in this case it was a geometric pattern with a message
• Drew the outline with the end of a pole
• Dug a little deeper with various lawn implements
• For the areas with dry sand, we drew the pattern with a watering can (since we don't really have a very large incoming tide, there is not too much wet sand on the Lake Michigan beaches).  We went over it several times with more water and it stayed wet the whole time we were there.
• Went up to a high point, admired our creation, and took this photo
• Jumped in the lake.  I wasn't going to, but I couldn't resist.  It was cool and refreshing... and green :) 
• People up and down the beach walked by, curious as could be.  I told one man who appeared to be there with his kids, to take his kids up to the high point and look down - there would be a message waiting for him there.  (note the photo - it says L-O-V-E) 
• Had a late and satisfying lunch and headed home.  
• Fun in the sun, playing in the sand, what a great day with great friends! 
• What a way to connect or reconnect with nature!  
• A spiritual activity with many benefits!

Click here to watch a video of the Interfaith Spirit Quest sand art drawing

Healing & Healthcare for the Mind, Body & Spirit

Healing comes in the form of material methods as well as prayer, encouragement through faithful progress and a good attitude. A personal transformation of mind and spirit oftentimes leads to healing because bad habits and unhealthy living practices are exchanged for a healthier lifestyle. The expectation of health is in the mind of strong and positive personalities. Fear and anxiety lead to thoughts that are negative and weak, which may lead to physical illness. Not that we think ourselves well or sick, but that our actions (material effect) are a direct result of our attitude, and our actions are what cause health or disease in many instances. The lazy mind resists the efforts that bring about healing.

Good health, a sound mind, and a happy disposition are the result of integrating truth, beauty and goodness into our human experience. Truth - material, philosophical, or spiritual - resonates with the soul. Beauty brings joy and pleasure to the human senses. Goodness brings stability to our world. An abundance of truth, beauty and goodness can heal our hearts, minds and bodies.

The physical body is not afflicted with disease by God, by by the consequences of material effects. Diseases or accidents of nature or material thing are not in any way pre-ordained or arranged by God or any other spiritual force. You are free to reap the rewards of a healthy lifestyle, just as you are free to reap the negative effects of an unhealthy lifestyle. We are equal in our capacity to receive our reward for our actions. Remember that our choices may also affect the lives of others – including our children and other loved ones.

Selflessness – the opposite of selfishness – creates an abundance of joy, which in turn produces medicine for good health, motivation for the heart, and an energizing effect on the mind. Should illness or accident strike, know that these situations will always work out for the welfare and progress of those involved.

To get through trying times, rely on true spiritual faith:

1. Make progress upward and not toward animalistic tendencies
2. Trust God, even if….
3. Have courage
4. Dig deep, stand strong
5. Be at peace
6. Trust the outcome
7. Believe in God
8. Life goes on – even after death
9. Remain triumphant
10. Remain selfless
11. Seek divine guidance, pray faithfully, listen
12. Continue to praise God

Have an extraordinary attitude toward the material environment and a strong faith in the power of the mind, and of God, to heal.

What about miracles?

What if everyone was healed through miracles? How would that advance our world spiritually? What reason would people have to behave responsibly and what would an irresponsible world look like?

If God chooses to heal or help someone through a miracle, we just need to be thankful and smile back.

Interfaith Prayer for Healing:

O Lord my God! I cry unto Thee,
this prayer of faith, for Thou it is Who cures me.

Free us from suffering and disease,
and Unite us with life eternal.

Thy Name is the best bestower of health.
Thy Name is the healing remedy.

Thy Love is the best bestower of health;
Thy Mercy my healing remedy.

Action: Faithful Prayers

Pray sincerely:

• To heal the sick, and heal ourselves
• To receive guidance to bring about healing
• To receive courage, strength and wisdom
• For God's will to be done – exchange our will for God's will
• For God's comfort, peace and love
• For a word of truth

What you can typically hope for in response to your prayer is information and peace; information from the wisest counsel to ever-exist, information that's true, beautiful and good, peace that passes all understanding, peace that comes from God and upon the realization that you have exhausted all efforts toward separation or healing.

Pray for spiritual strength and wisdom to carry you through and to guide you as you work through the issues or problems at hand. Be truthful, selfless, unafraid and personal.

Also see: 

Interfaith Spirit Quest article:

Health & Healing - Material vs Spiritual vs Crackpot Methods

American Holistic Health Association (AHHA) Free Booklet: 

Wellness From Within:  The First Step

Life is like a Cup of Coffee

Good Morning!  How's the coffee? An inspirational message about life to go with your favorite morning beverage.

An Easter Message – A More Compassionate Resurrection

Body, Mind, Spirit & Service

 

 

Meditative Prayer Practice:

Two effective elements of prayer according to Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist Monk, author, poet and scholar, in his book The Energy of Prayer are:

1. Knowing to whom it is that you pray, knowing that you are always connected to this Source.
2. Tapping into the energy between us and the Source, a currency reached through love, mindfulness and right concentration.

Practice:  Please take a moment to acknowledge the Source to whom you pray; we generally use the term God when we name this Source, but feel free to use the reverent term you are most comfortable using. Connect by asking yourself 'to whom do I pray?'

Next, please take a moment to create the energy, the electrical currency needed to establish an effective moment of intimate prayer with God. The electric currency is made up of love, mindfulness and right concentration. Direct your body and mind toward the present moment, be mindful of the connection between your spirit and the Spirit of God dwelling peacefully within.

With all this in mind, use this time to be with God in full awareness. Receive God's love now, give the Creator & Sustainer your gratitude and praise, share your concerns with God as you would with a close friend – for He is closer still. ………….

Listen to the higher thoughts coming to you from the First Source and Center of all things. Hear his answers to your prayers. …………….

Look to your higher self to contemplate and absorb these responses from God. You've always had God's love, you only need to claim it and acknowledge it to receive it. Do this now. Receive God's love in your mind, body and spirit. Live on this love, share it with others. You are at peace. Remain in God's love and peace. Amen.

Brain Rule #8 Stress

The following thoughts on Stress are gleaned from the book Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School - by John Medina.

Out of control stress is bad news for the brains of most people. Some of us tolerate stress better than others; some are super-stress-sensitive!

Handling stress – 'variable balance' (or allostasis) is the ability of the brain or body to change or adapt immediately to the present stressful circumstance – up to a certain degree. There is a point, different for each person, where stress becomes toxic – overloaded. Some things just kick us so hard that we react in strange ways; everything from loud verbal outbursts, to violence, to total withdrawal. The greater the overload, the bigger and harder the fall. Relationships, health, work; all suffer from our inability to maintain our variable balance. Stress can cause depression, which dampens or dulls the brain's natural instincts and problem solving abilities. Depression can also affect our relationships, health and work.

The bottom line is that we have lost our balance – we are out of control. If too much is expected of us and we have no control – we feel helpless and frustrated. We need to restore the sense of balance we have lost by taking control of the situation. Taking control can simply be a matter of changing things up a little, adding variety, letting go of control over others (author: "it's none of your business anyway!") . Taking control is never exerting unwanted, unwarranted, unnecessary control over others.

In the case of relationships, if yours has turned sour and hostile – the key to improving your relationship may be to simply reduce the frequency and severity of hostile interactions between each other, with a return to civility. Easier said than done – but this is the unmedicated prescription.

A More Compassionate Resurrection – a Gift

Interfaith Spirit Quest - An Easter Message for 2010

A Universal Message of Hope for People of All Faiths

Jesus willingly laid down his life – certainly not to give those who sought to destroy him any sense of victory – no, but to be the ultimate victory for all people in all times. Hallelujah! Praise be to God!

Whoever you believe Jesus to be – he gave his life for you. When Jesus said his final words while hanging on the cross: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34); he saved you.

Whatever you have thought about Jesus – when he said on the cross: "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit…" (Luke 23:46); he put his future and yours into God's hands.

So what exactly did Jesus save us from? What does a future in God's hands look like for us today? These questions are totally unique to each one of us and at the same time, universally harmonious.

Unique because we are all individual spirits, unique personalities, working toward a supreme purpose of life – the development of the Christ Mind, a well-balanced and majestic personality – completely and totally, mindfully and lovingly connected and devoted to God – the First Source and Center of all things, including our individual and unique spirits.

Universally harmonious because we are one human race, thrusting together toward the God of our hearts – completely, totally, mindfully and lovingly connected and devoted also to each other – the source of our individual human existence in the physical realm.

Jesus shows us how our personal relationships with each other mirror the personal relationship we can have with God when we commend (entrust) our body, mind and spirit to him. Him? God is more than Father – but there is nothing wrong with using the term Our Father to describe God. God is a Universal Spirit and enjoys the benefits of both masculinity and femininity – he is whole. Does this mean we are not whole? Yes, in the same way that God is not a man (but a Universal Spirit). We are striving toward this goal of developing the Christ Mind – we are missing something. Perhaps, for the masculine minded person it is their feminine mind that needs to be developed. Likewise, the feminine minded person might have a need to develop their masculine mind. Typically, the relationship of man and woman represent our struggle to achieve oneness and balance. If our relationships with each other are more compassionate, we can say we have achieved the Christ Mind, we have developed a more fully, well-balanced, majestic personality.

Jesus still saves. He saves you by demonstrating to us how things ought to be between us; saving us from unnecessary suffering. He demonstrates this through his life by showing us a more compassionate way.

Jesus still saves. He saves you by introducing you, through his death, to the God of spirit and resurrection; saving us from the fear of not knowing. Jesus demonstrates through life and death that we are inseparable from God, for God is not willing that any should perish.

This is the gift of Jesus, a compassionate resurrection, given for all, to people of all faiths. You opened this gift when you were born. It is the gift of life; physical, spiritual and eternal, given to all.

Thank you, Jesus. Hallelujah. Praise be to God.