What a fantastic, full week it's been! It all started off with Mother's Day on May 11 which was my last post. Then I went to the Cancer Centre for my 6 month check up. Great news!!! I've graduated to check ups once a year now. That was on May 14. The next day, my husband took me on a holiday to Las Vegas to celebrate my 50th birthday! I am not bothered by the number at all. I am so happy that I've reached this age. That I survived! That I can continue to live life to the absolute fullest! So off to Vegas we flew. Now you must know by now from following my blog that I am at peace and feel as one with nature when I am surrounded by the soothing quiet of birds, water and nature. My husband planned this trip along with our friends from around the corner. Her birthday is five days before mine. We celebrated our milestone birthdays together in Las Vegas. We met up with them there. In my mind, I was celebrating my continued good health as well as my birthday.
We arrived Thursday and got settled in. We stayed at the Flamingo Hotel. That night we went on the newest attraction in Las Vegas which is a huge ferris wheel called The High Roller. Instead of seats, it has pods that are enclosed in Plexiglas and can hold up to 40 people. The pods move very slowly. From the ground when you look up at the top of The High Roller it looks like it isn't even moving. But when you look at the pods closest to the ground, you can see them moving slowly. Anyway, what a view of the Las Vegas strip!!! From the top, you could see all the hotels and all the lights of the strip. It was breath taking!! On Friday, we met our friends for breakfast at the restaurant in the Flamingo. This would become our habit as the food was very good and satisfying. We had a quiet afternoon wandering the strip and playing some slots. Then off we went to get ready for our birthday dinner at the Homestead Steakhouse in Caesar's Palace. I normally wear jeans or pants but for this celebration I had decided back at home that I was going to get "dressed up". So I wore a long skirt (that can handle the wrinkles from packing and not show them) along with a short sleeved jacket over a tank top. I felt wonderful!! The dinner was fantastic! After our dinner, we made our way to Fremont Street. The last time I was there, it was overly crowded and I had a bad experience. I'm sure I blogged about it in August of 2012. Anyway, on Friday night it was a much different experience and I fully enjoyed it. There were buskers and outdoor band concerts. My husband bought me and my friend gold bottles full of an alcoholic slushy. It was very good on a warm night. We thought it was fitting that the gold bottle fit our 50th birthday celebration. I think I made it back to my hotel room at 1 a.m. where I fell into bed exhausted. Only to be suddenly wakened by a loud fire alarm! What a rude awakening!! Thank goodness it was a false alarm. Saturday was spent wandering the strip as we went in and out of the various hotels and shops. Saturday night, we went to see Rod Stewart at The Colliseum in Caesar's Palace. What a great show he put on! We were pleasantly surprised considering he is 69 years young.
Sunday (the 18th) we went on a bus tour to the Hoover Dam and the south rim of The Grand Canyon. For me this was a highlight of the trip! My husband and I decided to take the option of being dropped off at Mather's Point and we walked the 1 1/2 hour trip to Bright Angle Lodge where we met the bus to come back to Vegas. I took tons of pictures in an effort to capture the magnificence of the view. I never felt so close to God! I will always cherish these memories of my visit to The Grand Canyon. It was a long day as the shuttle to the bus picked us up at our hotel at 6:30 a.m. and then we were dropped off at 9:45 p.m. I must say it was fantastic to see The Hoover Dam all lit up at night as we returned to Las Vegas.
On Monday, we visited The Bellagio Hotel and saw an amazing conservatory within the hotel that was full of flowers, ponds, and birds. There was also a chocolate shop with a huge chocolate fountain that was at least 2 stories tall. Monday night, we went for dinner at the Las Vegas Hotel (LVH) for dinner at Benihana and then we went to a musical called "Raiding The Rock Vault". It was again a wonderful evening of food, entertainment and friendship as we shared this event with our friends. We all really enjoyed the dinner and show at a very affordable $90 which included the dinner and show.
Our friends left on Tuesday. My husband and I wandered The Miracle Mile Shops associate with Bally's Hotel. Amazingly, with visiting and looking at all the stores, I didn't buy anything! I was looking for some jewelry but nothing jumped out at me. Tuesday evening, we went to Harrah's for dinner at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar. After dinner we went to the show at Harrah's called "Defending The Caveman". This was a hilarious one-man comedic play. If ever you get to Las Vegas, you need to see this reasonably priced show. It talks about and explains the differences between men and women and why we aren't the same. My husband and I laughed quite hard.
We came home on Wednesday (21st). Our children met us to take us home from Toronto and when they saw me, they ran and gave me a huge hug at the same time. I felt so cherished and loved especially because our children are teenagers and young adults. It really warmed my heart. Our celebrations were not finished. My husband surprised me with a dinner out with the family on Saturday night at one of my favourite restaurants. It was an evening full of laughter and good food.
As I transition into being a parent of adults, I had my first instance of a shared story from my children that I knew nothing about. Apparently when they were much younger, my son had some fun with his little sister by convincing her that there were fresh water sharks in the lake near our home. This now explains why she was afraid to go swimming! We all roared with laughter.
So life is great and full of blessings which are reasons to celebrate. Bring on life to the fullest!
Monday, 26 May 2014
Tuesday, 13 May 2014
Mother's Day Weekend 2014
I had a wonderful Mother's Day Weekend. My daughter has been busy in the last 2 weeks working backstage and preparing props for their high school musical "Grease". This is one of my favourite musicals. I have a "Grease" music book for piano which I bought when the film version with Olivia Newton John and John Travolta had first been released way back. My daughter found the book which had long ago fallen apart and I had it rebound in a spiral binding. I've been listening to her play the piano which fills my heart with joy. So on Friday night, my husband and I went to the school for one of the performances. Despite the uncomfortable folding chairs, I really enjoyed the performance. My daughter's role was one of being backstage. The actors performed very well. Their singing voices and acting were amazing. Not just teenage acting but there were several people who's charisma resonated out through the audience. There was some very fine acting and singing. Not forced singing or straying off key but legitimate fine vocal performances. During the intermission, my husband bought me some carnations for Mother's Day which were being sold as a fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis. At the end of the show, I was wishing I had something to give my daughter in appreciation for her role in the production. I gave her my carnations. She was so appreciative and then generously gave one of them to her best friend who was also working backstage. That was Friday night.
On Saturday, my church was holding a Mother's Day Tea and Silent Auction. I had not signed up to volunteer at this event because I had thought I was going to be driving my daughter to an appointment during that time. She announced on Friday night that she changed the appointment to another day. This meant we could attend the Mother's Day Tea. After a leisurely morning spent enjoying some coffee and breakfast on the patio while I watched the birds and squirrels play in the yard, my daughter, my son, my husband and I set off for the church. What a transformation the organizer achieved at the church!! We walked in and there were 15 card tables set up covered by lace and embroidered table cloths. There was a fountain surrounded by flowers in the middle of the space. At the entrance where tickets were being purchased and collected, there was a dispenser of limeade along with a tray of tiny shortbread discs. We were all offered a little drink and biscuit as we found a table. On the table was a plate of fancy finger sandwiches which reminded me of my grandmother as she used to make these in support of her local Women's Institute group. We sat down and a server (volunteer from the church) came and asked us if we wanted orange pekoe or flavoured tea. As a family, we chose the orange pekoe tea. The server went away and we listened to students performing on the piano as nice background music to this beautiful atmosphere. Our server came back with a pot of tea for our table. She announced that spring salads would be forthcoming and we were to help ourselves to the enjoyment of the sandwiches. What a really nice time I had with my family sitting, chatting and laughing together. This doesn't happen often as our children are their own individuals with work schedules and busy social calendars. The salads came and were thoroughly enjoyed. After finishing her salad, my daughter waited for me to finish savouring my own salad and then asked if I would go and browse through the silent auction items with her. We left my son and husband visiting with each other and off we went. I know this is a small thing but it was one of those moments that creates wonderful, warm memories to hold us through the trials and cold moments of raising children. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with my daughter. When we came back to our table, my son asked if I would go up with him to look at the silent auction items. Off I went with my grown son while in the background the soft piano music continued to play such soothing songs. If I had a film version of this Mother's Day tea, it would be softly muted with filters but very bright and cheery. This is how I remember my time at the tea. My son saw an electric tea kettle at the silent auction and shyly asked if I would put a bid on it as he could use it in his first apartment in September. I ended up not wining any of the bids but that was OK. This was fundraiser for the church but more importantly for me, it was a time to reconnect with my family. After the tea, we went home and my daughter went to play "Grease" music on the piano. A little while later she asked me to play some of the music for her. This then led to us playing some piano duets together. What a balm and joy to my aching heart!! My heart is still full a number of days later as I write this. The best moments in time do not require money to be spent. Just time spent enjoying each other doing something that we both enjoy is enough. That was my Saturday and what a gift it was!
On Sunday which was Mother's Day, I awoke early and put on the coffee, emptied the dishwasher, put on a load of laundry and had a bowl of cereal so I could be ready for church. I then went out to the patio to enjoy the warmth of the bright sun and watch the birds. My husband, knowing I like to listen to Jigs and Reels with Danielle Butt on OZFM on Sunday mornings, brought out his IPad and tuned it in for me. I hung up the laundry to dry outside and when it was time, I went off to church. When I came home, my husband had a very nice lunch ready for me with soup, sandwiches and homemade rhubarb punch. We ate and my children gave me a very sentimental Mother's Day card with their own additions. Their own sentiments touched and added to my already overflowing full heart. Needless to say, when this happens my eyes fill with tears that slowly overflow and roll down my cheeks. It was a wonderful gift! Due to the busy week of rehearsals, performances and then a late-night cast/crew party, we excused my daughter from the next planned activity. My son and husband took me golfing on a local Par 3 course. I've had one golf lesson so far this year. I had a great afternoon playing golf. In the past, I could always throw the ball farther and straighter than I could hit it. In the past, it was the norm for me to have holes where it would take me 10 to 15 shots to get the little white ball in the hole. With just one lesson, I was able to keep up with my husband and son until I started to tire at the last few holes where once again I was back into the double digits. I don't remember my score, but I do remember enjoying the warmth of the sun, the camaraderie between us, the birds and the sound of the running water as the little river was full. My Mother's Day ended with my husband making me a prime rib dinner complete with Yorkshire pudding. He even made a rhubarb lunar cake for the dessert.
This past Mother's Day weekend has provided me with many warm memories and moments worth hanging onto. I will pull the memories out during difficult times like little precious gems. At those times, I will handle them like rolling smooth stones in my hand. I will admire the memories just like admiring those smooth stones. Then I will tuck the memories back into my heart for the next time I want to cherish them. I truly am blessed!
On Saturday, my church was holding a Mother's Day Tea and Silent Auction. I had not signed up to volunteer at this event because I had thought I was going to be driving my daughter to an appointment during that time. She announced on Friday night that she changed the appointment to another day. This meant we could attend the Mother's Day Tea. After a leisurely morning spent enjoying some coffee and breakfast on the patio while I watched the birds and squirrels play in the yard, my daughter, my son, my husband and I set off for the church. What a transformation the organizer achieved at the church!! We walked in and there were 15 card tables set up covered by lace and embroidered table cloths. There was a fountain surrounded by flowers in the middle of the space. At the entrance where tickets were being purchased and collected, there was a dispenser of limeade along with a tray of tiny shortbread discs. We were all offered a little drink and biscuit as we found a table. On the table was a plate of fancy finger sandwiches which reminded me of my grandmother as she used to make these in support of her local Women's Institute group. We sat down and a server (volunteer from the church) came and asked us if we wanted orange pekoe or flavoured tea. As a family, we chose the orange pekoe tea. The server went away and we listened to students performing on the piano as nice background music to this beautiful atmosphere. Our server came back with a pot of tea for our table. She announced that spring salads would be forthcoming and we were to help ourselves to the enjoyment of the sandwiches. What a really nice time I had with my family sitting, chatting and laughing together. This doesn't happen often as our children are their own individuals with work schedules and busy social calendars. The salads came and were thoroughly enjoyed. After finishing her salad, my daughter waited for me to finish savouring my own salad and then asked if I would go and browse through the silent auction items with her. We left my son and husband visiting with each other and off we went. I know this is a small thing but it was one of those moments that creates wonderful, warm memories to hold us through the trials and cold moments of raising children. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with my daughter. When we came back to our table, my son asked if I would go up with him to look at the silent auction items. Off I went with my grown son while in the background the soft piano music continued to play such soothing songs. If I had a film version of this Mother's Day tea, it would be softly muted with filters but very bright and cheery. This is how I remember my time at the tea. My son saw an electric tea kettle at the silent auction and shyly asked if I would put a bid on it as he could use it in his first apartment in September. I ended up not wining any of the bids but that was OK. This was fundraiser for the church but more importantly for me, it was a time to reconnect with my family. After the tea, we went home and my daughter went to play "Grease" music on the piano. A little while later she asked me to play some of the music for her. This then led to us playing some piano duets together. What a balm and joy to my aching heart!! My heart is still full a number of days later as I write this. The best moments in time do not require money to be spent. Just time spent enjoying each other doing something that we both enjoy is enough. That was my Saturday and what a gift it was!
On Sunday which was Mother's Day, I awoke early and put on the coffee, emptied the dishwasher, put on a load of laundry and had a bowl of cereal so I could be ready for church. I then went out to the patio to enjoy the warmth of the bright sun and watch the birds. My husband, knowing I like to listen to Jigs and Reels with Danielle Butt on OZFM on Sunday mornings, brought out his IPad and tuned it in for me. I hung up the laundry to dry outside and when it was time, I went off to church. When I came home, my husband had a very nice lunch ready for me with soup, sandwiches and homemade rhubarb punch. We ate and my children gave me a very sentimental Mother's Day card with their own additions. Their own sentiments touched and added to my already overflowing full heart. Needless to say, when this happens my eyes fill with tears that slowly overflow and roll down my cheeks. It was a wonderful gift! Due to the busy week of rehearsals, performances and then a late-night cast/crew party, we excused my daughter from the next planned activity. My son and husband took me golfing on a local Par 3 course. I've had one golf lesson so far this year. I had a great afternoon playing golf. In the past, I could always throw the ball farther and straighter than I could hit it. In the past, it was the norm for me to have holes where it would take me 10 to 15 shots to get the little white ball in the hole. With just one lesson, I was able to keep up with my husband and son until I started to tire at the last few holes where once again I was back into the double digits. I don't remember my score, but I do remember enjoying the warmth of the sun, the camaraderie between us, the birds and the sound of the running water as the little river was full. My Mother's Day ended with my husband making me a prime rib dinner complete with Yorkshire pudding. He even made a rhubarb lunar cake for the dessert.
This past Mother's Day weekend has provided me with many warm memories and moments worth hanging onto. I will pull the memories out during difficult times like little precious gems. At those times, I will handle them like rolling smooth stones in my hand. I will admire the memories just like admiring those smooth stones. Then I will tuck the memories back into my heart for the next time I want to cherish them. I truly am blessed!
Tuesday, 29 April 2014
Blessings are the Clouds' Silver Linings
I can't believe a month has elapsed since I last posted!! Where did the time go? It's been a month of warm blessings and challenging times. On April 5, my senior public school held their 50th Anniversary. I attended with my husband and my brother and sister-in-law. What a wonderful weekend this was!! I saw old pictures from almost 40 years ago! I saw acquaintances and friends that I had lost contact with. It was absolutely wonderful to meet up with an old friend that I hadn't seen since 1989!! We had lost contact with each other and to meet up again was such a source of warmth and love! We've exchanged contact information and I'm hopeful that we will be able to stay connected over the miles. It was a great day which brought back many memories. The school hadn't really changed over the years and it didn't take long for me to find my bearings and remember the classrooms that were mine in those 2 years of Grades 7 and 8. I even found a room that had the attendance records all the way from the beginning! What a treasured visit this was. After open house at the school, we went to a local restaurant for more connecting over dinner. It was a fabulous day and as always, I had the warmth of my brother and sister-in-law's love as we stayed at their home.
The day after the school reunion, we went to visit my mom. We started going through old toys and books in her basement. What treasures we found! I found a Children's Prayer Book that was given to me for Christmas from the church Sunday School in 1967! My mom then mentioned that the church was celebrating it 60th Anniversary on April 27. Hmmmm....I had just enjoyed a warm and fuzzy day at my old school, why not make the trek to Kitchener again for my childhood church's anniversary!
Of course, in between these events there was the Easter too. My son came home from university for Easter but had to return to his school for one last exam before coming home for the summer. We enjoyed our Easter weekend with him and I was able to fuss and create a feast for 4 our Easter dinner. He did return to school, wrote his exam and he is now back at home for the summer. I am enjoying having my whole family under one roof again.
As the title of this post suggests, there have been some very challenging times in April as well. My health is still really good. The challenging times have been difficult. Sometimes, I've been questioning God on why. Why can't I have some long term peace in my home and around me?! I've met the challenge of cancer and still relied on You. I've continued my daily prayers and enjoyed the warmth of knowing You. I've continued to praise, worship and be thankful for this world around me. Why do You still send me so many challenges?! As I've asked these questions of God, I've also realized that throughout these challenges my family is there beside me. I am still surrounded by not only God's love but the love of family and friends. These are the silver linings of the clouds or storms in my life at the moment. And....not only have I been faced with some major challenges, but God has also given me many blessings.
Twice now, in April, my husband and I have gone for some motorcycle escapes in the surrounding areas. They've been great fun and another way to enjoy God's world. We were driving on a back county road when I heard a waterfall. Over to my left was a huge waterfall pouring down the rock face beside the road on my left. All the snow melt was causing this rush of water. It was beautiful!
This past weekend was the church anniversary. I made the trek to Kitchener on my own as my son was helping a friend move from her apartment, my daughter was working and my husband was supervising the home front. Once I had heard about the church anniversary, I had made contact with a lady that I used to sing in the church choir with. I made arrangements for my sister and me to sing in the choir for the Anniversary service. In that process, I was asked to provide some memories of my time at the church which I would present during the luncheon after the church service. I agreed but then in the midst of the busyness of life, I forgot. On Saturday night, I was at my brother's home and the phone rang. It was the lady from the choir asking about my participation in the memory portion of the day. OOPS!!!! I had forgotten! I agreed to do it and then promptly got a piece of paper from my brother so that I could write down some key points to jog my memory. I have forgotten to mention too, that when I had been home and going through my mom's basement, I had come across an old mobile that she had hanging there. It was a mobile I had made when I was a child of 6 or 7 (I think). My memory isn't that clear of the age. Anyway, the Anniversary service was very special as my sister and I sang in the choir just like we did as teenagers. There were a few choir members from those years and we met many new choir members who opened their ranks and allowed us to join in. The anthem and the hymns spoke to my heart! I felt the warmth of the Holy Spirit as I sang. As I looked out over the congregation, I recognized people from my childhood. What a special day it was! My mom, my siblings and their families took up a whole pew. It was so nice to be together for the day. After the service, there was the luncheon and then the sharing of memories. I made sure that I ended my contribution with heartfelt thanks for the support of my church family from afar when they sent me the prayer shawl while I was going through chemotherapy. The church building has been there for 60 years, but the church is more than just the physical building. The church really is the caring human beings who taught me that the building is God's house and as such we can laugh, cry, grieve, disagree and learn that it's OK to agree to disagree and move on in love just like we do in our friends' and families' homes. My childhood church truly did give me that foundation that God likes to hear us laugh in His home. God is very much willing to comfort us as we grieve and cry in Her home.
My challenges are still very much here but the silver linings of these storms are definitely the blessings of reconnecting with old friends and having the support of my extended family and church families. Despite the current storms, life continues to be great! I pray each day that God will see me through these challenges.
As I write this, I am also getting ready for a fundraiser this weekend for my Relay For Life team. Each year it is harder and harder to raise the funds. The first year as I entered the team while I was still in chemotherapy and many friends and family donated. As I remain in remission and the duration since my illness lengthens, it is more difficult to reach the same monetary goal that was reached in that first year. I would ask that you please consider donating using the following link to help us reach our goal. The money goes towards research which gives more people fighting cancer the opportunity to beat this terrible disease. The money raised also helps run support programs for cancer patients and their caregivers. The link is as follows: http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=14852&team_id=308559
The day after the school reunion, we went to visit my mom. We started going through old toys and books in her basement. What treasures we found! I found a Children's Prayer Book that was given to me for Christmas from the church Sunday School in 1967! My mom then mentioned that the church was celebrating it 60th Anniversary on April 27. Hmmmm....I had just enjoyed a warm and fuzzy day at my old school, why not make the trek to Kitchener again for my childhood church's anniversary!
Of course, in between these events there was the Easter too. My son came home from university for Easter but had to return to his school for one last exam before coming home for the summer. We enjoyed our Easter weekend with him and I was able to fuss and create a feast for 4 our Easter dinner. He did return to school, wrote his exam and he is now back at home for the summer. I am enjoying having my whole family under one roof again.
As the title of this post suggests, there have been some very challenging times in April as well. My health is still really good. The challenging times have been difficult. Sometimes, I've been questioning God on why. Why can't I have some long term peace in my home and around me?! I've met the challenge of cancer and still relied on You. I've continued my daily prayers and enjoyed the warmth of knowing You. I've continued to praise, worship and be thankful for this world around me. Why do You still send me so many challenges?! As I've asked these questions of God, I've also realized that throughout these challenges my family is there beside me. I am still surrounded by not only God's love but the love of family and friends. These are the silver linings of the clouds or storms in my life at the moment. And....not only have I been faced with some major challenges, but God has also given me many blessings.
Twice now, in April, my husband and I have gone for some motorcycle escapes in the surrounding areas. They've been great fun and another way to enjoy God's world. We were driving on a back county road when I heard a waterfall. Over to my left was a huge waterfall pouring down the rock face beside the road on my left. All the snow melt was causing this rush of water. It was beautiful!
This past weekend was the church anniversary. I made the trek to Kitchener on my own as my son was helping a friend move from her apartment, my daughter was working and my husband was supervising the home front. Once I had heard about the church anniversary, I had made contact with a lady that I used to sing in the church choir with. I made arrangements for my sister and me to sing in the choir for the Anniversary service. In that process, I was asked to provide some memories of my time at the church which I would present during the luncheon after the church service. I agreed but then in the midst of the busyness of life, I forgot. On Saturday night, I was at my brother's home and the phone rang. It was the lady from the choir asking about my participation in the memory portion of the day. OOPS!!!! I had forgotten! I agreed to do it and then promptly got a piece of paper from my brother so that I could write down some key points to jog my memory. I have forgotten to mention too, that when I had been home and going through my mom's basement, I had come across an old mobile that she had hanging there. It was a mobile I had made when I was a child of 6 or 7 (I think). My memory isn't that clear of the age. Anyway, the Anniversary service was very special as my sister and I sang in the choir just like we did as teenagers. There were a few choir members from those years and we met many new choir members who opened their ranks and allowed us to join in. The anthem and the hymns spoke to my heart! I felt the warmth of the Holy Spirit as I sang. As I looked out over the congregation, I recognized people from my childhood. What a special day it was! My mom, my siblings and their families took up a whole pew. It was so nice to be together for the day. After the service, there was the luncheon and then the sharing of memories. I made sure that I ended my contribution with heartfelt thanks for the support of my church family from afar when they sent me the prayer shawl while I was going through chemotherapy. The church building has been there for 60 years, but the church is more than just the physical building. The church really is the caring human beings who taught me that the building is God's house and as such we can laugh, cry, grieve, disagree and learn that it's OK to agree to disagree and move on in love just like we do in our friends' and families' homes. My childhood church truly did give me that foundation that God likes to hear us laugh in His home. God is very much willing to comfort us as we grieve and cry in Her home.
My challenges are still very much here but the silver linings of these storms are definitely the blessings of reconnecting with old friends and having the support of my extended family and church families. Despite the current storms, life continues to be great! I pray each day that God will see me through these challenges.
As I write this, I am also getting ready for a fundraiser this weekend for my Relay For Life team. Each year it is harder and harder to raise the funds. The first year as I entered the team while I was still in chemotherapy and many friends and family donated. As I remain in remission and the duration since my illness lengthens, it is more difficult to reach the same monetary goal that was reached in that first year. I would ask that you please consider donating using the following link to help us reach our goal. The money goes towards research which gives more people fighting cancer the opportunity to beat this terrible disease. The money raised also helps run support programs for cancer patients and their caregivers. The link is as follows: http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=14852&team_id=308559
Tuesday, 1 April 2014
Materialism....Is it stealing from the Earth?
It's interesting (maybe a Godcidence) that two of my three Lenten reflections today talked about materialism. The first reflection made the connection between the commandment (of the ten commandments) "Thou shall not steal" and how materialism can steal from the earth and future generations.
As I quietly sit this morning and ponder this, I realize that yes, materialism does in fact steal from the earth. As our society strives to acquire more inspiring wall hangings and plaques, more furniture, bigger houses, more clothing, more make-up, more cars, bigger cars, etc., the resources we are using and abusing to keep these "things" is depleting our earth. I really like the idea of Mother Earth and how we are to respect her, love her and take care of her just like we do (or should do) our own mothers. I think of all the wood, stains, paints and chemicals that are used to manufacture the "trinkets" we hang on our walls or the decorative furniture that's not really used but is there for "show" so that our homes can look like something from the many magazines that we see. Everything we own and do has an impact on Mother Earth. We have bigger homes that need more heating and use more water for cleaning. Many people use more chemicals to clean the bigger homes and bigger cars. Our society is so affluent that we don't even think about how we impact the earth. So are we stealing from Mother Earth? I think so! Are we depleting her resources? I think so! I think of all the stone tiles that are used on the floors, walls, outdoor entrances of these big homes. This also means we are stealing from the next generations as well.
"Thou shall not steal". Hmmmm....I always thought I didn't steal. I don't go into stores, conceal items in my clothing or purse and walk out. I don't steal. I don't take things that belong to other people. I don't steal. But....do I own "trinkets" and inspiring sayings that hang on my wall? Yes I do! Are these made of wood? Yes. And there is paint and colour stains on them. Which means that I have thoughtlessly and carelessly contributed to "stealing" from Mother Earth as the chemicals that have been used in the production process most likely have made an impact on Her. How can it not have? I have bought these items at a "reasonable" price thinking that I was being frugal and responsible. Maybe not so much. Maybe I need to rethink what I do?
I always thought that I didn't contribute to the abuse of Mother Earth because I don't buy makeup, perfume and lots of body lotions. The reason for this is really that I am allergic to all these beauty products. But regardless of the why, I kind of felt a little superior in that I didn't contribute to supporting that industry which uses a lot of chemicals which then get washed back into the water system of Mother Earth. I'm also sensitive to cleaning chemicals so I use vinegar and baking soda but I do resort to using mild cleaning products for disinfecting. These do have chemicals. So I am contributing to the destruction of Mother Earth. The second reflection this morning from my "Lamentations for Lent" mentioned "What is spent on cosmetics annually in North America would supply all the water needs of Africa." So although I don't use cosmetics, my daughter does. I buy some of these things for her. So I am contributing to "stealing" from Mother Earth and from future generations.
I don't think of myself as a materialistic person. I try to reuse items or at least recycle them. I wear my clothing until they are so thin and ragged that they then go into the "rag bag" to be used as cleaning rags or squares to make a quilt (I still have to learn how to sew and make a quilt). I take clothing that my family has outgrown to a local second-hand store which sells items to raise money to help residents in the neighbourhood who have fallen on hard times. I feel good and think that I am not contributing to the garbage dump. And yes I am doing something good. But....when I buy items of cheaper quality which are made in third world countries by underpaid workers in unsafe manufacturing plants, I am stealing from the workers and I am also stealing from Mother Earth. This is because the cheaper items end up breaking and what can't be recycled ends up in the garbage and then I buy another to replace it. Then it is a cycle which includes some waste.
I once tried to make sure that I bought items made only in Canada. I remember I needed running shoes as mine had been worn down and there were holes in the soles. I tried looking for good quality running shoes made in Canada. I spent gas and emitted exhaust fumes as I drove all over the city looking at the various shoe stores. I could not find one pair of running shoes made in Canada. So I ended up attributing to the greenhouse gases with the exhaust from my van. I ended up wasting fuel and natural resources. I ended up spending money supporting a big global company that had the shoes made for cheap prices in a third world country. I stole from the workers. I stole from Mother Earth. Thank goodness I don't have lots and lots of shoes. Thank goodness I don't have lots and lots of clothing. And then I think of all the people that have big homes stuffed with furniture, with big walk-in closets stuffed full of clothing and shoes and "stuff". I think of our society with multiple big cars in the driveways. This is when I feel sad.
I also feel sad because our teenagers "need" all these things that society pressures them to have. I remember when we lived in a rural setting while our children were preschoolers. Every year at this time, we used to walk up our road with the kids' wagon, rubber gloves for all of us and garbage bags. We used to collect all the garbage that people would throw out of their cars as they drove down our country road. We did this in an effort to do our part in keeping the environment clean. We did this as a family activity to teach our children to respect Mother Earth. I feel despair as I see my children fall for society's pressure for "having more". Materialism is alive and well unfortunately in our society and amongst our teenagers. Just think if we reduced what we spent on "trinkets" and cosmetics (which includes perfumes, sprays, body lotions, etc.), how much money could be used to help repair Mother Earth. These items wouldn't be going into our sewers and ultimately back into the earth's water table.
This is just a thought-provoking reflection this morning. I guess the next step is to act upon some of these ponderous thoughts. Will I?
As I quietly sit this morning and ponder this, I realize that yes, materialism does in fact steal from the earth. As our society strives to acquire more inspiring wall hangings and plaques, more furniture, bigger houses, more clothing, more make-up, more cars, bigger cars, etc., the resources we are using and abusing to keep these "things" is depleting our earth. I really like the idea of Mother Earth and how we are to respect her, love her and take care of her just like we do (or should do) our own mothers. I think of all the wood, stains, paints and chemicals that are used to manufacture the "trinkets" we hang on our walls or the decorative furniture that's not really used but is there for "show" so that our homes can look like something from the many magazines that we see. Everything we own and do has an impact on Mother Earth. We have bigger homes that need more heating and use more water for cleaning. Many people use more chemicals to clean the bigger homes and bigger cars. Our society is so affluent that we don't even think about how we impact the earth. So are we stealing from Mother Earth? I think so! Are we depleting her resources? I think so! I think of all the stone tiles that are used on the floors, walls, outdoor entrances of these big homes. This also means we are stealing from the next generations as well.
"Thou shall not steal". Hmmmm....I always thought I didn't steal. I don't go into stores, conceal items in my clothing or purse and walk out. I don't steal. I don't take things that belong to other people. I don't steal. But....do I own "trinkets" and inspiring sayings that hang on my wall? Yes I do! Are these made of wood? Yes. And there is paint and colour stains on them. Which means that I have thoughtlessly and carelessly contributed to "stealing" from Mother Earth as the chemicals that have been used in the production process most likely have made an impact on Her. How can it not have? I have bought these items at a "reasonable" price thinking that I was being frugal and responsible. Maybe not so much. Maybe I need to rethink what I do?
I always thought that I didn't contribute to the abuse of Mother Earth because I don't buy makeup, perfume and lots of body lotions. The reason for this is really that I am allergic to all these beauty products. But regardless of the why, I kind of felt a little superior in that I didn't contribute to supporting that industry which uses a lot of chemicals which then get washed back into the water system of Mother Earth. I'm also sensitive to cleaning chemicals so I use vinegar and baking soda but I do resort to using mild cleaning products for disinfecting. These do have chemicals. So I am contributing to the destruction of Mother Earth. The second reflection this morning from my "Lamentations for Lent" mentioned "What is spent on cosmetics annually in North America would supply all the water needs of Africa." So although I don't use cosmetics, my daughter does. I buy some of these things for her. So I am contributing to "stealing" from Mother Earth and from future generations.
I don't think of myself as a materialistic person. I try to reuse items or at least recycle them. I wear my clothing until they are so thin and ragged that they then go into the "rag bag" to be used as cleaning rags or squares to make a quilt (I still have to learn how to sew and make a quilt). I take clothing that my family has outgrown to a local second-hand store which sells items to raise money to help residents in the neighbourhood who have fallen on hard times. I feel good and think that I am not contributing to the garbage dump. And yes I am doing something good. But....when I buy items of cheaper quality which are made in third world countries by underpaid workers in unsafe manufacturing plants, I am stealing from the workers and I am also stealing from Mother Earth. This is because the cheaper items end up breaking and what can't be recycled ends up in the garbage and then I buy another to replace it. Then it is a cycle which includes some waste.
I once tried to make sure that I bought items made only in Canada. I remember I needed running shoes as mine had been worn down and there were holes in the soles. I tried looking for good quality running shoes made in Canada. I spent gas and emitted exhaust fumes as I drove all over the city looking at the various shoe stores. I could not find one pair of running shoes made in Canada. So I ended up attributing to the greenhouse gases with the exhaust from my van. I ended up wasting fuel and natural resources. I ended up spending money supporting a big global company that had the shoes made for cheap prices in a third world country. I stole from the workers. I stole from Mother Earth. Thank goodness I don't have lots and lots of shoes. Thank goodness I don't have lots and lots of clothing. And then I think of all the people that have big homes stuffed with furniture, with big walk-in closets stuffed full of clothing and shoes and "stuff". I think of our society with multiple big cars in the driveways. This is when I feel sad.
I also feel sad because our teenagers "need" all these things that society pressures them to have. I remember when we lived in a rural setting while our children were preschoolers. Every year at this time, we used to walk up our road with the kids' wagon, rubber gloves for all of us and garbage bags. We used to collect all the garbage that people would throw out of their cars as they drove down our country road. We did this in an effort to do our part in keeping the environment clean. We did this as a family activity to teach our children to respect Mother Earth. I feel despair as I see my children fall for society's pressure for "having more". Materialism is alive and well unfortunately in our society and amongst our teenagers. Just think if we reduced what we spent on "trinkets" and cosmetics (which includes perfumes, sprays, body lotions, etc.), how much money could be used to help repair Mother Earth. These items wouldn't be going into our sewers and ultimately back into the earth's water table.
This is just a thought-provoking reflection this morning. I guess the next step is to act upon some of these ponderous thoughts. Will I?
Saturday, 29 March 2014
The Bumpy Journey
In our local paper this week, there was a column by a local writer. It was quite enjoyable and funny as it described driving on our city streets. The column was called "Pothole Purgatory" where the writer described three moves in this game "pothole purgatory". There was the swerve and avoid manoeuver. There was the straddle manoeuver. There was also the hit and sink manoeuver. As it is the season for potholes, our roads are much worse this year than other years. It makes for a slow and bumpy drive down some of the roads where the potholes are the width of the entire street. There's no choice but to slow right down and bump through the series of holes in the street.
As I drove around this week, it reminded me of how bumpy our journey through life can be. Just like driving the van through the potholes because they are unavoidable, I have to slow down as I am forced to go through the bumpy stretch of life. Some of these potholes of life really feel like they could swallow me up whole! This is when I have to make sure that I am well rested so that I have the mental energy to focus, be patient and carry on. When the road of life is so bumpy that it feels like I'm being swallowed up whole, like when I had lymphoma, I also make more time for quiet reflection, prayer and meditation. It helps!! If nothing else, it calms my fears and anxieties. Praying also lets me share my burden with my God. I feel like I'm not walking through these major foot deep potholes alone. That God is with me, holding my hand and helping to guide me around the biggest craters. As I reflect on this picture, I also wonder if God perhaps picks me up and carries me over the potholes of life that devour the whole road. How comforting that image is!
An earlier reading that I encountered this week, talked about Mary (the mother of Jesus) and how she accepted God's plan. As it is Lent, I reflected on how it must have felt for Mary as a mother to watch her son push the boundaries of people's accepted norms of the time. She must have been filled with anxiety and fear as Jesus challenged the "accepted order". And then when Jesus was arrested, how Mary must have cried! Knowing that her son was going to be beaten and abused at best, must have torn her apart inside. I can only imagine the inner pain Mary must have felt! As a mother, I think I would feel my heart breaking. I would think that I would have sleepless nights as I worried about my child's safety. I can imagine I would have a tight ball of fear inside as I watched the week's events unfold. Seeing my child arrested, judged, ridiculed, starved, beaten and made to parade in front of everyone as hecarried dragged his instrument of death to the hill, would hurt so deeply. And I can imagine that I would only be able to stand by and watch as my child's activities and actions had brought him to the very bottom of this "pothole". How sad and weary Mary must have felt as she watched her son hanging on the cross, dying a slow and painful death.
But then I thought of how when Mary was pregnant with the Son of God and knew that this baby inside her was the Son of God, she must have had a very deep belief and relationship with God. I imagine that relationship with God carried her through the many years of "rabble rousing" that her son participated in. Mary, as a mother most likely felt everything very deeply as a human mother, must have had a deep and living relationship with God. I think this would have carried her through the very darkest days of seeing her son die on the cross.
This is the type of relationship I strive to have with my God. Where God is beside me, holding me, comforting me and helping me through the darkest days of my journey through the potholes of life. I've experienced some of this as God walked beside me when I was a child, teenager and young adult while I was teased, ridiculed and physically bullied. I think the term now is "swarmed". I still remember the bruises, physical aches and pains as well as the hidden emotional wounds. God always helped me to continue on. Sometimes I was aware of this "being" walking with me and other times I was too young to intuitively feel the presence of God. I definitely know that God walked with me and carried me while I went through my bout with lymphoma. I also feel God's presence with me as I run into stressful situations that occur now. I was once asked, how do you manage to stay so positive through the various situations? I see and feel God is with me when I see beautiful sunrises and sunsets. I know that God is surrounding me when the birds come to visit my bird feeder as they sing and chatter. Even watching the wild waves on the lake near my home, I feel the force of God. I know that God journeys along beside me which gives me some peace. Do I still have fear and anxiety for my children. Absolutely! Especially as I watch them make choices in their own journeys of life. My husband and I have tried to teach and guide them when they were younger. We still offer advice and guidance but we realize that our children are their own beings and growing into young adults to make their own choices. As a mother who cares deeply, I worry about them. I then turn my worry over to God.
I was given a poem that I have found very comforting. It is an old poem but I'd like to share it. It's called "What God Hath Promised".
God hath not promised skies always blue.
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through,
God hath not promised sun without rain.
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
God hath not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe.
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.
God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide.
Never a mountain, rocky and steep,
Never a river, turbid and deep.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest after labour, light for our way,
Grace for all trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
As I drove around this week, it reminded me of how bumpy our journey through life can be. Just like driving the van through the potholes because they are unavoidable, I have to slow down as I am forced to go through the bumpy stretch of life. Some of these potholes of life really feel like they could swallow me up whole! This is when I have to make sure that I am well rested so that I have the mental energy to focus, be patient and carry on. When the road of life is so bumpy that it feels like I'm being swallowed up whole, like when I had lymphoma, I also make more time for quiet reflection, prayer and meditation. It helps!! If nothing else, it calms my fears and anxieties. Praying also lets me share my burden with my God. I feel like I'm not walking through these major foot deep potholes alone. That God is with me, holding my hand and helping to guide me around the biggest craters. As I reflect on this picture, I also wonder if God perhaps picks me up and carries me over the potholes of life that devour the whole road. How comforting that image is!
An earlier reading that I encountered this week, talked about Mary (the mother of Jesus) and how she accepted God's plan. As it is Lent, I reflected on how it must have felt for Mary as a mother to watch her son push the boundaries of people's accepted norms of the time. She must have been filled with anxiety and fear as Jesus challenged the "accepted order". And then when Jesus was arrested, how Mary must have cried! Knowing that her son was going to be beaten and abused at best, must have torn her apart inside. I can only imagine the inner pain Mary must have felt! As a mother, I think I would feel my heart breaking. I would think that I would have sleepless nights as I worried about my child's safety. I can imagine I would have a tight ball of fear inside as I watched the week's events unfold. Seeing my child arrested, judged, ridiculed, starved, beaten and made to parade in front of everyone as he
But then I thought of how when Mary was pregnant with the Son of God and knew that this baby inside her was the Son of God, she must have had a very deep belief and relationship with God. I imagine that relationship with God carried her through the many years of "rabble rousing" that her son participated in. Mary, as a mother most likely felt everything very deeply as a human mother, must have had a deep and living relationship with God. I think this would have carried her through the very darkest days of seeing her son die on the cross.
This is the type of relationship I strive to have with my God. Where God is beside me, holding me, comforting me and helping me through the darkest days of my journey through the potholes of life. I've experienced some of this as God walked beside me when I was a child, teenager and young adult while I was teased, ridiculed and physically bullied. I think the term now is "swarmed". I still remember the bruises, physical aches and pains as well as the hidden emotional wounds. God always helped me to continue on. Sometimes I was aware of this "being" walking with me and other times I was too young to intuitively feel the presence of God. I definitely know that God walked with me and carried me while I went through my bout with lymphoma. I also feel God's presence with me as I run into stressful situations that occur now. I was once asked, how do you manage to stay so positive through the various situations? I see and feel God is with me when I see beautiful sunrises and sunsets. I know that God is surrounding me when the birds come to visit my bird feeder as they sing and chatter. Even watching the wild waves on the lake near my home, I feel the force of God. I know that God journeys along beside me which gives me some peace. Do I still have fear and anxiety for my children. Absolutely! Especially as I watch them make choices in their own journeys of life. My husband and I have tried to teach and guide them when they were younger. We still offer advice and guidance but we realize that our children are their own beings and growing into young adults to make their own choices. As a mother who cares deeply, I worry about them. I then turn my worry over to God.
I was given a poem that I have found very comforting. It is an old poem but I'd like to share it. It's called "What God Hath Promised".
God hath not promised skies always blue.
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through,
God hath not promised sun without rain.
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
God hath not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe.
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.
God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide.
Never a mountain, rocky and steep,
Never a river, turbid and deep.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest after labour, light for our way,
Grace for all trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
Friday, 21 March 2014
The Rhythmic Waves of Life
Breathe in, breathe out….the wave rolls in and brings
seaweed, dirt, floating driftwood in to touch the shore but then the wave ebbs
out and recedes taking with it the majority of the residue that has touched the
shore. However, some of the dirt and
debris stick to the shore. As the water
continuously moves around and over the debris, the tiny particles of sand wash
away the rough edges leaving a smooth, polished stone or a beautiful piece of
driftwood.
Life is like this. An
individual day can be like this. We
experience all manner of situations and feelings throughout our day. Some of the “dirty” residue clings to
us. As it accumulates, it can bury us
and change our demeanour or it can be smoothed out or it can be kept on the outside
to be smoothed out by the rest of the day.
Then it can be used as a beautiful piece of adornment to our being. We can also choose to keep it close and dwell
on it so it can’t be smoothed over by the continuing movement of waves. We can choose to keep unhappy memories alive
and current. They continue to keep us “stuck”
in that place in the past. Or we can
choose to bring them forward, let the waves of our present polish them or
remove them.
For many years, I have struggled with past memories of being
bullied, hurt feelings, manipulation and other negative events in my childhood. Through a long process (many, many years) of
reading, talking and trying to apply new strategies, I have finally found one
that works. It is very much like the
waves of water in a lake. I have reached
in deep to dislodge the residue that has clung to me for many years. I’m allowing the waves of my present
existence to bring in the sand particles to rub the rough edges off these
stones and make them smooth. Or I’m
letting the waves of the present carry the dead driftwood away. Breathe in, breath out….the wave rolls in and
rolls out.
I also find the analogy of an onion to be helpful. If an onion has some rotten areas in the
centre, then the whole onion will not be healthy and useful. However, if you peel away the layers of the
onion, you can get to the rotting centre and remove it. Then, you have some healthy parts of the onion
that can still be used. This has been a
very long journey that spans decades.
The experience of being diagnosed with lymphoma and going through the
subsequent chemotherapy to bring me into remission, has helped me to renew my
motivation to continue the journey of healing from past hurts.
I have to also admit that the vision of Jesus walking beside
me and holding my hand for the majority of these experiences is very
comforting. Like in the poem “Footprints”,
I can also see Jesus bending down to gently lift me and carry me through the
roughest times like when I was in chemotherapy.
He continues to walk beside me and hold my hand each day. I can even imagine him lifting me to my feet,
just like a parent of a young child, when I’ve stumbled, and failed. Just like that parent, He brushes off my
skinned knees, sets me back on my feet and helps me limp along through life.
I know not everyone agrees with this belief, but it works
for me. Too many times in my life, I
have had someone or something looking out for me. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are very much
with me in my journey through life. The
nasty events in life would be much too overwhelming for me if God was not with
me. In university, I was first
introduced to the idea that man creates God not that God creates man. There has and continues to be much debate
about this. Perhaps I’m childish and naïve
but I’ve removed myself from the debate.
God is too real to me for me to believe that I created Him. There have been too many Godcidences in my
life for me to believe that He is created by man’s need to believe in
something. I don’t try to “convert”
people. I just believe and try to travel
through life as a better person myself.
Thursday, 20 March 2014
Lent and Today's Reflections.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm not giving anything up for Lent (unless it is some "time") but I am focusing more on deepening my faith. I'm focusing on daily prayer using a Lenten Prayer Calendar as well as I've added a daily reflection using the guide "Lamentations for Lent". This is in addition to my regular daily faith retreat that I've been doing for the last number of months. I found a site online that offers a "3-Minute Retreat" that I visit every morning.
Today it was really interesting that all three of my faith deepening activities were similar and involved the same idea of following God's voice and direction for my day. The "3-Minute Retreat" always offers two questions for me to ponder throughout my day. Today's retreat dealt with "throwing the first stone" or gossip and judgement. The questions were "What stones have I thrown recently in judgement of another?" and "How does recalling my own sinfulness help me relate to others?" My Lenten Prayer Calendar suggestion for prayer today was "Pray that your decisions will be guided by the spirit". The final line in the prayer at the end of my "Lamentations for Lent" reflection was "Let us not be in fear as we follow your voice." All of these smacked me full force as I sat quietly and thought. In my stillness and calmness this morning, I felt the urge (heard the voice?) of God's presence.
"What stones have I thrown recently in judgement of another?" I believe we all do this whether it is in thoughts or spoken aloud. Yesterday I was driving and was frustrated with another driver in front of me. I sat in judgement of the older gentleman driving that car. Did I tell anyone what I was thinking? No. But I thought it. Have I spoken in judgement of others through conversations in the past? Yes. Am I proud of this? No. Last night I watched the Toronto Maple Leafs play against the Tampa Bay Lightning and saw a terrible hit where the Toronto Maple Leaf player laid motionless on the ice and was removed by stretcher. I sat in judgement on the Tampa Bay Lightning player that delivered the hit. Every time that I have these judgemental thoughts or make judgemental statements of other people, I feel negative energy within myself. Do I want to call this sin? No. Do I want to admit that I sin? No. It doesn't feel good to acknowledge my failings. But isn't this the whole reason for Lent and Easter?
"How does recalling my own sinfulness help me relate to others?" So as I thought about this, I realized that by recognizing my "throwing stones" and admitting that I've been sinning, I was able to have compassion and empathy for the people that I was judging. Such as the old man that was driving yesterday. I realized that he is towards the end of his years on earth and was perhaps scared and terrified of being surrounded by all these vehicles in multiple lanes going around a corner. I thought that he's probably someone's grandfather who deserves some compassion. In thinking about this gentleman in this manner, I felt myself fill with positive emotions and energy instead of the negative. Amazing!! So I then thought about the hockey player that delivered that terrible hit. I tried to imagine what he was feeling as he saw his opponent motionless on the ice. If it was me, I'd feel really bad. Anxious. Not anxious about what sort of discipline I'm going to get but anxious about whether this player on the ice is going to be permanently paralyzed. Anxious about his future with his family. Now my anger and judgemental emotions about the Tampa Bay Lightning player was switched to compassion. So I recognize and will try to implement compassion and empathy instead of judgement and gossip.
So onto my Prayer Calendar. Pray that my decisions will be guided by the spirit. Hmmmm....that sounds easy but is it? No. I know that I will get busy in my day and forget. So I'll try to remember to let my decisions (what I say, how I say it, how I act) be guided by the Holy Spirit that lives within me. I know that I have spent more time in prayer this morning. I was going to anyway because a young girl (19 yrs. old) that I know is facing brain surgery today to find out if a tumour in her brain is benign (non cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). I'm praying really hard for her and have been for the last month. Her family has had a rough number of years. She lost her mother in September while she valiantly waited for a lung transplant that didn't happen. So my prayers are for her family and I really am praying that this tumour is benign. Life seems so unfair but prayer does help. Letting my decisions be guided by the spirit....well this post is one of them. I'm going to be late meeting a friend but I felt the urge that this post was more important.
"Let us not be in fear as we follow your voice". It does fill me with anxiety to trust and follow God's voice and urgings of the Holy Spirit. Our society does not understand and tends to lean towards judging people and stomping on them in an effort to climb the social, corporate and organizational ladders. So my challenge today is to follow God's voice, not throw any figurative stones and pray that my decisions will be guided by the spirit.
Have a super day everyone. I expect mine is going to be spiritually challenging every step of the way. Let's hope I'm up to it.
Today it was really interesting that all three of my faith deepening activities were similar and involved the same idea of following God's voice and direction for my day. The "3-Minute Retreat" always offers two questions for me to ponder throughout my day. Today's retreat dealt with "throwing the first stone" or gossip and judgement. The questions were "What stones have I thrown recently in judgement of another?" and "How does recalling my own sinfulness help me relate to others?" My Lenten Prayer Calendar suggestion for prayer today was "Pray that your decisions will be guided by the spirit". The final line in the prayer at the end of my "Lamentations for Lent" reflection was "Let us not be in fear as we follow your voice." All of these smacked me full force as I sat quietly and thought. In my stillness and calmness this morning, I felt the urge (heard the voice?) of God's presence.
"What stones have I thrown recently in judgement of another?" I believe we all do this whether it is in thoughts or spoken aloud. Yesterday I was driving and was frustrated with another driver in front of me. I sat in judgement of the older gentleman driving that car. Did I tell anyone what I was thinking? No. But I thought it. Have I spoken in judgement of others through conversations in the past? Yes. Am I proud of this? No. Last night I watched the Toronto Maple Leafs play against the Tampa Bay Lightning and saw a terrible hit where the Toronto Maple Leaf player laid motionless on the ice and was removed by stretcher. I sat in judgement on the Tampa Bay Lightning player that delivered the hit. Every time that I have these judgemental thoughts or make judgemental statements of other people, I feel negative energy within myself. Do I want to call this sin? No. Do I want to admit that I sin? No. It doesn't feel good to acknowledge my failings. But isn't this the whole reason for Lent and Easter?
"How does recalling my own sinfulness help me relate to others?" So as I thought about this, I realized that by recognizing my "throwing stones" and admitting that I've been sinning, I was able to have compassion and empathy for the people that I was judging. Such as the old man that was driving yesterday. I realized that he is towards the end of his years on earth and was perhaps scared and terrified of being surrounded by all these vehicles in multiple lanes going around a corner. I thought that he's probably someone's grandfather who deserves some compassion. In thinking about this gentleman in this manner, I felt myself fill with positive emotions and energy instead of the negative. Amazing!! So I then thought about the hockey player that delivered that terrible hit. I tried to imagine what he was feeling as he saw his opponent motionless on the ice. If it was me, I'd feel really bad. Anxious. Not anxious about what sort of discipline I'm going to get but anxious about whether this player on the ice is going to be permanently paralyzed. Anxious about his future with his family. Now my anger and judgemental emotions about the Tampa Bay Lightning player was switched to compassion. So I recognize and will try to implement compassion and empathy instead of judgement and gossip.
So onto my Prayer Calendar. Pray that my decisions will be guided by the spirit. Hmmmm....that sounds easy but is it? No. I know that I will get busy in my day and forget. So I'll try to remember to let my decisions (what I say, how I say it, how I act) be guided by the Holy Spirit that lives within me. I know that I have spent more time in prayer this morning. I was going to anyway because a young girl (19 yrs. old) that I know is facing brain surgery today to find out if a tumour in her brain is benign (non cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). I'm praying really hard for her and have been for the last month. Her family has had a rough number of years. She lost her mother in September while she valiantly waited for a lung transplant that didn't happen. So my prayers are for her family and I really am praying that this tumour is benign. Life seems so unfair but prayer does help. Letting my decisions be guided by the spirit....well this post is one of them. I'm going to be late meeting a friend but I felt the urge that this post was more important.
"Let us not be in fear as we follow your voice". It does fill me with anxiety to trust and follow God's voice and urgings of the Holy Spirit. Our society does not understand and tends to lean towards judging people and stomping on them in an effort to climb the social, corporate and organizational ladders. So my challenge today is to follow God's voice, not throw any figurative stones and pray that my decisions will be guided by the spirit.
Have a super day everyone. I expect mine is going to be spiritually challenging every step of the way. Let's hope I'm up to it.
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