helping each other out

being a follower of Christ really enables you to help other people. Helping others IS the thrust of being a Christian. I can't think of any other spirituality that i know of that really makes such an effort to help people. When i went to school in Portland I used to go to a Buddhist group. We'd meet to sit, or meditate, for an hour everyweek. We'd sit and each week try to come a little closer to being "present" and quieting the mind. One was to notice when the mind wandered, and try to bring it back to the present room, the humming of the loud machine, or the temperature, or whatever one could concentrate on. it was empowering us to remain in ourselves, to get the mind in a rhythmic space where one let's say if one could concentrate on one's breath for long enough they would leave feeling much clearer. well, i don't know why i'm going off about this, i don't think i have the brain concentration right now to analyze this but i do want to say to a degree, this practice is really about being obsessed with oneself, yoga is similar to that, both are striving for one's own enlightnment, one's own healing. but we begin to feel sorry for ourselves, and we could spend a lifetime processing our wounds and opening our blockages or whatever. but how instant is the healing i've found in the Spirit. It just takes it all away and you don't have to process it. but back to helping others, we also are called to not dwell on ourselves, to get busy helping the needy and poor. this really strikes me.

I went to see Rob Brezny at Gateways speak. He is one of my favorite writers, his is an astrologer, he has a column in the metro, but what i like about his column is what he does is compose this megalittle operas, for each sign, these referrential sparky run-ons. that is less about astrolgy (though it is based in astrology and the themes for each sign) and more about these imaginative departures, propel us to be bold in our character. The rambunctious spirit of his words get me going like check below is an archive for Pisces:

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes," says "Dilbert" cartoonist Scott Adams. "Art is knowing which ones to keep." According to my analysis of the astrological omens, Pisces, August was your time to embody the first part of Adams' formula. During these past few weeks, I hope you gave yourself permission to unleash many fertile booboos. September, on the other hand, should be devoted to carrying out Adams' second proposal. Which of August's missteps might have marked the raw, imperfect appearance of ideas that will eventually turn out to be useful and brilliant?"

His writing reminds me of Tom Robbins.
So I went to see him at Gateways and I felt sick. He went on and on in his fiesty way making up this prayer using "om, hallelujah, more power to you!" over and over agian. and calling on the "goddess" in the Spiritual-political crappy way. the kind of person that says "oh my goddess" because they are all fed up with "the man" or whatever. i'm down to be political but let's give to Ceaser what is Ceaser people! your religion is not your God! anyway people were all praying somewhat seriously to his bs. and it's weird b/c they're praying, but they don't REALLY believe in that entity, it's almost like it's all a joke. or its all about having some sexy feminist-accessible depiction of God. they say "The Goddess" like they're so much smarter than you and it was all about being creative and rambunctious in whatever way you want b/c the goddess will bless you and give you whatever you want. it was a little too me-hungry mixed with "let's get those mean christians when there frigid rules!" and "just pray for whatever you want, you'll get it," i wanted to stand up and say "hey! what gives you the gold to bad mouth christians, do you know one christian?" i also found his eyes to be dark, like i couldn't see in them. like greyness, not in color but something else. and i kept thinking about what the JC says about people's eyes. i walked out within 9 minutes.
and i've been thinking about how self-obsessed all that is. I study astrology, i still study astrology, it is like a much more detailed psychology personalilty test. it tells one where in one area they may be bold or firey, and in another, tehy make have deep issues. but it's important for me not to get obsessed with it, and not to focus on myself. it helps me understand others, and have compassion for people. For instance there's this one girl in my class who has double scorpio and Leo, and shes verry abrasive and at times strikes me as immature, though she is a mother of four. she is obsessed with herself, and her wounds, and trama. she doesn't listen well, and i lose patience. but astrology helps me have more keen awareness for the type of person she is. she if triple fixed, that means definately stuck in her ways, intent on the way she does things, and leo, yikes don't get a leo upset. and then scorpios would hold on to things. it is this inexaustable layering of understanding the way people tick and move. now now
i want to say however that Christ, christ, is this Source., like he lets me really love her. i can understand her with the astro science, but he gives me the power of love. sorry is this too cheezy, like back to the future style?
really i find a bottomless well of love through jesus for the people that i wouldn't easily love. and i feel more strong with christians than any group before, like i can sense that i'm really sisters with these people. it IS really hardcore and tight being in the Body together.