Oysterville Church, Oysterville Washington
Monday, September 27, 2004
Where does your passion live?
It doesn't interest me what you do for a living,
I want to know what you ache for.
and if you dare to dream of meeting your hearts longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love,
for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow,
if you have been opened by lifes betrayals,
or have become closed for fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain,
mine or your own, with out moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own;
If you can dance with wildness and let the ecstacy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes with out cautioning to be
careful, to be realistic, or to remember the limitations
of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself;
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.
I want to know if you can be faithful and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's not pretty every day,
and if you can source your life on the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon.
It doesn't interest me to know where you live, or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and dispair,
weary and bruised to the bone,
and do what needs to be done for the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire
with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where, or what, or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you from the inside
when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself,
and truely like the company you keep in the empty moments.
I want to know what you ache for.
and if you dare to dream of meeting your hearts longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love,
for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow,
if you have been opened by lifes betrayals,
or have become closed for fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain,
mine or your own, with out moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own;
If you can dance with wildness and let the ecstacy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes with out cautioning to be
careful, to be realistic, or to remember the limitations
of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself;
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.
I want to know if you can be faithful and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's not pretty every day,
and if you can source your life on the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon.
It doesn't interest me to know where you live, or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and dispair,
weary and bruised to the bone,
and do what needs to be done for the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire
with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where, or what, or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you from the inside
when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself,
and truely like the company you keep in the empty moments.
Socrates was middle class too?
I tell you that the virtue is not given by money, but that from virtue comes money and every other good of man, public as well as private... The difficulty, my friends, is not in avoiding death, but in avoiding unrighteousness; for that runs faster than death. --Socrates
Sunday, September 26, 2004
Just Do It
"And therefore, all of those for whom authentic transformation has deeply unseated their souls must, I believe, wrestle with the profound moral obligation to shout from the heart-perhaps quietly and gently, with tears of reluctance; perhaps with fierce fire and angry wisdom; perhaps with slow and careful analysis; perhaps by unshakable public example-but authenticity always and absolutely carries a demand and duty: you must speak out, to the best of your ability, and shake the spiritual tree, and shine your headlights into the eyes of the complacent. You must let that radical realization rumble through your veins and rattle those around you.
Alas, if you fail to do so, you are betraying your own authenticity.You are hiding your true estate. You don't want to upset others because you don't want to upset your self. You are acting in bad faith, the taste of a bad infinity.
Because, you see, the alarming fact is that any realization of depth carries a terrible burden: Those who are allowed to see are simultaneously saddled with the obligation to communicate that vision in no uncertain terms. That is the bargain. You were allowed to see the truth under the agreement that you would communicate it to others (that is the ultimate meaning of the bodhisattva vow). And therefore, if you have seen, you simply must speak out. Speak out with compassion, or speak out with angry wisdom, or speak out with skillful means, but speak out you must.
This is truly a terrible burden, a horrible burden, because in anycase there is no room for timidity. The fact that you might be wrong is simply no excuse: you might be right in your communication, and you might be wrong, but that doesn't matter. What does matter, as Kierkegaard so rudely reminded us, is that only by investing and speaking your vision with passion, can the truth, one way or another, finally penetrate the reluctance of the world. If you are right, or if you are wrong, it is only your passion that will force either to be discovered. It is your duty to promote that discovery-either way-and therefore it is your duty to speak your truth with whatever passion and courage you can find in your heart. You must shout, in whatever way you can."
Ken Wilbur
Alas, if you fail to do so, you are betraying your own authenticity.You are hiding your true estate. You don't want to upset others because you don't want to upset your self. You are acting in bad faith, the taste of a bad infinity.
Because, you see, the alarming fact is that any realization of depth carries a terrible burden: Those who are allowed to see are simultaneously saddled with the obligation to communicate that vision in no uncertain terms. That is the bargain. You were allowed to see the truth under the agreement that you would communicate it to others (that is the ultimate meaning of the bodhisattva vow). And therefore, if you have seen, you simply must speak out. Speak out with compassion, or speak out with angry wisdom, or speak out with skillful means, but speak out you must.
This is truly a terrible burden, a horrible burden, because in anycase there is no room for timidity. The fact that you might be wrong is simply no excuse: you might be right in your communication, and you might be wrong, but that doesn't matter. What does matter, as Kierkegaard so rudely reminded us, is that only by investing and speaking your vision with passion, can the truth, one way or another, finally penetrate the reluctance of the world. If you are right, or if you are wrong, it is only your passion that will force either to be discovered. It is your duty to promote that discovery-either way-and therefore it is your duty to speak your truth with whatever passion and courage you can find in your heart. You must shout, in whatever way you can."
Ken Wilbur
4 truths
1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and honesty.
2. Don't Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.
3. Don't Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and honesty.
2. Don't Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.
3. Don't Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.
The 4 Emotions That Can Lead to Life Change
The Four Emotions that Can Lead to Life Change
by Jim Rohn
Emotions are the most powerful forces inside us. Under the power of emotions, human beings can perform the most heroic (as well as barbaric) acts. To a great degree, civilization itself can be defined as the intelligent channeling of human emotion. Emotions are fuel and the mind is the pilot, which together propel the ship of civilized progress.
Which emotions cause people to act? There are four basic ones; each, or a combination of several, can trigger the most incredible activity. The day that you allow these emotions to fuel your desire is the day you'll turn your life around.
1) Disgust
One does not usually equate the word "disgust" with positive action. And yet properly channeled, disgust can change a person's life. The person who feels disgusted has reached a point of no return. He or she is ready to throw down the gauntlet at life and say, "I've had it!" That's what I said after many humiliating experiences at age 25, I said, "I don't want to live like this anymore. I've had it with being broke. I've had it with being embarrassed, and I've had it with lying."
Yes, productive feelings of disgust come when a person says, "Enough is enough."
The "guy" has finally had it with mediocrity. He's had it with those awful sick feelings of fear, pain and humiliation. He then decides he is not going to live like this anymore." Look out! This could be the day that turns a life around. Call it what you will, the "I've had it" day, the "never again" day, the "enough's enough" day. Whatever you call it, it's powerful! There is nothing so life-changing as gut-wrenching disgust!
2) Decision
Most of us need to be pushed to the wall to make decisions. And once we reach this point, we have to deal with the conflicting emotions that come with making them. We have reached a fork in the road. Now this fork can be a two-prong, three-prong, or even a four-prong fork. No wonder that decision-making can create knots in stomachs, keep us awake in the middle of the night, or make us break out in a cold sweat.
Making life-changing decisions can be likened to internal civil war. Conflicting armies of emotions, each with its own arsenal of reasons, battle each other for supremacy of our minds. And our resulting decisions, whether bold or timid, well thought out or impulsive, can either set the course of action or blind it. I don't have much advice to give you about decision-making except this:
Whatever you do, don't camp at the fork in the road. Decide. It's far better to make a wrong decision than to not make one at all. Each of us must confront our emotional turmoil and sort out our feelings.
3) Desire
How does one gain desire? I don't think I can answer this directly because there are many ways. But I do know two things about desire:
a. It comes from the inside not the outside.
b. It can be triggered by outside forces.
Almost anything can trigger desire. It's a matter of timing as much as preparation. It might be a song that tugs at the heart. It might be a memorable sermon. It might be a movie, a conversation with a friend, a confrontation with the enemy, or a bitter experience. Even a book or an article such as this one can trigger the inner mechanism that will make some people say, "I want it now!"
Therefore, while searching for your "hot button" of pure, raw desire, welcome into your life each positive experience. Don't erect a wall to protect you from experiencing life. The same wall that keeps out your disappointment also keeps out the sunlight of enriching experiences. So let life touch you. The next touch could be the one that turns your life around.
4) Resolve
Resolve says, "I will." These two words are among the most potent in the English language. I WILL. Benjamin Disraeli, the great British statesman, once said, "Nothing can resist a human will that will stake even its existence on the extent of its purpose." In other words, when someone resolves to "do or die," nothing can stop him.
The mountain climber says, "I will climb the mountain. They've told me it's too high, it's too far, it's too steep, it's too rocky, it's too difficult. But it's my mountain. I will climb it. You'll soon see me waving from the top or you'll never see me, because unless I reach the peak, I'm not coming back." Who can argue with such resolve?
When confronted with such iron-will determination, I can see Time, Fate and Circumstance calling a hasty conference and deciding, "We might as well let him have his dream. He's said he's going to get there or die trying."
The best definition for "resolve" I've ever heard came from a schoolgirl in Foster City, California. As is my custom, I was lecturing about success to a group of bright kids at a junior high school. I asked, "Who can tell me what "resolve" means?" Several hands went up, and I did get some pretty good definitions. But the last was the best. A shy girl from the back of the room got up and said with quiet intensity, "I think resolve means promising yourself you will never give up." That's it! That's the best definition I've ever heard: Promise Yourself You'll Never Give Up.
Think about it! How long should a baby try to learn how to walk? How long would you give the average baby before you say, "That's it, you've had your chance"? You say that's crazy? Of course it is. Any mother would say, "My baby is going to keep trying until he learns how to walk!" No wonder everyone walks.
There is a vital lesson in this. Ask yourself, "How long am I going to work to make my dreams come true?" I suggest you answer, "As long as it takes." That's what these four emotions are all about.
To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
Lorene
1.916.294.0510
lorene@choicesinhealth.com
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." ~Gandhi~
by Jim Rohn
Emotions are the most powerful forces inside us. Under the power of emotions, human beings can perform the most heroic (as well as barbaric) acts. To a great degree, civilization itself can be defined as the intelligent channeling of human emotion. Emotions are fuel and the mind is the pilot, which together propel the ship of civilized progress.
Which emotions cause people to act? There are four basic ones; each, or a combination of several, can trigger the most incredible activity. The day that you allow these emotions to fuel your desire is the day you'll turn your life around.
1) Disgust
One does not usually equate the word "disgust" with positive action. And yet properly channeled, disgust can change a person's life. The person who feels disgusted has reached a point of no return. He or she is ready to throw down the gauntlet at life and say, "I've had it!" That's what I said after many humiliating experiences at age 25, I said, "I don't want to live like this anymore. I've had it with being broke. I've had it with being embarrassed, and I've had it with lying."
Yes, productive feelings of disgust come when a person says, "Enough is enough."
The "guy" has finally had it with mediocrity. He's had it with those awful sick feelings of fear, pain and humiliation. He then decides he is not going to live like this anymore." Look out! This could be the day that turns a life around. Call it what you will, the "I've had it" day, the "never again" day, the "enough's enough" day. Whatever you call it, it's powerful! There is nothing so life-changing as gut-wrenching disgust!
2) Decision
Most of us need to be pushed to the wall to make decisions. And once we reach this point, we have to deal with the conflicting emotions that come with making them. We have reached a fork in the road. Now this fork can be a two-prong, three-prong, or even a four-prong fork. No wonder that decision-making can create knots in stomachs, keep us awake in the middle of the night, or make us break out in a cold sweat.
Making life-changing decisions can be likened to internal civil war. Conflicting armies of emotions, each with its own arsenal of reasons, battle each other for supremacy of our minds. And our resulting decisions, whether bold or timid, well thought out or impulsive, can either set the course of action or blind it. I don't have much advice to give you about decision-making except this:
Whatever you do, don't camp at the fork in the road. Decide. It's far better to make a wrong decision than to not make one at all. Each of us must confront our emotional turmoil and sort out our feelings.
3) Desire
How does one gain desire? I don't think I can answer this directly because there are many ways. But I do know two things about desire:
a. It comes from the inside not the outside.
b. It can be triggered by outside forces.
Almost anything can trigger desire. It's a matter of timing as much as preparation. It might be a song that tugs at the heart. It might be a memorable sermon. It might be a movie, a conversation with a friend, a confrontation with the enemy, or a bitter experience. Even a book or an article such as this one can trigger the inner mechanism that will make some people say, "I want it now!"
Therefore, while searching for your "hot button" of pure, raw desire, welcome into your life each positive experience. Don't erect a wall to protect you from experiencing life. The same wall that keeps out your disappointment also keeps out the sunlight of enriching experiences. So let life touch you. The next touch could be the one that turns your life around.
4) Resolve
Resolve says, "I will." These two words are among the most potent in the English language. I WILL. Benjamin Disraeli, the great British statesman, once said, "Nothing can resist a human will that will stake even its existence on the extent of its purpose." In other words, when someone resolves to "do or die," nothing can stop him.
The mountain climber says, "I will climb the mountain. They've told me it's too high, it's too far, it's too steep, it's too rocky, it's too difficult. But it's my mountain. I will climb it. You'll soon see me waving from the top or you'll never see me, because unless I reach the peak, I'm not coming back." Who can argue with such resolve?
When confronted with such iron-will determination, I can see Time, Fate and Circumstance calling a hasty conference and deciding, "We might as well let him have his dream. He's said he's going to get there or die trying."
The best definition for "resolve" I've ever heard came from a schoolgirl in Foster City, California. As is my custom, I was lecturing about success to a group of bright kids at a junior high school. I asked, "Who can tell me what "resolve" means?" Several hands went up, and I did get some pretty good definitions. But the last was the best. A shy girl from the back of the room got up and said with quiet intensity, "I think resolve means promising yourself you will never give up." That's it! That's the best definition I've ever heard: Promise Yourself You'll Never Give Up.
Think about it! How long should a baby try to learn how to walk? How long would you give the average baby before you say, "That's it, you've had your chance"? You say that's crazy? Of course it is. Any mother would say, "My baby is going to keep trying until he learns how to walk!" No wonder everyone walks.
There is a vital lesson in this. Ask yourself, "How long am I going to work to make my dreams come true?" I suggest you answer, "As long as it takes." That's what these four emotions are all about.
To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
Lorene
1.916.294.0510
lorene@choicesinhealth.com
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." ~Gandhi~
Democrats and Freecycle
This weekend was an interesting time for me.
Thursday on Freecycle I managed to score a huge air compressor. Freecycle is a great concept that works very will. The idea is to offer a place to post stuff you no longer want or need to have them go away instead of putting these items into some landfill. What it winds up being is one big "for free" garage sale. Anyway, I had no place for the monster, so i asked my brother http://leftedgenorth.blogspot.com/ if he would like to have this unit. Being a testosterone human he naturally said yes. I made arrangements to pick the monster up Friday after work. Lordy what a day that was. God himself was busy creating his best art work. It was a beautiful fall afternoon. I loved the drive down old hwy 26. I loved the town of Columbia City. And the place where I picked up the compressor, Caples House Museum, what a find! I will certainly have to go back there and explore sometime soon. Yes, the nice people who got rid of the compressor live there! The compressor got delivered as did the glass and other goodies, and I headed back home Saturday afternoon with a kayak. And that's when I came across this sign in Longview Washington, and I liked it!
Thursday on Freecycle I managed to score a huge air compressor. Freecycle is a great concept that works very will. The idea is to offer a place to post stuff you no longer want or need to have them go away instead of putting these items into some landfill. What it winds up being is one big "for free" garage sale. Anyway, I had no place for the monster, so i asked my brother http://leftedgenorth.blogspot.com/ if he would like to have this unit. Being a testosterone human he naturally said yes. I made arrangements to pick the monster up Friday after work. Lordy what a day that was. God himself was busy creating his best art work. It was a beautiful fall afternoon. I loved the drive down old hwy 26. I loved the town of Columbia City. And the place where I picked up the compressor, Caples House Museum, what a find! I will certainly have to go back there and explore sometime soon. Yes, the nice people who got rid of the compressor live there! The compressor got delivered as did the glass and other goodies, and I headed back home Saturday afternoon with a kayak. And that's when I came across this sign in Longview Washington, and I liked it!
Show No Fear
Cartoons and animations can be great communicators, teachers and entertainers.
Here we have two with a similer message.
Here we have two with a similer message.
Heritage Trail
Here's an image from Heritage Trail on the south shore of Lacamas lake in Camas. City of Camas Parks and Recreation - Trails As you look at the scene I took with my very inexpensive digital camera, behind me the hill including the entire south side of the lake is covered with very expensive homes. I am pleased that with all this upscale developement someone was thinking forward and saved the shoreline space for the general public. In this way not only do I have the great privelage of being able to enjoy a view like that because someone was unable to buy it, but the same folks who would have purchased this view, now have the added beauty of the trees at shoreline.
Anyway, I like the trail. Kudo's to whom ever saved me this view!
Anyway, I like the trail. Kudo's to whom ever saved me this view!
Cascadia Vs Heaven
This is just an interesting read about what it's like to live and be in the pacific northwest.
The Pacific Northwest
I'm not a city person, but I'm nonetheless glad some forward thinking people saved the green space in Portland's West Hills. Forest Park - Portland Parks & Recreation The Northwest can be a funny place, as with all places I'm sure. The Northwest where being in tune to things pro-environment is statistically high, yet so are the sales of SUV's. Still, I suppose that's better than driving an SUV that will never leave pavement, and also not caring about the environment. It's just that the hypocrisy exists even here in heaven!
A man in Tacoma saves the Kalakala, another would wonder why? We may know who we are, but we may not always be certain of that. Even so, most of us will recycle our empty pop cans and bottles, and be proud of the fact that as Cascadians, waste reduction is as much a part of us as Paul Bunyon and Babe are!
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Political Posts have all been moved to
my political representation. Have a look!
http://bionicleftwing.blogspot.com/
This space is now reserved for the
Creative Raven.
The Pacific Northwest
I'm not a city person, but I'm nonetheless glad some forward thinking people saved the green space in Portland's West Hills. Forest Park - Portland Parks & Recreation The Northwest can be a funny place, as with all places I'm sure. The Northwest where being in tune to things pro-environment is statistically high, yet so are the sales of SUV's. Still, I suppose that's better than driving an SUV that will never leave pavement, and also not caring about the environment. It's just that the hypocrisy exists even here in heaven!
A man in Tacoma saves the Kalakala, another would wonder why? We may know who we are, but we may not always be certain of that. Even so, most of us will recycle our empty pop cans and bottles, and be proud of the fact that as Cascadians, waste reduction is as much a part of us as Paul Bunyon and Babe are!
.
.
.
.
.
.
Political Posts have all been moved to
my political representation. Have a look!
http://bionicleftwing.blogspot.com/
This space is now reserved for the
Creative Raven.
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