Surrounded and Filled

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

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Summary of Ordinary Life for May 11, 2025

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Dear Ones -

The date for the showing of the movie, “No Other Land” has been changed to June 1 at 12:30 p.m. Food will be provided. This is the reason we are asking that you indicate that you will be present by registering. You may do that by clicking here. This film won the Oscar for Best Documentary and is about a reporter’s experience in Gaza. There is no charge for this.

Thank you.

I called the teaching I offered this week -

Surrounded and Filled

The teaching is a deep dive into a parable Jesus told that was, when first delivered, something that bordered on blasphemy. It was certainly offensive to those who first heard it. Like many of Jesus’ teachings, it has been “domesticated” over the years. One way to summarize the teaching is: God’s way for the world is to be found in what we think is beneath us, what we label unclean or insignificant, and what and who we attempt to “get rid” of. We are, in light of this, called to live with compassion, wisdom, and openness.

That’s a brief summary. The audio/video versions of the talk has some differences from the text I spoke from. You can find the text of the talk, the presentation slides and links to the audio and video version of the talk using the links below.

If you are interested in making a contribution to Ordinary Life, click here. There is an option to scroll to “Ordinary Life” as the option for how to designation your gift. Thank you!

Be well and much love,

Bill Kerley

In order to read or download the text of the talk, click here.

In order to view or download the presentation slides, click here.

In order to view or download the announcement slides, click here.

To listen to or download the audio of today’s talk, use the audio player below.

To watch the video of today’s talk, click on the YouTube link below.

Risky and Difficult

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

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Summary of Ordinary Life for May 4, 2025

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Dear Ones -

There is an Ordinary Life Happy Hour this Saturday evening. Click here for details.

On May 18 at 12:30 p.m. there will be a showing of the movie “No Other Land.” This film won the Oscar for Best Documentary and is about a reporter’s experience in Gaza. There is no charge for this but it is important that we know how many people will attend so we can arrange for the space and take care of the technical aspects. So, would you, if you are interested in attending, please register your interest. You may do so by clicking here. Thank you.

As for this week in Ordinary Life Dr. Holly Hudley and I co-taught and offered a teaching we called -

Risky and Difficult

Following “the way” leads us into ever new and deeper territory - this is difficult to communicate in words and it can be risky to do so. There is “nothing” that can fill the void we experience by becoming conscious. Jesus and his teachings invited us to embrace mystery - the white-hot fire of unknowing and uncertainty. We have to learn to breathe under water.

That’s a brief summary. The audio/video versions of the talk has some differences from the text I spoke from. You can find the text of the talk, the presentation slides and links to the audio and video version of the talk using the links below.

If you are interested in making a contribution to Ordinary Life, click here. There is an option to scroll to “Ordinary Life” as the option for how to designation your gift. Thank you!

Be well and much love,

Bill Kerley

In order to read or download the text version of the talk, click here.

In order to view or download the presentation slides, click here.

In order to view or download the announcement slides, click here.

To listen to or to download the audio of today’s talk, use the audio player below.

If you would like to watch the video of today’s talk, slick on the YouTube link below.

Living Resurrection

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

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Summary of Ordinary Life for April 27, 2025

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Dear Ones -

On May 18 at 12:30 p.m. there will be a showing of the movie “No Other Land.” This film won the Oscar for Best Documentary and is about a reporter’s experience in Gaza. There is no charge for this but it is important that we know how many people will attend so we can arrange for the space and take care of the technical aspects. So, would you, if you are interested in attending, please register your interest. You may do so by clicking here. Thank you.

The teaching offering in Ordinary Life this week, which is titled

Living Resurrection

begins with a more in-depth introduction to two important spiritual teachers - Sara Grant and Meister Eckhart. Then, in light of a passage from the Jesus narrative, the Easter season, and the Pope’s death, an attempt to clarify what is meant by “resurrection faith.” In brief it means being involved in acts of compassion that create community.

That’s a brief summary. The audio/video versions of the talk has some differences from the text I spoke from. You can find the text of the talk, the presentation slides and links to the audio and video version of the talk using the links below.

If you are interested in making a contribution to Ordinary Life, click here. There is an option to scroll to “Ordinary Life” as the option for how to designation your gift. Thank you!

Be well and much love,

Bill Kerley

In order to read or download the text of the talk, click here.

In order to view or download the presentation slides, click here.

In order to view or download the announcement slides, click here.

To listen to or download the audio recording of today’s talk, use the audio player below.

To watch the video of today’s talk, please use the YouTube link below.

Healing During Divisive Times

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

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Summary of Ordinary Life for April 13, 2025

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Dear Ones -

The title I gave the teaching I offered this week in Ordinary Life is -

Healing During Divisive Times

I began by reciting the 23rd Psalm and by getting everyone to sing “Amazing Grace.” These two works of verbal art bypass our conscious circuits and speak directly to the comfort and consolation we are looking/hoping for during these unprecedented and divisive times. In these teachings about “the wayless way” we are looking to Jesus for guidance and empowerment. This teaching focuses on Jesus as a healer. The stages along the wayless way involve amazement, the dark night, and healing by resistance. To work at walking the wayless way is affirming that what will heal our divide, both internally and culturally, is our demonstrating our faith in having compassion and doing justice.

That’s a brief summary. The audio/video versions of the talk has some differences from the text I spoke from. You can find the text of the talk, the presentation slides and links to the audio and video version of the talk using the links below.

If you are interested in making a contribution to Ordinary Life, click here. There is an option to scroll to “Ordinary Life” as the option for how to designation your gift. Thank you!

Be well and much love,

Bill Kerley

In order to read or download the text version, click here

To view or download the presentation slides, click here.

To view or download the announcement slides, click here.

Click on the audio player below to download or listen to this talk.

To watch the video of today’s talk, use the YouTube link below.