Pondering our Preset Boxes — and Poets

Posted on December 1, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Suz going up the escalator at the Disney Hall

Good Morning, God!

I loved the Disney Hall, God! It is Elegant and Different. Then a friend told me that there are 90,000 homeless living in this downtown LA area. How can this be, God? How is it that we as a Society have come to accept this?

It isn’t that I expect everyone to fit into the working world. Kit was reading me an article about how our new Poet Laureate, W.S. Merwin, lives off the grid in Maui. They collect their own water and live simply. He is working — creating — and he is valued. I wonder, God, if some of the homeless are not Poets who never found Poetry? Hmm.

W.S. Merwin in his backyard on Maui

Humans come in such an array of intelligences and giftings — some fit easily into the working world — others figure out HOW to live off the grid and out of the box — like Merwin. Ah, but others, God, they are the damaged ones. Alcohol, drugs, abuse — or neurological kinks that make it impossible for them to FIT into the preset holes we have. Do we need more adaptive holes, God?

And how about the story of the man who was on alcohol and drugs from childhood. Someone paid him to go to an AA meeting and sign in under another name to satisfy a court order. It was his first AA meeting and it “took.” With Your Help he went to college and got a job.

That story makes me feel that we could be reaching — reclaiming — a lot more than we do. Bless those who are reaching out, God!

Posted in acknowledging another's existence, balancing free with supported, earning a living, Haves and Have Nots, healing

Reaching Out, Reaching Back — The Power of Forgiving

Posted on November 30, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

man and whale -- shaking hands?

Good Morning God!

Well, it is sort of the middle of my night, God. Kit has a staph infection on his lower left leg. It is responding to the antibiotic — THANK YOU, GOD! But he woke up with it needing rewrapping and I had to improvise. So I thought I would get up and chat with YOU. Perspective is always helpful.

This photo sure gives perspective. My brother sent it with the story of how a female whale was seriously entrapped in nets and four divers volunteered to cut her free. That’s a risky job, God –freeing entrapped creatures — but the whale held steady. Then when she was FREE she leapt about joyfully and then went to each diver in turn — as if to thank them. The divers were very moved. I checked. It really happened.

Speaking of perspective. Today I heard from my friend who is suffering from colon cancer. He’s the one You “made” me talk to about how important it is to FORGIVE and RELEASE all the bad stuff of his past so he doesn’t waste today’s energy paying rent on the Past. He’s been working hard on forgiving. This Thanksgiving his sister flew over to help. They are close again after years “apart”. Furthermore, her former husband also came out to help. Now the “couple” are talking about setting aside their “past” troubles and maybe getting back together.

It is like a cascade of healing. Maybe, God, ALL healing begins with forgiving and releasing? And, perhaps Forgiving is related to Not Judging? Maybe they both depend on compassion? We are all entrapped by the nets of our past, God, and YOU long to set us free.

Posted in a matter of scale, A Spiritual Spring Cleaning, accepting my need for help, being FORGIVEN by God, being together in a compassionate presence

Cowgirls, Climate Change, and Hope

Posted on November 29, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Heidi Redd of the Dugout Ranch -- a partner with Nature Conservancy

Good Morning, God!

How many billion of us are there, now? And except for a few who are “off the grid” most of us are driving our cars and turning on our lights — those of us who have cars and lights. And sure enough, the world is warming

I must say, God, I find the melting of Planet Earth depressing. I remember steaming into Glacier Bay up in Alaska and seeing very small glaciers. In the 1700s the whole bay was solid ice. I told Kit, we’re too late. What is especially painful, God, is that change “snowballs.” In the Arctic, melting permafrost releases methane gas — which is even worse than carbon dioxide.

So, finding even a bit of good news makes me want to share it. Heidi Redd and her family are partnering with Nature Conservancy. The family cattle ranch will continue on. But because of the partnership the cowboys and the scientists are working together — trying to figure out how to respond to the warming weather.

The article says they “have come up with a number of ideas about how ranching might change in these parts: further reducing herd numbers; switching to different breeds of cattle; planting drought-adapted grasses; grazing on fragile lands only in the winter, when the soil is frozen and less vulnerable. Everything is on the table. Things will look different, says Baker, but the point is that there are solutions — there are ways to adapt.”

I really love that spirit, God! That is the spirit of hope — Your Hope. Please, God, we need Your Hope and Your Help!

Posted in climate changes, hope, Hope as a gift from God, web of life

Raw Milk and rBGH: what’s healthy and what’s NOT

Posted on November 28, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

The Fight over Raw Milk

Good Morning, God!

Should people be able to buy and consume raw milk? Or, do people need to be protected from possible germs? That is a legal and societal question and I am on the side of the FREE TO DRINK RAW MILK. But, it could also be reframed as the question of which is more important — to BUILD UP our health or to PROTECT against any chance of harm?

Speaking of HARMING folks, God, what about the rBGH treated cows? Recombinant bovine growth hormone causes cows to give 15-20% more milk. Great, only the cows don’t live as long when treated with rbGH. The cows have all kinds of health problems. And there are worries about the consumers’ health too. Since 1994 the hormone has been banned in Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Australia and all 27 nations of the European Union.

While here, a group founded by Monsanto tried to make it illegal for dairies to put an “rBGH-FREE” label on their milk. No Free speech? It went to court in Ohio and the court said that there IS a difference between treated milk and rbGH free milk. The court said rBGH milk has more pus cells in it and higher levels of IGF-1. The court didn’t add that excessive levels of IGF-1 have been incriminated as major causes of breast, colon, and prostate cancers.

So here we are, God! In America we can have cloned cows — no kidding, milk from cloned cows. And it is legal to give a cow rBGH. All this while according to Time magazine some farmers selling raw milk have been arrested and it is illegal to transport raw milk across state lines.

Seems to me, God, both our health and our freedom are suffering.

Posted in fears, freedom, health

Being Grateful as a Gift to Myself

Posted on November 27, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Good Morning, God!

I was just about to write some Thank You cards and letters when my eye was caught by an email titled “The Blessings of Gratitude.” It was an excerpt from the book All That Jesus Asks. I read the whole four pages excerpt.

I KNOW gratitude is GOOD FOR US! Still, it was good to read the quote from the book that “Studies show that gratitude is associated with “pro-social behaviors” and with improved emotional well-being.” It sounds so scientific as opposed to wishful thinking. I like that.

Gratitude, like Thanksgiving and Praise, helps us OPEN the door of our Heart — open to YOU, God. But, that door, while BIG, is often CLOSED. In fact, our schooling — teaching us to look for what’s WRONG — probably trains us not even to see that there IS a Door at the back of our Inner Garden.

a garden gate in Connemara, Ireland

Hmm. I’m looking at the gate and smiling, as I picture a truckload of manure coming in through that gate to fertilize the crops and flowers in the garden.

Ah, yes. MANY of YOUR BLESSINGS, God, do seem like having “manure” dumped on us. Manure is essential for the growth and good health of plants. But, we don’t WANT the old smelly and organic fertilizer dumped on us! We — well, me — I want EASY and PLEASANT . Sigh, I’m happy to be watered, but fertilized?

Ah, KNOWING THAT YOU USE EVERYTHING that comes into my life — really helps me Grit my Teeth and OPEN the Gate of Gratitude so I can be blessed — and grow. THANK YOU, GOD!

Posted in gratitude, growing toward up, Trusting God

A Door wide open — My Heart wide open?

Posted on November 26, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A door -- wide-open -- in Dubrovnik

Good Morning, God!

I thought I would read Luke this morning and make a list of “commands” but I didn’t even get past Peterson’s introduction in the Message before I was stopped. He talks about our “clubs” informal or formal — all of which depend on exclusivity, keeping Others OUT. Then he points out that the “price” of exclusivity is “A REDUCTION of REALITY, a SHRINKAGE of LIFE.”

My immediate response was to cry out to You, God! “I don’t want my life shrunk! I want it EXPANDED.” That seemed like ENOUGH of an insight for one morning. But I read on: “. . . Religion has a long history of doing just that, of reducing the HUGE mysteries of God to the respectability of club rules, of shrinking the vast human community to a ‘membership.’ But with God there are no outsiders.” Oh, God! If we could only GRASP that truth — BE GRASPED BY IT!

Peterson goes on to talk about Luke as the only Gentile among the Jews — and how Luke shows how Jesus INCLUDES those “outside” — the women, the poor, the different. The page ends with Peterson saying that we “Now find the doors wide open, found and welcomed by God in Jesus.” Lovely! Your DOORS are WIDE OPEN, God.

But what I like even better, is how YOU come to the doors of Our Hearts and knock, asking if we will OPEN to You. Please, Come in, God. Not for a time in the parlor, but to stay in me. Perhaps, even to reign? Ah? You don’t stay if You aren’t reigning? Fair enough, God, fair enough.

Posted in an invitation to abundant life, doors and doorways, Ongoing Transformation

Thanksgiving — not just a Day, but means of Transportation

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

sunrise in a rear view mirrow

Good Morning, God!

It is Thanksgiving Day and all is quiet. Looking out my bedroom window, the clouds are white and puffy. I am thankful. Very thankful. It occurred to me — as I selected this particular photo — that mostly I am thankful while looking back — looking in my “rear view mirror.”

In the midst of a “good thing” I am mostly too busy enjoying it to be thankful. And, in the midst of an “adventure” I am too occupied getting through it to be thankful in it. So, God, I suspect that Thankfulness is often relegated to an Act of Reflection. Whereas, in truth, I think it is one of Your Directions for Living.

Your Psalms say: Enter into My Gates with Thanksgiving. Enter into My Courts with Praise. I used to think WITH meant something we took with us when we entered through Your Gates. Now I am more and more certain that it is HOW we enter Your Gates — approaching YOU more closely. It is sort of like Spiritual Transportation. Smile. A sort of “Beam me up, Scotty” move?

Gosh, God, that makes BEING THANKFUL really important! Just as a deep breath when we are stressed will help us relax — so a big inhalation of Thankfulness helps us “move” toward You. Hmm. If we could learn to exhale Praise, we could be right there IN YOUR COURTS.

Yes, God, exercising Thanksgiving and Praise would (will?) sure transform MY life! Please, God, help me practice! Help me take small, but frequent, steps during each day. THANKING YOU IN THE MIDST OF LIFE! PRAISING YOU FOR WHAT IS!!! Thank YOU, God. Thank You.

Posted in exercising, inner paths of the heart, learning, Praise, Prayer, thankfulness, Thanksgiving!

Thinking about The Future — and thankful we are still here!

Posted on November 24, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

a painting of a Russian planned nuclear-propulsion rocket

Good Morning, God!

So, last night I read that the Russians are planning a nuclear-propulsion rocket to use in space exploration — and will be designing a nuclear powered plant to be placed on the Moon or Mars. That’s not really a surprise. But, I also saw that the Canadians’ have a Space Agency! And they have just let a big contract for a new generation of Lunar Rovers. A Canadian Space Agency?

Meanwhile, we Americans are thinking maybe we will make one more shuttle run. I’m TORN, God, TORN! Part of me thinks: Is going into Space feeding the hungry? Another part thinks GET GOING America!

Here’s a DREAM, God! How about if we shipped all manufacturing to the MOON and kept the Earth CLEAN? Manufacturing done by Robots, of course. Hmm. I remember YEARS ago when I was at a party and talking about where to put nuclear waste. I joked that we should send it to the moon. And someone said, YES, WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT!

On our Planet, God, waste products are shared. Air pollution TRAVELS. Water pollution TRAVELS. I wonder if that would be true of waste materials in space? We already have a lot of old stuff orbiting around and around us. Could we leave waste on the moon without it eventually harming us?

Ah, now, God! I’m familiar with “unintended consequences” and aware that eager scientists plunge ahead. Actually, considering the Pandora’s BOXES we have opened in the last 70 years — I’m so thankful we are still here. IT’S YOUR HAND, GOD! YOUR HAND! Thank YOU!

Posted in Perspective, Possibilities, thankfulness

Tranquility, Rest and Healing

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

A sunset moment at Maunalua Bay

Good Morning, God!

A tranquil morning — a restful morning — and I realize that my body is very pleased. My mind had proposed a jog up the hill. But, My Body is quite clear, God, about continuing to lie here in bed chatting with You.

I’m pondering Time, God. Today’s photo was snapped at a red light or maybe while waiting for the left turn arrow. It was a very short moment of Time in which to “capture” an image that exudes tranquility. And that is very much how I feel this morning — tranquil, peaceful and at rest. Thank YOU!

Later on today, I shall re-engage with my surroundings, and tidy and bring order. But, for now, I am aware of my Body’s gentle tides doing their own tidying and reordering. And that is GOOD. Good that they are doing it. Good that I respect those unseen activities. Perhaps this is the essence of a Sabbath Rest, God? My Active Ego “giving up” what it views as ITS POSSESSIONS to an Unseen Other. This Part of Me (let it not be the Real Me) lives as if it is ALL MINE. MY TIME. MY MONEY.

Oh God! If tithing my money is hard — how much harder to hand over One Whole Day a week to REST from my busy-ness. After all, a tithe is just 10%. The COMMAND to keep the Sabbath is for me to HAND OVER ONE SEVENTH of my LIFE.

Hmmmm. The Sabbath WAS made FOR us! It IS a gift that will redeem and transform the other six days of the week. It is the pivot pole connecting with YOU on which we were designed to “spin.” So WHY can’t I KEEP IT?

INSUFFICIENT HUMILITY. Sigh, we are a stiff necked people. You LONG to heal us . . . but we are too busy . . . to receive.

Posted in healing, humility, living within limits, Peace, rest, sabbath rest, Trusting God

An Air plant — through a Rose Colored Camera

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

an air plant or Kalanchoe Pinnata

Good Morning, God!

Such an unexpected touch of color my camera gave to this humble air plant! But, I confess, God, I LIKE looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. I think COLOR is a wonderful idea! I hope you haven’t created any black and white worlds. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz came out and I can still remember my JOY when the black and white movie shifted into color — Oz Color!

So why not see through rose-colored glasses? Or, as I prefer to think of it — why not turn reality around and around until I can find a better way to grasp it? And, God, I DO want to GRASP it. I want to work toward a better world. I know how much I have — how very fortunate I am to have been born where and when I was. I take the last words of the pledge of allegiance — “for liberty and justice for ALL” to heart.

My World is set in the Context of YOU, God! And that makes all the difference. A couple of days ago I was reading a conversation with a Native American about his spiritual viewpoint. The Great Spirit and the importance of Gratitude sounded good. But, then he talked about having to give up any idea that The Great Spirit had any interest in helping individuals.

I don’t mean to anthropomorphize YOU, God. But, if I can care about individuals — how could You not care far more? I was shocked. It was like when I learned that the church theologians for many hundreds of years believed You didn’t feel. Apparently only women and “other lesser beings” felt.

Yuck! Now THAT is seeing the world through GREY glasses. Please, God, clean our glasses!

Posted in appreciation, being together in a compassionate presence, Colors, seeing, setting my life in context