When Jesus talked about destroying the Temple, he was talking about the culture that would soon convene to kill him. In those days, the Temple was the culture. Neither before nor since has Judaism been lived out so perfectly, with such fidelity to the law. We, too, are creatures of a culture. To be a creature of the culture is, first of all, to be comfortable.
The late great jazz drummer Jerry Granelli called it “nowness.” It’s when our experience of the present moment deepens to the point where the twinned impediments of past and future cease to matter.
My daughter recently posted this. I re-post it here with her kind permission: “Gratitude. I’ve never had more than I do right now. Two weeks ago I found out I have brain cancer. I am booked in for surgery at the end of this month to remove as much as possible. I don’t know what the future holds, no one does. What I do know is how grateful I am for this physical body of mine that has supported me to the best of its abilities for 41 beautiful years. I know it is still doing its best even during these more challenging times. I am grateful for my family and my friends who have embraced me with so much love, protection and healing energy. This experience has bonded us. I am grateful for the way this cancer revealed itself to us. In the safety of my own home with my strong as nails husband and wise beyond her years daughter. I am grateful that I am able to be treated and cared for in a specialized hospital in such a fast and efficient way. I could go on but I am amazed how Gratitude alone can change a situation. This is meant for me and I am grateful. Gratitude and love, my two favourite feelings. Sending both to you all.”
Conflict coarsens us. No one who seeks peace will fail to find it.
Opera singer Erin Wall died at 44 from metastatic breast cancer. Nearing the end of her journey, she cautioned intimates not to use the word ‘battle’ when referring to her life or illness.
Men's Work 