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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 – Inspirations for Living – Love, Joy, Peace.
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You hold diamonds?
String them to hang such beauty
on the neck of the world
Do not withhold from fear
take each one and speak blessing
over it, and join it with the rest
Consecrate good intention
with surrendered action -
in this way, serve in Love
Do not compare your gift to others
or judge that of another
this the way of humble, wise servants
Let your heart welcome this duty -
obedience to one's own calling
opens within the heart a place
to commune with the Friend
*Brian Kenneth Wilcox. April 12, 2010.
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Recently, I tried out a new church. I was welcomed kindly and sat down. I felt an enthusiasm, initially, a strong sense of comfort and blessing. Soon, I began to see the service was not to my preference. I felt bombarded by the many words, while I like more quiet, less speech. I sat bored and disturbed and was glad to see it all end. I walked through the rain back to my truck, got in, and prayed with gratitude. I was thankful to have been there. I was blessed to see others blessed by the talents offered there that morning. It dawned on me, the following day, that some years before I would have left critical. I left thankful. I have learnt better that Spirit blesses us in different ways, and that is okay, and that is wonderful. Possibly, I will visit the church again. Next time, the service might touch me deeply and not some other. And that will be fine, too.
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The late Fred Rogers, of the television program Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, took classes in preaching during his seminary studies. Later, write Lisa Belcher-Hamilton reported Rogers saying:
“Year ago my wife and I were worshiping in a little church with friends of ours. We were on vacation, and I was in the middle of my homiletics [preaching] course at the time.
“During the sermon I kept ticking off every mistake I thought the preacher – he must have been eighty years old – was making. When this interminable sermon finally ended, I turned to one of my friends, intending to say something critical about the sermon. I stopped myself when I saw the tears running down her face.
“She whispered to me, 'He said exactly what I need to hear.' That was really a seminal experience for me. I was judging and she was needing, and the Holy Spirit can work through even the most faulty instrument.”
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The capacity of Spirit to work through persons, including you, is amazing. Our human limitations do not limit the Breath of Life. This can encourage us not to be critical of the efforts of others, and to know they may bring blessing to others though we remain untouched. This same applies to us each. We can do our work, accepting that we never know the extent to which it will assist someone else.
This trust can lead us away from comparing our service judgmentally to what others give. I write poetry. I see persons who seem far more gifted than I. I see, also, how my work brings joy to many persons. That my poetry is or is not as good as that of another person is okay. Being faithful in doing our best and living the results to Grace, that is our surrender to a Power and Wisdom greater than our own.
Do you have a talent to give? Have you seen it bless others? What does that feel like to you – when you offer your best and know it has helped someone? Do you need to trust the Spirit more to use your talents beyond your limitations? Have you seen your effort help another far more than you thought possible?
©Brian Wilcox, and OneLife Ministries. 04/12/2010
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*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.
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