June 24 – A, 2023

We wade into our circumstances
bent on conquest and annihilation!
On "Shock and Awe"!
On triumph and subjugation!
And for all of the bluster,
here we are.

We who would be Champions of the Way,
are lost, adrift and astray.
Without direction or incentive,
vitality or hope,
with only the wasteland
to call home.

All because we don't know 
what to do with circumstances
unfolding before us,
sweeping us away
like so much dust and ashes,
laughing,
taunting us with disgust and derision
for being so blatantly clueless
for all our talk of glory and treasure.

Circumstances hold the key,
but it will not be taken by force,
or surrendered by threat or demand.

Circumstances, and their hand servant,
situations, 
come at us one after another 
throughout each day,
inviting us again and again,
to start with any of them,
looking/seeing,
listening/hearing,
knowing/doing/being.

But we do not again and again,
stop, look, listen!

All we do is force our way
in the service of what we want,
never mind what is needed,
necessary!

Do not have a will!
Do not have a way!
Do not have even an opinion!
Or an expectation!

And do not think ever 
of using your circumstances
to advance your agenda,
achieve your goals,
realize your plans,
die with the most toys
and WIN! WIN! WIN!

Take the words of Jesus to heart:
"If you would be my people,
pick up your cross daily,
and follow me,"
he said, on the way to the cross.

Circumstances are not about winning,
but about dying--
again and again--
to the things that are a delight to the eyes,
and pleasing to the taste
(As the Forbidden Fruit was for Adam and Eve).

Our place is to be what is called for,
to do what is needed,
to offer what is necessary
to the unfolding of situations
in the service of the true good of circumstances,
and let that be that--
"Without hope,
without witness,
without reward" (Steven Moffat).

Our place is to place ourselves
in the service of our circumstances,
with filial allegiance
fealty
and liege loyalty,
doing the right thing,
in the right way,
in the right place
at the right time.

Regardless of what it means for us personally.
This is the meaning of the cross--
doing what is right no matter what,
because it is right  never mind what the cost is!

This, and only this, breaks the curse 
of the wasteland
and ushers in the time of vitality,
delight, joy, enthusiasm, wonder
and abundant life.

Obi Wan Kenobi advised,
"Listen to the force, Luke."
Lao Tzu advised,
"Live aligned with the Tao."

They were saying,
"Find the flow of circumstances
and trust yourself to it 
through all of the trials and conditions
of your life."

The flow of circumstances is the flow
of your heart and being 
in the service of what is truly you,
and truly yours to do,
no matter what.

What can you do--
what do you do--
wholeheartedly?

Do it!
"In season and out of season!"
All your life long!
In accord with the circumstances
of each here/now that comes in a day.

Without forcing,
without pushing,
without contriving,
without conquering...

Just seeing, just doing,
with your whole heart.

This is Buddha Mind.
This is Tao.
This is The Force.
This is Jesus embracing the cross.
This is embracing the circumstances
of our life
and doing what we can with them--
doing the right thing,
in the right way,
in the right place
at the right time.

World without end!
Amen!

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