Poverty, Jobless, Baby in the Womb

Given that a large percentage of people are given U.S. benefits, bridge cards, and more,  how do I respond to poverty, to those without work, to mothers with a baby in the womb?

May I walk with them, assist them, support them beyond mandates, dictates, commands, and more?

Talk is cheap.

And, easy.

But walking with a woman with a full womb is another thing, no?

Now we're talking.

Will I walk with her, try to listen to her, help her?

Or, will I simply judge her, without any thought of the guy who impregnated her?

Will I condemn her, or will I give her money to assist her with the life in the womb?

How about all the poor in a world with plenty of bountiful food?

Do I help feed them?

Or, just call them names?

And, those without work?

Am I willing to help them find work, imagine a job, get a job, or, am I quick to label them?

Being a Christian is an active verb, a life on the move to serve, to lift up the lowliest, no?

Matthew's 25th Gospel invites me to take care of the least among us.

Roots

Was away getting rooted recently.

Grounded, I mean.

Pausing and pondering occupied my heart and mind for a few days on retreat.

Getting clearer thoughts for realms of possibility in life that are opening up almost daily, it seems.

The long drive, the recreation, the rest, and the input from wise elders is welcome.

One can't give what he or she doesn't have.

And, inner work, the interior life, is the lone life worth living fully.

Primping on the outside has to match what's going on inside.

For sure.

Authenticity only comes for me when I'm self-caring and connecting in praying with the Creator as a human being.

I calm down.  Get still.  Shut down.  Remain awake, attentive, attuned, and more aware in stillness.

Doing only bothches things up.  What a mess!

Being decent demands pauses, hours, days of refreshment with the Maker. Daily chunks of prayer.

Otherwise, I am good for nothing, and, doing beyond being bolts me no end.

Silence is golden for this quiet time I relish often.

Is this savoring silence something that comes with age, maturity, or growing older gracefully?

Perhaps.

Whatever mix it is, I relish it.

Rooted.  It's good.  It is grace, favor, blessing.

Thank God! 

I'm grateful to the One who alone manages the moments always.

Not me.

Pausing and going down deep into rooted grounding reminds me of my humanity and need for humility.

Solving Crisis of Souls Causing Disruption in World

By Rabbi Dorit Edut and Rev. Lawrence Ventline

Crime, anger, violence, and more, are issues of the soul.

These problems can only be solved within one's being and center where all evil and conflict starts.

Conversations at news conferences are insufficient in settling disputes and problems of one's soul.

It is dysfunctional to continue to do what has been done for decades.  Results to prove otherwise in stopping the outbursts and violence do not manifest with the same tried and tested approach.

"Love your neighbor as yourself," was quoted from Leviticus by Jesus in the Christian Bible.

When will parents, leaders, and clergy, in particular, create and imagine a plan for family today?
Families need more support than ever.

Assertive faith leaders are needed now to address this crisis of souls.

Who will stand?

Good Grief!

How often we hear that phrase.

Good grief!

Yet, when one experiences a loss of life, a love, a limb, one's name, or a home, for example, grieving is necessary to get through the tunnel.

Like the Detroit/Windsor tunnel.

Light is all I aim for when navigating that tunnel.

Like the dark surrounding me in that tunnel, so grief envelopes peope hurting over loss of a job, a reputation from gossip, or, foreclosure on their home, to illustrate my point.

Good grief is a process one treks to avoid depression.

Swallowing one's grief, one's loss of a parent or spouse, one feels depression.

And, time later, often years, one wonders why he or she is depressed.

Failure to grieve a loss causes depression.

The Mondays of November from 7-8:30 pm, persons grieving or mourning are welcome to a good grief growth group I lead at the historic Sacred Heart Church, 18430 Utica Road, Roseville, MI., 48066. To register, call 586 777 9116.  The cost is $5 per session.

Dayton, Ohio Summit of Catholic Young Adults Oct. 5th

How would you like to be?

Are you happy?

What does God want of me?


The Dayton Holiday Inn Select Airport (937) 832 1234 will be the place for young adults, among other curious, to meet for a Catholic Alumni Clubs International summit retreat, 'Rediscovering Catholicism,' Friday, October 5th from 9 am until 4 pm.  More social events and a dinner comedy, with Sunday Mass are set, according to Andrea Brosch (arbandi@cinci.rr.com) of Ohio. She hatched the idea years ago to connect more young adult Catholics.

Matthew Kelly's tome will be the theme with skits, activities, and more, including virtues, strengths that serve one well in the trek of daily life, such as patience, charity, prudence, fortitude, justice, and more.

Christianity comes to life here revitalizing individuals, communities and the universal church, in turn.

A bold, brilliant, practical and inspiring summit of sorts, you will be a better, bolder, more brilliant Catholic.

Contact Andrea at (513) 404 3641, or myself, (586) 777 9116 for more.

Join us for the ride.  And, be all you can be!

Rainbow Fish

It's a story about giving and sharing for the common good.

Something that we forgot.

Thinking of others.  Working together.  Lifting the lowly and vulnerable.

Giving what we have to help the needy among us.

Rainbow Fish strutts about in the great blue ocean showing off his beauty, his color, his scales.

Yet, he is alienated, alone.

No one seems to like Rainbow Fish, a tale available at local libraries.

Yet, Rainbow Fish morphs.

He share all his scales.

With love, Rainbow Fish, is happy for giving.

Rainbow Fish was read at Mass Sunday at Saint Claud Chapel in Clinton Township, MI.

It responds well to the question of Jesus' apostles:  "Who is the greatest?"

Jesus uses a child as an example in the Gospel.

Long live the Rainbow Fish folks everywhere.

Celebrating "Fresh Air"

Fifty years ago this October, a worldwide conclave of ecumenical clergy, among others, gathered at the Vatican in Italy.

It was historic.

Even though it seems like it is "chugging" along only in certain circles, celebrating its content for the interfaith community especially is exciting.

Take Hans Kung, for example, who noted that foundations of faith must be explored, while the world gets to know different faiths for peace to dwell in this land.  The Tubingen professor was there.
He knows.

Only Archbishop Hunthausen is still among the living who were there through all sessions that finally ended in 1965. Detroit Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, a regular homily writer in the distinguished National Catholic Reporter was a student there when the Council began.  He has awesome stories to tell about it  as he studeid canon law near the Sistine Chapel where the so-called Council Fathers, among others, met from '62-65 over a period of months before they would return home and go back to Rome.

And, Cardinal John F. Dearden of Detroit, a distinguished leader, and, first president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, told me of his joy at the Council's conclusion.  Dearden wanted to throw his head gear in the air after the final Mass, "but, we were too stayed," he confessed to George Charnley, Gary Beuche and me when we went to Canada for dinner with him after he retired.

You may want to get in on a series that Ken Kaucheck (kkaucheck@aol.com) is navigating now at Manressa Retreat Center in Bloomfield, MI.  That's off of Woodward at Quarton (16 Mile Road).

In fact, the universal call to holiness of all, coupled with baptism will be addressed October 1 by Pat Cooney Hathaway.

Other topics include reform, ministry, marriage and family, the faithful, mission of the church, the teaching body of the church, and, the college of bishops, Eucharist, and ecumenism.

Fifty years already since the start of this Council that was attended by Jewish leaders, among others.

What have we to show now of its application?

Rabbi Dorit Edut, among others, are hosting an interfaith panel, Sunday Oct. 14 at 3 pm in the Isaac Agree Synagogue at Griswold and Clifford in downtown Detroit, MI.  "The progress of women since Vatican II," is the topic.  Join me there after the 12:30 pm Focus:HOPE walk earlier the same day.

I wonder if the documents have been read by Catholics who seem to speak readily about Vatican II.

In fact, I wonder how many people at all read and study history today?

And, I'm curious if we're serious about implementing Vatican II right where we are at home, work, in the community, or, at worship.  Just as the Council suggested how we live out our daily faith walk.

Catechesis

Showing, telling the faith.

Catechesis.

It's instruction.

For the young that dad and mom show by living love, life, and more.

For others where we meet.

Like religion, it's more caught than taught, it seems to me.

Showe me.

We're a show me faith.

By how I live, love, and more, of course.

Using words only when necessary, we're a show me religion.

Show me how you love.

How you give.

Forgive.

William Cunningham and Eleanor Josaitis would 'show up' at events.

Supportive that way, show me, emerged.

Show me your heart, compassion.

Show me the best version of self.

Not a show.

Not drama.

Being there for others.

Broken

A man with MS told me about his appearance next Saturday at an airport hotel in Detroit where an Oral Roberts' healer will be on this forty-seventh birthday of Steve, who is a chiropractor I chatted with the other day.

"Good for you," I said, to his announcement waiting for an adjustment.

So much healing needed now, I thought.

Broken.

So much brokenness everywhere. 

Especially, within.

In need of healing.

Then there's a two-year-old who was "accidently" shot by her dad loading the weapon of mass destruction for the tiny tot. 

Breaks my heart.

And, a thirty-eight-year-old Waterford, MI., mom is tethered for life after being charged with sex with her son.

The list gets magnified.

Go figure.

A broken moment in time.

And, more.

A litany of more fracture in families, homes, our cities, our own hearts where evil all starts and perks, if you will.

Are we ready to believe enough in healing now?

And, in God?

Chaldean and Roman Rite Catholics will pray for healing with anointing with the sacred oil and salve of salvation, Thursday, October 25th, at 6:30 pm in Saint Sylvester Church at 11200 Twelve Mile Road in Warren, MI.

A congregation called, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, mostly comprised of parishioners from Iraq, this moment at Mass will afford the Chaldean and Roman Catholics a chance to experience each other in the healing presence of the Maker who can do all things.

 "Ask and you shall receive..."  said Jesus.

We shall be healed.

Will you!

Will hearts and homes?

Will brokenness be met by the healing hand of hope, and more?

I think so.

Are you a believer?

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

Next Wednesday climaxes the Jewish high holy days with Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.

"At one ment."  To atone.  To be at one with the Creator, among others, I imagine.  Cleansing, examining, renewing rapport and relationships that are authetically mindful of one's roots and religion. Being congruent, I suppose, amid converting, morphing and mending.

The Jewish new year began with Rosh Hashanah, the start of a ten-day period that aims at reparation and repairing of relationships, and, things broken, I was told.

The in-between days didn't seem to be a big deal as I inquired yesterday at a meeting in Detroit with Jewish people, among others.

"Oh, it's like Catholic Lent for you," I stammered as the gal with the keys wanted us to go so she could close the building.

It seemed to be no big deal was my point.

Catholic Lent became Lite for some, I meant.  Perhaps like these high holy days for our older brothers and sisters in the faith.

But it is important. At least one writer thinks so.

Really.

In the 1800s, Walt Whitman noted that "a well contested American national election" was "the triumphant result of faith in human kind," Eric Rosenberg wrote in today's Wall Street Journal, "Houses of Worship" column.

Rosenberg ended his piece with the admonition of Samuel who said that the people will "buckle under a king."

"He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his servants.  He will tithe your crops and grape harvests to give to his officials and his servants.  He will take your male and female slaves...As for you, you will become his slaves."

That's the exchange of political managing: Judges vs. a monarchy.  With it came the predilection of kings for tyranny and over-taxation, the author of the WSJ piece concluded.

Pastoral Care Workers Are Few

The 62-year-old woman said "there are none behind us" to take up our pastoral jobs.

Unaware of the depth and serious of this vocational job among the faithful, let alone clergy, I appreciate her comment.

She's tired of long hours with little pay.

And, she did look haggard from the toil of parish ministry.

Couple that with the demands of the diocesan offices, that used to be central services, assisting parishes primarily, and a messy moment is made.

When Detroit's Dearden, a distinguished voice in the decades past, and first president of the Untied States Coference of Catholic Bishops, was at the helm, he led, and Chicago and New York looked to "Iron John" as he was called before his elevation to Detroit as archbishop of a vibrant church.

There were speak up sessions and Church, World, Kingdom, and home church in the late 60s and 70s.

I remember sitting on the red-carpetted floor of Cobo Center in downtown Detroit for the 1976 Call to Action.  The hall was filled with wall-to-wall attendants there to listen and to respond.

Now, the silence is deafening and sad.

All one seems to hear about is the next casualty silenced or told she or he can't do this or that.

Go figure.

A different kind of leader leads or runs with fear that only freezes and locks a church into paralysis and retrenchment from collaboration to living liturgy to enthusiasm everywhere. Like firemen, they tend to "fires" and fear that drives them with attorneys in each year to guide these officials.  Unlike shepherds of Jesus, they walk in fear.

"It's as though there was no Vatican II," a church worker of close to 4 decades sadly said the other night as we were "cathartic" about what we're witnessing. I could hear the passion and the pain poking deep within him.  "I have opportunities," however.  And, like other disatisfied leaders, he will find another place, or church that respects the charisms he brings.  That Vatican II called forth.

And, when you don't have a common game plan, there's disarray.

When most of the clergy and faithful today thought that Vatican II was the plan, some other voices come along and "know it all" and give all kinds of messages about this Spirit-driven Council.

Go figure.

I can't.

Pain

I meet them at the supermarket, at meetings, and more.

Pain.

It's written on their faces.

In their words.

In their concerns they express to me.

They're decent human beings just out to make a living and pay the bills we all have to endure.

Yet, the systems that should help them be happy seem to lay heavy burdens, demands, expectations, and more.

One gal I met at Kroger about 9:30 pm told of the hours she puts into her work in a parish. Today was a long day also, she complained.

I tell the boss to lighten up and slow down, she said.

With heart issues and more, I apologized for how's she's treated, if it's true.

Then, another dedicated worker told of how he has decided to leave the community he loves and volunteers at regularly.

He also is a passionate leader in the community.

Both are respected.

"I can't take it anymore," he admitted.

Policies and postures and the way the people's money is spent on election campaign issues worry him, he said.

Two voices who will walk with their feet since they have no vote in their church.

I ached as I heard them.

They matter. 

Every one else matters also.

They do.

It was easy for me to concur with their complaints. I've been there.

Ever since I spoke up about how gay women and men are treated and labeled, I too have felt a sense of estrangement.  Officials seem to have broken communion with so many, and, me.

It's the 50th anniversary of the start of the second Vatican Council and it's as though it never happened, one of them said.

How true, I thought.

Collaboration, engaging the charisms and gifts of the people, full, active and conscious participation in liturgy limited, and . . .

Deeper prayer and fasting will help I hope.

I'd hate to think that there are more stories like these two, and my own.

Thank God, I thought, for being ultimately the One to whom all will be accountable for how we are church, including so-called 'John Paul II priests', 'Vatican II priests', JP II parishioners, Vatican II parishioners, and, those in the call to holiness, and, those in the call to action camps, as officials dub 'em all it seems.  How convenient. Yet, how sad. How dismissive.  How fear-driven a church we are today. 

Is anything, anyone so easy, so simple to categorize, or dismiss? I think not.

My heart breaks thirty six years after I was ordained.

Never did I imagine a church like this.

Never.

I trust that God is in it somewhere, some how, however.

I do.

After all, I pledged commitment to follow Christ through thick and thin. 

And, I will follow him to the end, so help me God.

Fear Knocked and Faith Answered the Door

When fears knock at the door and faith answers, usually, no one is there.

And, Mark Twain said much of that which frightens us is imaginary anyway.

How true.

At least for believers.

Fear can lock one into paralysis.

One refuses to act when in such fear.

When told early on in life that  I couldn't sing, I froze, and failed to open my mouth for any melody.

That "tape" lived with me for years until I faced it head on and won over that fear.

It took time, however, to undo, let go, and, sing out.

God is the giver of gifts and charisms.  Others may think they know better, yet, the Maker, having blessed each of us with abilities and talents, alone, can judge them to be "imperfect."

When I did begin to shout out in song, people commented with compliments.

To think that I withheld that gift for years due to another creature's evaluation that silenced me for decades when it came to music. How tragic.  How often it happens to humans.

It took faith to forge forth.

Faith is like that.

Fear flees fast from faith.

"Fear is useless; what's needed is trust,"  said Jesus in the Scriptures.

Fear will knock and faith will answer with no one there.

Believe.

+ Clifford F. Ruskowski

The word.

It was his life.

Father Cliff Ruskowski appreciated communications and well-prepared preaching by pastors, among others.

His own voice was silenced September 15 when he died at Beaumont Hospital in Grosse Pointe, MI., at 76.

A parishioner of Saint Thomas the Apostle Church, on Detroit's east side, my own home church, the professor at the Orchard Lake Schools, and, Saint John's Seminary, where he taught me homiletics, Cliff loved life and directed stage plays at St. Mary's College, Orchard Lake, among his other administrative roles since his ordination in June, 1962.

After a fall over his dog, his broken back, and, consequent ailments prevailed.  He was not the same after the mishap.

A liturgy of life will be celebrated this Wednesday at 10 am at Shrine Chapel at the Orchard Lake Schools, 3535 Indian Trail, Orchard Lake, while he is waked at the D.S. Temrowski and Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common, Warren, MI., with prayers at 7 pm. tonight.

His enthusiasm for life is so appreciated by me.

Like companions on the journey I remember well his inspirational efforts for a better quality of life and communications, and more.  He was a Bluestreak, a Thomasonian, as we were called in the sports sphere at St. Thomas High School.   Go blue!

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

He kept the Word.  '

He shared it. 

Lived it. 

Loved it, and more.

He will be missed, but remembered well and often by me at least.

A World of Weirdness At Times

All the violence and murder related to the viral video, "The Innocence of the Muslims."

Go figure.

Any excuse to thrust upon an opportunity to instigate trouble and to kill innocent lives seems to be the issue here.

Counseling would be the solution to this problem, not killing and sitrring minds and hearts.

Growth is needed by all persons.  And, especially those troubled by events of their lives or the world for that matter.

This action over the 14-minute film is way out of proportion.

After all, no U.S. government department issued the film.

People acting out need to be contained and tethered if that's what it takes to give boundaries to their anger spewing at innocent life.

Groups and medication for angry people are abundant these day.

People need to take advantage of such assistance before they fly of the handle, so to speak.

Brisk Air, Fresh Run

Morning calls.

Awakening from the noise from the car and its driver delivering my Wall Street Journal, I decide to respond and go for a walk and a run with Woof, my Bichon Frise dog who turned three recently.

A nod of thanks for being alive commits to prayer at my usual time before breakfast. And, Mass.

Mist covers the cars as I jog looking over the new day's color of dark with light breaking into it quickly.

The grass is wet.

I wonder about saturating my gym shoes with water, mud, and more.

Not a problem.

But avoiding the fecal matter from yesterday's dump by the herd ofCanadian geese is another challenge this fresh Saturday. I know.  I saw them all in the trek then with Woof. Embattled!

Gingerly, I step around it all as Woof wants to nose around in it.   Ukkkk...

Another hurdle overcome.  No problem.  Easy.

The run is on.

We walk some.

Then, run some more.

I notice a newness about myself since I enrolled in Landmark Education for three full days and an evening, and, signed up for the next level in February of next year.

A boldness covers me, it seems.  Being is even different.  Doing life differently is welcomed.

Adventure and being all I can be mounts.  Enthusiasm enters more.

I notice more.

That's spirituality, I was taught:  Noticing.

Landmark instructor, the vibrant Scotsman Gary Bishop would say: "That's your view!"

Even the coaching in counseling is quick and on point, at least so thinks this coach with those coming for assistance yesterday afternoon in my Foam Factory office.

Greeted with "Where have you been; everyone's looking for you,!" it is good to know I was missed.

More surprises.

Something slipped under my door.  A gift from a neighboring office tenant.  Rent gets paid for the past couple months.  Relief pours over me.

And, in my mailbox is the anticipated reimbursement for professional expenses.  Cool.

From the morning jog to the office surprises to the mailbox anticipations, fresh unfolds these days.

I pledge another jog another time.

Another prayer.

Coupled with blessings bountiful.  And, Thanksgiving Day is months away.

Go figure.

It's morning.  And, more.

Mourning, Mending

Much mending and mourning mounts these days with so much fracture at home, in our hearts, and abroad.

All of this need to grieve over the recent violence prompted within one's heart first where all evil starts came from the insulting video about Muslims.

It escalates now even with Pope Benedict heading to Lebanon as he walks a tight rope that will test his Christian resolve for peace and his skills as an ambassador of peace. 

In the Vatican where much of his life is spent, or, in classrooms, this "in the trenches" peace pilgrimage is somewhat new to him where ordinary lives are snuffed out for their beliefs.  He can do this.  He will help, however, in the name of Jesus the Christ, our Way, Truth and Life, for sure.

Giant billboards in Beirut announce his visit as fractured, alienated, and persecuted Chrsitans await his hope.

Benedict will ask for more pluralism and freedoms while he addresses the Syrian uprising calling for an end to violence.

Respect is what he will call for from the government.

The Arab Spring is far from what was hoped for from many.

Sectarian tensions between supporters and opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad clash.  Christians are divided while most Sunnis in Lebanon oppose the regime while Shiites are behind Assad.

Here, locally, "Open "Mike" - Mending and More meets currently on Mondays through October at 7 pm in Roseville, Michigan Sacred Heart Church (lower level).  Losses are grieved, and more meet at the "mike" like young Jeff who wants to make his first holy communion in the sixth grade, a couple want their marriage validated in the Catholic community, and a spouse grieves the loss of her husband, Ed Stepowski, recently.

Much to mend.

Join me. 

Let the mending begin in one's heart where all evil starts and there within  begins the violent outbursts across the globe.

God help us!

Call if I can help at (586) 777 9116, or, sacredheartroseville@saintly.com.

Have hope to heal and begin within.

Condemning Film, Violence in Egypt, Elsewhere

Here's condemning the film and the ensuing violence erupting in one's own self, in Egypt, Yemen, Lybia, and elsewhere after the release of a video supposedly supported by a California Coptic Christian.

Violence does little to bridge and build and bond global humans.

More of the same only gets the same results.

The All Faiths Festival (AFF) that aims to recognize all religions, to build bridges, and to help people in crisis, clearly condemns both the film and the video about Muslims.

We can all do better in relating with each other, and, producing videos that incite violence against any human being is not the answer to one's anger and disdain for others.

In solidarity, here's calling for all people of goodwill and faith to stand together to condemn this horror now.

Fly Me to the Moon

When President John F. Kennedy said we we're going to the moon, he meant it.

That bold decision set us on a path, and, eventually on the moon when there was nothing at this mission's start to get the task rolling.

No technology, no route, no direction.

Yet, with Neil Armstrong's funeral this morning, a flood of feelings fill me.

That fierce action to get to the moon was limitless.

Nothing seemed impossible back when this mission was proposed by a young and bold president.

Imagination must have been part of this equation, no?

Clearly, a goal, an aim begins with one step.

Commitment to the action.

The United States of American did it!

Like climbing the rungs of a ladder to the top, dreams do happen.

Boldness prevails.

And, limitless possibilities await us.

Let the dreamers begin. . .

9/11Shrine to Remember Fallen

A replica of the drink-serving cart used on United Flight 93 stands near the altar, alongside photographs of the 9/11/01 fallen.

Psalm 23 is the page of the Scriptures open to "The Lord is my Shepherd."

That's inside the Thunder on the Mountain Fight 93 Memorial Chapel in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, a former Lutheran chapel purchased for $18,000.

A modest site to remember.

The Reverend Alphonse Mascherino, then a Roman Catholic priest, opened it in southwestern Pennsylvania for people to visit, to pray, to mend and heal up from the horror that brought down thousands of humans with the twin towers in New York city, and, the plane in a field in Shanksville.

This is the 11th anniversary of 9/11.

This chapel sits near the Flight 93 National Memorial at the site of the crash miles away.  That $62 million memorial, according to newspaper reports, is managed by the National Park Service.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors go there in one year, reports indicate. Marble walls with forty names of passengers and crew are etched in letters of those who died after a fight with terrorists and the plane that dropped into a former coal mine.

We remember.

We get past this and move into the present  time.

We awaken to strive to be at peace with our neighors, families, other nations, and all people who inhabit this land.

We keep on talking and living today's breathing and make a difference.

We do.

We will.

Rackets in Metropolitan Detroit and the World

Did you know that persistent complaints or  real and imagined threats are called rackets?

I didn't until I went to Landmark Forum in Livonia, Michigan this weekend.

And, that's what over a hendred of us dealt with, and more.

This historic process produces radical and sustained change in the way that individuals relate to their own development.

What over 1,3000,000 participants reported in a Time Magazine report, coupled with the noted social scientist and public opinion analyst, Daniel Yankelovich, was:

Better relationships with family and parents;

More comfortable and at ease with others;

Greater confidence and self-esteem;

Less concerned with the approval of others;

Job more enjoyable and satisfying;

Better relationships with co-workers; and,

New ability to express thoughts and feelings.

I'll bet that I'm more motivated now also.  And, that new possibilities for myself, my family and my neighbors is inevitable now.

This rewarding experience is what is needed in our culture and times.


A book, entitled, "The Three Laws of Performance,"  by Steve Zaffron and Dave Logan tells Landmark's story.

For more information, visit www.threelawsofperformance.com.

Landmark, and More

Landmark (www.landmarkeducation.com) sounds like a marathon moment for me September 7, 8 & 9th in Livonia, MI.

From 9 am until 10 pm each day I will be growing to be more open, to reach beyond what is, to overcome impediments to be all I can be, and confrontng patterns and routines that keep me stuck
in my "old" living.

Fresh.

That's what this seems to call me to be about daily anew.


Those impediments or breakdowns will become pathways for transformation.

This all seems so usual and urgent in the challenge of each new day.


What's working in my routine and ministry and what's not working will be faced.

Wanting more partnerships of common ground issue-solving is what I want each day with the interfaith community.

Wondering what legacy I will leave leaves an aroma of fresh air for me, and more.

Even while I think about this precious time, I ponder and pause the hours devoted to growth.  That fear, even anxiety, is what gets mowed down, I imagine at Landmark.

Thanks be to God for this.

Long days into the night.

For sure.

This longest journey is within, however.

And, with joy I eagerly enter this process and procession for profound change.

A marathon.

Like the run I'd take each day thirty years ago.

From the mile-long jog, freshnees unfolded, and more.

Bring on the marathon, and, Rabbi Dorit and Shomone Edut who inspired me to sign on next Tuesday when a kind of graduation ceremony is celebrated at the Mariott near Landmark.

Oh, happy day!

How could I not run this race?

How?

World Is Like a Family Business That I Need to Care For

How true.

At least, to me.

The world is like a family business that needs each of us, including me, to care well for God's creation.

We are one with the world, spirituality teaches, while religion is more about divisions and doctrines that may separate the oneness we are called to be in the world.

Communion best describes the Catolic tradition.

Holy Communion.

Yet, adherants who are baptized and practicing Catholics, alone receive the Body and Blood of Christ when free from mortal sin.

Oneness is a quality of being. 

We are part of a bigger Story.  That is, God's unfolding story, and each one's oneness with the Maker.

Even though all is up to God ultimately, the prime Mover, each of us is called to do our part in this family business of one world, one globe.

A great oneness is what we seem to be called to as pilgrims.

Even amid religions that divide, spirituality invites this oneness of all created beings and creation.

To be about this, we need to step away from the self and "ego," to the whole, the common good, the One, and, All.

That is being.  Being beyond selves, divisions, and more.


Spirituality and science seem to be coming together on the Oneness we all are in this family business, if you will, to care for creation.