We have Chandeliers while The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

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

chandelier at the Copley Plaza, Boston

Good Morning, God!

Chandeliers are lovely things and they were, in days gone by — a symbol of wealth. Symbols of Wealth. Hmmm. How does a wealthy person SHOW that he or she is wealthy? And WHY would a person of wealth WANT to show it off?

Is Hawaii the only place where an older man shopping in Longs and wearing shorts and flip-flop rubber sandals MAY or MAY NOT be wealthy? Now that I think about it, Aloha shirts are also designed to “join in” as opposed to “stand out.”

Might Hawaii be the Wave of the Future? Now, THAT, God is a hopeful plea! May it be so!

Power, status, wealth — in the Western World they went together — it took a lot of money to buy power (armies) which could be used to obtain status. Or conversely, status and power could be used to obtain wealth. And, if you had it — you wanted everyone to know it. Hmmm. In England the aristocracy had wealth based on land — and the industrial revolution was designed to create wealth from business and trade — occupations considered “beneath” the ruling class. So then, money couldn’t be “worked” for — but it could be “married” for. Oh my. Oh my . . .

So, back to chandeliers — what do we humans DO with what we have? We can use it for Beauty – use it to Join In – use it to Stand Out – use it for Status Ranking – use it for Security. But, then I think — it isn’t that simple, is it God. It isn’t simple for humans as individuals — and it gets far more complex as we join together.

Complex, yes — but surely You have made it clear — that we are to Remember that WE were SLAVES in Egypt. We are to remember that as we do it unto the “least” of these our brothers and sisters — WE DO IT UNTO YOU!

That sort of restores the balance, doesn’t it, God. You with your Sun and Moon and Stars — and we with our chandeliers.

Posted in a matter of scale, Balancing and adjustments, beauty, Light, Our lights vs Your light, Perspective

Sleep, Grumpy Bears and Borrowing from the Body’s Bank

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

The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel -- Boston Marathon Headquarters

Good Day, God!

Yesterday afternoon we flew off for Boston — with a change of planes in Chicago. It is after dinner here now in Boston — but my dear body has NO IDEA what TIME IT IS! Well, it’s BED TIME!

After we arrived at our hotel we tried to get breakfast but we were 30 minutes late. So we walked out to locate FOOD! (I am the driving force, God, for food. Kit is a true Spartan or Non Materialist.) Not much open as we are between Chinatown and the Theater District. But we got directions to the marathon headquarters hotel (Copley Plaza) and started off. I briefly considered a Burrito Palace — but we hurried on.

The Oak Room

We arrived having again missed breakfast — this time by 15 minutes — but only had to wait 15 minutes for lunch. Lunch in the Oak Room! LOVELY! No pasta on the menu but when I asked — explaining about Kit’s running — our waiter Kenny shook Kit’s hand and said he wanted to grow up to be like him. So he went to ask about pasta and they set to preparing linguini for Kit — apologizing it would take a few minutes.

We walked back to our hotel where we were able to check in — and I took off my shoes and fleece — forgot about my scarf — and went to sleep. AND I SLEPT!

I had been up late — working on getting assorted things DONE — for several days before we left. I had BORROWED from my Body’s Bank of Reserves. NOW THE BANK WANTED TO BE REPAID! So I just kept on sleeping. At one point Kit suggested we walk down to Boyleston Street to the restaurant section for dinner. I laughed and laughed and laughed and returned to sleep. Kit thought it was a “sick” laugh, but it was a NOT A CHANCE, laugh!

Thank You, God, that I can BORROW AGAINST THE BANK. I’m tempted to think of it as a FEMALE GIFT but I’m pretty it is an individualized gift. The only trouble with it is that our bodies can’t give us an exact accounting of how much we owe. And when we are on OVERDRAFT TOO LONG, it is hard to get out of debt. I wonder, God, if a lot of illnesses are just the Body’s way of COLLECTING what is owed?

Well, I did wake up and we had a delicious dinner in the hotel. Thank You God for my return to Good Spirits! And now I’m back to burrow into bed! I want to pay back my loan!

Posted in Borrowing from the Body's Bank, Cherishing our Bodies, compassion to care for myself, Needed Repair Time, recovery time

Seeing, Speaking and the “Stories” we live in

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

Brachiosaurus Dinosaur at OHare Airport

Good Morning God!

Here we are in Ohare — normally I wouldn’t have paid to connect but our plane arrived over an hour early so the cost per hour isn’t too bad!

On the walk to our terminal Kit put his bag down right next to the dinosaur’s rear foot — and as I commented on how I’d never stood underneath it before — Kit looked up and confessed he hadn’t seen it.

Proving once again that we each live in separate universes — smile. It is all about focus and interest, isn’t it, God. I often confess to Kit that NO, I don’t remember being in that ball park — or no I don’t remember who won the World Series. Ah, but how lovely to have intersecting Universes.

The Brachiosaurus certainly provides an unexpected intersection with another universe. Not totally unexpected as we’ve been here before. But I hadn’t thought to look for her.

O'hare neon display between B and C concourses

Now, the neon display between concourse B and C — that I did look forward to.

It is funny what the mind remembers — what we see and don’t see.

That is sure true of “history”, God. The old adage is that it is written by the “winners.” But the “losers” tell and retell their story, too. And who can blame them. We are going to Ireland after the Boston Marathon — now there is a place where TWO STORIES have not intersected but clashed.

How can it be that “reality” can be so different, God? How is it that some people really don’t “see” the dinosaur even when it is pointed out.

Ireland and Palestine are extreme examples of Clashing Universes. But it happens all over the world — in ways large and small. It takes time and energy to step out of our normal way of seeing. And a person who does that — and then speaks about it — can face concerted pressure to return to silence.

Ah, God. Help us to SEE and then help us to SPEAK! Silence is not good for our health — not individually nor communally.

Posted in Expand my Heart, Haves and Have Nots, Help me to see, stopping to see, taking time to focus, The difficulty of changing, Uncategorized

Carp, God’s Light and Praying for Enemies

Posted on April 15, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Look! One of the fish is being prayed for! Carp in pool at the Ihilani.

Good Morning, God!

I love doing this blog! I love picking out photos. When I selected this one, I had no idea what the caption would be. But, it just came to me so clearly! When we pray for someone we help focus Your Light upon them.

I remember Rev. Marge Terpstra saying that when we pray for someone — we can ask You God to surround them with Light. I forget exactly how that came up. Might it have been because I was inclined to pray that You would FIX people, God? When we pray for people we love it is easy to pray for them to be surrounded by Your Light — Your Golden Healing Light.

However, when we are embarked on the difficult work of praying for someone we feel has wronged us — or harmed someone dear to us — it is so tempting to pray for them to SEE THE LIGHT AND REPENT.

I’m sitting here, smiling ruefully. What came to mind when I wrote the phrase SEE THE LIGHT was the image of an interrogation room with a bright light shining in the face of the accused — rubber hose at the ready. Sigh. That’s what’s in MY heart, God — not in Your Heart.

I just started a book called Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean — no, it’s not a joke book by Mel Brooks — it is well researched book about Jews who fled the Inquisition back in the 1600’s. I didn’t know that the Inquisition was also active in the New World. The Inquisition was so Evil — and to think that they did it in Your Name, God! Please forgive us!

We humans seem inclined to “force” people into “right relationship” with You. Mind You, a somewhat assertive prayer isn’t as bad as the Inquisition that tortured men’s bodies — then burned them alive — to “save their souls” (and incidentally confiscate their property).

But, I take Your Point God! You command us to Pray for our Enemies! And You tell us that if they are thirsty GIVE THEM A DRINK — if they are hungry FEED THEM. Somehow, I am pretty sure You would want us to HEAR THEM, too. Help us, God . . . Please, HELP US! EXPAND OUR HEARTS!

Posted in being a Slow Learner, Expand my Heart, God's Light, Light, listening, Prayer, Praying for our enemies, the Light of the World

Choosing the Best, Choosing Conversations

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

Entrance to Azul -- a restaurant at the Ihilani

Good Morning, God!

I love doors — openings into new worlds, new experiences — in this case, perhaps new tastes. They are so symbolic of coming and going.

I never know what makes me think that I can actually get everything DONE before I go — biological optimism? Or is that just a failure to accept reality as I seem to be addicted to designing it?

On the other hand, what I have done has been wonderful! Here is the motto of the restaurant: E komo mai, e noho mai, e ‘ai a e (come sit, eat and talk) Aren’t those wonderful words, God! I have chosen to come sit, eat and talk . . . lots of talking and listening. How utterly important it is to speak words out loud. Words swirling around in my head really don’t seem to get me anywhere. But, when I hear myself say them — AH, then things shift and move inside me.

Today is Wednesday and I have risen early and will drive off to our Women’s Prayer Group. We will be real and we will laugh and we will speak — hearing others and hearing ourselves. Our founder, Marge Terpstra (aka the Reverend Doctor Marge) said ALL of it is Prayer. But we will have a time of formally speaking to You, God. I love it. I love it because there is something different — more real? — about praying out loud in a group of trusted friends. Mind you, people become trusted friends by praying together — real prayers.

This evening a friend called for a phone hug. Hugs are almost — well, maybe MORE — as important as speaking. That is part of our Prayer Group dynamics — hugs! Every one each other a hug coming in — and going out. The Body has its own wisdom and way of speaking. Thank You God for doing such a marvelous job of creating us! Help us keep on letting You adjust us!

Posted in Being ENJOYED by God, being heard into speaking, being together in a compassionate presence, connecting, connections, Conversations, hearing myself, hugs, listening, Prayer, relationships

Outer and Inner Maps of Reconciliation

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

A map of Ireland

Good Morning, God!

A map of Ireland, You might ask? Well, this morning — after the conclusion, yesterday afternoon, of the Arcadia Library Open House — my mind is turning toward WHAT ELSE is coming up.

I need to sit and make a map of my day — my week — which only goes through Thursday morning. That’s when we fly off mid-day for Boston — for Kit to run the Boston Marathon — and then off we go to Ireland.

My Mind is FULL! No, not as full as it was yesterday! And thank You, God for that! Actually, thank You for FULLNESS. Thank YOU for a life full of wonderful family and wonderful friends — it is, after all our fellow human beings that are intertwined with the essence of LIFE.

THE TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS: to love YOU, GOD, with all our strength and heart and mind, AND TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS OUR SELVES.

Then the question arises — as the lawyer asked of Jesus — who is my neighbor? And maybe that is why I chose the map of Ireland for today’s image. I suppose, God, that Ireland isn’t quite as “bad” as Rwanda. But, then, it has such a long history of Troubles that perhaps it is worth looking at. So many Waves of Invaders — coming to dispossess those on the Land and take their place. How much worse, God, when that is “Dressed Up” as Invaders Coming in the Name of God — coming to bring the Truth. It was Roman Catholics vs. Cromwell’s Presbyterians back in the 1600s.

And all of this is going on in Darfur . . . in Tibet . . . in our own hearts as we “demonize” Others. And, now I am asking — WHAT HAS THIS TO DO WITH ME, GOD?

I am afraid to ask You because Being a Peace Maker means to be attacked by BOTH SIDES! Yes, Being a Peace Maker means HEARING the HEARTS of the HURTING.

Being a Peace Maker seems to begin with self examination — followed by repentance — followed by confession — followed by asking for forgiveness. I think that is what the Truth and Reconciliation meetings involved in Ireland and in South Africa. Hmm. it seems to me that this model was informal in Northern Ireland. It was! Women did it back in the 1970’s! Betty Williams and friends founded The Community of Peace People and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976. Betty Williams (Nobel laureate) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia . And now the government is considering that as an official way of healing in Northern Ireland.

Truth and reconciliation commission – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ah, dear God. Thank You for the reminder that just a handful of people RESPONDING TO YOU can make a difference. And, I guess, that we are all to be willing. Sigh, I guess the point of all of this is I AM TO BE WILLING. And, seeing no immediate danger of being called — I blush at that truth — I can cheerfully say, YES GOD. And go back to planning my day and moving my detritus around.

Posted in confession, connections, courage, power and peace and gentleness, the gift of persistent love, The gift to SEE others, Trusting God, Truth and Reconciliation Commissions

Lessons in Stopping, Gifts of Seeing

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

Paradise Cove inlet

Good Morning God!

This is an incredible world! And last Friday before going to the spa at the Ihilani I went to look at the world YOU created.

So beautiful! And it was good to get out of my usual paths — to look at another part of this jewel of an island.

Waianae Head

You know, God, just looking at the photos aerates my soul — how much more being there helped tiredness and busyness drop away.

How odd that we don’t take a break more often to refresh ourselves. Perhaps, learning to prepare for and then relax into the Sabbath — is really a lesson in taking a break. Perhaps the Sabbath is more about learning to disengage from the addictive world of productivity — than it is about not working.

But, then again, it is probably both of those and much more. You are the master of intertwining gifts and lessons, God!

Just one more photo from Friday’s outing. A white hibiscus that was so lush that I thought at first it must be a gardenia.

a white hibiscus with drops of water still on it

Thank You, God, that I was ABLE to take a break — and yes, I was tempted to excuse myself as having too much to do! Imagine that!

Sigh, I want to live life using the stepping stone model — not the freeway model.

This morning I am going to work hard — trying to get my areas shaped up. I know I would have enjoyed myself EVEN more yesterday if there weren’t at least 20 items out calling for attention on my desk. Ah! But, I LET THEM WAIT! This morning, too, I am beginning with You.

Now, please help me to take BREAKS — to Breathe — to BE AWARE — to Be AVAILABLE.

Posted in Perspective, refraining from work, reframing, sabbath rest, sacred space, stopping, stopping to see

Heal us, now — music by Leon Sher

Posted on April 11, 2010 by a moment with god — 2 Comments

Cantor Leon Sher who wrote Heal Us Now

Thank You, God!

Thank You for the performance of Heal Us Now — written by Cantor Leon Sher. Our Central Union Church Choir sang it this morning and I found myself sitting up straight and with my attention riveted to the music. I felt like a bird dog, pointing!

First the cantor (Dr. David Stein) sang in Hebrew — then the choir joined in with these lyrics:

We pray for healing of the body

we pray for healing of the soul

. . . Please heal us now.

The other words that lodged in my heart were:

Heal our people . . . Heal our land

It seemed to me a perfect prayer. We do so need to be healed — there are layers and layers of us that need healing — well, at least inside me. And, God, it’s the profoundly joyful calling of those being healed — to cry out for healing for our people — all people — and our LAND.

Sigh. Oh Dear God! Help us to join hands and focus on all that unites us. It is so easy to focus on how we differ — missing the point, almost entirely! Help us, God! Please HELP us!

YouTube – Music from Rosh Hashanah pt2 The performance of Heal Us Now as done by Temple Adat Shalon in Poway California

Posted in a prayer for healing, Focus on what unites us, Heal Us Now

Reassessing a favorite story, and maybe — myself?

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

Good Morning God,

This story — which I dare not now refer to by it’s old name — strikes me as so important.

The point of the story (for me) was that the Rabbit — thinking the manikin was real — expected a courteous response to his Good Morning. Good manners clearly call for the Rabbit’s “Good Morning” to elicite a “Good Morning” from the sticky manikin.

Of course, we who are hearing the story know that the manikin isn’t real. He CAN’T speak.

But the Rabbit doesn’t stop to question the manikins abilities. He takes the failure to respond politely as a personal insult. He lashes out with one furry little fist — and in short order becomes totally STUCK to the sticky manikin. At that point the fox and bear come out ready to carry him off — and for most people this is an entrapment story. But I see it as a “failure to assess” story.

My goodness, God, how many times have I “failed to assess” and taken something personally — without stopping to ask myself if the person in question is actually ABLE to respond or initiate the way I EXPECT him or her to do. As a dear friend said — if you want to be happy — lower your expectations.

Hmmm. Maybe the Rabbit and I need to be asking You for the gift of DISCERNMENT! Discernment is when You help us with The Assessment Function. Gosh, God. When I’m busy I don’t even stop to think — let alone to ASSESS.

Today is a Day of Rest. Please God — help me RESIST busy — help me do some gentle assessing of myself — help me to adjust my expectations of myself.

Posted in Discernment, Failure to assess, foolish expectations

Self Care — Self Respect — and Spas

Posted on April 10, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Ihilani Spa pool - warm and bubbly

Good Morning, God!

Yesterday, I gave myself a belated birthday gift — a trip to the Ihilani Spa out in Kapolei. It was a lesson in Self Care. In telling Kit about my day over dinner I described it as Self Care — he smiled and called it Self Indulgence.

Well, yes, God — there was a bit of that involved. But what I have taken away from yesterday is the certainty that I want to get a lot better at Self Care.

First of all, I took a day off — and it wasn’t even a Sabbath Day of Commanded Rest. I did this even though my To Do List still had lots on it. That meant I had to refocus my attention. I had to stop being product oriented.

Yesterday wasn’t about being productive — it was about being receptive. It was also about honoring / respecting my Body. Midway through my spa treatment I thought HOW CAN IT BE THAT I FORGOT HOW GOOD THIS IS? Then I realized that my Body hadn’t forgotten — it is just that my BODY CAN’T SPEAK!

Gosh, God, that is My Job, isn’t it –to care for my whole self — including my Body. I have thought of “having Authority” over my Life as meaning I have to be more disciplined — imagine my delight to find that it also means being kinder and more nurturing to myself! Life is full of Both/ And things — being more disciplined AND being a better care giver to myself. It’s a balance — Both caring for Others And caring for Me.

As I lay there I thought — hey! I could mix up an exfoliating cream of virgin coconut oil and sea salt! I could soak in an epsom salts bath — maybe even once a week! HIGH LIVING! Such small and simple things. But how Life Affirming!

LIFE is such an enormous GIFT. Doing our best to live it well — that’s A High Calling!

Posted in authority over my life, Balancing and adjustments, becoming the change I wish to see, both / and, Cherishing our Bodies, clapping our hands in joy, compassion to care for myself, Needed Repair Time, recovery time, respect