The Ripple Effect

 

Dear Friends,

These days it may feel as though we, as individuals, have lost control of what is happening around us. Here in Vancouver, we will soon have municipal elections, and a snap provincial election. Elections are happening with our neighbor to the south as well. I have learned to view them with a touch of cynicism, as I am sure a lot of people have.

While it is true that some things are beyond our control, it is important to focus on what you can control. You cannot change someone else – you can only change your Self. This is, in fact, a basic premise of all major religions.

Now this is not an easy task. It can take a lifetime, or even many lifetimes. Like a diamond that is first found in a very rough condition and is slowly and carefully refined, we can do the same thing with ourselves. We can strive to become a better person every day, or not – it is our choice. We have the freedom to choose how we interact with other people, and to choose our impact on the world in general.

Ripple effect: One kind word or small deed starts a chain reaction of goodwill in your community.

If our choices could make a positive difference, just how far reaching could they be? Imagine if our actions, small as they may be, were transformed into energy, into something unseen, but felt on a higher level? What if this energy was infinite, with no limits as to time or space? It sounds like science fiction, but material science is getting closer and closer to revealing spiritual realities. It sounds fantastical, but then, we have seen so many things come to reality in the past few decades, that were considered to be fiction not so long ago.

Now let us expand on this idea for a moment, and consider the universe of fixed stars and planets. What if this energy could actually expand in waves, right to the ends of space as we know it? If you throw a stone into a lake, the ripples become larger and larger. On the other extreme, an undersea earthquake can send a tsunami across the ocean, travelling hundreds of miles. We are familiar with the terms shock waves, sound waves, etc. Have you ever walked into a room and immediately sensed something was wrong, even if you could not see anything amiss? Modern technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging, seismic instruments, radar, etc., are all measuring something we cannot see with the naked eye.

The question is, what kind of legacy do we want to leave? I am not referring to material wealth – no – that is a trap, and will take you into a downward spiral. Mark 8:36: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall GAIN the whole world, and LOSE his own soul? If there is anything I have learned, it is that friends and family are worth more than all the treasure in the world. What ultimately holds friends and family together? It is understanding, love and forgiveness. It is spending time together, supporting each other through the hard times. These are all messages that Jesus pronounced time and again. We are here to help lift each other up. Christ was lifted up on the cross so that we could see with our own eyes what we are all tasked to do with our inner Self. The revelation of Christ is this: HE lives in each of us. HE can work through each of us, in our thinking and our doing.

The truly great leaders knew to whom they owed their prosperity, and were generous in giving back to their communities. We should measure the prosperity of a nation not by the number of millionaires, but by the absence of poverty, the prevalence of health, the efficiency of the public schools… -W. E. B. Du Bois, 1953

SO IT CAN BE, IF WE HAVE THE VISION AND THE GOODWILL.

Sparky

TIME TO HIT REFRESH

 Dear Friends,

We are witnessing global occurrences of wildfires, earthquakes, volcanic activity and powerful storms. It is the Earth doing what she needs to do, in order to facilitate renewal.

Our bodies replace billions of cells every day. We require sleep in order to refresh our physical strength.

When you use a computer, you may find sometimes that a page needs to be refreshed, so to speak, in order to be able to continue.

Having travelled with my daughter through the valley of the shadow of death, I am slowly, but surely, being lifted up again through participating in communion during the sacrament of the consecration of the human being.

During this time of the year, we see the fruits ripening in the garden, the wheat in the fields, and the salmon beginning to return to spawn (after which they die). Soon some animals will begin to prepare for hibernation. The bears will gorge themselves on fatty fish, nuts and berries – which, incidentally, are also good for helping our bodies to create new cells.

Parents and students are preparing for a new school year.

In the night skies, we are witnessing showers of meteors, like a kind of cosmic rain.

Everything in nature points to the seasonal, or cyclical, need for renewal.

What about human beings? There are times when we also feel the need for a refresher, or renewal, or revival. Some people like to participate in a period of fasting during different times of the year. This allows our bodies to be purged of built-up toxins, and then slowly be refreshed with proper hydration and nutrition, sleep and exercise.

How, though can we restore our souls? We may be able to do this on our own for a brief time, but in the long term, we need something more. Our souls are not physical in nature, and therefore the (healing) medicine required, is also not something physical, but spiritual.

Some passages from my dear brother’s favorite verse, Psalm 23, hold clues:

HE restores my soul (through the spiritual transformation of the communion bread and juice).

YOU prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies (my demons). YOU anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. (that is to say, I can be so filled with the Love of the Holy Spirit that it flows from me to others as well).

In our church, the Movement for Religious Renewal, it is not just a quiet space to come together for contemplation and devotion. It is an opportunity for each individual soul to feel seen, heard and loved unconditionally. It can be a time of renewal, or even of reformation, if you will.

Sparky

In loving memory of my dear cousin, Ralph, who believed in treating others as he would himself wish to be treated. Whose decades long travels taught him not to judge, but to meet each person in the state they were in and see the light within. Namaste. (I am seeing you.)

 

 

STARGAZING

 

How wonderful it is in the summer months when the night skies are clear, to be able to gaze up at the stars in the Pacific Northwest.

They seem to shimmer like ephemeral diamonds, and many songs have been written to this effect. They seem to be so close that we feel we could reach out and touch them. There is an overall feeling that our very souls are being drawn out of our bodies, being invited to join in the wonderful dance of the cosmos.

In addition, during the festival of St. John, we are presented with the mystery of 8 yellow diamonds, or rhombi, on the back of the vestment of the priest, as a meditation.

In the physical world, we know that diamonds are created after many millennia, from coal under tremendous pressure, which in turn is the residue left over from plant life.

If you are familiar with homeopathy, you know that these healing remedies are created through a process of dilution, or refinement, until there is very little left of the original ingredient, that is to say, a marked decrease in the material; in turn, the energy of the ingredient is greatly increased. This energy has been proven to still be effective even after 100 years!

The diamond-like shimmery starlight that we see today, we know from physical science, has travelled thousands of years to reach us.

Some say that our own bodies may have been made from stardust, and that when we die, our souls return to the cosmos. Imagine if this process were to continue for millennia – our souls slowly and painstakingly being refined, until we also can shine bright like a diamond.

Imagine…..

Sparky

LOOK UP, WAAAY UP

 As the rain seems to fall seemingly endlessly, with only brief glimpses of the Sun, one can sometimes feel a little melancholy.

If you have recently lost a loved one, you may take comfort in the thought that they still linger nearby. When you think of them, it means that they are with you. I have begun reading to my daughter and mother for a few minutes each day. Think of something that you liked to do together, and continue this practise, keeping your loved one in mind. They wish to remain as connected with you, as you do with them.

I cannot imagine how difficult it would be to lose a loved one and not believe in a spiritual world,

In Luke 4, verse 43 we read: "but he said to them, 'I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose'". The Christ did not come just to save us from our sins, but to remind us that there is, in fact, a heavenly realm of angels and spiritual beings. Our preoccupation with materialism has caused us to forget where we came from, and where we will one day return. We need only to look around in nature or up at the stars to help us remember.

Many therapists recommend that people reconnect with nature, even if only for 15 minutes a day, so that we may hopefully begin again to feel a sense of wonder and mystery. Forest bathing is promoted in countries like South Korea, Japan, the US and Canada.

Gazing at the stars can also foster a sense of wonder, or perhaps tickle a long-buried memory of where we came from.

The spectacular planetary alignments in 2025 and 2026 are a call from the cosmos itself, for harmony and cooperation between people and countries. They are also a call for re-connection between human beings and the heavens.

The wonderful thing about our church community is that we know we all carry heavy burdens, due to the pressures of everyday life – economic, physical, emotional and spiritual. I know that I will find support and understanding, and beyond that, the space to flutter my wings as I continue to practise how to fly. As well, there is the Sacrament of Consultation – not a confession per se – but a laying down of a burden and giving it to God, or seeking a way forward.

When we strive to see the Christ in the person standing in front of us, we can strive for mutual understanding. In other words, meet each other in the middle. To put aside our subjectiveness for a moment and ask ourselves, what is it that the person across from me is carrying? This striving for mutual understanding must begin in the community where we live, for with mutual understanding there can be compassion, which can lead to cooperation. Thinking, feeling and willing.

Sparky

Angels we have heard on high

 Dear friends,

As we approach the season of Advent, we may feel that we are being asked to listen to our hearts, to listen to our angels.

Mary and Joseph were given angelic pronouncements prior to the birth of their Holy Child, to put their faith and trust in the Lord.

At Christmas, the shepherds heard the announcement of an angelic choir and the three wise men followed the star to Bethlehem.

When I began my spiritual journey almost 20 years ago, I had two cheerleaders – my mom and my daughter. They always were ready to lend me support and encouragement.

Now, they are doing the same from the heavenly realm. My mom on my left shoulder, giving me counsel, and my daughter on my right, giving me strength and courage.

It takes courage to speak Truth. It takes courage to do the right thing.

The disciples were given an almost impossible task: to give up all their possessions (to make room for something new), and to follow the Christ. Then, infused with the Holy Spirit, to travel far and wide, spreading the Good Word.

Like many church congregations, our community is at a crossroads. In order to be able to move forward, we are faced with the possibility of giving up everything we have worked for over the last 50 years so that something new can come in. We face an uncertain future. Like the early founders of our church communities in Noth America, we are putting our faith and trust in the Lord.

What we know to be the task of the angelic realms, is now being prepared to be born into the physical, and yes, there could be, to put it mildly, some birthing pangs. Nevertheless, underlying our endeavors, there is, and always will be, LOVE.

So, I also will strive to listen to my angels and face the future with gratitude, hope, love and faith.

In Excelsis Deo,

Sparky

Starry Messengers

 

Dear Friends,

August is my favorite time of year to stargaze in Vancouver, partly due to the annual meteor showers, and partly because there is a good chance of clear skies in the evening, when, even in the city, one can see the major constellations and perhaps even a planet or two.

We know from mainstream science that the starlight we see has in fact begun its journey thousands, if not millions of years ago. What we are seeing therefore, are messages from the past, reaching us in the present.

Ancient astronomers from many different cultures studied the stars and their movements in a desire to make future predictions. A similar argument could be made for the study of archaeology, geology, etc. What is the past, being revealed in the present, trying to tell us about the future? That is to say, what lessons are there for us to learn? What are the stars trying to tell us?

We can try to live only for the present, that is, to remain in stasis, or we can choose to participate in the future advancement, or evolution, of the Human Being, AND the Earth, in a positive way. We can try to stand still and do nothing, to look the other way, to gaze down, as the saying goes, at our navels. The fact is, change is always happening, whether we wish it or not. We are as much a part of nature as the plants and animals. Even the topography of the earth changes over time.  We can choose to look up and around us and make a decision to work towards the future. We can choose to work with nature, to ensure a sustainable future for new generations.

We do not even have to look that far back in history, only 100 years, to see that what happened then is being repeated now in many areas – economic, financial, geopolitical, and in nature. For example, in the 1930s, the Prairies became a giant dustbowl where nothing could grow. There was no food and there were no jobs. In desperation, countries turned upon each other, resulting in the deaths of millions of people around the world through violence and epidemics.

The signs are all around us that history is repeating itself; in other words, we are moving in circles. Dear Lord, help us to boldly chart a new course, to break out of old patterns. Guide our footsteps, that together, we can co-create a future of inherent humanity, compassion, kindness, understanding and cooperation. Let us be mindful of the lessons from the past. Let us consider the consequences of our actions for future generations It is our task, and our destiny, to prepare ourselves for the Second Coming of the Christ, and the creation of the New Jerusalem.

Sparky

BREATHING IN, BREATHING OUT, PART II

 

In the northern hemisphere in winter, as nature rests, the seeds in the ground receive nourishment from the cosmos (as do we).

In springtime, as the sun warms the ground, the seeds begin to sprout upward, seeking the Light. In addition, deciduous trees and shrubs burst into leaf and flower. From my windows, a sheltering green canopy greets me every day, providing a barrier from noise and pollution.

Not far from my home, is a salmon bearing river, a tributary to the mighty Fraser River. Along the river one can find a portion of the Trans Canada Trail. In the summer heat, it is a refuge, shaded by trees and cooled by the freshness of the fast-flowing water, fed by melting mountain snow.

One can imagine the Consecration of the Human Being as a process of breathing in and breathing out. During the sacrament, we are privileged to partake in the conscious breathing in of the Holy Spirit. Then it is up to us to breathe out into the world on a daily basis, this spirit of unconditional love. The more often you are able to make this sacrament a regular part of your life, the more you can come to realize and appreciate this process.

Make the giving of unconditional love a regular practice in your life, like breathing in and breathing out, for we need it now, more than ever.

If you live in a plant zone that allows for rhododendrons to grow, I wonder if you have noticed the red flowering ones in particular this year. When the sun shines, they are positively glowing. To me, it is a confirmation that, the greater the adversity we face, the ever brighter the Light of the Spirit shines…

 

𝅘𝅥𝅮 Shine Sun Spirit with Thy Radiant Light 𝅘𝅥𝅮

Sparky

COME UNTO ME

 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

 My heart was very heavy the past year, watching my daughter battle a potentially fatal illness, compounded by an underlying bone marrow disease, and the effects of radiation therapy. Eventually, she got to a point where the doctors said she only had days to live, and she was given the sacrament of last anointing in hospital. Amazingly, exactly a week later, on the winter solstice, she and her boyfriend were wed in the hospital, with much help from the hospital foundation and her community mommies group.

Just over a month later, she was well enough to go home, even though the doctors had not yet been able to fix any of the problems. She is still with us, by the grace of God, but we know she is on borrowed time.

What changed during that time?

Primarily of course, it was my daughter herself. She refused to give up, while at the same time, she recognized the need to begin to prepare for approaching the threshold.

Once she was well enough to go home, I had to do some soul searching myself. I concluded that the best thing I could do was to ask for this burden to be lifted from me and trust in God. My brooding needed to be put aside so that positive, healing energy could enter. It was a little like holding an umbrella to keep the rain off, when the sun was trying to shine.

Many different approaches have confirmed that when one can focus on the positive, it is much easier to receive positive energy. You can call it good vibrations, karma, or the Law of Attraction, or simply stepping aside to allow the Holy Spirit to do its work. It could also be called standing firm in the center of the I, as the storm rages on. No matter what happens, I know she is being held in the arms of the Lord.

 In God we trust.

 With deep gratitude to our caring and dedicated health care workers, and the support of family and friends.

 

  But if doubting and darkness, in the heart hold sway, then is banished from the soul the Light of         day.

 Sparky

REVELATIONS

The Spirit is always on the move, through all human beings, all nations, at all times, seeking those who can hear Christ’s message. Our times are biblical times, just as they were for those living thousands of years ago, and will be for those living thousands of years in the future. What will history write about us?

What was that sudden rush of wind that blew through my soul, ruffling my feathers, while I sat quietly one day in church? I surreptitiously looked around, but no one else seemed to be affected. My hair and clothing were still in place. Perhaps it was meant to blow away the cobwebs from my brain, or lift the veil of Earth, briefly revealing the world of spirit.

 Not long afterwards, as one day I stood serving at the altar, albeit in emotional turmoil, it felt as though the roof had caved in and the truth came out. Like glass shattering into a million pieces, I realized that there was nothing in this world that really mattered, in terms of material possessions.

Yes, I still needed to provide my children with a roof over their heads, and food on the table, but the desire for ever more and better things was gone, revealed for what it was – a rat race, led by the pied piper, until we fell over the cliff into oblivion – uncaring as to who was trampled, or what was destroyed in the process.

No more. When we experience turbulence in our lives, the Christ can lift us up, through His teachings, and His example. If we allow our thinking to concentrate on the I AM statements, we will not be so susceptible to the chaos and destruction happening around us. With Christ as our guide, we can find and keep to, the path that leads us upward.

Sparky

A NEW IMPULSE

 

Way up north, deep in the Tracy Arm Fjord in Alaska, lie the twin Sawyer glaciers. It is in the northern rainforest, shrouded in mist, fog and rain. It is a mystical place. When the sun comes out, there are rainbows. The air is fresh and cool. The mountains rise up on either side, created eons ago by mighty forces in the Earth. They are covered in evergreen forests, booming their chant of A U M, for those who can hear.

The water is green, rich in minerals and nutrients. Small pieces of ice joyfully drift by on their way to the sea, happy to at last be released from thousands of years (approx..26,000) of captivity. Their energy and creative spirit undeniable, in their varying shapes, sizes and shades of blue – the color usually associated with the Virgin Mary, or our Earth, known as the blue planet. The melting of the glaciers during this time is a remedy for the systematic polluting and poisoning of our waters. Some alarmists fear that it will release a variety of unknown viruses. I believe the glaciers were created against the time when the energy they contained would be needed. Our present predicament was foreseen, and resources set aside, or stored up. This is, of course, only my own observation. Water will play an ever more important role, as we approach the age of Aquarius. You do not have to get to a glacier to observe this. If you are lucky enough to have access to a waterfall, you can feel the same refreshing energy.

It is time to pull the plug, my friends. Since the advent of the computer during WW II, we have been travelling down a road fraught with danger. A road which could lead to catastrophic consequences, such as the world has not seen since the times of Atlantis.

We are called upon ever more strongly, to think with our hearts and not our brains – this organ, which has slowly been atrophying over the ages. We are falling, ever so deeply, under a spell. A spell of illusion, falsehoods and untruths. A spell of fake, or artificial intelligence. We no longer wish to use our brains, but like babies, to simply be fed pablum, platitudes. We have happily given up our sense of responsibility, our moral compass, pointing the finger at others. Now is rightly the time to look deep into our hearts and search our conscience.

Jesus said,

I AM

THE WAY

THE TRUTH

THE LIFE

As John the Baptist remonstrated, we must change our way of thinking. We must take personal responsibility, and pursue the path of redemption. The path of righteousness is the hardest to follow, the gateway is narrow. Nevertheless, we do not have to do this alone. Angels are wanting and waiting to help us. They are with us always, even in our everyday life, if we only have eyes to see. We once had this awareness and connection with the realm of the heavens, and it is our destiny to find this connection once again.

Who will follow me, asked the Lord.

Sparky 🌈

ARE YOU READY TO RECEIVE?

 

Dear Friends,

In many of the stories of healing in the Bible, we can observe that there were certain conditions that had to exist in order for healing to take place.

First, the person is asked if they could let go. That is to say, let go of, give away, set aside, whatever was holding them back from, or blocking, healing. It could be something physical, material, emotional or psychological. Are you ready to let go of your pride, your wealth, your position, your worries, etc.

Second, is the person ready and able to receive? What preparations have been made, physically and mentally. How have you prepared, even to receive the Consecration of the Human Being on Sundays, or during the week.

It takes a community, or village, sharing each other’s burdens. The very wonderful thing is, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Wherever two or more are gathered in my name, there will I be. Working out of and with the Spirit, we can each be a part of something greater, co-creators, giving and receiving, forming an ever more perfect union.

Passiontide can be a kind of preparation, through mindfulness, gratitude, sacrifice, in order to receive the ultimate gift of incandescent Love.

The secret to giving and receiving is that it is a beautiful cycle. The more you can give, the more you can receive, and the more you receive, the more you can give. Take me, for as much as I have given myself to you.

Sparky

For my daughter, who is undergoing her own journey of giving and receiving.

 

 

 

 

JOYFUL ALL YE NATIONS RISE!

 

During this time of darkest night, it is also the season of Celestial Light.

The Christ entered the earthly world, scarcely noticed but for a few, who took up the message of hope, love, peace, compassion and sacrifice, or service. He came to remind us where we came from, that we are spiritual beings, and to show us the way back home. He brought the spiritual down into the physical, for all human beings. He will not appear again, until we learn to look first into our own hearts. When we find and listen to the Spirit that dwells in our innermost soul, it can be our guiding star.

We have reached a period of time when darkness appears to be everywhere, outwardly. Our hearts may be heavy, the future unsure. Look inward, find the light, and let it shine forth. The future is in our hands and the choices we make. Christ showed us the way, and it is up to each of us now, to bring the kingdom of God down to the Earth.

Peace on Earth, to all who bear the gift of good will.

Sparky

 

Sing Praise to the Coming King

 Dear Friends,

The above title is one of the songs often sung during our Sunday services.

Once upon a time, not so long ago, in a small country far from Canada, there lived a very brave and faithful people, who were violently occupied by their large and aggressive neighbor. Knowing there was no way to overcome this occupation by fighting back, they instead chose a non violent option. Today it is known as the Singing Revolution, and they were successful in taking back their freedom.

Words and music have power to lift up our souls into a higher realm. They can create a positive energy and vibration that finds a correspondence in the heavenly spheres.

Today we hear of evermore centers of armed conflict and natural disasters. 

Violence, too creates a vibrational energy but not in a good way. I suspect that more conflict may in fact creates more natural disasters.  We already are becoming more aware of our responsibility for conservation and climate change. Our actions have consequences. Our words have consequences. Our thoughts have consequences.

Jesus gave us only two commandments,

Love the Lord thy God with all your heart all your soul all your mind and all your strength.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

So then let us raise up our thoughts and voices in praise of the coming King all over the world. The enemy knows that his time is short.

Sparky

COMMUNITY

 Dear Friends,

The concept of community is wide and varied. Here are some of my thoughts, drawn from different sources:

The ideal of a community would be a group of people working together, who share a common goal, while respecting and supporting each individual member and their point of view. There can be differences of opinion, but ultimately, the end goal must be kept in mind.

As teenagers and young adults, we begin to wonder who we are, what is our purpose, why are we here? We are trying to figure out who we are, but at the same time, we are searching for inclusion. We look at the world around us and ask, what is working, what is not working, sometimes with great vigor and even rebellion.

Who am I? This can be a lifelong question. Meditation is often suggested to help us find our center, which is why I like our Sunday service – it lends itself to contemplation and meditation. In turning our thoughts inward, we can find our way to the Christ.

John the Baptist exhorted people to change their way of thinking, or one could say, to put aside everyday matters and troubles long enough to gaze inwardly. This can be a very long process, requiring patience.

It is an interesting thing that the closer we come to understanding ourselves, the more open we are to understanding others – a kind of transformation of soul takes place. The more we can connect our individual I am, to the I AM of Christ, the more we become interested in being of service to others. I have always found it helpful to try not to dwell too much on my own troubles, and turn instead to helping others. I can also remind myself not to judge the actions of others too harshly, for I have not walked in their shoes.

We can become more aware of the effect of our own words and actions on others. We can even ask ourselves, what is potentially helpful, and what is potentially a hindrance. Am I serving only my ego, or ultimately, am I serving others?

What is happening right now in the world? Chaos seems to reign everywhere we look. Chaos is the mechanism of a soul process of transformation. Me and my wrestling soul may lie lamenting on the ground, but if I keep a picture of Christ leading the way, I know I can win through to finding peace in the eye of the storm.

Today, we are witnessing in the physical world, a great battle for the soul of all human beings. There is a saying: as above, so below. That would suggest that there is a battle happening as well in the spiritual world. As individuals, and in communities, perhaps we can feel that we are being called to join in this battle. Not through war or terrorism, fear mongering or pillaging, but in finding our path to the Being of the Christ, and standing steadfast.

Lastly, some words from Psalm 23:

He leads me beside still waters…

Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me….

Sparky

 

Manna from Heaven

 Dear Friends,

You may be surprised to learn that in our neck of the woods, we enjoy a variety of flora and fauna, including sequoia, dogwoods, rhododendrons, magnolias and cottonwood trees. In May, we know that sooner or later, the cotton will start to fly, eventually collecting along the edges of roadways, like soft, fluffy clouds.

This week of Ascension, I watched the cotton drifting around on a lovely warm sunny day, in contemplation of life, in general. I had just finished reading Emil Bock's book on Moses. If you have never read one of his books, beg or borrow one - your way of looking at the Bible will be forever changed. The width and depth of his research is astounding. His ability to describe different scenes in the Holy Land is truly inspired. Even though some of his books were written 100 years ago, they feel as if they were written for today, and offers one a different perspective on current events.

Generally speaking, we usually picture the Earth as awakening in the Spring, and breathing out into the cosmos. Watching the cotton floating around though, it evoked the story of manna that miraculously appeared during the night for the desert wanderers. What was it exactly that they received in the realm of their soul? You will have to read the book to find out.

Suffice it to say, though, that it felt as though we could still imagine during this time of year, like a fine, summer rain, the tender love of the cosmos, gently falling and ever-present.

Sparky

WHERE IS THE LOVE?

 Dear Friends,

These are apocalyptic times. One only has to look around to see that this is so. We see the abandonment of all the values we once held dear, worst of all is the abandonment of responsibility, we see the heartbreaking abandonment of animals, and yes, even human beings,

Once our shores were the symbol of hope for those seeking freedom from persecution, famine and poverty. People came with nothing in their pockets but their hopes and dreams and the willingness to work hard. Many, like my Quaker ancestors, came with something else, their love and faith in God.

Today many of our young people have no hope. They turn instead to drugs and video games. There is no trust in our political or economic systems. Family values no longer exist. We see that today, only numbers matter. What is the bottom line, what are my ratings on the stage of social media? This is all that matters. Materialism has reached its nadir.

Today, Mandy Thursday, we can turn our thoughts to the Christ. HE knew what was about to happen. During the Last Supper HE gave the first Communion. HE washed his disciples' feet, and told them HE was about to be betrayed.

HE did not come to overthrow the government or to amass a fortune. HE came to show us how to find our way out of the mechanistic way of thought, back into the world of the spirit. This path requires much in the way of sacrifice, mainly in terms of our own egos. 

These are apocalyptic times. If we can find a way to open our hearts, we can feel the approach of the Christ in the realm of our souls. Through the Sacrament of the Consecration of the Human Being. In consciously lifting up our soul and engaging in communion with Christ, we will be able to face whatever is coming.

Here in Vancouver, where Easter is greeted with clouds and rain we look to the Light with gratitude, humility and faith.

Sparky

BREATHING IN, BREATHING OUT

 

Breathing in and breathing out, we do it without being conscious of it. It is a process that is taken care of by our bodies automatically. We can, however, make ourselves consciously aware of this process. In doing so, we turn our attention inward. The practice of relaxation and meditation begins with a focus on our breath.

We can also imagine a similar process, whereby we consciously take into ourselves, gifts from the spiritual world. At night, while we are asleep, this happens though we are not aware of it, to give us strength for the day ahead.

During meditation and contemplation, we can work to become aware of the gifts streaming into us from the spiritual world. These gifts, I believe, are meant not only to strengthen us as individuals, but also to be shared. This can be an ongoing activity to the extent that we can find a way to do so.

As we feel ourselves being healed, we can transform ourselves into instruments, or conduits, of the highest gift of all, Divine Love. The most wonderful mystery occurs when a person feels so filled with love, that they radiate this love out into the world. Anyone nearby can literally see this love radiating out; it touches every person, plant and animal. The world suddenly becomes new to this person, and senses are heightened. That is to say, in consciously receiving the sacrificial Love of Christ, we can become new (Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God). Some kinds of love can wane over time, but Divine Love was present in the Beginning, is present in each of us at this very moment, and will be with us for all cycles of time to come.

Our task is to find meaningful ways in our time to radiate out this Divine Love, once we have been able to open ourselves to it. When we can develop within ourselves the conviction of quiet faith, we have the strength to put aside our own weaknesses, our ego, and endeavor to help others (be charitable), eliciting hope for the future of the Human Being. It can be not just a single moment in time or experience, but an ongoing act-ivity, striving to bring it into our consciousness, and then radiating out, that which is continuously shining in the spiritual.

IN PURE RAYS OF LIGHT, SHINES THE DIVINITY OF THE WORLD

IN PURE LOVE TO ALL BEINGS, RAYS THE DIVINITY OF MY SOUL

I SHALL REST IN THE BOSOM OF THE DIVINITY OF THE WORLD

I SHALL FIND MY (TRUE ) SELF IN THE BOSOM OF THE DIVINITY OF THE WORLD

(One of my favorite verses from Rudolf Steiner)

Sparky

Blessings

 

Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more

You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart
Always

 

Dear Friends,

The above words are part of a song from the movie, Tarzan, by Phil Collins.

To my dear community in Vancouver, please accept a mothers heartfelt thanks for all your hard work in helping before, during and after, the blessing of the marriage of my son to his partner, especially to Felix, Ruth, Annette, Craig, Kyle, Trudy, Eileen, Abegael, and others I have missed. Thank you also to Revs. Maclennan, Corman and Wiggins for all your support and in holding the space for the birth of this precious being.

Thank you to all the guardian angels, guiding spirits, angelic hierarchies and the Being of the Christ, now commencing His reappearance, in the realm of the clouds.

Last but not least, thank you to everyone who was present, in body and spirit, to witness this blessing.

Every Sunday and Wedesday, we come together to celebrate The Act of Consecration of Man. A church is meant to be a place to celebrate and support the journey of the human being in all its forms, from birth to the crossing of the threshold of death, and everything in between, even beyond. It is a place where a healthy social life is found only when, in the mirror of each soul, the whole community finds its reflection, and when, in the whole community, the virtue of each one is living (Rudolf Steiner).

Sparky

 

BODY AND SOUL

 

If you have been trying to grocery shop the last few months, you know how different things are now from two years ago.

Many people used to be able to plan out their meals for the week, go to the store and get what they needed, which helped them to stick to a budget.

That is not possible now. You never know from one week to the next if prices will go up. You never know from what day to the next, what will actually be in stock. Gas prices in Vancouver have been the most expensive in North America, so trips to the store are necessarily limited.

Shopping now requires a new way of thinking. You have to go, see what is in stock and make purchases accordingly. If I spot something I know I use on a regular basis, I will get it right away, especially dry goods. I have to work with what is currently available. I may have to consider alternatives to get the nourishment my body requires, or find something new and different.

This can be applied in other areas, where we face similar challenges.

We can look to the past to see what was applicable at that time. What were the goals and methods used to reach those goals? Were they successful? What lessons did we learn? How best do we move forward?

In these fast changing and unsettling times, we cannot necessarily rely on the past for the answers to the problems of today. We are challenged to move forward, not backward, and hopefully, not just stand still. We are in the midst of the breaking in of a brave, new world.

We have to find new ways of thinking and doing that will move us into the future; a future, hopefully, of kindness and compassion. We have to plan for a living legacy. When we can consider a situation objectively, and look at things from different points of view, new possibilities can present themselves.

I believe this holds true, economically, socially, politically, and in our religious life.

In studying the works of Rudolf Steiner, we can deepen our understanding of the how, what, where, when and why of current events, and of how to begin to address these questions.

I currently read an astounding statement by Dr. Steiner:

Our ancestors were our own souls in other bodies.

We know through the incredible work of Dr. Steiner that our souls have gone through many incarnations, and will continue to do so, in order that we may continue to evolve. The Christ Event, as he explains, does not preclude this fact. Rather, the Christ points the way as to how we can continually strive onwards and upwards.

Sparky

 

 

A L O H A

 Aloha was the very best word I could think of to describe yesterday’s events in our community.

We celebrated the induction of our very own Rev. Erica Maclennan, and bid adieu to seminary intern, Marc Fortin. In other words, a time for welcoming back into our fold, and a time for letting go. A time of hello and goodbye.

Almost everyone has heard of this word, Aloha, and may know that it is commonly used as both a greeting and a parting.

What most of us do not know, however, is the deeper meaning of this word. In native Hawaiian, it means:

PRESENCE OF (alo) SPIRIT (ha)

There was no question of the presence of Spirit during the service, or afterwards as we gathered for a light potluck lunch, followed by words of gratitude, reflection, and some thoughts on Whitsun.

One can also ask, what does the Spirit of Aloha stand for? Even though this concept goes back thousands of years in Hawaiian culture, there are many words that one would also hope to ascribe to being a Christian: kindness, harmony, modesty, patience, compassion, gratitude. It is the coordination of mind and heart within each individual, in order to bring each person to the Self. It is a way of life and the essence of relationships that recognizes each person as important to every other person for collective existence.

This is so important, that in 1986, Hawaii passed a law called, the Aloha Spirit Law. It requires that all lawmakers, judiciary and government officials, from the governor on down, take it into consideration when making decisions. It was to be recognized as the working philosophy of native Hawaiians, and as a healing impulse for people all around the world.

Sparky