  Spiritual
This week: Polarized Lenses Edited by: Sophy  
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Hi, I'm Sophy ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter.
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book Finding Your Religion, compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred.  |
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Polarized Lenses
Guest Editor - Mr. Sophy
The Ace Hardware store just a few blocks up the road has an impulse buy display near the checkout counter promoting a line of sunglasses. It’s a drawing rendered in materials with differing sensitivity to light, so that half of the picture is visible only with polarized lenses. You may have seen something like this in reverse if you’ve worn polarized lenses while pumping gas. Some pumps have digital displays treated in such a way that the read-out can’t be seen with polarized lenses. Anyway, the effect of the display at the store is such that without polarized lenses half of the drawing is invisible. The optical technology is well understood by scientists, but it’s still intriguing to have a previously invisible part of reality suddenly rendered accessible. It struck me as an interesting metaphor for spirituality.
We make our way through the material world with no real choice about whether or how we participate in physics or biology. Intelligence and technology can certainly expand our horizons in amazing ways. We’ve learned to fly. We can to see back in time almost to the beginning of the universe. We can vaccinate ourselves against many diseases. We can communicate across the globe instantaneously. Still we’re subject to gravity, time, relativity, and the limitations of our genetic code. And with all that technological achievement we have the capacity to blow ourselves to smithereens or change the chemistry and climate of the entire planet to horrific effect.
Understanding science can only take us so far. Yet we have options for how we navigate the world spiritually. There are realities that cannot be addressed by science – opportunities and pitfalls, strengths and weaknesses of soul which lay beyond the influence of energy and matter, space and time. Science can reveal facts, but it takes soul to tell the truth. Technology can split an atom, it takes imagination not to drop a bomb. Science doesn’t take us everywhere we need to go. Navigating in the intangible realities of the spirit requires lenses polarized for spiritual perspective.
Many religious traditions tend to suggest that to be more spiritual we ought to reject the flesh, blaming all our bad behavior on the flesh. But our biology is not what renders those behaviors problematic. We let our sexuality become selfish, we let our social networks devolve to tribalism, we allow our opinions to become obnoxious and argumentative not because of our cellular composition but because we lose perspective – we choose only to see part of the picture. We perceive what’s going on only in terms of getting what I want or how it effects my standing in the group. Maybe any behavior can manifest as kindness, aggression or predation depending on our inclinations for the well being of others involved – that is, depending on our ability and willingness to look with the heart as well as the mind. When my intent is the gratification of my own appetites, the numbing of my shame or grief or anxiety, the stroking of my own ego without accounting for the needs and desires of others involved, I’m failing to see an important part of what is true about a situation. If I choose to acknowledge the needs and desires of others, I navigate relationships and situations differently and better.
So, differences in our diagnosis of the human condition notwithstanding, I like what some spiritual perspectives offer in the alternative – the attributes of a spiritual orientation. “The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control,” wrote Paul, to the early Christians. I completely agree. Cultivating our spirituality leads to a much more meaningful and satisfying life. With those metaphorical lenses, we open ourselves to experiences that make life better for ourselves and others simultaneously. We leave less chaos and destruction in our wake. It’s not that complicated, but it’s also not that easy. Seeing with spiritual lenses doesn't make us immune to suffering, it makes our suffering more bearable, and more meaningful. Love , peace, joy, patience, kindness, generosity, self-control. Skills like these make it far more likely we’ll come to the end of our lives without regret.
Just for an exercise I compiled my own list of qualities that serve us well in the quest to experience the fullness of this astonishing existence into which we have somehow emerged. The temptation is to try and be comprehensive when you develop a thought like this. That’s not the point. So don’t regard this as a recipe. But here are a few of the behaviors I think lend to a more complete view of reality, and a better chance to participate in life as a virtuous and mature citizen: respect, affection, resilience, purpose, perseverance, acceptance, discipline, and grace.For the sake of space I’ll comment on only one - the gift of respect. What could we accomplish if we were to cultivate respect as the default mode for all of our relationships? Lakota Sioux natives recite a mantra when entering or leaving a sweat lodge, saying, “All my relations.” It invokes one’s ancestor as witnesses to hold a person responsible for their behavior, as well as acknowledging that every aspect of creation is a family member to be regarded for its own intrinsic value. Respect for one’s self as well as for others – this might be the one indispensable ingredient for healthy spirituality. It doesn’t mean you have to like everyone. It doesn’t mean you won’t oppose someone with an agenda you can’t support. But are we not most likely to maximize the potential for good in any situation by honoring the inherent dignity of others involved.
Maybe we can say that in some combination many attributes combine to function like polarized lenses. We see the world in more complete detail, we notice and revere the suffering of others, and summon courage to invest ourselves in the healing of our world beyond considerations of what’s in it for me. We notice the aching beauty of the planet and the cosmos in which it suspended, and we’re moved to gratitude. When you are at your spiritual best, what is a quality you exude? What fruit is produced for the nourishment of others in your sphere of influence? When you ignore your spirituality,what are the consequences?
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Below you'll find some spiritual offerings from other WDC members. Please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment or review.
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This is a poem I wrote a while ago.
Kind of just poured out in a flow.
#1986339 by Hassan  |
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Here is a response to my last newsletter "Spiritual Newsletter (April 2, 2014)" about "Border Crossings" -
From Quick-Quill 
Funny you should have this NL. I saw early on that incidents in my mother's life were woven into an armor she wore as her defense against people. When she is in a comfortable situation she can be funny, loving and warm. Immediately afterward the armor goes on and the critical self-defense is back in place. What I learned from her was 1) I didn't want to be like that. 2) When you live walled in, no one can reach you. 3)Those who love you don't want to spend a lot of time with your criticism. I have to work on a critical attitude all the time. "I'm sorry," seems to be my mantra. *embarrassed*
Thank you so much for writing in and sharing your own perspective. I'm sorry doesn't seem like a bad mantra - I can think of worse alternatives!
     
From Katya the Poet 
Enjoyed this so much. Thanks for mentioning the Dew Drop Inn!
You are most welcome! 
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming! Until next time! Sophy
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Spiritual: April 30, 2014 Issue [#6293]
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