August Madness!

This has been a very interesting week with all the nonsense about Chik-Fil-A! Neither the supporters or protestors won anything. In fact, there was only one winner... Chik-Fil-A! I am sure their accounting staff is working overtime to count all the money they made off of so many people's prejudices and hatred for one another.  To my LGBT brothers and sisters, why allow the opinion of one person,  who is no better than anyone else, get you so upset? People all over the world have varying views of one sort or another. If you don't like what a company does or stands for, just don't do business with them... it works!  And to my religious brothers and sisters, how ridiculously self-righteous of you to pick one thing you consider a "great sin", and try to make a public display of the people who support it! If you do a little research, the word "sin" means "to offend". How many people did you offend with all the negative comments, and signs with words of condemnation written all over them?  Tell me this, what restaurant are you going eat to stand against liars, gossipers, people who hold grudges, those who refuse to forgive, adulterers, people who use profanity, those who drive past the hungry and homeless just to make to church on time? The expression of God's love is an unconditional giving of one's self to be a blessing to others, especially those who need that love the most. I saw very little love today, in all the "protesting" that went on. But then again, this is all just my opinion. So if you want to protest what I am saying, I know of a restaurant or two that serves some awesome veggie burgers!

It's Time To "Grow Up"

Image By: JunBum Park

Every human being born to this planet is here for a purpose.  Each of us have our own purpose, and are each gifted/equipped accordingly, to fulfill it.  Yes, when we were born, we were prepackaged with the full potential to become, and excel at who we ARE as individual pieces of the whole body of humanity.  The thing to remember is that we were born with the "potential to become", which indicates that there is a process that must take place to prepare us for the "becoming".

Take a baby plant for example (also see my post There's A Tree In That Seed! ).  A seed is planted, and after a period of time, it produces a sprout, a very small version of the full plant.  It has all the characteristics of the full plant, it is made up of the same material as the full plant, and in fact, it is the off-spring of the full plant; however, it is not yet a full plant - but it does have the potential.

This concept is also applicable to humans being the off-spring of God.  We are made in the image and likeness of God (Spirit), we are made of the same material as God (Spirit), and we even have the characteristics of God (Free-will, Creative Thought, Expression of Love, etc.); however, we are not initially able to perform at the level of God - but that does not mean that we never can!

Experiencing life on earth is the means by which we learn various lessons that shape us, mold us, and draw out of us the awesome potential to express the God in us, in a God-like manner.  Life matures us, and strengthens us spiritually.  Life teaches us hard lessons that builds our character, sharpens our minds, and increases our wisdom.  If we allow it, life grows us up to "perfection", "maturity", so that we can fully express the nature of God inside us - this is how the world is able to SEE God!

When we are baby spirits, we only have the "potential" to be like fully matured spirits.  When we become fully matured spirits through the process of growth in the living of life, we are then able to do what fully matured spirits do!  We can love, unconditionally.  We can forgive, genuinely.  We can demonstrate the person of God through our very own lives.  Jesus said it like this... "when you have seen me, you have seen the Father!".  Yes, we can also say the same thing, because spiritual maturity brings you into oneness with God our Creator, our Father and, when we express God's love to others, we ourselves are expressing the very person of God - when they see us, they see the Father!

Look at the world around you right now. Our planet is full of hatred, division, separatism, wars, and outright evil.  The only way to make a difference in this world is by being different from the world.  Our lives need to express the opposite of what the world expresses by its own nature, we need to express the nature of God.  Love, compassion, unity, and peace. This is what is needed by all of humanity, but they can only get it from those who have awakened their hearts and minds to the possibility of living "God-like".

For the sake of all humanity, it's time to "Grow Up!".

The Unboxing Process

From the day we were born, we were all placed inside some sort of ideological box, and most of us have been plunged into to numerous boxes.  Religious, political, scientific, sociological, and many other boxes, have been the foundation of whom we have become as individuals.

Boxes are designed to restrict, isolate, and restrain.  They hold us prisoner to ideals that limit our opportunity to grow beyond where we are.  Boxes are also deceptive, as they tend to cause those inside to feel superior to those outside the box.  This is because while inside a box, the only thing you know is inside that box, and soon you master its offerings because the offerings are so limited.  Instead of looking for a way to go beyond the box, most people simply stay there and demean anyone else who is not in there with them.  They feel as though they have attained the ultimate knowledge, and anyone who does not choose to get in, and stay in that box is an outsider.

We have to be very careful, because everyone of us is, at this very moment in some sort of idealogical box.  Some are content where they are and refuse to move on right now, and others of us are transitioning to the next larger box that expands and builds our knowledge, and spirituality; in short, we are "unboxing" ourselves.  This unboxing will continue until we step outside the final box, and into a state of spirituality and awareness where "labels" are no longer needed.

As long as we feel the need to label ourselves, we have not attained the pure spirituality.  Even those of us  who profess to be on an enlightened path are in boxes that are labeled with "Conscious", "Aware", "Awakened", etc.  There is nothing wrong with these labels, but as with all labels, they were created for boxes!  One day soon, many will experience a shift in consciousness that will eliminate the need for any labels, and consequently, the boxes that go with them.  One day we will cease to be a something or another, and simply BE!

Until then, never be content with the status quo, mundane, and mediocre.  Always push and strive to step outside your current box, and into the next level of growth and experience that will lead you ultimately to your final unboxing.

Peace, light, and love to you all!