understanding

We're laying in her bed as she attempts to unwind from the day.  We've read her stories and, not quite ready to close her eyes, she asks me to read to her from my book.  This happens every so often.  So, I do.

My reading tonight is of mindfulness, the Buddhist idea of bringing ourselves fully into the present moment.  It is a gift we give others, it is a gift we give ourselves, and this author argues, it can be a way to fully experience the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

I read a few short pages and place the book on the night stand.  Even for me, this takes some digesting and I want to sink myself into the ideas on these few pages.  I roll over and close my eyes, in hopes that she will do the same.

She sings quietly as I drift peacefully to sleep . . . "We can change the world."

I reply, "Yes, we can," and we both fall fast asleep.

Surprises and Discoveries

A few months ago, I began working through the Seven Spiritual Laws (Deepak Chopra).  I haven't gotten past the second law, but that's okay with me.  In the beginning, I lamented that I didn't have a strong connection with nature.  But, I've discovered something along this journey.  I am strongly and profoundly connected with nature - plants, colors, animals, water.

I've been especially attentive to blooming flowers and the constant change in amazing colors found in nature - the pink and purples of early Spring, the expectant white of fruit trees, the yellow, red, and orange of late Spring. I've been attracted to cool, lush, green outdoor spaces.  I find my mind still and peaceful in the presence of water - ponds, fountains, sprinklers.

So, I've gone exploring area parks and properties to find more of the nature that is pulling me in; yet opening my heart and mind.  Along my way, I've discovered . . .

Even the little things are beautiful.

Nature holds many answers for our every day lives.

Peace of mind is found in the subtleties of life.

A deep, fresh breath can provide all the energy needed to conquer your day.

A single drop of water is more powerful than any weapon of war.

Listening to yourself is as important as listening to others.

The colors of nature soften the heart.

Silence is the most beautiful music.

 

There is a calming that I cannot describe when I leave the busyness of home, office, church, community and find a place like this . . .

I am surprised by the connection I've found between nature and my peace of mind.  I am surprised how much I've learned about myself by communing with nature. I am surprised that I've allowed myself to turn my time and attention to discovering the world around me. I welcome this surprise with open arms.

Colors

 Colors. 

 Something to be grateful for.  

 Vibrant, beautiful colors.  

 From nature.  

On a sunny day.  

A reminder that the Universe gives us abundance and grace.

Causing me to breathe anew.

Eliciting gratitude.

How have you experienced gratitude today?

Expressions

Children are exceptionally good at giving and receiving.  I have received hundreds of loving creations from my own children, nieces and nephews, and my children's choir children years ago.  Most creations don the large print words "TO:" and "FROM:" and "I LOVE YOU."  And these are some of my favorite gifts to receive.  I am thankful for the construction paper memos, torn pieces of paper, and post-it after post-it of generosity.

Mother's Day is around the corner and the colorful, heart-felt sentiments are already on my counter and refrigerator.  My heart is open and excited for each creation!

What have I given today?

     a compliment

     a welcome back

     a good morning

     computer assistance

     answers to students' questions

     an hour & a half of pretend play (princess & stepmother) with my youngest daughter

     encouragement

     a gift to my husband (a sitter for our upcoming anniversary)

     a late night snack (not for me!)

What have I received?

     a readiness and anticipated need fulfilled by a staff member

     an opportunity

    

     laughter

     affirmation

     

     love

     hugs & kisses - lots

What have you given and received today?

Giving and Receiving

I'm ready to move beyond Pure Potentiality and into the next spiritual law, in this space anyway.  The next law is the law of Giving and Receiving.  There are two words Chopra uses that help me appreciate the law of giving and receiving - circulation and breath.  Everything in the universe is in circulation; nothing can resist transformation and continue to survive.  In other words, change in inevitable.  Got it!

Breath is in circulation, breathing in and breathing out, changing in response to how and what the body and mind are feeling.  If body and mind feel threatened, the breath will be shallow and quick, preparing to assist the body in response to that threat.  When the body is open and relaxed, the breath is deep, natural, calm.  The breath gives the body what it needs to respond to different situations and it receives direction from the mind about how it should manifest.  The breath is an amazing example of giving and receiving.

When practicing this law, Chopra shares three strategies:
First, to give to all those you encounter (material gifts. gifts of kindness, sometimes silent blessings).  Second, to be open to receive abundance from the universe.  And, third, to experience gratitude.

I love the idea of Experiencing Gratitude.  This says so much more to me than simply being thankful.  In meditation, this is called lovingkindness meditation.  I've shared a little of this before, but lovingkindess meditation involves recalling a time or moment when you help another person and made a difference.  You sit in the feeling that comes from these moments and then ask for happiness and ease of being for yourself and all living things.  In the space between thoughts and in the silence of meditation, this experience can be deep, moving, overwhelming, intense, and magical.  To me, this is what it means to Experience gratitude.

So, I will enter the practice of giving and receiving.  As the academic year ends, it is a good time to be open to this law.  It is now that students will share what I've given them along their four-year journey and I will have opportunity to share my observations of their development, their transformation in most cases.  I enter this practice hopeful and confident!

May you be blessed with a heart to give, openness to receive, and may you EXPERIENCE gratitude!

Lovingkindness

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12)  And Jesus example of love was to give himself over to death for you and for me.

Tonight, at worship, I found myself thinking, yet again, about this notion of non-judgement.  "Today, I will judge nothing that happens."  Is the notion of non-judgement connected with the idea of love?  I say, definitely!  Surely to love others the way Jesus loved us is to forgive and understand those that we love, to show compassion and to be unconditional.  How quickly judgement can tear apart our love for other people.

Christian or not, this commandment can be a great rule for life.  Love one another!  What if this were the ONLY rule we had to follow.  Wouldn't this fix the woes of the world?  Would we kill each other over difference if we loved one another?  Would we steal from each other if we loved on another?  Would we be self-righteous if we loved one another?  Would opinions be so right and so wrong if we loved one another?  Would riches matter if we loved on another?  Would we have to judge and be driven by our judgement if we loved one another?

In my meditation practice this week, I'm practicing a technique called lovingkindness.  I have to tell you that it is rocking my world!  In this technique, you recall kind things you've done for others and the way you feel in those moments.  Holding steady to that feeling, you say aloud "May I be happy.  May I have ease of living."  Then you say, "May all things be happy.  May all things have ease of living."

Recalling acts of kindness was hard enough, being the critic that I am.  But wishing me and all things happiness and ease of living has rendered me useless in my daily life.  Where I was quite capable of making sound decisions even a week ago, I find myself questioning my intent, the impact my decisions will have, and the consequences of my decisions with far more heart and empathy than ever before.  It's almost paralyzing!  I've lost my footing, but do believe these are growing pains into a new way of being.

I learned tonight that the word Maunday is a Latin word meaning commandment.  As such, today is Maunday Thursday because in Holy Week today is the day we honor this commandment Jesus gave us.  Today we also honor holy communion - another gift given to us by Jesus as an act of love.


In my Christian tradition, we call this love.  In Eastern tradition, it is called non-judgement.  Two cultures, two traditions, one gift that can bring peace to those who engage.

Wishing you the peace of love and non-judgement this Maunday Thursday.

The Passion Story

Matthew 27:45-50 and 54

     From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.  And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" When some bystanders heard it, they said, "This man is calling for Elijah." At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink.  But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him."  Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.

...they were terrified and said "Truly this man was God's Son!"

For many Christians, John 3:16  is the Biblical passage used to justify their faith.  The above passage is the crux of my faith.  The bolded verses, ("My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" and "Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.") never fail to bring me to tears with the realization that it is ME who put him on that cross.

In the Lutheran church, the Sunday before Easter serves a dual purpose.  We begin in a joyous tone with the celebration of Palm Sunday and move quickly into a somber tone, one filled with anxiety and mourning as we read the Passion.  To hear the Passion story read and acted by members of the congregation sends the message home that you and I are the players in this story.  You and I are the chorus, the Jews, the sinners judging Jesus, the accusers.  No, we were not there.  But, it only takes one day of listening to the hurtful gossip in the office or in a high school, or even in a church to know that we would have behaved the same way if faced with Jesus in his time.

There is one other piece of Scripture, coupled with that above, reminds my of why I came to believe in the triune God along this faith journey.  In a moment of vulnerability, Jesus prays "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want." To know what pain and suffering he must endure for the children of God, to believe that his journey was necessary for you and me, to not question God's will is beyond our human capacity.  

 

I've been reflecting on the notion of pure potentiality this week - the notion of change and of becoming.  I believe as humans we have an amazing capacity to change, to rise above, to be transformed, to pursue our pure potentiality. But, I don't believe we could willingly place ourselves in the seat of suffering on behalf of the world.  Only through God, with God, and in God could this pure compassion manifest!

In our home, the Passion story has been in our hearts and it has been a creative weekend. Included in this post are those pieces that have come from our hearts.  Works of art they are not...

May this Holy Week find you at peace and able to slow down enough to take this message in!

Nature

The element of Pure Potentiality that I haven't addressed is communing with nature.  I love to be outdoors, but I am a self-professed fair weather fan.  This April has been colder than others and I have certainly enjoyed the warm, sunny days that have graced us with their presence.  

Today, it's raining and cold - again.  About 4 p.m., though, we got a beautiful break in the weather.  The bitter chill left the air and the sun shone as if to say, "Oh, gray clouds - you can't hide me!"

So, I grabbed the kids and my camera and went outside to commune.  Oh, how green the grass is today!  Here is what I saw:

Wishing you a day and vibrant and colorful as this!

 
Peace be with you...