My Joy

My Joy

by Depeche Mode

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My joy, the air that I breathe

My joy, in God I believe

You move me

My joy, the blood in my veins

My joy, flows in your name

You move me

I'm not a mountain, no

You move me

My joy, heavenly bliss

My joy, the pleasure I miss

You move me

I'm not a mountain, no

You move me

The bible instructs and gives many clues as to the nature of joy and love. We are at all times to be  mindful of the 'great commandment,' love one another. Here in the gospel of John is one such instruction:

The bishop-teacher to the chosen Lady and to her children whom I love in truth--and not only I but also all who know the truth-- because of the truth that dwells in us and will be with us forever.
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, in truth and love.

"But now, Lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing a new commandment but the one we have had from the beginning: let us love one another.
For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, in which you should walk.
Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh; such is the deceitful one and the anti-christ.

Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for but may receive a full recompense.
Anyone who is so "progressive" as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son.

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him; for whoever greets him shares in his evil works. Although I have much to write to you, I do not intend to use paper and ink.
Instead, I hope to visit you and to speak face to face so that our joy may be complete."　　2Ｊohn1
　

A Walk In My Shoes

Walking In My Shoes

by Depeche Mode

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I would tell you about the things

They put me through.

The pain I've been subjected to

But the Lord himself would blush.

The countless feasts laid at my feet.

Forbidden fruits for me to eat.

But I think your pulse would start to rush.

Now I'm not looking for absolution

forgiveness for the things I do.

But before you come to any conclusions

Try walking in my shoes.

You'll stumble in my footsteps.

Keep the same appointments I kept

If you try walking in my shoes.

Morality would frown upon.

Decency look down upon.

The scapegoat fate's made of me.

But I promise you, my judge and jurors

My intentions couldn't have been purer.

My case is easy to see.

I'm not looking for a clearer conscience.

Peace of mind after what I've been through

And before we talk of repentance

Try walking in my shoes

Try walking in my shoes.

We all think we have it worse, and sometimes we do. Blind to ourselves, quick to call out others, we volunteer ourselves for both judge and jury. Recently I had a conversation with a person who thinks of herself in a spiritual light. She noted that while many may choose to live together with their extended family, it really 'just depends upon your personality.' A simple mind remarked that custom and culture probably had more to do with it than the idiosyncrasies of personality.

Then it happened... She judged, and in that moment--a split second really, a simple mind could see into everything she most believed about herself and the world she inhabits: It's a world where the wheel is created over and over again; tradition accounts for naught, and not seeing herself clearly, she later remarked, that she was leaving her job to find "meaningful work with an NGO (a non-governmental organization) in Africa." She thought to work somewhere else far, far away. Simple mind comments about the value of observation over judgment were lost upon her, as lost as her thought that her life was really somewhere else, somewhere not in this and every moment.

 Discerning rather than judging is hard; often it's really hard. We are reminded in most all the spiritual traditions east or west, about the practice of openness, of emptiness and the great gifts it brings when we are empty to receive in the here and now. Our life is filled moment to moment with the world and ourselves, filled to the top. Jesus, the Christ, reminds us of this when we read the gospels which tell of his decided indifference to the character and style of an individual life. Tax collectors, despots, harlots and others, he was willing to treat them, to attend to the great commandment of love for one's neighbor.
Who is your neighbor? The gospel of Luke 10:30-37 gives some clues:
A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers, who also stripped him and having wounded him went away, leaving him half dead.  And it chanced, that a certain priest went down the same way: and seeing him, passed by.In like manner also a Levite, when he was near the place and saw him, passed by.  But a certain Samaritan, being on his journey, came near him: and seeing him, was moved with compassion: And going up to him, bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine: and setting him upon his own beast, brought him to an inn and took care of him.  And the next day he took out two pence and gave to the host and said: Take care of him; and whatsoever you shall spend over and above, I, at my return, will repay you.  Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to him that fell among the robbers?  But he said: He that showed mercy to him. And Jesus said to him: Go, and do in like manner.

 It is not necessary to go afar to meet one which you and your gifts may help. Neighbors are everywhere. If we are living in the "now moment," the present moment with its most pressing meaning, presently, we will come to understand our self first and our neighbor more clearly, who is human like our self. Compassion-- putting yourself in another's shoes-- is the way to understanding, and to love.

Starting New Traditions

Song of Saint Nicholas

by J.M Rosenthal

Listen here to this and other St. Nicholas songs

Children everywhere agree

Each December now to be

Ready, eager, all to greet

The great saint we wait to meet.

Bearing gifts, he first recalls

If we have been good at all,

In our work, at home or play

All before St Nicholas day.

With his helpers at his side,

Celebrating far and wide,

He's the real Santa Claus,

Hail our kind St Nicholas

Now he leads us one and all

To the Christmas manger stall

Sees the babe, he bows the knee

For the prince of peace—tis he!

So in Myra stories told

His great love, his actions bold,

Pilgrims now to Bari go

So the legends all may know.

Now the day of joy and fun

Ole St Nick, his work is done,

Says goodbye to young and old

By whom still his tales are told.

There are many traditions to share with one another at this season, some old, some new enough to be rediscovered! Recollecting the date, December 6th is the feast of Saint Nicholas of Bari, the Simple Mind writes a bit about this personage. More often called Saint Nicholas of Myra or more often, Santa Claus was indeed a real person. As a saint of the Church and a most highly favored saint of Greek Orthodoxy, he is also  revered in Russia, to mention a few places. Little is known of his earliest years, but he was said to have been born about 460 or 480 AD in Patara, he was highly influenced by the teachings of another saint, Saint Augustine of Hippo; he was so moved that he became one of their community. Later he was made bishop of the ancient diocese of Myra, Asia Minor, today part of Turkey. Tracing the life of this saint proves to be an interesting travel itinerary.

He is attributed with several characteristics: he taught the Christian gospel vigorously, like the good shepherd and was imprisoned during  persecutions of Diocletian. Specifically, Roman Emperor Diocletian rescinded the legal rights of Christians and demanded that they observe traditional Roman religious practice. Freed from prison by Emperor Constantine, Nicholas was said to have been present at the Council of Nicaea held in 325 AD in Alexandria, Egypt. Later as Bishop, he worked to save the lives of three men, is said to be the saint of children, sailors, to have encouraged the active practice of Charity as taught by the Christ, to love one another. This was remarkable in his world where an eye for an eye reigned supreme. He died at Myra and was buried within his Cathedral.

This December, learn about the Saint, share in his practice and make the holiday bright. Today we offer treats and chocolates to one another and observe many other customs inspired by Saint Nicholas. Exchanging gifts is one practice recalling the birth of the Christ child that is also attributed to Saint Nicholas.

Judges and Jurors

Walking In My Shoes

by Depeche Mode

Listen Here

I would tell you about the things

They put me through.

The pain I've been subjected to

But the Lord himself would blush.

The countless feasts laid at my feet.

Forbidden fruits for me to eat.

But I think your pulse would start to rush.

Now I'm not looking for absolution

forgiveness for the things I do.

But before you come to any conclusions

Try walking in my shoes.

You'll stumble in my footsteps.

Keep the same appointments I kept

If you try walking in my shoes.

Morality would frown upon.

Decency look down upon.

The scapegoat fate's made of me.

But I promise you, my judge and jurors

My intentions couldn't have been purer.

My case is easy to see.

I'm not looking for a clearer conscience.

Peace of mind after what I've been through

And before we talk of repentance

Try walking in my shoes

Try walking in my shoes.

We all think we have it worse, and sometimes we do. Blind to ourselves, quick to call out others, we volunteer ourselves for both judge and jury. Recently I had a conversation with a person who thinks of herself in a spiritual light. She noted that while many may choose to live together with their extended family, it really 'just depends upon your personality.' A simple mind remarked that custom and culture probably had more to do with it than the idiosyncrasies of personality.

Then it happened... She judged, and in that moment--a split second really, a simple mind could see into everything she most believed about herself and the world she inhabits: It's a world where the wheel is created over and over again; tradition accounts for naught, and not seeing herself clearly, she later remarked, that she was leaving her job to find "meaningful work with an NGO (a non-governmental organization) in Africa." She thought to work somewhere else far, far away.
Simple mind comments about the value of observation over judgment were lost upon her, as lost as her thought that her life was really somewhere else, somewhere not in this and every moment.

 Discerning rather than judging is hard; often it's really hard. We are reminded in most all the spiritual traditions east or west, about the practice of openness, of emptiness and the great gifts it brings when we are empty to receive in the here and now. Our life is filled moment to moment with the world and ourselves, filled to the top.
Jesus, the Christ, reminds us of this when we read the gospels which tell of his decided indifference to the character and style of an individual life. Tax collectors, despots, harlots and others, he was willing to treat them, to attend to the great commandment of love for one's neighbor.

Who is your neighbor? The gospel of Luke 10:25-37 gives some clues:

“A man fell victim to robbers
as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.
They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that road,
but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place,
and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.
He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
‘Take care of him.
If you spend more than what I have given you,
I shall repay you on my way back.’

Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?”

He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.”
Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

It is not necessary to go afar to meet one which you and your gifts may help. Neighbors are everywhere. If we are living in the "now moment," the present moment with its most pressing meaning, presently, we will come to understand our self first and our neighbor more clearly, who is human like our self. Compassion is the way to understand, and to love.