Pythons and Parents and Hibernating Parts

Posted on December 7, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

a drawing of a Burmese Python

Good Morning, God!

For several days an amazing fact about snakes has been bouncing around in my mind. I learned that Snakes can go without food from six months to two years and still continue to grow.

Extreme energy efficiency is what makes this possible. They are able “to reduce the size and function of vital organs, including the heart, stomach liver and kidneys, while fasting.”

Ah, that is remarkable, God! But, after they eat, they have to ramp up all those organs to speed — quickly! That seems even more amazing. We humans have to transition from starving to regular eating rather slowly.

Still, I couldn’t imagine WHY it was stuck in my mind. Then I remembered the time our youngest daughter made her first trip home after college. I had stopped on the way home at a market and she got bored and was going to rest on a park bench across the street. Somehow it came out that I didn’t want her to cross the street. BLUSH!

But as I told her, my Mother Bear Part had been hibernating. It had just awakened. Was she ONE? Or TWENTY-ONE? Mother Bears are NOT good with numbers! [Click here for the story.]

So, now I see the connection between snakes conserving energy by reducing their vital organs and me saving energy by reducing my Mommy Bear Part. As the story shows, REACTIVATING can be tricky. Sigh. This is made more complicated because our “children” are also independent adults. When I go to visit them, that seems very clear.

Ah, but when they return to the family home — there are thousands of very old parent-child patterns hovering out-of-sight — and sometimes the wrong one pops up. Yikes! THAT causes problems! So, please, God, this Advent Season, help us to see Our Offspring as Your Children . . . and remember that we are Your Children, too. All of us, God, are Children.

Tagged with: Accidentally reactivating old roles, Mother Bear wakes up but can't count
Posted in Families, family visits, growing toward up, respect

A “Room” in the Corridor

Posted on December 6, 2011 by a moment with god — 2 Comments

My Mom's "room" in one of Queen's Hospital's corridors

Good Morning, God!

I’m a bit late this morning — due to the TIME at Queen’s Emergency Room yesterday. Monday’s are busy in the ERs, God. And Queens is OVER capacity — thus the “room” in the corridor. It was a nice wide corridor, though. And it was an “inner” corridor. So, no big deal.

The Big Deal was my Mom’s fall that morning and bump on her head! YIKES! I must say, God, at first I though she could just go and get checked by her doctor at the local clinic. But a call to them, while on my way back from lunch, made it clear — it HAD to be the ER!

Meanwhile, since I had been at a meeting with my phone turned off, Kit had gotten Mom’s call and hurried over. They were playing scrabble when I arrived. That was VERY reassuring, God!

But her “wound” was still oozing and looked scary. So off my Mom and I went to the ER.

I must say, God, everyone at Queen’s was super kind and loving. They took her right in. They didn’t even put our purses through the security scanner. Still, they were on OVERLOAD! Right away they put patches on her so they could do an EKG. Come to think of it, they never did do an EKG and I don’t remember anyone taking the patches off. I’d better check.

They also inserted an IV port that they never used — but that they did take out. And when the doctor said she was waiting for the Cat Scan results I had to be Quite Firm that Mom had NOT had a Cat Scan. So, it was back to get the Cat Scan. I must say, NO ONE should go through ER without an Advocate and Observer!

The doctor, who’s husband had just been admitted to the hospital, advised an overnight stay. But, by THAT POINT my Mother had become Quite Firm. And when the Cat Scan showed a “good brain” we set off for home.

Home is a much less stressful place to be. Thank You, God, for helpful, caring people. And, maybe you could help us DO MEDICINE a little better?

Tagged with: a trip to the ER, Caring and Complexity, Emergency Rooms on Overload
Posted in appreciation, complexity, daughters, LOVE, people as gifts

Early Morning Light and Hope

Posted on December 5, 2011 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Early Morning Light on the Marina

Good Morning, God!

A new day is still an hour away. I am sitting in the stillness and silence and pondering Your Gift of A NEW DAY!

New is a lovely word. Yesterday, I was looking at the pre-holiday clutter in our home and thought — I need a new house! Then I laughed. I need to clean out the one I have.

So, God, here I have a new day. The same 24 hours You give to each one of us. And, I am free to choose what I do with it and in it. I can choose what I put into my Mouth and into my Mind.

And, choice by choice, I change. I can almost feel You urging me to sit up straight and use my freedom to “grow.” You remind me that I can even “choose” to BELIEVE that I CAN GROW AND CHANGE.

Oddly enough, that might be the most important choice I can make, God!

Now, I’m thinking of Carol Dweck’s book Mindset. She’s a professor at Stanford and her research points to two major ways of viewing ourselves and others. We can have a FIXED mindset — or a GROWTH mindset. Actually, we don’t seem to realize that we even HAVE a mindset. But we do. Fixed mindsets see a person’s IQ (and other qualities) as set — fixed. People with a growth mindset work on USING what they have.

Her website is full of ways to develop an awareness of these two mindsets. Or should I say, full of ways to move into a Growth Mindset. I find that VERY HOPEFUL, GOD!

Tagged with: choosing the Growth Mindset, Mindsetonline, using what we have
Posted in choices, growing toward up, Growth Opportunities, hope

Marathons, Ancient Heiaus and Christmas

Posted on December 4, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

looking into the spot where an ancient Hawaiian Heiau lies

Good Morning, God!

All is quiet. My sweetie pie is out for an eight mile run. The night still has a few more minutes before the sun rises. This is the start of Marathon Week. The Honolulu Marathon being next Sunday.

Kit will be running and his brother, Dick and his wife, Larie will be arriving to watch. Our daughter, Sandy, will be coming to watch Kit, too. I find my inner anxiety level rising.

Marathons are my idea of a modern day “sacrifice.” And, for Kit, running to raise money to fight the disease that took our daughter, Patty, that seems very true.

Perhaps, God, that’s why I wanted to talk about the ancient Hawaiian Heiau (temple) that’s in our neighborhood. I just got the “fact sheet” on it a few days ago. They think it might have been a luakini heiau — one where human sacrifices were offered.

That is an unpleasant thought, God. But, surely, the history of humankind is filled with societies offering You sacrifices — even human ones. It seems that — a some deep level — we all know that we are “estranged” from You.

Pondering that, this morning, made me realize how amazing Christmas really is. You, YOURSELF, reach out to us. Come to become one of us. YOU become the One-Time-Forever sacrifice at Easter. This turns our world of reaching out to YOU, right side up!

The sun is up now, God. The sky is filled with pink and peach clouds. And I am oh-so-thankful.

Tagged with: God's Love, heiau, marathons as sacrificial offerings
Posted in Christmas, LOVE, Sacrifice

BLESS! BLESS!

Posted on December 3, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Last nights sunset -- our out back window

Good Morning, God!

Last night I heard my husband, Kit, calling me, “COME! COME! COME!” I thought there was some sort of disaster — but then heard him say SUNSET! So, it was back up the stairs for my iPhone.

Wow! my camera really can’t capture the GLORY of Your Sky, God! Truly, just seeing it was a blessing.

Then this morning, as I was going to read the paper in bed ,I picked up the MacNutt’s magazine and read an article by Russ Parker on “Rediscovering the Ministry of Blessing.” Parker was in Rome to give a key-note talk and promote his new book Forgiveness is Healing.

He was upset that his book had been unofficially published in Italian and was selling well — but with no royalties to him. Then a woman came up to him asking him to sign a copy of the Italian version. He said, “I did my best to swallow my pride, signed her book and then laid hands on her heard and prayed (in English without a translator) ‘Lord! Give this woman the biggest blessing she can live with!'”

The woman rested in the Spirit and was healed. That began three days of his praying the same prayer over each person who came forward. Wow, God! Parker makes the point that Blessings are PRONOUNCED, not prayed for. There are wonderful books on the importance of the Father’s Blessing, God. But Parker reminds us that all of us who believe are called to bless.

Parker goes on to say that all too often people “battle in prayer” to change someone. You simply command us to BLESS BLESS and do not curse. Ah, God. I think Parker is right when he point out that all too often the person we are “praying for” feels judged and somehow experiences that unheard prayer as more of a “curse.” Sigh.

Oh Lord! Bless us with the BIGGEST BLESSING our lives can hold! And help us freely pronounce that same blessing!

Tagged with: Bless, bless and to not curse, Blessing, Forgiving is Healing, Russ Parker
Posted in Blessing, healing, Holy Spirit, Sunsets

Blooming — Where ever we are

Posted on December 2, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

blooming between the Wall and the Deck

Good Morning, God!

I was thinking of using photos of Sunrises or Rainbows for this morning’s blog. But it feels as if You have selected this small flower — blooming in a small crack between the concrete wall and the concrete deck at a friend’s house.

BLOOM!

It feels like a command! GROW! EXPAND! LEARN! GIVE! A series of commands along the line of the parable about three people given money to “invest.” Two doubled their money and one, BEING AFRAID, dug a hole and buried it.

Sigh. Fear creeps in and blocks the light we need to grow. Being full of Fear is like being FULL OF EXCUSES. We tell ourselves that we were never given the right circumstances in which to flourish.

But, then, God, You show me this beautiful flower which has managed to bloom through a very small crack between a concrete wall and a concrete deck. Do I hear You saying, Well?

Sigh. I know I have to change. I know I have to be more open and real. More willing to fail and learn. Or maybe, it’s fail – – fail – – fail – – fail – – fail — and then learn. Certainly, while playing Angry Birds, a computer game, I had totally to disregard the Level FAILED message and focus on TRYING AGAIN.

That does take HOPE, God! . . . Hope AND Humility and stick-to-itiveness.

Tagged with: a moment with God, being afraid blocks the light, Growing takes hope, we are never done
Posted in blooming, Failing, fears, growing toward up, Growth Opportunities

Robojellies and 20 million trees

Posted on December 1, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

a Box Jellyfish

Good Morning, God!

Well, I actually thought THIS WAS a photo of the robojellyfish that scientists have been working on. Not so! It is a box jellyfish.

The photo appeared in an article in Space Daily about how engineers at Virginia Tech have “developed a robot that mimics the graceful motions of jellyfish so precisely that is has been named Robojelly.”

the REAL robojellyfish

I must say, God, that was misleading journalism! They should at least have had a photo of the moon jellyfish which the robojellyfish is modeled after.

Anyway, this creature is being funded by the Office of Naval Research to conduct underwater surveillance, detect chemical spills, monitor ships and submarines and observe migration of schools of fish. I would think all of that could be done without hiding the electronics in a fake jellyfish, God.

Mind you, I enjoyed learning how the scientists are using shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators to swim. Shape memory? Still, I am finding my initial delight in such a curious project dimming, God.

I am thinking of other larger problems — like how to create jobs that help our fellow human beings help themselves — and others. With all the work that needs to be done in the World, you would think we could do a better job of figuring this out!

It was Wangari Muta Maathai, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner, who came up with the idea of enlisting women in Kenya to plant trees. I think they were paid a dime a tree. And in spite of their not being “professional foresters” (men actually objected to that), the women have planted 20 million trees. Reforestation benefits everyone!

Hmmm. Maybe, God, we should get more women working on how to allocate government funds?

Tagged with: allocating our resources, How to create worthwhile jobs, robojellyfish
Posted in Choosing Meaning, Creating, earning a living, systematic rebuilding required

Dogs and Coaches — and Cats?

Posted on November 30, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Dog in a car in the Costco parking lot

Good Morning, God!

How long is it, God, that dogs have chosen to be our companions? A long, long time. Faithful friends. Surely a beneficial relationship for both dog and human.

I remember staying at a B&B in England that was sort of a working farm. The inside dog looked a lot like this dog. Beautifully groomed and cared for. The outside “working dog” was wet, dirty and clearly exhausted. Their worlds were totally separate.

Then, in Ireland we saw a shepherd “training” a young female border collie to round up and fetch the sheep. The young dog’s mother was there, too, and it was so clear to me that the mother KNEW she could do a much better job of teaching her daughter than the man was doing. He finally had to chain her up so he could continue without her help.

Apparently, aside from uppity mother border collies, dogs are leader dependent. This I have from the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan. According to him, the master/owner has to be the Alpha Dog. If not, the dog will “fill the void” and end up neurotic or vicious. Hmm.

I understand that “packs” have leaders, God. But, it would seem that not all humans are “pack” animals. A group of men does seem to sort itself out as to who’s in charge. Thus the importance of coaches and hierarchies. But, we women, God, seem less inclined to be “pack” creatures.

Kit has a running coach and follows his coach’s weekly assignments to the mile. I had the same man as “coach” in 1997. It never occurred to me to take his “assignments” seriously! Looking back, I can see I didn’t have a “place” in my makeup for a “coach.” . . . Perhaps I’m part Cat?

Yet another way in which we humans differ. We do need YOUR HELP, God!

Tagged with: dogs and cats together, Dogs and Leaders, hierarchies and communities, Men and hierarchies
Posted in Diversity, interspecies contact, Understanding

Angry Birds and the Game of Life

Posted on November 29, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Angry Birds -- the most popular game app ever

Good Morning, God!

I began my day by sitting and listening in Centering Prayer. And what I heard is — It isn’t about Words. It is about Hearts.

Oddly enough, that leads me into reflections on the Angry Birds game. Millions of minutes are wasted each day playing this game. And, I’ve wasted my share.

This is a perfect game for a touch screen — iPhone or iPad. Both depend on our fingers.

What I have relearned is that our hands have their very own “intelligence.” For the first level or two, my Mind tried to direct my left index finger. Ha! That didn’t work! Finally, I remembered that our hands CAN LEARN — apparently all by themselves.

Once I turned over leadership to my hand, I actually moved up to level VI. As I play I can almost feel the neural network in my left index finger growing! Really, God, it tingles!

It was the Word Part of my Mind, God, that wanted to “direct” my finger. That is the Part that expects You to USE WORDS. The Word Part of me is sitting here, now, considering the reality that it is being by-passed during Centering Prayer.

The Mind doesn’t like that. Maybe, it’s OK during a silly game to yield to the Hands. But, this is the Game of Life, God! The Mind wants WORDS and CLARITY and ORDER and LEVELS and FEEDBACK on “HOW AM I DOING?”

Well, TOO BAD! Or, more compassionately, There There. The Game of Life just doesn’t work that way. This is hard for me, God. Your Kingdom is so different from ours. We call You King of Kings. But, You call us “children.” Indeed, You tell us we must become as little children . . . going so far as to tell us we must be “born again.”

Please, God, comfort my Word Part and help her sit, humbly and quietly, in Your Silence.

Tagged with: a moment with God, hearing with our hearts, praying without words, sitting in God's presence
Posted in attunement, becoming the change I wish to see, Changing, Hearts, listening

A New Year — A New Beginning

Posted on November 28, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Advent Sunday Morning Sky

Good Morning, God!

Yesterday was the Beginning of Advent — the Beginning of “Beginning to Get Ready.” Ready for the company that’s coming and for “The Companion,” Jesus, who wants to join us.

It is the Church’s New Year. I learned that in the morning’s sermon. Is this like our secular New Year, God? Should I have cleaned up my home and heart to get ready for a New Year? Are there traditions I’ve totally missed?

Sigh. I’d like to treat the beginning of the Church year even more seriously than I do our regular New Year. It’s too late to clean the house, office and heart. But, I could make a Resolution. But, what?

Maybe to LISTEN? To actually set aside time to hear You? Like BEFORE I chatter on in my blog?

It’s true, God! In writing my blog I have been just sitting down and talking to You. Now that I stop and think about it — that seems really dumb. Drat! I hate it when I actually catch myself doing something dumb.

I guess, I ought to rejoice? Duh! Yes, I ought to be thankful about that! Maybe even write them down in a sort of “Dumb Things I’ve Done” list? And them review them? Daily? Yikes!

I think I will go right now and “listen.” . . . I just read about Jonah in the Belly of the Whale calling out to You. Being in Dreadful Straights does that — it make us Cry Out to You!

I like the story about an atheist who was thrown off his horse and in a coma for weeks. When he woke us he was a Christian. They asked him, “When did this happen?” He replied, “Between leaving the horse and hitting the ground.” You surely hear a Cry of the Heart.

So, God, on to a New Year and more listening!