Slice an orange across Individualogist Review sideways. Throw away the very top and the very bottom. Make the slices about ¼ thick. Lay the slices out on a cookie sheet or backing stone and put them in a low oven 200F – you can sprinkle them with cinnamon just before putting them into the oven. While it doesn’t change the appearance of the orange the aromas are very festive. Allow them to dry in the oven for 2 or so hours. Once the slices are all dried out put a needle and thread through the orange and tie it off depending on where you are going to hang they look awesome in windows.
We live in a violent world. Wars and terrorism around the globe; hate crimes and other violence that we experience as individuals. These things can make us despair and wonder if it is even possible to have peace. I think it is possible. But I wonder if political methods are the way to find that peace. I have never had much faith in politics. I vote but it seems I vote against the candidate I don’t want in office rather than for one I do want. The politicians of today seem to lack some important quality that is hard to put a finger on. Maybe that quality can be found by looking at some of the spiritual leaders of the past.
Most of the great spiritual leaders have had two things in common. They advocated non-violence, and they had an amazing ability to change a person with just a look. I believe these two things are related. I grew up in a Christian church and I was always interested in the story of the first meeting of Peter and Jesus. Here’s how I remember that story. Peter had spent the day fishing and was caring for his nets when Jesus walked up to him and said, Come with me and I will make you a fisher of men. What a strange thing to say. Peter was a fisherman. It was his livelihood and how he fed his family. And then this stranger comes along and says drop everything and follow me. Incredibly, Peter did.
Something else must have happened between them. I wonder if Peter looked into Jesus’ eyes and what he saw there made him forget who he thought he was. Made him want with all his heart to follow this stranger wherever he might lead. There is a similar story from the Buddhist tradition. The Buddha and his followers were wanderers and beggars. Once a day they would go to whatever village they were near and beg for food. The people believed that giving food to these holy men and women was a way to gain merit and ensure a good rebirth so they were always generous with their food and happy to share it with the monks and nuns who followed the teachings of the Buddha. This practice continues today in some Asian countries where Buddhism is the major religion.
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