A Wind in the Door and The Wind of the Spirit

Posted on October 6, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Madeleine L'Engle's book, A Wind in the Door

Good Morning God,

There is a lovely quote from Madeleine L’Engle, “You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” I think that describes her second book in the Time Quartet — A Wind in the Door.

In the book the Echthroi are loose in the Universe — Xing creatures. They are loose here on Planet Earth, too, God. These beings — or are they really some sort of Non Being? — don’t just harm or destroy — they want to X it out. Obliterate.

This is the Non-Being that wants to turn our fellow humans into labels — labels that can then be turned into Enemies or SUBHUMANS. In Rwanda it labeled the Tutsis as Cockroaches — then incited the Hutus to KILL THE COCKROACHES.

This sort of labeling — far beyond name calling or just regular insults — is an attempt to X — to X a person or a people or a planet. I thought of this yesterday, God, while I was reading Rose’s Journey: A Christian in the Holocaust by Myrna Grant. The story is mesmerizing — and, sadly, timeless.

Are people having horrible problems? Then, let’s “FIND” a Horrible Group to blame it on! The next step is to X them. In Europe for hundreds of years the Jews were the group to blame. Only, God, “blame” doesn’t come close to describing the Xing of both the group and the individuals. They too were called words / labels indicating a “less than human” status.

It is hard, God, to keep “seeing” that the Evil that led to the Holocaust is always lurking around us. Looking for a Group or person to X. Blinding us with Fear and Anger. Keeping us from seeing Others as Neighbors. Please, God, CLEANSE and PROTECT US — ALL OF US!

Posted in a prayer for healing, fears, Heal Us Now, Humility or Needing Help!, letting the Holy Spirit flow through us, Perspective

Windows into My Daughter’s World

Posted on October 5, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

The view from Sandy's living room

Good Morning God!

I was sitting in Sandy’s living room, reading, when I looked up and saw this cloud over the mountains. What a lovely scene! Being a Full-Time Tutu is full of mostly lovely scenes — and an unexpected part of the Blessing is the Change of Perspective. I am walking in my daughter’s moccasins, God, and it is humbling.

Hmmm. Humility seems to be an ongoing theme. I find — thank goodness — little notes that Sandy has written — posted where I will need them. The espresso maker has a post-it note that says “Check water level. Turn off when done.” The blender has a note near it that says “Power button in back.”
I smile when I read them. But they help. And after my first “solo” day, when I forgot to give Ian his morning pills, I made a chart — just as Sandy had suggested — and now make a dutiful X morning and night. Sandy has left a day-by-day schedule of boys activities and pickup times. I read them faithfully, and, of course, consult with Mark.

Another small “window” into my daughter’s world is the reading material in the bathrooms. At Suz’s I read the New Yorker. Here one room contains A Rhyming History of Britain (I’m almost done) while another has The Power of Half: One Family’s Decision to Stop Taking and Start Giving Back.

Mark gave me his copy of Fortune so I could read the full article about Trader Joe’s and yesterday I read an entire issue of CAM — the Cambridge Alumni Magazine. Imagine, God, Prince Phillip is the Chancellor of Cambridge. How odd!

I remember M. Scott Peck’s words that “A parent who is unwilling to learn from his child is condemned to an early senility.” I am working hard at learning, God!

Posted in people as gifts, Perspective, perspectives

Food, a Sixth Love Language!

Posted on October 4, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

The Heart of the Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Good Morning, God!

I’ve been chatting with the boys — young men, really — about the Five Love Languages — I like to keep bringing that topic up. Let’s see, the five are Gifts, Physical Touch, Words of Affirmation, Quality Time and Acts of Service. But in just these few days it has come to me that FOOD should be a SIXTH Love Language. The old adage about the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach rings true.

And suppling food is a major challenge for me — even with all the work Sandy did in preparing their lunch packets. Teenage boys eat so much and these have sensitive taste buds. I take one of them with me when I shop for food. Mostly we do well, God. But, for them, I do buy desserts.

I haven’t been in real grocery stores that much God, and it has been a bit of a shock. I have come Face to Face with the New World of Amped-up Food — Sugar, Salt, Fats and FLAVORS — and so far I have managed not to eat it. Let’s see, God, it was chocolate covered peanut butter pretzels that Mark tossed into the basket this afternoon. He had a couple, and I gave Ian a few. Neither boy wanted more. Now, on the other hand, God, if I had eaten even ONE I would have eaten more — maybe 10 more or maybe many more.

As long as I stay away from grains — stay on the wagon — I can resist the New Super-Tasty Food. But the power of the Sugar Snake is great! She longs to delude me into thinking I can have “just one.” I CAN’T. There is great power in that humility, God.

Posted in family visits, food questions, humility

Clouds and Weather — Outside — and In Us

Posted on October 3, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Puffy white clouds over the Santa Catalina Mountains

Good Morning, God

I’m in bed — relishing a Sabbath rest — and pondering “weather.” Yesterday morning Ian burst into my bedroom at 8:30 READY for the promised breakfast at Jerry Bob’s restaurant. As we set out the sky was its usual clear blue. In fact, it was SO sunny that I offered Ian the sunglasses that Sandy had left in the car.

On the way home I was delighted by this puffy white cloud that was appearing over our mountains. Then I got busy with other things — yes, God, mostly things instead of the boys — and it wasn’t

Irresistible clouds -- taken through the car window

until I was driving Mark to a friends at noon that I noticed how full of clouds the sky had become.

Later that afternoon, when I was taking Ian off to buy him sunglasses that fit, the sky became covered by a mass of grey — not even distinct enough to be called clouds. Ian and I chatted happily and went on to Basha’s for his preferred cheese (Boars Head Red Wax white sharp cheddar cheese) and hot dogs, etc. Then shortly after we got home it did actually rain! At first it was so soft and gentle I could barely hear it. But I sat outside to smell it and listen as it became a steady pitter pat.

Then, Ian came out with his cell phone — talking to his mom in Australia — YIKES! Ian had been overcome by his “inner weather” and I had missed it. So, PLEASE, God, help me to focus on my grandsons and not on STUFF. Help me to hear what is not said — and to go slow enough to maybe see the “clouds” of inner weather.

Posted in Hearing, people as gifts, Perspective, seeing

The Sugar Snake and Me

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

The Sugar Snake: Photo by Greg Maxwell

Good Morning, God!

Sandy is in the air flying to Australia to meet Dave — and I am Tutu in Charge — in a house of sleeping grandsons. How fortunate I am, God, to have this gift of time with them. Yes, God, I felt Your Nudge. This is a Time of Multiple Growth Opportunities. And my failures will be used as well as my successes — and You’re right — I may not be able to tell which is which.

Yesterday I took Ian for a “treat” at the Cold Stone Creamery. Ian ordered a small cup. And, God, I heard myself say: “That looks so small, Ian. What about getting a medium?” I knew he would order toppings and I thought they would fall off the small. (I know, That is NO EXCUSE — but I wanted to be “loving.”) Such is the POWER of the SUGAR SNAKE! Later in the car I said, “YOU WERE RIGHT, IAN — small would have been better.” And he agreed.

Thank You, God, for giving me the IMAGE of the Sugar Snake! I can FEEL her coiled in my belly — wanting to be fed — and feeding my Conscious Mind all sorts of rationalizations and “reasons” WHY I DESERVE SUGAR. Somehow this slight disassociation between Me and The Sugar Snake really helps me resist feeding her.

It has been a full week now since she has been fed. Still, “she” had no trouble getting me to order a medium (huge!) ice cream for Ian — and, God, I really do NOT want to confess this — I asked them to put in a third oreo cookie. (I hope Suz is not reading this!!!!)

When I look in the mirror, I can “see” Her coiled up in my belly. Still strong — and waiting. Thank You, God, for helping me to “see” the “Sugar Snake” as part of my Powerful Reptilian Brain.

Tagged with: I most helpful image -- The Sugar Snake
Posted in authority over my life, being a Slow Learner, courage to see myself, family visits, Help me to see, images, interspecies contact, Mistakes, processing on deeper levels, Queen of my Life

An Earth-Like Planet? Really?

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

A Comparison Chart of Earth and Gliese 581 From: the Star Advertiser

Good Morning, God!

An earth-like planet, God? The astronomers up at Keck Observatory are certainly excited! And It would be exciting to have another planet like earth out there. Given just HOW MANY galaxies there are — and HOW MANY STARS are in each galaxy — I’ve sort of assumed there HAD to be other Earths. Well, perhaps it isn’t purely a matter of numbers. After all I was raised on Science Fiction — raised on stories featuring Extraterrestrial Sentient Beings.

While it would be discombobulating to meet Sentient Beings from Outer Space — I think it would be just awful to be the ONLY intelligent life in the Universe. Home, ALONE? Gosh, God, it would make me work MUCH HARDER to get our beloved planet, Earth, back in balance if we were all there was! Hmmm.

But, back to Gliese 581g. While I am sure the University of Hawaii astronomers deserve to be excited — and this planet may well have life on it — I’d be amazed if Gliese 581g had life like us on it. Imagine a year of less than 37 days? Imagine a planet that only has one side facing the sun? Imagine a planet with 3 to 4 times the mass of Earth? Now THERE are CHALLENGES! Not to say, God, that You couldn’t create life suited to those conditions.

When Kit was a little boy — without benefit of a Science Fiction background — he wondered if there was like us life on other planets. He thought there very well might be and he asked his father if Jesus would go and visit those people, too. I think that is an amazingly wonderful insight, God! Because You do LOVE YOUR CREATION — ALL OF US — ALL OVER THE UNIVERSE.

Posted in A God given diversity, Life on other planets, LOVE, reframing

Tucson Skies — And a Tutusaurus Visits

Posted on September 30, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A Tucson Sky

Good Morning, God!

This was the sky that greeted me as I rode off from the Tucson airport with Sandy! So Beautiful! I love Your Clouds, God. Of course, they are more colorful at Sunrise and Sunset. But I find white clouds and sunlight more than glorious!

However, the idea of a sunrise did get me UP and I am now sitting with my laptop and coffee — Sandy just gave me a lesson on their new espresso maker — out on the front porch enjoying watching the sun rise.

At the moment it is merely waiting for the sun to rise. The last bat has swooped by off in the distance and voices are starting to come from neighboring homes. The coffee is bitter, but being here is sweet.

A Tucson Sunrise

It just hit me, God, that visiting our daughters by myself — I ENTER their Worlds. When Kit and I visit together it is more a matter of being in TWO WORLDS. Kit anchors me in the World our OUR GENERATION. This morning, God, I can almost grasp the fact that these are Different Universes — not unlike how Kit and I walk hand in hand through separate Gender Universes. Most amazing!

It is really when I interact with Mark that I “get” just how different our Universes are. Mind You, God, Mark and I are very similar. Yet our Worlds have spun apart. He is determined to bring me UP TO SPEED — or at least to bring my laptop and iPhone up to minimum standard!

Aah! The Intertwined JOYS and ANGST of being IMPROVED! How wonderful it is to be loved! Thank YOU God!

Tagged with: An Intergenerational Visit
Posted in A God given diversity, adjusting, appreciation, attunement, connecting, family visits

Unexpected Delights — And an Appreciation of PLAY

Posted on September 29, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Good Morning, God!

Perhaps delight isn’t quite the right word to describe my quick interaction with a HUGE touch screen billboard at the airport — but I confess, it is close. I saw this coming off the plane from Honolulu and I had stopped and touched each door.

A huge interactive touch screen billboard at LAX

I smiled as each “door” opened to a “scene” in a hotel room. Ah, an ad for Marriott hotels! Then upon touching the last door there was an explosion of “paper” and it was an ad for letting Xerox manage your paper. Such FUN! So passing it while leaving LAX I reached out and touched each door again — being rewarded by new scenes.

Looking into the opened door

An ad as PLAY! It brought to mind the European cities that used PLAY as a way to get people to recycle. Play is such a basic component of Humans, God, I marvel that it is so seldom put to ingenious uses.

PLAY! What a powerful tool to recreate the World — AND myself.

Kit is good at making GAMES of purposeful endeavors — like losing weight. He enjoys it, God! I guess I never “GOT” that self denial — or more softly, self management — is an important part of playing a game. Actually, it is the idea of PAIN or INJURY TO SELF that I never got — in fact, still haven’t gotten.

But I have used the idea of SCORING to help me make personal changes. Some years ago it came to me that I could reframe and organize my life into a number of games. And no one need know the Games OR how I keep score! 500 points? 5,000? Please help me, God, learn to USE Your Gift of Play!

Posted in delight, Play, Progress and our Change in Focus, Queen of my Life

Driving UP to Granada Hills — and BACK in Time

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

Suz's flourishing maidenhair fern

Good Morning, God!

For the last three mornings this marvelous maidenhair fern has been what I’ve seen while I sipped my coffee and chatted with Suz. Yesterday (the HOTEST day of the year) the sunlight was just pouring through it. I am certain that a million dollar piece of art couldn’t seem more beautiful or more soul satisfying. Thank YOU, God! Thank You for ferns and for sunlight — and MOST of ALL for daughters.

This morning I’m flying off to Tucson and leaving LA with dear friends unseen — which makes me wistful. But I will be flying off to see beloved daughter, Sandy and grandsons Ian and Mark. Alas, Dave has already flown to Australia. Aaaah, God. The joy of daughters!

The Hill behind Granda Hills

I have had such a good time with Suzanne that I can’t say I would have done anything differently. Yesterday we made a sentimental journey up to our old home in Granda Hills. I was taking photos as we were talking about all our neighbors — talking about the changes to our yard — the removal of her grapefruit tree she had bought with her allowance being the only really “sad” moment.

We drove to the elementary school and wondered if children walk to school today, or are they driven? The homes and hills looked very much the same — but childhood has changed considerably. I remember my childhood which seemed to consist primarily of playing outside — roller skating around our block, bicycling and playing Kick the Can — playing with neighbor kids. Imagine, God. No play dates, no Wii, no Nintendo. No computers even! Yet, even to my Geek eyes, it was a lovely Time.

Posted in daughters, Light shining through, time, Transitions

A Day in L.A. — Context and Connections

Posted on September 27, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Palm, Moon and Blue Sky in L.A.

Good Morning, God!

Suz is editing; it is too early to call Kit; and I am marveling at how FULL a day can be! Last night I fell into bed and was asleep before even saying Good Night to Suz. Yesterday was a day FULL of Activities and FULL of WORDS! Suz needs a “broadband” connection to transmit all the data her mind generates.

This morning was begun with “coffee tasting.” Taste tests didn’t exist in my life until Kit. At least I have no memory of my family tasting and comparing. Hmmm. Is it that Kit — and now Suz — have more sensitive taste buds? They both have more sensitive noses! And Kit surely has more sensitive light gathering capacities — making him Mr. Bat to my Ms. Moth.

Individual differences abound and yet , for the most part, remain unseen. Seeing is so often a matter of chance. Or, God, do You intervene from time to time? Yesterday morning, as I was typing away I noticed a reflection in my computer screen of the palm and moon visible behind me — out the west facing window. I was enchanted! The iconic palm of Los Angeles — the moon so visible even in daylight — and the glorious blue sky of Fall.

The Sun, Moon and Stars are reassuring elements in my life. They add perspective to my view of our world. To me, the Heavens DO declare Your Glory, God.

And I do so treasure setting my life and world in the CONTEXT of Your CARING. Let me see. How did Jesus sum it up? You should love the Lord your God with all your Heart, Mind and Strength — and Love your Neighbor as you Love Yourself. Good words, God, good words. And, yes, God, I did notice that I am to love myself!