Sabbath Messages > Sabbath Message: Nov. 20, 2004
Good Sabbath
November 20, 2004 "And Thy word broke their sword
When our strength failed us"
Autumn walks must be the preview of paradise, with colors that peacocks envy and late blossoms catching up with summer glories. As Fran and I prepare for a Colorado Thanksgiving, with the younger grandkids, sorely missed, and their parents a year older. We miss our grandkids, for how many visits are left, at our age, when once a year seems to be our ration.
I lectured a graduate architect class of studious professionals. Most of whom were from other states; they come into San Diego for these lectures. My topic had to do with more the spiritual side of architecture, where the practitioner could find true expression, the original motivation for this career. It also had to do with the ethics of leadership, one of my favorite university courses, instead of just being a leader.
One architect shared that she pursued this soulful agenda, where she connected with clients who were planning their next--perhaps final, home. She got to know them, their wants and spiritual needs. Remember that the h o m e is where the dreams, aspirations and family togetherness--if not life's lasting values--are spawned. It's where dream and reality connect and get mixed up in the daily tribulations of growing up. Each decade of life changes the person as the soul builds its infrastructure.
Yes, the soul and the spirit have to be constructed, personally, through each experience, mistake, deed, choice and achievement of life. This is a moment-by-moment experience, collectively becoming life itself. The soul is the connecting tissue to the God of choice, loving and having faith while emulating His values of love and kindness. It is at once so simple that it can become complicated as we stray away from simplicity, and God become religious repetition, rather than a unique power which only faith can make alive.
"He only is happy as well as great who needs neither to obey nor command in order to be something." (Goethe)
So, enlightened leadership is knowledge transforming into wisdom, consideration evolving into awareness, and caring becoming love. We live each moment learning first, to find the meaning of our lives, and then, having gained some insight into self, making our lives meaningful to humanity around us. Our task is to leave this place better than we found it, to inspire another generation with our role-model, and to pursue justice, always.
Something else we should pursue, is to bring loneliness to an end for each person who is afflicted by it. What more wonderful accomplishment is there, what more satisfying to God, than to end loneliness for another mortal? Think of the destitution of loneliness if it does not attract the love and care that we may lend it.
"Let grace and goodness be the principal loadstone of thy affections."
"All loves should be simply steppingstones to the love of God." (Plato)
"Most of the critical things in life, which become the starting points of human destiny, are little things." (R.Smith)
And so, this Sabbath, forget high-technology and reduce your affection to one who needs your attention and devotion. At that point you will also discover another of God's miracles.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and the next one will be even better.
sandy
