Watching the Paralympic Games today, I was overwhelmed by the emotions it unleashed.
While I was rooting for all of the incredible athletes who have been training for years and waiting for their moment and of course, those athletes from my own country of Canada, I was struck by a deep inexplicable emotion as I watched the Ukrainian athletes compete with such courage, boldness, determination and athleticism.
How they managed to compete while their country was at war, I will never know. Many of their loved ones were huddled in underground shelters; other loved ones were dealing with famine, explosions and trying to escape the horrors.
In spite of the worry and fear for their loved ones and country, the Ukrainian athletes not only competed, but were outstanding in their categories.
Questions poured forth as the Paralympics came to a close: are these men and women safe? Will they be? In the closing ceremonies, reference was made to these questions and subtle messages were given to assure the world that the Ukrainian athletes would be safe as they left the Paralympics and China.
This night and in the coming days, along with praying for the people of Ukraine, my prayers will be focused on each of the Ukrainian Paralympic athletes, their coaches and team members from Ukraine.
As their bodies recover from the incredible physical strain of the Paralympic competitions; as their minds and spirits deal with the horrors of what they, their loved ones, and country face; and as they try to absorb the incredible mixture of emotions they have been and are now experiencing, may each of them be safe.
Some things are easy to learn. Some things are not so easy to learn. Some days the learning is huge. Some days it is subtle.
Some days the learning is about … me – what I believe … who I am … things I need to work on.
Some days the learning is about … others – who are hurtful or loving or kind or mean-spirited or generous or resentful or kind or angry or how gracious and compassionate people can be.
Some days the learning involves … a new approach to technology, art, gardening, writing, music or even a new checkerboard move. Some days the learning is about politics, history, literature, religion, cultures, language. And some days it’s a combination of things.
Each night before I go to bed, I ask myself “What have you learned today?” Usually, the answer comes swiftly followed by a silent prayer of gratitude for the lesson.
But when a difficult moment happened and I experienced betrayal … a promise had been made … then broken … and then lied about … and it hurt … what did I learn from that?
The more I thought about it … the more I thought about it. And I found it difficult to forget … difficult to let it go … difficult to move on.
When I went to bed that night, I asked myself “What have you learned today?” But there was no answer and I didn’t sleep well that night. I got up in the wee hours, made a cup of crystal tea and in the stillness and asked the question again: “What have you learned today?”
The answer came quickly. “Forgiveness. You could have learned about the importance of forgiveness.” I could have but questions began to surface … was the individual apologetic? … was betrayal acknowledged? … did I want to forgive?
I knew the honest answer was the same each time: “No.” and I could feel the hurt rising again. I knew I needed to review the questions again, so I began with the last question: “Do I want to forgive?”
*Want* to forgive?
When I experience betrayal or someone gossiping, making assumptions about my character; or experience cruelty, injustice, downright meanness, the word ‘forgiveness’ enters my thoughts and I try to move in that direction. But sometimes, it takes me a long time. A. Very. Long. Time.
I understand forgiveness is integral in spiritual and personal growth, so I work on it. Not for the sake of the other, but for my sake. Maybe that’s why forgiveness is called soul-work.
It’s ‘work,’ alright. Hard work.
I wish forgiveness came easily. I wish I didn’t have to experience some lessons over and over and over again. And yet because I know that the end result can be personal growth, I persist.
Two situations this past year were challenging. One situation was two-part. The first part only took a few days for me to forgive. But then it happened again – the second part of the same situation with the same person who, once again, apologized and promised to not let it happen again. I found myself back in the lesson-mode again, trying to determine the advisability of trusting that person again and of trying to forgive. It took me a little longer but gratefully, I was able to forgive that person again.
But the second situation, took a long time to move into a state of forgiveness. A full year. 🙁
Eventually, I was able to forgive – not for the sake of the other, but for the sake of my own soul.
It’s true … learning about and then entering into a posture of forgiveness is soul work. And, it’s worth it.
Thank you to the international team of Romi Borax Marks (USA), Annie Taylor (UK) and Anica Gabrovec aka Zen Linea (Croatia) for a gentle time of art, remembering and praying today in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
I had some things I wanted to include … the national flower of Ukraine (sunflower), but couldn’t find a step-out that worked for me so ‘did something” in yellow and added blue around the edge as Blue and Yellow are the colours of Ukraine’s national flag) … the dove in white – angel for the souls already lost on both sides: Ukrainians and Russians (most of the Russian troops are very young conscripts, unaware they would be invading Ukraine). … and I wanted to do it all on a round sphere to represent the solidarity around the world for the people of Ukraine.
This night, as I head off to bed, I set aside a gnawing sense of the presence of evil in the world and choose to focus on possibility, love and hope.
And I offer thanksgiving for the President and First Lady of Ukraine and Cabinet members, the courageous people of Ukraine, the Russian dissenters, and the growing gathered crowds of people around the world in support of the people of Ukraine.
The sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine. No matter how small, or how little evidence of light there is, sunflowers seek out the light (the sun) hold their heads high are a symbol of loyalty to something that is brighter and bigger than themselves.
Similarly, Ukrainians seek out the Light hold their head hight and symbolize loyalty to something that is brighter and bigger than themselves … their country.
A few days ago, a Ukrainian woman expressed her defiance and outrage at a Russian soldier who was blocking a street in a residential area of Henichesk, a port city in southern Ukraine. She angrily shouted at the Russian soldier, demanding to know why he was there. Then she told him to put sunflower seed in his pocket so that flowers would grow when he dies on Ukraine’s soil.
In spite of the icy, frigid, terrifying situation they are in, like these sunflowers, Ukrainian heads are up looking for the Light hopeful united loyal to their country.
Keep holding your heads high, Ukrainians. Keep following the Light!
For those of you who are widowed, I think you might be able to relate to the day I had today.
Monday is Valentine’s Day and as I’ve been making Valentines for others, I had a “sad is me” moment when I realized that once again, there would be no Valentine’s card from my beloved Dutch husband.
Hans was a wonderful artist and he made such wonderful cards for me. But those days are no more. So I decided to make myself a card with some tangling around a photo of him.
Here’s the photo of the Valentine I made for myself. It sits atop the fireplace Hans made and will still be there on Monday – Valentine’s Day.
His happy face puts a smile on my face each time I pass by. The “sad is me” moment passed quickly as I focused on making the card.
It never ceases to amaze me how ‘creating something’ sets the mind free from “sad is me” moments, helps refocus the body from a desire to nap, and nurtures the Spirit.
When you get one of those “sad is me” moments, consider what you can do to evoke the magic of creation. Could it be … a handmade card? … a special meal that takes time and effort to prepare … explore a new craft … plant a seed/plant/tree … carve a figure … paint a picture … photograph something/someone … write a poem/blog … let origami folding take you to another plane … start making a handmade book … knit, crochet, quilt, sew something … try neurographica art, zentangling, mixed media, embossing, handmade card making … the list is endless!
A gentle leader and humble man, Thich Nhat Hanh, died this day, January 21, 2022.
Born in 1926, he became a Buddhist monk when he was only sixteen. Working tirelessly for reconciliation between North and South Vietnam, his lifelong efforts to generate peace moved Martin Luther King Jr. to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Living in exile in France where he founded a retreat centre, Hahn became a prolific writer, renowned scholar, world leader and spiritual guide, championing a movement that weaves traditional meditative practices with nonviolent civil disobedience. His teachings revolved around … respect for life … generosity … loving communication … and cultivation of a healthy lifestyle; his Mindfulness meditation technique helped people in their desire for wholeness and inner calm for generations.
Often quoted, one of Hanh’s phrases particularly spoke to me as I was writing the ‘Soulistry – Artistry of the Soul: Creative Ways to Nurture Your Spirituality’ book. That phrase become one of the quotations in the book – a book which puts forth “Soul Questions” for readers to reflect upon and consider their purpose in life and reason for living. To learn more about the ‘Soulistry’ book and read some reviews, you are welcome to click: www.soulistry.com/books
In thanksgiving for the life of Thich Nhat Hanh and in thankfulness for his permission to use his quote in the ‘Soulistry – Artistry of the Soul’ book, I share Hanh’s words and the Soul-Questions based on his quote for your personal reflection … in your thoughts; in your journal; in discussion with a friend, spiritual guide, soul friend, religious leader,
THE WELL WITHIN Thich Nhat Hanh (“Soulistry-Artistry of the Soul”, page 11)
““The well is within us. If we dig deeply in the present moment, the water will spring forth.”
Soulistry Soul-Questions:
* What do you think the author means by “the well is within”?
* How have you dug “deeply in the present moment” in your life?
* What growth/learning/self-discoveries resulted from such reflection?
* How might you begin to “dig deeply in the present moment”?
* Are there things in your past or evident in this present time that are preventing you from looking at “the well within” you? If so, name/journal/talking them over with a counselor, spiritual director, soul friend, religious leader so that these things no longer have power over you, restricting your ongoing tapping of the well-within.
* What “water” do you hope “will spring forth” from such self-examination?
Thank you, Thich Nhat Hanh for your gentle leadership, for you faithfulness to the call you heard, and for your wisdom. May you rest in peace now for all eternity.
This morning was an “M” morning … a Magical … Mystical … Mysterious … Marvellous … Memory-Making … Morning!
As I entered the roundabout, the sight before me was so lovely that I drove all the way around the roundabout, parked in the school’s parking lot across the street, and snapped this photo to remember what had captured my attention.
And then, within minutes, the fog had lifted and the beauty of the moment was gone.
But not forever, thanks to my little camera and the availability of the school parking lot.
And thanks to the gift of memory, the photo will continue to remind me for years to come of an MMMMM.
In the midst of a pandemic, where mask-wearing, social-distancing, curtailed family and friend visits/activities are commonplace, it’s not always easy to recognize the MMMMM … magical, mystical, mysterious, marvellous, memory-making moments before and around us.
But they’re there in the fog in the twinkling and smiling eyes of another in the “may you stay safe” in the beauty of the world in the giggle of a child in the wag of a tail and the cuddle of a feline in the daffodil trying to surface in the breath of fresh air in the first step of the morning in the comfort of a steaming cup of tea in the warmth of bed in the …
Hope your morning, afternoon, evening, day for whatever reason, is (was) lovely … MMMMM Magical … Mystical … Mysterious … Marvellous … Memory-Making!
Here we are – in the middle of the Season of Advent. Advent greetings to all, whether you follow the Season or not … welcome ritual … find Light in creativity, family, friendship, respect, integrity.
As I worked on making this Advent card, I prayed that peace, hope, joy and love would permeate infill, inspire and encourage our hurting world and its inhabitants. And, I prayed for all those who follow and support the ‘Soulistry’ ministry, including this blog and the various Facebook groups under the ‘Soulistry’ umbrella – with deep gratitude.
May this Season of Advent bring an unexpected blessing to all. May we have healthy eyes to see the blessing, healthy ears to hear the blessing, healthy hands to touch the blessing, healthy legs to walk towards the blessing, and a healthy heart to recognize and receive the blessing.
If the fwiw department, here are some of those Facebook ‘Soulistry’-related groups noted above. If you’re curious, you are welcome to join any of them after answering all of the security questions. Btw, even if I know you – we are friends, neighbours, family – the security questions help confirm that FB accounts have not been compromised. Thanks for helping to keep these groups safe.
A young man was declared “Not Guilty” in a U.S. court yesterday, in spite of the fact that last year, when he was 17, he carried a rifle into a crowd, shot and injured one man and killed two others.
There are some who believe the Judge was wrong when he threw out the ‘possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor’ charge; that if the defendant had been any race other than Caucasian, he would have been found ‘Guilty’; that the defendant should not have been involved in picking names for the jury who would try his case; that the Prosecution was incompetent.
But at the end, it was up to the members of the jury. At the conclusion of the trial, they believed that the accused was “Not Guilty.” He is now free and can never be tried for this crime again.
Declared “Not Guilty.” Does ‘Not Guilty’ mean ‘Innocent’? Conversely, does ‘Innocent’ mean ‘Not Guilty’?
Two men are dead because a young man killed them with a rifle he never should have been given … let alone carried into the crowd that night … let alone used.
Anger escalates. And fear. And hatred … surfacing in social media, daily conversations darkening thoughts and words and possibly more actions.
Something has to be done so that hope can enter, fear can lighten, hatred can begin to dissipate, and the slippery slope can straighten out.
Where to begin? Surely it begins with each of us
Register our outrage? Yes. “Name” our fears? Yes. Recognize and acknowledge our own prejudices and biases? Yes
And do what we can to bring about a Spirit of Gentleness into the world around us … and not just around us … but within us.
Time will tell … if Civil charges are brought. Time will tell … if the slippery slope that the United States is on will result in civil war – or even the ending of democracy in that country. Time will tell.
And in that time, may there be moments of gentleness may we be gentle – gentle with ourselves – gentle with our children … partners … other family members … neighbours … tradespeople … store clerks … gas station attendees … medical professionals …
May a Spirit of Gentleness flow through hallways, homes, offices, classrooms, social media, governments … in me … in you … in us all.
Last night, the Aurora Borealis was expected to make an appearance in this part of the world. News told us that might even see them from our own back yard. I was excited! I’ve only seen the Northern Lights once and that was long ago in the Okanagan of British Columbia while camping. It was such an incredible experience that night! I woke my son so he could see the magnificence of the colours streaming across the sky. Last night, I waited – and waited – and waited.
But, in spite of a clear sky, no rain and news media postulating such a sighting might be possible, no Northern Lights. I even set the alarm to get up and see them!
Long ago, while doing consulting work in Alaska, my Alaska friend, Scott, took me out to a field, far away from any lights for several nights. Each night we waited and waited and waited in his truck for the Northern Lights to appear. He kept telling me they were magnificent – stunning! – and often appeared there. Nope. Not one sighting. Any night.
When I got home, there was a message from Scott … the night I left, the Northern Lights appeared and “they were incredible!” One more night – if I had just delayed my flight home one more night – but, I didn’t and have been dreaming of seeing them again one day. Last night, I came sooooo close.
While I may never see the Northern Lights in person, those nights sitting out in the Alaska field with Scott, waiting for the Northern Lights to make an appearance, and last night waiting at home, offered opportunities to pray for and think about the environment – and play.
Photos I’ve seen of the Northern Lights show them as multi-coloured, but I decided to play only with blues and purples, just for the fun of it. Some day, I hope I get to see the Northern Lights in person again, but in the meantime, I’ll continue to dabble in watercolour, enjoy Scott’s Facebook photos of the Northern Lights that regularly appear in his part of the world, and reflect on the environment and my role in keeping it healthy.
Shine on, beautiful skies above this world! May you be a reminder to all human beings of the role we play in the existence of a healthy world of clean air. And may those beautiful skies bring solace and hope where grieving, fragmentation and fear about the future of this world prevail.
