12 July 2023 A Candle in the Window Peter Millar
Words to encourage us in these times.
For to be free is not to merely cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. Nelson Mandela
Message from the Hopi Nation, Oraibi, Arizona – People of Peace:
We have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour
Now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour.
And there are things to be considered.
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
It is time to speak your truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!
There is a river flowing fast,
it is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold onto the shore.
They will feel they are being torn apart and they will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore, and push off and into the river, keep our eyes open, and our head above the water.
See who is in there with you and celebrate.
At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally.
Least of all ourselves.
For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
The time of the lone wolf is over.
Gather yourselves!
Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary,
all that you do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
Tom’s faith:
One of my earlier books “Waymarks: Signposts to discovering God’s presence in the world” was first published in 2000 (ISBN: 1-85311-336-0) and recently I was looking through it and came upon this letter from a friend which I would like to share as it reflects many of the ideas and beliefs which undergird my thinking in the Candles in the Window.
Dear Peter,
One of the things we discussed when we met was the kind of language we use to express our belief in God. For me, traditional religious language is not always easy to take on board! I enclose a personal creed. Lots more could be said, but it is a starting point. Let me know what you think about it.
I believe in
- human vulnerability and fallibility.
- the determination to survive and to flourish to the end of earthly life.
- the paradox between self-centred survival and compassionate gentleness.
- the deep patterns of transformation, of new growing from old.
- the paradoxical power of the small and weak over the large and strong;
- the power of love to triumph over suffering.
- human solidarity, and relationships, reflecting (and capable of going beyond) the mysterious patterns of connectedness and inter-dependence in nature.
- an inner life with responses to promptings;
with hidden energies, resources and liberations;
with yearnings and visions for harmony in relationships
rising above self-service;
with urges to search, to question, to find out,
to play a meaningful part to celebrate.
For me,
all this is found in my God’s fingerprints,
all reflect God’s nature
all are found in God
totally integrated with the created order and the
human condition,
in God’s footprints on this visited planet.
Thanks for reading it all.
Be in touch, Tom.
*To become human, one must make room in oneself for the wonders of the universe. South American Indian saying
