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

Spark or The Importance of Exercise for Brains and Bodies

Posted on February 19, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain

Good Morning, God!

As You know, MAKING time for jogging has not been easy. Well, yes, I mean I haven’t done it.

So, as part of my ongoing Personal Motivation and Management Campaign, I thought this book would provide, well, a Spark.

And at first it did. But, now I am on Chapter Five and my brain — which it is true, is in a body which has NOT been exercising — is clogged with a VAST array of 3 and 4 letter combinations each one standing for yet another chemical. WAY TOO MANY chemicals doing way too many things for me to remember, sort and organize.

However, I got the message. You have designed us to exercise! And, I suppose it is a bit like “not keeping” the Sabbath. Once we deviate from Your Plan — things start to unravel.

It isn’t just that exercise — defined as 30 minutes of having our heart rate up to 70% of normal — is important. It is essential. Our brains, emotions and bodies depend on it for normal functioning. Dr. Ratey says that in England exercise is prescribed for things like obesity, anxiety disorder, depression, etc. Here we give out a pill. Not that Dr. Ratey is against pills — it is just that exercise only has good side effects.

So, God, I am convinced. I am, really. The question is whether I will “take care” of myself and MAKE TIME — not find time — but hack out time from my WONDERFULLY FULL life. Please help me, God. This IS essential!

Hmm. You just reversed my request. It is MY job to Help You, help me. So I just put on my jogging clothes. Thanks!

Posted in asking for help for myself, authority over my life, exercising, time

The Gift of Seeing — the Gift of Being Seen

Posted on February 18, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A small green succulent in the sunlight

Good Morning, God!

This small green succulent is amazingly beautiful! I had seen it before, but yesterday I saw it in the sunlight and marveled at how it lit up. Thank You, God!

Small simple pleasures are all around us. Waiting. Waiting for us to stop and see. Or stop and listen. Or stop and taste.

Our senses are doorways to appreciation and enjoyment — marvelous gifts that enrich our lives. Yet, as Helen Keller said, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.”

I am sitting here, thinking about that. Family and friends surely fall into that category of “best.” And they have have the “beauty” that being loved brings with it. We see them with our “hearts.” And our Hearts are, perhaps, the very best “doorway” into all Your Gifts.

Last night, God, I heard a lovely presentation by Philip Rickard, the author of Hawaiian Heirloom Jewelry. He actually makes many types of Hawaiian style bracelets — GOLD bracelets. But he talked about the value given to a piece of jewelry because it was once worn by someone we love or it was given to us by someone we love.

After the talk the woman next to me took off her gold Hawaiian bracelet and showed me the inscription from her mother. For a moment I felt the “tug” of wanting to give MY daughters such a gift. It was a strong tug, God.

But, then I thought of my Mom. She has given me the gift of her Time and her Love and her Attention. All, far better than gold — in truth, priceless. Thank YOU, God, for the Gifts of Love!

Posted in appreciation, Light shining through, LOVE

Our Space Station and A Change of Viewpoints

Posted on February 17, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Our International Space Station and Our Earth

Good Morning, God!

A few days ago a friend sent me a video of the timeline on the construction of the International Space Station. I watched drawings of each module zooming in to connect — but it was only “an abstraction.”

Ah, but then yesterday in SpaceDaily.com there was this photo of the Space Station with Earth in the background. Oooh! All of a sudden it was REAL to me.

Mind You, God, it has been coming together since 1998 — but, I wasn’t watching. Hmmm. Looking back at the Timeline I can see lots of Russian pieces. And even Canada has a Space Program. I say “even” Canada because her population is only around 34 million. While politicians snipe at each other, the scientists seem to be getting along rather well.

That reminds me God, of the recent story of a Palestinian scientist who got a degree from MIT and is returning to work in Israel. He said science is one of the few places where people meet as equals. I really respected him for going “home” and working in a difficult situation.

I suppose, God, that Rogers and Hammerstein had is right when they wrote “You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught” for South Pacific.

You’ve got to be taught before it’s too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You’ve got to be carefully taught!

Looking DOWN at the International Space Station AND our small blue world I can’t help thinking WHAT IF WE DIDN’T TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO HATE? Gosh, God, what if we went even further and taught Respect? Compassion? Please Help us God!

Posted in a matter of scale, a prayer for healing, Compassion, respect

The Green of Kapiolani Park

Posted on February 16, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

The green grass of Kapiolani Park

Good Morning, God!

Yesterday it was breakfast at the Hau Tree Lanai — a lovely bit of Old Hawaii. The ocean is always a delight to be near, but it was the incredible GREEN of the grass of Kapiolani Park that lodged in my memory.

I know that Michael Pollan said a lawn is nature under totalitarian rule, but the expanse of lawn at Kapiolani Park truly is a beautiful sight. I’m thankful for such lovely public areas.

I was looking through a book entitled, Waikiki: Images of Yesteryear 2 and discovered that the park was created in 1877 with 170 acres of wetlands, inlets, gardens, stately trees and a one-mile horse-racing track. Alas, mosquitoes loved the still waters and the park was drained into the Ala Wai canal.

I suppose, God, that if I had seen the park then, I might prefer it to the expanse of lovely lawn. I think I am happier not knowing what I am missing. Regret is a funny thing, God. I am sitting here imagining what the park might have looked like with its own little Make’e island and wondering whether they had swans swimming in the waterways.

How very like us humans to be so pleased with what IS and then in just a few minutes let regret slip in as we focus on what once was. Usually, I’m like the fox in Aesop’s Fables who — when he couldn’t reach the grapes — declared that they were probably sour. I guess I prefer the fox’s attitude of “making the best of things” as opposed to longing for and regretting what is gone — or never was.

Yet, at the same time, I am learning, God, to invest some time in deep sorrow — to feel — to hear my own inner feelings. Please help me God, not to be too Fox Like.

Posted in appreciation, Feeling our feelings, Regret -- acknowledging and releasing it