Funerals

I officiated at a funeral this week.  From a personal view, I think that funerals, in the American “tradition” are normally bleak and a bit depressing.  Most of the time the words used encourage people to spiral to a belief that we all are not worthy.

When I officiate a funeral, for me, it is about helping the family see the strengths, goodness and character (however flawed he/she may be perceived) of their loved one.  It is about reminding them to recall good times, their favorite times and those memories that allow them to part a smile on their lips.  It is about coming together to pay respects to someone who helped them in their journey of life.

It is important that the families be given the very best possible chance to being their grieving process by giving them space to do it with dignity, strength and love.

I enjoy officiating funerals as much as I do weddings.  It is the sense of duty, understanding and yes love for each family that I am able to connect with.  And, if I have done my job well, they connect with too.

I am Chaplain Royal Bush, and I enjoy helping people.

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves. 

One day.  One journey.  One person, at a time.

May peace, love and compassion be with you…AND from you!

Rev. Royal D. Bush is the founder of Inclusive Life, where he serves as a multifaith Chaplain.  He shares this message to all: “You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are.”  He holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary.  He holds a current certificate of spiritual counseling with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling and is a member of Spiritual Directors International.  He actively volunteers and remains active in many social justice issues.

Contact me:

chaplainroyal@inclusivelife.org

www.inclusivelife.org

www.facebook.com/chaplainroyal

402-575-7006

3622 Leavenworth Street Omaha, NE 68105

Source

A quote I read really prompted me to share some thoughts about the journey of my journey with Inclusive Life.

The quote was by Br. David Steindl-Rast and he writes “Faith is the courageous confidence that trusts in the Source of all gifts.”

That resonates with me, in my life, in my experience and my journey in “steering” Inclusive Life.  A few years ago I would have used the word building instead of steering.  I certainly understanding that I am helping steer. 

From the very first moment we began looking at buildings for the Inclusive Life Foundation, I knew something good was going to happen (and it was not just recalling the words of Oral Roberts…)

We looked at lots of locations.  Some felt just right.  Others not so much.  We set looking aside for a bit.  And one day an email came to me and I followed up.  The instant that I toured the place I knew it was our next step, no, not the end all be all, just the next step.

3622 Leavenworth was the first office location for the Nebraska AIDS Project some 20 year ago.  With it, now also came the 3620 bay, in all, almost 2300 square feet of space.  How can we afford that?

In August I negotiated a 5-year lease for the spaces and committed to moving forward.  On August 17^th I signed the lease and got the keys.  We had to make changes to the floor layout, it needed painting, upgrades, and carpet!  How can we afford all of this? 

HAVE FAITH!

Two friends, Jean-Paul and Jeff who own Top 2 Bottom Renovations donated labor (and some materials) to frame, hang drywall, and so much more to begin the process.  Volunteers mudded, sanded, painted, vacuumed, cleaned, and took trash to dumpster.

By the middle of September, before all updating is done, we have all of the space leased.  It will house Inclusive Life Pastoral Services, Catch Creative Video and Photography Services, Heartland Pride President, and the GLBT Outreach Center (formally located at 19^th and Leavenworth.)

HAVE FAITH!

When we “ran out” of money I was thinking how will we pay for this or that?  A couple would then book a ceremony, or a payment on an account would come in or…  It all worked out.  Carpeting was out last hurdle.  And after 2 ½ hours of “computer work” we were able to pay for all of the carpeting!

This center will serve as a place for many to meet, I am most excited about what it can accomplish and achieve in the coming years.  I just need to remember when in doubt… wait for it, wait for it… that courageous confidence that trusts in the Source of all gifts.

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves. 

One day.  One journey.  One person, at a time.

May peace, love and compassion be with you…AND from you!

Rev. Royal D. Bush is the founder of Inclusive Life, where he serves as a multifaith Chaplain.  He shares this message to all: “You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are.”  He holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary.  He holds a current certificate of spiritual counseling with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling and is a member of Spiritual Directors International.  He actively volunteers and remains active in many social justice issues.

Contact me:

chaplainroyal@inclusivelife.org

www.inclusivelife.org

www.facebook.com/chaplainroyal

402-575-7006

3622 Leavenworth Street Omaha, NE 68105

It is time...

The cartoon was courtesy of “Christian Left” via FaceBook.  It really plays well into what is on my mind today.  This political environment we are in.

It matters not who you want to win.

It matters not what party you are registered with.

It does not matter if you have donated money or not.

What does matter, is that you A) Know who is running, B) Know what they stand for, C) YOU are registered to vote and D) VOTE!!!

Your vote DOES count.

Your vote DOES matter.

Your vote DOES make a difference.

Your vote could be the deciding factor!

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves. 

One day.  One journey.  One person, at a time.

May peace, love and compassion be with you…AND from you!

Rev. Royal D. Bush is the founder of Inclusive Life, where he serves as a multifaith Chaplain.  He shares this message to all: “You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are.”  He holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary.  He holds a current certificate of spiritual counseling with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling and is a member of Spiritual Directors International.  He actively volunteers and remains active in many social justice issues.

Contact me:

chaplainroyal@inclusivelife.org

www.inclusivelife.org

www.facebook.com/chaplainroyal

402-575-7006

3622 Leavenworth Street Omaha, NE 68105

Monday Morning

Good morning…

My mom seems to be on my mind a lot this week.  She is in a nursing home, regaining strength and endurance to walk without help.  I am mindful she is 94 years old and that somewhere inside I know I am impatient with her when she can do things that she did ten years ago, twenty years ago…  Funny thing is, I am 45 and working on this office has lead me to understand I am unable to climb a latter like I used to do.  Funny how life can teach you lessons J

Many of our “long time” family friends have been on my mind as well.  People whom I have not seen for; 5, 10, 15, and 20 years.

I watched an episode of OWN Super Soul Sunday.  Bishop Jakes was reminding us all that we are all (his word) “pregnant” with; love, life, power, passion, gifts, and so much more that we WILL give birth to.

That concept really resonates with me.  We are all beautiful, loved and worthy.  Just as we are. 

Happy Monday y’all 

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves. 

One day.  One journey.  One person, at a time.

May peace, love and compassion be with you…AND from you!

Rev. Royal D. Bush is the founder of Inclusive Life, where he serves as a multifaith Chaplain.  He shares this message to all: “You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are.”  He holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary.  He holds a current certificate of spiritual counseling with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling and is a member of Spiritual Directors International.  He actively volunteers and remains active in many social justice issues.

Contact me:

chaplainroyal@inclusivelife.org

www.inclusivelife.org

www.facebook.com/chaplainroyal

402-575-7006

3622 Leavenworth Street Omaha, NE 68105

Indifference

As I continue work on the new home for Inclusive Life, I have experienced many blessings, good karma and unplanned kindness.  I truly believe that surrounding yourself with people who will help you be a better person is the best goal.  Sometimes we do well with that, and other times we experience the law of: people come into our lives for a reason, or a season or a lifetime.

The sign that we have on the building states that we offer services that are religious, nonreligious and spiritual.  For most whom are devout, they are unable to comprehend how we can offer both or serve people who are religious AND those who are NOT religious.  The concept of serving all without exception is something they seem unable to process, grasp or understand.

I continue to think about, pray on and allow meditations to help draw me to peace about the divisiveness and divides that are caused by religious indifferences.

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves. 

One day.  One journey.  One person, at a time.

May peace, love and compassion be with you…AND from you!

Rev. Royal D. Bush is the founder of Inclusive Life, where he serves as a multifaith Chaplain.  He shares this message to all: “You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are.”  He holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary.  He holds a current certificate of spiritual counseling with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling and is a member of Spiritual Directors International.  He actively volunteers and remains active in many social justice issues.

Contact me:

chaplainroyal@inclusivelife.org

www.inclusivelife.org

www.facebook.com/chaplainroyal

402-575-7006

3622 Leavenworth Street Omaha, NE 68105

Good morning 9/11/12

I was sleeping in, it was my day off.  I was employed as the Director of Housekeeping for a Embassy Suites.  I enjoyed my days off.  I got to do whatever I wanted, and this day, I was sleeping in.  The phone rang.  Early.  !@%$&* Oh, it was a dear friend of mine, Weenonah.  We were talking about an upcoming meeting or meal we were going to have.  I turned on the TV just in time to see a plane fly into a building.  I wonder what country that was in… oh the US.  OH, NEW YORK.  And then other reports came in.  Weenonah and I were beside ourselves.  Crying. Screaming. Upset to say the least.

I always remember older adults (as I was growing up) talk about that they knew exactly where they were at and what they were doing when… JFK, MLK were killed.  For me, up until this point, it was Princess Diana.  And now, the terrorist attacks in the US on September 11.

When the buildings came down I was numb.  It was foreign to me that a “war” was possible… but someone had launched one against us.  I was born in 1967, nearing the end of the Vietnam “conflict” (war) and have lived a pretty peaceful life since.

I saw people jumping out of the building, sailing down through the air and lots and lots of smoke.  I was sad, mad and numb.  I wanted to go shopping I needed new work shoes.  Nope, nothing opened, I was even more mad at this point.

I never read any of the books, watched any of the movies.  I kind of wanted to put what happened that day out of my mind.  I am not sure I feel different about that today.  I feel a tremendous sense of loss, I feel for the many lives lost, and I am proud of how our country responded and came together to care for one another.

Today.  Today I woke up early and had all of these words on my mind.  I am grateful for all the men and women who serve their cities, counties, states and country in the name of public safety, security and protection.  Today I think of how far we have come as a country, you know, all that we have experienced: wars, famine, drought, etc. and I also think about how far we have to travel because there are many lessons in being humble we just don’t seem to grasp.

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves. 

One day.  One journey.  One person, at a time.

May peace, love and compassion be with you…AND from you!

Rev. Royal D. Bush is the founder of Inclusive Life, where he serves as a multifaith Chaplain.  He shares this message to all: “You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are.”  He holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary.  He holds a current certificate of spiritual counseling with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling and is a member of Spiritual Directors International.  He actively volunteers and remains active in many social justice issues.

Contact me:

chaplainroyal@inclusivelife.org

www.inclusivelife.org

www.facebook.com/chaplainroyal

402-575-7006

3622 Leavenworth Street Omaha, NE 68105

My Mom

My mom will be 94 the 20^th of this month. Born in 1918, I call her my old goat.  I love my mommy.  I am adopted, she is my grandmother by blood.  She adopted me from her daughter at birth.

This past spring she had some challenges and we hospitalized her for a week and rehab for a month.  We returned her to the hospital this past week for a stay and she was released to come home yesterday.  We quickly learned that she should not have come home.  They didn’t fix all the broken parts yet! ;)

I am a bit emotional right now.  I feel frustrated because I could not care for her today in a way my husband Jonathan can.  I have the gag reflex on anything that doesn’t smell good…  He does not.  Mom had an accident and I cleaned up as much as I could quickly then I lost it.  I felt helpless.  I can pick her up and move her from point a to point b and I can take care of all of her other needs.  But not today, not this one.

And I am frustrated because the health care system is so broken and our favorite hospital which was an independent hospital and is now ran by a local private charity; which does not offer the same level of care as before they took over.

I am realizing that there will be a time, very soon, that my mom will no longer be able to live at home, the care she is going to need will be more than we can offer.  And just beyond that benchmark will be the day that we prepare for her end of life.

It seems so much easier for me to counsel everyone else.  When it is your own family, it is very different.  When it is your own mother, it is very very different.

Last, but not least, I am reminded of how it seems that it was just yesterday I was in 3^rd grade and mom was so young and there was so much life to live.  Today, most of that life has been lived.  And with every season there is a time to be born and time to die.

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves. 

One day.  One journey.  One person, at a time.

May peace, love and compassion be with you…AND from you!

Rev. Royal D. Bush is the founder of Inclusive Life, where he serves as a multifaith Chaplain.  He shares this message to all: “You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are.”  He holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary.  He holds a current certificate of spiritual counseling with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling and is a member of Spiritual Directors International.  He actively volunteers and remains active in many social justice issues.

Contact me:

chaplainroyal@inclusivelife.org

www.inclusivelife.org

www.facebook.com/chaplainroyal

402-575-7006

3622 Leavenworth Street Omaha, NE 68105

Ubuntu

An anthropologist proposed a game to the kids in an African tribe. He put a basket full of fruit near a tree and told the kids that whoever got there first won the sweet fruits.

When he told them to run they all took each other’s hands and ran together, then sat together enjoying their treats.

When he asked them why they had run like that as one could have had all the fruits for himself they said: ''UBUNTU, how can one of us be happy if all the other ones are sad?''  'UBUNTU' in the Xhosa culture means: "I am because we are" 

I thought about how this lesson applied to my life and how I did sharing it…  It is about the practice of sharing joy, love and compassion with yourself, your family, your friends and yes, those whom you do not know.

How do you share?

What has been your greatest lesson in sharing?

What in your life do you need to share more of?

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves. 

One day.  One journey.  One person, at a time.

May peace, love and compassion be with you…AND from you!

Rev. Royal D. Bush is the founder of Inclusive Life, where he serves as a multifaith Chaplain.  He shares this message to all: “You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are.”  He holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary.  He holds a current certificate of spiritual counseling with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling and is a member of Spiritual Directors International.  He actively volunteers and remains active in many social justice issues.

Contact me:

chaplainroyal@inclusivelife.org

www.inclusivelife.org

www.facebook.com/chaplainroyal

402-575-7006

3622 Leavenworth Street Omaha, NE 68105

Swing of things

Email is such an important component of our lives now.

Social media is such an important component of our lives now.

Voice mail is such an important component of our lives now.

As much as I love them all, I curse them!

When you return from a day or two away they build up so much that it almost seems impossible to ever get truly caught up, which makes getting back into the swing of things nearly impossible.

We have just moved our offices for Inclusive Life.  We have much work to do at the new space.  Build a couple of walls, remove old carpeting, mud and sand drywall, paint, organize and decorate.  There is so much to do and so little time to accomplish it.

When the work is complete we will end up having a wonderful new space that will serve the community in many new ways.  I pondered where the organization has grown from the point of its beginning until now and I am reminded that Inclusive Life is much larger than just one person… it is part of the big picture of serving others and providing what others need and are not getting right now.

Religious. Nonreligious. Spiritual.  We are ALL human beings.  We all deserve respect and the ability to live life and experience the journey as it is authentic for each of us knowing that every single person will not have the same exact path.

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves. 

One day.  One journey.  One person, at a time.

May peace, love and compassion be with you…AND from you!

Rev. Royal D. Bush is the founder of Inclusive Life, where he serves as a multifaith Chaplain.  He shares this message to all: “You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are.”  He holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary.  He holds a current certificate of spiritual counseling with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling and is a member of Spiritual Directors International.  He actively volunteers and remains active in many social justice issues.

Contact me:

chaplainroyal@inclusivelife.org

www.inclusivelife.org

www.facebook.com/chaplainroyal

402-575-7006

3622 Leavenworth Street Omaha, NE 68105

Journey Home

Our travels home began at 430 a.m.  We left Woodbury, CT to travel to Boston to fly home.  The scenery in New England is very much different than Nebraska.  The toll roads (too many!), the trees and the water (I do love the water.)  I was given a piece of advice: when “on” the water to remember the water does not care about you, it is not loving nor is it forgiving.  I suppose that is true for certain aspects of our lives as well.

Some people we meet will not be forgiving nor will they be capable or able to offer love.  Another piece of advice once given was to remember that people come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime.  I find that to be so very true.

After a stop for dinner once we landed, we made it back home around 5 p.m., so it was a long day worth of travel.  As much as we enjoyed being with family and friends, we enjoyed climbing into our own bed, with our own pillows and in our own home.  Home sweet home.

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves. 

One day.  One journey.  One person, at a time.

May peace, love and compassion be with you…AND from you!

Rev. Royal D. Bush is the founder of Inclusive Life, where he serves as a multifaith Chaplain.  He shares this message to all: “You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are.”  He holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary.  He holds a current certificate of spiritual counseling with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling and is a member of Spiritual Directors International.  He actively volunteers and remains active in many social justice issues.

Contac me:

chaplainroyal@inclusivelife.org

www.inclusivelife.org

www.facebook.com/chaplainroyal

402-575-7006

3622 Leavenworth Street Omaha, NE 68105