judge alex

how many judge tv shows are there now? i just turned on the television (a mistake already) and judge alex is on. two women are arguing over small amounts of money. i mean, come on. judge judy. judge joe brown. divorce court....that i can even name that many seems a little frightening to me, and by the way, judge alex? is he even a real judge?. Although I ridicule television, I have to admit i just programmed "the bachelor" into my sister's tivo (i'm too poor to subscribe myself).

living in the world, but not of it. is this possible? I know one woman who makes it seem a very distinct possibility. she lives on less than $800 a month, does not own a televison, wears sweats most of the time, never wears make-up. she does not own a couch (of that one, i'm not sure why), and re-gifts most of the gifts given to her. Her smile instantly warms me. she used to work in the business world and quit her job to work at a golf course simply because she enjoys the work. she's unmarried, in fact, i doubt she has ever desired marriage. Although I have only met her twice, those times have been moments of awareness, silence, peace, and joy. when i went home over the holidays i saw her at a spiritual gathering and we didn't even speak (she spent all of december in silence), but she didn't need to. The love she brought with her was enough to fill the room and spill out the building. I am not writing this to glorify her, but to recognize this beautiful power that lives within us all- this ability to surrender our attachment to the world and live according to a spiritual purpose. The truth is, we don't need half the things we have convinced ourselves we need. we aren't entitled to them either. this is not to say we shouldn't welcome things of the material world with thanksgiving. i shouln't, however, trust them or attach myself to them.

although i have much to learn in this arena, for now i think i'll just turn off judge alex and read.