Also I highly recommend you follow Jim Rigby on Facebook who is one of the most prophetic people in the Austin area that I know. His membership is full, but you can still follow him. I will post one of his recent sharings….Wanda

THE FIRST DUTY OF LOVE
by Jim Rigby

It was theologian Paul Tillich who said, “The first duty of love is to listen.” The words are beautiful from a counseling viewpoint, but they can be very disturbing to those whose religion is based on belief. 

Listening can be terrifying to those who have learned religion as a parrot song to be recited word for word. Awareness is indeed heretical if one has been taught religion as a trance. When we believe that orthodoxy is the only way to avoid hell we tend not to ask many questions.

We must never forget that religion is a means to deeper living and not an end in itself. Religion that has become an end in itself can only betray us in our pursuit of deeper living and wider loving.

When the unity of our religious group has been established by mindlessly saying the same words at the same time, it can feel divisive to stop talking and actually listen to each other. What kind of “unity” comes from a room full of people reciting holy words with unshared hearts?

We cannot love those we have not listened to. To hear another person, we must listen to their heart song. I do not think it is possible to hear another’s heart song if religion has muffled our own eyes and ears. To seek love we must free our own hearts from the shackles of dogma and moralism. 

Tillich seems right in saying the first duty of love is not to recite a creed without deviation nor to practice an ancient ritual without deviation. If love is our goal then our first duty to each other is to listen.

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 24, 2024, at 1:55 PM, Holcombe Wanda <wandah70@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks Jim for sharing and Happy Holidays to ALL🌎🌍🌏🌠
I share a poem written by Mary Brown who is married to Jim Brown. They live down the hall from me where I live in a 55+ community living in Austin Metroplex. They participated in RS1 Many years ago and one of our colleagues officiated at their wedding.  It’s great to have them living in the same community and participating in a reconciling congregation, In Georgetown, Texas.
In Peace with Justice & Hope,
Wanda & Marcus the Cat 🐈 
Amberlin 55+ Community
5101 North Mays St Apt 6405
Georgetown TX 78626
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On Dec 24, 2024, at 11:06 AM, James Wiegel via OE <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:

With best wishes

Da Capo

By Jane Hirshfield

Take the used-up heart like a pebble
and throw it far out.

Soon there is nothing left.
Soon the last ripple exhausts itself
in the weeds.

Returning home, slice carrots, onions, celery.
Glaze them in oil before adding
the lentils, water, and herbs.

Then the roasted chestnuts, a little pepper, the salt.
Finish with goat cheese and parsley. Eat.

You may do this, I tell you, it is permitted.
Begin again the story of your life.

Da Capo

By Jane Hirshfield

Take the used-up heart like a pebble
and throw it far out.

Soon there is nothing left.
Soon the last ripple exhausts itself
in the weeds.

Returning home, slice carrots, onions, celery.
Glaze them in oil before adding
the lentils, water, and herbs.

Then the roasted chestnuts, a little pepper, the salt.
Finish with goat cheese and parsley. Eat.

You may do this, I tell you, it is permitted.
Begin again the story of your life.


Jim Wiegel

“…the long work
of turning their lives
into a celebration
is not easy. Come and let us talk“. 

The Sunflowers. Mary Oliver

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