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Articles from Robert Perry | Selfgrowth.com
- ***Is Human Nature Good? - by Submitted on Feb 08, 2008 from Robert PerryMost of the time I find human nature to be depressing. We all seem so clearly out for ourselves. Put us together and inevitably trouble ensues; we fight, we divorce, we molest, we rob, we kill. We wage war not just on the battlefield, but on every field—in the bedroom, at the office, even ...
Views: 5063(2 votes) - ***Gentleness Is Strength - by Submitted on Sep 14, 2007 from Robert PerryWe all love to be on the receiving end of gentleness. It feels wonderful to be treated gently. Yet, on the giving end, we wonder if being gentle can get the job done. We live in a world resistant to change, even change for its own good. If we are going to make a positive difference, surely at ...
Views: 3910(2 votes) - ***Patience - by Submitted on Oct 05, 2007 from Robert PerryWe all know that we are supposed to be patient, yet we are usually ambivalent about it. Patience means waiting calmly, without complaint, for something that we hope will occur. Waiting patiently often feels like reining in wild horses. We would like to step in and force that desired outcome. ...
Views: 3512(3 votes) - ***There Is No Sin - by Submitted on Apr 04, 2008 from Robert PerryMost of us don't use the word "sin" very much; it has a rather distasteful ring to it. But the concept, I believe, is deeply embedded in our psyches. What is sin? I am not versed in theological treatments of it, but I think I have a good grasp of the popular concept, the one lodged in our ...
Views: 3068(2 votes) - ***Being Truly Helpful - by Submitted on Sep 13, 2007 from Robert PerryHow to be helpful to another is something we all wrestle with. When someone I care about is in need I find myself struggling to locate the right words, and I worry that I will bungle things. In short, I become filled with self-concern. It does not take a genius to see that being caught up in ...
Views: 2611 - ***Open-Mindedness - by Submitted on Oct 08, 2007 from Robert PerryBeing open-minded is something most of us value. We may hold our point of view, but we probably realize that being open to other points of view is good. It improves our chances of arriving at the real truth. After all, out of all the people and all the views out there, what are the odds of our ...
Views: 2120(1 vote) - ***Does God Have A Plan? - by Submitted on Jul 17, 2008 from Robert PerryDoes God have a specific plan for us, something in particular He wants us to do with our lives? Normally, I would address this question by discussing passages from A Course in Miracles (there are many that answer this question quite explicitly; see, for instance, W-pI.135.18). In this ...
Views: 2075(2 votes) - ***When Someone is Angry With You - by Submitted on Oct 15, 2007 from Robert PerryWe all know how it feels to have someone angry with us. If that person is close to us, it can turn our world upside down. At that point we usually apply any one of a number of strategies. We might go on the offensive, or the defensive, or withdraw and avoid confrontation, or appease the person ...
Views: 2003(1 vote) - ***I See Only The Past - by Submitted on Dec 10, 2007 from Robert PerryWe are all familiar with people who live completely in the past, lost in their memories of long ago, but we usually label such people senile or mentally ill. Certainly we are not among them. Or are we? Lesson 7 in A Course in Miracles* says, "I see only the past." To help us get a handle on ...
Views: 1685(1 vote) - ***A Course In Miracles Revisited - by Submitted on Nov 05, 2007 from Robert PerryIf you have spent much time exploring spirituality, you have probably heard about A Course in Miracles*. Maybe you have even “done” it. A huge number of spiritual seekers—New Age, Christian, Buddhist—have read the Course or at least have it sitting on their bookshelf. It ...
Views: 1583(1 vote) - ***Tolerance - by Submitted on Nov 18, 2007 from Robert PerryOur standards for how things ought to be are among our most prized possessions. In our eyes, the fact that we have high standards demonstrates that we are a quality person. Our high standards appear to elevate us far above those people who think anything is good, those people who have no ...
Views: 1542(1 vote) - ***I Rest In God - by Submitted on Nov 09, 2007 from Robert PerryOur need for rest goes very deep. Who does not look forward to a peaceful rest? Even more important than rest of the body, however, is rest of the mind. Who of us does not yearn for rest from our cares and anxieties, our sense of burden, and our crippling fears? While rest of the body is easily ...
Views: 1517(1 vote) - ***Who Was Jesus? - by Submitted on Feb 17, 2008 from Robert PerryIt seems to me that almost everyone carries respect for Jesus. I find it remarkable that one man can command respect from such a broad spectrum of people. Yet we have so many different ways of seeing him: the divine Son of God sent to earth to die for our sins, a wise teacher, a social prophet, ...
Views: 1473(1 vote) - ***Who Is The Son Of God? - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2008 from Robert PerryWe are all familiar with the idea of the “Son of God.” This is the Christian notion that Jesus of Nazareth was God the Father’s only begotten Son. Even without hearing a theological explanation, we know what this means. A father looks upon his son as an extension of his own ...
Views: 1445(1 vote) - ***Honesty - by Submitted on Nov 02, 2007 from Robert PerryHonesty is a central topic in human relationships. We all want to be told the truth, and we all try to think of ourselves as honest persons. Even so, the fact remains that we all lie, even if only in little ways. We offer excuses that are not the real reasons for not getting something done. We ...
Views: 1427(1 vote) - ***What's In A Name? - by Submitted on Nov 24, 2007 from Robert PerryWhile it is true that a rose by any other name would still be as beautiful, names exert a powerful influence on our minds. Think of how a beautiful name can create a good first impression. Think of the thought that goes into the naming of a child. And think of how it would feel to have no name. ...
Views: 1341(2 votes) - ***Does God Ask Us to Make Sacrifices? - by Submitted on Sep 26, 2007 from Robert PerryI personally believe that God gives us jobs to do in the world. In essence, these jobs amount to helping others on their journey to total freedom. The outer form of these functions may look quite mundane. They may look like parenting a child, or running a small non-profit organization, or even ...
Views: 1322 - ***God's Verdict - by Submitted on Oct 26, 2007 from Robert PerryWe tend to go through life feeling accused from many corners, from bosses, children, former (and current) spouses. Defending ourselves against these accusations can seem like a full-time job. We seem to be always offering our counter-explanation of the same events, in which the blame quite ...
Views: 1309(1 vote) - ***Leaving the Slate Blank - by Submitted on Sep 05, 2007 from Robert PerryHave you ever noticed how uncomfortable we are with empty spaces? We ache for leisure time, but then we anxiously fill it with a busy itinerary. We keep ourselves frantic with responsibilities, as if a moment alone with ourselves is a frightening prospect. Even when we do flop down in the chair ...
Views: 1168 - ***Who Are the Blind? - by Submitted on Oct 22, 2007 from Robert PerryWe rely so much on our eyes. Seeing is believing, the old saying goes. But what exactly do our eyes show us? If you think about it, all they see is form—shapes in motion. Yet what we really want to discover is what things mean. We want to know if something is good or bad. We want to know ...
Views: 1162(1 vote) - ***The Path To True Self-Esteem - by Submitted on Sep 21, 2007 from Robert PerryIs it not remarkable how our feelings about ourselves can rise and fall with such rapidity? When we do something really useful or say something really intelligent, we can feel great about ourselves. Yet a moment later we can feel like an idiot, as we do or say something else. Clearly, we see ...
Views: 1132(1 vote) - ***Seeing No Strangers - by Submitted on Sep 06, 2007 from Robert PerryHow do we respond to strangers? We usually maintain our reserve. We might be polite even while we remain unconcerned. And we are probably at least a little afraid. Behind this person’s face might lurk a sick mind, even a criminal mind. Who knows what would happen if we let this person into ...
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