An Expedition: Out into the World of Stuff

Posted on December 21, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

view from the escalator at Neiman Marcus

Good Morning, God!

Yesterday I actually ventured out to Ala Moana with Suz. I was worried about finding a parking place — but as we came up the ramp toward the Pineapple Room — there were 3 open spots! We marveled! As I said, ONE is a miracle — what are THREE? What “3 were” was a massive power outage that turned Macy’s dark and Shirokiya dark and blacked out the makai portion of the main mall — extending several stores past the Apple Store.

We chatted with a chef outside of the Pineapple Room and he told us that on Sunday a transformer had “blown up” with lots of smoke. And, indeed, the power had only been on that morning for 90 minutes before it went off again — apparently just a few minutes before we arrived. People were leaving and the exits were jammed with cars. We stayed.

Ala Moana Apple Store -- with no power

I have to say, God, that an economy built on STUFF is a trifle worrisome. If it used to be “I think, therefore I am” it now seems to be “I BUY, therefore, I am.” I didn’t buy anything. I did peer into the dark Apple Store. Pondering for a brief moment our need for electricity.

And now, God, I am sitting and thinking about my need for YOU. My need to come apart and spend time / invest time / in Your Presence. Yes! You ARE ALWAYS PRESENT. But, I wander off. Disconnect. Go dark. Blow transformers.

I am thinking that the BEST GIFT is TIME TOGETHER. That is truly what I want from my family and my family of friends — time together.

Posted in being together in a compassionate presence, friends, gifts and giftings, time

Growth Opportunities and Seasonal Stress

Posted on December 20, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

rain over the Ko'olaus -- in our valley

Good Morning, God!

I can still hear raindrops dripping off the eaves — but not the steady downpour of yesterday! I love the rain. But, could it clear, God, enough for us to see the Red Lunar Eclipse tonight? Kit had it on our calendar — but Suz is the one who saw the “show” at Bishop Museum and called in our reservations. Please?

Today, God, I am WITH my family. I am refraining from “work” and my routines. I had to engage in “purposeful planing” instead of letting myself be carried along in the flow of the “usual.” Sigh. I need to DO THAT more often.

Intentional Living? Balanced Living? Wise Living? Ah! I feel I am talking about CHALLENGING LIVING! And, perhaps that is part of what is behind the STRESS of CHRISTMAS? Christmas is about families and I am coming to suspect that FAMILIES are where YOU give us our BEST GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES!

People who are friends are of mostly compatible “types” and feel comfortable. Ah! But FAMILIES seem to divide up into OPPOSITES. WE ARE SO DIFFERENT! And, yet we LOVE each other and therefore cannot dismiss or ignore differences. We are challenged to GROW.

We saw Little Women: the Musical at Diamond Head Theater last night and there they were — four sisters covering the diverse types. And, yes, there was struggle among them — Jo’s hope of FIVE TOGETHER going on forever — Amy’s struggle for “her” place as the youngest — Meg’s move into romance and motherhood. And Beth’s excess goodness? And, God! Those dynamics were all WITHOUT THE FATHER! Aaah, THANK YOU, God, for FAMILIES and other GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES!

Posted in A God given diversity, family visits, growing toward up, Growth Opportunities

The Christmas Season is Coming in on a WAVE

Posted on December 19, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A Hawaiian Santa Claus

Good Morning, God!

Last night it started to RAIN and it is still not sure if it really wants to stop. The sky is grey and everything green is GREENER. I love it!

The Season has caught a wave and rushes toward me. Bearing gifts? I hope not much in the way of material gifts. Gosh, God, I haven’t even thought to ask for an iPad. I have enough. Well, no, I have TOO MUCH! Too much stuff. Too much busyness. But, TODAY, is a Day of Rest.

And I can see the total value of closing down my workshop — and BEING WITH Kit and Suz and Mom and friends at church. Ah, but can I DO IT? Doing IS addictive. In some odd way if confirms my worth and gives me a sense of competency. AND IF I COULDN’T DO ANYTHING? WHAT THEN?

Then I would have a “Period of Adjustment” wouldn’t I, God. I was tempted to say, Oh, THEN I would PRAY. But, I am beginning to get the point. Prayer is FAR MORE than DOING. WELCOMING? SURRENDERING? SOAKING? SINGING WITH THE MORNING STARS?

So, here on a rainy Sabbath Day, You invite me — invite us all — to step out of our small daily pots — and catch YOUR WAVE of LOVE. The Wave of Your SPIRIT.

Posted in Holy Spirit, Prayer, rest, Rethinking, sabbath rest, sacred space

Appreciating Hawaii in December

Posted on December 18, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

sitting and looking at the Hawaii Kai marina

Good Morning, God!

I just got an email from my brother, saying it was expected to RAIN there in Grass Valley for the next two weeks. I like rain. And we NEED rain. But, it is a lovely thing to sit outside in the “clear and glowing light” of December in Hawaii.

In fact, it is just lovely to be here. A fact that is far easier to APPRECIATE when I am sitting by the marina. Yesterday when I was inching my way OUT of Ala Moana shopping center I wasn’t focused on appreciating. Ah well.

I’m BACK, God, after my morning walk and trip to the Farmers’ Market. I love buying fresh produce — fresh herbs are undervalued. They are FULL of trace elements. And I couldn’t grow them in a pot until I discovered dehydrated chicken manure. Hmmm. The thought comes to me that I TOO require the manure of daily life to grow.

So, our formal education — classes etc. — would be a bit like chemical fertilizer? An interesting thought. And clearly the “living in the dorm” experience would be a mostly organic fertilizer. Then there is the whole question of POTS. I can look around me and see that we are all in one sort of “pot” or another. Some pots seem pretty small. Other pots look way too large. And just this morning, God, Kit was talking about some people blooming and others seeming semi-suppressed.

One last thought before I go off to the rest of my day, God. Each stand at the Farmers’ Market has many offerings. And we arrive and browse — appreciate and buy. Life is like that. Life is to be appreciated and consumed. Please, Help me appreciate Holiday Life!

Posted in A God given diversity, appreciation, Balancing and adjustments, Farmers' Markets, growing toward up

Procrustean beds and “home furnishings”

Posted on December 17, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

an impressive four poster bed

Good Morning, God!

I’m up early — thinking about beds. Our main guest bed is about 45 years old and we HAVE gotten a memory foam cover for it. BUT, Kit’s brother called me in after his first night’s visit to explain to me that there was “something wrong” with the bed. He thought part of it had collapsed. I’m afraid I just sighed, and commiserated. Suz just sleeps on the floor — on another mattress.

Actually, I don’t like OUR bed either. We, too, have added a memory foam cover which has made it, mostly, OK. Perhaps that is why I woke up in the middle of the night with the word PROCRUSTEAN in my mind — as in procrustean bed. I looked it up, God. It goes back to Greek mythology and the story of Procrustes who offered travelers a “night” in his magical bed — a bed that was always the “right size” for whoever slept in it.

Procrustes achieved the goal of having bed and guest match — not by adjusting the bed — but by “adjusting” the guest. Short guests were STRETCHED into fitting. Tall guests were CUT into fitting. It’s rather gruesome story to ponder in the middle of the night, God!

Did it come from You? Because, now I “see” that both families and cultures do operate their own versions of “Procrustean Beds.” “Traits” that don’t “FIT” are excised. It begins with “good manners” and moves on to how we speak and carry ourselves — do we smile, or not? There are EXPECTATIONS of what it means to be both male and female. Ah, yes, and Introverts are STRETCHED into resembling EXTROVERTS — or visa versa — depending on the culture.

Please, God, help us with this compulsion to make ourselves and others FIT into our family’s or culture’s beds!

Posted in adjusting, becoming the change I wish to see, being together in a compassionate presence, courage to see myself, Expand my Heart

Paris in Photos, Paris in Memory — Extroverts and Introverts

Posted on December 16, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Paris in the rain -- from the web

Good Morning, God!

How amazingly diverse are we human beings. Suz is here, visiting — just from Paris where she stayed for 30 days. She immersed herself in the French language — bought French guide books to restaurants — and spoke only French. She has hundreds of MEMORIES. Memories she is still working with as she constructs her “narrative” of her month in Paris.

Now, God, I would have come home with thousands of photos — and just a few memories. I suspect that comes from my being an extrovert. And as for speaking French? Impossible! I am sitting here, feeling just a trifle shallow — or as Suz has said, not so very NUANCED. Ah well.

Actually, if I were plunged into Paris for a month — alone — I don’t think I would have a good time. I could feel that in the way ALONE reverberated me. No family? No friends? ALONE?

Now, God, it isn’t that I don’t like myself or my own company — or time with YOU. I like, and need, time alone. But, for me that is a breather — not the stuff of life. Hmmm. I’m thinking, God. Pondering life as an introvert. In general, I do prefer one on one conversations. But, that doesn’t make me an introvert, does it!

Perhaps I should read the book on the Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World? Hmm. I can see, God, that there are LOTS of books aimed at helping introverts cope in what IS an extroverts’ world. Is it only America that has extroversion as the norm?

Thoughts to ponder as I go off to join Kit at a Rotary meeting!

Posted in Diversity, Expand my Heart, interactions, Introverts

A New Day: My To Do List and God’s

Posted on December 15, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Dawn through a filter on 12/12/10

Good Morning, God!

A NEW DAY! Hurrah! Of course,there are THINGS STILL UNDONE piled on my desk. Gosh, things I “thought” I had done are popping up. Ah yes. A new day. But, today Suzanne arrives and I rejoice! Thank You, God!

Actually, I think part of my feeling so good is that SOME things have gotten done. I found my “lost” basket. Picked up the loan of a “classic nook” and delivered my “book bill” one day early. And I now feel as if I only have 48 things TO DO.

I remember when it came to me, God, that I didn’t really have an infinite number of things to do. I probably only had 50 things to do! ONLY 50 — a manageable number. Mind You, God, more things come IN to add to my list. But, still, when I look “inside” for the number — it is only 48. Smile. Progress!

Now I am off to shower, dress, and drive off to prayer and work for a few hours. The “work” is part of my “meaningful participation” in the world. I love it. I love having “Things to DO.” Now, I hear a small word — it isn’t the DOING that matters. What MATTERS is all the small interactions with the people I meet and cross paths with.

Hmmm. As I cross things off My LIST, God, help me remember that YOUR WORK is in my hearing and seeing and affirming the people around me — not the stuff on my list.

Posted in acknowledging another's existence, background / foreground questions, Hearing, listening, seeing

Stress, Naps and Our Bodies

Posted on December 14, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Sunset and a sunset cruise ship off the Hau Tree Lanai

Good Morning, God!

It has been NAP TIME the last two days. A two hour nap after the marathon and just a one hour nap yesterday. Today? Another nap, I hope. I have to smile at myself, God. I guess I was a little short on TRUST this Marathon because I am so exhausted now that it is over. I “borrowed” from my Body’s Bank. And now it wants it to be paid back with interest.

All of this stress over Kit running A MARATHON! Some people’s spouses have cancer. And in the World, People have lost their jobs and their homes. Others live in refugee camps. And others are in danger of cholera. REALLY! I’m embarrassed, God.

It is just that what we experience is the OVERFLOW of our cup. My cup is pretty small — not large. But it did overflow this last week. And, God, may my experience be a reminder to me. Stress is a BODY thing. You can’t “talk” someone out of stress. What the Body needs is “being with” time. Being heard, being touched, being hugged — this is Body Talk.

It comes to me, God, that You made RULES to help ensure that we care for our bodies. Lots of rules on what we eat. Rules about leaving some of our harvest for the poor so they can eat. Rules about REST. WE ARE FLESH, God. And I would do well to be MORE MINDFUL of that.

So, now, God, I shall rise and shower and go gently through my day. Going slowly with YOU. So thankful to be HEARD.

Posted in Borrowing from the Body's Bank, Hearing, hugs, lying fallow, Perspective, Stress

Back on the Wagon, AGAIN!

Posted on December 13, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Dr. Richard Johnson, author of the Sugar Fix

Good Morning, God!

And Thank You! I am now officially BACK ON THE WAGON — off of sugar and grains and stuff that turns instantly into sugar. I must say watching Dr. Johnson’s video on Dr. Mercola was DISTRESSING! It is one thing to know sugar is bad for us. It is quite another to hear the details of HOW it harms us.

The chemical steps seem to be that Fructose breaks down quickly into a variety of waste products — one of them being uric acid — that’s the one that causes gout. But it now appears that uric acid ALSO inhibits nitric oxide and leads to increased blood pressure, kidney disease, obesity, diabetes, fatty liver, elevated triglycerides, etc.

Actually, God, what had the biggest impact on me was the idea that fructose — and high fructose corn syrup — depletes energy so that one doesn’t feel like exercising. One feels like eating. One feels like eating something SWEET!

After weeks of having just a “little of this” and just a “little more of that” I “suddenly” found myself eating everything in sight. The Sugar Snake was OUT of her CAGE. I felt helpless.

But, I think YOU must have helped. Because I sort of accidentally stumbled on these videos of Dr. Johnson AND I actually took the time to watch both videos — 15 minutes worth. That was so unlikely, God. I give You the credit.

Once again, I am vowing to take care of myself. Vowing to be The Good Parent for myself. Please, God, help me keep my focus — and to stay on the upward helix!

Posted in Humility or Needing Help!, living within limits, loving limits, self care as self compassion and humility, Temptation, thankfulness

Off to see Kit

Posted on December 12, 2010 by a moment with god — 2 Comments

Kit approaching us at mile 16

Good Morning, God!

Wheee. . . A STRESSFUL TIME! Kit and I agreed that we would let the doctor make the call on whether Kit ran this year’s Honolulu Marathon or not. Because of a staph infection on his left leg on Thanksgiving, God, I was for NO GO.

But, much to Kit’s joy the doctor said SURE! RUN!

Thank goodness, God, Sandy called to say “Dad has passed the half way point and is on track for a 4:45 marathon.” And when Kit arrived he said, “I’m slow but I’m feeling GREAT.”

Thanks, God!

Now, God, please KEEP ON HELPING KIT.

I am off on the long slow trek to drive out of Hawaii Kai and give Kit a BIG HUG!