Blessings Don't Make Sense Computer errors are frustrating. A classic one is when you don't have a keyboard connected when a computer starts. One line on the screen points out that the keyboard is missing, and the next line on the display instructs you to press a key! The spiritual path is full of such contradictions. In the Zen Buddhism tradition a kōan is statement that cannot be understood rationally, but can be a path to faithful reflection. "Press the F1 key when you are missing a keyboard." might be an update of the classic kōan: "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" A popular list of contradictions among the followers of Jesus is the beatitudes , ( "Blessed are the poor, the hungry, the weeping..." ). While often read as "Blessed", The Jerusalem Bible and others understand this word as "Happy". This leads to contradictions such as "Happy are those that mourn..." among others. (These lists are found in Matthew 5:1-10 and Luke 6:20-23 ) Like our computer kōan, these do not make sense, but can make faith.

by fazen on Flickr

I include my favorite "key" Bible passage below. (If you have some others let me know!)

I hope the next time you are frustrated by something that is just not rational, you'll pause to hear the sound of one hand clapping. It might be the key to God's blessing and happiness.

Press Faith to Resume

We prove we are God's servants by our purity, knowledge, patience and kindness; by a spirit of holiness, by a love free from affectation; ....prepared for honor or disgrace, for blame or praise; taken for imposters while we are genuine; obscure yet famous; said to be dying and here we are alive; rumored to be executed before we are sentenced; thought most miserable and yet we are always rejoicing; taken for paupers though we make others rich; for people having nothing though we have everything.- 2 Corinthians 6 (Jerursalem Bible)

This work by J. Christy Ramsey is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Keeping the sales calls away from your home phone by registering for the National Do Not Call Registry at www.donotcall.gov. (Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers so there is no need to register your cell phone.)

Make room in your mailbox by reducing direct marketing mailings ($1 fee)You can mail your name, address and signature requesting to be removed with your $1 check or money order to: Mail Preference Service / Direct Marketing Association /
P. O. Box 282 / Carmel, NY 10512

The US Abacus Cooperative databases is included in the sales mailings site above (direct mail association) If you want to specifically opt out of getting catalogs (without paying the $1 fee above) you can send them your:

full name (including middle initial)
current address
previous address if you have been at your current address fewer than six months

Epsilon Data Services
P.O. Box 1478
Broomfield, CO 80038
abacusoptout@epsilon.com

You can eliminate credit card and insurance offers as well. There is no mail-in only option.

I bought a computer last month. Of the dozen or so I've purchased over the years, this one is special. It is made for the car! It plugs into the OBD-II diagnostic connector under the steering wheel. (What a great geek connector name, much better than boring USB!) Among other functions it displays information about gas mileage: Current, Today, Yesterday, and Tank. (I have it in a drawer so I don't watch it instead of the road!)

Now that someone is "watching", I'm more fuel conscious about my driving: no more stomping the gas pedal between red lights! I don't idle while I'm parked and find myself using my windows instead of the air conditioning. I even changed my route to church to a more fuel friendly commute. I love seeing how high I can get the MPG reading: Can I beat yesterday's reading? Improve the overall tank mileage?

I wonder if I would react the same if there was a Holiness Per Hour readout I could check constantly. What is my HPH currently, today, yesterday? Would I change my behavior to inch the gauge toward a more efficient faith?

Be Happy at all times; pray constantly, and for all things give thanks to God...1 Thessalonians 5:17- 18a

Maybe I need more gauges than general Holiness: Happiness, Prayerfulness, and Thankfulness indexes would be helpful in my daily faith walk as well.

Today consider your HPH readings, this week find someone you trust to talk about your HPH. You can find mileage tips in inspirational books, Bible study groups, Sunday School or church. Whether it is breath prayers throughout the day, counting your blessings by thanking others, volunteering or making time for your loved ones: You will probably be pleased to find how you can increase your faith mileage and go farther on your spiritual journey without running out of gas.

Hoping the spirit moves you!