Speaking of Spirit

  Life is not always sunshine and roses.  One day a year doesn't erase years of pain and anguish. Sometimes, things are so dark that one feels there is no end in sight. BUT - There is always Light, just as there is always darkness.  One cannot exist without the other.  In the midst of pain, finding the Light can seem insurmountable.  However, when we gather our strength, when we hang on to what little hope we can find, suddenly we see it...the Light at the end of the tunnel.  Cautiously, we stumble forward, not sure what awaits us. Until we are there, basking in the Light. As the storm clouds dissipate, as night turns into day, so too the dark times of life open us to the Light of Love.  If I had never been in that darkness, I would never have appreciated, let alone recognized the Love Light that shines around me, now. May the Light of Love surround and bless all who read this, today and every day.  Namast é! Photo Credit: ...

There are several quotes that I read often that speak of "The Light."  The first is, "There are two ways of spreading the Light: to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it," from Edith Wharton. This quote always reminds me that I can share my Light with others or I can reflect their Light back to them or into the world. Then, from one of my heroes, Desmond Tutu, who Lights up any room he enters, there is, "Hope is being able to see the Light despite of all the darkness." This quote calls me to remember that the Sun always shines, even when the sky is cloudy.  In other words, I am not alone, the darkness of the moment will pass AND the Light will shine once more. Finally, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross has always inspired me with, "People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed, only if there is a light from within." Our inner Light is what g...

  Dr. Marcus Borg Back when I was in seminary, I read a book that touched me deeply.  Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time by Marcus Borg was suggested reading.  I chose it because the title intrigued me. Little did I know that it would lead me to one of the most brilliant minds in theology of our time...Marcus Borg. Dr. Borg's book was written, not in academic speak, but from the heart.  As I read, I felt I was having a long talk with a very wise friend.  Meeting Jesus led me to The God We Never Knew and numerous videos, websites and articles that have informed my understanding and affirmed my knowing of the Divine.   One of the best video series I have watched on things theological was Eclipsing the Empire - Dr. Borg's journey through the lands in which the Apostle Paul traveled. He and Dr. Dominic Crossan make the sacred places of ancient times come alive. When I woke today, the headlines announced Dr. Borg's return to Creator after a ...

A popular song in my family of four daughters is "We Are Family." In one of my English as a second language classes, my multi-national students adopted the song to express their delight in finding friendship in other women whose cultures were so different, yet so similar to their own. We ARE family!  Therefore, when one of the members of the family is in pain, or trouble, or is hurt, we all feel for them.   Over the past year, too often, we have been faced with images and stories of members of the human family who are suffering in unimaginable ways.  As in any family, there are times when we are helpless to change the suffering.  But, we can do something...we can pray.   I know from my own life that prayer works.  Prayer changes situations that at first seemed impossible.  One thing to remember, though.  Prayer always gets answered, but not always the way WE want.  So, we much carefully form our intentions and when we p...

How often have you made a New Year's resolution only to have all your resolve crumble before the end the year?  You are not alone! Many years ago, I realized the futility of resolving to lose weight, stop eating sweets, not swearing, etc.  An off-hand comment led me to a new way of looking at resolutions. "Why can't we ever have resolutions that work?" Why, indeed!  I pondered, meditated and chewed on this for days.  Then, on waking one morning, the answer greeted me.  Resolve to do things that you can succeed at, that give back to you and others, that are doable! That first year, I resolved to find something for which to be grateful, weekly, if not daily.  Not only did I get to the end of the year with a very clear idea of all my blessings, I ended the year feeling so good about myself and the world around me!   This past year, my word was JOY.  I looked for joy, daily.  No surprise, I found it, even on the worse, most difficult ...

Sunrise (c) L. M. R. Neas 2014 Last year, I asked the question, "What happens once the stable is empty?" This year, the same question from another point of view... Now that the Light has returned, what next?    During this season of Light, Love and Peace, many spiritual traditions celebrate the return of Light to the world.  For Pagans, this is seen in the return of the Sun - the days get longer after the Winter Solstice.  For Christians, this is seen in Jesus' birth; he is the Light of the World.    Regardless of how this image of Light returning to a dark world is seen, what we do once the Light has returned makes all the difference. Do we stand in the Light, basking in the rays of warmth and filling our spirits with joy, love and peace?  Or, do we find the darkest corner we can to hide?  Do we call others to share the Light?  Or, do we act as if the Light has always been there? The Cherokee have a story of how the people we...