On Being Nobody Special

Posted by Jack on Jan 16, 2012 in Steve's Blog | Comments Off

I find myself caught in the tension between two great truths. On the one hand I’ve been meditating on the mantra, “I am in the daily practice of being nobody.” It’s been a significant mantra for me as it constantly reminds me to let go of my ego and get it out of the way. I am a nobody. I am no one special, outstanding, great or significant. I am just me. A person. A child of God. I need to relinquish the striving and the working to be recognized, to be somebody. That striving is nothing but my ego needing to be recognized. It is one of my most harmful of attachments as it keeps me focused on myself and my accomplishments instead of just being satisfied with today, with right now, with what is in front of me and celebrating this moment.

The Miracle of Jesus

Posted by Jack on Dec 21, 2011 in Steve's Blog | Comments Off

“ The Miracle of Jesus is himself, not what he said or did.”

-Rumi

He woke up to his divinity. Living as Jew steeped within a long religious tradition, he realized that the religion could not contain who he was, nor could it define him either. He realized something deep, deep within him that was beyond the sacrifice and the ritual. He opened up to something that was vast, open, so beyond that the walls of the temple could not contain him. The Holy of Holies, was not some seat on an arc where only the High Priest could enter but once a year. No, the Holy of Holies was anywhere you looked, felt, or touched something human like flesh, like the breath of a lover. The Holy of Holies, Jesus realized, was the beating of your heart when you held someone close and felt their pulse in your chest. The Holy of Holies is when you woke from sleep, but you laid there under your blankets for just a moment and basked in the warm, the pillow, the comfort of being warp in a womb of delight.

What this trip to the Holy Land has come to mean to me

Posted by Jack on Dec 19, 2011 in Steve's Blog | Comments Off

This is the last installment of my Israel Journal. I wrote this as I was flying over the Atlantic. While quite long, this captures the ongoing effect that my trip to the Holy Land has had on my faith. Thanks for taking the time to read.

So,here I am in this Jet flying over the Atlantic coming back from my first trip to Israel and Jordan, beginning the process of putting it all together. It’s a perfect time to write. The guy beside me has drunk himself into oblivion. He’s working hard trying to pass out. I just don’t want him to puke on me. I have a river of cold air pouring over my head and feet. I’m frozen, but . . .I’ve been left alone, which is just what I need. I told you that I would send you all an email where I try to answer the question of, “So what, what does this mean?” So here you go. It’s a long email. Read it if you want. If you don’t, you wont hurt my feelings. But here, you go. . .

For Debbie & Jay

Posted by Jack on Oct 17, 2011 in Mitch's Random Thoughts | Comments Off

Inspired by the love two friends of mine have for each other, I sat down this morning and did a little piano improv.

Hope it makes your day a little lighter,
a little better,
just a moment for you to close your eyes