|
Welcome to OneLife Ministries. This site is designed to lead you prayerfully into a heart experience of Divine Presence, Who is Love. I hope persons of varied wisdom paths will find inspiration here.
Blessings,
Brian Kenneth Wilcox
MDiv, MFT, PhD
Interspiritual Teacher, Author
You are invited to join Brian at his fellowship group on Facebook - OneLife Ministries – A Contemplative Interspiritual Fellowship.
* * *
A religious group had a motto: NO PROBLEMS, ONLY OPPORTUNITIES. A man visited a group meeting and spoke, afterward, with its leader. He said, "Excuse me, sir, I have a problem. May I speak with you in private."
The leader replied, with a big smile, "You may, but remember, sir, we have no problems here, only opportunities."
The other replied, "Well, maybe you don't but I do. See, my wife and child were killed a year ago today in a vehicle accident. So, call it what you want, I'll go elsewhere for help from someone who believes the loss of my family is a problem, not just an opportunity."
* * *
Spirituality is not evasive of real life. False teachings tend to offer neat, unrealistic slogans. Beware of teaching that offers an escape from real life and its pain, too.
Be careful of teachings that over-value positive thinking, as though you can control your life through mere thought. These teachings often are teachings of denial, attempted escapes, and generally selfish. And most often I see it coming from persons who enjoy material things lower classes are deprived of. Also, these teachings cut off one aspect of truth from the Whole of the truth.
Spirituality is not an eternal vacation from reality, but an engagement with life. In its most basic form, spirituality is engaging life with full awareness, and seeking to spread love, joy, and peace, in compassion with - not superiority above - other creatures.
When persons are suffering or seeking Truth, the last thing they need is your favorite "spiritual" slogan.
©Brian Wilcox, and OneLife Ministries. 03/23/2010
* * *
*Story is adapted from Anthony de Mello. Taking Flight.
*OneLife Ministries is a ministry of Brian Kenneth Wilcox, SW Florida. Brian lives a vowed life, as an Associate of Greenbough House of Prayer. He lives with his two doggie friends, Bandit Ty and St. Francis. He is a member of “United Communities of Spirit: A Global Interfaith Initiative,” for advancing understanding and peace among persons of different faiths and beliefs. Brian is a member of the on-line networks “Guru” and “Peace for the Soul: A Common Space for Harmonic Peacemakers.” OneLife Ministries seeks to share the spirit of unity among all peoples of faith and humanity as a whole.
*Brian welcomes responses to his writings at briankwilcox@yahoo.com . Also, Brian is on Facebook: search Brian Kenneth Wilcox.
*You can order his book An Ache for Union from major booksellers.
|
