Prayer: Talking but not Listening

Posted on March 15, 2012 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Lightening in Lanikai by John Endicott

Good Day, God!

Oh BOY! The electrical storms we had last week were spectacular! It made me remember lightening storms at my grandfather’s family cabin in the San Bernardino Mountains in California where the lightening was practically in our laps!

But, I’ve seen nothing but sheet lightening in Hawaii for many years. I’d forgotten how lightening bolts really get our attention, God. It’s no wonder folks thought You were the one tossing them down from Heaven. You DO have ways of getting our attention!

Just this afternoon, I was wondering if You wanted my attention. I was kind of hoping You didn’t. I guess I shouldn’t confess that, God. But, hey! No secrets from YOU!

It’s just that I am very comfortable now. I’m feeling VERY Fortunate, Very Content. Somehow the idea of “hearing from You” is deeply unsettling. It makes me appreciate Abraham who set out on a journey to a place he didn’t know — because You told him to go.

Peace Pilgrim 1980 Hawaii

Funny! I just thought of Peace Pilgrim. This was a woman who walked all over America wearing the words Peace Pilgrim on her jacket or tunic. And she started this in 1953 when the cold war was at it’s worst.

As a pacifist, vegetarian, and peace activist, she walked for 28 years. She stopped counting in 1963 when she hit 25,000 miles. Amazing! And I think quite admirable.

Actually, since we now think peace is possible — unlike the 1950’s when some were pressuring President Eisenhower to do a “preventive” first strike on the U.S.S.R. — we probably don’t grasp how much fortitude it took for her to do this.

Yes, I guess it is people like her who make me worry about hearing You. I feel like a kid in school who doesn’t know the answer and doesn’t want to be called on so she doesn’t look at the teacher. That’s ME!

Tagged with: a moment with God, Lightening Bolts, lightening bolts from Heaven, Peace Pilgrim
Posted in adoring Easy, listening, Peace, Prayer

Self Care / Self Respect

Posted on March 14, 2012 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A relatively tidy room

Good Day, God!

I’m still pondering Self-Care. And I’m thinking about how Self-Respect might enter into the mix. I do know that when my plants aren’t cared for, when I forget my vitamins, when my checkbook has fallen behind, when my office is a mess — I’m down on myself — and my sense of self-respect suffers.

So for me Self-Respect is a result of caring for myself — and taking care of the plants and the people that are “in my life.” Plants are fairly easy — they turn brown and droop to get your attention.

People are not so easy. I remember when it dawned on me, God, that my unconscious credo was: Needing Help is Failing. Asking for Help is Cheating. I know a lot of people like that. I guess, God, that I am still one of them. I love helping. But, it is hard for me to accept help — or accept that I really NEED to ask for help.

Self-sufficiency is important to me. But, I think, God, that we are designed to be part of an interdependent whole. Indeed, I feel we are “healthiest” when we are reaching out and helping others — helping them help themselves. I know that supporting Advocates for Africa’s Children an 501(3)c, working to help orphans and their caregivers in rural Swaziland, brings me deep satisfaction.

I guess, God, that it takes humility to ask for help — and it takes hope to give help. One person, helping one other person, is enough of a start! Hmm. A Humble Spirit and a Hopeful Heart. Sounds like two ingredients of Self-Care to me.

Tagged with: a moment with God, Advocates for Africa's Children, interdependence, self-care, self-respect
Posted in hope, humility, web of life

Self-Care — I’m Adding Self-Stretching

Posted on March 13, 2012 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Hibiscus seen on a walk up the Hahaione Valley

Good Day, God!

Aaah! A Day of Self-Care! I started with the indulgence of heavy cream in my coffee and a little dark (72%) chocolate. Please, God, help me not make this a habit!

The afternoon and evening were more about the discipline of “keeping at it!” I am so thankful to our house guest, Ann, who is visiting from Dallas. She has been very patiently working as what Judith Kolberg calls a Body Double and what I call a Body Anchor.

Being fairly ADD I NEED an anchor — gently tugging me back to task. Together we got two plastic bins more or less prepared for handing over for possible archival purposes. In my JOY at retiring I did toss a few things. But, now I will turn all the rest of my files over for someone else to toss.

Then this morning there was my jewelry class. Today I worked on having a Growth Mindset! That is also known as “appreciating failures” as absolutely necessary practicing. Once I let go of the Produce a Product mindset I actually had a very good time. And, I did finally succeed in getting a bezel setting ready for next week.

Because of the jewelry class, I’m adding a new category — Self-Stretching to Self-Care. It joins self-indulgence and self-discipline. The jewelry class — metal fabricating — is definitely stretching. I’m repeating the course and now I am starting to actually learn. I think the first semester was just in getting familiar with the tools and procedures — like learning to light the blow torch without jumping!

Self-Stretching can be learning something challenging. Or it can be doing something hard or maybe even scary. Hmm. I just thought about how I need to stretch my body, too, God.

I like this category, God. I especially like having Self-Stretching be part of Self-Care! Hmm. Maybe tomorrow I’ll add Self-Respect to my Self-Care Cluster.

Tagged with: ADD, appreciating failures, Body Anchor, Body Double, self-care, self-discipline, self-indulgence, Self-Stretching
Posted in learning, self care as maintenance, Self-Respect

Self Care — I’m Exploring it

Posted on March 12, 2012 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

The Snow Monkeys of Japan enjoying a natural hot tub

Good Day, God!

Self care was never something I thought much about. That is not to say that I have not been taken care of!

After our daughter Patty died many years ago, I got a lot of care. One friend started walking with me twice a week. Another friend got me to join her in starting a women’s Wednesday Morning Prayer Group. Still another friend and I started having breakfast once a week and then our husbands couldn’t resist joining us. Kit and I have both been blessed by that.

Gosh, God, all of these activities are still continuing — all these years later. And they are Major Supports in my life. Thank You, God. And also, many thanks to those dear friends!

Still, as I looked at these Japanese Snow Monkeys, God, I was envious. All day in a hot pool — chatting or zoning out — surrounded by good friends and beautiful snow. Aaah. A soak in an epsom salts bath isn’t quite the same. But, it is a step forward.

I just finished eating dinner, God, and as I was recounting to Kit that I was blogging on Self Care he replied, “Self-Indulgence?”

Well, YES! Self-Indulgence is part of it, God. But, oddly enough Self-Discipline is the other side of Self Care. I am learning that I need both self-indulgence AND self-discipline to take good care of my dear self.

When I haven’t gotten my paperwork and my finances under control, I am bothered. And time spent tidying and organizing my desk feels good. This IS self care. And so is time doing floor exercises and weights.

But I also need naps, tub soaks with pikaki flower bath salts, retreats, time reading, and the occasional massage. And, oh yes, a wee square of very dark chocolate every now and then.

Tagged with: self-care, self-discipline, self-indulgence, snow monkeys of Japan
Posted in Abundant Life, encourage and comfort, self care as maintenance, self care as self compassion and humility, Self-Respect

Wheat — only the Name is the Same

Posted on March 11, 2012 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Bread made with non-hybridized wheat

Good Day, God!

I’ve heard about the “Green Revolution” for years. Norman Borlaug, the creator of the hybridized short stalk sturdy wheat, won the Noble Peace Prize in 1970. The new wheat produced ten times the yield.

How Wonderful! I thought, and I didn’t think anymore about it until I got a Prevention Magazine flyer in the mail for a book called, Wheat Belly.

Wheat Belly by William Davis, MD

Yes, God, that title DID get my attention. Bellies are BIG nowadays! And mine is bigger than I would like. Although, I’m pretty sure it would be even BIGGER if I hadn’t been on a mostly NO GRAIN eating plan for years.

But, my zeal has slipped and my waist has grown. So, I bought the book. YIKES!

I’m only half-way though it but what I have learned is disturbing. It turns out to be a matter of unintended consequences. It’s another case of the Same Name but totally Different Food.

It seems that the hybridized wheat has more amylopectin C in it, which leads it to increase blood sugar faster than almost any other carbohydrate. The new wheat is a super-carbohydrate.

But, it isn’t just the sugar problem. It seems that there are factors in the wheat that prompt it to create allergic reactions and trigger celiac disease. Oh, and it is able to cross the blood brain barrier and connect to the opiate receptors in the brain. It’s addictive, God. And it is making us fat.

Of course, our government is still pushing a low-fat, whole-grain diet. Not Dr. Davis. He says two slices of whole grain bread are like a can of soda pop. He recommends cutting out wheat cold turkey!

He points out that after a few months of living wheat-free, reintroducing it “provokes undesirable effects ranging from joint aches to asthma to gastrointestinal distress.” Hmm. It sounds like the bodies got well enough to protest.

Tagged with: celiac disease, Dr. Davis, gluten sensitivities, wheat addiction, Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat Lose theWeight and Find Your Path Back to Health
Posted in Changing, food questions

Light Shining On . . . and Light Shining Through

Posted on March 10, 2012 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Light shining through agave leaves

Good Day, God!

There is nothing like a week of storms — rain, lightening, thunder and grey skies — to make me appreciate the beauty of Light. I especially like light shining through plants. I was totally surprised this morning to see that these thick, heavy agave leaves were a bit translucent.

All these weeks of going to the Farmers’ Market and walking by them and I just never noticed! Hmm. I was going to ask “How could that be?,” but, of course, there are millions of things I don’t “notice.”

A lot of things fall into the same category as these plants. I was looking for color –

Light shining ON a bromeliad

-looking for “beauty” and walked right by them.

I fear that I do this frequently, God. There are some really horrible things going on in this Beautiful World.

The press, bloggers and various media people do try to “shine light” on these topics. But, I don’t want to know. I want to be “thinking on the good and pure and true,” which is pretty good advice from St. Paul. BUT, there are things that I need to speak up about. Unpleasant things that I need to be aware of and alert to.

Things in my own life that I need to do something about. Drat! It is called personal responsibility and I need to make better use of it!

Sigh, I would like to be like that agave leaf God — a little thick, a little heavy — but with Your Light shining through me.

Tagged with: grey skies, Light, personal responsibility, selective focus, storms
Posted in beauty, Light, Responding, responding to God's Spirit, responsibility

Lent Light — a Few Small Thoughts

Posted on March 9, 2012 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Our refrigerator stocked with NON-ALCOHOLIC beer for Lent

Good Day, God!

I appreciate Lent, God. Lent is a special time of year in the Christian calendar — designed to help us better appreciate the sufferings of Christ — in the 40+ days leading up to Good Friday.

Traditionally, people have done some serious fasting during Lent. This has morphed into things like giving up chocolate or ice cream. And, although, I was the one raised an Episcopalian, God, it is my wonderful husband Kit — the Congregationalist — who has embraced Lent.

I think this is because to Kit Giving Up Things is a GAME! He is blessed with enormous DISCIPLINE. I am sitting here smiling, God. I am more like our oldest daughter who used to tell me how much she disliked the word Discipline.

As You know, God, in years past Kit would decide that WE would give up caffeine, alcohol, red meat, sugar-containing desserts, etc. I, although NOT disciplined, would chug along behind him — more or less faithfully giving up whatever.

This year Kit was visiting our daughters on the Mainland when Lent began and I encouraged him to wait until he returned home to Begin Lent. When he returned we began what turned out to be Lent Light! Instead of giving up coffee, we have switched to decaf. And Kit has switched from regular beer to non-alcoholic beer. This is not “suffering,” God!

But then I wonder if voluntary suffering has ever been something that pleased You? I can understand bearing up as well as can be under involuntary suffering. And I can understand making sacrifices to help others. But, voluntary suffering seems odd to me. I think it was Thomas a Becket who wore hair-shirts . . . not uncommon back in the days when voluntary suffering was admired. Hair-shirts to de-caf coffee. Hmm.

Tagged with: decaf coffee, hair-shirts, Lent, voluntary suffering
Posted in background / foreground questions, Sacrifice

Rainbows and HOPE

Posted on March 7, 2012 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Rainbow over Hawaii Kai: Photo by Pulelehua Quirk

Good Day, God!

Hope! I didn’t even know I didn’t have it — until I got it back this evening. I got it back when our grandson Mark sent me the video made by Invisible Children. Basically, it is the story of how Jason Russell met a young Ugandan boy, Jacob, who with hundreds of other children was hiding from the Joseph Kony “army.” This Kony had been and still is abducting children and turning them into “soldiers” who kill and mutilate their fellow human beings. That was nine years ago and Russell promised Jacob he would WORK to STOP THIS HORROR.

Since then Russell has mobilized young folks (and I guess old people, too) all over the world to call on their governments to HELP STOP KONY. Kony is ranked the number one criminal in the world. But, criminal sounds like too kind a word for this man.

So, what our grandson asked me to do is what I am now asking other people to do. STOP and WATCH. Become AWARE. CARE. The goal is to have him captured in 2012. Amazingly, God, I believe that will happen. I have hope.

And if people don’t want to join the young people in putting up posters and wearing bracelets, they can always donate a few dollars.

You know, God, we are called to Overcome Evil with Good. But, I don’t know when I have seen the opportunity to do just that in quite such a FOCUSED way. Please bless all these efforts, God! For all my HOPE, I am pretty sure we will NEED Your Help!

Tagged with: an army of abducted children, Invisible Children, Joseph Kony, Overcoming Evil
Posted in choices, Choosing to respond, hope, Praying for our enemies

It RAINS and RAINS and RAINS

Posted on March 6, 2012 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

A rainy night on the basketball court in the park next door

Good Day, God!

Rain with thunder and lightening! This is OUR Hawaiian version of Exciting Weather. The island of Kauai had over 17 inches on its north shore and has been designated a disaster area.

That is serious, God. And please help those folks. But, I am really thankful that we don’t have blizzards and tornados.

Here on Oahu, my husband Kit reported that hail came down on his car as he was driving to Aina Haina for an eye check-up. And I saw boys boogie boarding all the way down the Hahaione Valley drainage canal near our home.

waterfalls on the ridge west of my mom's complex

Leaving my mom’s this afternoon I was startled to see waterfalls cascading down the ridge west of her complex. Yes, God, we were getting a taste of what Mother Nature can do.

Mind You, God, after watching video’s of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami I don’t need to be further impressed!

I am thankful that our Planet is still as “forgiving” as it is. But we have to do our part, don’t we God, to sustain our planet. I just got up and turned off the overhead lights. That is about the extent of my response, God. Change is hard. Dramatic Change is all but impossible for us.

I resolve to take at least small steps, to see what we can do next. A solar water heater? A hybrid car? I think another year on my 1999 car might be a better use of energy than buying a new car. But, the solar water heater is a no brainer!

Please, God, help us all do what we can — maybe even do more than we think we can.

Tagged with: exciting weather, rain, sustainability, weather
Posted in accepting my ability to REDESIGN, Changing, Choosing to respond