all things californian

Spirituality and California in Crisis

There has been a cyclic pattern occurring throughout the short history of California concerning the popularity of spiritual religious and mystical interests. Whenever Californian faces hardship or crises, great numbers of people look towards the spiritual for help and inspiration. During the Depression the "Foursquare Gospel (faith)…was part of a national revival of religious fundamentalism" appealing to the immigrants newly arrived in California from the Midwest "Dust Bowl" crisis (34). After World War II, because of "American forces and diplomatic corps…encounter(ing) Asian cultures,…Zen…became a new fascination"(41). The practice of Zen helped the in the search "to comprehend the devastation of World War II"(41). In present times, California not only faces a major depression but a world in economic and ecological crisis. Millions of people are turning not only to contemporary religions but also to mysticism: a "means of enabl(ing) a person to transcend his physicality and enter a spiritual realm"(47).
Zen and Buddhism, considered mystical religions offer a vehicle by which people can "foster a better understanding of oneself and the universe" (31) "by encourag(ing) spiritual and physical discipline as the path to self-awareness"(37). "Zen emphasized that the role of the individual and the use of intuition were essential in attaining an elevated state of consciousness"(41) thereby enabling "the expression of the inner self, while achieving 'total receptivity'"(43) or awareness. Man, inherently an animal--conservative "religious right" factions arguing otherwise--has successfully survived for over a million years relying on instinct for perseverance (onelife). It is only within the last two hundred years that man has affected the ecological balance of the earth by putting aside their animal instincts and developing mind-based technologies. Much can be learned by contemporary leaders in utilizing Zen and Buddhist philosophies and beliefs and in effect, placing "importance not on things but on process" in attempts to finding solutions for the present world crises (41).
. November 18, 2008
Fort, Ilene Susan. "Altered States: California Art and The Inner World". Reading California. Art, Image, and Identity, 1900-2000. Eds. Stephaie Barron, Sheri Bernstein, Ilene Susan Fort. Berkely: University of California Press. 2001.

"THE" Dream...

The greatest Californian dreams ranging from hopes for riches and fame to those who wish the impossible, these dreams are mostly put in the head of younger children and teenagers. For not being the individual that the society in California wants, for example, not being financially empowered or the unwilling of a young teenager to receive an education, the creation of a machine has been molded. These examples are just two of many more of how the California dream has been created to benefit a small handful of people. Who might those people be? It might be those men and ladies living in big fancy houses that look down on the blue collar working class. The idea that California should be represented as the greatest place has created a world where all the wrongs and bad things such as drugs sexual exploitation crime or basically anyone who is not the owner of the big fancy house. In California the idea that every individual is molded into being a college student is unrealistic, ok the world does need educational leaders but the same world does need just as bad the working class. From plumber’s landscapers and anyone who may fit in between, these where the creators of the great land of California and in a sense California has lost the backbone in which it was created on. The selfish California dream is the real reason to why many pursuit all the great things on this golden state. If you take a look around almost everyone at this time is out to get theirs in a sense, what I mean is that we all do what we do in a selfish manner and that what I do will better me in a way. A teacher might say that he is in it for students but in reality he or she might just be happy knowing that "I" did something and now "I" feel better. My California dream of survival in an injustice world :)

This is all I was able to write after having writers block so yeah. . . (P.S. not intended to be offensive either)

Do You Know in Whom You Believe?

I recently found a lump in my left breast.  Now don't worry, it has turned out to not be cancer.  But . . . it has been an interesting journey.

We had just climbed into bed when I found it.  My husband was already asleep after a very long day, so I decided that, rather than wake him, I would wait and tell him the next morning.  I'm not sure that was the wisest choice.  It caused me to lay alone in the dark with nothing but my own thoughts and fears.  Looking back, it's those thoughts and fears that I now find the most interesting.  They were my first reaction.

My first concern was for my children and my husband.  My first prayer was, "Please God, be with them no matter what.  Help them not to get angry with you.  Help them to turn to you for their comfort."  As you can see, my fears caused me to immediately think the worst.  From there my thoughts went to all of the unfinished projects I have around the house.  (That part now cracks me up! :-)  After that, I began thinking about what may lay ahead of me physically.  It may seem as though I had been laying there for hours thinking through all of this, but in actuality, only several minutes had passed.

As I lay there waffling between feeding my fears and trying to pray, I realized that I needed to reign in my thoughts.  I needed to "take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)  Rather than allowing my fears to control my thought process and my life, I needed to turn them into a prayer and direct them to the one and only person who could do something about them.  What an amazing difference that made in my heart and mind.  I will not say it was easy.  It was still a very difficult battle; but even in the midst of it, I was able to experience God's peace.  Philippians 4:6-7 words it perfectly:  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And all peace of God, which transcends all understand, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  That is what I experienced!

Is it a coincidence that I had just begun a research paper on the decline in the incidence of breast cancer mortality in California?  That I live in the state where most of the cutting edge research and medical advances take place?  That if I need them, I live within driving distance to three of the best women's health facilities in the nation?  I think not!

You see, I realized after that very long night, that I know in Whom I believe.  In life, I will experience doubts and fears.  I will face illness and hardship.  Life here on earth (even in California :-) will never be perfect.  But even so, God is able and willing to keep and guard all that I have entrusted to him.  Those things that are really important: my heart, my life, and my eternity.

Do you know in whom you believe?