Spirituality Sunday - On Love, On Giving

This is a textual version of components from the July 19 Spiritual Sunday show. The full show is archived for your listening pleasure at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/PeterPocklington

THE ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

Thank you to last week’s guests, Pat Rocchi the author of “The 6 Ps of Change” who was our guest on Mindset Monday, and Mike Quick, the owner of Quick Merchant Solutions, who was our guest on Business Growth Friday.

Thank You today to my many teachers, especially the ones who taught not only by words, but by example.

Thank You to the Reverend David Thomas – whose church building was sparsely populated for the Sunday services, but whose ministry was therefore the more vibrant as he spent his days as, in my mind, Jesus would have, reaching out.

Visiting the farmers whose days schedules were dictated by the needs of their animals not by the schedule of Sunday services

Visiting the sick in the local hospitals. Sharing words with those who “had nobody”. Sharing a cup of tea, sharing the warmth of love through a handshake, a touch on the shoulder, a nod of the head that said “I’m listening”.

Mr Thomas told my mother that one day he would fill our “Church on the Hill” to where it would hold no more. No mean boast for an average attendance of a few dozen.

That day came when, on the day of his funeral he was watching from his rightful place in heaven as the hills emptied, the animals needs were put on hold for a couple of hours, and those he touched gave thanks for the life of a man.

As I think about it more – where is Jesus busy today. Is he confined in the walls of a church building – or out and about with those who need him most? Where is the prophet Mohammed today? Where is the Lord Buddah?

I’d like to think you know the answer.

“Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in their midst”

I was also given this week another great example of a person being a living example to me.

She decided that words of faith were not enough. If you speak it you must do it and you will become it. “Speaking into Storms” she called it.

She gave to God not that which was left over from her abundance. But of that which she was in need.

To cut a long story short – she was blessed in return with givings to her. Meeting necessities she had been putting off and taking good care of her.

Again I was reminded of Jesus’ parable of the Widow’s mite, and knew that I was experiencing truth in action.

All this got me to asking what I could share – what could I give back – as thanks for these insights, these teachings.

So I turned to my spiritual guides, accumulations of the written word that have served mankind through the ages. I was drawn to share words today

ON LOVE and ON GIVING

These words are taken from Kahlil Bibran in his work “The Prophet”.

Kahlil, by way of background, was a Lebanese poet, philosopher and artist whose earthly existence spanned from 1883 to 1931 – less than fifty years – but whose words of wisdom are timeless.

I share his words today in the hope they nourish your spirit, add a dimension to your understanding, and provide guidance for your actions.

ON LOVE

He writes

Then said Almitra, Speak to us of Love.

And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them. And with a great voice he said:

When love beckons to you, follow him. Though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you; And when he speaks to you believe in him, though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning; Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, so shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth;
Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself. He threshes you to make you naked. He sifts you to free you from your husks. He grinds you to whiteness. He kneads you until you are pliant; And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.

But if in your fear you would only seek love’s peace and love’s pleasure; Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing floor, into the seamless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself; Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say, ‘God is in my heart,’ but rather, ‘I am in the heart of God.’; And think not that you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.; But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires: To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understandings of love; And to bleed willingly and joyfully. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy; To return home at eventide with gratitude; And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise on your lips.

ON GIVING

Then said a rich man, speak to us of Giving. And he answered:

You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?

And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the over-prudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?

And what is fear of need but need itself?; Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, the thirst that is unquenchable?

There are those who give little of the much they have – and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome; And there are those who have little and give it all. These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty; There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward; And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.

And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue; They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space; Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.

It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding; And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving. And is there aught you would withhold? All you have shall some day be given; Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors’.

You often say, ‘I would give, but only to the deserving.’ The trees in your orchard say not so, not the flocks in your pasture. They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish. Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and nights is worthy of all else from you. And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.

And what desert greater shall there be, than that which lies in the courage and the confidence, any the charity, of receiving? And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride, that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed? Se first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving. For in truth it is life that gives unto life – while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.

And you receivers – and you are all receivers – assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives; Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings; For to be over mindful of your debt is to doubt his generosity who has the free-hearted earth for mother, and God for father.

THERE YOU HAVE IT, DEAR LISTENERS.

We are called upon by Christ to be Christ-like.
We are called by the Lord Buddha to be Buddha-like.
We are called by all the spiritually enlightened ones to let our spirits become a light to others.

For now, I only ask that I may have helped you who are listening to this program, in some way.

For today it is enough that

I am Peter Pocklington

I am a Good News Merchant
I am a Purveyor of Prosperity
And I am my own personal guarantee.