If only a piece of peace

Peace. If only a piece of peace. The threats–or the mere feeling of being threatened–by the chaos (is it?) happening now, all at once, all around. How do we deal with that? How do we make small steps toward peace not just here, now but going forward.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. (Martin Luther King, 8/28/1963)

If we know God is the power and the presence and we call on the Christ Spirit in ourselves to know that really, daily, then why do we doubt that this will end and end well? Why do we doubt that this is Divine Order when it seems anything, everything but divine?

The What of Peace

This post is not to answer why. Just what and how. What I can do and how I can do it. And what I choose not to do. Obviously, it’s time to do, rather than to think about doing.

Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children. (Martin Luther King, 8/28/1963)

First and foremost for me is praying. Praying in ways that affirm my faith in being, which is faith in One Being, which is faith in all of us. Praying that affirms our ability to move beyond seeing fault. That movement is Spirit-given and Spirit-driven. It does not mean failing to see or consciously ignoring. It does mean seeing what must be changed. And choosing to be part of the change from what we see.

Praying to be part of the change begins with the action of forgiving. First, forgiving myself my sight being slow to focus on the human actions and interactions. Then forgiving myself for being judgmental in so many different ways. Forgiving myself for being slow to know in my heart and with my Godmind that all and each of us is Spirit. That forgiving allows me to know that is truth and my knowing that truth imparts the knowing to others. And forgiving myself for even thinking of giving up on that consciousness if I sense it is not taking hold as fast as I want it to.

Affirming Peace

Praying then affirms that the universe knows its truth, finds its grounding, feels and accepts its Oneness. Affirms that we are beginning to remove the anguish and fear that makes us separate our selves much more than mere socially distancing. My praying affirms that such fear and doubt are false, that love is true, removes all fear and doubt from mis-believing minds.

Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness
and hatred….Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
(Martin Luther King, 8/28, 1963)

 

Praying for Forgiveness for Peace

Spirit of Love, Spirit of Life, Spirit of Peace
and Spirit of Forgiveness,
I am eager to forgive myself for all that I have seen
but not truly beheld on this human earth.
Even more, I want now to forgive myself for all the inaction
I’ve allowed for myself.

I thank you, God, for my faith in the power of affirmation,
the faith that what we think, what we put forth to the universe
as fruit of our concentration and commitment is already becoming real.
That faith I affirm and with that faith I affirm peace among and for
all of your children. I affirm that we are individual beings of One Spirit.

Peace among us all, peace without hesitation or question, peace
as our reality is my greatest affirmation. Affirming
that we are beginning to remove the anguish and fear that make us separate
our selves. Affirmations that fear and doubt are false, that love is true.

God of Peace, I am thankful that this prayer is heard.
And so it is. And so I let it be. Amen.

Love & blessings,

 

 

June 1, 2020

Do’s and Don’ts for these unusual days

Do’s and don’ts are best learned at the same time. My mom so often told me what not to do followed by what I should (or

could…or she’d like it if I would) do. She ultimately told me do’s and don’ts are opposite sides of the same coin.

This morning while writing in my prayer journal I thought of Mom and how she’d deal with the situation these days. (Is it a crisis, a tragedy, a disaster, an ordeal, a problem? Situation satisfies me.) I could clearly imagine Mom pointing out things we should not do and the opposite things we should do instead.

Remember, please, the several ‘do’s’ staying home allows.

Do’s and Don’ts for “these days”

Here are 6 of each:

Don’t think about all you can’t do.
Do think how many things you can do.

Don’t wonder or worry how long this situation will last.
Do be thankful it’s now one day less.

Don’t focus on what you miss.
Do find pleasure–no matter how simple–in what is present.

Don’t watch the news nonstop.
Do watch just enough news to know enough.

Don’t bounce among all the bad stuff.
Do single out and appreciate one good at a time.

Don’t put a cloud over your silver lining.
Do let sun shine wherever you want it to. (It will!)

A prayer for all the things to do, with some attention to things to don’t

Good friend God, the blessing of so much we can do
and the power you give us to choose what we don’t do
are key to successful movement through these times.
For every action we might not perform
there’s an even better one to enjoy.
Each moment of distress we can look beyond
is matched by one that thrills us to the core.
Steering clear of bemoaning what we think we lack
takes us straight to the consciousness of all we have.
Thank you, Good Friend, that we see the great difference
between the 6 we easily don’t
and the 1/2 dozen we are glad we do.
We thank you, God. We thank the Christ Spirit that fills us.
And so it is. And so we say Amen.

Love & Blessings,

 

 

10 April 2020

Thanks for the little things makes a big difference

Thanks for the little things? Really?

Really. Even though everyone is feeling stress these days, there is plenty of scientific evidence that it does us good to identify and experience thankfulness. Even thanks for the little things.

Since I mentioned science, I feel obliged to offer evidence.

Psychology Today (2015) cites seven benefits of gratitude relative to stress. Three of them may be especially relevant to the stress you/we are experiencing:

• Gratitude improves psychological health. Gratitude reduces a multitude of toxic emotions, from envy and resentment to frustration and regret.
• Grateful people sleep better. [Jot] down a few grateful sentiments before bed, and you may sleep better and longer.
• Gratitude increases mental strength. For years, research has shown gratitude not only reduces stress, but it may also play a major role in overcoming trauma.

Here’s a really scientific statement from Madhuleena Roy Chowdhury, a clinical psychologist:

At a neurobiological level, gratitude regulates the sympathetic nervous system that activates our anxiety responses, and at the psychological level, it conditions the brain to filter the negative ruminations and focus on the positive thoughts.

In other words gratitude–felt and expressed–moderates our anxiety tendencies and helps our minds to stay upbeat rather than to feel down.

Finally, as far as my evidence goes, let’s blend the scientific with the emotional, specifically with happiness. How about the Harvard Healthbeat‘s statement:

In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.

No matter how happy you are now, would being happier help you as the current stay-at-home environment continues?

How to do gratitude

Each of the sources cited above offers several “gratitude practices.” All are good. All are worth the read. There is a  secret to paying attention to gratitude as a way to solve feeling bad, like from long lines to get into the grocery store or nothing on television but news that’s becoming pretty redundant. You want to select gratitude activities that

• You are comfortable performing,
• Do not cause you stress, and
• Bring you feelings of contentment

Here are my own favorite 3:

1. A gratitude journal or list. Writing by hand, rather than typing, draws the direct connection between your spirit/emotion, mind, and body. I’ve written 10 Thank Yous every morning for some 10 years. I like the morning because I can reflect on yesterday’s gratitude-givers and I can anticipate what I’ll be thankful for yet today.
2. Writing thank-you notes. Some sources say it does you as much good to write the thank-you note mentally. Not so. The spirit/emotion-mind-body connection matters here, too. Granted, a thank-you email is better than nothing but not as good as one you fold, seal the envelope around, put a stamp on and drop in the mail.
3. Contact those you’re thankful you know (or knew). Whether you actually thank them for being in your life or not, the simple action of calling someone up and making contact will make you thankful. That you know/knew them and they matter in some way is a gratitude experience. That you make the time and spend the energy and overcome any hesitation to ring them up is gratitude in action.

Praying thanks for being thankful

Living, loving Spirit,
knowing thanks is a powerful experience.
Showing thanks magnifies that experience.
We thank you for the awareness that no matter
how stressful life is,
no matter how much we want things normal,
no matter what we cannot do or have right now,
we truly can find abundant thankfulness.
Guide us to look closely, to see clearly, to hear sharply,
to taste patiently, to feel calmly. In doing that we will
know the little things for which we can give thanks.
Wisdom tells us we serve ourselves much more
by enjoying gratitude than by regretting lack.
We thank you for the wisdom.
And so it is. And so we thank you, Spirit.
Amen.

Love & Blessings,

 

 

7 April 2020

 

 

Coronavirus stay home: it’s all in the moment

It may not seem much longer, but the Covid-19 Stay Home, Stay Health is really all in the moment. We can bring out attention

to what is all in the moment. We can bring our focus to the moment, one moment at a time. That can center our minds and hearts on the very moment’s reality and how and why it matters. That can move our mind away from thinking only about the big picture of “when will this end?”.

You can make it matter. The three suggestions below are not new, although in this context and at this time they may seem new. Perhaps these are just reminders.

Reminders or not, if you try any or all of them and they work, leave a comment, let us know.  If you try them and they don’t work, it’s equally valuable for you to let us know. Please leave a comment.

One thing at a time.

It’s too easy to allow your mind to rush and ramble over all that’s going on, all the news that’s not so uplifting, all the things you have to do or cannot do or wish you could do. But it’s so much better to take on one simple task at a time. Allow your mind to focus on just the one thing and the value doing it brings, the pleasure experiencing it gives.

Brother Lawrence, a Carmelite monk in Paris in the early 17th Century, practiced his faith that God is present in the most commonplace actions of everyday life. He performed menial duties in the kitchen of his abbey and enjoyed the spiritual connection from scouring pots and scrubbing the tile floor. The good monk wrote:  Nor is it needful that we should have great things to do…We can do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love of him…

With the next thing you get to do, view it truly as a single task. Separate it from all the other tasks it may be part of. Allow yourself a few moments before beginning the activity. Give thanks that you have the opportunity to perform the task. Breathe into the task.

You can break it into even smaller pieces

Keep in mind that the purpose of these activities is to allow you to let go of focus, worry, distraction, even distress by feeling confined thanks to Covid-19. Putting your attention to the joy of doing something, no matter how simple, is a proven way to release all sorts of tension.

Suppose your single task from above is putting on a shirt. Take a step closer to being in the moment. Break it down into the tiny specific steps. Surround buttoning each of seven buttons with your attention. Take a moment to recognize (and appreciate) the tactile sensation of the button. Become aware of guiding the button to, then pushing it through, the buttonhole. Notice the last small gesture that insures the button is all the way through and will remain secure.

Brother Lawrence also wrote this: We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.

Before moving onto whatever is next, gift yourself with a moment to reflect on the simple act of buttoning your shirt. How many times have you done that in your life?

Move

In an e-book worth downloading, The Inner Shield against Covid-19,  Cynthia Lee recommends that we make time to get in motion. It may be as leisurely as a walk, but it’s better if it can be called “exercise”.

Studies show that each bout of moderate exercise you do (for example, brisk walking for 30 minutes) can strengthen the immune system, but transiently. When you make moderate exercise a habit, though, the benefits of exercise may come to be lasting. Regular moderate exercise is associated with decreased episodes of illness and reduced inflammation throughout the body, which helps immune function.

Here’s a suggestion that just might get you in motion: find music from your past, from some special, high-energy, enthusiastic time. Dig out the albums or the cassettes…or more likely visit iTunes. Find music that makes you want to dance. Then dance. And if there’s no one in your Stay Home, Stay Healthy place, plug in with Zoom or FaceTime, share music with friends. Dance up a storm.

Praying for all that is in each moment

Living, loving Spirit,
the joy and love and peace that are the fullness
of every moment we embrace
shall not go unnoticed because we are distracted.
We accept and celebrate our opportunities, limitless,
to seize each moment with our hearts and our true consciousness.
We give thanks that we can feel and know and cherish
what makes each moment unique, what makes the ‘now’
and endless series of moment after moment before moment.
We allow our minds to become settled,
focused, attentive that our hearts may
open to the blessing of whatever we are doing
in the moment. We feel its blessing.
And we say thank you, Spirit. And so it is.
Amen.

Love & Blessings

 

6 April 2020

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