My Labor Day Project

Labor Day 2013

As the days were getting cooler, I had planned to re-arrange the raspberries in my yard.  Since I didn’t have a good harvest for a few years, I decided to replant the whole patch.  My plants are all summer-bearing raspberries.  As the rest of my garden is in raised beds, I started to build boxes for the raspberries as well. 

Spring 2011

 

Here are the instructions which I followed:

 

Two boxes were done in the spring.  When I filled the boxes, I used topsoil, fertilizer 10-10-10, Acidifier for soil, some peat moss, and compost from my garden. 
The two rows on the left were the spring-planted, and they showed a little better yield than the other side (right row).  When I replanted the right side this fall, I cut the canes back to about 12-15 inches, with just a few leaves remaining on the canes.  I discarded all the old canes (brown and woodsy), and any plant which looked meek. 

With all the work, I hope that next year’s harvest will be plentiful again.

What Happened to Capitalizing Proper Nouns?

I don’t envy any English teacher in this technological age.  All their efforts of teaching their pupils good grammar, all their hard work of educating the students in writing, spelling and communicating comes often to a halt after graduation.  It seems that with texting and abbreviating, many basic grammar rules are falling to the wayside.  Or are we getting too lazy to shift the keys to get the proper capitalization?  I have noticed especially that many people write their names in lower case letters, or worse yet the whole address.

Coming from a German language back ground, we have many more rules about capitalization of nouns.  In fact, all nouns are capitalized.  When I researched about the history of grammar rules and capitalizing nouns I was surprised that between 1600 and 1800 it was popular to capitalize all nouns in English, too.  The American Constitution is such a document, where all nouns are capitalized.

Since our society is questioning everything today and many rules and norms are broken, is it time to revise grammar rules as well?  Who is to decide?  Is the popular trend demanding new rules, or are we to stand our ground and insist on the traditional guidelines?

Language carries in itself power and deep meaning.  It creates ideas and has certain vibrations which can either uplift us or take us down emotionally.  It is a means for communication and more importantly an expression of thoughts.

At this point it is probably not a matter of discussion when to capitalize nouns.  We live in a free country and everybody can spell the way they want to.  As for my part, it makes me sad when I see names written in lower case letters.  To me it says: I don’t matter, I am so small, or I don’t care. 

Let’s start a revolution and capitalize our names. 

 

Awareness Reveals our Purpose in Life

Awareness is becoming conscious of certain circumstances, objects or people. I am looking here for the awareness of the spiritual discovery of who we are.  It helps us to discover that we are spiritual beings who have five spiritual senses which correspond to the physical senses.  We not only have a “6^th sense” as some people make us believe but have another whole set of spiritual sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste.  Even if we don’t have ESP (extra sensory perception) we can develop the sensitivity just like any other skill.

When we recognize our spiritual existence, we discover a whole new dimension of our existence, one which goes beyond space and time.

What is awareness?

Awareness is a state of stillness, inner peace, centeredness (mindfulness) and oneness.  That attentiveness brings us eventually into the presence of God the Almighty.

Neville Goddard (1905-1972) in his book The Power of Awareness has a whole chapter dedicated to the “I AM.”  When we become aware of the “I AM” inside of us, we will discover who we are and uncover our true original purpose.  I wrote once before of the Law of Assumption  which is the 3rd chapter of the Power of Awareness.

John Maxwell (1947-present), author and motivational speaker on leadership, says in this blog: that you must know yourself first in order to grow yourself.

Paul Sibcy, in his book Healing Your Rift with God talks about awareness being a fundamental tool for healing our rift with God.  Awareness training begins with the understanding that the conditioned self is not our true identity.  By learning to watch ourselves—our thoughts, feelings, attitudes, beliefs, and actions are all too automatic—we can gradually begin to see who we truly are.  Our EGO is trapped in an automatic mechanism of defending us against anything new and different.  By watching our ego self and reeducating it about our spiritual nature and true identity, it can eventually be retrained.

The best explanation for finding our life’s purpose through awareness I found in a TED video by Adam Leipzig (1958-present), movie and theater producer, who challenges us to find our life’s purpose in 5 minutes.

 

He proposes to ask ourselves 5 questions:

Who Am I?

What do I do?

Whom do I do it for?

What do they want or need from me?

How do they benefit or change because of it?

 

Here is Adam Leipzig's video:

 

How to develop spiritual awareness?

*  Spiritual awareness can come in many different ways.  If you practice meditation or contemplative prayer you may have a break-through in your relationship to God.

*  It can also come when you are frustrated with life, when you are tired of being tired, or think enough is enough.  Sometimes that can give you sufficient push out of discontentment and loneliness.  When you realize that something is missing in your life, that awareness can give you plenty motivation to look for filling the emptiness inside.

*  Another way spiritual awareness can come, although it is not as pleasant, is through illness, some tragedy, or loss in life.  That kind of abrupt change challenges us to make changes and more than often makes us aware that we are in need of the internal support and spiritual resources which are available through a connection with the Divine. 

 

That kind of ‘real’ experience will transform your life completely.  That is what mystics have experienced throughout the ages.  Who knew that mysticism could be still available today?

 

What Is Mysticism?

"Mysticism is an immediate, direct, intuitive knowledge of God or of ultimate reality attained by personal experience. Wide variations are found in both the form and intensity of mystical experience; however, it is not dependent on the form, but solely on the quality of life that follows the experience. The mystical life is characterized by enhanced vitality, productivity, serenity and joy as the inner and outward aspects harmonize in union with God."

by: Jane Beach, Science of Mind Magazine.

 

There is much more to say about awareness.  I think I will explore mysticism in more detail.  What we considered mystical may as well just have been hidden from our very (internal) eyes.  Doesn’t the bible say: ‘the truth will make us free?’  We don’t have to believe any longer that we cannot explain things.  This is the scientific age and with a personal relationship to the creator of this universe, we should be able to explore things which were hidden from us before.

 

We are living in an age of uncertainty.  It's become fashionable to be an agnostic -- to doubt the very existence of God. When we lose our foundation, when we no longer know what and why we believe, our value begins to erode. That is the time where we have to push even harder to gain that awareness of the presence of God because S/HE is the only real source of comfort.

Have You Gone Barefoot Today?

I like to walk barefoot in the morning, even walking out into the yard, on the wet grass.  It feels so refreshing and invigorating.  Just recently I learned that there are now therapies called, 'earthing' or grounding to benefit our health. 

It seems so natural to walk in your bare feet, but our modern-day lifestyle keeps most people indoors, with shoes or at least socks on their feet.

Since I did some research on the subject, I discovered that there is even scientific validation on walking barefoot.  Free electrons are transferred from the earth into your body, and this grounding effect is one of the most powerful antioxidants we know of.  Dr. Joseph Mercola reports that inflammation thrives when your blood is thick, and you have a lot of free radical stress, and a lot of positive charges in your body.  Grounding effectively alleviates inflammation because it thins your blood and infuses you with negatively charged ions through the soles of your feet.

 

Surfaces that allow for proper grounding include sand, grass, bare dirt, and untreated concrete, brick and ceramic tile.  Leather-soled shoes also allow you to ground while walking, whereas rubber-soled shoes disconnect you from the earth and block beneficial electron transfer.

Grounding helps thin your blood by improving its zeta potential, which means it improves the energy between your red blood cells.  Research has demonstrated it takes about 80 minutes for the free electrons from the earth to reach your blood stream and transform your blood.

Grounding is contraindicated if you take Coumadin, as it may thin your blood too much.

 

There are some other authorities reporting on the benefits of “grounding:” Some say, that the benefit can be felt in as little as 15 minutes a day.

There are several books on the market revealing the benefits of barefoot walking.

Here are a few benefits of going without shoes and connecting with the earth:

- Anti-aging

- Sound sleep

- Heightened clarity

- A calm nervous system

- Accelerated healing from injuries

- Cardiovascular health

- Enhanced immune system

- Reduced PMS symptoms

- Increased energy

- Reduction in inflammation

- Elimination of jet lag

- Protection against electromagnetic fields (EMFs)

 

There are even throngs and mats produced to help get grounded when we don’t have access to grass or a beach.

 

Naturally, the best way is also the least expensive way: just take off your shoes and socks and walk barefoot,  you will feel refreshed and energized.

 

Imagine that… .

You can understand the heart of God.  Not the God from the movies, nor the God talked about in religion, neither the God from Sunday school.  I am talking about the heart of God, our Heavenly parent (He/She). 

 

Imagine the expectation He had for His children to live on the earth He created, the beautiful universe.  Imagine the mountains and the valleys, all the colorful flowers, lush trees, the endless variety of foods, and the infinite possibilities of adventures He could have with his children.  And above all His desire for a family: a man and a woman living together in harmony, raising children who can inherit the heart of their Parent and perpetuate a lineage of love, trust and integrity; a family where all members can learn to love unconditionally, learning and growing to fulfill their infinite potentials.

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

~ C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), Mere Christianity

Imagine that you can understand the sorrow of God’s heart when during the Fall of Man, his children turned away from Him and neglected the warning He gave them regarding the fruit of love.  His children acted in their immaturity and decided against His will. Imagine the despair God must feel about our world today.  We often ask ourselves, where is God in all this suffering, in all the disasters, and all destructions?  If we can learn about the principles of nature and the way the universe operates, we can understand that God can only be there when allow Him to be there, we ask Him to be there, and open our hearts to be part of our lives.  God has been searching for us ever since the fall, the history is his-story of restoration or saving men from his own destruction.

“Where Are You?”

~ Genesis 3:9

Imagine that you can experience the hope God has, that after thousands of years of searching for his children, building one foundation after another, He finally has a man and a woman on earth again who can represent Him to the rest of us.  They have demonstrated the dynamics between parents and children, husband and wife.  Just like Jesus tried 2,000 years ago, showing us the Heart of the Father, and the Holy Spirit comforting and healing us, the parents are here to demonstrate the heart of God.

Whoever does not see God in every place does not see God in any place.

~ Rabbi Elimelech (1717-1787)

Imagine that by becoming one with that heart of God, we can heal our own pains, disappointments, and hopelessness.  The parents can help us to fight the spiritual battle for our own heart, letting go of the old baggage, forgiving trespassers and forgiving ourselves for wrongdoings.  By mending this rift in our relationship with God and restoring an intimate relationship with God, we can experience freedom and joy, and then turn around and share it with others.

“If there is a God, He definitely needs human beings.  God created all things, but in all His creation man occupies the supreme and central position.”

~ Sun Myung Moon (1920-2012), God’s Hope for Man,  10-20-1973

This search for man is best expressed in the story of the Prodigal Son, Luke15:11-32:

Even in our society today, many people are experiencing restlessness, a burning desire for more which is often satisfied with more material possessions, more money, and more wealth.  But in the end it has been shown that once people are richer, they are less happy.  Especially the wealthier countries like Australia, Britain, continental Europe, United States and Japan are experiencing more depression, alcoholism and more crime. 

Imagine that less is more, and believe of it makes the difference.  It depends on the image we have of ourselves. Without God we have low self-esteem, no confidence, not enough courage to defend ourselves, and not enough compassion to love others.  It has been proven that man’s brain is hard-wired to not only believe in God but to know God, be aware of Him, to live with Him, to live through Him and eventually to become Him (to take on all the characteristics of his son and daughter).

 

 

What Happened to the Golden Rule?

The Golden Rule is called the golden rule because it has its origin in many different cultures and is the basis of one of the oldest and most powerful formulations of moral duty.  This moral maxim which is also called the ‘Law of Reciprocity” is based on the idea of mutual interest and has its roots and builds a common thread through all of the major religions, and especially the Abrahamic teachings of Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Now, I am asking myself, can’t we just put away all of politics and bring together the children of God under their one True Parents?

I watched a short video on TED by Karen Armstrong  who defends the Golden Rule for various reasons.  She asks some very simple questions: will dogmas divide us? Or will it unite us for the common good?  She reviews the catalysts that can drive the world's faiths to rediscover the Golden Rule.   She is a religious historian and has done extensive research in all religions.  Here is her video:

 

 

“People want to be right instead compassioned.”

~ Karen Armstrong

 

I believe that the Golden Rule is a deep source of morality.  It takes us beyond our own self-centeredness and challenges us to be compassioned, be aware of other’s needs and by applying it, helps us to integrate with people who are different from us.  It is the foundation of all existence: Give and Take (Receive).  Nothing can occur without that exchange, in fact, all of creation happens on that circular swap.  From the very give-and-take within the atom to the very complex orbits of the planets, the whole universe maintains its balance of energy that way.  It is one of those natural laws we could not live without.  Therefore, even if we don’t belief in it or try to deny the principle, it is challenging us to our very core. 

 

In the Western World we refer to it because of the words of Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
~Matthew 7:12

 

But the golden rule has been mentioned long before Jesus in other cultures, here are some quotes from other religions and cultures in alphabetical order:

  

“Even looking at contemporary morals and social ethics, a certain principle applies. It is the standard that we live for the sake of others and not insist that others live for us."

 ~ Sun Myung Moon (71:125, April 29, 1974)

 

According to the universal law, a subject partner should care for its object partner as parents care for their children or teachers for their students. However, people in the fallen world instead try to use others in self-centered ways. That is why they perish. Through their good example, religious people should educate others in Heaven’s principle that we should place the happiness of others before our own happiness.

~ Sun Myung Moon  (271:72, August 21, 1995)

 

The Golden Rule imposes on each of us an independent, enduring moral obligation to help and be kind to others even if they ignore their similar obligations to us.

I believe that even some businesses are applying the golden rule.  It is certainly good customer service.  I listened to Chade-MengTan, a Google engineer, as he testified to the everyday compassion practices of Google.

The Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance have identified 18 religions, which all share a version of what Americans commonly refer to as "The Golden Rule." The consultants define it as "The Ethic of Reciprocity -- often called the Golden Rule in Christianity -- simply states that you are to treat other people as you would wish to be treated yourself." This concept exists throughout hundreds of cultures and therefore intersects with business and workplace behavior.

 

An extreme example of lack of integrity and accountability can be seen in today's political landscape. No matter where they land on the spectrum, politicians are consistently promising to do the right things if elected. Lower taxes, save the environment, stimulate the economy - every election season the American public is inundated with promises.

 

To be fair, these politicians might actually think they can follow through on their vows, but the lack of results from any single one of them or any party as a whole has become an epidemic in and of itself.  It also proves that politics without being based spiritual values cannot survive. That's where accountability comes in - you must do what you say.

 

Here is a beautiful video, showing us the applications of the Golden Rule:

 

If you have never heard of the Golden Rule or the Law of Reciprocity I hope you can do your own research.

 

-"It's impossible," said pride. "It's risky," said experience. "It's pointless," said reason. "Give it a try," whispered the heart.

– Unknown

The Alpha and the Omega

 

Today is the time when we must fulfill this fundamental relationship between God and man.  The subject and object must be one just as cause and effect are one.  Therefore, the Bible says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (Rev.22:13 ) Within God, two are one. He is the beginning and we are the end.  He is the first and we are the last.  And the relationship between God and man is a circuit because beginning and end come together in oneness.

Peace, happiness and joy are the fruits of harmony in love. Therefore, in God's ideal of creation, He planned the relationship between God and man to be lived with harmony in love, with harmony in life, and with harmony in ideal.

Thus we know that God is subject and we are the objects.  We also know that the object is just as important as the subject.  We now want to know precisely what man's position as God's object means.

When God created man He gave him wisdom and ambition.  Wisdom gives us the power to compare, and ambition gives us the power to strive for the best.  If there are two choices before us, A and B, we will automatically compare them to determine which is better.  Our human desire leads us to choose, and our ambition does not let us rest until we have obtained ultimate fulfillment.

Let me take another analogy.  Let's say there is a most handsome man. He is not only handsome, but all-powerful and all-wise.  You would be anxious to have some kind of personal relationship with this great man.  What would you want it to be?  Would you like to be just his servant?  No, in your heart you know there is a position better than that of servant.  Would you like to be only his friend?  No, you would still not be happy.  Would you like to be only his adopted son? Will this position bring you complete happiness?  No, I don't think so.  You would still crave some closer position.  There is one relationship beyond which there is nothing more intimate.  That is to become a true son or daughter of this man.  With this relationship you will have reached the ultimate fulfillment, and you cannot desire anything more.

Why, then, do we want to become true sons and daughters? -- Because that is the position in which to receive the man's love most fully.  There is no closer or deeper relationship in human society than that between the father and son.  Once you have your father's love, you possess everything he has.  Every joy of the father, all the power of the father all skill and wisdom and ambition and desire of the father, all will then be yours. In receiving the love of a father, there is no procedure, neither paperwork nor ceremony, necessary to grant those things to a son.  The father and son are automatically one.  This principle applies among mankind, and it applies between man and God.

Excerpted from: God's Will and the World -- Rev. Sun Myung Moon -- God's Hope for Man, October 20, 1973, Washington, D.C.