It's one thing to describe how something might be done, it is another to actually succeed in doing it.

Conciliation (and reconciliation) seems to me to be a sufficiently hot topic that I felt it necessary to devote a second episode to actually getting it done.  After all, it is easy to say that something can be done, or that it should be done.  But in this case, it seems to me that you deserve more than just sayings.

After all, some of the principles and polarities which deserve conciliation or reconciliation are some of the same ones which inspire closed-mindedness on both sides of the issue - regardless of the issue.  And, there will be those who will refuse to believe that there can ever be conciliation.  But for the rest of us, there's something to be learned, discovered, and appreciated.

A good starting point is that eternal source of strife, the argument between evolution and creationism.  I have resolved the issue within myself to the point that I no longer see the need for disagreement between the two.  But, on the one side you'll have your creationists who do not wish to be confronted with facts beyond the scope of their narrow interpretation.  And on the other side, there are those whose replacement for The Divine is nothing more than "random coincidence."

Of course, if we go down this path, we are going to discover some other concepts which we might not have thought of, such as how to have unity without homogenzing ourselves!

Just how much might we be able to find conciliation or reconciliation for?  If we do, we can expect some good things!

Conciliation?  A revolution?  Of course, especially if you take a look at it!

Most of us have been dealing with the conflict between the higher and lower since we can remember, especially those of us who listened to such people as our Sunday School teachers, preachers, and some others.  Some of them made it seem as if it were wrong to have nice things if others didn't.  Many of us had that "guilt trip" imposed on us as children.  That's not the only example of higher versus lower, but that was the first one that came to my mind when the subject came up.

OK, so what if there were no real argument between them?  What if they could be brought into harmony with each other, so that they worked together?

That's what we're talking about here.  It's not simple, except perhaps in the minds of those who aren't involved.  But what a quest!

And the result is something perhaps more powerful than most people can imagine.  And it's waiting for you, for me, for each and every one of us.

Come, take a look.

Blessed Be!

Of all of my experiences as a cadet, none made quite as much of an impression as a training session in the subject of combat first aid.  The centerpiece of the training was an Army training film which summed up the initial first few steps into three basic steps.  And it was done with a form of expression which etched the three steps indelibly in my memory.

That was for physical first aid, and it was designed for a combat situation.  The principles of spiritual first aid are similar.  Of course, their is one difference.  In combat first aid, most people who are wounded know that they are wounded.  In combat first aid, it is likely that you will know who and what caused the wound.  Where spiritual first aid is concerned, it can sometimes take a while for someone to realize that they have indeed been wounded. 

But just like in combat first aid, the initial response once the wound is known can make all of the difference in the world!

Blessed Be!
 

I recently watched a re-run of an episode of Bishop Fulton Sheen's show "Life Is Worth Living" from the 1960's.  In this particular episode, he spoke about "rivets", which in this case is a term he used to describe the "anchor point" or focus (or foci?) of an endeavor.  I realized how right-on he was, and how his talk gave emphasis to some of the concerns I've expressed over the last few years.

It has to do with tradition.  You've heard me say that if you have a tradition, follow it.  If you feel the need to go a different way, then please do so, but don't disturb the people who continue to follow the tradition you're leaving.

Done the right way, it can be of benefit for both sides.  In fact, that's part of why we have such customs as "hiving off."  And there are many similar examples throughout history. 

Done the wrong way, it can be damaging.  In fact, it can bring down the whole thing.  That's why we hive off rather than letting those with a new way take over.  And done right, both can be strong.

And might it just be that if your path and mine are not the same, perhaps it might be because the world needs both of them?  See what you think!

Blessed Be!