Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!

Today is my lovely and loving wife Glenda's birthday. I'm very excited to celebrate this first birthday together. And, of course, I wish for many, many more.

This morning I sat and watched the snow fall, drinking a hot cup of coffee that She Who Completes Me prepared, as usual. I thought of how very important she is to me, and how lucky I am to have her in my life. I thought of how empty and dull my life had become when I was alone, and how much more fulfilling it is, now that we're together.

I am a very lucky man to have someone with whom to share my days, especially because Glenda believes so strongly in me, and in the things I hope to do. Every day she offers amazingly deep support and comfort. Often, she is the first to give feedback on something I plan to do, or something I've written. Glenda keeps me grounded and balanced. She strengthens my faith in myself when it is weak. When times are difficult, she reminds me of the purpose behind the work - the vision and the mission that drives me.

For all these reasons and many more, I'm going to work my hardest to make this a special day for her. We're going to dinner with many members of her family - at the restaurant she loves best. I'm going to make sure everything is clean when she gets home, so she won't feel the need to do anything. I'll make certain the pets are cared for, and that the driveway is already shoveled.

Most important of all, I'll do all I can to show her how very dear to me she is.

Happy birthday, sweetheart! I hope it's a wonderful day!!

In peace,

Lane

God is Too Big to Fit Into One Religion

Several weeks ago, Glenda and I made a day-trip to East Peoria. We went so she could show me some of the interesting shops there, and to pick up some incense and such. While there, Glenda saw a button that made perfect sense to both of us:

God is too big to fit into one religion.

Well, of course the Sacred is too large for a single sect or life-way! God is so big that it encompasses ALL beliefs, all religions. In fact, to me, the Sacred is so big that it encompasses everything in existence.

Imagine a loving caring parent - the pure embodiment of compassion. If the child of such a parent did something wrong, do you really think the parent would consign their child to eternal pain and damnation? Why would God do that to its children?

According to many Christians, this is exactly what God intends to do with most of his children - consign them to eternal damnation. Remember that most people on this planet are not Christian. And remember that some Christian sects even believe that it will happen to other Christians who do not believe exactly as they do. Consider that many Protestants believe all Catholics are going to hell, and that many Catholics believe the same of Protestants. Even within the Protestant community, I hear people saying they believe that only their sect will attain eternal happiness while all others are doomed.

How can this be? How could a loving God damn the majority of its children? How could the embodiment of compassion and love be so mean-spirited, childish and vengeful?

To me, the Sacred is the father/mother of us all, and wants above all things for its children to live spiritually-centered lives of service to others. God wants us to "come home," so to speak. God certainly does not want to see most of its children burn in hell.

A few days ago, my friend Mike dropped by for a cup and a chat. As often happens, the discussion turns to spirituality. When we turned to the concept of hell, he said, "Hell is the absence of God."

What an excellent viewpoint! The lack of the Sacred in one's life often leads to many unhappy outcomes, not the least of which is to be separated from the divine nature of all things. It can lead to loneliness and despair. It can lead one to make very unhealthy choices. The potential negative outcomes comprise a list far too long for a single entry. But I hope you see my point.

I believe that all faiths have some amount of truth to them, that they all contain the universal teachings by which we should live our lives. I believe that God "speaks" to us in many ways, and has done so at many times throughout history. God is indeed far too big to fit into a single religion. And the Sacred is nothing if not the pure love a good parent has for its children.

When interacting with people from other life-ways, I believe it's important to remember that, while this person may not share my exact interpretation of the Sacred, we are both children of God. Coming from this mindset, it's easier to remember to show respect and compassion for others. When I remember that we both came from the same source, that we are both doing our best to understand the nature of our existence, that we all make mistakes and have to learn certain lessons, I can more easily interact with that person in a positive manner.

Remembering that God is the ultimate parent of us all is an excellent step toward living a life with Spirit.

In peace,

Lane

Donations Now Gratefully Accepted

As you may have noticed, I have added a Donate button to the right-hand navigation. There are a few things that went into this decision. The first being that, recently, I've received emails from readers offering to support my efforts. The second is that this support comes at a very opportune time.

For over a decade, I have done my "spirit work" as a side project, devoting as much time as I could, but spending most of my time simply making a living. I have come to the point that I want to devote far more time, but can only do so by seeking the support of others. Like it or not, I still have to eat. (smile)

All donations will directly support my outreach, writing and speaking endeavors. The funds will be used to offset travel expenses and the printing of materials used in my presentations.

To those who have already donated, thank you very much! Your belief in, and support of, my efforts means a lot to me.

In peace,

Lane

Service is Cool Again

I'm sure that almost anyone with a blog or other outlet for their words will weigh in on today's inauguration of Barrack Obama as the 44th president of hte United States. But that doesn't mean I can't do the same. I just re-read the transcript of Obama's speech, and one thing stood out clearly to me:

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

Service - the key to fulfillment - is cool again. And so is hope.

May it always be so. May we look forward to four (or more) years of a life with Spirit!

In peace,

Lane

How Enlightened Are You?

Dan Millman is, without a doubt, my favorite writer and speaker on positive living and spirituality. I've been a devoted reader of his books for more than fifteen years, and have even had the pleasure of attending one of his seminars and meeting him. (Yes, I asked him to sign every book in my collection!)

What I like best about Dan is that he has no pretensions whatsoever, in print and in person. And he offers his ideas in a very clear, easy to understand way. I also really like that he has no problem offering the thoughts of others in his writings - stories, quotes, philosophies, you name it. His willingness to point to others who could be of value to those seeking to live a good life is something I very much respect, and it makes me pay all that much more attention to what he has to offer.

I receive Dan's occasional email newsletters, and always look forward to reading them. They always include several interesting quotes and valuable stories. In his most recent offering, Dan offers this little test, which comes from an anonymous source, a perfect example of Dan's willingness to offer positive thoughts, regardless of where he finds them. So....

How Enlightened Are You?

Well. . .

If you can live without caffeine or nicotine;

If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains;

If you can resist complaining;

If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you any time;

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment;

If you can ignore friends' limited educations and never correct them;

If you can treat the rich and poor alike;

If you can face the world without lies or deceit;

If you can conquer tension without medical help;

If you can relax without liquor;

If you can sleep without the aid of drugs;

If you can have no prejudice against creed, color, religion, gender, sexual preference, or politics...

...then you have almost reached the same level of spiritual development as your dog.

How did you do? After taking the test, I realized that I have a few things to work on. Specifically:

1. I need to get rid of my crutches, on both of which I'm working hard.

2. While I'm not a complainer by nature, I could complain even less than I do, especially about the cold weather. (Different post; another time. :-) )

3. If I'm completely objective, I have to admit that I still have some issues with automatic judgements about people of certain political leanings. Taking a minute to consider this one, I realize that there is a lot I'd like to say on the subject, but I'll leave this one for another day, too.

Wow. That's a real eye opener, isn't it? Our dog Sadie is more spiritually advanced than me... and with the exception of a very few individuals, pretty much everyone I know. And yet, I came away from that test smiling, still feeling good about myself, yet with a very valuable lesson.

I highly recommend Dan's books, and encourage you to read them. You can learn all about Dan and his work by visiting his web site. You can also sign up for his newsletter.

To me, Dan is an excellent example of living a life with Spirit!

In peace,

Lane

Foodstock Sunday Dinner Update

I'm late. I admit it. The last week or so has been a very interesting and busy time, but the headlong pace has prevented me from getting back over here. Here's what's been going on.

In my last post I mentioned the service I was to hold at the Circle of Gratitude & Love Learning Center. I'm pleased to report that it was well-received, and that the minister, Lee Fellers, has invited me to speak again. (No date yet, but I'll be sure to mention it when it's set.)

Although the new year began several days before the service, my message for the day was actually a guided process of looking both behind and ahead. It's fair to say that, on a personal level, I am pretty serious about the whole new year thing. For me, it's a time to look back at the previous year - first to again appreciate the good things and, second, to objectively review the things I could have done better.

In the US today, we do these things by going to New Year's Eve parties, and making resolutions. Well, that's not much different than what humans have done for thousands of years. However, today, the parties that began as feasts of thanks have become more about how drunk we can get than being thankful. And while resolutions concerning weight loss, quitting smoking and other behaviors are certainly positive, there is a deeper level available to those who are interested.

Side Note: Resolutions trace back to ancient Babylonia, circa 2000BC. The most popular resolution of the day was to return borrowed farming equipment!

The first task - appreciating the good things - is important to do on a regular basis. For me, it's a daily thing, but also an important part of many holiday celebrations. During the New Year process, it's my little "This is Your Life" during which I can cherry pick the best times, the best people, and again give thanks for them being part of my life. It reminds me that my life is a good life, much better than that of many people in the country, not to mention the world. It also reminds me how important it is that I do my part. And that leads to the second task, reviewing my own actions and offering the most objective self-appraisal I can.

Objectivity is far different that the self abuse that often infuses our time in front of the mirror. Whether it's wrinkles around the eyes, or less than perfect behavior, we sometimes see things in their worst light, and recriminate to excess for the slightest transgression. Down that road lies self-loathing, not self-improvement.

When I look back, I don't beat myself up for mistakes. What I do look for are the ways I've responded to pressures or difficulties, and asses whether or not my actions were successful. Did they work? Did they help alleviate my stress or keep it high? Was there a better way to address those issues? When done correctly, this self-assessment can pinpoint specific actions or thoughts that can be improved upon.

I also look for behaviors that are less than my best. Looking back over the last year, I can see that, while I am an interested and engaged listener in many situations, there are others in which I could have talked less and listened more. Therefore, this year, I'm paying close attention to how much I'm listening.

Is what I'm doing any different? Not really. It is, perhaps, a more serious way of going about it - not serious as in dour-faced, but as in having respect for the need to do it, and the most effective process to accomplish my goal. To me, however, it's not a problem, or an inconvenience. It's simply putting some effort into living a life with Spirit.

If any of this makes sense to you, and you haven't completed your New Year ritual yet, I invite you to do so now. It's never too late to make a fresh start!

Now, about that dinner! I am pleased to say it was success in every way we hoped. Although we started small, serving 27 meals, we now know that our processes work, as does our time line. Next month, we can ramp up our outreach and serve more meals.

We were very pleased that one of the local papers sent a reporter, and very much appreciated the coverage. For the next dinner, our good friend and avid Foodstock supporter, Larry Weatherford, is coordinating interviews to be broadcast on his radio stations, KOOL Oldies, and Kiss Country, both of which have large local audiences.

Our menu was simple, yet nutritious and fun. The centerpiece was Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup - thick broth that was almost gravy, lots of veggies, and the best noodles anywhere! We also served a no-lettuce salad of tomatoes and cucumbers, rolls and bread, and a dessert of pudding and vanilla wafers.

Next month, the dinner is scheduled for Sunday the 15th, from noon till 3 p.m. (For more info visit the Danville Foodstock web site.) The menu will consist of home-made Meatloaf with brown & ketchup gravies, mashed potatoes, green beans, no-lettuce salad, and dessert. This will also be the beginning of our delivery service for seniors and handicapped individuals. My wonderful wife, Glenda, is overseeing the deliveries, and is seeking volunteers to help.

Some have asked, "what's the point?" It's simple, and I've written (and spoken) about it often: we dervive our greatest fulfillment from our service to others, and to our community as a whole. It is our spiritual duty to reach out to those in need. It's also our spiritual community to be a positive force in our community - to be a part of the glue that binds the community together for the betterment of all. Foodstock concerts help put food on the shelves of the Danville Area Food Pantry, which serves thousands of individuals every year. The Sunday dinners will provide hot, nutritious meals to many who might have one that day without them. Both activities bring members of the community together, strengthening existing bonds while creating new ones.

Being spiritual isn't about "easy" or "fun". It certainly isn't about being "cool". And it most definitely isn't about showing up at church so everyone knows how religious you are. In addition to, and perhaps more important than, our relationship with the Sacred (or God by whatever name), it's about right action. t's about doing what needs to be done, based on our understanding of the spiritual nature of this life.

In order to achieve our greatest potential spiritually, we must constantly strive to do better, to be better. We must constantly look for ways to improve ourselves and our community, which in turn requires that we always keep our eyes (and hearts) open for opportunities to serve. And that is when the real fun begins. That's when you begin to truly live a life with Spirit.

May it always be so.

In peace,

Lane

Activities on Sunday, January 4, 2009

This is just a quick note to inform those in the Danville, IL, area about two things we'll be doing this coming Sunday, January 4, 2009.

At noon, I will present my first service at the Circle of Gratitude and Love Learning Center. I am very honored - and humbled - that Lee and Susan (our ministers) have invited me to offer the first service of the year - one that I do not take lightly. I will be offering my thoughts on the new year and how to take the most positive early steps.

The Learning Center is a non-denominational, spiritual congregation. All are welcome, regardless of belief system. If you aren't doing anything else, I'd love to meet you.

Later, from 3-6 p.m., we'll be at the Lion's Club building in Tilton, IL, serving our very first Foodstock Charities Sunday Dinner. Last year, we began to produce benefit concerts in support of the Danville Area Food Pantry. This year, we're implementing Phase II by offering a free dinner one Sunday each month. The menu comes courtesy of Bob, who is a professional caterer (among other things). All of Bob's recipes are heart healthy, and very nutirtious. This week we're offering Chicken Vegetable soup and bread, with pudding for dessert. Each month, we'll offer a different meal.

The dinners are FREE, and open to all. There is no qualification necessary. We're serving everything but the sermon! With the current financial crisis, each week more families find themselves in trouble. The Foodstock Charities Dinners are one way that we can help.

If you're in the Danville area, please feel free to stop in to say HI! and enjoy a bowl of home-made soup!

In peace,

Lane

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2009! I hope you had a wonderful - and safe! - New Year's Eve celebration. Please excuse my lapse in posting. I spent Christmas week back where I grew up in Northern Virginia. It had been five years since I'd seen my daughter, mother, and both my sisters' families, and it was sure great to be "back home."

What's amazing (to me) about the trip, is that my wonderful new wife, Glenda, wouldn't let me reschedule the trip after we were married. She felt it so important that I follow through on earlier plans that she sacrificed our first Christmas together so that I could still go! Now that's true love!

Obviously, the trip was a safe one; after all, I'm writing this blog post. It was also a wonderful time! Everyone was so excited to hear news of the wedding, as well as the rest of my life. And I got to catch up on all the intimate details about the rest of the family. In the Spring, Glenda and I are going to attempt to make it back so everyone can meet She Who Completes Me.

I got home late the day after Christmas. Within an hour of arriving, I was sleeping off the rigors of a 12-hour road trip. Saturday was spent doing a whole lot of nothing and, other than services, Sunday was about the same. Well, not entirely true. I did spend some time getting the last few things out of my old apartment. (Thanks, Bob!!) Come Monday, however, I was in full work mode, catching up on office duties and doing final exit from the apartment. I'm happy to say that I made the deadline and we no longer have to pay rent in two places.

So. Today begins a new year. As always, I'm going to spend much of the day reflecting on the past year and making decisions about the one to come. This actually began in Babylonia about 4,000 years ago. However, unlike today, when most resolutions focus on losing weight, quitting smoking and similar activities, in Babylonia the most popular resolution was to return borrowed farming equipment! I'm happy to say I don't need to return any spades, shovels, rakes or hoes, much less a tractor or some such!

This year holds many opportunities and I hope to take advantage of them all. To me, the best way to show gratitude for the gift and respect for the giver is to use the gift wisely. And that is what I hope to do. I hope you will take time today - or soon - to reflect on the many wonderful gifts you received during the past year, and to carefully consider how you would like to make the new year even better.

Our life is a spiritual journey, but each year offers a new beginning. Our actions at the beginning are the most important, as they set the tone for all that follows. May we all take strong steps with clear intent. May we enter the new year with spirits fully engaged! May we enjoy a life with spirit!

In peace,

Lane