Lighting the Night . . . Waves of Change

Posted on July 10, 2012 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Photo: Michael Rosenfeld/Getty illustrating “Night Owls” in the Atlantic

Good Night, God!

And it is night here in Honolulu. I just finished reading the article “Night Owls” in the current Atlantic. It was sent to me by a friend who is a bit of a Night Owl herself.

It’s a brief look at Evening’s Empire: A History of the Night in Early Modern Europe by Craig Koslofsky. I knew that the rich and privileged in the 1800s “danced” the night away. But, that was a fact imbedded in novels. I didn’t see it in its historical context.

I thought that the extension of the Day far into the Night began with Edison and the electric light bulb! Electricity did make night-time available to the lower end of the economic and social spectrum. But the transformation was well under way much earlier. Then, In the 1600’s, coffee, tea and chocolate came along to help turn people into Night Creatures.

Sunrise over Tucson: Photo by Mark Bramhill

Koslofsky talks about the intellectual and societal changes that came about with well lit public places — like cafes and coffee shops — which were open to ordinary folk. It was a revolution. More to the point it was a revolution that opened the doors to all kinds of Revolutions. People gathering together to talk and think can have a “tinder-like” quality.

Now we have added the iPhone connector and the Facebook connector. I think of the revolutions were in Egypt and Libya, where these connectors played pivotal roles.

But, what about Connecting to You? And to our inner self? That takes Time. Time alone. This week, up at St. Anthony’s Retreat Center, people are gathered to be Alone with You. Alone Together. They are at a Centering Prayer Retreat.

Centering with others, in Silence, is for me the best way to Hear You. It is a sort of “tinder.” And the time of day doesn’t matter.

Thank You, God, for opportunities like these.

Tagged with: Connecting, Evening's Empire: A History of the Night in Early Modern Europe, Night Owls, pushing the Day into the Night
Posted in Centering Prayer, Changing, relationships

Reaching out to Touch — Reaching for Healing

Posted on July 8, 2012 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

shower tree blossoms at KCC

Good Day, God!

We are fragile creatures, God, like these blossoms. And like the blossoms, we don’t last very long — at least not in our Earthly Tents. Sigh.

I suppose, God, those two observations might be viewed as a complaint. And, I am certain that part of me is complaining — wailing and kvetching. That is the unwelcomed part of me that understands Job’s wife when she tells him (repeatedly?) to “curse God and die.” Like, just get it over with!

This morning, You held that squirming angry part of me in Your Lap as I listened to a friend give the sermon at church. Laura, gently and wryly, told us about her experience in self-medicating with alcohol to damp down the pain and shame of childhood abuse.

Her real subject was her healing — the healing that comes from “touching the hem of Jesus’ garment.” She talked of the healing of the memories and how You, God, had absorbed much of what had been intended for her. I could feel then — can feel now — how You weep over us.

Imagine those old theologians insisting that You were “above” emotions! — so much “higher” that You didn’t “feel?” What utter foolishness . . . and worse.

Laura entwined her story with the story from Luke 8:43-48 of the woman suffering from the issue of blood for 12 long years. Her bleeding, her menstruation, made her unclean. Unclean for 12 years! And anyone or anything she touched became unclean. Yikes!

How like her we are. Feeling unclean. Feeling that even talking about how we feel would make others unclean. Might make YOU unclean? Might make past “nightmares” real?

You long to heal us. And, is there anyone of us that doesn’t need healing? Repeated Healing! Ah, Healing is a Lifetime Work, God. Thank You for keeping on and on with Your Healing and Loving.

Tagged with: alcohol, being unclean, child abuse, pain, the woman with the issue of blood
Posted in healing, LOVE

In the middle of the Sacramento Valley — Mountains

Posted on July 6, 2012 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Sutter Buttes: photo from Wikipedia

Good Day, God!

While my brother, Dave, was driving me back to the Sacramento airport, he pointed out “The Worlds’ Shortest Mountain Range” — the Sutter Buttes.

They were way off in the distance and there wasn’t time (or inclination) for a drive-by. But, I was taken with the idea that there was a ten mile long mountain range in the middle of the huge and FLAT Sacramento Valley. The valley is so flat that before California built the massive flood control and aqueduct system, the annual snow melt from the Sierras turned the central valleys into an inland sea.

I was really curious, God, about how the Sutter Buttes got there. A quick check on Google showed that is was the product of volcanic action 1.6-1.4 million years ago. 200,000 years of volcanic activity — ten miles of buttes that are up to 5,000 feet high — and then nothing more?

The stopping is almost as surprising at the starting. And, it is tickling something inside me. Do I also have unexpected volcanos in my life?

Well, yes. Our daughter Patty’s illness and death from cancer would be analogous to an unexpected volcano in a very flat land. And, I suspect, God, that most of us have events that come suddenly and traumatically into our lives.

The indigenous peoples of early California made the mountains part of their Creation Stories. Events like unexpected mountain ranges or unexpected illnesses do cry out for explanations, God.

Ah, yes. We humans seem designed to look for Explanations. And if not explanations then at least ways to integrate them into our Meaning Maps. I guess, God, my Map factors in randomness. Volcanos happen. Illnesses happen. And maybe they both have parts to play in Creation Stories — Geologic and Individual.

Thank You, God, for creating us!

Tagged with: Meaning Maps, Randomness, Sacramento Valley, Surprises, Sutter Buttes
Posted in Creating

A Visit to My Brother

Posted on July 5, 2012 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A Ponderosa Pine at my brother’s home

Good Day, God!

My brother, Dave and his wife Barba retired years ago to Grass Valley in California’s Gold Rush country. The Ponderosa pines were part of why Dave selected the area. As he said, who expected “Grass Valley” to be full of ponderosa pines? Pine trees, blackberry bushes, and right in the center of their property is a Pond. It would be a winter pond except that Dave had it “improved” by sealing its bottom and pumping well water into it all during the summer.

The pond is home to water lilies, frogs, assorted fish and visiting Wood Ducks. Dave has built nesting boxes for the ducks. The entrance is so small I couldn’t believe they could get in. Dave explained that the instructions for the nest box were very precise. Too big a hole would let raccoons get their egg-stealing little hands in!

Wood ducks are the most beautiful of all ducks but the nesting season was over and the birds had flown off. Their ducklings had been protected from hawks and other predators by a pair of Redwing Blackbirds. The Blackbirds were such good parents that all the baby birds around them benefited.

My brother has created a lovely oasis. Barba has created beautiful gardens filled with flowers and herbs.

Caring is a wonderful thing, God. Whether it is a pair of Redwing Blackbirds protecting baby birds from Hawks — or Dave and Barba tending their little Eden. Caring for Your World, God, is such a good thing to do.

Tagged with: Gold Rush Country, Ponds, wood ducks
Posted in Caring, Creating, family visits, web of life

The Rockets Red Glare over Maunalua Bay

Posted on July 4, 2012 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

4th of July fireworks on Maunalua Bay

Good Day, God!

Watching the 4th of July fireworks overlooking the marina in Hawaii Kai — such a treat!

Earlier today, my husband Kit suggested that we go to watch the fireworks display. I am not yet home 24 hours so although I was willing, I was not eager.

Still, off we went to get a bite to eat at Panda Express and then figure out where we should station ourselves to see the display.

As soon as we drove into the Costco lot we saw LOTS of people — carrying chairs and coolers — walking toward the marina. Hmm. It seems we had stumbled onto a good place! We got our food and went around the corner to a far table with a view of the bridge going over the entrance to the marina. We ate and chatted and I took photos of the pre-display.

Being part of this informal group — gathered to celebrate Our Country’s birthday — felt good. It is good to be connected with one another. And, of course, it was truly wonderful that the explosions were fireworks and not aerial bombardments.

Thank You, God, for Peace!

Please help us to value peace more highly — understanding that daily we weave our strands into its complex fabric.

Tagged with: 4th of July fireworks, fireworks and bombardments, peace, the Value of Peace
Posted in Celebrations, connections, Peace

Being Heard into Speaking

Posted on June 27, 2012 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

flowers seen on a neighborhood walk

Good Day, God!

Thank You for a relaxing day — what a surprise and delight! I was quite sure yesterday that I had stuffed too many things into today. Still, being me, I couldn’t bear to drop anything.

But, all day there has been more than enough time — Time Between — Time as a Support.

I have never ever thought of TIME as supporting me. Now that the idea has entered my mind it seems so obvious.

Racing against the clock isn’t from You! We created the clock and made it a god over us. I was trying to figure out just why today had more than enough time.

I did start the morning with the Wednesday Morning Women’s Prayer group. That helps. Then too, one of my morning’s activities was going up Tantalus to see June, my Spiritual Director. That really helped. Oh my! There are so many Feelings in this one small heart, God! And what a gift it is to have a trusted friend hear me into speaking!

So many of those tangled and entangling feelings and half-formed thoughts wiggled their way out into Consciousness — into My Consciousness as I heard myself speaking. Speaking words out loud is so different from just thinking and different from writing, too. Maybe that is more true for extroverts than for introverts. I don’t know.

I just know that it takes a lot of energy not to hear myself.

Tagged with: Being Heard, sorting out a tangle of feelings, Spiritual Directors, Time as Support
Posted in being heard into speaking, being together in a compassionate presence

Some thoughts at Sunset

Posted on June 25, 2012 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

sunset over the Hawaii Kai marina

Good Day, God!

All day the sun moves across the sky — but I only notice it at sunrise and sunset. Noticing is good! Cherishing the idea of a good day ending and a new day coming is even better. And I suppose that planning for those New Days is best yet.

Today was one of those days when I felt as if I was planning for our New Days. I subscribed (again) to Lumosity and also gave Kit a year’s subscription. I had tried these Brain Games before. But I got discouraged by how bad I was on a few of the games — like the verbal fluency one. I didn’t have the right attitude, God!

I had it backwards. Like most of us I wanted to do more of what I am good at — not work to improve what I am not good at. That’s an ongoing struggle, God.

The Brain Games are based on the fairly recent science of neuroplasticity that shows that our brains can grow new neurons — as a result of focused concentration. Yes, God, focused attention — i.e. WORK — is key.

That is probably why after devouring Noman Doidge’s book The Brain that Changes Itself, it has taken me two or three years to settle down to work at it. Well, Lumosity calls it “play” and I do like that repackaging.

But, preparing for the next New Day isn’t just about our brains, is it God. I am also strengthening my balancing muscles. I found this lovely hemispherical object that I stand on and balance — sometimes balancing for 5-to-10 seconds.

Ah, and then there is Centering. Sitting myself down, trying to be aware of Your Presence, and observing myself with compassion, or at least without judgment, asking for Your Help in all things.

Tagged with: balancing, brain games, lumosity, mental exercise, neuroplasticity
Posted in attitudes, Balancing and adjustments, becoming the change I wish to see, Centering Prayer, learning

In the Grips of the Spirit of Rightness!

Posted on June 24, 2012 by a moment with god — 2 Comments

tenacious beach flowers

Good Day, God!

Kit and I planned to celebrate our wedding anniversary this Thursday by going to Waikiki for dinner. We were planning to “settle” a driving-route dispute that arose the previous week by driving my route. I knew that wanting to prove I was right wasn’t a good way to celebrate our anniversary — but I was going to do it anyway. What gets into me?

Mostly God, Kit and I walk lovingly and peacefully through our separate universes. The difficulty comes when we are DRIVING together through the same universe. You can only drive one route. And every once in a while I really want it to be my route. Sigh.

Fortunately, a good Samaritan plumber was coming at that exact time, after his regular work day. It was a double blessing. We got our sink unstopped and I wasn’t able to push our “navigational” disagreement. We went to a nearby restaurant by a mutually agreed route.

I must say that finding myself possessed by a Spirit of Rightness is distressing. This is NOT a Good Spirit! And I see it at work all around me. People in the Grip of the Spirit of Rightness do not compromise. They do not look for win/win solutions. They make being Narrow Minded and Judgmental into a Virtue.

Sigh, being Right seems to give people permission to do horrible things to people who are “Not Right.” What is it the Paul said in his letter to the Romans: For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.” Boy, is that true! And there is nothing like being in the Grip of the Spirit of Rightness to separate us from You and from One Another.

So, please God, pour out Your Holy Spirit of Love and Joy and Peace and Compassion on all of us humans — especially those of us who love the illusion of being “right.”

Tagged with: excuses to judge, The dangerous Spirit of Rightness, wanting to be RIGHT
Posted in attitudes, Changing, humility, respect

Grape Stomping

Posted on June 22, 2012 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Grape Stomping.

Posted in Uncategorized

Spiritual Directors and Spiritual Friends

Posted on June 21, 2012 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Looking down at June’s garden

Good Day, God!

I discovered that this lovely title had gone unused! And I want to rectify that. Oh, that everyone would have a spiritual director. . . well, especially a low key one like June.

Why? Because we all need help. Well, I need help, God, that’s why for me. I need someone to ask me how I’m doing and to slip in a gentle question that knocks me back off of comfortable dead center.

And — I wish this were not the case — I am a very proud person so I am not going to share well, even with friends who I pray with. Yes, writing this is sort of a confession. VPP do not want to appear pitiful. But, we are. And it is a relief to admit it and get on with whatever . . .

I have wonderful friends who would listen — and I do share a little, but I want to hear them, too. One on one is half half. Or at least that is my goal.

Ah, but with a Spiritual Director I feel free to make it all about me. I have “booked” an hour. And often it takes an hour of my speaking before I hear myself say something that I need to hear. Actually, God, I’m embarrassed to confess that I LOVE having a whole hour to talk about myself and my life and my struggles.

Well, there I am. Self absorbed. Except, God, that phrase is an unkind judgment that is designed to keep us silent. Silence is not a good thing, God! So, help me keep on taking my “inner laundry” to June for washing. . . and help me remember that You want to hear me, too.

Tagged with: inner laundry, silence is not good for our health, Spiritual Director
Posted in being heard into speaking, being together in a compassionate presence, health, hearing myself