Jim May 11th, 2008
over at TED, i listened to this presentation, Why are we happy? Why aren’t we happy?
i thought it was an interesting exploration of happiness. what can be learned from this or how does it perhaps expound in a different way what we know deep inside?
the photo above was taken by zoo gal, and is part of the 100strangersproject.
Jim May 8th, 2008
so, it’s thursday…swim day. after about an hour of slogging through laps in the YMCA pool, i noticed a woman had come over to the side and was waiting for me. hmm…i thought to myself, “this should be interesting.” she was probably in her sixties and had been doing water aerobics on the other side of the pool. so she was waiting for me and when i got to her and stopped she said, “i’ve been watching you swim for a while. are you training for a long-distance swim?” i said, “well actually, i’m training for a half ironman.” she responded, “yes, i figured so. i’ve been watching you, and if you led with your elbows, and extended your arms further on your stroke, you would go twice as fast with about half the effort. this will help you in endurance swimming.”
i thanked her and began doing as she instructed me, and it worked! i was gliding through the water faster with less effort. she gave me a thumbs-up when i looked back over to see if she thought i had it. i was so grateful. she was such a kind woman, and she cared enough to take the time to share what she knew to help someone else.
it got me to thinking…what if we approached every person in life with the assumption that they know something of value that we don’t. also, seems like the “divine nobody” thing happens as each of us is willing to share with others what we have learned from our own journey. for example, maybe you know someone who is being hindered by bitterness as they go through religious detox. maybe you experienced this yourself and learned something that could be helpful. like the sixty-year-old woman, perhaps you have opportunity to say in kindness, “i can you are going through the shedding religion part of the journey. i couldn’t help but notice you are getting especially stuck in this one place. can i relate! here’s what happened with me…”
(photo by zoo gal)
Jim May 6th, 2008
i’ve got a few posts going that i hope will jump in on, but i wanted to toss another one into the mix. i write an article for Relevant that relates to what we toss around here on the blog. here’s the link.
also, i was sent a copy of the music CD, Songs For A Revolution of Hope, Vol. 1 which was a collaborative effort with The Restoration Project. i have listened to the CD several times, and it was extremely meaningful. both the music and the message stirred something deep within me.
yeah, the pic is from the Country Music Marathon. i survived the half marathon…barely. i’m going to try and ride a Century on May 24. sometimes you look to strange things for motivation. for example, i’ve been telling myself that if she can do the full, i can do the half 
Jim May 5th, 2008
i emailed a friend today and shared how i have been experiencing a deep contentment in life lately. the word “contentment” is the best word i know to use to identify it. honestly, i’m not sure what to call it. it’s almost easier to describe this place as the absence of things. for example…
the absence of the desire or need for more
the absence of striving for different or “better” circumstances
the absence of preference for certain outcomes
the absence of the need to prove or achieve something
i don’t need any great big thing to be added to my life. my everyday, ordinary life is fine just the way it is, and i find that my everyday, ordinary life supplies plenty opportunity to be truth, and in no way prevents me from it. i guess another way i could describe it would be to say i seem to be at peace with things. it’s not an apathetic kind of thing, and i still experience great compassion. it’s more like i feel less inner striving about changing the whole world, and feel more like i’m influencing the greater whole by being attentive and responding to people and situations as the evolve along my daily path. in general, fewer things stress me out, and i take them as they come.
i was recently in a conversation with someone who aspires to be a great spiritual leader/writer/speaker/guru-type. honestly, i had a hard time relating. on the one hand, i derive a great sense of joy from encouraging along others in their journey with God, and perhaps being useful in helping others get past various sticking points. on the other hand, just thinking about the idea of seeking to be some sort of guru wears me out. also, how can i personally take credit for anything i’ve learned since there is no truly “new truth,” just ancient wisdom. it’s not like I discovered truth; the truth was always there, and i just eventually tripped over it…or maybe pushed into it by my divine nobody friends.
okay, enough of this meandering…have a good monday.
(photo by Jordon)
Jim May 2nd, 2008
on this journey with God i have learned that “being a Christian” may or may not have much to do with truly unpacking the significance of Jesus Christ for my life. i have undergone an evolution of sorts in terms of my understanding of Jesus. for many years, it was “Jim and Jesus,” which more or less meant maintaining the same fundamental motivations, goals, and premises of life but adding a little Jesus here and there.
but then Jesus’ words “You shall know the truth and be free,” took root inside. eventually i discovered what these words meant for me. “knowing” the truth actually meant to “become” the truth; not adding Jesus here and there, but being Jesus. not in a mechanical WWJD way, but knowing God as Jesus, processing life as Jesus, living in peace as Jesus, an instrument of love as Jesus, sharing the same motivations as Jesus, discerning reality as Jesus, operating within the same spiritual abundance as Jesus. casting off all fear and separation, declining the religious and humanistic logic, and operating with the mind or “knowing” of Jesus.
Jesus said, “I am the truth.” what i realized for myself is that the application of these words isn’t dragging around the name “Jesus,” or constructing a belief system in the name of Jesus or even memorializing the past life and death of Jesus, but becoming and being the truth Jesus displayed. during one stage of my “religious detox” i grew nauseated just by the reference of “Jesus Christ,” because of all the oppressive baggage i had plugged into it. but i discovered i was open to and desired the truth Jesus expressed and embodied, focused myself on the truth and not the name. it got me through this stage, and also helped me in many other ways that i didn’t expect.
(photo by zoo gal)
- Next »
