Comments on: Get a New Past (part 3) http://postchristianblog.com/blog/get-a-new-past-part-3 Blog Tue, 14 Sep 2010 16:58:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Joan Burtner http://postchristianblog.com/blog/get-a-new-past-part-3#comment-177 Joan Burtner Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:34:55 +0000 http://postchristianblog.com/?p=328#comment-177 Something that I have come to realize in my own life is that, what I see 'out there' is what I carry around 'in here'. In this light, I am thankful for what appears to be 'out there': hurt, loneliness, lack, disease...for these things serve as a mirror to what I carry around within me - mainly a belief in separation from God to some degree. Jesus speaks of this often in regard to a cup, washing of hands... He states in Mark 7:14-16 "There is nothing from without a man that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. It's easier for us to think that the cause of our struggle is 'out there'. This leaves us powerless, for we can change no one but ourselves. Once we realize that what we perceive 'out' there is a reflection of what is 'in' here, then we become empowered to change us. I am thankful for the perceptions that I have of 'out' there, for they are an invitation to explore the inner state of my being, which results not in only changing myself, but changing the whole world. At this point I truly begin to see what Jesus called "A New Heaven and a New Earth" and I interact with it differently - with love and compassion. God, I thank you for all the 'seemingly' horrific events of my life for they have been the canvas that have allowed me to see Who I really am; they have called forth a nature that has always been my inheritance; they have brought 'sight' to this seemingly 'blind' one. Namaste, Joan Something that I have come to realize in my own life is that, what I see ‘out there’ is what I carry around ‘in here’. In this light, I am thankful for what appears to be ‘out there’: hurt, loneliness, lack, disease…for these things serve as a mirror to what I carry around within me – mainly a belief in separation from God to some degree.

Jesus speaks of this often in regard to a cup, washing of hands… He states in Mark 7:14-16 “There is nothing from without a man that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

It’s easier for us to think that the cause of our struggle is ‘out there’. This leaves us powerless, for we can change no one but ourselves. Once we realize that what we perceive ‘out’ there is a reflection of what is ‘in’ here, then we become empowered to change us.

I am thankful for the perceptions that I have of ‘out’ there, for they are an invitation to explore the inner state of my being, which results not in only changing myself, but changing the whole world. At this point I truly begin to see what Jesus called “A New Heaven and a New Earth” and I interact with it differently – with love and compassion.

God, I thank you for all the ‘seemingly’ horrific events of my life for they have been the canvas that have allowed me to see Who I really am; they have called forth a nature that has always been my inheritance; they have brought ‘sight’ to this seemingly ‘blind’ one.

Namaste,
Joan

]]> By: DebFarrell http://postchristianblog.com/blog/get-a-new-past-part-3#comment-155 DebFarrell Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:36:15 +0000 http://postchristianblog.com/?p=328#comment-155 Sorry, Tim for the "inconclusion" remark which was a Blog Post of Kevin Beck's 'Parousia' for Oct.5th. I guess I just gotta little kungfused! ;) Sorry, Tim for the “inconclusion” remark which was a Blog Post of Kevin Beck’s ‘Parousia’ for Oct.5th.
I guess I just gotta little kungfused! ;)

]]> By: DebFarrell http://postchristianblog.com/blog/get-a-new-past-part-3#comment-154 DebFarrell Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:21:42 +0000 http://postchristianblog.com/?p=328#comment-154 I watched a movie called 'Warriors of Virtue'. Usually I'd flip past a 'kung fu' type of movie, but, the names of the warriors piqued my interest so I settled there. The underlying story was about how our choices effect our outcome. The battle was between good and evil. In one scene,the boy in the story picked up a jar that held an empty cocoon. The 'kung fu cook', his mentor, proceeded to tell a story. "While walking home one day I observed the cocoon on the ground. It caught my attention because it was moving and rolling around. I picked it up and saw that the moth inside was trying to come out. So, I ripped the cocoon open and the moth flew away. Suddenly it fell to the ground and died." He concluded by saying "It is the struggle to make ourselves free that causes us to fly". In another scene the kung fu master told the little boy 'Our lies blind our vision but the truth is still there". In yet another scene, someone else in the movie said,"The only hells in this world are in our hearts. That's where all the battles must be fought". This movie, as you can see, blew me away. ( and I didn't even see all of it!) It just seemed to me that the truths in the movie fit well with the truths in Mark's story. And, by the way, good did overcome evil. Or as Tim would say, "inconclusion".. Which also, by the way, was outstanding :) I watched a movie called ‘Warriors of Virtue’. Usually I’d flip past a ‘kung fu’ type of movie, but, the names of the warriors piqued my interest so I settled there.
The underlying story was about how our choices effect our outcome. The battle was between good and evil.
In one scene,the boy in the story picked up a jar that held an empty cocoon. The ‘kung fu cook’, his mentor, proceeded to tell a story. “While walking home one day I observed the cocoon on the ground. It caught my attention because it was moving and rolling around. I picked it up and saw that the moth inside was trying to come out. So, I ripped the cocoon open and the moth flew away. Suddenly it fell to the ground and died.” He concluded by saying “It is the struggle to make ourselves free that causes us to fly”.
In another scene the kung fu master told the little boy ‘Our lies blind our vision but the truth is still there”.
In yet another scene, someone else in the movie said,”The only hells in this world are in our hearts. That’s where all the battles must be fought”.
This movie, as you can see, blew me away. ( and I didn’t even see all of it!)
It just seemed to me that the truths in the movie fit well with the truths in Mark’s story. And, by the way, good did overcome evil. Or as Tim would say, “inconclusion”.. Which also, by the way, was outstanding :)

]]> By: timking http://postchristianblog.com/blog/get-a-new-past-part-3#comment-150 timking Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:26:42 +0000 http://postchristianblog.com/?p=328#comment-150 Marianne -- glad you found me! I often repeat the words of John, the one closest to Jesus: "God is love -- perfect love casts out all fear." I know that to the degree I have fear in my life, then to that degree I am closing my vessel (and therefore my ability to live for others) and squeezing "God" out. Marianne — glad you found me! I often repeat the words of John, the one closest to Jesus: “God is love — perfect love casts out all fear.” I know that to the degree I have fear in my life, then to that degree I am closing my vessel (and therefore my ability to live for others) and squeezing “God” out.

]]> By: marianne http://postchristianblog.com/blog/get-a-new-past-part-3#comment-149 marianne Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:39:55 +0000 http://postchristianblog.com/?p=328#comment-149 I just found your blog thanks to Dena Brehm. I have been so burdened lately about fear and how it limits us. I just returned from a trip to China where fear is everywhere; but we don't have to go to a developing country to find it. It is so pervasive in our culture and so many choose to let it define them; thus, they react out of that fear and choose to limit themselves and others. Those of us that recognize the light within really need to unblock the flow and let that light shine. Thanks to you and your friend Mark for sharing your amazing stories! I just found your blog thanks to Dena Brehm. I have been so burdened lately about fear and how it limits us. I just returned from a trip to China where fear is everywhere; but we don’t have to go to a developing country to find it. It is so pervasive in our culture and so many choose to let it define them; thus, they react out of that fear and choose to limit themselves and others. Those of us that recognize the light within really need to unblock the flow and let that light shine. Thanks to you and your friend Mark for sharing your amazing stories!

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