JUDGE NOT (JC)

From my recent sermon...

(Matthew 7) "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2 For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye.”

This scripture was preserved for us by a writer who was a Jewish reformer and his central character, Jesus, is just that.  In the story, this Reformer is taking the ancient laws preserved by the ancient Israelites and giving them a modern twist.  Essentially the message, which is apropos then and now, is that the law can be quite hypocritical.  That is, the leaders, the ones who set the laws and tell us how to live often-times do other inappropriate or even immoral acts.  DO AS I SAY BUT NOT AS I DO.  We can infer that he wonder where compassion and love are.

 

His message is not saying you should never judge--that would be a misinterpretation.  Fact is we judge all the time about people, places and things.  To judge is “to form an estimate or evaluation of; to form an opinion about through careful weighing of evidence and testing of premises."  We all do this.  We form opinions, evaluations, estimations everyday.  To judge is not the great evil.  The problem--the great evil arises with hypocrisy.  Hypocrisy defined is:  “a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not; especially : the false assumption of an appearance of virtue.”   The writer is suggesting that those standing in judgment are potentially guilty of even worse offenses.  They are “feigning to be what they aren’t”. 

 

To sit in judgment when you KNOW you are just as guilty or even MORE is a moral failure in your personal life and in society at large; too many innocents have suffered.  The lesson is we must examine our life first before we decide to over-examine another. 

Judging is human.  We will make judgments but be careful.   The writer warns that we will be judged by others at some point and the situation(s) will use the same compassion or apathy we’ve shown toward others’.  Because of the cosmic law of reaping and sowing, more than likely, as you judge "so shall YOU be judged." Careful! 

 

I believe we project so much about ourselves when we harshly or hypocritically judge, whether we are judging ourselves or others.  We are showing a deep-seated insecurity about who and what we are.  Whether in school, at work, or in our relationship, we all, if we are not careful, project our issues on to others.  What manifests is their need to judge us in return.  The war begins.    

 

The only cure is forgiving and practicing non-judgment.  Making sure the logs are out of your eyes.

 

Make forgiving and non-judgement your spiritual practice. I fail every week at it but I keep trying!  It's not about perfection but practice; about being cognizant of your thoughts and words.   Here is your lesson for this week.  Begin a spiritual practice that will help you to be more at-ease and in less dis-ease with yourself and others.

 

Prayer/Thought/Meditation:

 Spirit, let every breath I breathe be sacred.  Let every word I speak be true.  Let everything I do be holy and may it leave me fresh and renewed.  

Amen.

Conscious Learning (JC)

My life-partner, Joni, has a very interesting father.  His name is Bill.  Bill is a native of North Dakota, a former farmer and truck-stop restaurant owner.  What makes Bill interesting is he is one of the most curious people I've ever met.

On his last visit, it was early in the morning.  Joni and I could not find him.  He'd just arrived for breakfast.  Minutes later...  "Where did my dad go?" Joni wondered.  We looked and looked when suddenly I saw him.  He was back outside reading the newspaper on the trunk of my car while making his acquaintance with our neighbor.

When Bill came in he said, in his "Bill-ish" way of talking, "Well don't you know it, that fella is from North Dakota and, man, have you see his hydrangeas...?"  He went on and on... In the span of 15-minutes, curious Bill had found out more about our neighbor then we had over the last two years.

This is one of many stories of how Bill learns new things every day in his very whimsical, extroverted and "Bill-ish" way.  He is in his 70's now but his curiosity with people, places and things is always growing.  I believe this keeps Bill alive, active, healthy and whole.  His curiosity gives his life meaning and energizes his mind, body and spirit.  I believe his way of being is vital to longevity and spiritual health.

The fact is, we are curious beings created by an ever-expanding universe.  As it grows and expands, we too must grow and expand because we are it and it is us.  If we are not conscious of what we learn, if we are not willing to grow and evolve we are stifling our personal power and spiritual capacity as conscious beings.

Getting to know people, places and things in more depth in turn makes us more complex people and puts us more in touch with the Spirit of Life. You may not be an extrovert but you can still experiment with Bill's way of asking more questions and being more curious.  Instead of feeling miserable or bored - get curious! Dedicate the rest of your life to being a conscious learner - a student in the game of life - and I guarantee that you will live a fuller and more meaningful existence.

In the Spirit of curiosity,

Rev. John

PS:  Many of you know I was recently featured in the Washington Post - here is the link to the article:   washingtonpost.com/blogs

Closed Mouth, Opened Heart - Conscious Listening (JC)

In the Hindu/Buddhist tradition many believe there are seven chakras or seven centers in the body where one can collect energy, wisdom, insight, foresight, strength, compassion, power and love.  These energy centers are connected to particular glands in the body.  As one becomes master over oneself, he/she can open and close these energy centers as needed given the situation.

As an example, if I wanted to intuit a person's motives I could open my sixth chakra, also known as the "third eye" which regulates clarity, intuition, clear thinking and vision.  This energy center is located just above the eyes in the center of the forehead.

Chakras are important when I think about our ministry together at the UUCA.  We are in the business of developing intimate relationships with one another.  We grow closer by getting to know each other.  We get to know each other by listening to each other's stories.  When we hear each other in, love pains are endured and healed, wounds are closed, and love is given and received.

To build better relationships at church, at home or at work we must become better listeners.  That's what our monthly theme Sabbath is about to me--being quiet long enough to hear the other. When listening, practice opening only two energy centers (chakras 4 and 7) the heart and crown chakras which regulate love and spiritual connection.  When we enter into relationships from a spiritual perspective guided by love only good can be manifest.

I have personally felt the power of these energy centers in my life for better and for worse.  I've been in difficult conversations where I want the other person to see what I see.  I intentionally kept my third-eye chakra open trying to guess what this person is thinking, trying to convince them that my way was better.  But ultimately the conversation failed.  It is only when I made the decision to close the third-eye chakra and focus my energy on compassion and love, in the name of Spirit, that I began to hear/see things anew.  The conversation continued and healing occurred.

For the rest of this month of Sabbath, try to consciously listen to others.  Open your heart and spirit to love.  Take your eyes off of yourself and place them on someone else.  Practice conscious listening and things will transform!



Love and light,

Rev. John

LAW OF PURE POTENTIALITY (JC)

RIDING THE CREST
The Law of Pure Potentiality

 

Deepak Chopra is someone I am fond of.  He has a theory called the “Law of Pure Potentiality.”  The idea behind this is that everything that exists is pure energy.  We are all “star stuff”.  We are the universe and the universe is us.  We are kin to all living things on earth and in the cosmos.  Within this realm there is life, birth, death and constant expansion and change.  The more we understand WHAT we are---that we were meant to change and be changed throughout life, the faster our consciousness expands giving us more stability and peace.

When you release the “Law of Pure Potentiality” you are tapped into the core of the cosmos.  This allows you to manifest whatever you need in your life.  You need a job?  You need a new relationship?  You need help for your kids, marriage, family?  You want help dealing with stress or stressful situations?  Are you worried about a transition in your life?  Release the “Law of Pure Potentiality”.

Now it comes with a price.  The cost is you must be willing to change.  If you are not willing to change then this law will not work for you.  If you are willing to change here’s what else Chopra says you must do:

1.  Practice non-judgment -  There may be others who have what you want or desire but you must not give in to envy, jealousy or gossip.  Judge only your life and not others’.  Let go of any enmity or strife you carry.

2.  Commune with nature -  Daily meditate and spend time with Mother Earth.  Listen quietly to her, release your intentions to her and she will respond in due time.

3.   Practice forgiveness -  In order to get tapped in to that universal hum which is beyond time and space, right and wrong you have to let go.  Forgive so that you can be released from the temporal illusion of permanence.

When you do these three things that align you with YOU then get ready for your desires to be manifest.   Try it and let me know what you think. 

Until next time,

Rev. John