Are you in the mood for a lovely bed-time (or anytime) story? I am. And here it comes. 🙂
Once upon a time, there was a little girl who, with her parents, had been to the local SPCA at least five times in the past month. The volunteer asked “What is it she keeps looking for?”
“Puppy size!” replied the mother
“Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that’s what she’s looking for.”
“We have seen most of them, ‘ the mom said in frustration. Just then, the little girl came walking into the office. “Did you find one?” asked her mom.
“No, not this time,” replied the little girl with sadness in her voice. “Can we come back on the weekend?” The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed and the volunteer said – “You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there’s always a supply.”
The little girl took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. “Don’t worry, I’ll find one this weekend,” she said.
Over the next few days, both Mom and Dad had long conversations with her. They both felt she was being too particular. “It’s this weekend or we’re not looking any more,” Dad finally said in frustration.”
“We don’t want to hear anything more about puppy size, either,” Mom added. Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning. By now, the little girl knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs. Tired of the routine, her mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so the animals could be seen during times when visitors weren’t permitted inside.
The little girl walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one. One by one she said, “Sorry, but you’re not the one.”
It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup. The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer. “Mom, this i’s it! I found the right puppy! He’s the one! I know it!” she screamed with joy. “It’s the puppy size!?
:But it’s the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last few weeks,” her mom said.
“No, not size… the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed,” she said.
“Don’t you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!”
The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both.
“Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms,” she said.
Then, holding the puppy up close to her face, she said, “Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!”
And with that, the little girl and her mom completed the paperwork and the three of them left and went home.
The End.
**************************** And now – a suggestion — how about closing your eyes for a moment and thinking about the love that has made, makes, you sigh … perhaps it’s in arms of loved ones, in the caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight, the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day, the whisper of a child or beloved pet, snuggling close to you, the warm bath waters at night soaking away the aches and pains so you can rest a bit better at night?
Perhaps those moments are the love-sighs of God.
May we take the time to stop and listen, for we may be surprised at what we hear, for “Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” <Helen Steiner Rice>
May our lives be filled with love-sighs. Lots of them – in unexpected ways. 🙂 June Maffin
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This particular Soulistry blog post is based on “Puppy Size” (author: unknown). Puppy Photo (photographer: unknown)
“How do I return the joy you’ve given me?” That question stopped me in my tracks. I had no idea that anything I had done or said had brought my friend ‘joy.’
The question kept repeating in my head and had me thinking about the essence of joy … the ‘who, what, why, when, where, how’ of it:
… what is joy?
… who receives joy?
… when do people receive joy?
… where does joy come from?
… why isn’t joy experienced all the time?
… how does joy appear?
For many, joy seems to be elusive. Personal hardship and circumstances, political corruption and moral malfeasance seem to be draining joy from souls.
While joy may seem to be elusive, it doesn’t need to disappear.
Swiss theologian, Karl Barth, said that “joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” When I am focused on what is missing, when I center-in on what frustrates or angers or hurts me, I am less able to see the whole picture and less able to experience the joy in what I see, smell, taste, touch, experience, feel.
A smile from a stranger, brings joy.
A group of flowers, a solitary flower, brings joy.
A kind word or act, brings joy.
Sounds, sights, smells, tastes, touches – can bring me joy and arouse my sense of joy
– the sound of … children at play, a kitten’s purr, music
– the smell of … fresh bread coming out of the oven, lemon-anything, a baby fresh from the bath, a sprig of lavender, oil paint-about-to-go-on-canvas
– the taste of … a hot fudge sundae, turkey dinner, hot chocolate on a cold/rainy day, peaches-and-cream corn on the cob
– the gentle touch of … a comforting hand when in pain, a loving partner’s embrace, a heartfelt “I missed you” hug
– the sight of … home, smiles, colour anywhere, my son, art in all its expressions, libraries with books to read, mountains and oceans and fields of flowers and skies and landscapes and …
And then there are the ‘take-for-granted’ joys … until they are no longer with us: breath, mobility, speech, communication, senses, health, memory, family, friends.
Well-known for his work in comparative mythology and religion, Joseph Campbell encouraged people to “find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.”
May we “burn out the pain” of personal and societal stresses and “find a place inside where there’s joy.”
May we be open to joy’s transformation of common days into daily thanksgivings, routine jobs into privileges, and ordinary opportunities into extraordinary blessings.
How many of us live perfect lives? … lives that are free from stress, devoid of unpleasantness? … lives without people who are disrespectful, hateful, sarcastic, prejudiced? … lives without experiencing fear … of anything … anyone … any situation? … lives without a disability of some kind be that physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual?
Not one of us.
We all stumble at one time or another.
Hopefully, when we do (in spite of whatever hurdles, barriers, curveballs life, weather, people, or heredity sends our way), we will do so as part of the dance of life, remembering that science has proven that dancing is good for the body, good for the mind, good for the soul.
When we stumble, may we make it part of our dance of life.
There they were: cuddled together in the strawberry patch in the back yard. One, ripe and ready to eat; two, on their way to ripehood.
Thinking about it all, I realize why I was so struck by seeing the three strawberries together like that.
They were a gentle reminder of the Creator and Mother Nature’s beauty and bounty … all happening in my back yard!
Miracle.
Some days, the yuck and pain of our lives and the world can seem to be so overwhelming that we forget to look – down … up … sideways … beside us … behind us … in front of us – expect to see a sign of the Creator – expect to see and experience a miracle.
When we forget to do that looking, we can miss seeing and experiencing three strawberries as much more than three little pieces of fruit.
Just three strawberries. Three, simple, easily-missed-seeing, expressions of beauty and bounty and blessing.
Ahhh, I can hear my brain beginning to make links to ‘other *three’s* … links to the Trinity … links to …
But I’m going to restrain myself and instead, go outside and look around, up, down, beside me, in front of me, behind me and expect to see a sign of the Creator … expect to see and experience a miracle.
I know I won’t be disappointed.
While the definition of ‘miracle’ is subjective (and perhaps the catalyst for another Soulistry blog posting), this night I’m simply going to enjoy these three beauties from Nature’s bounty and be grateful for the beauty and bounty and blessing – and miracle – that is in my garden.
“Words, words, I’m so sick of words” sang Julie Andrews in ‘My Fair Lady’.
There are times when I’m sick of words too … words that people use to explain their lies … words used to defend indefensible positions … words that belittle – abuse – mock – harass – demean – bully – disrespect.
Author, theologian and priest, Matthew Fox, noted that “silence gives way for Spirit to arrive.” I like that – a lot.
International calligrapher, Alice Young, beautifully rendered Fox’s words and I was led to ponder a possibility – a challenge – a hope – a prayer: that each of us would turn off our tv, computer, radio, iphone, ipad, etc. for one hour each day, for the next three days and, in that one hour, we would not be involved in any conversation by … text … email … social media … phone … or in person.
What would we do?
We would “do” nothing. We would simply “be” … be present to the still, small Voice within … be present to the sounds of Nature’s joy … be present to the silence
In so doing, we would give space for Spirit to arrive and maybe, just maybe, … truth would emerge … reason would surface … healing might begin.
So much stress! Too many distractions! Much too much to do each day! Traffic! No parking spaces! Noise, noise, noise. Busy, busy, busy. Does any of this sound familiar??
For many people these days, it does. Their lives seem filled with things to do, people to visit, work to complete, shopping to finish, meals to make, chores to accomplish, errands to run. People speak quickly. Eat their meals quickly. Walk quickly. Breathe quickly.
How often each day are the flowers that are poking their heads into view, noticed? the laughter of the children at play, delighted in? the spider weaving its intricate web, admired?
Or does rushing through each moment of each day, until bedtime arrives, and you find yourself exhausted, better describe your day?
“I want some peace” some whisper (or shout!). And yet they seldom pause long enough to experience that peace … seldom relax so that their shoulders aren’t scrunched up in tension … seldom listen to the breath they breathe … seldom experience the peace that comes when they open themselves to be “still” and receive the Holy One’s precious peace … seldom receive that inner strength that helps them cope with the busyness of life and be humbled by the gift of life given by the great Giver of All Life.
If you are willing to receive a glimpse of that “peace that passes all understanding”, a suggestion … take a moment – right now – to close your eyes. And here’s how:
Take a deep, deep breath. Slowly breathe in and out, in and out, inviting the Giver of Peace into your life. As you breathe in, you might say smoething like “Giver of Peace, I receive your peace.” As you exhale, you might say something like “I release all that causes my body, mind, spirit to be uneasy, distressed, anxious etc.
As you do this, receive that gift of peace within your body, mind and spirit – easing the tensions, relieving the pain, quietening the dis-ease within your soul.
When you find yourself more at peace, give thanks, for you have been in the presence of the Holy.
And, when the daily stressors of life next affect your ability to function, to laugh, to enjoy life, to ‘be with’ others, to notice the miracles of life around you … remember to take a deep breath, invite the Giver of All Peace into your body, mind and spirit and receive that precious “peace that passes all understanding” – as gift.
Born Doris Mary Ann Von Kappelhoff, she became Hollywood legend Doris Day. Her movies (like Pillow Talk), her singing “Que Sera, Sera” and her love of, and involvement with, animal rights endeared her to millions who this day, mourn her passing.
In spite of a life which was very difficult, you brightened this world with your singing, dancing & sweet smile. Thank you. Rest in peace, Doris. Rest in peace.
Today is the last day of Passover. Today is the first day of Easter for Christians in the East, and day six of the Season of Easter in the West. Pesach (Passover) for Jewish adherents is about liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt. Easter for Christians is about new life.
Today, there is cause for neither liberation nor new life. Instead, a crime was committed at Congregation Chabad Synagogue in the town of Poway, California. Deemed to be a ‘hate’ crime, one person died and three were injured. And the question continues to be asked … when will laws happen which will make possession of assault weapons by civilians illegal?
Grief overwhelms the people of Congregation Chabad Synagogue, the people of Poway and the families affected by this senseless violence. Thoughts and prayers? Yes, I am thinking of them and all for whom this situation raises a bitter and painful personal memory of their own.
Yes, I will offer prayers … prayers of consolation and support for the victims and their families as they grieve … and prayers for the politicians who can change laws so that no other hate crimes, terrorist crimes, mass shootings, individual drive-by shootings using assault weapons will happen.
Politicians – you can change the laws so such murders don’t ever happen again. Why aren’t you? What can’t you understand, politicians?
Australian calligraphy artist Gemma Black was recently in western Canada teaching a variety of workshops, including one named Art Deco. I first learned about it a couple of years ago and wanted to take it soooo much. I talked about it with the local calligraphy guild’s workshop co-ordinator and wonder of wonders, she and Gemma chatted, the workshop was booked and I registered. I was a very happy puppy! And then, one of those health “blips on the screen of life” happened and I had to withdraw. I was no longer a happy puppy.
One afternoon, feeling very sorry for myself <silly me!>, I decided to surf the net and see what I could find about art deco. I didn’t find very much but decided to play around with some watercolours with what I did find, only to realize that my fingers weren’t very steady with a brush any more. I was going to stop and then had a good talk with myself and continued on.
The result – in carrying on with the project, I learned some things I’d learned a long time ago, but somehow had forgotten. Simple lesson, really – never stop playing!
As the watercolour went on the Arches Text Wove paper and then the card was mounted on red, then white, then red cardstock and a birthday card for a special friend evolved. If you are dealing with physical pain, let me be the first one to encourage you to find something creative to do within your range of physical abilities and dexterity … make a card, bake a cake, make paper beads, write a letter to someone, play with watercolour … whatever! And oh yes, while I was creating, I not only experienced the pain less intense for a bit, but a peace, deep within.
Ahhhh, Soulistry’s combination of creativity + spirituality rises to the surface. Again. 🙂
As Holy Week continues for Christians around the world we pray to you, Mirroring God. As we look at the face of another at work, at the bank, crossing a border, panhandling, in Hospice care, passed out on a street, at a meeting, in traffic, in the Emergency room on tv, in a political rally, in the shops, in a line-up, awaiting/recovering from surgery with different coloured skin, different political beliefs, a foreign name, an accent , wanting to be in relationship with someone of the same gender, not speaking our language, wearing unfamiliar (to us) clothing, may we see You, reflected, as in a mirror.
Mirroring God, may we mirror your compassion and unconditional love this holy day, in this Holy Week. And may we mirror your compassion and unconditional love, every day, in every week. Amen (which simply means “So be it.”)
