We live in powerful times, there is no doubt.  Our sense of living is accelerating tremendously as we move deeper into the 21st Century.

To help us more clearly understand the present and  visualize the common good in our future, let us look back in time to 161 - 180 A.D. to a man who's presence of mind amidst strenuous change of the period still stands in reverence of service and duty --- Emperor of Rome and great Philosopher, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus.  All of our quotes today were penned close to 2000 years ago by this distinguished gentleman.  They apply today just as they did back then.

"The universe is transformation; our life is what our thoughts make it."

A great man, Marcus Aurelius was a learned philosopher of the day.  His most important writing, Meditations, was penned by him to help himself as a source of his own guidance and self-improvement and was not wholly meant to be published.  However, today, we will look further into the writings of Marcus Aurelius and see how his words can be used to assist us in our present day journey.

"Life is neither good nor evil, but only a place for good and evil."

We live in somewhat troubling times which make it difficult to find a common path of communication. There is much turmoil and conflict around us that have negative connotations and impact, such as the war in Iraq, Iran's peripheral involvement, unrest between Israel and it's neighbors, trouble here in the States with the onslaught of illegal immigrants crossing our borders .. the list goes on and can be quite disturbing to those of us who cannot or will not comprehend the reasoning behind it all.


All of the above make it difficult to 'see eye to eye' with our neighbors -- those who may live next door,  those who live in neighboring countries, and even those who live an ocean away from us.

"He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe."

We may read or hear about possible physical changes that our Earth is going through at this time -- scientists are having a field day with talk of Planet X's arrival close within our orbit during the next few years.  Doomsday prophets have taken up the penchant and are making outlandish predictions of our survival.


"I seek the truth...it is only persistence in self-delusion and ignorance that does harm."


There is a lot of discussion and even public sightings of alien craft above us in our skies.  There are some who say we are overrun with alien beings who live among us.

"Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present."

The complications of 21st century life can be overwhelming for many of us who allow the naysayers and doomsday prophets entry into our emotional space.

"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts, therefore guard accordingly; and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue, and reasonable nature."

How do we cope in the midst of all this talk?  Let's look at what Marcus Aurelius had to say Two thousand years ago ...

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."


First, keep in mind that all of what you see, hear, read and even experience is not necessarily as it appears.   Do not blindly trust everything you see, hear or read. Not everything is as it seems.

"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." 

There is a divine plan working in the background.  The wisdom of the Universe is working through us for our highest good.  This is fact.  Take everything you see, read, hear and even experience at face value.

"Take me and cast me where you will; I shall still be possessor of the divinity within me, serene and content."

We are the masters of our own fate, the owners of our Soul, and our attitude toward the present is what will help us form our future. 

"Our life is what our thoughts make it."

Keep yourself in positivity at all times with a loving, giving heart. 

Many civilizations have come to pass, some very advanced for their place in time -- and there is much to learn from their history.  We live on Earthschool .. a place for us to learn, grow and experience.


"Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future, too."

When we are at peace with ourselves, we will find that we are at peace with our neighbors, no matter what happens.  The peace we seek is within us.  All we need to do is grasp it.

"Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul."


We need to focus more on the present and keep a mindful eye toward the future.  Today is the day in which we live, not the yesterdays or the tomorrows. Make a plan to do something good for yourself every day and you will continue to function as a viable communal entitiy, rather than a puppet of the 'organization.'  Don't dwell on something good that you have done, rather .. look at what you can do in the NOW and allow your givingness to flow freely and naturally.

"We ought to do good to others as simply as a horse runs, or a bee makes honey, or a vine bears grapes season after season without thinking of the grapes it has borne."

Pick up any newspaper or turn on any news channel to see and hear how others are just unable to deal with the pressures of today's world.  This is nothing new. What is new is the way that news can so easily travel from country to country, space to space.  We have at our disposal all means of communication which was not available to us in the past.  This makes it even harder for us to be able to see a healthy future.  We may feel like we are just being led like lemmings over a cliff. to the sea and our deaths. We are not.  It is only our perception of the energies that circulate around us.  Change your perception and change your world.

"If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment."

We each have the ability to proffer change in our lives.  Be it that we are preparing for our future or just for the next day or two.  Although we have experienced technical progress, we have not really come that far as a people.  We still fear.  We still stress.  We still worry.

"Live not as though there were a thousand years ahead of you. Fate is at your elbow; make yourself good while life and power are still yours. "

Recognize that hatred and anger toward others and their way of life cause more harm than good.  Taking arms up against another did not work in the past, it will not work now.

"How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it."


However, spreading love and joy that we nurture in our hearts will take us further into a pleasant and happy future than any argument, fight or global disturbance can take us.


Living life for today, in the NOW is our best option.  Taking care of the hungry, the infirm, those who have real needs,  not those who's troubles are borne on laziness. - this is where our concerns need to be placed, not on our need for power, energy consumption or mineral rights.

Know in your heart that you are the best that you can be for TODAY and give yourself the love that you would  give to another.  Your identity is in the NOW.  Your being is in the NOW.  So ... live every moment likewise.

There have been many fine and wonderful teachers who have come and gone in the physical over these past thousands of years, one of whom made such an impact on our world that we mark time by His birth and death - AD (after death) and BC (before Christ)... of course, I am speaking of Jesus the Christ.  In today's Lunar / Sun Day Sermon, we have focused on Marcus Aurelius, another great teacher who incarnated after the death of Jesus the Christ.  I hope you find his words encouraging and provacative to help you in your journey for greater joy, peace and love in your life.

Warmly