Like Light through Leaves — Please, God, Shine through us.

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

light through leaves

Good Morning, God!

I absolutely LOVE light shining through leaves! Thank You! Really, what artist could do as well? Your Creation, Your World, bring such JOY! Thank YOU!

The thing about seeing through the lens of a camera is that I can SHARE what I see! I might even love sharing more than SEEING! Conversations, where I get to share and pray and let You “participate” — at least it feels that way — are the BEST. Oddly enough, focused listening is key to true sharing. One has to absorb what the other person is saying and doing as completely as possible. Focused attention seems to call forth better responses.

I want to thank You for a Background / Foreground shift that happened yesterday as I sat in prayer. I was praying for the Team in Swaziland and apparently putting some effort into it. All of a sudden it seemed so clear that YOU WANTED TO PRAY THROUGH ME. I didn’t have to put any effort into it — YOU were the One doing the WORK. You just wanted me to sit and focus — but maybe more of a focus on You and what You want — than ASKING YOU for stuff. Hmmm.

Then I look at the light illuminating the leaves and flowers and laugh! Yes, our job, so to speak, is to seek You — to ask to join with YOU praying for our family, our friends, and our world.

Ah yes, You are right! I mustn’t neglect to pray for our enemies — to BLESS and not to curse — to Overcome Evil with Good! Actually, that is so beneficial. As we pray for huge and harmful people — we see them as YOU see them — small and crippled children. Children that NEED blessing.

Ah, but for THAT, God, we need Your Light!

Posted in Light, Light shining through, listening, Praise, Prayer, Praying for our enemies, reframing, rejoicing, relationships

Waikiki at Mid-Morning and Me at Mid-Afternoon

Posted on August 12, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Waikiki in Technicolor

Good Morning, God!

I’ve always thought of Hawaii as being in Technicolor — while the rest of the world is mostly Black and White. Coming to Hawaii felt a lot like stepping into Oz — and I was coming from California, not Kansas!

Of course, I know the rest of the world is beautiful, too. There are all kinds of beauty. But I love the fully saturated colors of mid-morning in Waikiki. Even when I am just driving by. And I’m very pleased about how Mayor Harris overhauled Waikiki and planted grass and flowers and widened the sidewalks. Now it looks as if the city is proud of Waikiki.

Yes, God, it is true the infrastructure didn’t get overhauled. Infrastructure doesn’t get much respect. Sewers degrade so slowly. Roads congest over time and we adapt.

Infrastructure is mostly invisible — aging without crying out for help. Hmmm. I’m thinking of our bodies and our minds — our “infrastructure”. Maybe slowing a bit. But carrying on with only an occasional demand for ibuprofen.

So, God, I am sitting here thinking of the BALANCE between caring for my hidden inner infrastructure and caring for the joyful colorful “Beach Time” outer portion of my life. I feel as if You are PLEASED that I am turning in toward an appreciation and concern for my unseen infrastructure.

Good old Jack LaLane comes to mind — USE IT or LOOSE IT. So my Body NEEDS to EXERCISE. My Mind needs to exercise. And my so do my Heart and Spirit. But again, it is about BALANCE. Exercise AND rest.

Rest to Rebuild. Right food to provide the Repair Materials. And Right Purposes, too? Ah, God. We ARE connected all around the world, aren’t we. True religion is to care for the widows and orphans in their distress.

Posted in adjusting, attunement, Balancing and adjustments, beauty, Borrowing from the Body's Bank, growing toward up

Rachel Naomi Remen

Posted on August 11, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Rachel Naomi Remen

Good Morning, God!

How utterly wonderful to find a new author — and especially an affirming author filled with a quiet wisdom. No dogma or rules — just true stories that bless us. Stories are how we learn and how we grow. Jesus didn’t just heal the sick and do miracles — he told stories — stories that reach inside us and invite us to be changed.

I suppose You gave her an Orthodox Jewish grandfather — a mystical one at that — as a gift to her that later on would become a gift to all of us. Here is a short vignette from Peter Chou’s coverage of a talk she gave at Stanford in 2004: My grandfather used to give me presents. Once he brought me a paper cup when I was four years old. I was disappointed that the cup was filled with dirt.

He took me to the kitchen and showed me how to put a little water in the cup. He told me “Neshume-le, you put some water in the dirt every day and something will happen.” The first week I waited for something magical, but nothing happened. The second week, I wanted to give the cup back to grandfather.

But the third week, two tiny green leaves appeared out of the dirt. I was thrilled and when I showed the cup to him, Grandfather said, “Life is everywhere— hidden in the most ordinary and unexpected places.” I asked, “And all it needs is water, Grandpa?” And he laughed, “No Neshume-le, all life needs is your faithfulness.”

Yes, God, yes! Life needs our faithfulness. The dear friend who shared Rachel’s books blessed me. Sharing Wise Words is a Blessing. But as Rachel says we can be a Blessing by listening — or by sitting together in Silence. Help me, God, to grow toward Faithfulness.

Posted in Being a Blessing, Faithfulness, listening

A Welcome Day of Rest

Posted on August 10, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A Pink Ginger in our neighborhood

Good Morning, God!

I looked at my calendar yesterday and I can stay home ALL DAY today! A Low-Stimulous Day! A GIFT! I think, God, that You might be installing a rheostat inside myself. Not an ON or OFF switch, but a rheostat. A DIAL I can turn. Imagine that!

Yesterday, I got a fast start — but came home to a late lunch and a nap — a nap that wasn’t long enough. Then it was off to visit Mom, eat dinner, pray and go to bed early, reading from Kitchen Table Wisdom.

My old Persona shouted WHAT A WHIMP TO BE SO TIRED! I think she is the one that thinks I’m supposed to LEAP TALL BUILDINGS IN A SINGLE BOUND. I used to actually DO that, God. But the LANDING got harder and harder. That’s sort of a joke, God. But that was my Self Image — my Favorite Illusion.

Now here I am, God! It is a New Day. Pink clouds are floating in a blue sky. And slowly the idea surfaces that PERHAPS having Patty’s Fun Run on Sunday means it wasn’t exactly a Sabbath. Well, yes. It was WONDERFUL. But both Kit and I were WIRED. So, here I am, God. Sitting. Aware of YOU. Hearing Your Call to Come • Sit • Receive. And so I shall — I shall take my timer and go to sit in Centering Prayer. Sitting in Your Transforming Presence — with gratitude and humility. Thank You!

Tagged with: What was with that SuperWoman delusion?
Posted in a hand up, a series of molts and upgrades, accepting my ability to REDESIGN, accepting my authority to set limits, Centering Prayer, loving limits, loving myself

A Wonderful Run — Rainbows and Herons and Friends

Posted on August 9, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Looking back at Waikiki from Magic Island

Good Morning, God!

Thank You for a wonderful day yesterday! The Mango Days Fun Run went well. We had a bit of sprinkle to bless and cool us — and to give us a Rainbow.

The breakfast afterwards was perfect — the restaurant (Ryans) let us in early — and Jen had reserved a table which was JUST big enough our closest friends.

The rainbow - between two palms

I took 125 photos — photos before, during and after the run and photos at breakfast, too. I took some while I ran (well, jogged) and at other times I had to come to a full stop and focus.

I stopped a couple of times for the rainbow. I do wish, God, that there was some way to capture the glory of a rainbow! But, I think Your Reality is beyond our ability to capture it.

Being outdoors — being in Nature — walking and talking — is the Best of Gifts. This morning I will go walking with a dear friend that I’ve been walking with for 29 or 30 years. What a blessing!

A night heron and fish

So, the BEST part of the day yesterday was being enveloped by dear dear friends! But as a photographer my THRILL was in getting a photo of a Night Heron with a fish in his beak! We have them on our local waterway and I love watching them. In all the years I’ve watched them I have NEVER seen one catch a fish! So, God, to actually see it AND photograph it was a GIFT!

Later that day I soaked in the tub, then took a nap, read and we had dinner with my Mom. A GOOD SABBATH DAY, GOD! A TRUE GIFT!

Posted in beauty, God's gifts, gratitude, small meaningful moments, stopping to see

Mango Days Fun Run TODAY!

Posted on August 8, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Tina Yap, Bagpiping the Mango Days Fun Run

Good Morning, God!

Today’s the DAY! Our 8th annual Mango Days Fun Run — a 5k raising money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society — the cancer that took our Patty. It’s great to raise money for a good cause. But, for me, it is all about being together with friends — new friends and forever friends.

Last week a Rotary friend told me that a Buddhist priest had told her that “NO ONE LIVES IN VAIN.” I believe that, God. You love us INDIVIDUALLY. And even though I can’t fathom the meaning that a person may have — I am quite certain we each have meaning in Your Eyes.

Kit Smith - who compiled Patty's poems and letters into Mango Days

It would be nice to KNOW how we are doing on the Meaning Scale. At least, I think it would be nice to know. Actually, I am pretty sure I couldn’t handle knowing. I would want to evaluate myself, compare and judge! And I don’t have the ability to do that. Best to trust You!

Still, I feel that desire to contribute — to help others — a Will to Meaning, Viktor Frankl said.

As far as I’m concerned, Kit has been marvelously meaningful! He lovingly compiled Patty’s letters, journal entries and poems into Mango Days. That book is the “something lasting” that Patty wanted to do. Perhaps we all want to do that. Patty’s meaning was written in a book — for most of us our “meaning” isn’t captured in a book. It is written into the hearts of the people around us.

But I believe ALL of US are written in Your Heart. As I John 4:19 says “We love, because He FIRST loved us.” Thank You, God.

Hmmm. I feel as if You’re saying, Thanking Me is good, BUT SHARING MY LOVE IS BETTER!

Tagged with: Our lives written in God's Heart, We love because God first loved us
Posted in connections, LOVE, Meaning, thankfulness

Priorities, Gender Differences, And a New Attack on Structuring my Space

Posted on August 7, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

A colored hibiscus for Kit

Good Morning, God!

I saw this bright colored hibiscus yesterday and whipped out my camera to capture it for Kit. I was remembering the time I showed him a glorious hibiscus bush in full bloom — showed it to him for him to admire — and he said dismissively: It’s WHITE”!

Who would have known that preferring colors would preclude appreciation for white? But perhaps that is why men are always saying “You HAVE to prioritize”! So linear! So non-comprehendible! Like: how could a mother “prioritize” her children?

Oh, oh. Yes, God, You point out to me how blessed I am that I have never had to make that kind of really hard choice. Yes, we DO have to prioritize — we cannot do it all. But, it comes to me: WE CAN DO MORE THAN WE THINK WE CAN.

Hmmm. Actually, it is much more complex than that because I can do BOTH More and Less than I think I can. The Sabbath Day of Rest is essential. And when I cheat, I feel it. Now I LONG to keep it as my GIFT to myself — a Gift from You, God. That’s a GOOD Less.

At the same time, I have yet to succeed (read: failed) in creating a supportive structure that will help me with keeping on top of all my stuff — my wildly expanding, multiplying, proliferating — stuff.

A compounding factor is that I over-reward myself for things DONE and under-value and under-reward myself for STRUCTURE and for CLEAR DECKS! Hmm. Part of the problem is that I don’t know how to create a structure that WORKS for me.

Ah, but,God. It is a NEW DAY! And I have another shot at CREATING a SPACE STRUCTURE that will SUPPORT ME! Let’s GO!

Posted in both / and, choices, Colors, complexity, sabbath rest, supportive organizational structures

Gut, Mind and Heart — We are FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made

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

An aerial lift platform for changing light bulbs

Good Morning, God

I was about to exit a downtown high rise parking lot and this machine went by me. I had never seen anything like it and I stopped my car to take a photo — fortunately no one was behind me. The young man said it was for changing light fixtures.

Now, God, I have no idea why this contraption would have caused me to laugh with delight! Perhaps, it is just seeing something NEW? Or maybe it was the inelegance of the design? It felt like some combination of mechanical bug and childhood extension toy.

We humans have a mixed response to new, God. Kit read me the other day — from a Bill Bryson book — that the Pilgrims wouldn’t eat the lobsters the Indians brought them. I have no idea if that is true. But, I can “understand” it. As in: “You want me to eat THAT”? It is easy to think — wouldn’t trying something TOTALLY NEW be better than starving? But that is our Mind talking, not our Gut.

I’m sitting here thinking, God. Or maybe I’m just sitting and FEELING the challenges of being BOTH Gut and Mind. HEART? Did I hear You say, HEART?

The Heart — placed between the Gut and the Mind — speaks with such a quiet, gentle voice. We have to LISTEN carefully to hear our heart. Look at that word, God! It has EAR in it — and ART in it. I’m smiling. The Art in Life is to open our Ear to our Heart. I need Your Help, to do that. Then I need even MORE of Your help to sort out what kind of path to follow.

Yes, God, I’m always ASKING for Your Help — but not focusing on RECEIVING IT! Hmmmm. Good point. Let’s do a little Centering Prayer.

Tagged with: There's a reason the word EAR is in HEART
Posted in being heard into speaking, Centering Prayer, Hearing, listening, power and peace and gentleness, the layers of life

Prayers and Rainbows and Cell Phones

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

Moon over the water. Photo: Pulelehua Quirk

Good Morning, God

It has been a week since the last full moon and given how dark the sky is in this photo it looks like this moon was a day or two past full. Taking photos at night — with a slow shutter — makes the moon seem so much bigger. I love it! I love taking photos! It’s one of those unexpected joy things. Not just taking photos — but SHARING them — sending them off around the world.

Our prayers can go off around the world, too. I like that thought. I like praying for people. You know, God, if I told someone 200 years ago that I could call people and talk to them on a small “cell phone” without wires, even — they would have laughed. There are folks who laugh at the idea of talking to You.

A Rainbow seen on Wednesday Morning

But prayer is real. I suppose, God, that it is a bit like the photo above. It takes TIME for the camera to “absorb” the light. That’s why Centering Prayer is now “set” for 30 minutes. Smile. There’s a lot of stuff to let go of — to let float away — before we can begin to “feel” connected.

We are ALWAYS connected. But my end of Our Connection is cluttered. For me, God, FEELING connected to You is like SEEING a Rainbow. Rainbows are awe inspiring. And I can’t begin to capture one in a photo. So, God, I’m back to prayer — as an undocumentable experience.

I suspect that You designed it that way.

I can’t say I am “better” for praying. But I AM more JOYFUL and more at PEACE. And, I am ever so much more thankful for YOUR LOVE!

Tagged with: Digging Out My End of The Connection, For every one step we take towards God - God takes 8 steps toward us
Posted in Centering Prayer, connections, JOY, Perspective, Prayer, time

Imagine! I’m Still Longing to Become an Organized Person

Posted on August 4, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

A fan palm branch

Good Morning, God!

A small step or two! I’m rejoicing. You know, God, getting over the idea that I should have gotten control of my life by now — makes life much easier. I haven’t. But, I’m working on it.

I’m a difficult person to manage. I said that to an acquaintance who looked puzzled. (Maybe most folks don’t have a problem with this, God?) Anyway, I searched around for a reason and all I could think of was that “I’m subject to bursts of enthusiasm.” But, I was just being polite — let’s correct that, God, I just didn’t want to tell her the truth.

The truth is I am not YET systematic — I haven’t valued the just plain grit it takes to get things done AHEAD of a deadline. So, here are my two small steps. 1) I made a checklist today with 11 things on it. Things to take in with me and hand out. I actually LOOKED at the checklist and checked things off. I guess most people do that naturally. I had to listen to all of the Checklist Manifesto book and reread parts of it before it came to me that I could do this.

The second small step is what I call Sift • Sort • Sequence. What it means is — when I get home from running around “working” and “meeting” I sit in a comfortable chair and sift through all the bits and pieces of notes, ideas and commitments. Yes, God, I could put them in my iPhone and not scribble them on scraps of paper and stuff them in my pocket. Good point! Next I sort them out by listing them on a big pad of paper. Lastly I attempt to sequence them by time available, need, and priority. Sounds SO ELEMENTARY! But, these are small steps toward becoming an Organized Person!