Saturday, May 30, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Today on the Coast
Returning to the Coast after two and a half years of not living there was amazing. Being removed from it all the stressors I had when I lived there are distant and gone.
My wife and I planted ourselves on a beach just outside of Seal Rock. We let the dogs (moms dog and our dog) run around. I sat down in the sand and took it all in. I did some breath meditation and then moved on to meditating on the sound of the ocean waves. I also took in the clean air and the feeling of the sand and the beauty of the place. I drifted out into a meditative state and felt very close to God and at total peace. Stayed there about 1/2 hour. My wife talked to me and the dogs became restless but it didnt kill the experience. I just became mindful of them as part of the experience and took it in. In that moment, I was not consumed by either future worries or past regrets. That present moment was just great in itself.
Now I am back in Albany but I think this experience may have changed my life. I feel very close to God right now and know he will take care of us. I also have peace for now.
My wife and I planted ourselves on a beach just outside of Seal Rock. We let the dogs (moms dog and our dog) run around. I sat down in the sand and took it all in. I did some breath meditation and then moved on to meditating on the sound of the ocean waves. I also took in the clean air and the feeling of the sand and the beauty of the place. I drifted out into a meditative state and felt very close to God and at total peace. Stayed there about 1/2 hour. My wife talked to me and the dogs became restless but it didnt kill the experience. I just became mindful of them as part of the experience and took it in. In that moment, I was not consumed by either future worries or past regrets. That present moment was just great in itself.
Now I am back in Albany but I think this experience may have changed my life. I feel very close to God right now and know he will take care of us. I also have peace for now.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Visiting Oregon and other stuff
This weekend my wife and I are in Oregon for the weekend. It is nice yet a bit strange to be in what was my home state (or at least where I lived) as a visitor rather than a resident. Removed from the narrow view I had while going through life. The perspective has made me realize that life was good here. Though it may be better in Washington in ways, I am blessed and was blessed to live in Oregon for 5 years. The time has come to stop whining and stop complaining about loss. Both the job in Oregon and the life I had here. Or the supposed spiritual stability that I had in Minnesota. I need to let go and stop clinging to the past. My study of Vipassana and even Buddhism has helped me to stop clinging. We can only control our reaction to the present moment. We can use today to make a better tomorrow but grieving the loss of the past robs us of the present and the future which is really nothing but the present of tomorrow.
Now for those who know my Christian identity dont flip out and think I have gone Buddhist. I am still a Christian (though the meaning of that is different to me than it is to many). I do admire many Buddhist ideas and believe the Buddha was a good, wise, and spiritual man. He never claimed to be God and I dont claim he was or is. Buddhism is more of a philosophy than a religion and what I am learning of it is making me a better Christian and a better person. I find Meditation to be an amazing form of worship of my higher power who I know as Jesus Christ. I dont want to go all dogmatic and doctrinal. Though Churchianity would call this heresy, I believe the Buddha and Jesus may well have followed the same God during their time on earth. HERESY ALERT. WATCH FOR STONES!!!
With that said, I am finding peace and balance. Life in Washington is a new adventure that can be whatever I make it. Life in Oregon was good. I met people who had a profound affect on my life and I like to think I may have been a blessing to some here. Moving to Washington was not the end but the beginning or more accurately a step on the path. As Tim said at open forum today "It isnt over until you are 6 feet under". (maybe not a perfect quote but that stuck with me).,
Sure the world isnt perfect. Things are messed up, Obama is not the savior many thought he would be. But i think I have found peace in the storm, With this peace, it is now possible to affect positive change in the environment instead of getting beat down by the negative.
I really would like to thank all those who have been a help along the way in this journey. I am looking forward to what lies around the corner and past the next tree.
Life is good. Though it has hardships. Suffering is a constant. We cant ever make it go away. We can however choose what we allow it to make us do.
Tomorrow I am going to the Coast. I plan to plop myself down on a beach somewhere and do some serious meditation. Not necessarily of any tradition or discipline but just be mindful of the glorious wonders of creation and the peace of God that dwells within. I plan to seek direction for my life in this practice. Whatever you call it. I am consumed with an idea of finding a way to help people along in their journey. Not to convert anyone. Just to be a blessing.
Peace and love to all
Now for those who know my Christian identity dont flip out and think I have gone Buddhist. I am still a Christian (though the meaning of that is different to me than it is to many). I do admire many Buddhist ideas and believe the Buddha was a good, wise, and spiritual man. He never claimed to be God and I dont claim he was or is. Buddhism is more of a philosophy than a religion and what I am learning of it is making me a better Christian and a better person. I find Meditation to be an amazing form of worship of my higher power who I know as Jesus Christ. I dont want to go all dogmatic and doctrinal. Though Churchianity would call this heresy, I believe the Buddha and Jesus may well have followed the same God during their time on earth. HERESY ALERT. WATCH FOR STONES!!!
With that said, I am finding peace and balance. Life in Washington is a new adventure that can be whatever I make it. Life in Oregon was good. I met people who had a profound affect on my life and I like to think I may have been a blessing to some here. Moving to Washington was not the end but the beginning or more accurately a step on the path. As Tim said at open forum today "It isnt over until you are 6 feet under". (maybe not a perfect quote but that stuck with me).,
Sure the world isnt perfect. Things are messed up, Obama is not the savior many thought he would be. But i think I have found peace in the storm, With this peace, it is now possible to affect positive change in the environment instead of getting beat down by the negative.
I really would like to thank all those who have been a help along the way in this journey. I am looking forward to what lies around the corner and past the next tree.
Life is good. Though it has hardships. Suffering is a constant. We cant ever make it go away. We can however choose what we allow it to make us do.
Tomorrow I am going to the Coast. I plan to plop myself down on a beach somewhere and do some serious meditation. Not necessarily of any tradition or discipline but just be mindful of the glorious wonders of creation and the peace of God that dwells within. I plan to seek direction for my life in this practice. Whatever you call it. I am consumed with an idea of finding a way to help people along in their journey. Not to convert anyone. Just to be a blessing.
Peace and love to all
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Meditation and Worship
Today I was at Church. Not a bad Church. Just a Church. Similar to many others. What was different was my approach to it.
Some may know I have been practicing Meditation (breath meditations, a little Vipassana as well). I thought today instead of letting the Church atmosphere dictate how I should feel and act, I would meditate during the worship. I did some breath meditations and zoned into a meditative state (not real deep but really there). I then put my focus on God as I see him. I definitely felt something and got more out of this experience than I ever did by singing songs, staring at walls and trying to feel something. Meditative worship is something I did long ago when I was more spiritual. I used to do it in the woods and on mountain tops. I didnt call it that then but it is what it was. I called it getting into the presence of God in solitude.
Perhaps that is what Jesus did when he went to solitary place to pray.
I think this is my way of worshipping now. Though Church is far from the only place to do this
Some may know I have been practicing Meditation (breath meditations, a little Vipassana as well). I thought today instead of letting the Church atmosphere dictate how I should feel and act, I would meditate during the worship. I did some breath meditations and zoned into a meditative state (not real deep but really there). I then put my focus on God as I see him. I definitely felt something and got more out of this experience than I ever did by singing songs, staring at walls and trying to feel something. Meditative worship is something I did long ago when I was more spiritual. I used to do it in the woods and on mountain tops. I didnt call it that then but it is what it was. I called it getting into the presence of God in solitude.
Perhaps that is what Jesus did when he went to solitary place to pray.
I think this is my way of worshipping now. Though Church is far from the only place to do this
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Whatever happend to blogging
I keep reading that blogging is dead. Sure there is Twitter which I am on. Some of Twitter seems cool. A lot of it seems petty and insignificant. It does help stay in touch with friends but its no blog.
Blogging is dying because it became trendy and trends fade away. The unwashed masses (or sheeple) follow the coolest thing and lack real depth. Now that I twitter more than I blog, I could be calling myself a sheeple. That isnt what I mean. Many of us are too busy to blog anymore but still would if it mattered anymore.
I did not start blogging because it was trendy. I did it because I wanted to share my thoughts and journey through life and spirituality. Also to hook up with like minded people (both have happened and this is priceless)
Busyness wouldnt kill blogging on its own.What will kill it is that its not "trendy" anymore. The same way the web killed Gopher.
The other thing is the swill called marketing. This crap has overrun the blogosphere.
At one time, the blogosphere was dominated by real people not corporations. Now like the news media and the web (notice I did not say the Internet) blogging has been hijacked by the ruling class (to use a marxist term). Now those with money get the hits.
For something to remain cool, it must either never become trendy or it must remain in existance long after the capitalists and the teenages have moved on.
LONG LIVE GOPHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LONG LIVE BLOGGING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LONG LIVE MULTILINE BBS'S !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LONG LIVE THE BETAMAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Newer and trendier doesnt mean better.
Blogging is dying because it became trendy and trends fade away. The unwashed masses (or sheeple) follow the coolest thing and lack real depth. Now that I twitter more than I blog, I could be calling myself a sheeple. That isnt what I mean. Many of us are too busy to blog anymore but still would if it mattered anymore.
I did not start blogging because it was trendy. I did it because I wanted to share my thoughts and journey through life and spirituality. Also to hook up with like minded people (both have happened and this is priceless)
Busyness wouldnt kill blogging on its own.What will kill it is that its not "trendy" anymore. The same way the web killed Gopher.
The other thing is the swill called marketing. This crap has overrun the blogosphere.
At one time, the blogosphere was dominated by real people not corporations. Now like the news media and the web (notice I did not say the Internet) blogging has been hijacked by the ruling class (to use a marxist term). Now those with money get the hits.
For something to remain cool, it must either never become trendy or it must remain in existance long after the capitalists and the teenages have moved on.
LONG LIVE GOPHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LONG LIVE BLOGGING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LONG LIVE MULTILINE BBS'S !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LONG LIVE THE BETAMAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Newer and trendier doesnt mean better.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Cyclical Nature of The World
I predict the following:
The 2010 midterm elections will bring a landslide for the Republicans who will get control of the House and Senate
2012 will be a close election and Obama will win by a small margin against either, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, or Newt Gingrich.
By 2016 all hope will be lost and a Republican will win. Not whoever lost to Obama in 2012 but someone knew. For now I will call him "Jeff". Now Jeff may be related to the Bush or Cheney famiy. This will take place after some scandals rock the Obama administration and everyone longs for Bush now that they have forgotten him.
Something bad will happen in 2017 or 2018 and Jeff will become a national hero.
In 2020 Jeff will beat Chelsea Clinton by a narrow margin.
By 2022 People are growing weary of Jeff and the dems take back the house and senate.
In 2024 people will start to blame Jeff for everything and after we have fought a losing war with Eurasia, Jeff will be losing his popularity and may be impeached.
In the 2024 election, Jeff's VP Jenna Bush loses the election to Emmanuel Lewis. Yes Webster and we all know based on the Bloodhound Gang's song that he is the Anti-Christ....
Anyway a bit of humor but a sad statement of the cyclical nature of the American political climate.
The 2010 midterm elections will bring a landslide for the Republicans who will get control of the House and Senate
2012 will be a close election and Obama will win by a small margin against either, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, or Newt Gingrich.
By 2016 all hope will be lost and a Republican will win. Not whoever lost to Obama in 2012 but someone knew. For now I will call him "Jeff". Now Jeff may be related to the Bush or Cheney famiy. This will take place after some scandals rock the Obama administration and everyone longs for Bush now that they have forgotten him.
Something bad will happen in 2017 or 2018 and Jeff will become a national hero.
In 2020 Jeff will beat Chelsea Clinton by a narrow margin.
By 2022 People are growing weary of Jeff and the dems take back the house and senate.
In 2024 people will start to blame Jeff for everything and after we have fought a losing war with Eurasia, Jeff will be losing his popularity and may be impeached.
In the 2024 election, Jeff's VP Jenna Bush loses the election to Emmanuel Lewis. Yes Webster and we all know based on the Bloodhound Gang's song that he is the Anti-Christ....
Anyway a bit of humor but a sad statement of the cyclical nature of the American political climate.
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