The Guest House

The Guest House by Rumi

This being human is a guest house

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

Some momentary awareness comes

As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all

Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,

Who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture.

Still, treat each guest honorably,

He may be cleaning you out for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

Meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,

Because each has been sent

As a guide from beyond.

I found this poem quite by accident but as always it was very timely. Part of my life pattern has been to look at emotions I don't like as negative and then judge myself for having them. In the process of doing that I tap into even more negative thoughts that run rampant. Over the last years it has been a turning point for me to look at what comes my way as a gift. It is not something that has to fought and conquered, but instead something to be embraced and learned from. As much as I know this, I can still let fear get in the way. Paulo Coelho wrote it beautifully when he said, "We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it's about our life or our possessions and property. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world are written by the same hand. "

Blessings,

Sandy

Elusive Hope

Over the last few weeks I have been thinking and talking a lot about the idea of visioning. The process of looking outward to see what is possible for ourselves, friends and family, our community and world. I love the process because you get to throw out all the rules of how it should be to imagine how things could be. The next step is to explore how that could actually come to be. That's the place we often get stuck, in the movement from what we want to what can be. It is also the place of most opportunity because so much is possible. This is not a place for those who are faint of heart; this is a place to muster all the courage and heart you have and move toward your vision.

In my conversations with people I have heard that maybe we have lost hope that things can be different in our world. You only have to watch the news to see that our world is not at peace and people feel the uneasiness in themselves. The security we once felt on all levels is no longer there and spans from job security to the security of our nation. It makes think me that vision is of no use without hope and hope is not possible without seeing things in a new way.

Just recently I was given this excerpt from a publication and it goes like this: " The world is to big for us. Too much is going on, too many crimes, too much violence and excitement. Try as you will, you get behind in the race in spite of yourself. It is an incessant strain to keep pace, and you still lose ground. Science empties its discoveries on you so fast you stagger beneath them in hopeless bewilderment. The political world is news changing so rapidly that you're out of breath trying to keep pace with who's in and who's out. Everything is high pressure. Human nature can't endure much more."

Does this sound familiar? This was actually written in The Atlantic Journal in 1833! I'm guessing that the author felt hopeless in what was happening around him or her. How this is much different than today I'm not sure, but I do know that hope is one of our biggest attributes.

There is a song by Andre Thomas, an African American poet and writer called, I Dream A World. The beginning of the song goes like this, I dream a world where man No other man will scorn, Where love will bless the earth And peace its path adorn" We are in the very process of asking ourselves this very same question, what kind of world do we dream and how can we dream it together? What do we want for ourselves and our world?

I want to leave you with one final thought and it is from Margaret Mead, " Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. " If you could answer the question I dream a world....what do you imagine? We would love to hear from you! ~Blessings~

Sandy

Expect God...

I am sitting on a crude wooden bench surrounded by red clay mud walls and a tin roof. The floor is dirt and high above my head are wooden beams draped with beautiful cloth and tied to look like butterflies. The altar is simple, made complete with a cross and hand woven baskets. This humble room is a church packed with people dressed in traditional African and Maasi clothing. It is vibrant and colorful. The people who cannot get in are 4 deep at the windows peering in to get a glimpse of what is going on. Inside the people are singing and dancing in such a way that it appears well orchestrated. But nothing is orchestrated, they are simply letting the spirit move them. The harmony of their voices and the beat of the drum seem to reach right into my soul...I cannot help but be moved. The tears are running down my face, I have never experienced God in this way. Many times in my life I have looked for God's presence in my life. But here I am, sitting with some of the poorest people in the world and they feel God's presence...they expect God to be there. They don't even expect it, they just have a knowing that is like nothing I have ever witnessed. I could ask where is God in this monetarily poor country, but it never enters my mind. When asked if they ever asked that question they said, Why should we do that...He is here.

I am in the mountain top village of Idunda, Tanzania. It has been more than a year since I visited this village, but all I have to do is close my eyes and I can be right back there. But I am not there, I am here, in one of the richest countries in the world. I have more than I need of material possessions but yet I sometimes find myself asking, where is God today or looking for signs of His presence. How often I forget that His hand is in everything. I was truly blessed to have this experience of grace and love. What if we just for this moment remembered that there is nothing that God's hand is not in...what if today instead of looking for the places we see God that we could just close our eyes and know His presence. May you be blessed and be a blessing.

Sandy

the dot...ish

Recently, a friend gave me two new books to add to my collection of children's books. I love children's books and these two are exceptional in their message. The first one, The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, is a Christopher award winner. This award is given to films, television programs or books that affirm the highest values of the human spirit. Vashti, the character in the book claims she cannot draw when invited to do so by her teacher. Her teacher encourages her to "Just make a mark and see where it takes you", but she is angry! To prove she cannot draw, she puts a dot right in the middle of the page and exclaims, There! Many more pages of angry dots appeared, but soon Vashti softened and that "dot" marked the beginning of a journey to surprise and self discovery thru drawing dots.

The second book by the same author, is simply called, Ish. In this book Ramon does what makes him happy, which is drawing. One day, his older brother made a critical comment about his drawing. From then on Ramon worked hard to do it right and make it perfect, but he never succeeded. Instead his papers ended up crumpled in the trash can. His sister saw the world in a different way, and helped him see the creative process was more important than getting it right.

Does any of this sound familiar to you? I know I sure can see myself in both of these books. On the inside cover of the books it says The Dot and Ish are books that"shine a bright beam of light on the need to kindle and tend our creative flames with care." I could not agree more! We have forgotten to embrace our creative side and honor the value of creativity in our life, however it is expressed. I will often recommend that people start with crayons and a coloring book or better yet, get out their favorite medium and just start to create whatever comes to mind. We are so much in our heads, organizing and figuring things out, that we need to just break away from our thoughts. Using the creative process allows us access to inner most wisdom that can help new perspectives emerge.

Today, make some time to sit down with a box of crayons and a blank sheet of paper and just allow your hand to move on the paper. Remember there is no" right way" or "wrong way" to do it. It is important for all of us to find ways to get out what is deep inside of us and creativity is one way to that. Have fun and give it a try! If you care to post a comment we would love to hear from you!

Sandy

An Awesome Picture

I came across this picture that was recently taken by the Hubble Telescope, the Spitzer Telescope and the Evolution Explorer. These three telescopes worked together over a span of several years to capture this galaxy. The astronomers were amazed at the depth, clarity and beauty that the use of three telescopes produced in this image. I thought it was such an awesome picture that I wanted to share it with you...however the computer had a different idea in mind. This is the fourth time I have downloaded this picture and written this blog; each time it just disappeared! Even though it was saved it seemed to vanish into thin air. Since this picture is about discoveries and working together I have to assume there is a lesson for me in this. Ok...anyone who is laughing can just quit! I guess I am persistent! Just like the astronomers I was so struck by the beauty of this image. As I look at it, I am reminded of how much we don't know and how much is yet to be discovered. Not just in the world but within each of us. Each time I think I know the next step to take or the right answer I am shown another way. And what I always discover in that process is different than I could have ever imagined. I think this picture is a reminder to me to keep my heart open to everything and remember that the beauty in each of us is brought out by others. As you go through your days be grateful for the discoveries you make and the beauty in your relationships.
Sandy

Everyday Is A Gift

I would like to tell you about my friend Doug. I met him about 15 years ago as we were volunteering in Boy Scouts. You just can't help but like his cheerful attitude, his ability to tell a good story and to see the positive side of life. After our years in scouting ended, I did not have as much opportunity to see him as I did before. He always loved to tell stories and just recently published a book about them. It was so fun to visit with him as he talked about the stories he put in his book. His cheerful attitude, his ability to see everything as positive and of course still tell a good story as well as write one was evident.

There is one thing that has changed and that is his health. He has a degenerative form of MS. When I first met him you never even knew he had it but for many years he has been confined to a wheel chair. With each passing year there has been something lost, a bit of mobility or something he can no longer do. Doug now lives in a group home so he can have round the clock care. As I entered his room, I could not help but be struck by the sign on the wall, Everyday Is A Gift. In my conversation with him, there is no doubt in my mind that he lives that each and every day.

As I left, he told me to come back and visit, but reminded me he is a busy man. It made me know how much richer my life is because I know him and made me wonder about everything he was there to teach me and others. I too, believe that everyday is a gift but often I forget that. I forget that gratitude is a gift and if my friend Doug can be grateful for what he has, it is a powerful lesson for me.

Take time today to remember that everyday is a gift and we have much to be grateful for. Acknowledge the people in your life that bring richness by who they are and what they give to others and remember to acknowledge that in yourself. ~ Remember that each day is truly a gift~
Sandy

A Personal Sabbath

In pursuit of knowledge,

everyday something is acquired.

In pursuit of wisdom, every day something is dropped.

~LAO TZU

This week I have been thinking a lot about the idea of rest and not pushing so hard to get to a destination. To move at the pace of guidance, rather than to "push on" no matter what. The idea of sabbath is not new, but certainly is not practiced in our society. I first learned about the meaning of it when I worked at a church. They felt strongly that the staff needed time to rest, reflect and restore themselves. It was an important part of the ministry there and enhanced all parts of life. It carried with it the importance of self care as we cared for others. Each month, each staff member was given a half day with pay to have a time for a personal sabbath. It was clear that this was not a time to get caught up on house or yard work, or run errands; it was a time to refresh yourself. Not only were we to do it, we had to come back to the staff meeting and report what we did and what we were learning in the process of embracing rest in our lives.

In the beginning this felt odd and foreign to me. I was unaccustomed to having a half day with no agenda or "to do" list. It took several months to really get the hang of it...to learn how to spend time rejuvenating my body, mind and spirit. I had to look at my life and ask myself how I nurtured and took care of myself. Did I rest when I was tired? Did I cram 36 hours into a 24 hour day? Did I take time to nurture my spirit? Needless to say, I had a hard time answering these questions. In the process I realized I had never really learned how to do that. That is the case for most of us, we have not learned how to do that. Like most things, it takes practice to make it a priority. I wish could tell you I am an expert at it but that is not the case! But it is part of my intention every day, to allow myself time to do nothing, to enjoy nature or to be creative.

I would encourage you today to take a look at how you restore yourself. Do you rest when you are tired or push on anyway? How do you care for your spirit? When does your mind shut off? Take time today to find a way to have a personal sabbath whether it is 15 minutes or a whole day? Finding a way to soothe our mind and spirit and rest our body is essential to our own well being. It may be the most important thing we can do for yourself. We would love to hear about your personal sabbath if you care to post a comment or send an email.