Author Archives: Bob Patrick

Humility: Personal Work

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Bob Patrick

True humility is always personal work. As interconnected as I believe that we human and other beings are with one another, when it comes to this thing we call humility, the working of it, the owning it, the practicing of … Continue reading →

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Humility: Good Questions

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Bob Patrick

In the end these things matter most: How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go? Jack Kornfield We might differ on what matters the most in the end, but these three little … Continue reading →

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Humility: Leveling the Field

Posted on March 14, 2018 by Bob Patrick

Compassion is not condescension, but a leveling of the playing field, a recognition of yourself in others and an acceptance that their stress is your stress, that their happiness is your own. The gulf between us all is imaginary, born … Continue reading →

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Humility: Strong, Like the Earth

Posted on March 12, 2018 by Bob Patrick

Humility.  Humble.  Humiliate.  Humus.  That last word is not the good, golden stuff made from chick peas!  (that’s hummus).  Humus is the starting place for a discussion on humility.  We have talked about this in our services recently at the … Continue reading →

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Love: Destroying Enemies?

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Bob Patrick

Am I not destroying my enemies when I make them my friends?” Abraham Lincoln. I have in my notes that this was quoted at the morning service at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Gwinnett five years ago today.  It raised … Continue reading →

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Love: Habits

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Bob Patrick

I am paying a little more attention these days to the habits that leave their mark on my life.  Recently, what was our last family pet, a beloved dog, passed away.  I say “last family pet” because, at 18, she … Continue reading →

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Justice: Mirror or Glass?

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Bob Patrick

We told this story as part of our service yesterday at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Gwinnett. In Hasidic tradition there is a beautiful story that illustrates the moral danger implicit in mirrors. A very rich young man went to … Continue reading →

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Justice: Digging In

Posted on January 25, 2018 by Bob Patrick

Justice shows up, finally, where we decide to dig in.  I rather think this last kind is a product of the first two.  1) I know because I am human.  2) I understand, eventually, because I struggle.  And then, with … Continue reading →

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Justice: Hidden in Reaction

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Bob Patrick

Justice shows up–sort of hiding at times–in what we resist and in what confuses us. Because I have not experienced everything, because I don’t have all knowledge, because being human also means living with limitations, there are things that you … Continue reading →

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Justice: Naturally

Posted on January 23, 2018 by Bob Patrick

Justice shows up naturally.  In everything that I want and need for myself, I know in some respect what you want and need for yourself.  I can even make the assumption that the things that I need and want for … Continue reading →

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