Mele Kalikimaka

Posted on December 25, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Christmas lights in downtown Honolulu

Good Morning, God!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Thank YOU for coming IN PERSON over 2,000 years ago! Thank YOU for COMING NOW into our Hearts and Lives — bringing LOVE and casting out FEAR.

The photo is of the downtown Honolulu lights and people strolling along gazing at them. Our lights and gifts are such small imitations of YOUR LIGHT and YOUR GIFT.

No wonder they don’t really satisfy and leave us lacking. The depression so many people feel at Christmas is the yearning for YOU.

Ah, YES, even those of us who go to church and pray and believe — STILL YEARN FOR YOU! And that is GOOD! It is good that we should know that we are “incomplete” and “needy.” And that is why we so need to come together and love one another. Loving each other AS WE ARE — SEEING that each of us has a CORE WHICH YEARNS FOR YOU — aaah, THAT IS TRULY THE BEST OF GIFTS.

How better to make more room for YOU than by loving one another!

Posted in being together in a compassionate presence, gifts and giftings, God's gifts, Help me to see

Families — God’s Favorite Forge

Posted on December 24, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Our Christmas Tree, the night before Christmas eve

Good Morning, God!

I have a wonderful family! But, we are NOT a PERFECT family. Mostly, I don’t mind that. But last night a “dinner table” incident plunged me into what felt like “terminal sorrow” — at least that is how I described it when I resumed speaking. Terminal Sorrow, Yikes! But, God, that is how it felt at the time.

I felt so bad I actually took a walk around the block. As You know, on the walk I was back on my favorite complaint of WHY DIDN’T YOU DO A BETTER JOB OF CREATING US! At least that is what it boiled down to. Sigh. For all of my intentions of taking personal responsibility for myself — I so often lapse into blaming YOU! I’m sorry, God! I am only an “intermittent grownup.”

One thought that repeated itself was the AA one of “I am powerless over this problem” and I need to hand it over to GOD — even if God won’t do what I want. Yes, God, you noticed that snarky postscript. But, really, in my saner moments I understand that it is a good thing You don’t do MY will.

Returning home I discovered my SORROW had looked a lot like ANGER. Hmm. It might have been wrapped in a bit of anger — but it WAS sorrow. Meanwhile, things had been patched up and steps toward growth and understanding had been taken. All that remained was to bring me back into “equilibrium.” Sigh.

Christmas is about YOUR COMING and YOUR LOVE for us just as we ARE. You love me at my most judgmental worst. And, amazingly, You help my family to love me too. You even help ME to love myself. Ah, NOW THAT IS THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS! THANK YOU!

Posted in being together in a compassionate presence, Expand my Heart, family visits, Forgiven!, Forgiving, LOVE, Perspective

Full Moon, Full Heart, and Hearing as Healing

Posted on December 23, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Winter Solstice Full Moon a day later

Good Morning, God!

Winter Solstice — Christmas — the Coming of the Light — aaah YES! You have not left us in darkness. You HAVE COME and YOU DO COME to Hearts who have made room for You.

I’m pondering the phrase Room for You. This photo was taken outside the Rewick Board Room at Central Union Church. That is where our Women’s Wednesday 7:00 a.m. Prayer Group meets. It is where we gather to “make room for You.” The GATHERING is important. We don’t just make room for You, God, we make ROOM for ONE ANOTHER! Hearing and being heard — we share Your Presence.

Hmmm. It comes to me that HEARING one another is a SACRED ACT. Interested, Caring, Focused Attention invites the Heart to Open and Speak. Ah! AND THAT IS HEALING! I say that as if I were surprised, God. And, I AM SURPRISED! Such unexpected power in such an “ordinary” activity!

Only, of course, that kind of listening is far from ordinary. I am blessed to have friends who HEAR me. I’m blessed to have Kit hearing and speaking with me. Blessed to pray (read: hear each other in Your Presence) with people.

One more thought, God, before I go walking around the block. Walking and talking — as I normally do each Thursday morning — seems to activate more of the mind. Or, perhaps it just activates slightly different parts? But the quality of the conversation seems somewhat deeper on a walk. Prayer comes in many forms, doesn’t it, God!

Posted in healing, Hearing, hearing myself, letting the Holy Spirit flow through us, listening, Prayer

Deer Asking for Help

Posted on December 22, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

two of four young Sitka deer swimming toward help

Good Morning, God!

Four young Sitka black-tailed deer swimming toward help — that’s quite a story! They were in the icy water of Stephen’s Passage, Alaska — who knows for how long — when they saw a boat and swam right toward it. They circled around LOOKING at the people on the boat. Thankfully, God, the people got the “message” and helped the deer on to the boat.

deer on the boat

There they stayed, shivering and wet, until they docked at Taku Harbor. Then the first deer lept into the water, swam to shore and raced into the forest. The next two needed a little help to leave the ship, and the fourth one has to be taken down the dock in a wheel barrel! But, all made it “home.”

I love stories of interspecies contact, God! We are together in this miraculous Web of Life — connected in ways we have not yet comprehended. Sharing a life with a dog or cat gives us some small sense of this here on Planet Earth.

But, I believe You are inviting us to Sing with the Morning Stars. To JOIN in the Heavenly Chorus! To be in TUNE!

Ah! NOW THERE is interspecies contact! Thank YOU, God, for creating SUCH A RICH AND COMPLEX UNIVERSE and for giving us a part of it.

Posted in a hand up, accepting my need for help, asking for help for myself, interspecies contact, Thanksgiving!, web of life

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