In Buddhism, every moment brings a new birth. In this sermon, my friend, the Unitarian Universalist minister Kate Braestrup, talks about frogs, injury, illness, and being born again.
Chaplain Kate,
I like your sermon. Perhaps this is a warm-up for another lesson about the value of the life of a frog (and other creatures valued by our Creator) ?
I had a friend today ask “why why why?” Why did a couple kill their kids and themselves?
The Deceiver may convince some confused souls that death is a way out, but that is almost always a wrong answer. The Creator values life and does not want us to choose death.
Terrible things happen. Every year, for example, I am a guest at the annual meeting of out state chapter of the group Parents of Murdered Children. This is, in many ways, the most hopeful and inspiring group of people I’ve ever met. From all walks of life, as “diverse” as anyone could ask, and they have somehow risen to a challenge that I can’t, and don’t want to, imagine myself having to face. “If someone murdered my child…” I think, and cowardice takes over; I can’t finish the sentence. But now I know people who have finished that sentence by finding new ways to manifest love in the world.
So beautifully framed: Life. We suffer. We love. It is the blessing we receive and share with others.
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Reblogged this on Melting-Pot Dharma and commented:
In Buddhism, every moment brings a new birth. In this sermon, my friend, the Unitarian Universalist minister Kate Braestrup, talks about frogs, injury, illness, and being born again.
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Chaplain Kate,
I like your sermon. Perhaps this is a warm-up for another lesson about the value of the life of a frog (and other creatures valued by our Creator) ?
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Hello, MJB! I’m glad you liked it. That means a lot to me.
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I had a friend today ask “why why why?” Why did a couple kill their kids and themselves?
The Deceiver may convince some confused souls that death is a way out, but that is almost always a wrong answer. The Creator values life and does not want us to choose death.
LikeLike
Terrible things happen. Every year, for example, I am a guest at the annual meeting of out state chapter of the group Parents of Murdered Children. This is, in many ways, the most hopeful and inspiring group of people I’ve ever met. From all walks of life, as “diverse” as anyone could ask, and they have somehow risen to a challenge that I can’t, and don’t want to, imagine myself having to face. “If someone murdered my child…” I think, and cowardice takes over; I can’t finish the sentence. But now I know people who have finished that sentence by finding new ways to manifest love in the world.
LikeLiked by 2 people