Auroras, Solar Winds, and Miracles

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

An Aurora Australis (because it is around the South Pole)

Good Morning, God!

Look God! How amazing just this one small planet is! Thank You! This Aurora was caused by a large Coronal Mass Ejection back in May. Now, I know YOU REALLY KNOW ALL ABOUT THIS. And, I know we are just starting to learn — but I have to say, being able to watch a speeded up movie of Coronal Mass Ejections was impressive. These ejections take place over several hours — so since total solar eclipses only last for several minutes — we weren’t able to see them until the space age.

Back when I was in school I learned that LIGHT travels as 186,000 miles per second. That means that light travels from our sun to earth in around 8 minutes.

An image of the speeds and sources of Solar Wind

But, here I am learning that light isn’t the only stuff coming from the sun. There is something called the Solar Wind that is also flowing out from the sun — but more slowly — its speed is measured in hundreds of kilometers per second. Hmm. Actually, there is a FAST solar wind and a SLOW solar wind coming from our sun all the time — winds that vary not just in speed but in density and composition. And the Coronal Mass Ejections interact with the Solar Wind and can cause magnetic storms here on Earth.

Science sure has changed from my time in school. And it is still changing. My mother told me that when she was in school they were told that 60 miles an hour was the maximum speed humans could ever achieve. I find it odd, God, that Science can be so CERTAIN! Or is that HUMANS that are so certain. Good science is open — as are good minds.

So I find myself torn between delight at what we are learning — and a growing humility at the extent of what we don’t know. For me it means that I find Miracles easy to accept. There is a lot going on in Your Creation, God! And most of it is beyond our ability to see or measure. Norbert Weiner observed that we can’t make sense of any system without recourse to a larger system. I must say, I am grateful that YOU are my largest system, and Science is set within YOU.

I am THANKFUL FOR YOU — thankful that You CARE about us — THANKFUL THAT YOU LISTEN!

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Posted in humility, Sunlight explored, Understanding, Venturing out of the shallows?, web of life

Awesome KING, Compassionate Spirit — Our Hearts Know You!

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

Good Day, God!

Thy Kingdom Come - a stained glass in St James in the City on Wilshire


Kit is HOME with me — HURRAY — but thank You, too for his good visits with our daughters and grandsons! How precious we are to each other and how easy it is to take that for granted — letting BUSY get in the way of BEING TOGETHER. I guess it is one of those BODY things, God. Emailing is great. Chatting away on the phone is super. Ah, but BEING WITH a beloved family member or friend is FAR FAR MORE. I’m smiling. I think our Mind doesn’t like to acknowledge that. Or, would that be MY Mind?

Actually, I like to THINK that I DO appreciate my Body and that it communicates with those around me in ways that my Mind isn’t designed to understand. We talk about people giving off “good vibes.” Perhaps there really is something going on BEYOND what we can currently measure. I LIKE that idea!

We talk about the Body of Christ — meaning the aggregate body of believers — but maybe it is more? I know that just sitting next to a person on Sunday morning brings a certain closeness. . . especially over time. I’ve been thinking about this, God, because on Fathers’ Day Suzy and Kit went to St. James in the City, an Episcopal Church on Wilshire. I love that church! I was raised in the Episcopal Church so I resonate with the stained glass, the eucharist (communion) and the ritual. Do You suppose, God, that Episcopalians see You more as King than Friend?

You are BOTH! Actually, SO MUCH MORE! The AWESOME STAR MAKER and GALAXY SPINNER. The Gentle Loving Spirit longing to comfort and encourage! You are way way way beyond words. Even so, there are times — sometimes in a church service — sometimes not — when YOUR PRESENCE is PALPABLE. When, indeed, it seems that my Body knows far more than my Mind. THANK YOU God, for Glimpses!

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Posted in being together in a compassionate presence, Communion, connections, God as High King, God wants to nourishes us

Reaching Out — Working Together — Remaking a River — and Your World

Posted on June 22, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Penobscot River -- draining 1/3 of Maine

Good Morning, God!

I just read a story about Freeing a River — opening Maine’s Penobscot River back up to Atlantic salmon and Atlantic sturgeon — giving them 100 miles of the main stem of the river and over a thousand miles of tributaries for spawning. I’m not even a fisherman — and I still rejoiced! Getting to this point hasn’t been easy. For years protests and pleas to restore the river by removing 2 dams fell on deaf power company ears. Then here is what happened as told in the Summer 2010 issue of Nature Conservancy

“Two local men who had run the dams for years suggested to their new managers at PPL that the company should try to talk to the local community about the river’s future, rather than continue the fight. Those men, Scott Hall and Richard Fennelly, thought it would help to negotiate around a conference table rather than argue in front of a judge’s bench.”

It may sound silly, God, but I sort of teared up when I read that. Imagine choosing to TALK TOGETHER! WOW! What an IDEA!

The story continues: “Scott approached the tribe and said, ‘We want to do business in a different way,’” says John Banks. The Penobscot nation saw in this gesture an opportunity that was bigger than the tribe. It asked the Atlantic Salmon Federation and the Natural Resources Council of Maine to join the negotiations with PPL. More conservation groups joined in the process, including American Rivers, Maine Audubon and Trout Unlimited. These groups and the tribe formalized their coalition as the Penobscot River Restoration Trust.”

Everyone came together to buy the two dams and they are still raising the money to take them down. It isn’t done. But I’m REJOICING, God! Partly because of all the creatures that are going to “return” and repopulate this river. And partly because this is an example of backing off from adversarial roles and working toward a Win / Win. The Power Company will even get to generate the same amount of electricity. Please, God! May we have MORE TALKING TOGETHER — MORE WORKING TOGETHER!

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Posted in a new view of Commons, clear waterways, Common Sense, Communication, rejoicing, web of life

A Happy Marriage – A Thankful Wife – On Our 51st Anniversary

Posted on June 21, 2010 by a moment with god — 2 Comments

The two of us in Ireland

Thank You, God! THANK YOU!!!

I am married to a GOOD MAN — and I dare say THAT is a Key Component to a Happy Marriage! Actually, Kit is a VERY good man. And I must say, God, I am VERY THANKFUL!

I’m sitting here pondering what goes into a good marriage — besides good “ingredients” and good examples. Well, let me start with the Good Example. My Mother has attended four generations of Golden Wedding Anniversaries: her grandparents , her parents, her own, and then OUR Golden Wedding Anniversary. My Father’s parents celebrated their Golden Anniversary, too. That helps.

But even with a VERY GOOD MAN — one still has to contend with Giant Gender Gaps.

The book, You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation


I remember how excited I was when I discovered Deborah Tannen’s books and realized the men and women really are living in different universes! I’m laughing, God! How could something so obvious — take so long to see? Hmmm. I am still being surprised.

Then there is the HUGE MATTER of YOUR HELP, God. Becoming a BELIEVING Christian — confessing I NEEDED Your Help — that meant that Kit didn’t have to bear all the weight of keeping me loved and valued. That was a BIG and HEAVY load off of him. Besides, You made it clear that my job is working with You to recreate ME — not him.

One more thing. Being loved by YOU has given me the courage to speak the truth in love about myself. You helped me to understand that when Kit hurt my feelings I FLASHED to ANGER! I would tell him to GO AWAY! And he would. Then I would be more hurt than ever. With YOUR help I finally confessed that when I screamed GO AWAY what I really wanted as a hug. He heard me. He remembered. And his hugs have saved the day many a time! THANK YOU, God, THANK YOU!

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Posted in Communication, gender universes, hugs, learning, letting the Holy Spirit flow through us

So Great a Cloud of Witnesses and Mango Days

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

Mango Days: A Teenager Facing Eternity Reflects on the Beauty of Life

Good Morning God!

Yesterday I worked VERY hard getting everything I could think of DONE so I could ENJOY a full Sabbath. This morning, I observed that if I had loaded the tea kettle last night, and put the tea in the pot — I wouldn’t have needed to do that this morning. I’m grinning, God! Is that ADVANCED LEGALISM? Or am I just getting the feel of Refraining from Work?

So, here I sit with my tea and half a BIG mango — a melt in your mouth, mango — pondering the 29th anniversary of Patty’s Death. Marveling at how YOU got us all through it. And at the same moment realizing we are all still IN IT! Just recently a new friend shared about her sister’s death and I realized that we are never done with the adjusting. It is an amazing Overload of Feelings. There is still sorrow over the loss . . . still thoughts of WHAT DID I DO or NOT DO that might have kept this cup from us. . . they are muted now . . . I have to turn and seek them out.

Cumulus Clouds: Photo by Peter Essick

And at the Same Time there is GREAT REJOICING for LIFE! I had Patty for 18 years! I still “have” her . . . waiting and maybe watching as part of that Great Cloud of Witnesses. And I have Sandy and Suzy and Kit and I am GRATEFUL!

When I see puffy clouds I often think of Patty DANCING above the Clouds. Actually those words aren’t part of her poem The Hike. Here is the last stanza:

Someday I’ll sleep below the grass
And dance above the sky
But now I lie between the two
and let the wind blow by.

Thank You, God for EVERYTHING — even the DARK DARK — for YOU are with us in it! And You LONG to comfort us and walk with us through it.

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Posted in a hand up, breathing in Your Spirit, Choosing Meaning, Grief, thankfulness, Trusting God

Shower Trees and the Joy of Sharing

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

A Golden Shower Tree near my Mom's retirement residence

Good Morning God,

The World is so FILLED with lovely things that they crowd into my vision — WAITING, WANTING to be appreciated. Here in Hawaii, the Trees mark the seasons. We are now in the Season of the Shower Trees. They begin with the Yellow Showers, and then move on to the Rainbow Shower trees. I thought this photo was of the Golden, but perhaps it is another hybrid.

I look forward to the flowering of Shower Trees — and I especially enjoy them on morning walks — when I can catch their subtle fragrance. And, now You remind me that they, too, allow me a glimpse of TIME TURNING. So, it isn’t just Dawn and Dusk, but the Seasons. Seasons marked by flowering trees and FRUIT! It is Mango Season! And I am about to go off to the Farmers’ Market at KCC and look for lychees and mangos. Ah. THANK YOU!

The challenge in all this appreciation is BALANCE! Are we back to Opposable Virtues, God? I suppose so. Appreciation is NOT gluttony. Perhaps, gluttony comes from NOT TASTING. We seem to be designed to taste in descending acuteness. The first bite is best, second a bit less so, and after the third I am not getting the full taste experience — unless I cleanse my palette. Of course, THIS is yet another reason why we are to eat slowly! (Please help me with this!)

We are also designed to EAT TOGETHER! Solitary food consumption is a bit like solitary drinking. And this week while Kit has been seeing our daughters — I have had five lovely dinners WITH family (my Mom) and WITH friends. As I balanced my attention between friends and food — I enjoyed both more.

Thank You, God, for people who INVITE OTHERS OUT — invited them IN — into their lives. SHARING is such a JOY!

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Posted in Abundant Life, acknowledging another's existence, appreciation, Balancing and adjustments, beauty

Getting out of my routine – and recover time

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

Nieman Marcus at night


Good Morning,God!
I realized last night that I don’t get out much — or should I say, I don’t venture out of my routine. This came to me when I was leaving Morton’s Steak House in the Ala Moana Center. It isn’t that I haven’t been to Ala Moana hundreds of time. But I haven’t been there AT NIGHT.

It was like being in a new place! I looked over at Nieman Marcus and thought it was lovely. Things look different at night.

I suppose, God, that is one of the reasons we travel – to see new things – to see in new ways – to meet new people.

I certainly wouldn’t have gone to Mortons without having gone with my dear friend, Martha Lee. Ah, now I am smiling as I remember: once Kit got home from work he didn’t want to go back into Town. He didn’t even want to go toward Town.

Which brings up the point that NEW requires more of us. Hmm. We have Energy and Time for NEW when we travel. When we are immersed in Daily Life — NEW can seem more of a burden as it exceeds our “budget.”

Hmm. Could it be (I’m so SLOW, sometimes!) that You command us to REST from Work on the Sabbath Day so that You can Balance our Budget? Not just balance our budget but RESTORE US — POUR IN YOUR RESERVES, as it were.

I confess, God, I don’t think I have taken a WHOLE DAY OFF FROM WORKING (I’ll do just this little bit, I tell myself) when I am home. THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE! I can’t afford to overspend. Please, God, help me to PLAN and use BOTH my lovely RIGHT BRAIN — and my SCARY LEFT BRAIN — to work TOGETHER to redesign my life!

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Posted in A weekly day of rest, accepting my ability to REDESIGN, adoring Easy, doing what I know

Sunsets and Appreciation and Opposable Thumbs

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

Sunset over my back fence

Good Morning, God!

Last evening I was going out to get the mail when I saw the sky! I rushed back in to get my camera and spent 20 minutes taking photos! GLORIOUS!  And, it felt as if the SKY responded to my delight by getting brighter and even more colorful.

Now, that is anthropomorphizing, isn’t it, God! But it is true that many of us creatures do respond that way — showing off more and more to a delighted audience or observer.

Appreciation is such a GIFT! My mother gave it to me as she pointed out things for me to see on early childhood walks. We learn so much from those early years.

I suppose we learn criticism, too. Only I don’t picture THAT as a gift.  I see it more as wasp eggs and larvae. There are wasps that lay there eggs inside caterpillars! The eggs hatch and EAT the caterpillar on their way “out.” A truly disgusting image! But that is how I think of the Critical Spirit.

Now, I KNOW we need to be analytical and have common sense! Being perceptive means seeing BOTH the good (to be appreciated) and the bad (to be resisted or redone). I am coming to understand that ALL VIRTUES COME IN PAIRS! You tell us, God, to SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE. Truth is one virtue — Love (or kindness) often acts as its OPPOSABLE VIRTUE.

I wish I had been taught this concept when I was young. Hmm. I wish I understood it better, NOW!

It is like our Opposable Thumb! We have risen as a species because of our Opposable Thumbs (Stephen Jay Gould said that?). And may I add, God, we shall disappear as a species if we don’t learn about Opposable Virtues!

Hmmm. A rather daunting word to end on! Our two halves of the brain have to act the same way — all gifts require an appreciation and a WORKING TOGETHER with the opposing gifts. Now that is something for politicians to consider!

Oh, yes, God, and me too!

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Posted in appreciation, Balancing and adjustments

Dawn, Dusk and Transition Times

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

Dusk at the Blu Water Grill -- looking at Koko Crater

Good Morning, God,

I love dawn and dusk — transition times let me see Time Moving. Looking at the phases of the moon is almost like that. Maybe THAT is why the Before and After Photos were so motivating? It was like capturing time.

Mostly, when I am doing things – putting away things – there is never that ALL DONE moment. Hmmm. Graduations are ALL DONE MARKERS, too.

In truth, we are never done, are we God. We are offered opportunities to continue growing right until our Earthly End. That quote from David K. Reynolds book, Water Bears No Scars speaks to that: To try while dying, to love while changing, to play while acknowledging the impermanence endows a kind of nobility to the simplest act”.

I have felt the compulsion to finish. And I feel, even now, the tug to finish — to go on to the NEXT THING. Please pull me back into Your Numinous Now.

Sigh, that is my Prayer for the Day. Please PULL me back into Your Presence. Let me BEHOLD YOU in the People and in the Creatures as I go through my day — surely Your Heavens DO DECLARE YOUR GLORY!

Help me to PAUSE, SEE, REJOICE and GIVE THANKS!

Thank YOU, GOD!

Posted in a hand up, rejoicing, sacred space, time, Transitions, Uncategorized

Aeroship Giganticus Robustus – Our Past, Our Present and Possibilities

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

Good Morning, God!

I had dinner last night with a young man who is dedicated to bringing back airships! Mike Voorhees is the CEO of Skylite Aeronautics and was here for his Punahou Reunion.

Airships! Gosh, God, what would our world be like if we had stuck with lighter than air craft and skipped the planes? I love thoughts like that of alternate histories.

Well, Mike is out to make history. This prototype is 133 meters high — the Washington Monument is 169 meters high — and 500 meters long. THAT’S BIG. It is very quiet, very clean, very efficient, and very doable.

I guess my question, God, is WHY isn’t it ALREADY DONE?

Two thoughts tumble into my mind.  The first is: if you offered a “boy” a toy that was NOISY, DIRTY and FAST vs one that was quiet, clean and slow — which one do you think he would take. DUH!

The second thought is more of a cluster of thoughts about all the CHANGES I want to make in my life but haven’t due to “SET POINTS”, INERTIA, HOMEOSTASIS, and . . . just a touch of gluttony . . . or in the Big Bad World’s terms . . . GREED.

Ahaaa. Thought number 3 is FEAR!  Even thought what we are doing is UNSUSTAINABLE — it is familiar. The unfamiliar is scary. And as changes have a way of compounding themselves — with unimaginable and unexpected consequences — that is wise. But, I feel You pointing out to me that to CONTINUE ON THE WAY WE ARE GOING — IS TO CHOOSE INACTION.

Hmmm.  This is about much more that AEROSHIPS isn’t it God. This is a CALL.  This is part of the GREAT CALL to a GREAT TURNING!

And, as Gandhi said — We must BECOME the CHANGE, we wish to see.

And You are here, ENCOURAGING ME.

Change! Turn! Come! Dare! Take a step toward me and I will take 10 steps toward you.

Posted in a matter of scale, accepting gifts sight unseen, accepting my ability to REDESIGN, choosing HARD, Choosing Meaning

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