Rev. Steven Schultz writes...

Wondering and searching how I could help the world led me to the Tree of Life Seminary. 

The most memorable teaching of the Tree Of Life seminary occurred at the seminary retreat. I learned that we live in the psych ward of the universe. I found comfort in that wisdom knowing I was not alone. Normal is a setting on the dishwasher. I also learned that I can’t take myself too seriously. Apparently God has a huge sense of humor.

The thing that comes to my mind is that the Tree of Life Seminary had the ability to call me to itself. Although that may sound strange, a series of events occurred in my life prior to me entering the seminary, that for me leaves no doubt. Although it happened that way, the words are difficult to describe the process. After I entered the Tree Of Life Seminary, I was looking for an experiential presence. The seminary provided the sacred space for that experience to occur in my life. I honestly had no concept of the depths to which that would take me and the revelations I would see within myself and beyond. The deep learning from head knowledge to heart wisdom allowed me to see a more complete world within myself and outside of myself. It was quite an experiential journey. I am changed forever from the inside out.

The seminary provided a wonderful guide for me, (Peggy) so I didn’t have to travel alone on this wonderful journey to becoming a minister. It is a wonderful feeling to know when you’re walking into the unknown and in the darkest most hidden places, you are not alone. My mind is like a bad neighborhood, I shouldn’t go there alone. The seminary taught me to understand myself better. With this new knowledge and wisdom I am now able to understand the world much better. It was a journey that I believe the other interfaith seminaries didn’t seem to offer or acknowledge. They seemed to me to be more academic and intellectual with little emphasis on heart wisdom or spiritual experiences. If I had another chance to go to any seminary again, I would choose this one again and again over all the others, interfaith or not. 

The curriculums design was very professional and it guides you gently deeper into yourself and into a deeper realm of wisdom. 

By creating documents of my principles and beliefs and what I vowed to do is vital. This makes it very simple to explain my ministry and also gives a hand out to people so they will see and understand easily what and who I am. It was also a great privilege to be able to give the worship service on Mother’s Day as a seminarian. That was a important learning experience on how to prepare and present a service. By having to give the service on zoom, expanded the learning experience into the new environment of social distancing. 

I am a follower of wild Jesus and He is the one they don’t really talk about in Christianity very much. Christ is wild and cannot be domesticated. He always takes me into the unknown and the mystery. I am learning to live in the mystery. He says come and see, follow me. So I do. That’s how I am able to be here writing this for you today. I don’t know much, I just say yes. I know that I am here to make known the unknown. I’ve had the time of my life.

The short version of my spiritual journey goes like this; it was brokenness that led me to Jesus Christ. It was Jesus who led me to Sufism and Rumi. It was Rumi that led me to the ancient one Meher Baba. It was Avatar Maher Baba who led me to Jesus the Christ. Wild Jesus. It was Jesus the Christ who led me to the Christ Consciousness. What will you say when the master calls?

I BELIEVE 

God has always been God; it is only the human perception of God that changes.

Panentheism, the everywhere-ness of God, God is in all things.

The universe is made of consciousness, energy, and matter.

I am a spiritual being living and having a human experience.

Within everyone, longing is the same everywhere.

The role of a prophet is to lead us into sacred space by deconstructing the old space, taking us from order to disorder to re-order.

I shall become a prophet of hope in the pursuit of peace to help heal the world.

To change one’s belief system, which changes behavior, is painful work and is necessary for our life to have new meaning.

Whatever arises in one’s emotions, embrace it with the following; I see you, I love you, I am you.

If your everyday practice is to open to all your emotions, to all people you meet, to all the situations you encounter, without closing down to them; trusting that you can be open to these emotions, then that will take you as far as you can go. Then you will understand all the teachings that anyone has ever taught.

My friend and brother always takes me into the unknown, the journey continues. I am in love with Jesus the Christ and will follow him to the ends of the earth, there is a land we were meant to see. 

God loves you and so do I.

Reverend Steven Schultz Sr. October 11, 2020