www.theburninghand.com
  • Chop Wood
  • This Is Me
  • Rule of Life
  • Meditation
  • Lessons
  • Book
  • Contact
  • Trail
  • Mother
  • Dance
  • Maharaj-ji
  • Baba Ram Dass
  • Poppy
  • Quantum
  • Greta
  • Wendell
  • St. Dorothy Day
  • St. Max
  • Sabbath-Day
  • St. Francis
  • Praxis
  • Tribe
  • St. Francis
  • Making It Sacred
  • Sanctuary of the Heart... Daily Prayers

To Church or Not to Church?

1/10/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
What a way to begin a blog: a title of "To Church or Not to Church?" coupled with a "picture" of American Farm Worker Activist, Cesar Chavez... But, actually, the proposition of this blog is quite simple: "church" is not really a place, rather, it is the sum total of one's life lived in relationship with a multitude of "others" and with the Earth Itself. It is, of course, much, much easier to think of "church", mosque, temple, shrine, etc. as a "place", for that, on the surface at least, seems to remove the requirement of actually carrying one's faith out into the streets, marketplaces, and homes of the "believers"...

How does one "carry faith" out into the streets? Are we supposed to get a bull-horn in imitation of some fundamentalists here in my town who like to raise cain when a local bookstore has a "Harry Potter Day" and proclaim that all who don a robe and carry a wand -- little kids for the most part -- will be "going to hell"... It never dawns upon those "suits" that hell is having to listen to them and, at the same time, explain to the passing kids that the men shouting probably work for Lord Voldemort... For Cesar Chavez, faith required of him a commitment to social justice -- not as a vague principle, but as a force to improve the lives, the living, and the working conditions of some of the poorest and most oppressed people in our midst. In other words, faith is not about "my feeling good" or "my salvation", but it is instead, "How are you?" and "What do you need to be able to thrive in your life?" 

Faith is choosing to believe that the Holy One, the Quantum Consciousness, asks those very same questions of us! I mean, seriously, why strain to "believe" if the Divine Beloved (G-d) -- in the depths of your heart and in the reality of your life -- if "It" has no vital interest in you? Now changing gears, if one has a basic knowledge of space science, we "assume" that light actually does travel at a certain speed (super fast) ... and we might also be aware of the Hubble telescope that is peering into the distant depths of this Vast Universe... and we might further know that Hubble has photographed stars whose light began their silent journey across space, through time, some 13 (or so) billion years ago! Quantum physicists, like Amit Goswami, Ph.D., teach their understanding of the "quantum world" as -- essentially -- consciousness, "quantum consciousness"... and that all of matter is "constructed" of the "energy" of consciousness... whew!

Of course, we are confronted with many varying definitions of "faith", religion, spirituality, creed, interpretations, theologies, and sacred scriptures: many proclaim that their faith and particular definition or practice is the "correct" one -- and they will kill to prove it! Or they will say and do all sorts of things that are harmful. And, invariably, their faith is chalk-full of justifications for all sorts of things, like greed, exploitation, oppression, sexism, racism, this-ism, and that-ism... But have you ever heard one of those big-shot justifiers stop to ask you "How are you?" and "What do you need to be able to thrive in your life?" People like Rush Limbaugh will say that social justice is the "cotton candy" of religion: that "real" religion is "right thinking" or the correct creed -- which usually means "pray, pay, and obey". Still others advocate an "escapism" of one sort or another... 

For the sacred activist though, like Cesar Chavez, faith is not cotton candy: it is, instead, the back-breaking work of organizing for the chance to make life a little bit more bearable for folks whose living is intolerably hard. This is exactly how faith gets out into the streets, the marketplace, and the home: "How are you?" and "What do you need to be able to thrive?" Faith requires that we passionately care about our neighbor and her well-being! Faith requires that we strive to build peace, equality, and justice in our daily lives, communities, and the world. Faith requires that we dedicate our lives to reducing the suffering of every being and of the Planet Itself! If you look intently at the picture of Cesar Chavez above, you will see that the picture is actually a picture of many, many people: mostly farm workers, the folks to whom Chavez dedicated his life: faith is living in such a way that our picture -- after we have passed on -- is similarly made up of the countless lives that we have served: could there be anything worse than a picture with only one face in it? That would be the opposite of faith. Finally, as to the original question posed: "To Church or Not to Church"? Church is just one word for the experience of Sacred Love Unleashed... so of course, if you are breathing and striving, you are in Church...  


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Robert Daniel Smith was privileged to serve the homeless and marginalized for 30 years in California. He is living now almost within shouting distance of the Twin Cities. He is a poet, artist, writer, and long-time  Companion of the Way still dreaming... 

    ​Recommended Reading:

    ​Son of Man by Andrew Harvey


    ​Be Love Now by Ram Dass

    ​Be Here Now by Ram Dass

    The Rebirthing of God by John Philip Newell

    The Hope by Andrew Harvey

    The Return of the Mother by Andrew Harvey

    ​Creation Spirituality by Matthew Fox

    Loaves and Fishes by Dorothy Day 

    Sacred Pleasure by Riane Eisler

    Occupy Spirituality by Adam Bucko and Matthew Fox

    Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda

    The Self-Aware Universe by Amit Goswami, Ph.D.

    Bhagavad Gita by Eknath Easwaran

    The Wisdom Jesus by Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault

    ​Living the Eternal Way by Rev. Ellen Grace O'Brian

    Listening For The Heartbeat of God by John Philip Newell

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    September 2010

    RSS Feed

Copyright (c) Michelle Smith   All Rights Reserved  2017
Photos used under Creative Commons from tejvanphotos, heather aitken, PixFav.com, Rennett Stowe, Never Edit, dsgetch, Jeffrey, spiritchasa, red line highway, luciefly, np&djjewell, Milton Keynes Museum, pmarkham, Wonderlane, Flikkersteph -4,000,000 views ,thank you!, KOREA.NET - Official page of the Republic of Korea, homethods, igo.rs, Daniel Dudek-Corrigan, WarmSleepy, MizGingerSnaps, niiicedave (back from AK USA), rachel_titiriga, neotint, mRio, regan76, Chilanga Cement, Goldmund100, nevil zaveri (thank you for 20+M views:), Sasha Y. Kimel, Evoflash, ianmalcm, National Farm Worker Ministry, CapCase, Larry Lamsa, nathanborror, philozopher, iamathis, keepitsurreal, Elvert Barnes, NASA Goddard Photo and Video, *ErinBrierley*, archer10 (Dennis) 85M Views, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, recommendgroup3, normalsanik, philwarren, Rod Waddington, Nic's events, edenpictures, ell brown, Eneas, skugga2shadow, PiConsti, matsuyuki, Lucie Bluebird-Lexington, Christiaan Triebert, Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It., Schwarzkaefer, K. Kendall, satanoid, Rod Waddington, Adrian Thomson, Rod Waddington, Neon Tommy, Javmorcas, EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection, hams37, DigitumDei, Dean Hochman, Rob React, Marion Doss, Celestine Chua, Bold Frontiers, Bobfantastic, Daniel M. Hendricks, The National Guard, micadew, Pero Kvrzica, Pan American Health Organization PAHO, Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), Abode of Chaos, zugaldia, jorgemejia, 1nativeTexan, A. Strakey, STUART_BURNS1, Jan Tik, erix!, greensefa, Meanest Indian, miketnorton, eliduke, K. Kendall, willthomas7, Southbank Centre London, fuseboxradio, alden0249, Chuckfranky, **** j a z z z i ***, eliduke, kevin dooley, iz4aks, Loco Steve, U.S. Embassy New Delhi, geckzilla, InSapphoWeTrust, PhotoHenning, Miradas.com.br, srslyguys, otterbeintheatre, Sasha Y. Kimel, Dick Thomas Johnson, justin, cattan2011, Rebecca Harms, ** RCB **, jdg32373, thisisjamesj, Glyn Lowe Photoworks., www.ilkkajukarainen.fi, eugenenoodleman, swong95765, WarmSleepy, scazon, albany_tim, hoyasmeg, austinevan, Easa Shamih (eEko) | P.h.o.t.o.g.r.a.p.h.y, Filipe Moreira, Old Sarge, BlatantNews.com, .shyam., puroticorico, Jim, the Photographer, rajkumar1220, mike.benedetti, Lost Albatross, babasteve, Alex E. Proimos, Falling Heavens, cliff1066™, pixiduc, To Tuscany, Space Ritual, Walt Hubis, qwrrty, Geoff Livingston, nyoin, jeffreyw, Cea., tibchris, Friar's Balsam, Pink Sherbet Photography, Trilok Rangan, cscott2006, Kris Krug, spratmackrel, Celestine Chua, Shashank Mhasawade, AlicePopkorn, mhiguera, waitscm, mikekwaan, Lost Albatross, rajkumar1220, Alan Cleaver, philipmatarese, @jbtaylor, Anosmia, ryPix, Illusive Photography, Beverly & Pack, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, Paul Lowry, Ben Sutherland, kamshots, National Farm Worker Ministry, k763, Wonderlane, BAMCorp, bm.iphone, QuotesEverlasting, markbyzewski, greensefa, DonkeyHotey, Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), VinothChandar, jamarmstrong, Ian W Scott, olcoge, carulmare, eleephotography, rajkumar1220, AlicePopkorn, billy verdin, Melody Campbell, PixFav.com, cyberien 94, symphony of love, Cory Kipa Photography, Mulligan Stu, Jack Heart, creativedc, yummyporky, Liz Henry, beaumontpete, Karen Eliot, Formula_d, cuatrok77, Eneas, Monica Arellano-Ongpin, YIM Hafiz, AlicePopkorn, dalbera, TausP., Song_sing, Duncan~, Ed Coyle Photography, h.koppdelaney, L. N. Batides, oseillo, K. Kendall, omnos, francesco sgroi, akshay moon, popejon2, Waiting For The Word, DeeAshley, rajkumar1220, mira66, NASA Goddard Photo and Video, Jean-Luc Toilet, Morgaine, Јerry, silviostarr, mahalie, jGlidePhotoATL, bixentro, AirHaake, VinothChandar, niyam bhushan, tedeytan, Kıvanç Niş, kevin dooley, secretlondon123, mike 23, christian.greller, OliBac, quinn.anya, goat_girl_photos, yeowatzup, revmags, jlwelsh, doubledareyaa, bberburb, Cea., clkohan, Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), garlandcannon (on hiatus), kdinuraj, TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³, Raphael Goetter, omnos, jeet_sen, rajkumar1220, gbaku, Pink Sherbet Photography, payneshut, timmarshall, cutemosaic.com, Balaji.B, Morgaine, sadeog, DrStarbuck, michaelvito, VinothChandar, Emily Stanchfield, ninja 4 life, Carly & Art, The Jewish Agency for Israel, McD22, Ashok666, Zanastardust, grahamc99, Sharon Mollerus, dental ben, WarmSleepy, Flikkesteph, quinn.anya, h.koppdelaney, Katrin Lorenzen, ernenn, Fairy Heart ♥, Spirit-Fire, Lynda W1, Bob Doran, miheco, micadew