Monthly Archives: March 2017

Some realities are not perceived by deductive reasoning

Posted on March 17, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

For the past couple of centuries, the Western World has tended to judge reality by what can be proved scientifically. Yet increasingly we have come to see that there are all sorts of realities that are not perceived by deductive … Continue reading →

Posted in Intuitive understanding, Reason, Spiritual Insight, Truth | Leave a comment

Blinded by the confines of their own intellects

Posted on March 17, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

The Russian novelist Dostoevsky once said: ‘He who desires to see the living God face to face should not seek him in the empty firmament of his mind, but in love.’ The great mistake of the current crop of fundamentalist … Continue reading →

Posted in God, God shaped holes, Searching, Seeking and Finding, Spiritual blindness, Spiritual Darkness | Leave a comment

A lamp to my feet

Posted on March 17, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

Back in the dark days of the Cold War, Anatoli Shcharansky said goodbye to his wife as she left Russia for Israel. His parting words were: ‘I’ll see you soon in Jerusalem.’ But soon after he was detained and sent … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Faith, Guidance, Hope, Spiritual blessing, Spiritual comfort | Leave a comment

The real test of someone’s philosophy

Posted on March 17, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

Just before before he died, the atheist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre resisted feelings of despair by saying to himself: ‘I know I shall die in hope.’ Then in profound sadness, he would add: ‘But hope needs a foundation.’ His words remind … Continue reading →

Posted in Afterlife, Agnosticism, Atheism, Death, emptiness, Faith, Unbelief | Leave a comment

Conforming to the mask

Posted on March 17, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

Fredrick Beuchner wrote a story called ‘The Happy Hypocrite,’ about a man born with a facial deformity. He grew up alone and lonely. When reaching adulthood, he decided to move from his town to begin a new life. On his … Continue reading →

Posted in New Heart, New Life, New love, Transformation | 1 Comment

Forgiveness and new starts

Posted on March 17, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

It’s hard to imagine anything more tragic than the death of nine-year-old Josiah Sisson, run down by a drunk driver on Christmas day, while out enjoying the Christmas lights with his family. And it’s hard to imagine anything more amazing … Continue reading →

Posted in Forgiveness, New start | Leave a comment

What do we gain by praying?

Posted on March 17, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

There are some things in life that we just do automatically, even though we later wonder why on earth we do them. One of them is praying. Even in this very secular and materialistic age most people still say they … Continue reading →

Posted in Agnosticism, Faith, Prayer | Leave a comment

It’s not him!

Posted on March 17, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

A few weeks ago I was called to the bedside of an old friend who had just died. I was struck again by the thought I always get at such times, that even though I can recognize the them, there’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Afterlife, Death, Immortality | Leave a comment

When bad luck is self-inflicted.

Posted on March 17, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

In nineteen seventy-nine one of the greatest upsets in the history of stockcar racing happened when Richard Petty ended his long losing streak and won the Daytona 500. However, it came as a surprise because on the last lap Petty … Continue reading →

Posted in Foolishness, Luck | Leave a comment

The essence of spirituality

Posted on March 6, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

I know of a woman who was locked into a loveless marriage with a man who was so demanding that he wrote out a list of things he required of her, and insisted that she read them every day. Some … Continue reading →

Posted in Demands, love, Oppression, Spiritual Insight, Spirituality | 1 Comment