Of Mind and Spirit

I was reminded of a time when I was  behind a car while driving one day.

And it was acting REALLY weird.

Swerving.

Going fast.

Going slow.

In the fast lane.

You know..

One of THOSE drivers!

IT WAS DRIVING ME NUTSOID!

(That’s an extreme variation of the going crazy syndrome that includes, but is not limited to : screaming, gritting the teeth until the enamel is worn off, biting your tongue, slapping your forehead, banging on the steering wheel and flossing your teeth between stop signs).

I was getting ANGRY!

INCREDIBLE HULK ANGRY!

What was wrong with this person?

Didn’t they know how to drive?

Where did they get their license?

From a cow?

(okay, that last comment was udder nonsense.

Hey, that wasn’t even the whole joke!  Just a heffer one!

Guess I milked this for all its worth, eh?)

Anyway, my blood was boiling

(non-interesting fact. Blood boils at 139 degrees Fahrenheit)

And THIS time I was going to give this person a PIECE OF MY MIND!

(admittedly, I had not figured out which piece to give them.. But I assumed I had time to work that one out).

Stop and go.

Slow and fast.

ARRGGH!

As it turned out, we ended up parking right next to each other!

THIS was an opportunity too good to pass up.

I decided I was going over to this person and LET THEM HAVE IT!!

My FURY was about to unleashed!

As I walked up to the driver, she rolled down her window.

and said to me.

“Oh, hi Steve! You’re late for the meeting too? I didn’t think I was going to make it!  I was preparing for the presentation while I was driving! Lucky I didn’t get into an accident!”

“Oh, Hi Shirley.” Said I smiling.. Shirley (who was not her real name), was a great co-worker of mine and we were pretty good friends.

I laughed “Yeah, I guess I’m pretty nervous too.  You DID seem to drive somewhat erratically.  I was wondering what was going on!”

“Oh, really? Was I driving that badly?  Must be more careful next time! It’s not good to work and drive at the same time, is it?”

“Nope.  Could be dangerous!  Just glad you are alright. You ready to go in?”

“yeah, just let me get my briefcase and we can walk in together!”

“great.! let’s go!”

—-

The above story really happened.

I looked back on the incident recently and really had to analyze just WHAT happened!

I was SO angry.

I mean, I was FURIOUS!

And yet, when I found it out that crazy driver was my friend and co-worker, my entire demeanor changed in a split second.

Once I knew who it was, my anger went to a smile.

My hatred of this person’s driving habits changed to being concerned about my friend.

Now the facts of the case didn’t change.

She WAS driving erratically.

But because I had a relationship with this person, I couldn’t hate her.

I also knew she was normally a very safe driver..

All this was processed in my tiny pea-brain in a nano-second.

Why is it we can have such ill feelings to a stranger but not to a friend?

Yesterday, I was driving and I was having the same experience.

The same road rage started to build within me.

Then I realized that this driver, too, had a friend .

and might normally drive very safely.

Then I wondered if the driver was okay?

Or perhaps rushing to a meeting and was doing too many things.

And the road rage vanished.

Peace,

Steve

In my earlier post, I talked about an alternative way to respond to compliments.

Looking back on these kind words I have received lately,

They surprised me.

It wasn’t just that I received so many compliments .

It was the kind of compliments.

and who they were from!

These kind words from one person were on how I have impacted their life, and how much he appreciated the things I have said to him and for what I meant to him.

Yeah, I told you – blushing time!

But what REALLY wowed me were who said this to me.

I knew the person.

I remember talking to them.

Once.

A long, long time ago.

But for the life of me I couldn’t remember the content of our conversation!

My first thought was that he perhaps confused me with someone else, but after hearing him talk it was clear that – yup – it was me that he were referring to.

Then I realized what happened.

It was an ‘innocent’ comment I made one day to him.

When we were talking, I said must have said something that profoundly affected him (without me realizing this, of course).

Or maybe it was just a time in his life where he really, really needed someone to just listen without judging them.  And I just happened to be there and listened to him.

Funny thing is, I don’t think we talked for more than a few minutes!

Yet, whatever I said was enough to have a lasting impact on this person!

Wow!

This drove home to me just how important our words and actions affect others.

We never really know how a kind word, a non-judgmental ear, or even a smile can affect someone.

Profoundly.

I then started to think about people in my past who have similar impact on my life.

And I wondered – perhaps they don’t remember the conversation that meant so much to me.

I remember one such example where I told a friend of something he said to me that meant so much to me.  He didn’t even remember the conversation!

And if a friend can forget something like that, then how easy is it for someone who is not as close as a friend to have NO CLUE on how much they have impacted our lives?

How easy is it for US to have NO CLUE on how much we have impacted others?

Jewish mysticism has a beautiful concept that certain people have divine sparks that need to be released to go back to God – which helps move the world toward perfection.  The problem is we don’t know who these people are.  The way to release these sparks?  By performing acts of kindness to people.  So, to be safe, we should be kind to everyone for we never know if we are releasing these holy sparks in others.

No, we never really know how much impact we have on the world.

We are all interconnected in one gigantic human mobile.

Each touch, each word, each thought – affects everybody.

It doesn’t matter if anyone has told you directly how much you have impacted them.

(Though that is certainly nice!!)

You are valuable to everyone you come in contact.

In this time of unrest and mistrust, let us sow seeds of kindness to everyone we meet.

For we may be saying or doing something so valuable, that the person – and indeed the world – will never be the same.

Peace,

Steve

I was going to write about another topic, but after what happened last night, I REALLY have to get this off my chest.

Before I start, I want to apologize that what I am about to discuss may offend some of you.  If you are getting this post via an auto-email and want to get removed from these, then please contact me at steve@ofmindandspirit.com and I will do so.

Yeah, it’s going to be one of THOSE posts.

When major world events happen, it is usually rare that we realize it.

Oh sure, we may say “hmm.. this is BIG!”

But normally it takes time for historians to objectively look back to fully understand the ramifications of the event.

But today?

Yeah, I think we can talk about the historic implications.

I  am referring to the so called marriage amendment that just passed in my home state of North Carolina.

Just why do people want to go out of their way to PREVENT 2 loving adult human beings to legally dedicate their lives together in holy wedlock?

At least that is how I see it.

Let’s face it.

Heterosexual marriages fail.

Every day.

The statistics are appalling.

1 out of every 2?  2 out of every 3? Marriages go down the crapper.

Sometimes in a matter of a few years.

Or even a few months.

More and more heterosexual couples are not even bothering to get married.

They live together..

and THEN break up!

There is a tiny population of people who WANT to get married.

They have been together for years…

in some cases DECADES.

Far outlasting their heterosexual counterparts…

and want to formalize their commitment to each other.

Just what in the world is wrong with this?

There is so much hatred, racism, antisemitism, slavery, war, intolerance and rudeness in the world…

and we want to put our energy and money to focus on PREVENTING LOVE from being recognized?

WHY?

Of course, we all know the reason.

Some say its about money.

Because homosexual marriages are not allowed, laws passed to allow civil unions to get medical and other benefits.

Outlawing those civil unions will cut off those people from benefits…

saving companies potentially millions.

Nah…

That’s not the reason.

Let’s face it.

It’s religious.

The Christian Bible (in fact the Hebrew and Islamic Bible for that matter)

says that homosexuality is an abomination.

It is not just marriage must be between a man and a woman.

It is really a denial of approximately 10% of the worlds population who feel they were born to mate with those of their same gender.

A figure, by the way, that also occurs in the animal kingdom.

Yup.

There are gay frogs, dogs, lions, zebras, etc.

You name a species, and you will probably find a percentage that are gay.

Humans are no different.

Seems to me that all of this is part of “God’s plan.”

If not, then why did She make so many homosexuals everywhere?

Many fundamentalists are claiming that homosexuality is not only outlawed in their scripture, but that it is not ‘normal.’

Right there is the problem.

First, while many religious people try to make this country based on their interpretation of their Bible (and an interpretation is all it really is, folks), this poses other questions.

The Bible allows for stoning of people for adultery.

It very clearly forbids divorce – except on grounds of adultery.

So are we going to outlaw divorce?

And start stoning adulterers?

It can get pretty crazy if one is really hell-bent (pun intended) to force this Country to be Biblical based.

This brings up the second point.  This FORCES one’s personal religious beliefs onto the entire country (or at least entire state).

Since the law was voted on, one can argue that majority opinion won the day, and that is how democracy works.

Maybe.

But I know at least 50% of all Americans seem to be okay with gay marriages.

So how can so many states legally pass laws to forbid it?

Is it really because those that are okay with gay marriage just stayed home last night?

Or can it be that we are seeing the resurgence of the south vs the north (most, if not all, of the southern states have outlawed gay marriages while some of the northern ones have legally passed laws to allow it).

My head hurts thinking about this stuff.

People are starting to realize that this bill may backfire.

The law just doesn’t redefine marriage to be between one man and one woman.

It also outlaws ALL civil unions.

Even those of  (gasp!) a man and a woman!

If people don’t get married, then they could lose insurance, property rights, custody rights, etc.

Listen, people, you can’t FORCE your personal morality on others!

Do I think marriage is a holy institution?

You betcha!

Am I instilling this in my daughter!

You betcha!

Do I think most people who live together instead of getting married don’t  really have a committed relationship?

You betcha!

Do I think children raised without 2 loving parents is an issue?

You betcha!

But I have no right to force my views on others.

Besides, if marriage is the preferred, and holy, way 2 loving people should live together..

then why should we FORCE 2 loving people to live together without even the HOPE of marriage?

Ah, yes.. homosexuality is not ‘normal.’

Well, is coming from being poor to a  millionaire ‘normal?’

Is joining a rock band and become famous and respected for decades ‘normal?’

Is being genuinely  happy every day of one’s life ‘normal?’

Is coming up with an idea that changes the world forever ‘normal?’

No, I suspect not.

Would we want to pass laws to prevent these being allowed?

No, I suspect not.

Normal does not equate to healthy.

I’d much rather to be healthy than normal.

Normalcy in America seems to be following the status quo, and not thinking for oneself.

You can keep that normalcy away from me, thank you very much.

It all goes back to religion.

It is enough to make me REALLY think some nasty things about religion.

Look, I know for most Americans, religion is an anchor.

It’s all that they know, and they actually believe their scripture is the “good book.”

I have been there..

Done that.

Totally understand it.

Perhaps the hardest part of being human is believing so strongly in what you think is right..

and respect others for feeling the exact opposite.

Its not easy.

Maybe that is what gay marriages really does to the religious.

It threatens them.

Because if their religion/Bible/minister/etc. can be so wrong on something like this.

Then what else can it be wrong on?

We have SOMEHOW got to find a way to live together in peace and harmony with others who think and act so differently than us.

Deep inside we are all the same.

We are all created in the image of the save Divine essence.

And, frankly..

what we do in the privacy of our bedrooms is none of anyone’s business.

I suspect this issue of gay marriage will not end here.

The time has come.

It is really a matter of time.

51% of Americans are okay with this.

Eventually, any law in any country cannot be effective if so many of its citizens do not agree with it.

It is time of us to branch out of our narrow thinking.

It is time to grow… to progress.

To accept what is.

And, my friends, that day will come.

Peace,

Steve

This week I have received a lot of nice comments.

I mean some REALLY nice things said to me.

You know, the kind of compliments that make you blush?

Well, at least that is how these affect me!

When I was young, I never took these compliments well.

I just said “thank you.”

Which really just deflects the compliment.

It is a polite way to respond to words like those,

but it also usually means you haven’t truly internalized the compliment.

If compliment and kind words are gifts that people give us,

simply saying “thank you” is not fully accepting the gift.

“Thank you” doesn’t convey any personal appreciation.

It’s a “Hallmark” moment.

Prefabricated without thought.

We live in such a cold and heartless world.

So when someone goes out of their way to pay you a compliment..

it means something.

BIG.

Saying “thank you” doesn’t do those words justice, in my humble opinion.

Lately, I have been responding from the heart.

Internalizing the feeling, and then responding from the heart.

It is not easy.

I have been programmed from youth to smile and say ‘thank you’ and then ever so tactfully change the subject.

That way the real impact of the compliment can’t be felt.

So I haven’t perfected this response – yet.

When I do give myself some space to really let those wonderful words sink in..

and THEN I say something.

Trust me, it is a VERY different response!

Especially if you can look the person straight in the eye and respond.

That affects THEM.

They get to feel that their gift to you was fully accepted.

And the circle is complete.

Everything we give comes back to us so many fold.

I feel so blessed today.

I want to say “thank you” to the universe.

But that would not be enough to convey my gratitude.

May you all be blessed this week.

Peace,

Steve

I was watching the “making of” featurette to the movie Blade Runner.

If you have ever seen this film (you mean you haven’t?), then you know how incredibly beautiful it is.

And this was done in the time before CGI.

No computer trickery.

Every special effect was done IN the camera!

Incredible!

Ridley Scott, the director, was asked about how he got his vision for some of the scenes.

What he said surprised me.

He described an image of holding a blanket with a ‘lot of stuff’ on it,

and then shaking it hard.

He looked at what formed as a result, and that helped shaped his vision for some scenes.

Ok…

I thought that was pretty weird.

Until I tried to listen to my MP3 player.

You know those little itsy-bitsy head phones with that itsy-bitsy scraggly piece of dental floss that passes for a wire?

And how it always seems to get tangled when you pick it up?

No matter how nicely you laid it down the night before?

Seriously.  What happens?

Are there gremlins that come out in the night and go

“heh heh heh… let’s really screw with this mans’ mind… Let’s tangle up these chords so he will NEVER be able untangle them again.. EVER!!! BWA-HA-HA!!!”

This morning, while trying to untangle this set of Medusa snakes of wires, I just gave up!

I shook it..

Ran my fingers through it in a completely random order.

And…. to my surprise.

It unravelled.

Totally.

Effortlessly.

I was instantly reminded of Ridley Scott’s imagery of shaking the blanket and seeing something wonderful come out as a result.

To me, this means that sometimes a neat and orderly approach to solving ones tangled mess in life is not always the best approach.

Sometimes you have to SHAKE THINGS UP!

DO SOMETHING RADICAL!

And the mess just might sort itself out!

(hm… The Cars song “Shake it up” is now pounding in my head.

Shake it up. do do do do do do do do .

Shake it up. do do do do do do do do.

Ah, ya gotta love the 80′s!)

This week, try to look at something that is really ‘messed up’ in your life.

Instead of trying in an neat, orderly manner to fix it.

Shake things up a bit.

Stir the pot.

Rattle the cages.

Load those engines.

uh… whatever.

And let me know how it goes, okay?

Until next time,

Your untangled up in blue friend,

Steve

Peace

Well, it’s that time again.

Nope, not “let’s file for a tax extension” time.

(though many will do that).

It’s voting time.

Once again, the two major parties  are fighting.

Slinging mud at each other.

Showing how the “other side” is so stupid, uncaring, inconsistent.

You name it, and they will call it.

Technically, we have 5 “major” political parties

(Democratic, Republican, Green, Libertarian, Constitution),

and a whopping 37 “minor” parties!

My favorite are the United States Marijuana Party!

I wonder, if we vote them into office, will the whole country go to pot?

And the United States Pirate Party!

Arrr, me maties.  Every American deserves their pieces of eight!

Arrr.

(these are real, by the way).

But in essence there are only 2 practical parties.

Perhaps one day the others will stand a chance, but I don’t think so in this election.

(Thought, the Modern Whig Party could be cool.  Haven’t seen a bunch of white men wearing white wigs on their heads in these parts of the world for quite some time!).

Does it really matter, though?

Is all this fraction healthy for our country?

Washington didn’t think so.

(I am not referring to Leroy Washington from my home town.  He had some VERY interesting things to say about this girl named Alice.. Well, let me tell YOU what he said she did one night…. after 2 am… oh..sorry… got off on a tangent, there, didn’t I… Focus, Steve.. Focus).

Georgie Porgie said this.

 The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism

I couldn’t have said it better.

And in reality, whoever wins will have to please EVERYBODY..

A republican president has to please his or her democratic constituency.

And a democratic president has to please his or her republican constituency.

Yet people think SO MUCH of these parties.

(and why do they call them parties when those political speeches are never much fun?)

Republicans are evil, right wing and only care for the rich.

Democrats are saints, tolerant of all religions, and care for the poor.

Hogwash.

People are not that simple.

But we love to put people and their parties into boxes, don’t we?

Seems our good ol’ gremlin called “duality” is back again to haunt us.

Instead, think of who you think would be the best person to run this country.

And vote.

Yes, it DOES matter!

Even if “your guy” loses, you would have a voice in the process.

That is what makes this country great.

A lot of people in a lot of countries don’t have that voice.

Me?

I’ll be voting for whoever is running for the Canary Party!

On second thought, maybe not.

That one sounds like its for the birds.

They probably don’t have a plan and are winging it.

Some of them are probably feather brained.

Okay, for those of you are in that party (and yes, that is a real one).

Hope you see this is all in good fun!

Actually the Canary Party stands for people making their own medical treatment choices.

Sounds interesting, even.

I do suggest they think of changing their name, tho.

Anywho….

Rock the vote.

Soul to the poll.

Cleaver to the lever.

Wait, that last one didn’t sound right!

You know what I mean!

Early voting is now open!

Or go on May 8th!

just go…

This message has been brought to you by Of Mind and Spirit, and unpaid non-political organization that needs some pretzels and beer for their party.

: )

I know someone who is really built.

I mean, this guy had a body to die for.

Lean.

Mean.

Muscle machine.

I have seen body builders in magazines, but this was the first time I met someone in person.

I just HAD to know how he achieved this body!

So one day I went up to him and asked..

“PLEASE tell your workout routine!  What is your secret?”

He just smiled and said.

“30 minutes. every day.”

I was taken aback.

I expected a complex set of routines, specific # of reps, weights vs cardio, etc.

Now I am sure that all of that is part of his regimen.

But I believe what he said was more important.

Consistency.

A little bit every day.

You can’t just workout 1 hour (or 2) once a week.

It just won’t work.

You have to train and build the body a little each day.

I believe this is true about every aspect of our lives.

You want to be more loving?

You can’t wait until Sunday afternoon to be loving for 1 or 2 hours and then be a grumpy you-know-what the other days of the week!

You want to have a meaningful spiritual life?

You can’t just meditate 1 hour one day a week.

30 minutes a day?

You can do wonders!!

Exercise 30 minutes a day?

You can transform your body.

Read 30 minutes a day?

You can transform your thinking.

Meditate 30 minutes a day?

You can transform your life.

Me?

I went home and worked out for 30 minutes.

Felt good, too!

Peace.

(please note that the following story is rated “R” as it contains some sexual references. Please do not continue if you are easily offended by such subject matter.  Thank you.)

Sigmund Freud was a trip.

One of the more famous stories revolve around his use of a cigar one night.

Now, for this humble story to have any meaning, you must understand who Sigmund Freud was, what he believed, and the significance of the cigar.

Freud was a revolutionary psychiatrist.

Many feel he is the father of modern psychiatry.

His claim to fame was his belief that everything revolved around..

um.

You know.

SEX!

EVERYTHING!!

He saw sexual symbolism in EVERY THING AND EVERY ACTION!

Women are frustrated!

It’s because they don’t have a penis!

No, I am not making this up!

You dream of driving through a tunnel?

That means that you are dreaming about..

um..

SEX!

I mean the guy was OBSESSED with this symbolism.

One night, he was scheduled to give a lecture.

He sat in the back, waiting for his turn to talk…

and smoked a long cigar!

Remember what this man believed and taught.

The cigar was a ‘classic’ phallic symbol.

(That’s a fancy word for something that looks like the male organ).

Someone smoking on a cigar, symbolized.

um.

Well, YOU figure it out!!

So to have Sigmund Freud HIMSELF smoking a cigar..

in a room full of pyschiatrists!

Well!

You can imagine what people thought!

Nobody said anything, though.

They were too scared.

Eventually, it was time for Sigmund to give his speech.

Afterwards, he asked for questions.

You KNOW what was on everyone’s mind, right?

And one person had the gumption to call Freud out!

After all, they KNEW what the cigar meant..

How COULD he smoke it so nonchalantly in front of them?

The person said to Freud.

“Dr. Freud.  You have made a living on explaining sexual symbolism, oral fixation with its sexual roots, etc.  How in the world can you smoke a CIGAR of all things in front of this audience!  What do you have to say for yourself?”

Freud was cool.

Didn’t break a sweat.

Instead he put out his cigar.

And calmly took out another one,

Lit it up.

Took a few puffs.

Smiled.

And said.

“Sir, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.”

We look for so much meaning in other people’s action.

And, based on HISTORY, we THINK we KNOW what those actions mean.

But we don’t.

We are just filtering the actions of others into our own prejudicial perspective.

Next time you are CONVINCED you KNOW WHY someone else is doing something.

Take a deep breath,

Relax,

and ask yourself

“Is there another reason for this person’s action?”

Make sure you can think of numerous other POSITIVE reasons for the behavior.

Most people do not deliberately try to hurt you.

If you think they are, then you are projecting your own prior events onto this one.

Try not to do this during the next few days.

See if it makes a difference in your view of others.

For sometimes a cigar…

is just a cigar.

Peace.

The Nazis are back.

No, seriously.

They are not just ancient history, or fodder for movie villains.

The group is still very much alive and kicking in the good ol’ USA.

Now they have decided to see if they can get into mainstream America.

They have officially registered to be a lobby in the government.

It remains to be seen, of course, if they will garner any support in any measureable numbers.

They are playing it very smart, though.

They will be addressing everything BUT race.

They will talk about their concern about the economy, unemployment, immigration, and the plight of the farmers.

All in hopes to have people think “ah, the Nazi party isn’t so bad!  They seem to be addressing some real concerns!”

What troubles me more than the fact that the party is still growing, is that why now, of all times in America, do they think they can get mainstream support?

Why now?

The inherent problem with Nazi ideology is not its hatred of Jews and Blacks.

It is the philosophy of diving humanity into separate boxes, declaring some boxes to be not-human, and then vilify and degrade those ‘non-human’ boxes.

It doesn’t really matter who falls into their non-human boxes.

Blacks.  Jews. Italians.  Etc.

The point is once you believe you can separate humanity into separate boxes (e.g. races), then it is over.

It is always easiest to hate and judge those that you think are inherently different than you.

And if you think “they” are no longer human, then you can suggest solutions like genocide and ‘race wars.’

America is supposed to be a melting pot – of different cultures, religions, and ethnic groups.

That is what made this country unique and gives it its strength.

But there are those who feel we have never been a melting pot.

That we are more like a stir fry of ingredients that should never have been put in the same pot to begin with.

This election year is going to be VERY interesting.

All of this had me thinking about the Swastika.

The word “swastika” comes from the Sanskrit svastika - “su” meaning “good,” “asti” meaning “to be,” and “ka” as a suffix. (according to about.com)

Yup, the original meaning of the symbol meant “to be good.”

Fascinating, no?

The symbol was created about 1,000 BCE. and was used literally all over the world.

And then a little religion, that was slowly growing decided to adopt it as the symbol of their faith.

The religion?

Christianity.

Yes, the original symbol of Christianity was not the crucifix nor the empty “T” cross.

It was the Swastika, which the Early Christians called the “flyfoot cross”.

Some feel that this symbol was initially chosen as a symbol of goodness.

My reading of history is different.

For it only whenl Paul of Damascus started to preach  that Antisemitism was born.

It was the 2nd century of the Christian church where they were breaking away once and for all with their Jewish heritage, and the Swastika was first used to symbolize hatred of the Jews.

When the church was formalized in the 4th century, the “T” (or empty) cross was adopted, and then later the crucifix (with the image of Jesus dying on the cross).

Hitler adopted the Swastika because he felt that it symbolized so much of what he believed the Nazi party stood for.

To do the will of the church to eliminate its enemies (the Jews)

To be good soldiers in the Christian faith.

Most Christians that I know really don’t like to talk about this.

I understand this.

But the Nazis are hoping that now, for the first time in America, they can get mainstream support.

And right-wing fundamentalism is on the rise again.

Not a coincidence,  if you ask me.

Fundamentalism is duality on steroids.

Meanwhile. a Democratic politician is resurrecting Joe McCarthy and saying that there are over 80 card-carrying communists in politics…

And they must exposed and rooted out of government.

As one group is trying to get communists OUT of government,

another group is trying to get Nazis INTO government.

It is SO easy to blame “them” “they” “Others”.

But it is never people who are the problem.

We are, after all, angels on earth with perfect souls.

It is when we embrace duality and separation philosophy that we cover our soul with so much dirt, that it can no longer shine.

In times of economic downturn, war and uncertainty, people tend to go to fundamentalism and racist ideologies.

This provides an easy explanation why people are out of jobs, there is so much crime, war. etc.

It is all because of “(fill in the name of your favorite ethnic group)”.

If we can get rid of THEM, then all of OUR problems will be solved.

Therein lies the problem.

For THEM is US.

There is no them.

There is only God and Humanity.

Even there, the line is blurred.

As you go through your day, see everyone as angels with a perfect soul.

Perhaps if enough people can do this, we can shed enough love and light to stem this dangerous tide.

I hope so.

Peace.

I have to admit I was pretty surprised to see this on Yahoo today.

For those who have taken my course, you will spot the very things I have been talking about in my classes!!

In fact, some of this looks strangely familiar to my material.

(hmm.  Maybe I know the author?)

Anyhow, nice to see this information get such a wide distribution.

“at the current rate, one in four Americans will profess no religious faith within 20 years”

http://news.yahoo.com/rise-atheism-america-110700315.html

The time has come to Evolve From Religion To Spirituality!

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