Category Archives: discernment

The Return

It’s funny: I’ve had this blog title floating around in my head for months now. I thought the title was going to be referring to my return to Meeting for Worship after my hip surgery. It’s not, though: it’s about … Continue reading

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Filed under bible, christianity, christians, different faiths, discernment, faith, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, leadings, light, ministry, practice, speak and listen with love, that of God, the bible

Integrity and Right Speech

The slogan I pulled for today is: “I take up the way of speaking truthfully.” which was one of my Precept vows. As a Quaker, we have a Testimony of Integrity that has its roots in Jesus’s command to “let your yea … Continue reading

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Filed under belief, buddhism, catholicism, discernment, faith, family, integrity, practice, slogans, speak and listen with love

Pondering Tattoos and Jesus

I’ve been meaning to write a blog post about a weighty topic, such as Integrity or Solitude, but what’s been going through my mind recently is, on the surface, more superficial: I’ve been pondering getting two tattoos when I turn … Continue reading

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Filed under belief, discernment, faith, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, meeting for worship

Query on Motivation

There is some conflict/drama in a local organization I’m involved with. This conflict is causing–and is caused by–suffering, and as a bodhisattva, one of my “duties” is to end suffering when I’m able. But even before taking my bodhisattva vow, … Continue reading

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Filed under daily life, discernment, ego, pride, vanity

Suffering… End of Suffering

I’ve read a lot of Dharma books and have felt time and time again that I Get It, I know what to say and what to think, I Am A Good Buddhist ™. But I haven’t been “getting it”. When … Continue reading

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Filed under buddhism, daily life, death, discernment, emptiness, emptying, grief, impermanence, love, mindfulness, pain, physical pain, simplicity

The Testing of Abraham: To Follow Where We Are Led, a Bible Post

Imagine this: you and your wife have tried and tried for years to have a baby.  After so many failed attempts, you and your wife have finally given up all hope. Your wife no longer has her periods; you both … Continue reading

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Filed under bible, discernment, leadings, quakerism, the bible

Finding Balance

When I was in 8th grade, I had a theory about how the world worked. The theory was that there was a finite, definite amount of suffering and happiness in the world, and that, consequently, the more I suffered, the … Continue reading

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Filed under arthritis camp, buddhism, catholicism, daily life, discernment, faith, meditation, quakerism

Notions

There’s been a lot of discussion recently and not so recently within Quaker circles, both online and off, about whether Quakerism is a Christian faith or not, who should or shouldn’t be allowed to be a Quaker, and as many … Continue reading

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Filed under different faiths, discernment, meeting for worship, quakerism, worship

My Secret Lenten Offering

I know Quakers don’t celebrate Lent, but I was raised Catholic, and this practice has stuck with me. Every year come Lent, I try to think of something to give up or to do. The purpose for me hasn’t been … Continue reading

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Filed under books, catholicism, daily life, discernment, leadings, the bible

A New Perspective on Jesus

I’ve been thinking about Jesus for a long time. I was raised Roman Catholic and grew up with a deep faith in God. But I was never sure about Jesus. For a while, I believed in the Trinity. I remember … Continue reading

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Filed under catholicism, christianity, christians, discernment, faith, God, Jesus, ministry, statement of faith, the bible