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today's Rosary

AmyLynae — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:36:51 +0000

wow. its like magic how "you" start praying through the mysteries of the Rosary and after some time passes youre actually getting fed and loved and mond eased by Divine. yum.

i heard from the Maharaja at the temple that i once attended that the word "mantra" can literally be translated "mind rest". a break from things and situations.

i am personally inspired to pray a full Rosary each day in order to maontain my peace of mind amidst material events and things and bodies (which implies people's karma, for the body is all about karma).

The Lost Message

John Chuchman — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:34:31 +0000

. . . to be Christ-like

Jesus

Emphasized human values
over conventional religion,

Preached against religious alienation
challenging abstract religious laws,

Opted for the human person
against legalistic religion,

Chose the good of a suffering person
over the claims of formal and established religion,

Ushered in NOT a new religion,
but a new humanism,

Brought together those who were divided, separated,
or left out,

Confronted systems that
diminished, marginalized, or excluded people,

Challenged people, NOT by argument,
but out of a deep sense of Love,

Should move all of us
to be Loving and Free
to create a new future
for humans, for society,
for the whole earth.

How did we lose that message?

Contemplative spirituality

Charlie Van Dyke — Sat, 18 May 2013 17:04:57 +0000

"I no longer believe that I must, by adhering to the rules of religion, strive to win God's favor. Rather, I must learn to be attuned to God present within all creation. Contemplative spirituality has taught me that growth in God is primarily a matter of waking up to the mystery of life's holiness and living it with lighthearted reverence, passion and compassion."

-- Tom Stella

Pathways

Charlie Van Dyke — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:45:36 +0000

By Carole J. Obley

On a busy road near my home, there is a large magnetic sign belonging to a chiropractic office that displays inspirational wisdom. A few weeks ago, the sign read: At the end of the road, there is a pathway. Each time I passed the sign, I considered what this simple sentence might imply. Several interpretations came to mind:

Could the “end of the road” mean the end of suffering in life and the “pathway” represent our rising above it? Is the pathway symbolic of the higher life in spirit we embrace after ending our journey here on earth? If the road represents life, then the pathway at the end represents the continuation of our soul in spirit after we exit the thoroughfare of physical existence. Another possible meaning came to mind: A pathway is typically narrower than a road, thus implying that we must follow the voice of our own soul and not that of the masses. Meeting the challenge of finding that inner voice may lead us down roads that are less traveled by others, as Robert Frost eloquently expressed in his famous poem, The Road Not Taken. At times, stepping onto the pathway requires all the courage we can muster to conquer the looming fear that threatens to overtake us. The journey that stretches before us may appear strange, lonely and uncertain. Yet is there any other way to go besides being true to who we really are?

In the quest to know ourselves more deeply, we are presented with a wealth of opportunities to discover and explore the brilliancy of Spirit that is present in each moment. Relationships offer us mirrors that reflect the Divine to us again and again. While navigating the peaks and valleys of life, if we keep the primary relationship we have with Spirit intact, our human relationships will assuredly reflect that love. In truth, all pathways, no matter what their origin, lead to the destination of awakening to the Divine within ourselves.

Simplify

Charlie Van Dyke — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:50:04 +0000

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.

~ Hans Hofmann

~A Divine Breathe Of Empowerment~

quantumgoddessoflight — Wed, 15 May 2013 08:15:41 +0000

John Cross — Wed, 15 May 2013 05:38:50 +0000

Mud Flat Musing: "The Possibility of Peace"

There is a peacefulness living out here in the land of Mud Flat. I have been checking on the Meadowlark nest just across the road and as of yesterday two of the three eggs have hatched. The two little birds could not have been more relaxed, just cuddled up next to their brother or sister - still inside the egg. There was a sense of awe and wonder as I watched the nestled birds with the warm sun penetrating their newly formed feathers.

But then Mother Meadowlark noticed we were there and, just like that, the time of peacefulness ended!! At first she was a little irritated, squawking and strutting around.

When 86 year-old Bruce and I did not vacate the premises, then she got really irritated! I don't know much about birds protecting their nests, but this Meadowlark did some kind of a non-rhythmic strut that reminded me of a bunch of Norwegians trying to dance to rap music!

Her feathers were fluffed and she skittered to and fro in such a way that even lurking coyotes would run for the hills! I was amazed at her energy and, I must admit, I was eager to get out of there before she had a heart attack!

Soon peace returned to Mud Flat.

I've often wondered about the peace that Jesus talked spoke of in the Bible. Certainly the disciples never had much peace - in terms of peace on earth. They ended up being persecuted and losing their lives for the sake of the gospel. That certainly doesn't sound like a very peaceful existence!

And yet there was a peacefulness deep inside that came only because they knew that they had been called and chosen.

When we are living our lives with faithfulness and grace there can be a sense of peace even when it seems that chaos is all around us. How can we experience the peace that passes all understanding within the context and the reality of our often hectic and chaotic lives?

Several months ago I took a walk down Mud Flat Road and, before I got back, it started pouring down rain. Luckily I had brought my rain jacket and my wide brim cowboy hat. I picked up 7 pound Scotty and tucked him under my coat. It started raining harder and harder as puddles were filling up all around me.

But I felt insulated from it all. My jacket was doing its job and the brim of the hat shed all the water off of my face. I was out there in the storm, but there was a calmness about the moment because I was prepared for the rain.

When I got back to the house I remember peaking out the window about 30 minutes later. At that moment I could not imagine going back out there because of how miserable it would be. But when I was in it, and prepared, I was at peace - was comfortable - and all was well.

I don’t know if there is a correlation with life here, but it gets a Mud Flat Preacher a musin’!! When we are dealing with life’s storms, protected and empowered by the grace and the presence of the Lord, it seems that we can handle almost anything.

On the other hand, when we are unprepared, it seems that any small episode can cause us consternation. Perhaps Jesus is calling us to prepare for the battle, to be ready for the imperfect life on this earth, by armoring us with the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.

One lady wrote to me that the daily musings have strengthen her faith - helping her to better deal with challenges in her life. It really is all about being aware of the power that is all ready available - the reality of Jesus Christ in our lives.

Peace can be an illusive goal. Where can I find peace in my life? For some, it is a life-long search never ends. Do you have peace in your life?

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.

Do you remember what was happening in John 14? It was the time right before Jesus was arrested. The disciples were troubled. They felt very uncertain about the future. Jesus was telling them that he was about to leave them. They were confused, uncertain and afraid. And then Jesus told them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.”

What is it that troubles you? What is it that prevents you from sleeping at night? What is it that makes you worry? Do you have a loved one who is sick or suffering? Do you have a friend or family member who is searching for work? Maybe you have health problems. Sometimes there is a feeling of uneasiness with no apparent reason.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

The peace Jesus gives lasts longer and satisfies more deeply ~ way more than anything we can find in this world. When the human soul feels troubled by an uncertain future, and cries out for peace, Jesus says, “My peace I give to you.”

Where does the restless soul ultimately find peace? Only in Jesus Christ. Only he can truly calm the troubled heart. This is why Jesus came into the world in the first place. “Peace on earth,” the angels sang when he was born.

Do you know what peace is? It’s not the absence of sin ~ but rather the forgiveness of sin. God loves us and forgives us every day. There is peace between God and us.

Peace is not the absence of death in this world ~ rather it is having the sure hope of eternal life. Peace is believing that “whoever lives and believes in Jesus will never die.” Peace is believing that there is a mansion in heaven with our name on it.

2 My Father’s house has many rooms;

Peace is not the absence of trouble in this world ~ rather it is the presence of Christ. It is believing that Jesus is with us always.

During the news coverage of a recent earthquake there was a picture showing a disaster area – buildings had fallen down, fire and smoke were in the background, people were lying on the ground, some of them with obvious injuries.

But there, right in the middle of the picture, was a mom, holding her little child. The frail girl was resting on her mother’s shoulder, arms wrapped around her. The child did not look scared ~ but had a look of peacefulness in her eyes.

In the midst of all that chaos and destruction, there was at least a glimpse of peace.

Prayer: Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace. You have taken away my sins. You have promised me eternal life and have assured me that you will never forsake me. This is the peace, Jesus, that you have given to me. Help me to claim it as my own. Amen.

The Good Book:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14: 1 – 4; 25 - 27)

"The Trip Begins Today!"

John Cross — Wed, 15 May 2013 05:31:07 +0000

Mud Flat Musing: "The Trip Begins Today!"

I tend to wake up earlier in the summer. It seems that birds start their pre-dawn melodies around 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. - not that I would hear them, the sound sleeper I am! Any guy that got used to sleeping on picnic tables for a year can certainly keeping dozing through the song of meadowlarks - especially when that guy is in a house, in bed, and was up late writing a musing!!

Nevertheless, when I do wake up, it is always nice to see the early morning light and to be aware of the sounds of nature all around me. Of course I do live out in this "10 acre park" - as my friends like to call it. It is a beautiful spot out here on Mud Flat Road, 11 miles from the hustle and bustle of Hay.

Neighbor Bud got the sprinkler system going a couple weeks ago. I'm always amazed when I watch him move around the property on his ATV, going from one sprinkler head to the next, making fine adjustments and occasionally installing a replacement. He tells me some of the larger sprinklers up at the cemetery are original, having been faithfully working since about 1960 - made in the USA, I am sure!

The entire sprinkling system was installed in the late 1950's, from what I can surmise, and without the use of professional help from the outside. I've heard that Howard Wigen was the main engineer behind the project, but I'm sure I will get corrected from some of you locals. Many others helped, of course!

I find it amazing that almost three acres of grass gets sprinkled from water that lies beneath our own land and is pumped so efficiently through the system, keeping this gorgeous setting around our church. It really does make a difference, not only for us people, but for all the animals around here that thrive because of our beautiful green grass and all the trees that have been planted.

A couple mornings ago I woke up about 6:00 a.m. and Scotty, the "Palouse Pup," needed to go outside. He always stays away from the sprinklers with a vengeance - because he doesn't like to get wet. I opened the front door and, wouldn't you know, the front yard sprinklers were in full array of spray - drenching the land.

To my surprise, Scotty did not run back into the house, but rather he ducked his head low, purposefully marched down the sidewalk. Then he tucked his head even further down, undeterred by the down pour of water that he was receiving, plodded into the grass and stopped by the elm tree - the one that is closest to the north end the church.

Of course I knew that he had a job to do - and I'm glad that he is well trained that way. But what surprised me was his sudden sense of duty and vigilance as he endured the constant barrage of water. By the time he came back into the house, he was soaking wet and I had to grab a towel. Suddenly I realized I should have just let him out the back door - duh!

Of course it doesn't take much to get me musing. I thought about times in my own life when I ended up doing something that I really did not want to do, or that I did not necessarily choose to do - in order to accomplish some task or to help someone. Yes, there have been times when I have tucked my head down low and moved forward into the storms of life - whatever they might have been. I think you probably have done the same.

Those moments when I have "pedaled into the wind" and arrived at my goal, have brought me a great sense of satisfaction. I think that is why I have enjoyed bicycle travel so much. Each day is a journey and there are obstacles to be met.

I remember early on in my most recent bicycle odyssey when I was just getting started in Northern California near Napa Valley. I was up and down all day on short steep climbs and was certainly no where near in shape. I coasted into a small town and stopped for hot coffee and some hot soup. It got dark about 4:30 in the afternoon because it was late November - short days. It was raining - a drenching downpour. The thermometer said 49 degrees. I was wet, and thanks primarily to my all wool Pendleton shirt right next to my skin, I still had some body heat.

I could have stayed in a motel that night, of course, but I felt a little of that long dormant "fight through the storm" determination stirring in my soul. According to my map there was a campground about 5 miles away. As I downed my third cup of hot coffee I knew what I must do.

I stowed my Pendleton in my waterproof Ortlieb panniers (wanted to have something dry when I finally got in the tent later) and pulled on my soaking wet, stone cold jersey and bright reflective jacket. With a strange comfort that comes when one's course is set, I headed out into the night. It was a deeply dark winding country road, no shoulder, that followed the land up and down through a very remote area of California. I got lost twice ~ almost goes without saying!

Finally I came upon the campground. There was no one around. Who would be camping on such a night as this? I stopped my bike near a camp site, leaning my trusty Trek 520 against a picnic table. This was not a night to sleep there, as the rain promised to continue through the night. With the frame of mind that I imagine that Scotty had going through the sprinklers, I decided that I was going to not only put up the tent in the rain - but I was going to get my sleeping bag inside and it was going to be dry!

My brand new MSR "Hubba Hubba" tent - friends could not resist creative comments about that name - was top quality. In the darkness I managed to set up the Hubba, cover it with the custom rain fly, and managed to get the sleeping bag and all of my gear into the tent. The wet stuff was relegated to the "narthex" of the tent, still covered, but just outside of the flooring.

Once inside I turned on my flashlight, rolled out my down sleeping bag and put it on top of the little ensolite pad. There it was - a dry sleeping bag - just as rain was incessantly pounding on the walls of the tent. I made a pillow out of all my extra clothes that I crammed into my stuff sack, layed down and read a little bit on my Kindle as soft music played from my cell phone via Pandora Internet radio.

I slowly became aware that I had a little self righteous "I got 'er done!" smirk on my face. I wrote in my journal that night, "The trip began today!"

The NBA playoffs are going on right now. Often I hear commentators say, "The series doesn't begin until the home team loses." Winning a basketball game on the road, with 20,000 fired-up fans, is no easy accomplishment.

I love sunny and calm days - not a care in the world. Life often begins, however, when we deal with some of the adversities that eventually come. The trip of life begins when we hold the hand of a loved one before her last breath. The trip of life begins when we see our children suffer from drug addiction and help them through the pain of recovery. The trip of life begins when we see our grandchildren struggle with bullies in school and lose their first basketball game. The trip of life begins when we lose our job and really don't know how we're going to pay the bills. The trip of life begins when we no longer feel productive, in the eyes of the world, but we find new ways to make a difference.

I do not believe that God brings pain into our world. I do believe God has chosen to give us free will. God allows us to live in an imperfect world. The Lord is here to watch over us, guide us and a walk with us - sometimes carrying us. But when the storms of life build up in the western sky, or deep within our troubled souls, where do you think we get the strength to put our head down and press on? I believe God has given us an innate ability to rise up to the occasion and survive. It is an instinct, an ability, a perseverance, a spiritual power - given by God to help us through the toughest of times.

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

What are the storms in your life right now? Are you ignoring them, dealing with them, handling them with grace, discouraged by them, or uncertain of what to do?

I often think of the journeys of the Apostle Paul as recorded in the book of Acts. I try to put myself in the place of those early Christians who, despite threats to their lives, pressed on toward the goal of telling the "Jesus story." They knew that what they were doing was so important - it was worth the price that they would have to pay.

30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

My prayer is that you can feel the power of God when you are losing strength. Regardless of the challenge, whether it be physical, emotional, spiritual, financial or... just know that sometimes you need to tuck your head down and press on, no matter what. Right there in the middle of the storm sometimes we come into the eye of the hurricane. Winds are swirling all around - but there is that peaceful spot that we can find, much like a real typhoon, where that sense of God's presence and comfort truly does pass all understanding.

It is amazing to me how the Lord gives us strength. Let's not blame God for the pain or the anguish. Rather, trusting that God will help us through these trials and tribulations, let's seek peace in the arms of the Lord.

Prayer: Thank you Jesus for walking in ministry from place to place. I am amazed how you took time for the everyday people and offered your helping and healing hand. Jesus, help me find the eye of the storm and the strength to carry on. In your name I pray, Amen.

The Good Book:

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. (Philippians 1: 27-30)

Majority In Arizona Support Same-Sex Marriage

Charlie Van Dyke — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:24:36 +0000

By Yvonne Wingett Sanchez

The Republic | azcentral.com

A majority of Arizonans support same-sex marriage and decriminalizing marijuana use, a new poll has found.

The Behavior Research Center’s Rocky Mountain poll found most Arizonans — 56 percent — favor legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use, while 37 percent oppose such a move and 7 percent were unsure about the issue.

Voters in 2010 by a narrow margin legalized marijuana for medicinal use; more than 35,000 Arizonans participate in that program.

Independent voters were most supportive of legalization at 72 percent. While Republicans and conservatives were most likely to be opposed: 41 percent of Republicans said they favored legalization of marijuana while 56 percent of those who identified with the GOP said they were opposed to it.

The poll also found 55 percent of Arizonans favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry while 35 percent oppose same-sex marriage and 10 percent say they are unsure. Most women, Latinos, liberals, moderates, Independents, Democrats and voters younger than 55 say they supported such unions, according to the poll.

Since 1996, Arizona law has defined marriage as between one man and one woman. In 2008, voters approved adding that definition of marriage to the state Constitution. It says that “only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.”

The poll found Republicans are divided on same-sex marriage with 53 percent opposed and 36 percent in favor. The poll also found that while 51 percent of political conservatives were opposed, 41 percent support same-sex unions.

The poll, released Tuesday, was conducted between April 3 and April 16, and is based on 700 telephone interviews statewide, including 438 registered voters.

The survey’s overall margin of error is plus or minus 3.8 percent.

Spiritual Connection Between Humans And Animals

Charlie Van Dyke — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:21:18 +0000

The bonds between companion animals and their humans is a spiritual matter than involves love and deep connections. We thought of this again when we read the incredible account of a four-year-old tortoiseshell cat named Holly who was traveling with her humans as they attended an R.V. rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, She got out one day and, perhaps frightened by fireworks, disappeared. Despite several days of searching she wasn't found. But two months later, Holly showed up just a mile away from her West Palm Beach home. This strong-willed previously indoor cat had traveled 200 miles to get there. She had lost a lot of weight and was dehydrated. Judging from the condition of her paws and claws, she made this journey walking; she didn't catch a lift.

In this article about Holly's amazing feat, Pam Belluck quotes Marc Bekoff, a behavioral psychologist at the University of Colorado: "I really believe these stories, but they're just hard to explain. Maybe being smart, maybe reading animal clues, maybe being able to read cars, maybe being a good hunter. I have no data for this."

Rupert Sheldrake, an English biologist, wrote a bestselling book titled Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home and Other Unexplained Powers of Animals. He describes experiments and data on three forms of psychic ability found in animals: direction-finding, telepathy, and precognition. Anyone with a cat who runs away to hide whenever it's time to take her to the vet knows that there is much more to study here.

But for now, the why behind this and similar stories is a mystery. (Our personal theory, unverifiable but just as good as any other explanation, we think, is that Holly was being coached on the route home by animal spirits on the other side.)

The message to take home from Holly's 200-mile trek is that the spiritual love connection between animals and humans creates wonders and miracles beyond our understanding.

By Frederic & Mary Ann Brussat
from spiritualityandpractice

The past

Charlie Van Dyke — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:46:58 +0000

"When the past calls, let it go to voice mail. It has nothing new to say."

-Author unknown

Minnesota Votes On Gay Marriage

Charlie Van Dyke — Tue, 14 May 2013 03:15:29 +0000

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota is set to become the 12th U.S. state where gay couples can get married after a final legislative vote Monday that will let the weddings start on Aug. 1.

Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton has pledged to sign the bill, and scheduled a ceremony at 5 p.m. Tuesday on the front steps of the Capitol in St. Paul to do so.

Minnesota is now the first state in Midwest to legalize gay marriage by legislative vote, and the third nationwide in just 10 days, joining Rhode Island and Delaware. Thousands of gay marriage supporters thronging the Capitol erupted into deafening cheers after the Senate's 37-30 vote; the House passed it last week on a 75-59 vote.

"Members, God made gays," Sen. Ron Latz, a Democrat from a suburb of Minneapolis, said during the Senate's emotional four-hour debate. "And God made gays capable of loving other people. So who are we to quarrel with God's intentions?"

The gay marriage issue shifted quickly in Minnesota, with the Legislature's vote coming a little more than six months after voters defeated an amendment that would have banned gay marriage in the state constitution. The groups that led the campaign against the amendment swiftly turned to pushing for legalizing same-sex marriage, an effort aided when Democrats captured full control of state government in November.

Only one Republican senator, Branden Petersen of suburban Andover, voted for the bill. Three Democrats from rural districts voted against it.

Republican opponents said the bill alters a centuries-old understanding of marriage as a societal building block that benefits children.

"Forcing others to give you your rights will never end well," said Sen. Dan Hall, a Republican and a pastor. "It won't give you the recognition you desire." Hall said gay marriage supporters have told him he's on the wrong side of history but, he said, "the truth is I'm more concerned about being on the right side of eternity."

But supporters, too, cited religious faith and with relationships with gay family members and friends in shaping their vote for the bill. Many spoke of the benefits of their own marriages.

"I could never and I would never deny the kind of recognition and all the other positive things I get out of my marriage with my husband, to anyone else," said Sen. Vicki Jensen, a Democrat from the southern Minnesota city of Owatonna.

Republican opponents argued that the bill's provisions meant to protect religious freedom were insufficient, raising concerns it could force merchants in the wedding industry to accept business from gay couples even if the merchants object to such marriages.

"We must respect religious freedom at the same time as we advance rights," said Sen. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester. "This bill does not do that."

Still, with passage looking inevitable Monday, vocal and visual opposition was muted. Don Lee, of Eagan, placed a tombstone on the Capitol lawn with the words "R.I.P. MARRIAGE 2013."

"The legislation being passed today is the end of marriage as we know it in Minnesota," Lee said. "It's a transformation from a forward-looking sacrificial institution to one focused on adult desires."

Supporters and opponents were close to evenly matched during the House debate, but Monday was dominated by gay marriage backers.

They taped blue and orange hearts on the Capitol steps, creating a path into the building for lawmakers with the signature colors of their movement. In the rotunda, demonstrators sang songs including "Over the Rainbow," "Going to the Chapel" and "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Like Thursday, there was a stepped-up security presence. State troopers were posted inside and out, and areas of the building were cordoned off to allow lawmakers to move freely amid the expected throngs.

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman ordered the Wabasha Street Bridge near downtown festooned in rainbow-striped gay pride flags, and temporarily renamed it the "Freedom to Marry Bridge." He also proclaimed it "Freedom to Marry Week."

Minnesota's most famous opponent of gay marriage also weighed in. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, an ardent supporter of banning gay marriage when she served in the state Senate, released a statement expressing disappointment in a vote she said "denies religious liberty to people who believe in traditional marriage."

But gay couples were already thinking about wedding planning. Jeff Moses and his legal husband, John Westerfield-Moses, of Minneapolis, were married in Iowa four years ago, when the state's Supreme Court ruled to allow it.

Their anniversary is Aug. 23, a few weeks after a Minnesota law would take effect, and the couple is considering having a marriage ceremony here, too.

"Any excuse for a party," Jeff Moses said.

"It was bound to happen," John Westerfield-Moses added. "It was a train that was coming."

Jessica Flatequal and Maria Bevacqua, a lesbian couple from Mankato who have been together for a decade, were jubilant after the vote, as supporters spilled out of the front of the Capitol.

"We're excited to become equal citizens under the law," said Bevacqua, a professor at Minnesota State University-Mankato. Asked whether they would get married, both women laughed.

"Well, neither of us proposed today," Flatequal said. "But now that's going to be part of the discussion. It's weird, actually."

From huffpost

Walking As A Spiritual Practice

Charlie Van Dyke — Mon, 13 May 2013 23:54:36 +0000

"Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake," Wallace Stevens once said. I'd make that a "walk around the city." I love to walk and have made it a daily part of my spiritual practice. Mary Ann and I don't own a car, and we live in New York City where you don't need one. I can walk almost every place I need to go.

When I am moving down the street, I say my mantra and my mind is cleared for the sensory delight of the city and its abundant stimulation in sights, sounds, and smells. Walking for me is a devotional path that leads through body to Spirit. Of course it is much more as well.

Most physicians recommend 30 minutes of brisk walking every day as a prescription for healthy living and mental clarity. In Surprises Around the Bend: 50 Adventurous Walkers, Richard Hasler, a a Presbyterian minister, includes tributes to this discipline by physicians and naturalists, poets and novelists, politicians and teachers, pilgrims and seekers, prophets and social reformers.

We learn in these pages that Henry David Thoreau felt transformed while sauntering through the natural world. Throughout his lifetime, Carl Jung was an avid walker. William and Dorothy Wordsworth were companion walkers who shared their innermost feelings with each other. Taking a stroll was a regular part of poet Wallace Steven's daily activities, and James Michener included "quiet rambles" in his regimen. Dorothy Day prayed while she walked.

Julia Cameron, a contemporary writer, recommends a regular walk to revive the creative process. In The Sound of Paper, she says a walk both opens us up and feeds us:
"Try this. Nothing invites creative breakthroughs so successfully as walking. Even a twenty minute Walk is long enough to fling open the inner door to insight and inspiration. Take a twenty-minute Walk. Take note: What ideas come to you? What insights, inspirations, and realizations? We speak of a body of knowledge, and walking gives us exactly that. We embody far more than we often allow ourselves to contact. Walking puts us in touch."

By Frederic Brussat
From spiritualityandpractice

My Mother's Lesson

Charlie Van Dyke — Sun, 12 May 2013 17:30:49 +0000

My late mother overcame a history of severe emotional abuse and domestic violence to bless me with the belief that compassion is the most powerful human emotion.

Before I was 11 years-old, my mother had left my father 13 times. This is known as the elastic effect in which battered women repeatedly leave, only to return to their abusers. My mother tried to go back a 14th time, but by then he had found another woman. So still in her twenties, she became a single mother, working in a factory to support her child. In the 1950s there was little sympathy for mothers who "failed their marriages" for whatever reason; I was the only kid in the Catholic schools I attended who was "from a broken home."

The pressures on my mother were enormous. She drank and smoked heavily. But even in those darkest days, whenever anyone in the neighborhood or in our extended family needed help, she was there to offer it. Though we barely had enough food for ourselves, she took in friends, relatives, and near-strangers who had less than we did. In my cynical adolescence, I thought she just wanted someone to complain to about how unfair the world was, because she and the people she took in did a lot of that. But much later I saw the truth: In sympathizing with the pain of other people, she was healing her own. As she grew more compassionate, her resentment vanished. She stopped drinking and smoking and helped hundreds of people over the course of her life.

One Thanksgiving I came home from college to find that my mother had taken in a couple of distant cousins who were out of work. I was not surprised to see someone living in her house. What shocked me was that all our closets and the drawers in my room were locked. I demanded to know why. She explained, with embarrassment, that my cousins - her nephews - had stolen money, a few pieces of her little costume jewelry, and even some her clothing. Of course, I was ready to throw out the ungrateful, freeloading, petty criminals, but she stopped me.

"It's not hard to keep things locked," she said. "It would be harder to make them leave when they don't have anywhere to go."

I have used my mother's lesson repeatedly, in my own life and in my work with couples who have suffered the betrayal of abuse or infidelity: You can be compassionate without trusting.

It is extremely difficult to rebuild trust once it has been betrayed. Genuine trust requires letting down defenses, and the injured emotional system will not allow that with any consistency. No matter how hard you try, doubt and suspicion smack reflexively against your desire to trust a loved one who has hurt you.

Compassion for loved ones should be unconditional, but trust, particularly once it's been betrayed, must be earned. Couples who are successful at putting trust on the back burner and focusing instead on compassion, wake up one day and realize that, after a period of compassion, trust has returned, that is, it has been earned over time. My cousins eventually earned back our trust; I do not think they would have been able to do so, without my mother's compassion.

Our Violent Past

My mother and I never talked about our violent past -- she preferred to focus on the present and future. But when I went to graduate school and found myself drawn to the study of family abuse, I had to ask her opinion, as someone who had lived through it all. I told her what I had learned: Abusive men use anger and violence to control and oppress women. But she didn't buy it.

"Everybody wants to control their spouses when you come right down to it," she said. "What stops most people is compassion - you couldn't stand to see someone you love hurt or feeling bad. Abusers are angry and controlling because they're not compassionate. Because they're not compassionate, they can't get better."

"But wasn't it compassion that made you go back all those times?" I asked.

"No," she said emphatically. "It was ego - I wouldn't rest until I made us a happy family. If I were compassionate, I would have seen that he felt so bad because he thought he couldn't be a better husband and father. My love only reminded him of how much of a failure he thought he was. If I were compassionate, I wouldn't have gone back; I would have let him heal on his own."

My mother taught me the meaning of personal power, which I have tried to teach to resentful, angry, and abusive people ever since: You reach deep down, beneath ego, resentment, and hurt, to touch the part of your spirit that wants to grow, improve, create, appreciate, and connect with the good in other people; and you have enough compassion not to aggravate the shame of those who have not yet learned to return it. She taught me that compassion is power.

By Steven Stosnu
From Anger In The Age Of Entitlement

Life

Charlie Van Dyke — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:49:41 +0000

There are only 2 ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

-Albert Einstein