Spirituality and religion have been on my mind a lot lately. So has Zevia soda, but that won’t make a riveting blog, so today’s missive is about tolerance. Particularly, tolerance of different religions and/or spiritual paths other than our own.
Just some background, my spiritual path included some wandering about hither and yon, studying this and that, then finally finding the right “flavor” of Buddhism for me. I was raised Christian and really dug it until I began thinking about it. Questions about what would happen to the souls of cognitively impaired folks who couldn’t understand that Jesus was supposed to be their savior–I never saw a clause in the Bible stating they were exempt from hell simply because they lacked the IQ to grasp the concept. Sending someone to an eternal fire party because of this seemed really cruel to me. The questions continued in my mind until I decided I no longer believed any of it. So I enjoyed trying some other traditions until I landed on Nicheren Buddhism. Continue reading “Let Us Try a Little Tolerance, Shall We?”
My Great Pyrenees nephew, Benny
Kinda wacky photo of me, isn’t it? It is several years old, but that strange expression pretty much describes how many of us are feeling in these few days left before Nov. 8. My election day plans incorporate work, friends, spirituality and wine–and HELL YEAH I’m voting too–so that I don’t waste my time fretting and foaming at the mouth about what life might be like if the Pumpkin Head is elected. But what about the days immediately following election day? Regardless of who wins, it isn’t likely to be a peaceful, serene time which will provide us with fond memories we will adore recalling when we are geezers. Nope. Not at all. So how to manage that best so that we don’t just survive that stress, but we surTHRIVE it? (surthirve is a word I created to express not only getting through a tough time, but thriving during it as well.)
DT was already at the top of my shit list when the tape of his confession was discovered, but at this point, I began to feel intense hatred toward him. Then the hatred spread to those who were STILL going to support him! Not only had he called vets with PTSD “not strong enough to handle it”, made fun of a disabled person to the man’s face, and on down the line of reprehensible actions and words, but this! Sexually assaulting women! Screw my spiritual growth; my heart and consciousness were shrinking with hatred. Sadness and befuddlement too, but a veritable boatload of hate. I was so rattled that I had to talk to my counselor because my peace of mind was blown to bits.
I have the most bitchin’, fantabulous hubby a chick could ever want! After years of dating both dreamboats and douche nozzles, how did I snag this delightful specimen when I was at the ripe old age of 32? Well, here are the 3 actions I took……
Laughing Soul 