Shining Spirit

Not every creative act is a roaring success. People in all walks of life will tell us that failure is often our best teacher. Instead of throwing away the dismal failure, learn from it. That chocolate cake that looked good but tasted awful proved that that recipe won’t work. I have added to the base of human knowledge one way not to make a chocolate cake. I heard someone say the other day: “I made a mistake and then it made me.” My mistake became my teacher. The novel that no publisher would accept, the song that was never sung. Learning and growth are not merely gifts to the person who succeeds, but to anyone who tries and “fails.”

So, today let’s walk into the bright sunlight of wisdom with open minds and hearts. Let us treat failure as a friend, learn something in the “No” and press on all the wiser and whole. Don’t waste today mourning the failures; take them one by one and befriend them. They do bring us some remarkable gifts of insight if we are open to receive them.

May all your efforts find great success today. But if they don’t, you can be the wiser for it. Live and learn.

I’m trying to decide what I did today
that served the common good.
Stop a war? Feed the poor?
Don’t you think I should
be able to identify
something to call good?

But I suppose, if truth be known,
I thought more of my needs, my own
and hurried through this busy day,
missing the moments when I could say:
“You are of value” or “That’s a nice dress”
or “I’m sorry I got you into this mess.”
Now darkness settles, moonlight flows
through the slatted blinds before they close
and the soft light of heaven falls on you.
It was then I remembered what I always knew:

If I do nothing in a particular day,
if I choose to live with nothing to say,
if the day seems wasted for the lack of a deed,
I think of the world’s undeniable need:
to love each other without asking reward,
to face together those times that seem hard,
to be just and kind, faithful and true.
Even if there’s little we thoughtfully do,
Creation is blessed because I have loved you
and you, in return, have loved me, too.

For, love released, given away
is more profound than what I do or say.
Today we loved and the earth rejoiced
for we made the unreasonable, impractical choice
of putting aside all the “musts” and “shoulds”
and doing the one thing that is truly good.
We loved with abandon. We loved without fear.
You took my arm; I held you near
as we walked together through this remarkable day,
following our hearts along the better way.

Did you and I do anything good today?
The answer is “Yes, we gave love away.”
And when we did, it came back to embrace
and to shine in the joy of each beautiful face.
Did I do anything important today?
I did. I loved along the way.
May I find the will, as tomorrow begins,
to do the same thing all over again.

As I pull back the curtains on this glorious day,
throw open the window, I hear the earth say:
“Good morning, beloved. We’ve been waiting for you.
The Moon and The Stars bid you adieu
as they fade into the softening sky,
the mountains and forests, in company, sigh
with genuine delight that you are here.
They offer their love as now appear
the first rays of sunlight to brighten your way
as you walk into this remarkable day.”

It will be as you make it; many choices will come;
just examine your heart, for you will find some
that carry God’s blessing far and wide,
while others, not helpful, must be denied
for they serve not the purpose of mercy or grace;
they bring sadness and sorrow to humanity’s face.
This day is yours, make what you will
and through it all, remember that still
God’s is Sovereign, Christ is the way
in this and every beautiful day.

Now, let your heart bow, for, Look! Do you see?
Just there in the distance, above all the trees,
just where horizons touch the sky,
hear the birds sing and the Angels cry
“Glory to God! Now comes the Light!”
Who can take in such a stunning sight?
And the answer comes back: God makes all things new.
This day, for example, is made just for you.

Rejoice! Be glad, you of infinite worth;
God’s expression of love since the day of your birth.
Remember this moment. Cherish these words.
Laugh with the sunlight. Sing with the birds.
For you now stand, arms lifted high
to touch his garment as He passes by.

If you take a stroll through The First Letter Of Paul To The Corinthians, you come across comments, directions, insights that reflect the amazing mind of Paul, the author. And not just the amazing mind, but the unwavering faith. He addresses the meaning and purpose of Christ as God’s good news, divisions within the church of his time, behavior within the community of faith, what it means to be an Apostle of Christ, spiritual gifts, unity in the family of faith, and, of course, the magnificent statement about Christian Love. Chapter 13 is poetic genius. But, don’t overlook Chapter 15, Paul’s detailed statement about the Resurrection of Christ and its meaning. Then comes the summary in Chapter 16 and, particularly, the 13th verse. Here Paul gives advice, encouragement and specific directions for living faith. Here are his words: “Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”

Everything Paul has addressed in the previous paragraphs of his letter to the Corinthian church, is brought to conclusion with those words. I propose that Paul’s summary statement to his Corinthian sisters and brothers is meant for us, too. In tenuous times, I need to remember words like alert and courage and strength. But most of all, I need to be reminded every day that everything I say or do must be grounded in love. Courage and strength can serve the wrong purposes. It’s the starting point that counts. Christ. Only. Exclusively.

First Corinthians 16:13. Copy it and tape it to the bathroom mirror. You may need a reminder. Press on!

I live with a dream that won’t go away;
it haunts my steps day after day.
In my dream, I am always called to task
for hiding behind a deceptive mask
of indifference and selfish disregard
for those whose lives are very hard,
who merely survive from day and day,
who rage with anger when their children say:

“Daddy, I’m hungry and very cold.”
This beautiful child is eight-year-old,
a victim of someone else’s greed,
an example of why we desperately need
to come together in mutual trust;
It’s not that we should, we must!

I still have a dream, despite it all;
if the sun should burn out, or the sky should fall,
I will not give in to violence and hate;
with one breath remaining, it’s not too late
to live by Love, not just think it through;
there may be nothing more I can do,
but I will have tried to stem the tide
of injustice, greed and arrogant pride.

(With gratitude for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
whose words, in his speech I Have A Dream,
inspired his poem. )

A good friend told me recently: “I don’t believe in this religion stuff. No, not me.” Then we went on to talk about cultural changes, ecological issues, the political climate of the day and a range of other topics that had direct bearing on how we live each day. It was a great conversation for someone who didn’t realize that he was dealing with the same ideas and issues Jesus talked about 2,000 years ago. Same topics, different setting. A word of advice to my friend: Don’t institutionalize Jesus and miss the message. That message was highly relevant then, and it certainly is now. That message lives in the street, not just the sanctuary. It upends the world with its brash claims. It is brash enough to say what our hearts know and our brains sometimes reject. It is free to hear, challenging to accept and insistent that it only works when plugged into life, real hands-on life. While that message is comprehensive and universal, two particular ingredients are of utmost urgency. Those ingredients are identified in this quotation from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech. “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.” Bypass “that religion stuff” if you choose, but don’t miss the message.

Dreams become reality when they move from “what if…?” to “why not…?” to “I will…!”

What if I took the initiative to help my neighbor in her need; knocked on her door, called her on the phone, made the effort. What holds me back? *Well, I am very busy right now. *I don’t know anything about her. *She has never waved or said “hello.” *I might disturb her if I knocked on her door. But…”why not…? Why not step beyond the boundary of my own hesitation, my own reluctance to “get involved?” And since I can’t think of a truly honest reason, “I will…! I will take the first step, knock on her door, see if there is anything I can do to help out; I’ll be her neighbor.

And he did. And she needed help. And they are now friends. And now when he sits in church on Sunday mornings and hears the message: everyone is my neighbor, he thinks of how many times he has been “too busy” or “too tired” or “too cautious” and he offers a prayer of forgiveness.

“I believe that even amid today’s mortar bursts and whining bullets, there is still hope for a brighter tomorrow.” The dream persists. “I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream.” As we observe this Martin Luther King, Jr Day, consider the “what if ?” and the “why not?” and the “I will!” And take these words to heart: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

Who is my neighbor?, the man asked Jesus long ago. We know the answer in our hearts. It is time to turn dreams into realities…what ifs to why nots to I will. It is time.

Time goes by like a snap and a flash,
but it wasn’t always so.
In the days of the child, when wonder ruled,
Time would stop to say “Hello”,
sit for awhile, share a laugh or two,
wave goodbye ’til the next time through.
Time was always my friend.

And then one day it occurred to me
that something was not the same.
My best friend, Charlie, got sick and died,
a random act with no one to blame.
It was then that I knew, with certainty,
that the very same fate awaited me.
Death would come someday.

And now, after decades have come and gone,
my mirror doesn’t lie.
Who is this man who stares back at me?
And with a longing sigh,
I answered the knock on my front door post.
And guess who just dropped by!
There stood Time and a second man,
someone I didn’t know.
We talked and laughed as old friends will,
until they had to go.

But as he turned to leave my home,
Time reached out and took my hand.
“It’s time, my, friend, for us to go.
Do you understand?”
And in that moment, it was clear to me
that Time and Death were sent to be
my escorts into eternity.

By the way, there’s one thing you might want to know:
I can tell you now it is true…it is so…
The three of us walked hand in hand
across this remarkably beautiful land,
along a path of moonbeams and light
into a realm beyond human sight.

And there was Charlie, waiting for me.
So, don’t be afraid. This is how it will be.

A few thoughts to keep in the back of your mind today:

That last breath you drew, and the next one in line, is not the product of your ingenuity; you didn’t make it. It is a gift, and what do you say when you receive a gift?

Today you will have an opportunity to be curious. Don’t miss the chance to ask a question that might not have an answer. Wonder.

Insight is often stumbled upon. It surprises us more often than fulfilling our expectations. Watch for “a ha!” moments today.

If you believe you’re good enough, you can be. If you believe you’re not, you won’t be.

Finish what you start. Stick to it. Press on to a conclusion. You will feel better about yourself at the end of the day.

Today someone will be kind to you, annoy you, disappoint you, comfort you, perhaps even betray you. In all circumstances, practice the WWJD rule: What would Jesus do?

Have a goal for today. Smile at least three times. Say “hello” when you pass someone. Help at least one person. Give something to someone who needs it. Make up your own goal.

Follow the advice of St. Paul who encourages us to “pray constantly.” Let your life be your prayer. Today is your blank canvas; paint a beautiful picture.

Cardboard boxes are beginning to stack up in the hallway, in the kitchen, in the bedroom as we anticipate a move from Marana back to Oro Valley. Yes, I know. Another move, but we’ve thought it through carefully, looked at the pros and cons, consulted family and friends, sought divine guidance and listened for the Spirit’s input. The result is: Oro Valley, here we come.
Ah, but we have a new system for this move. We used to take a big felt pen and write on all the boxes locations and content. For instance, that big box in the corner, in previous moves, would have been labeled with a big felt marker: “Kitchen: pots and pans” All the moving team had to do is read the hand-written note and then put the box in the designated area. Simple. But not foolproof. That was what happened in previous moves, but this one will be different. New system! Foolproof process. I am color-coding every box. Brilliant. Each box will bear a sticker of a particular color….yellow sticker for Kitchen, red for Bedroom #1, green for Family Room. You get the idea. Now, all the movers have to do is match the color to the location and everything will work fine. No more illegible scribbling; now the simple process of color matching. But, smiled my friend, what if….my foolproof plan is in shambles. What if I get the only color-blind moving crew in Tucson or what if the color chart accidentally falls into the trash can or what if the colored stick-on label falls off the box…like that one over there?

Sometimes when you think you have the perfect plan, you don’t. Moving, it seems, requires a modest amount of patience, determination, and readable handwriting. I guess it never hurts to include humility, too. Now where did I put that big felt-tip marker?