Small Things~~”If We “Do Not Find Our Roots In Nature, We Will Perish As A Species”

Small Things for The Humility of Christ podcast see http://itsawonderfulife.wordpress.com

In listening to Small Things, a call to nature with spiritual and practical instruction on organic vs. mechanical,  we are invited to allow Tao wisdom to enrich the parable comparing the kindom of heaven to the small little mustard seed when surrendered to the soil, gives birth to a magnificent tree where the birds of the air come to perch upon its branches, given by Jesus.

If we do not find our roots in nature, we will perish as a species…If we do not return to these roots, our children will live in a poisonous world.~~Dr. James Rigby, Small Things, 2008

Speaker, Dr. Jim Rigby, though a minister and pastor of a Presbyterian Church, in Austin, Texas, says he loves Tao scripture, that it helps him to understand what Jesus was saying, so much more deeply.

Though Jesus uses images from nature frequently, Jesus spoke mystically insists Rigby.

It’s very, very important not to take the Bible literally, because you cannot understand the mystical and also be literal.”~~Dr. Jim  Rigby, Small Things, 2008

With his passion for humanity resonating in every word, Dr. Rigby pleas with us to find the truths of our own being, to learn:

…we are not the frightened little creatures we think we are…we need to know and feel from the inside out that we are children of nature…we are the world…as natural as a tree.~~Rigby, Small Things, 2008

Rev. Rigby also urges us to “let life support us,” “let the mountain lift us up,” “to integrate every human activity within the balanace of nature,” proclaiming that “there’s only one Balance.”

Rigby reveals that every day, some Bush activity takes his breath away; but, leaves us with this encouragement:

When we look at life organically, no matter how bleak the present [moment] may seem, we always have a seed we can plant for the future.~~Rigby, Small Things, 2008

You may find this podcast, that invites us to wake up to our Unity with All of Life, to open to the depth of life, and to realize we are the One, worth listening to, over and over again. ~~Ashtora, 2008

Thank you Rev. Rigby for your passionate love for humanity and all of nature…for helping us to recognize our unity…to recognize the great in the small.

Visit  http://www.staopen.com/podcast/index.php in order to select other podcasts by Dr. James Rigby or others who have spoken at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX.

 

Dr. James Rigby

‘Mr. Monkey’, ‘Ms. Hortence’, ‘Mr. Bunny’ and Other Puppet Friends Downsize Heady Sermons for Children of Austin’s Wells Branch Church

“Hello, Girls and Boys,”  “Hello, Everybody,” Hortence the horse puppet (Marilyn Rucker), in her high lyrical voice greets the congregation, young and old, of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, in Austin, TX’s northern Wells Branch community.  Three master puppeteers interact with additional puppet friends, using engaging dialogue that conveys deep messages of how we can live in ways that bring God’s love, justice and mercy to our families, our communities, and our planet.  Both children and adults gain a simpler version of the sermon teaching to come.  Puppet conversations range from the whimsically humorous to the wildly hysterical–prefacing the Rev. Dr. Jim Rigby’s lessons with laughter and tears.  What a wonderful way to open the hearts of those about to embark on sacred ground.  Thank you, St. Andrew’s for the gift of loving, powerful entertainment that teaches us how to live.–Ash

Finding the Eternal in the Temporal or The Empty Vessel Never Filled

\”The Empty Vessel Never Filled,\” by Dr. Jim Rigby

I promised you pages on the people, places, things, and experiences that have made my life wonderful; so, may I start at the TOP?   Here’s Dr. Jim Rigby of Austin, Texas, teaching on what he calls, “The Empty Vessel Never Filled,”  but I call it, “Finding the Eternal in the Temporal.” 

[Look for the word "Comments" below, at the end of the tag word list.  Click on this in order to post your comment on this podcast or blog.]

In this, his most recent scholarly teaching, Rigby addresses a distinguished audience of Christians, Atheists, Agnostics, Pantheists, Buddhists, Taoists, and people of just about any race, creed, political, religious or anti-religious perspective.  Worth bearing in mind, perhaps, is the fact that this audience gathered and assembled themselves in a small building on the corner property of Wells Branch and Wells Port, called St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, located in the Wells Branch suburb of Austin, TX,  where the oft controversial justice advocate, Dr. Rigby has taught for more than twenty years, specifically to hear the Reverend Dr. Jim Rigby eloquently expound on his topic of choice.

Though brilliant, his teachings have brought him oftentimes, harsh criticism from theologians, traditional religious figures, the Presbyterian Synod, Mission Presbytery, legal zealots, anti-gay activists and even members and former members of the church itself. 

In this particular podcast, Jim dares to illumine Christian text with Taoist teachings, merging texts into one message that has the power to continuously inform and transform our lives, providing the richness and presentness one might not hear elsewhere, from more conventional theologians.  The podcast begins with a reader citing text from Christian scripture, then Dr. Rigby, with the skill of an Artisan, weaves in Tao text, stories, humor, Science, history, metaphors and rich poetry.  The result may provide just what you need to hear in order to heal that certain hurting aspect of your life that has kept you from getting past the losses and changes you’ve experienced:

http://www.staopen.com/podcast/index.php  or http://www.staopen.com/podcast/Rigby_0810.mp3

To hear Jim’s unique perspective and perhaps find the answers to such questions as, “What is Eternity?” and “Why should we not worry?” click and play the above podcast link or choose from the index of topics, “The Empty Vessel Never Filled.”  Especially listen for sandcastles, bubbles, and Edgar Allan Poe’s, “Dream Within A Dream.”  Your comments are invited.  I look forward to hearing from you.–It’s a Wonder-ful Life!  Ash

Finding the Eternal in the Temporal or The Empty Vessel Never Filled

\”The Empty Vessel Never Filled,\” by Dr. Jim Rigby

I promised you pages on the people, places, things, and experiences that have made my life wonderful; so, may I start at the TOP?   Here’s Dr. Jim Rigby of Austin, Texas, teaching on what he calls, “The Empty Vessel Never Filled,”  but I call it, “Finding the Eternal in the Temporal.” 

This podcast is his most recent scholarly presentation, given live before a mixed audience of Christians, Atheists, Agnostics, Pantheists, Buddhists, Taoists, and persons of just about any religious or anti-religious perspective.  Worth bearing in mind, perhaps, is the fact that his audience assembled themselves in a small building, located in Austin’s northern Wells Branch suburb, called St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, where justice advocate and often controversial Dr. Rigby has taught for more than twenty years, for the specific purpose of hearing him [Reverend Dr. Jim Rigby] speak his mind on his topic of choice.

His teachings have oftentimes ignited harsh criticism from theologians, traditional religious figures, the Presbyterian Synod, Mission Presbytery, legal zealots, anti-gay activists and even members and former members of the church itself. 

In this particular podcast, Jim dares to merge Taoist teachings with Christian teachings into one that has the power to continuously inform and transform our lives, providing richness and presentness:

http://www.staopen.com/podcast/index.php

To hear Dr. Rigby’s views on Taoism and Christianity, click on the above podcast link and choose from the index of topics, “The Empty Vessel Never Filled.”  Your comments are invited.  I look forward to hearing from you.–It’s a Wonder-ful Life!  Ash

WHEN YOU LOVE, YOU’RE A FAR GREATER PERSON

Because I loved you, I became a far greater me.

Loving you gave me the desire to live kindly with generosity toward all I could see;

I aspired to always succeed in ever new endeavors, to exceed all past success;

It was so important that my life earned your trust and your respect, without regress;

Never giving you cause to regret loving me, was everything;

Because you made my heart sing.

Because I loved you, I loved more, laughed more, cried more, lived more, worked more;

Beacause I loved you, my day was brighter, I walked lighter; I almost flew;

You made my heart soar.

When you left, I learned to love you still,

What a great gift–overcoming my will.

In loving you still, I learned to surrender my ego.

But when our paths diverged and I had to let you go,

I felt empty and small; it was a crushing blow.

Because I let go of loving you, I forfeited my heart.

I am become a lesser me.

LOVE REALLY IZ IZ!

 

  Meet IZ! I belong to him.  He picked me to be his human companion, five and half years ago, at Buchannan General Store, in Buchannan, Texas.

 I’ll always remember that day.  It was just before Easter that year. My husband, both my daughters, all of my grandchildren, and my brother and his wife from California were all with me in Austin, TX for the Easter Season. Eleven of us caravanned out to Lake Buchannan, where we met Jim Eachus, the owner of the General Store there.

Jim introduced us to IZ , his siblings and his cousins.

Eager to enjoy PUPPYVILLE, we each began meeting the resident inhabitants of Lake Buchannan. As I greeted each precious, fuzzy member of IZ’s canine family (and there were lots of them!), I held them close and nuzzled my nose into their necks, I couldn’t help but notice that IZ, the only one with a pink nose and pink belly, nuzzled me back! His warmth and love “had me at hello.” And, so it was, that IZ chose me, when he was only four weeks old. His brother ALI couldn’t bear to be left behind–choosing to come live with us as well.

Two weeks later,when IZ and Ali came to live with us, my husband and I returned to Lake Buchannan equipped with food, water and a traveling kennel…everything needed to bring IZ and his brother ALI home with us. Even though it was an unseasonably HOT day, we all really needed a “pit stop” to relieve our bladders, so we stopped at a roadside park near a stream with picnic tables and benches.

We poured water into a small bowl made of molded plastic, and set it on the ground for IZ and ALI to drink from. Before IZ took even one drink, he took the dish in his teeth and dragged the bowl beneath the nearest source of shade–a picnic table. There, he and Ali drank every last drop. When the bowl was dry, this six-week old border collie flipped the bowl upside down and began skillfully pushing it with his nose, running the parking lot with it as though he were running a soccer ball across the field toward the goal; thus, providing our first, minuscule glimpse of things to come, our first insight into the intelligence of this miraculous being and how dramatically he would change lives.

At first, ALI went home with my daughter, leaving only IZ to train and raise us as his alone.  IZ could have been described as “easy to train,”but my own personal view is that he was born a master communicator. From the onset, he consistently let us know exactly what he wanted–consistency in return-to be challenged and to always learn something new–IZ loved developing his own “repertoire” of skills he could perform. He wanted fed, he wanted out, he wanted in, he wanted to play ball, wanted more toys, wanted all of his belongings to have individual names, wanted to play hide and go seek, wanted challenges, wanted to be with me and go with me every time the car went, and wanted to go to work with my husband. IZ loved riding up front–or with his head out the window.

He has always enjoyed and loved the “drive-through” experience…greeting the pharmacist or the Starbuck’s baristas or the bank tellers–and gaining their respective rewards.

He made friends with everyone. The unrestrained enthusiasm and joy IZ expressed with finding his “snaky baby” or his “ball” or “mommy’s shoes” or “daddy’s keys” or bringing “the stick” brought sunlight into every moment of my life. Today, he still comes running, tail up, ears flopping like wings, whenever he hears his name called, or the simple, high-pitched, “YIP.” Again, the joy he responded to us with, whenever we understood what he wanted and were able to deliver it, was his SECRET SKILL of intentional, highly-evolved communication. No one could but respond to IZ with the same joy he directed toward each and every one of us. Joy to Joy, Heart to Heart–IZ courageously lives and breathes these qualities with every breath and every pant.

His powers of recovery have been demonstrated over and over again throughout the five years we’ve spent together thus far. When he hit a car while trying to meet a neighbor’s cat, he yelped, ran back into the yard where he layed down for about 20 minutes before leaping up as though nothing had happened. When he fell down a fifty-foot mine shaft in New Mexico, he lay motionless in the blackness of the interior for four and a half hours (4 1/2) while we found a rock climber to descend down the hole, scoop IZ up in a canvas duffle bag and bring him back to the surface. He was one happy border collie, rejoining us and the light of day. His courage has never wavered; not even when he was bitten by the rattlesnake IZ mistakenly greeted. Bleeding profusely, muscles failing him, he kept his eyes fixed on mine, with his Spirit shouting, “I love you too much to leave you–I’m gonna be okay, I’m gonna make it!”

It took IZ a year to recover from the bite. For a year, he couldn’t open his mouth wide enough catch his precious balls, yet his efforts were relentless until he did indeed, finally regain his abilities. The left side of his head remains concave, reminding us of his gallant spirit in the face of adverse circumstances.

IZ came into this world with his own remarkable genius, his own indominatable spirit, his own gregarious personality, generously, unabashedly sharing his love, sharing his tennis balls and frizbees with everyone he meets, while at the same time, remaining quick to join you in your game, idea or activity–always alert, always ready, always willing. He’s taught me and everyone he encounters how to love, how to live in and from our hearts, how to experience pure, unadulterated joy.

I’m so very grateful for the many gifts that IZ is and has brought to my life and this world as it comes to him. He’s truly been a great gift to the humanity that have been fortunate enough to make his acquaintance. ALI later rejoined us, and became a vital part of our lives, but it has been IZ who taught me more about what LOVE IZ and LOVE IZ NOT, than anyone or anything in the whole of my experience. 

When my husband and I went our separate ways, we were both very grateful that we had two border collies.  Ali went with my husband and IZ remains with me…my constant joy, friend and companion.

 

 

IZ PICKED ME!

 

HOW DID ONE ROOF BECOME SO POPULAR?

Who can tell us when the concept of men and women living together under one roof became widely accepted?  Who would vote with me to end this senseless practice?

 I believe that the world today would be a much more peaceful planet, were the sexes to agree to live separately.  Sincerely, who wouldn’t be able to love and respect their husband, wife, lover more, were they allowed the space and freedom of autonomous living?  Sure, your “standard of living” may not be quite the same, but with your quality of life and relationship enhanced, suffering would be counted as gain.

With the advances in personal freedom, mutual love, respect, and peaceful relationships, doesn’t it stand to reason that the personal gains would rise through the hierarchy of community, national and international interactions and relationships?  What I’m asking is, wouldn’t we live more peacefully on a global scale, if we had peace at the family level?  What could we possibly be sacrificing by providing for privacy and space–what I consider to be most elemental and foundational in our “hierarchy of needs.” [Maslow]

Once you’ve given it some thought, allowed the concept to sink in, your ideas on how to accomplish this shift in societal thinking are welcome.  Is this worthwhile?  Why or why not?

Keep in mind, I’m not devaluing or discrediting men or women, families or singularities, marriage or non-married unions; to the contrary, I’m only recognizing the value in respecting and supporting one’s own and well as the significant others’ person, space, individuality, autonomy, and freedom to agree to when and how to share those along with time and energy with another; as well as, acknowledging how unsatisfying the nature of cohabitation of couples truly is.  Before you argue, note that statistically, divorce rates and unhappy “marriages” bear this out.  Maybe, it’s not our marriages that are unhappy; maybe, just maybe, living together, beneath the same roof, seeing each other every day, day in and night out, is an impossible way to live and support happiness and harmonious living.  Simply because, Love, peace and harmony are not by-products of control or invasion or even suffering in silence or outloud with someone else’s intolerabilities.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas, so get to blogging.

LOVE LIST

Love begins with yourself.

Love does not avoid responsibility; but love does not “fix.”

 

Love has boundaries but never judges.

 

 

 

Love responds and supports but does not play both sides of the court; and Love never keeps score.

 

Love gifts and Love receives.

 

Love collaborates.

 

Love never ceases

 

Love builds bridges.

Love broadens, searches out and finds new ways.

Love is secure…love trusts.

Love respects.

Love enjoys.

Love is grateful.

Love surrenders the ego…is humble.

Love works.

Love plays.

Love renews.

Love, like water, is powerful.

Love recognizes there is never anything to forgive.

Love moves mountains.

Love is not about what I can do for you, it’s about believing in you.

Love sees the Perfection and knows that All is Well.

We are loved.

I believe in You.

I believe in Me, too.