My Heart and GUT in Need of Cleansing!

Posted on January 10, 2011 by a moment with god — 2 Comments

A Gold Tree, blooming early

Good Morning, God!

Yesterday, driving home from church I saw this Gold Tree against a bright blue sky and stopped. I had seen it before, but against a grey sky. There is something about the bright gold and the brilliant blue that cheered me. Thank You, God, for all the glorious colors of our World.

I must confess I have been taking the shooting of Congresswoman Gifford personally. It has taken a while, but I am so aware of MY NEED to REPENT! I like to think of myself as open-minded and respectful. I’m pretty sure ALL of us like to think of ourselves that way. But, I have a lot of Judging going on inside of me. Sheesh! There was a TORRENT of it pouring out after the shooting. I was CAUGHT UP IN BLAMING! ASKING WHO DID THIS.

Years ago, God, I learned that in stressful situations humans almost always ask “WHO” QUESTIONS — as in WHO’S TO BLAME HERE! What we really need to be asking are “WHAT” QUESTIONS — as in WHAT went wrong and WHAT can we do about it?

What I am doing is working on my personal repentance! I remember Rev. Dan Chun saying that he has learned to say to himself, “I think I’m right, but I might be wrong.” Wow, God! I think I need to post that on my mirror. I COULD BE WRONG!

Sigh, it is when we are ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT WE ARE RIGHT that we are tempted to do bad things to reach THE RIGHT goals. I never really thought about Uncertainty and Humility as important values. Hmmm. Please, God, I need Your help.

Posted in a prayer for healing, healing, humility, Humility or Needing Help!, processing on deeper levels, Repentance

A Tragedy for Our Entire Country

Posted on January 9, 2011 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Gabrielle Giffords, Sandy's congressman in Tucson

Good Morning, God!

Oh, such PAIN and ANGER and SORROW yesterday morning when I came home from the Farmers’ Market and Kit told me that Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords had been SHOT. We thought she had been killed.

This is Sandy’s congresswoman. I had seen the campaign signs when I was visiting in October. I knew I would have voted for her when I saw the signs against her. They alternated between blaming her for “Obamacare” and then accusing her of CUTTING MEDICARE.

Sarah Palin had her as one of the TARGETED districts — putting the district in the CROSS HAIRS of a gun scope. Her challenger had a fund raiser that invited people to shoot a fully loaded M-16 rifle. The Pima County Sheriff, Clarence Dupnik, was quoted in this morning’s paper, as saying “The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous. And unfortunately, Arizona, I think, has become the capital.” Unstable folks are “activated” by Hate Talk.

Actions begin with words. God. And words begin in our hearts. And ALL of our HEARTS need cleansing. I FELT ENOUGH ANGER TO WANT TO STRIKE BACK. And You revealed to me, once again, that MY HEART could HATE just as much as the hearts of those folks I deplore. Only, YOU did pull me back. You had me call Sandy to PRAY — to pray for Gabby’s recovery — even though half the reports said she was dead. And to pray for all those hurting, frustrated folks who forget that we are ALL AMERICANS, all HUMAN.

Sigh, People who Hate WANT others to hate, too. That is the purpose of evil — to spread itself! Please help us to PRAY FOR our enemies.

Posted in Prayer, Praying for our enemies

A View from the “Stairway to Heaven”

Posted on January 8, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

View of the Pali from the Stairway to Heaven

Good Morning, God!

This photo of the Pali was taken from the Stairway to Heaven above Kaneohe. Over 4,500 steps — almost straight UP. Yesterday I walked DOWN 11 floors and it was fairly easy. I can’t imagine walking UP 4,500 steps!

But, of course, I AM. If each day were a STAIR, I would be well PAST that number. Ah, PERSPECTIVE! The views from the physical stairway are glorious! Hmm. On a Clear Day, you can see a long, long way. But, on a rainy day, you can see just a few feet.

I suppose, God, that is true of my Stairway in Time, too. There are days when I feel I can see so clearly. And other days when I can’t. Did YOU just ask me if I was stopping to LOOK?

Gosh, God, You are RIGHT. I am busy with the CLIMB. I am RUSHING! Now I am pondering the purpose of these stairs. Apparently they were built — during World War II — to erect and maintain an antenna to make it possible to communicate with our submarines.

Makes me think, God, that perhaps OUR CLIMB is about COMMUNICATIONS, too. I was just saying to Kit that I love all the people in our lives. Our family member — and those who are part of our Family of Friends. Ahaa, YES, and then there is YOU! You, Our Unseen Creator, in whom we live and move and have our being. Calling us to LOVE, as You Love US.

So, please, God, help me today to pause on my climb. Help me to LOOK, and LISTEN — to You, to myself, and to those around me.

Posted in a matter of scale, busy, Hearing, listening, Perspective, stopping to listen, stopping to see

Prevention, Health and Our Sticky Life Styles

Posted on January 7, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Dr. Neal Palafox. Director of Hawaii's Health Department

Good Morning, God!

How good to wake up with Kit telling me about the article in the Star Advertiser about the new Director of Health calling for all governmental agencies to “think outside the box” and consider health factors in their decisions.

Actually, it was the quote about how our health care system “costs too much and doesn’t work” that really made me happy. Kit, of course, was concerned about WHY Dr. Palafox didn’t mention the life style changes that citizens could be making. Diet, Exercise, No Smoking, and Less Alcohol were on Kit’s list.

That’s a good list, God! But, it is REALLY HARD for humans to make changes. Kit and I decided to cut back on caffeine — we decided that a week ago — today we are drinking decaf. I didn’t realize decaf had less than a tenth as much caffeine as regular coffee. But, I have known for YEARS that caffeine and stress hormones double the bad effects of each other.

It takes a long time — maybe NEVER — for what we KNOW to work its way out to our hands and feet and daily behaviors! That is SAD, God. But, not impossible!

Nothing is impossible for YOU! So, please, today — this month of new beginnings — help me to spend time and effort thinking strategically and logistically on how I can make some healthy changes!

Posted in a matter of scale, acknowledging my need for prayer, Changing, health

The Minimum Effective Dose and January Hopes

Posted on January 6, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

The 4-Hour Body by Timothy Ferriss

Good Morning, God!

I am up early, sitting here listening to the rain. I’m enjoying the sound, but hoping it will be done before it’s time to go walking!

This book The 4-Hour Body, was irresistible! January is surely the Month-of-New-Beginnings. I was offered the first two chapters for free on Guy Kawasaki’s Facebook site for his new book, Enchantment. I downloaded them, printed them off and was immediately captivated by the idea of the Minimum Effective Dose — M.E.D. In five minutes and $10 I had downloaded it to my iPhone.

Ah! More for Less! What could be more appealing to us humans! Ferriss uses the idea of tanning — 15 minutes a day over 4 days will get you a start on a tan. One hour on Day One will get you a sunburn. Overdoing is tempting, isn’t it, God. We overdo, suffer the consequences, and give up.

There is a LOT of “Learned Helplessness” in the best of us! Little corners of our lives in which we have surrendered. Hmm. Actually whole ROOMS in which we have “given up” control.

Tim Ferriss is talking about exercise and eating — key components for our BODIES. But, I was thinking of my HOME BODY — and CLUTTER. Actually, the idea of a Minimum Effective Dose carries over into ever aspect of our lives. There are any number of very small tasks that make a big difference. Two minutes to floss our teeth. One minute to stop and apologize. Three minutes for a phone call and prayer. Five minutes for a Thank You note. One minute for a hug.

Ah, Please, God, help me RESEE my life as a series of M.E.D.s

Posted in Changing, choices, hope, reframing, seeing

Please, Heal us and Help us turn toward YOU

Posted on January 5, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A green Diamond Head on a grey day

Good Morning, God!

It comes to me, that we ALL need HEALING! We ALL need a Greening of our Hearts and Spirits and our Bodies.

It is usually easy to tell when our bodies need help. They hurt. They try their best to tell us. Please, God, Help us to listen. Help us to slow down. Please, God, maybe even help us to stop. We lift our Bodies and the Bodies of family, friends and strangers UP TO YOU!

Ah, but our Emotional Bodies? They let out “clues” too. Like yesterday, God. Oh MY! As Kit said to me this morning, “you were not your usual self.” I wasn’t. I was Out of Gas! And I could even hear it in my voice. And, finally, I DID STOP — was able to stop — and hand things over to Kit.

Mostly, when our Heart Hurts, we can’t hear our Tone of Voice — we can’t SEE our Body Language. And we don’t stop. Funny thing, God. You are willing to arrange things so we HAVE TO STOP. I am pondering that thought. I would RATHER stop before I have to. I would rather rest and recover voluntarily. Hmmm.

So, my prayer for HEALING is for a deep INNER HEALING that turns over the World and the Universe — or at least my cubic centimeter — to YOU. A good thought on which to go and make my bed and shower.

Thank YOU for the healing YOU pour into us each night as we sleep. Help us ALL to LOOK TOWARD YOU, and receive!

Posted in a prayer for healing, breathing in Your Spirit, healing, hearing myself, rest, Rethinking

The incredible VALUE of Family and Friends

Posted on January 4, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Suzanne and Sandy

Good Morning, God!

Our daughters are in their own homes now — Suz leaving on the 31st and Sandy on 1/3. And I MISS THEM! Not only do I miss them but I am more AWARE of their incredible VALUE to me. I guess I am a slow learner, God. At least it has taken a while for me to become FULLY AWARE of HOW MUCH I LOVE THEM.

What I mean is that I am now “consciously aware” of how precious they are to me, whereas before I just felt loving. It was a deep, gut-level love, to be sure — very Mother Tigerish.

This “awareness” feels different, but it feels good. Ah! Perhaps, I am becoming more nuanced emotionally? No? Well, God, at least I understand that Becoming A Nuanced Person is a GOAL!

By nuanced, God, I mean having 10 kinds of possible responses available to me in any situation, instead of 2. Why don’t we PRACTICE THAT, GOD? How useful it would be to Practice Deploying a Variety of Responses to a given situation. Gosh, God, wouldn’t it be wonderful to Role Play various kinds of interactions! And where better to do this than in the FAMILY! I wonder if they have workbooks for that?

Hmm. Workbooks remind me of school. And, as my friend Geri said “They didn’t teach me much that was USEFUL in school.” Yes, God, school and home and church COULD be teaching us: HOW to “speak the Truth in Love.” HOW to respond BEFORE we blowup. HOW DIFFERENTLY WE EXPERIENCE THE SAME THINGS.

I could go on and on, God. But, I hear you encouraging ME to DO MY PART!

Posted in becoming the change I wish to see, being a Slow Learner, Choosing to respond, connections, daughters, family visits

Falling down the stairs — the first step to ASKING?

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

The stairs in my home

Good Morning, God

I woke up with the old memory of my “Experience with the Burglar” in my mind. More precisely, the memory was of me, lying in the stairwell with the burglar hitting me with my Chinese walking stick, and my crying out JESUS CHRIST, SON OF THE LIVING GOD, HELP ME. I cried out JESUS CHRIST, SON OF THE LIVING GOD, HELP ME, three times. The third time I cried JESUS CHRIST, SON OF THE LIVING GOD, HELP ME, the burglar stopped. I grabbed the stick and the burglar ran off.

I’m smiling ruefully. Those powerful words came out of me AFTER I had fallen backwards down the stairs and hit my head. That knock on my head, allowed YOUR HOLY SPIRIT to TAKE OVER inside of me. Up until then I had only been yelling “HOLY #$%#”

Falling over backwards — down the stairs — hitting my head, HARD — that happened BEFORE I could CRY OUT to YOU for HELP.

I feel as if You have awakened me — to hand me this clue. Is THAT what You meant when You said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” [Matthew 7:7] Is it THAT KIND OF ASKING that You were talking about?

That “kind of asking” that doesn’t come from our conscious mind — in fact, our conscious everyday-mind might have to be temporarily decommissioned — to allow our Deepest Self to CRY OUT TO YOU. ASK! Hmmm. I suspect there are layers and layers of asking.

And, maybe, letting go, falling backwards down “stairs”, and hitting our head, HARD, is an essential part of the process? Sigh.

Posted in a hand up, asking for help for myself, Holy Spirit

iLife, My Life and the Problems with Upgrades

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

iLife '11 The Creativity Suite

Good Morning, God!

I am still a little tired from — but so thankful for — a December filled with family and friends. Actually, I am grateful for a LIFE filled with Family and Friends. My desk is cluttered. My office needs attention. But, my HEART is Alive and Well.

Not to say that my Heart isn’t HURTING as I lift up to You, God, the ones who are ailing or ill. But, hurting is part of loving. Hurting is part of having a Working Heart.

Problems and Pain are Part of Life. I suppose we need “pain” because we are so comfortable in “the usual.” It takes something HARD to prompt a shift into NEW PATTERNS. Dang!

I picked iLife for the image this morning, just because I was SO UPSET at having to unlearn the old iPhoto and RELEARN the new iPhoto. Upgrades are PAINFUL. They feel like Downgrades! But, as I look back on 2010, I do feel as if I have had a small upgrade.

Do I have a slightly “larger” heart? I hear You say — not larger, but a bit more active. Hmm. An Active Heart! I like that phrase. I like the concept — even though I know I will not like the pain. But pain will not dissolve me. And, if it is coupled with Trust and Prayer, it will help me be about Your Business of CARING.

This morning, Kit was pondering the vastness of Space and how we are so small and finite. And, God, I FELT You say, “I CARE!” You do CARE, God. And, You want us to CARE, too. Help us to CARE and to PRAY!

Posted in Growth Opportunities, LOVE, pain, Prayer, Trusting God

A variety of Gifts for the New Year

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

The Fall issue of YES! magazine

Good Morning, God!

I have a GIFT for everyone for the New Year. Yes Magazine — full of positive and inspiring NEWS and articles. I subscribe and receive articles like this one on What is Real Wealth, once a week.

Oh! You have a Gift for ME, God. Your Gift is that I will no longer be depressed by News. I started this morning with a quick look at BBC.com and discovered that Brazil has a woman president; their former president left with an 80% approval rating; and that Queensland is having floods of Biblical proportions. Ah, A Resolution! Scan World News, daily!

I LIKE making New Year’s Resolutions. Fresh Starts are under-rated, God! It is just that we (at least, I) don’t properly appreciate how many small changes are involved — REQUIRED — to implement just ONE resolution.

Implementation! I WANT TO EMBRACE THE ABILITY/SKILL OF IMPLEMENTING CHANGE! It reminds me of the folks — years ago — who wanted us to “just believe” we COULD end World Hunger. BELIEVING IS the FIRST step. But, “believing” is just “opening the door.” Now my mind sees — from a museum in Alaska — all the “supplies” that had to be carried by a gold prospector climbing up the steep and snowy route to the Klondike.

It is true, God, that we don’t SET OUT without believing. But, most of us don’t ask for the list of “supplies” needed for the trip. And without attending to the hundreds of supporting “details” we fail.

So, New Year’s Resolutions get a “bad name” and we miss the Great Gift of beginning again. Please, God, help me to both make and implement New Year’s Resolutions! Let’s TURN this aircraft carrier!

Posted in a New Year, an invitation to abundant life, Changing, gifts and giftings