Repetition

I don"t know what really got me thinking about repetition, but I found scribbled notes on a brown paper bag related to the topic in the center of my desk. Obviously sometime in the last week or so, when I have been very busy, repetition played on my mind. The notes were covered with a stack of papers, and were obviously so important at the moment that I placed them "front and center." Today I look at them and wonder!

I don't like repetition, I am not an orderly soul, and yet I realize that there are many daily tasks that are required and necessary, and are definitely repetitious. Actually, now I remember, I was cleaning the kitchen after supper and sputtering about the fact that so much of what happened every day was repeated over and over again.

Whether we like it or not, repetition is an important part of daily life. It is a skill to be mastered gracefully. Make the bed. Brush your teeth. Do the dishes. Dust the furniture. Pick up books, papers, shoes.....the list goes on. I remember my son Stephen struggling with the nature of repetition as a second grader. School for him was painful, it required the same daily rituals. One night after a particularly frustrating day he said "Mom why do we have to write our numbers over and over? " My answer, now I realize not very satisfactory,  was something to the effect: "Your teacher wants to make sure you know them." "But Mom, when I have done them right for four pages, doesnt she know that?" Had I been wise enough maybe I could have shared with him the fact that indeed life is filled with repetition. Maybe those early exercises actually have little to do with learning shapes, or math or spelling - maybe they have more to do with preparation for the rest of our life.

I have been fortunate that in my profession as pastor and chaplain there is a great deal of variety in the content of my daily work, even though the overall schedule may look repetitious. No two people every present exactly the same spiritual journey. The scriptures for worship and preaching, while coming from a three year lectionary may seem to contain repetition, in reality they always spring fresh from the page. As I pray the Daily Office, again it may look very similar day to day, month to month or year to year, but what I bring to it, and what I experience in reflection and silence is always different.   

In recent years I have been working on "mindfulness" and that has taught me to realize that even the simple repetitive tasks of daily living, if done mindfully always reveal something new, about myself or the task. For example when I bring all of myself to the slicing of carrots for supper, I notice the richness of the deep orange color, the circles in each slice, the texture and smell. This can connect me with the farmer who grew them, the rain and the sun that swelled the seed and caused it's growth, the amazing fact that the universe supplies us with such an abundance of different foods to choose from. These thoughts can make me aware of  the need for protection of diversity into our world, and the need to live in ways that foster sustainability. All of this from slicing a carrot!

There are times when I find comfort in a repetitive tasks.  Whether I see their benefit or not they remain  a part of the life cycle. As we watch the season change from summer to fall, and move soon to winter, we witness the repetition from life to death to life. It is in the fallow times, when repetition seems arduous that the unseen seeds are germinating, sprouting,  waiting for the right moment to spring to life. May I learn to be patient with my imagination and my soul. May I be willing to stick with a routine whether I see its purpose or not, so that in time I might harvest the fruits that will surely grow.

Blogging Time

I am standing at the kitchen counter waiting for the oven to preheat. You might ask why, or maybe you don't care! I am doing it because every day I say "today I will Blog" bedtime comes and I haven't Blogged. It isn't that I don't have a lot to say, because I have done quite a bit of reflecting in the last month.  I have had some great oppotunities to share with different people in different settings, but I haven't yet put it in writing. Potatoes are in the oven! I am aiming at a concerted effort to Blog regularly.

For most of my life I have dreaded the fall. I used to live in New Hampshire where thousands of people would come to see the fall foliage "leaf peepers" we called them. It always fascinated me and cynically I would say, "they spend hundreds of dollars and hours in driving time  to look at a bunch of dead leaves. At home when the leaves on their plants turn yellow they throw them out". I truly found very little fascination in fall foliage, for me it heralded the grey wet days of October and the impending snows of November before the real winter settled in. So what has changed? In the last two weeks I have been to Our Sacred Space on two occasions, once to lead a retreat and the second time to take our Residents for a Day Away, both times I enjoyed the beauty of the changing leaves, the first sight of my breath in the cold morning air, and the crackling of logs in the big stone fireplace. It seems that as I become more content with myself and accept that change is an integral part of every moment of everyday that I not only accept but enjoy the subtle changes both in the elements and in myself.

I'd like to continue this Blog but my husband just came home from a trip, and it is time to get the rest of dinner under way... unfinished business awaits!

AUGUST ALREADY! ALMOST GONE!

 It seems quite incredible to me that today is August 10, 2010! I began this Blog September 20, 2009, not knowing really how it would go, or what I was doing – maybe still don’t! I viewed it as the beginning of the journey toward my 70th year. My goal to gain some writing discipline that would help me document October 2010-2011. I like to write and never seem to have time, but I know the only way to have time is to make time, so that was my objective. I looked forward to sharing and maybe even exchanging some thoughts with people through the Blog and that has happened both by email and personal conversation. My outreach is small and that is fine, although I am open to more contact with those who share my interests. I have gained boldness and confidence in putting my thoughts out where others can view them at will, something that was always difficult for me. It has never been clear how I can be comfortable speaking in public and yet panic about seeing words on a page. Any other bloggers have that problem? I know there are people who write beautifully and panic at public speaking, so maybe it is a natural phenomenon.

 

I continue to explore Haiku, it feels good, is easier to complete than a sonnet or some other poetic form, and expresses my enjoyment and relationship to the natural world. This summer has provided a number of amazing experiences in the tamed wild. I think it maybe that my awareness is heightened through meditation and that the opportunities were always there. I have been left breathless by the beauty of the skies with the strange weather patterns that have been passing through the Midwest. A pair of Cardinals has charmed me with their daily bathing in the small waterfall that is below our balcony. At times I feel like an intruder as they splash and preen with each other. I visit my favorite Heron spot and have been privileged to witness the arrival of a Trumpeter Swan for a brief stay – these are just a few of the many gifts that the universe has opened to me in these warm summer days. Below is a picture of the Black-Eyed Susan that bloom in profusion in the gardens surrounding our community, their bright colors and nodding heads inspired me.

                         Garden of Sunshine 
                         Black-Eyed Susan nod their heads
                         Summer soon will end.

 

                                                                      - August 8, 2010 CAT

 

 

Catching up 2!

Catching up? I think I need to look at things differently, catching up seems impossible. I think that I should accept the fact that what I do is what I do. Living in the present, mindfully,  is valuable and I think it might be time for me to adopt this practice.

Over the years I have sought to attain "mindfulness",  to focus my attention on what is happening right now. For example as I Blog instead of letting my mind blast off in a thousand directions like a large Roman Candle on the 4th of July, I need to focus on my writing. Feel the keys under my fingers, how they fit gently into the slight hollow the engineer designed to make using the keyboard a more pleasant experience. How with each letter there is indeed, as my husband claims, a click clack of noise. How a moment too long pressing on the keys produces more letters to the word than belong there. How a brief distraction can change the thought being transferred to the page and take the piece in a totally different direction. I need to shape and form the words and sentences into a well crafted piece of writing. Instead.......?

How hard it is to focus. Mindfulness is a practice, and as such it calls for dedicated attention. I have long attributed to myself the name "Butterfly" brain, in any minute I can probably flit through 20 to 50 thoughts. Centering Prayer has helped enrich my meditation time. I have learned over the years not to "catch" the thoughts but let them go, but at other times I tend to follow the the thoughts wherever they lead, even when they lead me far from my orginal path. At one level I appreciate this because it gives me lots of creative ideas, at another level it is very frustrating because it sometimes makes completing a project a much longer process than I anticipated.

If you came to this Blog anticipating that "Catching up 2!" would have filled you in on what has happened in my life recently I apologize, but I thank you for allowing me to explore where I am in the process. I read somewhere a number of years ago that Blogging helped you to find your "voice". For me Blogging is sometimes, like today, an opportunity to discover that nothing of consequence is filling my thoughts today.

Catching up!

In the last week several people have mentioned to me that they read my Blog and are waiting for a new posting. I checked back and couldn’t believe that I hadn’t written anything since May 12. So much for blogging my trip! We had a wonderful time with many interesting and enlightening experiences, and hopefully eventually they will filter into this space.



The rich tapestry of persons and places that filled my days after May 12, were emotionally and spiritually absorbing. At the end of each day I found myself in deep reflection and often Bill and I fell into silence. I have not yet found adequate contemplative time to sift through notes and pictures and put them into words. What I can say is that Berea, Gethsemani Abbey and New Harmony are sacred spaces that profoundly touched my soul.

Soon after I returned from vacation, a close friend of mine died. She was the person who encouraged my writing, and as we shared in conversation she helped me shape my thoughts. I have not yet had time to process that loss, it was profound at many levels.

I have many projects on my plate at the moment, all exciting and challenging, so life is good! If my blog readers will indulge me I am going to try to discipline myself by writing a little every day – even if it is not of great value, or great writing - because I believe that the more I (we?) write the more clarity I (we?) have in our thinking and writing. I would appreciate your comments and sharing on any and all subjects, as you have the time. It is good to know that I have companions on the journey.

My latest haiku below was inspired by my visit to Gethsemani Abbey, in Kentucky.

Daybreak

Mist over the trees

Diamond dew grass under foot

A new day dawning.

Weston West Virginia

We managed the DC traffic this morning well and arrived in Weston early afternoon. It rained most of the way, and then when we entered WV there were thunder showers. Stopped by the Glass Museum and got a few pics, the museum however was closed. Warmed up with a cup of coffee and pie at Second and Chance Cafe, a neat little place simple but high tech, a real surprise - even get a deal if you are a fan on Facebook - thought that was a good PR move.

By accident we discovered the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (no I am not being politically incorrect!) - an amazing museum that documents the history of this institution from 1885 through its closure in 1994. It is a true time capsule and its docents are friendly and well informed. This experience helps one to put in perspective just how far we have come in our care of the mentally ill,  handicapped, and elderly as well as those with TB, HIV and post-traumatic stress disorder. It was a complete medical facility on 650 acres, desired to address the whole person. Dr. Kirkbroad believed that the cure of mental illness was fresh air, sunlight, and activity - a good beginning to finding a cure, however the journey through shock therapy, and lobotomies that followed shows the dark side of the early years. Weston developed as a community around the Asylum, people moved there for work and at one time the population was 9000, it  is now around 4000. The Asylum housed at the high census 2600 in 965 rooms. The patients therapy was work: they cooked, cleaned, did laundry, worked in the gardens, and the local coal mine. Hired staff were medical, office and supervisory. The Asylum has been featured on "Ghost Busters" and many articles have been written about it. It is the second largest limestone building in the world, the Kremlin is number one!  It was built by German and Irish immigrant stone masons.

The  impact of this visit hasn't yet registered with me, but it was very powerful and as I digest it I think in time it will find its way into my writing. The day ended with a great steak and salad dinner and homemade bread pudding. Tomorrow we journey to Milton WV to Blenko Glass and onto Berea KY.  

DC Visit

We have had a very good week visiting family and getting around the DC area. It was great fun reacquainting ourselves with our granddaughter and children -good conversation and good food. Serena is growing into a wonderful young lady with lots of energy and ideas.

A trip to IKEA could have inspired us to refurnish a whole new apartment but we resisted! I did find a chair that I might have to have! It was especially good to be in an international setting, I had forgotten how energizing it was to hear a mixture of foreign languages being spoken in casual conversations around one.

We were treated to a great performance of the Shakespeare Theater’s production of “The Liar” by Pierre Corneille, translated and adapted by David Ives. It was fast paced, funny and well acted. . If you are in the DC area try to get tickets, it is atr the Lansburgh Theater, and if not for this at least another of the Shakespeare Theater productions, you will not be disappointed.

Make sure you visit Jaleo for a meal, it is part of the ThinkFoodGroup brainchild of chef/owner José Andrés (recently interviewed on 60 minutes). A native of Spain, he has introduced the American public, very successfully to Tapas and other delightful Spanish cuisine. Tapas are small servings of many traditional dishes. We each ordered three or four dishes from the menu and then enjoyed tasting them all. The dishes ranged from a plate of assorted cheeses, a wonderful dish with spinach, pine-nuts, chopped apples and raisins (going to try and reproduce this at home), grilled lamb chops with rosemary sauce, grilled shrimp with sautéed garlic, asparagus with red pepper sauce, hanger steak with piquillo peppers, spicy chorizo wrapped in crispy potato, seared trout wrapped in Serrano ham, and several more, the whole meal was coupled with a great Spanish wine. Not to be resisted were the decadent desserts, we settled on Flan, Chocolate Torte, Cranberry Sorbet and White Chocolate and Raspberry Ice Cream.

Mother’s Day was a real treat with a trip to the National Arboretum to view the Azaleas and the Bonsai Exhibit. We enjoyed a picnic by the reflecting pool, fed the Koi and wandered back to the car through the herb garden.

The weather has been beautiful until today when it rained allowing us to do laundry and pack ready to hit the road tomorrow.

We have been with family now since Wednesday and the time has gone really quickly. Serena our granddaughter is a delight. I know every grandparent says that, mainly because it is true and allowed. We have had great fun. We have managed to adjust to DC traffic which is quite an accomplishment having come from Grinnell, IA. It is amazing how quickly you lose your city driving edge, fortunately like bike riding it comes back quite quickly. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous, sunny and cool, no humidity, We had a lot of fun yesterday in IKEA could have bought up the store, and had to keep reminding ourselves that we are now retired, have all the furniture and household ware we need. saw a couple of thing we may have to go back for before we leave, fortunately it is close by. We did restrain ourselves and "let's think about it!" Bill had went clothes shopping, there is not much choice where we live, and he got pants, ties and his favorite brand of sock - he is happy. Today we go into the city for theater and dinner so there will be much to write about tomorrow, for now enough

Day 2 May 4

Another beautiful sunny day to travel.  The fields of Illinois are beginning to sprout green which gives them a strange almost impressionistic appearance. As soon as we crossed into Indiana the land became hilly, gentle curves to the earth and a fresh greenness everywhere.

Traveling I-70 in Ohio, flanked on either side by suburban homes, I wondered about "average" daily life. Each family is unique in its coming and goings, dreams yet to be realized, and fantasies fallen away. Do they ever look up from playing in the yard, or weeding the garden and wonder where everyone is going at such a speed. Do other drivers on the highway look at these homes and send up a brief prayer (as I did) for the inhabitants, or wonder if they are making it in this fragile economy? How small our personal worlds are? What a narrow focus we have! What is happening in the lives of the millions of human beings who share our universe? How do my decisions, actions and choices impact their lives?

We stopped at a truck stop for gas and were tempted by an old fashioned hot dog bar, we did not resist and thoroughly enjoyed a hot dog with mustard, onion and relish - the first in probably ten years! I trust it didn't wreck my diet!

Traveling through the treelined hills of Ohio I was dive bombed by my first butterfly of summer, a yellow swallow tail, I think, it wasn't hurt and flew off oblivious.

Making our way through Wheeling West Virginia we arrived in Pennsylvania where we stopped for the night. It was a great travel day and blessedly uneventful. Tomorrow we head to Maryland where we will reacquaint ourselves with our grand-daughter (and of course our kids) we are looking forward to our  visit!

Day One Vacation

Leaving for vacation on a bright sunny cool morning. Our first stop, sort of a travel ritual is at Casey’s for gas, coffee and a doughnut which we share. It signals for us a different pace, We say our traveler’s prayer and we are off to commune with one another, our Creator and the creation,

The fields along I-80 lie prepared, rich brown soil awaiting the sun and rain to burst the seed, send down roots and push sprouts to the surface. Contented cattle graze on rich green grass while others bask in the warmth of the sun. The traffic whizzes by, our 70 mph speed not being sufficient for their journey, but ample for us.

The Thomas Merton quote from Terry Hershey’s blog today was perfect:“Everything has already been given. What we need is to live into it.” It is certainly what I believe, and in my best moments try to live. This mirrors for me the whole concept of vacation. It is a time to rest on the journey; to store up memories and experiences that will refresh the spirit so that one can return to the normal routine renewed. To this end I usually try to plan a vacation that reconnects me with friends and family and includes opportunities that stretch my mind and imagination.

For lunch we stop at the Jubilee Café, Kickapoo, IL. One of Illinois’ best kept secrets. The food is always good, the same waitresses we had on our first visit seven years ago and continues to be “cash only”. We were introduced to it by Fr. Gabriel a monk from St. Bede Abbey in Peru, IL. The main attraction for him, beside it’s good mid-western fare, is the homemade gooseberry pie served with vanilla ice cream. Sound strange? It is amazing! The tartness of the gooseberry, mouthwatering short pastry crust offset by the creamy sweet vanilla flavor has to be savored to be believed. The blue cheese dressing on their salad is another must!

Fully satisfied by a good meal, good memories and of course pie, we set off along Interstate 74 with its unremarkable scenery. Unremarkable that is until we stopped briefly and encountered a display of photographs by artist Larry Kanfer. His work lifts up the IL country side from “unremarkable” to significant as he reveals the magnificence of prairie and farmland. His words and images changed immediately my view of the the panorama along the highway. Where before it was flat and ordinary now I saw it’s depth and uniqueness. I saw the way in which earth and sky met on the distant horizon in creative union. As a storm brewed I no longer saw flat boring strips of land but unencumbered skyscapes, roiling clouds, rippling furrows, and resting cattle.

Following the storm the sky burst forth with ascension images, pockets of light reaching down to earth - only the figure of Christ absent.

Preparing for the Journey

I woke this morning early and reminded myself that I didn’t need to rush, I don’t have a Sunday School Class and can therefore take my time, I turned over and didn’t get up until 6:45, I felt quite guilty. I lay in bed listening to the small waterfall that splashes into the koi ponds, felt the cool fresh dry air from the window gently blowing across the bed and gave thanks to God for a beautiful new day.


As I write I wait for the coffee to brew and already feel like my vacation has begun. Today will involve a last visit for 17 days to the Health Center to check on residents. Next the packing will have to be accomplished and then the mini panic as I go through the unnecessary ritual of worry might/could go wrong on the trip. After stated that here maybe I can skip that this trip!

I am very excited about the trip it has taken the usual planning and includes a variety of places that cover the interests of both Bill and myself. Not only will there be visits with family in Silver Springs and sightseeing in DC but on our return trip we visit West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana. We will explore history, glass making, bonsai, Appalachian crafts and education, utopian communities, railroads and rivers. We will drive through country we have not experienced before and relax and renew ourselves spiritually. Each time I prepare a trip I anticipate the adventure and the wonder that within the borders of the United States there is such variety of landmass, culture and people. I trust we will explore with open eyes, minds and hearts all that is offered us in the coming days. I believe every well planned journey is a pilgrimage, where we encounter the sacred spaces of life and land. I am ready for this adventure.

Easter Transformation Cheer

Is there such a thing as “blogblock” if so I think I must have been going through it! I have been busy, but not really so busy that I could not have put my thoughts on paper. During the last few weeks I have avoided both my paper journal and my blog, not for any conscious reason, simply because when I have been before them I have gone blank. I’m not going to over think this, but find it curious!

One thing I was challenged to do for an upcoming event was a “Cheer”; the theme "Transformation." Since this is Easter weekend it seemed fitting to share it here.
Easter is indeed about the hope of transformation. We are reminded that at any moment in any day the circumstances and conversations can be a catalyst for change. To allow transformation to occur we must willingly open up to the moment. Resurrection reminds us that even the most tragic events can become powerful agents for change in us and the world. May this Easter event bring hopeful change to our world.

Transformation

At any age transformation begins in us and spreads to others.

            Turns life around

          Renews the spirit

          Awakens the heart

          Names truth

          Seeks options

          Forgives freely

          Opens community

          Respects others

          Maintains hope

          Advances peace

          Trusts God

          Inspires action

          One in Christ

          Now we begin!

May we have the courage to allow transformation in ourselves, our planet and the universe that we may see a new day of peace and sustainability.

Caught

It's been awhile since I found time to blog. My resolve to record some of my thoughts on my journey to 70 (October 2010) gets railroaded quite often. I have been doing some daily journal writing, weather, diet, "busy notes" but nothing substantial.

Memoir has been on my mind and I have been reading Natalie Goldberg, Peter Gilmour and William Zinsser, they have been helpful in providing focus. I am becoming clearer about what is needed to begin to answer the questions my son posed for me. I don't think I realized however, that I would be delving so deeply into relationship. I think I viewed the task more as recording stories from the past and vignettes of relatives. I now see that answering the question "Why did you leave home?" demands revelation of me and my relationship with my mother - do I want to go there? Caught! Caught in a story that spans my life and one I have not been willing to explore. Is this the year? Certainly it is no easy assignment.

Time to change the subject; January was a beautiful month, if harsh. The Wolf Moon and three days of amazing hoar-frost clothed the landscape exquisitely. I penned a couple more Haikus, and am really interested in finding time to learn more about this form.

Time seems to be the issue at the core of my life…I must make it my friend!

Wolf Moon
Wolf moon setting
In morning’s wakening sky
Makes way for sunlight

Hoar-Frost

Bent barren branches
radiant with hoar frost thorns
beneath leaden skies

Procrastination

Today I finally took needle and thread and sewed on two buttons that have begged to be returned to their rightful spot for almost a year.  They mocked me as they revealed once again that "procrastination" is a flaw in my tightly knit life that I am not only accustomed to, but with which I seem to be very comfortable. In a strange way I thrive on this trait energized by deadlines and near misses.  On the other hand I love to pursue silence and seek to live in the "moment". Mystery......

I have been invited by my son to take a closer look at my life's journey, explore the mystery, separate the threads, and share my story. It will take time, but as an introduction I bumped up against an image that has been with me for about fifty years. I do not remember the circumstances under which I was first introduced to the "white stone" of Revelation, but it immediately captured my imagination and continues to do so.  Mystery.........  

Inspired by - Revelation 2:17

On the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.

White stone secret

White stone rests in hand

Smooth, tumbled, lined, water’s gift

A secret revealed

Journey stone

A promise hidden

Journey stone humbly received

White, smooth, gently held

UNRAVEL

Unravel, according to Webster's dictionary means to: "separate threads, or solve a mystery",both apt descriptions for today's blog.

Early in the New Year my son invited me to share with him (and in turn my grandchildren) what I thought I had inherited from my parents. This is a challenging, complicated and curious question. I have probably spent most of my life, in one way or another trying not to be my parents. A casual glance at my life would illustrate more differences than similarities, a deeper look...we shall see!


A couple of years ago I knit my husband a sweater. It was one of those projects that began simply and developed a life of its own. My husband chose the yarn, a deep teal (the photo doesn't reflect its true color) 100% mercerized cotton made in Greece, he had a vision for the kind of sweater he wanted and I searched for a pattern. The first pattern I tried didn't do the yarn justice, the second created a "hand" like iron; the third using half-linen stitch seemed perfect. At one point in the knitting, it lay by the side of my chair approximately half finished when in answering the phone I dumped onto it a full bowl of mushroom soup. The washing and drying was not satisfactory, I "unraveled" and began again! In time I finished the sweater and my husband tried it on, he decided the neckline wasn't comfortable, I "unraveled" and refashioned it. At times when I left the knitting for a period, because work took precedence, I came back and found errors and redoes were required. From the beginning I was not happy with the sweater, but my husband loved it and wore it with affection. Every time he put it on I could see all the places I stopped and started, small flaws became magnified until a few days ago I decided to unravel the sweater and start again.

As I began to unravel the sweater I discovered new problems. The sweater was very well constructed and with knitted seams connecting front to back, and along the sleeve seams, it is proving to be a challenge. On reflection this unraveling project dovetails with the questions my son raised in relation to what I inherited from my parents. It has become a metaphor for the task ahead of me. Over the years I have knit a life for myself, I have worn it like my husband wore his sweater,  with love and affection. Aware of its imperfection and flaws I have at times made corrections, removed the spills, and stitched it tightly together. Now I have been invited to look at it more closely and I see that in order to answer my son's questions I must "unravel" ; separate the threads solve the mystery...it will take time.

Human beings together

It is extremely hard for me to believe that January 16 is here already. My last post was January 1...had I made a New Resolutions, which blissfully I didn't, it would have been to blog daily! So much has happened already, wonderful visits by phone and internet with friends and family, wishing health and happiness in 2010. Slogging through the cold and snow, and enjoying the most brilliant blue skys and sunshine. Death and birth, laughter and tears all within the span of a few days time.

Reading a reflection this morning by Fr. Ed Hay he included this verse from the Persian Muslim poet-mystic Saadi Shirazi:


Human beings are all members of one body.
They are created by the same essence.
When one is in pain, the others cannot rest.
If you do not care about the pain of others,
You do not deserve to be called a human being.

As my husband and I celebrated a belated anniversary dinner last evening, we gave thanks for our lives together and all that is good in our life, including with our prayers of thanks our concern for the survivors in Haiti. The devastation there is overwhelming and it is difficult to stand by helpless. This verse by Saadi Shirazi highlighted for me what I believe many of us are experiencing. Thank God we are human beings, and that restlessness tugs at the soul as we are bombarded with the images of sadness and desolation. I urge those who read my blog to do one small thing to aid the Haitian people - give money, pray, support any local effort and remember how blest you are.

Our world is small and this is a reminder that we are all interconnected whether we recognize it or not. May we enlarge our hearts and minds as we learn what it is to be fully human.

Welcome 2010

It is hard to believe that this is January 1, 2010. I had so many plans about how to finish out the old year, be prepared for the New Year, and be ready to start bright and early on 1-1-2010! It of course makes no difference the past year was a good and full one and I give thanks for all the blessings that made it so. I look forward to the unfolding of the year ahead and will take it as it comes.

I do have some hopes for this year - most important for me is to improve my ability to live "mindfully", if I do that,  then I feel all else will go as it should. Shalom.