Schizophasia Blog

“So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan…Thus they separated from each other” (Genesis 13:11).

Abraham gave Lot first choice, and Lot took the choicest part. Lot didn’t commit evil in the choice; rather, it was in the motive. He wanted worldly good, and didn’t give thought to the final consequences of his choice. His Uncle Abraham’s first thought was how best to serve God; Lot’s first thought was how best to serve Lot. That was the difference in the two characters.

“So Abraham said to Lot, `Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me…for we are brothers’” (Genesis 13:8). Our era is dressed in lawsuits. Here Abraham is a shining light and example to us of pursuing peace instead of rights; he knew what was suitable, and it wasn’t a lawsuit. Uncle Abraham looked into the future; he was willing to forego immediate satisfaction for subsequent results and realities.

Our character is the sum of the characters we have met in life. Some of these characters are direct such as our parents, teachers, or friends who have had an impact. The indirect character formation is just as important and these are the good or bad books we read, the time we waste on television which can rob us of true vision, and the good or bad thoughts we harbor. There is no doubt that good character is formed from the assets of principle and that bad character is formed from the liabilities of the debts we pile up each time we allow ourselves to indulge in unprincipled associations, tangible and intangible.

The world is filled with goodness if we have the spirit to search it out and dwell on it. It comes in the form of nature, beautiful thoughts from past ages, and living individuals who become a noble part of our whole character, if we but take the time and effort to develop the principles of God.

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I often meet people who say things like, “I’ve been working on mindfulness for over twenty years.”

My response is always this: “Oh, you poor thing! Have you tried *playing* with mindfulness? It’s very effective, and much more fun!”

They tend to look at me like I’m some kind of kook, and then ask the million-dollar question: “How can you play with mindfulness?” Glad you asked….

We tend to think of mindfulness as something that develops only after years of dedicated meditation. We must sit for hours, contemplate in silence for days, go on retreats for weeks, practice daily for years. Okay, that can work.

The unfortunate thing is that it IS work, and consequently, it’s about as appealing to most folks as lying on a bed of nails. Sure, they want to develop a clearer perspective on life. Yes, they want to become calm and contemplative. Of course they want to live more meaningfully and with greater joy. But does it have to be so hard?

Absolutely not. You see, while most people knock politely on that front door of meditation in order to get inside the House of Mindfulness, I like to sneak people in the back door to steal a few cookies. Why can’t we play with mindfulness, dance with it, treat it like our favorite goofy cousin who happens to be brilliant instead of our strict uncle who happens to have a Ph.D?

Why can’t we tiptoe toward mindfulness through eyes-wide-open exercises that are engaging, uplifting, informative, and–dare I say it–fun?

Mindfulness should be like a big game of mental hide-and-seek: “Where am I now? Gotcha!”

As a student of Buddhism for nearly 30 years, I have the greatest respect for the Buddha and the philosophy that developed around his teachings. I have tremendous admiration for those who have dedicated themselves to a regular meditation practice.

But it’s disturbing to me that mindfulness is seen as “belonging” to Buddhism and that meditation is seen as the only vehicle that will take us there. This sounds a bit like, oh, attachment? Clinging, perhaps?

I just can’t find it in my heart to believe that the Buddha would be ticked off about the idea of developing mindfulness in whatever way works best.

Not everyone likes the idea of meditation, but here’s the cool part: those who start off with easy, enjoyable exercises often find themselves seeing the value in sitting still. In fact, many clients say they’d never have started with meditation, but they so enjoyed “playing” with mindfulness that they have begun a regular sitting practice!

Sneaky? Sure, but that’s part of playing. Fun–in whatever form that takes–is what keeps us going back for more. If you’re not grinning, you’re not winning in this big ol’ game of life. If “working” on mindfulness isn’t working for you, try playing instead.

Throw open the doors. Let your inner monk go out and play. It’s recess!

Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she offers creative and powerful eyes-wide-open alternatives to meditation. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.MassageYourMind.com.

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My dad woke up one morning feeling, as he put it, “Not quite right and a bit wobbly”. In being the strong-willed, tenacious, non-complainer that he is, he figured it was just part of the package of being 80 years old.

However, after a few days of these lingering effects, he decided to go see his doctor. Upon calling the doctor’s office, he was told that they had an appointment opening in ten minutes. He took it knowing that my mom had their only car and he would, therefore, need to ride his bike about a mile up to the clinic.

Once he got there and saw the doctor, my dad was directed to go to the hospital A.S.A.P. to be further evaluated. He told the doctor that he would ride his bike home, call my mom, and go to the hospital.

“Ride your bike??!!…You rode your bike here??!!” exclaimed the doctor.

You see, the doctor suspected that my dad may have had a stroke, hence, his very strong reaction to bicycle riding.

My dad went to the hospital (my mom picked him up at the doctor’s office, and they put the bike in the trunk of their car); had all the tests and various scans; and in the end it was determined that he did, in fact, have a minor stroke.

I spoke to him after he got back home from all the testing and although he said he felt a bit tired, he was quite okay overall. You see, my dad is always okay, and that is why I am embracing this day as my own personal Father’s Day…A day for me to reflect on and have gratitude for all that my dad has given to me. I would like to share some that with you.

• Tenacious - My dad doesn’t quit and although his tenacity boarders on full-blown stubbornness at times, he is quite the model of following-through to the end, in spite of adversities.
• Keeping What Works - My dad was quite a basketball player. At five feet nine inches, and weighing in at about 160 pounds, he was never very big, but he played big with his old-fashioned two-handed set-shot. Nothing too fancy; just a little “shake-and-bake”, and then swish. I can remember seeing him hit four, five, and six in row. He kept what worked because it worked for him and there was no reason to change it.
• Commitment - My dad has been married to my mom for over 55 years, and although I don’t quite understand their relationship some of the time, they have stuck together through “hell and high-water”. Their commitment to their relationship, and to each other, speaks of a loyalty that is quite uncommon today.
• Adventure - We traveled and camped a lot in my growing up years. We took 6 weeks one summer and camped all the way across the U.S., from New York to the Pacific coast, and back again. I got a great appreciation of “roughing it” and the outdoors…I am sure that has a lot to do with my persistent desire to travel to new places whenever I can.
• Spirituality - Although my dad and I have a very different spiritual path, I am grateful for having been brought up in an environment that had some spiritual emphasis in it. I don’t know where I would be today without my spirituality.
• Creativity - Although he will adamantly deny it, my dad is very creative. Especially so in the way he uses his space and his resources.
• Problem Solving - Perhaps a bit over-zealous at times (He has been known to create problems which he then has to resolve), my dad is a master at brain-storming and working out a problem. He is a great “fixer”.
• Smart - My dad is smart…real smart, but rather humble about it (except when we are playing a board game or card game, then he gets “smartly competitive”). I’m sure that a significant part of the various intelligences that I have today are a direct result of my dad’s role modeling.
• Love - My dad loves me. Although he was not as available as I would have liked in my growing up years; was grumpy and crabby at times; and has been emotionally distant at other times, I know without a doubt that my dad loves me. He has always been there when I needed him and he has been an amazing provider. I know that I would not be where I am in my life today if it was not for his abundant love and support.

I share all this with you today for one reason: All we have is today and we do not know what tomorrow will bring or take away. If you have resentments towards a loved one, I invite you to work through them and let them go. If you haven’t told a loved one lately how much you care about them, then pick the phone and do that today. I know I’m sounding a bit preachy, and yet I do believe this message needs to be heard.

I invite you, and challenge you, to create an “attitude of gratitude” by looking at what you DO have a result of your relationships with others. It is so much easier, and so much lighter, to be grateful than it is to be resentful.

Furthermore, I invite you to create your own day; your father’s day, mother’s day, brother’s or sister’s day, or friend’s day. Celebrate the gratitude, and spread the good news. After all, all you have is today…

Ken Donaldson has been based in Tampa Bay offering counseling, coaching, and educational programs since 1987. His REALationship Coaching programs empower people to have more successful lives, businesses and relationships by building a powerful relationship with themselves first. Visit his website at http://www.REALationshipCoach.com for more information and sign-up his free e-program Illuminations and Sparks of Brilliance. Ken is also the author of the upcoming book Marry YourSelf First!

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A frequent device in scripture is to put the most important item first in a phrase or a list. To observe the oceans move by the power of the moon, then declare that people are unaffected, is folly. To know that global conditions vary by the phase of the moon and claim it has no effect on people, is folly. So wherefrom came the idea that astrology is sorcery? It is a tribute to the dawn of the Aquarian Age, we don’t execute astrologers for sorcery. So where did this link come from in the carefully cultivated Christian mind?

A story might explain it: In a large village, long ago and far away, there was a council of elders which pretended to wisdom. They were very jealous of a man who was truly wise and lived alone on the outskirts of town.

Being wise men of liesure they loved to spy upon the wizard. The council met weekly and discussed their wizard observations. In time the council decided the wizard was getting too much attention and probably offending God in the process.

The wizard was executed and the people lived happily ever after. To this very day, all the descendents of all the people of that village, know that wise men are wizards and ought to be put to death, as they did in Russia and China last century. Today, when an all knowing Christian tells me astrology and numerology are sorcery, I know who his/her parents were.

Ed Howes sought and found. Knocked and entered. Now he sees things differently. To see more of what he sees, please visit http://www.justanotherview.com

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