Past Weblogs 2009

Steps of Manifestation
Weblog February 22, 2009
By Chris DiGiorgio

Spiritual practice leads you from the shores of chaos to the shores of calm. For the most part being on this earth usually leads to some sort of drama or chaos. So therefore, how do we keep our peace in times of chaos and drama? It comes together with making a decision to be in peace. We can make that decision by employing the five steps of manifestation. The steps are awareness, choice, decision, action and manifestation. By doing spiritual practice, we can become aware of a certain condition that makes us feel fear.

Let's take a classic example that effects most people in the queer community coming out. Many of us had fears about coming out, will we lose friends and family for example could be a main fear. So you are aware (step 1) that you are a queer person and you have two choices (step 2). You can come out or remain in the closet. You make a decision (step 3), let say that you decide to stay in the closet and now you do all the actions (step 4) to hide it. This may include lying where you were or not disclosing who your friends are. Now your mother finds out you were lying to her and you either need to produce another lie to keep the closet going. You feel awful in telling another lie. You have now manifested suffering or a non peaceful situation in your life.

Now let’s say you chose to come out. You made the decision to be honest. All of your actions are now based on truth and you are not lying about where you are going. You have manifested peace. Now some will say, ok but let’s take the scenario mom reacts badly to you coming out. That may be true, but it is no longer you suffering but your mother’s choice, decision and action that have caused her suffering not yours. Now, you may chose suffering about worrying about her choice; that is your choice! She will find another way to suffer even if you remained in the closet.

So to recap you always have a choice of being in peace or causing your own suffering. Every human being has free will. We are the only one’s that truly can bring ourselves to peace or suffering.

Ruth

Weblog January 23, 2009

By Chris DiGiorgio

I recently had the occasion to read the Book of Ruth. When you go through spiritual work some messages come to you and one message for me was to read the Book of Ruth. To recap the story, we find Ruth who is married to Elimelech and she has two sons Mahlon and Kilion. They settle in the country of Moab because there was a feminine in Israel. As time passes, Elimelech, Mahlon and Kilion all die. Naomi is left with no men to provide for her and two Moabite daughter-in-laws. Naomi hears that Israel is now out of feminine and she starts on the road back with her two daughter-in-laws Orpah and Ruth. During the journey, Naomi tells her two daughter-in-laws to go back and find Moabite husbands. After both women refuse, Orpah changes her mind and goes back to Moab. Ruth refuses telling her, her place is with her mother-in-law. When Naomi finally gets back to Bethlehem the town is surprised to see her and ask, “Is this our Naomi?” Naomi responds do not call me Naomi call me bitter. She is bitter because due to the deaths of all the males in the family she is left in a desperate situation. Ruth one day tells her mother-in-law she will harvest in the fields to pick up grain. She meets Boaz who is a relation by marriage to Naomi. Boaz is taken by Ruth and her loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi. Naomi and Ruth hatch a plan, to get Boaz to ask her for marriage. Boaz does just that but must ask a “close relative” first because the “close relative” who has rights of first refusal to Naomi’s property, Naomi and Ruth. The “close relative” can not take on the responsibility and Boaz marries Ruth. From the marriage of Boaz and Ruth, we get the birth line of King David. Now at first glance, from a modern and queer perspective, it is pretty hard to accept the idea of women being treated as property. Let us put that aside for the moment. There are some lessons to be learned here about faith and service. The first lesson is that you may feel GOD has abandoned you but as you move through the suffering and embrace life and service, you never know what greater plans GOD has for you. Also if you focus on bitterness instead of seeing what you truly have and what opportunities await you, you may miss that opportunity. In fact, Ruth herself had every opportunity to be bitter. Instead, she had more faith than her mother-in-law Naomi and through service, she ultimately got what she wanted a husband, a child and to be provided for. So the lesson for all of us; is that GOD never abandons us. We will have suffering that is part of the human condition but if we have faith and keep at it with service, good works and having love in our hearts, maybe the grace of GOD may visit us after all.

Being Gay is a Gift
Weblog January 18, 2009
By Chris DiGiorgio

Recently I watched the Oprah Winfrey Show- Living your Best Life 2009 on Spirituality 101. Rev. Bacon and Rev. Beckwith both agreed being gay was a gift.   Oprah was surprised she never heard clergy people say that. Unfortunately, there is a perception out there that all clergy think that being gay is not a gift at all, but is sinful. However, I know many clergy who do believe being gay is a gift. I want to expand on that point, the experience queer people have I believe is something GOD has given us therefore that is why it is a gift. Yes, many hate us because they do not know us or they choose not to know us. However, every day we have the opportunity to share our life experience and struggles. We also show people from all walks of life that we are not as different as they might think. So one of the main gifts GOD has given us queer folk is that we are educators. How much of a blessing it is for me to educate my family on being gay. I never thought I would say that. Yes, I have had some uncomfortable moments. However, the growth I have made from meeting so many in the queer community and then educating the people I truly love about them is a gift. Also, the growth my family has had through my coming out process was a gift. First, they had to face the truth that the person they knew and loved was gay. Their growth in understanding and support has been amazing.   How does this translate into the spiritual life? It is all about living your truth. When you come out as a LGBT person or in my case a queer spiritual activist and are true to your path great things open to you. I know that has been the case for me. Live your truth, open your life and understand being gay is a blessing.

Resolutions for 2009
Weblog January 5, 2009
By Chris DiGiorgio

Here are my top ten spiritual resolutions for 2009
1.      Follow your heart
2.      Know your truth
3.      Keep your integrity
4.      Help others
5.      Listen better
6.      Have an eye toward the future
7.      Be good to the earth
8.      Create something
9.      Do not judge
10. Have courage to change