Shining Spirit

Some people I know just won’t give up.
They go over, around, and through obstacles.

It met a tree stump the other day who demonstrates
the same characteristics.  Refuses to quit.
Even though assaulted by a chain saw, the stump
decided that there was enough juice left to start
all over again.  And knowing this stump, one day
a child will sit under spreading branches and eat
a peanut butter sandwich.

Events and circumstances today test and try the fiber of
our being.  But deep within the core, there is something
that cannot and will not be defeated.  The surface
appearance of life may appear to be tarnished
beyond repair, but don’t overlook two
dynamic life ingredients:
human will and
sacred wonder.

Human will is undergirded by
sacred presence inherent in
all sentient beings.
Will and wonder:
I wouldn’t bet against them.
Take heart!

What is man that You are mindful of him?

I am part of every tree, every river, every star
I am because of I AM

I am a moral and ethical mind in
the substance of flesh

I recognize both love and hate because
I am ever connected to The Source of life

I am broken but beautiful,
self-interested yet sacred,
of myself and of my God,
I am two seeking to be one

What is man that You are mindful of him?

I am hope wandering the world.
I am the essence of the possible.
I am.

I’m so glad that nobody has come up with the idea of
masks for beautiful flowers.  They smile twenty-four
hours a day and encourage us, we who steam up our glasses
from  ill-fitting masks.  Walking through the grocery store the other day
I realized that all the smiles are gone.  No one can see through my mask,
and that’s where my smile lives.  But I smile anyway…does me some good.

Today when you look from your window onto blooming trees and flowers,
smile back.  The mask offers protection, but the blooming world offers pleasure
and promise.  If the flowers can smile, so can we.

Thanks be to God.

“This is the day the Lord has made,
let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

In your mind and with your heart, go to that
special place where you are embraced
by peace, stillness and centered quiet.
Be alone for a few moments in the middle of
that sea of tranquility and trust.
Go slowly but with sacred intention.
Relax your body.  Release your mind.
Let go.

No one sinks.
No one is overcome by fear.
Neither will you be.

This is not A day…
This is The day…

This day will never happen again.
Don’t miss it.

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his
mercies never come to an end; they are
new every morning; great is your
faithfulness.
The Lord is my portion, says my soul,
therefore I will hope in him.”

New life springs from the old,
new thoughts from established wisdom,
new joy from unexpected encounters,
new green shoots from damaged branches.
All things hold the possibility of new life.
No circumstance is barren.

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope…”

Here is a Good Morning gift for you.
I hope you enjoy it.

Oh, I didn’t mention that there is a proviso.
You have to give a flower to someone else today.
Your flower might be a word of encouragement, or your
kind smile, or a phone call, or a prayer, or…

I hope you accept the gift of this flower, and
know that you are not alone.  Someone remembers
you today….the Spirit of Love.
And I hope you will hand out a Bouquet
of Blessing.

There is someone waiting to receive it.

I have a theory about life.  It goes like this.  Human beings acquire things that represent who they are, who they think they are, or who they desire to be.  That’s it.

Here’s how it works for me.  Office supply stores are like invisible magnets with powerful force fields.  When I walk by the store, with no conscious intention of going inside, I find myself strolling along an aisle of office machines or reams of paper or tablet and journals.  It’s weird.  I am magically transported to a wall filled with hundreds of pens and pencils, writing instruments of varying  size, color, quality or cost.  I am a prisoner and the only way out of the store is to buy a new pen.  That explains why I have a sizable collection of fine pens…Waterman, Cross, Sheaffer.  I can’t count the times I’ve heard:  “You bought another pen!”

I also find myself inspecting personal journals.  I flip through the blank pages, test the binding and the overall quality of the book and realize that I could use it to collect memories or observations or ideas for later use.   In front of me now as I write is a stack of empty journals.  I won’t tell you how many, but I could make quite as few long trips before having to buy another one.

One other piece of my life development theory.  I love books.  At one point in my life, I had shelves crammed with beautiful books containing all sorts of wisdom and wonder.  Now my library has been reduced because of age, mine, and something called “downsizing”, the dreaded  affliction of advancing years.

Here’s my conclusion.  We are all gifted with interests, hopes, desires, inquisitive minds, the impulse to explore and we have a choice about how, or if, we turn the dreams into real life.  Everyone is gifted and the fulfillment of life is the exploration of all the hints and subtle nudges that cause us to be drawn toward something just beyond our finger tips.  And when that “something” is discovered and developed, we say “Yes” or “Thank you” for Creation’s gift.

Hints and nudges are often the keys to the joy of being.

She’s about the size of a quarter.  Almost invisible in the grass, she resisted
being picked up by a human hand but soon relaxed, maybe just
exhausted from her travels.  In the middle of a golf course fairway
is not the place to be if you are a very young, slow moving creature.

Everybody needs a little help, once in awhile.  We get ourselves into
situations that are frightening, or bad choices, or even dangerous
and it’s a great relief when a friend comes along and lends a
hand.  I think that’s the way the Spirit works, too.
Not a physical hand, but still Spirit touching spirit
and lifting, supporting, loving.

I put the beautiful little creature in a safe place so
she could have another chance at living.
Remarkably, that’s what the Spirit
does, also.

And for that we are grateful.

Instead of walking in circles today,
why not walk in a circle?
It’s called a labyrinth.  Maybe you’ve experienced the
spiritual power of this ancient structure.  There is one entryway
which leads you around a circular pattern until you reach
the very center of the feature.  There, spend a moment in prayer or
reflection, then reverse your course until you exit by the same way
you entered.  All along the slow walk, meditate on a subject, pray,
just use the time as a spiritual exercise.  Don’t rush.  Move slowly and
let your mind relax into the meditation.

This labyrinth is located in Oro Valley, but you will find many across the city,
particularly at churches or retreat centers.  In this time of stress and
concern, you might want to go online, find a labyrinth design and use it
in the safety and comfort of your home.  Use a pencil and trace slowly
around the design as you pray and meditate.

May the loving Spirit of God guide you through this day and bless
you in the journey.

May the song of the ocean remind me of the
marvelous chorus of the universe as it announces
your majesty, Creating One.

May the light of love guide me through this day.
May the wind dancing through the branches
of ancient trees and young saplings touch me
as the Breath of Life.

May trust and compassion define who I am
as I live these hours committed to your Way.
And at the end of this day, may I look back
and see your footsteps in the sand, the assurance
that I do not walk alone.

May it be so.  Amen.