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I promise I'll try to keep these short and to the point. This format rather forces that issue. :)

Keep Looking	Fence Sitting
What's the Difference?	An Equinox Journey	How are you doing?
Thoughts on The Pledge	Philosophy of Babylon 5	Battleground God

  Keep Looking

I couldn't find a clip art of a guy searching his sofa cushions. But I'm still looking!

Have you heard that old addage, "It's always in the last place you look."? Well, of course it is. Once you find what you're looking for, you stop looking.

And that's okay, as long as we're talking about car key's or the TV remote. But what about in mankind's spiritual quest for a personal relationship with the Divine? So, you've been searching all your life and you've found a religion that suits you. Great! That's a lot more than most folks can say. But what happens now? What happens if you keep looking? What if the answer you've found isn't the ONLY answer? The only way to find out is to Keep Looking.

Chances are very good that you'll find your answers in the next place you look as well. But don't stop. Keep Looking. Soon, you'll come to the realization that the answers you've been seeking were never lost. You'll have learned the difference between "Religion" and "Spirituality".

And you'll realize that the Spirit is in ALL the places you've been looking, not just the last.

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  Fence Sitting

When you read the title, did it bring to mind negative implications? Do you think of a "Fence-Sitter" as someone who cannot make up his mind? But what if the "Fence-Sitter" is choosing to do so for other reasons?

Fences, by definition, are places "between" places; a part of both sides, yet apart from both sides. Yet there is great truth to be found in such places/times. Why must my spirituality be based on one side or the other? My spirituality is about MY relationship to The One. It is NOT about trying to make that relationship fit into the notions of someone who as laid down a Path before me. If through trial and searching for years upon years I cannot find SOME path that fits, why should I take on the aspects of one that doesn't?

If this is fence sitting, it suits me better than the alternatives. It's in the places and times "between" that I belong, where I relate best to The One, where I find my Truth.

R_C
(Enjoying my view from up here on the Fences.)

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  What's the Difference?

It seems we as a society love to look for differences. From a very early age we are trained to pick things apart, looking for ways to classify them into their own little particulars, stuff them into their own little pigeon holes.

Think back to those tests they gave you in First Grade. "Look at these six Platypuses in tuxedos. Which one doesn't belong? Oh, it must be that one who's cumberbund doesn't match his bow tie. He's the different one! He's the one that should be expelled from the Platypus Ball! Non-Conformist!" ... I always hated those tests. It seems to me that two platypuses that wear tuxedos are more alike than different, regardless of the color of their tie. There's a lot more of "Same" than "Different" involved here.

And the same is true in our spiritual lives. When it comes right down to our relationship to the Divine, we've all got a lot more in common than the dogma that divides us. We're all wearing our tuxedos, regardless of whether or not our ties match our cumberbunds. Think about this the next time you're tempted to tell some one that they're wrong because they don't agree with you.

Then join me at the Platypus Ball! (Come as you are.)

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  An Equinox Journey

If you've read my section on The Year, you are aware that my time table for observances is a bit off from everyone else in the known universe. (So, R_C, you're a little off. What else is new?) I observe equinox on the actual 12 hour day, whatever that may be, locally.

This Autumnal equinox found me on a mountain that had been burned. As I made my walk, I was struck by the beauty of this "dead" forest. To begin with, the remains of the trees are, of themselves, quite beautiful, in their cloaks of black on silver. But you don't have to look very hard to see past that initial impression. Everywhere you look, there are signs of new life, from the new meadows to the first small trees and the abundance of wildlife that now make this their home. This landscape looks the way it does, because of fire. Its touches are evident everywhere you look. But it doesn't end there. Even in destruction, balance is maintained and life goes on.

And, as if to prove a point, it rained for the remainder of my trip. :) I went to the summit (a Place between Places) to observe the equinox at sunrise (a Time between Times). For "Earth", I built a little dolman of local stones. I was wondering what to do for "Air", when the wind knocked down my dolman. Add the rain for "Water" and the already mentioned "Fire" and it all balances out. As it should. As it must. I didn't bring any of it with me, but it was all there.

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  How are you doing?

A co-worker recently asked me "How are you doing?" I responded, "I'm not Doing at all. I'm Being." He chuckled and replied, "So how are you Being?" My response, "I am Being fine, thank you!" This time we both laughed.

"To Do is to Be." Plato "To Be is to Do." Socrates "Do Be Do Be Do" Sinatra

There's a popular Country song by Steve Azar that goes "I don't have to be me 'til Monday" about a guy that calls in sick to take a long weekend. It's a fun song and its getting a lot of play time. But ...

... how sad that he defines himself by what he does for a living. When he's off for the weekend having a good time, he's not himself. Again, how sad. Personally, there's a lot more to "Me" than what happens during that short time I'm doing electrical work. I'm not defined only by what I do. Certainly, my work is a part of my life, but it is only a part.

If you've read my Dream Journal entry on "Of Dragons and Machines" you'll have an idea where I'm at with all of this. Yes, The Machine is part of the whole, but to say "I am the Machine" is to deny the Dragon. And Dragons won't tolerate being denied for very long. Further, saying "I am the Dragon" isn't any better. The two must exist in balance.

Perhaps this is what all those Wiccans mean when they sign off saying "Blessed Be".

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  Thoughts on The Pledge

With sincere appologies to those outside of the US, for whom this may not make much sense

Personally, I don't think that its a good idea to make The Pledge of Allegiance compulsory for school children, or for anyone else for that matter. But not for any religious reasons. The Pledge actually amounts to an Oath of Fealty. Any such oath is meaningless if it is made under duress. It only has meaning when the oath-taker is fully cognizant of his actions and its consequences, and only when it is made of free will. Mandating an oath, by its very nature, invalidates it.

Regarding the "Under God" issue, I wouldn't take The Pledge without it. Here's why. That little phrase "and to the Republic for which it stands." It's been said before, but it applies here as well, "I love my Country. It's the government that I'm afraid of." But "Under God" is subject to interpretation of the individual, putting the personal factor back into the oath. The oath is really to "God", whatever the individual takes that to mean. Personally, I find that a lot more palatable.

Still "One Nation Indivisible" makes a lot of sense, too; "United We Stand" and all that. So, say it however you like. Or not at all, as you see fit. Freedom of Speech is your right, too.

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  Philosophy of Babylon 5

Arguably, Babylon 5 was the best Science Fiction story ever produced for television. In particular, I enjoyed it for its Philosphy, which can be sumarized by a list of questions.

"Who Are You?", the Great Question of the "good guy" Vorlons. Such a question is best answered simply, "I am.", in echo of the Great "I AM." that started all of Creation. Any more of an answer would only belabor the point.

"What Do You Want?", the Great Question of the "bad guy" Shadows. Similar questions will get similar answers, "I want to Be." By Being, I am able to see to any other "wants".

And from the short lived (sadly) sequel series, Crusade, the question of the Techno-Mages, "Who do you serve, and who do you trust?" For this answer, I'll reference the Rangers from the original series. "I live for The One, I die for the The One." as there is only One.

Sure, there are lots of answers to all these questions, and in fact, I'm using this web site to present and clarify my answers. But if bluntly asked, I'll have my short answers ready. The long answers are, and always will be, a work in progress.

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  Battleground God

This is probably one of the more interesting online "tests" I've taken. The premise is to determine just how rational your views of God are. Of course this assumes you have some interest in being rational about your belief system, which isn't always the case.

During the test, you'll be asked a series of questions about your belief. How you answer, may play a part in what questions will be asked next. If you answer any two questions that indicate a direct contradiction, you take a "direct hit". If you answer any questions that don't necessarily contradict, but follow a view that may be questioned by many people, you "bite a bullet". The more hits you take and bullets you bite, the poorer your score. The entire goal is rational consistancy.

So, go ahead take the test and don't cheat. But don't let a high score fool you. It only means that you and the programmer think about the same. For the record, I've taken the test several times, changing my answers to see what the outcome would be. And yes, it is possible to finish the test without getting an award. But I had to try really hard.

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