everyday spirituality Archives - Page 3 of 11

Human Being versus Doing. Towards Wholeness

Posted on October 30, 2018October 30, 2018 by Michael Rose

I am not alone when I admit I have wrestled with the being versus doing dichotomy. In essence, it’s a longing to live more authentically, to experience meaning in those things we do and not feeling disconnected from our sense of being whether by mindless rote, guilt or unhealthy obligation. I know that this was…

Careless Words – Stop the Carnage

Posted on October 29, 2018November 1, 2018 by Michael Rose

My 12-year-old tells us of how at school there is a practice of “burns”. Burns are insults intended (so they say) to be humorous. They make a sharp comment, someone feels stupid, hurt or embarrassed and the other kids laugh saying ‘You just got burned!” And sometimes, after a scathing burn, they follow up with “just…

A Hell of a Difference

Posted on October 18, 2018October 20, 2018 by Michael Rose

Once upon a time, there lived a woman who wished she could understand the difference between Heaven and Hell. She petitioned God for such an experience, and one day God came to her in a dream. God said to the woman, “I have heard your prayer, and I am willing to grant your request. I…

Thorns of Life

Posted on September 27, 2018November 14, 2024 by Michael Rose

I came across this story while listening to the audiobook version of The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer. It struck me so profoundly I spent the next few kilometres repeating the stunned mantra of “Oh wow… oh wow…”. I was so moved that I wanted to retell it in my own words to reduce…

Breathe: Meditation

Posted on August 7, 2018August 8, 2018 by Michael Rose

Meditation is becoming more and more popular with people. Where once it was relegated to the monks that inhabited the mountains of Tibet, or the hippy flower children, the benefits of meditation are being experienced by more and more people.

What does Love see? An Ode to failure

Posted on August 1, 2018August 1, 2018 by Michael Rose

A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single person contemplates it, bearing the image of a cathedral within. – Antoine de Saint-Exupery Ode to failure: a life that hasn’t turned out the way one had hoped. If we genuinely believe that nothing is wasted, that God is the ultimate…

A Bridge or a Treadmill?

Posted on May 10, 2018September 29, 2018 by Michael Rose

Okay, I admit it! I like retro cartoons – cartoons from my youth. I like the characters, the zany plots, the animation and the music. I guess somewhere deep inside me is a 10-year-old boy whose happiest times were watching the likes of Bugs Bunny, the Flintstones, and Scooby Doo. The other day I caught a…

Loving our Enemies doesn’t mean denying our Anger

Posted on April 5, 2018February 23, 2021 by Michael Rose

I’m so excited to see many of my friends actively engaging in trying to live lives of love. It continues to be a personal mission of mine to encourage and inspire people to love well. Learning to live loved and live love is a truly transforming way to impact ourselves, homes, cities, and the world….

Raising Light

Posted on March 19, 2018September 30, 2018 by Michael Rose

Krista Tippett in her book Becoming Wise was interviewing Rachel Naomi Remen. Remen shared a story that her Grandfather used to tell her when she was a child. This Jewish story is particularly lovely as it speaks to the value of Tikkun olam, or translated, the restoration of the world. In my ear, it sounds so very…

Lament

Posted on November 21, 2017June 26, 2018 by Michael Rose

There was a tradition in a segment of Psalms referred to as the lament psalms. It was the pouring out of one’s grief with all its ugliness to God. It was often in response to great loss, death, war, captivity and often gave voice to great despair and anger. In all the rawness that could…