Saying 4
Jesus said, "The old man will not hesitate to ask a seven-day-old baby about the place of life, and he will live.
As per covenant, Jews circumcised newborns on the eighth day.
Jesus said, "The old man will not hesitate to ask a seven-day-old baby about the place of life, and he will live.
As per covenant, Jews circumcised newborns on the eighth day.
10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.
11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.
12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. - Genesis 17: 9-12
11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.
12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. - Genesis 17: 9-12
On the seventh day, the baby had not suffered the searing pain of the knife removing his foreskin, God's mandated branding, a constant reminder of ownership, the Source of his life.
In the Creation story, the seventh day is the Sabbath. God's work is complete; everything necessary is in place and it is all good; the Sabbath is time to breathe and appreciate, what we erroneously call "doing nothing." Likewise, at seven days old, the child is untouched by legalistic law and by human-inflicted pain. The child is good, embedded within "original goodness."
The next day, however, is not so good; the tiny babe is moved by the knife into the world's matrix; as an old man, when he asks a seven-day old babe about the place of life, he lives again, returning to that pure, eternal, vibrational state to carry tired, aching bones across the finishing line, often a painful few steps.
Does the pain of circumcision snap our consciousness into the world, out of heaven? But an old man, an old woman know deep down within that the unbranded baby IS deep down within, and is always there to bring him or her back into life.
In the Creation story, the seventh day is the Sabbath. God's work is complete; everything necessary is in place and it is all good; the Sabbath is time to breathe and appreciate, what we erroneously call "doing nothing." Likewise, at seven days old, the child is untouched by legalistic law and by human-inflicted pain. The child is good, embedded within "original goodness."
The next day, however, is not so good; the tiny babe is moved by the knife into the world's matrix; as an old man, when he asks a seven-day old babe about the place of life, he lives again, returning to that pure, eternal, vibrational state to carry tired, aching bones across the finishing line, often a painful few steps.
Does the pain of circumcision snap our consciousness into the world, out of heaven? But an old man, an old woman know deep down within that the unbranded baby IS deep down within, and is always there to bring him or her back into life.
Saying 5
Jesus said, "Recognize what is in your sight, and that which is hidden from you will become plain to you. For there is nothing hidden which will not become manifest."
The Steps are a way out of blindness that allows me to see the truth hidden in plain sight. They say "if you want to hide something from an alcoholic put it in the Big Book, within her heart, or in his experience (I would add in the Bible, though that's much more complicated and, as my first sponsor said, completely unnecessary for an alcoholic who wants to stay sober and be happy, joyous, and free).
Once my unavoidable death was "plain to me," I went to AA meetings and was separated miraculously from alcohol and its most devastating consequence.
Once the power of meetings was "plain to me," I heard and realized in a meeting that the manifestation of my allergy to alcohol is a craving for more once I start to drink.
Once the craving was "plain to me" it then became clear that the main problem is in my mind, which justifies the first drink, the next drink, my unhappiness, restlessness, discontent, arrogance, insecurity,...
Once the mental problem was "plain to me," I surrendered to the balance of the steps.
Once the Power accessed through the Steps was "plain to me," I surrendered into the "design for living," so far for 35 years.
One uncovering leads to the next. Clean house and trust the Spirit to lead to the next right action (or inaction), even if at times it yields "bad" results from my perspective. "God does not make too hard terms with those who seek God." - We Agnostics.
Jesus said, "Recognize what is in your sight, and that which is hidden from you will become plain to you. For there is nothing hidden which will not become manifest."
The Steps are a way out of blindness that allows me to see the truth hidden in plain sight. They say "if you want to hide something from an alcoholic put it in the Big Book, within her heart, or in his experience (I would add in the Bible, though that's much more complicated and, as my first sponsor said, completely unnecessary for an alcoholic who wants to stay sober and be happy, joyous, and free).
Once my unavoidable death was "plain to me," I went to AA meetings and was separated miraculously from alcohol and its most devastating consequence.
Once the power of meetings was "plain to me," I heard and realized in a meeting that the manifestation of my allergy to alcohol is a craving for more once I start to drink.
Once the craving was "plain to me" it then became clear that the main problem is in my mind, which justifies the first drink, the next drink, my unhappiness, restlessness, discontent, arrogance, insecurity,...
Once the mental problem was "plain to me," I surrendered to the balance of the steps.
Once the Power accessed through the Steps was "plain to me," I surrendered into the "design for living," so far for 35 years.
One uncovering leads to the next. Clean house and trust the Spirit to lead to the next right action (or inaction), even if at times it yields "bad" results from my perspective. "God does not make too hard terms with those who seek God." - We Agnostics.
Ask, and it will be given to you;
seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8
seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8
Saying 6
His disciples questioned him and said to him, "Do you want us to fast? How shall we pray? Shall we give alms? What diet shall we observe?"
Jesus said, "Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate, for all things are plain in the sight of heaven. For nothing hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain without being uncovered."
Give me a rule book!
Tell me what to do!
Let me be right!
Part of me does not want to be guided by the Spirit within.
But the longer I surrender to the truth, do what I love, don't do what I hate, and assume the angels are watching, the closer I get to God, healing, creativity, purpose, love. Also, the "growth pains" I experience are directly relevant to greater understanding, effectiveness, a new happiness and freedom.
I pray from my heart now and use others, too, like the Third Step prayer, the Seventh Step prayer, the Lord's Prayer, the Prayer of St. Francis, the Serenity Prayer, I fast (usually in community) when guided by the Spirit to do so. I praise as I am moved to do so and have joined a choir so I can sing or belt out gratitude, awe, a message on any Thursday night.
Food! Diet! What does God want? Lots of vegans today in my neighborhoods. I'd sort of like to join them but Tia Ennie, at 95 years old, takes hours to make chicken pozole, my daughters at times want to chat over burgers, Tasha makes kick-ass fried wings, and I haven't found that I hate myself for eating cheese... If someone serves a paleo, vegan, gluten free, vegetarian, or raw food meal, yeah! That's what they are generously sharing with me. Otherwise, there are more important things to do than demand special treatment- like participate in community, be willing to let go of my rigid rightness, and address the relevant issues in any given situation (not usually what we are eating). The word "companionship" comes from "con pan" or "with bread." Will I refuse bread because it has been made with genetically modified flour?
On the other hand, I'm such a muddle sometimes... maybe being vegan would straighten me out?! Is THAT what I've been missing? Jesus says, "NO, darling!" That ain't it!"
His disciples questioned him and said to him, "Do you want us to fast? How shall we pray? Shall we give alms? What diet shall we observe?"
Jesus said, "Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate, for all things are plain in the sight of heaven. For nothing hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain without being uncovered."
Give me a rule book!
Tell me what to do!
Let me be right!
Part of me does not want to be guided by the Spirit within.
But the longer I surrender to the truth, do what I love, don't do what I hate, and assume the angels are watching, the closer I get to God, healing, creativity, purpose, love. Also, the "growth pains" I experience are directly relevant to greater understanding, effectiveness, a new happiness and freedom.
I pray from my heart now and use others, too, like the Third Step prayer, the Seventh Step prayer, the Lord's Prayer, the Prayer of St. Francis, the Serenity Prayer, I fast (usually in community) when guided by the Spirit to do so. I praise as I am moved to do so and have joined a choir so I can sing or belt out gratitude, awe, a message on any Thursday night.
Food! Diet! What does God want? Lots of vegans today in my neighborhoods. I'd sort of like to join them but Tia Ennie, at 95 years old, takes hours to make chicken pozole, my daughters at times want to chat over burgers, Tasha makes kick-ass fried wings, and I haven't found that I hate myself for eating cheese... If someone serves a paleo, vegan, gluten free, vegetarian, or raw food meal, yeah! That's what they are generously sharing with me. Otherwise, there are more important things to do than demand special treatment- like participate in community, be willing to let go of my rigid rightness, and address the relevant issues in any given situation (not usually what we are eating). The word "companionship" comes from "con pan" or "with bread." Will I refuse bread because it has been made with genetically modified flour?
On the other hand, I'm such a muddle sometimes... maybe being vegan would straighten me out?! Is THAT what I've been missing? Jesus says, "NO, darling!" That ain't it!"
Guido Reni's "St. Joseph with the Infant Jesus"