MOST ASK, “WHY CAN’T IT BE LIKE CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY ?”
MOST DO LITTLE FOLLOWING DECEMBER 25 TO ANSWER THE QUESTION
ARE YOU MOST?
NEVER-ENDING-ALL-SEASONAL GREETINGS
Today
Tomorrow
Ho Ho Ho TO TO TO Ho Ho HELL
HALF OF THE WORLD AWAY
This is the story of a young girl called Lily. Looking at the moon through her family telescope one night, she is amazed at what she finds, a man on the moon. Lily watches on as our man goes about his chores, all alone up there. She becomes determined to get something to the moon, to send him a message and show him that someone down here is thinking of him.
(The music is ‘Half the World Away’ performed by Aurora, the original song was by Oasis.)
Sometimes being half of the world away is a lot closer than we allow ourselves to believe; especially if we look at it through THE LENSES of a Child. . .
Go ahead. . .BLINK. . .
Gently rub your eyes and take another look,
a long gawking and
SEE
SEEING
Christmas in July
isn’t as half of the world away as it seems and that mostly:
K I N D N E S S
IS
ALWAYS
IN SEASON
So. . .on this Monday, July 22:
NEEDING TO BE MORE OF AN ATHEIST
Y E S
I’ve been ordained for 44 years and
Y E S
I do believe in God and all of the allusions referring to G. U. S.
G reat U niversal S pirit
and then I have this story come to me again
after being buried in the great
Somewhere
for
Sometime:
A rabbi was asked by one of his students “Why did God create atheists?” After a long pause, the rabbi finally responded with a soft but sincere voice. “God created atheists” he said, “to teach us the most important lesson of them all – the lesson of true compassion. You see, when an atheist performs an act of charity, visits someone who is sick, helps someone in need, and cares for the world, he is not doing so because of some religious teaching. He does not believe that God commanded him to perform this act. In fact, he does not believe in God at all, so his actions are based on his sense of morality. Look at the kindness he bestows on others simply because he feels it to be right. When someone reaches out to you for help. You should never say ‘I’ll pray that God will help you.’ Instead, for that moment, you should become an atheist – imagine there is no God who could help, and say ‘I will help you’.”
– Martin Buber
So as a hopefully kind Caring Catalyst, I have to ask, SHOULD I BE MORE OF AN ATHEIST?
SHOULD ANY OF US?
Can Anyone’s hands
ever be too
C L E A N
IN JUST A MOMENT: FROM NO TO GO
It’s amazing in just a moment, everything we can come to know. Sometimes the amazing thing about that, IN JUST A MOMENT it’s not what we come to it is what comes to us and teaches us what we need to know for THE MOMENT in just a moment and here’s a perfect example:
We can go from NO to SLOW to FLOW and most ultimately to GO and then we realize we’re more unlimited than we ever have imagined and in just a moment, we become even more so. . . .
SIFTER
I really love this poem by Naomi Shihab Nye for many different reasons by mainly because it makes us ask:
WHAT KIND OF KITCHEN UTENSIL (IMPLEMENT) WOULD YOU BE?
I thought of being a
DISH TOWEL
not just because I spend a lot of my professional and personal time of “Cleaning up messes” of all the ‘spills of sadnesses, dashed hopes, lost loves and unanswered prayers’ but never feeling too saturated enough to SOAK UP all the moisture that absorbs and goodnesses and peace, too.
SO. . .what kind of kitchen implement are you?
KNOW YOUR USE
and then
BE IMPLEMENTED
THE QUIET ONES–THE ART OF SHUSHING
The Quiet Ones
There are quiet saints
everywhere.
Hidden in plain sight,
they do their work
gently and slowly
and lovingly.
Repairing the world
over and over again.
Despite the pain,
despite the sadness
at the heart of it all.
Despite not even
knowing
that this is
their work.
You know them.
We all do.
The barely remembered face
on the bus that gave
a word of advice
that carried you
for a while.
The beggar who smiled
from the street corner
you rushed past,
whether you gave or didn’t.
The teacher who
took time with you
until the light finally
dawned within.
The old lady
who promised
she would light a candle
for you, and did.
The tired nurse who,
nonetheless,
held your hand.
The old man who
showed you
how to plant an acorn.
The child who
smiled at you
when you didn’t feel worthy
of such a gift.
All of them,
punctuation points
of grace
in the story of
your gradual unfolding.
Their numbers swell
the world,
silently, secretly,
and ensure the sun
comes up for
one more day.
That the moon rises
for one more night,
and that hope
is possible for
for one more hour.
Their kindness
is a tide
stronger than
the sea,
and just as
relentless
in its constant
return.
They reflect light into
the night window
of your soul
as gently as
the Moon falling
on silvered waters.
You may never know
their names.
Yet they have mended
the frayed edges
of your life
more often than
you will ever know.
They have
seen you,
and in the moment
of their seeing,
you have felt seen,
known, loved,
necessary, meaningful,
even if just
for a moment.
They may be beside you
right now.
They may be sitting
in your cafe,
or be along side you
on the bus stop bench,
or be just behind you
in the queue,
or just in front.
Here is how
you will know them:
They smile often
with their eyes,
with their souls.
They have borne
great suffering
without becoming
hard or cold.
They disappear
quickly.
Fading like Angels do,
having delivered
their good news.
Their Gospel
is kindness.
Their eyes,
no matter their age
are those of
dancing children.
Their smile true
and hard won.
They are often very old,
or seeming so,
or very young.
They speak less
about themselves
and listen more,
than you or I.
They pray
and breathe
as if they are
one thing.
They laugh and cry
deeply,
and often,
without ever
becoming
stuck in either.
They come when
needed,
though often,
at the last
minute,
but always
on time.
They twinkle as
the first and the last
star does.
They wear wisdom
as lightly
as summer rain.
They give their gift
unminding of
its value.
They let
you walk away
in peace.
They walk on
as blessing.
There are
quiet saints
everywhere.
Perhaps you
have met one?
Perhaps you
could become
one?
Richard Hendrick
S H U S H
Shhhhhhhhhhhhh…
Keep your mouth shut
Your eyes closed
Your Ears open
And your Heart unfastened
SHUSHING
is an art that needs
P R A C T I C I N G
(more)
JUST A MOMENT: WHEN SPENT TAKES ON A NEW MEANING
In just a moment, so many things can take place; like in just a moment you can feel like you’ve really been spent or or discarded or unnoticed or actually walked over and yes, sometimes even walked on and yet you could take that same experience and you have a totally different feeling. You know what the difference is, what you take or what you receive or what you give.
The next time you feel totally spent, I mean discarded, walked on or over, flip it over make that new one just by GIVING; even if it’s giving a new perspective. . .
BE the message. Someone desperately needs to find or stumble on today. Let them find YOU where they least expect it and most need it.
YOU have that power
YOU. HAVE. THAT. POWER.
WE ALL LIVE (IN THE SAME HOUSE)
Melanie DeMore and friends bring us a much needed reminder on the July 8th. . .no longer Independence Day holiday but. . .
Actually, it’s a much needed reminder for anybody, anytime, anywhere.
Melanie based her lyrics on these words from the late John Lewis, one of my personal heroes:
“We all live in the same house, we all must be part of the effort to hold down our little house. When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just . . . do something about it. Say something. Have the courage. Have the backbone. Get in the way. Walk with the wind. It’s all going to work out.”
And . . .
“Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
WE ALL LIVE IN THE SAME HOUSE Melanie DeMore We all live, we all live We all live in the same house We all live, we all live We all live in the same house Make some good, good trouble Keep on movin' ahead Make some good, good trouble Don't let anything hold you back! Good trouble, necessary trouble Hmmmm, keep goin' Good trouble, necessary trouble Don't let anything hold you back!
(My thanks to Melanie DeMore, VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers, Singers Of This Age, and Vintage Voices.)
WE ALL LIVE IN THE SAME HOUSE
BE CARING CATALYST ENOUGH
TO MAKE EVERYONE FEEL WELCOMED
YOUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
DO YOU HAVE ONE?
Do you have a Personal
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ?
Would you even consider writing one especially now that the 4th of July has come and gone as we begin the race to back-to-school sales and Labor Day
in between picnics
in between family gatherings
in between the parties/the outings/
in between the FIREWORKS
Well. . .
may be it’s time
HIGH TIME
that you
Write Your Personal Declaration of Independence
“The beginning and the end reach out their hands to each other.” —Chinese proverb
I know it’s may well be past the 1/2
NEW YEAR MARK
B U T
Why Wait?
BESIDES. . .
WHO HASN’T YET WISHED 2023
A W A Y. . .
WHY NOT CLAIM A REALLY NEW YEAR AS YOU DECLARE YOUR OWN PERSONAL
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Here’s something to think about to really bring that spirit of freedom home to your own heart:
What will you declare YOUR independence from today?
What’s the tyrant that is holding you back from being all you can be?
Is it a not-so-healthy habit you want to let go of?
A stifling job?
A toxic relationship?
Someone who is pushing you in a direction that isn’t right for you?
Is it your need to always be right when interacting with others?
Constantly living in the past or blaming yourself for situations that aren’t totally under your control?
Or the debilitating habit of saying yes to everyone else instead of drawing boundaries and saying yes yourself?
What will you declare your independence from today?
It’s an important question that deserves some deep contemplation and, even better, a written commitment where you sign on the dotted line. Think of this as creating your own personal Independence Day—the day you vow to cut the tie, the day you declare your liberation from whatever or whomever is crushing that part of you that wants to fly.
Tips for writing your personal Declaration of Independence:
- Be honest with yourself: Name something (or someone) that is holding you back from fully being yourself.
- Write out your personal Declaration of Independence from this inner or outer tyrant with firm commitment and passion.
- In your declaration, state exactly what you are committing to be free from and why this is important to you. What will you be able to accomplish by liberating yourself from this yoke?
- You can also write that you are inviting and welcoming into your life all the support (physical, emotional, and/or spiritual) that you need to stick to your pledge of freedom.
- Then write down the specific actions you will commit to in order to see this through to the finish.
- Date and sign your declaration.
This can be the start of a new thrust for you, especially when you see this declaration as a pledge—a promise to yourself that you will choose to cut yourself free from the negative habit or toxic tie because it is dragging you down—even smothering you—rather than raising you up. Sure, it might take some work. But the commitment, in tangible form, is the essential first step.
The Scottish mountaineer W. H. Murray once wrote: “The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.”
Sounds like a
NEW YEAR’S DAY
or better still, a true
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE DAY,
huh?
Commit to your freedom today from one key thing that isn’t helping you thrive. See how it feels, and see what happens next. A new beginning is waiting for you.
And truly just don’t let the
F I R E W O R K S B E G I N. . .
I N S U R E
They
will
N E V E R E N D !
JUST A MOMENT: WHAT MAKES YOUR FLAG UNFURL
It really is more than just a question, and absolutely more than just a passing phrase or thought. . .
What makes your flag unfurl, unfold, and flap in the wind? Some would say ferociously, that we have never been more apart, more divided as THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA than we are right now. But history proves that’s not true; even in the beginning when we were fighting for our independence, SHOCKER: NOT everybody was on the same page, but the best thing about not being on the same page is that seldom, I mean, so seldom do we recognize that, though we may not be on the same page, we undeniably are in the same book.
So forget about reading what was and putting down what is, let’s continue to work even in our own ways, divided as we may be, to what can be and may be so. . .EVEN ON THIS JULY 4th EVE
L E T ‘ S
LET’S
LET OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
BE A PLEDGE OF MAKING US ALL A LITTLE BIT BETTER
E S P E C I A L L Y
IF WE
AGREE
TO
DISAGREE
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