...at this sound the crowd gathered and was amazed, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.  --Acts 2:6

During this week look for experiences that amaze you. Then tell some about one of your experiences.  Notice the language you use, the language of narration, of poetry, of description, of science, of philosophy.  Maybe you even quote a word from scripture or sacred writing.  Practice praising God in multiple languages.

Peace and Blessings!

Bob

Use the phrase "just like me" to signify your unity with others. Whenever you find yourself making an assessment of another person, whether you are saying something critical or something complimentary, right after you think or say it, add the statement "just like me."

For example, "My partner is so stubborn, just like me." "My friend is so generous with her time, just like me." "She holds too many grudges, just like me." "He is so creative, just like me."

Peace and Blessings!

Bob

You can use Thich Nhat Hahn’s poem to practice peace.   Breathe the poem several times each day.

On the in breath:      Breathing in, I calm body and mind.

On the out breath:    Breathing out, I smile.

On the in breath:      Dwelling in the present moment

On the out breath:    I know this is the only moment.”

― Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace

Peace and Blessings!
Bob

Here's a Spiritual practice for the week: Ho’opononopono
A simple practice for healing and reconciliation comes from Hawaii. One finds variations in other Polynesian cultures.

Repeat these words often during the day. You can repeat them without a context or you can place them in a context by bringing to mind a specific person or a particular setting.

I’m sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.
I love you.

Peace and Blessings!
Bob

The fourth Sunday of Easter is called Good Shepherd Sunday.  In the readings for this day Jesus offers four promises:

1. My sheep hear my voice.
2. I know them.  
3. I give them eternal life.  
4. No one will snatch them out of my hand.  

Pick one of these phrases to live with for one day.  You could try this four times using a different promise each day.  Periodically through the day, stop what you're doing and repeat the words of the promise.  What connections do you make?  Do not judge whether they are logical; simply note the connection and go on.  You may want to write about the connections you make in your journal.

Peace and Blessing!

Bob

The events of the past week and the news coverage of them, has given me an opportunity to practice praying the news.  As I watched the coverage of the bombings in Boston, I prayed with these two questions:

• God of love, what would you have me learn?
• Merciful God, how can I offer your compassion?

Here are some of the things I learned.  Violence is a part of our lives.  (A friend of mine once told me, “You have a keen sense for the obvious.)  Many people in the world experience more horrific violence more frequently than I do.  When violence strikes close to home and my attention is focused on it, it is unsettling.  I fear I could be the object of random senseless violence.  Indeed, I could be. 

I flew thousands of miles this past week and drove hundreds more.  I could have been involved in an air or traffic crash.  That’s true, too.  I didn’t let the possibility of a crash stop me from joining millions of other people on the road or in the air.  I can’t and won’t let a random act of violence stop me from attending a public event or living my life.

There were hints in the coverage that this was an act of religiously or culturally inspired violence.  Cooler voices defused the tendency to jump to this immediate conclusion.  Hopefully, we’re learning.

People responded in magnanimous ways.  First responders immediately went into action to secure the area and offer help.  Citizens offered what help they could immediately.  They offered comfort to the injured and the grieving.  Some opened their homes to strangers whose family members had been injured.

Here are some of the ways I can offer compassion.

• Remain as calm as possible. 
• Offer what help I can to those around me who are frightened and unsettled by these events.
• Practice mindfulness and look for beauty and peace in the midst of ugliness and conflict.
• Offer prayers for those who have been injured or killed or are grieving because someone close to them has been injured or killed.

Is there some activity that one time gave you pleasure, but for one reason or another you stopped doing it?  Have you ever thought, I would like to do that again?  

During this week take steps to try revive that old interest.  Just think, when you breathe new life into that interest, you have brought about resurrection.  Where else have you experienced resurrection this week?

Life is filled with little resurrections.  Look for expressions of resurrection this week.  Try to find at least one each day.  Here are some examples.

• Nature comes to life in the spring flowers or tree blossoms.
• You notice new life--the birth of a child, a pet, or a wild animal.
• You make a new friend, or connect with a long time friend, in a way that calls you to life.
• You find courage to move on after a tragedy, serious loss, or trauma.

Peace and Blessings!
Bob

Jesus’ Passion is a story of suffering.  Our Christian tradition invites us to consider suffering--Jesus’ suffering, our own suffering, the suffering of others, the suffering of the whole world--during holy week. 

Thich Nhat Hahn offers this advice:  If you recognize and accept your pain without running away from it, you will discover that although pain exists, joy also exists.

Just stay in touch with what is actually going on, and you will touch the true nature of suffering and the nature of joy.

What suffering can you touch and walk with during this week?

Peace and Blessings!

Bob

My bread may be a material matter.  Another’s bread is a spiritual matter.  --Nicholas Berdyaev

Our actions in the physical world are really a spiritual matter.  Take one day to pay attention to what you do.  At the end of the day notice how your actions have manifested your spirit.  Your actions are your spiritual practice.

The next day, act intentionally.  Do what you do with awareness that your action is an expression of your spirit.

Peace and Blessings!
Bob