The initial thought of having greater self-knowledge can bring with it what I call the dark attic effect. Venture up there and turn on the light and who knows what you’ll uncover. Imagine all the dust and nests and hidden creatures lurking in the darkness. Reason enough to avoid climbing into the … [Read more...]
A helpless bystander? Don’t believe it
In this noisy world it's easy to feel unheard, to think we have little or no influence on human lives or events. The fact is we can be so much more than inactive observers. Indeed, we can be moment-by-moment participants. How? A Biblical lesson on light is helpful in this regard. It comes from … [Read more...]
More Than Mostly Free
The thought of being “mostly free” from some on-going difficulty can come as a relief to the one who’s struggling along. It’s a step in the right direction. Still, it’s important to remember that mostly free isn’t the same as freedom, and if we slip into passivity about having complete freedom from … [Read more...]
Daily life adds up
If you asked most anyone what things they do every day, some things perhaps repeatedly throughout the day, you can imagine what would make the list. Handling demands at work, running errands, having or preparing meals, cleaning, reading, caring for family members, chatting with friends, being … [Read more...]
Go somewhere new
Most of us like the idea of being an explorer. The promise of adventure and discovery as we launch into the unknown. But then something changes. We have an opportunity to go somewhere new and off comes the explorer hat. We slip back into the old and familiar. It’s comfier to stick with what we know, … [Read more...]
Forgive and forget. Yes, forget
Recently I read about a woman who, when she was a freshman in high school, was villainized by her friend’s mom. Kim Tingley described the experience as a cruel campaign by the mother to spread misinformation. Although she never fully understood the underlying reason, Kim tried to forgive and move … [Read more...]
It’s demo day!
Demo day to the home renovator is one thing. To the metaphysician it can mean something totally different. Demolition versus demonstration. I’ve been learning lessons about both recently. Half of the wall that separated our kitchen from the family room is gone now. Demo done. The fireplace is, … [Read more...]