What the Heck Just Happened?

Greetings my gentle readers to another week’s installment of the “be yourself, often” blog found at http://www.joelwlamoure.com. This is the point in time of the week where we are able to sit back and mindfully reflect on the moments that were and the impact that they have had in our lives.

This is our first blog posting of the past six weeks. Those of you who follow our radio show “prescribing spiritual hope” on WULC out of Carrabelle, Florida on the Spreaker network will also have observed we have been off the air for the past two months. http://www.spreaker.com/show/tuesday_prescribing_spiritual_hope I anticipate that not only will the blog be back to its normal weekly posting effective now, and our radio show be on the air again by mid-July at its usual time of 9 PM Eastern time and think all of our dedicated listeners and readers from around the world for staying with the network.

The past couple of months have been an exercise in journey into the deepest recesses and caverns that exist within the mind. A time within the wilderness where over the past 40 days and 40 nights opportunities have presented themselves repeatedly. Unfortunately, as we know in life, and that we as humans are not the divine architects of our own plans, most of the “opportunities” have had a negative flavor. However, the concepts associated with the phrase “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” are all well and alive.

These have been days of a death of dreams and recalibration of determining what is important. A time to realize that what one thought would be logical, in fact was illogical. There were birthdays forgotten by others, promises broken, expectations shattered, religious discrimination, hate crimes, decades of planning eradicated, disease and illness. A breach of confidence by confidents and friendly fire. Bullets that derive from close sources fired under the brave face of anonymity, send through an unwilling messenger. Sadly hypocrisy and vigilante justice is alive and well.

As such, based on what the title states, it leaves one wondering, especially a man of faith wondering why so many good people have been hurt while the sinful, wicked and evil continue to prosper in their lies and deceit, claiming to be and searching “enlightenment” themselves. I use the term in quotes as it is ego-centric enlightenment they seek, not Spiritual Enlightenment. My friends, these are days of learning the highest virtue, which is forgiveness. “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do…”

Within forgiveness, which is an easy word to say but hard action to do lies the resolution of inner turmoil. Resolution of the inner turmoil is not playing it out words and harming other people. Resolution does not lie by constant complaining, self harm, belittling, telling stories repeating stories, playing victim, hatred, or any of the other tools that were initially used against us. I believe, that is why true forgiveness takes longer… Perhaps truly 40 days in the wilderness.

It is about finding again what makes one happy and appreciating that we have the “free will covenant” and do not have to be the same as those that wrong us. It is not up to the courts to make a decision of judgment or forgiveness, but the quiet Light of Divination that says so much. To be able to not focus on stuff, and focus on the Light with clarity and intensity will allow us to be the spiritual being having a human existence and truly be yourself, often.

~~~ Rev. Dr. Joel Lamoure June 2013

“Freedom is Not Free”

Greetings my gentle readers to another week’s installment of the “Be Yourself, Often” blog at http://www.joelwlamoure.com . Hopefully, this is a point of time in the week where we can sit back and appreciate the privilege of being here in the sanctity of the moment. For indeed, if we do not believe that each moment in itself is sacred, and I do not believe it is possible to anybody else will be able to convince us otherwise. Reflecting on this statement, it comes to show exactly the weight of the moments of the days before, the decisions of the been made, the beliefs that have been translated into actions that allow us the opportunity to be exactly where we are. A time indeed of remembrance.

And indeed, where we are is exactly where we are meant to be. It is by virtue of our beliefs that drive our thoughts, which drive our thought processes, which trigger neurochemical changes in our brain in order to stimulate bodily transmitters that allow us to translate thought into action. It is you the gifts and actions of spirituality and karmic energies that will translate our actions into outcomes. As we stop and think about these conceptualizations, we realize that absolutely everything that we do as a spiritual route with in it. I do not believe that we are able to have positive outcomes if we only put negatives into the equation. While this may occur for a short length of time, across the months and years inherently this will catch up with an individual. Unhappy with your job? Complaining about everything not going your way? Why then, are you surprised when your job is lost, your friends leave because they have heard this same complaint over and over again, and you are left alone. Sadly, this becomes the self-driven prophecy.

Going down this theory, in order to achieve freedom, we must be willing to make a stand for what we believe in. Freedom, as it is well stated, is not free. It is an end result of making a stand for what we believe in, rooted in thoughts and spirituality, which ultimately define and drive our actions. Freedom is not about merely speaking, but about being willing to stand with conviction for what you believe in. Ideally, freedom would be interspersed and as human beings we would be willing and able to understand each other’s perceptions and as such could achieve freedom at a larger scale.

Indeed, do you not think that is possible? Even though we as human beings are different and have different thought processes, it is possible that some of the thoughts may overlap and be able to enrich in others lives if we were willing to take off blinders. For wit, to allow the scales to drop from our eyes. However, it is very difficult to be able to be willing to understand, much less accept, another person’s point of view in the face of hostility. In true human nature, and in order to achieve and strive for freedom, sometimes stand needs to be taken. But what a better world this could be if we were able purely to be able to understand and appreciate each other’s differences and dovetail it into our own.

This is where we see that we are different. If all individuals were full of love, light, peace and the desire to advance humankind then we would not have the negative outcomes that we see. Positive outcomes usually appear in the form of the structuring of a cultural identity, way of life or meaningful representation of Spirit in an earthly form. This is where the dark side of humanity eclipses the positive radiance that is able [and should] be emanating like a beacon from each and every one of us. From a scientific, educational, cultural organizational perspective when each and every one of us are at our brightest it advances a culture and from a heritage conceptualization defines our history. It is most unfortunate that hatred, darkness, warmongering often denigrates humankind and produces the negative outcomes that we observe.

Our history and our past is defined by individuals and their root belief systems that have translated across the decades, centuries, and indeed millennium to bring forth the ideally creature of light that is reading this currently.

How free are you? It is better to aim for the stars, and be allowed and able to do so, and to miss then to never try. We have that ability to advance ourselves through this experimentation that we call life. Never trying, or facing repression is like having the wings bound. We never get the chance to try the fly. And that, my gentle readers is a horrible place to be, meaning that we are missing out on the gifts and sacrifices of the days and years past, indeed our own efforts. For in this journey of flight we want you to be yourself, often.

~~~ Rev. Dr. Joel Lamoure May 2013

Yea Though I Walk Through The Valley of the Shadow of Death

Yea Though I Walk Through The Valley of the Shadow of Death
…I Fear NO Evil (Psalm 23).

Greetings my gentle readers to another week’s installment of the “Be Yourself, Often” blog at http://www.joelwlamoure.com . This is the time where we can sit back with our favorite pieces of reflective company and step back from the chaos of the week that was. Too often, we do not take the appropriate steps and moments of peacefulness and tranquility and rush through each thing in order to get to the next. Turn off the television sets and reflect on the wonder and beauty of the moment. There is so much beauty,and so sad that evil sells… and we do NOT have to buy.

So, here we go my fearless friends. Look at where you are in the here and now. Value and look at family, friends, health, where you live, what you have, what you get and what you give. That fearless Fourth Step Moral Inventory.. without all the naughty and nice attached to it. Even if there are downs, that’s a sign you are alive and then you have the ability to make choices and decisions and look and work with the Fates to write the next set of chapters in your book. If there are up then I can guarantee that complacency, greed, selfishness are choices that can and will push you down. This is the “Story of a Life” which is also the name of a song sung by the late Harry Chapin and released on his last studio album. “…And for every dream that took me high, There’s been a dream that’s passed me by. I know it’s so true” Harry Chapin Reference: http://www.harrychapin.com/music/story.shtml

It IS the story of your life and the next decade is but another chapter and with the love, insight and use of your gifts and advancing yourself and others, use of courage, avoiding judging and being gentle to yourself then it will be the best of when we look back. We have the chance to stop and reflect on the choices that we make and how we live our life. But what a week that was with terrorism, mass murder and also natural disasters and explosions. The world may seem to be insane and for sure adds to the challenges that there are. But we have a choice in the story of a life that we enjoy. We do not have to engage or participate in this type of behaviours and we can advance our kindness by turning off and engaging in positivity and not hatred and anger or denial.

We can learn through respect and basic intelligent human kindness and appreciate each other and what we are able to do and care and share. So sad indeed that in the face of all the hatred and trauma that there are conspiracy theories and denial of the hurt that just makes the hurt worse. There appears to be a paucity of kindness and thought processes that consider where we are in the world, lead to more unanswered questions. What about the facts, finding of information and not judging? Are we really the right ones to cast the first stone? Are you?

Galatians 5:18 and 22 states that “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness”. 1 Timothy 1:9 offers that “We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers” with the reflection in Jeremiah 33:6 states “Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.” “Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.”

Can you believe people get hurt because people do things and actions to try to discredit others that results in a third party being hurt? Brainwashing, hatred, terrorism at a small or large scale. Its called bullying. It is a state of ego imbalance and these individuals are inherently egomaniacs with an inferiority complex. They are all about them, don’t listen to reason and will undercut you in a heartbeat. Been there and seen it. People die…

Put the ego on a diet and take in what you need and whatever you get, try giving some of it away again. That is part of the key to abundance. The second parameter here is watching WHAT you take in and make it count. You would on a real diet and this one means much more. People may REALly start to listen and ask of you and listen and reciprocate. To earn that though involves much mindfulness of what you taken in and your body and mind, which I have learned from a couple very close friends and then 2 weeks of observations into both beatific behaviors and spiteful soliloquies and vehement victimization.

There is evil and kindness, vitriol and love. Light and dark. Which side and which sells and where does the line get drawn and re-drawn? What are the belief systems you are will define the results that occur secondary to the behaviours and actions you enact. We are created in God’s image… to be yourself, often.

~~~ Rev. Dr. Joel Lamoure April 2013

Do you Know your Pathology and Route to Freedom?

Greetings my gentle readers to another week’s installment of the “Be Yourself, Often” blog at http://www.joelwlamoure.com . This is the time where we can sit back with our favorite pieces of company [warm drink, soft pet or other] and step back from the milieu of the week that was. Too often, we do not take the appropriate steps and moments of peacefulness and tranquility and rush through each thing in order to get to the next.

Along the concepts of hope we appreciate that there are at least four dimensions that we need to explore in order to achieve optimal hope. The first is holistic health, second is outcome driven objectives, third is the fact that everything we do is personalized and the final aspect is that of empowerment. Bar too often we go through life as if feeling that we are a victim. I have touched on this theme multiple times through this blog. However, being a victim creates its own sets of psychopathology and ruts that individuals tend to get comfortable in. Life is perceived as unfair, unjust, and that an individual develops a learned helplessness [in fact almost a degree of institutionalization to the societal driven mechanisms that overwhelm us) to everything around.

But what of the individuals that tend to be the aggressors? What about individuals that are aggressors without even realizing it, constantly pushing ahead in their own agenda without realizing the impact on others? Too often, we are seeing a polarity of society where there are victims and there are aggressors. The individuals in the middle are left not knowing which way to turn and create a degree of un-empowerment, thus turning to one of the two poles. Certainly, we realize there are individuals that are aggressors and wish to be aggressors. They wish to control and overwhelm by their simple actions, decisions and often their narcissistic, grandiose delivery. Often, these individuals are egomaniacs with an inferiority complex and hurting others is the way that they achieve righteousness in the world. Somehow, I think it is even worse when these individuals label themselves as “inspired and enlightened” individuals. For in retrospect, these individuals are anything but. Now, it may be secondary to karmic energies and their past experiences, but that does not mean that an individual is not able to change.

We have the ability to help individuals that see themselves as victims, or see themselves as aggressors achieve a degree of enlightenment about their pathology. In the DSM-4-TR (in psychiatry speak), there are several types of personality disorders, which are delineated into three separate classes. The first is cluster a, the second is cluster B and the third is cluster C. Per wit, we label these three categories as “mad”, “bad” and “sad”. Really, we are seeing a disparity and conflict between the cluster B and cluster C categories. Cluster B are the individuals who are antisocial, borderline and narcissistic in presentation and delivery to a point where it becomes pathological. These individuals as such would see individuals with cluster C as easy “pray” because cluster C individuals are those who are fearful and needing of love and attention. In the world of psychiatry, we denote these individuals to be dependent personality disorders or obsessive-compulsive personality disorders.

As such, we see that it would be very likely that there creates conflicts between Mars and Venus, or cluster B and cluster C respectively. I believe, that it is made worse when we are not individuals that are in touch with our spirituality, but in touch with our societal driven objectives. Really, is it possible for an individual to change their stripes? Yes. I believe it is definitely possible through a combination of prayer, play and healthy living. A high degree of mental fortitude in order to realize exactly where an individual is and be comfortable with that individual in the mirror is a first place to start. Having the strength and willingness and insight to realize that there is something wrong will allow an individual to take the expressions of concern from another individual, rooted in love to be able to realize there is a problem. Love is an intelligent concern for others, and as such when an individual takes of their time and health and thoughts to be able to express a concern, that is love. True love is very rare, and unfortunately we do not realize it until it is either gone or damaged. I myself am guilty of this sin.

However, it does not mean that we cannot touch the spiritual side and appreciate really who we are. That is, that we are spiritual beings having a human existence. The gods are not crazy, and we have been placed on this earth in order to realize that there is more than what is sold on the 6 o’clock news, or the 14x 30-second commercials, which occur through the 6 o’clock news. It is information overload.

My gentle readers, look to those people who truly love you and say the things that are hats you do not want to hear. It is rooted in love and concern and the desire for you to be a stronger individual. Love is not mean. Love is not hateful. Love does not boast. Love does not make itself to be better than the other. Love does not use titles. Love is a simple expression of human kindness expressing an intelligent concern for others, that ultimately if we can touch the simplest things through prayer, play and seeing things through the lens as if we were a child again, then you may have a chance to be yourself, often.

~~~ Rev. Dr. Joel Lamoure April 2013

Training for the Humanity Gold

Greetings my gentle readers to this weeks instalment of the “Be Yourself, Often” Blog. A time when we can step back and reflect and look at all the positives that have transpired over the course of the week and feel good about living life on life’s terms. This is and can be found at http://www.joelwlamoure.com and an audio version at http://www.spreaker.com/show/tuesday_prescribing_spiritual_hope .

Today has brought to an end the 2012 Olympic summer games in London, England. This is a time of peace and harmony when brother competes against brother and sister against sister in the field of sports. This is not war or fighting or posturing of swords and sabers, but rather a time of brotherhood. A time where over 190 countries can peaceably assemble and bring for the shining light of the Olympic flame.

That peace is not always what it appears on the surface, despite the 5 colours of the Olympic flag that denote representation from every flag in the world and every race and nation. Look to Munich of 1972 to see the harm and damage than man enacts against man. The drama that unfolded and tragic loss of life was a public display of hatred and lack of understanding that took a very sad, human toll. Since then, with the exception of the Atlanta Olympics, there has not been a loss of life secondary to terrorism, however at a great cost for security and policing.

So why DO we need such an expression of force at a “peaceable” event? The conspiratists may say it the Orwellian fate that was predicts it Orwell’s 1984, which was written 67 years ago, and published in 1948 in the shadow of the Cold War and the aftermath of World War Two. Some may say it keeps us safe and is essential to demonstrate peace and harmony. Likely a balance of the 2 is needed and accurate. But do we really know what we really need? Has it been so clouded and made so complex that we have lost the simple interfaces and facets that exist in life?

Maybe the most important question here is that why do people judge other people and their sins and forget their own dirty laundry in their closet? Why is it so difficult for us as humans to simply get along and collaborate? To share the peace and harmony and be able to survive within the Ten Commandments that we have been given? Are we so entrenched in our beliefs that we forget others have their beliefs? In the form of group hysteria that can grip a nation (at least 4 times since 1928), are we just animals with a mob mentality?

Is life so bad that we would rather not learn from a different religion, culture, belief and political system but rather destroy them and be at war? This means to me that we have not captured the non-man made elements of life, which evolve and revolve around spirituality and inter-connectedness. Shame isnt it? We are so advanced in our technology and wrapped up in the trimmings of the day that we feel we are able to hate and pass judgment. The armchair warriors dont just exist in sports my friend…..

There are over 7 billion people on this planet and like the Zen statement that goes that every snowflake falls in exactly the right spot, so we are woven into the tapestry of life and share so much with our brothers and sisters.

Haters for some reason have to hate and at the end of the day, wonder why their life is depressing and despondent and then turn to more hatred and become a tyrant and despot. I would rather step back and see what people have to learn, share that and apply that learning liberally and translate across the spectrum of humanity. You have to start with you… aint nobody going to fix the demons and the monkey on that back besides insight and awareness and work. No pill will cure THAT ill.

I believe if we can do that, you might just be yourself, often.

— Rev. Dr. Joel Lamoure August 2012