Being Politically Active and Spiritually Serene – Part 2

Several people responded to my message last week by indicating that it wasn’t really very helpful. It contained some nice thoughts, was well-written, but was almost Pollyanna-ish. Not very helpful in the practical sense.

Here’s Part Two.

Last week I wrote:

“It’s been very difficult for me to be (a) politically active since the election and (b) spiritually centered at the same time. The more active I want to become the more frustrated/angry/disappointed I also become. Something’s not right – and the problem is in me.…

“I need to be in balance with both sets of these activities. In short, I need to be as politically active as I can, but not out of anger, fear, frustration, or anxiety. I need to be politically active out of love and acceptance.

“But how can I do that?”

I tried to answer that question by providing some simple analogies. I closed with:

“I need to understand that my perception of things, people or events is not really real. I have to acknowledge that these things certainly appear to be very, very real. But they’re not. I need to ask for a different way of looking at the situation. I need to “see” not with physical sight, but with spiritual vision – to “see” the same way the Holy Spirit “sees:” Everything is either an act of Love or a call for Love. That ability to “see” like the Holy Spirit is given to me as a gift from God.

“So, I can protest, write my congressional representatives, send emails, sign petitions, or contribute money sensing that this movement of our new government is simply a call for Love. It is an attempt to assuage fear by accumulating and exercising power to provide them with security. I can try to accept (which is to be aware without fear or judgment) their insecurity and attempt to correct their “not knowing” rather than screaming out of my self-righteous anger and fear.”

Being a grateful member of Alcoholics Anonymous has helped me beyond what can be discussed here. I cannot speak for AA (no one can) but I can relate things taught me by old-timers in the Program. These ideas and practical suggestions lie behind all of what I wrote last week. [As an aside – I believe the principles of A Course in Miracles (ACIM) and the practical suggestions of AA are so much in sync that they become almost indivisible in my mind]

Basically, I want to suggest that you simply do the next right thing when faced with “political” issues that are coming out of Washington, DC. Pray, meditate, discuss, or whatever it is you normally do, and then do what you think is right/correct/possible for you to do. But, as I was taught, do these things without expectations.

It is similar to making a 9^th Step amend to someone I have harmed while still drinking. I am making the amend for myself – to help me clean the messes I have made. This is necessary for me to open up myself to positive change. If the other person cannot accept my amend, I cannot worry about that. I may be saddened, of course. But how someone responds to me is beyond my act of contrition and the amend I was offering them. I was cautioned to “do the work honestly and let the God of my understanding handle the outcome.” 

When I find myself frustrated, worried, fearful, and – especially – angry at not getting the outcome I was hoping for (translation: expected), then I can be relatively assured that I was not focused on my part only. I was concerned with the outcome I preferred to occur, not on the solid genuineness of making an honest, heart-felt amend.

When I am focused on outcomes, then I fully understand that I am not trying to simply do God’s work as best I understand it. I am really trying to do God’s job. When I put it to myself that that’s exactly what I was up to, and that’s exactly why I’m feeling so frustrated and angry – I am always stunned at the error I made – again. And again. And again. I am still a work in progress.

So, continue writing, calling, emailing, attending Town Hall meetings, working in concert with other groups, marching, making signs, or whatever. But do so following your heart and allowing the God of your understanding to control the outcome. I can try to accept (which is to be aware without fear or judgment) the politicians’ insecurity and attempt to correct their “not knowing” rather than screaming out of my self-righteous anger and fear because I want my outcome to occur.

You are not expected to do God’s job. So, quit trying to.

As I’ve stated before, “I have to understand, on a visceral level, who the “Me” or “I” really is when I am speaking or thinking. The “I” that says to myself, “I really need a newer, more reliable car” is a different “I” than the one that says to Spirit, “I can’t do this anymore; help me perceive things the way You see them.”

Although these messages are mostly for me, thanks for listening to me and getting to know me – warts and all. As always, feel free to forward this message to your friends, family, and those accompanying you on your spiritual journey.

Don

#3 Feb 2017

Copyright 2017

The Women’s March and the Age of the Feminine

The Age of Aquarius is the beginning of the influence of the Age of the Feminine, which will last from 2000 to 4100. It replaces the Age of Pisces (masculine energy), which heavily influenced civilization for the last 2,100 years. Perhaps you remember the Harmonic Convergence in 1987 or the Mayan Prophecies in 2012. These two esoteric events were to be the beginnings of the Age of the Feminine. This beginning began – astrologically – with the Harmonic Convergence and concluded with the Mayan Prophecies, which declared that this was the end of the [masculine] world as we knew it. The earliest description of the Age of the Feminine I can recall was that this feminine influence will emphasize cooperation over the old-energy masculine emphasis on competition.

It was stated that the transition from Pisces to Aquarius will last 50 years or so.  This shift from competition to cooperation also will occur within the midst of a rapidly advancing shift from national information, politics and economies to one of globalized information, politics and economics. I do not believe we have any problems seeing the current effects of this occurring shift.

But the varied groups, interests, and focuses that were represented in the “Women’s March” were so diverse, yet unified, that everyone seemed to ignore the small differences that existed between their specific, acute causes. They had coalesced around their commonality rather than splintering off for their specific interests. Perhaps, it is an indication of how a feminine outlook is not as concerned about power struggles for “top billing,” or for egoic recognition. It was a perfect example of the feminine emphasis on cooperation rather than the old energy of competition.

Carolyn Myss wrote in her newsletter [Museletter - I marched in the Women's March ... Jan 23, 2017] about her experience in Chicago during the Women’s March.  I want to quote from it and encourage each of you to read the entire article: <info@myss.com>.  I think she is right-on:

“As a grad student in Theology, I learned some wildly intriguing Truths about the nature of good and evil and how these forces weave their way into the human condition…. Light does attract Darkness and Darkness does attract the Light. This is the polarity of the Yin and Yang.… How often is a person tempted to misuse some new form of power (money, position, authority) before that individual really learns how to manage that power?

“Yesterday was an experience - perhaps the experience - of the global rise of the Light embodied in the Feminine uniting Her countless fragments to become a global voice for power, for survival - for human dignity. Yesterday, we took our own authority to a new level, beyond the personal and catapulted into the impersonal, cosmic field. We witnessed our own power connected with hundreds of thousands of soul-companions, all of whom shared the same passion and respect for their own body, their intelligence, their spirit - and their rights as citizens. We saw what we can do beyond small groups, beyond local support groups, beyond our small prayer groups. Yesterday, while we were walking in our individual cities, towns and villages, we were simultaneously weaving together a global "inner net" of souls.

“Amazing. Just astounding. But maybe not…. Maybe this is exactly the right time to become activists. Yesterday felt so right. I felt hopeful for the first time in a long time. Truly, deeply hopeful. I felt that instead of "accepting the things I cannot change", we could "change the things we cannot accept."

“And this may be the most outrageous thought of all: We might have to thank the darkness for uniting all of us together. For this remarkable movement of inspired and empowered human beings would not have happened had it not been for his occupying the White House. The Feminine Light would not have burst forth through us like a cosmic blast, inspiring millions to take to the streets and represent our dignity and spirit, had he not made such a "Lightning Strike" essential. But Light stood up to darkness on Saturday. And in the perfection of peacefulness, the Light sent shock waves around the world: We are here. We are no longer silent.

“… From a mystical perspective, the Light uses the Dark to awake in people that inner craving for those qualities of the soul that are fed by the Light: Liberty, Dignity, Virtue, Honor, Equality. He is the essential catalyst that stirred up a hidden shadow side of humanity, a shadow all of us have in some way helped form… Remember that we are a part of every event in some way. We need to look at this darkness in ourselves, carefully and deeply, as Darkness around you can draw you in. Hatred, [fear] and rage are contagious.

“Light participates in the dance of Darkness and Darkness participates in the evolution of the Light. It has always been this way. History teaches us that any time massive change happens, societies become fearful [and we need to be aware that you] and I can become fearful and fragile at any time… We are a changing society in a rapidly changing world. We cannot go backwards to some "good old days…." People fear the future because they cannot see a place for themselves "somewhere down the line…." A fearful [masculine] society always tries to repress its women and its intellectuals. We are both. And we say NO.

“Maybe another politician who recognized this vulnerability and anger in the public could have awakened the fearful and stirred the underbelly of anger in America…. Nevertheless, it was his shadow charisma that called out the Light of the Feminine more strongly than any other event of force in the history of the planet… Nothing and no one person has ever inspired a global uprising in support of the dignity of women. We have to say to him, ‘Well done. Thank you for uniting us. Honestly. We thank you. No one else could have done this.’"

A Course In Miracles (ACIM) states this truth in the Manual for Teachers, Section 18 (How is correction made?), paragraphs 2-3:

2 [The major lesson for God’s teachers is to learn how to react without anger/fear to thoughts that appear to be true in our perceived world of form. (My words: And it must be remembered that acceptance is merely being aware without judgment and fear)]. Only in this way can [Teachers] proclaim the truth about themselves. Through them, the Holy Spirit can now speak of the reality of the Son of God. Now He can remind the world of sinlessness, the one unchanged, unchangeable condition of all that God created. Now He can speak the Word of God to listening ears, and bring Christ's vision to eyes that see. Now is He free to teach all minds the truth of what they are, so they will gladly be returned to Him. And now is guilt forgiven, overlooked completely in His sight and in God's Word.

3 Anger but screeches, "Guilt is real!" Reality is blotted out as this insane belief is taken as replacement for God's Word. The body's eyes now "see;" its ears alone can "hear." Its little space and tiny breath become the measure of reality. And truth becomes diminutive and meaningless. Correction has one answer to all this…:

You but mistake interpretation for the truth. And you are wrong. But a mistake is not a sin, nor has reality been taken from its throne by your mistakes. God reigns forever, and His laws alone prevail upon you and upon the world. His Love remains the only thing there is. Fear is illusion, for you are like Him.

As I’ve stated before, “I have to understand, on a visceral level, who the “Me” or “I” really is when I am speaking or thinking. The “I” that says to myself, “I really need a newer, more reliable car” is a different “I” than the one that says to Spirit, “I can’t do this anymore; help me perceive things the way You see them.”

Although these messages are mostly for me, thanks for listening to me and getting to know me – warts and all. As always, feel free to forward this message to your friends, family, and those accompanying you on your spiritual journey.

Don

#4 Jan 2017

Copyright 2017

Do Not Forget the HOW in 2017

Happy New Year!

Very early in AA I learned about the importance of HOW – to be Honest, Open-minded and Willing. I remember asking questions of members in the fellowship about bosses, children, family members, and questions about how to handle myself. For some inexplicable reason (that I now attribute to my higher power), the questions and issues I discussed were done often in an embarrassingly honest and open way. I didn’t embellish or minimize. Then, I really listened to the answers I got. Rather than trying to explain how different I was and offering all sorts of reasons their suggestion(s) did not really apply to me, I took their experiences seriously and was willing to apply their suggestions to myself.

It worked. I made better decisions, thought through issues in a more reasoned manner, acted in better ways and, voilà, got better results. As I progressed in the development of my sobriety, I watched as others, many of whom had real severe issues with being uncomfortably honest and open with people, did the same thing and began getting better. Their level of comfort in honestly sharing improved, as did their issues or questions – and the answers they received improved as well.

A Course In Miracles (ACIM) encourages us to do much the same. In the most recent issue (Jan/Feb 2017) of The Holy Encounter, Beverly Hutchinson McNeff, the co-founder of the Miracle Distribution Center, wrote an article entitled “Make This Year Different…” In part it reads:

“ A Course in Miracles invites us to ‘make this year different by making it all the same.’ It asks us to let all our relationships be made holy for us. This is its advice on how to make the year different from all others: to consistently allow the Holy Spirit to heal our relationships for us.

“You may think: ‘What are you talking about? All my relationships are just fine.’ But let’s remember, we wouldn’t be here if we were truly healed. We can all benefit by allowing the Holy Spirit into our minds and letting Him do the work.

“So this year instead of resisting healing by saying I can’t do it … it’s too hard … I’m not spiritual enough … there’s nothing to heal…. Let’s just invite Him in. Let’s step back from what we think we know and become comfortable with the presence of God, the presence of love that only wants our happiness and healing.

Mots of the time we don’t know why we’re unhappy, depressed, or anxious. Don’t let that stop you from inviting in the Holy Spirit’s presence. He knows how to help even if you don’t. Your understanding is not necessary for Him to work; only your willingness is.” [Miracle Distribution Center, Anaheim, CA, [www.miraclecenter.org] p.11]

I don’t know about you, but I think this is a pretty good New Year’s resolution.

As I’ve stated before, “I have to understand, on a visceral level, who the “Me” or “I” really is when I am speaking or thinking. The “I” that says to myself, “I really need a newer, more reliable car” is a different “I” than the one that says to Spirit, “I can’t do this anymore; help me perceive things the way You see them.”

Although these messages are mostly for me, thanks for listening to me and getting to know me – warts and all. As always, feel free to forward this message to your friends, family, and those accompanying you on your spiritual journey.

Don

#4 Dec 2016

Copyright 2016

Now That The Election Is Over …

The unceasing message of Donald Trump was based on nativism, authoritarianism, misogyny, and racism. It was designed to strike fear into the hearts of the vulnerable, the weak, and, above all, the many varieties of Other whom he has so deeply insulted: The African-American Other; The Hispanic Other; The female Other; The Jewish and Muslim Other. This repeated mantra of fear, anger, hatred, separateness, and nativism, as well as the concerted effort to focus those dark energies on Obama then Clinton and all Democrats has worked.

There were – surprising to all of us (Republicans as well as Democrats) – half the voting population that were receptive to that message. Donald Trump was not surprising, when I look back on it. He was simply the media-savvy face of this repeated intolerant, angry mantra of the Conservative Right and the Alt-Right media. Christian ministers preached not from the words of Jesus, nor from the New Testament, but from the severe, pedantic legalities of the Old Testament priesthood. [I discuss this in my book, How the Bible became the Bible, Infinity Publishing, ISBN: 978-0-7414-2993-3 ] In doing so these ministers complemented the tone of the Alt-Right.

During the campaign, while Hillary and her many messengers spoke TO that fear and spoke ABOUT that fear, Trump and his minions spoke the language OF that fear, anger and hatred. That resonated in a visceral way with the “left-behind” that none of us comprehended. It solidified the promise of votes for him, regardless of his vitriolic campaign and message.

I am reminded of the words of European theologians in the 1930s that the way to allow dark, hateful energy to get a stranglehold on a nation is for men and women of good will to say and do nothing. That has seemed to be the position of moderate and responsible conservative politicians and leaders. It was also stated that the national longing and rise in authoritarian leadership was not because fascism was so strong, but because concepts of and participation in equality, dignity, civility and democracy were so weak.

I must remember, without glossing over the seriousness of the Republican rhetoric – epitomized by Trump – that I must strive for control over my response to my experience of the events that have happened – not for control over the events, themselves.

Yes, the election is over – and those of us who were appalled by Mr. Trump’s rhetoric, are saddened, frustrated, disheartened and feeling hopeless,

But now our job is to allow our light to shine. We must accept what has happened, understanding the real meaning of acceptance: Awareness without fear. We will not condone what Donald Trump has nurtured and unleashed for votes. We will not condone the silence of what Republican leadership has (or has not) done for the sake of winning. We are aware, but not from a position of fear and anger. For example, you can go to the Southern Poverty Law Center and sign the petition they are circulating, asking Mr. Trump to disavow all hate groups and promising not to assign any of his Alt-Right campaign advisors to positions in his administration: [Tell Donald Trump to honor his pledge to America by signing our petition today.

However, the danger we must all guard against is the truism that nothing will cover up and engulf our spiritual light more quickly and easily than flooding our Spirit with our own egoic anger and fear.

As I’ve stated before, “I have to understand, on a visceral level, who the “Me” or “I” really is when I am speaking or thinking. The “I” that says to myself, “I really need a newer, more reliable car” is a different “I” than the one that says to Spirit, “I can’t do this anymore; help me perceive things the way You see them.”

Although these messages are mostly for me, thanks for listening to me and getting to know me – warts and all. As always, feel free to forward this message to your friends, family, and those accompanying you on your spiritual journey.

Don

#2 Nov 2016

Copyright 2016

Healing My Self While Being Healed

When we think of healing or being healed we usually think of some sort of remedy for an illness. We do the remedy and it works. We are healed. So, sickness and its corresponding healing is of my body. When I am sick I am aware – really aware – of my physical body. According the ACIM, that is the real function of my body – to provide Felix (my Ego) “proof” that my body and my Self are one and the same. But I have learned I am not my body. Nor am I what I think. So, what kind of healing is the Course talking about? What kind of healing do I really need?

In the text of A Course in Miracles (ACIM), it is stated: “The only thing that is required for a healing is a lack of fear. The fearful are not healed, and cannot heal. This does not mean the conflict must be gone forever from your mind to heal. ... But it does mean, if only for an instant, you love without attack. An instant is sufficient. Miracles wait not on time.” [ACIM: T.27.V-2:5-14; emphasis mine]

As an aside: I think a perfect definition of Acceptance would be: Love Without Attack or Conditions.

The Course tells me sickness and healing are entirely of my mind. Felix’s sick mind is the source of all my pain. Healing is the replacement of wrong thinking with right thinking – the release from fear and the acceptance of love. Ultimately, I will find healing through the letting go of my old perceptions – both of myself as well as of others – that I am separate and alone. This will let me see past my sick appearances to the underlying wholeness – both of me and of all others.

I sure found this to be true, as I became a part of Alcoholics Anonymous, although I would not have expressed it in these words. For the first time in my life I felt totally accepted in those dank church basements sitting at tables designed for elementary school children. I was simply me – as honestly as I could be – warts and all. And that was good enough. That was valued. I was valued. That transformed my life. I have never been the same since. In ACIM lingo, I was being healed as I was honestly sharing in those rooms. “What occurred within the instant that love entered in without attack will stay with you forever.” [ACIM: T.27.V-11:4] Amen Brother! Amen!

The reality of healing, no matter how trivial you may think it is – or how profound (as in my case) – will forever change your life. In AA I heard many old-timers say to a newcomer: “If you want what we have (serenity, joy, and the lifting of the compulsion to drink), then do what we do. Don’t drink, get a temporary sponsor, and come to 90 meetings in 90 days. After that, if you want to go back out and resume your previous life, we will gladly refund your misery. However, please remember, having become just a little acquainted AA, your drinking will forever be ruined.”

I stayed after 90 days. I was driven, not so much by the act of not drinking, but by the fear of losing the acceptance I found in those rooms. I was beginning to perceive that a developing spirituality was bringing me peace and joy because life in that context was always a win-win. Either I was presented with an outcome that materially benefitted me or I was presented with an outcome from which I needed to learn – often referred to as “… another frigging growth experience (AFGE).”

So, what is to fear or be angry about? I’m either getting what I need or I’m given an opportunity to grow in a way that will benefit me. Where’s the downside? Win-Win.

That was simply marvelous.

That was simply wonderful.

That was simply a miracle.

And I began a process – that is still in progress – of changing from the inside out.

And here I am on the eve of my 29^th AA anniversary. I could never have imagined this was where I would be when I first entered a small house in Reston, Virginia called “The Stepping Stones.” There were 7 or 8 grizzled old men, who could tell I was new, and who gently began accepting me as the most important person in the world, while the Holy Spirit began healing my mind by providing me with a different way of looking at life.

Although these messages are mostly for me, thanks for listening. As always – feel free to forward this message to your friends, family, and those accompanying you on your spiritual journey.

Don

#3 Apr 2016

Copyright 2016