quote: “…..Beloveds of the Lover as Love itself!”
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Category Archives: faith
poem: liberation for the people
poem: liberation for the people
in a world too much with us
so rapidly changing and chaotic
filled with misinformation and lies
the people’s souls are troubled and restless this world where
politics is so partisan
that lying tyrants
are supported over truth and justice this world where
we are so deeply divided among ourselves
and as far from the divine as possible
leaves us adrift trying find a hold this world where
the bodies of the dead float in the Ganges
lie in the hot streets
and burn on funeral pyres in parking lots this world where
industries refuse to pay living wages
then label workers as lazy and malcontents
for refusing to accept deadend jobs this world where
local news is a litany of gun violence and deaths
and the weather, even on pleasant days,
is always a threat thanks to reporting of ‘Storm Central’ this world where
consumer products are unaffordable
and /or in short supply
due to fragile infrastructure and personal hoarding this world as we know it on the ground
with affliction and dis-ease
a pox upon our body, mind, and spirit
beloveds, wherein does our hope lie a wise sage once said
“we cannot become gods though we may become divine”
through healing our afflictions and suffering
with discriminating intelligence and unity consciousness liberation for the people
both worldly and divine
immanent and transcendent
True Selves belonging in authentic communities bipartisan governance for the people
dignified, quality healthcare for the people
living wage work for the people
ethical journalism for the people
sustainable economies for the people
authentic communities for the people
visible hope for the people
wholistic healing from within for the people
liberation from oppression for the people Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
May 14, 2021 quote by BKS Iyengar, father of modern yoga, author, teacher image ‘We the People’ poster art from Amplifier
so rapidly changing and chaotic
filled with misinformation and lies
the people’s souls are troubled and restless this world where
politics is so partisan
that lying tyrants
are supported over truth and justice this world where
we are so deeply divided among ourselves
and as far from the divine as possible
leaves us adrift trying find a hold this world where
the bodies of the dead float in the Ganges
lie in the hot streets
and burn on funeral pyres in parking lots this world where
industries refuse to pay living wages
then label workers as lazy and malcontents
for refusing to accept deadend jobs this world where
local news is a litany of gun violence and deaths
and the weather, even on pleasant days,
is always a threat thanks to reporting of ‘Storm Central’ this world where
consumer products are unaffordable
and /or in short supply
due to fragile infrastructure and personal hoarding this world as we know it on the ground
with affliction and dis-ease
a pox upon our body, mind, and spirit
beloveds, wherein does our hope lie a wise sage once said
“we cannot become gods though we may become divine”
through healing our afflictions and suffering
with discriminating intelligence and unity consciousness liberation for the people
both worldly and divine
immanent and transcendent
True Selves belonging in authentic communities bipartisan governance for the people
dignified, quality healthcare for the people
living wage work for the people
ethical journalism for the people
sustainable economies for the people
authentic communities for the people
visible hope for the people
wholistic healing from within for the people
liberation from oppression for the people Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
May 14, 2021 quote by BKS Iyengar, father of modern yoga, author, teacher image ‘We the People’ poster art from Amplifier
Reflection: 50th. Year Anniversary of ‘Be Here Now’
Reflection: The inside out and upside down ministry of Jesus, the Universal Cosmic Christ (by whatever name) and my prayer to be with those on the margins as God calls me
Reflection: The inside out and upside down ministry of Jesus, the Universal Cosmic Christ (by whatever name) and my prayer to be with those on the margins as God calls me
( I originally wrote the reflection below several years ago as I underwent a particularly challenging realization with the institutional church of which I was a congregant eventually resulting in my departing the church for what for me is a much more meaningful spiritual life centered in celebrating the gifts of all spiritual traditions and being grounded in the evolution of True Self (discipleship) and belonging together in authentic communities (the kingdom or kin-dom). My relationship with the Divine Cosmic Will (God by whatever name) has never been stronger.)
My increasing awareness, especially now in my life, is that Jesus is always with the outsider and outcast who suffers and hurts for the world and shares the pain of others.
Jesus leaves the institutional worship place, sometimes in anger, as we see in the Temple story of the ‘den of robbers,’ to be with those who are on the outside and who just can’t cut it in those places anymore. I think of this as the spirituality of imperfection. Certainly we all are united in our imperfections.
In Jesus going out to these outsiders, he, of course, takes leave of those who are arrogant and prideful and all knowing and thusly, the insiders of the worship place’s, with their dominant cultural traditions and hierarchical hegemony. These insiders are, of course, generally those leaders in power and control, officially or otherwise.
Other good and innocent souls linger there as well perhaps holding onto the law and its rules of right and wrong not having yet experienced the truth, beauty, and goodness of our shared suffering and wounds and imperfections.
God send me into the messiness of this world with the imperfect souls such as myself so that we might commune together in the dark shadows and light spirits as your Beloved children through grace, love, mercy, justice, peace, and hope!
Amen and Amen
quote: the Church that ignores justice falls short in the sight of God
My Prayer for All Beloveds
poem: Lenten preparation
poem: Lenten preparation
bleak late winter day
washed out greys and earth tones
exilic presence
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry in
February 14, 2021
poem: the deepest throes of late winter
poem: the deepest throes of late winter
here in the deepest throes
of late winter
freezing fog
chilling to the bones
the coming snow and ice
obliterating
our familiarity
with time and space
then last thawing
the earth cold,
wet, muddy,
the sun in Pisces arrives
soon the vernal equinox
ushering Spring’s arrival,
flowers bloom in verdant, vernal fields
under budding trees; the mad, March hares
and now in some dark
corner of the Lenten heart,
repenting falsity of self,
resurrecting New Life
the fruit of the vine
ripening in the warmth,
new wine in new skins
affirming Life Divine
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
February 13, 2021
photo: The Muck and the Mire, unattributed
poem: ode to our nation on inauguration day 2021
poem: ode to our nation on inauguration day 2021
today our nation
inaugurates our 46th.
president and vice president
Joe and Kamala
who feel like family
Papa and Auntie
after the past four years
of a president and his administration
bullying its’ citizens
undermining our rights
eroding our democracy
empowering domestic terrorist
cutting off world allies
causing death and confusion in a pandemic
and leading an insurrection
we citizens of good conscience
find some relief and optimism again
fellow Americans
let us come together
in confession, repentance, and reconciliation
healing one another and our nation
that we will finally do the hard work
of forming a more perfect union together
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
January 20, 2021
Inauguration Day
Photo credits: Vox, AP, AFP
Reflection: the (w)holly name of the Beloved
Reflection: the (w)holly name of the Beloved
Christmastide 2020
When we personally face the Universal Cosmic Christ
at the nativity and at the foot of the cross, we are faced with two authentic choices: surrender or resist.
Are we seeing the embodiment of Supreme Love or a threat to our worldly way of life?
To whom or what are we loyal?
To whom or what do we surrender?
The powerful and the rich are filled with fear and trembling at the nativity and the cross, and the least of us sing Hallelujah!
There is no serving two masters, a life is either all spiritual or not spiritual at all. Our life is shaped by the end for which we live.
Note: The Universal Cosmic Christ, by whatever name and tradition, is the embodiment of radical grace and radical love among us and to which we are born, long for, suffer, are resurrected, and live everlasting. Although I use Christian symbolism here, many religious, spiritual, and native traditions embody these truths. And in the mystical traditions, this relationship between the lover and their Beloved is often portrayed as the passionate love between two lovers. The attached music video ‘Surrender’ by Natalie Taylor is a lovely example of this mystical lover/Beloved passion and surrender.
My reflection above reflects the teachings and writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Thomas Merton, and Richard Rohr who have heavily influenced my spiritual journey as mentor’s.
Love, Grace, Surrender,
Love, Grace, Surrender,
Love, Grace, Surrender….
click on music video link below