Spiritually Speaking

In a consumer society, we wait for the big sale days – Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and eventually Boxing Day. We wait for great deals. We save up our money or ensure there is room on our credit cards.

I’ve been hard-wired to wallow in my weaknesses. I get manic about my mistakes far too often for far too long. These patterns mute and, at times, silence my flourishing. But I’ve discovered a way to change that. I’m currently practicing it.

I’m always amazed — and dismayed — at how quickly I fall out of being present to what Richard Rohr would call the “really real” or the “naked now.” This is especially hard to bear as it takes so much work to get to such a state in the first place.

I recently moved. It wasn’t a very big move distance wise; just from the Westshore to downtown Victoria. In terms of how it felt, though, I may as well have been moving to another continent.

Would it make a difference to peace efforts to have more women involved in the governance of our world, at every level? The world has seen female heads of government in the past and we have a few at present.

Current attitudes toward religion increasingly seem to range between disinterest to disdain or disgust. It’s often associated with superstition, dogma, violence and polarization, with many good people jumping on the thumbs down bandwagon.

Recently, I facilitated a WISE circle – men and women in conversation about the transition through age. This experience was particularly meaningful for me as confirmed by my tearful welcome.

On Monday October 31 st an ancient tradition was lived out on the streets of our city. The ancient tradition comes from the Celtic lands and is known as Samhain. The tradition marks the end of the harvest season.

The 2 nd in the current series of Building the Future talks will be on Saturday evening, November 5 th with Deloria Bighorn, who will present the 30-minute film, The Path Home: Reflections on Truth and Reconciliation .

“The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.