Category Archives: The Church of What’s Happening Now

In “The Jersey Boys,” Frankie Valli said, “They ask ya ‘what was the high point? The hall of fame, sellin’ all those records, pullin’ Sherry outta the hat?’ It was all great. But the first time the four of us made that sound, our sound, when everything dropped away and all there was, was theContinue reading “December 23-A, 2022”

These are two of the metaphors guiding and undergirding my life, and serving as sources of reflection and realization in my work of establishing and maintaining right relationship between head and heart. The Gateless Gate is my image of the old Taoist phrase that was the title of one of two collections of koans usedContinue reading “December 22-A, 2022”

We have the power of right response. It is a Super Power available to every one of us. We do not control what happens to us, but, we exercise considerable control when it comes to what we do in response to what happens to us. Our amount of control over our response is directly dependentContinue reading “December 21-B, 2022”

We have to sanctify the holy within by listening to our body and living from our heart in all that we do. We have to take our life back from the things that do not matter, and give ourselves to the things that do matter– to ourselves and those whose life is impacted by ourContinue reading “December 21-A, 2022”

Joseph Campbell said, “In the end, psychotherapy is about aligning the head with the heart so that the transcendent energies can come through. Only when this occurs can you be ‘transparent to transcendence.’ This implies yielding to nature, putting yourself in accord with nature– which is the main aim of most of the mythologies ofContinue reading “December 20-B, 2022”

Individuals living “transparent to transcendence” (Joseph Campbell) would transform the world in our lifetime. Of course, transformation would turn the world upside down, upset the normal order, and wreck the economy. Which is why individuals and not corporations and governments have to lead the way. People have to stop living in the service of whatContinue reading “December 20-A, 2022”

From the beginning we lived in relationship with transcendence, because we were dependent upon transcendence to guide and direct us, protect and sustain us, comfort and console us… And then, we invented money, and lost the way to transcendence. Before money, no one ever thought the goal of life was to be happy. Before money,Continue reading “December 15-A, 2022”

This Crèche was molded, hand-painted, fired and constructed by my aunt, Lois Hamilton, in Itta Bena, Mississippi in 1968 (+/-), and has been a part of our family ever since. +++ This only works if you do not take it literally. The entire Bible works that way. You have to see what you are lookingContinue reading “December 14-B, 2022”

Joseph Campbell said, “I think anyone who pays attention to their inner life knows when they are living in harmony, and when they are out of harmony, with their own center.” And when we are “on the beam,” it is as though we are living a charmed life, and doors open where there were noContinue reading “December 13-A, 2022”

Joseph Campbell said, “Foster your virtues, don’t dwell on your sins.” The old (Classic) Taoists made nothing of sin, and everything of living in accord with our original/essential nature aligned with our innate virtues. Virtues here are to be understood, not as the opposite of vices, but as the peculiar characteristics, qualities and traits thatContinue reading “December 11-A, 2022”

We have to learn to live for something beyond our desire and fear (Joseph Campbell). But. We are sure there is nothing beyond our desire and fear. The First Death is letting go of our desire and fear. It is the first of many deaths all the way up to the Last Death, which isContinue reading “December 10-B, 2022”

What form does your protest take? I strive to see things as they are and keep going, keep looking– in an “Anyway, nevertheless, even so” kind of way. It is like this: If this is the best we can do as a species over time, we should be ashamed. And, if this is not theContinue reading “December 09-A, 2022”