A Diversity of Palms and People — The Gift of Daughters

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

Looking up at the palms in front of Mom's

Good Morning, God!

Thank You for all the different kinds of palms — and all the different kinds of people! There are a LOT of good people in the world, God! Please help us take off the blinders that keep us from really seeing each other. Help us to see others and to see ourselves as others see us. Or maybe it isn’t so much seeing as HEARING?

In hearing others the Content takes a back seat to our FEELINGS! Just yesterday I could hear Suz getting heated on the phone at something I had said. I felt attacked and told her that is how I felt. She managed to explain that she wasn’t “attacking” — rather she was feeling “panicked” and worried about what I meant. Hmmm. I realized I was feeling panicky too. Hearing the emotion filling her voice I had felt that it was aimed at me and, yes, I panicked! Once we took a minute or two to reassure each other we sorted it out fairly easily.

It is a problem, God. I OVER RESPOND to my daughter’s Tone of Voice! But, at the same time, I am mostly DEAF to My Tone of Voice! If I could HEAR how I SOUND I would be able to apologize or at least explain and excuse myself. I don’t think I am alone in having this problem, God.

Do You think, God, that we could create “classes” that would help us learn to HEAR ourselves? I suppose that a simple recorder would do it. Ah, but, maybe it isn’t just our ears — maybe our HEARTS needs the help first!

Thank You, God, for the GIFT of my daughters!

Posted in Communication, complexity, Conversations, daughters, Hearing, hearing myself, Hearts

A Deliciously Drifting Sort of Day

Posted on January 19, 2011 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

looking South from the Shack

Good Morning, God!

It was a lovely day yesterday, God, with just the quickest bit of color in a grey sky as the sun set. It was the night before the Full Moon and I love eating outside at the Shack on the Marina and hoping to watch the moon rise. It was too grey for the moon to show. But being outside with friends was good enough.

I confess, I didn’t use my Time effectively yesterday. There wasn’t much forward motion — not much direction.

But, it was relaxing and refreshing and drifting might possibly make it easier for you to “direct” me. At least I found myself sending off emails to a couple of folks whose addresses I stumbled upon. I like that, God. I like reminding people that they are known and valued and cared about.

Oh! I did call 202-225-6205 to talk to John Boehner’s staff. I told them I was a Patriotic American, a Deeply Committed Christian, and I wanted them to WORK TOGETHER with the other side for the GOOD OF THE COUNTRY. Really, God, I am tired of Adversarial Fighting! I’m tired of BLAMING. I want elected officials to respect one another and not be snide or condescending or hateful. Hmm. Me too.

We all need to work together to build up — not tear down. I believe that all of us ordinary-in-between-people want to see EVERYONE working together FOR AMERICA. And, You are right, God! Not just for America but for all the People on our Small Blue World. The People and the Creatures — the Water World and the Ancient Redwoods — All of us. Please HELP US, God!

Posted in A Spiritual Spring Cleaning, breathing in Your Spirit, Changing, Ongoing Transformation, Possibilities

The Difficulties of Using my Time Wisely

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

Red Ti and red trunk palms

Good Morning, God!

I new day! A day for appreciating the small details of life — like the light through ti plants and palm leaves! A day for taking it easy. A day in which I can choose what I focus on.

Truth be told, it is very easy for me to have my Mind wander off and get STUCK. For example, God, yesterday I was determined to get the Adobe epub book I had borrowed from the library transferred to my iPhone.

This had been a project spread over several days. I had read A LOT of directions. Yesterday, I read them AGAIN. I tried to follow them. Then I reread them. Next I tried Help. I even called Apple for help. No Luck.

Now, God, it wasn’t as if I didn’t have plenty of books to read ON my iPhone. And part of my mind mentioned this. But, I wanted to read Where Good Ideas Come From. And I wanted to read it on my iPhone. Sigh, I could have read several chapters on my laptop WHILE I was fussing over on getting it on my phone.

I had an errand to run but after dinner I came back and tried a few more things. I was STUCK! So stuck, that after I went to bed, I woke up and tried AGAIN! That time all the pieces fell into place and I DID IT! The book is on my iPhone!

I’m pleased, God. Thankful, even. But, today I’d like Your Help in making wise choices — and avoiding obsessions!

Posted in choices, time

A Family of Cactus and “Guardians?”

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

A rather small "family" of cacti

Good Morning, God!

First of all, THANK YOU for the lovely slow Sabbath Day, yesterday. I napped and puttered. Such a good day.

And thank You, too, for the idea of SEPARATING my “work” from my office. It took a few trips but all of the Arcadia gift books are now waiting for me in the downstairs guest room! They are not jostling for my attention as they were when they were piled in my office. That should make it easier for me to control my time..

Space and Time — our 4 dimensional stage. There is MORE, isn’t there, God. And I am pretty sure that it MATTERS that we “Bless and do not curse.” It is just that we are mostly blind to the “results” of our words. Ah, how scary it is to even begin to suspect how much we matter! Please! Help me to let You flow through me — washing way all uncharitable attitudes.

Help me to see past people’s angry words and into their anxious hearts. Speaking of that, God, I was touched on Saturday by this small cluster of cactus. The tall one looks like The Guardian. The others look as if they are clustered close for protection.

Guardians? I think that might be a key word in understanding folks on the other side of the world who do things that seem incomprehensible. The instinct to PROTECT, to GUARD, is very strong. I have it. And, mostly, I think of it as positive. But, as with many GOOD things, it can be perverted. Ah, God! Who will protect the Protectors? Help us PRAY for the Protectors. Help us Pray for ALL of US!

Posted in Guardians and Protectors, power and peace and gentleness, Prayer

I’m still in the January of New Beginnings

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

Makapuu Head with hang glider

Good Morning, God!

Yesterday, while I was busy with this and that and playing games with my Mom, Kit was hosting his Punahou classmate, Ron Brunk by driving up to the Pali and back via Waimanalo and Makapuu and Hanauma Bay.

It is a lovely drive — and a lovely part of the island. I love Kit’s photos. But, I was very glad I wasn’t needed as cohost! I am still not quite recovered from the many joys of the Holiday Season.

Yesterday I put up my Change Chart — and checked off my first 5 minutes of exercises! I have even sent a Change Chart to a friend. We are reinforcing each other.

Change is HARD, God. Timothy Ferriss made 4 suggestions on how to improve our chances of changing: 1) Make it conscious 2) Make it a game 3) Make it competitive 4) Make it SMALL and temporary.

Small I can handle. 5 minutes. How can I not find 5 minutes in which to do sit ups and push ups? Important things don’t take very long. In fact, I had a chance meeting in Costco that took less time than that, and it might have been the most important thing I did all day. Making A Connection — Hearing a Neighbor.

Ferriss’s ideas are from a male viewpoint. From my female perspective I’d say — 1) invite a friend to do it with you 2) ask for ideas and help from friends 3) figure out how to record it visibly 4) pray about it. Actually, God, that last one is most important. In fact, thinking about yesterday, I’d say that I ought to pray about what changes YOU would like to see in me. Please, Help me, God, to Step Into Your Wider World.

Posted in Changing, Choosing Meaning, connections, Conversations, Help me to see, humility, Humility or Needing Help!

Appreciating the GREEN GREEN world

Posted on January 15, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Diamond Head in the morning

Good Morning, God!

The rain has paused and yesterday I jogged around Kapiolani Park — stopping to take photos — loving the sunlit green grass. Actually, just loving the GREEN. New Life! Hope! And I pray for the Greening of our Country, and our World.

Yesterday, sorting through the gift books at Arcadia I found that I distinctly DID NOT WANT books that were POST APOCALYPSE! I don’t mind books that are about apocalypse threatening — and being fought off. But, to reinforce the idea of DISASTER? Sigh.

So, God, I am praying for peace and understanding. I have commitment to PRAY with Sandy FOR those politicians who scare me. I am WANTING to HELP. And, that does sound funny to me — but, that is what I feel CALLED TO.

A few days ago I happened upon a section in the book BEING WRONG about the early Zealots in Israel. These men determined ONLY YOU should rule — NOT THE ROMANS. And they set about killing — killing Romans AND any Jew who they considered to be working WITH the Romans. They burned the crops of their own people — trying to force them to join them. All of this in the 60s A.D. It sounded horribly familiar. It led to the destruction of the TEMPLE in 70 A.D. and their stand at Masada. Hmmm. I had admired them. Now I fear them, AND their example.

Worthy Causes? Making the END justify the MEANS? PLEASE GOD, KEEP US FOCUSED ON YOUR COMMANDS. Help us to LOVE You — AND to LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR as WE LOVE OURSELVES!

Posted in LOVE

The Storm Departs

Posted on January 14, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Sunset over Barnes and Noble at Kahala Mall

Good Morning, God!

All is still, quiet and dark. The sounds of Kit making coffee come up from the kitchen. And I re-see the GLORIOUS CLOUDS that stopped me in my tracks last evening as I was leaving Kahala Mall. Awesome! I just kept snapping photos — turning first to the right and then the left to make sure I was appreciating everything.

The wind from the South was sweeping the low grey clouds along. Kona Winds. But up high I could see the blue sky — and the bright sun-lite clouds. Ah, the Winds of Time are blowing, too. Blowing us along. But, mostly I don’t notice. That has been a great kindness, God. That I have not HAD to notice.

We work hard at not seeing. I suspect it takes more energy than seeing. YES! IT DOES. So, I feel in this photo Your Reassurance that YOU and YOUR LIGHT are above the Grey, Fast Moving Clouds. I like that. I need it. THANK YOU!

Posted in being together in a compassionate presence, Light, Light shining through, LOVE

The sounds of wind and rain

Posted on January 13, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

a palm outside my Mom's

Good Morning, God!

This morning there is the sound of rain dripping off the eaves. Yesterday, leaving my Mom’s place I was stopped by the SOUND of the wind stirring the fronds of this palm tree. It was almost musical.

We live in the suburbs and aside from birds and neighbors, there aren’t many “sounds.” And, I rather enjoy the silence.

Which reminds me of a quote that says “SILENCE is GOD’S first language, all the rest is poor translations.” I like that, God! There is so much “communication” that takes place in silence. Perhaps that is why a simple hug can say so much. Our Bodies speak to each other — giving and receiving — comfort, assurance, love.

All the “Virtual Stuff” is grand. I enjoy it. But, there is no substitute for BEING THERE. Being TOGETHER in the NOW. Small moments, like my pause to HEAR the wind interacting with the palm fronds, are reminders that we ARE here — hearing.

So, this morning, TODAY, help me to hear You. Help me to hear what is NOT said. Thank You, God, for pouring out YOUR ASSURANCE, COMFORT, and LOVE!

Posted in comfort, Hearing, LOVE

Help us to be like Trees, Planted beside the Rivers of Water

Posted on January 12, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Mindanao gum tree outside the hospital window

Good Morning, God!

Yesterday morning was a a Gift from You, God! A dear friend — a Prayer Friend — asked me to be half of her prayer support that morning at the hospital as she was having her right hip replaced. I expected it to be a “good thing” to do, but maybe tiring. But, it was refreshing. It was stepping out of ordinary time and entering “Non-Time.”

I was to pray with, Judy, a person I had never met, But, in a very short time, I felt I had know her for years. She was a Contemplative Prayer Person — but she joined me in Talking Prayer and we prayed and chatted a bit, and prayed some more, chatting and praying for two hours. Our friend was our PRIMARY prayer focus. But, there is no sense of “scarcity” with YOU, God, so we were free to pray for other people and other situations.

AAAh, God! How I LONG for all people to be TOGETHER in PRAYER — to be TOGETHER in YOUR COMPASSIONATE PRESENCE! I think of our beloved country. How healing it would be to have people who have been judging each other — pray with each other!

Would that be A miracle? Yes, but that miracle would lead to even BIGGER miracles. Was it in Northern Ireland, God, where people came together, not to BLAME, but to CONFESS. What an enormous difference — between blaming others — and confessing our own wrong doing. That is the sort of prayer that transforms!

There is something about praying with other people that reminds me of of what Mother Teresa said — THAT WE BELONG TO EACH OTHER.” That was the REALITY I inhabited yesterday! Thank YOU, God! THANK YOU!

Posted in a prayer for healing, Prayer, web of life

A Bright Spot in a Grey Day

Posted on January 11, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A hibiscus in my car port garden

Good Morning, God!

I’m off to an early start — taking a good friend up to Red Hill for an operation. Yesterday was grey and rainy and once again I saw the Gold Tree against a grey sky. Aah, but I have this photo of my hibiscus taken in full sun. It is GOOD to hide bright moments in our Hearts! Good to Treasure the beauty of a simple flower. Good to Treasure a Kind Word. Good to treasure Times of Prayer.

Sandy and I have pledged to pray together FOR the folks we used to get angry at. I can feel the prayers changing me. Hmmm. Come to think of it, God, I bet that is what YOU want prayer to do — to change the heart of the one praying. It feels so GOOD to pray FOR people I have seen as opponents.

I confess, in the past — mostly in the past — I have prayed that You would CHANGE the person I was praying for. Now, it seems as if I deeply identify with my “opponents.” That makes it easier to begin with praying for myself — confessing and repenting my mistakes and inner serpents.

Then, AFTER repenting, and praying for myself, I can pray for the same sort of healing in others. But, this isn’t easy. It really helps me to pray WITH someone — to pray OUT LOUD. Please, God, help us all to pray more, and help to pray together. Help us remember this quote from Mother Teresa: “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”

Posted in A Spiritual Spring Cleaning, connections, Prayer, Praying for our enemies, Praying together extemporaneously