Countdown: The Spirit of Advent

I love the Spirit of Advent! It's a special time when the year is winding down, giving me opportunity to reflect on what was, what is, and what will be. The anticipation of the coming! There's a great freedom in the Spirit of Advent.

This freedom has offered me the opportunity to move easily and gracefully between the polar opposites of mankind, which has truly enriched my life beyond measure.

I've always been a "free spirit", which can be translated into many meanings, depending upon the oracle of the moment.

"Free Spirit" to my father meant..."You'll never amount to anything." Usually this phrase occurred when I chose to do something I wanted to do, instead of what he wanted me to do, like the time I gave up my position on the starting 5 of my high school basketball team to form a band to play at the games.

"Free Spirit" to me means that I can not be constrained by physical, spiritual or emotional limitations attempted to be placed on me by those who are threatened by my Cosmic Surfer Mentality.

On the other hand, being a "Free Spirit" has also given me the ability to connect with the physical, spiritual and emotional limitations in myself and others. So while I can disconnect from others expectations of me...I can not disconnect with them as a fellow traveler in time.

This is one of the reasons I embrace Christianity, specifically Catholicism at its true uncorrupted by man meaning. God and huMAN are one...Universal!

C.S. Lewis called the birth of Christ "The Grand Miracle". He wrote, "The Christian story is precisely the story of one grand miracle, the assertion being that what is beyond all space and time, what is uncreated, eternal, came into nature, into human nature, descended into His own universe, and rose again, bringing nature up with Him. It is precisely one great miracle. If you take that away there is nothing specifically Christian left."

Lewis also believed that the Incarnation was vastly more important than the death and resurrection of Christ, which so many "Religions" place emphasis on. I agree, which is why I can also embrace the teachings of other great spiritual and humanist masters. The Great Spirit lives in all of us...we all are living Incarnations...connected in this vast Universe of life, death, life, death and.......

So, this Advent let Inspiration take the place of Aspiration as you reflect on The Grand Miracle that is you!

Sir Hook the Advent huMAN of Warrick

Attaining Wisdom: A Sunday Challenge

How does one attain wisdom? It is obviously a most important element to individual and collective success. It is also painfully obvious of its lack in the "House Divided" mentality so evident today.

So, I pose the question again...

How does one attain wisdom? (pause to reflect on that)

According to Confucius, who I believe will be widely accepted as an expert on this subject, had the following suggestion. I will break it down into its three elements, or three methods as Confucius said:

REFLECTION

"First by reflection, which is noblest." Why is reflection the noblest way to attain wisdom? Is it because deep down in our soul, or human consciousness if you prefer, the answers lye hidden in a mystic pool ready to be hooked and pulled to the surface? Is it simply in the "taking time" that we gain wisdom by not acting or reacting negatively? How often do you reflect? What is reflection for you? How do you reflect?

IMITATION

"Second, by imitation, which is easiest." Why is imitation easiest? If you imitate a thought do you become that thought? If I'm sad but decide to imitate being happy, do I become happy? Is it like imitating the answers on an exam from the genius sitting across from you in class...or is that cheating? Is imitating life actually cheating life? How do you imitate? Who do you imitate? Why do you imitate?

EXPERIENCE

"Third, by experience, which is the bitterest." Ah, the good ole' School of Hard Knocks. Nothing gives you wisdom quicker and more painfully than learning from your mistakes, which in effect is experience. Granted, you can learn from the experience of success...but the really good experiences are the bitterest. I call them the Post Its of the Soul...Battle Scars! Why is experience the bitterest? What has been your bitterest experience that has brought you into the light of Wisdom?

For me, I will go and reflect, then imitate my vision and gain experience from Endeavoring to Engage with myself and the world and people around me.

So, there you have it class, your homework for this Sunday. Class dismissed. You must post your answers in the comments to pass.

Sir Hook the Professor of Wisdom of Warrick