Shining Spirit

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.

Life Giving God
When I see these stones, I think of You.
They speak of strength, so needed right now –
strength in facing difficulties,
strength to look beyond all chaos and
see glimpses of the Spirit
strength to “press on” and persevere.
Help me know the inherent strength
of the Spirit that lives within me.

Life Sustaining God
As You sustain even the smallest piece of
your creation, even the imperfect beauty of
these stones, so take the pieces of my
life and help me sort them as I
live this day.

Life Receiving God
My gifts are small but I pray that
you will bless them into a bountiful contribution
to the welfare of all You have created.
I offer them to you now as an act of
faith and commitment. Receive
the offering of myself, given
in sacred trust.

May all this be so as I walk the Way of
my Shepherd, my Light, my Constant Companion,
my Guide through all the moments of this day.

Amen

One day the earth shook violently, waves in the sea leapt high into the air, as high as the hills and the mountains. Large birds and small birds shuddered in the vibrations, young trees and old trees bowed until their branches touched the ground and the mountains threw off their earth coats to release huge boulders into the air, like petulant children throwing rocks at the sky.

One large stone, angry at this unwanted interruption in his stony life, returned to the quivering earth and fell against a young tree.  “Do you mind if I rest here a moment?” Stone grumbled, embarrassed to admit that being propelled through the air, spinning and tumbling, had frightened him and made him confused.  “Of course you may rest here,” Tree replied.  “In fact, let me hold you up while you regain your strength.”  Tree’s kindness was accepted and while Stone slowly returned to his grumpy self, they began to talk about the strange events of the day, then how it felt to fly through the air, and how it was to be a tree anchored to the earth.  They wondered together about this and that until many years had passed.

On a bright and beautiful day, when the late spring flowers were dancing in quiet
meadows and brightly colored hummingbirds kissed each one gently, Stone suddenly exclaimed, “Oh, my!  We have talked for so long!  And look at you!”  It was true that Tree had changed over all this time.  He was no longer straight and tall, but bent over after holding the weight of Stone for so long.  And the strangest thing!  Tree was changed in shape and form at the point where he had reached out and  given  help all those years ago.  He would never again be like the other trees.

Stone felt great sadness.  But Tree reassured him.  “There is no fault.  There is no blame.  Wasn’t it only yesterday that you fell from the sky into my arms?  Time has gone so quickly in our conversations.”  “But…” Stone began to speak again.  “No,” Tree interrupted, “speak no more of regrets.  In truth, joy fills me from my roots to that highest leaf.  There is no reason for remorse.
We are friends.”

Dear Yellow Flowers,

I’m writing this note to thank you for the beauty you bring to this world.  I don’t know if it is your intention to do this, but I want you to know how grateful we are for the gift you give us.  It is so encouraging to know that, with the bursts of human kindness during this fearful time, you line the roadways and paint the meadows so that we might dare to smile and breathe in the fragrance of courage.

Sitting with you feels so much better than sitting with videos and computers and the endless sounds of opinions and theories and accusations.  You are a gift from the Source of Life, an embrace and a reminder that loveliness lives all around us.  When I saw you today, I remembered.  And when I sat with you in the warm sun, I became, just for a moment, a part of the great announcement.

Thank you, dear Yellow Flowers.  You make the journey hopeful.  You cause the world to smile.

With deep appreciation,

RP

I know!  I know!  Some people don’t like bugs at all.  So the best advice I can
offer is hold you left hand over the screen to block the image, then read this text.

The photo is a highly magnified image of some strange bug that will not
go away.  I don’t know his or her name, gender, classification, or
reason for camping out in my house.  I do know, though, that he is
very persistent.  I have invited him to leave the house several
times, but he shows up a few hours later and we have the
conversation again.  Now he lives in the garage where he has
plenty of room to roam.

I know what you’re thinking.  Why doesn’t he just step on it
and end the problem and the bug’s life at the same time? And
my answer will sound strange, perhaps, but I don’t like to take
away the life of any sentient being that lives on the
earth with me.  And I know there are occasions when that
might be necessary, but not for my convenience or pleasure.

So the point is this…think about how we share life on the planet
with so many other living creatures, and consider that they
have some sort of life as an individual or in community.
Maybe if we thought and acted more kindly toward the creatures
with whom we share the earth, we might decide to act more
kindly toward each other.
And wouldn’t that be an improvement.

God of all living things, creatures and plants alike,
help us to be kind toward each other, to value life,
as an act of thankful recognition for your love
in all your creation.
May it be so.  Amen.

Some kind folks have asked “Are you ever going to put some of your
poems into a book?”  So, I took them at their word…or question.
Desert Mornings is a collection of poems and nature photography
and is available to anyone who wants to part with $13.59.

I told my wife the other day that I am not a photographer, I am a
metographer…a combination of metaphor and picture taking.
As I was sorting through photos for this little book, I
recognized that I take photos of metaphors.  Strange mind,
I know.
So, if you would like to investigate the 63-page book, use your
computer and go to http://www.blurb.com.  Blurb is the printing side
of Word Press.  Next, enter the name of the book in the search
area.  And…if all works like it should…it should pop up in a list
of several books.  You’re on your own from there.

Forgive the blatant advertising, but that’s what you get for reading
the blog.   (I am grateful!)

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.

Thanks be to God!