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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.
You are invited to join Brian at his fellowship group on Facebook. The group is called OneLife Ministries – An Interspiritual Contemplative Fellowship. Hope to see you there. Blessings.
The wound that marks us [in circumcision of the heart] also chastens the pride that seeks its own. Through grace, God pulls us to Godself, altering our tendency to rely on ourselves, and we come to cling ever more fervently to God. Through grace, our hearts are circumcised, altered, so that our desire is for God.
*Amy Laura Hall, “The Law of Love,” in The Wesleyan Tradition. Ed. Paul W. Chilcote
. . .
How long I pushed you away.
In feelings of unworthiness to be loved,
I pushed away the One most worthy and desirous
to love.
Light my candle, again, long unlit,
Help me to believe in Love, again,
As I did long ago, before the losses
Separated me from that native, innocent, true vision,
Breathe upon the Flame,
Until Your Light penetrates every cell of my being
with Grace, and Love draws to me,
a Love that expands my heart fearlessly, freely.
* * *
A Muslim tale speaks of Muhammad teaching in the desert, reciting from the Koran for spellbound listeners. A cat walked into the camp and to Muhammad. The cat went to sleep on the hem of the prophet’s exquisite robe.
The prophet was unaware of the cat, though he continued to speak for the rest of the day. The cat continued to find healing and warmth in the shadow of Muhammad.
At the end of the day, the audience returned to its tents. The prophet, finally seeing the cat asleep on his robe, took a knife and cut off the hem of his robe. This destroyed a beautiful robe, but the cat was left undisturbed in its slumber.
A heartfelt compassion can move a person to strange acts of kindness. Love, after all, is the greatest power in the world.
*Todd Outcalt, Candles in the Dark.
* * *
Meditate on the following passage of Scripture:
“I have loved you with an everlasting love….” (see Jeremiah 31.3)
Do you ever resist a deeper communion with Grace? What does it mean to “abide in Christ,” not just “be with Christ?” What is Grace? What is the relationship between Grace and Love? Is Grace and Love the same Reality, or two aspects of the same Reality? Why do we, at times, resist Grace? Do you ever feel unworthy to receive Grace? Has religious teaching helped or hindered you in receiving Grace? How? Who models for you the freedom, spontaneity, and joy of Grace?
Prayer
Spirit of Love, do not just love me, do not just love through me; love me to accept your love for me, that such love received might turn outward to love others, not with a limited love shaped by my feelings of limitation, fear, and unworthiness, but a love Infinite in being and expression, flowing from your Being for all creation, equally and in total self-emptying, which is Fullness Itself. Grant me to enter the Mystery of such giving that gives all, and more, always. Amen.
* * *
*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 renounces all titles of sacredness that some would apply to him, but 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 welcomes responses to his writings or submission of prayer requests at briankwilcox@yahoo.com . Also, Brian is on Facebook: search Brian Kenneth Wilcox.
*Contact the above email to book Brian for preaching, Spiritual Direction, retreats, workshops, animal blessing services, house blessings, or other spiritual requests. You can order his book An Ache for Union from major booksellers.
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