We Are Learning About Learning!

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

Sunset from the Punahou Campus

Good Morning, God

What a lovely time I had yesterday — ending up with a presentation at Punahou on brain research — followed by a tour of the Omidyar Kindergarten and First Grade complex.

Just think, God, now they KNOW that children learn better if they are active every 25 minutes. Amazing! It sounds as if children are no longer being set into little rows (like corn) and expected to grow. Movement is now seen as a key to learning. Indeed, to leap to the other end of the age spectrum, movement is a key to keeping older minds working well.

I suppose, God, that the sunset photo is a symbol of the sun setting on the old model of education. Hmmm. At least it’s setting at Punahou. I’m very happy about this as it seems clear to me that you designed us to enjoy learning. And maybe it will have some effect on our culture’s current obsession with being RIGHT.

Right is such a narrow, joyless place — at least to my mind. I suppose it comes from the emphasis on taking “tests” where there is a “right” answer — unlike “life”.

A friend said that he had learned in life that: “You can be Right or you can have Relationships”. Wouldn’t it be extraordinary, God, if we could learn to enjoy discovering that we were wrong about something? My, THAT would change things — turn them right side up! How about if being “smart” wasn’t about getting the right answer — but being flexible enough to play with ideas and delight in tossing out disfunctional ones.”

How about if we could leap over arguing — and get into observing what works, and what doesn’t? Hmmm. I think, God, that this sounds like Humility. Humility that learns and admits mistakes and errors. It takes a very strong person to be able to be that humble.

Tagged with: Can we redefine "smart?"
Posted in humility, learning, Ongoing Transformation, Play

The Joy of Seeing, Appreciating and BEING appreciated

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

Monkey pod tree in silhouette seen Wednesday morning

Good Morning, God

This tree — seen in silhouette — stopped me in my tracks and I reached for my camera. I love these trees, God. I love the way they branch and twist and curl. They go from trunk to branch to smaller branches to tiny branches so quickly. Or maybe it is only the last two stages that happen quickly?

No matter! These trees bring me joy — and even more joy when the sky above them is a clear blue with white clouds. The background is important.

Hmmm. We have emotional and expectational backgrounds, too. For example, my father told me early on that Life is Hard — it isn’t supposed to be easy. So, when I look around me and see kindness and beauty I am filled with joy.

Alas, some people seem to expect life to be easy and painless. And when something bad happens, as it not doubt will, they seem fixated on it. Frozen in place, staring at it. How sad, God, how sad. Perhaps that is why people in underdeveloped countries manage to find joy? They know that they have to look for it.

I’ve recognized that we have control over what we choose to focus our attention on. But, I don’t think I’ve thought much about our ability to choose what’s the background and what’s the foreground. Indeed, mostly I haven’t even been aware that I have a background of expectation — and of emotion.

I suppose, God, that my relationship with YOU is my True Background. It seems woven into my being that I matter — and that EVERYONE matters. We are all somehow Your Favorite Child. Hmmm. I wonder, does each leaf on the tree feel that IT is the tree’s favorite. I hope so.

Posted in background / foreground questions, beauty, clapping our hands in joy, Vantage Points

A Few Thoughts on Breakfast Cereal

Posted on July 28, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Wheaties: The Breakfast of Champions

Good Morning, God

The cereals of my childhood. Wheaties! And Cheerios! I remember once we had 5 boxes of Cheerios open so I could send the box tops off for a Captain Midnight ruby decoder ring — or was it the Buck Rogers Venusian Alligator glow-in-the-dark ring?

I suppose, having gotten so much enjoyment out of the cereals of my childhood, it unkind of me to carp about their nutritional content — or lack of same.

Then along came Sugar Frosted Flakes and Lucky Charms and I let my children eat them. I think, God, that is what happens when families turn away from Grandmothers and toward Experts. Not that my grandmothers were saying anything. Of course, it is all relative. Artificial sweeteners are so bad that they are making sugar look almost good for us.

We are eating a lot of things that You didn’t create, God. It was Michael Pollan who observed that all traditional diets will support life. Our’s is NOT a traditional diet. Let’s see. What is the latest news. 4 cans of diet soda can increase a pregnant woman’s chances of having a premature baby by 80%.

Perhaps the problem isn’t so much Experts as Corporations. Profit making tends toward pandering. We love sweet stuff and so competition makes cereals sweeter. Hard to resist. Of course, our “food” manufacturers are pretty much the same companies that brought us cigarettes. Hmmm.

I think, God, that we might need a New Leviticus. At least a few more Prophets decrying Splenda?

Tagged with: cigarettes and sugar frosted flakes
Posted in Cherishing our Bodies, choices, choosing HARD, Common sense and reasonableness, compassion to care for myself, traditional food patterns, Transitions

Hope for Our Future? Calling all Grandparents

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

Grandfather Tom and William

Good Morning, God!

This photo came from a colleague of Kit’s and it brought tears to my eyes! The FATHER SPIRIT glows — only it seems to take us humans to the GRANDPARENT category before the Parent Spirit can step out — freed from daily worries and fears. Oh, God! Would that we had more of YOUR SPIRIT glowing through us all.

And, that is surely a good place to end my morning blog, God. Smile. Only — not too surprisingly — I have another thought. Well, two thoughts. The first is that when women started to live longer — becoming more grandmother than mother — their daughters had more help and so did their daughters children. The second thought is that as the demographics of the Industrial World slide us into EXPLODING GRANDPARENTHOOD — maybe this could help our species survive?

I like thoughts like that, God! I’d like to think that we are all growing toward MEANINGFULNESS. Certainly, after survival and status needs are met — MEANING and PURPOSE seem essential for true satisfaction.

And now I “hear” You reminding me of Gandhi’s famous quote: We must BECOME the CHANGE we wish to see. Hmmm. That “we” would be me. That would mean change in MY LIFE.

Yes, yes — You are saying it isn’t so much ONE BIG MOLT as a thousand small — seemingly insignificant — steps. Steps toward YOU — steps toward the LIGHT! So Please, God, let me be about Your Business of Recreating me.

Tagged with: A daily becoming a New Creature in Christ
Posted in asking for help for myself, Becoming FRESH from God's Hand, becoming the change I wish to see, changing who I want to become, choosing HARD, Choosing Meaning, Choosing to respond

Zipping Around the East End of Oahu

Posted on July 26, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Rabbit Island seen from Kit's car

Good Morning, God

Well, what do You know! I worked TOO hard getting everything “done” before the Sabbath Day.

Or maybe it was doing a 2 mile run first thing on my Sabbath morning — followed by the drive in for the 7:00 a.m. service? Or maybe it was that there is a BIG difference between Resting and needing to be in RECOVERY? THIS IS AN APOLOGY, GOD! Or is it more of a confession?

Actually, it feels more like an Oh! I didn’t realize how WHY Orthodox Jews start the Sabbath with the First Star. That is so a GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP is PART of the Sabbath.

And WHY Rabbit Island . . . that dear rabbit relaxing in the water with his nose just out and his ears lying back in the water . . . because I took it ZIPPING around? So that what is photographed are the railings and the side of the road. Or because I’d like to be resting in the water — like that rabbit?

Helen Perkins Gilmore said “You can’t pour a quart into a pint.” And on Saturday that was exactly what I tried to do. That is sort of a PATTERN in my “working” life . . . Hmmmm. DOING is SO Addictive!

Aaaah! Here is a NEW WEEK! Let’s try again! You were so right, yesterday, God. I still haven’t put the pieces together. I’m pretty sure You are going to have to EXPAND my mind/heart before the pieces fall into place.

Oh? They won’t FALL into place? I’m going to have to WORK at repositioning them? SIX DAYS I’m to WORK? Hmmm.

Tagged with: A New Week!, Does the Full Sabbath GIFT alway elude us?
Posted in a prayer for healing, asking for help for myself, attitudes, being a Slow Learner

Could I be like Corrie ten Boom? An Astounding Question!

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

Corrie ten Boom, who in World War II hid Jews in her home in Holland

Good Morning, God!

Off I went early this morning — jogging — and without my iPod, too! Both of those were YOUR ideas, God. You wanted me in silence — and away from home’s distractions so You could get INSIDE me.

I confess, I can’t tell WHAT You do inside me. At this moment I feel as if You are saying to Yourself — she STILL doesn’t GET IT! She’s CLOSE, but she can’t put the pieces in the proper order. Sigh, Ah, well, in Your Time, God — in Your Time.

Meanwhile I find that You keep bringing me back to Oskar Schindler and Corrie ten Boom. Oskar seems to me to have been very successful in saving Jews from the death camps of Nazi Germany. Yet at the end he is distressed that he didn’t do MORE — he sees clearly that his fancy car and his silk shirt represent people who could have lived.

On the other hand — or at the other end of the Numbers Continuum — is Corrie ten Boom. Her family saved just a few and they all — her father, her sister and herself, and no doubt the people they had been hiding — ended up in the death camps. Yet, when I heard her speak there was no sign that she had ever focused on the “Why didn’t I do MORE” question.

This morning I found a quote that helped me begin to understand. Corrie ten Boom said “It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability, that counts.” Oskar was DOING IT. Corrie was coming alongside what YOU were doing.

Hmmm. I tend to be like Oskar, don’t I God. Do You think I could become like Corrie?

Tagged with: Can I become like Corrie ten Boom?, Can I just RESPOND to God?
Posted in changing who I want to become, God's Provision, sabbath rest, sacred space, so much to learn, solitude and silence

Size and Numbers Don’t Seem to Matter to God

Posted on July 24, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A very small pink miniature rose from my garden

Good Morning, God!

I brought this rose in from my miniature garden a few days ago and I love looking at it! It’s so small — yet just perfect. It is even fragrant. Often I look at it and smile. It makes me think of the example Deborah Tannen gave about how differently the genders categorize gifts,

As I recall, God, she said that the typical male in giving a gift categorizes it by size, number, and value. So a dozen roses is a BIGGER gift than one rose. But the typical female instead sees or “counts” the ACT of giving. A gift of a dozen roses, is ONE gift. And the gift of one rose, is ONE gift.

I tried to explain this to my husband — the idea that the true value in a gift lies in the relationship it represents. Kit being a Scot was taken with the idea that ONE rose would do as well as 12. Smile. But, the stores sell roses by the dozen and so I have yet to get the gift of ONE rose. But, I am a typical woman, God. For me one rose IS one gift — just as a dozen roses would be ONE gift.

I feel, God, as if You are more like a woman than a man — when it comes to our giving You gifts. I’ve been thinking about how Oskar Schindler saved hundreds of Jews in World War II — and how the Ten Boom family in Holland saved only a few. But I think YOU “counted” both people as having given You the same gift.

In the Talmud it says: whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world. Help us, God, to save lives — even in small ways — even just one.

Tagged with: Can we give Gifts to God?, He who saves one life saves the world entire
Posted in a matter of scale, gifts and giftings, Giving, Help me to see, Venturing out of the shallows?

Where Earth, Sky and Water Meet — and how God and I Meet

Posted on July 23, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Sky, Koko Crater and Kokohead, Ocean and Palms -- at Kahala

Good Morning, God!

It’s true that I live in a valley — but I do get to go off into other parts of the island — and Kahala is one of my favorite places. I’m always happy to be where Ocean, Earth and Sky meet.

To me the Ocean connects us to all the other islands — large and small. After all our World is 80% water — it’s a deep blue Water World — isn’t it, God. And I ended my day, yesterday, at the Water’s Edge. This time putting my focus on the Sky and the Moon rising.

I guess, God, I’m back to the idea of what we SEE being a question of Vantage Points and Focus. Only the Night Photo adds one more factor. My camera has a setting that SLOWS DOWN the shutter and allows more light to come in. That’s why the moon seems larger than normal.

Moon over the Marina -- looking between Koko Crater to the left and Koko Head to the right

All of those factors seem to me to be involved in Prayer. I shared the book Prison to Praise with friends yesterday.

You know how this book changed MY life, God. It helped me to STAND ON YOUR LOVE and offer up the Sacrifice of Praise FOR my PAINFUL and Humanly Unacceptable Reality. That meant a dramatic change in Vantage Point.

But it took over 20 minutes of praying with a Prayer Friend BEFORE I could OFFER my Reality to YOU as a Sacrifice of Praise. That sure is a SLOW SHUTTER SPEED. Yet, that TIME and FOCUS made it possible to speak the Words of Praise. And those WORDS seemed to Open the Door of my Heart to Your Spirit!

Yet, HOW can I share THAT with people IN PAIN? How can people who haven’t experienced the Miracle of a Changed Vantage Point in SMALL WAYS take SUCH A LEAP OF FAITH?

Did I hear You? Saying TRUST ME! Follow ME! Yes . . . I believe I did. HELP ME DO THAT, PLEASE!

Tagged with: Offering the Sacrifice of Praise, Out of the Shallows and into Obedience
Posted in a hand up, Perspective, Trusting God, Vantage Points, Venturing out of the shallows?

Praying Together — God’s Chance to Change, Clean and Bless Us

Posted on July 22, 2010 by a moment with god — 2 Comments

Rocks and Life Giving Water

Good Morning, God!

Yesterday was such a lovely day! It began with my Wednesday Morning Prayer Group. You know the one, God, — the one filled with Oldest Daughters — the ones always asking You to Do This and Do That.

The question came up: Do our prayers CHANGE Your Mind? Such an interesting question, God! I kind of think Your Mind and Intentions are WAY TOO COMPLEX for that question to have a yes or no answer. But, I DO KNOW that praying changes ME! Connecting with You in Prayer is like a Desert coming to ask for Water. I’m certain You want to FLOOD me with Your LIVING WATER. But, I have Rocks of Resentment, Rocks of Regret, and a Lot of JUDGMENTAL GRAVEL blocking my connection with You. So mostly only a trickle of what You Give comes through my Rocks. You want me to Give those Rocks to You — FOR-GIVING is just that — giving them ALL to YOU — one rock at a time.

The middle part of the day was filled with assorted tasks and duties — blessed by two dear friends calling to ask for prayer — in both cases, a BIG GIFT TO ME! How lovely that You join us together and let us pray for one another! Then off I went to have fun with my Mom! God, You have given to her the Gift of Appreciation! That is surely a Gift that Blesses all those around her. She took a couple of photos of me with my new iPhone and when I said I’d email them to her — she said “Reality has passed Science Fiction on the fly!”

Your Reality, God, far surpasses both our Science AND our Fiction! Please help me APPRECIATE YOU and YOUR REALITY!

Tagged with: Prayer -- God's way of changing us, The Joy of Connections
Posted in appreciation, gratitude, Prayer, relationships, simple joys of daily life, thankfulness, water and love

Extending my Mind Maps in Time and Space

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

Qasr al-Farid - a Nabataean tomb in the North Arabian desert Photo by: Aaqib Kabin

Good Morning God!

Sure, I’d heard of Petra — a city carved in stone — friends have visited it. I even learned recently it had multiple levels in its various “buildings”. But it was just “A Place in Jordan.” Then with an article this month in Archaeology I learn it was the key city in the Nabataean Empire. Nabataeans? Empire? More to the point, I learned that the Nabataean Empire extended into Northern Arabia and existed from around 400 BC into Roman times. They were merchants and traders with extensive routes — perhaps as far as India. There sure has been a lot going on, God that we (I) don’t know about! And, I do wonder just HOW they managed the marvelous carvings.

There is something quite enlarging, God, about learning about Other People. Suzy is listening to French radio to recapture her command of French.

Entering Petra, the capital city of the Nabataeans

She wondered if perhaps it might make Americans more understanding of immigrants if we had to learn another language. How easy it is to judge others when we are unaware of their language, heritage and culture.

You do tell us DO NOT JUDGE, LEST YOU BE JUDGED. Besides, often Judging just doesn’t work. It mostly closes doors — instead of opening them.

Not judging isn’t the same as agreeing. To me it is more like seeing the person as a fellow child of God — a person You, God, love and care about. I think, God, You want us to speak words of Hope and Joy and Love to them — in short, to Tell them the Good News!

Tagged with: Expanding Minds and Hearts, The Nabataean Empire
Posted in A God given diversity, a matter of scale, acknowledging another's existence, respect, so much to learn