Healing Rays: A Progressive, Positive, Practical Weekly Reflection
by Durrell Watkins
January 26, 2010
Divine Order
"We know that all things work for good for those who love God..." St. Paul (Rom. 8.28)
There is a story about a rabbi who kept having mishaps while traveling. He went to an inn for lodging, but the inn was full. While he was sleeping outdoors, his donkey ran away. Then, he clumsily knocked over and broke his lantern. Instead of getting too upset after each disappointment, he simply affirmed, "All that God does is done well." As one teacher of mine would say, he went to peace instead of to pieces.
The next morning, he learned that marauders had stormed the village he had slept in. They robbed the inn (the one where he couldn't find a room). While he was sleeping outside, if his donkey had not escaped, it might have made noise which would have attracted the bandits' attention. Similarly, if he hadn't broken his lamp, the light might have given his location away. He was able to sleep safely while chaos was breaking out all around him because he was able to trust that even in his minor setbacks, something good was possible.
Of course, the bandits should not have terrorized the village, and not everyone was lucky enough to have some happy accidents to keep them safe; but the point of the story is that even when things were difficult, the rabbi chose serenity over anxiety, and blessings were able to come out of his initial disappointments. When things aren't going well, maybe we can affirm that really, everything IS in divine order. Once we get through the experience, we might find that Grace was providing for our needs all along.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
True Self
Spirit & Truth
True Self
“…as Saul was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul…why are you persecuting me?’” Acts 9.3-4 (NAB)
Saul (later to be known as Paul) encounters the mystical Christ. He sees a light. He hears a voice. He imagines the voice saying, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Saul was persecuting followers of the Jesus Way, but in the vision, the risen Christ is the Christ in the followers being persecuted. The Resurrection experienced by Saul was a mystical, visionary Resurrection, whereby he encountered the True Self, the Self that flourishes regardless of circumstances. When he sees past his prejudices to the True Self, or Christ Nature within all Life, his path changes and he becomes a devotee of the Cosmic Christ. When we encounter the divinity of the universal True Self, we too are changed for the better.
My True Christ Nature shines today!
Rev. Durrell Watkins, MA, MDiv, DMin (Sunshine Cathedral)
Spirit & Truth is a daily devotional magazine published by Sunshine Cathedral
True Self
“…as Saul was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul…why are you persecuting me?’” Acts 9.3-4 (NAB)
Saul (later to be known as Paul) encounters the mystical Christ. He sees a light. He hears a voice. He imagines the voice saying, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Saul was persecuting followers of the Jesus Way, but in the vision, the risen Christ is the Christ in the followers being persecuted. The Resurrection experienced by Saul was a mystical, visionary Resurrection, whereby he encountered the True Self, the Self that flourishes regardless of circumstances. When he sees past his prejudices to the True Self, or Christ Nature within all Life, his path changes and he becomes a devotee of the Cosmic Christ. When we encounter the divinity of the universal True Self, we too are changed for the better.
My True Christ Nature shines today!
Rev. Durrell Watkins, MA, MDiv, DMin (Sunshine Cathedral)
Spirit & Truth is a daily devotional magazine published by Sunshine Cathedral
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Redeeming Jesus
Redeeming Jesus Mini-Conference.
We would like you to attend this exciting event on January 22nd and 23rd at Sunshine Cathedral.
Why the provocative title for the conference? To redeem is to recover. When we were children so of use would "redeem" soda bottles, that is, we'd get money back for the glass bottles. We recovered our money. The Redeeming Jesus Mini-Conference will focus on how Progressive Christians can recover Jesus from narrow and exclusive understandings. We'll learn how there are a variety of joyous and empowering ways to faithfully follow Jesus' example in the 21st century.
Our speakers for the conference are: Robert Griffin (pastor), Mona West (bible scholar), BK Hipsher (theologian), Celene Lillie (bible scholar), Michael Diaz (pastor), Durrell Watkins (artist-theologian & pastor), Tom Bohache (bible scholar & pastor), and Gay Lynn Williamson-Grigas (motivational speaker).
We will explore Christology from Feminist, Gender transgressive, Non-canonical, Liberation, Pop-cultural, Queer, and New Thought perspectives. We'll learn how one can fall in love with Jesus from several different social locations and how more inclusive, pluralistic Christologies can be empowering for not only committed people of faith but for seekers as well.
The conference includes dinner on Friday night (22nd), and breakfast and lunch on Saturday (23rd). The conference will be good for lay leaders, clergy, students, life-long learners, and those who are just curious. MCC clergy can count the conference as "continuing education." And all of this is only $50 for the whole mini-conference ($35 for university or seminary students).
To learn more about the conference, the speakers, or about lodging options, please visit www.sunshinecathedral.org. That's also where you will find a link to register for the conference.
We would like you to attend this exciting event on January 22nd and 23rd at Sunshine Cathedral.
Why the provocative title for the conference? To redeem is to recover. When we were children so of use would "redeem" soda bottles, that is, we'd get money back for the glass bottles. We recovered our money. The Redeeming Jesus Mini-Conference will focus on how Progressive Christians can recover Jesus from narrow and exclusive understandings. We'll learn how there are a variety of joyous and empowering ways to faithfully follow Jesus' example in the 21st century.
Our speakers for the conference are: Robert Griffin (pastor), Mona West (bible scholar), BK Hipsher (theologian), Celene Lillie (bible scholar), Michael Diaz (pastor), Durrell Watkins (artist-theologian & pastor), Tom Bohache (bible scholar & pastor), and Gay Lynn Williamson-Grigas (motivational speaker).
We will explore Christology from Feminist, Gender transgressive, Non-canonical, Liberation, Pop-cultural, Queer, and New Thought perspectives. We'll learn how one can fall in love with Jesus from several different social locations and how more inclusive, pluralistic Christologies can be empowering for not only committed people of faith but for seekers as well.
The conference includes dinner on Friday night (22nd), and breakfast and lunch on Saturday (23rd). The conference will be good for lay leaders, clergy, students, life-long learners, and those who are just curious. MCC clergy can count the conference as "continuing education." And all of this is only $50 for the whole mini-conference ($35 for university or seminary students).
To learn more about the conference, the speakers, or about lodging options, please visit www.sunshinecathedral.org. That's also where you will find a link to register for the conference.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Open At the Top
Reprinted from Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Open At the Top
Ernest Holmes called his Religious Science philosophy "open at the top," meaning that all religions had insights worth exploring, that new learning was always possible, that spiritual truths could be discovered from many sources and from one's own experience.
In fact, Holmes never claimed that his Religious Science or "Science of Mind" was divinely revealed. It wasn't dictated by the Archangel Gabriel. It wasn't delivered by the Angel Moroni. It wasn't written down as an oracle or a prophecy. It wasn't canonized by an ecclesiastical council. It wasn't written in a trance. It wasn't the work of an ascended master being channeled through Holmes. It was simply what he discovered from his own research and what he could personally verify by way of practice. Holmes was able to blend the discoveries of science, the opinions of philosophy, and the revelation of religions to form what he believed was a spiritual or religious "science," that is, a systematic approach to spirituality that could be tested and its results repeated.
I'm not pushing the Science of Mind, aka Religious Science, though I have been profoundly influenced by it. What I am pushing is the idea that religion should be "open." Non-doctrinal, open, flexible, inclusive, experiential spirituality that sees the wisdom of science, the brilliance of philosophy, and the beauty of Judaism, Buddhism, the teachings of Jesus, the writings of Emerson and Swedenborg and more is something that can not only help us live happier and maybe even healthier and more prosperous lives but also help prevent needless religious wars and the spiritual violence caused by religious bigotry.
I'm not pushing Science of Mind, per se, but I am pushing for religion that is "open at the top." I hope to see an open Christianity, an open Islam, an open Judaism, an open Wicca, an open Buddhism, an open Hinduism, an open Unitarian Universalism, an open Humanism, an open Agnosticism, an open approach to A Course in Miracles...an openness in Religion that allows for peace and mutual forbearance. I'm ready for religion that builds up the individual seeker without tearing down the lesbian or the gay man or the transexual or the atheist or persons of other religious paths. I don't think a single religion is the answer, nor do I think that the absence of religion is the answer. I believe the answer is whatever religion that helps you without hurting others. I believe the answer is religion that is open at the top.
Open At the Top
Ernest Holmes called his Religious Science philosophy "open at the top," meaning that all religions had insights worth exploring, that new learning was always possible, that spiritual truths could be discovered from many sources and from one's own experience.
In fact, Holmes never claimed that his Religious Science or "Science of Mind" was divinely revealed. It wasn't dictated by the Archangel Gabriel. It wasn't delivered by the Angel Moroni. It wasn't written down as an oracle or a prophecy. It wasn't canonized by an ecclesiastical council. It wasn't written in a trance. It wasn't the work of an ascended master being channeled through Holmes. It was simply what he discovered from his own research and what he could personally verify by way of practice. Holmes was able to blend the discoveries of science, the opinions of philosophy, and the revelation of religions to form what he believed was a spiritual or religious "science," that is, a systematic approach to spirituality that could be tested and its results repeated.
I'm not pushing the Science of Mind, aka Religious Science, though I have been profoundly influenced by it. What I am pushing is the idea that religion should be "open." Non-doctrinal, open, flexible, inclusive, experiential spirituality that sees the wisdom of science, the brilliance of philosophy, and the beauty of Judaism, Buddhism, the teachings of Jesus, the writings of Emerson and Swedenborg and more is something that can not only help us live happier and maybe even healthier and more prosperous lives but also help prevent needless religious wars and the spiritual violence caused by religious bigotry.
I'm not pushing Science of Mind, per se, but I am pushing for religion that is "open at the top." I hope to see an open Christianity, an open Islam, an open Judaism, an open Wicca, an open Buddhism, an open Hinduism, an open Unitarian Universalism, an open Humanism, an open Agnosticism, an open approach to A Course in Miracles...an openness in Religion that allows for peace and mutual forbearance. I'm ready for religion that builds up the individual seeker without tearing down the lesbian or the gay man or the transexual or the atheist or persons of other religious paths. I don't think a single religion is the answer, nor do I think that the absence of religion is the answer. I believe the answer is whatever religion that helps you without hurting others. I believe the answer is religion that is open at the top.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Sharing the Light
Watch these episodes (and others) of Sharing the Light on the Sunshine Cathedral You Tube channel. Sharing the Light is a 10 minute talk show where spiritual, theological, ethical, and social issues are discussed by Sunshine Cathedral ministers.
Danger for Gays in Jamaica, Nigeria, & Uganda
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/1/fxMsIJvXLnc
Cardinal Says: "No Heaven for Gays"
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/2/31M1pwE16Uw
Gay & Christian
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/5/jOesUDnJp7o
Affirmative Prayer
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/6/q9SvRqRX-1U
Why Does God Allow Evil?
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/8/74p1k5cNTB4
Does Positive Thinking Really Work?
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/9/L5DjW2NhS9U
The Authority of Scripture
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/12/mC4lsnuSfds
Where Do We Go When We Die?
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/13/3MHEolRsbWQ
A Progressive View of Salvation
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/27/UrH9V7XEwWs
Redeeming Jesus Invitation
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/27/UrH9V7XEwWs
Danger for Gays in Jamaica, Nigeria, & Uganda
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/1/fxMsIJvXLnc
Cardinal Says: "No Heaven for Gays"
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/2/31M1pwE16Uw
Gay & Christian
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/5/jOesUDnJp7o
Affirmative Prayer
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/6/q9SvRqRX-1U
Why Does God Allow Evil?
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/8/74p1k5cNTB4
Does Positive Thinking Really Work?
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/9/L5DjW2NhS9U
The Authority of Scripture
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/12/mC4lsnuSfds
Where Do We Go When We Die?
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/13/3MHEolRsbWQ
A Progressive View of Salvation
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/27/UrH9V7XEwWs
Redeeming Jesus Invitation
http://www.youtube.com/sunshinecathedral#p/u/27/UrH9V7XEwWs
Beholding the Sacred
Spirit & Truth
Today is Monday, January 18, 2010.
On this day in 1993 the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was observed in all 50 states for the first time.
Beholding the Sacred“
If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.” Buddha
“Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asked the Apostle Peter. Peter said, “You are anointed — the child of the living God.” I love that. No complicated creed. No council debates. No proof texts. Just the awareness that an enlightened Soul, a God-realized, God-filled, Loving Teacher was in Peter’s presence. You are God’s child. You are anointed with God’s grace. You are filled with God’s love . When we recognize our own sacred value or the sacred value of another, we are seeing truly; we are seeing God with us. And whenever and wherever we encounter the Divine, we find ourselves changed for the better.
I see God everywhere I look. Beholding the Sacred, I find myself abundantly blessed.
Rev. Durrell Watkins, MA, MDiv, DMin (Sunshine Cathedral)
This was first published in Spirit & Truth, a Sunshine Cathedral publication
Today is Monday, January 18, 2010.
On this day in 1993 the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was observed in all 50 states for the first time.
Beholding the Sacred“
If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.” Buddha
“Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asked the Apostle Peter. Peter said, “You are anointed — the child of the living God.” I love that. No complicated creed. No council debates. No proof texts. Just the awareness that an enlightened Soul, a God-realized, God-filled, Loving Teacher was in Peter’s presence. You are God’s child. You are anointed with God’s grace. You are filled with God’s love . When we recognize our own sacred value or the sacred value of another, we are seeing truly; we are seeing God with us. And whenever and wherever we encounter the Divine, we find ourselves changed for the better.
I see God everywhere I look. Beholding the Sacred, I find myself abundantly blessed.
Rev. Durrell Watkins, MA, MDiv, DMin (Sunshine Cathedral)
This was first published in Spirit & Truth, a Sunshine Cathedral publication
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