Traveling — with Help!

Posted on April 29, 2015 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Martha’s Vineyard and Wood’s Hole

Good Evening, God!

My wonderful husband Kit and I were happily reminiscing about the difficulties of traveling BEFORE our iPhones and the Google Maps app. I was remembering how often I gnashed my teeth . . . and let out a few choice words . . . really upset as Kit ignored my navigational instructions.

No no, he’d say . . . I remember that we turn left . . . but, of course (well MOSTLY) the map and I were right. Sigh. Those bad old days.

Now, — instead of me — a lovely — and better yet, an unflappable — woman’s voice on Google Maps gives impeccable directions. I admit it. She is WAY better than I ever was.

She deserves, and gets, Kit’s respect — and mine too. We love her!

Now, all I have to do is put in our destination . . . and The Google Maps Gal does the rest. Mind You, God, entering the right destination isn’t always as easy as it sounds!

This morning on Martha’s Vineyard I confidently put in “Steamship Authority” and off we went. But, when we arrived at the Oaks Bluff Steamship Authority it was CLOSED. Thankfully, there was a sign on the door saying use the steamship authority at Vineyard Haven Harbor. OK! I reentered our destination and we followed the directions with only one wrong turn. We got our car in line and WHAT? They wouldn’t take our TICKET??? We had changed our departure date and no one had mentioned I needed to get our ticket reissued!

Kit and the car were allowed on the ferry. I was sent off to the ticket office! I gave our by now memorized confirmation number — and $10 for having changed dates THREE times — and I boarded the ferry and — with a little more — help from the crew found Kit and our car! We still need human help — and Your Help too, God! Thanks!

Tagged with: asking for help, Destinations, Ferry Boats, Google Maps, Martha's Vineyard, needing help, traveling
Posted in connecting

The Delight of Total Relaxation

Posted on April 26, 2015 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

South Beach on Martha’s Vineyard

Good Evening, God!

Finally, I have enough energy to write. Kit and I have been telling You how thankful we are. But, sitting down to actually write You requires more serious energy.

The Boston Marathon is over . . . with Kit sitting it out due to a virus that hung on. There isn’t another marathon looming until December! I’m really THANKFUL!

Here on Cape Cod we had a lovely luncheon visit with a dear high school friend and several delightful visits and meals with our grandson Mark. And since Mark is at Woods Hole — down at the south end of Cape Cod — it seemed only sensible to catch the ferry over to Martha’s Vineyard. Something I’ve wanted to do for years.

This is the off season and there is something amazingly relaxing about Very Few People. So this is a real vacation. We have been relaxing . . . doing very little . . . broken up by a walk on South Beach . . . and a drive up to Joseph Sylvia State Beach so I could pick up more shells. The maintenance guys who came to our hotel room to fix our noisy (vibrating) heater saw my shells and recommended the State Beach for a lot more shells! They were right! I could have loaded up shells with a shovel. I guess I might have done that if I’d had a bag and a shovel.

Ah, God! Picking up shells — one by one — on an empty beach is so relaxing! Even just remembering doing it . . . relaxes me.

As I write this I can see that 20 minutes a day of Centering Prayer is not enough to reset my busy metronome. Yes, God. Recovering from Seasons of Stress takes time and sensible scheduling. Well, three nights here at the Winnetu Oceanside Resort is a very good start! Now, off to bed!

Tagged with: Martha's Vineyard, relaxation, Slowing Down, Smart Planning, Stress Recovery
Posted in accepting my authority to set limits, authority over my life, relaxation, rest

A Very Wise Decision

Posted on April 19, 2015 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Kit’s sitting this Boston Marathon out . . . virus continues to hold on to him

Good Day, God!

And it IS a Good Day! That’s because my wonderful husband, Kit, decided — without my iurging — that he still wasn’t over his virus and that it would be smart not to run this year’s Boston Marathon. The fact that cold rain and winds were expected made it seem even clearer.

I was SO impressed! Not that Kit isn’t “smart” BUT, he is a Competitive Male!!! Not running was a hard, painful decision.

He looks happy here mostly because we were on our way to pick up his running number and he was still hoping You would perform a miraculous healing. He said wistfully, “Maybe God will drop down a tablet saying, ‘Kit you can run!'” I said,” if that happens God better show me that tablet, too!”

It’s important to remember, God, that we are blessed. Blessed with all the good family and friends in our lives — all the good fortune and good times — and blessed with each other. It does seem that asking for a miraculous healing is pushing it.

Of course, God, I still have a slight worry that Kit MIGHT wake up feeling great and decide to go for it. Kind of like the old fire horse hearing the fire bell and galloping off. So, please, God, no miraculous healing tonight!

Miraculous healing is a wonderful thing . . . and as You know . . . I have a nice list for You of folks that really NEED healing. Meanwhile, thank You God for the joy of being here . . . in Boston . . . on Planet Earth . . . with each other.

Tagged with: gratitude, hard decisions
Posted in Abundant Life, Boston Marathon, connecting, healing, running, wisdom

Once more — into Your Hands

Posted on April 14, 2015 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Good Evening, God!

Ambiguity and uncertainty are always with us, but, usually I ignore them! i visualize my path and I am fortunate that mostly things go pretty much as I expect. Not so for millions of people displaced by wars and storms!

So, I realize how fortunate I am. But, this last week I have become AWARE of UNCERTAINTY. My wonderful husband Kit is “planning” on running the Boston Marathon next Monday — April 20th.

But, a little over a week ago he came down with a “cold” that has left him feeling JUNK! At first he thought — Ah, heck! Let’s cancel everything! Then he got an email confirming the dinner we are having after the marathon with friends. — and we are to see our grandson on the trip. Hmm.

So, it seems we ARE going. And as a loving wife I am torn. Part of me wants him “safe” and not running. Another — somewhat smaller part — wants him to be happy doing whatever he wants.

I say, smaller. But, that part is dominant. Safe is so tempting. But we cannot keep loved ones safe against their will.

So, I am taking a deep breath, and putting us both into Your Hands, God. I just heard Kit cough. And so I pray for healing. There are a lot of folks on my Please Heal List — people I love and bring before You right now for healing.

Ah, but God, my heart longs for You to help ALL of us OPEN ourselves to Your Love! When we open that door to our heart and life You come in — You come not just to heal, but to help us empty the TRASH of our lives — our regrets — our resentments — our guilt, grief, pain and anger. I have All Manner of Toxic Trash that Love Alone can dissolve. Your Love, most of all.

Thank You, God, there are Limits in our lives . . . fences . . . but there are trees with beautiful blossoms, too. I’m thankful!

Tagged with: beauty, healing, Love, Prayer, regrets, resentments, safe, trash, uncertainty
Posted in connecting

Aaah, Motherhood!

Posted on April 3, 2015 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A mother opossum with her babies on her back (From National Wildlife April/May 2015

Good Evening, God!

I love this photo! How can anyone look at it and not be filled with admiration for this dear Mother! Actually, I am overwhelmed with just how amazing mothers are. All mothers!

It’s true that this mother looks a trifle anxious . . . maybe even overwhelmed. But, there is no doubt that she loves her babies and will do her best to nourish and protect them. She is their MOTHER!

It also makes me think of what my dear friend Joyce Watson said: “Being a mother is a whole lot better and a whole lot worse than anyone ever tells you.” That is so true. We would rather suffer an injury ourselves than have our children suffer. Yet, suffering is part of life. We cannot keep it from happening. We can only do our best to help our children respond as best they can.

Growing . . . living . . .each involves pain. And Mothers live with the reality of being Responsible! We ARE responsible. But, perhaps we feel more responsible that is really possible. We are limited. We don’t always know what to do. Worse yet, we may do the wrong things. It’s hard. Making mistakes is always hard. And, reality is BIGGER than our ability to protect.

That is no doubt true of this Mother Opossum, too. There are predators about. There are storms. And there are accidents.

We humans are not marsupials. Opossum babies (seven or eight of them) leave the womb at 12 days and crawl through their mothers fur up into her pouch where they stay for 100 days. We keep our babies nine months in our wombs.

But, we keep them forever in our hearts.

Tagged with: endurance, Love, mother love, motherhood, opossums
Posted in connecting

Embraced by Love . . .

Posted on March 27, 2015 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Good Morning, God!

We all are surrounded by Your Love! ALL of us! I know my wonderful husband Kit is. And with this photo I can sort of see Your Love embracing him!

Light, glorious Light . . . warming us in the daytime and then the Stars singing of your love every evening. We are blessed.

But, how am I sharing Your Love? Because, Love is designed to be shared. Hmm. Do I hear You saying — first sit and receive My Love?

Receive . . . hmm. Now I’m sitting here . . . looking at the photo of Kit and trying to put myself into the photo. I’m trying to “see” Your radiant Love/Light surrounding me.

That propelled me into doing a session of Centering Prayer in another room. In that session, at first I sat there feeling as if I was covered in a layer of icky stuff. And my Heart cried out: I’m UNWORTHY!! You, however, just smiled and said something like, “Of course!” Well, yes, God, of course. I am unworthy of Your Love. You LOVE because it is Your Nature to Love.

I keep missing the point. I keep wanting You to Clean me up and send me out into the world — being perfect — doing Your Will. Earning Your Love.

I keep forgetting that I am a CHILD. A child who does have good days. But, also a child who falls back into her Terrible Twos. A child that all to often does not want to have a “bath” or to take her cod liver oil.

I guess that what I CAN do . . . is to remember that everyone else is still just a child, too.

And now a Wild Thought: Just as there are free “charging” stations for electric cars — wouldn’t it be wonderful if there were Spiritual Charging Stations for us humans?

You say . . . that’s what Prayer is all about!

Tagged with: Embraced by God, forgiving myself, glorious Light, grace, Humans -- God's children, Love, Terrible Twos
Posted in connecting, Light, LOVE, Prayer

Magical Scorpio Rising out of the sea

Posted on March 24, 2015 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

The constellation Scorpio

Good Evening, God!

We are home. Back from our cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. And the most magical moment came — in part — because I came down with a cold.

Colds seem to make for fitful sleep. . . and sure enough I was up every hour. And each time I got up I would step outside onto our balcony and look up at the stars. Earlier that evening, my wonderful husband, Kit, and I had identified Orion’s Belt and the Big Dipper. But around 11 p.m. I noticed a bright “new” constellation low on the eastern horizon that I couldn’t identify. It turned out to be the top five stars of the constellation Scorpio. As the night went on I watched it slowly rise out of the sea. A most amazing moment when I finally recognized it.

Ah! SCORPIO!

I have seen the stars in Grass Valley where my brother and sister (in law) live. I must ask my friend living in the desert if she also sees stars filling her night sky. It just takes an absence of our human light pollution. Seeing the STARS stretches my mind and heart.

BIG! HUGE! UNFATHOMABLE!

Out on the ocean . . . standing in the warmth of a Caribbean night . . . I felt connected and embraced by these familiar stars. I am small, God, but I am a Part of Your Creation. And I rejoice.

Tagged with: constellations, Eastern Caribbean, Scorpio, stars
Posted in beauty, Communion, connecting, JOY, rejoicing

FULL of Feelings

Posted on March 12, 2015 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Suzy’s living area

Good Morning, God!

This afternoon Kit and I fly off to Ft. Lauderdale to embark on a cruise with the Garrison Keillor ensemble. A truly joyful thing to do. And Kit and I are reasonably well — for which I am very, very thankful.

But, beloved friends are NOT well. And our World’s Balance is being shaken by all sorts of Forces. And, so I grieve as well as rejoice. Grieving AND rejoicing?

It is as if I have an Inner Landscape in which BOTH are taking place. Prayers go up — drenched in tears — for dear friends. Words fail. Groans escape.

Dame Julian assures us that ALL WILL BE WELL. And, I cling to that assurance.

Ah, but we are Creatures set in Time. And in my NOW I can go to PEACE and JOY and GRATITUDE. I have so much to be thankful for.

And I can fall off dark cliffs into the pain of people’s suffering. Into the PAIN of personal friends struggling with illness in their families. And fall into the amorphous cloud of the Dark Nights of Syria. Literally a Dark Age. Millions of children suffering because of ? ? ? Everyone has a reason that blames someone else.

And me? I’m a bit embarrassed by the cruise as our past trips have mostly been for Kit to run marathons. But, we do give money away to charities. We give small bits of time and attention. Too small. Yes, God, too small! And prayers, You ask?

Right now I am praying for HOPE! Hope such as will move us . . . move me . . . into doing what I can. Praying for peace. Praying for love, kindness and forgiveness. Praying for a willingness to BLESS BLESS and refrain from cursing. Praying FOR all those lost in Meaninglessness who turn to hate in order to Matter.

I’m sure glad YOU are in charge . . . except You are delegating to each one of us, aren’t You.

Tagged with: Attention, Caring, Giving, hope, kindness, Love, praying
Posted in both / and, breathing in Your Spirit, Caring, Compassion, connecting, gratitude, Grief, hope, Prayer

Rejoicing and Embracing Calm

Posted on February 23, 2015 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A Gold Tree at the end of January

Good Day, God!

I’m REJOICING! I’m so thankful to have finished my four part series on FORGIVING. I am praying that the folks that heard me speak — remember what YOU want them to remember and forget whatever You want them to forget.

It is scary to speak up and speak out — saying what I felt that You wanted me to share. But, it is exhilarating too. Thank You!

And thank You, too, for the small bits of understanding that have lodged in my heart as I prepared.

Years ago Kit and I discovered that our eyes are quite different in how much light we need. Once Kit understood — he laughed and called me a Beautiful Moth. That allowed me to laugh too and call him my Beloved Bat. Physiological differences are easier to accept than matters of “morality”. Before our physiological awareness I was being judged as “a person who wasted electricity”. Being judged in not fun. Being physiologically different is fine.

And now that I understand about how my sympathetic operating system is designed for ACTIVE and ALERT and ON THE JOB, I am more compassionate with myself when I find it hard to be kind and gentle at the same time that I am FOCUSED! My other operating system — the parasympathetic system is designed for healing, digesting and cleaning up — my body and my heart. She loves being kind, gentle, loving and forgiving.

Of course, she is mostly on while I sleep. She isn’t ON much of the day. But, I can change that! I can do centering prayer. I can slow down my breathing. I can stretch. I can remove one (OK, maybe two or three) of my projects from My Day’s To Do List.

Having a Physiological Explanation helps reduce my guilt and shame. And, that is calming and healing, too.

Tagged with: cleaning, healing, Our Two Operating Systems, Parasympathetic (Mac), physical differences, Sympathetic (Windows)
Posted in Centering Prayer, Changing, compassion to care for myself, connecting, Digesting as processing, Expand my Heart, healing, health

A Pre-Lent crescent moon

Posted on February 18, 2015 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Crescent moon — 6% in early morning

Good Day, God!

Thank You for early morning walks with dear and trusted friends! Thank You for thin crescent moons showing through the morning clouds. Thank You for this gift of Life!

How appallingly easy it is to have my mind focused on small irritations. Now I can “think of it” as my Sympathetic Nervous System Mind. Not my Whole Mind! Not at all! It is the READY to FIGHT or FLEE or FREEZE operating system — OS SNS. I need it. I’m glad I have it.

But, it is designed to be My Protector — Always On Guard — Ready to Defend and Repel. So, it does Critical and Negative really well. And it can be HYPERACTIVE too.

Just recently I relearned that I have a second Operating System — the Parasympathetic Nervous System. — OS PNS That is the one that is ON while we sleep or are at rest. It is gentle and kind and loves to do cleanup. This is the OS that does Maintenance and Healing. And I am discovering that this operating system is designed to cleanup my Heart and Head as well as my Body.

For example, yesterday, my wonderful husband, Kit, hurt my feelings. Not his fault . . . not really my fault either . . .but I was plunged into hurt, and anger and distress. Not a good place to be. Not where I wanted to be! And I remembered — if I just rest and breathe slowly I can shift out of IRRITATED and into RELAXED and PEACEFUL. I told Kit, “Just give me a few more minutes,” And very slowly my body shifted into OS PNS. PEACE RETURNED! I confessed and released my hurt feelings with explanations and apologies.

Having a physiological explanation of what was happening made that shift so much easier. I could understand AND CHANGE my behavior without judging and scolding myself. Thank You, God!