Shining Spirit

I would not have believed it if I hadn’t seen it. A passenger-sized, multi-engined aircraft. Remember the old DC10 with the third engine in the base of the tail assembly? That’s it. That’s what is coming straight at the camera after releasing the orange fire retardant.

Wave and say “Thank You!” to the crew when it pulls up and banks sharply to the right. Airborne acrobatics! Amazing human ability! Stunning skill! All to save your house or mine, your life or mine.

Does anyone care, at the moment, if the crew is black or white? Straight or gay? Republican or Democrat? All female? Does it really matter? Only to people whose bigotry is as bold as the crew’s courage.

How often I look to the mountain for strength when I am weak, for beauty when everywhere there seems to be ugliness, for peace when there is no peace.

And now the mountain burns. A lightening strike that could have touched anywhere. Majestic trees lining the upper ridges explode in the intense heat, animals scurry to find shelter, a thick blanket of gray smoke churns in the upward draft of heat, then lounges casually in the blackened canyons.

But when the smoke clears, revealing the charred surface terrain, there they are. The majestic faces. The unyielding foundation of the earth remains through it all. They will not be moved. They have seen it all before. The graceful giants have been battered by the moment, but they have stood like sentinels, commentators on the nature of creation.

So much of our taken-for-granted lives has burned away in massive contagion, blatant injustice, corruption and fear. We are not who we used to be. We will never be who we used to be. There is no going back. The grass will return to the mountain canyons and trees will grow where others used to stand, but it will all be new growth, fresh shoots of hope and opportunity. When the rains come and wash away the debris of yesterday, the mountain faces will shine again.

May they look down on a new world, a new mind and heart in their human neighbors, people scattering seeds of justice and hope and truth where hate and violence used to thrive. Through the explosions of pandemics, racial confrontations, economic disaster, and the reality of death…through all the fires surrounding us, may we emerge wiser, more compassionate, committed to justice for everyone, bringers of hope instead of hatred. May we be both seed scatterers and the seed itself. May all the things we think and say and do right now bring forth the green pastures and still waters of life as it should be.

In the polite language of golf, it’s called an unplayable ball and the player is usually given a free drop. In the everyday language of golf, well…I can’t print it here. Can you image a worse position to be in? It usually happens when you’ve hit a sweet, straight, amazing drive, only to find that the ball decided to give you a taste of humility and found this shelter in the prickly pear cactus. If you get a free drop then you still might have a chance for par. But, more than likely, this situation means at least a bogey, or a double or a triple. One of these can ruin your round and your day. More than one of these in a round and you’ll be buying drinks in the clubhouse.

There are some days when it seems like every decision you make, every effort you expend, every attempt at something new ends up in the prickly pear. It’s called disappointment, or a chance to learn a lesson and do it better next time, or rotten luck. For the golfer, it usually happens because the grip isn’t right or the stance is wrong or timing is off or any of a dozen other technicalities. For me, in my daily routines, it usually happens because I haven’t paid attention, or I’ve wanted my way at the expense of good advice, or I’ve tried something way over my head…pride goes before what?

Try to remember that there are a lot of prickly pears out there and they love nothing better than to gobble up your golf ball. Slow down, pay attention, stay within the limits of your proven abilities, do it for the right reasons, and listen to good advice. If you’re going to hit a 500 yard drive to impress your friends, bring along a box of balls.

Fore!

There’s a lot in life to choose from.
Choose wisely.

There will be opportunities today to make a difference in the world.
Choose one.

There might be a time when fear taps you on the shoulder.
Don’t look around. Press on.

There will be a time today when someone says you are special.
Believe it. You are.

It’s possible that sometime today you will feel tired to the bone.
Sit down and rest in The Spirit.

The Gospel according to Matthew tells us a story about Jesus climbing a tall mountain in the company of Peter, James and John. Once at the summit, the three men are astounded to see Jesus, standing off by himself, change before their eyes. His face shown like the sun and his clothes were radiant.

The three felt both fear and wonder as two figures appeared near Jesus, called him to join them, and began a private conversation. This can’t be!
It is not possible for Moses and Elijah to stand here in human form. But very quickly their fears turned into delight and joy.

Within minutes, there appeared a huge, bright cloud that overshadowed all of them. The cloud took in the trees, the rocks, the whole mountain top and when it settled gently around them, a voice was heard…a voice! A voice coming from the cloud! “This is my son whom I love. I am pleased with him. Listen to what he says!”

Two thousand years later, the voice still speaks. And it says the same thing.
In this painful time of massive death and confrontations in the streets, listen to what he has to say. His words and his way will save us from ourselves. Listen. Listen!

It’s hard to believe how many spectacular blessings Nature
offers us! We can only see them, however, when we are
looking up. I know it’s tempting to go through these days with
our heads down…the weight of frustration, the power of fear,
the sense of helplessness…these things weigh heavily on our
shoulders. But try to remember, we can’t see the blessings
unless we look up…up in our spirits, up with our eyes,
up with hopeful hearts. You and I are stronger than
our feelings and we will not let them control who we
are and how we respond.
So, today the phrase running in the back of my
brain is “I am stronger than my fears. I am
wiser than my frustrations. I am courageous in
the face of all obstacles.”
I am and you are because God is.
Maybe you will see something today that will
remind you about who you really are. Be watchful and aware.
Look up!

On this first day of the week, may you find hope to replace your sense of futility, peace in your mind and spirit instead of the undercurrent of fear,
awareness of the good and the positive around you, and an appreciation of beauty that is the sign of the Spirit’s residence within your heart.
May the trinity of Wisdom, Courage, and Serenity
guide your way to The Way.
May it be so.

Spread your wings today!

You are a beautiful work of Creation!

You can fly!

(If you try!)

Have you noticed the lovely flower crowns atop our Saguaro neighbors
all over town? Striking!
But when I see them my mind revisits the first words of the
Sursum Corda, the beginning statement of the
traditional communion rite in many Christian churches.
The priest calls out to the congregation:
“Lift up your hearts” and the
people reply: “We lift them up to the Lord.”
Our tall, stately cactus friends are lifting an offering of
beauty to the universe, a gift to creation, their way
of saying “above the confusion of life in this world,
there is beauty and we lift it high for all to see.”

Would that we might follow their lead.

It’s just an ordinary sandy path until the shadows come.

Shadows are often thought to be mysterious, even sinister,
but shadows painted onto a canvas or included in
a photograph add depth and dimension and
character.  In the hot Sonoran desert, shadows
are very welcome.
Could it be that the shadows that slip into our lives
might also offer a richness that would not be there
otherwise?
The shadow of doubt inspires honest questions.
The shadow of mistake reminds us to be more careful
or thoughtful or diligent.
Even the shadow that provides cool relaxation
reminds us to be thankful and appreciative.

Shadows are friends to those who recognize that
life is a mixture of many things, and who accept
the reality of life’s oneness.