Good Morning, God!

Yesterday, Suz and I went to see the Paris Exhibit at the Getty Museum in the Santa Monica Mountains. It was all about the daily life of the wealthy in the time of Louis XV — 1723 – 1775. It gave me a “funny” feeling, God.

I stood in front of one of the portraits — a bright and happy man in his 40s — and felt as if we were somehow related — family, even. These were people who worked at living “well.” They valued reading and thinking as well as beauty. And they loved the “latest technologies” such as pocket watches. Many were involved in scientific pursuits. It was clear that “learning” was important.

But, the exhibit was made bittersweet by the knowledge that the Revolution of 1789 was to sweep so many of them away — away to England, if they were “lucky.” The American Revolution had inspired the Thinkers — while the unbearable Poverty of the People on the Land fueled terribly destructive anger. Did any of the people described in this exhibit SEE THAT COMING? And, if so, how did they respond?

Ah, God, then I think — not historically — but personally, about myself. I think about how I SEE Sugar is bad for me, and yet I find it so hard to resist. Living WELL involves so many dimensions. Knowing and Doing. Loving Self and Loving Others. Spontaneous Child and Responsible Grownup. Creating and Organizing.

Not either / or choices but moment by moment blending. Thank You, God, for this incredible Life!

Good Morning, God!

I know from the Book of Leviticus that FOOD is important to You. There are a lot of Rules in that Book. I confess, it has been years since I read it. Hmm. Yes, You’re Right. It would be a good idea for me to pause and read SOME of it before continuing our Conversation!

That was a Surprise! It was only Chapter Eleven that talked about food — clean and unclean MEATS. I guess I was hoping to find a section on eating vegetables. Hmm. Yes, that was in the book of Daniel, wasn’t it. I suppose that was because Daniel and his friends would have had no way of telling if the King’s food was clean or unclean.

Meanwhile, what’s been on my mind is how colorful traditional diets are! The photo here is of a Persian dish — sabzi — mostly green herbs! Suz wrapt them in a piece of flatbread and dug in! An older man next to us asked her, “Are you Persian?” And then added that he had NEVER seen an American eat like that!

I think back, God, to the iceberg lettuce of my childhood — or the creamed celery of my Canadian father. So Colorless! What is it that Michael Pollan said? That ALL tradition diets support life and good health — EXCEPT THE AMERICAN DIET!

Suz observed at our Persian meal that we have become “unlinked” from our Traditions. We are like Children, Set Free, to chose what we WANT! No wonder we have wandered into the Land of Excess — The Land of Sugar — The Land of Tastes Good.

It is kind of scary, God. What will it take to deliver us from “The Sugar Serpent?” Please help us, God! Please help ME!

Good Morning God!

Yesterday was quite a day. I knew Suz loved to walk but my walks with her have been short ones — maybe an hour at most. Ah, but yesterday we basically walked and talked from 12:45 to 6:45 — a half marathon of walking and talking while Suz’s car was given an “oil change” which morphed into an Intermediate Service + New Tires and New Front Brakes. Yikes!

I feel for Suz’s car, God! I identify! It has 70,000+ miles on it and it NEEDED AN OVERHAUL! Oh, if ONLY it were so easy for Humans, God, to go in for Oil Changes, New Tires, and New Brakes. Smile! At least I know that is what I need. And being at Suz’s does feel a bit like being up on those hydraulic lifts that garages have — Suz has been checking my tongue for clues and probing my psyche. I feel loved and cared for — if just a wee bit sore from the walking.

It was a beautiful day, God, and — as we set out from the Santa Monica Toyota Dealers — I couldn’t resist talking a photo of the “ice plant” that is so typical of Southern California. We walked up to Brentwood for salads at La Pain Quotidien and then found our way to Free People — one of Suz’s favorite stores. Then, after we checked in with the Toyota dealer via cell phone, we made our way to the Montana Street shopping district and stopped for iced hibiscus tea at Peets.

All of this on a Glorious April Day! Clear blues skies. Temperature in the low 70s with a very light breeze blowing. LA at her best! Suz was at her best, too! I feel indulged and slightly “spoiled” God. I have the great luxury of spending Time and Money on Myself. It feels — ODD. I realize that I feel UNCOMFORTABLE if not GUILTY about it.

A day or two ago Kit called from my Mom’s where he was playing scrabble with her. He asked if she’d wanted to talk with me. My Mom called out, “TELLL HER TO COME HOME!” There is that PULL, God! The Pull of Love for my mother. Love for Kit. These are very Strong Pulls, God! Important Pulls, for which I am Grateful!

But my own Dear Self is pulling, too, God. And that is why I am soon to be off to my Silent Retreat in Snowmass. Thank You, God — and Kit — and my Deeper Self — for making this possible!

Good Morning, God!

Let’s see, it’s been over three days since my last sugar fix. I’m almost clean! And, I’m visiting Suz who is a great “role model” and a bite of a “monitor.” That helps, God! And I NEED the help.

Both Kit and Suz have no problem with “going without” food. Kit even LIKES weight loss “games.” But, my Body PANICS! Now, yesterday, Suz and I had a light breakfast around 9ish and agreed we’d have a late lunch. We got so into shopping we didn’t eat “lunch” at all — but had an early dinner at 5. My Body didn’t seem to even notice, let alone mind.

How could that be, God? Hmm. One difference is the Variety of Food that my Body is getting. So far I’ve had exquisite (mostly vegetables) Japanese food, Korean food with 32 different tiny side dishes, and Lebanese food. My Body seems delighted! And I do remember that our pre-agricultural ancestors ate 800 different foods over the course of a year. So, maybe God, the variety is giving my Body the nutrients it needs? Enough nutrients so my Body isn’t anxious?

Looking up at the photo I took of our Lebanese dinner I can see that the tabouli is almost entirely parsley — while American versions are mostly bulgar wheat. The waiter told us that parsley has 14 vitamins in it. No wonder I wasn’t hungry later!

Hmmm. That’s sort of a foreground background shift on thinking about obesity, isn’t it, God? Seeing obesity as caused by the ABSENCE of nutrients — not the EXCESS of calories? That FEELS, God, like a VERY USEFUL THOUGHT. Please help me –help all of us in “Industrial Societies” — eat more nutrient rich foods. Alas, the best nutrients don’t “live” in boxes sitting on shelves.

Good Morning, God!

Yesterday, Suz said “I have a food for you that you’ve NEVER had.” I admit I was dubious — after all I’ve eaten quite a few foods. But as soon as I saw it, I knew Suz was right!

“TASTE IT!” she said, “and GUESS what it is!” — so, I did. At my first bite I said “Avocado!” But I knew that wasn’t right. So, I had another bite — with a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of sea salt. I still had NO idea, God, what it was! Fortunately, SUZ gave me a “hint” by pointing to the shape inside. The shape was familiar. A baby ALMOND! I was eating fresh almonds!

Suz said she had tried one years earlier, and didn’t like it. But then a couple of weeks ago, Suz saw a Persian man buying a pound at the Farmers’ Market and she asked him, “How do you eat them?” He said, “You scrub off the fuzz and eat them with lemon juice and salt. That’s all. They’re GOOD for you!”

They really did taste as if they were good for me — in a very positive way — refreshing and satisfying. But, it was IMPORTANT to know that the thick grey fuzz had to come off and that lemon juice and salt helped!

For some reason, God, I’m thinking not of food now, but of communication. There are pieces of “information” that would be “good for us” to know — but they are wrapped in the “grey fuzz” of judgment — which is hard to scrub off! And, if we don’t know about ADDING the “lemon juice of humor” or the “salt of affirmation” then the information is not going to be “consumed.”

Funny — or sad — God, how much energy we put into preparing a meal, but, how little real attention we put into our conversational interactions. Please, God, help me pay more attention to both what I eat and what I say!

Good Morning, God

Just now, looking out the plane’s window at the air flowing over the wing, I thought about how it is the plane pushing forward the creates the LIFT on the wings — enough “lift” to raise the whole plane and all its contents skyward. The wings just don’t look BIG ENOUGH to do that. However did they discover that? (And, if I knew how to add one of my photos I would HAVE a photo of my plane’s wing.)

Learning involves effort –I am used to living without much frustration — so I have forgotten that it is part of pushing through to new connections. Amy Chua understands that. Understands that PART of parenting or teaching is to push or pull the “child” into to experiencing that.

I remember when I learned that work could be satisfying. I was mopping the floor at the Girl Scout camp at Emerald Bay, Catalina. I was doing it “under duress” but midway through it came to me that I was enjoying seeing the floor become clean.

Ah, but I did not learn it well enough to teach it! Hmmm. I didn’t learn it well enough to use it in my own life — let alone, pass it on. So, HERE is another chance. Another series of chances.

Thank You, God, for new days, new opportunities, new chances. Life isn’t, perhaps, so much about “getting it Right” as it is about pressing forward with the choosing. Not so much in the EFFORT as in the SENSING? Discerning?

Now off into a Day of being in Your Compassionate — and quietly encouraging — presence.