Breakfast Conversations and Cosseting – an Old Verb returns

Posted on March 27, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Tango's near Ward Center for breakfast

Good Morning God!

First a THANK YOU for yesterday — a day in which I heard myself recommending that a friend “cosset” herself — and ended up feeling You had cosseted me.

Cosset — to pamper and care tenderly for someone — is such an OLD word that I wasn’t really sure I had the right one. But it was right and I found that’s origin refers back to caring for a pet lamb.

That was how I felt about Your tender care of me. I got to sleep in a bit — have a good chat with Kit before we started our day — then off to breakfast with a friend at Tango’s.

inside Tango's -- birch trees and Meramekko wall hangings.

The restaurant is run by a chef from Finland so the decor involves Marimekko fabrics on the walls and birch trees. I meant to take a photo of the Eggs Florentine, but I had eaten them before I remembered.

Good food, but the best part of breakfast was a Sacred Time of Hearing — sort of like I was Hearing my friend WITH You. Times like that are such a GIFT. And I got to do it with three friends yesterday. Ah! The JOY of Being a Hearer — a Listener!

I’m smiling. We’ve joked for years that my mother’s family has a “Listener Gene”. I remember as a child hiding around the corner of the hall and listening to my mom as she listened to her friends. And her father was a Listener too.

Only I fear I am not the “approved” kind of listener. My father was an engineer and “consultant”. So I would say I am an “interactive listener”. And I never feel more ME than when I’m in this Sacred Time of Hearing and Sharing. So, to have my day full of it was to feel LOVED and COSSETED. I did indeed feel as if YOU had been tenderly caring for me. THANK YOU!

Posted in acknowledging another's existence, being heard into speaking, being together in a compassionate presence, Conversations, friends, intentional and invited sacred space, letting the Holy Spirit flow through us, listening

Praise, the Gold Tree and me

Posted on March 26, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Tabebuia donnell-smithii: a primavera or gold tree in Hawaii Kai

Good Morning God!

It was a wet, grey and rainy day yesterday. So when I saw that one of the Gold Trees on Hawaii Kai Drive was starting to bloom — I pulled into the JAIMS parking lot and came to a full stop to take this photo.

I LOVE these trees. And today I realized that I consider them PRAISE TREES. No, not just because I give thanks and praise YOU when I see them. There is something about dropping leaves and then blooming with these radiant yellow blossoms that epitomizes the very act of praise. Praising. REJOICING.

a Gold Tree on Hawaii Kai Drive last year - in sunlight.

Mind You, God, the one in Sunlight seems far more radiant. But the effort is the same — the blossom is the same. It isn’t in the spotlight, but You see it.

These glowing blossoms are a delight to me. They make me smile and rejoice. Somehow, in my mind –or is it my heart — Our Praise seems linked to these blossoms. Does our praise make You SMILE?

Many years ago I learned the POWER of offering up the sacrifice of praise. (Hebrews 13:15) Praising You, GOD, FOR problems, disasters and illness — opens us up to RECEIVE all the help and love and peace that You LONG to give us. It is a sacrifice of our Feelings. It puts our Will to TRUST You over our fear and despair.

Offering the Sacrifice of Praise EXPANDS US. It EXPANDS US so that MORE of YOU can get into us. Praise YOU, God! PRAISE YOU! Truly! YOU do inhabit the praises of Your People.

Posted in Being ENJOYED by God, blooming, Praise, The sacrifice of praise

Cities at Night — Yikes! I’m in the Future!

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

Houston at night. Photo taken taken by astronauts on board the International Space Station.

Good night God,

I’m leaving home early tomorrow so I’m doing Thursday’s blog tonight. And speaking of Night — look at this lovely photo of Houston at night. At first glance I thought it was some sort of organism — I just wasn’t sure what kind. And, of course, it is a Mega Organism. The streets going into downtown look like supporting threads in a spider’s web.

But, I think it was that idea that it had been taken from the International Space Station that pleases me the most! WE — Planet Earth — have an International Space Station! I guess it has been growing so slowly that each news bit has been too small to really get my attention. I like having it up there.
They have a whole website of photos: Earth Observatory Feature: Cities at Night: The View from Space

I was raised on Science Fiction. My mother was the first to read it and introduced my father to it. The swooping elevated highways are standard now. Only, in the illustrations of my childhood there were no more than 3 or 4 cars speeding along. How like “The future” — it comes bringing so much MORE with it than we intended or imagined — both good and bad.

I LOVE my iPod and laptop — and at some point plan to use a Smart Phone. But I was put in my place at the HIM conference when a speaker dismissed email as being SO NINETIES!

But I realized recently, God, that I am VERY CONSERVATIVE in some things — like eating the way people used to eat — before we created Factory Food. And I am conservative socially, too. I believe that the Ten Commandments are an excellent basis for a good life. I am also convinced that caring for others — giving and helping — brings the best joy. How I wish everyone could know Your Love!

Posted in a matter of scale, connections, Our lights vs Your light, Space stations and the Future

The Hurricanes of Life

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

Photo of Katrina taken from Magee, 150 miles north of where it came ashore

Good Morning God,

I was emailed this photo of Katrina and my first thought was WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, God, CREATING HURRICANES?

Looking at it makes me feel small and fearful — so if that is the point — I GOT it! Speaking of fearful, while I was in L.A. we had a 4.4 earthquake — a very small and very brief one — BUT SCARY.

A dear friend was just sent to the hospital for a colonoscopy — with the doctor saying there was a high chance of cancer. Scary! That is a hurricane of sorts, too.

The thing is, God, that MOSTLY life goes on the same from one day to the next — just as the skies are mostly friendly, the ground is mostly solid and the seas mostly keep their appointed place. So we forget that Life is a Gift. We take it for granted — feel entitled — and fail to be thankful.

So then, when we have a real hurricane — or perhaps, even worse, a metaphorical hurricane — we have a chance to stop and give thanks — and ask for Your Help! No doubt, God, You become much more REAL to us during troubles!

And, as I gaze at that photo of Katrina, I remember that for every degree increase in ocean temperature the severity of storms goes up. So, here we humans are — heating up the planet — and then blaming YOU for the huge hurricanes. I’m sorry, God for blaming You. You have given us a truly Amazing Planet — help us to be GOOD STEWARDS! Help us to remember we are Part of a Fabulous Whole.

And our friend? It turned out to be diverticulitis — not cancer. THANK YOU, God!

Posted in a matter of scale, fears, gratitude, humility, Perspective, Prayer

Coral Reefs, Trees and Orphans — All in GOD’S LOVE

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

Maunalua Bay looking back at Diamond Head

Ah, God, what a glorious world You have given us.

I took this photo as Kit was driving us into town. I love taking photos and even though this is captioned Maunalua Bay — I really took it for the sky and the silhouette of the palm.

I googled Maunalua Bay and found The Nature Conservancy in Hawaii – Maunalua Bay, O’ahu and they announced that Malama Maunalua just received a grant to protect the coral reef by remove alien algae from our Bay. I was taken with the site. Imagine seeing a request to help plant a billion trees. Who could resist such a call! I planted 25. I like BIG projects!

My BIG project is helping the caregivers of orphans in Swaziland — helping them by providing the capital and training to start a sustainable business — like raising broiler chickens. Advocates for Africa’s Children

The thing that I am realizing, God, is just how VARIED Your world and Your people are. And how marvelous it is that we are all called to participate. Cleaning algae — planting a billion trees — caring for the widows and orphans — ALL are ways of experiencing and participating in YOUR LOVE!

Your LOVE seems like a WONDROUS WEB extending in and through ALL the COSMOS — CALLING us to COME and JOIN IN: COME AND DANCE — COME AND HELP — COME AND REJOICE!

Posted in Advocates for Africa's Children, being together in a compassionate presence, Choosing to respond, connections, JOY, Uncategorized, web of life

Green living roofs and My ROOTS

Posted on March 22, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Conservatorium of Music, Sydney by Water Sensitive Urban Design, Sydney.

Good Morning, God

Thank You for Spring! And for a Sabbath Day in which I did play. A day in which my attention was caught by Green Roofs — literal green living roofs.

I love the idea and I love the images — not just of roofs but of living walls! I remember seeing sod roofs in photos of old peasant houses in some part of Europe. And now they are the latest thing — so in that Malcolm Gladwell has one on the roof of his apartment in NY. They cool the house in summer and keep it warmer in winter — great insulation. And they extend the life of the roof as it doesn’t get the weather wear and tear it would without that living cover. They act as a water filter too — and of course, convert CO2 into oxygen. Your Design, God, Your Design.

Somehow, it seemed a perfect thing to stumble upon as Spring begins. Spring AND a New Year — if one borrows from the Persians. I love new beginnings. It is like being repotted — a fresh start! A chance to spread my roots out and have more soil to occupy.

Roofs with plants growing on them must have a strong barrier to keep the roots from breaking in. Somehow I feel as if the opposite it true for me. I want my roots to burst through barriers — the barriers of BUSY — and grow more deeply into YOU.

YOU are The True Soil — the Ground of our Being. It comes to me that I don’t need to be thinking so much about myself and new habits and new growth. Rather I want to be thinking / pondering ways that I can put down deeper roots into YOU. And YES, LESS BUSY IS KEY!

Posted in A weekly day of rest, being repotted, Sabbath as PLAY

A Sabbath Day — and Things Waiting

Posted on March 21, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A trash can at KCC

Good Morning God!

Thank YOU! It is a Sabbath Day of Rest!

Yesterday morning was to be my TRASH DAY. I was looking forward to coming home from the Farmers’ Market at KCC and filling up my trash baskets.

Alas, it seems that the piles in my office aren’t so much trash as Things Waiting To Be Done! TWTBD or maybe just TWs for short. THINGS WAITING.

I’m fortunate that they will wait. My deadlines are few and far between — that’s good except that means other people’s priorities are allowed to take precedence over mine. Yes, God, let me rephrase that — I PERMIT other’s people’s priorities to take precedence over mine. In fact, it is worse than that. Mostly I don’t even HAVE priorities. Let’s face it, God. No one should have as a top priority cleaning their office!

An aloe flower stalk caught in the light

It is just as the top photo says — there seems to be a NO ENTRY sign right in front of my own goals and desires. I was going to ask You Why — but the answer is clearly somewhere between FEAR and PAIN!

Creating always involves multiple failures and frustrations. Of course, You point out that the failures are just drafts if I keep going.

I’d never thought of it taking COURAGE for a plant to BLOOM! But, I suppose it does. It certainly seems to take courage for me to “bloom”. . . or if not bloom . . . at least to create.

OK, God! Let’s see if we can PLAY today! Let’s see if I can have as much JOY as this humble aloe flower stalk!

I’m smiling God. Here I have been focusing on the Sabbath as NOT WORKING. I kind of missed the idea of the Sabbath as PLAYING AND CREATING!

Posted in A weekly day of rest, an invitation to abundant life, authority over my life, blooming, clapping our hands in joy, courage, fears, finding hidden fears, JOY, Sabbath as PLAY

The Getty and A Servant of God

Posted on March 20, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A row of fountains looking back at the entrance to the Getty Center

Good Morning God,

I described the Getty as a “Temple set on a Hill” and I’ve been pondering that phrase. It is not, of course, a temple dedicated to You — rather it is dedicated to the gods of our Time and Place — Education and the Arts.

Stepping into the Getty brought back the same feeling I had upon entering the Library of Congress for the first time — this is A Temple of the Enlightenment! And then that memory takes me back to my trip to France in 1994 with the Benedictine Monastery of Hawaii. I remember standing in a ruined church that had been destroyed during the French Revolution. I can still see one wall standing alone and worn but still standing after 200+ years.

What had Your followers DONE — or NOT DONE — to make Your Church so hated? That is what I thought then, and I think now. I was about to spiral down into despair but then I had a thought.

Archbishop Oscar Romero Photo: Wikipedia

The Getty is free to all the people of L.A. and the World. They even are waiving the $15 parking fee on Saturday after 5:00 p.m. and keeping it open until 9:00. The past is being made accessible — the Arts of the Past and Present are being made accessible — and that is good.

I like that. I hope You like it too. Still I do remember Archbishop Oscar Romero and how he was martyred for speaking out on behalf of the poor.

There seems to be a gap here, God. I feel it deeply. Please help us.

Posted in Balancing and adjustments, Rethinking, Temple to the Arts, Uncategorized

Spring and the Persian New Year

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

Spring flowers on sale to celebrate Now Rooz -- Persian New Year

Good Morning God,

I just found out that the Persians celebrate the start of the New Year (Now Rooz) when Spring starts. What a lovely idea. We start our new year right around the winter solstice when the days start to get longer. A shorter night is a significant marker — especially if one lives in the dark and cold of the far north.

A New Year — a New Start –I’m going to start over with New Resolutions on the first day of Spring. I like resolutions — I love the idea that I can learn and change and grow.

Of course, I regress too. Suz and I were talking about how when parents and adult children get together it seems to cause a temporary regression — for both the adult child AND the parent. But, a bit of regression is part of growing — growing up?

Do we EVER get there, God? Or maybe there is no there there? Maybe it is a disservice to even imagine that we get to a point where we are GROWN. Imagine thinking people are grownups at 21! Now we know our prefrontal cortex isn’t even finished growing at 25.

Actually, we humans are amazing! You have designed us with such a capacity for growth. If we are given a good start — good parents — good food — good environment — we flourish. What’s REALLY amazing is how many people manage to flourish after horrific traumas and BAD beginnings. It seems that having even just one loving person in our life can make all the difference. Thank You for designing us to be resilient.

Now, please help us figure out how to design our communities to help all our children get a good start. And, speaking of New Year’s Resolutions, please help me live more wisely! Thank YOU!

Posted in asking for help for myself, growing toward up, learning, relationships, resiliency

Communion and Connections – 1340 Italy and 2010 Hawaii

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

anthuriums from my pot garden

Here I am, God, HOME!

I am sitting here in my office, smiling and feeling blessed. I have a home. I have Kit to come home to. I have my Mom nearby to chat with and play scrabble with. I have good friends to see and useful things to do.

And I have a connection with YOU!

When Suz and I were at the Getty we saw a painting done in the 1340’s by Bonaguida — commissioned by the layman Chiarita del Voglia to represent his spiritual experiences.

The Chiarito Tabernacle on display at the Getty Center

The golden center represents the communion of the Apostles and coming down from them is a thin gold line to Chiarito as he takes communion.

I was delighted! There it was — his connection with You — made visible.

Chiarito del Voglia receiving communion

Now, for him it was through the communion host — and I do love the Old Communion — but St. Peter talks about the Royal Priesthood of all believers. And St. Paul says that same great spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead is at work in us.

How powerful and joyful is that!

Mind you, I know I NEED You to be at WORK in me. And I know that You seem to work best when I get out of Your Way — in Centering Prayer — in deep sleep — in sensitivity to Nudges. So, what might seem to be conceit — Connected to GOD? — feels like the deepest depths of humility. A very Joyful Humility. Thank YOU for Your ENDLESS LOVE that does flow down upon us all — looking for Willing and Open Hearts.

Posted in Centering Prayer, Communion, connecting, connections, humility, Humility or Needing Help!, intentional and invited sacred space, Uncategorized