Sunday musings – April 30, 2017
On this last day of April there is much to celebrate and much to grieve. My friend Barbara celebrates a birthday this week which is a reminder of the blessing of a wise and unconditionally loving friendship. I am so blessed to have this woman as part of my life. April 28 was the first anniversary of my mother’s death. She was 96 and had very little quality of life. While sitting with her the last days of her life I was praying that she would let go and be able to finally rest. The quality of her often difficult life had diminished a lot.
Later today, for no other reason than love, friends are bringing me the patio furniture which sat on the porch of Mary who was the mother of Kurt and Dave. The furniture will remind me of Mary’s love of her sons and the joy she and her wonderful hats brought to the circle of friends and relatives. Terry will travel from Butler, Pa. to Export, Pa. to Wheeling and back to Butler. Kurt will travel from Pittsburgh to Export to Wheeling and back to Pittsburgh. On Sundays, given my background in the Christian tradition, l am often reminded of Grace which is, as we know, love which cannot be earned. Such is the love with these and some others in my circle of intimate friendships. I am blessed.
Another friend texted me last evening to let me know her niece died when her heart stopped from overdose of alcohol. The twin sister of this niece died 10 years ago of addiction-related causes. There has been so much sadness in this family.
Another family prays while son is again in hospital for what is undoubtedly alcoholism-related issues.
Others in recovery from active addiction post information about the joy and freedom of recovery. Many do recover and for this fact I am enormously grateful. I am reminded of the work it takes to make such major changes in the behavior and thinking of one’s life. The courage is impressive and humbling.
This week, Aron Bielski spoke at the Ohio County Library and reminded me once again that we are in charge of the kind of day we have; that no one can keep one from loving and taking care of others, from standing up to what is pure and good, from knowing that attitude, and not events, determines what kind of day one has. I am also reminded of the now deceased Dr. Wayne Dyer and his most well know book Change Your Thoughts-Change Your Life. I had, of course, heard this truth many times prior to reading Dr. Dyer’s book, but it was when reading his book that I clearly HEARD this truth.
Many other friends, acquaintances, clients and others have imprinted their love, strength, hope, laughter and courage on my life this week. There was also a lot of shared sadness, grief, anger and other emotions; shared in a very personal way and via way of the news coverage - all the ways we hurt each other on our own streets and in places far away.
I am reminded of the wisdom which Etty Hillesum shares in An Interrupted Life the Diaries, 1941-1943 and Letters from Westerbork. I am thinking of the celebration in the ghetto when Hans received his yellow star. She writes of the fact that when historians tell the story of the Nazis, words will not be found which adequately describe the cruelty we humans inflict on each other. Yet, she continues, they will also miss, if not careful, that not even the Nazis could stop Etty, Hans and Lisa from celebrating their rich friendship as they savored the coffee they had brewed from beans bought on the black market (I am paraphrasing from my memory).
If I meditate on Grace, the serenity prayer, on embracing humility, and do my best to walk the talk, I, too, will follow in the footsteps of Aron Bielski, Etty Hillesum and many others who claimed the freedom to always have a good day.
Thus, you will notice that the week and the month of April brought nothing new, but wonderful, rich opportunities to be present with life as it shows up.
Written April 30, 2017
Sunday musings – April 30, 2017
On this last day of April there is much to celebrate and much to grieve. My friend Barbara celebrates a birthday this week which is a reminder of the blessing of a wise and unconditionally loving friendship. I am so blessed to have this woman as part of my life. April 28 was the first anniversary of my mother’s death. She was 96 and had very little quality of life. While sitting with her the last days of her life I was praying that she would let go and be able to finally rest. The quality of her often difficult life had diminished a lot.
Later today, for no other reason than love, friends are bringing me the patio furniture which sat on the porch of Mary who was the mother of Kurt and Dave. The furniture will remind me of Mary’s love of her sons and the joy she and her wonderful hats brought to the circle of friends and relatives. Terry will travel from Butler, Pa. to Export, Pa. to Wheeling and back to Butler. Kurt will travel from Pittsburgh to Export to Wheeling and back to Pittsburgh. On Sundays, given my background in the Christian tradition, l am often reminded of Grace which is, as we know, love which cannot be earned. Such is the love with these and some others in my circle of intimate friendships. I am blessed.
Another friend texted me last evening to let me know her niece died when her heart stopped from overdose of alcohol. The twin sister of this niece died 10 years ago of addiction-related causes. There has been so much sadness in this family.
Another family prays while son is again in hospital for what is undoubtedly alcoholism-related issues.
Others in recovery from active addiction post information about the joy and freedom of recovery. Many do recover and for this fact I am enormously grateful. I am reminded of the work it takes to make such major changes in the behavior and thinking of one’s life. The courage is impressive and humbling.
This week, Aron Bielski spoke at the Ohio County Library and reminded me once again that we are in charge of the kind of day we have; that no one can keep one from loving and taking care of others, from standing up to what is pure and good, from knowing that attitude, and not events, determines what kind of day one has. I am also reminded of the now deceased Dr. Wayne Dyer and his most well know book Change Your Thoughts-Change Your Life. I had, of course, heard this truth many times prior to reading Dr. Dyer’s book, but it was when reading his book that I clearly HEARD this truth.
Many other friends, acquaintances, clients and others have imprinted their love, strength, hope, laughter and courage on my life this week. There was also a lot of shared sadness, grief, anger and other emotions; shared in a very personal way and via way of the news coverage - all the ways we hurt each other on our own streets and in places far away.
I am reminded of the wisdom which Etty Hillesum shares in An Interrupted Life the Diaries, 1941-1943 and Letters from Westerbork. I am thinking of the celebration in the ghetto when Hans received his yellow star. She writes of the fact that when historians tell the story of the Nazis, words will not be found which adequately describe the cruelty we humans inflict on each other. Yet, she continues, they will also miss, if not careful, that not even the Nazis could stop Etty, Hans and Lisa from celebrating their rich friendship as they savored the coffee they had brewed from beans bought on the black market (I am paraphrasing from my memory).
If I meditate on Grace, the serenity prayer, on embracing humility, and do my best to walk the talk, I, too, will follow in the footsteps of Aron Bielski, Etty Hillesum and many others who claimed the freedom to always have a good day.
Thus, you will notice that the week and the month of April brought nothing new, but wonderful, rich opportunities to be present with life as it shows up.
Written April 30, 2017
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