Shining Spirit

Weep for the ones that can’t understand,
for the left behind and the lost,
defenseless, in fear of savage man
whose actions exact such a terrible cost.
Left as their masters flee to survive,
condemned to forage and find their way,
these beautiful creatures from whom we derive
such joy and love in a different day.

Pray for the helpless who hide in the night,
who die as we ravage the suffering earth.
They cannot survive this terrible blight.
Please, God, may their sorrowful deaths give them birth
into realms of contentment and peace once more,
to live without the evils of war,
my faithful yellow Labrador,
afraid in the dim light of smoke shadowed stars.

6:15 a.m….Choice to make…small Fitness Room with piped-in elevator music and/or talking heads on two TV screens…or…out the door into 46 degree weather for a power walk.

6:25 a.m….out the door.

6:28 a.m….listen to my heart as it moves toward high gear; up the steep incline on Innovation Park Dr…thump, thump; breathing more labored. The sound of my footsteps becomes a cadence for the uphill march.

6:33 a.m….say “good morning” to two small singing birds; accept their invitation to join them. We sing.

6:37 a.m….out of breath at the turn around point, .75 miles; welcome new light rising behind the mountains; beautiful mural as the shadowy mountains meet the crisp morning light.

6:39 a.m…now it’s downhill; yea!; such a lovely winding path lined with trees and green bushes; downhill is easier.

6:45 a.m….the wind is at my back helping me along like an old friend; I say “thank you” and listen to the wind’s song in the trees.

6:48 a.m….I am shocked to see, just in front of me, a sleek (and large) bobcat come out of the bushes on my right, cross the four-lane street…slowly, like he owns the territory…and disappear into dense foliage across the street. I follow. (I know) I want to see him closer, to take in that graceful beauty. But, it’s his territory and he disappears. What a sighting. What a gift.

6:50 a.m….approaching the last curve before my home comes into sight; the sun is just touching the mountain peak now and it broadcasts long arms across the tree tops, fingers stretching out and dropping big splashes of light everywhere.

6:55 a.m…at my front door; sweat on my back and mental pictures of a wonderful walk…a wonder walk; along the hallway I pass the Fitness Room, elevator music is competing with thundering TV sets; I smile. What a way to begin the day. This IS the day the Lord has made…and the Lord did a very fine job of it.

He said, “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety. Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and some absurdities, no doubt crept in. Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays.”

Yes!

Ralph Waldo Emerson

A soft white sheet follows the contours of the land,
smooth in places, contoured over stones and tree stumps,
a photographer’s paradise. But how can I know my way?
Where are the familiar streets driven so many times,
the lane that carries me to the gates of my home?
February’s snow blanket is beautiful, but the
path, the Way, is essential. Beneath the temporary
resides the permanent, the hard surface that withstands
both dazzling and debris, sure to foot,
any foot longing to find its way to the warmth of home.
The momentary may be magical but it is a distraction.
Under the snow, that’s where one finds the solid
surface that withstands storms and circumstances,
waiting beneath all exteriors, discovered when
things temporary yield to the essential core,
revealing the way that leads to
the joy of arriving.

After a long day of chasing balls, taking walks, watching a squirrel through the family room window, and occasional napping, Night finally arrives and signals the Sun to rest for another day’s shining. But the very best thing about Night’s arrival is the opportunity it presents to lay your head on the leg of your best friend, snuggle down into that familiar denim, let your eyes slowly close to the evening light, and sleep.

If only the world loved me as much as my dog does. If only I had the will to love with such contented trust. Tonight before your eyes get too droopy, say a prayer of gratitude for all the animals that are fortunate to have a place of warmth and safety in which to sleep, for all the homeless and abandoned animals whose single purpose in life is survival. May the Creator of all living things, all creatures that draw breath, look with mercy and compassion on the lost and the lonely…man and animal. May there be a day when all of us…all of us…can sleep in the warmth and security of love. May it be so. Amen.

To honor the One who calls me
from sleep to awakening,
the Spirit’s whisper in the darkness
of early morning, I give my mind
to thoughts that foster peace,
my hands to work that benefits
the common good of all,
my mouth to speak words
that heal, not hurt,
my feet to walk in solidarity with
the weak and the wounded,
my strength to overcome
obstacles and barriers to joy.


Help me, Kind Spirit, to rise above myself,
beyond the limitations of my imagination.
Place upon my shoulders the gentle yoke
that binds us together
through this new day.
When I fall, pick me up.
When I want to quit,
bolster my faltering resolve.
When the night finally approaches,
lay me down in the sweet
meadow of your love
and sing to me the songs of
life’s goodness.


To honor the One who calls me
from sleep to awakening,
I rise to new life.
I rise to meet the Light.
Amen.

May sunlight warm your back,
a gentle breeze sing to you,
the smile of a friend touch your soul,
an insight delight your mind,
and a helping hand lift your spirit.

May what you say encourage,
all you do come from truth.
May your hands bring healing,
your song fill the earth with joy.
May this day be the best of your life
because you loved and were loved.

May all of this be so because
of your sacred friendship
with the Source of
all being.

Amen

Just one at a time.
Unless the brown bear
is gaining ground,
just one at a time
and you’ll get there.
Rushing while wearing
that coat of worry, or
anger, or emotional pain
will likely cause you to
say something, do something
that you might wish to take
back later. Bad situation.
One step at a time, knowing
that you are not alone. Your
Friend, the One who promised
to be with you always, extends
His hand. Take it, and one
step at a time.

May you find peace this day in the certainty of a Mystery.
May your knowing originate in your heart, not your mind.
May the good earth hold firm the anchor of your soul.
May you be content to live “as if…” when other options disappear.
May your coming and your going cause the universe to smile.
May all around you experience the presence of God in what you do
May your words magnify the meaning of life found in simple trust.
May you sleep tonight with thoughts of a day well spent.
May it be so. Amen.

“Don’t argue. Don’t pout! Just…Do what I tell you to do!” Got it?

Those are familiar words to a few of us. Remember when your Mom or Dad said that, or something very similar? Well, with a slight modification, that’s what Mary, the mother of Jesus, said to the servant staff at the wedding party in Cana long ago. Mary was giving them some very clear instruction, and some very valuable advice. “Do whatever he tells you to do.” The “he” in question is her son, Jesus, and the setting is the wedding celebration where the wine vat ran dry and thirsty guests wanted refills. The servants didn’t know what to do, and it wasn’t their responsibility to keep the party rolling.

“Just do whatever he tells you to do.” And, as we know from John’s Gospel account, Jesus called for six empty water jars, had the servants fill each to the brim with water, and presented the jars to the host who sampled the liquid and pronounced it the best wine he had ever tasted. This is a powerful story on several levels, but I suggest we don’t lose sight of the wonderful advice because of the wonderful wine.

Do you think your life might be slightly different if you followed Mary’s good advice. “Do whatever he tells you to do.” Don’t whine. Don’t try to negotiate or compromise. For sure, don’t ignore. What’s the point of being a Follower if I don’t follow? The value in reading His teachings, closing the book, and then doing what I want to, anyway? We acknowledge that Jesus is the person who most truly reveals the nature and purposes of God. We use words like “incarnate” and “presence” to describe our limited grasp of who he was and is. Mary knows! And she’s giving us some very good advice. Just do what he tells you to do. You don’t have to agree. Just do it.

Naïve? I don’t think so. It’s called Trust, or Faith, if you wish. So when he says: Love your neighbor, then love your neighbor. Feed the poor…then feed. Comfort the sick…comfort. Forgive your enemy…then forgive. The basic assumption is that the incarnation of the Creator in human flesh may know more than we know. May even have better solutions to the world’s ills than we do.

Good advice. Do whatever he tells you to do.