A Rendezvous with Rosy Fingered Dawn

Posted on July 20, 2010 by a moment with god — 2 Comments

Dawn from the ridge overlooking Kalama Valley

Good MORNING, God!

This morning I awoke a bit after 5:30 and wondered: Is DAWN really briefer than Dusk? Then I thought, I can go and see! So I fixed a pot of tea, dressed and drove off to the ridge overlooking the Eastern Tip of Oahu.

This was made possible because my more Sensible Half was helping our church with Family Promise and was spending the night there. Left to my own spontaneous devices OFF I WENT! Reaching the end of the road I parked and then crawled through the gate and walked up to find a Vantage Point. That is REALLY important! Living in a valley is lovely — but it doesn’t provide a Vantage Point for viewing Sunrises and Sunsets.

And, of course, as I stood there looking 360 degrees at Your marvelous world, I realized that it isn’t JUST having a good vantage point, it is a matter of looking in the right direction.

Dawn from a wide-angle perspective

I was so excited when I saw the first golden tips on the clouds, God! Now, you would think, how hard is it to look toward the LIGHT! But, I had been taking photos of Hawaii Kai and Diamond Head and was surprised to turn and spot the first Rosy Fingers marking the sun’s location.

Now I am back in my Valley — back inside — and pondering all of this. The two photos are of the same thing. The top one is a Close Up. The lower one a wide-angle view.

I remember what You showed me when Patty died. Her Death had RIPPED A HOLE in my Cocoon of Expectations — I had a choice. Would I stare through that Hole into Darkness? Or would I TURN and FOCUS on Your Light? That HOLE made BOTH the Darkness and the Light much more “visible”. Which one to focus on? You helped me turn toward Your Son Light. Thank You, God!

Tagged with: Choosing to focus on The Light, The Gift of a New Day
Posted in choices, God's gifts, going THROUGH the sorrow, gratitude, Grief

A lovely SLOW Sabbath Day

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

A BIG obake -- a type of anthurium

Good Morning, God!

Saturday evening I scurried around Getting Ready for the Sabbath Day. Stuff got put away, if not done. So when I got up in the morning my environment was restful. Work was BEHIND my desk — not in front of me. Funny how easy it is to forget little tricks like that. While not smelling the roses, literally — I did admire this giant obake. I learned that anthurium are related to taro, philodendron and monstera. I love flowers and I am learning to make sure I have them in our home.

Kit was off early yesterday, being a course marshall for a run — such dedication. And I went out a bit later semi-jogging the 2 miles to the post office. When Kit came home he prepared a big breakfast for us. After breakfast I had a soak in an epsom salts bath and an afternoon of napping and reading until we went off to play scrabble and have dinner at my Mom’s retirement residence — followed by more reading in bed.

I DID chat with Suz and Sandy and I had a face to face phone call with Mark — which was exciting — but not work. My batteries were charging all day and today I am looking forward to a Full Monday.

Now that I am Celebrating Your Gift of the Sabbath, God — I am MOTIVATED to rearrange the rest of my week. I want Sabbath Rest. And I am also beginning to understand how much I need it.

Tagged with: Obeying brings understanding, Sabbath Rest
Posted in lap time, letting the Holy Spirit flow through us, sabbath rest

Hip Hip for Heuristic Learning

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

The Old Professor: The Old Model of Learning

Good Morning, God!

Aaaaaah, a Sabbath Day, of refraining from work. I just got back from a 2/3rds jog and 1/3 walk while listening to Daniel Pink read his book, Drive. And now I can see, God, my DIFFICULTY in sorting out — what’s work and what’s not — in a broader perspective. Work has gotten pretty darn interesting and has a lot more intrinsic satisfaction than it used to have.

If one is out laboring in the field — stoop labor — not having to do it is a HUGE GIFT. And since Feudal Lords wanted their peasants working — having You, the Top Authority, saying NO WORK was of great benefit to the peasants and the whole society.

Today, God, work has gotten mixed up with play and maybe that is a GOOD THING. But it means NOT WORKING requires a huge helping of DISCERNMENT! Today I divided it up into not working for anyone but mysefl — and even then, nothing routine or algorithmic (that is opposed to heuristic in which there is no clear path).

I picked the Old Professor as the model for algorithmic learning (Pink’s term). I noticed this years ago. In the OLD MODEL there was a set body of knowledge that could be mastered and then the Master (Professor) would pass it on to Apprentices (students). Then, with the flowering of computers, what happened was KNOWLEDGE expanded way too fast for the Masters to keep up! And Apprentices gave way to people who learned as they went — Heuristic Learners!

This is a pretty darn amazing revolution, God! And I am enjoying the various books talking about Our New Reality from assorted perspectives. The Church is changing, too, isn’t it God. I’m thinking of Saddleback Church with Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life. That’s all part of this Ongoing Transformation. Hmmm.

Please help me play with this, God. I’m going down to have breakfast — but I want to ponder this.

Tagged with: On the other side of the Great Divide, The Learning Revolution
Posted in adjusting, complexity, freedom, Ongoing Transformation, The Learning Revolution

Right in Our Own Backyard

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

Rainbow in our valley

Good Morning, God

Yesterday Kit and I were sipping our coffee (Kit) and tea (me) when one of Your Rainbows appeared — right in our own backyard — well, our valley. Marvelous! I rushed down to take photos and caught this bird in flight. Such a gift!

And each new day is a gift from You, God! But, I confess, somedays I’m too tired or too full of MY STUFF to be aware of what a gift LIFE is. Yesterday I was tired! But it was the best kind of tired — tired from working together with other people to get useful things done! I do love my Arcadia Library.

Now I have a Sabbath Day to look forward to tomorrow. And a lovely day still mostly before me in which to LIST, SEQUENCE, and DO the various options and tasks before me. How good is that, God!

Not only that, but Sandy has bought the book, Switch, and I have purchased a real hardback copy so I can work from it more efficiently. . . or is that effectively? You know, God, I sometimes forget that OVERLOAD is not necessary. I am the one that heaps up my plate. I am the one who doesn’t sit and count the cost in time, money and energy before I leap.

Yep, it’s me, God. I’m the “Bad Boss.” How DUMB is THAT! You promise that we are set free to become New Creatures in Christ — and I believe that — now please help me build the grit and the courage to molt!

Tagged with: Embarking on a Molt, Teaming up for Change
Posted in a series of molts and upgrades, accepting my ability to REDESIGN, accepting my authority to set limits, New Creatures in Christ, rejoicing

Switch – Getting Smart About Change

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

Switch: How to Change When Change Is Hard by Dan and Chip Heath

Good Morning God,

I’m almost through the book,

Switch: How to Change When Change is Hard

And isn’t it almost always hard to change? It is for me, God. But then last Friday Kit changed one word — instead of telling me I could be a good runner if I was a Masochist — he said I could be good if I worked on my endurance. ENDURANCE. What a lovely word. The M word had shut me down COMPLETELY! But Endurance opened up possibilities. And on Sunday I did the Lanikai Bike Path Race — I was almost last –but I DID it, I jogged 5 miles. Tuesday I jogged 2 miles. Thursday I was out jogging for 20 minutes. I’m changing!

I guess even the idea of being a Masochist was an assault on my Identity, God. I can’t imagine how people ever thought voluntary suffering was a good thing — like wearing a hair shirt — however would that be “extra credit”?

But back to Switch — the authors have compiled great ideas and examples from a number of other books. And their framework for organizing those thoughts is the idea of an Elephant (our emotions), the Rider (our mind) and the Path (our surrounding culture and structures.)

Did You just ask: What did I get out of it personally? You mean HOW am I going to USE IT to CHANGE? Aurgh! That was such a HARD Question I just STOPPED writing. But, here it is, a day later and I have, I hope, gotten Sandy to get the book and work on personal applications WITH ME. Partners help! I wonder, God, if anyone ELSE would like to be part of this Personal Change Implementation Project?

Last night I took one project I always put off and broke it down into the first 3 steps and did those steps. I need to practice doing that. I need checkoff lists. I need to be accountable to myself! Humm. Maybe what I need first is an Upgraded Identity that knows it can do it and ENJOY doing it. Keep me at this, Please, God!

Tagged with: How will I apply what I am learning about change?, Small steps toward Endurance
Posted in a series of molts and upgrades, accepting my ability to REDESIGN, accepting my need for help, Balancing and adjustments, choices, Choosing Meaning, Endurance, grit, growing toward up

Flowers and Photos and My First iPhone

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

Flowers on a shower tree in the parking lot of Kokua Market

Good Morning, God!

I was walking back to my car from shopping when I saw these blossoms! Such colors! And there in my pocket was my new — my FIRST — iPhone! Out it came and with a few clicks it became a camera and then I was able to “capture” these beautiful blossoms. Capture and SHARE.

I have been noticing this powerful urge to SHARE, God. Judging from the exponential number of blogs, Youtube videos, emails and Tweets — I am not alone. It seems to be part of the Design. Beauty brings Delight — and Delight wants to be Shared.

Actually, the desire to share with my grandson, Mark, is how I FINALLY got an iPhone. Tutu, he said, we could do FACE to FACE calls if you got an iPhone! I confess, God, that RESENTMENT at AT&T (for acting like a monopoly when I called for help) had kept me from getting one. Resentments are like rocks clogging our inner waterways. They lie there — mostly underwater — but they keep Your Cargo Ships OUT.

So, I looked at my grandson — and knew that the AT&T Rock had to go — love will do that, won’t it God. Maybe, part of what happened yesterday was from the blessing of giving up THAT ROCK, Still, I am entirely surprised by the effect that this small technological object is having on me. Yesterday was my FIRST DAY of using it. My first call was a Face to Face call to Mark. Later, I added a friends phone number AND took and added a photo of her — laughing with delight!

This morning, as my phone synched my empty computer calendar I thought, WOW, I could USE this calendar and use it on my iPhone. I can do it. I can learn and grow and change. I CAN! And just think, God, I’m going to an hour class this morning to help me!

I wonder God, if maybe our organized churches shouldn’t be a lot more like Apple? Human Beings are EVEN more wonderful than an iPhone — but we don’t have classes in how we work — and no good help lines, either. Just a thought, God. Just a thought.

Tagged with: the joy of sharing
Posted in being a beginner, blooming, JOY, learning, Redesigning the Church, Sharing

Melting Glaciers: The Case for Living Simply

Posted on July 14, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Jakobshavn Glacier, Greenland: Photo by Hannesgreim

Good Morning, God!

It gives me kind of a creepy feeling to look at this photo of the Jakobshavn Glacier, which is calving icebergs as big as buses — pouring fresh water into the ocean. The reason for the feeling is an odd factoid from somewhere that theorized that if ENOUGH fresh water poured into the Gulf Stream it might submerge it. No Gulf Stream — no Spring Time in Paris — or the rest of Europe. Hmmm. Obviously we aren’t there yet. Maybe not even close. But seeing the glaciers of Greenland melting is still spooky.

I remember when Kit and I steamed into Glacier Bay in Alaska and saw the pitifully small glacier, I said WE ARE TOO LATE! I think it was in the 1700s that the entire bay was solid ice.

Jakobshavn Glacier on July 6 (left) and July 7 (right)

Actually, God, it was this rather hard to interpret photo of this glacier on July 6th and then on July 7th which tried to show how large a sheet of ice had broken off that got my attention.

It’s HARD to get our attention, isn’t it God. And I know how easily I slip back into non-attention. Then there is the sticky problem of what do I do when I’ve noticed? Well, I just got up and turned off the track lights in my office. I have a small energy efficient lamp on my desk. It is more than sufficient. Hmmm. Sufficient. That is a good word. I have far more than what’s sufficient. As the old saying goes, Help me, God, to live simply — that others may simply live.

Tagged with: Getting my attention, living simply, melting glaciers
Posted in a new view of Commons, accepting my ability to REDESIGN, becoming the change I wish to see, time, Unnoticed Changes

Amazing Wildlife – A Call to Attunement

Posted on July 13, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Millions of bats flying out of Bracken Cave, Texas

Good Morning, God!

Millions of BATS? Who knew — who could even imagine — that many bats in ONE CAVE! It was Kit that signed me up as a member of the National Wildlife Federation and thus the National Wildlife magazine arrives. It took me a while to actually open one, God. But, I did and stumbled on this article on Great Gatherings.

Actually, there are an estimated 20 to 40 million Mexican Free-tailed Bats using this as a breeding cave. But the factoid that I found particularly interesting was that mother bats can FIND their pup when there are 20 million pups packed 250 to a square foot. Way to go, MOMS!

Then there are tens of millions of short-tailed shearwaters that nest off of Tasmania in December and then follow the sun and the krill and herrings all the way up to Alaska by July. Not just anywhere in Alaska — but right in the Unimak Pass which connects the Bering Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Seabirds and humpback whales eating like crazy for two to three months.

This is one of those SCALE things, God! Millions — tens of millions — all together in one place. I find it awe inspiring. I’m not sure just why, but it feels like a Call to Live in Attunement — with You and with our Fellow Beings.

Tagged with: A Call to Attunement, a little matter of scale
Posted in A God given diversity, a matter of scale, web of life

Rethinking Diabetes — What? Me, A Lemming?

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

Good Morning, God,

Yesterday I was lying around reading an old Discover Magazine when what should I come across but an article by Dan Hurley (himself a Type 1 diabetic) called Child’s Plague. I devoured it! Thank You, God, we don’t have any diabetes in our family. But I was concerned as I’m aware that the disease is on the rise. What I didn’t know was that Juvenile Diabetes is also on the rise.
Back in 1890 the rate was around one or two children in every 100,000. By the mid 1980s the yearly incidence had reached 14.8. And in 2009 the estimated number had jumped to 23.6. This is world wide, God — WORLD WIDE.

Why? Why, indeed! One possible factor — perhaps an accelerator — is rising obesity rates. How long does it take a lemming to notice fellow lemmings falling over a cliff? Just the last few weeks I’ve been joking with older friends that “They just aren’t making people the way they used to.” I was thinking of relatively hale and hearty 90 year olds and young friends having knee and hip replacements, cancer, etc.

I guess, God, it wasn’t a joke — just one lemming looking around her — and noticing. Now, the question is — what am I going to DO about it? Can this little Lemming turn aside? With Your Help, God! WITH YOUR HELP!

Did You say CAN YOU HELP TURN THE TIDE?

Tagged with: Diabetes Rising by Dan Hurley, Juvenile Diabetes Rising
Posted in accepting my ability to REDESIGN, accepting my authority to set limits, adjusting, courage to see myself, Discernment

A Sunrise and A Chance to Acquire Some Grit

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

Rabbit Island at Sunrise -- seen while riding to the 8K run

Good Day, God!

Phew! This was not my ordinary Sabbath Day! But it was GREAT! Make that, IS GREAT, as the day is only half over. I took part in the Lanikai 8K Run! And except for a minute or two toward the end — I jogged the whole time!

Not exactly a day of rest — on the other hand I was embarking on a New Form of Play — and I am very pleased. Thanks, God, that my body felt like doing it. Kit tentatively proposed my doing it a couple of days ago and he was amazed that I said, OK. I admit, I did give it a wee bit of thought –but it was clearly a love gift to Kit and to myself. Then yesterday, Kit gave me a love gift when he called to say that if the Run was weighing on me I didn’t have to do it. Imagine THAT, God!

So, this run involved an exchange of “Love Gifts” in addition to being a step forward in my Campaign of Physical Fitness. Yes, God, I know that I am frequently embarking on Campaigns. That’s what comes of being a Biological Optimist — or is it what comes of not having quite as much GRIT as I might have? Hmmm. Good point, God.

So, God, I am willing to receive a light dusting of grit. Or, if Your Hand should slip, more grit. Oh? You say that Grit isn’t so much a Gift as a Skill to be Learned and Earned. Hmmph. It is true, I vastly prefer Gifts and Easy!

Thank You, God, for this marvelous gift of life! Thank You, too for optimism and hope — and a chance to acquire some grit.

Tagged with: A Sunrise Turning, Acquiring Grit -- a Slow Process
Posted in a series of molts and upgrades, adoring Easy, gifts and giftings, grit, growing toward up