Compassion
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Training
This is practice,and I am in training. I meditate,and the mind jumpslike a caffeinated kangaroo. This is practice,and I am in training. I breathe,feel the equanimity,until someone in the officepushes one of my several buttons. This is practice,and I am… Continue reading
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The Party
Throw a party. Invite all of your various and sundry selves: the one you enjoy and the one you ignore, the one you honor and the one you fear, the selfish along with the selfless, the… Continue reading
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Original Sin
Listen up,all you original sinners:we've gotten it backwards. When Augustine first proposedthe doctrine,it wasn't to say,"See how bad you are!" Augustine assertedthe opposite: "You struggle with sin because you inherited the tendancy toward it. It's not your fault!" Text and image… Continue reading
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Another Take on Justice
Justice,for God,is restorative,not retributive. When his detractorswanted Jesusto condemn,to punish,he insteadforgives,restores,takes it backto before the offense. This is God's justice–not the slow burn in hellbut the time machine returnto original oneness. Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All… Continue reading
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Your Own Suffering
Unawareof his own suffering,covering itwith a sticky shellacof bravado,he formed a crustthat buffered him from othersas well as himself,a mantleof insulating indifference. Unawareof his own suffering,unable to touch it,to heal it,it festered,until finally,sickened by the infection,he could no longer pretendhe… Continue reading
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On the Illusion of an Angry God
Jesus tells us,"Love unconditionally." Why would we imagine God does not? Jesus tells us,"Forgive seventy times seven." Why would we imagine God does not? Jesus tells us,"Love your enemies." Why would we imagine God does not? I… Continue reading
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Confrontation
He ranted.I listened.Something clicked: He feels these feelings. He believes these beliefs. He thinks these thoughts. They are his, not mine. That is him, over there. Over there seethes anger, drama, ego. … Continue reading
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Self-Care
What doesself-carelook likefor you? For meit's silence,solitude,a blank page,a pen. What doesself-carelook likefor you? Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading
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Being at Peace
What a joy to learnthere is no faulty or unworthy selfthat needs to be improved. Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading