Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Why Are We So Unhappy?



"It is of the nature of desire not to be satisfied,
and most men live only for the gratification of it." ~ Aristotle 

"Don't Worry Be Happy." ~ Meher Baba

Don't Worry Be Happy. Meher Baba

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Are You Afraid Of Defeat? Sunday Service



Today I recall my adventures into the unknown. I said "Yes" to the journey... and throughout it, I listened to others and Nature. I experienced failures that lead successes and more. And, all was accomplished by the Love and Law of the Universe. And so it is!

Friday, September 25, 2015

Are You Afraid of Defeat?

When I was in high school many decades ago, I memorized a poem by Robert Service, entitled, "Carry On" which I loved! The second verse is:
"And so in the strife of the battle of life,
It is easy to fight when you're winning;
It is easy to slave and starve and be brave
When the dawn of success is beginning,
But the man who can meet despair and defeat
With a cheer, there's the man of God's choosing;
The man who can fight to Heaven's own height,
Is the man who can fight when he's losing."
I probably don't need to explain that I have had a soft spot for the underdog. I was an idealistic kid. I have never been in many fights, and no physical ones,  so there really isn't a reason that I loved and remembered this poem, yet it appeals to my soul. 

It says to me, that there is good for me and I ought to have it. And I need to do my part in the finding and creation of it.

For me, the fight is mental not physical. It is the strength of mind and character needed to move steadily forward toward your highest dream regardless of setbacks. (They could be a set-up!). 

In The Alchemist, the boy was successful  in finding his treasure and having his love, but many times throughout his adventure, he could have been defeated by the circumstances he faced.The alchemist becomes  a mentor and friend and gives the boy this advice:
What you still need to know is this: before  a dream is realized the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this not because it is evil, but so we can, in addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we've learned as we've moved toward that dream. That's the point at which most people give up. It's the point at which as we say in the language of the desert, one 'dies of thirst just when the palm trees have appeared on the horizon."

When the boy listened to his heart, that told him his strongest qualities were courage and enthusiasm. Learning from the protagonist in this story, we learn to carry on. 

The boy did not find the treasure at the pyramids, but he found an answer that led him to the treasure. Life is generous to those who pursue  their Personal Legend or Purpose.
The Boy at the Pyramids at Last


Monday, September 21, 2015

Today is #PeaceDay: Who Will You Make Peace With?



Today is #PeaceDay – an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence. Please join us in the loudest call for lasting peace the world has ever seen by marking the day in your homes and communities. Every act of kindness or forgiveness helps us all to build a world that works for everyone.

For more information on this peaceful revolution please visit http://www.peaceoneday.org

I Am the Peace of the Puzzle.



ONE The Peace Day Anthem



One Love, One Voice, One Spirit, United.
Singing As One.
Brothers And Sisters, Peace.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Love Is A Stimulus, Sunday Service



Today I recall with each step I take that I am guided by Divine Love. There is no need to understand it or to try to explain what is happening within me and around me. I simply surrender to this, the Creative Love of the Universe, ans know It is Always and Forever.
And So It Is!

Friday, September 18, 2015

Love is a Stimulus

Ernest Holmes writes: "When we find we are without friends, the thing to do is at once to send our  thought out to the whole world; send it full of love and affection. Know that this thought will meet the desires of some other person who is wanting the same thing, and in the same way the two will be drawn together. Think of the whole world as your friend,but you must also be a friend of the whole world." Science of Mind, p.298
Do you have enough love in your life? Have you been sending your love out to the entire world?

Many people remain lonely despite wishing for human companionship. I am curious about the reason this is so.

Could it be that we are sending un-loving thoughts out to the world? On what are we focused? If we believe that all the good ones are taken or that we can't trust people we have never met, we are planting seeds of loneliness and separation.

Are you being a good friend to the people who are now in your life?

Have you  experienced love at first sight? Do you believe it is true love?

Feeling attracted to someone may be true love, but you will not know for certain  for some time. Love usually needs room, time and space to grow. So maybe the feelings need to deepen.

In the story of The Alchemist, the boy fell in love with Fatima immediately their eyes locked and he was smitten. That feeling of wanting to be with Fatima was a stimulus to Santiago. He wanted to stay with her but he also knew that she would have greater regard for him if he kept on his path to find the treasure. It wasn't that she wanted the treasure, but rather she would be proud of her man for being true to himself.

I wonder if it is true that love is a stimulus.
Ernest Holmes writes:"All is Love yet all is Law. Love is the impelling force and law executes the will of Love. Man (human) is a center of God-consciousness in the great Whole. He cannot deface his real being, but may hinder the Whole from coming into complete expression through his life. Turning to the One with a complete abandonment and in absolute trust, he will find that he is already saved, healed and prospered."." The Science of Mind,p. 323
It seems that Ernest agrees that Love is a stimulus; he says love is the impelling force.





Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Never Give Up! Wednesday Wisdom



You were put here for a reason. You have a valuable and unique gift the share with the world. If you haven't yet discovered what it is, do so and give it away. You were meant for greatness. Never give up on yourself!

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Wednesday Wisdom - Never Give Up! Practicing the Presence...

Join Rev. Judee Chapman this Wednesday Sep 16 at 7 pm at The Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley to listen to the wisdom of Mary Brogdon! See you there!

Practicing the Presence - Wisdom - Never Give Up!

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Who Told You It Is Impossible? Sunday Service



Today I listen to the Truth of my Being by pursuing my heart's desires. I understand that there is Divine guidance in every step I take. I am in tune with all of Nature and the whole of the Universe is conspiring to assist me in this journey of my highest dream. And so it is!

Friday, September 11, 2015

Who told You It Is Impossible

One of my favorite quotes is from Alice in Wonderland:
Alice laughed. 'There's no use trying,' she said: 'one can't believe impossible things.'
'I daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the queen. 'When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.' 


If you are to find your Personal Legend, or purpose, you may need to do some things that seem impossible.

Think back to the things you have learned and are now easy to you -- riding a bicycle or driving a stick shift. When I learned to drive a stick, I needed all my concentration to remember when to shift, how to accelerate without stalling and how to accelerate from a stop on a hill with the car  behind me only inches away. I could not play the radio. I could not talk to passengers. It seemed impossible to me. Yet, it somehow became second nature. However, I could see that other people could drive cars with standard transmissions so i knew it could be done. Actually that is a great metaphysical principle: If someone has achieved what I desire, then I know it is possible for me to achieve it too.

But there are things that at one time everyone in our culture believed could not be done. Think about the vision of the Wright brothers! They imagined that humans could fly and it had never been done before. Yet, today we get on planes, trusting that they will be flown safely to our destination. What was once impossible, first became possible, then became fact.

In the book, The Alchemist, many people told the Boy that it was impossible to get to the pyramids. Yet, despite much discouragement, such as having all his money stolen not once but a couple of times, the Boy was able to fulfill his Personal Legend. Something was compelling him to follow the omens he saw. 

I would say that he was following his intuition. What compelled him was his Calling or the Universe moving through him as his personal adventure story.

There is so much we can learn from the Boy. He did not give up. He kept remembering the words of both the gypsy woman and the king of Salem whose name was Melchizedek. By the way, author Paulo Coelho chose the king's name purposefully. In Hebrews, Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything then the king blessed him. In The Alchemist, the king of  Salem gave the Boy advice and the meaning of his dream, and the Boy gave him a tenth of his flock.Giving this much away seems impossible if the Boy was going to get to Egypt from Spain, but he did the impossible and the story ends in his favor. 

What do you think about the practice of tithing? That is giving a tenth to the source of your spiritual good. It has worked for me for years.





Sunday, September 6, 2015

The Same Dream Twice, Sunday Service



I am on a life journey as a dreamer and a seeker of my Personal Legend. I realize that I am a child of the Universe who is living in the Presence of the Infinite One! I know each step I take is guided. I feel no fear for I am living in the Presence! And So It Is!

Friday, September 4, 2015

The Same Dream Twice

I am doing something completely different this month for my Sunday messages. I am basing them on the novel, The Alchemist.



This novel is an allegory about life and contains many spiritual treasures. 

It begins with the shepherd boy, Santiago, who has had the same dream twice. The dream is about finding treasure in the pyramids of Egypt.

He finds two different people to help him interpret his dream, a gypsy woman and an old man. The old man tells him, 
"To realize your destiny is a person's only obligation. And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."
The first question that comes to mind is, what does it mean to have a recurring dream? Metaphysically, it means  Subconscious Mind is telling you to pay attention. there is something of value in that dream. Look beyond the literal meaning. Ask yourself what the dream means to you. Only you can determine what it means even though it is often tempting to go to an outside "expert." 

The second question that arises for me is am I living my life's purpose? Am I living my dream now or am I moving toward it? If I am living my dream, excellent! If I am moving toward it, good. But if I am trying to ignore it, then I am working against my highest good.

My most passionate dream is to awaken people to their spiritual magnificence. When I see the light of awareness dawn in someone's eyes, I feel deeply blessed. I feel that my life is on purpose.

Have their been times that I have been discouraged and thought about finding a different dream? Yes, there have been times that I have been discouraged, but no, I cannot think of anything else I would rather do or am compelled to do. 

Have I had to take risks in order to live my dream? Yes, many risks. When I was first called to the ministry, I had more needs than income. I cashed in my retirement savings. That was a big risk on the human level but on the spiritual level, I know that God is my Source and the source of my supply. 
 "And when you want something, the Universe conspires in helping you achieve it."
What are the dreams of your heart? Are you living your divine purpose? There is an alchemist within you; it is ready to transform your life, when you cooperate with it.