Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Wabi Sabi




I discovered a new term the other day called “Wabi Sabi.” It is a Japanese concept about the beauty of things that are imperfect and impermanent and incomplete. This sounded a lot like my life and I immediately loved this idea. Anyone who is living in that in-between world that I call “The Void” can identify with learning to accept (if not love) the incomplete and the impermanent.



I did a talk once called The Spirituality of Imperfection, so this idea was not new to me. We are evolving souls and we are never complete or finished so it would behoove us to learn to appreciate our imperfection, because it isn’t going to go away.



I have, from an early age, loved the idea of evolution. I did a paper on evolution in grammar school and the teacher threw the paper across the room in anger. To be fair, she was a Catholic nun and I hadn’t realized at the time that Catholics didn’t believe in evolution. I understand they’ve since changed their position on that thought. Later in ministerial school I wrote a paper on the evolution of consciousness. My instructor, although he didn’t throw my paper across the room, argued with me a bit as well. I got a good grade on the paper, but I don’t think I fully convinced him of my point.



Others have been spouting the idea of the evolution of consciousness for decades, i.e. Teilhard de Chardin, Barbara Marx Hubbard and a host of others. Recently I saw a video by Ian Xel Lungold on the Mayan Calendar and apparently the Mayan’s have known this for centuries. According to them all of creation is evolving, and it makes perfect sense to me.



If we are constantly evolving, it stands to reason that we would never be complete, perfect or permanent. So why is it that we forget that fact and are often so hard on ourselves or our life circumstances?



The two terms Wabi and Sabi have separate meanings. Wabi refers to a rustic simplicity and can be applied to natural or hand-made items. One article I read described it as “asymmetry in a ceramic bowl which reflects the handmade craftsmanship, as opposed to another bowl which is perfect, but soul-less and machine-made.” Sabi is the beauty and serenity that comes with age, such as the patina on an old bronze statue or bowl. I’d like to think it also refers to those wrinkles around my eyes and mouth….they give me character, don’t they? It also reminds me of the Velveteen Rabbit that was ragged and torn and yet immensely loved and full of life.


Wabi Sabi…nothing is perfect and yet it is in our imperfection that we find our beauty and uniqueness. I like that! So, I am hanging out in the void and my life feels incomplete. So what? All of life is a simply one void leading to the next void, so what’s my hurry? I might as well enjoy the beauty of this moment!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

REEL TRANSFORMATION MINISTRIES

I am in the process of filling out the paperwork for an Alternative Ministry called Reel Transformation Ministries. I am still looking for my right and perfect church, as well as other employment. Right now I'm living off of savings....God is so good!

This alternative ministry would allow me to do workshops and teach classes under the name of my ministry and receive tax deductible contributions. This is an interesting and long process. I have to file an Article of Incoporation with the state, create Bylaws and have a board of trustees. I also have to submit a proposal to the Association of Unity Churches to get approved and get a letter of recommendation from my Regional Representative. The deadline for submitting to the Association is August, but it wouldn't be approved until January of next year. Who knows where I'll be by then....I may not even be in this state. I may be working in my new church, and then I probably would have to put this alternative ministry on hold. But I feel drawn to go ahead for now, so we shall see what happens. Hopefully by January my book will finally be done and published.

I hestitate to even put this here on my blog, as potential congregations will come here to check out my blog. Please know that this is an example of living in the moment and trusting the flow of Divine Order. I would like nothing better than to be in a church working full time, and yet until then I must move forward to create...and this feels like fun. It may turn out to lead nowhere...and it may end up being something awesome. Who knows? God does.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Prayers for the Gulf

I'm posting an email from Mike Davis about the joining together in prayer on Sunday, June 20th to pray for the Gulf:




What started out as an invitation from Rev. Patricia Reiter to Unity churches around the Gulf of Mexico to come together in blessing the Gulf has gone national. It has grown into " . . . a joining of people from all walks of life to pray in their own special way. We will have over 10,000 people joining us at that hour from around the country," writes Rev. Reiter.
Please pass this email along and help us reach as many people as possible - the Gulf needs us, as we need it!


BLESSING OF THE GULF OF MEXICO:
WHEN: Sunday, June 20, 2010, 3:00 p.m. Eastern time
WHERE: Along the Gulf of Mexico, or wherever you are
WHO: Everyone!
WHY: "We can channel our frustration at the pollution of the Gulf into a positive force for good."
A special song has been written for this event: "O Holy Ocean, A Song For the Gulf." One comment we have received on the song sums up what we are trying to accomplish on June 20th: "Bravo! I am moved by your tribute and prayer for our ocean!!! I've been so grieved and saddened by the images coming out of this tragedy. Your beautiful song points me in the right direction."


Please share this video of the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or8VY4WHn9M
Thank you for all you can do!


Warmest regards -
Mike and Paula Davis
http://www.mikedavismusic.net/ / 407-748-7865
http://www.veniceunity.com/ / 941-484-5342