We realize that we were wounded by people who didn't know how to treat us.  They couldn't love us because they weren't spiritually connected, and didn't love themselves.

Healing the wound is realizing the wound was never about you.  It was about them, and their pain.

So, one you understand that, you realize that as a Child of God, Child of the Universe -- you were loved spiritually and that was always there.

So your worth is connected to your spiritual lovability, and not how earthly human beings treated you.  It is through spiritual grace that you have survived all of that.  You are a walking miracle.

Now is your time to spiritually connect, know you are loved, and that nothing any human beings do to you or say about you can take you away from spiritual love and Divine lovability.

So, release the power of the human wound, and identify yourself only with God's unending love and grace for you.  Your true nature is Divine, and your freedom comes from knowing that.

Now spread this message to world, so worldly wounds, coming from Empire Consciousness, can no longer have any power or control of who anyone is, what they believe, and what they do.

This is the message of Jesus, and St. Francis, and Richard Rohr.  Nothing else matters if you have this internal love, compassion, grace, and desire to help others feel this way.

It is amazing how resilient we are.  We are walking miracles.

In every challenge there is a hidden blessing.

Good, long-term friends are priceless.

Selective vulnerability is the way -- trustworthy friends are the best gift.  Be cautious about being too open with people you don't know.

Working hard does pay off.

Selfish, narcissistic people are a drain, and should be taken in small doses.

Life is about comings and goings.  Many people leave.  And that is all right.

Being of service to others brings joy.

Gratitude is the way to live in peace.

There are many brilliant teachers.  Most people have something to teach us.

It is important to not be hooked on praise, applause, and external validation.  Inner knowing that one is worthy is enough.

Be kind to everyone, especially caregivers -- doctors, nurses, pharmacists, etc.

There are no mistakes, only opportunities for growth and transformation.

Living in Oneness Consciousness is the best way to cope with life's challenges.  We are all connected.

Letting go of the past, forgiving oneself, and others is crucial for inner peace.

Don't expect people to trully understand what really matters.  Don't expect to be understood by everyone.

What really matters is using one's gifts to make life better for others.

Feelings are important, but dwelling on them  too long could  lead to problems.

Find people who love themselves, and know how to love.

We are all loved, loveable, and loving.  That is our spiritual connection.

Nature is a great healer.

Labels limit us -- we are more than any category or group.  We are all children of the Universe -- that is all.

Laughter, playfulness and light-heartedness are helpful for us.

As I listen to Christmas songs, I notice one common theme.  Mary is a Virgin.  Jesus is the Son of Mary and the Son of God.  How does Joseph feel about not being Jesus' father?  Is he a stepfather?

These days, one would call "The Immaculate Conception"  an illegitimate birth.  Yet, as Christmas is celebrated, this is seen as a miracle.
A birth that is not the typical birth.  God is the father, not a human being, not a man.

None of this makes very much sense to me.  Joseph is superfluous in the Christmas story.  He is there, but not really necessary.  Yet, he takes on the role of father, and also takes care of Mary.
So, is Joseph just a caretaker?  What does he really feel about all of this?  Do we care what he feels?

If you look at the whole story metaphysically, it doesn't have to make biological or logical sense.
God used Mary to bring Jesus into the world because God needed to experience human suffering and joy, real life.  But, Mary is far more important than Joseph.  She is seen as Holy while he is pretty much ignored.

How many songs are written about Joseph?  Not too many.  Joseph's job is to make sure there is a birthing space since there was no room at the inn.
Joseph did what men are traditionally supposed to do --be a sacrifice for the Higher good.

This peripheral idea of manhood is rarely talked about.  Men are created to earn a living, put up with bosses, fight wars, and die for their country.  And yet, they are seen as having privilege.  Where is the logic in that?

I believe the need to be one up, to make a mark, to dominate others comes from a deep abandonment of a man's soul.  As he is expected to provide, protect, and procreate, a man's feelings and needs become secondary.  And he is taught to not show those feelings, and not talk about them.

So, the whole of Empire Consciousness is a reaction to the peripheralization and disposabilitiy of men.  All males experience abandonment of their true selves, losing honest acceptance of their vulnerability.

Vulnerable men probably would have a harder time killing others in wartime, or being ruthless in corporate life.  Robert Bly said it many years ago.  Men are used for the benefit and gain of others.

How about this?  All dysfunction in the world comes from the loss of one's wholeness, authenticity and inner power.  When a man gives up his true nature to conform to a role, he spends his life grieving what he has lost.  However, he is not really allowed to express his "Soul Sadness."

Violence, greed, hatred, need to control, arrogance, and rage -- all signs of a loss of the depth of one's true soul.  Empire Consciousness is a reaction to pain, loss, and abandonment.

So, the story of Christmas is supposed to be about a birth, a change in Consciousness.  Empire Consciousness leads to suffering.  Oneness Consciousness leads to connection, compassion, empathy and wholeness.

Describing Jesus as King, Lord, and Ruler of All is strange to me.  If Jesus represents oneness, love, and acceptance of all, why does he have to being a King, Ruler or Lord.  Why can't he just be an ordinary guy who delivered a powerful message about transformation.

We take the ultimate birth of Oneness Consciousness and turn it into Empire language.  Empire language leads to Empire thinking and belief.  Hierarchy always leads to pain.  So, the Good News is perverted back the same old Bad News.  

We can't legislate change of consciousness, and it is not about worshipping anyone.  It is about living out the message of Oneness, every day in every way.  As an Ordinary Joe.  Maybe Joseph was just an Ordinary Joe, and that was the true message of Christmas.