Always Strive to be Better

This is the eighth in the list of 10 Commandments for Happiness – not chronologically by rank but numerically. Striving to be better involves improvement and change.

An anonymous author wrote, "The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement". Another wrote, "The best contribution one can make to humanity is to improve oneself". We have already noted that happiness comes from giving or contributing to someone or something beyond oneself.

We are told that the human brain is capable of holding one thousand terabytes of data, roughly 100 times the capacity of the U.S. Library of Congress. Thus the human brain's capacity for learning more and improvement is almost beyond imagination.

Improvement also means growth, and moving beyond one's present station is a source of happiness. That is what C.R. Lawton meant in this quotation: "Unless you try to do something beyond what you have mastered, you will never grow".

We can therefore summarize by saying, self-improvement, growth and change, all contribute to happiness and they are interconnected. A final quotation from Les Brown: "You cannot expect to achieve new goals or move beyond your present circumstances unless you change".

Treat others the way you would like to be treated

You can hardly find happiness if you are not involved in others' happiness. Look at every faith tradition and you will discover that they all emphasize compassion. Compassion is a lot more than simply pity or feeling sorry for another person.

Essentially, compassion is feeling what the other person feels. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are..." (Romans 12:15-16).

There is a desire for compassion in every human being. Being compassionate with others leads them to be compassionate with us. Conversely, treating others with contempt prompts them to treat us with contempt.

Happiness is a two-way street: give it; you will receive it. Withhold it; you will be miserable. Essentially, that is what it means to treat others the way you would like to be treated.

Next, we will look at the remaining 2 of the 10 Commandments for Happiness
　

The Road to the London Olympics

After the close of the impressive 2012 World Choir Games, the people of Cincinnati can now turn their full attention to the upcoming London Olympics which open on July 27, 2012.

For the first time, women in the U.S team outnumber men 269 to 261

One of the women, the prospective – or even, the projected – first ever U.S gold medalist in Judo, has roots in Cincinnati. Not only that; Kayla Harrison, a Middletown native, has a life story that is pure inspiration as an example of one who overcomes affliction to emerge out a star.

It is fair to say that, even before London, Kayla Harrison is role model and a teacher to many. In 2004, when she was only 13, she was sexually abused by her judo trainer, and a sexual relationship continued for three years. It is devastating at such a tender age – or even at any age – to be abused by a person in a position of trust.

Yet, she overcame all that. Lou Holtz is quoted to have said, "It is not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it". That is the first lesson we all learn.

The second lesson is how she bonded with positive people at Pedro's Judo Center in Massachusetts, and managed to keep pursuing her Judo dreams after her emotional ordeal. It a lesson everyone can learn.

A first gold medal in Judo for the U.S will be a well-deserved crown for Kayla Harrison for her endurance. Again, that is almost assured. However, even without it, she has this far taught many some useful lessons which will continue to be part of her legacy.

At only 22, Kayla Harrison is, and will continue to be a role model for many across the country and around the world.

　

　

　

Bible Study surrounded by nature is most inspiring

While Christ Church Cathedral served as a venue for the 2012 World Choir Games, which conclude today,the church's Men's Bible Study group had to find a venue for their Thursday morning study away from the library. The International FriendshipPark provided a perfect venue for the past two Thursdays.

Now the group is pulled between continuing their bible study in the park and going back to the cozy library.

They could hear – and even feel – the Ohio River flowing in the background. Ahead, the picturesque Mount Adams was in perfect view. Surrounded by trees and summer flowers, the sound of chirping morning birds is everywhere.  Every few minutes joggers go by, adding to the conscious awareness of the beauty of life in its fullest.

The park's display of flags from different nations adds to the awareness that all humans are connected to one another and with nature.
 
In meditation for this Sunday’s lectionary lessons from 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19; Eph. 1:3-14; and Mark 6:14-29, the group directed its reflection on the Collect for the day, which asks God to “receive the prayers of Your people who call upon You, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them”.

In the Gospel Reading, Herod Antipas had John the Baptist beheaded even though his conscious was against it. He succumbed to his ego, and the fleshly desire to appease his step-daughter after her sensual dance.

That is a good lesson in today’s world.

The bible study provides such an enriching and inspiring one hour a week that at the end of it, as one in the group remarked, “We have been here only 45 minutes but it feels like a whole day of so much fun”.

Yes, bible study is fun, even more so when surrounded by nature.

Never Take Anything too Seriously

Number 6 of Brad's 10 Commandments for Happiness is about being able to be relaxed – not letting things weigh heavily on your spirit. Recently I saw a paraphrase of Micah 6:8b on a T-shirt which read: “Be kind, don't take yourself seriously, but take God seriously”.

Rigidity is a source of misery, there is no doubt about it.

To ridicule the religious and monks in his book The Praise of Folly (1509) Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536) wrote: “It is amusing to see how they do everything by rule, almost mathematically. Any slip is sacrilege; each shoe string must have so many knots and must be of certain color...making an extraordinary stir if a habit is belted incorrectly or if its color is a shade too dark...”

First, this is not in reference to the religious and monks only. Secondly, it may sound like the life of a perfectionist, but, examine your attitude and how you work or think of others' habits. If you can't laugh at yourself you are probably not going to be happy either.

There is truth in the maxim: “Laughter is the best medicine”.

Work Towards Something Meaningful

This is number 5 on our discussion of Brad's 10 Commandments for Happiness – number 6 on his list – but again the numbering is purely arbitrary.

What is meaningful is that which is bigger than the individual's propensity. It does not have to be a grand endeavor, but directed outside of oneself. There is, for example, a volunteer at City Gospel Mission, who, for years has shown up, at 6:30 in the morning to serve breakfast to the poor and homeless. He stands at the door to the dining hall and high fives every guest with a broad smile and a greeting: “God be in your day!”. The effect is contagious as the guests cheer up in response.

Nothing grand but warming hearts.

Happiness comes from being positive about oneself and extending that to others; aiming to influence others to have a positive outlook about themselves and life in general. Bear in mind that human beings are spiritually connected. How you feel about yourself impacts those around you in their feelings about themselves.

Be a positive influence; you will find happiness in it.

The Monkey Trial still goes on

Back in 1994 the O.J. Simpson trial was dubbed “the trial of the century”. I suspect it was because the Monkey Trial that began on July 10, 1925 had been forgotten by popular media and television was unknown in 1925. Undoubtedly, the Monkey Trial was “one of the most famous trials in U.S history”

The issues that prompted the trial are still entrenched in the faith community and growing stronger. The main issue was, of course, the literal interpretation of the Bible; a point that was not addressed during the trial because Judge John Raulston himself espoused literal interpretation.

When, in 1968, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in another case citing the First Amendment, well, literal interpretation remains beyond the scope of judicial jurisdiction.

A Nova Program on PBS has been featuring new images of space and the universe – new in the sense that they were unknown or undiscovered in biblical times. To fathom what space telescopes like Hubble reveal calls for faith in itself.

The question I am raising is this: Would the creation narratives in Genesis still be as they are, if they were written today? With new stars being born (or created) and old ones dying and the discovery of galaxies that dwarf the earth “as center of the universe”, isn't creation still in progress?

Share your comments and suggestions.

Live Without Regrets

This is number one on Brad's 10 Commandments for Happiness. It is another way of saying give up all hope of a better past. Regrets stem from mistakes or lost opportunities in the past; guilt for actions or inaction in the past; thoughts of "what could have been".

Perhaps, nothing will rob one of happiness more than living in the past.
Learn from mistakes, build on the present and look forward to the future. The present matters far more than the past; it is what you have. This compliments the last commandment we discussed: Enjoy all the little things, appreciate and be grateful for what you have regardless of what you had had or could have had.

Happiness is found in the present, not in the past.

Have a positive attitude about the present. Yes, we all may have some sweet memories of years gone buy, just don't let them take away the joy of the present. Experience from the past – good and bad – can only help us make better judgment today, but we cannot relive them.

Make a decision today to choose the present over the past.

Enjoy All the Little Things

This is listed at number seven on Brad's 10 Commandments of Happiness.

It is easy to be caught up in preoccupation with what we do not have, and be oblivious to what we already have. A spirit of appreciation is a powerful force for happiness.

Life is a wonderful gift; it has meaning and a purpose. Waking up in the morning is a gift. So is food on the table – not how much but enough for sustenance. Having a friend or someone who cares, family and, simply, people around – these are blessings to be accepted and appreciated.

In our materialistic society, the significance of abundance is exaggerated and the simple blessings of life overshadowed. Longing for what could have been takes away the joy of the present. As Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) noted, "We are always getting ready to live, but never living".

Happiness is in living in the present.

Touch and be touched to experience healing

There is tremendous power in a touch, many people will attest to that, hence the ritual of hand-shaking and the significance of body massage. The Eastern rituals of bowing or clasped hands in greeting are a spiritual form of the hand-shake, conveying connection between two people.

In the Epistle Reading for this Sunday – The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost – Paul urges the Corinthian believers to be intentional “not only to do something but even to desire to do something...now finish doing it” (2 Corinthians 8:1-15). In other words, match desire with action.

Paul was encouraging the Corinthians to make a physical – monetary – contribution to help the poor church in Jerusalem. The significance of this contribution was not the money, but the resultant spiritual  connection between the Gentile Christians and their Jewish brethren in Jerusalem.

There is an equally powerful demonstration of the significance of a touch in the Gospel Reading  from Mark 5:21-43.  By touching Jesus' garment, the woman suffering from unending hemorrhages found healing. Similarly, Jesus touched the dead synagogue leader's daughter by the hand and she came to life.

Think of the joy (a sign of healing) on the faces of those in a nursing home or hospital when they are visited and touched. The healing is on both the visitor and the visited; in fact many who do such visits believe they get healed even more than those they visit.

Be intentional about touching someone and being touched this week-end.

Don't second guess yourself

This appears as number five on Brad's listof 10 Commandments of Happiness, but the order is only arbitrary. Here too, I will give an illustration.

Recently, a friend recounted his experience when he stood in front of people and told of his own story of transformation. He is a young man rebuilding his life after years of addiction. In the process of recovery he has achieved some milestones, even in the eyes of those who know him.

He trained for and participated in this year's Flying Pig Marathon, something he would not have been able to accomplish before the recovery process. He has reconnected and now has relationship with his daughter. Furthermore, he is already taking steps to go back to school and finish his education.

Standing in front of people to tell this story was almost scary to him, but he managed to do it and he was quite happy afterwards.

Ironically, after ballet classes, his six year old daughter performed, for the first time, in front of 200 people. This was the same week he gave his testimony. She told him that she was a little afraid, but not scared.

Children don't second guess themselves and they are happier. We sometimes allow the past to haunt us.. We allow other people – and society in general -  to impose limits on our abilities. None is these will bring one happiness.

Place Importance on the Things that Matter

We live in a society and a culture of materialism and consumerism which value possessions and more possessions. There is therefore a cycle of wanting more and more resulting in dissatisfaction. Appreciating what one has, rather than lusting for what one does not have, is an essential element of what is truly important and what matters.

Here is an illustration.

There was a church group that visited a partner church in the Lake Victoria region of Tanzania. Even by Tanzanian standards, the area is poor. There is no running water – women and children walk a mile or more to water wells. They use firewood to cook on the floor. Most people walk barefoot, a few have shoes for church on Sunday!

The two represented two different worlds.

During the visitors two week stay, what struck them most was not their hosts' poverty but the happiness and joy that filled them. Everywhere they went and every activity they shared, there was just joy and happiness. It was the opposite of what one would expect, given their material condition.

They were puzzled because there was no explanation for the mood.

At the end of their visit, the group's first stop on their way home was Amsterdam. As soon as they landed, the feeling of joy and happiness they carried evaporated; they were filled with sadness. They wanted to go back to the people of the Lake Victoria region.

What are your comments or suggestions? May be you have had a similar experience – or different! You are welcome to share them here.

Next on our list's discussion will be: Don't Second Guess Yourself.

Ten Commandments of Happiness

In his blog InspiredConsciousLiving, Brad lists 10 Commandments of Happiness. Perhaps there are not many people who agree with the German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) that happiness “is not an ideal of reason but of imagination”. Certainly, it is not imagination!

Richard Whately (1787-1863) Archbishop of Dublin, noted that happiness “is no laughing matter”. Even more famously, Thomas Jefferson penned down that happiness is an inalienable right – it's pursuit, that is. There is a movie too, of that title, The Pursuit of Happyness.

Happiness is the goal of life – not pleasure as the English poet, dramatist and critic John Dryden (1631-1700) correctly remarked that “all the happiness mankind can gain is not in pleasure, but in rest from pain”. Ironically, Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918) would later ask: “Doesn't happiness issue from pain?”

What we see here – and when you take a deep breath and think about it - is that happiness is indeed an ideal, but it is also elusive. In the course of pursuing happiness, what is found is often misery. There are numerous examples from relationships, occupations and careers, and lifestyles.

It is worthwhile looking at Brad's 10 Commandments of Happiness and the first one we'll examine is: Place Importance on the Things that Matter – number 2 on his list.

Please join in, comment or make suggestions.

Sometimes transformation and legacy can only be understood in retrospect

During a bible study session, the words in the Collect for The Fourth Sunday After Pentecost prompted some reflection. “...for You never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of Your loving-kindness ...” The puzzle is: How does this prayer reflect on the Jews and the holocaust?

Actually this invites reflection on the entire history of the Jewish people – a history punctuated with suffering and persecution throughout the centuries.

What kind of transformation and what kind of legacy can be seen in this experience? I suggest a look at the whole Judeo-Christian tradition, and by extension, western civilization. Ironically they are the very source and instrument of Jewish persecution and suffering.

Is Judeo-Christian culture or western civilization superior?

Not at all; lest we succumb to the temptation of labels of “us” against “them”.

However, there is a lot of good in Judeo-Christian heritage and western civilization which is a source of pride for some and even envy by others. This explains why the late Pope John Paul II was so dismayed that the European Union constitution did not explicitly acknowledge Europe's Christian heritage. It would similarly explain some politicians' misguided desire to forcibly impose those values on others.

In this reflection, Paul's words in the Epistle Reading for this Sunday, elucidate on how this legacy is forged ahead: “We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited....in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distress; in beatings, imprisonments and riots, in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness...” (2 Corinthians 6:3-13).

That, to me, is the process of transformation and the legacy of centuries of suffering: It can only be understood in hindsight.

                              Centuries of prayer at the Western Wall in Jerusalem

Through it all

The story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 – this coming Sunday's First Reading – is without doubt one of the most familiar – and famous – of all the biblical stories. It is immortalized in art, music and inspirational tales because of its audacity – whether you look at it from David's or Goliath's or third party perspective.

There is no match whatsoever, between the giant, heavily armored Goliath and the boyish, handsome David.

Yet, that is the real-life picture for everyone of us. There is a Goliath, or many of them, that must be faced every day or at some point in life. They come in the form of debilitating health problems or terminal diseases, if not in one's life, in a relative, family member, friend or loved one. They come in the form of financial, business or career threats or even ruin; and in relationships too. The list is endless.

The reason this story has been immortalized is because Goliath is not all that formidable. Yes, those Goliaths we face in life can be vanquished and we need to be anchored in that affirmation.

In the Second Reading from 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, Paul looks back at some Goliaths encountered and subdued: hunger, persecution, jail, scorn, ridicule and rejection, and, again, the list goes on. Many can identify with this, even at this time.

storms in real life

Another way of looking at all this is the calming of the storm in the Gospel Reading from Mark 4:35-41. Life tosses us face to face with Goliaths and storms. Life also promises a sure foundation to conquer them. Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “If there is a wall there is a door”. And Andrae Crouch wrote, “Through it all, I learned to trust God”.

What exactly is Transformation?

A new book published by Transformation Books, and titled Pebbles in the Pond - 46 real-life stories compiled by Christine Kloser - gives the best answer and illustration of how challenges, struggles and disappointments can be transformational not only to the individual but also the world.

 The title is a vivid picture of what happens when a pebbles falls – or is dropped – into a water pond. A ring forms where the pebble falls then it widens and spreads out in ripples - ring after ring after another, each wider than the previous.

Transformation is about being affected positively and for better from any life experience. What Christine Kloser has done in this book is to compile real life-changing stories from 46 contributors, among them, best selling authors and simply visionaries who faced and even embraced some very big challenges and moments of trial and uncertainty in their lives.

As a result, they discovered their calling in life, a discovery they would not have found without the life experience that initially scared them.

They are telling their stories in this book because of the even larger purpose of transformation. When one life is transformed, it can affect transformation of another life. That is the ripple effect of that one pebble.

Every single story in this book is inspiring and uplifting. The diversity of the contributors and the range of their experiences make Pebbles in the Pond a must-read for anyone seeking to grasp the true meaning of life experiences.

"First woman", "first American woman", "first Chinese woman"

The first time it was simply a woman, without qualification by nationality. In order to retain the distinction of "a first" all subsequent achievements would have to be on the basis of nationality or something equally qualifying. Hence, "first American", "first Chinese", "first Japanese", "first German", and so on.

Here, it is space; and the milestone is almost 20 years to the date: The first time a woman went into space was June 16, 1963 – a Russian named Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova. Almost 20 years later to the day, on June 18, 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman in space. 29 years later, Liu Yang, on June 16, 2012 became the first Chinese woman in space.

One needs only look back over these almost 50 years to appreciate the transformational process. Today, space travel seems almost routine. Indeed, it is fast moving into private commercial enterprise. Fifty years ago, it was still in the dream stage.

That "first woman", the pioneer, had a passion for sky-diving. It is that desire we all have, to do something – gardening, photography, hiking, cooking, reading, writing, and so forth. In her passion for sky-diving, Valentina Tereshkova could not have foreseen or even imagined what space travel is today.

This is precisely what transformation is all about. If only we could grasp the larger picture that emerges from our small, and sometimes routine, daily experiences. Look beyond this lifetime, beyond the tombstone.
Does it matter? That is the ultimate meaning of this life.

A small gesture, but enormous consequences

It was a gesture of conciliation, albeit a small one, but with enormous consequences, when South African president Pieter W. Botha chose to meet with Desmond Tutu on June 13, 1986. Attempts to quell ongoing social unrest by force were unsuccessful and so too were attempts at nominal reforms.

What prospects did a small gesture of conciliation hold? Only in hindsight, for at the time it was deemed to have failed.

Jesus, in this Sunday's Gospel Reading from Mark 4:26-34 tells a parable about a mustard seed, “which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade”.

In hindsight, indeed, that meeting was a mustard seed. Gradually apartheid was dismantled, South Africa became independent and the tremendous work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, chaired by Archbishop Tutu, facilitated healing of the bitterness and hatred of so many decades.

Everyone can be or grow that mustard seed in one's respective community. That is all we are called to be and do.

                                  Small acts of compassion
                                     Picture by Author

Without goodwill, coexistence becomes difficult

When on June 13, 1986 President P. W. Botha of South Africa decided to meet with Desmond Tutu, it was considered only a gesture – actually, a conciliatory one. After all, Desmond Tutu was only dean of St. Mary's Cathedral in Johannesburg. Botha had enormous material resources in addition to a military force.

Injustice was what brought the two men together. Apartheid had been in full force for the past 38 years, protests and civil unrest were common around the country. Leaders of the oppressed – like Nelson Mandela - had been incarcerated in the 1960s. Those who followed on their footsteps in the 1970's – like Steve Biko – had been murdered by the police.

Bogus political reforms – like a new constitution in 1984 – did not address the underlying issues of injustice. Peace, social and economic progress became more and more illusive.

Botha and his government found themselves diverting all their national resources towards efforts to contain the social unrest. But they got no rest. It would take more than military might to achieve peace and co-existence.

Three elements of rejection of divine purpose

This far we have examined three areas of resistance to God. First there is resistance to God's rule, good as it is, in favor of conformity to everybody else. Second, God's care – with manna, heavenly food, is rejected, in preference to toil and slavery. Third, fear and doubt prevail over God's promises.

The spies – the explorers – and the people's reaction to their report in Numbers 13 and 14 provide the best illustration of the third element. In the presence of the whole assembly, the explorers brought back their report: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its proof” (13:27).

Excellent report and with proof of its goodness! It sounds very positive. So what is the problem?

The little conjunction that follows, “but”, is the problem. It reverses what is positive into a negative. They saw giants. Not only that, but they felt like grasshoppers and believed that the giants saw them as such!

Everything positive and God's promise evaporated because of fear. Next, we will see how all these elements adversely affect transformation.

A look at the typical human side: Part 2

The question was raised regarding the perplexing desire for humans to reject God's plans. In the Gospel Reading for the Second Sunday in Pentecost, Jesus' ministry of healing was ridiculed. “By the ruler of the demons he casts out demons” (Mark 3:22). In spite of the good deeds that followed his ministry, there was still suspicion.

Consider what happened in Numbers 14. “Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?...We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt”. This is a good example of desiring to reverse God's plans.

It is to be noted that this desire to reverse divine plan came after doubts were raised by the spies sent to explore the promised land – God's gift to the people. The name of the Torah portion – Shelah – is God's command to Moses in Numbers 13:2 “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan which I am giving to the Israelites”.

There was a promise and certainty - “I am giving (the land) to the Israelites”. All that the explorers – or spies – and the people were being asked to do was to walk into the promise. Could that be the real problem with the human side of things?

There is still more to follow.

A look at the typical human side

The First Reading for this Second Sunday after Pentecost bears interesting parallels with the Torah Reading for Shelah (Numbers 13:1-15:41) and even last week',s portion, Be'ha'alot'cha (Numbers 8:1-13:16). In the lectionary reading from 1 Samuel 8 the Israelites desire a king – like the other nations.

It sounds rather surprising that they would choose a human king rather than God. Despite warnings about the nature of human kings, the Israelites persisted in their demand. "No!", they insisted, "we are determined to have a king over us, so that we also may be like the other nations..."

Kings are prone to do injustice, draft their citizens into armed forces and conflicts, trample on the weak and simply look at their own interests. Strangely enough, people would prefer this situation.

The P'rashot above also show what we may refer to as the typical human side.

How can we explain the people's complaint in Numbers 11:5 that "we remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost – also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic"? Surely, the cost was slavery, of which they were now saying, "Why did we ever leave Egypt?"

How can these contradictions be explained?

Follow the next post.

What is nobody did anything?

What would have happened had Mahatma Gandhi not refused to comply with the racial rule that resulted in his being thrown out of the train in Pietermaritzburg that June 7, 1893? It is erroneous to think nothing would have happened.

It is true that apartheid did take root and flourish in South Africa beyond Gandhi's lifetime. And certainly, racism still flourishes around the globe. Nevertheless, that one act of conscience transformed Mohandas Gandhi – who later became known as Mahatma, meaning “the great soul” - and by his transformation, the world was also transformed.

Indeed, Gandhi saw that experience on that train as a moment of truth for him. That moment of truth spread throughout the world, and still spreads. Even where racism and prejudice still exists today, they are seen as cowardice, shame and ignorance.

Gandhi's moment of reckoning spread beyond South Africa into India and became a transformative force in the civil rights movement in the United States. Who would have thought one man's simple act of response to injustice would have such momentous consequences?

But think of what would have happened had he done nothing. As Edmund Burke once said, “All that is required for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing”.

By choice it becomes or does not become an "aha" moment

The story in Isaiah 6:1-13 – The First Lesson on Trinity Sunday – calls for an exclamation of "wow!". Sitting in the temple in Jerusalem, Isaiah has a vivid experience of the Lord seated on a throne, surrounded by seraphim - the heavenly hosts. It is an overwhelming experience.

Do we ever get experiences like that?

There is an even more detailed similar experience in Ezekiel 1:4- 2:1. Imagine Ezekiel's exclamation of "wow! Wow!"

Isaiah's reaction to his experience was a feeling of unworthiness. "Woe to me for I am sinful!". Ezekiel's was one of complete awe. He fell face down. The other great prophet, Jeremiah, saw his "inadequacies" against the revelation. "Ah, Sovereign Lord. I do not know how to speak; I am only a child" (Jer 1:6).

Even when curiosity leads to revelation, for example, Moses' curiosity and resolve, "I will go over and see this strange sight – why the bush does not burn up" (Ex. 3:3) when the deeper meaning came to him, he resisted it. "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" (Ex. 3:11).

There is still another reaction – refusal to acknowledge – for example Jonah's decision to go directly opposite of where he was being led.

Every experience in life, every happening is a pathway to a revelation of the greater purpose in life. Do you accept and embrace them or do you resist, reject or even defy them?

Everyone has a story to tell

Life consists of stories: happenings, experiences, episodes and the like. Can you think of life without them? It would be bland, boring, "uneventful" with nothing to learn or teach.

We are also uncomfortable with "drama" in life or "soap opera"; nobody likes them and certainly no one welcomes tragedy. Nevertheless, they are all elements of life and living. Many great things have come out of tragedy and we have all been inspired by some families or individuals who have known a good deal of tragedy.

I look at my own life: Ministry in a rural parish on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, seminary years – as a novice and also a professor – and a one time student in an Opus Dei college in Nairobi; in Jerusalem and Jewish-Christian relations, and on and on. These are integral parts of my life.

They have transformed me and continue to influence me even as life and more experiences and events continue. These stories are not just for us. They are part of our collective human experience and transformation.
As I share my life story in these pages, I am experiencing transformation. My hope is that you do too.

Transformation reveals the larger picture

One way of looking at the lessons for Trinity Sunday (June 3) is through the lens of transformation. Transformation is not an end in itself, but a means, or a process, to greater things, whose achievement require the process.

While in the temple, the prophet Isaiah witnesses the heavenly court of the Lord with cherubim and seraphim’s, or angelic attendants (Isa. 6:1 -8). This is a picture beyond the physical experience, it is what some describe as transcendental.

The picture we see of the physical world is only a part of the whole. It is only when we remove ourselves from the sometimes overwhelming daily activities around us that we are able to see the larger, complete picture.

In the Gospel Reading – John 3:1 -17 – Jesus talks to Nicodemus about transformation, or what Christians refer to as conversion. It is all about seeing things – the world – beyond the physical experience.

Look at the things going on in your community. In Cincinnati, it is renovation of downtown, the construction of a casino, preparations for the World Choir Games. And yes, there is feeding of the poor and hungry. All of these are very good things.

But that is not a complete picture. Through transformation, which is beyond the physical, we can see where the whole picture is and how to get there.

Acceptance, not resistance

“For there is a time for every experience and for every happening” (Qoheleth 3:17)

Life is received; from God – or Universe (as some would prefer) and destined for a purpose. That purpose has to be discovered because no one has it spelled out when the journey begins and every happening or experience is designed to shape its realization.

When we resist, oppose and even fight certain experiences – because we “do not like them”, they are nasty or unpleasant - we only delay the actualization of life's purpose. There cannot be joy nor fulfillment when life's purpose is not realized.

Life becomes meaningful and satisfying when we discover and pursue its purpose – and do so relentlessly. Do not give up, despair or be discouraged in its quest. Challenges and adversities are to be met and overcome, not avoided, resisted or fought.

Acceptance versus resistance

“A season is set for everything; a time for every experience under heaven” (Qoheleth 3:1)

We have learned or taught ourselves to “chart out our own course”, to determine which direction to go and which not to go. We have decided which experience is good and which is not good.

We do not want to be sick; for example, and that is understandable. We do not want to lose a job or not have income or enough to eat. These are experiences we consider to be bad and so we spend a lot of time and energy resisting them.

The writer of Ecclesiastes says there is a season for everything. Actually, everything has a purpose.

Think of the seasons of the year. Some people may not like the heat and humidity of summer. (Could it be that some are already complaining?) Others may not like the cold and snow in winter. But we have learned to find joy and fulfillment despite the elements we dislike.

But then, that is the physical world and the physical experiences associated with it. The five senses – touch, sight, taste, smell and hearing – influence our perception and reaction. So does social environment.

Shavuot calls for willingness to be transformed

The Jewish holiday of Shavuot began at sundown on Saturday May 26 and ends at sunset on Monday, May 28. The holiday coincides with the Christian Day of Pentecost observed on Sunday, May 27.

In Jewish tradition, Shavuot commemorates the receiving of the Torah on Mount Sinai and Jews are required to read the Torah all night! Reading does not mean memorization or recitation. On the contrary, Jewish tradition involves discussion and wrestling with questions; and doing this all night.

But why?

Simply stated, it is because the Torah is not static. It speaks anew to successive generations and in so doing transforms. Thus every Shavuot is a call to be transformed. A commentary on Exodus (actually Midrash Shmot Rabba 47) shows that when Moses received the Torah, he also received all questions that would be raised in the future.

It is alright, and indeed, it is encouraged to have questions, to ask God questions and to seek clarity. The willingness to question, to inquire, is what leads to transformation. Society needs to continuously be willing to be transformed or it dies spiritually.

It is necessary to question what has come to be accepted as norm. In dealing with any section of society – for example the poor, the needy, the defenseless – the norm needs to be questioned. Seeking answers is indeed willingness to be transformed.

A guide into all truth

Even before Pontius Pilate snapped at Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) and to the present, mankind continues to search for truth. There are half-truths, “true lies”, fine prints, “make believes”, distortions and even fabrications; rich vocabulary for the opposite and very little for it.

Speaking of the Holy Spirit in this Sunday's – Day of Pentecost – Gospel Reading, Jesus said to his disciples, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16: 13).

Pentecost is the Greek name for the Jewish holiday, The Feast of Weeks (Lev. 23:15 -22) – Shavuot - which is also believed to be the day the Israelites received the Torah on Mount Sinai. Torah actually means “teaching” or “guidance” which is what comes from a loving and caring God.

As Jews observe Shavuot the entire biblical book of Ruth will be read. Why? Agriculture, the main source of livelihood for the Israelites, is a prominent motif in the story which shows God's desire for the community to care for the poor and the needy in its appropriation of the agricultural harvest.

This Sunday, therefore, Christians and Jews reflect on the received divine guidance for discernment of God's will in a society that is clouded with too many false truths and deliberate distortions. Cincinnati, for one, is witnessing unprecedented economic activity in the urban district: The Banks, Washington Park project, and the Casino development are all of economic vitality.

In the midst of all these good developments, the poor may be forgotten or even trampled upon. Thanks be to God, there is divine guidance, if only we would seek it.

Sent into the world

On this Seventh Sunday of Easter, western Christianity traditionally commemorates Ascension Day which was on Thursday, May 17. It was on that 40^{th day after the Resurrection that Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11).}

The Lessons for this Sunday speak about witnessing – or testimony – and Jesus' followers' role in the world. In the First Lesson, Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, the Apostles elected Matthias in the place of Judas Iscariot "to become a witness with us to his (Jesus') resurrection". The Apostles' were called to bear witness to Jesus' resurrection.

In the Second Reading from 1 John 5:9-13, the writer points out that Jesus' teaching was testimony from God, and believers, consequently bear God's testimony in their hearts. In many ways, this is reassurance to every believer that faith in Jesus comes from God.

The second role of the Apostles, and every believer, can be seen in Jesus' prayer in the Gospel Reading from John 17:6-19. "I am no longer in the world, but they are...I am not asking you to take them out of the world...As you have sent me...so I have sent them..." The task of continuing Jesus' ministry, here on earth, now resides in his followers.

These two roles go hand in hand.

Jesus touched individuals and transformed them and society. Today, each one of us is called, first to be transformed, and then help transform our society. In so doing we bear witness to Jesus and his truth which is in us.

That is, really, what discipleship is all about.

In harmony with nature

Residents and visitors to Cincinnati will celebrate Mai Fest this week-end, May 18 – 20. It is the celebration of the arrival of Spring.

Much as Mai Fest may be associated with some forms of revelry – German-style – with beer drinking, Spring is a season of new life, literally, springing from the ground. In a spiritual sense, Spring symbolizes renewal. After the doldrums of Winter, this is a time of vibrancy and transformation.

Most people are cheerful in Spring, certainly more so than in Winter. What is external on faces and even moods, stems from inner spiritual exuberance. It is possible to maintain the same transformation every day of life. This week-end could be the best starting point.

How can this continual life transformation be maintained?

The week began with The Days of Rogation, or “Days of Prayer” where the prayers focus on harmonious functioning of nature. Our transformation as human beings begins with connecting and seeking harmony with nature.

Indeed, the events in Cincinnati point in the same direction, for the International Butterfly Show, which began on April 21, continues through Mai Fest to June 24. Like many insects, butterflies are the final stage of a transformation (metamorphosis) which goes from eggs to larvae to pupae before becoming butterflies.

The Creator of nature - and humans too - must have designed the process of transformation for all creatures. There are metamorphoses that go unnoticed in human organs. Thus, transformation is necessary for life to be complete.

This week-end, and the days ahead, can jump-start all of us on this journey of perpetual transformation and fullness of life.

Connect with nature and all the creation

Contemporary society has been so far removed from the natural world to the extent that some do not even know that humans are, like all creatures, totally dependent it. Picking up food and supplies from the supermarket creates an illusion – and indeed obscures the fact that everything comes from the earth. If one does not intentionally seek to connect with nature, one is misled into believing that humans are in control.

Historically, the church observed Rogation Days – meaning, “Days of Prayer” - in Spring. April 25 is the Major Rogation and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before Ascension Day (Thursday) are the Three Minor Rogations. During these days petitions are offered, for rain - enough and not too much - because Spring is the planting season. Similarly, prayers are offered for protection against natural forces that are beyond mankind's control – earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.

There is news of drought – and therefore, hunger – in the Sahel Region of Africa. There are also wild fires raging in the west of the United States. Winter did not show up this year in most of the United States.

An imbalance in one season creates ripples in the other season. Cumulatively, the whole ecosystem is put off balance. While we have control over how we treat our environment, we hardly have control over the ripple effects. We can expect harmony if we deal with our environment harmoniously.

How can one be connected or close to the Creator if one is removed from the creation? If we are disconnected with the environment and the natural world around us, we can hardly be connected to the Creator.

Mothers and Peace: The true cost of motherhood

In one Cincinnati neighborhood, the tone for this year's Mothers Day was set in the backdrop of peace marches (Who Killed our Kids: Marching for Peace). Although in most neighborhoods mothers are probably being pampered with manicure in beauty salons – or something similar, dinner outings with families, or flower presents in appreciation, the issue of safety is always of concern to mothers.

Mothers everywhere bear the pain of sons and daughters - and husbands - killed in war.

How about the teenagers and young adults killed daily in senseless violence? That has to be the most excruciating pain of motherhood. And Cincinnati has its share of street violence and young lives cut short prematurely. Gunshots are regular noises day and night in Over the Rhine, Avondale, West Walnut Hills and Price Hill is fast becoming a trouble spot.

When it comes to peace and co-existence among individuals and nations, mothers seem to have a sixth sense which is lacking in the male species in general. The latter easily resorts to violence for conflict resolution and the cycle of conflict and pain never ends.

The best present to mothers on this, and every Mothers Day, would be for every community to intentionally come together to work for justice and creating conditions that promote peace among individuals, communities and the nations of the world in general.

　

What is TAE and who is a Transformation Author?

During a webinar earlier this week, Arielle Ford who facilitated the event asked Christine Kloser, "What is Transformational Writing?" In response Christine outlined what she calls Four Levels of Transformational Writing.

The essence in transformational writing is that the story comes from inside, from within the author. While research may be involved, it is essential that it the writer who is telling the story.

As such, the first level is the author's willingness to embark on a journey of personal transformation as a prerequisite to effecting it on others.

If one is willing and ready to be transformed, the second level is the identification of the transformation which the author desires in his/her readers.

What about the whole enterprise the author is involved in? A business, career or profession: What kind of transformation does the author want?

Finally, how will the transformation impact the world? Yes, one must be bold to want to change the world! After all the nucleus of any global transformation has always been in an individual's passion for it.

So, what is the Transformational Authors Experience (TAE)? Simply put, it is "22 LIVE Teleclasses With Leading Experts On Writing, Publishing and Promoting Your Transformational Book" offered FREE from Monday, May 21 through Friday, June 1, at 1:00 and 2:30 PM EST weekdays.

Detailed information is available at: http://bit.ly/KVbqKx

How are commandments, obedience and love connected?

Laws and commandments make people cringe. Indeed, Christians see the “Law” with negative lenses.. Similarly, for some people, Christianity is a burdensome system of laws and commandments: “Don't drink!”, “Don't smoke!”, “Don't dance!”, “Don't watch movies (except “The Passion of the Christ” - with a church group, by the way)”, “Be nice to people – even those you don't like” and so on.

For Jews, the Christian “Law” (Torah) is nothing negative nor burdensome, but the loving instruction, guidance and teaching of God for God's beloved. It is the expression of love.

The scripture readings for this Sunday, the Sixth Sunday of Easter, point in the same direction. In the Epistle Reading from 1 John 5:1 -6, the writer notes: “For the love of God is this, that we obey God's commandments. And God's commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world”.

In the Gospel Reading from John 15:9 -17, Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer...but I have called you friends...”

Obedience therefore, is a love relationship not a legal commandment. Jesus' followers obey him because he is a friend, not a taskmaster.

In every walk of life there are heroes or “saints” - people whose lives inspire or challenge the rest in the true meaning of living. Some earn recognition while others may not be acknowledged or even noticed.

Karl Barth (May 10, 1886 – December 10, 1968) is acknowledged as one of The Ten Most Influential Christians of the Twentieth Century. Yet, not many Christians necessarily recognized him as they recognized some of the other “nine greats” who made up the list: Billy Graham, for example; John XXIII, Martin Luther King, Jr, Mother Teresa, John Paul II, or C.S. Lewis.

Karl Barth was a theologian – one of those academics whose influence is felt by other academics, not quite consequential to the ordinary Christian! Or was he?

It was his intellectual faculties that propelled him to champion for the distinction between the divine God and the forces of humanism of his time. His academic examination of the Epistle to the Romans enhanced, for all Christians, the contrast between the power of the Gospel and that of the state in its oppression of the poor.

His opposition of the Nazis and their “German Christian Church” is certainly exemplary for everyone. The Theological Declaration of Barmen, which he drafted (with Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Niemoller) is a testament of the Christian virtue of defending the defenseless.

There is so much at stake for the poor, the needy and the marginalized in today's society. In the neighborhoods of Cincinnati and in the halls of Congress, there are risks of the defenseless being discounted.

On this anniversary of Karl Barth's birthday, his life's example can serve as a reminder of our duty to our Creator and to one another.

Overstressed, overweight and over-drugged

The week began on Monday with the television networks' reports of a nation heading to a 42% of its population obese (overweight, to put it mildly) by the year 2030. According to other sources, one third to two thirds of Americans are overweight. On the other side of the scale, nearly 49 million people - 1 in 6 of U.S. population- live in hunger.

It is well accepted that these are physical outward symptoms of inner spiritual imbalances.

Stress in life causes anxiety, dissatisfaction and even despair and hopelessness. External or physical well-being is the result, not the cause for peace, tranquility, joy and purposefulness.

There is a need, therefore, for society to realign itself. In the New Testament, Jesus teaches: “But seek first God's kingdom and God's righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mtt. 6:33). Horace, the Latin poet, wrote: “They change their clime, not their frame of mind, who rush across the sea. We work hard at doing nothing: we look for happiness in boat and chariot rides. What you are looking for is here...if only peace of mind doesn't desert you”.

Let our goal be the healing of the spirit and soul of every human being so that all humanity can experience wholeness.