Shining Spirit

The son of Pietro di Bernardone, Francesco, wanted to be a soldier when he grew up, and he got his wish. In the year 1202 he took part in a war between Assisi and Perugia, was captured and held prisoner for about a year, and upon his release, became seriously ill. Finally recovered, Francesco tried to join the Papal forces in a war against Emperor Frederick II but in a dream he was told to return to his home in Assisi and wait for further “orders.” Francesco didn’t have an easy life as a young man, but then God knew his heart, not just his military record. It was in a time of prayer that Francis encountered the living presence of the Risen Christ, and the young man’s life changed forever…as did the world from his gentle spirit and his commitments to live as his Lord lived.

St. Francis of Assisi found his life when he gave it away. In his transformation from soldier to saint, he changed the world. Extraordinary? Yes, but you and I can make a difference, too. Perhaps not as profound as Francis, but to bring joy to one person today, to offer forgiveness or reconciliation to someone, to take the extra step to be helpful, all from the heart of Christ, is to change the world in that moment. Francis left behind a very public and famous legacy when he died in 1226. But fame and legacy were not his goals. He just wanted to be like Christ.

The legacy is in the love we share. The fame is in the faith we live. The blessing is in the offering of our own brokenness so that the Risen Christ can take the pieces and build the Kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven.” Don’t wait for a dream or a vision or a voice. Trying being Christ for one day in everything you say, everything you think, everything you do. Be intentional. What better day than today?

Blame it on former U.S. President George W. Bush. Upon learning of the severity of 9/11 in New York City, President Bush records in a memoir that his mind went quickly to the words: “Grant us wisdom. Grant us courage, for the living of these days.” Know where those words come from? Well, how about these words:

“Thou and Thou only, first in my heart”
“Thou my soul’s glory, joy and crown”
“Made like him, like him we rise”
“This is my story; this is my song”
“I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder”

So, when I read the President’s comment, I wondered if the titles to the lines above would jump into your mind. Blame it on the President. Be a blessing today by your kindness and compassion. Press on.

When suffering enters my life,
the world around me does not
change. I do.

There is still joy in the world,
even though I am sad. There
is peace while I feel anger and
resentment. There is light even
as I live in darkness. Hope still
exists, regardless of my hopelessness.

Beauty thrives, though I see
ugliness. I suffer but the world
remains unmoved. I curse. I
contend. I challenge.

I accept.

And then, by God’s grace and mercy,
I begin to translate my own suffering
into a deeper level of understanding,
a new attitude toward the antagonism.
I acknowledge the unexpected guest
and make a place for him in my life,
not regarding him as foe, but as
friend.

And as that occurs, all the things
I assumed lost slowly return;
light appears and flowers begin
to bloom in my heart.

I think I’ve mentioned El Rio Preserve before, the little oasis found at the intersection of Coachline and Silverbell. I think I have. Usually you can find a variety of birds and some Mallard ducks bobbing up and down in the small lake, as I did yesterday when I visited for a couple of hours, camera in hand.

I share this photo with you because it is a reminder to all of us to stop and spend time in the presence of Sacred Beauty, to refresh our spirits, and to notice the little things around us that go unseen in our programed lives. The little things. Do you see it in the photo? Focus on the top of the little reeds in the foreground. If you have a way to enlarge the photo on your screen, try that. And what do you see?

Today, like every other day in your life, little things will make the picture complete. Be on the lookout because beauty is not always framed in a gallery or displayed in a museum. Sometimes beauty flies by and only the alert spirit, the grateful spirit, sees it.

You are so blessed. Be a blessing to someone who needs the grace you have to offer. “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Not many weeks after my wife and I moved to Tucson, 24 years ago, I answered a knock on the front door to find a beautiful Raleigh road bike parked on the sidewalk, a gift from our children. It was yellow and black, sleek, and fast. That was my introduction to the wonderful world of Tucson biking, my invitation to hit the road. Poor choice of words. Over the years, with a variety of different bikes, I’ve logged lots of miles around the city, especially on the great Bike Loop that circles the metro area. Included in those miles are twelve El Tour de Tucson events. Lots of stories to tell.

The photo above was taken a couple of weeks ago. In a sense, it’s a farewell picture of the last bike. This one is not sleek and fast; it is heavy, solid, and dependable. And now it belongs to someone who can ride it and find the same enjoyment I did. Now my bike sits on a platform down in the Fitness Center. It doesn’t move, but then it doesn’t fall over, either. Every biker takes his or her share of falls, and falling is something I don’t need these days.

Transitions. Changing patterns or routines. Letting go in order to find something new. It’s called life. Resist or deny all you want, but it’s going to happen anyway. I think the best we can do is be thankful for the good memories, trash the bad ones, and look ahead with a confident joy that is inherent in who we are. Confident joy leads us to live in this moment, fully, completely, creatively. Maybe confident joy is the name of the One, the Sacred Mystery, that makes the turns with us, accompanies and abides through all of life’s changes. You know that to be true, don’t you, because you’ve been through a few transitions, too. What would life be without that Presence?

I just looked at the clock and it’s 5 a.m. Gotta go. My new friend waits in the Fitness Center.

Do you remember the classic Christian hymn “Count Your Many Blessings?” Name them one by one, and I wish I could do that…name you one by one…and say “thank you” personally for your interest and visits to Shining Spirit over the years. Eleven years by my count. Eight hundred forty-eight posts, but who’s counting. Yes, there were some “dry” periods in those years when posts were less frequent, but I’ve given up trying to out-guess or out-smart the Spirit. What is….is.

So, today is simply a word of thanks to you and for you. Thank you for reading the words, for taking a look at all those photos of flying birds, sunrises and sunsets, and colorful flowers. Thank you for your comments and your prayers. They mean a lot.

So, let’s press on. The Spirit seems to have more to say. And I haven’t run out of flying birds, sunrises and sunsets, or colorful flowers yet. Accept the blessing of this day so that you, in turn, may be a blessing.

When nature waves hello today, wave back.
When you feel the breeze, hear the bird’s song,
hold the living earth in your hands,
catch the fragrance of life,
in that moment when you see with your heart,
remember everything is a gift,
and a gift requires a response.
Thank you!
The Spirit speaks in many ways.
Listen.

Resolution For This Day: I will not stick my nose into somebody else’s business. No matter how interesting, how exciting, how juicy it is, I will not do it. Not everyone needs my advice. Not everyone appreciates my advice, for reasons I will never understand. I will not pass along unfounded stories, that is, gossip. I will neither give it nor receive it. I will mind my own business, even if it is rather boring at times.

I will respect my neighbor and assume the best about him or her. I will do unto you as I hope you will do unto me. And I will go to bed tonight pleased and thankful for my resolution and my accomplishments .

It’s going to be a long day.

To You I lift up my spirit,
You, who are enthroned in every heart!
For, as the young child holds tightly
the hand of its parent,
As those in the throes of disease
look to one who brings comfort,
So our spirits seek the Heart of love,
that we might find mercy
and forgiveness.

Have mercy on us, Compassionate One,
have mercy, that we might turn from our
blind and ignorant ways.
Too long our souls have been veiled by fear;
have mercy; lead us to the 
path of wholeness.

This beautiful prayer is Nan Merrill's recasting of the traditional wording of Psalm 123 into more contemporary language.  It is found in a wonderful book, "Psalms for Praying", which contains all 150 Psalms recast in the same way.  It is an excellent book for use in prayer devotions.  The book was published by Continuum in 1996.   I commend it to you for your daily devotions.

Surrounded by wire fencing,
crowded by a thorny desert plant,
they still bloom!
It takes courage, sometimes,
to be strong in the face
of adversaries.
Choose to bloom,
the world
needs it.
"Consider the lilies of the field..."