Prayer is then not just a formula of words, or a series of desires springing up in the heart -- it is the orientation of our whole body, mind and spirit to God in silence, attention, and adoration. All good meditative prayer is a converion of our entire self to God.
(IBID, p. 44)

One of the most persistent noises of modern society which we need to resist is advertising. This was already a big problem in the 1940s when Aldous Huxley wrote THE PERENNIAL PHILOSOPHY. He wrote the following in his chapter on silence: “Advertising is the organized effort to extend and intensify craving – to extend and intensify, that is to say, the workings of that force, which (as all the saints and teachers of all the higher religions have always taught) is the principal cause of suffering and wrong-doing and the greatest obstacle between the human soul and its divine Ground.”

When I am silent, I am awake, aware and connected.

SOLITUDE | BACK TO TOP

Thomas Merton often wrote about the importance of solitude. S&H reviews his book, THOUGHTS IN SOLITUDE.

Our lives are too complicated. We need to discipline ourselves to "simplify, simplify, simplify" as Thoreau put it in WALDEN. The first three disciplines of stillness, silence and solitude all create simplicity. The more diligently we practice these disciplines, the more we can simplify our lives. When we simplify, we are awake, aware and connected. We are approaching the glorious realm of heaven.

Tilden Edwards has offered us a powerful approach to living simply every day in his book LIVING SIMPLY THROUGH THE DAY: SPIRITUAL SURVIVAL IN A COMPLEX AGE. He writes: "Firm commitment, deep acceptance, and naked confidence are three vital prerequisites of the simple way. Each of these attitudes has endlessly subtle layers of awareness. At the bottom of each lies the divine image in us, reflecting the very nature of God." Don't you want that? I know I do. Edwards quotes Ram Dass: "We must really want God, which is far more (and far simpler) than merely wanting to want God."

The Zen Buddhist discipline of zazen (sitting, centering, meditating), if practiced properly, leads to the natural, simple realization of our daily and glorious heavenly existence. In the introduction to ZEN MIND, BEGINNER'S MIND, Shunryu Suzuki says: "The practice of Zen mind is beginner's mind. The innocence of the first inquiry - what am I? - is needed throughout Zen practice. The mind of the beginner is empty, free of the habits of the expert, ready to accept, to doubt, and open to all the possibilities."

Simple living is absolutely essential for citizens of heaven. The abundance of heaven can only be experienced by those who have learned how to simplify their lives.

SIMPLE ABUNDANCE is the name of a bestselling book of daily suggestions by Sarah Ban Breathnach and also her website. While I like the basic theme, I tend to agree with the Amazon.com reviewer who describes her as "Martha Stewart on prozac." In other words, her approach doesn't work for me but it might work for you.

I suggest the "simple abundance" approach of Sallie McFague, a brilliant contemporary theologian, who emphasizes our need to simplify our lives in LIFE ABUNDANT: Rethinking Theology and Economy for a Planet in Peril. She emphasizes our need to embrace sustainability. In "A Manifesto to North American Middle Class Christians," she advocates some "new house rules" for our house, the planet. "The basic rules are: Take only your share, clean up after yourself, and keep the house in good repair for future occupants." She points out that "ecology" and "economics" both come from the same word root which has to do with the laws for living in a household. She refers to the famous quote of Charles Birch: "The rich must live more simply, so that the poor may simply live." This responsibility applies to most of us living in the planet's 20 to 30 highly developed countries.

Some one asked, "What is the Way?" I said, "This way is to abandon desires." Oh lover of the King! Know that your way is to seek the pleasure of that Generous Lord. When you seek the Beloved's desire and pleasure, seeking your own desire is forbidden. (http://www.digiserve.com/mystic/Muslim/Rumi/index.html - The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi, pp. 216-217)

I complained of His jealousy. He laughed and said, "Whatever blocks your way -- remove it!" (The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi, p. 306)

Since the lover is not suited for "others," let them all reject him -- then the King of Love will make him His sitting companion. When the creatures drive him from themselves, he cuts himself off from their company; he accustoms his outward and inward to sweet-natured Love. But when the creatures accept him, his mind drags him in their direction and his heart turns furtively this way and that toward anyone's love.

When Love sees this It says, "My tresses have thrown a shadow, so the lover smells there the fragrance of musk and ambergris. I will make these two scents the enemy of his mind and brain -- he will have to abandon both..." (The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi, pp. 306-307)

What sort of Beloved is He? As long as a single hair of love for yourself remains, He will not show His Face... You must be completely repelled by yourself and the world and be your own self's enemy... So when our religion resides in a person's heart, it stays right there until it takes his heart to God and separates it from everything unworthy. (The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi, p. 215)

Brother, stand the pain. Escape the poison of your impulses. The sky will bow to your beauty, if you do. (The Essential Rumi, p. 62)

Poverty is not for the sake of hardship. No, it is there because nothing exists but God... Poverty unlocks the door -- what a blessed key! (The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi, p. 188)

Always keep the carnal soul from getting what it wants so that you can attain eternal desire and be delivered from the prison of darkness, for whoso shall have refrained his soul from lust, verily paradise shall be his abode. (Koran 79:40-41) (Signs of the Unseen: The Discourses of Jalaluddin Rumi, p. 64)

Throw a dog a bit of something. He sniffs to see if he wants it. Be that careful. Sniff with your wisdom-nose. Get clear. Then decide. (The Essential Rumi, p. 258)

Recognize that your imagination and your thinking and your sense perception are reed canes that children cut and pretend are horsies. Deny your desires and willfulness, and a real mount may appear under you. (The Essential Rumi, p. 5)

http://dailyzen.com + 9/21/02 >

Zengetsu, a Chinese master of the tang dynasty, wrote the following advice for his pupils:

Being devoted > Quotations from The Hua Hu Ching (found at the MYSTICISM IN WORLD RELIGIONS website) >

Take time to listen to what is said without words,
to obey the law too subtle to be written,
to worship the unnameable and to embrace the unformed.

If you can let go of (the Tao) with your mind
and surround it with your heart,
it will live inside you forever.

With each step forward in the disciplines on our journey to heaven we become more and more delightful. Life is wonderful. Life is fantastic. Life is joyful. Life is something to celebrate, to enjoy, to savor, to accept and affirm as a precious gift. It's like this:

Trackless in the crags and peaks
Nurturing the real elemental,
At night I eat chrysanthemum flowers
From the bamboo fence;
In the morning I drink dew
From magnolia trees.
The mystic road
Is really worth taking;
How is temporal glory
A good enough aspiration?
Throughout all time,
Men of repute
Just pile up
Down in the graves.
- Wen-siang (1210-1280) / from www.dailyzen.com 3/26/04

Robert Neale in IN PRAISE OF PLAY says: "There is a minority report throughout the course of history that play is the chief end of (humanity)." In heaven this is the majority report! No, it's the only report! / Living in heaven is delightful because we are free to play all the time / at all times / at this time!

I think there is a sign when entering heaven which reads: CAUTION - CHILDREN AT PLAY. And I think another sign reads: NO GROWNUPS IN HEAVEN. Grownups are people who have forgotten how to play. They might think they can still play but they have really lost the ability. These disciplines all aim at making us become children again. Heaven is home for the children of God, children who are always free to play.

The discipline of humility is based on an attitude of equality and a goal of equality. To make things right, we often must regard ourselves as the servant of others. Americans and citizens of other highly developed nations should definitely accept a discipline of service over a discipline of conspicuous consumption. Rather than "shop 'til you drop," we need to serve until we drop. To whom much is given, much is required. We have been given so much. We need to give so much. I have often heard how generous we Americans are. This is such a lie. We are on the take. We are stealing from the rest of the world at alarming rates causing most of the population of the world to be impoverished AND threatening future generations with impoverishment. This must stop! We need to become humble by living lives characterized by simplicity and servanthood.

Archbishop Oscar Romero spoke about this problem on August 6, 1979, less than a year before he was murdered because he was gaining too many followers. He said: "The absolute desire of 'having more' encourages the selfishness that destroys communal bonds among the children of God. It does so because the idolatry of riches prevents the majority from sharing the goods that the Creator has made for all, and in the all-possessing minority it produces an exaggerated pleasure in these goods." - from sojonet > QUOTE OF THE WEEK March 25, 2004

Humility requires patience and trust. The common good of all creatures is the goal. No one can be excluded. Since this is God's will, we can be assured that everything is OK and will be OK. Our perception of the world leads us to be impatient and suspicious. This perception is wrong and must be corrected with huge doses of humility.

As we practice all of the disciplines required in our journey to heaven, we begin to perceive the basic abundance of creation. We let go of the perception that everything is scarce.

Healing is a gift from God. It occurs whenever people are ready to receive this gift. Openness, acceptance, gratefulness, an attitude of gratitude are the chief characteristics of this readiness. This is the discipline of extending ourselves to help others become awake, aware and connected. Reaching the supreme states of holiness and heavenliness are impossible without this discipline and sustained commitment. Buddhists call a person who has reached this stage of spiritual development a boddhisattva. We can and do resist this discipline because it is so difficult. But sooner or later we realize that the resistance is even more difficult. Courage is required. Love is required. Patience is required. Wisdom is required. Humor is required. Of course, continuing to practice the first nine disciplines - stillness, silence, solitude, simplicity, detachment, discernment, devotion, delight, and humility - are required as well. The other disciplines are all naturally healing. So a lot of healing is happening here! Do you feel it? How is your practice going?

Healing is a community project. It simply doesn't happen in isolation. Nothing happens in isolation. We are all connected. Separateness is an illusion. A COURSE IN MIRACLES offers a comprehensive program for getting beyond our separate ego identities and into our unity with all things. Naturally it is a difficult program because this discipline is difficult. We are so attached to our egos. Joseph Naft (innerfrontier.com) offers some insights on the illusion of the ego.

The tenth of Ken Keyes' twelve pathways to higher consciousness is: "I am continually calming the restless scanning of my rational mind in order to perceive the finer energies that enable me to unitively merge with everything around me." We can do this! Healing of the planet and everything on it depends on it.

Holiness is the next to last of the twelve disciplines on our journey to heaven. Healing is experienced in all kinds of ways. Heavenliness is within reach. You and I have come a long way when we can be holy in a disciplined and determined way. We are very close to experiencing the glorious realm of heaven. God creates us all to be holy or to be saints. It is natural and simple for us to be holy. But we often make things complicated and therefore miss the mark.

A holy person, or a person who practices holiness, is thoroughly oriented toward the whole community, the whole universe. A holy person is often identified as one who has attained a state of atonement or oneness with the all. To be whole is to be all! To be holy is to become one with everything. To become holy is to become so united with God that the ego can only rarely cause us to perceive ourselves as separate from others. A holy person is so awake, aware and connected that the needs of others are usually perceived as his or her own needs. There is very little separation when one is practicing the discipline of holiness.

Heavenliness is the joyful discipline of caring so fully for each other that everyone is blessed with an infinite supply of love. No one can achieve this discipline alone. It is a corporate discipline. It is the minute-to-minute presence of a fully accountable community of love. If the previous eleven disciplines have not led someone to an enormous increase in compassion, then there is no way heavenliness can be experienced. Heavenliness simply can't be experienced unless love for one another is fully present.

But, rejoice! This experience of abundant love is God's will for everyone and no counter will can ever stop it! This experience is never far off. It is built into the basic design of the universe. It is often called amazing grace. We can claim the heavenly experience through prayer at all times / at this time / all the time. It is not a plan for the future. It is a here-and-now reality. Let's claim it now!

Once we have begun to practice the twelve disciplines of our journey to heaven faithfully, the heavenly gifts of abundance, joy, wisdom, beauty, love, truth, peace, justice and freedom become more and more the norm, the rule, the way things are. This is fantastic. This is really good news. This is amazing grace. This is life. This is creation. This is everything.

BACK TO TOP

The more dated stuff (from my last attempt in late 2002) follows:

+ Click HERE for the a dated INTRODUCTION

+ JOHN 10:10b + I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

http://www.devotions.net/bible/43john.htm

+ ROMANS 12:1-2 + I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God--what is good and acceptable and perfect.

http://www.devotions.net/bible/45romans.htm

+ GALATIANS 5:22-23 + the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

http://www.devotions.net/bible/48galatians.htm

+Boddhisattva Vow:

However innumerable sentient beings there are, I vow to save them
However inexhaustible the defilements are, I vow to extinguish them
However immeasurable the truth is, I vow to expound it
However incomparable enlightenment is, I vow to attain it!

http://buddhism.about.com/library/weekly/aa091802a.htm

+ "we must become ourselves before someone else does" - Robert Hunter http://www.dead.net/RobertHunterArchive/hunterarchive.html

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

INTRODUCTION as of 9/29/02

This is a book about Heaven. Nine words describing Heaven are: ABUNDANCE, JOY, WISDOM, BEAUTY, LOVE, TRUTH, PEACE, JUSTICE and FREEDOM. I will reflect on each of these heavenly characteristics. Love is the central characteristic of Heaven. God is love.

In addition to the nine words describing Heaven, I will reflect on twelve words which describe the way to get to Heaven: STILLNESS, SILENCE, SOLITUDE, SIMPLICITY, DISCERNMENT, DEVOTION, DETACHMENT, DELIGHT, HUMILITY, HEALING, HOLINESS and HEAVENLINESS.

In the 60s, we often used the slogan, "There is no way to peace. Peace is the way." This is also true when it comes to Heaven: There is no way to Heaven. Heaven is the way. So, I am suggesting that we are in Heaven now and we are also trying to get there. In other words, Heaven is a process. It's constantly changing. But, paradoxically, it never changes.

Who am I to write a book about Heaven? What do I know? The answer is: NOT MUCH! So I offer this book in all humility. Humility is required in Heaven.

We are going through a dramatic change in our consciousness. I call this the GREAT EVOLUTIONARY LEAP FORWARD (GELF). The GELF is happening and many are figuring it out. A COURSE IN MIRACLES is about the GELF. James Redfield's THE CELESTINE PROPHECIES is about the GELF. Ken Keyes' HANDBOOK TO HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS and THE HUNDRETH MONKEY are about the GELF. Joseph Campbell's THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES is about the GELF. Aldous Huxley's THE PERENNIAL PHILOSOPHY is about the GELF. Sanaya Roman's SPIRITUAL GROWTH (channeled by Orin) is about the GELF. Of course, there are so many more books and websites and other sources of wisdom. My website, abundancetrek.com, offers connections galore to much of this wisdom. Appendix 1 is an extensive list of spiritual formation resources which can get us in touch with the GELF in practical ways. This outpouring of Heavenly Wisdom is part of the GELF itself. We are leaping into heaven. It is fantastic and fascinating. It is a feast of heavenly awareness. We are privileged to be alive at this time. Many are calling it the "new Age." And so do I.

This book is about my journey. It will be useful to you in as much as my journey is your journey and your journey is my journey. We are in this together. We are connected. We are one. I invite you to see if my journey resonates at all with your journey. Maybe this book isn't for you. If so, there are other books about Heaven beginning, of course, with the sacred scriptures of your tradition and the sacred traditions of all of the other traditions found in the global village.

My sacred tradition is the way of Christ. It is not better than other ways. It is the way I know best. Jesus was humble and never said he was God and that his words had any more authority than any one else's words. What he accomplished was so fantastic that many Christians have equated him with God. There are many good reasons to do so. But we must resist the temptation to practice Jesus-olatry. The church has often made this mistake. I have come to believe that the wisdom of many "New Age" teachers is an important correction which the church needs to heed. So, I have coined the term "the new church for the new age" as a way to call my fellow Christians to embrace this "New Age."

This is a book in process. It will never be done. My journey is ongoing. Im sure that yours is too. I am putting portions of this book out there in cyberspace because I want to include you and others in the process. Heaven has given me some words and ideas which I feel called to share with the world. So have you. We are definitely in this together. The World Wide Web helps us share, helps us become aware of our oneness.

I write this book with a sense of urgency about our predicament. We live in a global crisis. The Chinese use two symbols to translate our word crisis, one is the symbol for danger and the other is the symbol for opportunity. Humanity today is on the brink. We will either self-destruct or move into something new and better. Heaven is actively creating the New Age. Humanity is either cooperating or resisting.

The mystic tradition, sometimes called the "perennial philosophy," insists that God has no name. God is indescribable. God is. Heaven is. All that I know is that I am too! An important biblical idea about God's identity is based on the encounter of Moses with the burning bush (Exodus 15). The eternally nameless and indescribable God says: I AM WHO I AM. I have come to believe that many "New Age" teachers understand this idea better than many traditional Christians do. They emphasize that we are one with this "godforce." We are co-creators of Heaven in some mysterious and wonderful way. It is not only permissible but actually very important for each of us to say: I am creating the new age. Or just: I am creating. Or: I am. Or: I! I will be using many terms pretty much interchangeably to describe this ultimate reality including but not limited to: I AM, YOU ARE, WE ARE, GOD, LOVE, THE LIGHT, THE WORD, THE SPIRIT, THE TRUE SELF, THE FORCE, THE TAO, THE CREATIVE PROCESS, THE UNIVERSE, THE ALL IN ALL, THE SOURCE, THE HEAVENLY FATHER, THE HEAVENLY MOTHER, THE HEAVENLY COUNCIL or just plain HEAVEN

When Jesus says I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE, he is speaking not about Christianity as the only way but about the way of Heaven as opposed to the ways of the world. I have loved and still love the church which God has called into being as Heaven on earth. Unfortunately, much of what the institutional church has done on earth is hardly heavenly. It is important, therefore, to distinguish "the old church for the old age" from "the new church for the new age." "The new church for the new age" IS Heaven. It is not an earthly institution. Every human community of faith strives to approximate it. Of course, no humancommunity ever achieves this fully. But we can and must try!

The church on planet earth is supposed to be creating a new heavenly realm. But the sad fact is: "the old church for the old age" has not been creating nearly enough of what heaven is all about: ABUNDANCE, JOY, WISDOM, BEAUTY, LOVE, TRUTH, PEACE, JUSTICE and FREEDOM. So, I AM "doing a new thing" now. I AM / YOU ARE / WE ARE / GOD IS (please start using this term interchangeably with all the other terms) creating "a new Heaven and a new earth" now. I AM "making all things new" now. I AM singing a "new song" of Heaven. Not much new heavenly music is coming out of the organized church these days. It is coming, instead, from the people. It is rock'n'roll, jazz, blues, reggae, world music, country, folk, new age, praise and gospel. Only the last two are connected in any significant way to the church. The old church for the old age is out of tune and out of touch.

I AM not deterred, however. The beat goes on, with or without the organized church. I AM creating the new church for the new age in all kinds of ways, in all kinds of places. Everybody is invited to participate in "the new church for the new age." It's a happening. It's a celebration of life. It's a dance. It's a movement of love embracing all of humanity and all creatures.

Wilfred Cantwell Smith, a theologian focusing on comparative religion, sees the inevitability of "something new" happening:

The comparative study of religion turns out to be far too dynamic, too profound, too human, to remain pigeon-holed within traditional categories, or to leave ancient patterns of humane understanding untouched.

It is something new, that one civilisation should try to understand another; just as it is novel that one religious outlook should aspire to appreciate more than one. Now that we have begun to make progress in these tasks, nothing will ever be quite the same again. (TOWARD A WORLD THEOLOGY, p. 49)

"The new church for the new age" is so new and fresh and vital that nobody has figured out what it looks like. You and I are the pioneers here creating the new songs, the new dance steps, the new rhythms, the new prayers, the new relationships, the new creeds, and, yes, even the new scriptures. I realize I can be accused of heresy here. But I'm in some very good company if that's the case. No one has a monopoly on truth. It is elusive and mysterious. We have only discovered pieces of it in ages past. .

I AM / YOU ARE / WE ARE / GOD IS doing a new thing now. We are invited to be co-creators of this new thing. It is not wise to reject this invitation because the world really does hang on our decision. People have responded to God's special invitations in ages past. When Jesus said "Come, follow me" and his followers created the church, that was the new church for the new age. That church led humanity to new heights. But, that age is now over. That's now the old and fading age. The church which was once so vital has lost its way. So, God is doing a new thing now. Let's join. Let's sing a new song. Let's embrace this new age.

The new church for the new age is an adventure, a journey, an invention, an experiment. Those of us who join are willing to risk life in an unfamiliar, untested, uncertain environment. We have come to believe that the new church for the new age is better, much better, than what we now have, better for me, better for you, better for all of us. We hope more and more people will join us in this fantastic and glorious movement of the Spirit.

It has begun. It is here. I see it. I feel it. I give it and I receive it. Words don't even come close to describing it. I can only point it out when I se it. Those who have eyes, see. Those who have ears, hear.

Like a phoenix, "the new church for the new age" is rising and what a beautiful sight it is to behold. Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear?

These nine words - ABUNDANCE, JOY, WISDOM, BEAUTY, LOVE, TRUTH, PEACE, JUSTICE and FREEDOM -- are just words. Hopefully, they are helpful words, useful signs pointing to and even describing Heaven. The GELF does not depend on this book or these words. But maybe the GELF will be able to use this particular book and these particular words. Only time will tell.

Part I is about these 9 words, these heavenly characteristics or attributes. Heaven is here now. I'm not pointing out an afterlife world although I'm certainly not denying its existence. But our here-and-now mission is to make earth like Heaven. Our planet needs us to be fully devoted to this mission. We live in a time of great crisis: danger and opportunity. Let's minimize the danger as much as we can and maximize the opportunity as much as we can. On with it. Let's go! Let us obey Captain Jean-Luc Picard's order and "make it so."

Speaking about Captain Picard (STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION), let me share with you an image a friend of mine has offered to illustrate what's happening.in our world. The crew of the Enterrprise will often go to the holodeck for recreation, adventure, learning, fantasy, escape, focusing, etc. But the holodeck sometimes has a software problem and the program becomes "too real." The participants can even lose communication with the captain in the bridge. I believe this is our dilemma. We are living in a holodeck game called Life and we often forget how we got here or where we are going. We're searching for meaning. We're trying to re-establish communication with the bridge. I hope this book helps.

But let me assure you that I really don't know what's happening. It's a mystery. A big part of me says: SHUT UP! The TAO TE CHING says: "The one who knows does not speak. The one who speaks does not know." So, I don't know and that's why I speak. Maybe, someday I will learn to be still and silent. Which brings me to Part II.

In Part II, I reflect on 12 words - STILLNESS, SILENCE, SOLITUDE, SIMPLICITY, DISCIPLINE, DEVOTION, DISCERNMENT, DELIGHT, HUMILITY, HEALING, HOLINESS, HEAVENLINESS - which describe ways to get to Heaven. The reason why this is part II and not part I is because we need to know where we are headed before we can figure out how to get there. We are headed Home. Let's see what Home is like. Then, let's make sure we know how to get back there. We are temporarily separated from our Home but it can't be that hard to figure out how to get back. It is so familiar and so close and so inviting.

My image of Heaven as Home may be troublesome if your experience of home isn't safe and nurturing. A real home is very safe and nurturing, Heaven is that way.

The order of the 21 words (chapters) is not very important. You can begin anywhere and end anywhere. But I know most people prefer more order than that, so here's my attempt to explain the order I have chosen. The 9 heavenly words are all important but the most important ones are in the center. Love is the centering word. Love creates everything else. And is the rock upon which all the other characteristics of Heaven are built. Beauty and Truth are the two sides of Love. Beauty points to the feeling dimension of Love and Truth points to the thinking side. It is important to develop both sides. The first three words are more related to feeling. The last three words are more related to thinking. None of these words can really be understood without understanding all the others.

I only offer this order for those who are more comfortable with some kind of logical order. I do believe in a Divine Order. I'm not willing to say that I have figured it out. Go figure! So, take my order with a grain of salt. Words can only be used to point out Heaven anyway. No words can adequately describe Heaven. Music and Dance and Art come closer. But they are just words too! I will explain my order for the 12 pathways when we get to part II.

Sprinkled. throughout the book will be some practical suggestions for the new church for the new age. But, basically this book is not offered as another quick-fix book for desperate mainline congregations. There are too many of them. There are not enough books which insist upon a totally new perception of reality. The sense of desperation will evaporate rapidly as we embrace rather than resist the New Age. This totally new perception is not really new. It is eternal. Sages and mystics and saints of all ages perceive reality as it is. The new church for the new age is guided constantly by this holy wisdom. It is not worldly wisdom. It is not ordinarily regarded as practical wisdom. St. Paul tells us that Holy Wisdom is perceived as foolishness in the world. Thus, "the new church for the new age" is perceived as foolish in the eyes of the world. There is no practical guide to being foolish! So, don't worry about the practical suggestions if and when they occur here. Don't be burdened by them. If reading this book is a burden, put it down! If your current congregation is a burden, leave it! Too many church renewal books and efforts make people feel guilty. God has created us to enjoy life, not to wallow in guilt. The new church for the new age is a guilt-free zone. The "old church for the old age" overdosed on guilt. There is no place in "the new church for the new age" for the tyranny of the shoulds, the musts , the oughts. We are now called to put our energy into our hopes and our dreams. Please don't participate in "the new church for the new age" unless you want to, unless you are enjoying it, finding meaning, experiencing love.

ABUNDANCE

+ Psalm 36:8 + They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

+ Ephesians 3:20-21 + Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

+ There is no way to abundance. Abundance is the way.

+ "What a long, strange trip it's been"

http://arts.ucsc.edu/gdead/agdl/truckin.html

God wants us to enjoy the abundance of creation. Most of us don't enjoy it anywhere near fully. Jesus said: I have come to bring you life, and life in its' fullness. We limit ourselves immensely.

STORY & LITURGY & PRAYER

I would like to begin my sharing on this heavenly word by focusing on our need to hear and tell stories. There is an abundance of stories in the Global Village. All of them need to be told and heard...definitely including yours...and mine. So, I am telling my story and I sincerely want you to tell your story. Maybe I can publish it on my website and in my next edition! When all stories are told and heard, then we will know THE STORY, the whole story, the holy story. "I love to tell the story" is a hymn title. It needs to be a joyful practice in the global village. "The new church for the new age" must lead the way.

Telling THE STORY, which definitely includes your story and my story, is the way we find joy and meaning in life. THE STORY can not be told in its glorious fullness until it truly is everybody's story. I am the most important storyteller of my life. You are the most important storyteller of your life. Frankly, I'm not very good at it. I suspect that's because I grew up in a society which is not particularly good at storytelling. There are wonderful exceptions to this, of course. But, all in all, I think most of us could benefit immensely from a course in "Storytelling 101" and "Story Listening 101."

It's not easy to tell your story. Good storytellers are few and far between. Every society cherishes and honors those who can spin a tale in fascinating and meaningful ways. I'm not the best storyteller in the world by far but I need to try and so do you. I need to tell you my story. You need to tell me your story. I need to tell you your story. You need to tell me my story.

Storytelling is part of an even greater cosmic and personal unfolding of abundance: Liturgy. Liturgy is often defined as the work of the people. I like to describe it as the work and play of the people, or the storytelling of the people. Some of it is shared. Some of it is very private and personal. No one's liturgy is the same as anybody else's! My story is my liturgy. Your story is your liturgy. Our common story is our shared liturgy.

Liturgy is prayer of all kinds, songs, art, drama, myths, legends, dances, hugs, kisses and so much more. The whole creation is constantly doing a liturgy. Personal Liturgy Formation and Community Liturgy Formation are both required. Both types of liturgy are always in a state of flux. The Presbyterians have a motto which is pertinent: "Reformed and Always Being Reformed." My story, my liturgy, my religion, is constantly in need of change and renewal. The same is true for you. The same is true for any and every community of faith on the planet. Constant prayer is essential in our work and play.

As I tell my story, parts of it will be important to you, even interesting or fascinating, because my story is part of THE STORY. THE STORY is your story, our story, the human story, the earth's story, the universe's story, God's story, a LOVE STORY. My story has relatively unimportant biographical details. I will only share them to the extent that "my story" would not make sense without them.

Story sharing is so important but words just don't make it here! O well, maybe you get the idea. Maybe you will! I will keep trying to explain the unexplainable, to probe this mystery, to get to the heart of it all.

THE STORY is the only answer to the question: WHO AM I? I AM WHO I AM says the voice at the burning bush. I AM WHO I AM says Jesus to his adversaries who question his authority. I AM WHO I AM is the only answer, the only authority, the only story worth telling or worth hearing or worth sharing. I need to hear you tell your story because your story is an important part of THE STORY. It has authority! You need to tell me who you are. Who are you? I need to tell you who I am. Who am I? You need to hear me tell my story because my story is an important part of THE STORY. It has authority! In fact, to be more poetical or mystical, I would even say that MY STORY IS THE STORY, that YOUR STORY IS THE STORY, that OUR STORY IS THE STORY. So, we need to earn how to hear the story and tell the story well. The story is not told in its fullness until it becomes EVERYONE'S STORY. Sometimes I despair about this. Sometimes I am full of hope..

It would take a long, long time for each of us to tell our story to every one else and vice versa. The good news is: we have an abundance of time. I hope you will listen to my story since it is an important piece of the book of Heaven. As is your story. I want to hear your story. My story is incomplete without it! I could talk about the boddhisattva now but that fits in more with Heavenly Wisdom.. To state it briefly, however, in Buddhism, the boddhisattva is the one who can achieve enlightenment but chooses, instead, to teach everyone else how to achieve it realizing that total enlightenment can not be achieved until everybody achieves it. As a Christian I would put it this way: the Heavenly Banquet will continue to be in an appetizer phase until everyone who is invited has come. Everybody is invited. The main course will be served when everybody has arrived. Heaven can wait!

MY STORY: WILL YOU PLAY WITH ME?

This book is not an autobiography. I only plan to share some essential elements of my s tory which have a bearing on the subject. I have come to know something about Heavenly Abundance in the events of my life. So, let's do it!

ONCE UPON A TIME (isn't that the essential beginning of any good story?) there was a boy who lived in village where people had a lot but felt like they never had enough and probably never would (scarcity). The boy's home was no exception to the rule. He was taught that the darkness of scarcity, pain, foolishness, ugliness, hate, deceit, violence, greed and bondage prevailed everywhere in the village. Joy was scarce. Wisdom was scarce. Beauty was scarce. Love was scarce. Truth was scarce. Peace was scarce. Justice was scarce. Freedom was scarce. Since so many people believed this to be the case, the boy believed it too. (My family was probably no better or worse than other families of the 50s.)

But when Elvis and Chuck and Jerry and Little Richard and Buddy came to visit the village in 1957, a few folks began to change their mind. I was one of them. Rock'n'Roll saved my life in 1957. I began to change my mind. Village elders said Rock'n'Roll was only a fad. Even Elvis believed them. By 1960, it had become rare. It was perceived as a threat to the well-being of the village. Too much fun! Too much freedom.! Too much love! Too much questioning of authority. Soon, it was hoped and it was planned, the fad would be over and everything would be under control again. But a few people in the village kept on playing that Rock'n'Roll music. Some even said that it would never die. Pretty soon, Bob and Sonny and Cher and the Mamas and Papas and John, Paul, George and Ringo and Mick and Pete and others came a long and convinced some of us that "the beat goes on." Pete said: "Long live Rock!" Mick said: "I know it's only Rock'n'Roll but I like it."

A little part of the village came to believe that there was more than enough joy, wisdom, beauty, love, truth, peace, justice and freedom, that there was even an abundance of all these things. The boy wanted to be a part of that community but the belief in scarcity continued to dominate his consciousness and that of the village. He wasn't ready to part company with the great majority even as they continued to teach that there wasn't enough and there never would be.

Why do I associate abundance belief with Rock'n'Roll? I don't know! But I will be glad to offer my views anyway! Rock'n'Roll came along when American society was attempting to become very uniform. Conformity was required. It was patriotic and it was Christian. Don't rock the boat! Even though we were taught that we could never get enough, nevertheless we were told that we must submit to this state of perpetual scarcity. There was always the hope, of course, that you could be one of the small minority of lucky ones who got more than others. Maybe, if we conformed enough, most white Americans could be lucky enough or blessed enough to get more than our share at the expense of other not-so-lucky people in the global village. Rock'n'Roll has offered and continues to offer a powerful protest against this dominant belief in scarcity. It is heavenly music. It is the pulsating beat of Heaven. It is the music of abundance belief. When one enters into this music, this dance, this movement, this way of life, abundance prevails and scarcity dissolves into the mist. My main form of liturgy is Rock'n'Roll.

But isn't Rock'n'Roll only for children, teenagers and adults who haven't fully grown up yet? Maybe so. But, then, maybe growing up is a mistake if Rock'n'Roll is left behind. Max Wertheimer, a famous Gestalt Pyschologist, defines an adult as "a deteriorated child." Jesus tells us that you must become like a little child to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. A 70s book on Transactional Analysis is called NO GROWN UPS IN HEAVEN. The sign at the entrance to Heaven reads: CAUTION! CHILDREN AT PLAY! And, the fine print reads: YOU MUST LEAVE BEHIND YOUR BELIEF IN SCARCITY BEFORE YOU ENTER HERE.

And so, in 1979, after a few responsible years in the work force, this grown up decided to become a child at play again. There was something missing in the village, something very important. And now, 23 years later, 23 years of mostly responsible adult life later, I am more convinced than ever that Neil is right when he says: "Rock'n'Roll must never die" and "Keep on Rockin in the Free World"

I call what happened in 1979 "my Rock'n'Roll Revival." Once again, Rock'n'Roll saved my life. The song that I associate with the beginning of this revival is Supertramp's THE LOGICAL SONG. This song lays out the whole Rock'n'Roll message of PLAY, PROTEST, PASSAGE and PRAYER.

But in 1979 and into the 80s I was still too much of a "deteriorated adult" to become a playful child. Bob sang: "I was so much older then. I'm younger than that now." I didn't get it then and I'm still working on it. You, too?

Rediscovering Rock'n'Roll in 1979 saved my life! That's what good liturgy does. It saves lives! I needed to reflect on my breakthrough. It was so important. So, my family and I set out to Chicago and I got myself a D.Min degree at Chicago Theological Seminary. I wrote a "professional paper" on the four key elements of Rock'n'Roll --: PLAY / PROTEST / PASSAGE / PRAYER. Then, I shared my ideas at parties and in conversations, sermons, workshops, classes, conferences, retreats and even Presbytery meetings.

Rock'n'Roll is the music of the GELF. It is the rhythm of the "new thing" I AM doing. It won't go away because I won't let it. It IS here to stay. It IS a permanent part of the mix. It IS here NOW. It's earthly expression has many flaws, of course. Last night (August 29, 2002), I watched the MTV video awards. My disappointment about the current state of Rock'n'Roll, already huge, deepened. Oh, there were some heavenly moments but all too many worldly interruptions. But, then, what worldly movement, including the church, is not corrupted by the world? In the 60s, somebody pointed out that everything the counter-culture invents is soon co-opted by the establishment. As Bob said: The establishment is well financed and, as Bob says,

"Money doesn't talk. It screams."

And this is the point where my story needs to deal with the huge lack of money which is crippling most of the population of the world today. An average American is seven times richer than the average citizen of the planet. In the 70s I heard a sermon illustration I have never forgotten: Being born in America (or Canada, Japan, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand) means that we have won the Lottery. That's right. Think about it. But it shouldn't be that way. The abundance of the universe needs to be distributed equally. There really is enough. Really.

My story is often disrupted by the world. Yours too? By "world.," I mean the worldly belief system of scarcity and pain and foolishness and ugliness and hatred and lies and violence and greed and bondage. Nobody escapes from this tragic belief system. It runs deep inside our collective mind. It's everywhere. But, ultimately, this belief system is powerless. It just seems powerful. It will be overcome as the GEL:F continues and Rock'n'Roll, the music of the GELF will remain a huge part of the story.

Belief in abundance happens when Heaven breaks through. For me and many others, Rock'n'Roll was and continues to be a big heavenly breakthrough. As Pete says, "Long live rock. I need it every day."

I will tell more of my story here and in other chapters. It is a story of abundance, or at least it is potentially so. I have received so many blessings and I will tell you about some of them. And, no, since being born in the USA, I haven't won any more lotteries! I am increasingly convinced that an abundance of money and, of course, the things it buys, is a curse and not a blessing. It makes us fearful and insecure. Real abundance is not a material thing but a spiritual thing. Don't buy lottery tickets! You already won! This time I am not referring to the material abundance lottery you and I won at birth. We won a greater lottery then that: Human Life in these times. It is such a great time to be human. It will get even better as we replace scarcity belief with abundance belief. This is happening because of the GELF.

Rock'n'Roll is not the only thing that has saved my life, given it meaning and joy. Finding out I was an INFP in the 70s and 80s also saved my life. INFP is a personality type - introvert / intuitive / feeling / perceptive. The opposite personality type is ESTJ - extravert / sensate / thinking / judging. Altogether, there are 16 types and you can find out yours by taking a test at keirsey.com and reading about your type. It might be helpful for you to read about the INFP at this point because it says volumes about me, my story and the mission I'm on!

I never felt like I fit in very well. I still don't. But, at least, I now know that I have a particular personality type with a particular mission which is needed in this world. I accept this mission. I am glad to do it. I hope you will join me or, maybe, I am joining you in your mission. It's our mission. Humanity needs more and more people to accept their mission. I'm not suggesting the INFP has a better mission or more important mission. If you test as another type, your mission is good and important, too. I would be surprised if very many ESTJ types would be still reading at this point! I might have even lost everybody except the INFP type or, at least, one of the 4 NF idealist types. But I hope not! The mission I'm on needs SJ guardian types, SP artisan types and NT rational types, too.

The next event that saved my life, or is saving my life, may surprise you. It is dealing with my son Andrew's death. He died in 1994 due to a brain tumor. He was 16. He was ill for about 2 years before he died. It has been more than 8 years since his death but it is the major crisis of my life and possibly always will be. Perhaps I am writing this book more to deal with this crisis than for any other reason. I don't know!

It's not easy to write this part of the book but write it I must. I had to keep working for the past 8 years so I kind of put grieving on the back burner for all this time. There is a saying that grief is patient. And so it is. I expect that I will be grieving with much or even all of the intensity of 1994 as I write this part of the book. I may write many pages and only actually publish a few. I don't know yet as I write on August 30, 2002. I do know that I need to do this. How much I need to share with others is not as "knowable."

ANDY

The first letter of each of the first three words of my 9 words describing Heaven are Andy's initials: AJW. Andrew Joseph Wilde. Abundance - Joy - Wisdom. I happen to have the same initials only in a different order: JAW. Andy was born on the 19^th of June and I was born on the 19^th of January. I could talk more about the connections in my life related to letters and numbers but that's really incidental.

The important thing for me to say is that Andy's life was a gift from God and it continues to be so. And when I say that it continues to be so, I mean that quite literally. Andy lives! I am in contact with him all the time. He takes his seat on the Heavenly Council with all the others and he has a lot to say and a lot to do. I can talk with him any time I want to. But, I'm human with all kinds of human limitations. I cry because I miss him even when I know down deep that I'm not missing him at all. Go figure! I don't know! I don't know much! The doubter in me says I'm talking only to myself. The believer in me knows that I'm talking to my Self! The little s is for the self which will not last. The big S is for the Self which is eternal and inclusive of everything. If you haven't kept up with the discoveries of Quantum Physics or been a student of mysticism or metaphysics, then you may not know what I am talking about. I suggest you go read THE TAO OF PHYSICS by Fritjof Capra and THE PERENNIAL PHILOSOPHY by Aldous Huxley and then come back to this.

That stuff is important! Now, back to Andy. As I was saying: Andy lives and he talks with me and I miss him terribly. Because he is my son, my only son, my beloved son, he has become more than anyone else the face of Heaven for me. I saw his face appear dramatically for an instant in a holy moment in the Canadian Rockies about 3 months after his death. I could say more about some of the "evidence" I have that Andy lives but I won't bore you with it. I accept it unless I'm in a skeptical mood. That's when I cry. That's when I miss him. In Heaven, there are no tears. When I'm in Heaven (abundance mode, attitude of gratitude), I laugh and sing and dance and frolic around. When I go back to worldly mode (scarcity mode, skeptical mood), I cry, I scream, I shake my fist in the air at God.

Sooner or later this story needs to end with ....AND EVERYONE LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER. It will. I promise. But not yet. It's my story. It's my journey. It's not always pretty. I am one of those citizens of the global village who doesn't live in Heavenly Abundance mode as much as I would like. Deepak Chopra says we can reach a point where we are aware of ourselves as heavenly beings with occasional worldly experiences rather than human beings with occasional heavenly experiences. I think he's right. And I'm not there yet. Are you?

Writing this book is a process. It's a struggle. I want to integrate so much. I want to help the GELF gain more momentum. I need to be patient and realize that everything is happening when it is supposed to happen. Everything! I say that when I'm in Heavenly Abundance Mode. In my worldly scarcity mood moments, I lose this faith. It's a struggle. Not so much writing the book as living my life. So, here I am trying write a book which integrates everything in my life, even somehow IS my life and your life and all life. Impossible? Yes, but let's see what happens anyway!

One tool I've recently begun to integrate into my life is the Enneagram , another personality indicator which helps us understand who we are. I came out type 4, THE INDIVIDUALIST. This is not an easy one to handle but neither are the other ones. I bring it up now because I want to emphasize that life is often a struggle. The ultimate struggle is to become your true self. My favorite quote is this one by ee cummings: "To be nobody-but-yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else - means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting."

So, what am I fighting for? For you! For God! For the purpose of the universe which is that everyone becomes unique, special, wonderful. There is such an abundance of style, character, appearance, personality, solutions, etc.

Back to Andy. In many ways he was a pretty normal boy, I suppose. I never saw him that way. He was out-of-the-ordinary in all kinds of ways. I'm not going to tell you that he was the smartest kid or the most athletic or the most artistic or the most handsome or the most gifted or anything like that. He was simply a special gift from Heaven. So is every other child of God. I need to tell his story because he can't. Well, no, actually he can but he needs me to put it into words for him. Go ahead, Andy, tell your story. I'm listening.

ANDY: I've got to tell you, Dad, that what you are doing here is fantastic. The world needs to hear my story because it needs to hear everyone's story and that includes mine. So, let me tell my story. I want to begin with STAR TREK because STAR TREK brought the family together like nothing else. Family is important! But it is not easy to make a family work. It requires enormous patience and courage and wisdom. A good family is a Heavenly Community with all those heavenly characteristics you like to talk about and pray for so much. Yes, Dad, I have been a student at Star Fleet Academy as you have been saying. Of course, it's not the same as the TV show suggests. IT IS FAR BETTER! It is a spiritual formation center like no other. You will come to know this, Dad, when the time is full. In my recent earthly life, I was your son. But in eternity I am your brother and always will be. I don't mean brother in the limited sense of a male sibling. I mean companion, friend, colleague, teacher, learner, explorer, partner, mate, guide, follower and much, much more.

Abundance is the theme of this chapter, Dad, and it's the theme of my story which all you global villagers need to hear. I got sick in 1992 and died in 1994 so that I could teach Abundance to you and to everyone. STAR TREK envisions a planet which has evolved to a point where there is an awareness of abundance, where the abundance belief dominates. This is not Science Fiction. It is the Sacred Future of the planet. Got that? I love you, Dad! I love you, everybody! Your Heavenly Council wants you to know that you are loved more than you could ever imagine. It's getting better all the time. As Dad knows by now, I and the Heavenly Council are one! You and the Heavenly Council are one! I only separate myself out from time to time in order to make important points, to give comfort and assurance, to tell my unique story which is not yet complete. I will return to the planet and be an incarnation of Heavenly Abundance. And, believe me, I'm not the only one.

JW: Let me interrupt here. I don't know how much of this is really Andy and not me. I'm not sure that it matters. At some point, his story becomes mine and vice versa. At some point, all of our stories are integrated into THE STORY. So, I suggest that you don't take any of this literally even if it is literally true. Meaning is what's important here. I have my doubts about whether or not this is really Andy telling his story. But it doesn't really matter. The GELF is what matters...making earth more and more like Heaven. And I have come to believe that Andy's life and death and resurrection is somehow connected, mysteriously and wonderfully, to the unfolding GELF

That's the story that needs to be told and needs to be heard. So, please grant me this wish, to let Andy tell the story of Abundance. He claims that he has been doing this for ages upon ages. Let's begin again. This is the story within the story. Or, rather, the other story, my story, this book, is the story within the story. Are you confused? Mixed Up? Don't worry. So am I! I've heard that learning always requires this stage of confusion and bewilderment and frustration. We are learning together about Heavenly Abundance. It takes a lot of unlearning as we shall see.

ANDY (speaking for the Heavenly Council): ONCE UPON A TIME ...a long, long time ago, there was nothing but space. No, it wasn't even space. It was nothing. Nothing really has ever changed. Grasp that and you've grasped everything! No, you've grasped nothing! Nothing is everything and everything is nothing! There. That's all there is to it. Now you know what abundance is!

....AND EVERYONE LIVED HAPPILY EVER!!

JW: I wish!

ANDY: Couldn't be more simple. But, then, along came a nothing who wanted to be something. Then, it started getting complicated. And that's why it seems like the happy ending is still in the future rather than NOW. Because everybody in the story, or rather, every nothing, started to believe that they were something. This illusory belief is so powerful. It is an illusion which won't go away any time soon because it is so powerful.

Something can be numbered, limited, even ended. Nothing can't be numbered or limited or ended. GOT THAT? Now you may be able to learn something, or rather, unlearn something since there is nothing to learn! Are you having FUN yet? I hope so. This needs to be fun or it just isn't helpful. I have come here to play, to have fun, to enjoy the abundance of life even though it's really nothing. That's why it is SO FUNNY! Because it is nothing, nothing at all!

Will you play with me? Will you frolic around with me for a while? Will you experience nothingness with me?

JW: If I let Andy continue here, you might not grock an important point. So, I will interrupt here to share a quote from somebody named Oscar Wilde (no relation!). He said: "Life is too important to be taken seriously."

Life is a playground, a game, an adventure, a fantasy, a dream. It SEEMS REAL because we MAKE IT REAL. Don't get me wrong here. I like it. Life is a good thing, a great thing. But it is not the all in all. It's temporary. It is numbered, limited and has an ending. We WILL go back into the nothingness from which we came. Every authentic mystic will tell you that! It's true. But, maybe you're not ready to go back into the nothingness from which you came. That's OK. When this game of life ends, another one can begin. Or the next dream or adventure or fantasy. Andy wouldn't tell you that because he is such a tease! Right, Andy?

ANDY: I tease, dear father, fellow humans, because teasing is a great teaching tool. And you are here to learn. Learn and have fun. Or is it, have fun and learn? Just have fun and you will learn. But please don't harm others while you are having fun. Those of us who are sensitive just don't have much fun when we become aware of all the pain and suffering on the planet. And that's why I left. I just couldn't stand it. I couldn't put up that wall between me and all the suffering ones. That wall is so necessary for life on earth but it is also the cause of so much pain.

But that's too serious. That was a fault of mine. I took life too seriously while living a human life. Now I know better. I needed to learn that. The next time I incarnate as abundance on earth, I will know how to put up the wall and take it down as necessary. I will not be TOO sensitive. I will be sensitive enough. All you humans, please take note. Learn how to have a lot of fun and, yet, remain very sensitive to those who aren't having much fun because the abundance is being hoarded by one group of humans at the expense of another. GOT THAT!

Abundance awareness requires scarcity awareness. In the nothingness of reality, there is no abundance. There is no scarcity. I created the something which is called abundance out of nothing just for the game. It makes the game a lot more fun, a lot more interesting, fascinating.

....AND EVERYONE LIVED HAPPILY EVER!!

JW: To conclude this chapter (for now as of 9/30/02), let me suggest that we need an attitude of gratitude. Mindfulness, centering, meditation, contemplation all encourage this. Abundance is here now. It is always here now. It can only be appreciated in the here and now moment. The future hasn't come yet. The past is over. In THE HANDBOOK TO HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS, Ken Keyes wrote "The Twelve Pathways to Higher Consciousness." Pathway #4 is: I always remember that I have everything I need to enjoy my here and now -- unless I am letting my consciousness be dominated by demands and expectations based on the dead past or the imagined future. Keyes' "Living Love" methods speak directly to the process of transforming scarcity belief into abundance belief.

+ Not Scarcity

+ We always have it all!

+ Infinite Possibilities

+ Wholeness

+ Health

+ Blessings

+ Amazing Grace

+ Creativity

+ Community

+ Family

+ Friends

+ Recreation

+ Faith Communities: New Thought, Unity, New Age, Environmentalists, Hindus, Muslims

JOY

+ Joyful Noise and Joyful Silence

+ Not Pain

+ Heavenly Feast

+ Music (I like Rock'n'Roll)

+ Art

+ Dance

+ Celebration

+ Party

+ Intimacy

+ Sex! - SPIRITUALITY AND SEXUALITY ARE INTERLOCKED (or, interwoven through) IN MY LIFE AND, MAYBE, EVERYONE'S LIFE

+ Healing

+ Reconciliation

+ Winning (when everyone wins!

+ Miracles

+ Nature

+ Faith Communities: Pentecostalists, Charismatics, Taize

WISDOM

+ Not Foolishness /

+ Philosophy /

+ Religion /

+ Scripture /

+ Poetry /

+ Epics /

+ Sagas /

+ Legends /

+ Practical Ideas /

+ Disciplines /

+ Meditation /

+ Prayer /

+ Contemplation /

+ Faith Communities: Jewish, Eastern Orthodox, New Thought, TAO TE CHING, Zen Buddhism

BEAUTY

+ Not Ugliness

+ ...is in the eye of the beholder

+ Experiences of awe and wonder

+ Delight

+ Ecstasy

+ Aesthetics

+ Play

+ Order

+ Harmony

+ Plenitude

+ Vision

+ Color

+ Faith Communities: Islam, Eastern Orthodox, Zen Buddhism, Hindus, Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Taize

LOVE

+ 1 John 3:1a: See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.

+ 1 John 4:7-8: Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.

+ Perfect love casts out fear.

+ Psalm 36:7: How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

+ Not Hate or Apathy or Indifference or Contempt

+ Forgiveness

+ Mutuality

+ Community + Transforming the global village into a loving community based on love will not be easy. Wilfred Cantwell Smith: "It will not be easy to build on earth a world community. It will not be possible, unless each of us brings to it the resources of his or her mind, and his or her faith."

+ Oneness

+ Partnership

+ Exercise on fourth chakra, heart center, by Caroline Myss, PhD - http://myss.com

+ Faith Communities: Universal foundation upon which all faith traditions are built

TRUTH

+ "The truth will set you free."

+ Not Lies or Deceit or Illusions or Misinformation

+ The Truth Will Set Us Free

+ Process / Perfect Timing of Everything

+ Laws of the Universe /

+ Insights into Reality / Teachings /

+ Discoveries

+ Breakthroughs

+ Science

+ Evolution

+ Myths point to it.

+ Exercise on the sixth chakra by Caroline Myss - http://myss.com

+ Faith Communities: we all seek the truth, don't we?

PEACE

+ "Every day we do things, we are things that have to do with peace. If we are aware of our life..., our way of looking at things, we will know how to make peace right in the moment, we are alive."
Thich Nhat Hanh

+ Beware of the leader who bangs of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind is closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and do it gladly so." - Julius Caesar {100-44 BC}

+ Not War

+ Shalom

+ Feeling Good

+ Safe

+ Secure

+ Content

+ Faith Communities: Quakers, Moravians, Sojourners, Buddhists (see the Five Precepts)

JUSTICE

+ according to A COURSE IN MIRACLES, the Holy Spirit's correction for the world's injustice; the belief that God's Sons are equally loved and equally holy, undoing the judgments based on separation; the end of sacrifice and the belief that one's gain is another's loss; called " the rock on which salvation rests."

+ Not Injustice or Greed or Selfishness

+ Prosperity for everyone

+ Progress

+ True Peace Requires It

+ Faith Communities: Sojourners, Witherspoon Society

FREEDOM

+ "The truth will set you free."

+ Judge Lerned Hand: "The spirit of liberty is the spirit of not being too sure you are right."

+ Not Slavery or Oppression

+ Ability to Explore and Choose among the Infinite Possibilities of Creation

+ Faith Communities: Unitarian Universalist Association, Zen Buddhism, New age, Quakers, United Church of Christ (includes Congregationalists), Internet sites including: www.About.com , www.Beliefnet.com

abundancetrek@yahoo.com

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