and Jesus said: "Peace Be Still"...

Of all the great teachers, probably the one that the people of the west are most acquainted with is a Jewish man known as Jesus.   And yet what do we know?  So much as been added and subtracted to his legacy long after his death and resurrection.
If we look only to the words of Matthew, his follower we can find these:
‘Judge not that you be not judged.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing...
You shall know them by their fruits.’
and,’ Ask, and it will be given to you ; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.’   
And then there is: ‘Love you enemy, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.’
Those are not easy things to do.  But think about them.  Do they feel like they would be the teachings of a great teacher?  From what you know of Jesus, do they sound like they would be his teachings?  Are they worth paying attention to?
And at this time when storms rage in the oceans and over land, remember the story of Jesus in the fishing boat.  He was tired from all the demands of the people who wanted his healing, his attention, just being next to him, and had gone out with his friends on the lake and laid down in the boat to sleep.  It seemed that being out on the water was the only way he could get some time to himself.  A storm came up and his friends that were on the boat with him, who knew him best, became frightened.  They woke him up.  He was a bit upset and called them men of little faith.  Then he stood up and spoke to the storm.   “peace, be still”  The storm quieted.  His followers were in awe.  Who is this man?
If we call ourselves Christians we need to ask that question... of ourselves... Who is/was this man?  Is he God, is he Man?  Does he perhaps teach us that there is god in all of us?  Peace, Be Still...

Pain and Suffering...

Sometimes we are so caught up in our own world that we fail to notice the pain and suffering that goes on around us.  And we live in the country that is probably the richest nation in the world.   Having worked as a social worker my entire life I have been exposed to pain and suffering within my world and yet I can little fathom the suffering going on in the refugee camps of Africa resulting from genocide and hunger.  I can’t imagine what the people of Haiti have gone through during and after the devastating earthquake and subsequent attempts to recover and find some semblance of normalcy.
There is a lot of pain and suffering in the world.  Siddhartha Gautama the historical figure who became the Buddha is said to have left his princely palace as a young man only to find death and suffering.
Stories abound of Jesus healing the sick, feeding the hungry.  I think it is a safe bet that he knew about pain and suffering.  Are you aware of the pain and suffering around you and in far off places?  These who suffer, who are concerned about survival needs, food, shelter, medical care, have very little chance of climbing the spiritual ladder until some of those needs are met.  What can we do?  A smile or an unspoken blessing is a good way to start.  My dear friend always took a plate of food from his holiday feast to the streetperson that slept in a doorway close.   Buying an extra can of food to go to a food bank or volunteering at a food bank or soup kitchen are ways that can be helpful. 
When you look at yourself and complain about an ache or a pain be grateful for the roof over your head.   When you are passed over for a raise at work, be grateful for a job.
Take a look around you.  Perhaps the greatest thing anyone can do is simply to be aware and realize how much suffering and pain is in the world.  

If you Follow the Teachings of Jesus...

Not so popular now are the bracelets that held the simple letters WWJD.  And in fact they have become something of a joke.   I wonder how many people really thought about those letters.   And when it comes right down to it, What WOULD Jesus have done?   A man that taught love, forgiveness, and turning the other cheek, what else could he have done if he believed his own teachings.   Few if any of the followers of Jesus, then and now, were as enlightened as he was.  They interpreted his words through their own biases.  He was a master, a teacher, who had come to teach us the basics of love.   So many since then, including his own disciples felt they had to interpret this teaching.  If you are trying to follow the teachings of Jesus, what will you do?