To be cultivated...

The tears of the believer is a result of the realization that she is the old version, full of ruin... the part that does not move on. The rejoice of the believer is the knowing that evolution and transformation is possible.

One we can see as transformed is Christ. He embodies the transformation. The evolution- the making of something new- into something better.

In day in time we speak in terms of sustainability. This life is only sustainable with balance which includes our physical death. We both praise and mourn this once we reach the age of realization, that we do not live forever. We praise that there is something new and wonderful ahead. We mourn the leaving of what we know and understand in the present.

The hope of something better comforts us so that we may live. But live righteously- for the creation, your offspring, so that not only will the world around them be evolved for the better, but so that they will be a better version, an evolved version of you.

Ruin is the road to transformation, as Christ shows us through his Life and Death. We can see this physically as well as we die, return to dust, and give new life to the soil, plants and the rest of the food chain. We do go from dust to dust.

There are times in my life like today where I mourn. I mourn many things, the sadness of the world, my lack of direction and purpose, my lack of someone to care for. It is from this mourning that I am inspired to write. From the sadness, comes realization and creation. After writing, I rejoice in the words that have come. Knowing that more will follow, both mourning and rejoicing, I continue.

For my friends: Atheists, Buddhists, Christians, And Whatever Else You Are

I find myself reading the video and article posts of friends on facebook every day. I am genuinely intrigued as to how to approach each of them. I find myself drawn to the practicality and reason that many Atheists present, however I still connect with the meditation of a Buddhist, the prayer of a Yogi, the integration of animals and nature of a Pagan, and the heritage and profound symbolism of Hope, Compassion, Faith and Love of Christ.

My hope in the future is that the conversations between all people of all beliefs (whether political, religious, spiritual, sexual preference, race, language, etc.) are able to be peaceful. Truly be Unified in Diversity. To be kind to one another, though we may disagree.

I think what we disagree on mostly is our form of expression. Even within the church people argue about what style of worship is best. Old people want less praise and worship. Young people want less hymns. It is so wonderful that the church I attend offers a Unified Service in which both styles are present.

People judge others based on their expressions and behaviours all the time. SOME conservative people don't like how "expressive" or "theatrical" (those are the nicest ways it's said, I am aware) SOME liberal people are. SOME liberal people don't like how "snooty" or "rigid" (again... the nicest ways it's said) SOME conservative people are. I capitalize SOME, because it is important to realize it IS NOT ALL.

Whichever group you find yourself in or out of, we could probably agree on this:

No one likes to feel stupid. No one likes to be the outcast.

Just as one looks into her/his closet and sees an array of colors and picked a blue shirt, I have picked Christianity. I debate with myself on how much of a choice I had, because part of me so naturally identifies with it, but I acknowledge my free will as well. And just because I choose to express my spirituality in this manner, does not mean I am unreasonable. I am quite capable of having reasonable conversations. I have studied history, philosophy, evolutionary biology, psychology, literature and linguistics. No, I'm not an expert on any of these, but I can hold a reasonable conversation.

There are times when I get upset because the impression I get from some Atheists is that because I am a woman of Faith... I am stupid and unreasonable. This makes me sad, just as it makes me sad to see Christians treat Atheists as Immoral or people of a different colors, languages, ages, "different" as if being different (as they certainly are) is a bad thing thus making them incapable/unworthy of communication.

I can't help but think to myself/pray to God, "Why can't we all get along?" as I used to do as a child when I saw or experienced other hurtful experiences. This post, is an expression or offering along those lines. Why CAN'T we just get along?

I offer this as peaceful bridge.

Below are some links to videos friends have posted that I wanted to stockpile. Probably add more later.

On Religion

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/dan_dennett_s_response_to_rick_warren.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6NPq_kPSUM#t=1m04s

On Gay Marriage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rfobL3900wI

Spring

Spring. Though it is not "officially" spring, today is the beginning in my mind. I am inspired by the warmth I feel on my bare arms, and the slight breeze that blows my skirt around my feet as I eat black beans and rice outside on the stoop in the afternoon sunshine.

I have been researching and reading about Ash Wednesday, Lent and Easter lately, looking for prayers in preparation of the upcoming season. It came to my attention a few years ago, the question of why we celebrate Easter, the Death and Resurrection of Christ, in the Spring. We celebrate his Birth in the dreary months of winter, which is famously and somewhat universally a symbol of death.

Why did the church leaders of the path make this so? It has become common myth (myth because it is hearsay and I have not SEEN evidence) that these dates are flip-flopped (and please correct me if I'm wrong). But that way back in the day Christ was actually BORN in April, and DIED in what we know as December.

If this is indeed true (the flip-floppiness), I think it is a smart move from whoever decided it. During the Spring, Christians are reminded that there is indeed physical Death, that we will inevitably experience. We are reminded in the midst of Spring Celebration, that there is always Mourning to come. Whether it is mourning in our personal lives such of a family member, but also that Life is not all a bed of roses, which begin their bloom in the Spring.

Just as we are reminded of Death, in the midst of our Celebration of Spring, we are reminded of Birth in winter. During the long cold, dark, harsh winter months, we are oppressed by Nature and limited in some of our activities. But in the midst of this, Christ is Born! A signal that something great is to come in the future, thus we Rejoice! A Light in the Dark!

How clever of someone to have set this tale... Well, at least for this side of the Earth. I suppose the other side is celebrating at the appropriate time!?

How am I supposed to put myself in Jesus's shoes, if He didn't wear any?

On the way to work I heard the song "How Many Kings" by Downhere. It catalyzed the following.

What we as Christians are asking of others is to be freed. Freed from works, freed from the ways of the world- the anxieties and worries and obligations... our daily burdens. Some religions may require a certain process in order to reach 'good standing' with God/Gods (like works, sacrifices, stewardship, etc.). Perhaps they require some or all of these things in order to have salvation, or an entry into Heaven or What Lays Beyond Death.

Think of it as a ticket. What do you have to do to get a ticket into Heaven (whatever that is..)? Christ tells us we do not have to have anything but Him. It was his blood shed on the cross that paid our way into heaven. There are no strings attached. No stewardship, works, deeds, sacrifices, prayers, promises, or time lived "without sinning" is necessary to have eternal life. Ok, ok... you're saying, "Duh!"

What about people who say... "you must accept Jesus into your heart" or "just believe in Him" to get into Heaven... Is this correct? Isn't that adding a little something something to this salvation business? Didn't Jesus save everyone? And didn't he do that ohhhh 2011 years ago? My thought: It already happened. He already saved you, me and everyone in between.

I think one failure as Christians is sometimes we worship Heaven itself. We don't even know what it entails! Is it "sitting in clouds after we die playing harps all day" as my pastor laughingly described? Is it a molecular fusion in some meta-universe? Is it becoming a star in the mysterious night sky?

I don't know. No one knows. There is no way to experience what happens after we die because we cannot transcend time. Perhaps Christians shouldn't focus so much on what happens after we die... because we aren't in control of that anyway. Also, if Jesus already came and saved everyone... then you're good to go. There's no reason to waste your breath in "saving people" because it's already been done.

A month or so ago my pastor said something that has stuck in my mind and been on repeat almost every day. He said, "The Kingdom of God is Now." Whether in context or out, it is so profound to me. Don't we normally think of the Kingdom of God as... Heaven? Which... is NOT now? How, pray tell, can this be?!

The phrases "God is always with us" and "God is everywhere and everything" come into mind. These ideas are basically saying that God is an active part of THIS life. On earth. I think most Christians would agree with this. If that's true... then the Kingdom IS now... on earth. Sure, perhaps it is also Heaven or the Afterlife, but if you believe that God is active in your daily life... then you are also saying that the Kingdom is Here and Now.

So.... what does that have to do with anything? Let's look at how Jesus fits now. Above, we talked about his pivotal role in Salvation. But that Salvation had to do with "getting into Heaven"... So how does our "salvation" by the sacrifice of Christ apply in our "earthly life" or God's Kingdom... which is also HERE and NOW. In other words... how does Christ act as the Savior in our daily lives (not just in our eternal life)?

What does Christ do? Doesn't he go around telling people that materialism is bad? To not worship possessions? The answer is yes. If you do not worship possessions, as in worry about where you will get the newest phone or most fashionable clothes, then that alleviates stress in your life. Christ also says that He is your daily bread and drink. We all know that you cannot biologically live on just the Word of God alone... we don't digest paper very well. Though, how many of us worry about 'getting a meal to the table' and yet aren't eating just plain rice and beans. As long as you have SOMETHING to eat (about 1500 calories should do the trick) then what are you stressing out about? Or.. what are you worshiping? Really good food? That pizza that your heart desires? Yeah, quit stressing about your food bill you, pizza worshipper!

What else do you stress out about? What else worries you? One way Christ can help us quit worrying (or saving us from worry) is to simply try to envision that day. There's Jesus... carrying a big-ass cross on his back, while being yelled at and cursed at, stones being thrown at, blood dripping down every inch of his body, WILLINGLY, in order to save these weary souls.... Put yourself in His shoes. Oh wait, he probably didn't even have shoes. Now... in comparison to the torture that He went through that day, is your problem really that great? I'm thinking the answer is "no". I can see Jesus sitting up in Heaven on a nice fluffy cloud shaking his head saying, "Aww, poor baby, did you get to work 5 minutes late? Ha! Try getting lynched with a cat-of-nine tails and then having your appendages driven into wood with 2 inch-wide nails!"

See? Jesus can save us in our earthly life as well. The story of his Crucifixion reminds us that... life really is not that bad. Especially for those who are reading this blog. I read someone's facebook status the other day that said something like, "If you have the privilege of Internet access in order to read this facebook status, your life really cannot be that bad!" Sometimes we just have trouble keeping life in perspective, what matters and what doesn't. Jesus tells us basically that most things in the world do not matter. What matters is your journey of being a good person, your willingness to die to the ways of the world in the service of humankind.

Love. This is one of the key lessons of Jesus. Do you live your life, in every second of every day in accordance to love? I have a natural tendency to be selfish. I think most humans do. I try to love everyone, but sometimes I fail, and act on my own accord. We are inherently like this, which is why God tells us that we must love each other. This is the path of the Light. Otherwise we fall into darkness. It is much easier to live in darkness and selfishness. But if you do not try to live otherwise as much as you can, darkness and heathenism will take over. That will be the end of man-kind on the earth. It will probably be the end of most life on the earth since we are so prevalent and kill everything in our way.

The point of this, is that the narrow road that Christ wants you to walk is not necessarily one of deeds, but is one of love. People think that it means not breaking the law, or not having sex before marriage... but it doesn't necessarily mean that. I think whatever is done out of love... is Love. Whatever is done out of spite, selfishness or hate... is Hate. So... those Christians who are still prejudice whether it's about sexual orientation, race, what people are wearing or what kind of music they listen to... those are still hateful people and are heathens living in darkness. People minding their own business and going out of the way to spread love and peace to others, are living in the light (whether they are "Christian" or not).

I have to develop these ideas more. I beg for comments and criticism in order to further this conversation and make more sense of it! The lyrics to that song are copied below.

How Many Kings by Downhere

Follow the star to a place unexpected
Would you believe after all we've projected
A child in a manger

Lowly and small, the weakest of all
Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mothers shawl
Just a child
Is this who we've waited for?

Cause how many kings, stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many Gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn savior
All that we have whether costly or meek
Because we believe
Gold for his honor and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross he'll suffer
Do you believe, is this who we've waited for?
It's who we've waited for