My "Spirituality" Facebook page will soon change its name to
"Jesus, Buddha and Einstein".

In the past, my spiritual posts have drawn from great people like Jesus, Buddha and Einstein, encompassing insights from all religions as well as science and philosophy. I want the name of my page to more fully and accurately reflect the sources which inspire and guide me.

Follow me at https://www.facebook.com/jesus.buddha/

It Just Is

It’s all good, my friend,

So enjoy life – be free;

But the kinder you are

The happier you’ll be.

Even if you’re selfish,

It’ll still be alright -

The fate of the universe

Is not yours to write –

You just won’t sleep

As peaceful tonight.

Stardust

What it’s all about, you’ll never know,

Just be here now and let it go..

Place your bet and have some fun,

Just don’t forget: we all are one.

Whatever you did, or wherever you stood,

When it’s all said and done, it’s all very good.

It is what it is; you are who you are -

Magical dust that fell from a star.

Dying

At death I cease to live,

But I never cease to be.

Who I really am

Is far much more than me.

To live life to the fullest,

To be who you’re meant to be,

To see God in yourself,

And to see yourself in me,

To see beyond good and bad,

To love without compromise,

Is to know a larger self

That never ever dies.

Thinking Clearly

In my opinion, there are three main problems driving our current political gridlock. All are based on poor thinking skills.

Americans should be willing to learn from other societies and other groups. For example, too many of us arrogantly assume Europe has nothing good to teach us.  They assume higher taxes for the rich and safety nets for the poor hinder economic progress.  But in fact, the European Union with a total of 500 million people has the world’s largest economy and the most Fortune 500 companies. They produce an economy almost as large as the United States and China combined.

When you look at the data, several European nations consistently do better than us in most socio-economic categories, including less infant mortality, less chronic disease, less poverty, less violent crime, less drug addiction and less suicide. They live longer and spend far less on healthcare.

The Wave

I love the ocean. It symbolizes so many things. I love to watch and ride the waves early in the evening when the beach is almost empty. Here are my thoughts...

I watch the waves slowly rise, then peak, crash and fade.
Where do they come from? Where do they go?
Why do they appear at all?
They arise out of the great sea that is always and everywhere.
They return to that same great sea,
Only to rise again, in another place and another time.
They arise to play…with the surfers, the gulls, the wind
And me, as I lose myself in their beauty, their wetness and their mystery.
They humbly and gratefully fill the space
Between the eternal depths and the ever changing world above.
As I wade further and further from the shore to catch my ride,
I finally lose myself in its moment,
And realize I am that wave.

Alan Shope

Life and Death

As I think of loved ones who have died and are dying, I've tried to express my own thoughts about death in the words below...

Famine, war, death and pain - you're born and then you die.
Is this life all there is? You spread your wings - but never fly?
Many will suffer, a few will dance, most will march in line.
Life on earth is mainly chance, but is heaven by design?

Could there be a happy ending to this life of trials and tears?
Could such a cruel beginning grow sweeter through the years?
Are there sufficient flowers blooming among the weeds -
That in your darkest hour, you can still somehow believe?