February 09, 2026

These are from 200 Zen Thoughts #3 on my WordPress Blog:

086. In living aligned with ourselves we will be living in sync with the Tao, Psyche, in doing the right thing in the right way at the right time in the right place. But. There is a catch. We will not be doing what we want to do. We will be doing what is called for, what needs to be done, in each situation as it arises, no matter what.

This is what Jesus was talking about when he said, “If you want to be my disciple, pick up your cross and follow me.” He was going to Golgotha to be crucified. To be Jesus’ disciple–really to be Jesus–is to die to ourselves and be born into the world of doing what needs to be done no matter what. We are sacrificing ourselves in the service of doing what is called for–in being what is called for–in each moment as it arises, in each situation as it comes to pass, throughout the rest of our lives.

085. We start small and get a feel for what is being asked of us. We don’t start by “selling all we have and giving the money to the poor” and go following Jesus begging on the streets until we die. But we could begin by giving 20% or 25% tips to the service people who wait our table at breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner. We could start by being generous and kind on a regular basis. And being sensitive to what is called for here, now and living in the service of that with the gifts that are ours to use. You know, like that.