A Slow Day at Home — Lovingly Together in our Separate Gender Universes

Posted on May 25, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

palm and fern in my office

Good Morning God,

Tuesday, is a s l o w day. Purr. What could be more relaxing and restorative than a slow day at home? Mind You, God, I love people and I love being with them. But home (not alone, but with Kit) is special.

It was Sandy who said, “Mom! Stay home Tuesdays and Thursdays and do your running around on Monday, Wednesday and Friday”.

I think it was M. Scott Peck who said something to the effect that a parent unwilling to take advice from a child was condemned to an early senility. Of course, he said, Father, not Parent. Men and Women are very different in so many ways. And one of them in this whole idea of being IN CHARGE — and I suppose, taking advice.

I think, God, that men are “leader dependent.” I first noticed this when Kit’s Wednesday morning men’s Bible study didn’t meet one morning because their leader hadn’t come. My response was puzzlement — so? Don’t you all have Bibles? Kit was dumbfounded. “We can’t meet without a leader.” We stood there staring at each other. Then he said, “Don’t you have a leader for your Wednesday women’s prayer group?” Now I was dumbfounded — a Leader for our women’s prayer group? I told him NO we don’t have a leader!

God, that became a period of several months in which Kit kept questioning me — trying to help me understand that OF COURSE we women had to have a leader — particularly in the Women’s Retreat Committee. I would describe that as a Period of Mutual NonComprehension — only I was pretty sure I understood that men and women function quite differently when it comes to leadership and being IN CHARGE.

This morning I offered to make a call for him to help with a state tax problem and he joked, “Are you trying to seize control of the ship?” Well, mostly he was joking. But I got the point, and smiled. Thank You, God, for Kit – and Life – and Differences.

Posted in adjusting, appreciation, Balancing and adjustments, gender universes, interspecies contact, Perspective, recovery time, relationships, relaxation

The Land, Lying Fallow, Increasing Yields and Us

Posted on May 24, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

The book by Joyce Appleby, The Relentless Revolution

I’m up early, God!

My mind filled with a factoid from the book The Relentless Revolution. It seems that starting with the Dutch at the end of the 1500s the Land was no longer allowed to lie fallow. The Dutch didn’t have enough land to feed all their people and they found that if they rotated their crops they got more yield from the land.

The idea is that some crops PUT BACK into the soil nitrogen, etc. — while other crops TAKE OUT nutrients. So they BALANCED what they planted and yields went up enough to support industry.

Then right around World War I we learned how to create nitrogen chemically and BOOM! We used it for explosives AND for fertilizer. The use of artificial fertilizer created the Population BOOM!

What got me UP, God, was when the relationship between the Land and Our Bodies came to me.

How can we be surprised at the use of steroids, uppers, etc. TO INCREASE YIELD for people, when we have been pumping chemicals into the land to increase yield?Sigh. What to do? I think vitamins are sensible and I’m fond of tea and coffee. But, steroids scare me. With steroids it is so clearly a case of SHORT TERM BOOST — LONG TERM COST.

I have this most uncomfortable feeling that the same is true of artificial fertilizer. At least, my experience in growing basil in a pot has shown me that it flourishes with organic fertilizers and dies with artificial ones. Food for thought, God, food for thought.

And, yes, I haven’t missed the connection with Your Command that the Land lie fallow one year in seven — and that refraining from work on the Sabbath Day is a sort of “lying fallow.” My guess is that You are doing A LOT while we are NOT.

Posted in a matter of scale, lying fallow, Perspective, sabbath rest, time, web of life

Pentecost, the Holy Spirit and US — more than Spiritual Spring Cleaning

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

Pentecost and the Coming of the Holy Spirit

Thank You for Pentecost, God!

Even after the followers of Jesus had seen him ALIVE after the crucification — they were still AFRAID. They were afraid with good reason, God.

Jesus told them to WAIT until power came to help them:”Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit came with the sound of a great wind and tongues of fire appeared over their heads. Then Peter went out into the streets — where thousands of Jews had come to Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks — and preached!

But the truly amazing thing was that everyone heard him speak in their own language. It was the opposite of the Tower of Babel event.

What is particularly precious to me, God, is that You spoke to me many years ago as I read Acts, Chapter Two. My whole being reverberated with the knowledge that this was exactly how it happened. It was TRUE!

The Holy Spirit comes in POWER for each of us - TO BLESS and TRANSFORM

If I had been raised as a Baptist that would not have been a shock. But I was raised as a low church Episcopalian. The Bible was historical, but also poetic and allegorical. I just never thought that Pentecost really happened that way. Well, mostly, I never thought about it at all.

Here I sit — and YOU are asking: Will you say YES to ME? Will you receive MY SPIRIT? I have CHANGES I want to make in you.

YES YES YES YES!

Oh, but, GOD, I will need SO MUCH HELP. Because I am fearful . . . and self satisfied . . . and . . . slothful . . . BUT NO MATTER! YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO HELP. My job is to say Yes to the ten thousand tiny requests You will be making. YES!

Posted in a hand up, a series of molts and upgrades, A Spiritual Spring Cleaning, accepting gifts sight unseen, accepting my need for help, being repotted, Choosing to respond, fears, Focus on what unites us, God as an Ongoing Gift

Helping Caregivers start businesses — Economic “Reforestation”

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

Good Morning, God!

Well, You woke me EARLY and with this photo in my heart/mind
— or whatever part You work with

A woman and child in Swaziland

The message that has been running around and around in my mind is THIS:

If you want to care for your children — then CARE FOR MINE.

And, I give you PRAISE, GOD, because everywhere I look — well at the churches I know and at Rotary clubs — people ARE working to do that. Here in Hawaii where Angel Network (helping the homeless) will have a booth at the new Farmer’s Market at Kaiser High. And Advocates for Africa’s Children, also in Honolulu, has a great new project with Africa Works to loan money to the CAREGIVERS of ORPHANS to set up and run a broiler chicken business. A One time investment of $3,000 launches ONE CAREGIVER on a path to economic self sufficiency. The image that has been coming to my heart, God, it that this is like PLANTING TREES in a barren ground — sort of an economic reforestation!

Africa Works has done this in Mozambique and now is partnering with Advocates for Africa’s Children (AFAC) in Swaziland. That’s the small, Hawaii size, country that has the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in the WORLD!

And, YES GOD, it is like planting trees because you do have to water and prune and protect them. Twenty caregivers have been trained already. And Africa Works will help with technical advice and with built in savings. Running a business isn’t easy. But subsistence farming (sub subsistence with the 12 year drought) isn’t easy either. THIS PROVIDES HOPE.

Yes, God, $3,000 seems like a lot. But this is all about coming together in small groups of families members or friends to pool resources HERE to help ONE CAREGIVERS THERE. And, each group of givers will know the name of the caregiver being helped — and gets updates on her and the children she cares for.

I am sitting here smiling. Helping Your Children FEELS GOOD — It makes me JOYFUL!

Posted in a hand up, Advocates for Africa's Children, Africa Works, being planted, Choosing to respond, connecting, connections, creativity in loving service, Giving, JOY

Batiks and Earning a Living and Entitlement

Posted on May 21, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

a batik hanging from Swaziland, Africa

Good Morning,God

This batik is now one of the curtains in our bedroom. I love to see it with the Light shining through.

I saw the women making these batiks in Swaziland. I asked how they did it. Others must have asked too because the woman I asked pulled out a set of 7 clothes showing step by step how they made a batik. These women were lovely people. Patient and pleasant.

But, God, I didn’t pay enough to make this a really good way of earning a living. How we “earn a living” is on my mind for a variety of reasons. Of course, unemployment in the economic downturn is one reason.

Another reason for these thoughts is having just read Life of the Party: the biography of Pamela Digby Churchill Hayward Harriman. The English upper class was not so much about EARNING a living as being ENTITLED to a living.

I suppose, God, that EARNING a living is very middle class as it implies that you OUGHT to do so and THAT YOU CAN DO SO — and, of course, THAT YOU HAVE to do so. English upper class pre World War II owned most of the land in England and had contempt for those who worked (at other than overseeing their land and tenants) at “TRADE”. This strikes me as a very unhealthy attitude for a community or country.

Entitlement — either by the Rich or the Poor — is not an attractive attitude.

Drat! No sooner did I type that than the thought prickled up the back of my neck that I, myself, might possibly have areas in which I feel ENTITLED!

Hmmm. I am not sure . . . well, yes, I am QUITE SURE . . . I don’t want to go into that right now. But, please help me to ponder this thought, God. I am willing to do THAT! Help me process it at a deeper level. Now please be with me as I am off to my day.

Posted in meaningful work, processing on deeper levels, The poor and underemployed, web of life

Churches and Copies and Choosing Easy

Posted on May 20, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Steeple at Central Union Church, Honolulu

Good Morning, God!

When we were in Boston I was struck by how many ways our church here in Honolulu resembled the churches in Boston.

Park Street Church, Boston

I’m smiling, God! We humans do love a model!

And, although the Park Street Church is a bit thinner and perhaps, more elegant, still they are pretty much the same. And speaking of models — when we went into the Boston Public Library we saw marble busts of the donors dressed like Romans complete with togas.

That’s not too surprising as the very definition of well educated was to have a CLASSICAL education. School boys in England learned Greek and Latin into the 20th Century — and that brings up all sorts of thoughts on education, God. (I will try not to go into the fact it was the BOYS that were educated._

Our brains seem to be designed to prune away that which is not used. In fact, it seems that a part of the brain that is heavily used might well encroach on neighboring brain space. Of course, we certainly come with “gifts”. Both Suzy and Ian have amazing memories. And they seem to have had them right from the start.

Now, IF I really WANTED to improve my memory –I could exercise it. I could devote time to memorizing verses, German words, etc. Because, this whole question of gifts and effort is tightly interwoven.

However, here I sit, sipping a wee bit of coffee (after my tea) and nibbling chocolate (dark) and thinking that I am glad I have a day at home — filled with walking and talking with friends and a massage with my Mom. Easy is so appealing.

Hmmm. I am over my jet lag. My desk has been beat back to normal clutter. My TO DO LIST is not attacking me. Today, God, I shall focus on enjoying and appreciating my life and the lovely people in it. Maybe — later — I will turn my mind to Other Things? Like writing our Compassion Children?

Posted in adoring Easy, appreciation, authority over my life, days of rest as conservation days?, education, simple joys of daily life

Prayer, the Work of Believers

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

A worker on a Boston building

Good Morning, God!

I’m off to work for the morning at the Library. I love working with the library committee and residents who have become such dear friends. How GOOD it is to work together on meaningful projects. How I wish EVERYONE could have meaningful work to do.

Before I go to work, I’m going to pray with our Wednesday Morning Women’s Prayer Group. I love praying together with these women who have become more than friends — or perhaps it is a “special kind” of friend. How I wish that everyone had people to pray with — not rote prayers — but full-hearted, truthful and REAL prayers.

How is it God that the church has not been busy encouraging this? Indeed, it seems to me that the church (not ours, of course) has instead focused on prayer as PRIVATE ONLY. Or, if it is corporate prayer — we either say the written prayer or listen to a prayer by a professional. Now, I really love “professional prayers”. They are lovely and very much appreciated. I am not complaining about what we do. I am grieved by what we (as the Body of Christ) DON’T DO! Surely, prayer is the WORK of all Believers?

Yes, God. I understand that it takes time and confidentiality for enough trust to develop so that people can pray real prayers together. I mean the “I’m in pain. Help me!” prayers. But, surely opportunities should be lifted up? Surely invitations should be extended and groups formed?

Hmmm. Do I hear You asking “Who have you asked to join you, recently?” Good point, God. I give You my discouragement when people don’t come. Help me to ASK! Oh! You just reminded me how embarrassed I was the first time I was in a group where I “had” to pray extemporaneously OUTLOUD. I remember that. Thank YOU!

Posted in being heard into speaking, being together in a compassionate presence, meaningful work, Prayer, Praying together extemporaneously

Blossoms, and Blooming — Tulips and Humans

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

A bed of tulips in a Dublin park

Good Morning, God!

I’m back to flowers! “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, the toil not, neither do they spin . . .”

Jesus was pointing out our concern for clothing — saying that You clothe the flowers better than even King Solomon was dressed.

All part of the DO NOT BE ANXIOUS admonitions which I appreciate. Still, as always, it seems to be a BALANCE among diverse virtues. We are to consider the costs before beginning to build — certainly good advice. And SIX DAYS we are to WORK, so it isn’t a matter of “toiling not” like the flowers. Perhaps it is more a matter of our being WILLING to grow and bloom?

I cannot look at these tulips without smiling.

Looking into the hearts of tulips?

They are doing what they are designed to do — BLOOMING — and it brings me great joy to see them. Hmmm. A tulip KNOWS what it is designed to do. And when it is given half a chance it will fulfill its design. We humans have a RICHER and more COMPLEX set of designs. That gives us so many options, but maybe too many? Or maybe conflicting options?

Certainly, for women the design question is complex. (I was going to say fraught with peril, but that seemed a little strong.) Hard to manage? Women are designed to have and care for children. At the same time we are intelligent humans who want to use our full gifting. How good it would be, God, if each one of us humans was given half a chance to use our FULL GIFTINGS!

Well, it would be wonderful! But two thoughts leap up. The first is the obvious one that each of us has to make choices from among WAY TOO MANY giftings. The second, and perhaps key thought, is this. What we DO is not as important as the Attitude of the Heart with which we do it. You Do look upon our hearts. And I sense that a Heart that TRUSTS You and offers up the Gift of Praise makes You smile.

Posted in Balancing and adjustments, choices, gifts and giftings, Praise, Trusting God

Flowing SLOWLY into God’s Time

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

A stream in Glendalough, Ireland

Thank You God!

This is what my Sabbath Day was like, yesterday. It was like a slowly flowing stream — calm, relaxed, refreshing itself. The magic word seems to be S L O W.

I confess, God, that I have spent many years addicted to my own adrenaline. I loved that last minute for that surge of adrenaline. Nature’s own cocaine? Part of the Superman motif. I was born around the time Superman was created — FASTER THAN A SPEEDING BULLET! I’m smiling, God. That was before jet planes — before rockets orbiting earth — before Voyager II swept off past the solar system.

Oops! Sorry, God. You were asking What did I LEARN? I learned how slow and easy gets more done than fast and frantic. I didn’t MEAN to get anything DONE! It just sort of effortlessly happened. Almost easier to flow in and through it that to set it aside. How ODD.

Oh. Being connected with YOU was my goal. You helped me when I put You first. And I guess I must have put You first as I hardly remember what stuff got done. It was truly secondary.

Now You seem to be smiling! Smiling at my surprise at Your Delight in Helping — once I get out of Your Way. I really want to remember this, God! I want to continue putting You First! And I want to go slow — slowing down to enter Kairos — to enter Your Time.

Posted in A weekly day of rest, Abundant Life, God wants to nourishes us, God's gifts, God's Time, responding to God's Spirit

Protect me from my Busyness, Please!

Posted on May 16, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

the doorway IN to St. Kevin's cell in Glendalough, Ireland

Good Morning God,

I just had this lovely thought. This “cell” wasn’t so much to keep St. Kevin IN as it was to keep the world OUT. And it is the same with the Sabbath Day.

It is designed to PROTECT US. . . NOT CONSTRICT US.

How very sad that the orthodox church twisted the intent. Indeed, God, how sad it is that organized religions so often get off track.

This morning’s 7:00 a.m. service at Central Union celebrated the ascension of Christ. I was thinking, God, about how REALLY HARD it is for You (even YOU) to change long standing expectations. Because, there in the first chapter of Acts the disciples are asking Jesus about WHEN IS YOUR KINGDOM [on earth] TO BE ESTABLISHED? They were still thinking You were going to replace Rome with . . . ?

And, I am quite sure that I have long standing cultural expectations that keep me from Your Path. Certainly, a lot of those have to do with the whole idea of the Sabbath. Six days shall you WORK and on the seven day you shall do no work. You shall rest. That seems clear enough. But, my lawyer mind asks (not unreasonably) WHAT IS WORK? And what is REST? And all of this was muddied by the kill joys who outlawed dancing and card playing and everything but smiling.

In this Ultra Busy world of 24/7 we are especially hard pressed to refrain from work and to rest.

OK. For me, this morning, I hear. GO SLOW. Yes, I can play at clearing my desk — but not actually working on the stuff lurking on it. I can make my home look pretty! Interesting point about PRETTY.

And, perchance, I might want to list the nudges I am hearing — have heard — from You and consider doing them as WORSHIP TIME. Ah, worship as in Entering into Your Time . . .

And now, down to a leisurely breakfast with Kit. ALL PRAISES BE TO YOU, GOD. You who want to give us Life Abundant.

Posted in A weekly day of rest, Abundant Life, accepting my authority to set limits, accepting my need for help, being a Slow Learner, busy, relaxation, Sabbath as PLAY, sabbath rest