Speaking of Spirit

Evil is evil. Evil wears many faces, has many names and exists in many places. When evil rises up, we cannot hide behind politicians, who may or may not risk their political careers to condemn evil. We cannot run to our clergy, expecting them to somehow conjure up miraculous cures for evil. We cannot turn our backs, expecting someone else to deal with the problem because it isn't in our continent, our country, our state, our city, our community or our home.  Evil IS evil. We must unite and face it. We must say, not again, not now, not ever.  My father, my uncles, my friends did not fight in a land across the sea, some dying, to stop Evil from spreading.   We cannot run from Evil, for it exists everywhere we go. BUT, we can stop it.  Be a Light in the darkness of Evil. Be a Light that grows bright against the hate.  Be a Light that illuminates the shadows of fear.  Be a Light! Glow fearlessly!

Photo Credit: (c) 2017 Linda M. Rhinehart Neas       Blessings! For Christians around the world, today is Pentecost Sunday. This is the feast of the Holy Spirit. Today, more than ever, I believe we are in great need of the Spirit in all our lives. We, like the early disciples, are full of fear. The world around us is dangerous. Sometimes it feels that hatred is running rampant through our lives. But, if we open ourselves to Spirit, remembering that we all carry within us the Spark of Light from the Divine, then we can release the fear and walk fearlessly into the darkness of the world. How can we do that? How can we joyously leave the shelter of our rooms to share Love with the world? First, we must disassociate ourselves from that which sucks our hope, trust and love dry. Turn off the media. Leave the doomsayers behind. Second, we must nurture our own timid hearts. We must feed our souls with Love and Beauty. We must spend alone time with Creator. W...

Photo: (c) 2015 Linda M Neas Living in farm country has a way of keeping me balanced - of keeping me from becoming too obsessed with any one thing - because on a farm, everything runs by seasons. "This too shall pass," is lived out without conscious thought. Change simply is. Over the past month, change has hit many upside the head and left us spinning. The unthinkable has become reality. That reality has strained the very foundations of what we believe. Fear and depression has nipped at our heals.  For many, balance is tenuous. This too shall pass!  What I have learned, living in the community of farms, is that the dawn brings a new day, the harvest brings nourishment and once spring comes, the cycle begins again.  Applying that to life, I find that challenges can be overwhelming if I mire myself in the mud of "what if" or "I can't."  But, if I roll up my preverbial sleeves and fearlessly delve into the problem, a solution, a resolu...

When Josiah Gilbert Holland penned the words to his poem, Wanted , he could hardly have known how universal and everlasting they would become . In 1872, the suffrage movement was in full swing. Ironically, while Holland was a supporter of President Linconln's efforts toward emancipation, he was vehemently opposed to suffrage and women's rights. Nevertheless, I believe, this poem written in the midst of the battle for women's rights has transcended that moment in time.   Today, Holland's words can be used as a call to wake the masses from the apathy and media brainwashing that exists in our country and around the world.  (NOTE: In sharing Holland's words, I have, in parenthesis, replaced the word men with people. Suffrage became reality in 1920. A poem of this ilk can now be fearlessly addressed to all, thus the use of "people.") WANTED God, give us (people!) A time like this demands          Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready...

As we entered the New Year, I meditated upon my one word for the year.  What came to me was "fearless." Given the state of the world and the constant battle I have been doing with fear, this word felt Heaven-sent. During the past five days, I have felt like the women of the scripture who are told, "Be not afraid." Over and over, I have been reminded that I can be fearless as I teach, as I write, as I minister. Good people will continue to do good things. God will provide for my needs, as always. My one concern is to continue shining the Light that has been given me to share - the Light of Love, the Light of Peace and the Light of Acceptance. In my searches for quotes by women who exemplify fearlessness, I have found the following: We realize the importance of our voices only when they are silenced.  ~ Malala Yousafzai We can do no great things, only small things with great love.  ~ Mother Theresa Our deepest wishes are whispers of our authentic sel...