Perception

I was told that perception is everything.  Perception can be interpreted many ways; if it is something that “we” perceive or if it is something that we do or say (or perhaps not do or not say) that is perceived by others, not the way we intended it!

A study was done in which people on opposite sides of an issue where given the same newspaper article to read.  The people were asked to read the article carefully and to offer their reaction.  On average, people said that they thought the article was biased…AGAINST their own position.  That is, people on BOTH sides of the issue thought the exact same article was biased against their side.  The article could not possibly have been biased against both sides of the issue.  Obviously, it wasn’t the content of the article that drove the reaction, but the perspective of the readers. 

Doesn’t our daily life have the same effect?  Work, family, relationship, going out to dinner, friends, the list is endless of times that perception played a key in how we communicate (positively or negatively.)  I have shared before that the actual words we use are remembered less than our body language and tone of voice.  And since most of our communication is done via email and text messages that may also add to the confusion and someone’s ability to perceive a communication in a different manner than it was intended for.

So how do we “fix” this?  Simple.  Get rid of computers, phones and email.  (ok and since that is not likely to happen)  perhaps it is not something that we get rid of or fix as much as it is something that we all need to be aware of and do our very best to improve upon.  Be intentional about how and when and why we communicate.  Sometimes silence is golden!

I can be the change that I seek in this world, one day, one journey, one person one form of communication at a time…

Chaplain Royal Bush and Chaplain Beth Loofe are Interfaith Chaplains offering nondenominational and nonreligious care and services to all, without exception in Nebraska and Iowa. They conduct Weddings, Premarital Coaching, Couples Coaching,Funerals, End of Life Planning, and Pastoral Care. For more information please email info@inclusivelife.org OR phone 402-575-7006. Omaha Weddings, Omaha Counseling, Omaha Funerals.

Hills and Hurdles

Nelson Mandela once said “After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.” Hills, mountains, hurdles, valleys, rivers, they all can seem overwhelming when we are trying to travel through life don’t they?  Heck, there are times, for me, just getting out of bed with a smile on my face seem like a miracle!

Ok, I get it.  Life is good, sometimes.  Life can really be a challenge, sometimes.  Life can really suck, sometimes.  What I have come to know about my life is that it is, what it is.  It is what I make it.  It is what I let it be.  It is what I accept it to be.  I think that there have been some ah-ha moments in my life that really had more to do more with God, spirituality and the cosmic universe I accept.  They were not situations or points that I had planned, but being at the right place at the right time allowed me the benefit (oh it is so easy to use that word now) from the lesson of that moment. 

Oh sure, don’t get me wrong, I was CERTAINLY causing, kicking and screaming at the time; why me, if you only get me out of this I will…, please please please get me out of this, I can’t believe YOU did this to ME!  At the end of the day, I had to put my pants of responsibility on and accept that Royal (and only Royal) was responsible for his actions and as such wake up, pay attention and learn!

The two most important things in my life is my faith and relationship with what I know to be sacred, and my family (both given and chosen), they both keep me grounded, on track and happy (FULL!)  Just when things are coasting along so well, it seems that you have life by the tail then another mountain, hill, hurdle, river, valley or… appears.

It is easy to go back to the why me, if you get me out of this I will…  But you know, I got this.  My faith, my experience and my family, I got this.  And you know what?  It does get better. 

I turned 44 this week.  Someone asked me if I felt older, I said nope.  Someone else asked me what I have learned in 44 years.  I know that you never are the “full package” (meaning you are not can not and will not be ALL things to all people, let alone to yourself.)  Accept your gifts as given you and celebrate them, share them, embrace them and for God sakes, USE THEM!

I can be the change that I seek in this world.  One day, one journey, one person, one hurdle, one hill at a time!  Peace, Love and Health for us all!

Chaplain Royal Bush and Chaplain Beth Loofe are Interfaith Chaplains offering nondenominational and nonreligious care and services to all, without exception in Nebraska and Iowa. They conduct Weddings, Premarital Coaching, Couples Coaching,Funerals, End of Life Planning, and Pastoral Care. For more information please email info@inclusivelife.org OR phone 402-575-7006. Omaha Weddings, Omaha Counseling, Omaha Funerals.

Words and thoughts

A friend told me Bob was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, “If I were any better, I would be twins!”

He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Bob was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Bob was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made my friend curious, so one day he went up to Bob and asked him, “I don’t get it! You can’t be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?” Bob replied, “Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Bob, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.’ I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.”

“Yeah, right, it’s not that easy,” I protested.  “Yes it is,” Bob said. “Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It’s your choice how you live life.”

My friend reflected on what Bob said. Soon thereafter, he left the restaurant industry to start his own business. They lost touch, but he often thought about him when he made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. Several years later, he heard that Bob did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Bob was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Bob was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body. I saw Bob about six months after the accident.

When I asked him how he was, he replied, “If I were any better, I’d be twins, wanna see my scars?”  My friend declined to see the wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. “The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door,” Bob replied. “Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live.”

“Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?” he asked. Bob continued, “The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, ‘He’s a dead man.’ I knew I needed to take action.”

“What did you do?” my friend asked.  “Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me,” said Bob. “She asked if I was allergic to anything. ‘Yes,’ I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply… I took a deep breath and yelled, ‘Bullets!’ Over their laughter, I told them, ‘I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.”

Bob lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.

We do have choices and have a direct impact on how are day will be, how we will impact others too!  The words we use each day have the capacity to do many things.

The can hurt, heal, motivate, tear down, rip, build, share love, spread gossip, promote hate and…  Words can help others feel included or make them feel more isolated.  They have the power to bring calm or to spread panic.  They have the power to bless others or to curse them.  They have the power to share good news or to remove hope.  They can share thanks or complain.

Some questions for you to consider…

How do you, use words? 

What words do you use?

Do your words build up, or tear down?

Are they encouraging or negative?

In your darkest hour, if your words were used against you would they help you see light, or remain in darkness?

Chaplain Royal Bush and Chaplain Beth Loofe are Interfaith Chaplains offering nondenominational and nonreligious care and services to all, without exception in Nebraska and Iowa. They conduct Weddings, Premarital Coaching, Couples Coaching,Funerals, End of Life Planning, and Pastoral Care. For more information please email info@inclusivelife.org OR phone 402-575-7006.

The Journey

A life lesson I was taught was that it is not always the end result that is the most important, sometimes it IS about the journey.  Booker T. Washington said "Success is to be measured not so much by the position one has reached as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed."

I have been called, self admittedly, an impatient person.  I can be a true task master, I know what the end result needs to be and I know how to get there.  Then someone invented this word “delegate.”   Ah yes, give a portion of your work, duties and tasks to someone else.  I didn’t have training or experience on how to do that, especially when they don’t do it exactly like I would, when I would and how I would.

It took many times for me to “get it”, and actually someone had to sit me down and say.  We know this person is not going to be able to plan this the way you would.  We know that it may not be as successful, but their journey is so important, in fact it is more important than the outcome of the event.  That was a very difficult thing to comprehend, and LET happen.  It was ok to ALLOW someone to “fail”? 

Fail is such a tricky little four letter word.  Failing in one persons eyes is a lifetime achievement in another’s.  It IS relative.  I have learned that IT about journey.  It is helping, NOT DOING for the other person(s).  It is co-creating space for them to work, grow, learn AND FEEL SAFE to do their best AND be ok if it does not have the desired outcome by the many. 

Why is that ok?  Because at the end of the day, how will that person ever learn, grow or build self confidence to move forward in life, work, worship, family, volunteer work, etc. if no one ever takes a chance on them. 

Someone did with me, in fact I have been given a few second chances in life.  Many I know have yet to get their first break.  I remind us all that at some point in our lives someone took a chance on us, regardless if we know it or knew it at the time.  In your life today is there someone you can help create that space for them to grow, learn, feel safe to make that journey?

You can be the change you seek in this world.  One step.  One day.  One person.  One journey at a time. 

Chaplain Royal Bush and Chaplain Beth Loofe are Interfaith Chaplains offering nondenominational and nonreligious care and services to all, without exception in Nebraska and Iowa. They conduct Weddings, Premarital Coaching, Couples Coaching,Funerals, End of Life Planning, and Pastoral Care. For more information please email info@inclusivelife.org OR phone 402-575-7006.

To see or not to see

It was Sir John Lubbock who said “What we see depends mainly on what we look for.”  Which I believe fits nicely that people come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime.  It can be also said that people become what we say they are, unfortunately those are not always good things.

We are human beings and we are needy.  We need food, clothing and shelter, the basic necessities.  We also enjoy attention, love, and forms of communication.  We communicate in odd ways at times, don’t we?  Our body language may imply something different then the words coming out of our mouths which together may not match our tone of voice! 

Life has been difficult for those living it throughout time.  Some say that life today is the hardest, I don’t know there is something about walking for 40 days and 40 nights that makes me think I like the forms of transportation we have.  I bet those who built the pyramids would have worshiped the site of cranes and earth moving equipment.   And I bet we all are thankful for the refrigerator too!

The fact that we do not all speak the same language on Earth can be seen by some to be a great barrier; it certainly is a source of contention for those who don’t speak the language when surrounded by those that do!

What is it that we look for in other human beings?

What is it that we look for in other human beings who are different than us?

What is it that we need to be able to treat other human beings different than us like equals?

What is it that we are looking for?

What is it that others are looking at?

Chaplain Royal Bush and Chaplain Beth Loofe are Interfaith Chaplains offering nondenominational and nonreligious care and services to all, without exception in Nebraska and Iowa. They conduct Weddings, Premarital Coaching, Couples Coaching, Funerals, End of Life Planning, and Pastoral Care. For more information please email info@inclusivelife.org OR phone 402-575-7006.

Tuesdays with Royal

We gave a friend a ride to Lincoln last night, it is about a 45 minute drive one way.  We tried 4 times to find a gas station so I could gas up and use the restroom between Gretna and Lincoln, but they were all closed.  I was a bit surprised and a bit alarmed.  I knew where I could go if I REALLY needed to, but was hoping for something along the route I was taking.

Then I thought of our economy, although the mid-west has been shielded a bit more than coastal and surrounding states, we too have been hit by the tough times of the current climate.  Smaller shops can no longer afford to pay for that over night attended which may or may not have made enough money to cover costs, let alone that persons salary.

Times are changing, and we too must change with them.  How we work and where we work have changed too!  A great man once said that “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.”  Steve Jobs knew too that it those words could be easier said than done.  When out of work or under employed, it can be more difficult (NOT IMPOSSIBLE) to achieve and believe.

I also know that you may not get what you want when you want it.  You will get what you need when you need it, those words ring so true in my life.  With a great many lessons under my belt, and many more to go (I am sure) I am happy for my life, my experiences and for all those who I have crossed paths with.

Happy Tuesday everyone, enjoy a day that is as beautiful as you are!

Chaplain Royal

Chaplain Royal Bush and Chaplain Beth Loofe are Interfaith Chaplains offering nondenominational and nonreligious care and services to all, without exception in Nebraska and Iowa. They conduct Weddings, Premarital Coaching, Couples Coaching, Funerals, Blessings, and Pastoral Care. For more information please email info@inclusivelife.org OR phone 402-575-7006.

Rock and Sand

There is a story from the book of Matthew.  It reminds us that when we build our houses (the foundations of what we are, what we believe and what we know to be true) on rock… we know that when it rains, and the floods come, and the winds blow and all elements torture the house it will not fall, for it is built upon “the rock.”

And when we choose to build our homes on sand, the rains will come, the floods will come, the winds will come and the house will fall to the torture and it will be no more.

For my friends who are not Christians this applies to your life just as it does to the believers.  It DOES matter what you believe, what you know to be true and what matters in your life.  When you believe in something and know it in your heart of hearts AND it is good you will have a house built on rock.

For those that are not secure on what the believe or what they believe is not good, it will be liken to those homes built in the sand.  They will shift.  They will not last. They are not stable.

As the song goes, you must believe in something or you’ll fall for anything.  What do you believe?  What is your truth?  What is your rock?

Chaplain Royal Bush and Chaplain Beth Loofe are Interfaith Chaplains offering nondenominational and nonreligious care and services to all, without exception in Nebraska and Iowa. They conduct Weddings, Premarital Coaching, Couples Coaching, Funerals, Blessings, and Pastoral Care. For more information please email info@inclusivelife.org OR phone 402-575-7006.

Change

Fall is one of my most favorite times of year.  I love the colors, the smells and the “feel” of how nature is preparing for the winter, getting ready for different conditions, preparing for the unexpected.

I suppose I can draw the coloration to our lives.  We have seasons of change amidst our lives too.  We too are expected to prepare for the unexpected, prepare for different conditions, even at times that it is not realistic, not convenient, not wanted, and perhaps not understood.

Having faith, keeping faith, and trusting in what you are faithful to and what you are faithful for will may offer a bit of relief.  Of course nothing replaces that touch, those words, or simply a time to “just be” with a special family member or friend.

Let us pause from our daily lives and give thanks for the good things in our life, the good friends in our life, the cherished family members in our life, for our loved ones, and perhaps consideration for your own health, joy and peace.

-Chaplain Royal D. Bush

Chaplain Royal Bush and Chaplain Beth Loofe are Interfaith Chaplains offering nondenominational and nonreligious care and services to all, without exception in Nebraska and Iowa. They conduct Weddings, Premarital Coaching, Couples Coaching, Funerals, Blessings, and Pastoral Care. For more information please email info@inclusivelife.org OR phone 402-575-7006.

 

LiveLaughLove

LiveLaughLove…Perhaps Woody Allen said it best “I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose.” 

A priest dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates.

Ahead of him is a guy dressed in sunglasses and leather jacket. Saint Peter asks him "Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to admit you to the Kingdom of Heaven?" The guy replies, "I'm Captain Knight, retired American Airlines Pilot from Dallas."

Saint Peter consults his list. He smiles and says to the pilot, "Take this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom."   Next up is the priest. He stands erect and booms out, "I am Father Joe, pastor of Saint Mary's in Pasadena for the last 43 years." Saint Peter consults his list. He says to the priest, "Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom."

"Wait a minute," says the good father, "that pilot gets a silken robe and golden staff while I get only cotton and wood. How can this be?"   "Up here ... We go by results," says Saint Peter, "when you preached, people slept; when he flew people prayed."

Living life and having a life of love often allows for moments that we laugh and moments we MUST laugh.  I am grateful for having the gift of being able to laugh (perhaps too much sometimes.)  Nonetheless, it is a gift, and one that has got me through many tough times in my life.

Laugh… PASS IT ON!

Chaplain Royal Bush and Chaplain Beth Loofe are Interfaith Chaplains offering nondenominational and nonreligious care and services to all, without exception in Nebraska and Iowa. They conduct Weddings, Premarital Coaching, Couples Coaching, Funerals, Blessings, and Pastoral Care. For more information please email info@inclusivelife.org OR phone 402-575-7006.



Matthew Shepard

Dr. Seuss gave us “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” A mindful thought to begin this entry.

I will celebrate my birthday this month, as I do I am mindful of many events.  National Diversity Day is the 1^st Friday in October, it is AIDS Awareness Month, it is also the Gay & Lesbian History Month.

It was 13 years ago that we learned of the horrible torture that a young man endured in Wyoming. On the 12th of Oct. Matthew succumbed to those injuries. His memory is relived each time someone takes their life or has their life taken because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation.

Homosexuality is not a disease.  It is not an illness.  For those who are Christian: You are made in his image, you are not a mistake, you are not an abomination, you are not going to hell and YES Jesus loves you!

Homosexuality is found in over 450 species, homophobia is found in only one. (Tell me again which one is unnatural?)

There is empowerment and strength in numbers.  Be who you are, come out, stand out, stand strong, be proud, be loud, and be the change you seek in this world!

"You ARE Beautiful
You ARE Loved
You ARE Worthy
JUST the way you are!"
-Chaplain Royal Bush

Chaplain Royal Bush and Chaplain Beth Loofe are Interfaith Chaplains offering nondenominational and nonreligious care and services to all, without exception in Nebraska and Iowa. They conduct Weddings, Premarital Coaching, Couples Coaching, Funerals, Blessings, and Pastoral Care. For more information please email info@inclusivelife.org OR phone 402-575-7006.

End of Life Planning Promotion

When IS the best time to make your end of life decisions?

End of life planning goes beyond pre-paring for burial services. It is about deciding, recording and sharing important decisions with your loved ones and family.

We can help! Inclusive Life is offering to prepare end of life plans for up to two people for $25 (prior to 12/31/11)

(402) 575-7006     info@inclusivelife.org

Omaha Weddings

What is Inclusive Life?

We are a Nebraska incorporated non-profit faith based organization providing both nondenominational and nonreligious care and service to everyone without exception in Iowa and Nebraska.

Why?

We know that up to 70% of the population does not attend worship on a regular basis OR have a relationship with a place of worship.  Individuals, Couples and Families need a resource if they are getting married, needed relationship help, preplanning for end of life, planning a funeral or needing that “pastoral care” that is familiar, comfortable, and safe.

Do you do weddings?

We officiate many types of ceremonies; vow renewal, weddings, holy unions, commitment ceremonies, and blessings.  We offer services in both Nebraska and Iowa (Iowa does allow same sex marriages, which we are happy to perform!)  We provide locally ordained celebrants (minister or officiant, whichever you prefer) that are experienced, trained and provide care and service that is often unmatched.  “Let’s build a relationship so you can be helped by a friend of the family, and not a stranger.”

Chaplain Royal Bush and Chaplain Beth Loofe are Interfaith Chaplains offering nondenominational and nonreligious care and services to all, without exception in Nebraska and Iowa. They conduct Weddings, Premarital Coaching, Couples Coaching, Funerals, Blessings, and Pastoral Care. For more information please email info@inclusivelife.org OR phone 402-575-7006.

Coulda Woulda Shoulda

BE PRESENT NOW.  HERE.  Live in the present moment. Don't obsess about the past or worry about the future. All you need is right here now.  Coulda Woulda Shoulda are not words to focus on when living now.  I can, I will, I am.  There you go…  If that little train can, so can you! 

As the story goes, there once a fisherman was sitting near seashore, under the shadow of a tree smoking his beedi. Suddenly a rich businessman passing by approached him and inquired as to why he was sitting under a tree smoking and not working. To this the poor fisherman replied that he had caught enough fishes for the day.

Hearing this the rich man got angry and said: Why don’t you catch more fishes instead of sitting in shadow wasting your time?

Fisherman asked: What would I do by catching more fishes?

Businessman: You could catch more fishes, sell them and earn more money, and buy a bigger boat.

Fisherman: What would I do then?

Businessman: You could go fishing in deep waters and catch even more fishes and earn even more money.

Fisherman: What would I do then?

Businessman: You could buy many boats and employ many people to work for you and earn even more money.

Fisherman: What would I do then?

Businessman: You could become a rich businessman like me.

Fisherman: What would I do then?

Businessman: You could then enjoy your life peacefully.

Fisherman: What do you think I’m doing right now?

You don’t need to wait for tomorrow to be happy and enjoy your life. You don’t even need to be more rich, more powerful to enjoy life. LIFE is at this moment, enjoy it fully.

Chaplain Royal Bush is an Interfaith Chaplain offering nondenominational and nonreligious care and services to all, without exception in Nebraska and Iowa. He conducts Weddings Premarital Coaching Couples Coaching, Funerals, Blessings, and Pastoral Care. For more information please email info@inclusivelife.org OR phone 402-575-7006.

You're

You’re pathetic.  You can’t do it.  That will never work.  It’s been done before.  You’re a loser.  You’re stupid.  All that chases us, all that is feared, all that we run from is powerless over us.  If only WE make that choice.  You, not anyone else, authors YOUR life story.  Write what YOU believe.  NOW!

Regardless of where you have been, where you are or what you are doing you are not pathetic.  You can do it.  It can work.  Despite history.  You are not a loser.  And you are not stupid. 

Billboards, ads, movies, articles, social media, shows, peers all have great influence about how we view, feel about and think about ourselves.  Strip that away to the single core person we are without homes, clothes, jobs, money, influence, power, and cars and what is left?  What matters most?  Keeping the most important thing, the most important thing…YOU! 

You are the only who can make you number one!  Your family can’t do it.  Your partner can’t do it.  Your friends can’t do it.   Your co-workers can’t do it, and your pet’s can’t do it (although they sure try!)  You have to love you, believe in you and trust you before you can expect OR let anyone else to do the same.

You are beautiful.  You are loved.  You are worthy.

Chaplain Royal Bush is an Interfaith Chaplain offering nondenominational and nonreligious care and services to all, without exception in Nebraska and Iowa. He conducts Weddings Premarital Coaching Couples Coaching, Funerals, Blessings, and Pastoral Care. For more information please email info@inclusivelife.org OR phone 402-575-7006.

4 things...

The 4 things every child needs are love, food, sleep, and soap & water.  As adults I don’t know that we are much different.  LOVE-Love comes from many different people in many different ways. FOOD-The good-for-us-kind that will help us stay healthy. SLEEP-More than just naps. WATER-A little soap doesn’t hurt!

As the song goes there IS a season to plant, to build, to dance, to embrace and to love.  We make earth a bit like heaven each time we share of ourselves with others.  We can be the change we seek in this world by doing, not just saying.  By giving, not just taking.  By listening, not just talking.  By listening, not just hearing.  By living, not just breathing.

Chaplain Royal Bush is an Interfaith Chaplain serving all without exception in Nebraska and Iowa. He provides both nondenominational and nonreligious care & services. He conducts Weddings, Funeral, Blessings and premarital/couples coaching. For help or more information please email us at info@inclusivelife.org OR phone us at 402-575-7006.

Sunday October 2, 2011

And I offer the following prayer this morning...

"Forgiving, Loving, Caring, Teaching, and Healing parent, I thank you for the many blessings in my life and in this world.  For my family of friends who are dealing with life threatening illnesses I ask that you immediately touch the care givers and the family with your healing hand of love and comfort.  For the rest of us left in the world I ask for a miracle, the miracle of healing so those that can see, will see what is really in front of them.  For those that can touch, to really feel what is in front of them.  And for those who can talk, will use words of compassion and love."  Amen.     

October 1st, 2011

Good morning and Happy Saturday to you!

Today is October 1st at marks the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  It was some many years ago when my mother got sick at the office.  I took her to the doc that day, she never gets sick!  He did a chest x-ray to be sure that she didn’t have pneumonia.  She didn’t have a chest cold or pneumonia, but she did have a spot on her breast xray that the doctor didn’t like.  Two weeks later she had a radical mastectomy.  Today, mom is 93 years old and living life with a great big smile.

I have many things in life to be grateful for, she is certainly one of them.  Today I ask men and women to examine themselves and be mindful of those who may need reminding or help AND to offer a prayer for the blessings you have had in your life.

Chaplain Royal Bush is an Interfaith Chaplain serving all without exception in Nebraska and Iowa. He provides both nondenominational and nonreligious care & services. He conducts Weddings, Funeral, Blessings and premarital/couples coaching. For help or more information please email us at info@inclusivelife.org OR phone us at 402-575-7006.

Kindness

Unexpected gestures of kindness

Random acts of kindness

Intentional displays of kindness…

The Dalai Lama taught us to “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”  Perhaps sometimes easier said than done, but true despite any baggage “we” bring with it.

I caught an old Opera clip where she was talking about being upset with others.  She had been at odds with someone whom she observed out in public laughing, living, and loving life!  Opera was like “how dare she be happy when I AM not happy with her…”

Judging?  Grudges…  Wisdom!  Those three words may clash a little, but my point is this.  We all judge one another, it may not be in public or out loud but we do judge one another.  At one time or another we all have held a grudge, if even for an extra moment.  Then there is that wisdom that normally kicks in…

We know when we are not on our best behavior.  We know when we said, wrote or acted in an inappropriate manner (despite it feeling good at the time!)

Let us all take a moment and remember that we get out of life what we put into it.  We can be the change that we seek in this world; one act of conscious, intentional kindness. 

Whats love got to do with it?

Everything!  Love is the wish for all beings to experience happiness.  It is not just romantic love or love for our family and friends.  When people are happy, their hearts open and they respond more lovingly to others.  The love that wishes happiness for others also creates the environment for the happiness that you will experience in the future.   Live, Laugh, Dance, LOVE

Chaplain Royal at Inclusive Life offers both nondenominational and nonreligious care & services to all without exception.  We know that up to 70% of the population in America does not attend worship on a regular basis.  Who can individuals, couples and families turn to when they need care & services traditionally found by a place of worship?  US!  We offer: Wedding Officiants, Premarital and Couples Coaching, Pastoral Care and Funeral Ministers to those in Iowa and Nebraska.  (402) 575-7006     www.inclusivelife.org     Nebraska & Iowa

Inclusive Life

I have had some emails and people asking me what Inclusive life is.  Is it a church?  Are you connected with a church?  All very good questions.

A few years ago while serving as Minister of Hospitality for a local church I began paying attention to who attended worship.  Yes there were some who were “hard core” didn’t miss a Sunday, there were some who were there most Sundays and then there were many who we would see now and then OR come a few times and not come back.

I started doing some research and found that, depending on where you live; up to 70% of the population is not attending worship/church on a regular basis.  Many years ago church was the corner stone in most families lives, social settings for the community and home of many grass roots programs.

At the same time I was in the midst of a change in my life, I realized my calling to ministry work, but didn’t just quite know what I was to be doing.  I could give a message, I loved helping celebrate worship, in the end I realized I loved Pastoral Care. 

My research continued.  Where do individuals, couples and families turn to when they need “pastoral care” and they don’t attend church?  Surely someone in their family will want to get married.  I know that at some point a funeral will need to be planned.  And somewhere in the middle someone may need some coaching or pastoral care.  If they have not been to church or even have attended church who can they depend on to provide care and services as if they had been lifelong members?  Inclusive Life!

Inclusive Life, the name was thought of carefully.  It implies exactly what we think about who we serve… “All without exception!”  In the last two years we have married same sex couples, those seeking earth/native spirituality ceremonies, secular (non-religious) ceremonies, Christian ceremonies, interfaith ceremonies and many others.  We are able to provide a level of service and care that is often unmatched by other local officiants (some of which are ordained online and have little or no training.)  We offer premarital coaching and couples coaching.  Being a part of planning a loved-ones funeral is a most sacred task.  Asking the appropriate questions allows the family to begin the healing process and for us to understand how we can honorably cerebrate their loved-one’s life.

Inclusive Life is incorporated in Nebraska as a Non-Profit Church.  We are non-denominational and are not affiliated with any other church or denomination.  We rely on donations, the fees received for weddings, funerals and coaching services to provide care and services to those without income.

Inclusive Life is served by two Chaplains: Chaplain Royal Bush and Chaplain Beth Loofe.