Sunday Musings – December 10, 2017
The holiday music plays, the washing machine and dryer are running, and I have the luxury of sitting in my warm, cheerful home with no responsibilities other than to take care of myself and reflect on how I want to use these blessings. As I have written brief texts and email notes to some of those who feed me daily I have been acutely aware that, as was true for Dorothy, I am not in Kansas anymore. This phrase becomes a metaphor for the luxury of creature comforts, friendships and the ability to decide my spiritual goals for today. I am free from the need to attempt to win the approval of the God of my understanding. For many years I was focused on winning the approval of people I though I should impress. Somehow, in my mind, I was convinced impressing certain people would be an indication that the God of my understanding was impressed. Despite what my Christian beliefs taught me and what a few people in my life showed me, I knew that as the second Sunday of Advent arrived I had to prepare myself by becoming or rather by pretending to be more than I was.
After more than seven decades of this journey, I know that most of us struggle with knowing or trusting that we are enough. Yet, it is often very easy for us to reassure others that they are enough.
As was obvious if one was reading or listening to the news this week many of us humans continued to struggle while focusing on trying to prove that our way and our answers needed to reign. Yet there were many reminders that Mother Nature is in charge.
Here in the Ohio Valley, as elsewhere, we gathered to discuss and brainstorm more effective approaches to education, jobs, health care and a variety of other issues.
We also gathered in funeral homes, churches, synagogues, and mosques to pray, sometimes with open minds and hearts and sometimes to proclaim our truth as the truth. Sometimes we gathered just to celebrate a life and each other. I attended such a gathering yesterday. People from near and far gathered to recall a little boy who became a man; a man who brought joy and, at times heartache - a man just like the rest of us. Some days we are very, very good and some days we are horrid! In the end, if blessed, we recognize ourselves in the mirrors of the lives of others. Then we can just gather to lovingly support each other and to remind each other we are enough. A Roman Catholic priest - a simple man – led those gathered in a celebration of this man. He did not complicate the simple message of this life journey; the simple message that it is enough to be us and to love and support each other. For me on this second Sunday of advent I am most grateful for the reminder of this priest and others in my adopted home to “keep it simple stupid” (said with a smile). As life continues to show up this week, I can choose to focus on sharing my gifts and appreciating the smorgasbord of gifts of others. We will not achieve world peace, end all hunger and pain, or even wave our magic wands and turn all politicians into saints. We will not stop all wars, forest fires or other visits by Mother Nature, but we can “keep it simple stupid” and love unconditionally.
Written December 10, 2017
The holiday music plays, the washing machine and dryer are running, and I have the luxury of sitting in my warm, cheerful home with no responsibilities other than to take care of myself and reflect on how I want to use these blessings. As I have written brief texts and email notes to some of those who feed me daily I have been acutely aware that, as was true for Dorothy, I am not in Kansas anymore. This phrase becomes a metaphor for the luxury of creature comforts, friendships and the ability to decide my spiritual goals for today. I am free from the need to attempt to win the approval of the God of my understanding. For many years I was focused on winning the approval of people I though I should impress. Somehow, in my mind, I was convinced impressing certain people would be an indication that the God of my understanding was impressed. Despite what my Christian beliefs taught me and what a few people in my life showed me, I knew that as the second Sunday of Advent arrived I had to prepare myself by becoming or rather by pretending to be more than I was.
After more than seven decades of this journey, I know that most of us struggle with knowing or trusting that we are enough. Yet, it is often very easy for us to reassure others that they are enough.
As was obvious if one was reading or listening to the news this week many of us humans continued to struggle while focusing on trying to prove that our way and our answers needed to reign. Yet there were many reminders that Mother Nature is in charge.
Here in the Ohio Valley, as elsewhere, we gathered to discuss and brainstorm more effective approaches to education, jobs, health care and a variety of other issues.
We also gathered in funeral homes, churches, synagogues, and mosques to pray, sometimes with open minds and hearts and sometimes to proclaim our truth as the truth. Sometimes we gathered just to celebrate a life and each other. I attended such a gathering yesterday. People from near and far gathered to recall a little boy who became a man; a man who brought joy and, at times heartache - a man just like the rest of us. Some days we are very, very good and some days we are horrid! In the end, if blessed, we recognize ourselves in the mirrors of the lives of others. Then we can just gather to lovingly support each other and to remind each other we are enough. A Roman Catholic priest - a simple man – led those gathered in a celebration of this man. He did not complicate the simple message of this life journey; the simple message that it is enough to be us and to love and support each other. For me on this second Sunday of advent I am most grateful for the reminder of this priest and others in my adopted home to “keep it simple stupid” (said with a smile). As life continues to show up this week, I can choose to focus on sharing my gifts and appreciating the smorgasbord of gifts of others. We will not achieve world peace, end all hunger and pain, or even wave our magic wands and turn all politicians into saints. We will not stop all wars, forest fires or other visits by Mother Nature, but we can “keep it simple stupid” and love unconditionally.
Written December 10, 2017
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