Books That Bless: An Introductory Note

 Mick Turner

 

 I don’t know about you, but I have always been a voracious reader. In my formative years, I read constantly on a wide range of subjects and one of my most thrilling moments came when my parents gifted me with a set of The World Book Encyclopedia. I literally spent hours marveling at the information contained in those books.

Please, don’t get me wrong. I was not the stereotypical bookworm with a nose always buried in a tome of one kind or another. I was a sports nut as well, playing varsity football, basketball, and baseball. I also ran track. Looking back on my high school years, I don’t see how I managed to fit all those activities, along with my required studies, into the confines of a 24-hour day. Yet I did and, in some ways, still do.

Yes, I read a lot of books, especially related to spiritual matters and the church. I enjoy this endeavor and have no plans to give it up or lessen the time I spend reading. I have a soon-to-be- four-year-old daughter who is the apple of my eye and who is also firmly attached to Daddy. Needless to say, my daughter Salina makes understandable demands on the time of both my wife and myself. Still, I manage to find time to read after I put her to bed and, more often than not, by getting up quite early in the morning. Spiritual reading is a vital part of my morning discipline of prayer, studying the Word, and meditation.

In addition, at LifeBrook we conduct numerous trainings, seminars, and workshops, all of which contain recommendations for reading on the subject at hand. Obviously, I can’t recommend something I haven’t read, so my work also necessitates a certain amount of reading. Further, we have recently developed a series of e-courses to be offered on a regular basis. Again, each of these courses have several books that are a part of the course and I read a number of books on the subject of the course before selecting a few to be required reading in the e-course.

I say all of this in preface to this article, which will be the first in a series entitled, “Books That Bless.” Let me explain.

If you are also an avid reader you will understand what I am about to say. While I usually get something of value out of most things I read, from time to time I come upon a very special book – one that speaks clearly to me and seems to be a gift of the Spirit to me, coming at just the right time. Such books quicken my spirit, make my heart and mind soar, and give me much-needed spiritual nourishment. Such books, in a very real sense, make me come alive.

In this series of articles, I will be sharing a bit about a few of these “Books That Bless,” hoping that readers might find them worth the time spent reading them. Granted, these books were highly meaningful for me, and may not be for everyone. Still, I want to share my thoughts about these particular books and how they impacted one man’s life. And who knows? Perhaps you will find them profitable as well.

One final note on all of this – As the series unfolds in the coming months you will discover that my reading tastes run the gamut of spiritual persuasions.  M spirit is nourished by a wide perspective and, to tell you the truth, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Also, I have started a “Books That Bless” weblog, which will contain the books discussed here, plus other materials. You can find the blog at:

http://booksthatbless.blogspot.com

I hope to get the initial post up later this week, depending on how busy I am with the newspaper writing and at LifeBrook. Until then:

Blessings in His Light,

Mick

Thought: The Ancestor of Action

Mick Turner

What we do begins in our thoughts and eventually is translated into our actions. In light of this fact, if we truly wish to develop our capacities and live more effective and productive lives the place we must begin is with our thinking. The formula is really quite simple. Positive thoughts translate themselves into positive actions. Negative thoughts translate into negative actions. Positive actions, in turn, promote growth and development. Negative actions result in wasted effort, stagnation, and lack of fulfillment.  

The good news is that we are fully capable of changing our patterns of thinking. It may take personal effort and persistence, but we can rest assured that progress can be made and change can be realized. We can base this optimistic outlook on both the successful experience of others and on the promises of God contained in sacred scriptures around the world. 

Thought is the ancestor of action. In our journey to become the optimal version of ourselves, we must keep this principle before us at all times. You will learn to live the way you want to live when you learn to think in ways that are constructive and in alignment with valid spiritual principles. It all starts in the mind. This is why Paul, an early visionary of the Christian tradition, repeatedly reminds us that becoming masters of our minds is essential. The Apostle stresses that our minds must be renewed and that part of this process involves taking every thought “captive for Christ.” Further, we are instructed to think on positive, beneficial themes that flow from the reality that we are “new creations” in Christ.  Granted, there are many things in the world that you cannot change through your thinking. But the one thing you can certainly change is yourself! So start with yourself. If you want to improve yourself remember: 

Create your own positive thought and you become what you desire to become because the truth of the matter is that your thought creates your experience. 

Let me repeat, it is your thoughts that determine your attitudes and it is your attitudes that determine your actions. The great American President Thomas Jefferson said it far better than I can: 

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal. Nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. 

 Attitude is everything. The fact is that we often defeat ourselves before we begin a project or pursue a goal. The cause of this self-defeat is negative thinking. In order to grow and develop we have to embrace a more positive outlook on life. We must incorporate into our being the firm belief that I can if I think I can. It really is as simple as that. Base your life on this belief and you will have at your command the single-most effective tool for spiritual growth. 

Many of you may read this and think, “This all sounds great, but it is just too simplistic. Life is a lot more complicated than that.” Well, both statements are somewhat true. Learning to think in a more optimistic, positive manner is simple in principle. There is nothing complicated about the theory involved here. However, no matter how simple it may seem does not reduce its effectiveness one iota. And, yes, life is quite complicated at times. Rarely are events and situations the result of only one factor, but instead, are combinations of causes. Learning to think in an optimal manner does not deny problems exist, nor does it view life in an overly simplistic way. What optimal cognition does is help us deal with these difficulties and respond to life’s complexities in a more skillful and productive manner.  

One of the greatest lessons that I have learned in my life, and learned with great difficulty I might add, is expect the best and the best will come to you. Get out of all your old negative habits of thinking and be open to new, positive patterns of affirmation. Develop a joyous and optimistic outlook on each day. Fall in love with life and live it fully. Above all, develop the habit of positive thinking. Believe in yourself! Believe in your abilities! Be confident! Be Proactive! This may seem very simple and, in fact, it is. Yet it is this very simplicity that makes positive thinking so powerful and profound. If you don’t believe, try it out for six months and see what happens. The results will surprise you.

 In addition to being positive about our potential for personal change, we also need to develop an attitude of openness. By this I simply mean that in order to make progress, we have to do things differently than we have in the past. This, my friend, means we have to encounter change. Many of us avoid change, choosing to stay with the familiar, with the status quo. Unfortunately, if we want to grow we have to change. And, if we want to change, we have to be flexible in our approach to life and open to new ways of doing things.

 The one sure thing that can keep a person in everlasting ignorance is a closed mind. To live a life based on spiritual principles is to always strive to be open to new ideas, new concepts, and fresh and invigorating ways of doing things. So often many of us go about our daily rounds, living life in the same routine way and responding to the events of the day in the same old ritualistic ways that we always have. The same is true for our thinking. We think the same kind of thoughts, hold the same views and opinions, and approach life in the same timeworn way that we always have. No matter that some of these behaviors and thought patterns are non-productive and destructive. We cherish them because they are familiar and comfortable. By living this way we never have to stretch our minds.

God’s desire is that we realize our potential and he challenges this unskillful, habitual way of being. He encourages us to venture out into new ways of doing things and fresh ways of thinking. We are challenged to look at things from a different perspective and, when we do, we are transformed – changed in a positive way. Oliver Wendell Holmes said it so well:  

Man’s mind, stretched to a new idea, never goes back to its original dimension. 

These basic ideas may seem a bit new and strange to you, especially if you are a person who has habitually engaged in negative and self-defeating thinking. If you want to be successful you must learn to cast off these habits of negative thought and replace them with a more positive, optimistic, and fresh outlook on life. In short, what you need to develop is a new perspective on things.

 Here at LifeBrook we often encounter sincere spiritual aspirants who ardently desire positive spiritual fulfillment in their lives. It is our hope that you, too, will be motivated to develop a fresh perspective on yourself and your abilities. You will need to let go of old self-limiting ideas about your abilities and learn to see yourself in a more positive and self-affirming light. You will need to come to the realization that you are a unique individual with unique and individual talents and capacity. The truth is, the Universal Intelligence hardwired you for a specific purpose or mission and he also gave you the software (talents, abilities, and spiritual gifts) to be successful in carrying out that mission. Further, you will need to understand that your mind is an amazing and mysterious treasure that can either be your greatest ally or your worst enemy. 

The choice before each of us is whether or not we truly want to change. If we do, it is imperative to walk daily in the process of cognitive renewal. With renewed minds, filled with the positive promises of God and a sincere wish to become the optimal version of ourselves for the sake of others, the possibilities are limitless.

The Church: Renewed and Relevant

Mick Turner

I believe that the Church universal is at a critical juncture at the dawn of the new century. Our world is filled with people who are spiritually hungry, existentially confused, and ethically adrift. Many sincere seekers find themselves on the cusp of making a commitment to Christ but, for numerous reasons, are reluctant to do so. Not a few potential Christ-followers have been turned off by the contemporary church in its current form. This is understandable in light of the rigid negativity in which the church, particularly in its more fundamentalist forms, presents itself to the world. Not a few folks see this and, instead of taking a leap of faith into the arms of Christ, head for the hills as fast as they can.

More than a few are afraid to call themselves Christians because they think that before they can be accepted into the fellowship of the Body of Christ, they have to join the Republican Party. If you think I am exaggerating, recall if you will a couple of years ago when a Baptist minister in North Carolina attempted to drive anyone who voted for Democratic candidates from his congregation. I am certain that if Christ was alive today and witnessed such buffoonery, the words of John in the shortest verse in the Bible would again apply, “Jesus wept.” 

Also among the ranks of the frustrated are members of Christ’s fold seeking a deeper walk of faith. Other Christ-followers have doubt, unanswered questions and, quite frankly, do not feel fed by the current vision under which the Church is operating. One of the most significant challenges to today’s Church is to find ways to address the legitimate needs of these congregants. Church leaders can no longer afford to turn a deaf ear to the issues raised by Christians who are less than satisfied with the status quo. Given the context of the post-modern culture in which the Church now exists, to minimize the spiritual needs of these well-intended seekers is to invite death. 

The great paradox here is the fact that the world today needs the Church more than ever. However, it needs a vital, vibrant and service-oriented church that is committed to carrying out Christ’s work in this post-modern age. As Christ-followers, we are called to continue incarnating his life in the world. That is the fundamental duty of the Church and I look around and see that, although well meaning, we are not doing a very good job of it. Many churches and many Christians are anything but “living epistles” or a “pleasant aroma.”  

Most recently, it has occurred to me that Christianity must undergo certain changes if it is to survive in the context of the post-modern world. Numerous writers have given their opinions on what form this change must take and range from ultra-liberal views such as those of Anglican Bishop Spong to the arch-conservatives who call for a return to the good old days, or even beyond to something dubbed Neo-Puritanism. In addition, there are the advocates of what has come to be known as the “Emerging Church,” which calls for something somewhere in between yet something totally new. This is the notion in particular of the “missional church.”

 It is difficult to predict exactly what form the church will morph into, except to say that it is doubtful that their will be any unified version. Chances are, as we move through these transitional but formative times, we will see a plethora of new wineskins, some good and some not so good. Whatever the form, I think 21^st century Christianity needs to incorporate three basic foundations if it is to be a relevant force in post-modern times. Without too much elaboration at this point, I will list a trio of words that hopefully will increasingly characterize the Body of Christ in the months and years ahead: creative, transformative, and incarnational. 

Church leaders must quickly come to the realization that our society has, to a large extent, become post-Christian. Prior to the 1960’s the Church was perhaps the most stabilizing and important institution in America. Christianity constituted, for all practical purposes, our moral compass. This is no longer the case. I won’t belabor this point here, but suffice to say that this state of affairs necessitates a certain reassessment of how the Church goes about its business, especially how it presents the Gospel. We must be creative, finding new and culturally relevant ways to present Jesus to our culture. The old ways just won’t work.

  Jesus sets our example. He used parables and examples that his audience could relate to. He spoke of farmers, vineyards, oxen, and a host of images that his peasant listeners found meaningful. Now, we must do the same. Creativity and cultural relevance in our gospel presentation is essential. 

The Protestant Church as a whole has been woefully inadequate in providing its constituents with workable plans and methodologies for positive change in their lives. It seems that, once a person is converted, efforts at discipling that person is aimed at the most superficial denominator possible. In our current social milieu, although there are many who are quite comfortable to punch their ticket to the Pearly Gates but balk at deeper discipleship, there are countless others clamoring for a real taste of the Living Waters of which Christ spoke. It is incumbent upon the Church to rediscover its rich tradition of spiritual formation and make that a centerpiece and a calling card. In short, we must present to the world a living, vibrant Christianity that is transformative, a faith that gives substance to people’s hope for positive change. This alone would do much to deepen participation in the Church by spiritual seekers. 

Finally, perhaps the most imperative mission of the contemporary Church is to rediscover and consistently manifest Christianity’s compassionate heart. In our hurting and often unjust world, we, as followers of Christ, need to incarnate his heart, his love, and his compassion to those around us who are suffering. Compassion, more than anything else, can help heal the many wounds that both individuals and groups of individuals carry. The reality is, we are all part of an interconnected whole. When one suffers, at some level we all do. Jesus understood this and Jesus acted on this understanding. We, believers in his name, are to do no less.

Personal Morality: Finding Your North Star

Mick Turner

Given the spiritual confusion of contemporary society, one thing stands out in stark relief: What we need are more people of character and integrity. Character and integrity begin with our personal conduct and our personal conduct flows from an internalized value system. We need to know and know in depth just what we believe to be right and wrong. Again, this issue is often glossed over in our post-modern world and this is in many ways a tragedy.

 

Here is a foundational truth: Your value system, your sense of personal ethics, is the foundation upon which your spiritual journey is constructed. Without a system of personal morality, you are building your house on sand.

Having a personal sense of morality is only the beginning. If you don’t act on your value system – if you don’t put it into practice – you are going nowhere. You are like a house divided against itself. You, my friend, cannot stand. If you do not act on your beliefs of right and wrong, you will lack integrity. And without integrity, there can be no integration. Hopefully, you see the connection between these two words.

If we are to make progress in our spiritual endeavors we must have an internal moral compass. We must have a stable, predictable North Star to assist us in navigating the largely uncharted waters of our post-modern culture. In a land where the driving moral principle is “if it feels good, do it,” or “follow your bliss,” acting in accordance with an internalized set of values is almost an alien concept. However, if we are at all sincere about our spiritual development we have to incorporate discipline and discernment into our lives. We have to get to the point where we understand that what is often considered politically correct is not in our best interests from a spiritual perspective. This kind of discipline and discernment is built upon awareness and is made possible by an internalized spiritual compass. In certain Buddhist traditions, this critical discernement allows us to recognize what is called “skillful means. What is a skillful mean? A skillful mean is any practice, attitude, or behavior that works toward our own enlightenment for the benefit of others.

Of course, this type of inner awareness and discernment necessitates we will sometimes have to choose attitudes and behavior that run counter to our friends, our families, and the world at large. Especially at these times, we must be firm in our principles and stand fast against the subtle temptations to run with the herd.

Additionally, we must be aware that moral beliefs are the defining matrix through which we interact with our culture. As spiritual aspirants, we should always follow the principle of love. In the context of the discussion we are now having, this means that even though we may not agree with many of the things we see going on around us, we must react to these things with compassion, love, and understanding. For some, this seems to be a lost art. We are not called to be moral police. We can take a personal stand in opposition to values and principles we find abhorrent. However, to do so in a belligerent, vitriolic, or violent manner is to reject genuine spiritual teachings. As members of an interconnected web of life, we have to exhibit love and compassion above all else. It is through servanthood motivated by love and compassion that we incarnate Divine Intelligence  intoo our world. These principles are at the core of a genuine spiritual value system. Further, our internalized moral compass does not have to be detailed or complex, although for some it is better if it is. However, even in those cases and also in the case of most aspiriants, our morality can and should be based on two foundational characteristics: flexibility and simplicity. A wonderful example of this principle is found in the words of Buddha:

Do no harm; pursue the good.

Avoid Evil;

Master the mind.

One of my favorite classic western movies is “The Best of the Bad Men.” In this vintage film, most of the famous outlaws of the Old West had managed to come together to pull a bank job. The James brothers, the Daltons, the Youngers…they were all there. Somehow Walter Brennan was a part of the gang, but not a member of any of the outlaw families. Still he played a vital role in the movie.

At one point, two of the bad guys were about to have a gun fight at the bottom of a hill where the gang was camped. Walter Brennan came running down the hill with his six-shooter aimed at both of them. Next, in his unmistakable voice, Brennan told them to back off or he would lay both of them out. To emphasize his point, Brennan then said:

 “I ain’t kin to none of ya….and I ain’t troubled by no burdensome scruples.” 

The view espoused by Walter Brennan may seem humorous in the context of the movie, but it reflects how many people in our culture have come to see morality. More than a few individuals hold the idea that having internalized values is too restrictive, reduces our freedom, and takes the fun out of life. The fact is, just the opposite is true.  

 A strong sense of personal values does not restrict our freedom. Instead, it gives us parameters to operate by, facilitates easier decision-making, and, in a sense, helps us define who we are. Values also help us to keep flowing forward toward our goals in life, especially our spiritual goals. Values can be seen as being like the banks of a river; they keep the water flowing toward its destination. Without banks, a river becomes a swamp.

A personal value system serves other positive purposes as well. Each of us it seems is equipped not only with a Sacred Center, but also with a lower center. This lower center is dominated by the ego and its selfish mind set. Paul refers to this part of our makeup as the “flesh.” It is that carnal, self-absorbed portion of our character that, above all else, looks out for Number One. As a result, even the best of us engage in behaviors which are less than stellar.

 Speaking of myself, I know that I try to approach life as much as possible from a positive and sacred viewpoint. Still, there are times when I act with selfishness, anger, a mean spirit, and an overall sense of negativity. Having an internalized set of values, a personal moral code if you will, helps me not only identify when I am going off the spiritual rails, it also tends to reduce the frequency with which I behave in a negative manner.

 As our world culture moves forward in this new and challenging century, the importance of each individual developing and maintaining an internalized, spiritual value system – one based on inter-connectivity and human compassion – is essential. More to the point, each person has to act on that value system. He or she must be the same inside and outside. This is the true meaning of integrity.

(c) L.D. Turner 2008

A Franciscan Benediction

Image via Wikipedia

 Mick Turner

I felt led by the Spirit this morning to share with you this “Franciscan Benediction,” quoted by Phillip Yancey in his book, Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?. When I find that I drift for days or sometimes weeks without paying attention to Christ’s call for us to be compassionate citizens of his Kingdom, I often go back to this prayer, just as a reminder. We are called to be the hands, feets, and especially the embrace of Jesus in our hurting world. This benediction speaks to this reality.

May God bless you with discomfort

At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships

So that you may live deep within your heart.

 

May God bless you with anger

At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,

So that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

 

May God bless you with tears

To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war,

So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and

To turn their pain into joy.

 

And may God bless you with enough foolishness

To believe that you can make a difference in the world,

So that you can do what others claim cannot be done

To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Amen

I don’t know about you, but I rarely think to pray for things like discomfort, anger, tears, and foolishness. Yet this sublime prayer truly captures the compassionate heart of Jesus, feeling the pain and suffering of the world and responding to it with healing love. The words of this benediction remind me so much of the scripture read by Jesus in his hometown synagogue in Nazareth and recorded in Luke 4:18-19:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has annointed me to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see,

That the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.

I think there is no need to wax eloquent here, nor is there a reason to belabor the point. Jesus’ message was crystal clear and so are the words of the Franciscan benediction. Permit me, however, to share one more highly relevant passage of scripture from Isaiah. These verses, Isaiah 58:6-12 speak to the same theme and to the same calling; a calling that goes forth to each of us who claim the title “Christian.”

…this is the kind of fasting that I want:

Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you.

Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry and give shelter to the homeless.

Give clothes to those who need them and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

Then your salvation will come like the dawn and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.

Then when you call, the Lord will answer. “Yes, I am here,” he will quickly reply.

Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!

Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkenss, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.

The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.

You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever flowing spring.

Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. You will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes.

The words of this passage hold a special significance for me. Space in this article does not give me room to tell the whole story. Suffice to say that, in 1996, I had major cardiac surgery and an extended period of recovery. While still in the hospital after the operation, these words seemed to leap off the page at me. Over the next few months I prayed for God to reveal to me what he wanted me to do. I vowed that, since I had been given extended life, I would dedicate it to his service. Although I would have never predicted it, I ended up on the mission field in China, where I remained for over five years. These years were, without reservation, the most rewarding years of my life.

I have been home now for five years and  God has continued to guide me into areas of service where I can be of use. Further, he has surprised me in some very significant ways, including, in 2004, the birth of my wonderful daughter, Salina. She was both a gift and a miracle. I suppose I should also mention that, at the time of her birth, I was 55-years-old. As I said, the Lord is full of surprises.

I didn’t mean to digress, but my point here is that, as Christians, we are to serve God through selfless service to others. Just as Jesus set us an example by washing his disciples feet, we have to get our hands dirty as well. But there is a wonderful promise in this. Our wounds, and we all have them, will quickly heal. Further, our light will shine out from us and God will continually guide us.

I know from my own life experience, my testimony if you will, these words ring loudly with truth. If possible, and it probably is, spend some time this week reflecting on the words from this Franciscan benediction, as well as the passage from Luke and the one from Isaiah. Pray about these words and these principles, and wait for God to make his move. A word of caution: Don’t be surprised if you are suprised.

 

Personal Epiphanies: The Clarity of Silence

Mick Turner

One Sunday morning, as is my habit, I arose early. I spent time asking God to speak to me regarding an issue I had been struggling with for some time. As is often the case, my tampering with this problem eventually led me to a state of perplexed paralysis.  It was an issue related to how I was to proceed with one aspect of my professional life.

After praying, I sat quietly and gradually began to feel the peace of Spirit fall over me. It was nothing earth shattering and no burning bushes spoke to me, nor did any donkeys give utterance, but I had a palatable sense of God’s presence. This is significant in that it had been months since I had felt any sense of The Light in my life. It seemed that in my busyness, God had somehow gone on sabbatical. I longed for his touch, even if only brief and subtle. I was, in essence, in a stark period of spiritual dryness.

 I had several books at my side that I had been reading prior to my prayer time. I opened one of the books and soon came across these words by the French mystic Francois Fenelon:

 Be silent and listen to God. Let your heart be in such a state of preparation that His Spirit may impress upon you such virtues that will please Him. Let all within you listen to Him…. 

Now comes the good part!

 Don’t spend your time making plans that are just cobwebs – a breath of wind will come and blow them away. You have withdrawn from God and now you find that God has withdrawn the sense of His presence from you. Return to Him and give Him everything without reservation. There will be no peace otherwise. Let go of all you plans – God will do what He sees best for you. 

Fenelon’s words hit me between the eyes like a Louisville Slugger. I knew immediately what I needed to do, even if it might be difficult.  I needed to return to The Blessed Silence, wait in positive expectation, and trust that the answer would be revealed. Basically, in my own anxiety and uncertainty of potential outcomes, I took charge of the situation and ended up at what seemed a dead end.

Trusting Spirit to guide us and lead us to the place we need to go is not an easy proposition. This is especially true for those of us who are used to “making things happen.” I made the decision that Sunday morning to let the entire project go. I put it in Spirit’s hands and, in due time, the situation worked out better than I could have ever manipulated on my own.

Of equal significance was the validation of the importance of encountering the “Blessed Silence” in my spiritual life. My hectic schedule and my mental strategy sessions had left little time for being still. I now make silent meditation or, if you prefer, contemplative prayer, the foundational practice of my spiritual life. If I neglect this practice, I rapidly become like a thirsty elephant trumpeting around a dried up waterhole.

 Over the next few days, spend time examining your own life. Are you in a similar predicament? Is there an area where you are spinning your wheels, going nowhere? Go back and meditate on Fenelon’s words, and then go to God in prayer and wait in silence. And please, don’t skip or skimp on the silence. This is the place of quiet; the place of both emptiness and yet fullness; a place of paradox. In this reverberating silence, you will eventually here your answer and, beyond that, find your purpose. It is in this silent space that you will not only hear your song, you will learn how to sing it.

Wise Words For Today

The kingdom of God calls you to a higher way of living. It’s not just about loving friends and hating enemies. It’s about loving your enemies. This is what the King does, so this is the way of the kingdom. God is good to all – including evil people. God’s perfection is a compassionate perfection. That’s the kind of love you need to have in God’s kingdom – a compassionate perfection that transcends old divisions of us/them and neighbor/enemy, that loves those who do not yet love you. We will never reach universal reconciliation in the kingdom of God until we move beyond conventional religious morality and believe in and practice this radical, higher plan.

Brian McLaren

(from The Secret Message of Jesus)

Live Your Potential – Realize Your Purpose

L.D. Turner

It is vital that every person understand that we are responsible for developing the potential stored within us. We must deepen our contact with our divine potential, which I call our “Sacred Center,” and do all that we can to nurture, feed, and actualize our true, God-given potential. Further, we must recognize that as we move forward in developing our optimal potential, we can never afford to stop. In essence, when we travel the spiritual journey, we are either moving forward or backward. There is truly no place to stand on the spiritual path. 

Spiritual growth is a complex subject and we could waste much time and space exploring the more arcane aspects of personal unfolding. However, I choose instead to try to keep things as simple as feasible, especially in the context of a short article. With that in mind, let’s take a look at a topic that seems to cause many sincere seekers to go off the tracks and race down many enticing but unproductive rabbit holes. I am talking here about the subject of “purpose.”

The issue of purpose is intimately connected with potential and it is often difficult to talk about one without delving into the other. Many of us are so obsessed with “finding our purpose” that we ignore more important aspects of the spiritual journey. Granted, the universe seems to be arranged in such a way that each of us came to this planet with a unique mission. In spite of this, however, all of us share components of a more generalized, universal purpose. In my own journey, I have come to define a central aspect of this universal purpose as follows:

“I must become the best version of myself for the sake of others.”

“Well, I can’t argue with that,” you might say. “But how do I pull it off?”

Good question. Space does not permit a detailed explanation of the complete methodology of becoming the best version of yourself and, besides, I believe that each of us must find our own personal way of unfolding our divine nature. Still, I think we can look at two practical things we can do: define and visualize.

Begin by spending time developing a definition of the best version of yourself. What qualities will your highest self possess? What kind of activities will be a central part of your life and your spiritual development? How will you earn your living? And most significantly, how will you be of service to others? Pray for wisdom, personal insight, and spiritual discernment as you begin this process and continue to pray regarding your purpose on a consistent basis. In addition to prayer, think of successful people who possess the positive traits that you want to develop and that will be essential to realizing your purpose. Study their lives and see what motivated their success. Turn to the pages of sacred writings and through prayerful study and reflection, examine the lives of those characters you hold in high esteem. And above all, listen intently for that quiet, still voice of your Sacred Light, for, indeed, it possesses the greatest of wisdom.

After spending a couple of weeks on the above exercises, take out a notebook or sit at your keyboard and write out a vision of yourself – a positive, spiritual vision of yourself as your optimal self. Make a list of the character assets you possess. Spend time in prayer discussing these traits with God and asking for the assistance of the Holy Spirit in making them a reality in your life. Finally, write a specific definition of the best version of yourself and how you will serve the world.

Once you have a workable definition, set aside a special time each day and see this best version of yourself in your mind’s eye. See yourself manifesting the qualities described in your definition, engaging in the activities you listed, and serving in your best capacity.

This exercise of your imagination is a key component of making the best version of yourself a reality.From the outset, you must learn to consistently see the best version of yourself and your life unfolding in your inner vision. The power of the mind’s eye is uncanny. It is through our capacity of thought and inner visualization that we are capable of taking something out of the realm of the unseen and making it a reality in the realm of the seen. This requires faith: faith in yourself and your abilities; and faith in the principles of optimal cognition, and faith in the pure wisdom of your Sacred Center.

If you have a problem, see it resolved; if your have a business, see it succeeding; if you have a dream, see it unfolding according to your desire.Let this positive image become a part of yourself, sinking down into the subconscious mind and your inner spirit, the central core of yourself.

A fundamental principle of human nature is that whatever you keep before your mind’s eye will affect you, either for good or for bad. If you consistently focus on negativity and dwell on your problems, your mindset will become darker and your problems will worsen. If you focus on limitation, lack, failure, and defeat, this is the kind of life you are going to create.

 Instead, try focusing your mental energy on success, victory, health, abundance, peace, joy, and happiness. Our innermost spirit, which is united in love with the Holy Spirit, has as its purpose the unfolding of your greatest good. Don’t lose sight of that truth. In order to create the kind of life you want, you have to get your thoughts and your inner vision in alignment with the power and purpose of your innermost spirit, your “Inner Light.”

This visualization process is not a fantasy or an escape from reality. It is, instead, based on centuries of practical application and positive results. When life presents you with problems, many times there is nothing you can do about it. However, you can have complete control over your response to any problem life sends your way. You can have greater peace of mind if you just choose to have the right kind of thoughts. Focus your entire being on finding solutions, rather than wallowing in the problems at hand. Work diligently to find the Sacred Center, and when you do, continue to take proactive measures to deepen and maintain your contact with this sacred aspect of your being.

The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life that never realized its full potential. You must decide today not to rob the world of the rich, valuable, potent, untapped resources locked away within you. It has been said that the wealthiest place on earth is not in bank vaults, Fort Knox, or underneath Bill Gates mattress. No, the wealthiest place on earth is the cemetery. 

Beneath the gravestones lie so many dreams that went unfulfilled; so much potential that was never realized; so much purpose that was never discovered and manifested. I am reminded of the poignant verses of Tagore in the Gitangali: 

The song that I came to sing remains
unsung to this day.
I have spent my days in stringing and in
unstringing my instrument.

Be persistent and keep at it in a disciplined, optimistic manner. Before you know it, you will hear your song ringing up from your inner spirit. From that point forward your life will be more positive and meaningful. And when the day comes when you leave this world, you will leave a valuable contribution to those who follow you. Whether great or small, you will leave a positive legacy.  And for certain, you won’t be making a deposit in the Bank of Dead Dreams.

The Discipline of Spiritual Practice

L.D. Turner

As each of us continues on our walk of faith it is vital to understand that the foundation of our growth is the establishment of a disciplined spiritual practice. Without such a practice, much of what we do will, in the words of that great sage Solomon, be “chasing after the wind.”

For many of us living in the contemporary culture, this reality is sometimes tough to swallow. There are many reasons that we are resistant to this cardinal principle of spirituality. Space doesn’t allow for a full treatment of this theme, but I would like to give at least a brief overview of two primary reasons we tend to skirt the issue of establishing a firm spiritual practice. These are: Lack of time and lack of discipline.

Whether teaching spiritual principles to workshop participants, business professionals, or college students, I have found the most frequent reason offered for the absence of regular spiritual practice in a person’s life is lack of time. I understand this all too well because it is a reason (read excuse) that I have often offered myself.

Granted, life in today’s hectic society is filled with seemingly overwhelming tasks and myriad obligations. I frequently find myself wishing for 28 hours in a day, rather than 24. And, at times, even those extra four hours would be insufficient. I know many of you can relate to what I am saying. However, I have found that in my life, if I am truly committed to growing spiritually, I can find a place to carve out the time. Will I have to sacrifice something I enjoy doing? Perhaps. Will I have to change my schedule around? Most likely. Without belaboring the point, suffice it to say that rarely have I found an individual who couldn’t find the time to establish at least a short daily session of meditation, prayer, Scripture reading, being quiet before God or another spiritual undertaking.

Think of it like this. If you honestly believe that your spiritual evolution is a high priority in your life, then regular spiritual practice is essential. Believe me, you are not going to get to the other side of the river unless you get in the boat. The important principle here is to just get started. Don’t plan beyond that. Begin with only five minutes. After a brief time, double it to 10 minutes and eventually work your way up to whatever you believe is right for you.

Often, our lack of setting aside part of our day for spiritual practice is not so much a lack of time as it is a lack of discipline. “Discipline” is not a politically correct word these days. This is unfortunate because without discipline, you are not going to progress in any area of living, especially your spiritual life. You may be desirous of advancing in your spiritual walk, but that is only a fantasy. Like the “Beauty School Dropout” in the movie “Grease,” you have the dream, but not the drive.”

I wish I could tell you that there was an easy way to develop more discipline in your life, but that’s not the case, especially if you have a long pattern of being undisciplined. The fact is, you’re going to have to work at it. Like any other aspect of the spiritual journey, practices such as meditation, prayer,

I have come to understand that God’s gifts for us already exist, but mostly exist in the spiritual realm. My own responsibility in the process involved bringing those gifts down to the physical world through becoming more open to receiving them. In order to do this, I had to practice the disciplines. The distinction is this: I practiced the disciplines not so much to develop discipline, I engaged in spiritual practice in order to become more receptive to what had already been given. Again, these are subtle distinctions but important ones.

 

In closing, I hope it is obvious how connected lack of time and lack of discipline are. It seems each one feeds the other in an endless cycle that results in paralysis of action. Because we do not take the time to establish a regular routine of spiritual practice, we are not able to develop discipline; and without discipline, we never find the time to practice. And on it goes.

 

What is clear is that we need spiritual practice that is disciplined, focused, and productive. Without such a practice, we wind up like a dog chasing its tail, or, in the words of Solomon, chasing after the wind.

Wise Words For Today

For quite a few people today, tradition is not a positive word. It suggests the dead, outmoded, and constricting voice of the past. But tradition also includes the wisdom, beauty, and goodness of the past. Of course, it contains less attractive elements as well, and they need to be rejected. Tradition needs to be discerningly received. But without tradition , we lose the riches of the past. Without tradition, we live only in the present and easily fall under the tyranny of the present and its lords. Tradition is about identity, and being Christian is about living within the Christian cultural-linguistic tradition. Indeed, being Christian means being resocialized into a Christian world. For most of us, our primary socialization was into modern Western culture with its way of seeing, its values, and its identities. The path of Christian transformation thus includes resocialization into a way of seeing, set of values, and identity very different from our primary socialization.

Marcus Borg