There is no Non-Communication

Posted on April 3, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Jogging around Kapiolani Park

Good Morning, God!

Almost every Friday I jog around Kapiolani Park with a friend. And because we are busy talking I don’t notice other joggers. But, yesterday, as I was out jogging at home I made it a point to wave, nod or say Good Morning to everyone I passed.

That’s is when it hit me that I was affirming them. Kit is fabulous at doing this — and he has been gently encouraging me to do the same thing.

Yesterday, I was doing my second blog for the day and wanted to quote Paul Watzlawick and needed to spell his name right. I read him decades ago. In checking I stumbled on his FIVE AXIOMS and put that link in my blog. Then, later, I went back and reread the axioms.

Axiom 1 is Cannot not. “One cannot not communicate.” Because every behaviour is a kind of communication, people who are aware of each other are constantly communicating. Any perceivable behaviour, including the absence of action, has the potential to be interpreted by other people as having some meaning.”

That axiom seems to extend into all parts of life. It certainly put a new light on my behavior — or lack of it — while passing joggers. If I don’t “notice” the person I am passing — I am not “not communicating”. The absence of an acknowledgement MIGHT not be noticed. Or it MIGHT be seen as a sign of indifference or even disrespect. Oh DEAR!

Actually, God, I am not really so concerned about my fellow joggers, as about my family and friends. Silence isn’t always golden, is it God? Hmm. How far, God, does our communication ripple?

Posted in Affirmation, Communication, complexity, Silence

Just a few more thoughts on Affirmations

Posted on April 2, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

a closer look at the Banyan Tree

Good Afternoon, God!

As I was out jogging — for the AFAC Team in Swaziland — it came to me that: 1) we can affirm people without knowing them 2) it only takes a nod or smile or wave 3) affirming people is YOUR BUSINESS, God.

Hmm. That last point really calls out from amplification, but not now. What I mean is that Connecting With You is to lead us naturally into connecting (affirming?) with others.

Oh! To let YOUR LOVE flow through me. To be unable to contain it! Please, God, help me — even on runs — to nod, smile, wave and say Hello!

And now to go down and AFFIRM Kit! Ah, to begin in my dear FAMILY!

Posted in Uncategorized

Going on an Affirmation Feast?

Posted on April 2, 2011 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Leaves of a Banyan Tree in Kapiolani Park

Good Morning, God!

Yesterday I was chatting with a dear friend about her upcoming Daniel Fast — named after Daniel in the Old Testament who didn’t eat the King’s food. He ate beans and grains and vegetables and drank water. He and his friends ended up healthier than those eating the King’s food.

I thought about this, God and I felt “convicted” about my food. I want to do better — but, alas, like most of us — not quite yet.

Then as I was chatting about the diet it came to me that Jesus said that it isn’t what goes INTO a man’s mouth that makes him “unclean” but what comes OUT of a man’s mouth!

Hmm. It came to me that I could go on an AFFIRMATION FEAST. Of course, it could be called a fast from negative comments. But, it sounds a LOT more appealing to me when I call it a FEAST!

Somehow, God, we humans think that criticizing is the best way to help. But, my experience is that criticism makes us defensive and combative. How much better to affirm a person’s strengths — in fact, how much better just to AFFIRM those around us. And, just as these beautiful leaves were there in the Banyan tree — strengths and beauty ARE there in those around us.

Affirming a person’s existence can start with something as simple as using his name. Again, I think back to Paul Watzlawick’s wonderful quote: The Primary Purpose of Human Communication is to Confirm Our Existence as Human Beings.” Affirmed individuals seem to me, God, to be better able to BEHAVE better. Please help me, God, to go on an “Affirmation Feast.”

Posted in being together in a compassionate presence, changing who I want to become, Communication, food questions

Choosing to SEE — just for a moment

Posted on April 1, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Polar Bears and our mutual future

Good Morning, God!

I stumbled on a set of videos on the Big Melt — referring to the Polar Ice Field. And it made me sad, God. I really like this world just the way it is right now. It might have been better earlier, but I would gladly settle for keeping the status quo.

Only, it sure doesn’t look as if that is going to happen. The poles are melting and that means less reflective white ice and that will cause the melting to accelerate still faster. It is a positive feedback loop with disastrous changes for the polar bears. And, probably us, too.

But, then I remember that 7,000 years ago there was the Red Ocher Culture centered around the Arctic Circle. Hmm. I think I have that right. The world changes. Our current world will give way to future worlds. And, I am trying to put this all in Your Hands, God.

Actually, God, this is really all I can do — put my concerns in Your Loving Hands. It is tempting to think that we might gather ourselves together and make some voluntary radical changes in our energy production and usage. But, I don’t think that will happen. Too many people still point to a cold winter and say What Global Warming?

Ah my. And the forces of business grind on — the forces of “Business as Usual” being pretty powerful in my life, too, God. Sigh. And as I reread what I have written here, God, I can really understand the “usefulness” of Willful Blindness for us humans. Please, God, Help me Focus on what I can do — then help me to do it.

Posted in a matter of scale, our small blue dot, seeing

A Completely Marvelous Day!

Posted on March 31, 2011 by a moment with god — 2 Comments

A birthday breakfast

Good Morning, God!

I don’t know when I have enjoyed a birthday more than I did yesterday! It was just a completely marvelous day! Thank You!

A few years ago, God, I might not have thought to thank You for things like wonderful days. It feels GOOD to thank You! It feels RIGHT to thank You.

The act of saying Thank You seems somehow to make more room inside me for You to “hold on to.”

It makes me think of the children’s spinning top, the dreidel. I was playing with one a few years ago and thought “Wow! if this had six sides, instead of four, it would be a great visual representation of our week.”

Each side would be one of the working days. And the pole that comes up the top would be the Sabbath Day. The one that You use, God, to pick us (the top) up and give us a “spin.” I loved the image then, God, and I still love it! Our week is designed to pivot and spin on the point or base of the Sabbath. And the pole is “set apart” so You can get a good grip on us.

All of this is very practical, God. Because I NEED for You to have a good grip on me. I’m almost through listening to Willful Blindness and I have become PAINFULLY AWARE of how HARD it is to make “good” choices when we are part of a group. Because it is so important to us to be a loyal group member.

So, please God, help me make MORE room for You in my heart and in my life.

Posted in gratitude, Hearing, Sabbath as PLAY, sabbath rest, seeing, thankfulness

Thankfulness and Two Birthday Wishes

Posted on March 30, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Bird of Paradise seen unexpectedly on a jog

Good Morning, God!

Wheee! Today is my birthday and I am SO THANKFUL! I am blessed — and I know it. And I would count the ways, God, but then I would be sitting here all day!

I’m thankful that I did go jogging yesterday — with stops for photos. My first jog in a few days.

So much beauty, God, so much beauty. And how good it is for my spirit to pause and appreciate it. Beauty is healing in some strange way. Beauty in the physical world and beauty in the smiles of family and friends. Again, God, I am VERY THANKFUL!

But, God, I confess, I have TWO BIRTHDAY WISHES. The first one is for folks who enjoy praying. Please pray for Heidi Lum and her young son, Noah, who are off to Swaziland to review and encourage our (Advocates for Africa’s Children) partners and projects. What we are doing is ground breaking and important and needs prayer.

The Second Wish, God, is that People will watch this marvelous video of Dr. David Servan-Schreiber talking about what we can do to turn back cancer. We DO have the power to do that, God. We CAN help ourselves. And the BEST time to do it is NOW. I would so much rather have family, friends and “unmet friends” watch this video and commit to taking better care of themselves than receive leis or cards or nice stuff like that. Of course, I love cards!

But, I LOVE PEOPLE so much more! And I LONG for us all to TAKE CARE of ourselves. So please, God, help people WATCH this video.

Posted in gratitude, Growth Opportunities, healing, health, Helpful Hards, Prayer, thankfulness

Making Changes to Live Better and Live Longer

Posted on March 29, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Dr. David Servan-Schreiber

Good Morning, God!

It seems to take a while for things to soak in to my brain. A wise friend has been sending me LOTS of information about Dr. David Servan-Schreiber and his book Anti-cancer: A New Way of Life.

And I thought, RIGHT, more about eating broccoli. But, I watched him in a brief YouTube presentation and he’s really GOT IT! I bet Being French helped him. The French are still mostly eating real food so it wasn’t totally unfamiliar to him.

It isn’t so much that I didn’t KNOW that sugar and white flour feeds cancer. Not that I didn’t know that the changes in fats since the 1940’s (especially transfats) were BAD for us. And I knew that the industrialization of the meat and dairy industries has switched the fast fat (omega 3) that comes from cows eating GRASS to the slow fat (omega 6) that happens when you feed them grains.

But, those factoids were scattered about in my brain, God. They never seemed to gather together for a “Critical Mass” that would get this Little Lemming pointed away from the sea.

What to do is clear. ONE: Eat lots of vegetables, no packaged foods, no oils except olive oil, and only grass-fed meat and grass-fed dairy. TWO: exercise for 30 minutes six times a week. THREE: build relaxation/contemplation into all of life. FOUR: avoid pollution and contaminants.

We are talking SLOW HARD CHANGES. God! True, I don’t need to do it all immediately. I can work toward it. I can ask Kit to help, friends to help, and YOU to help.

Posted in Changing, Cherishing our Bodies, choosing HARD, Heal Us Now, health

Entering Slowly into a New Week

Posted on March 28, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

leaving church at Central Union

Good Morning, God!

Yesterday was a lovely Sabbath. I slept in, went to church, had a bite to eat and napped. Ahaaa, wonderful.

Then, a little grocery shopping, a walk and games with my mom, and dinner at home with guests. All without rushing. All at a slow pace. In fact, even our “crockpot” dinner was going slow.

I prayed too, God — lifting up friends — and people I know. Hmm. I don’t think I prayed for world leaders and corporate heads. I should have. Can we make that retroactive, God?

We all need help, but people in positions of power need MORE help. It is just so easy for people in power “not to know”. It doesn’t even require “Willful Blindness!” Although, I dare say there is a bit of that, too!

Speaking of that book, I’m almost done. It has been hard, God, learning how easy we all find it to fit in and to conform. How easy it is to let money influence us. How easy it is to tell ourselves that if we don’t do it someone else will.

In short, God, we really want to explain away the Sermon on the Mount. But, Jesus wasn’t kidding. He meant it. And if I think keeping the Sabbath is hard what about selling all I have and giving it to the poor? Yikes!

Ah, but being rested gives me a much better shot at hearing You, God, and sometimes even responding. That’s an encouraging thought. But, O God. I’m afraid I am going Very Slowly.

Posted in sabbath rest, seeing myself as a sheep, self care as self compassion and humility

Beauty, Busy and a New View of Time

Posted on March 27, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A yellow lehua blossom

Good Morning, God!

A Smaller Lighter Life? I think that’s what I want, God. Ah, but old habits and old mindsets are VERY persistent.

It takes Work and Planning to be able to Rest. Hmm. Maybe, it just takes Stopping and Relaxing? There’s a thought!

I have certainly been pursuing the Sabbath as if I had to carefully plan ahead and get everything done BEFORE the Sabbath. Acting as if it were an assignment instead of a great life-changing gift that You want me to have.

The image of turning in Papers at School comes to mind. ATTENTION: You are NOT in school anymore. YES! That’s RIGHT! Thanks, God!

But, You see, God, I don’t know HOW to REST. I know how to NAP. I know how to distract myself. I even know how to avoid work. But, I’m pretty sure that IS NOT WHAT YOU MEAN BY SABBATH REST.

Today, I shall go slow. I shall admire Your World, God. I shall enjoy Your People. I shall look for beauty. And I shall see if I can — for blessed moments, now and then — leave My Time and enter into Your Time. Your Enormously Huge NOW!

Posted in a hand up, sabbath rest, time, Transitions

The sorrows of life, the joys of praying

Posted on March 26, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

pencil drawing from a photo of Mother Teresa

Good Morning, God!

Thank You for the great gift of Your interest, love and attention. I am so thankful!

I have been praying with and for people at Honolulu ’11 and I have experienced Your deep interest, concern and love for each person coming for prayer. Your love feels far MORE real than the ordinary things of life.

Indeed, I feel more “real” more “alive” and more “me” when I am praying with people. I know, God, that prayer is not “magic.” Pray isn’t so much a matter of coming with “what we want” as it is coming with our broken hearts and broken dreams and handing over the pieces to You.

You take the shards of our heart and put them together with Your Grout. Sometimes it takes a long time. But, Your “grout” is more permeable to Your Love. It makes for more loving hearts.

I have often thought that Mother Teresa’s heart must have been almost ALL grout. I look at her face, God, and I see sorrow and love mixed together. There is an enormous amount of sorrow in this world, God. And some of it can be addressed with physical solutions — wells for water, gardens for food, jobs for money and meaning.

But, other sorrows come from emotional traumas, losses and pain. For those sorrows, God, it seems best to pray — listening WITH YOU — hearing people into speaking out their pain and sorrow. Prayer is — hearing with Your Heart — speaking with them and for them, asking together for Your Help.

Thank You, God, for LONGING to help — for helping us before we ask and as we ask. Thank You so VERY MUCH!

Posted in a prayer for healing, being together in a compassionate presence, Prayer, Praying together extemporaneously, thankfulness