Prepared Remarks for Elimination of Poverty Public Hearing

The following are my prepared remarks for the Elimination of Poverty pubic hearing, February 22, 2010. I hope that these thoughts might spur you to seriously consider how we can address poverty in our country.

In Peace,

Lane

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Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for this opportunity to speak today. And thank you for holding this meeting in Danville. I don't think you could have picked an area that is more representative of the problems facing the people of Illinois.

I applaud the creation of this commission, and commend each of you for serving. Reading the article in the News-Gazette today, I nodded in agreement with each of the bullet-pointed goals. Unfortunately, I don't think it will be enough, if it's all we do. Before I offer thoughts on that, however, let me tell you where I currently stand.

I am 53 years old, and have never received government assistance of any kind, even during times of unemployment or underemployment. Although I could easily qualify for Native American tribal affiliation, subsequently receiving significant benefits, I choose not to do so. My reason is simple: there's not enough to go around to everyone who needs and deserves help, and there are many who are in greater need than me.

Two years ago I, along with members of my band Deeper Blues, founded Danville Foodstock. Our slogan is "serving food - and hope! - to those in need." We have raised tens of thousands of dollars in support of the Danville Area Food Pantry. In January, 2009, we began a series of monthly free dinners open to all, regardless of need. In our first year, we served over 2,500 meals to our neighbors, many of them delivered to seniors and handicapped individuals unable to attend in person. We now have a strong volunteer crew that continues to grow, and numerous local businesses that sponsor our efforts.

Also in January, 2009, I began to see signs that I would soon be a target of cutbacks at the company for which I worked. On March 1st, my company converted me against my will to a sub-contractor, thus taking away my health care and other benefits, also reducing my income by half while adding an extra self-employment tax burden. By June 1st, I had lost the other half of my pay, and was expected to live off of a paltry commission worth about $50 a week, for approximately 30 hours of work. Folks, that's less than $2 per hour.

Because I had been converted to a subcontractor, I was no longer eligible for unemployment. Because I had made too much money the year before, I was ineligible for VA assistance, or other medical assistance. I was out at the very end of a limb that was showing a strong chance of breaking, and I had no safety net. The first time I could have really used a hand up from a government program, I didn't qualify.

By the way, I should also mention that I got married in December, 2008, only months before I began to lose income. I'm sure you'll agree that's NOT how to being a marriage.

I've been luckier than many, because I have managed to barely scrape through the dark times. I am now involved in two start-ups that show great promise, and have restarted my business consulting career. So while I am still catching up, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. And as long as it's not yet another economic train barreling down on me, I'll be fine. But my marriage has suffered, and so has my health.

Some have asked why I continued to donate so much time and, until April, money into Danville Foodstock. Again, my reason is simple: there are many in greater need - parents who are struggling to feed their children. Young singles - twenty-somethings just out of college - who can't find a job. Seniors living on crackers. Today, one in four children will go to bed hungry tonight. In the Danville area alone, that translates to thousands. I mean no disrespect, but I don't need to search another continent to find people who need my help, whether it be in the form of money, time or compassion.

So. Now that you know a bit about me, let me offer my ideas: First, let me offer three ideas to directly address the question of what our social programs can do to help reduce poverty:

1. Re-engineer our social programs so that they provide a track toward self-sustainability. As soon as a person comes to any agency for help, their situation should be assessed. Why is this person in need, and what can be done to address the underlying cause?

2. Offer immediate job placement assistance, training or retraining. Don't make the recipient wait any longer than is absolutely necessary.

3. If nothing else, give them a labor job to earn a paycheck and other assistance.

These are good steps we can take to eliminate waste when we don't work to get someone back on their feet as quickly as possible. And by setting strict guidelines for who receives assistance - those that work or are truly unable to do so get help - those who want to live on a handout when they don't need to, don't. I believe that, in the long run, however, the more we reorient our programs to helping people live with dignity, help them to live productive lives, the fewer people we will see who have a sense of entitlement.

I say this because we have a long-term problem of hopelessness and futility permeating our lowest income brackets. Many of these people look at the world and see that they are separated from the American Dream with no chance of ever attaining it. In the face of that hopelessness, some do begin to believe that they deserve the handouts because it's all they can ever see getting. Give them a better chance of climbing the community ladder, and I think you'll see a lot of people grabbing for the higher rungs - and living happier, more fulfilling and productive lives.

As I noted earlier, however, I don't believe this will be enough. I believe we need to reinvigorate our sense of community, our understanding that a rising tide lifts all boats. We are so busy reveling in the "rugged individualist" image, that we have forgotten that it was banding together for a common cause that created this country in the first place. It started with like-minded individuals, but quickly grew to the thirteen colonies themselves joining to create a "more perfect union" with liberty and justice for all.

Certainly we had great individuals in our history, and we still have some today - leaders with vision who say, "follow me to a better place." But even they knew they couldn't do it alone - it takes a community working together to achieve great things.

We learned the art of representative democracy from the Iroquois Confederacy, choosing it as our form of government to ensure that all would have a voice, even the lowest among us. Embedded in that Iroquois social construct, as with many if not most of the other Native American nations, was the belief that one's service to the community was the measure of one's stature in that community. A person could not lead until they had proven their willingness to serve the greater good.

In 1964, Robert Greenleaf took early retirement from ATT where had worked for forty years to create the Center for Applied Ethics. He coined the phrase servant-leader to define what he considered to be the ultimate leader - one who would serve the interests of others, ensuring their success as a path to his own. He found numerous servant-leaders among our founding fathers, and among the many great people in our nation's history. We had already experienced Servant-Leadership, but had lost it. Greenleaf sought to bring it back.

I should note that I consider myself a servant-leader. My own motto, built on Greenleaf's vision, is that I am a servant first, servant always. I am honored to serve on the board of the Spears Center for Servant-Leadership, named after Larry Spears, who carried the torch as Primary Champion of servant-leadership upon Greenleaf's death.

What baffles me is not that servant-leadership is the same as NA leadership, albeit within a different cultural context. It's not that our leaders - in both business and government - forgot it in the greedy pursuit of wealth and power. It's not even that, in the face of direct proof that servant-leadership leads to greater profits and a more peaceful, productive society, many of our leaders choose to continue chasing an illusion. No, what baffles me is that we have forgotten it.

We have forgotten that our community bonds are what enrich our lives. We have forgotten how we once worked together in numerous ways to the greater good of all and prospered because of it. We have forgotten much of what made us great.

At the same time, for the past half a century, which is not all that long, really, we have turned our backs on the common wealth, as it was once called, and is still immortalized in the names of many states, in pursuit of personal gain as a means to fulfillment. We've been assisted in this retraining, but ultimately it is a personal choice whether to worship wealth for its own sake.

Yet virtually every religion, spiritual teaching and original life-way for thousands of years has taught that we find our greatest fulfillment in the service of others. We feel best when we have a positive impact on the lives of others.

"Whatsoever you do for the least among you, it's as if you did it for Me."

"When you give a feast, invite the poor, the sick, the hungry. Then, you shall be rewarded."

So says Jesus, whom so many claim to follow. Jesus was the ultimate servant-leader, and he often spoke about the fulfillment we find in serving others. We need our sense of community again, and our sense of service to the good of all. We need to return to our roots, nourishing our children with the ethics that gave us purpose and fulfillment.

I've probably spoken for longer than was fair, and I apologize for taking so much time. So that I can close more quickly, I will deliver via email some of the things I've written on this subject, including a copy of my essay, Learning Servant-Leadership from Native America - Again, which will be published within a year or so, in The Spirit of Servant-Leadership, the latest volume in a highly-regarded series of anthologies that began with, and continues to include, essays by Greenleaf himself.

In this essay, I offer specific ways that we might rebuild our society to return to our ideals, perhaps even to improve upon them by learning to follow the right kind of leaders - servant-leaders - those who will truly serve the interests of the common good.

We need politicians on both sides of the aisle who are truly interested in the needs of those they represent instead of representing the interests of the very few. We need them to work together, like it or not, to solve the many serious issues facing us, instead of engaging in all-out war to destroy each other and prevent the other party from governing, instead of constantly worrying about elections and sound bites, and lobbyists, instead of seeing who can devolve our political debate even lower than it has fallen. When our leaders can only encourage us to yell at each other instead of working together for the good of all of us, from the least to the greatest among us, it's time we picked better leaders. I believe that servant-leaders are the best kind of leaders to follow.

I don't ask you to agree with me yet. I do ask you to learn more about the philosophy and carefully consider its benefits. I believe that, if you do, you will agree with me. And I believe it will of great help to you as you craft the strategies to improve our social programs.

Thank you again for your time. And again, I commend you. Your is a difficult task, and an essential one. God Bless you all, and may you serve the greater good.

The Dangers of an American Theocracy

It boggles my mind is how the same people who rant about theocracies in other countries can turn right around and try to turn America into their version of Christian theocracy. And to be honest, I'm pretty sick and tired of reading about Glenn Beck's latest tirade, whatever it may be. In fact, I'm pretty sick of all politicians who claim Christianity trying to shove their version of religion down my throat.

One of the great things about America is our freedom to practice (or not!) the religion of our choice, without fear of reprisal. Our founding fathers were wise to separate church and state. How else to keep committing a sin from becoming the breaking of a law, punishable in the judicial system? So when certain people start screaming that those who oppose their HypoChristian view of the world are not American, I admit to getting a bit upset. How dare they? America was founded on the principle of allowing each one of us the right to choose how we worship. How can any peaceful, positive life way be misconstrued as un-American?

Anyone who has read this blog knows that I promote harmony, respect and tolerance among all people. I promote compassion as the foundation of a spiritual life. I have studied the Bible in depth, along with the religious texts of many other life ways. Nowhere do I find justification for what's going on today. Nowhere do I read Jesus saying we should run roughshod over those who don't agree with us.

And yet, that is exactly what Beck is doing. Having encouraged listeners to abandon their church, Beck came under fire from Jim Wallis, a progressive Evangelist. Now, Beck's staff is doing everything they can to dig up dirt on Wallis. I guess when you have no way to counter the message, you attack the messenger in an attempt to distract everyone.

For me, it won't work. I am far too familiar with both parties in this debate to believe anything Beck has to say. He can rant all he wants, but to me he's just one more hypocrite pretending to be something he isn't - namely Christian.

Christians don't attack others with whom the disagree. Christians don't demonize or ridicule their opponents. Christians don't twist the truth and outright lie in order to score points.

Glenn Beck has demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt why it is so very important to resist turning America into a theocracy. Because if people like him had their way, I'd be put to death for refusing to convert to their twisted form of faith.

I choose to live a life with Spirit. I choose to reach out to serve my fellow Man. I choose to follow the teachings to the best of my ability, learning from the masters of peace and harmony. I will not follow a raging, angry, combative hypocrite.

Theocracy of any kind is dangerous. A violent, narrow-minded theocracy is the most dangerous of all. If you don't believe me, ask the Iranians.

In peace,

Lane

When Compassion Becomes UnChristian

By now, you've probably heard about Glenn Beck's unChristian rant calling for people to leave their church if it promoted social and/or economic justice. Many, more prominent leaders have called Glenn out for his statements, including Jim Wallis of the faith-based social justice organization, Sojourners. Everyone is asking the same question:

When did compassion become unChristian?

The answer is that it hasn't. Unfortunately, there are many who will listen to him. There are many who will do exactly as directed. This is a danger to our society, and perhaps more importantly, to our own spirituality. Because when one's spirituality is taken over by the most unspiritual concepts and philosphies, we remove ourselves from the Sacred, and walk away from our most important teachings.

Social justice and compassion is a foundational Christian value. In fact, it's older than Christianity itself. Consider the Jewish origins of the tithe.

Each year, farmers set aside one tenth of their crops against future needs. For two years, the tithe would go to the local community storage. The third year, it would go to the national storage. This three-year process would repeat again, and was then followed by the seventh year in which the farmer would put the tithe in his own long-term storage.

First the local communal needs were met. Then the national. Finally, the personal needs were attended. You could look at this and see a similarity between this and caring for those in need in today's society. Yet Beck and his hypocritical ilk will tell you that caring for others through our governmental institutions has no basis in faith. Really?, I wonder. Which version of the Bible is he reading, I ask, The Bible for Selfish, Greedy, Self-centered Hypocrites?

The Bible I have studied for over forty-five years is in direct conflict with Beck's lunacy. The Jesus I know, and whose teachings I do my best to follow, would have a field day lecturing Beck on his many lies and his outright disrespect for God.

Kowtowing to a lunacracy is not Christian. Turning your back on your fellow man is not spiritual. Encouraging others to eschew the teachings in favor of selfishness is not noble.

And none of it has anything to do with living a life with Spirit.

In peace,

Lane

Overcoming Fear

For many, fear is a controlling factor of their lives. Sometimes, it's the same for me. Overcoming fear can be a long, difficult struggle. Even when you get to a point that you can say you have "conquered" it, you will face opportunities to prove it by overcoming again. (and again, and again, and again)

Many sources - religious and spiritual advisers, psychologists, positive thinkers, e.g. - tell us that fear is actually at the bottom of most, if not all, of our negative emotions. If this is true, it's even more important to learn to overcome the fear barrier.

One thing I do to continue "conquering" fear is to use as a meditation passage the Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear, from Frank Herbert's Dune. It takes very little time, so it can be used to calm the nerves almost any time. For example, if you have difficulty speaking to groups, you could use this meditation immediately before giving a presentation. If you have a fear of flying, you could use it while waiting for take-off.

As I explained, my process for a "full" meditation is to:

• Center the breathing
• Say (or think) passage through one time, a sentence or phrase per breath.
• Repeat each phrase through four breaths.
• Repeat entire passage as a whole.
• Center and return to the world.

If necessary, you can shorten this process to fit it into a smaller time frame. Here, then, is the Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear:

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

In peace,

Lane

Meditation to Slow Down

This is the meditation passage I use when I feel the need to focus on slowing down. Please feel free to use it if it works for you. For the purpose of this article, I am assuming you already know how to meditate, so I'll dive right in to the meditation itself.

TIME REQUIRED: If you follow the order correctly, you will take a total of forty-eight breaths during this meditation. If we assume 20 seconds for each full breath (inhale, pause, exhale, pause), then this exercise will take sixteen minutes. If you want to fit the meditation into a shorter time span, you can eliminate one of the steps to shorten the meditation.

PROCESS:

1. Begin with seven breaths. (Seven is a sacred number to many.) Think of nothing but the breath. This is the time to center your breathing, and your mind.

2. Slowly repeat (verbally or non-verbally) the five phrases, as you inhale, then again as you exhale.

3. Repeat each phrase through four breaths. (Four is a scared number.) You will actually repeat each phrase eight times, once for each inhale and each exhale.

4. Repeat step 2, saying each phrase as you inhale, and again as you exhale.

5. Repeat the final phrase through seven breaths.

6. Return to the room slowly through four breaths.

THE MEDITATION:

I move at the pace of the sun as it sets.

I move at the pace of the flower as it opens.

I move at the pace of the spider as it spins.

I move at the pace of the world as it turns.

I move at the pace of the Sacred Source from which I came.

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Good Luck. I hope this helps.

In peace,

Lane

Forgiveness

This post is based on a presentation I gave two weeks ago at the Circle of Gratitude and Love Learning Center.

When we hold onto grievances, no matter how large or small, we are attaching ourselves to negative emotions. Negativity drains the Spirit, leading to physical problems as well as mental and emotional ones. While the words on the death certificates may be different, many people have literally killed themselves by wallowing in negative emotions.

Allowing negative emotions to rule one's self is a slow suicide death by a thousand cuts. Not single cut can be blamed, but each one bleeds us of some of our energy. Each one robs us of some of our Spirit. If the Spirit is a lion, negative emotions are the hyenas that, although not nearly as strong taken one at a time, together can take down the strongest lion in the jungle.

So how does one escape from negative emotions? Through forgiveness. So often forgiveness does more to heal the forgiver than it does to heal the forgiven. Forgiveness is a supreme act of love, not just of the other person, but also of ourselves. By living in love we can heal the pain we cause ourselves by attaching to negative emotions.

Living in Spirit must include forgiving others. You can talk all you want about being centered, being grounded, living in compassion, and all the rest, but if you cannot forgive, you're living a lie. Living in Spirit means to live in connection with all things, especially other people. There is no room for negative emotions in a life filled with Spirit.

Consider that spirituality is concerned with connections; negative emotions separate us from each other. Often it's because the negative emotion comes from our ego. When we feel a negative emotion, it's attached to "I, me, mine."

Another consideration is that much of the time, the negative emotions we feel don't affect the other person at all. Yet that negativity permeates our life. For example, what happens when you get angry because someone else cuts you off in traffic? How does being upset do anything except mess up your own day? The other driver is unaware of your anger, and goes about his day as if nothing has happened, because - to him - nothing has.

What about the boss that ridiculed you in front of others? Do you think it affects his day - in any way at all - for you to sit under a dark cloud of anger and self-righteousness? Do you think he's sitting in his office with his stomach in a knot because you are offended? I've worked for that boss, and I can promise you he's not bothered at all.

In our relationships, the consequences are even more dire. When we allow negative emotions to become ascendant in our relationships, we cut ourselves off from love. We disassociate ourselves from our own loving nature, and we build insurmountable walls between ourselves and those we love. Our own refusal to let go of negative emotions prevents either party in the relationship from having any chance of healing.

In both cases above, the emotions will not go away on their own. Time does not heal all wounds - unless we do the work necessary to that healing. But while we may not be able to change the emotions, we can change our responses.

Positive and negative emotions are constantly at war within us. Consider the Native American story of the two wolves. There are many versions of the story, but the main point is that an elder is instructing and young man. The elder explains that there are two wolves inside him. One is kind, compassionate, giving - the embodiment of spirituality and positive living. The other is mean, self-centered and greedy - the embodiment of negative living. The elder tells of the constant battle between the two, how it goes on every day, over and over. When the young man finally asks which wolf wins the battle, the elder says, "the one I feed."

Another hurdle to overcome when learning to deal with negative emotions is our willingness to blame others for how we deal with our emotions. Placing blame on others is a cop out; it's an easy way to avoid doing the often difficult work of dealing with negative emotions. When we say to ourselves it's someone else's fault, we let ourselves off the hook: If it's their fault, we don't have to do anything!

The only way for us to better deal with negative emotions is to first take responsibility for our emotions, then to deal with them. Sometimes it takes a while before we can change our behavior, but the only way time will heal the wound is if we do our part by letting go of our negative feelings and forgiving the other person. Face the hyenas and deal with them. Don't turn your back on them, expecting them to simply go away. If you do, they'll only continue to rip at your spirit, eventually taking you down.

The best way to deal with these negative emotions is to choose a better response - in this case, forgiving the other party. As the teaching story above shows us, it's up to us which wolf - positive or negative - to feed. But is is a choice, and you have to make a definite choice to be positive. In a sense, this gives the negative emotion an advantage, because it will well up in us uncalled for, and unwelcome.

When that happens, you can - and must - make the choice to be positive instead. You have to say, "no, I'm not going to let my anger (or fear, or hurt) control me. You must then act in concert with that choice, and you have to keep doing it every time that negative thought returns. When this happens, it helps me to remember that the returning thought is simply an indication that I have more work to do. That continued work helps me create a new and better habit in time.

Let's go back to the example of the bad driver. When someone cuts you off, it can startle you. Being startled kicks in your "fight or flight" responses and can quickly turn your fear (you were startled) into anger. This is an automatic reaction, and there's not a lot (at least in the beginning) that you can do about a reaction. What comes next, however, is a response. You've had time to think, and you make a choice as to what you will do next - blare your horn, yell things the driver can't hear and get upset, or stop long enough to take back control of how you feel instead of letting your negative emotions run away with you.

It only takes a moment to change your thinking and therefore your response. You could simply remind yourself of the futility of being angry at someone who will never know. You could stop to think of the many possible reasons for what they did: they may not have realized their lapse; they could be very late and feeling stressed; they could just be a bad driver. In a sense, what you think is not as important as it is to actually stop and think. It's that change of direction that creates the space in which you can choose to respond differently.

In a relationship that has suffered some sort of harm through the actions of another, it can be more difficult to forgive and release the negative emotions, but it can still be done. We have to remind ourselves to not be judgmental. We have to remind ourselves that we aren't perfect, either. We have to remind ourselves of the many reasons we still love, admire and respect the other person, or how important that person is to our lives. When we've suffered significant hurt, we may have to repeat the forgiveness numerous times - often several times a day - before we can heal ourselves, and the relationship. But it can be done.

Another kind of work we can do in some of these interpersonal situations is to look at the issue with a determination to find a solution, a different way of acting, or being together, or dealing with whatever the problem is. In order for you to do that effectively, however, you have to be in a space where you can communicate constructively. Most of that time, that means you have to forgive the other person, bring you back to Square 1 where you started. You have to consciously work on forgiveness.

Only you can do that work, however. Only you can choose to free yourself from the negative emotions and learn to create better responses. No one else can do it for you. Reading a book or attending a seminar isn't going to get the job done - unless it gives you useful tools and you use them! In fact, that's all any information source (even this article) can do: it can give you the necessary tools to get the job done.

The hammer doesn't build the house; the carpenter does. The wrench doesn't fix the car; the mechanic does. If you would build a house of positive living - living a life with Spirit - pick up your hammer and go to work. And let forgiveness be the roof that protects you from the storms of debilitating negative emotions.

In peace,

Lane

Earthquakes in Chile and Argentina - a Time for Compassion

This morning, like many others, I've been watching/reading the news on the massive earthquakes in Chile and Argentina, and the subsequent ocean surge that will affect the entire Pacific, especially the west coasts of North and South America, and the Pacific island chains.

I hope you will join me in offering prayers for all in both countries in their time of need. This is not a time for spiteful rhetoric, as some have already begin to spew. We are called to aid the suffering with compassion and without judgement. I choose to follow the teachings and not the hypocrites that spew forth hatred in the name of love.

Which do you think Jesus would prefer?

In peace,

Lane

Religion and the Media

Today, I read a report about CBS news and their religiously based advertising policy. In short, here's the point:

To CBS executives, it's OK to air an anti-abortion ad, but not an ad for a Gay dating service. Their response is, to be nice, pure balderdash.

It's time for the Federal Communications Commission to do its job and put a stop to evangelism by our media corporations. When a media giant can ban an ad about a legitimate company serving a legal segment of our population based on the morals of its corporate executives, we no longer enjoy free airwaves that, according to our laws, belong to the people.

My mom used to tell me you can't have your cake and eat it, too. Yet that's exactly what CBS wants. It wants to be able to deny "issue-based" ads they don't like, even when they aren't really issue-based (since when is dating an "issue"?), yet be allowed to air issue-based ads that promote the executives' approved stances on extremely divisive issues.

CBS has three choices:

1. It can remove the anti-abortion ad.

2. It can air the Gay dating ad.

3. It can face a massive boycott.

If the do not follow through on either 1 or 2 above, I will take part in the boycott, and I will encourage everyone else I can reach to do the same.

Some reading this may say, "well, I'm against abortion" or "I'm against homosexuality." However, that is a personal opinion, based on personal beliefs. I wonder how you would feel if a station refused to air ads based on your views? Would it be OK with you if CBS refused to air heterosexual dating ads, but aired Gay dating ads? Would you be OK with CBS airing pro-choice ads and not yours? I'd be willing to be you would not be. So what's the difference?

Why is one form of censorship OK, but the other is not?

Living a life with Spirit means showing respect for the beliefs, opinions and life ways of others. It means affording respect to all, not just those who agree with you.

To those who say it is not their problem because they are not Gay, I would remind you of the words of Pastor Niemoeller:

Martin Niemoeller was a clergyman of the Lutheran Church in Germany and a pastor during the 1930's and 1940's. In 1937 he was arrested by the secret police and was sent to a concentration camp, sentenced to death for speaking against the state. He was freed by the allied armies before he could be executed, 1 month before the war ended and 12 years after the German people elected the Nazis to power.

After the war Pastor Niemoeller became a vocal and passionate defender of human rights, and he reminded every single person he spoke to as to WHY it is so very important that each and every one of us speak out against prejudice, injustice, and oppression all the time and every time we see or hear it, why we have to "look out for the other guy."

He explained it this way:

. . . In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and still I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up. . .

I, for one, will speak up, even though I am not Gay. I will speak up because to infringe on the rights of one is to infringe on the rights of all.

Religiously based censorship is wrong, no matter the belief being censored. If you agree, please join me in telling CBS your thoughts.

In peace,

Lane

Danville Foodstock Dinner Today

The Danville Foodstock Sunday Dinner for December is today. Doors open at 11:00, dinner begins at 11:30 and goes till the food runs out.

Today's menu is Holiday Ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans, garden salad, and Christmas cookies for dessert.

The dinner is presented at the Tilton Public Use Buidling, behind the Tilton ball park complex.

For a map, directions, and further information, or to make a donation, please visit the Danville Foodstock web site.

Many thanks, as always to County Market (North), Vermilion Valley Produce, and the many other businesses and individuals who help make sure that Danville Foodstock continues to serve food - and hope! - to those in need.

In peace,

Lane

A Christmas Celebration

Later today, I'll be performing at a Christmas party in our area. Let me tell you a bit about it.

Every year, Robin - of Robin's Bar & Grill - puts on a Christmas party for the area's children. Each year she entertains dozens of children from low-income families, along with their parents. She pays for everything, the food, the gifts, the decorations... everything! This is one way that Robin gives back to her community and serves others.

Last year was the first time I was involved. I learned of the event from Glenda, who has participated for several years. I immediately offered to perform, and it was one of my first solo performances. I quickly learned several Christmas carols, and added a couple of my own tunes. I had a blast and so did the kids, so the event immediately became a part of my permanent calendar.

So, later today, if you hear one old man and a bunch of kids singing at the top of their lungs, with big smiles on their faces, that's us!

By the way, I just noticed that it's started to snow here. Cool deal! Snowball fights in the parking lot!

In peace,

Lane

Welcoming Teach Me Bass Guitar

Today I'd like to introduce you to Teach Me Bass Guitar (TMBG), a phenomenal new DVD-based instructional course created by one of my best friends, Roy Vogt. At the end of September, I joined The Learning Dock, LLC, (TLD) publishers of TMBG, as VP, Sales & Outreach. My main reason for considering the opportunity was to help Roy promote the crowning achievement of his thirty year career as an internationally-acclaimed musician and educator. I now have many more reasons to be with the company.

Before I go through the whole story, let me point out that Teach Me Bass Guitar is the most comprehensive, effective and entertaining course of bass guitar instruction available anywhere outside of a major school of music. Roy is a master educator with over thirty years experience teaching at the university level - at Nashville's prestigious Belmont University, no less. TMBG is great for everyone from brand-new beginners just picking up the bass guitar, to serious intermediate players who want to hone their skills and correct bad habits. It's also an excellent primer of various musical styles for those wanting to broaden their horizons. If you want to learn to play bass guitar, there simply is no better way to learn!

Now... grab your cup of coffee and let me tell you why I'm writing about Roy and TMBG here.

Roy and I go back to the mid 80s, when I met him while he was touring with Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers) and his band Great Southern. We hit it off right away and stayed in touch when and as we got the chance. This was before the Internet, email, texting and such. But once the Net was king, Roy and I were able to stay in much closer touch. Many years later, in the summer of 2005, Roy began to write bass guitar lessons and music business articles for Eden Electronics, a bass amp company Roy and I have both endorsed for more than a decade. At the time, I was the company's Special Projects Coordinator; one of my duties was as managing editor for the company web site. (For much of that time, I was also Roy's Artist Relations contact for the company, yet another reason to work together.)

Roy and I worked together as writer and editor until earlier this year, when funding cuts curtailed our project (among many others). I drove down to Nashville often, and always did my best to see Roy, several times offering music business clinics to his students at Belmont University, and inviting Roy to participate in my in-store events for Eden dealers. So when Roy first told me about Teach Me Bass Guitar, I immediately volunteered to help him promote it in any way I could.

What neither of us realized was that, by June, I would have left the company and would be searching for new ventures to fill the void. I believe I've mentioned here before that the parent company for which I worked was brutally damaged by the downward spiraling economy, as was much of the music manufacturing industry in general. I survived many cutbacks and lay-offs throughout the last part of 2008. But in January, 2009, I knew things were "going south" when the company cut me from the team that would be at the winter NAMM show. When a company will not pay the cost to take their chief promoter of an entire product line to a trade show, you know things are really bad.

Over the first half of this year, I watched my pay dwindle and my benefits disappear. I was converted to subcontractor status and basically supervised the break-up of my position with various duties taken by a number of others. I'm sure you can understand that, by the time it all came to a grinding painful halt in June, I was beaten up pretty badly. Even though I knew it was time to go - what with my close friend and "partner in tone" David Nordschow having already left the company at the end of summer, 2008 (I originally slowed down my consulting practice to assist David) - it was a difficult transition for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that it put a serious financial strain on my new marriage.

Now, reading this blog, you wouldn't know much about that, as I wrote very little about it. And when I did, I talked about how fortunate I was to have an understanding wife and the faith that there was something better in store for me. I knew that if I worked hard to do my part, I would receive divine assistance. I knew that God had a plan, even if I didn't know what it was. And that's where Teach Me Bass Guitar comes in.

In mid-July, I met Barbara and David Crossman, owners of TLD, at the summer NAMM show - the second largest music industry trade show (the first being the winter NAMM show). I urged her to call me to discuss possibilities and Roy recommended me highly. One thing led to another, and we finally got to sit down for a few days of meetings in late September, with the result being that I came home with a truck-load of work to do, and an even greater load of hope and gratitude. Not only was I going to help Roy with his dream, I was going to help an entire family with theirs as well - all while helping to make my own dreams a reality.

David and Barbara are both very spiritual people. Devout in their faith, and both working hard to follow the teachings to the best of their ability. The same is true of their children and their families. I'll write more about this in future posts. For now, suffice to say that they all walk the walk, and there's not a whole lot of book-thumpin' going on. (Sure, we talk about spirituality, but that's not thumpin'; that's sharing.)

So here I am - doing something I love to do while helping one of my closest friends and a wonderful family - promoting the most amazing bass instructional course I've ever seen. I really wish I'd had something like this when I started playing bass 40 years ago!

Now, here's the really cool part - like many music education products, a large portion of sales is through affiliate marketing. For those that don't know, this is basically a system by which others promote your products and get a portion of each sale they refer. Because David and Barbara are very focused on service to others, they have set up a special program for non-profits and other charitable organizations. That way, a person can purchase the product and a good portion of their price will go to the organization through which they order.

You can now order Teach Me Bass Guitar through the Life with Spirit Foundation, with up to 30% of your purchase price going to support our work. I think that's just incredible! If you know someone - of any age! - who wants to learn to play bass guitar, or improve their skills, introduce them to Roy's course and Life with Spirit at the same time.

Isn't it interesting what a difference a few short months can make in person's life? No matter how bad things are, they can get better in a hurry if you do two things:

Do Your Part

Have Faith

Do what needs doing and get the job done. Sooner begun, sooner done, as my father used to say. It won't help to sit and worry or complain. It won't even help to pray if you aren't willing to take responsibility for your share of the burden. No matter your situation, get up every day and deal with it. Remember, God helps those who help themselves. You have to show you're willing to invest some effort to get through the bad times... that you'll do whatever is required of you to keep going. Or, to put it bluntly - Do Your Part.

Rome wasn't built in a day (I'm full of sayings and cliches today!), and it will take time to get through any difficult situation. Even when times seem their darkest, you have to have strong faith that the Light will prevail, as it always does. You have to know that, as a Child of Spirit, you are cared for and loved always... that you will be provided for, as Jesus often promised. "See the birds in the air..."

I did my part. And so did Glenda. But more importantly, I had faith. I trusted that I was on the right road, and was being guided in my journey. And my trust has been repaid many times over with a wonderful gift - of a new opportunity, new friends, and a new way to serve my fellow bassists. All in time for Christmas!

I'm a happy boy!! (smile)

In peace,

Lane

A Wonderful Weekend

This weekend the Danville Foodstock kitchen crew assisted with the Village of Tilton's Senior Holiday Dinner. Eleven turkeys and all the trimmings, with several pies and puddings for dessert. I ended up doing a short set of Christmas Carols and a few of my own songs, near the end of the dinner. Of course, Monty Schroeder, Danville Foodstock's Head Chef and Ktichen Boss supervised all of the cooking and the serving line. Glenda assisted throughout, never sitting down until we finally got home in the late afternoon.

We were all pleased to take part, and look forward to taking part again next year. This is our way of thanking the village of Tilton for their kind support of the Danville Foodstock Sunday Dinner series. They allows us free use of their building, and provide funding assistance for every dinner. Recently they repaved the long, winding 2-lane road that winds back to the facility, so that it would be less treacherous for dinner guests this winter. They have also allowed us to reserve the third Sunday of every month, beginning this coming Sunday. That will make it easier for folks to remember it and make it a permanent part of their schedule.

You can learn more about Danville Foodstock and how you can help by visiting the web site. While there, please sign up to receive our new monthly newsletter, beginning in January, 2010. You can also get instant updates through the new Twitter account - twitter.com/foodandhope.

In peace,

Lane

Thought for Today - 12.10.09

If prayer and passage meditation are talking to God, silent meditation is listening to God for the answers. After prayer or passage meditation, I always sit, at least for a few minutes, in silent meditation in case God has something to say to me.

In peace,

Lane

A New Opportunity to Serve

Yesterday, I wrote about a small congregation at risk of losing their church. To add a little to the story, I'm honored that they have asked me to serve as their minister - at least temporarily. Because their lawyer has recommended they not have services in the building until the lawsuit is settled, we will be holding services in the home of one of the members of the church. In respect of her privacy, I am not listing the address. However, if you would like to attend, please feel free to email me here.

Religion and Money

Like my indigenous forebears, I do not set fees for the spiritual work I do. Instead, I do the work when asked in a good way, leaving it to the person to make a free will offering after the work is completed.

Many times I have been asked why I don't set fees in advance. Today, I'd like to offer an example to illustrate my reason for not doing so.

Just a few minutes south of me is a small congregation that has been together for decades. Recently the parent organization - I hesitate to call it a church - decided they could make a pile of money by selling off the church. They had already closed others in the area, at least once barging into the sanctuary in the middle of a Sunday service, forcing everyone out of the building before the service was completed. On one building, they supposedly made almost a million dollars on the sale of the land.

These hypocrites have shown their stripes. They don't care about anyone's soul as much as they do money. If they did, they'd never stoop so low.

The good news here is that this particular congregation is not going away quietly. It seems that the parent organization had deeded the church and the land to the actual congregation and so do not have a legal claim to the property anymore. The bad news is that the lawyers are now involved, so it will be some time before the congregation can pray in their own house of worship.

All because of money. And that is the problem. When spiritual ministry becomes a service for profit, the spirituality itself becomes lost. When the value of a building is greater in one's eyes (or several persons'!) than the value of the spiritual well being of the congregation, that person is no longer religious, much less spiritual. Unless, of course, they worship money.

I much prefer the way I do things. I do the work and leave it the person or people for whom that work is done to offer what they can... what they feel is fair. Often, I won't even open the envelope for many days. And the money always goes to support more work.

So, if you ever ask me for spiritual support, know that money is not, and never will be, a part of my motivation. I do what I do because I feel called to the task. I do it because it's one way I can live a life with Spirit. May it always be so!

In peace,

Lane

Bringing Peace to the World

A few days ago, an e-letter arrived in my In box. It's one of numerous items I receive that relate in some way to spirituality, right livelihood, positive attitude, and what-have-you. I find them to be an interesting source of ideas to ponder. I don't always agree with the ideas offered, but even then they can be a good stimulant for my own thoughts.

This was such a time. What has made it so interesting is that this one paragraph catapulted me into a series of contemplations on how to bring true peace to the world. Heady stuff, to be sure, yet it seems to me that, if we are really living a life with Spirit, world peace should be one of our highest priority goals. For me, the short statement, or creed, I wrote more than a decade ago, encapsulates the essence of living a life with Spirit:

one world ~ one people
one Spirit ~ one message:
Live in Harmony

When we recognize the truth that we are all God's children, that each of us carries within the essence of the Sacred Source of all things, and then live our lives with that truth as our very foundation, we cannot help but strive to live in harmony with the rest of creation - most importantly, with our fellow human beings.

Now, after all that lead-up, let's go back to the message that got me started.

This issue's prayer called on God to "bring peace" to nations suffering from war. Why? If it were God's responsibility to end the war in Afghanistan, don't you think He'd have done something before now? Thing is, it's not His responsibility; it belongs to the people who started the war, and who perpetuate it. And, unfortunately, that means those of us in the US who have allowed this war to continue. We'll talk about that later, but there's a larger context in which we need to frame the discussion, and I'll get there in a minute. But there's another piece of the puzzle to display first.

The morning after this particular email, I watched a report about a 15 year old boy who was doused with rubbing alcohol and lit on fire by five other young teens. At one point the mother said that something had to be done to curb the violence in our children. Without thinking, I murmured, "start with the government." Glenda asked what the government could do to stop the violence.

My point was (and is) that we live under a government that, for decades, has only seen one option when we didn't get our way: violence. Don't like a legitimately elected government? Overthrow it. Want to control another country's resources? Invade it on a flimsy excuse. On and on it goes. Lies and fear are spread to force us into line. Cries of lack of patriotism if we disagree with the warmongers. And, now, we're told that constant war is the only way to have peace.

Wait a minute? Didn't Orwell warn us of this?

Like it or not, the US has been the largest geopolitical bully for more than fifty years - and all for the sake of the wealthiest among us, so they could capture even more wealth. Eisenhower warned us, and we ignored him. Now, we're reaping the sad harvest of that apathy. Our nation has gotten in bed with the worst of despots, dictators and iron-handed monarchs when it suited corporate profits. We have undermined legitimate governments that were supported by the people when they wouldn't yield control of their resources to us, setting up corrupt, repressive regimes in their place, and couldn't have cared less how it adversely affected the citizens.

The amount of money, people, resources, time and other measures of energy and focus spent on perpetuating global violence is staggering. How any person who claims religion as the cornerstone of their life can rationalize and excuse it is unfathomable. How does this relate to our children? Simple - they are doing what they're taught to do.

Our children are being taught that violence is the only answer. They see our own government do it. They see adults commit violence to get their way. They watch their parents get into screaming matches and fights at their soccer games. Does anyone think that they're learning to responsibly deal with conflict and disagreement?

At the same time, we live in a country that has lost much of its hope. Our children look at the world and see less opportunity to better their lives. They graduate college only to find that there is no work for them. They see little chance of fulfillment and happiness in the pursuit of career. It makes them frustrated and very angry. Faced with these feelings, they vent them as they have been taught - in violence.

If we really want to change things, we have to start with ourselves. That means living our lives centered on peaceful coexistence with others. It doesn't mean rolling over and letting others take advantage of us. We can still take a stand for our rights, and the rights of others, but it must be done from a center of peace. And that is very different center than violence.

Some talk about courage in terms of committing violence on another. Yet how much courage does it take to attack someone smaller, younger (or older!), weaker and/or less violent? How much courage does it take to attack an individual in groups? How much courage does it take to swing a club, throw a brick, fire a gun? (By the way, how often have you seen someone start a fight because they were in the right?)

It takes a very special kind of courage to take a stand in peace. Gandhi resisted peacefully and changed the world. John Woolman spent much of his life, quietly persuading his fellow Quakers to end their participation in slavery. Thanks to his efforts, no Quaker owned slaves - one hundred years before our Civil War.

Our spirituality calls us to be peacemakers. Matthew 5:9 (ISV) says:

How blessed are those who make peace, because it is they who will be called God's children.

In truth, creating a truly peaceful world begins within each of us who claim a life with Spirit. It must begin within before we can encourage it in others. We must rededicate ourselves daily to the promise of living in harmony - in peace - with others.

This is how it begins. In future posts, I'll offer thoughts on how it continues. But before we can look at others, we must look to ourselves. This, too, is an important part of living a life with Spirit.

In peace,

Lane

Gearing Up for Fall

As I'm sure you've already noticed, I have not been posting much over the last several months. The reason for that is that I've been busy dealing with the state of the economy. From early January through the beginning of July, I fought a rear-guard action as I watched my income from my principal employment shrink to the point of disappearing. Since then I've been working hard to replace that income.

Obviously, I'm not the only one dealing with economic issues, and I don't mean to cry "poor me." But I do admit that dealing with all of this has taken considerable time and caused a fair amount of stress. Through it all, however, I had two things that helped a lot.

First, I have a wife who believes in me. Second, I have my faith... faith that if I do my part, Spirit will do its part, too. Yes, there were times that I worried. And there were times that I thought I'd have to find another career path. But every morning and every evening I'd say a prayer of thanks, knowing that it could have been far worse.

I'm happy to report that things are looking much better. I've restarted my consulting career, which was put on hold some five years ago, and the work is building. Moving forward, I've promised myself I would post here at least once a week.

So... now you know where I've been and why. If my story is similar to yours, remember that faith -- both in ourselves and in the Divine -- can help keep you stable as you work through the difficult times. And keeping the faith in times of trouble is an important part of living a life with Spirit.

In peace,

Lane

An Example of Life with Spirit

I read an article in the newspaper today that I would like to share with you. In Reston, VA, not far from where I grew up, the Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation has opened its doors to the All Dulles Area Muslim Society for the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan.

Imam Mohamed Magid, leader of the Muslim congregation called the arrangement "a story that shatters stereotypes." Rabbi Robert Nasonchuk, leader of the synagogue, pointed out that "you only get to know someone when you invite them into your home."

In fact, this is not the first time the two congregations have shared space. Nor is it the first time that each group has worked with other religions. However, it is remarkable in that it is the first time that daily prayers have been offered, and for the fact that it shows such great respect for Ramadan.

Think of Jewish/Muslim relations and all that comes to mind is the strife and conflict between them. On both sides, we hear from the extremes, but seldom hear from the middle. We often forget that there are thousands upon thousands of clergy in both faiths that preach tolerance and respect, who promote the recognition of common ground.

Side Note: One might begin their own study of this common ground with the similarities between Kosher and Halal.

We are all taught to be tolerant of others, and respectful of their choice of faith. Yet, as a global society, we have a very hard time putting it into practice. That's why this story is so important to me. It reminds me that it is indeed possible to follow the teachings, even in this tumultuous time.

Let us all take this example of compassionate spirituality to heart. It inspires me to know that these two congregations are truly living a life with Spirit.

In peace,

Lane

PS - next post, I'll offer an update of everything that's happened since my last post over two months ago. - LB

Catching Up - Again

The past few weeks have been extremely busy, and it's been a lot of fun. On Father's Day, I presented services at the Circle of Gratitude and Love Learning Center. The message of the day was about fathers, of course. And, as usual, I talked about my father and the lessons I learned from him.

Then, on July 3, Danville Foodstock worked with several local businesses to mount a food drive in support of the Danville Area Food Pantry. We raised almost $500 dollars in food and donations.

Still in Foodstock mode, I recently secured sponsorship from Morningwood Studios to produce (for FREE!) a recording of Another Man's Blues, which will be our new "theme song". Studio owner Tom Foutch is my new favorite producer, and has really made me feel at home. Another wonderful part of this is that Deeper Blues' original drummer Aaron Bouslog did the drum track for the song.

We hope to finish the production quickly, as the Foodstock Fall Festival will take place Saturday, September 12. We want to use the song to help promote the event.

On the business side of things, this past Tuesday I met with Larry Spears, of the Spears Center for Servant-Leadership. Some readers may already know that promoting (and following) servant-leadership is a major part of my mission, both with the Life with Spirit Foundation and Foodstock Charities. It is also the cornerstone of my management consulting.

Larry is the world's foremost authority on servant-leadership, and I am extremely grateful for his friendship and guidance. I am very much looking forward to working more closely with him. Here's what came out of the meeting:

1. The next volume of essays in Larry's series of books on servant-leadership has been accepted for publication by Paulist Press. I mention this because I will have an essay in the book - Learning Servant-Leadership from Native America - Again. This essay compares native leadership to servant-leadership, and offers ideas on how we can use native teaching methods to teach our children the value of service to society. We expect a mid-2010 release.
2. Larry and I will work together on several writing projects, not the least of which is an expansion of his essay on the ten characteristics of servant-leaders.

My biggest problem (if you can call it that) is finding time to get everything done. There have been so many wonderful opportunities lately, that I often find myself working twelve hour days again, even on the weekends. While it may take a lot of my time, I do acknowledge that I am on much better footing than many... mostly because I am still able to earn an income. I am also very grateful for the opportunities that have arisen.

We often feel unsettled in times of change. I have found, however, that if one trusts to God (by whatever name) and has faith that the change is for the better, it really will be OK. I "let go and let God" last year, and I found Glenda, who had been there for months. This time, I "let go and let God" during a time of financial strain. Lo and behold, the opportunities have come pouring in.

Trusting the process, even in times of stress and upheaval, is an important step in living a life with Spirit.

In peace,

Lane

A Father's Day Meditation

In honor of Father's Day, I offer the following meditation. In truth, it's more a list of affirmations, but regardless of what you call it, I hope it serves.

Father's Day Meditation

I am a willing parent.

I will give my child the best I have to offer.

I will allow my child to live their life - not the life I wish I had.

I will allow my child to make mistakes and learn.

I will forgive my child's faults and continue to love.

I will forgive my faults and continue to love.

I will let go of my past so that I can be the best parent possible.

I will remember that I, too, was a child.

I am a willing parent and I continue to love.

In peace,

Lane

The Two Wolves Within

Last Thursday, I wrote about finding God within ourselves. As I reflected on that premise, I remembered a story I've heard many times over the years. It's about something else that goes on inside of each of us - the fight between "two wolves."

According to most sources, including many of the the indigenous Native American nations, this teaching story is Cherokee, and is used to illustrate to their children the need to always focus on the positive. Here is one version I have heard:

A young boy comes to his grandfather for guidance. He is very angry at his friend for some slight or wrong. The grandfather smiles and says "I have also felt anger at those who have done so much wrong, feeling no regret for their actions. But anger and hatred hurts you, not your enemy. It is the same as cutting yourself and wishing that your enemy would die.

"It is as if there are two wolves inside me. One is good, and he does no harm. He walks in harmony with all around him. He takes no offense when none was intended, and he only fights when he must, and it is right to do so. And , even then, he fights with honor.

"The other wolf, though, is full of anger and hate. Even the smallest perceived slight will enrage him. He is always fighting someone, often for no reason at all. Because of his constant anger, he cannot think or act with honor. But it is helpless anger because it changes nothing.

"It is not easy to live with these two wolves inside me. Each wolf tries its best to dominate my spirit, and so they fight each other all the time."

The boy sat for some time, considering his grandfather's words. Finally, he looks up and asks, "Grandfather, which one wins?"

The elder smiles and touches his grandson's chest, just over the heart, and says, "the one we feed."

Walking a good path - living a life with Spirit - is not always easy. Nor should we expect it to be, especially in today's world. Like it or not, we constantly encounter negativity in one form or another. There are rude people, selfish people, people who live in anger... people who whine and complain, people who justify any means as long as it serves their interests.

At such times, it's all too easy to respond in kind. When someone makes a rude comment we can, without thinking, enter into a game of oneupsmanship in an attempt to hurt the other person more than we have been hurt. Or, we can feed the good wolf, and hold our anger in check. When another causes us harm in our lives, we can wallow in our anger and hatred for that person, or we can rise above base emotions to cultivate our higher spiritual selves.

This does not mean we ignore the wrong committed. Rather, we connect with the God within to respond with compassion and love, because we know that God is within the other person as well, even if they don't know it. We can certainly stand our ground, but by feeding the good wolf, we can do so with honor, and without unnecessary negative thought or action.

The two wolves are always within each of us. And at every moment of choice between right and wrong, they battle for supremacy. Learning to feed the good wolf is an important step in living a life with Spirit.

In peace,

Lane

Finding the God Within

On May 17 I offered service at the Circle of Gratitude and Love Learning Center. The subject was Finding the God Within. Today I'd like to offer a few thoughts based on that presentation.

We have been told throughout the ages that the key to being close to the Divine is to look within for the Sacred within ourselves. And yet many continue to look outside themselves for manifestations of God. We read again and again that we are children of the One, but forget it as soon as we turn our eyes to the material world.

I have found that by praying often during the day - not just beginning and ending each day with a prayer, but offering prayers repeatedly - it helps me remain close to the Sacred. Other practices that help me are using a mantra and practicing meditation. All of these help remind me that I am a child of the Sacred, and that my greatest task in this life is to come closer to the source of all life.

Yes, all of the above are useful. However, they are only the beginning. When we manifest our spirit - our True Self - in the material world, we realize our true potential as spiritual beings. That is why many work so hard to serve others. We know from the teachings that we are called to serve our fellow man to the best of our ability. We are told that our greatest rewards are derived from this service.

Forgiveness is one of the most spiritual acts we can perform. Just as the Sacred immediately forgives our acts of transgression, we must learn to forgive others. Therefore, when someone's actions or words hurt or anger me, I do my best to remind myself that I am far from perfect. While that person's actions may be different from mine, they are no different on the basic level. All misguided action separates us from God, and keeps us from accomplishing our mission.

When we respond to another's actions based on the God energy within us, we cannot hold negative thoughts. When we look at the other person and see the God within them, we cannot judge and find them lacking. All we see is a reflection of ourselves, and of God, in that other person, and we recognize that we are all doing our best.

Our challenge is to continuously recognize the God within ourselves and all others - not just fellow humans, but all of creation. The whale manifests God as much as we do. The tree lifting its branches to the sky is a manifestation of God. Even the rocks - called by some "the grandfathers" manifest God in their unique way.

When we recognize the God energy within all things, we come one step closer to reuniting with the creator of all things. When we focus our existence on the Sacred, we remember that our journey is not about being better, but simply actuating our True Self – that part of us that is God, the part of us that is One with all things. And we find the God within.

Finding the God within is an important step in living a life with Spirit.

In peace,

Lane

Hell is the Absence of God

A thought came back to me this week as I've been preparing to offer services at the Circle of Gratitude and Love Learning Center this Sunday. I have a good friend (a Christian) with whom I have many deeper conversations regarding faith. Some time ago, we were discussing the concept of heaven and hell. He said, "hell is the absence of God." I couldn't agree more.

The more removed we are from God, the more fear, pain and loneliness we suffer. When we don't welcome the Sacred into our hearts, much less into our lives, we remove ourselves from the flow of divine energy that permeates the universe.

Conversely, the closer we come to fully living a life with Spirit, the closer we come to God, the more joy, peace, fulfillment and love will fill our lives.

It really is that simple. Yet it is also deeply profound. Our spirits yearn to be one with the Sacred. When we are disconnected, we feel it inside, in our heart, even when we cannot recognize it in our mind. As we devote more of our energy to the spiritual essence of our existence, we feel a sense of completeness that we may not have even known was missing.

For those who may be interested, I'll offer a pair of short mantras that can be used in meditation, or at any time during the day when you want to feel closer to the Divine:

I am a child of the Sacred. I serve the greater good.

Depending on your own life way, you may wish to replace "the Sacred" with God, the Father, Mother, or one of the other names of God. In meditation, I use both phrases; during the day I may, depending on the circumstances, use only one of them. I leave it to the reader to decide what is best for them.

Understanding that we create our own hell when we remove ourselves from the company of the Sacred is an important step toward living a life with Spirit.

In peace,

Lane

Gay Marriage and Religion

Yesterday, Maine became the fifth state to legalize gay marriage. This continues the trend in New England, where most states have legalized same-sex marriages, with others poised to follow suit. One of the comments made by State Senator Debra Plowman (R-Hampden) gave me pause. She said that the bill passed "at the expense of people of faith."

To me, this is wrong on two levels. First and foremost, who is she to speak for all people of faith? I consider myself a person of deep faith, and yet I enthusiastically welcome efforts to legalize same-sex marriages. I know many gay and lesbian people who are also people of faith. I know of churches who gladly open their doors to gay and lesbian members; some even allow gay clergy.

In fact, if Plowman can claim to speak for anyone, it is for those who would force their religious views on others. To me, that smacks of theocracy, and we all know how dangerous that can be. All we have to do is look around the world to see the negative impact of theocratic government.

SIDE NOTE: I wonder how many Americans, especially "people of faith", know the truth about the Puritans. In school we are taught that the Puritans fled religious persecution. In truth, it was exactly the opposite. They were thrown out of England because they were attempting to force their religious views on the rest of society. They then tried the same thing in Holland and were thrown out again. When they arrived on American soil, the Puritans set up a government based on their religion - one which allowed the public ridicule of offenders (the Scarlet Letter comes to mind), and torture and burning of those accused of witchcraft - which often was merely an understanding of the use of herbs to cure illnesses.

Second, I still do not understand how allowing gay and lesbian marriages harms others. No one is forcing a church that does not believe in gay marriage to sanction them, perform them, or even recognize them within their organization. Conversely, refusing others rights because their own beliefs do not reconcile you their own, they are actually denying rights to others based on a religious philosophy.

Many opponents of gay and lesbian marriage claim that it destroys the sanctity of marriage. How is that? What is it about gay marriage that is so damaging? I think that, if you want to protect the sanctity of marriage, you would be better served by working to end divorce, family violence and other problems. Refusing the right of marriage to others because their lifestyle is different does nothing to protect marriage at all. It only serves to force others into your own mindset.

I am proud of the state of Maine. I am also proud to support gay/lesbian marriage. I believe that offering to others the same respect and compassion as I hope to receive from others, regardless of whether or not their beliefs reconcile perfectly with mine, is an important step towards living a life with Spirit.

In peace,

Lane

Simplify

Here's a one-word answer to the question: How can I better (or, more fully) live a life of spirit?

Simplify.

Own less by getting rid of things you don't really need. For instance, one closet management article I read a few years back said that, barring seasonal clothing, if you haven't worn it in three to six months, throw it out or donate it. Others suggest adopting more of a Feng Shui mindset, removing as much as possible from every room in the house.

Here's the thing: consumerism, especially at the current level, is contrary to the teachings we all receive from our various religions. Worshiping at the altar of How Much I Have is not spiritual.

The fact that many of us have far more than we need is testament that we have fallen for the lie that money is the key to happiness. It isn't, and deep down, we know it.

I'm in the process of further simplification. I'll be back in a day or two with more on that. For now, just consider what you can do to simplify your life... in the hopes that it helps you live a better life with Spirit!

In peace,

Lane

Live Like You're Dying

What if you died tomorrow? What if today is the last day of your life? How would that change things for you?

These questions have hung in my mind for several weeks. I read The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch. When he discovered he had terminal cancer, Randy's life changed dramatically. Yet in other ways, he simply continued as he always had - a giving, caring individual who actively sought ways to contribute to society and live a good life. He just looked for more opportunities to live the best life he could.

Reading Randy's thoughts on dying, and living, reminded me of a lesson from years ago. In his international best-seller, Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Dan Millman relates an extremely important thought: There are no ordinary moments.

Every minute of every day is a gift. Every minute wasted, or spent on something negative, is a moment you cannot retrieve. Both Pausch and Millman are telling us to make the most out of every minute of every day. They're telling us that, in order to get more out of life, we have to give all way have, all the time.

Whether you are at work, at play or at rest, immersing yourself in the activity will produce greater results. When interacting with others, be it your family, friends, coworkers, or strangers, giving your best enhances the experience. Even if all you are doing is having an ice cream cone, focusing on that sweet, cold refreshment will add to your enjoyment.

As I wrote of the ice cream cone above, an old memory popped to mind. I don't remember the comedian as it was many years ago, but I remember the last part of his skit. He talked about eating cookies, and how we often don't really enjoy them as much as we could. He talked about how much more delicious the last cookie in the package tastes. Then he went into a whole spiel about not realizing he was eating the last cookie, how he missed the entire experience because of his lack of awareness. He then ended by saying that, from then on, he ate every cookie as if it was his last, and urged the audience to do the same.

If it works for cookies, why not everything else? Enjoy the movie as if it were the last one you'll ever see. Enjoy making dinner with your family because it's the last food you'll ever have. Mow the lawn as if it were a testament to your dedication to your family. Enjoy every sunrise and every sunset, and everything between the two.

Everything we do is enhanced by careful attention, and by infusing the activity with love and compassion. Everyone we meet is better served when we bring our full attention to bear, and the best of ourselves into the interaction. Fill your days with productive work, compassionate service and joyful play and companionship, and you will enrich your life beyond measure.

Living every day as if you're dying is an excellent way to life a life with Spirit.

In peace,

Lane

Foodstock News

It's been a busy few weeks since I last posted. I apologize for the lapse, but I do have good news out of all that work. Danville Foodstock, a chapter of Foodstock Charities, has confirmed dates for two new events, and a strong commitment to produce a Foodstock benefit concert in San Jose, CA. Here are the details:

Working with The Danville High School Library Club, we're holding the first Foodstock DHS Inter-class Food Drive. The winning class (Freshmen through Seniors) will win an after-school party with refreshments and entertainment. Each student will also receive a certificate for participating and/or winning, as the case may be. The competition will run Monday, April 27, through Friday, May 1. All food and monetary donations will benefit the Danville Area Food Pantry. DAFP staff will audit all donations to ensure accuracy and fairness. Kurt Willer, Librarian for DHS and the sponsoring teacher for the Library Club, is our liason, and is handling everything with his club members. He was very excited to work with us, as the club was already searching for just such a project.

The second event will take place Saturday, June 6, as part of Spring Fest, an annual five-day carnival and festival produced by the Danville Jaycees. This year, Saturday will be designated Foodstock Day. We'll be collecting food and donations for the Danville Area Food Pantry, and celebrating with live music throughout the afternoon and evening. I'll be there, along with a lot of friends in the local music community as we combine two great causes, creating a stronger bond between the two organizations and helping us do more in the community.

The third piece of news is that my good friend Polo Jones enthusiastically volunteered to produce a Foodstock benefit concert in San Jose, CA. For two decades, Polo has been the bassist and musical director for a true international superstar, Zucchero. Performing to millions of fans world-wide on every tour, and selling millions of records, Zucchero (and Polo with him) has recorded with everyone from Luciano Pavorati to Eric Clapton.

For 2009, Polo is focusing on his new project while Zucchero takes a break from years of back-to-back touring and recording before beginning his next CD. In the meantime, Polo is busy recording and preparing to tour with Lighthouse for the Blind, a positive message heavy band featuring outsanding songwriting, filled with infectious grooves, tight harmonies and world-class musicianship.

About a week ago, Polo saw a report by our local ABC affiliate on the Foodstock Dinner Series. He went straight from that clip to our web site, which is where he learned about our benefit concerts. Like Mr. Willer's Library Club, Polo was consciously searching for something to do, something to help others. He emailed me right away, and by the time we spoke on the phone two days later, he'd already confirmed a venue and was talking to top local bands.

Wow! If this were hockey, we'd call that a Hat Trick! We're all very excited about all the opportunities. And, certainly, the Danville Area Food Pantry deeply appreciates the help!

I will take a few words to mention that there are expenses we are seeking to cover, above and beyond the concerts (which are 100% flow-through events, in which no one makes a dime) and the free dinner series, which is funded by individual donations and County Market Stores. In the near future, we will be posting a Wish List of items necessary to our work. It is our hope that supporters who can spare a few extra dollars will contribute to the general fund. In addition, you never know who might have a used item on our list.

Our sincere thanks to all who support Foodstock Charities, both here in Danville, and around the country. With your help, we're serving food - and hope - to those in need. And that's a very fulfilling element of living a life with Spirit!

In peace,

Lane

In Reply to a Response

On Friday, February 20, I put up a post about a letter I wrote to the editors of the News-Gazette in Champaign, IL. Scroll down a bit to find that letter. On March 2, the paper printed a response to that letter, in which the author, a Christian minister, accused me of twisting my interpretation to match my own misguided views. Basically, he said I didn't know my head from the hat I wear.

Of course I had to reply. My original reply as sent to the paper was far too long to fit within their guidelines, so working with the editors, I trimmed it down to this:

One law protects many religious views

Rev 's reply to my Feb. 20 letter demonstrates the truth of my statement: there are disagreements among Christian denominations concerning biblical interpretations. Sometimes they are small, sometimes quite large. In fact, many churches welcome homosexuals into their congregations, even into their clergy. I think it's wonderful we live in a country that makes room for us all.

Please forgive me if my earlier letter made it appear as if I wished to change the personal beliefs of others; that is not the case. Certainly if a denomination chooses to not bless homosexual union within its own organization, that is their right, and I support it even though I disagree.

But to deny homosexuals the right to union based on religious beliefs is contrary to our constitution.

Our country was founded in part on the concept of freedom to choose one's religion without coercion or force. To force upon our society a single mindset based on religion is to create a theocracy. One need only look at today's world to see how dangerous a theocracy can be.

There are indeed many different views on the Bible, and varying translations. Who would deny that King James cause the Bible to be edited?

Or that there are dozens of Protestant versions of the Bible? That the Catholic Bible is different from the King James and subsequent versions?

Personally, I am thankful our country allows us all to choose for ourselves. I believe that all should be treated equally under the law, including homosexuals. I also believe Jesus would approve.

In peace,

Lane

Yesterday's Service

Yesterday I gave the service at the Circle of Gratitude and Love Learning Center. (I offer the service there once each month.) Yesterday's presentation was titled Do the Work. I'm not going to repeat it all, but I did want to offer the main point:

We know that, in our daily lives, we have to put in the work if we want to receive the reward. However, we often forget that there's work to do in our spiritual lives, as well.

Spirituality is not just about reading, meditating, spiritual retreats, etc. It's about taking what we've learned and putting it into practice in our daily lives. It's about applying the knowledge we've received. And that, in a nutshell is the difference between knowledge and wisdom.

In Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Dan Millman explains it in a very practical way. Dan is visiting his mentor Socrates, at the gas station where Socrates runs the midnight shift. They're servicing a customer (back in the day when full service meant something). Socrates is cleaning his side of the windshield while Dan fiddles with his squeegee. Dan asks about the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Socrates answers, "you know how to clean a windshield. Wisdom is doing it."

It's just that simple. Wisdom is the application of knowledge. So the question we must each ask ourselves is this: Am I applying the teachings I've learned? Am I doing the spiritual work necessary to advance along the path before me?

I think that most of us - if we are honest - know that there is still more work to be done. I know I've got more to do, and every day I strive to be a better version of myself. Every morning I remind myself of this. Every evening, too. I've found that it helps me to stay focused on what really matters. It reminds me that I have to work hard every day to remain true to my spiritual beliefs.

Yes, knowledge is important. But translating that knowledge into wisdom -- doing the work -- is what it takes to truly live a life with Spirit. So... off to work I go!

In peace,

Lane

Interesting Meeting Last Night

Last night, I presented to the local Board of Education an overview of four projects we hope to mount with their assistance. Here's a quick run-down of what I proposed:

1. A Foodstock food drive for the local high school. We envision a contest in which the winning class (Freshmen, Sophomores, etc.) will receive a free party.

2. An arts and poetry competition for all school ages, grade school through high school. The contest will be judged on the day of this year's Foodstock concert.

3. A series of music appreciation and music education seminars for all levels.

4. A benefit concert in support of local music education.

This time around, I presented during the public comments portion of the meeting. This time around was really just a "warning shot", if you will. Next month, I'll be on the agenda and will offer more detail.

We're all very excited about the projects. We believe that by engaging our youth early, we have the best chance of helping them understand the need for volunteerism and the positive impact it will have on both the community and themselves. These projects will help us spread a message of community involvement and servant-leadership.

As things progress, I'll offer more info here. Until then, remember, serving one's community is a core principal of living a life with Spirit.

In peace,

Lane

Spears Center Feature

I'm very pleased and honored to report that I've been featured in the Spears Center for Servant-Leadership newsletter for March, 2009. Larry Spears and I have been long-distance friends, ever since we met in 2001, during my tenure with Men's Wearhouse.

Larry is the authority on humanistic management principles in the world. No other person does as much to promote the ideals by which businesses should guide themselves. I am proud to support the Spears Center for Servant-Leadership, and will support Larry for as long as I am in business. I highly recommend the Spears Center to anyone wishing to learn more.

When I began to refocus my energy on my consulting career, I naturally called Larry to discuss the opportunity, and to hear any advice he might offer. We have continued these discussions off and on over the past few months, and I recently sent him a copy of the Deeper Blues CD, Dig the Hole.

What caught Larry's interest most was the way I am using servant-leadership in my music career and with my charity endeavors (with the Life with Spirit Foundation), bringing the servant-leader message to new audiences. The time was right, Larry decided, to feature me in his newsletter. And, to be honest, I'm speechless... and very grateful.

The first half of the feature is an overview of my work; the second half is the opening to my essay Learning Servant-Leadership from Native America - Again. This is the essay that will be included in Larry's upcoming book The Spirit of Servant Leadership, due this year. Also included is a link to the entire essay.

The guidance and encouragement Larry has offered over the years has, and continues to be, deeply appreciated. While he may not know it, his advice has been crucial to my growth, not only as a servant-ldear, but also as a person. I highly recommend Larry and the Spears Center to anyone wishing to learn more about the servant-leadership community. And, again, I'm honored to be featured in his newsletter.

For those interested, here are links to the feature, and to the essay.

Read the newsletter here.

Read the full essay here.

Read more about my relationship with Larry Spears here.

Visit the Spears Center by clicking here.

To me, servant-leadership is all about bringing your spirituality to your working life. And I think that's an excellent way to live a life with spirit!

In peace,

Lane