Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.
Mary Oliver
On my way home from the coffee shop I noticed the white clouds drifting amid the darker storm clouds. I felt they were worth the effort for a drive up to Pineridge Natural Area and experience nature’s art. I stood there, soaking it all in. It’s been a quiet morning. May be the calm before the thunderstorms which are forecasted for later this afternoon. As I stood there I knew in my heart that if I was to make a gratitude list on a daily basis it would be easy to put clouds on that list. Happy Friday!! Next up is July. (I know I’ve posted this poem before but it’s good enough to post again, much like cloud photos.)
Made a visit to the Bean Cycle coffee shop this morning. I am not sure the last time I was there but it has been a long time. I patronize a couple other coffee shops that have a more appealing ambiance and are less expensive. However, I felt at home when I walked in and was greeted by a barista I did not know. Always good to meet a new face. She did a good job with my mocha.
Today I add another number to my accumulations of birthdays, which means I probably am getting wiser and handsomer. 😂 On a serious note, I awoke after a good night’s sleep, had quiet time then the visit to the coffee shop. I will have Thai lunch with my youngest daughter (maybe both of them) later today. Hope you have a great day!
Encountering the Divine Presence in sanctuaries of silence Where Creation is speaking when meadowlarks and robins sing Listening with the ears of the heart to this nonverbal language Embracing those unspeakable words a benediction of silence.
“Don’t believe everything you think. When your mind starts to stack up its stories to prove to you that you have been wronged or you have been wrong, that nobody loves you or that everybody wants something from you, take a deep breath. Remind yourself that just because you think something doesn’t make it true.”
Mirabai Starr, God of Love
I’ve watched peoples feathers get ruffled when I say we can’t believe everything we think, nor believe what we think to be reality. Primarily because it’s difficult to change/let go of unhealthy thinking. We justify the heck out of our destructive thoughts with other unhealthy thinking. Let that soak in. Byron Katie suggests, “A thought is harmless unless we believe it.It’s not our thoughts, but our attachment to our thoughts, that causes suffering. Attaching to a thought means believing that it’s true, without inquiring. A belief is a thought that we’ve been attaching to, often for years.” I’m finding detaching from my thoughts to be freeing, a lifelong practice, and enriching my life. I often laugh at myself, seldom beating myself up. However, I do have wishful thoughts that more people practiced detaching from their thoughts starting with politicians, leaders of religious institutions, corporate executives, well, anyone centered on self, and ….. There I go again, believing I know what’s best for others, for the world!!! Happy Saturday!
Watching storm clouds in the northwest from Riverbend Ponds
We go to prayer to be transfigured ourselves, to come to see the world as God sees the world, to practice the presence of God, to put on a heart of justice, of love, and of compassion for others. We go to become new of soul.
Joan Chittister
Several years ago when life was lifey my ex-wife and I went back to church. We joined this small home group where we met for seven weeks and went through some workbook. I shared in the first meeting that I had not prayed for over 20 years. One elderly woman asked if I had ever said, Oh God! In her mind’s eye that was a prayer. Thus I began to question my understanding of prayer. I’ve been searching ever since.
My concept of prayer when this happened was from my youth. I’ve since become aware of the need to uncover, discover and discard some of the teaching of my youth that no longer serve their purpose. And, that includes many areas of my life besides prayer. Prayer is such a personal journey for each of us and no two are the same. Seems the searching has altered my soul that I am unable to explain or comprehend.
