A Grandmother Saguaro and Me

Posted on June 9, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A particularly good looking saguaro in Sabino Canyon

Good Day God!

Another lovely family day in Tucson — THANK YOU, GOD! I started early with a cup of coffee brought to me by Sandy and then I was off to breakfast with Ian. I was stopped on the way out the door by Mark who let me know that he expected breakfast with me tomorrow!

You know, God, it feels really good to have grandsons who WANT to have breakfast with me. Of course, smile, it could be the chocolate chip pancakes.

I feel a bit like this saguaro cactus — with my arms full of family — and hands raised in praise, God. Odd to think that this cactus is maybe 150 years older than I am. That’s a lot of history, a lot of cloudbursts and a lot of droughts. I particularly like picturing her extension roots wrapped around large underground rocks to hold her fast in the wind and storms.

We are told to build our house on the Rock and not on Sand. Belief systems can be either rock or sand. I suspect even folks who consider themselves atheists have a “belief” system. I remember the quote from Norbert Wiener about how you can’t make sense of a system without setting it within a larger system.

Even in that, God, You give us the freedom to choose. We can choose Meaning or Meaninglessness. I remember telling the doctor — when Patty was ill — that the real battle is not between Life and Death, for we all die. The REAL BATTLE is between MEANING and Meaninglessness. I have chosen MEANING. But, even so God, I can’t help but feel YOU have HELPED me to choose. Thank YOU!

Posted in cacti, choices, Choosing Meaning, God's gifts, interspecies contact

Gila Monsters and Being a New Creature in Christ

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

Sandy on a huge smooth rock in the stream in Sabino Canyon

Good Day, God,

What a delight to wake up early and go for a walk with Sandy up into Sabino Canyon. Sandy showed me the area where she goes for a weekly 3 hour retreat — sitting with You, God.

One of the joys of taking photos, God, is that it exercises one’s eye. It is ongoing practice in SEEING what’s around us. It is so easy to walk along — not seeing — not noticing — not appreciating Your World. And speaking of seeing when I stopped at a restroom and gave Sandy my camera to use — she saw a Gila Monster.

A Gila Monster - maybe 18" long or a little longer

She took several photos of it. Perhaps it didn’t dash off like the lizards I saw because it is poisonous and not particularly worried about other creatures? Our attitudes about ourselves make a big difference in how we behave.

I think that is one of the most powerful things about “Being a New Creature in Christ”. When we are apprehended by that reality we realize that we are neither stuck nor helpless.

You WANT to help us grow and extend ourselves. You WANT to heal us of past hurts and physical problems. I wish that was talked about more, God. It seems to me that the miraculous nature of Your Gift to us is kept distant — when I feel so certain that it is to be up close and personal. How much more joyful we would all be if we knew how much we are loved.

Yes, bad things happen. But I know what a difference it makes to know You are going through them WITH us. Consider these two different attitudes: The Gila Monster who is fearless because he is poisonous. And we who CAN be fearless because we are LOVED! Thank You, God. THANK YOU!

Posted in attitudes, Good News!, healing, LOVE, Prayer, responding to God's Spirit, stopping to see, thankfulness

Seeing, Envisioning, and Becoming

Posted on June 7, 2010 by a moment with god — 2 Comments

The Santa Catalina mountains from Sandy's home

Good Day, God!

Isn’t this a beautiful view! Sandy and Dave’s home faces these lovely mountains — but the patio was in the back of the house. Dave had double glass doors put in the front and then had a brick patio put in all along the front of the house — facing the mountains. And this view is through the covered grilling area he had built. I really like it.

I also like that he could SEE what he wanted to do. We have friends that can SEE what COULD BE. I did do that with my loft, but, it sure took me a long time before I could see what could be done.

Change begins with seeing . . . with Vision and Envisioning. You did tell Isaiah that “Without Vision the People perish”. I love that. I KNOW it is TRUE. But, I am beginning to realize that I still haven’t unpacked that idea. It has been like a seed lying quietly inside me that only needs a little water (attention?) to sprout UP and STRETCH OUT and EXPAND ME.

Smile, that could be WHY I haven’t given this idea much attention. Staying the same is comfortable and seems risk free. It isn’t, of course. It just feels that way. I feel that if I don’t change then nothing around me will change and we will keep on as we were. Gosh, God. Now that I say that I can see how foolish it is.

Yet, it is true that when a person changes it sets off a ripple of changes. Yes, God. Let me restate that: AS I CHANGE it will set off ripples — unintended ripples — unintended consequences. So, harboring the illusion that I don’t have to change is understandable.

God, I’m smiling again. Mark is going to “help” me organize my thousands of bookmarks into folders. Not the change I was envisioning. But it is a start. Thank You!

Tagged with: Change, Vision
Posted in a series of molts and upgrades, asking for help for myself

Stars, Small Drops of Water and Perspective

Posted on June 6, 2010 by a moment with god — 2 Comments

water drop "stars" and the half moon

Good Morning, God!

This photo was taken EARLY yesterday morning. I was waiting for my airport shuttle at 4:15 a.m. and looking up at the moon. The Portofino Hotel has a lovely fountain in front and the plumes of water from the fountain caught enough artificial light to look like stars.

It is all a matter of perspective. Small drops of water seen up close can look the same as HUGE STARS far far away.

Small gestures and ordinary words from an acquaintance can be EXPERIENCED as CRUEL when coming from a beloved family member or friend. It’s The CLOSENESS FACTOR! The best example being the feedback Squeal from a mike too close to the speakers.

What are we to DO, God, when this happens? Wait? Explain? Carry on? All of the above?

Hmm. Do I hear PRAY? Could it be that STATIC can exist as an independent Force — not just the failure of signals to get through clearly? Now, that is an Interesting Idea. Actually, it is an attractive idea as it seems to argue for our blamelessness.

Dang! You are bringing to mind a quote from years ago — when Bruce Larson said that he had learned when his wife Hazel said he had been hurtful — he HAD been. Meaning, I guess, that we can’t always hear ourselves. Meaning we DELUDE ourselves? Ouch.

Well, yes, God. That too. All part of the Blame Game of wanting to be LESS blameworthy than those around us.

And I hear You say: GET OUT! GET OUT OF THAT GAME! ALL ARE FORGIVEN! Yes! God we ARE forgiven! PRAISE BE! THANK YOU!!!!

Posted in a matter of scale, Communication, Forgiven!, Forgiving, Perspective, perspectives

Red Fish, Blue Fish and Being Pleased to be Me/Ourselves

Posted on June 5, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

The Suess Landing at Island Adventures - Universal Theme Park, Orlando

Good Day, God!

I got to see my God son, Shane, graduate this morning! THANK YOU! That was such an accomplishment and I was both proud and happy.

And speaking of happy, I was surprised at how happy I was when I discovered Seuss Landing the other day. It brought back happy memories of reading Dr. Seuss as a child and then reading his stories to my daughters AND my grandsons.

Then this afternoon, I was sitting there in Seuss Landing idly looking around while drinking a lemon slush when I thought — this is the man primarily responsible for our culture’s shift into embracing DIVERSITY. Everywhere I looked the creatures were DIFFERENT! (Well, except for Thing One, Thing Two, etc.) And, even better, each creature seemed supremely pleased with itself!
Just LOOK at this red fish, God! How happy (yes, maybe even smug) she looks. And the blue one looks just as happy.

Aha, God! Wouldn’t it be marvelous if each one of us was THAT PLEASED to be who he or she was! I looked at each creature on the merry-go-round and each one was just as happy and “pleased to be me” as these fish.

It was Viktor Frankl who observed that each one of us has a Will for Meaning. And if the Will for Meaning isn’t met then it can be diverted into a Will for Power or a Will for Pleasure. Perhaps these fish — being so happy to be themselves — experience life as meaningful?

I’m pretty sure that isn’t the best way to express it, God. But on the other hand I feel as if I’m getting close. I confess to being happy just to be me. And part of that is that I experience life as intrinsically meaningful. Ah! But LIFE is a GIFT. Just as getting to be WHO WE ARE, is a Gift.

And, yes, GETTING TO BE WHO YOU DESIGNED US TO BE — IS AN ONGOING GIFT THAT GOES BOTH WAYS! Thank YOU!

Posted in A God given diversity, asking for help for myself, Being ENJOYED by God, gifts and giftings, God as an Ongoing Gift, gratitude, respect

Wild Rides and Approaching Storms – A Day in a Theme Park

Posted on June 4, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Wild Ride and Approaching Storm at Universal Studios Theme Parks, Orlando

Good Day, God!

What is it about humans that LOVES to play with FEAR? The roller coasters of my childhood have morphed into Giant Creatures that spin and twirl in addition to double gravity Ups and free fall Downs. I looked at them today with a combination awe and horror.

Meanwhile, Shane, went on the biggest one four times in a row while I ventured on to the Revenge of the Mummies ONCE. Actually, I did it again with him — wanting to be a good Godmother. Meanwhile, the sky got darker and darker, God. And I was expecting a torrential downpour with lightening, too.

Meanwhile, my skittishness about the weather had been exacerbated by the Twister Ride — based on the movie about tornados. Yes, God, I KNOW they mostly don’t have tornados in Florida. But, I saw the lightening the day before. And I’d seen the rain our first night. So, all I wanted was a safe dry place to wait until it was over. While Shane kept saying IT’S ONLY WIND! And he and Pulelehua forged ahead.

I guess God, that we need prudent (cowardly) people like me and fearless folks like Shane. This is a wonderfully diverse world and we need all kinds of people — people out in the wind and up on wild rides — and people sitting down with a dove ice cream bar waiting it out.

After the Storm - the rides stop when lightening is within 5 miles

Thanks God for this amazing diversity. You have made people in all flavors and with all sorts of gifts. But, it seems to me that most all of them are basically kind and good.

Help us, PLEASE, GOD, to be good and kind to those who are far from us as well as those who are near to us. It is so easy to be kind to people we can see — somehow we can see that they are our fellows — like us at the core, even if diverse.

Posted in courage, fears, Perspective, Play

Traveling Toward the Light — Sustained by Love

Posted on June 3, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

In Orlando -- on a water taxi going under bridges on the way back to our hotel

Good Day, God,

How I love “light at the end of the tunnel” photos — photos where there is a black frame around the source of light.

In this photo I loved the fact that I was looking under three bridges at once. Ah, God, the simple Joys of Life! Thank YOU!

Thank You, too for the unexpected gifts of traveling with another family. There have been a lot of gifts — one of them is seeing what a Mother will do — go through — to be with her son on an important date. Pulelehua hasn’t had an easy time traveling so soon after three LONG pins were removed from her hip which was broken three years ago. Being on crutches and in a wheelchair is never easy. But then flying from Honolulu to Florida makes it a whole lot harder. Aches and pains AND time zone changes exacerbate the whole thing.

It has made me realize that I haven’t done enough BEING WITH my beloved children. Gosh, God, this WASP culture is so invasive! Stiff upper lip and carry on no matter what. I wish I had realize this earlier . . . but then I am so THANKFUL to have realized it AT ALL!

And, perhaps, that is why I love this photo — traveling TOWARD the LIGHT — and going under bridges. Yes, God, our lives are all about traveling toward the Light — toward YOU. We never finish. But that is as it should be. Please, God, encourage us to keep on keeping on.

Oh! One last thought — YOU do understand ALL ABOUT PARENTAL LOVE, don’t You!

Posted in clear waterways, family visits, gifts and giftings, growing toward up, Mothers and Fathers, people as gifts, Rivers of Living Water, simple joys of daily life, the gift of persistent love

Portofino and People and Being Present

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

Looking out our hotel window at a "copy" of Portofino

Good Day or Good Evening, God!

After flying overnight from Honolulu to Orlando I’m not sure just what time it is. Well, it is 11 pm in Florida. It’s my body time I’m not sure about!

Traveling to be with people is different than traveling to go places. It was wonderful to see Shane — to see how he’d grown — and to see how much he remained himself. People are really what it is all about. Connections.

Relationships. I can see how cultures that are rich in relationships would naturally have saints involved in their religious world view. We are, after all, told that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. How much nicer to “know them by name.”

Names are important! Servers in restaurants always introduce themselves. Gosh, God, on the plane one of our flight attendants said, if you want anything just call “JoAnne”. I love it! Names help us connect. It’s like what Greg Mortensen said about the saying about how after you’ve shared tea and conversation for the third time, you’re family.

Ah, God! That’s what we all need! More time together sharing and becoming family! More time face to face and not just online or over the phone. Time sitting together. And now You bring to mind that when I sit quietly in Centering Prayer — outside of words — we are being knit together.

So, then, God, bless Shane in his graduation and his transition into the wider world. Hmm. Bless our Wider World! And help me to learn to be present in a deeper way. Thank You God!

Posted in Centering Prayer, connections, Conversations, inner paths of the heart, intentional and invited sacred space

The importance of our physical presence – and paradigm shifts

Posted on May 31, 2010 by a moment with god — 3 Comments

looking down on San Francisco

Good Morning, God!

I’m off again. This afternoon I fly to Orlando to see Shane (my Godson) graduate with a Masters in Music Business from Full Sail University. I’ll be traveling with his Mom – a longtime friend.

Part of me thinks “better I should give him the gift of the money I’ll spend going to see him”. But GOING THERE, BEING THERE is a gift to me . . . and, I hope, a gift to him, too.

I remember — way way back in the Living the Adventure series at church — hearing Keith Miller talk about when his Dad died. One old friend of his father came during the time with the family and sat with him. He said little or nothing. But, Keith remembered it as the most comforting thing anyone said or did. Our Physical Presence speaks.

Tony Campolo talks about letting the Holy Spirit in him speak to those around him — without words — when he travels. Could I do this? Really?

I am so slow, God, in learning to respect the gifts of our body. Years ago, I learned that my hands had more “intelligence” than my mind when it came to using a light pen to wand a barcode AT JUST THE RIGHT ANGLE. But, I didn’t GO ANYWHERE with that knowledge. I failed to EXTEND that information.

Hmm. Yes, God, weaving Patterns out of seemingly disparate bits of information is challenging. Please help me with that. Aha. I think I am hearing You remind me of how DIFFICULT PARADIGM SHIFTS ARE. So, it isn’t so much how difficult it is to build patterns — as how difficult it is when the new pattern seems to overturn a pattern or paradigm from our childhood.

All of a sudden I am connecting that thought with yesterday’s thoughts about Romans 12:1-2 about offering ourselves as living sacrifices TO BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF OUR MINDS [and HEARTS].

I bet You are talking about DEEP PARADIGM SHIFTS. Wow! Please HELP ME. Please help me to WANT to Hear, See, and CONNECT! Thank YOU!

Posted in a series of molts and upgrades, accepting my ability to REDESIGN, accepting my need for help, acknowledging another's existence, asking for help for myself, connecting, connections, Expand my Heart, generating options, gifts and giftings, letting the Holy Spirit flow through us

Rome, Romans and Me

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

The Coliseum in Rome at sunset: Photo by Oliver Ross

Good Morning, God!

A Sabbath Morning — a Day Set Aside for Rest and Restoration. And, I confess right now, I shall most likely do some work.

I am the loser. But, perhaps, others are too. Now THAT is a sobering thought. This morning I awoke with Paul’s words to the Romans in my heart. Probably because of a conversation yesterday with a dear friend.

And I remembered, God, that I had done a paraphrase of that chapter in the 1980s. Here is the first part:

Therefore, I urge you dear fellow children
in view of God’s patient and undeserved love for us let us give God
not just our money and our time but our complete and entire selves

When the offering is taken in church it should be
as if our very bodies themselveswere carried up to God’s altar

for it is not enough to die for God. we are to be living sacrifices
for God wants to set us free from the prison of conforming
to the expectations of those all around us.

God wants to make us over completely by changing
how we think about things

God wants us to demolish old ways of thinking and even feeling
so that we might clearly see God’s Presence and the existence of what the world denies
so that we might hear God’s voice and do God’s will.

Once again, I say YES to You God! I am willing to do Your Will. But, somehow, my will — which I view as doing absolute necessities — is squeezing out Your Will. And, yes, I confess, saying YES to YOU is scary. I admit, I like myself JUST THE WAY I AM.

Even so, I hear Your Gentle Voice saying that You don’t want me to become anyone else — just a bit more truly me. Hmmm. More truly ME? That is still scary. But, LET’S GO FOR IT!!!

Posted in a series of molts and upgrades, an invitation to abundant life, asking for help for myself, responsibility, Rethinking, Risky living with the Holy Spirit, sabbath rest