A Virtual Visit to the Past

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

The hill behind Granda Hills -- our old home

Good Morning, God!

Several days ago Suzanne drove up to Granada Hills and she sent me this photo taken with her cell phone.

The photo looks like a lovely muted pastel painting. Suz called me to tell me that the grapefruit tree she had bought and Kit had planted for her might still be there, after all!

Suz and I had driven up to Granda Hills last summer — on the hottest day ever. We had walked around and reminisced about our three years there. Suz had peaked into our old side yard and was sure that “her” tree had been taken down. That was the only dark spot on a very bright day, God.

When she drove up a few days ago it was on one of the coldest days Los Angeles had ever recorded. Suz was thrilled at the beautiful fresh green of the hill behind our home. I was so glad she had called and let me be there with her — albeit only virtually. Those three years were very happy times for her and even now, God, my heart hurts a bit about taking her away and moving us all to Hawaii.

What might have been if we had stayed? That is the kind of question that I do not, in general, allow myself to ask. But, I am learning that all my pasts and all my futures are held in Your Hands, God. I can ask whatever I want. I am safe enough now to go back into my past and look around. Or is the word secure?

It seems to me, God, to take an inordinate amount of Time to grow into fully loving ourselves. Thank You for giving me time.

Posted in time, Transitions, Trusting God

In Front of a Microphone and other communication woes

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

The then Duke of York speaking (or not) in the King's Speech

Good Morning, God!

Ah well, while watching the Academy Awards last night, it occurred to me that almost everyone has a problem speaking in front of a microphone.

The King’s Speech — Best Movie — focused on stuttering — or perhaps it was more stammering. But the Academy Award winners demonstrated how hard it is to say enough, but not too much. Ah, and then there is the problem with content.

It comes to me, God, that communication is such a broad-band affair that attempting to compress it all into WORDS is an amazingly difficult task.

With people we know, we have a relationship of trust that allows us to put what is said in context. But even then — even when we know how much we are loved — words can be “misheard.” Tones of voice, jokes — I tell Kit I am too sensitive for him to joke with me, but he can’t help himself — are so easily misinterpreted.

Even silence, God, can be misinterpreted. We WANT to be acknowledged. We WANT to have our existence as human beings confirmed. We NEED that. Yet, I know there are times when I have no idea what to say . . . when words are so clearly inadequate. And I am AFRAID of saying the “wrong” thing.

Ah, God, if we can’t give a hug, perhaps the next best is to send a card. We got so many cards after Patty died. I remember sitting with Kit and reading them together. It was a comfort. So, today, God, perhaps I can send a card or two?

Posted in comfort, Communication, connecting

A Window into an Upcoming Adventure

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

The Gift of Handmade Socks: photo by Victoria Paulsen

Good Morning, God!

I confess, I like my “adventures” to be mostly virtual. Perhaps that is why I am quite taken with my friend’s upcoming adventure. She shares her preparation at ByFootandThumb.blogspot.com

Vickie is a friend from high school who hitchhiked through France 50 years ago. In April of this year, she and her friend Mary will set off for France to recreate that trip, leaving her husband, children and grandchildren behind.

Hitchhiking is a far cry from our Grand Circle mode of traveling, God. I have trouble with the 50 pound suitcase limit. Yet, the idea of living out of an 11 pound backpack, while distressing, is also appealing!

In this recent blog Vickie tells about her substitute teaching assignment — discussing Pablo Neruda’s poem about the “gift” of handmade socks — just one day after she received these beautiful handmade socks from a friend in Colorado. She — and the person in Neruda’s poem — felt unworthy of such a “gift of love.”

Vickie shares how she would love to be able to take these sock with her on the trip — to share that knitting socks for friends is still part of “America” — “part of what makes up the better part of us.”

Now, I am sharing too — sharing a window into Another Person — sharing her upcoming adventure — all the while seated comfortably in my office loft. Adventures are important, God. I know that. And I know that they come in endless variety. Adventures AND gifts of love come in diverse shapes and forms.

Please help me, God, to open my heart and life to more adventures — and more giving and receiving of such small, and seemingly ordinary, Gifts of Love. Thank You!

Posted in Adventures, gifts and giftings, responding to "nudges", Sharing

Time off Work and OFF the Clock

Posted on February 25, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

standing in the shade of a Kaimana Tree looking east at Koko Head

Good Morning, God!

Yesterday morning I took some time “off the clock.” I’ve been pushing myself recently to get over a thousand books entered into a library database. In fact, God, I’ve become sort of compulsive about it.

But yesterday I gave myself a Gift of Timelessness. I stepped out of “scheduled” and just let myself drift and absorb all the beauty of the morning — of the ocean, the orchids, the dolphins — and the food.

It felt like a very good thing to do, God! You spread before us such an amazing world — with good friends and dearest family to enjoy it with. I consider it my calling to appreciate it all!

looking up -- through the leaves -- at the sky

Of course, I do like to “fix” things. But several days ago I once again realized that I was going to have to put the World back in Your Hands!

I am not quite sure how I end up with the weight of the world on my shoulders. For example, I was fretting about all the talented young people without jobs — when there is so much needing to be done!

Still, I am learning to pull my attention back to the small corner of the cosmos that is MINE — learning to SEE what it is that You might possibly have delegated to me.

I suspect that for a long time I have missed opportunities You gave to me because I was fretting about THINGS that were not mine to influence. Sigh.

So today, God, please help me to FOCUS on what You have set in my path!

Posted in responding to God's Spirit, responsibility, rest, time

Catching a “cross-pollinator” at play

Posted on February 24, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A Blossom on the Bauhinia or "orchid" tree

Good Morning, God!

I have loved these colorful trees for YEARS! Yesterday afternoon, leaving Kokua with a bag of groceries in my hands, I had to stop and snap a photo!

I must say, God, when I uploaded the photo I was delighted to find the blossom contained a “visitor.” Such a small moment in time, God, but still so special.

Saint Paul urges us in Philippians 4:8 whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

That was my main prayer for the day yesterday — that I WOULD focus on what was good and pure — true and honest. I would not let myself get drawn into disputes. I’m smiling, God! You know that I was “raised” on arguments. But, recently I have been trying to understand how it is that people who seem to hold an opposite point of view have gotten there. It don’t think that “arguing” changes minds.

Actually, it seems like almost nothing changes our “minds” and that worries me. You said in Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together.” Ah, now, God, we need more of that! We need ALL of us to be “teachable.”

Hmmm. Teachable sort of implies Humility, doesn’t it God? I was about to ask You why that wasn’t one of the Fruits of the Spirit. But, I think humilty is actually the GROUND the Spirit grows in. Please, God, improve the soil of my Heart!

Posted in Common sense and reasonableness, Fruit of the Spirit, humility, Humility or Needing Help!

Designing Behavior – A Talk by B.J. Fogg

Posted on February 23, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Good Morning, God!

What a TREAT it was on Saturday to sit in on a talk by B.J. Fogg. The talk was about Behavior Design. He referred to it as his Two Hour Hawaiian version of his Two Day Bootcamp. B.J. teaches at Stanford and consults on using technological platforms — like the iPhone — for triggering actions and changing behaviors.

The fact that I even knew about it was a gift from You, God! I was checking my email on my iPhone Friday morning and stumbled across a LAST CHANCE REMINDER. I almost never check email on my iPhone and certainly not when I am chatting with friends. But, I did. And there it was — an invitation to a free talk that Saturday at Chaminade on Behavioral Design!

As soon as I heard him use the word TRIGGERS I knew that was what my Action Plan was lacking. Hot triggers are stimulae — that you can ACT ON — right away. And the key is to PLACE them in your PATH. Behavior = Motivation, Ability, Triggers.

Another point was the importance of SMALL changes. He said he is working on 18 New Year’s resolutions and they are mostly 3 minutes activities which he has carefully placed in the “path” of his daily routine. A key question to ask is “What “set” activity should the trigger follow?” Such good questions, God!

Between B.J. Fogg’s talk — and the book Spark on the importance of real exercise — I just might end up taking better care of this body, heart and brain that You have given me, God. And, YES, that is MY JOB. Thank You for helping me to help myself!

Posted in Changing, Cherishing our Bodies, courage to see myself, Creating

Dining at the Aloha Tower Marketplace

Posted on February 22, 2011 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

The Aloha Tower

Good Morning, God!

Yesterday — Presidents’ Day — was the Day of the Great Aloha Run. This is the run from Aloha Tower to Aloha Stadium — 8 miles — and Kit was first in his age group, 1st of 51. He was also something like 1,493 out of all the men running in the 22,000 person race. He was happy!

As for me, I’m glad my morning run was just to the Post Office and back. Maybe I will want to do the Great Aloha Run next year, God?

At the Expo before the run, Kit won a $25 gift certificate to a restaurant at Aloha Tower Marketplace. So out we ventured late yesterday afternoon to dine at the edge of the harbor.

the Chishio Maru's superstructure and passing plane

I do love the harbor, God. Ships and the Sea — the old ways of transportation — have a romance about them. Romance and Adventure are important parts of our Human Nature, God. We need both of them!

Kit and I had the Adventure Part last night when Great Gusts of Wind came up out of nowhere and blew over two of the outdoors umbrellas at the restaurant!

The staff rushed to collapse those two umbrellas and to hold on to and secure the rest of them. Meanwhile the Winds Blew and Lightening forked and people fled to the inside part of the restaurant.

Kit and I stayed outdoors — moving our table and managing to stay out of the rain — but IN the WEATHER. In Your World, God.

And I am wondering if I don’t spend too much time indoors? In the world of my making? The gusts of wind and lightening flashes reminded me that THIS IS YOUR WORLD. It was a good reminder. Thank You, God!

Posted in exercising, Gusts of Wind, respect, Rethinking

A TOO Quickly Passing Sabbath

Posted on February 21, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

The sky from Kalanianaole near Niu

Good Morning, God!

Some reflections on the Sabbath Day of yesterday: first “NOT WORKING” does not necessarily mean RESTING.

My day was filled with GOOD THINGS — but they were just a bit TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. Like this photo snapped from the car as Kit drove us home — things were IN MOTION.

Lovely chunks of time: Time with Kit, Time at Church, Time with an old friend at a Nursing home, Brunch at home, Time with my Mom, and Time with friends at a birthday celebration.

That was my Day. All Wonderful. But, too close together. No napping. No drifting. No slow.

Now as for Today, God? Today I am going to Work. And I am going to work HARD on stuff that NEEDS to be done — and done soon! There is already a sense of FOCUS.

BUT I am not going to rush. And I am not going OUT. As I told my mom, yesterday, “Monday, I have No Time for FUN — no visit and no games — and I will miss you. But Kit will visit.”

What I will have today, God, is Time At Home. Time to Work. Time to clean up and tidy and even nap? Maybe even time to Sit in Centering Prayer and do a little Holy Drifting?

But the next thing coming up this morning,God, is a Walk-and-Talk and then a RUN. Hmmm. The idea is creeping up on me that the Exercise of Stopping Work on the Sabbath helps me FIND one more of the many Control Dials for my Life.

Trusting You, God, surely has many UNEXPECTED gifts! Thank YOU!

Posted in accepting my ability to REDESIGN, accepting my authority to set limits, asking for help for myself, authority over my life, Trusting God

A Lovely Sabbath Day!

Posted on February 20, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

a Walled Garden, perhaps, in England?

Good Morning, God!

I am UP for just a few moments — to Thank You for a New Day — a Sabbath Day.

And the image I wanted for today is that of a Walled Garden. It turns out that it was more apt than I suspected. And why should that surprise me!

I was just thinking enclosed and protected from WORK and busy.

But, in looking for this image on the web I found that in England walled gardens were to protect the fruit from Cold Winds. In fact, they sometimes had one hollow wall that could contain a fire for extra warmth.

Ah, The Cold Winds of Work — the Disrupting Winds of Busy! Yes, God, I need to learn to choose rest. And so . . . with a BIG THANK YOU, GOD . . . I am going back to bed.

Posted in pruned for fruitfulness, refraining from work, relaxation, sabbath rest, sacred space