When life hits unexpectedly, it hurts. And when it hurts, it can wound – not just physically, not just emotionally, not just spiritually. Sometimes all three.
When life hits unexpectedly, when life happens and pain results …
When life brings exhaustion beyond imagining …
When the rain of sadness is in our heart,
What then?
Hopefully …
~ the Holy One of Compassion will be with us,
holding us close when we are weary, hurt, alone. (May Holy Compassion be with us.)
~ the Holy One of Mercy will be with us, forgiving those who have caused pain, forgiving ourselves, forgiving Holy Other. (May Holy Mercy be with us – you / me.)
~ the Holy One of Gentleness will be with us,
caressing us with sunlight, rain and summer winds and shining through us to all who hurt and are lonely. (May Holy Gentleness be with us.)
~ the Holy One of Wonder will be with us,
delighting us with sunrises, daisies, songs, baby’s laughter, enchanting our senses, filling our hearts, giving us wide-open eyes. (May Holy Wonder be with us.)
~ the Holy One of Simplicity will be with us,
opening us to a clear vision of what is truth and dealings with others will be marked by honesty, which is simplicity. (May Holy Simplicity be with us.)
~ the Holy One of Patience will be with us,
waiting with outstretched arms and encouraging us to “be still, deep within ourselves.” (May Holy Patience be with us.)
~ the Holy One of Love will be with us,
listening, drawing us close as we tremble, lighting fires of faith and hope in the hearts of all. May holy love glow in our eyes. May we meet love of the Holy One in the eyes of others. (May Holy Love be with us.)
~ the Holy One of Tenderness will be with us,
enfolding us with the desire to bring warmth to those who are dis-eased in body, mind or spirit. (May Holy Tenderness be with us.)
~ the God of Strength will be with us,
holding us close, on eagle’s wings and we will be the sacrament of God’s strength to others. (May Holy Strength be with us.)
~ the God of Peace will be with us,
stilling the heart that hammers with fear or doubt or confusion, bringing the warm mantle of peace cover those who are troubled or anxious. (May Holy Peace be with us.)
~ the God of Joy will be with us,
thrilling us with holy nearness, filling our heart to fullness, and our soul with an awe that is profound. (May Holy Joy be with us.)
And hopefully, the God of Forgiveness will be with us,
encouraging us with strength, peace, and love. (May Holy Forgiveness be with us.)
So that “when life hits”
we have a sense that we are not alone.
Amen. So be it. Amen.
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This prayer can be adapted for personal use by using the word “me” in place of “us.”
“Create,” said my friend, with enthusiasm. I looked at the blank piece of paper and was numb.
“Create? Create what?”
“Let it flow. Put paint on brush, brush on paper. See what happens.”
“She’s got to be kidding” I murmured to myself. “I need her to show me what to do. I’ve never painted before”.
The others were mixing paint colours, adding water, having fun. One was even humming. And I? What was I doing? I was looking at the others, trying to figure out what to do … looking at the instructor … trying to have her tell me in simple, easy, step-by-step instructions, how to create. But there I sat. Immobile.
~ Schoenberg created twelve-tone music. ~ Bette Nesmith Graham invented liquid paper. ~ Picasso created cubism. ~ Maria Telkes & Eleanor Raymond developed the first solar-heated home. ~ Auden made verses. ~ Gutenberg invented moveable type. ~ Cartwright invented the game of baseball. ~ Earle Dickson invented bandaids. ~ Anna Connelly created the outdoor fire escape. ~ Walter Hunt created the safety pin. ~ Grace Murray Hopper invented COBOL, the first user-friendly business computer software program. ~ Jack St Clair Kilby created the microchip. ~ Arthur Wynne created the crossword puzzle. ~ Mary Anderson invented the windshield wiper. And then there was Einstein, the Wright brothers, Hildegard of Bingen, Louie Pasteur, Eli Whitney, Georgia O’Keeffe, and …
They all created. Were they ever ‘immobile’?
I was. Why?
Thoreau wrote “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.”
The Deuteronomist wrote “Choose life!”
So, what did I have to lose? I put some paint on a brush. The brush touched the paper. Creation?
Creation. Finally.
Another life lesson: … risk … go confidently in the direction of your dreams … choose life … create.
Because Temple Grandin did, an entire industry was changed because she decided to “Create. Just begin.”
This greeting card is the result of the above decision to “Create. Just begin.”
P.S. If you’ve not seen the movie about Temple Grandin, I hope you will – soon. What a remarkable woman – role model – pioneer – leader – visionary – human being.
In the midst of … grieving the loss of yet another friend … learning that another friend’s husband’s dementia has taken an unexpected downward turn … hearing the anguish of Americans devastated by the inability of the NRA to see the connection between assault rifles and the horrifying massacre of 19 children and 2 teachers and the shooting of 5 children and the grandmother of the perpetrator who continue to struggle in hospital to survive their physical wounds, all of them facing a lifetime of dealing with the physical, emotional and spiritual wounds of the slaughter … mindful that the possibility of the reversal of Roe v Wade is on the horizon and will have devastating consequences for decades … aware that people around the world are still homeless, still poor, still in pain, still dealing with mental/physical illness and COVID … and unable to forget the images of the horror that continue in Ukraine, this photo speaks to me of life and death, darkness and light, shadow and hope.
Yes, hope.
Where is the hope? It’s in the clear sky … the bright yellow colour in the flowers in the foreground … and the healthy green leaves beside them.
Where is the hope? It’s in the words on a sign I read on a concentration camp wall that read “I believe in the sun, even when it’s not shining. I believe in the stars even when I see them not. I believe in God, even when God is silent.”
The presence of hope is always with us. Sometimes – tangible. Sometimes – intangible. Sometimes – visible. Sometimes – invisible. Sometimes – audible. Sometimes – silent. But it is always present.
May we have eyes to see it, ears to hear it, hearts to feel it, and minds to believe it.
An aside, when I took this photo a few summers ago, I didn’t know why I did. Nor did I know why it seemed so important to have the Alberta rose flowers in the photo.
And then tonight, I noticed that while the dark clouds over the mountains in the background may look ominous, the pink flowers in the foreground are a gentle reminder that things aren’t always as they seem. And now I know why I took this photo.
An aside, when I took this photo a few summers ago, I didn’t know why I did. Nor did I know why it seemed so important to have the Alberta rose flowers in the photo. And then tonight, I noticed that while the dark clouds over the mountains in the background may look ominous, the pink flowers in the foreground are a gentle reminder that things aren’t always as they seem. And now I know why I took this photo.
I don’t want to think of evil, or believe in evil, or acknowledge the presence of evil.
And yet … as the situation in Ukraine continues … as political lies flood some media outlets and people believe the lies and repeat them as if they were truth … as weather conditions continue to pummel the world with floods, snowstorms, tornadoes, earthquakes, exhausting heat … as graves of residential school children are discovered … as some around the world have so much, while others have nothing … as homelessness, contaminated water, unbreathable air, dangerous work situations cause lives to be compromised or lost … as children, youth, adults, seniors die of gun violence … as freedoms are eroded … the signs are there and I must not be naive.
Evil exists.
That word ‘evil’ is spoken a lot these days by many people for many reasons. Accusations of ‘evil’ come to us on tv, in face-to-face conversations, through phone calls, via text messages, FB posts, messages and emails, and even handwritten correspondence … not just by adults, but by youth and children and elders … not just by politicians, but by ordinary citizens.
It’s easy to … tweet or text or type first, rather than think
… react first, rather than respond
… speak words of love, rather than show that love in action
… enable others, rather than be honest
… dwell in and focus on one’s own selfish desires, rather than allow the needs of others to be the motivating force.
When people say “All …” be that all religions or all politicians or all Democrats or all Republicans or all Conservatives or all Liberals
or all NDPer’s or all Jews or all Mexicans or all gays or all Italians or all Blacks or all trans or all Southerners or all differently-abled or all Americans or all poor or all elderly or all mentally ill
or all Asians or all youth or all … (fill in the blanks) … and then make a sweeping statement degrading, disrespecting, bullying, ignoring anyone in a particular category, there is no opportunity for dialogue, respectful listening, compassionate hearing, genuine caring, sincere conversation, sharing of opinion, or elimination of prejudice/bias let alone reconciliation, healing, hope.
The world craves hope. But if Hope leaves, what remains? Evil.
Before the 8th century when the ‘hearing, speaking, seeing evil’ concept began to take form through the writings of Confucius, the Biblical teaching: “abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22 NKJV) provided wise counsel.
But evil didn’t go away. Can it be defeated?
Difficult … but yes.
It involves change … a change in one’s way of life … a transformative change of heart … a turning-around … metanoia … turning around *e-v-i-l* to become *l-i-v-e.*
It is time to stop … denying … enabling the existence of evil.
Evil is real.
It exists.
It is time to name it.
It is time to turn the letters of ‘evil’ around to ‘live’!
Change – Metanoia Time.
Where there is darkness
… we must bring the light.
Where there is darkness
… we must send the light.
Where there is darkness
… we must *be* the light. “Let us not be overcome by evil … but overcome evil with good.” <Romans 12:21>
The world knows what is happening in Ukraine. Those who live in that country, those with family living there, people around the world watching the news know about the war. There is a sense of feeling powerless, broken, fragile.
“What if” … conversations are commonplace in homes, offices, schools, factories, and shops as the world comes to grips with the human suffering happening because of the war and the nuclear threat which could lead to global destruction.
As I broke my egg for this morning’s breakfast, I remembered that while eggshells are fragile and easily broken, when a raw egg in its shell is held in the palm of a hand and squeezed, it cannot be broken.
Eggshells are strong under compression. Ukrainians are proving this day by day. They are leading the world in what it means to be a people of courage and a people who look for, pray, hope … hope for, and believe, peace is possible.
These days, peace seems like the elusive Pimpernel. War is happening in Ukraine. Shanghai has shut-down again because of COVID. There is a threat of nuclear / bacterial / chemical war. There are global financial crises and personal health / family / work struggles.
I often find myself looking to the sky – watching the clouds, the sunsets/sunrises, the birds soaring overhead. As I do, faces of dear friends appear in my thoughts. I believe that thoughts are transformed into prayer. The faces I see are the faces of those dealing with the ugly beasts called cancer, dementia, Parkinson’s, M.S., etc., and their exhausted caregivers. One was told that “nothing more can be done”. One was praying for a gentle end. One was exhausted and had decided against further chemo. One died last week.
Faces of other friends also appear in my thoughts and prayers … the faces of friends who are terrified of the pandemic that doesn’t seem to want to leave this planet; fearful of the threat of nuclear war; terrified that they/their family members/friends/neighbours will be murdered, raped, tortured by invading soldiers. One cannot sleep. One is obsessed with the news. One spoke of “ending it all now before things get worse.” When I find myself unable to process the suffering, the fear, the future for the children of this world, I remember the dove.
Since Mesopotamian times, the dove has been a symbol of peace. As I reflect, as I remember others, I discover momentary glimpses of peace which often come in the most unexpected of ways … in the awe of an eagle flying above … in the scent of a fresh lemon … in the warmth of a cup of hot chocolate … in seeing lines drawn on a page becoming a pattern or image … in the cuddle in a favourite blanket … in an afternoon nap … in the sound of gentle music
I make a conscious effort to imagine the dove again and again and again when processing the horrors of the war become too much. I picture the dove in my mind’s eye, hovering over the various cities of Ukraine; gently surrounding the hospitals, orphanages, homes, underground bomb shelters, on the battlefield, in the city streets, where the fear of those in those places is palpable, and my mind becomes a momentary place of sacred rest – of courage, strength, peace.
Fear must not be given space to overwhelm, to terrorize, to rob us of hope or of peace. Words can be powerful and can move us to consider possibilities, pray, and glimpse experience moments of peace …
“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”<Mahatma Gandhi>
“Peace begins with a smile.”<Mother Teresa>
“You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” <Malcolm X>
“Peace is more important than all justice; and peace was not made for the sake of justice, but justice for the sake of peace.”<Ezra Taft Benson>
“It’s time for us to turn to each other, not on each other.” <Jesse Jackson>
“We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other’s children.”<Jimmy Carter>
“War settles nothing.” <Dwight Eisenhower>
“Nothing will end war unless the people themselves refuse to go to war.” <Albert Einstein>
“Peace is the virtue of civilization. War is its crime.” <Victor Hugo>
“People do not make wars; governments do.”<Ronald Reagan> “I was once asked why I don’t participate in anti war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I’ll be there.” <Mother Teresa>
“War against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed classes think they are going to profit from it.”<George Orwell>
“You don’t liberate a country standing on the soil of another.”<Fadia Faqir>
“My religion is based on truth and nonviolence.” <Mahatma Gandhi>
Peace. May there be peace on earth. And may it begin with me. Peace
Remember the poem “Spring has sprung, the grass has riz, I wonder where the birdies is”? Some say it was written by Ogden Nash, others say it was e.e. cummings, but apparently no one really knows. Regardless of who actually created the little ditty, many often remember today – the first day of Spring in this part of the world.
This time in 2019, not only had spring sprung but so had the pandemic: the COVID19 virus. Big time. As years passed, increasing numbers of people were diagnosed with the virus and as the world moved beyond social-distancing into self-isolation, claustrophobia and signs of depression began to settle in on many. People living in small spaces, those who had to quarantine, those who couldn’t share a meal or give/receive a hug experienced mental disquiet. Fear about what the news would bring tomorrow, next week, next month was ever-changing and on the rise.
As vaccines were created and people began to be vaccinated and ‘numbers’ dropped, the world began to relax – until last month when a new fear about “what the news will bring tomorrow” surfaced because of war in Ukraine and the growing nuclear threat.
When … will the fear stop? Why … is there evil in the world? How … will the world become a gentle place? What … needs to happen so that people experience life as blessing than curse?
When I consider things that cause fear to rise up within me or others, be that – flying in an airplane – the pandemic and becoming seriously ill – living in a country where democracy is nonexistent -being surrounded by war – having no hope, I do what I can to refocus.
Before going to sleep, I consciously focus my thoughts on a blessing from each day: … an emotion … an experience … a relationship … an insight … something someone did for me or something I did for another and in the doing, I was blessed to be part of it … a memory … a conversation … a quotation … an image … a book … a song … a phone visit with a friend … a piece of music that stirred me.
Sometimes the blessing has come in a blog … a photo … a special email … a word spoken that touched my heart/spirit/mind … a colour with special significance … an ability that I’ve taken for granted most days … an experience of kindness expressed … a walk out in Nature … a moment of calmness in the cacophony of the the day. It can be … anything!
I write down whatever it is that brought a blessing my way that day and indicate the date. Then the note is put into a little box or jar or written in my Journal. I don’t look at it for a month at which time, in a quiet moment, I open the box/jar/Journal and read about the blessings I’ve experienced in the past month.
No matter what kind of month I think I may have had, the slips of paper are a tangible reminder that every day in that month, there was at least one thing which tugged at my heart / mind / spirit and blessed me.
Sometimes, I forget the blessings that touch me because I focus on the yuck-of-life.
Sometimes, I ignore the wonders of the world around me, the things I take for granted, and focus attention on the hurts, concerns and fears.
Sometimes, I forget the things that put a smile on my face.
The physical and emotional ramifications of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine and the threat of nuclear weapons can be serious. While there isn’t any scientific proof that simply recalling one blessing for every day for a month won’t rewire our brain from anxiety to calm, who knows – it might!
Each year when Spring arrives, the “Spring has Sprung” poem goes through my head and puts a smile on my face. Daffodils do, too. Looking at them is a wonderful breather from all the news about the pandemic, climate change and war … and a blessing.
And so I focus on blessings – be they daffodils, sunflowers, the laughter of a child, the kindness of strangers, a creative outlet/opportunity, the courage of Ukrainians, the hope.
These are difficult days. A change in focus from fear to blessing could help diminish the anxiety.
We’ve heard others say the word.
We’ve said the word in the past.
We’re saying that word now.
“Impossible.”
A world where fresh air is available is impossible
because of climate change.
An end to war is impossible
because the oppressor and his allies have a stranglehold on Ukraine and its terrified citizens.
When faced with something unbelievable happens
the phrase “It’s impossible!” emerges.
And yet, some things are impossible.
… human beings can’t fly unassisted by technology
… birds can’t speak English or French or Japanese or …
… dinosaurs don’t roam the earth today.
But then again,
some things are possible!
When I noticed daffodils protruding from a steep hill on rocks in below-zero temperature, I wondered if ceasefire in Ukraine could be possible.
“Can Ukraine survive on the rocks of war?”
Sometimes, we need remember that the word ‘impossible’ says “I’m possible!”
Personal situations may cloud the horizon.
Political decisions may cause fear.
It may seem as if what is needed
is impossible.
But if the focus on the word I M P O S S I B L E
is always on the negativity of the letters,
we don’t see possibilities in the same letters.
“I’M POSSIBLE”
Who would have thought that a bunch of daffodils growing out of a rock would reinforce a concept which is attributed to a saying by actress Audrey Hepburn?
Daffodils growing in below-freezing temperatures on rocks
… are possible.
Human beings dealing with terrifying situations
(personal illness, financial downturn, unemployment etc.)
… are possible.
Humanity’s future
… is possible.
What if each person in the world
thought, said, prayed the phrase
I’M POSSIBLE.
I tried a new art technique recently. I didn’t “get” it. I tried again. And again. And again.
I’ve not gotten it. Yet.
But I will. 🙂
Thomas Edison’s words resonate within me: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
We’ve all experienced what some call ‘failure’ at some point in our lifetime … whether that was in school … at work … in a relationship … an activity … whatever. Hopefully, it eventually led to a *lightbulb* moment, even though it may take 10,000 tries to get past that moment.
Edison didn’t let society’s definition of failure impact him to the point that he stopped. He continued to “keep on, keeping on,” until he finally found what would work.
Just because we didn’t get an “A” in a particular course, or because we … didn’t get the promotion at work … experienced a broken relationship … weren’t able to knit or paint or sculpt or create or cook like a professional or like a friend who could … didn’t get today’s Wordle in less than six tries … ‘whatever’ when we “keep on, keeping on,” we grow and make discoveries. Maybe not Edison-Lightbulb-Moments, … but Our-Lightbulb-Moments.
Rather than focus on the failures, the I-didn’t it get (yet) moments, I like the idea of understanding that such moments are part of our journey of self-discovery.
Here’s to our “Lightbulb Moments” ... of Discovery!
When darkness seems pervasive … darkness of the future, the pandemic, the protests, the potential looming war in Europe, the climate change, the medical diagnosis, the bills that cannot be paid …
When darkness comes and fear of the unknown reigns When pain persists and fear of the unknown rules When sleepless nights are commonplace and fear of the unknown dominates
May friends and strangers pray and help us rise from the darkness for one more moment one more hour one more day.
When darkness comes When pain persists When sleepless nights are commonplace may we concentrate on the love that surrounds may we concentrate on the hope that sustains may we concentrate on the healing that is coming as friends, family, doctors, nurses do what they can with their loving thoughts, prayers, professional care, kind actions to help us rise from the darkness for one more moment one more hour one more day.
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An aside: This prayer can be used by individuals by substituting “we and us” for “I and me.”
The month of January is two weeks old today. The new year has begun and the door is open to the future.
What does the future hold for us … as individuals? family members? community members? society in general? religious organization? country? world?
Perhaps this Alphabet of Life can give guidance if each letter of the alphabet is a gentle reminder of how we can be good-to-ourselves … aka “love ourself” and in doing so, contribute in positive ways to wellness in our families, communities, society in general, religious organization, country, world?
A Accepting of self B Be-ing, not do-ing C Creating something each day D Drawing on our inner resources E Elevating our thoughts to new heights F Feeding our soul G Graciously accepting compliments H Hitting goals I Initiating contact with a friend J Joyfully receiving the gift of life K Keeping our head while the world seems out-of-whack L Loving our neighbour as ourself M Mirroring the goodness we admire in others N Nourishing our spirit O Opening our heart to receiving love in new ways P Paddling through each day in spite of the blocks Q Questioning the imponderables R Realizing our potential S Smiling when we meet a stranger T Treasuring the precious moments of each day U Understanding that we don’t have all the answers to life V Valuing our education and those who have been/ are our mentors W Weaving experiences of life through a loom of learning X Xtracting information from the Universe so we grow in wisdom Y Yielding to the holy, however we understand that term Z Zeroing in on the truly important things of life
I had fun creating this little alphabet sampler in the photograph as it gave me an opportunity to play with some new art tools and techniques and consider phrases to go with the letters of the alphabet (okay, “x” was a stretch <g>).
