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

Beverly Hills, The Getty Center and Meaningful Work

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

The Beverly Hills City Hall

Good Morning, God.

When Beverly Hills puts up a “SHOP in Beverly Hills” banner, you know the economy is BAD.

And as Suz and I drove around L.A. there were a lot of empty shop windows — stores I had been in and bought things in — going or gone.

We need help, God, LOTS of HELP. I wish I knew what kinds of help. But I’d like one kind to be for all people to have a chance for fulfilling work. Yes, I noticed I said FULFILLING work. Most of the world would take ANY work.

Looking back at the Getty Center entrance at night

So, enter stage right — the Getty and the ARTS. I saw on its website an invitation to view L.A. at sunset from the Getty Center — free parking (normally $15) and open until 9:00 p.m.

Here, God, is a temple on a hill — a temple to Art — a modern Cathedral –built to honor J. Paul Getty — a money making whizz — and not, perhaps, the most admirable of men. And, God, it was a lovely place to be. Do You mind? Somehow I don’t thing You do.

And it brings me back to fulfilling work — work for artists and writers and actors and architects — librarians, even. ALL of us people need MEANING in our lives. Fulfilling work — work that we enjoy — that brings out our gifts — that connects us — is a major source of meaning for us.

Can we, God, mobilize wealth — mobilize ourselves — to work toward a meaningful life for ALL people? There are SO MANY of us. But NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE TO YOU! And You Love each and every diverse different one of us.

Posted in meaningful work, Temple to the Arts, The poor and underemployed

Repotting in Spring — And Being Repotted

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

The view from Suzanne's kitchen window

My week off — to rest and restore — is almost over, God. Thank You for a really good time. Thank you for a surprisingly SEASONAL time.

I arrive to the tail end of Winter — fleece jackets, heavy wool scarves and gloves. I’m leaving in a sleeveless top and sandals. We seemed to have zipped by Spring and landed in Summer. Only, I know that is just what happens in March in L.A. It’s premature seasonal change.

Suzy said to me yesterday — people have seasons just like plants do — only we aren’t aware of them. Hmm. Premature ones?

Ah, God! The wonders of Chronobiology. We have our daily sleep and waking rhythms — and Suz tells me the Chinese masters have divided the 24 hour cycle into two-hour periods by our organs. But that is just the easy part — there are far deeper inner changes. We have our Solar Annual — and I think our Galactic Annual is 200,000 years — and how many other “annuals” there must be between those two. There is, God, so MUCH more than we can even guess at.

Suz's kitchen at night - with repotted plants

But, back to here and now. One of our Mother-Daughter activities has been REPOTTING! Neither Suz nor I live where we can have a garden — so indoor potted plants — become an expression of a need to bond with The Other. Plants as companions? Yes, I do feel that way about my palms. Unnamed friends? Smile! Ah, God! Who would ADMIT to such a thing! No matter, YOU know what I am trying to say!

Repotting is a singularly apt analogy for what we are called to do with relationships, too. I had Suzy in TOO SMALL A POT! Or maybe it was that I still had her in MY POT? Ouch! That HURTS! She deserves Her Own Pot!

How lovely to see that we are always to be about the business of repotting and BEING repotted. Perhaps, God, You are repotting me?

Posted in a series of molts and upgrades, being repotted, cyclical nature of the universe, daughters, developing helpful definitions of love, family visits, finding hidden fears, inner paths of the heart

The Excitement in Eating Traditional Foods

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

Flame, a Persian Restaurant with a Jonathan Gold rave review

Thank You, God for really GOOD FOOD! Yesterday it was Persian Food. It was like the Lebanese and Vietnamese in that they eat lots of fresh herbs. How did it happen, God that American’s just put a sprig of parsley on the plate?

Hmmm. Shirl Bramhill said that the English used to use fresh herbs. But then when canned food came in to existence people stopped using herbs — to show that their food wasn’t slightly over the edge and needing herbs to hide that spoiled taste. “Progress” strikes again!

It makes me think of what Michael Pollan said — all traditional foods support healthy life — except the American. We American’s have turned food over to FOOD MANUFACTURERS. We could use some help here, God.

a mostly eaten Persian salad

Suz and I had eaten most of this simple salad before I thought to take the photo. The the walnuts had been presoaked in water to remove that slight walnut bitterness. And the pile of herbs didn’t need dressing. FRESH! So fresh and so GREEN.

I really want to do more with herbs, God. I want to eat more greens and more FRESH FOOD. You devoted a whole Book to what to eat and what not to eat. And from that book came Kosher food and Halal meats. What about me? What can I do? And, You are so right in whispering that I might START by reading Becky’s cookbook — The Blonde Vegetarian. Your wisdom is at hand — if I will open my eyes.

Please, God, Help me to Open my eyes and apply what I see to my ordinary — far too routine — life.

Posted in an invitation to abundant life, appreciation, becoming the change I wish to see, Eating for health, simple joys of daily life, so much to learn, The difficulty of changing, Uncategorized

The Getty Center and Gifts

Posted on March 14, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

The Getty Center on a Saturday night

Thank YOU, God, for yesterday! A day of lows — of being real — that led me to a higher level of understanding of my oldest daughter.

And, what could better express that than being at the Getty Center — build high on a hill overlooking L.A.

And, even getting up the hill was symbolic. We parked lower down — stood in line for the tram — and were carried up the hill on this AIR powered tram. For me, this captures how it is that greater understanding seems clearly to involve BEING CARRIED UP TO IT. Carried by Others — Carried by You — Carried beyond that which we can achieve by ourself.

My daughter helped me to enter into the Cosmos of the Introvert. The closes I can come to describing it — was that it was like putting on InfraRed Goggles and seeing what had been invisible to me. And, YES, God, I know that putting on these Goggles was a special gift to us both.

Stairs on the side of the Getty Center

In spite of my “Moth and Bat” type stories illustrating how UNAWARE we all are of MAJOR DIFFERENCES between people — I remained totally unaware of there even being Another Cosmos — the Cosmos of the Introvert. Or maybe it was like suddenly seeing that Dark Matter that scientists have only postulated must exist?

Now, God, I AM THANKFUL. I don’t want to waste too much energy being appalled or sad or mortified that I didn’t understand EARLIER! I do hear You saying that the Secondary Gift is That it is HUMBLING! Yeah, it is humbling. And THANK YOU FOR THAT, TOO!

Posted in accepting gifts sight unseen, courage to see myself, daughters, Introverts, The gift to SEE others

Poppies and People

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

California Poppies

Thank You, God, for Poppies!

I guess poppies are right up there with Native Grasses, God, as far as trendy goes. These were part of the landscaping in a nice area off of Third Street — a newly trendy part of L.A.

Poppies bring back wonderful memories of driving up and down California in the Spring when the poppies grew wild along the highways. Poppies and stands shaped like oranges that sold orange juice. California was the promised land back then.

My mom’s dad came over as a three year old when his folks left Michigan and came (by train) out to start an orange cooperative in Redlands. Gosh, God, I even remember when Orange County was filled with orange trees — lining the way to Disneyland.

Memories are interesting things, God. I hardly ever go back to root around in them. And I dare say that is not entirely good. Still, I feel as if I have processed and reviewed enough. Hmmm. Processed isn’t a verb you use with GOOD Memories, is it. I suppose I was referring mostly to losing Patty. That required LOTS and LOTS of processing.

If I could do over, that time after Patty’s death — I would drag us all to family counseling — drag us kicking and screaming if need be. Alas, back then, when I brought it up, a dear friend and clinical psychologist laughed — declaring me So Healthy!

Ah well, what I have learned — and value — is that we can ALL be HEALTHIER! I love that as a goal and a process! People, like Poppies, mostly grow without much in the way of help. Maybe that is why I was so delighted to see Poppies tended and watered and fed? Please, God, help us to seek Your Help as we work on watering and tending ourselves.

Posted in accepting my need for help, beauty, Being ENJOYED by God, being planted, blooming

Palm trees, native grasses and Fast Fats

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

The Palms of Los Angeles

Good Morning, God

Here I am back in the city I was born in — the city I went to junior high and high school in — and nothing evokes L.A. for me like these palms. I don’t even know their name. But to me they mean L.A.

It is the coconut palm that evokes Hawaii, and the live oak that means coastal northern California. I am not a gardener, God, but I am noticing plants more and more. A few months ago I was mulling over the increase in CO2 and I thought that What we NEED are tall towers that convert CO2 into something useful– then I realized OH! We already HAVE THEM. We call them TREES! You created a SUSTAINABLE WORLD.

I’m not sure just how useful palms are in the work of converting CO2 into oxygen. But they are stately and create fabulous silhouettes at dusk or dawn. I hope, God, that our new ethos of sustainability will make for more beauty, not less.

I just read where Stanford is experimenting with planting native grasses — hoping to replace grass. Then I remembered that Arizona and New Mexico used to be grasslands back at the end of the 1800’s. The prairie grasses all across the midwest had roots so deep that people couldn’t farm until the steel plow came along. Oh, what we have undone!

We have planted corn and soybeans and brought forth a grain based diet — helped by the fact that our government actually “helps” the farmers so that the FOOD PROCESSING COMPANIES can buy corn BELOW what it cost to raise it. Then, because grain is Nature’s way of STORING nutrients — it is used to create packaged food that will sit on the shelf for years — filled with SLOW FATs. Alas, steers fed corn are also filled with SLOW FAT. Steers (or buffalo) that feed on grasses are filled with FAST FAT. Funny thing, God. Grass based food provides FAST FATS that make for better brains and hormonal systems. Hmmm. This CHANGE might explain a LOT of things. Maybe, God, You could help us think about this?

Posted in Eating for health, Slow fats and Fast fats, Unnoticed Changes