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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. While it focuses on Christian teaching, I hope persons of varied faiths will find inspiration here. Indeed, "God" can be whatever image helps us trust in the Sacred, by whatever means Grace touches us each. Please share this ministry with others, and please return soon. There is a new offering daily. And to be placed on the daily OneLife email list, to request notifications of new writings or submit prayer requests, write to briankwilcox@yahoo.com .
Blessings,
Brian Kenneth Wilcox MDiv, MFT, PhD
Interspiritual Pastor-Teacher, Author, Workshop Leader,
Spiritual Counselor, and Chaplain.
Brian encourages support of the 4-Star Christian organization Compassion, which supports children worldwide; see www.compassion.com .
Prayer
Christ, open my hands. Christ, open my heart. Amen.
Scripture
You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
*2 Corinthians 8.9 (NLT)
Quote
Generosity is enhanced by our realization of our already Oneness in God. By Nature, I am you, and you are I. In the I AM, that is God, all beings exist in an undifferentiated whole, participating in the Wholeness, Harmony, and Fullness that is God being God. At this mystical level of awareness, giving to you, I give to myself, and giving to myself, I give to you. Generosity is connected with an inspiration flowing from this unitive consciousness. The more we grow into God, the more we become, with God, this awareness of Pure Love. Amen.
*Brian Kenneth Wilcox. Author An Ache for Union.
Spiritual Teaching
Anne Keegan's article “Blue Christmas” was a collection of Christmas stories Chicago police officers told. One story was of George White, an elderly man.
George lived in a rented room at the YMCA. He had one set of clothes, shoes wrapped with rubber bands – this kept the soles from flopping -, and a worn black overcoat. George spent mornings napping in an old metal chair in the back of the office.
Two officers took interest in George. Occasionally, they would give him a few dollars. They, also, found out Billy the Greek at the G&W grill gave George a free hot breakfast each morning.
The two officers and their families decided to have George over as guest for Christmas dinner. They gave him presents. George unwrapped them carefully.
On the way back to the YMCA, George asked, “Are these presents mine to keep!” The officers affirmed to him that they were his to keep. He replied, “Then, we must stop at the G&W before I go home.” George began rewrapping the presents.
When they walked into the G&W, Billy the Greek was there. “You been good to me,” spoke George. “Now, I can be good to you. Merry Christmas.” George handed Billy the Greek all the presents.
*See Chicago Tribune Magazine. Dec. 24, 1995. As told in Edward K. Rowell, Ed. Fresh Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching
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Yesterday's OneLife writing was the most exhausting I had done. It took about five hours to write and edit. A friend, later that night, thanked me for the work I put into the writing. Then, today, another friend wrote and praised the writing and my giftedness.
I see these kind gestures of recognition and thanksgiving as means of generosity. Much of my work receives no acknowledgement or financial support. So, when someone gives a little financially, or gives an affirmation, that is part of the return of energy, of generosity, that is the Cycle of Life.
One amazing trait of generosity is anyone can practice generosity as a spiritual practice. The person broke or the person with millions of dollars can each practice generosity, for such is a matter of the heart, not the things a person does or does not have.
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Two synonyms for “generosity” tell of two ways to engage in liberality: openhandedness and openheartedness. I relate to openhandedness as the giving of things. This is an important part of liberality. Each of us has something we can give, and we may have many things we have kept and need to give away to someone in need. Openheartedness speaks to me of a more subtle way of giving. For example, giving a smile to a tired waiter or waitress. Other subtle ways of benevolence include: giving affirmation, forgiving, praying for, patting someone on the back, kissing, offering a good joke, a hug, undivided attention, …
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Here is a generosity practice I use daily – another small way to affirm and say I care. When a person sends an email to me, and typically when someone replies to something I write on Facebook, I return an acknowledgment, even if it is simply a Thanks or Thank You.
Do I have to do this? Do persons expect it? No. Yet, the higher expressions of generosity are doing out of largess of heart what we are not expected to do.
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Spiritually, generosity can be intentionally practiced as one of your Spiritual Disciplines. Generosity is, then, an intentional way of being a conduit of Grace into the world, a participating in the circularity of Love. We become one with Spirit, as we open our hearts and hands for Spirit to flow outward through and from us toward all others, human and nonhuman creatures, alike.
Responding
1)In what ways are you practicing generosity daily? What of these ways could be called openhanded? What of the ways could be termed openhearted?
2)What are some ways you could engage daily to practice generosity more consciously and as a spiritual practice?
3)Whom do you know to be a particularly generous person? In what ways does this person show generosity?
4)Do you have particular talents whereby you feel called to be generous? What are these talents? How are they a means of generosity?
5)How did Jesus model for us the practice of generosity? What does it mean in 2 Corinthians 8.9 that Christ's Grace is generous?
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*To contact the writer of OneLife Ministries, Brian Kenneth Wilcox, see below:
*OneLife Ministries is a ministry of Brian Kenneth Wilcox, SW Florida. Brian lives a vowed life and with his two dogs, Bandit Ty and St. Francis, with friends and under a vow of simplicity. Brian is an ecumenical-interspiritual leader, who chooses not to identify with any group and seeks to be open to how Christ manifests in the diversity of Christian denominations and varied religious-spiritual traditions. He affirms that all spiritual paths lead ultimately back to Jesus Christ. He is Senior Chaplain for the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Punta Gorda, FL.
*Brian on Facebook: search Brian Kenneth Wilcox.
*Contact the above email to book Brian for preaching, Spiritual Direction, retreats, workshops, animal blessing services, house blessings, weddings, funerals, or other spiritual requests. You can order his book An Ache for Union from major booksellers.
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