Sunday Confessions on Monday, Part III

Last night when I should have been sleeping, I was pulled into watching a special on George W. Bush--yes, our President. I didn't want to stay up and watch, but was drawn to look again at this man many love to hate. Actually, I was kind of mesmerized by the whole thing (maybe it was the aftermath of a day in the all too elusive northern Wisconsin sun.) Here sat a man who surprisingly was very comfortable in his own skin, even having made decisions that have put many lives in harm's way. Given all the tough decisions he has had to make and the fact he looks twenty years older, the President still described his life as joyous. That was his choice of words, joyous. Now, that was amazing to hear.

I have to confess, I've always liked George W, much to the chagrin of many around me. But lately, as the spotlight has been drawn to future Presidential hopefuls, I haven't thought much about the man. Frankly, he seemed to have lost his edge in his second term. See, as a rebel in my own family, I never found it hard to relate to what many would call the dark side of the President--he was a risk-taker, knew what he wanted, and pursued it with a vengeance--my kind of man. No one would ever call him a wimp. But, on the other hand, George W, as a man of unwaivering values and principles, was a refreshing contrast to his immediate predecessor. In the hot spot that all our Presidents are placed, the dark and light sides are glaringly visible, and it appears that the audience takes great delight in denouncing or negatively speculating with utter abandon. It is as if the judging audience has no dark and light sides of their own, or at least ones to which they want to admit. But I digress, back to my confessions. . .

I never could see in George W the malignant arrogance and swagger that invited so much antipathy from others; rather, I found those characteristics rather charming in a Texan sort of way. Texans can be an independent breed, and he has been a prime exemplar of that don't-get-in-my-way attitude. Having grown up in Texas, this genre of politicians was not out of the ordinary. The fact he wore his religion on his sleeve was a bit off-putting, but, hey, I've seen worse. I was raised as a Catholic in Texas where Southern Baptists and other evangelicals don't apologized for their proselytizing, nor will they ever. To them it is the fastest ticket to heaven. At least, unlike the terrorists, they are not take innocents with them on the ride.

But last night even with all that admiration in the past, I tried ever so hard to be an Observer, even if only in training, and see if I could stay neutral about the man while viewing his pros and cons from a distance. Frankly, I was unsuccessful. The folksy portrayal left me liking him even more. Who couldn't like someone who takes no "small balls moves." Never heard that phrase before, but it fits the sitting President well, don't you think? Who couldn't like someone who over and over again says he believes that liberty is God given to every man, woman and child on the planet, and judges all of his political actions against it. This idealism is reminiscent of that emanating from the speeches of Barack Obama, that have been glowingly covered in this blog. He too speaks of freedom and liberty and hope. Although many would consider putting the two men in the same sentence heresy, there is really no reason for that. Good men come in many flavors, and I'm not talking about race.

In the end, President Bush said he would let history be the judge of his actions and cared little about his present low approval ratings. He often referred to Lincoln, who as a war time President was not terribly popular. An anecdote from the Special was telling: the President said that the Gettysburg Address, one of the greatest freedom documents of all time, was derided by the press during Lincoln's lifetime. Whats more, Lincoln went to his untimely death without a clue that the Gettysburg Address would be one of his famous legacies. Because of his felt kinship with the 16th President, the 43rd spends much time in the Lincoln bedroom of the White House gathering inspiration and fortitude. Those interested in numerology might find it interesting that 16 and 43 each equal 7. According to many, 7 is the numerical basis of the universe and this could prove to be an auspicious sign for Bush. Or maybe not.

So how will history judge this beleaguered President? At the end of the TV special, a thought came to me about creating a time capsule of this TV special plus a few other memorabilia of the time period to store away for 20 years. By then, we should know whether historians have judged the President a success, as I would speculate, or a failure, as many others would guess.

If any readers would like to add to this time capsule, please feel free to contribute. I will close the capsule on February 27, 2008--my birthday--with instructions for its opening on February 27, 2028. If I am not around on the physical plane that day, know that I'll be watching from a distance (Observers don't change their stripes on the other side.) If that is the case and whatever the outcome, I will ask that my descendants have a glass of wine and toast that crazy lady who actually liked George W. Bush--and she wasn't even a Republican, only an Observer-in-training.

Note: The Fox News Special, George W. Bush, Fighting to the Finish can be purchased from Amazon.com for anyone with a burning desire to see and hear history in the making.

Separating Fact From Fiction

Most of us think we do a pretty good job of separating fact from fiction. After all, we are mature adults who have been around a bit and know the world. We accept irrefutably what our senses tell us, right?

Not so fast. Experiments have shown that we generally only sense what we expect to see, hear, taste, feel or touch. Whats more, our brain has already decided what it will take in nanoseconds before we SENSE a thing consciously. This mental hiccup goes unnoticed, but it probably is the reason most of us stay sane, accepting a view of the world to which our friends and neighbors agree. It's part of the glue that holds societies together and keeps life pretty sanitized.

There ARE those events that stretch our minds beyond the limits of the five senses. Everyone has had one or two of these, I know. Like little blips, they are compartmentalized into a small corner of the brain, not to be discussed or otherwise tampered with excessively. If these unusual events began occurring with more frequency, how would we respond?

Texans, including a relative who emailed, got a chance to experience this themselves with the UFO sitings as reported on the news this month. Lighted discs were seen hovering and then moving off rapidly in a horizontal direction--many lighted discs, seen by dozens of people. Also making front page news recently was Representative and former presidential candidate David Kucinich explaining that he saw lighted discs several years ago while staying at the home of Shirley MacLaine.

There are so many such reports, could all these folks be making it up? No, they could not. Could there be alternative explanations? Yes, there could--particularly from the military who most likely conduct secret operations daily. Could these UFOs be from outer space? Yes, why not. Do we have the information to make a solid judgment? No. Will we ever? Maybe, maybe not. But there is no harm in accepting the unknown as a possibility. If nothing else, it is a way to stretch the mind beyond its usual bounds into the extraordinary.

If all the authors writing these days about armageddon are correct, we are in for quite a ride in the next 20 years or so. Maybe Others hovering in UFOs have come to watch the show. Maybe humanity holds an unprecedented place in the universe in this time sector. Maybe, just maybe all future life depends on man's ability to express right human relations. While one does have to carry on with day-to-day activities, it does not hurt to think broadly about the possibility that man's destiny might be that of a collective savior of which Christ was the forerunner.

But if that thought is too much, other liberating thoughts are possible. The sky is the limit, really. Science fiction has always pushed the mind beyond the ordinary to explore the extra-ordinary. I know this because I was raised by a father who read libraries full of the genre. He was an engineer and bordered on the genius--but managed not to go over into the neverland of strangeness. Even given his reading propensities, I thought he was really straight.

Recently, however, science fiction has been reported as the "last bastion for the literature of ideas. By questioning society's basic rules and speculating on how other worlds might work, science fiction can raise fresher more provocative questions" (WSJ from Wired, 1-25-08, p. B6.) Now I know what Dad was up to. He was exploring other realities in his mind, out of sight of the rest of us. It would have been like him not to share such questions or thoughts. Wish he was here to share with now. But then again, maybe he's watching at a distance from a UFO. After all, he believed they were possible.

Separating fact from fiction? It simply isn't possible at this stage in our evolution. But in the meantime, we can stretch our brains. In so doing, we are opening our minds to other realities--if they indeed exist. We might be surprised at what we begin to see, hear, taste, smell and touch. My Dad might enjoy the company.

Sunday Confessions, Part II

Today CEO God will join us for an exclusive interview. His agent has assured me that I can ask anything although the responses may be paradoxical to our earth-bound minds. Thus, he recommends two things: 1) keeping an open mind and heart and 2) letting the answers pour in without undue opinion or emotion. He also warns that occasionally with other such interviews the participants have felt a sudden surge of energy either during or after the interview, which some have found not altogether pleasant. This is normal and should be ignored as much as possible. A hot-toddy, a hot-bath and a foot rub will all help if the symptom continues. With that as an introduction, I can hear Him coming now:

Susan: "Welcome, CEO God! It is a privilege and a pleasure to have you in my office today--although I am a bit surprised that your agent called me earlier in the week to say you'd be coming. With all you've got going on, I really couldn't figure out why you'd take the time to come to this week's Sunday Confessions. I'd appreciate if You would fill me in."

CEO God: "I believe YOU called Me, didn't you? Last week's Sunday Confessions were addressed to me, were they not?"

Susan: "Well, I guess you could say that. But You were really listening?"

CEO God: "Susan, Susan, Susan. You've been studying Me for many years and you don't know the answer to that by now? You are teasing me, I know. But, I am here now in answer to your call and my time is short. It is quite an effort even for Me to unfold from the higher dimensions in which I dwell to the third--and frankly uncomfortable. Plus, the noise here wants to constantly rearrange the illusion-body before you. So, don't let it frighten you if I fade in and out a bit."

Susan: "Well, OK, then let's get started--I will try to be brief and straight to the point as it's my impression that is what You'd like. So, CEO God, why do we have a dark and light side, anyway? I hope You don't think I'm being presumptuous, but wouldn't it have just been easier to create this world with only light, happiness and joy while leaving out the dark, evil part of the equation?"

CEO God: "It's a long story, Susan, and one that would take quite a while to tell. Much of My rich history you would find unbelievable or incomprehensible. But, since you confessed so candidly last week, I decided to do the same today as I obviously knew what was on your mind."

Susan: "I can not imagine that YOU would have a confession to make to ME."

CEO God: "Actually, it's not to you per say, but you are as good a spokeswoman as I have available in this time sector. Several more preeminent humans are busy--and your sincerity and the utter simplicity of your call last Sunday struck me as refreshing. Yes, it is now time that the truth be told as it has been distorted for personal and political reasons over the eons. The fact of the matter is that I am myself not a perfect God. Yes, it's true. Because of my imperfection, the world as a reflection of Me, is imperfect as well. Light and Dark are realities on the planet because they are also my Realities. If fact, the imperfection goes all the way to the top. Your scientists have recently seen this for themselves as they look at the Big Bang and the imperfections in the microwave background of the universe. So, does all this surprise you? I can tell by your thoughts and the look on your face that it does."

Susan: "Wow, I just wasn't expecting it. You might have to give me a minute to get my brain around the thought of an imperfect God or Gods."

CEO God: "Well, while you are doing that, I'll go on. There's more. Even Gods like me evolve, all the while struggling with their own Light and Dark issues, just like you do. And here's another surprise, My evolution has taken me through many cycles of being human. So, I feel your pain literally, even now. Mind you, My issues with Good and Evil are on a higher turn of the spiral than yours, but they definitely effect your world, and I am responsible for that aftermath. Fully responsible."

Susan: "I don't know what to say, CEO God. I thought I knew You, but then realize so much of what I've been told by the churches may be all wrong. Did the churches know the truth?"

CEO God: "There have always been some in each brand of church, specifically the esoteric branches, that knew the truth, but we asked that they keep silent on the matter. The Masons carry a seed of the truth as well. The reasons for this silence are complex, and I cannot fully disclose the answer. But, we decided it was time for a partial confession, if not yet time for the full shi-bang. Kind of like you did last Sunday: you partially confessed, but not fully. The time was not right, nor the audience ready. Is that not correct?"

Susan, smiling sheepishly: "Yes, CEO God, but then you knew that already."

CEO God: "I have to go now, Susan, other urgent matters call. I have read your blog, though, and want to thank you for your attempts at letting others know my true nature. You don't always get it right, but you try none-the-less. It is a real service to let the word out particularly to atheists, agnostics and others that I'm not some strange, distant God with little human contact. Nothing could be farther from the truth; though I do use agents more often than not. Face it, there is only one of Me and billions and billions of you, incarnate and discarnate. Universal law requires that I remain basically hands-off and let humans do their own thing--though in that last World War of yours we had to get a bit more involved than usual. Having said that, however, My contribution is for the most part the imparting of ideas from My mind to human minds vibrating at the same frequency--a speed that can cause some real damage if an individual is not prepared properly. Unfortunately, few are ready for that. That is why my agents have been preparing groups for the strenuous effort over the last 100 years. Thus, the grand scheme is evolution in unity. Onward and upward. Very simple really."

Susan: "I THINK what I'm hearing You say is good news for the planet, right? As You evolve, we evolve--like we are all in this together--and we each share some responsibility then in the outcome?"

CEO God: "Yes, you're getting it now. If you ponder on these matters, other revelations may come as well. Remember that I don't have to be sitting here for us to communicate. Look what happened last Sunday! So, I'm leaving your dimension now and may return from time to time. Adieu, and be sure to keep the light on!"

Where's She Coming From?

For new readers, just a reminder to read the first three blogs as an introduction. There is a theme of sorts running through these pages and the introduction might make what that is more clear. I really appreciate those who have given feedback and comments as well as contributed articles and pictures. You all have been most kind and encouraging. Thanks so much. . .and now on to Sunday Confessions, Part II.

Sunday Confessions

Many people don't know what to make of me. It's been that way since I was little. While my grandpa called my siblings Peanut and Princess, his moniker for me was Porky-pig. The translation of that name was "overweight" and "a handful." Admittedly, each was a fact.

As I grew older, some called me a devil; others call me an angel. If the truth be told, I was a little of each. At times, the dark side had the upper hand--and some of those activities made me hang my head in shame. Other times, the light prevailed--and some of those actions I hoped gave God a reason not to slam the pearly gates in my face.

As I grew even older, I realized that all of us had that dark and light side with qualities, traits and attitudes we found repugnant in ourselves and others of which we were proud. Said the renowned Buddhist Sogyal Rinpoche: "Two people have been living in you all your life. One is the ego, garrulous, demanding, hysterical, calculating; the other is the hidden spiritual being, whose still voice of wisdom you have only rarely heard or attended to."

As I grow wiser, I'm beginning to understand that this hidden, loving soul is waiting patiently for release. And in its release will come our freedom from these haunting dark and light sides. What a glorious day that will be, and it is our guarantee that no closed doors await us. Rather, a big welcome with a "Glad you could make it to the party! But--oh, by the way, don't get too settled because you'll be going back soon to help the others down there figure this out."

Dinner calls, so Sunday Confessions will be continued a week from today. . .

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How Do I Know?

Some have asked how do I know where to look for lighted change. My response?

Simply look for crises, the lighted change inevitably follows; just as spring follows winter.

The often dire situation may not look lighted at first, but most likely a seed of light has been planted and a new creation is ready to erupt when the soil is ready.

Dare to Not-Know

As I go through my day, I have to constantly remind myself that all the information received has been filtered in some way for some purpose by some body. That's the definition of propaganda, isn't it? The answer is yes, I looked it up. You can too, if you wish. While I see no way around it at this time, there is a mind game I made up that has helped me to realize that what is being presented is only one version of a universe of possibilities. I called it Dare to Not-Know.

It started like this: for one day, I tried to have no set opinion about anything. When a topic came up--usually of the emotional kind--instead of thinking the usual, habitual thoughts about it, I tried running with the opposite (see previous blog) or thinking of something really far-fetched, maybe ludicrous about it. If I went to the extreme, I tried to have no set opinion at all, but merely observed the subject from as many angles as possible. I played with it; relished the new found freedom and clarity of vision this new way of thinking presented. Jim now plays along with me too, and that is particularly fun.

In the beginning, this exercise was quite difficult and the success rate low. Withdrawal was emotionally excruciating--after all, set opinions are the foundation of who we are. Or so we think. But the trial was kept up and something magical started occurring. Freedom of thought, or should I say freedom FROM habitual thought, began slowly replacing the usual mental patterns and then an added bonus occurred: intuition had a chance to get a foothold. By daring to not-know, intuition began to take up residence and a whole new mental world opened before me.

I can hear the arguments now--especially from mental types: "But if we don't have opinions, our whole world will crumble." Hum, if we go back to the premise that almost all we know is from propaganda of one sort or another, filtered in more ways than we can imagine, we come to the realization that our opinions are not our own anyway. Thus, you could say that we are enslaved in someone else's made-up world. If you like that state, you are welcome to stay there. If you don't, you might give Daring to Not-Know a try. You've got nothing to lose--after all it's free, may be fun, and can be done in the privacy of your own brain where ever you are. Windshield time provides lots of opportunities to practice.

Just for the record, I'm no expert at this not-knowing myself, but would sure find it interesting to engage in conversations with folks who have tried it or have become practitioners of not-knowing over time. If this new mental way caught on, the world might be changed for the better--at least in our own minds.

Running the Opposites

Many believe that things are often not as they appear and are, in fact, the opposite. This is a thought espoused by the Tibetan Masters who teach the Ancient Wisdom and others who believe that what is before us is transitory and illusory. Whether one wants to go that far or not makes no difference. Observers, however, can use this premise to help acquire and then hone budding abilities in creating their new way of thinking. It gives real meaning to the phrase "I've changed my mind" because in this case, at least for a while, it is true. I call this exercise Running the Opposites.

On the surface, it's really very simple. Take any strongly help belief--it works best with something emotional--and then run with the opposite thought. Let's say a person in our lives really upsets us for whatever reason. We've decided they are no-good, lazy, crazy, manipulative or add any other negative thought here about that person. It's probably not a stretch to say we have at least one of these people in our lives. Then, the idea is to flip the brain to the opposite set of thoughts about that person and run with it. Spend time with it. Savor it. While at first that might be a stretch given the previous habitual thought pattern, given time the exercise becomes easier and easier. One finds that engaging the heart in the process really helps, because the mind alone comes up a bit cold sometimes when the negative emotional nature just won't let go. Try it both ways with and without the heart engaged and see what I mean.

This is no starry eyed, Pollyanna exercise, it has very practical application. After all, what we call reality is only based on our limited knowledge at the moment--it doesn't make it true. Given this, the opposite could be true if we had eyes to see. And then again, maybe neither is true. If we keep postulating on possibilities, an unlimited universe opens before us. We might even get a chuckle at some of our previously held "Truths." This could be the beginning of real freedom and enlightened change in action. Give it a try--it's actually fun.

On Opinions and Observers

This is the third in an introductory series of comments. I cannot wait to get started on the real grist of the lighted changes I have noticed--a pile of articles has beaconed to me this past month. But first, some thoughts on opinions and observers--

It might be a revolutionary idea, but humanity as a whole might consider voicing less opinions. Fact is, we know very little about anything and, thus, our opinions are for the most part baseless. If one looks at science, for example, what we don't know far outweighs what we do. Did you know that scientists have yet to figure out what water is exactly and why it exhibits the properties it does? In the world of politics, the populace is kept in the dark about many international matters, particularly those having to do with security. An old friend who worked in this shadow world laughed at many of the newspaper articles he read. He stated unequivocally we knew little about what was really going on, most of it happening behind closed doors. What we read was sanitized and was in reality propaganda. Another friend in the world of finance reiterated the same tale. He often said a very few in the world made the real money in a realm most of us could not even comprehend.

Further, we are embedded in nationalistic popular culture to such an extent we know little else. Let's say we were a chocolate cake and because we knew the essence of cake-ness announced with authority, "I know what it is to be a yellow cake with white icing and sprinkles." The yellow cakes would laugh and pay us no mind. They would know that we of the chocolate genre might know about cake-ness in general, but would have little understanding of the essence of yellowness or buttery flavor or marzipan and what it's like to be cut at a wedding reception.

Thus, not only do we not know very much because our knowledge base is minuscule, but we are shielded from the real world for various reasons, some altruistic and some nefarious. Even more importantly, we cannot see the forest through the trees because we are the forest itself.

Recognizing these facts, maybe for the first time, what are we left with? Well, another approach is available--that of the observer who watches and is neither pro nor con on the happenings presenting themselves in the daily pageant before us. This is not an uninterested position, rather a very engaged one that can be more exciting than creating uninformed opinions based on the propaganda released. If they wish, observers have the freedom when contemplating an issue to make up stories both pro and con--after all, either one could be true and probably have been in the past Or, make up no story at all, simply watching with a truly open mind.

A new world is opened to an observer that quite possibly would have been missed otherwise. One outcome is certain, however. An observer is by definition more peaceful and calm because in the process of change required the heart is opened and compassion moves in. No longer does the head have complete authority and quite possibly a world citizen is born. In the blog that follows will be my observations of a lighted way that is evolving even though we may not see it on the surface. By energizing that path with our thoughts, a new world will open before us. That is guaranteed.