The Effortfulness Flow of Divine Creativity

I have recently learned a new word or concept, “lila” (leela). This is a Sanskrit word/concept that means the Divine acts of creation, from the first creation as well as the on-going acts of creation, are joyful, playful, effortfulness, dancing, peaceful, non-competitive sporting, etc. of the Divine. When I’m working too hard and/or too concerned about how something “should” happen, I may be getting in the way of 'lila' and out of the effortfulness flow of Divine creativity of which I am only a conduit, not its creator. Often I make ‘stuff’ harder than it needs to be.

Patience

This January 2026 very cold time with snow and ice on the ground and roads has kept me in the house and away from the Counseling Center for the entire week. It has been an interesting learning experience. I am learning, as well as re-learning, that I learn patience by being patient.

The Soul of America is Being Attacked

I grew up with the instructions “If it can’t stand the light of day, don’t do it.” The ICE agents cover their faces and some even wear dark sunglasses. I think this is to protect themselves from being known. They cannot stand the “light of day.” What ICE agents are doing is wrong. When someone is on the ground, ICE agents do not need to be hitting and kicking him and then shooting him. When a lady drives away in her automobile, it would be easy to get a license tag number and go to her house. She does not need to be shot and killed. When a 5-year-old child watches his father being arrested and left to stand alone at the car’s bumper, that is not right. An elderly man does not need to be brought outside in his underwear with television cameras watching his forced immodesty. None of these actions are what I would expect from Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, etc. There is no way to make actions such as these lawful or moral. The ICE agents need to go home. The Congress needs to overcome their fear of Mr. Trump and make America great again, i.e., a moral lighthouse for the world. Churches, priests, pastors, preachers, etc. need to overcome their fears of financial demise and speak ‘truth to power’ as a prophet. The national character and morality of America is being attacked.

National Prejudice

I have both experienced prejudice and I am still prejudiced but trying to deal with what causes my prejudice or uncomfortableness. My brother is developmentally disabled. In the 1940’s, when he was born, they labeled him, ‘retarded’. The use of labels can be symptoms of prejudice. I have been with my brother in the grocery store’s aisle when another person entered the other end of the aisle and upon seeing us, they turned around to enter a different aisle. Did they turn around because they had entered the wrong aisle or did my brother’s presence make them uncomfortable? Prejudice seeks comfort; not challenges to our expectations or the status quo. I am fearful that underneath the desire to ‘Make America Great Again’ is really the desire to ‘make America prejudiced again’ so we do not have to deal with our personal and national prejudices.

A Disquieted Soul

It is one of the Biblical words that speaks in a visual manner and says so much with only one word. Writing about the soul, the question is “Why are you disquieted within me?” (Psalm 43:5, NRSV) Disquieted, that is a visual description of those times when my soul, my essence, personality, etc. is worried, anxious, confused, fearful, alarmed, etc. In other words, “disquieted”. I seem to have a natural talent for a disquieted soul. For example, I can worry about what to say and after I have said it, I then worry about if the other person heard correctly what it was that I wanted to say. A disquieted soul is much like a dog chasing its tail; there is no ending. The Psalmist doesn’t give us a simple step by step process of quieting a disquieted soul. The Psalmist follows the question of a disquieted soul with “hope in the Lord.” Perhaps the lesson for a disquieted soul is to do what seems best at the time and then leave it alone or, in other words, not be so attached to my plans and desired outcome that I am controlled by them.

Christmas, 2025

Today is Christmas, 2025. It is a day just like all the other days and it is a day unlike all the other days. God continues to reveal Godself in the sun, moon, stars and the unfolding galaxies. God continues to show Godself in the mountains, plains, deserts, and valleys. God has always been showing us the I AM with the birds of the air, the fish of the waters and the animals on the land. God must especially like to show us God’s self through the trees, bushes, plants and flowers. God wanted to show us that God likes humanity because God chose to show us God’s self as God revealed God’s self in flesh with growth hormones, feelings, thoughts, emotions from joy to frustration and anger. Christmas 2025, a day just like every other of our days and a day unlike any of our other days. Lord, in your mercy.

Learning Patience from Cooking and Baking

I have discovered that I like to cook, even bake. I have never been one who has been comfortable in the kitchen. Recipes seemed too confined. I now think of them more as guidelines for creativity. Yes, I have had many laughs when I’ve placed some unsatisfying food outside for the birds, squirrels and chipmunks who inhabit our yard. I also enjoy feeding the animals. What I especially like about cooking is the slow cooker. Slow cookers take most of the day to do their work. Slow cookers teach me patience, patience with myself as well as food. I’m also learning to bake bread. Baking bread helps me to learn patience as I wait for the yeast to do its slow work. Another reason for my cooking and baking is there are results that myself as well as others can taste and see. There is a reward, if I am patient and wait. During several days each week, I am a psychotherapist and spiritual companion. There are many situations in which I do not have a clear reward as I wonder if I have been a help for the person who has left the consulting room. When I wonder if I have been a help, I go home to cook or bake.