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Monday, September 21 2009
Mystic Bumper Sticker
In The Way Things Are, Huston Smith, a preeminent scholar of world religions, concludes that humans approach the God-question in four ways. Atheists proclaim there is no God. Polytheists say there are many Gods. Monotheists contend there is one God. And mystics believe there is only God.
What if there is a loving, creative energy inherent in this universe, inseparable from all that is?
What if everything and everyone is an expression of that energy - God in disguise?
Mystic bumper sticker: Start Seeing God!
Monday, September 14 2009
Ideally Imperfect
Ideals are beautiful. They deserve to be cherished and nourished; for they are a vision of what's possible - what's possible in ourselves and what's possible in the world - a vision that propels us.
There is a challenge inherent in the gift of ideals: the challenge to forgive ourselves, to forgive others, to forgive the world, and to forgive life itself - as we, they, and it routinely fall short of what we envision.
Can we honor our ideals and soften to inevitable imperfection? Can we hang on to what we hold dear and, at the same time, nurture a forgiving heart and a compassionate spirit?
Can we make room for goofiness - within and about?
Friday, September 04 2009
Internal Boundaries
I've been working lately with a discipline I call "internal boundaries." The idea is that, just as I wouldn't invite a thug or a robber into my home, I deny entry and refuse to entertain "thug thoughts" that rob me of joy and life energy.
Helping me in this endeavor is a quote I recently read:
"What other people think of you
is none of your business."
Monday, August 24 2009
Saturday's Sunrise
A ribbon of red, crossing the blue expanses of cloudless sky and Lake Superior, signals impending sunrise. I'm perched on a beach boulder, all bundled up, facing the glow. An easterly breeze caresses and invigorates. Waves lap on the shore. Seagulls squawk. The aroma of fresh doughnuts wafts my way.
As the sun peeks over the horizon, rising more quickly than I expect, a line of color - first reddish, then orange, and finally gold - dances across the waves and appears to move directly toward me, almost as if I'm being personally greeted. I feel a connection with the dancing light.
Competing with the nourishment and tender mercies of all this beauty, a chattering mind tugs for my attention, serving a menu heavy on regrets and rehearsals - not tender, not merciful, and certainly not nourishing
Once again, I'm invited to choose: powerful and familiar old habits or the fresh beauty of what's happening now. Unless I make the choice consciously, the automatic prevails.
So, can I treat myself to this moment?
Can I really let a new day dawn?
Thursday, August 13 2009
Light Shadow
According to Carl Jung, the Shadow is that part of us which is unknown to us or disowned by us. While the name implies a darkness, something negative or not-so-nice within us, this is not always the case.
Here's a slightly edited version of a prayer composed by Benedictine author and spiritual guide, Macrina Wiederkehr, and brought to Thursday night Connecting Group by Ann Romanowsky.
O God
help me
face the truth
about myself --
no matter
how beautiful
that truth
may be.
Monday, August 10 2009
Dawn's Light
Dawn Beye, a dear friend and colleague who
practices in the Kansas City area, was
diagnosed six months ago with a
cancer considered "incurable."
I've been deeply impressed by her
courage, candor, humor and grace
in dealing with this challenging visitor
and with the wise reflections she posts
on her CaringBridge website.
Here's a sample:
"I saw a movie recently - Miracle at St. Anna -
a Spike Lee movie. It had some lines I really
liked. At the end, a character was talking
about how there is no control in life -
wherever you go or try to hide, there are
risks. And yet we expend so much energy
and resources to maintain an illusion of
control and safety. Here's the quote I liked:
'Safety is the greatest risk of all, because
safety leaves no room for miracles. And
miracles are the only sure thing in life.'
"One thing I am learning well with this
cancer is that miracles abound in all the
messiness and unpredictability of life.
Safety, as we commonly think of it on this
earth (physical safety, financial security, etc)
is impermanent and can disappear in the
blink of an eye. And yet, at the core of our
being, we are always safe. Even when 'bad'
things are happening.
"When we learn to perceive from the highest
part of ourselves, we find peace and
assurance. For me this is the miracle -
the sure thing. I'd like to be a lot better at
tuning into this. I can't say that I'm all that
skilled at it yet. But I'm willing to keep
learning. And I'm getting plenty of learning
opportunities these days. Practice makes
perfect, as they say."
Monday, August 03 2009
Breathing Spaciousness
There are times when it's important to follow
instructions precisely. This is not one of them.
Last week, I invited you to connect affirmations
to the in-breath and out-breath. I'll be doing
the same again this week.
Perhaps the practice works just right
for you as prescribed.
If you'd like to change it in some way,
please feel free to do so.
Make room for you.
The breathing love practice flows naturally
into breathing spaciousness.
Here's the entire sequence
as it originally came to me:
Breathing Love
Inhale: "I am connected."
Exhale: "I am loved."
Inhale: "I am loved."
Exhale: "I am love."
Inhale: "I am love."
Exhale: "All is love."
Breathing Spaciousness
Inhale: "All is love."
Exhale: "I am love."
Inhale: "I am love."
Exhale: "I am."
Inhale: "I"
Exhale: "Am"
Gently, let the affirmation grow quieter and quieter
until, effortlessly and unpredictably,
all self-consciousness disappears
into the spaciousness of deep quiet.
Timelessness in sacred silence
is a healing grace that occurs naturally -
and often briefly, especially at first.
It can be invited, but not forced.
It's a gift, not a goal.
Enjoy!
Sunday, July 26 2009
Breathing Love
In my personal cosmology,
connection is an antidote to human suffering.
And love is what heals.
On a recent morning jog,
I began playing with a breathing practice
that builds on the consciousness of connection
and the remembrance of love.
It starts with a self-healing warm-up
and moves toward universal healing.
If you decide to try it,
let one set of affirmations take root,
before moving on to the next.
Enjoy!
Self Healing
On the inhale, affirm: "I am connected."
On the exhale, affirm: "I am loved."
Toward Universal Healing
Inhale the affirmation: "I am loved."
Exhale the affirmation: "I am love."
Then inhale: "I am love."
And exhale: "All is love."
Stay tuned next week for Breathing Spaciousness.
Sunday, July 19 2009
Disguised Gifts
You know those stubborn, knotty,
recurring issues we face in life?
I find it helpful to think of them
as well-disguised gifts --
teachers inviting us
to deepen,
to grow,
to become more conscious,
more spacious, perhaps.
"No problem can be solved
from the same level of consciousness
that created it." Albert Einstein
Sunday, July 12 2009
Bliss Tolerance
I impress (and depress) myself with how adept
I can be at imagining the worst --
preparing for disappointment,
waiting for the other shoe to drop,
practicing for possible adversity.
I wonder about a kinder, gentler inner environment:
one that readies me for joy,
stretches my capacity for happiness,
raises my tolerance for bliss.
Making eye contact with the guy in the mirror, I ask:
"HOW GOOD CAN YOU STAND IT, TODAY?"
(By the way, if you'd like to hear the Four Wisdoms audio broadcast, go to the SofteningtoLove home page and click on What's New.)
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