The Block

I remember receiving that book as a gift in high school when I was going through a rough time. I still have it almost 20 years later.

I am fond of that book because of the thoughts behind the person that gave it to me. It took me a while to decouple my lack of theology and the ability to appreciate the message.

Ever see something that you recognize but do not? Like something familiar or from a story? Ever see something happen in life and think, "That reminds me of something or some one I know." Ever get a frequency of "frequent" from strangers or from places? Ever had a connection you didn't understand? What do you do with these? How do you explain them? Some people I meet I just ... get. Some I meet I often don't. This isnt a ancient secret or "force works" of any type but the Force at work. When we begin to acknowledge just a bit more in our path we can have just a bit, more.
This week, if it helps, notice what your touching or connecting or even just frequenting. Notice it. Thank it. Join in. Cultivate something new.
Stir the pot. Don't stir some one else pot, stir your pot. See what ya find.
Pastor Carlos

Upgrades

In the Hero's Journey, we find times when we receive things or gifts. We use these gifts and we become efficient and we begin to get a feel for things in life and these tools. What happens when the tools aren't cutting it or the gifts just aren't enough at times or things get blunted or used? Upgrades!
Funny thing about upgrades is you need existing tools or weapons to get the upgrades. They do you no good to have upgrades for tools and purposes you will never go through. Upgrades can help big time. Take some time this week to think about Jedi Upgrades. What do they look like? My wife is a Upgrade. Flat out. Some of us, our "Significant other" is the Upgrade. For some its the friend that's actually a friend. We find upgrades in the strangest and the furthest places, kinna like in a story we once heard or a game or a ... IDEA. Sometimes WE are the Upgrade for others.
People
Faiths
Actual Practices in mind body and soul
Ways
Ideas
New circle of people
Books
Shows
TIME Management
In the Hero's Journey - find the upgrades. Find the people or places you could use. Ask around. You would be surprised the things you find when ya just ... ask around. Sharpen your sword or in our case- upgrade Sabers or equipment or people or ideas. Try something new but the same. Turn to you for a bit and make a few upgrades when you can where ya can, that's life at its finest, always adjusting always balancing. Happy seeking friend and Jedi.
Pastor Carlos

the Re Up

There comes a time when in our travels and in our journeys, when we run low on supplies. For the most part if your like me, I keep trucking on and keep going without things like proper pens paper and utilities. There are places and people that exist that we can RE UP at or with. Some of us as Modern day Jedi are the Re up. Some of us are the shop keepers and some of us are the need-ers. Some of us need a cup of hot beverage and some of us pick and plant the Tea or coffee. Sometimes in the Hero's Journey we get gifts and things but thats not what I am talking about. It is DURING the path or the course or the time that we need those small adjustments of things. There will be times we need things but not the whole things, just parts or adjustments. Keep your Modern Day Jedi eyes open and you will find what it is you seek. You may even find that small piece at some place during your path you just... needed.

The RE UP
Think about it this week, if you need one, chances are you aint the only one.
Where do you go to Re up on things or adjustments? My hope is that a place like this can be the hub for adjustments and finding of new things.
Are you the shop keeper or the shop seeker, or both?
May the Force be with yall this week.
Pastor Carlos

I tend to be the shopkeeper. I think I have been not long after I became a Jedi. Being 'the guide' is in my nature.

I am right there with you some days

Here is a assignment for everyone willing in the Temple. Give me your best description of HOPE. If you need help start like this... Hope is like ... a box of chocolates .... (example)

Do your best to give me a description of hope from you. Not from a text book or a google search but from what ya got going on in your life. Post it in your journal or here in this very thread. I want to hear and read what hope is to you all. This weeks topic is for us to describe in our best best, what hope is to us, to us individually. You can be general or specific. I wanna hear em go, Ill post mine as well.

What is the real hope you have friends and Modern day Jedi? Can you describe the REAL hope for the REAL things you have. post your answers here or in your journal if you like. Let me know, I really wanna know, link me here if you like as well. May the Force we share be with yall!

https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/forum/Clergy/122939-pastors-journal?start=30#356770

The Hero's Journey is everywhere. If our life is lived in this realm, then the Hero's Journey can be a map for some of us. What happens when nothing works? What happens when things you plan are prepared properly and you got everything you need and you still don't accomplish your task?
What do we as Modern Day Jedi do?
My encouragement to y'all today is to try and remember something…
This weekend, me and the family tried to "rough it" with our new tent outside. We had everything, lights heaters and fire and food and cups and plates... but our 3 year old wasn't having it. It just wasn't in the cards for her. She didn't like it at bed time. Nap time was fine, it was the bed time sleep that got us. So, like any good parent, there we go at 1 am cold and inside.
Some times in our life's we can get ready. Some times, we can be ready and for no fault of our own, things wont go our way or wont do what we had hoped. I'm here to tell ya that things like this are real and natural. Don't let it throw ya off. Keep seeking and keep going. Part of the Path is adjusting and balancing every day some days. If things don't go your way, don't get upset or even thrown off, understand that things do happen and some times ya cant camp in the back yard. Some nights aren't for camping. Some nights aren't for certain things and some seasons aren't for everything we like. Keep that in mind this holiday season as things begin to "get ready" for the holidays- add some grace to the equation and see if you don't have a different outcome.

May the Force be wit yall this holiday season
Pastor Carlos

THE ROCK

Im not talking about one of my role models as far as cinema and acting is concerned. You know, the bald headed coconut that asks you if you smell things? Joke. I am talking about the rock in your shoe. There can come a time in the the Hero's Journey when they we find small things in the way or just not meshing. It wont throw things completely off but if you do not take care of it, it can potentially become hazardous. These types of this happen all the time and most time we just let them keep rubbing us or keep hurting. Its so small its ok. YET... things are happening on the inside that are making things not so helpful. Often times, I have seen me do it too, after so long we get "used" to the rock in our shoes. We get used to the things that are small to us but are actually kinna hurtful. I can never tell you directly what some things are yours and which are mine, I can only identify my own directly. But what I can say is this, Take some time to sit down and maybe... Take the rock out your shoe? Take time to find these little things that are bothering you. This is the holiday season, fresh socks and clean feet help make a long road not so long.
Life is full at times friends. Life can bring things that can snag us but not in a huge way. Its the little things that can get us at times. Check your path and check your boots often friends. Your feet with thank you and as do I.
May the Force be with you
From one Modern Day Jedi to the other
Pastor Carlos