  Spiritual
This week: Spiritual Destinations Edited by: Shannon  
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Welcome to the Spiritual Newsletter. My name is Shannon and I'm your editor this week. |
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I'm writing this newsletter from inside my pop-up tent camper somewhere in the Northern California wilderness. I have very hit-and-miss cell/internet service, and I can only hope it will upload when the time comes. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
I love being out in nature. The more remote and secluded the better. It's spiritual for me, and I've always wanted to take my love for nature, solitude, and quiet one step further.
I've wanted to walk Europe's Camino de Santiago since I watched The Way in 2010 and eat my way across Italy's countryside since I read Eat Pray Love. Maybe I should eat my way across Italy's countryside first, then walk Camino de Santiago to drop all the extra pasta weight. 
Pilgrimages have attracted the devout for centuries, and the practice is popular to this day. From Walking the Labyrinth to Transformational Tours to spending eight days on Japan's Kii Peninsula traversing the Kumano Kodo trails, visiting these holy places rejuvenates the body, relaxes the mind, and renews the spirit.
Our lives are so fast-paced, we don't slow down long enough to really appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. Walking allows you to go at your own pace, be in the moment, and meditate on the history and meaning of the place. Many people choose to embark on a spiritual pilgrimage to let go of something, like the failed marriage in Eat Pray Love; accept the passing of a loved one, like the death of Martin Sheen's son in The Way; or search for life's deeper meaning, like adolescent cancer victim Pete Carlton's search for The Blue Butterfly.
Have you been on a spiritual pilgrimage? If not, would you consider a spiritual pilgrimage if given the opportunity? If so, where would you go and why? Tell us about it and I will include your comments in next month's newsletter.
Peace and blessings.
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I hope you enjoy this week's featured selections. Please do the authors the courtesy of reviewing the ones you read. Thank you, and have a great week!
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The following is in response to "Words Are Things" :
Quick-Quill  writes, "If one can't laugh at ones self first, then maybe they could be labeled a racist. The word is too loosely defined and over used by others as a shield. Look at the motive of the speaker. Black people will laugh, Polish people have been the brunt of jokes and laugh, Obese people laugh. We aren't all racist. We use the weakest of our confidence to make others laugh. I think some of this is true, but by far most is an excuse to start an argument, riot or kill someone. Do we have to be politically correct? It is the worst cancer that has affected the world."
Steve adding writing to ntbk.  writes, "Shannon, I save the NLs until I get to them. I have not been able to be on as much as I like, but I will eventually come across your previous NL. Thanks for the selections you provided this time. Read them all and reviewed. Keep sharing and we will continue reading. Copenator out!"
I got a few email responses to last month's newsletter. I assume the senders don't want me to share their comments since they sent them to me via private email, so I will share generalizations.
While most respondents thanked me for the newsletter and voiced agreement, a few commented [and I'm paraphrasing here] that to not feel free to tell insensitive jokes means the would-be joke teller is a victim of political correctness.
In addition, some people thought I was talking exclusively about tasteless jokes. That's part of it, but the newsletter also pertains to the use of derogatory/inflammatory words (or permitting them to be used in your presence) when referencing specific groups of people based on race, sexual orientation, etc. You can use your imagination to figure out which words I'm talking about.
In my opinion this subject has nothing to do with political correctness. I certainly don't want to start an argument, riot, or kill anyone, but I do feel the need to explain where I'm coming from a little bit more.
The term "Politically Correct" originated in the late 80s/early 90s, but I think the basis for this topic dates back millennia. For me it is about being a decent human being and has nothing to do with politics. I believe it is about the Golden Rule: "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:12 (NIV). I believe it is about what my mother always told me: "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." I believe it's about what is expected of us as children of the God: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." ~ Ephesians 4:29 (NIV). I believe it is about setting an example for our children, our families, our friends, our coworkers, and our communities: "Not in my house, you don't," as the beloved Maya Angelou would say. I believe it is, ultimately, about the opposite of rioting and killing: it is (or should be) about peace and love.
We've all said things we regret. I know I have. What I'm advocating here is being more cognizant of the words we use when referencing others and setting boundaries about what words we allow into our homes.
As one respondent said, "What you said here is true, but I would like to add that not only is this true in things like homophobia, racism, etc., but it is true of any word that belittles another. Words do matter and they have a power, a vibration. Yes, indeed. And we need to carefully choose what we give our power to. A good way to measure this is how do the words make you feel? If they make you or another feel diminished they are not the right words."
I couldn't have said it better myself.
Thank you for reading.
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Spiritual: August 31, 2016 Issue [#7816]
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