Volcanic Plumes, Conflicting Choices and Bigger Hearts

Posted on September 22, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Iceland volcano plume: Photographer unknown

Good Morning, God,

Having been caught in the Icelandic Volcano’s Travel Snarl — I didn’t much care for reading: “Larger events are less frequent but they will occur.” That was a quote from volcanologist, Haraldur Sigurdsson, who is chairing a conference to discuss how to better coordinate the global response in the case of another eruption.

It’s true. There WILL be bigger eruptions. It is just so unsettling to imagine them. And then yesterday I stumbled on reports of a Russian volcano that is acting suspicious. I know, God, that we live in a fluid world — changes happen — I just don’t like them.

It seems people are upset that in the Icelandic volcano crisis each country made it’s own FLY or NO FLY decisions. They want a European Airspace. Some folks are saying the decisions made were crisis avoidance, not crisis management. I guess that depends on whether you are the one flying — or whether you are someone concerned about the economic impact on businesses of no one flying. Those two interest groups have valid and conflicting viewpoints.

That’s the trouble, God. There doesn’t seem to be a CLEAR CLEAN PATH THROUGH THE BOG. To me that seems to be a given. Life is about balancing. We balance one virtue against another. We balance helping these folks with hurting those folks. It’s messy. It’s reality. It’s politics. And we don’t like it.

But, it helps me to realize that life is all about choices — often good but conflicting choices. I think, God, we need YOUR HELP HERE! We need enlarged hearts that have ROOM for Your Concerns. And at the same time we need BETTER BRAINS to analyze WHAT WORKS!

Ah, but then to SHARE it. THAT TAKES HEART! Oh God, help us WANT bigger hearts — healthy hearts — loving hearts!

Tagged with: Living in a world of choices
Posted in Balancing and adjustments, choices, complexity, decision making, Hearts

Various CLOUDS Around Us — Clouds of Prayer Friends?

Posted on September 21, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Clouds over the Hawaii Kai marina

Good Morning, God!

I’ve been thinking about The Cloud of Witnesses that is described in Hebrews. I like the idea of a Cloud of Witnesses.But, yesterday, I needed prayer support. So I called two of my “prayer partners” and they prayed for me and with me. It was such a help, God!

And it came to me SO CLEARLY — why doesn’t EVERYONE have a cloud of “prayer” friends? Our Wednesday Women’s Morning Prayer Group is a JOY! We are so free to share — hearing and being heard — that in itself is healing. But, it isn’t quite the same thing has having a person you pray with daily or weekly or even intermittently. That is the person you can CALL out to.

Now, God, churches have Prayer Circles, Prayer Teams and even Prayer Meetings. But WHERE are the Prayer Partners? And HOW might this happen, God? I know of churches that offer prayer every Sunday — two prayers to one recipient. That is super! But, still, not quite the same as a prayer friend.

You know, God, even having prayed together just a few times, changes and deepens a relationship. Hmmm. I’d never thought about that before — but as I think back, I feel it works that way for me.

Another thought, God. People often ask “Does prayer WORK?.” I never know quite how to respond. I feel that when I pray — something changes inside me. Sometimes it is a new idea appearing. Sometimes it is a sense of peace. Every once in a while something more noticeable happens — and that is lovely. But, God, I am so aware of the layers of healing that are needed inside each of us — that I just figure when we pray You are healing SOMETHING — even if we don’t notice. That feels TRUE.

Tagged with: If everyone had someone to pray with how different the world would be
Posted in Prayer, Praying together extemporaneously, processing on deeper levels

A Traditional Society (Pohnpei) Does it RIGHT!

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

Good Morning, God!

Yesterday I had a chance to read Nature Conservancy — and I was delighted to find an article about Pohnpei. Since we have a Pohnpei congregation at Central Union — we now know some Pohnpeians. Friends bring the world so much closer.

Like most places Pohnpei is experiencing a drop in the fishing stock. And they, as part of the Federated States of Micronesia, have set up marine sanctuaries. But money for patrolling was scarce. And the government was reluctant to treat the fishermen as criminals.

The village chiefs have now responded in a traditional way. The article talked of fishermen who were caught fishing in the sanctuary. The chiefs of their village called for a meeting. And the fishermen’s families — by tradition — had to provide the food for all the people gathered. The chiefs gave the fishermen an opportunity to explain why they should not be punished. The fishermen responded by apologizing and asking for forgiveness in front of their families and community. The chiefs reminded them of everyone’s collective responsibility over the natural resources available to the community.

How incredibly civilized, God! The chiefs used Social Shame AND then talked about everyone’s responsibility to CARE for the COMMON resources they depend on.

I wonder, God, if greed could be reduced if even a small percentage of us made it “socially” clear that we think greed is shameful? Oops! You just reminded me YOU think greed is shameful.

Funny, God, I have not ever thought of SHAME as a good thing. But I can see that shame can be more effective than laws and lawmen. For some people laws just makes it a game to get away with stuff.

Oh, God! Help us to feel the shame WE should feel. It is so easy to project! Make that, help ME.

Tagged with: Shame as a force for GOOD
Posted in a new view of Commons, Shame as a tool that can be used for good, Sharing, supportive organizational structures

A Surprise at The KCC’s Cactus Garden

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

A planting of Madagascar Palms

Good Morning, God

Saturdays usually involve a trip to the KCC Farmer’s Market. FOOD is the Star — with the international assortment of visitors the audience. On the way I pass the Cactus Garden. I confess, God, to me plants with SPINES are off putting.

But there appeared one day a small “family” of Madagascar palms (technically caudiciforms). They weren’t planted too close to each other — and the spine count on their trunk put all the other cacti to shame. They each have a Tuft of Green Leaves above their spine lined trunk. I found them oddly endearing. I mean, God, why did I even think of them as a family?

A flowering Madagascar Palm

Then yesterday morning as I was leaving the Farmers’ Market I glanced up at them and stopped! I stared — puzzled. At first I thought someone had put flowers on two of them — or maybe it was just paper blowing by that had gotten caught? I climbed up the bank and peered closely.

They were flowers! AND they were clearly growing out of the top of the green tuft of leaves. I kept walking around them — taking photos — and trying to reconcile the delicate white blossoms with the spine covered trunk.

It came to me, God, that there are people just like these Madagascar Palms. Spiny. Difficult to get close to. But just like these palms they are capable of amazing surprises.

I have found the flowering of the Madagascar Palms a hopeful image. May they remind me not to judge people — or palms — by their spiny exteriors.

And, God, may YOU help me to remember that YOU CAN bring up delightful flowerings from difficult situations.

Tagged with: God LOVES surprising us
Posted in Flowers, interspecies contact, Perspective, stopping to see, Trusting God

Adding a Fifth Pillar to Lifestyle Medicine

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

Sandy standing on a rock in Sabino Canyon

Good Morning, God!

I forget exactly how I came across an article by Dr. Mark Hyman on Lifestyle Medicine. But I like what he said: Overwhelming evidence proves that the most effective prevention and treatment for chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes is what we eat, how much we exercise, how we handle stress, and our social connections. These factors are often referred to collectively as “lifestyle medicine.”

I would add one more factor — spiritual connections — that would be a connection with YOU, God! Knowing we are loved and valued — knowing the extent of Your Compassion for us and for all creatures — now THAT’S a help in handling stress. Certainly a help in keeping things in perspective.

I read a quote last week, God, about how we live on a tiny planet — going around a third rate star — in a corner of a pretty ordinary galaxy. So? You created us. We have incredible value to YOU. I love the Hasidic saying about balancing the two slips of paper in our coat pockets. One slip says From DUST you came and to Dust you shall return. The other slip says For you, the World was created.

Aware of our smallness on the one hand — and awake to Your Love, God — on the other. Oh, if only we KNEW in every cell how much You love EACH ONE OF US. Like a good parent, You want us to love, respect, encourage and care for one another.

Not soft love, God. Not love, that fails to Speak the Truth in Love. It takes backbone AND compassion to love well — to love with an eye to another’s high calling.

Posted in becoming the change I wish to see, being repotted, being together in a compassionate presence, healing, LOVE

Failure as The First Step in Learning

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

Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov

Good Morning, God!

Here’s a book I’d like to read. I just read an excerpt from it in Delancyplace.com about how failure is part of learning. Not only that, but the author urges us not to make a big deal of getting an answer right. The whole idea seems to be about getting started– with initial failures to be expected — and then learning how to do it better.

I really like that idea, God. That’s the way we learn to walk and talk. Then we go to school and it is all about being RIGHT! Or more to the point, it is about NOT MAKING MISTAKES! Worse yet, in school we are taught that there IS a RIGHT ANSWER.

And if we go back to the Goldilocks and the Three Bears story — it appears as if our chances of getting “it right” are one in three. Contrast THAT model with the REALITIES in which there often doesn’t even appear to be any right answers. Or as I have learned — there are a whole lot more ways to be WRONG, than there are to be right.

That Goldilocks Model is the cause of a lot of stress — it creates totally unrealistic expectations. As for myself, God, I really like the “Life as Bog” model. Life is messy, confusing and chaotic. I love it. But I sure can’t evaluate how I’m doing.

And that is just as well. It’s more about HOW are WE doing. Are we banding together and helping. Are we LEARNING from our mistakes? Are we WILLING to ADMIT we’ve failed? And are we willing to start over? I just finished One Good Dog which is so much more than a Dog Story. It is about FAILING as a GIFT. A painful gift. But then, God, some of Your best gifts are painful.

Posted in growing toward up, learning, web of life

Koko Head and a Soft Slow Evening

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

Koko Head from the Plumeria Beach House

Good Morning, God

I usually see this view in the morning — it is a softer light at dusk — wrapping around us, welcoming us into relaxation. I am a recovering adrenaline addict, God. Part of the “do two things at once and do them quickly” syndrome.

Dang! Caught! Yes, God, I WAS going to comment on how much wiser it is to relax! Making it sound as if I had mellowed and matured. But You reminded me that just this morning I was teaching two people at the same time — teaching them quite different things — and LOVING IT.

One person complimented me on my patience. But, teaching/tutoring is a JOY — at no point is patience ever required. Well, hardly ever.

The Stingray's pool at night

Still, I am pleased with the part of me that is now enjoying slow — the part of me that values and cherishes NOT working on the Sabbath. Of course, I still am not managing myself well enough to avoid TOO BUSY the day before the Sabbath. Ah, but I FEEL the PULL toward Centeredness and CALM.

Let’s see, God, how many years since the electric light was invented? Was it in the 1880’s? Only 130 years to roll back the Night? To change the pattern of waking with the Dawn and sleeping in the Night?

Caught, again! I was just getting ready to blame our BUSY BUSY on electric lights! Before, only the wealthy few could dance the night away by candle light.

Technology, like Wealth, does set before us an incredible array of choices. God, You have set us FREE to choose — Help us cling to YOU and choose wisely. Help me see that RESTING in YOU is the KEY to WISE CHOOSING.

Posted in choices, choosing HARD, Choosing Meaning, Choosing to respond, relaxation, rest

The Eiffel Tower and Creatures of Certainty (sometimes, that’s me)

Posted on September 15, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

The base of the Eiffel Tower: Photo by Paul Seaman

Good Morning, God!

Yesterday I read that the French evacuated the Eiffel Tower and the area around it due to a bomb threat. Suz thought that the French ban on Islamic girl’s head scarfs might have had something to do with the threat. She thought the head scarf ban was a stupid thing to do.

We humans do A LOT of stupid stuff. Me too, God. I keep telling myself that we CAN choose our responses — we can try to let people know we hear them. And we can seek common ground — a deeper “truth.” A deft changing of the subject or of the focus can sometimes defuse disagreements. I much prefer defusing to detonating.

But, there are small groups of zealots that are so certain they are right that they feel justified in doing anything to prevail. With them, reason won’t work. Zealots know that they are after people’s hearts — through fear or feeling. Prudent men seem to miss that entirely. Ah, God. Reason doesn’t seem to be able to seep down into the human heart.

Ah my. Please, God, help the French. The Eiffel Tower “belongs” to us all and I hate to see it threatened. Help us all. Oh, that we would all be just a bit aware that we MIGHT be wrong. Perhaps that would keep us from becoming Zealots? Or is the person possessed of Common Sense and Reasonableness forever assailed by Creatures of Certainty?

Hmmm. This is surely a matter for PRAYER! Didn’t we just talk about praying for our enemies? So, this morning, God, help me to pray for ALL Creatures of Certainty! And, yes, God, from time to time I morph into one of those, too.

Posted in a prayer for healing, acknowledging another's existence, being together in a compassionate presence, Common Sense, Common sense and reasonableness, Communication

Grasping the Extent of Our Power to Create

Posted on September 14, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

A rainbow at sunset

Good Morning, God!

Nothing like observing YOUR creations to make us humble. A rainbow is always breathtaking . . . and one against sunset lit clouds . . . even more so.

But, humble or not, we ARE made in Your Image, God! Made to create. Finding in ourselves AS we create something deeply satisfying. I remember watching Toshiko Takaezu creating a bowl on a potter’s wheel. It felt as if she were reaching down — into the “Teeming Void” — to pull that bowl up and out into existence. It was a deeply sacred moment.

I was going to riff on the differences between handcrafted items and machine made products — but then I looked over at my new iPhone. I love it. It, too, has been pulled up into existence — designed with care, designed with love. How is it, God, that we recognize this quality?

palms indoors at the Kahala at night

Sometimes what tips us over into delight as we approach something isn’t even so much aesthetic as it is a small touch of joy. When I saw my car in the dealer’s lot — I saw the SWOOSH on its side — and responded, viscerally, with delight. Actually, I responded that way when I first saw, Kit. Smile!

The sight of these overlapping palm branches stopped me last night. I backed up and took a photo. It’s a jumble, but with an underlying pattern. Discovering — perhaps creating — underlying patterns is part of the creative process, too, God.

You command us to BLESS, BLESS and DO NOT CURSE. You tell us PRAY for those who despitefully use us! I think that is because You want us to know that WE CAN CREATE ENEMIES BY OUR EXPECTATIONS — and by our expectations we can open the door to creating friends, too. Please, HELP us, God, to “overcome evil with good.”

Tagged with: Perhaps we need a little chaos - a little unknowing - little humility
Posted in appreciation, Being a Blessing, Choosing to respond, Creating, creativity in loving service, responding to God's Spirit, Rethinking

Lost Sheep, Hungry Goats, Me

Posted on September 13, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

cashmere goats eating up Mongolian grasslands

Good Morning. God!

Yesterday the scripture reading was Luke 15:1-10 where Jesus talks about the lost sheep and the woman with the lost coin. I love those stories, God! I love how You CARE about the LOST. The image of a man leaving his 99 sheep — to go off looking for the one that is lost — and then carrying it home on his shoulders — always moves me.

Yes, God, it isn’t lost on me that the religious leaders of the day didn’t like Jesus. I’m not sure that many religious leaders TODAY like Jesus. I mean, God, they SAY they do. But they don’t follow.

Sigh. Not that I am doing such a great job of following Jesus.

Thinking of sheep made me think about GOATS — Matthew 25 — and how You separate the sheep from the goats. If sheep know their master’s voice and follow — goats just do as they darn well please. I found this photo of goats but it came with sad news that cashmere being relatively expensive there has been a rush to raise cashmere goats. The good news is cashmere sweaters have never been cheaper. The BAD NEWS is that there are so many goats that the grasslands of Mongolia — there since the time of Ghengis Khan — are being turned into deserts. Goats, it seems, eat the ROOTS of plants.

Money NOW vs Grasslands for the Future. I was going to wax indignant about valuing short term returns at the expense of long term good, God. But then you brought to my attention that I do that too. I scurry around being TOO BUSY. Then I pay the price. The Sabbath Rest yesterday was wonderful God. But I need another Day of Rest this Tuesday!

Posted in a new view of Commons, living within limits, lying fallow, Perspective