The Block

ONLY
Today , this Monday , I want to give you this word.
The Hero's Journey has many tools and some words are just that. In my study and in my own path, I have found many "treasures or gems" and one of those is this word, ONLY
The Hero's Path is full. It always is. There are so many different things we got at the same time. This is human nature at its finest. For some of us, the word ONLY can remind us that there is never a "only" path. When have you ever just did one thing only or look for just one idea or book? Think about that this week, the Hero's Journey is never just "ONLY." We can be in so many things in our path, school ideas , world ideas, church ideas and even our own ideas as well. There is rarely just ONE idea present.
The idea of side quests comes into play...

That's ok too!!!
Understanding this can help us in our every day search. Maybe widen our focus too , depending on how we choose to follow it.
So, there is never a "ONLY" in the Hero's Journey. Something to think about it and thanks Rugadd for the food for thought, hope it grows in other places.
Pastor Carlos

Those who stand - often stand alone. Sometimes by choice and equally in timing- why do we often forget that? When we remember that seasons and timing play huge parts in the Hero's Journey, It can help to remember that often it's related to choice; or the TIMING...
When it's MY time to learn...it's usually only my time, every one else is on their own "wheel" of time and on their own path. I have to share this my Temple, It's not fair to blame OTHERS for our understanding nor to blame for "OTHERS" NOT understanding. When it's my turn to learn, I may share the experience but most times.. for me, it's not like that. IT'S FOR ME only. Learning is often personal.
Understanding that we all have levels and timing and paths that CAN connect, we must also remember that some of them DON'T and that's not for a negative reason but for timing reasons. It's possible to be the only one who has learned something and your the only one at that time...
This idea can help us with blame and grace, in real life. It really can. Maturing and cultivation isn't hard, it's the remembering part that we can build. If you're like me and have a few years under your belt, sometimes we all need a reminder.

Remembering when we learn something or as we say " the Force show us or reveals" it MAY BE ONLY for us. Grant some grace to those around you, our loved ones and those we directly contact. It may not be their time or even season to get what you or "we" just got.

Learning is a very wide and vast range of what CAN be. In reality, its helpful to remember that if we grow or get or gain or learn or how ever we call it in our own path, we may be the only ones at that moment who IS. Grant some grace friends, to those who need it, those directly connected to us.

Trial and Error

I have never liked the idea of using these words to describe what I forget or attempt to try. I am used to thinking and trying but I often notice the words I use to get there. One of the things that can trip me is this idea of "trial and Error." Its called thinking. Its called tying

Thinking and trying for me was always negative. I have figured out personally where it came from and am currently adjusting things to create something new. For some of us like me, Learning wasn't my thing. Now as I have grown older, I have changed the "idea" attached to it to help me do it in a more enjoyable way.

Planting fruit and things that produce fruits can be tricky. When we plant things regardless of what it is, it will take some time for that tree to yield. You dont get apples from apples seeds you get apples trees... you get apples from apple trees. There is a progression to it or "phases" or seasons to growing things. No further can be said for learning as well. Very many parallels in many aspects.

Do not expect things to be "THEM" when you plant them. Do not expect apples when you plant the seed till later. When we learn, do not expect instant WISDOM. It can happen but do not think if it does not happen all of a sudden it wont, it will.
Do not expect fruit the day you plant. Thats kinna silly. DO EXPECT it to take some time if its not instant...
Something to think about this week.
May the Force be with yall!

What is good?

There is a IDEA out there about pills and how our focus is related to the "color" of the ideas we take. Its the white one I wanna chat about. There is a term my little brother throws at me often and its " Take a white pill some times." I think what he is saying is look at something else. If our FOCUS truly determines our reality, some things can keep as well as free. Why do some take the "fear pill " or what ever new way of saying things is... why keep taking the same dose over and over and over and overs...

What is good can differ from heart to heart but what CAN be said in truth is this, every one has their own ideas and their own ACTUAL ideas of bliss and joy and what can take us from salty to sweet. These are very loose terms so apply them as you see beneficial. Where we lay our hearts... well, that is where we will be looking at often and I wonder if we can remember that at some points in our path and journey's, take a different dose of things, change it up. You do not have to do anything, the Modern day Jedi life is NOT a do or thou shall surly die... nahhh its more of a try and you might find something new. If it is not your thing then by all means carry on but... IF IT IS.... pull up a seat or a stool or a box or a chair and let me encourage those who do want to try to try a new approach. If your focus has seen much dark and not so growing, find what is good... FIND AND SEEK something else. Do it for yourself. See what ya find.
May the Force continue to be with yall this week
Pastor Carlos

A Monday thing on a Tuesday!

The Movie buff

I have spoken to many Modern day Jedi from many places. In many places we share VERY common bonds. It's real. One of the similar glows, as I like to call it, is the MOVIE BUFF. In some shape or form we are all movie buffs. Ya know what I am saying. We ALL remember lines from movies or plays or texts or songs or from a ... story or experience. If you look at what we do here and how the Modern Day Jedi began, you will find the migration of different species of walks come together to find and define what we are currently sharing today. We all have that favorite flix or that fav story or myth or song...
We are buffs! We all are and that is ok in my book. Some of my favorite people in my circles of life share this same glow, almost every one does in one way shape or form. Wanna know a true connection in life that CAN remove a few lines and a few titles and ..things....
Glow the movie buff and see where that takes you.
Try that one.
Force be with yall this week
Pastor Carlos unofficial movie buff and all around ready for popcorn, cherry Coke and a movie any time of the day.

The Konami Code

↑↑↓↓←→←→BA

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konami_Code#:~:text=Contra%20(NES)%20%E2%80%93%20Entering%20the%20code%20at%20the,a%20stage%20select%20code%20exclusive%20to%20that%20version.

Back in my younger days, I was a Gamer. I liked video games a lot. If I wasnt working or running and fighting in the streets, you might have found me near a game box or two. I remember I used to keep Nintendo games in my back pocket as decoration and as display for trade and Gameboy games in my small jean pocket for the same. There was one code in particular that I still remember and still use when I game. I called it the Contra code but it was a code that could be used for every game made by the same company. I loved the code because later in OTHER games it was codes for unlocking things and even worked on other game plays. Its even in Easter eggs and homages in movies and modern times.

Jedi believe In the Force, and in the inherent worth of all life within it. Call this a cheat code or something you can return to or even something similar to the Jedi Konami Code but remember this, Inherent worth isnt something we give. Its already there.
Need a cheat code for life? Find a few old gamers or those elders who have actually been there and done that. Find them and talk to them, find out the cheat codes to things. You never know who know's the code or who knows new ones or how to apply the old ones.
The old Codes... got any to share that work?
I got one I can share.
The Grandpa card. This is how I actually try. I got a temper on me like a short fuse off a good firecracker. To help ME - I pull the Grandpa card or the Elder Card. If this person who I become irritated with was one of my dear friends Elder how would I give them grace? Now, this works for me - not for every one but it does remind me to be respectful and give more grace. It works with many people who upset me in the real world by remembering they have their own "wheel of fortune" as well as me, we could be on any part of life at any time on any level. This helps me to keep me on my chosen path of compassion rather than upset.
Some Codes can help change our outcome and even our own actions. Some Codes go between IDEAS like PARALELLS...
Something to think about this week y'all Modern day Jedi. May the Force be with y'all this week.

"Imagine a multidimensional spider's web in the early morning covered with dew drops. And every dew drop contains the reflection of all the other dew drops. And, in each reflected dew drop, the reflections of all the other dew drops in that reflection. And so ad infinitum. That is the Buddhist conception of the universe in an image." –Alan Watts[20]
Taken from here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indra's_net

Imagine if you like, that we are all connected one way or another and imagine if you will, a drop of water and in every drop, a reflection of everything and every one else near and far. This idea of thinking of it will leave you contemplating for a bit, ever wonder a way to MEDITATE - try this one.

See the net , see your net and all its possibilities and fall in love again maybe with a few things near ya!
Take some time - check your net -
Pastor Carlos

My son is 8 and into the board game Chess. As a "thing" we bought a cheap set of Chess and he picked his true colors! Mine was a easy blue. We spray painted ours to have a our own personal pieces. What happen was in one of the bags, one of the pawns was miss shapen. Strait factory flaw. Now, I could have taken it back by ALL means. They could have traded me a good set for this defected one. Then I thought... What a lesson in Acceptance VS Tolorance. I have played Chess with card board torn pieces marked with letters from a magic marker...

One of the most important things to a Modern day Jedi can be the ability to function when no one else is or seems to be. To be Knightly is to some times be on your own. To be able to function is one of the alluring romances a Cinema Jedi display. The ability to be their Creed and cause in a balance all on their own at every given time. There is a level of dedication and grit that can be... like a light in places that need it.

What we Can do and what we Can Not - something to think about this week. What CAN you do? What can you NOT do? That's to you.
Happy seeking and may the Force be with y'all.

KNOW YOUR ROLE!!!!

Joking a bit, but this statement was a famous one in my own path; in my younger years- when we would watch the Wrestling shows growing up.
In the Hero's Journey, there is a idea that some roles can be switched or others can play roles that they WERE NOT before. Today, some one will play the role of Vader and master it, as will some one play the part of LUKE AND Solo... not them.

What I mean...

Today, the Captain of the ship will be played by the cabin boy. Today, the student WILL be the Teacher. It happens often and more times than we realize. Often times in our paths, we can find the roles changed or some one isn't the leader but the follower.

In real life, it can look very similar to a deva vu or a memory lost or even MAYBE time recognized. Some times in life we notice that things are happening VERY similar to something we know or we recognize a patter we can't quite place. There can be moments in life what is happening in real life seem, almost understandable.
Really Real World
Today, you are the responsible party. Your for some reason now, we are the ones in charge. All of our "Circles" eyes are on us now.
Today, for many possible reasons, today is the day that everything balances on.
There ARE days that have moments like these. What CAN you do?
Say it with me Know YOUR role.

Understanding what part we play and who plays what part in our path can have its benefits. Knowing where you CAN go and where you CAN'T some days is a map any one would buy in any shop on a journey.
Where are the gifts given to you? Where is your team and whos on it? Where are you going? Where are the dangers?
Knowing or recognizing role's and that of others in some paths can be SUCH a BENEFIT I can not recommend it enough from first hand experience. In real life, notice those who you can trust and where you can go for help. Know who you can trust and know who you can not. Some reflective questions can "up our experience points buy the hundred." Some by the single digits. It all depends on how we choose.
Know your role and see if it doesn't benefit ya just a bit. Something to think about this week.
May the Force be with you
Pastor Carlos

The game of 1UP

He who lies first, lies worst. He who lies last may have his lie last.
Its a old saying farmers from a town called Clifton Texas used to tell me. The game of the fishing story is the easiest that comes to mind. When I was younger, we, my grandfather and I, would go fishing near a dam. Some days the hero's would come home empty handed. There is one story that is told that is a bit of a TALL TALE. My Grandpa caught a catfish, pretty good size, nothing to complain about. A good 15 pound catfish is a good catch. It had been a slow and hot day so telling this story of how we lost it to the tree branches was not gunna fly with Grandpa. Hearing how we lost this fish and how it was the LIFE OR DEATH situation for us was like listening to Hemmingway tell his story about the fish in the ocean. Some days my Grandfather was not the Old man in the sea but the Old timer who could not - see, by the dam.
After a while, the story would always get away from him and it would be obvious we lost the fish.

The 1 UP-er is a common idea in life and we all know or even do this at times. Some times they are harmful but think about this, is there such a thing as a good bad? A acceptable lie? A helpful lie? A protective lie? Is it even considered a lie when used for good?
In our speech is where you will find most hues. Intention plays a HUGE role in Modern day Jedi practices.
What are the intentions we display...ever thought about that?
May the Force we share and seek and some serve be with yall today and this week.
Pastor Carlos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-_VPRCtiUg

Not my video or content nor am I responsible for link expiring or the platform it is on.

Its the IDEA I do so think about often, SYNCRITISM.
The idea here is motion and application in THAT context, but what of PEOPLE? Do we sync like that as well on the same...well.. platform or base or core? Does it happen like that for us? Can it? Does it?
Something to think about this week Modern day Jedi.

Can we make or cause the SYNC or does it have to happen naturally? Can the effect come from both?

May the Force we share be with yall!
Pastor Carlos


*Mike drop Monday!

Sunday Morning Refection

I woke up in a hotel with the family today. No time to meditate or sit and grab a chunk of morning before everything starts, we all start the same time. Walking meditation and morning chit chat makes the need for organization evident. After time, things can begin to focus on what's in hand. Its like watching things settle in tanks and in water. Over time, my path settle and un settles. Some moments are voluntary and some are un-. To see the results of my local area from THIS point is really neat. We got to see the kids double dutch jump rope competition yesterday. It was fun and we still did not compromise our beliefs and practices. Jedi are in the world, not on screen. We are every where. May the Force we share, we seek, and serve be with y'all.

From this morning in the Discord part of the Temple.
Reflections
Before Star Wars... THERE WAS!!!


The Modern day Jedi is born in THIS world. What is built is from what is present. This takes work. Think about that this week. As much as we enjoy a good story and a great point of view, OUR ELDERS are from OUR tribe. The human TRIBE. So, that being said, what's the style or flavor or way you practice what you have learned ... This IS THE WAY.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karlfried_Graf_D%C3%BCrckheim

Karfried Graf Durckheim " When your on a Journey and the end keeps getting further and further away, Then you realize that the real end, IS THE JOUNRNEY "

The MOMENT is present. A friendly reminder that in the PERSUIT of things, its easy to forget a few things. THIS moment is a gift and is fleeting. Sometimes its the ones right in front of us that are the cast of our experience. Looking FOWARD is never wrong, its wise, but as the OL Jedi say, NOT at the EXPENSE of the PRESENT.

What keeps me and most is normally what ISNT present.

SO I said all that to say this... " Tell me Modern day Jedi, what do your Jedi eyes see..."
May the Force be with y'all as we all seek it.
Pastor Carlos

In the silence,shhhhhhhhhhh! Can you hear it? Silence is one of the BEST teachers, or so they say. Every time I make room for silence, I find only myself on this part of my Journey. I can not lie when there is no one else around me. When I find myself needing to talk to myself, the inside person, I keep silent. What first happens is my brain gets LOUD. Apparently that's common. It can take people years to find the hush in silence. There is a PEACE in silence anyone can find. IF peace is a lie then quiet down and see if you can find... the hush. There, will you find the gems and the treasure you may be seeking that can last over time and sound itself. Think about that this week Modern day Jedi. Get past the noise and bustle and find, the secret place in your path. Call it a place you can use when you need it or a room of ...requirement, but use it when you need. Jedi Meditate. See how those two go together....???????????
Some even make a Journal of SILENCE for a week to a months at times.*HINT HINT
May the FORCE we share be with y'all this week.

"...but it mattered to me."

In my own path, this is one of the strongest statments I can think of. For all we do in our paths, there is a magic that can only be understood by those who experience it first hand. As much as I have studied and learned, the words, "I'm Sorry"-" Thank You" -and "It mattered to me," cut through time, space, and sometimes pain.

Let me share with you...

This place, I cannot express how much it means to me. By this place I mean the Temple Of The Jedi Order. I can see the things I learn here in real life and in practice.
The Temple.
It matters to me.
The things that matter to you... (pause for time to think) ...
Thats where the magics at. That is also where it is for others as well.

Something to think about this week friends and Modern day Jedi.

"...but it mattered to me.." Truly a magic in the FORCE we share.
Pastor Carlos

I forgot what I came to forget!
I remembered what I had forgotten!

There is a time in reflection when we can remember things we forgot. It's true. I was clearing out some things and found some old games and pieces left for forgotten. We brought 'em in and dusted 'em off and took a few things, tokens, the board and money from it and added it to our collection of playable things and archived items.

Some things in life need to be remembered. There is a time before action I was taught and trained called TRIAGE. It is a time before time to think and make ready. To be able to be utilize it, it must be in place.

What does your TRIAGE time or think time or pause time or refrence momnets or breaks or what ever you call it.... What does it look like or do you have one? I can't emphasize to every Modern day Jedi how important it to make the time if you do not, to review or Triage or even just give yourself time. There IS benefit in time. Give it to yourself.
Pastor Carlos

Good morning where ever you are!!!

One of the secrets to being a Jedi today is that you can find your Yoda. Now, think about it, Yoda hit Luke in the head and even had him carry him him. In the Hero's Journey, there is a time when we meet our Elders and when we are intrduced to them. Watch the movies again and notice how every time the young is with the old, they touch. It's a presence thing or interaction that needs to happen. Now, I am not talking sexual by any means, it's a contact thing. Like a hug or a hit on the head. When Luke meets Obi - he had to go through him to find Yoda.
Stories first, people later. Good idea.

You can find our Yoda. You will. There comes a point when we need the actual example. Sometimes we need to be hit in the head a few times to understand. Not always, but it helps. To have that person right there next to ya is the point. To have them. You will find them and you may have to be told sometimes by others.
Example
When I self-reflected on my own love, I found it was short. I found a guy Mr Keller who loved his wife like I wanted to. He was the guy in church who dropped off the offering to the bank. That guy. His example of love lets me understand its POSSIBLE and it WORKS.
Like Vincent said, "the old school stuff". Get to the old school stuff. Find your Yoda. Those examples are out there. More times they are waiting for you. Its like that in every level of learning. I learn from those who can teach me. Find thee the old schoolers. Find the examples that work. Sit with them. Let them hit you in the head. Mr Keller used to make me wash his car every day till I understood I can keep it clean better by maintaining things. Love too! Books and ideas are the beginning. Find inspiration AND someone who can be there with you, it matters. FIND YOUR YODA. They await you. Promise.
Pastor Carlos

I don't really believe in one Yoda, one mentor. I think mentors come into our lives when we need them, for a certain time or a certain topic, and then often our paths diverge. I think that's generally how it works in the real world.

It's a really important distinction for me. I used to very much believe in one mentor, one closest friend forever, one friend group... I believed the movie and tv tropes were realistic. It was so disappointing for me that I didn't have those things. I thought that's how it was supposed to be and that since I couldn't make it happen I must be terribly broken in some way.

If this confusion happened for me, it probably happens for others. So just in case one of those others reads this: it's ok not to have one be all end all mentor. Or friend. Or social circle. Or even significant other. People come and go in our lives and that's ok. That's good. That's healthy.

https://youtu.be/6fek6iJlm8s