by Larry Krantz

I would share an experience I had many years ago. When I was in ninth grade, a freshman in high school, I took the bus to and from school. I often sat with my friend Jill, who was quite attractive, a year older, and somewhat artsy—all of which intrigued me. We enjoyed each other’s company. One time, on the long ride home there was a fellow sitting in the seat in front of us who was a senior, and also the running back on the football team. He was a big muscular guy and, as I was about to find out, something of a bully with a mean streak. He turned around and grabbed Jill’s purse, searched through it, came up with a can of hairspray, and sprayed it in her face, a nasty thing to do.

 I felt a bit protective and said, “Hey, man. That’s not cool.” His response was to haul off and punch me in the mouth hard enough to push my two front teeth back. They have been like that since, a memento of that day on the school bus.

by Larry Krantz

And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. (Revelation 8:1-2)

These words convey a vision from the top of the mountain, the place of union between the outer person and the divine being within. It is a most sacred place, a place of stillness without the chaotic noise that fills human minds and hearts. When we observe the cosmos, we see no groaning or straining, and no complaining. It is simply God revealing himself and herself. It reveals a natural movement from the undimensional realm into levels of discernible existence, like a river flowing from the finest qualities of love down into the multitude of earthly forms. In the cosmos, there is a profound sense of peace and grandeur amid unfathomable activity. The stars move in the stillness of space, yet are always in motion. There is much to be done in the expression of God. We are not here merely to observe, but to create. Reality is everywhere, although it remains largely unknown to those who are disconnected from the awesome power and majesty of Source.

by Larry Krantz

I recently viewed an interesting talk by a journalist named Suki Kim. She is from a family that escaped North Korea, during which her uncle—her mother’s brother—was caught and executed. The rest of the family made it to South Korea, where she lived until she was thirteen when they immigrated to the United States. As a journalist, and given her background, she had an intense interest to learn more about North Korea, something that could not be done from outside the country. She found a way in with an evangelical Christian group who were hired to teach the sons of elite families. They had to pretend they were not missionaries and the journalist had to pretend she was an evangelical. Lots of deceit, but it was the only way to get into the country for an extended time. If any of them were caught proselytizing, they could be executed since North Korea only allows worship of their god-like Supreme Leader. (https://themoth.org/storytellers/suki-kim)

by Larry Krantz

We use the word, “service,” to describe our time together. Usually when people gather in conferences or religious establishments, the participants hope to get something useful out of it, a nugget perhaps, to help them. However, we are together this morning to give. That is service—to serve. Life flows outward freely; it is not looking to get anything. If we are in alignment with the current of life, we are interested in giving, in releasing what is within, out into our worlds.

by Larry Krantz

It is vital that we learn to work together creatively. We live in unprecedented times, as evidenced by a population of over seven-and-a-half billion people on the planet, which has never happened before, nor has the impact all these people are having on our planet and the environment. Add to that the coronavirus, which affects everyone, and the recent social and political upheavals, including violence at the U.S. Capitol and a change of American presidents set to take place in a few days. Perhaps these disturbances give indication of the tide going out on human nature. But that alone does not accomplish what is needed. There must be an incoming tide of spiritual awareness, a new state to replace the old state. In this, we have a particular responsibility.

by Larry Krantz

Here are words from a letter written by an indigenous woman who lives in the Amazon basin. She is not well-educated or sophisticated, so many people dismiss what she says out of hand. I find this letter, which was later published in the Guardian, rings true. Here are her words: 

Dear presidents of the nine Amazonian countries and to all world leaders that share responsibility for the plundering of our rainforest.