Category Archives: Spiritual

Be A Tiger

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Posted by on in collaborating, Community, Fiction, Inner Struggles, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving

August 16, 2024- Joseph Campbell, in his 2003 book, Myths of Light, ends his discourse on Eastern religions and thought with the story of “The Tigers and the Goats”. It seems that a pregnant tiger was out seeking food, for herself and her baby. She came upon a herd of goats. Charging and pouncing too hard, she landed roughly, laboured and gave birth, then died.

The goats took pity upon the helpless tiger cub, raised him as one of their own, teaching him to eat grass and bleat. He had no idea there was any difference between him and the goats, though he felt a discomfort. One day, a male tiger came along and charged at the goats, roaring and snarling. The genuine goats scattered, while the tiger-goat stood facing his larger nemesis.

The wise older cat listened, as the tiger-goat explained that he was a grass-eater, a goat. The grown tiger took the juvenile by the neck, led him to a pond and showed him his true likeness. Then he brought his new apprentice to his den, where other tigers were reveling in eating a gazelle they had killed. The young tiger struggled with the meat, but something inside him felt right, and he stayed with the group, learning to seize his true nature.

Each of us should be our true selves. A frugal person, who treasures conserving the best of tradition, cannot pass as a spendthrift or as a free-spirited innovator, without feeling that something is off. Likewise, an innovator, a progressive, fools no one by demanding that tradition be maintained, at all costs. Each can, and hopefully will endeavour to, see the value in what the other is doing, and work to find common ground.

The introvert needs time alone. The extrovert craves company and an expanded network. Most others, like myself, toggle between the two states of being, as ambiverts. Society needs all three personality types.

This is the balance, rooted in the love that was imbued in us by the Divine. We will ever have the process of reaching out, expanding and welcoming more to our circle, then taking time to consolidate and absorb the best of that expansion into our systems.

If you are a tiger, be fierce. If you are an ox, be taurine. If you are a goat, graze peacefully. There is space for all.

Unstolen Valor

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Posted by on in collaborating, Community, Inspiration, Personal Values, service, Social, Spiritual, Striving

August 15, 2024- Recent memes and diatribes have been directed at both of the major candidates for Vice President of the United States. They have stemmed from insinuations, mostly by people who have themselves never donned a military uniform and dogpiled by a few disgruntled former colleagues of each man, that the former soldier in question was amplifying his service record. Each candidate has taken the bait, and denigrated the other, to a certain extent. The term “stolen valor” has been used to describe the record of one, who has at least called for respecting everyone’s military service, including that of his opponent.

I will include attachments that accurately explain the service records of Timothy Walz and of James David Vance, but let me first go over my own military service record. Like the two candidates, I carried a weapon of war- in my case, an M-16. I used it twice: When qualifying in Army Basic Training (Fort Jackson, SC), and in a training exercise at a military firing range in Long Binh, Vietnam. I did not have to use it in combat.

My service was as a handler of U.S. mail, running a mail room in the TriService Barracks at Fort Myer, VA, from October, 1969-January, 1971 and running accountable mail (registered, insured and certified) in secure rooms at Long Binh and at Cholon, Vietnam, from March, 1971-January, 1972. I did my fair share of guard duty, while at Long Binh, but no provocateurs appeared during the nights I was at the perimeter post. Long story short-No combat.

I returned to civilian life on January 2, 1972 and went back to college, holding my own in an environment in which I had previously made a mess of things, when fresh out of high school. The discipline and sense of purpose that I acquired in the Army has come in handy, across a variety of situations, over the ensuing sixty-two years.

So, it is with the utmost respect for the United States Armed Forces, and all comrades-in-arms who have served, whether in a combat role or like me, in a supportive capacity, that I ask those who have not served, to do your diligence, before throwing up memes or quoting “sour grapes” reports that do not stand up to scrutiny. I ask those who have served-especially in combat, to respect those of us who had your backs. That includes the Reserve Units, who have actually been in combat theaters in the most recent conflicts.

Here are links to verifiable, diligent accounts of the service rendered by Tim Walz and by J.D. Vance. Both men deserve our gratitude, with regard to that service.

https://www.verifythis.com/article/news/verify/elections-verify/jd-vance-marines-military-service-record-fact-check/536-b3bfb88b-bdb3-4a48-82e1-4c7ebdd05c03

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/tim-walz-falsely-accused-stolen-valor-jd-vance-1235075718/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzva1BhD3ARIsADQuPnV3yW6Gcoh66jblz3ePgMg0bzFfzeuA6C48tcMzyTVq0AzQpcWhvigaAvuvEALw_wcB

Dog Days

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Posted by on in Assistance, collaborating, impediments, Inner Struggles, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving

August 14, 2024- Bookend events today saw two friends, who have characteristically been upbeat and supportive, in sour and distant moods. I put this in the category of Dog Days, the heat-related period when people are more than fed up with ongoing dry heat, when in the old days, August Soggy was the result of active monsoon rains. Besides the notion that we can ill-afford an ongoing lack of precipitation, Dog Days make dogs surly and nice people get snippy.

All this makes my friends in tropical climates roll their eyes-just more North American, First World problems. Yes, I am unlikely to raise a fuss when I am across the Pacific, during late summer and into Autumn, as humidity and heat are an expected part of the experience. It is jarring though, to some extent, when those who have been friendly and supportive turn surly, not for anything I have necessarily done, but because they are sick and tired of being sick and tired. Regrouping myself, I will figure out how to be of help to them-and to keep from being more affected myself, by Dog Day mornings and afternoons.

Tonight, though, is crisp and cool, so I can use the respite to hydrate and enjoy a protein shake for supper. This, too, shall pass.

Buffalo Soldiers

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Posted by on in collaborating, Community, impediments, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving

August 13, 2024- One of my co-workers at the Monday night soup kitchen was of the understanding that the African-American troops who were organized after the Civil War were exclusively used in the Spanish-American War (1898). I corrected him, in that they were previously sent to help quell Native American resistance to the homesteading of the West, particularly the Southwest. The “Buffalo Soldiers”, so named because of the woolly nature of some of their coiffures, and their ferocious style of fighting, were sent to monitor the Ghost Dancers, among the Lakota Sioux people, fight the Comanche in the Llano Estacado of Texas and had other duties, relative to the Apache, Cheyenne, northern Puebloans and Arapaho. They also kept order among White settlers, in parts of Wyoming, a task that was at times far more brutal than anything they experienced with Indigenous people.

It has occurred to Native Americans, then and now, that using African-Americans, most of whom were formerly enslaved, to keep them “in line”, was a cynical, insidious practice. It pitted the two groups against one another, at times, and has resulted in some Native Americans taking on the worst racist notions coming from the dominant society against Black people. To be sure, I have heard a few African-Americans, over the years, denigrate Indigenous people, with ignorant slurs. The idea of controlling both groups by pitting them against one another, however, has by and large been unsuccessful.

The arc of history is moving in the direction of people understanding one another’s good qualities and towards unity, at all levels. The insipid appeal of various prejudices will continue to fade. This is “the Day that will not be followed by Night”, in that sense.

The Iron Circle

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Posted by on in Assistance, collaborating, Community, distraction issues, impediments, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

August 12, 2024- His words were unequivocal: “Excuse me, who said it was okay for you to go to the Philippines?” Since this came out of left field, so to speak, and from someone who professes belief in the Oneness of Mankind, I was rather taken aback. Maybe he thought I was moving there for good, or something of that order. Regardless, what I do is not, and never will be, his call. As grateful as I am for the services he has rendered, for a good many years, managing my affairs does not fall among them. (Clarity: The individual is not an officer of any government agency.)

I love a great many people, in this state, across the country and around the world. When it comes to making decisions about my path, however, any consultation is with my son and daughter-in-law, my siblings and their spouses, maybe an aunt or two, a few cousins, four Baha’i friends in the Prescott area (three women and one man), three other women friends here, and three or four other friends around the country. I run things by my dear friend, K, but neither she nor any of the others is under any obligation to answer at a moment’s notice. In each instance, moreover, the answer I get from any of them is not tailored to what they think I want to hear, and that is so much for the better.

The above are my Iron Circle. It is from them, and the inklings I get from my spirit guides, that I base my final course of action. I do not need permission from any random “authority figure”, to go anywhere or do anything. My son and my siblings are the closest, then the others I mentioned. Anyone else is free to disagree with a course of action, but they are not free to exert control. That is the purview of the government alone.

On my way back up to Home Base I, I stopped at Penny’s grave. I got the same answer- “It’s not his call. You know what you have to do; go do it!”

The Iron Circle remains tight, and I am not afraid to cry power.

Practice Noble Things

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Posted by on in Assistance, collaborating, Community, Entertainment, Family, impediments, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal goals, Personal Values, Service Activities, Social, Spiritual, Striving

August 11, 2024, Phoenix- This was the opening sentiment, expressed as a chant, by a devotional singer, as our second day of study of a document on bringing our Baha’i communities’ actions into sync with the true needs of society unfolded.

My main task, this morning, was to take notes for a breakout session, so I determined to be a lot more careful in my printing and to use the cursive writing that was instilled in me by Mom, at a very young age. Practice noble things.

My dear friend, across the ocean, told me of concerns she has. Her troubles are my troubles, so I will do what I can to bring resolution to those that I can, and find help for the things that are beyond my capacity. Practice noble things.

At the end of the gathering, several of us joined the volunteer kitchen staff and made sure the food was stored or prepared for distribution to the unhoused, the coffee and tea were dumped and the vessels cleaned and that the chairs were properly put back. Practice noble things.

Once back in Home Base I, tomorrow and for the next four weeks, there will be activities that will bring to bear a determination to- Practice noble things.

Small and large; commonplace and novel; with friends, family and all those extended kin that we call acquaintances and strangers-Practice noble things.

Scottsdale Flow

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Posted by on in Assistance, collaborating, Community, impediments, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal goals, Personal Values, Service Activities, Social, Spiritual, Striving

August 10, 2024, Chandler, AZ- The flow in question was one of ideas. A group of us discussed the various ways in which the Teachings of Baha’u’llah fit into addressing the needs of any given society. We are gathered in this two-day symposium, not to offer piecemeal, or even easy, solutions, to the problems plaguing mankind.

Our take is more holistic, and generally distributes power and resources more evenly, though with things like money and property, even distribution needs to be arranged voluntarily. Grabbing the wealth of a person or family creates other problems-mostly related to the party from whom the wealth was taken, turning around and seeking vengeance. There is also the matter of the recipient of an easy take not valuing the loot.

Profit sharing, cooperative ownership and unconditional philanthropy work better. Other issues, especially with regard to land rights and environmental protection, need to proceed, but with clear explanations well in advance of the actual procedure being carried out. In all that transpires, Baha’u’llah says “The best beloved in My sight is Justice”. That process recognizes that the wealthy, the traditionalist and the conservative-even the reactionary, is as much a child of the Divine as the impoverished one, the change-agent and the progressive-and vice versa. Either one, or both, can be in the wrong, if there is not good-faith acknowledgement of the opposite number’s valid points and a willingness to recognize and accept where one might be in error. The key lies in the balance.

The gist of Baha’u’llah’s Teachings it that all are equal in the sight of God and that each individual is responsible for own spiritual search, and growth. Those factors, alone, when more widely accepted, will lead to a climate of fairness, self-responsibility and personal agency. These are all requisite to the peaceful world we all claim to cherish.

The Raven Head Cloud

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Posted by on in animal and plant life, collaborating, Community, impediments, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Service Activities, Social, Spiritual, Striving

August 9, 2024- It placed, almost majestically, peaking out from a bank of stratocumulus this evening, as I drove towards Home Base I, after a visit to Rafter Eleven. Clouds that seem to rise out of others or to rest upon them, are essentially floating on air currents, the way people and animals can float on a large body of water. The Raven Head had a dark, cumulonimbus colour, while the cloud bank, as stated, was stratocumulus.

Ravens are a symbol of connection between material and spiritual, and are somewhat revered by those of us who appreciate intelligent animals with strong recall abilities. The Raven is also the name of one of our most popular live music locations, here in Prescott. So, I took the sight as a sign that the next few days will be safe and productive, as well as spiritually sound. That is well and good, as I will be headed to Scottsdale, early tomorrow morning and could use a problem-free I-17, as far as New River, where I could take a shortcut over to Scottsdale Baha’i Center.

Today was a good day for organizing thoughts and papers, in advance of tomorrow’s facilitation of a breakout session that is centered on advanced applications of spiritual knowledge to social issues. That is not as daunting as it sounds, and we only have 2 sessions of 90-minutes each. Thus, we will be just scratching the surface, as a raven scratches the surface of the soil, looking for hidden nuggets of carrion, or other sustenance.

I was encouraged by the signs that a friend here is recovering from a serious bout of illness. It was also a good day for me, exercise-wise. The local raven quoth “Evermore”. I enjoy being positive.

Eights and Aces

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Posted by on in Assistance, collaborating, distraction issues, impediments, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal goals, Personal Values, service, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

August 8, 2024- The number eight was in serial mode, in a few places today. I went off towards breakfast at 8:18 and this evening, when I pulled out of the carport, the odometer read 808080. Of course, this is the eighth day of the eighth month and the digits of 2024 add up to the number 8. It is a lucky, powerful number-except for Wild Bill Hickok, when he held that infamous hand.

Eight requires its holder to take informed action, which may have been why Sheriff Hickok took a bullet, as he allegedly was sitting with his back to the saloon door. Awareness of surroundings, now, as then, is the only way one can confidently move forward-whether on one’s feet, or sitting.

For me, today was a day to set a definite agenda for the final 4.5 months of 2024, knowing that the biggest item on the list will very likely have implications for the rest of my earthly life. Every atom of the Universe seems to be telling me to head for the Philippines next month, with full confidence. The last time I got such a strong message, I found myself alongside the woman who helped me get rid of a fair amount of personal baggage and embrace the Faith of Baha’ullah.

So the rest of August will see several faith-based gatherings, medical check-ups, Tagalog lessons (online) and a renewed fitness push. September and October will start and end with service activities here at HB I, but will mostly be across the Pacific, with similar service activities and building friendships. November and December will find me back in Arizona, with the focus largely dependent on what happens across the ocean.

I know one thing: The right thing will happen. I will be in a good place, come January 1, 2025. I will not sit with my back to the door, gamble or no gamble.

Sheets of Water and A Praying Angel

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Posted by on in Assistance, collaborating, Community, impediments, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Service Activities, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

August 7, 2024- The line of cars on the side of the road started on I-17, a half-mile before the exit ramp. It continued along the exit ramp, then stretched for about three-quarters of a mile on Highway 169. The rain was that intense.

I briefly pulled off and joined them, using the time to check my phone messages. after ten minutes, the rain let up enough so that several of us could see ahead and so continued our drives towards Prescott. In the sky, at the junction of Highways 69 and 169, we could see a cloud that resembled a praying angel, superimposed on the sheet of nimbostratus that stretched ten miles westward and off to the south.

Several people on social media have covered cloud art very well. I like to think that there is something spiritual about how clouds can be seen as reflecting phenomena, or emotions. I have yet to see a heart-shaped cloud, but others have seen them. This is the first time I’ve seen what appears to be a supernatural being. I also spotted a heart-shaped drop of coffee, on the table at breakfast, this morning, but I probably put it there.

Still, these phenomena, especially the hearts, indicate to me that the day will pass in a safe and interesting manner. All I have to do is…. everything else: Pay attention to my surroundings, treat people well and respond in an effective, measured way to those who don’t, and tend to my responsibilities. The praying angel appeared just as the rain was letting up, and I drove the rest of the way back to Home Base I, before the westward moving cloud caught up with me.

It was a decent little visit to the Reservations, though I saw few of those who I had wanted to see, but it’s a workday, and it is gratifying that people have jobs to tend to. When I lived up there, many more were unemployed than now. I placed flower vases on two grave sites, just not the ones I had originally intended. The right thing always happens, though, when life is approached with unconditional love.