To be a good writer, you not only have to write a great deal but you have to care. You do not have to have a complicated moral philosophy. But a writer always tries, I think, to be a part of the solution, to understand a little about life and to pass this on.
Anne Lamott from Bird by Bird
I used to write every day. Not so much any more. Perhaps I will find the groove again one of these days. Now that I might know a little bit about life, maybe I have something to pass on.
People often say that 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder,' and I say that the most liberating thing about beauty is realizing that you are the beholder. This empowers us to find beauty in places where others have not dared to look, including inside ourselves.
Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it.
Author Unknown
Yeah, I have had to do that. Not sure it made them happy, but that's what they wanted and it may be the closest to happy that they will ever get. I was certainly tired of being the source of misery (perceived or actual).
To me, the ending felt so correct and so appropriate that it seemed to bend over backward to kiss the beginning.
Elizabeth Gilbert
With only 1/2 inch of snow on Sunday, the bamboo in front of the house leaned to the ground. An hour later after the snow melted, once again the bamboo stood taller than the eaves of the second story.
Oh, to be so flexible...to be able in the end to bend over backward and kiss the beginning.
There's something very attractive about this. I don't know whether I could get used to living this way, attractive though it is. I don't know how long it would take me to stop being bored. I don't know that I would like living without technology.
This place is beautiful. Part of me longs for the simplicity of design, the lack of clutter and mess that I seem to accumulate in spite of myself.
The quality of this video is exceptional. As I watched it on my beautiful new computer (for which I am so grateful), the walk through the woods and the house almost seemed 3D. Usually, I size the video specifically for my blog. This one wouldn't allow changes. I don't know what it will look like when I get it posted on my blog, so if it doesn't work here, please go to the youtube.com link and watch it. You'll experience six and a half minutes of beauty...and maybe you will be moved to simplify your own life. If so, please tell us about it here.
It’s a gift to joyfully recognize and accept our own smallness and ordinariness. Then you are free with nothing to live up to, nothing to prove, and nothing to protect. Such freedom is my best description of Christian maturity, because once you know that your “I” has an inherent dignity and is objectively one with God, you can ironically be quite content with a small and ordinary “I.” No grandstanding is necessary. Any question of your own importance or value has already been resolved once and for all and forever. That is why “saints” (those who know!) are naturally humble without even trying to be humble.
Richard Rohr
...nor do I aspire to be one. Lately, I'm quite aware of my own smallness.
In my meditation today, I was having a conversation with the Masters. The message I received was to keep doing what I'm doing. At that point, I said, "So you are happy with everything I am doing in my life right now?"
Right now, be kind. If speaking, speak kind words. If listening, be kind in you presence and your interpretation. If thinking, send forth kind thoughts. If being, be kind--be kindness.
Governor Gregoire accurately points out that churches and religious institutions will continue to be able to marry or not marry whomever they choose. That is their religious freedom to do so.
A legal right to marry does not equal a "religious right" to be "blessed," "sanctified," or whatever else the group calls it. In fact, in some South American countries, couples first have a civil union that the State licenses. Then later, if the couple chooses and the "church" agrees, they have a religious wedding ceremony. Those who don't want a religious ceremony don't have one. Those that the church chooses not to approve of don't have one either.
That, my friends, is separation of church and state.
...those who are so against same-gender marriage (thereby "forcing" civil unions) are, in fact, the ones who are ruining it?
In a sad way...of course. I have nothing against marriage. I do think that not enough people take it seriously and keep their commitments. I also think that a lot of people get lazy and let their baggage take over because that's what people do.
Marriage provides an unbeatable crucible for working on one's stuff and growing and learning to be in relationship. We can either upgrade the institution by doing our part or we can blame the institution for being outdated.
(i rebuilt the greenhouse after a wind storm. this is what it looks like at night. yes, that is duct tape holding it together.)
A champion is someone who gets up when he can't.
Jack Dempsey
We had a bodacious wind storm a few nights ago. Then it rained for several days. The good news is that all the parts of the greenhouse stayed in my yard. The bad news is that the sum of the parts no longer made a whole.
Today the temperature registered in the upper 50s. The sun appeared once in a while. The rain took a break so I could re-construct this little quonset before the freezing weather returns.
I have duct tape.
One of the essential three: Duct tape...hammer...WD40. You can hold it together or get it apart with these.
Yes, the Christmas lights are still up. I am sure they will be for at least a couple more weeks.
Yes, the greenhouse is lighted. I use a rope light to keep the feet of the plants warm--plus, the greenhouse sits next to the dryer vent so some of the warm exhaust air blows into the structure. Everyone in there is quite happy at the moment.
I think they will survive. They will get back up...even if they can't.
Beloved accompanied me through 2011. The only thing new about that was my awareness. Of course, Beloved is always there. Always.
As 2012 approached, my word had not yet revealed itself to me. I'd hear appealing words pop up and think, "Oh, maybe that's it...." Nope. In fact, I can't even remember what they were now--that how "not it" they were.
Yesterday, as I caught up on my blog reading, my word repeated itself. I got it.
Ease.
Mmm. Yes.
It came to me...with ease. All I had to do was be patient. (Oh, no...is this going to be a double whammy year?) I waited. I didn't push. I listened.
I think that may be what ease is about. Certainly, I know that it doesn't mean that everything will be easy. (I must admit I long for that at times.) What I expect is that I will be trained in the awareness of ease...just as I have been trained in the awareness of Beloved. Even the rough spots can show me the path of ease.
I also think it was no accident that Beloved came to me before Ease. Huh.
So as I watch and wait and become aware of Ease in my life this year, I wish the same for you--inner and outer. May we all be so blessed.
Someone recently asked if I still do advice on my blog. The answer? A resounding yes. You ask the questions, I'll provide the best response I can. And remember...if you choose to take my advice, you are responsible for the outcome and the buck stops with you. I'm just saying.
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