Traveling in Time and Space

Posted on September 29, 2014 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Inside a Repurposed Church in Baie-Comeau, Quebec, Canada

Good Evening, God,

Generally, I find the repurposing of churches rather sad. Ah, but this church has been put to such a glorious purpose that I cannot be anything but glad.

The morning’s outing from our cruise ship was entitled “Garden of the Glaciers” . . . done in this old church. I almost didn’t go. But is was a fabulous immersive media presentation . . . in which folks in front got misted, as in slightly damp.

It was created by XYZ Cultural Technology out of Montreal. Very Impressive! It began with a view of Quebec as it might be viewed from the International Space Station. Our group of 30 or so, after descending in an oversized elevator — acting as a sort of Time Machine — emerged into darkened space. Then dazzling special effects took us back to the time when the glaciers were at their maximum. Actually, they only went to the maximum of THIS ice age (#5 I think).

They showed the extent of the glaciers and how the land bridges between Asia and the Americas was opened by the drop in ocean levels. Then they moved us forward — showing the retreat of the glaciers over the last 12,000 years.

But then they moved FAR FORWARD in time and flashing the word DANGER they showed what the continuing melting of the glaciers would mean in a rise of sea level.

The compete melting of the glaciers would mean a rise of 70 some meters . . . 210 feet . . . UNIMAGINABLE!

All of this was overwhelming. This, God, is information we do not want to receive or retain . . . not at all.

Still, it did make me wonder if my brother would be willing to share some of his 20 acres at 2,300 feet in the Sierras.

Ah, but that is NOT planning. . . I suspect, God, that You have given us the capacity to plan. But the timeline is so uncertain. So most of us say . . . oh well . . .NOT in MY lifetime! Still, I hope someone . . . somewhere — is planning.

Tagged with: ice ages, melting glaciers, planning, rising seas, time
Posted in accepting my ability to REDESIGN, accepting my need for help, adjusting, connecting

Resisting Hopelessness

Posted on September 23, 2014 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A Serious Dog — Responsible to the Max

Good Evening, God!

This was ME the other night! Kit and I had watched 60 minutes and I was overwhelmed by the horrifying events stirred by ISIS in the Middle East. Oh, God! I was overcome with Worry and Fear and Visions of what could lie ahead.

It was way too much for me to handle. Way too much. I did pray . . . but, as You know, it is hard for me to trust. I was like this dog. Alert! Watching! Protective. Still, sigh, only a dog and a small one at that.

I can understand how it is that most of us throw up our hands and sink into hopelessness . . . I was in the Depth of Despair . . . but then my wonderful husband woke up and comforted me.

Yes, we are small. But I feel so clearly that we are called to ask You to show us what we CAN do. We can start by giving money. The American Friends Service Committee, for one, does very good work.

And surely I must PRAY for those who are doing such horrific things. I am asking You to help me do that because it’s HARD!

And please show me what else I can do . . .

Hmm. You have told us in many ways and at many times what we can do . . . and You have told us what NOT to do. Please help us remember and follow.

Tagged with: actions, dispair, doing something, helping, Hopelessness, hoping, resisting
Posted in a prayer for healing, becoming the change I wish to see, caring for the widows and orphans, complexity, connecting, Expand my Heart

Wow! I’m HERE, NOW!

Posted on September 10, 2014 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Missing Microbes by Martin Blaser M.D.

Good Afternoon, God

I confess, I started out today — or maybe it was yesterday — really angry at You. Partly it was because of the horror of ISIS actions — atrocities in the Middle East — and partly it was frustration at how we humans are seemingly unable to take a step forward without a few steps back.

For example, information in the book Missing Microbes was horrifying. Yes, we NEED antibiotics. But, we are now learning that even one dose can change a child’s microbiome — and make a child fatter, more susceptible to allergies, asthma, GERD, IBS, and on and on. YIKES!

But an hour this morning with June, my spiritual director, helped. Sigh. It was a long exercise of continuing humiliation. I realized that I am only lacking opportunity — that my drive to FIX things and make a “better world” could be subverted — just as I feel has happened to humans over and over again. History offers a painful look at our species. As St. Paul said so many years ago: All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.

Yet You LOVE us. You love ALL of us. And so I gathered up my shattered sorrowing self and sat in Your Love. I cannot fix me. I cannot fix anyone or anything. But, I can come humbly into Your Presence and ask You to put me back together — bit by bit. Thank You!

Then, this afternoon I was reading an article in Discover Magazine and learned our brain has 85 billion neural cells, 150 trillion synapses and an almost infinite number of ways of combining synapses. As the article said, “Possibilities are always wildly, insanely greater than the number of things around us.”

And, all of a sudden, HOPE returned. And I felt how incredibly wonderful it is to be a human — here now — as we are. Wow! Thank You, again!

Tagged with: anger, AWE, Dr. Martin Blaser, frustration, hope, killing our helpful microbes, Missing Microbes
Posted in a prayer for healing, accepting my need for help, Anger, Awe, connecting, Forgiven!, Forgiving, the cold snow of reality

From Dover to Kauai — in 4 days?

Posted on September 3, 2014 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

White cliffs of Dover

Good Day, God!

Here we are on Kauai where my amazing husband, Kit, just won his age group in the Kauai half marathon! Let me see — we left London on Monday and we were here on Kauai on Friday.

Usually we go and come home and stay for a while. But this Fall is FULL of travel. Lovely people, lovely places and a lovely slow pace. Perfect!

My Mind is delighted. My Body is undecided. Hmph! No, I would have to say that my Body is unhappy. It is quite clear to me, God, that my Body likes to travel — WHEN she travels — at sun speed. I think that works out to no more than one time zone per day. Or, maybe less. Of course, God, that means mostly by ship or car . . . or maybe just not very far . . . all at once.

Still, in spite of some wear and tear on my Beloved Body I enjoy traveling. I enjoy changes of geology, architecture, vegetation, food, and even bits of different cultures. Ah, but when we travel by ship we pretty much stay within our culture. We pack it up and take it with us. And so we only catch brief glimpses of our differences — like the Swedish guide who was distressed at a worker up on a flat roof without a safety harness and a safety helmet.

Years and years ago I helped a friend put on a series of Christian Muslim dialogs which was very rewarding. I think the World needs more of that, God! More dialog and discussion among a variety of cultures. It isn’t easy. Cultural differences can lead to judgments, disruptions and difficulties. But, staying in our own single strand culture makes us all far more vulnerable.

Like workers on high roofs without safety harnesses? So, God, maybe I need to “travel more cultures” while staying at home?

Posted in connecting

Contains CELERY! and other European discoveries

Posted on August 24, 2014 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Hilton Heathrow — our resting point before and after the Garrison Keillor cruise

Good Evening, God!

Aah! My mind — and iPhone — are stuffed with images of our amazing cruise with the Prairie Home Companion company. What talent! What FUN!

It was also a cruise of the Baltic capitals and there are new facts stuffed into my head just waiting to be assimilated or perhaps dropped.

But the fact that caused me the biggest laugh was noticed yesterday at the Hilton Heathrow. My wonderful husband, Kit, asked me to read the ingredients on the label of a tiny jar of ketchup. (He doesn’t like high fructose corn syrup.) I did and at the very bottom it said, “Contains celery.” Celery? They are warning me that this ketchup contains . . . CELERY? I started to giggle.

Yes, I know now.. It is NOT funny for folks with a celery allergy. And, in retrospect I feel a bit guilty for laughing. But, it is just that with ISIS and Ebola and other assorted worries, celery hadn’t made my list.

Other odd facts? We saw the Vasa — a huge 1628 warship designed by the king of Sweden — which had capsized and sunk a few hundred yards into its maiden voyage. It’s been salvaged and preserved and now has its own museum. And the reason it capsized seems to be because it was two feet too narrow. At least a sister ship that was two feet wider sailed for years.

Two feet! Celery! Such Small Things . . . so easy not to notice.

Noticing . . . paying attention . . . seems to have gotten a lot more complex, God. We are limited. Traveling helps me grasp that fact. Suitcases are limited. Energy is limited. My ability to absorb is limited. So, God. I need more than ever to invest time with You. Asking You to direct my attention . . . my focus . . . my decisions. You are willing. Please help me to be willing.

Posted in Uncategorized

A Visit to Helsinki

Posted on August 17, 2014 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Finnish art deco trolls seen on a period building

Good Day,God!  

And a long August day it has been here on the Baltic Sea, near the arctic. My wonderful husband Kit and I have just finished a nap after a 3 1/2 hour guided walking tour of Helsinki. There was an exhibit works of Tove Jansson, creator of the Moomins, creatures whose motto seems to be: All of us are a bit strange in our own ways — and that’s just fine! (See Trolls at left.)

That seems to sum up the Finns — and perhaps the Nordic culture. As our guide said about an upscale store, “We don’t go in there. That is just for tourists!” For the Finns, she said, things must be useful, simple, comfortable and maybe even bright enough to cheer a short winter day. And Voila! In the 1950’s came, Marimekko, maker of distinctive fabrics!

Marimekko and Moomins . . . two delightful Finnish gifts to the world.

But what really struck me about Helsinki were the little girls! One two year old walked by — some distance from her mother — with a lollipop in her mouth. I turned to a friend and said, “Such APLOMB!” And our friend said: “The next president of Finland!” And, as I looked at the families out for a Sunday walk in the park, ALL the very young girls seemed totally assured. Perhaps these little girls really will become future leaders and be an even bigger gift to our world!

Ah, God, we need more leaders who care about the simple, useful and workable. More leaders who are not interested in Money and Power and More. More of everything!

Hmmm. Maybe leaders are more our followers than we want to realize.

Posted in connecting, Uncategorized

The Joy of Small Things

Posted on August 8, 2014 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

A small succulent at our dinner table

Good Evening, God!

Although the title above refers to this wee succulent, it just hit me that a small nap is also a joy! My wonderful husband Kit and I are at the Hilton Heathrow on our way to a Garrison Keillor cruise to the Baltic. And we have spent the first three days napping and enjoying the small — but never ordinary — things of life.

We were going to take the tube into London today — but then tossed it over for another nap. I am happy. My Body is happy. My body is Rested and Happy!

Usually my busy and curious Mind makes the decisions. My Mind is full of Enthusiasms and that makes her hard to overrule.

I like to imagine that I (my Mind) is getting smarter — or maybe even more thoughtful But, I realize it is because my Body did a preemptive strike and came down with a UTI . . . such as to get my attention.

Alas, I am just the beneficiary of a better balance of power.

It is sobering, God, to think that here in my own small self I have to depend on a Balance of Power to get along. It makes me sad that I can’t seem to manage a higher degree of inner mutual respect. But, it does help me understand how it is that we 7 billion humans have a dreadfully difficult time practicing mutual respect! Sigh.

It is like the song . . . Let there be Peace on Earth . . . and let it begin with me! Please, God, help me work on respecting and loving myself . . . and those around me . . . and reaching out . . . asking You to bless us ALL . . . all around this small small world. Thank You!

Tagged with: appreciation, Balance of Power, Caring, compassion, Inner mutual respect, mutual respect
Posted in a matter of scale, accepting my authority to set limits, appreciation, Cherishing our Bodies, Filling up my suitcase and my days

The gift of the right word

Posted on August 3, 2014 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

A man of Hawaii -- a painting in the Art Deco of Hawaii exhibit at the Honolulu Museum of Art

A man of Hawaii — a painting in the Art Deco Hawaii exhibit at the Honolulu Museum of Art

Good Evening, God!

Recently, I went to the Art Deco Hawaii exhibit with our daughter Suzanne and I found the art troubling. Much of it depicted idealized Hawaiians looking oh so happy at being part of America. But, of course, it wasn’t quite like that. After the overthrow of the Queen in 1893 ruling elite were — as most Westerners were at that time — racist. They were also sexist and class conscious.

Come to think of it, God, those are still problems for us all around the globe — problems of judging and not respecting.

But, I digress. The piece of art that captured me was of a man who seemed to me to be unhappy at best and perhaps even angry. He was depicted as he was — a real person — not an idealized one.

All of which prods me to be real. Under stress, God, I get “irritable.” But, both of our daughters had a different word for what I was doing. Sigh. They said I was bullying.

And, I was — I was bullying my wonderful husband. The second or maybe it was the third time they called me on it I heard them, and I stopped appalled! I realized that I was calling it being irritable — but it really was worse than that. I was using an acceptable word to cover an unacceptable behavior. Sigh. I’m thankful, God, for daughters who speak the truth in love.

As it happens, Bullies are close to the top of my “despise” list. So, I guess, I should have suspected I was harboring a Bullying Spirit down in my Shadow Self. They say: Make a list of what we dislike MOST in others and that is what is waiting deep inside us — waiting for us to acknowledge them — waiting for us to come — with them — to You for healing.

Tagged with: being real, Bullies, judging, our shadow, repenting, respect
Posted in connecting, family visits, Heal Us Now, hearing myself, Helpful Hards, humility, Repentance

Love in the Family — a Pattern for Nations?

Posted on July 30, 2014 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

My wonderful husband as a very young boy

Good Evening, God!

Ah, the parties are over. Our daughters are back home in L.A. and in Tucson. And we all had a marvelous time.

We were celebrating my wonderful husband Kit’s 80th birthday and we did it up right. Among assorted gifts the one that stood out was the one our daughters gave him. It was a booklet they had made: 80 Ways to Be an Awesome Dad. In it they recalled 80 ways in which he was especially loving.

He is an awesome dad. And a loving husband.

He is also somewhat of an anomaly — having run the Boston Marathon this year at age 79 in 4:45. I think of running as his second “career.”

But, in truth, his real career is being an excellent husband and father . . . and grandfather. And that is as it should be, I think. After all, it is our relationships that last.

And all relationships require a willingness to Press the Reset Button. We bumble along and hurt one another. I surely bumbled a lot as both a mother and a wife. Sigh, I am STILL bumbling.

But, as our daughter Suzanne said recently, “It is wonderful to come from a family that knows how to apologize.” Heartfelt apologies are so important!

I don’t mean to make it sound easy, God! One big turning point came when I told Kit that when I got angry at him it was almost always because I was hurting. And no matter what I said (or yelled), what I truly wanted was for him to give me a hug.

I’m pretty sure, God, that Nations are like people. We have all bumbled and worse. How good it would be if Countries could hit the Reset Button and apologize — making amends as best we can — and truly work at living together in healthy relationships on this planet.

Tagged with: apologizing, families, Fathers, healthy relationships, husbands, Love, reset button
Posted in Anger, Apologies, appreciation, connecting, Families, Forgiving, LOVE

Playing, Working, and Depression?

Posted on July 18, 2014 by a moment with god — 2 Comments

Christ of the Andes and the World Cup final game

Christ the Redeemer and the World Cup final game

Good Afternoon, God!

I was blessed with a quote yesterday — gosh, only yesterday — that helped me to see myself.

“the opposite of play is not work—the opposite of play is depression. Our inherent need for variety and challenge can be buried by an overwhelming sense of responsibility.” That thought is from the book Play by Stuart Brown.

Honestly, God, now that I think about it, I have been suffering from an overwhelming sense of responsibility. I went from feeling responsible to my beloved mother to being responsible for anyone near me. Not, of course, for myself — but for others. Oh foolish, foolish me!

After all, God, I am only “in-charge” of myself. And so I am very limited in what I can do for others. Ah, I am once again, accepting 90% of my responsibilities are in Your Lap! Or is that 100%? So, with Your help, God, I will pull back from “care giving” and focus on caring for myself!

Meanwhile, when I think about Play vs Depression I think of the World Cup soccer games. I forget which person it was who said, IT IS ONLY A GAME!” But, that was not the general attitude. I enjoy sports so I can understand the pain of losing . . . which always seem MORE than the joy of winning. But, it is only a game.

Success, winning, achievements — none of them last. In a way, they are not real. Ah, would that we could all focus on things eternal. Kindness, charity, loving deeds, a listening ear, a caring heart — these are things that last. Please, God, help me with my focus!