A Woman’s Day: The Farmers’ Market, Then Clothes Shopping

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

Good Morning, God!

Here I am in L.A. — curled up in bed — waiting for Suz to announce Time for Coffee Tasting. Such a lovely way to stat the day! Mind you, God, I miss sipping coffee in bed with Kit as we chat away. But how fortunate I am to have TIME with beloved daughters!

Purslane

Yesterday, thanks to Suz, I ate purslane for the very first time. I knew of it — knew how high it is in omega 3 and vitamins and minerals — but I had no idea how to prepare it or where to get it. We found it at the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market — two big bunches — almost the last of the season as frost does it in.

Suz pulled off the small succulent type leaves and chopped them with garlic and mixed it with yogurt (as a binder) and a little sea salt. I was SO SURPRISED, God, at how MY BODY LOVED IT! It wasn’t so much the taste — which was merely pleasant — as it was my Body RECOGNIZING it as NEEDED and LONG AWAITED. Quite a surprise, God! And, YES, I have to get the seeds and grow it at home!

But yesterday wasn’t just about nourishing foods. It was also about Nourishing Friends. We met Renan at the market — she had called Suz to say Crenshaw melons were in and she asked Rocky to hold two for us. Then that afternoon we drove up to Silverlake to visit with Susan and off we three went — shopping at Mimo’s in South Pasadena.

Aaaah, God! The joy of “mother daughter” shopping! We women ARE the Gatherers. Off we go with our inner “String Bags” to see what we can bring home. The three of us — plus Mimo, the owner, and Pam (another regular) all interacting and bonding as we experienced clothes as expressions and creators of “alternate selves.” Thank YOU, God!

Posted in a series of molts and upgrades, accepting my ability to REDESIGN, acknowledging another's existence, appreciation, attunement, being together in a compassionate presence, daughters, friends, Fun, gender universes

The Unexpected Strikes Again

Posted on September 25, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

A four terminal line for the Agricultural Inspection at United

Good Morning God!

Yesterday morning — was it JUST yesterday? — Kit and I had what we laughingly call a “personality transfer.” My flight was to leave at 6:40 a.m. so I thought I should get to the airport by 5:00 and we should leave around 4:30 a.m. Kit, usually the most “fail safe” minded man imaginable, said “Oh no, if we leave at 5:00 that will get you there with plenty of time.” I — last minute Molly — said I really thought I should get there earlier than that.

We compromised on leaving at 4:45 and I got to the airport at 5:09 — only to see a line that went on and on and on — just to go through the agricultural inspection. YIKES! I almost didn’t believe it. I wanted to go to the front of the line to check. But the line was growing longer by the second, so I hurried down to the end.

There were two flights to the mainland — my 6:40 one to LA and a 7:00 one to SF. Then there was a 10:45 a.m. flight to Narita. E GADS! The passengers for that flight had arrived at 5:00 and were stretched out in front of me FURTHER than my eye could see. Thank goodness I had checked in AND paid for my bag at home! I got to my gate 10 minutes before the doors to the plane shut!

Yes, God! Life is full of the unexpected. People show up WAY TOO EARLY and others cut it a bit close. Life seems by it’s very nature jerky. I’ve always thought Ogden Nash summed it up best in his light verse: Catsup, catsup, hit the bottle — none will come, and then a lottle.

So, God, yet another lesson to plan ahead and leave plenty of margin in our lives. And as best we can, to plan for the unexpected.

Posted in Possibilities, time, Transitions, useful worrying?

FLYING OFF — with a Full Moon — to be with Family and Friends

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

Moon over the Marina

Good Evening, God!

Tomorrow I fly off to Grandson Sit and be with Daughters and then classmates at my 50th Stanford Reunion. It is a BIG DEAL for me to leave my Mom for six whole weeks! But she has Kit for the first half and Dave and Barba for the second. She is in Your Hands, God.

It is a good thing, God, to only be able to be in one place at a time. Hmmm. Well, with emails and phone calls I guess we sort of are in more than one place at a time. My Mom wants me to EMAIL every day. As she said, “I can REREAD emails.” That’s true. But I prefer VOICE as there is so much emotional information encoded in the voice.

I’m blathering, God. I’m excited to go. I love my daughters, grandsons and Dave, my son-in-law. I WANT to see them. I want to be THERE at the same time I want to stay HERE. I will be away from Kit for 3 whole weeks. The longest time in 51 years. Aurgh!

I AM packed . . . except for the computer . . . which will BE packed as soon as this has been posted. I’m smiling, God. I am traveling with one laptop, an iPhone, and iPod classic and an iPod shuffle. But no iPad. But, Hey! I’m managing!

Tomorrow morning the full moon will be setting just a bit later than it did this morning. We should get a good view as we drive to the airport. Please, USE this time, God. Use it for YOUR purposes. Help me be AWAKE and AWARE and ALIVE — responsive to You, others, and my own self. Thank You for this TIME APART from the routine.

And AGAIN, God, please take good care — of everyone here — of us all.

Posted in a series of molts and upgrades, being repotted, Choosing to respond, connecting, connections, Conversations, friends, listening, living within limits

The True Work of the Church

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

Dancing Flames from a tiki torch at the Shack in Hawaii Kai

Good Morning, God

I still remember when I first read Acts 2:2-4 — about the COMING of the Holy Spirit. I felt as if my whole being were reverberating. I was like a BELL struck by the TRUTH of what I had just read.

“Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”

God, we have Your Word through Jesus saying that where two or three are together in his name HE is there. This week I have twice been given the gift of being together in Christ’s name and praying together for one another.

It was not top down. It was not one “needy” person coming for healing. It was three needy people (I was number 3) coming together to speak and hear the “truth” in LOVE — AND YOU WERE THERE!

As we finished up with hugs and tears – is that WHY men aren’t generally CALLED to this? — it HIT ME! THIS IS THE TRUE WORK OF THE CHURCH. Preaching and Bible Study and Worship are all wonderful — but they are to prepare us for Your Spirit — prepare us to PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER — prepare us to open ourselves to the cleansing and healing of Your Holy Spirit.

Now, God, I don’t want to complain — but I have to ask You — WHY isn’t this kind of Prayer common? Not just prayer by professionals or trained experts — but prayer by and for all of us ordinary broken people — prayer that connects us to YOU and to one another.

Tagged with: If we all had friends we could call to pray with us this would be a different world
Posted in being together in a compassionate presence, letting the Holy Spirit flow through us, Prayer

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