See you middish October!

Hello good friends - wherever you are in God's great love,

September has presented us with brilliant blue skies that backdrop stunning sunsets and highlight clouds in vivid pink.

It’s been a super adventure sharing spiritual discoveries -- putting on the new cloth, the new garments, of who we are as God knows us.

It's time for an autumn break, and I look forward to seeing you again soon – around mid-October.

In the meantime, you might enjoy discovering previous posts – all the way back to February!

Just scroll down the right hand column until you see "Blog Archives." Then click on the little triangle next to August, or your month of choice. Then click on the name of the month. And voila! You have that month’s worth of posts before you.

As we journey on together, yet individually, may you feel the warmth, comfort, power, and delight of God’s love in everything you do.

Sandi

Traveling with Paul

Ships in Bible times

Paul, as in the Apostle, is my theme today. I’m traveling with him mentally, perhaps spiritually.

What I’m loving about Paul right now is the fact that his many trials increased his conviction that he could never be separated from the love of God.

Never.

Shipwrecked, three times, he says. Beaten, stoned, often in danger from those who hated his words, in danger in the city, in danger in the wilderness, at sea, and among those who pretended to be his friends but were not. He adds that he was often hungry and thirsty and cold.

But never separated from God’s great love.

Fearlessly he forged ahead.

I think, “I’m not Paul. I don’t have to be brave. I’m not a threat to anyone, so far as I know. People don’t hate me - well, so far as I know.”

Yet each day requires some bravery on our part. The events of any given day are unknown when we awake each morning. We assume a certain routine, but that could be interrupted any time – a colleague is promoted, or fired; a treasured friend moves away. Someone who loved us is no longer around.

We can lean on that same great Love that sustained and inspired Paul through much scarier days and nights. Life does go on and, if we’re holding back, we need to shift gears and participate in Life’s fullness. The world needs our caring, our prayers, our peace, our laughter, our involvement.

Paul felt he was a conqueror. He conquered his fears, his insecurities, his doubts, his short-comings - because he knew he had a purpose.

We can do the same. God intends us to be conquerors too. You too have a God-given purpose to bless.

Doing the right thing

Chicago transportation - many alternatives

Today I attended an all-day seminar on “The Social Media Revolution.” Very cool insights on the role of blogs and podcasts within an organization.

But that’s not what this piece is about. This is about doing the right things.

I had learned through an email that Bill was signed up for this seminar too and, amazingly, he lives not far from me. I don’t get excited about driving into Chicago, especially during rush hours. Bill had received the same email, so, "Aha," I thought, "Perhaps he’ll offer to drive."

He didn’t. Two days before the meeting it occurred to me to offer him a ride (and then maybe he would offer to drive). Since I’m trying really hard to listen to what I call “angel messages,” those intuitions from God that guide us safely and wisely, I emailed Bill and offered to pick him up.

He accepted – but did not offer to drive. In fact, he needed a ride. It turns out that he is very familiar with side streets into and out of Chicago, and he had a great route for us that avoided the gridlock of the expressways. Because of his newspaper writing background, he shared a wealth of Chicago history unknown to most folks.

He also told me about parking at Midway Airport's CTA lot and taking the Orange line into the city – something he has done often. I was grateful to learn about this practical alternative.

From time to time I’ve noticed that God helps me do the right things – in this case taking the initiative to offer Bill a ride -- in spite of my own line of (well, yes, sometimes self-centered) reasoning.

Speaking of doing right things, I remember hearing how my grandfather came upon a car accident beside the road. Think 1930s. He stopped to help and discovered someone pinned underneath. He should not have been able to physically do this, but Walter was able to lift the car, so the injured person could be pulled to safety.

As I see it, there’s a lot God can do with an honest heart.

Do not forget that an honest, wise zeal,
a lowly, triumphant trust, a true heart,
and a helping hand constitute man,
and nothing less is man or woman.
Mary Baker Eddy

Most excellent fun

Wrestling cats demonstrate headlock

Playing is important. Experts in social behavior believe play in both humans and animals helps the young learn social responses that allow them to grow into thoughtful, balanced, well-adjusted adults.

Play is a happy time of interaction with no purposeful result. At it's best, it is taking part and engaging in spontaneous fun.

I have two cats. Buster has grown in just a year to be considerably bigger than his sister. He soon discovered he could easily overpower Bibs. He would decisively win their tussles, and she would run off and hide. Eventually Buster realized that although he had won the wrestling match, he had lost a playmate.

Over time he has learned to play more gently. They engage in sparring more often, chasing each other through the house. Sometimes he lets Bibs win a little.

Life is about adapting and compromising to achieve more important social goals. This is not timidity that lets another walk all over you. Rather it is self-worth that is so founded on the conviction of a loving Father-Mother good cherishing and maintaining us, that selfishness is quenched by a generous spirit.

The following most amazing video link shows the naturalness of the spirit of play. Having gentle fun for the sake of having gentle fun.

You shouldn't need to click anything after this link. Please be patient while the video loads.

http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/play/audiogallery/soundseen.shtml

Never trapped

"The Gingerbread Man" story comes to mind. The rascally cookie dashes away from those who care most about him, sprints from others who clearly want to eat him, and ultimately trusts a con artist who cunningly manipulates the tasty treat to achieve his own goal. The carefree little cookie ends up in the tummy of that foxy fox.

The Gingerbread Man is a secular version of the Prodigal Son - except in Jesus’ account, the son comes to his senses before it’s too late, repents of his foolishness, and is welcomed safely home by a caring Father. A happy resolution is so Jesus.

A friend once told me, “Christ always finds a way to go forward.” Christ is never stuck in a corner.

Sometimes we are faced with two bad choices. Sometimes we have to pick the least bad of the two, and keep moving in the direction of least bad choice. It can feel cumbersome, but if we’re faithful in making the best choice available, progress will be steady.

More often, if we can find it, there is a third less obvious, but clearly inspired, choice that comes from sitting down with an open heart and asking that Higher Power variously called God, Truth, Father, Mother, Allah, “What shall I do? What do you want me to do? How can I be of service today?”

When asked from a quiet and honest heart, answers come. This is my sense of Christ speaking to us when we are ready to hear. Sometimes we may not like what we hear because it goes contrary to our “wants.”

I’ve gone kicking and screaming in the “right” direction many a time. When we are willing to follow that answer (with or without the kicking and screaming) the very action of courageous choice lifts the burden of indecision and reaches out to bless others.

Those obstructing mental walls somehow dissolve as we forge out of self-centeredness into participating in God’s good plan.

Even if ignorance, carelessness, or self-will has launched us pell-mell into trouble, Christ always has an alternative.

A time to dance, and a time to be quiet

Ellen is a trooper. She’s the mother of a guy I dated in Junior High, and we’ve stayed in touch these many years. We went to an indoor concert last week

The catch is that we weren’t quite sure what we were getting into, only that it would be different. A lively and delightful Cuban Salsa band invited the audience to dance in the space between the stage and where the seating began.

We totally enjoyed watching the dancing. I counted 32 couples just before intermission. These included what appeared to be grandmas and sons, dads and daughters; a family with children dancing enthusiastically; there were couples with polished moves, and people just having a good time.

Ellen and I struggled with the volume issue though. In case you’re wondering, it was REALLY loud. So in spite of the joyous dancing, we left at intermission.

So what did we learn from this experience? We learned to be adventurers. To push beyond our comfort zones. We succeeded in looking for the good. We found we could have a happy evening together in spite of the volume. We also discovered that it was good to know when it was time to leave.

While the instruments drowned out even the singer, which we found odd, we heard quieter messages that united our hearts in companionship for the evening.

That’s not so different from everyday life. Sometimes the volume or the momentum of the day would try to upstage or push aside the inner stillness that speaks to our hearts and restores our peace. It’s important to know when to step aside and find that quiet space that challenges the rush and noise.

It’s also important to know that we CAN step aside. It’s in that quietude that balance is restored, perspective broadens, alternatives appear. Claiming our special space is as old as civilization.

Christ Jesus called it prayer. And he advised that the best way to hear what God is telling us is by going into the closet and shutting the door – closing out all distractions.

Not a bad idea.

Optical illusions - things are not always what they appear to be

If you want to have some fun, look at the following optical illusions:


Two circles of identical size are placed next to each other. One is surrounded by large circles. The other is surrounded by small circles. The orange circles appear to be different sizes, but they are the same.

________________________________________

The red bars appear to be different shades. It's the relation of the red bars to the background -- white or black -- that makes the shades appear to be different. All the red bars are the same shade.

______________________________________

In this illusion, the horizontal lines appear to be bent. If you hold a ruler to each, they will run true along the edge of the ruler.

We cannot always trust what our eyes tell us. There's a lot that we see during the day that isn't necessarily true.

For instance the evening news, if we believed our eyes and ears, would convince us the world is a terrible place full of crime, deception, and disease.

However, everyone knows the media news gives a sharply distorted view of the life. It headlines only what is shocking. Very little attention is given to good people doing good things -- which is the reality of life for most of us.

Unfortunately illusions can be fatal. There is the story of a criminal, about 150 years ago, who was the victim of an experiment in which warm water was drizzled over his arm. He was told that he was bleeding to death, and he died because he believed the illusion.

So, how can we be not deceived by illusions? I find it helpful to measure relationships and events against what I understand to be God's nature -- good, caring, loving, fair. If something doesn't conform to God's nature, then it is not to be trusted to have the final word.

And if something isn't conforming to God's reality, I believe we have the authority of Christ to challenge and resist whatever is unlike good. And to expect change.

When friends and I missed our turn hiking down a mountain in Colorado this summer, we saw dismay, discouragement, danger, weariness facing us. But was it real or was it illusion?

Since we felt strongly it was not God's nature to let his children wander, we chose to identify those negatives as illusions. Instead we found gratitude for one small thing, and saw that as evidence of a good and merciful God leading us safely down the mountain. Which it was, and S/He did - gently, patiently, steadily.

Coming down that mountain

Other optical illusions:
http://listverse.com/miscellaneous/20-amazing-optical-illusions/

Talking with the animals

Snack time

Communication involves listening more than anything else.

While hiking in Colorado with friends this summer, we were followed out of the tree-line by a gang of three jay-sized birds. They seemed particularly interested in us, so I took a piece of crust from my sandwich, and held it in my outstretched palm. Instantly a jay lit on my hand, took the crumb, paused - perhaps to say thanks, and flew back to the pines.

Without knowing that these (later identified as) gray jays have a rep as “camp robbers,” there was communication. I had understood that if we offered something, they would respond.

Even better, a friend from New Hampshire, seeing that photo, emailed her own bird experiences. “A few years ago I was able to rescue a tiny hummingbird and got to nestle him and let him know he was just fine until he flew off.”

Jen prays about everything, and I know her well enough to know that with this “nestling” she was affirming his unbroken link with his Creator, that his Life was constant, uninterrupted, and that this little idea had an important role to fulfill in Life’s plan.

Jen added, “Just last year when we were screening in our porch, a nuthatch flew in after we had gone into lunch. Evidently he was stunned and wasn't able to find his way out. I picked him up and talked with him while I carried him outside, and do you think the little guy would leave my hand and arm that he was exploring? No, so I had to help him off onto one of the bird feeders.

“A short time after that I was watering one of the hanging plants and lo and behold (I'm sure it was the same little guy) he landed on the plant not 12" from my face and ‘talked’ to me! It was amazing, and I think he was just saying thank you!!”

When the heart speaks,
however simple the words,
its language is always acceptable
to those who have hearts.
Mary Baker Eddy

See fellow bloggers:
Squirrel rescue /Scroll to September 12
Hummingbird communication

The spirit of generosity - giving back

beauty beyond man's making

The year is about 1000 B.C. King David and his people have just contributed generously to the temple that David’s son Solomon will build.

And David reveals his understanding of the source of all goodness when he says, But who are we, “that we should presume to be giving something to you? Everything comes from you; all we’re doing is giving back what we’ve been given from your generous hand.” (The Message, I Chron 29:14)

David was talking about gold, silver, bronze, and jewels. Material things. Even though I don’t believe God gives us “things,” still, I think David had the spirit right.

All that's pure, constant, true, and lasting about life comes from divine Love, and as we express these qualities, we praise and glorify the origin.

We don’t own the qualities, or possess them. Because of their infinite source, we cannot ever use them all up. They aren’t really dependent on DNA or genes.

Whatever is good in life originates in Spirit and that’s why it lasts. Matter doesn’t last. David’s gold and Solomon’s temple were destroyed. But the spirit of generosity permeates all generations, all cultures.

Material beauty fades. But the concept of beauty lasts. We are cheered by beauty every time we discover it - in sunsets, spring flowers, songbirds, Grand Canyon.

As we recognize that God’s giving – kindness, strength, intelligence, patience, healing, foresight, insight, caring – is spiritual, then we can use these gifts generously, productively, creatively, to bless all mankind.

Amazingly we lose nothing in the process. And as we utilize opportunities for sharing, we give back what S/He has given us.

God gives you His spiritual ideas,
and in turn,
they give you daily supplies.
Mary Baker Eddy

That happy grace called gentleness

Exploring the Bean in Chicago

Nephew, grandsons, and I went into Chicago the other day to play. It was one of those fantastic friendly September mornings when the sun shines, a light breeze blows, and Lake Michigan cannot decide whether to be turquoise or stunningly deep blue.

We’d brought sandwiches and, after splashing in the water at Millennium Park, and being amazed yet again at the Bean, we had a picnic in that shaded gem of a park attached to the south side of the Art Institute.

What greatly impressed me was Gene’s intuitive and gentle patience with the boys. Walking through the park towards Buckingham Fountain, we faced a path circling magnificent flowers. A choice. Gene was right there mentally in the “play” mode. “Which way shall we go?” he asked. And the little guys thoughtfully agreed on a path around the flowers.

Later in the Planetarium Theatre, one grandson wanted to sit way up front. This was not the adult ideal of where to sit. Gene cheerfully let go of his own wishes, “It’s not about us,” he said. “It’s their day.”

On the way back the second-grader wanted a piggy-back ride. Gene cheerfully complied for about five minutes. Which was a long time to carry a good-sized kid.

Gentleness is an amazing quality. It’s humble, undemanding, kind, considerate, and stronger than you’d expect.

Watching Gene interact so graciously with his cousins reminded me how gentle God is. S/He doesn’t push or compete for attention. S/He is just there for all of us.

Wherever we go, God’s gentle presence has been there first, scouting things out, as it were, preparing the way for us to accomplish His good purpose. It’s a good feeling to respond, to move in harmony with that gentle and wise plan.

There’s the fable of the argument between the sun and the wind, as to which was stronger. They decided to have a contest and chose a hapless traveler wearing a cloak as the object of their experiment.

To prove his strength the wind decided to blow the cloak off, but the more he blew, the tighter the man clung to his cloak. When it was the sun’s turn, it just shined. The traveler soon became warm and removed his cloak voluntarily.

Moral: Gentleness is more effective than turmoil and bluster.

What a privilege to know special people who let God shine through their lives simply by being themselves.

O sweet and tender as the dawn,
With mighty power to heal and bless,
Is God's dear gift to all His own:
The happy grace of gentleness.
Ella A. Stone

How your giving goes on endlessly

What are your special gifts?

"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”

I guess I’m still hung up on that new CD. The joy of the Peter Link's words, music, and of Julia Wade's voice thrill and inspire me.

Today’s song is “The Gift.” The source is Paul, admonishing the Corinthians to appreciate and value everyone’s contributions, because all that’s good originates from one source. He says, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” One God, one good. Then he elaborates with a list of talents and special skills that he finds in their community: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy.

The song’s gift list expands to include: music, patience, inner joy, grace of movement, integrity, motherhood.

Now comes this very cool insight: “The giving goes on endlessly. The giving’s never done,” because “these are God’s gifts in action . . . for the healing of the world.”

Simple things. The mom kisses the dad (or the dad kisses the mom; or you wave to a neighbor) who goes off more cheerful than s/he might have otherwise, and this cheer inspires them to be generous to other drivers on the road, who appreciate that consideration, and pass it along during the day. And on and on.

That’s the whole point of God’s love for man, isn’t it. That God gives us His/Her love, and then we share that love with our fellow man. Like the proverbial ripple in the pond, the generosity goes on and on. If we do it well, sharing our gifts can increase exponentially!

And it's important to keep giving, because otherwise the friction and contrariness of the world would slow and stop the promise of that outward momentum.

The reason giving special qualities can go on endlessly is because we are not the source, only a means, a channel, for good. We don't originate good or have to look for more. The supply is unlimited. Whatever goes out to bless is immediately replaced.

What if we think we don’t have anything to share? Then we need to recognize our value, because kindness, patience, caring, listening – these are huge gifts. And the world needs them.

Children appreciate adults who listen to them. Everyone appreciates a good listener. At one time when our household was super busy, I remember complaining that the dog was the only one who listened to me! Hmm. Perhaps I should have been grateful that at least the dog listened.

We each have the ability to naturally put God's gifts into action. We are all richer in spirit than we realize.

The rich in spirit help the poor in one grand brotherhood,
all having the same Principle, or Father;
and blessed is that man who seeth his brother's need
and supplieth it, seeking his own in another's good.
Mary Baker Eddy

Story for the ages

Focusing Forward

Each day an adventure!

“Old age begins when someone looks back instead of forward.” (Bob Moos, September 4, Dallas Morning News.)

What a great definition!

Anticipating an event – a camping trip, a NASCAR race, a concert, the arrival of a new baby – boosts our joy quotient. Enthusiasm hums just beneath the surface, propelling us through the intervening hours or days.

Children and dogs awake joyfully each morning expecting new and happy adventures.

Sometimes in one’s life experience, it’s tempting to look back. Maybe a job, a marriage, a move, hasn’t worked out as well as we’d hoped, and we compare the results to some previous experience we remember as having been better. Or perhaps we’ve said or done something mean or cruel or worse, and eventually it niggles at us, demanding resolution.

If the mental review is for the purpose of learning and going forward, the contemplation has served a useful purpose. If, however, we look over our shoulder too long, our whole body turns around and points in that direction. It’s hard to walk forward while facing backwards. Since there’s no purpose in going back unless we can fix something, either go fix it, or stay focused ahead and expectant of good.

Pollyanna? I don’t think so. Our ability to focus forward depends on our view of God, and our relationship to that God. If this Creator is good, all-knowing, all-loving, wise, caring – why not expect good?

We don’t have to become worthy of God’s love. In fact, there's nothing we can do to earn it. Christ Jesus showed by his healing works that man in the likeness of God who is Spirit and Mind, is already worthy of the best of God’s love.

He taught his listeners about a caring Father of all mankind who demands that we not worship other gods – distractions such as sleek bodies, latest fashions, certain foods, money, power, cars, influence. And that this God worship includes fairness and kindness – starting with our fellow man.

When my friend Sam's wife passed away, he said he was tempted to go back – to an empty house, an empty life. But he realized he could, and needed to, decisively make a decision to go forward, to keep his joy. When he was tempted to bemoan the loss of a companion, he found he could choose instead to be grateful for their time together and go forward on the basis of that gratitude. To not be sad it’s over, but to be glad it happened.

He felt close to his God, and found he could lean on that warm friendship built up over the years. Sam just asked God each day, what S/He wanted him to do, that would praise and honor God as Love, God as Truth, God as good.

And so he has been – leaning, asking, doing, with joy. And facing forward.

To those leaning on the sustaining infinite,

to-day is big with blessings.

God is Love.

Can we ask Him to be more?

Mary Baker Eddy

"Excellent" parenting

It was a birthday party. Shouts and laughter emerged from one of those inflatable things with a net-enclosed bouncing room. Then I heard a grandson voice say, “Now you’re asking for it!” A moment later another little boy emerged crying loudly.

I’m not sure what had transpired, but both moms reprimanded their kids. They sincerely apologized to each other and spoke gently, not placing blame. I was grateful to see common sense and good parenting reign. Each mom admonished her boy to treat others the way he wants to be treated. Neither was trying to be the perfect mom with perfect children. They were helping their young men learn and grow socially.

“I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for. Perfection is God’s business.” Michael J. Fox

There is a difference. And people mess themselves up if they confuse the two. Mr Fox is quite right.

Trying to be humanly perfect is an exercise in frustration, because “humanly perfect” is an oxymoron. Nothing human is or can be perfect. Even the best of what we do humanly, changes.

So what did Jesus mean when he said, “You are to be perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”? The Greek word, teleios, translated in King James as “perfect” actually has the meaning of complete, in the sense of growing in mental and moral character.

This makes perfect (pun intended) sense, coming as it does near the middle of the Sermon on the Mount – that blueprint for all relationships. This nutshell of Jesus’ life-message offers specific behaviors in tough situations for people to get along with one another, and to feel good about their own progress. It’s about improving what’s going on in our thinking. What we think comes out in what we say and do. The Sermon offers productive alternatives to arguing and fighting, deceit and selfishness.

Jesus required looking within and improving our thoughts and deeds so we can grow mentally and spiritually into something resembling how our Maker knows us and intends us to be.

Both moms were gracious and generous, following the altercation.

Excellence IS something we can reach for.

Here are two useful takes on the “Be perfect” statement.

“There must be no limit to your goodness,

as your heavenly Father’s goodness knows no bounds.”

New English Bible

“Live generously and graciously towards others,

the way God lives toward you.”

The Message

The simplicity of kindness

Helping is natural

We are discussing kindness. And in that context Ron emails: “Saying Yes to loving our fellow man, is saying No to voicing anything unkind.”

Can life be so basic? So straightforward?

When we say Yes to divine Love (who for me is God) as the center of our lives, our thoughts, our goals, are we at the same time making a mental and spiritual commitment to say No to any unkind words?

I like the simplicity. It makes perfect sense. And I’m surprised to easily think of several people who are active in my life and are achieving this genuine, deep, and consistent kindness. What a privilege to know them. They don’t talk about it, they may not even think about it. They just live authentic generosity of spirit.

So I wonder, is this an attainable goal? Can I be deeply caring too? One has to come to terms with the fact that to become consistently and genuinely kind demands monitoring thought like never before.

Saying Yes, agreeing to love my fellow man, means saying No to rattling off at the mouth whatever pops into one’s head. It means rejecting the smart remark in favor of a gentle reply or perhaps even silence.

Yikes.

In fact monitoring thought means being selective about what one chooses to think, because our words are the outcome of our thoughts. I know it’s possible to choose which thoughts to companion with, that we can reject thoughts that make us uncomfortable, because I’ve been applying that principle with some modest progress.

I’m encouraged by something Eddy writes in her book, “Science and Health.” She says, “The devotion of thought to an honest achievement, makes the achievement possible.”

And, for heaven’s sake, Jesus' answer to Cain’s defensive question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” – is an unequivocal Yes, in the form of a strong offensive initiative to “Love one another.”

Apparently love is our debt to God, and love is how we pay it. Not the limited human affection that comes and goes, waxes hot and cold, can be possessive and jealous. But that broader love for mankind that is constant and unconditional. That’s the big stuff. The real stuff. That’s what lubricates relationships, shades them from the harsh glare of misunderstanding, guides them safely through the shallows of envy and criticism.

I may stumble and fall along the way, but so what? I’m going to start saying more Yes to loving my fellow man, and more No to voicing words unkind.