November 17, 2002

• 
  REFLECTIONS .....
  
  ..... THE TEACHER'S JOURNEY
  
  When it comes to providing spiritual instruction --- I prefer being presented with a question or challenging circumstance, which requires a response from me; this is the best of all possible environments, for facilitating my creative teaching abilities --- but if it's required, I can prepare in advance, or improvise on call, to function as the initiator of a discussion topic. Either way, it's always good to be sharing my wisdoms, whether I'm dealing with an individual student who is still searching, a seasoned pilgrim like myself, who "knows" ..... and who also "knows that they know!", or a small group or very large audience in a class or seminar type setting.
  
  About speaking [openly] of God as such, I am able to get away with it. I truly have no need for anyone to agree or disagree, with what works for me. (I'm not implying that there are persons reading this statement who do [require outside approval from others] --- I'm just relating my experience and state of being.) I rarely get any flack or unpleasant questions when I speak of God. The concept of a big ole' protective, loving Father is what works best for me. It's very soothing to visualize myself as a little 5-or-6-year-old child, climbing up into His lap, and being cuddled and cradled with total affection, perfect love, and utter safety. This works especially well for me, when I'm hurting and in particular need of comfort and attention [from Him]!
  
  My conscious contact with God began with my conversion. My journey as a spiritually awakened, born-again-Pentecostal-Christian, was launched in 1960, and lasted for most of seven years; yet for decades (since around 1972), I have worked with folks who are following all types of paths or teachings, and I am able to help them grow in the direction of their spiritual longing. Ultimately, it's their choice ..... and it's frequently about "blooming where you are planted"! Whatever specific teaching folks follow is fine with me (as long as they are satisfied with it); theological differences are not an issue.
  
  I do have a strong Judeo-Christian foundation. I'm maternally half-Jewish by tribe (but not by religion), and I love the Bible; but my understanding of Jesus and his identity, is not exactly what I originally learned in church. I also divorced myself from several other very intrinsic Christian beliefs, when I left that teaching.
  
  For me, many of these doctrines are myth and symbolism, etc.; such as the belief in an unseen evil leader (Satan or the Devil), battling against God all the time, and making life hard on folks. Again, for myself --- I just can't abide that tenet, as well as some other Christian teachings --- even though I have no issue with other people embracing such credos.
  
  However, my spiritual dialogue and some of my other spiritual qualities, definitely have a Christian Fundamentalist flavor and essence. It's cool, `cause I keep things very simple and direct --- without the need to be rigid, exclusive, or elite; and without practicing arbitrary rejection.

  I like the example of the wheel

  The outer rim is the general journey through life which everyone travels ..... birth to death; the spokes are all the various spiritual and/or religious paths that folks take to reach the hub; and the hub is Spirit, the Ultimate, the Eternal ..... the hub is God.
  
  This was the first area of my life where I truly released any personal agenda for others, and began to practice the principal of

  "Live and Let Live"

  It's certainly the least practiced principle in the world, because it's the most difficult. I've grown in that principle throughout many other areas of my spirit and character, but like most folks, there are still scenarios where I'm a control freak! (No one's human-ness gets perfect this side of the grave, that's for sure ..... there is always a flaw or two, or TEN, to keep us hard at work!)
  
  Ultimately, I found organized religion lacking in what I needed. I am spiritual, but not religious. I am an eclectic who took what I wanted, and discarded the rest. I assessed the various teachings I had experienced, studied or investigated; keeping what made sense and worked for me. I then left the rest behind. As a finishing touch, I put my own spin on the whole deal.
  
  The concept(s) I settled on in 1969, could be described as essential; a sturdy skeletal foundation supporting lean muscle mass, with no excess or unnecessary flesh under the skin. Today (by comparison), I embrace essentially the same principles, but the "body" of my philosophy has been more than adequately fleshed out ..... it's pleasingly plump ("chubby" like a Buddha!). This is not to imply that the earlier years [starting in 1969] were lacking. What I found back then was utterly satisfying and infinitely sufficient for my needs; but naturally, our requirements change over the course of life, and whatever faith one hopefully has, will grow to meet every challenge that passes our way.
  
  

  ..... to be continued

  • 2:34 pm
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