On Perspective and Sincerity

"How many times have we waited for Spirit to move for us, when in fact, Spirit is patiently waiting to work with us?"
~Sarah Ban Breathnach

moar funny pictures



Allow
your actions
to flow from the
innocence of your heart.
Then SINCERITY
is assured. Follow the Way.
Live authentically.
Restore innocence to the world.
Daniel
Levin

Sharing these Quotes on Perspective and Right Action

"Strive
to always
do what is right
-- not
in the eyes of others
but in your own HEART.
Others' thoughts
are transitory -- one moment
they will love you,
the next they will not.
ACT on what is right in your own heart,
and there will be victory."
Daniel Levin

"If we just worry about the big picture, we are powerless. So my secret is to start right away doing whatever little work I can do. I try to give joy to one person in the morning, and remove the suffering of one person in the afternoon…That is the secret. Start right now." ~Sister Chan Khong

2007 -- Mission Accomplished -- I did NaBloPoMo here and at Small Reflections as a "newbie"

With thanks to
Melissa
at Part of Everything

for this badge

and this one too!


Who knew something like this could be so much fun?

Some day I'll learn how to make badges
that I can share with others.

Patience, Problem Solving, and Peace

Apparently, working on the "photo grids" for my "yard reclamation project" series at Small Reflections (or the scanning & posting of the Zen Cards in my previous post here at Sacred Ruminations) has done something BAD to my aging Dell laptop. Of course, it's possible there's some other explanation for the problems I've experienced in the last 12 to 18 hours.

I suspect the issue is with "available memory" and I'll be working to resolve that today. I must confess that I'm relieved to be able to log on here finally, and am hoping for the best (as usual). Believe me as I share that I spent several frustrating hours last night (before giving up and logging off ... hoping today things might work better) and again this morning (from about 3am 'til 7:45am) when I started writing this post.

I've scrapped Saturday's post (the one I was working on & hoping to publish before logging off last night) and have decided to use these three Zen cards (selected purposefully out of sequence, but which seem appropriate here & now) to help me focus and do whatever's necessary to "fix" my problems and continue Blogging with minimal interruption :)

"PATIENCE
WATCH
water drop onto
the rock beneath it.
One drop
does nothing,
but many drops over time
create a hole in the rock.
Such is the POWER of patience."
Daniel Levin

So ... I've been practicing patience ... writing in my journal with my mechanical pencil, processing everything (a consciously cultivated habit I've used for decades to calm myself in times of trouble) ... observing my thoughts & emotions rise & fall as the computer backs up photo files to my Western Digital Passport Drive (although MOVING them off the C: drive is what I really want to do) so that if I do something foolish, I won't lose all my pictures (as a friend did a while back) with his photos.

With the fire burning in Malibu just 20% contained (49 homes destroyed and 27 homes damaged), I'm mindful of the "smallness" of my current issues. Nonetheless, dealing with them is necessary today ... and I'd like to remain as "complaint-free" as possible as I do what must be done.

"PROBLEM SOLVING
The way
to remove darkness from a room
is SIMPLY to turn on a light.
In the same way,
to rid yourself of any difficulty,
concentrate on the
SOLUTION
rather than the problem."
Daniel Levin

I'm aware I have options from which to choose and could:

• use my normal "trial and error" methods to seek resolution
• make an effort to find someone to assist and/or fix this problem for me
• scrap it all and buy myself an early Christmas present :)
  
• wait until my friends return from the road and enlist their help
  
• mutter, grumble, complain, and feel sorry for myself
  
• give up "blogging" and do other things I enjoy

There may be others choices also ... but for a long time, peace has been my primary goal, so whatever I choose to do will be that which creates and sustains peace in my heart, mind, spirit, and life.

"PEACE
To create peace in the world,
you must be
unruffled within.
Become TRANQUIL,
walk in stillness,
and
act in harmony.
The SERENITY that radiates from you
will create peace."
Daniel Levin

Prior to beginning this post, I've enjoyed my morning coffee with half &half, taken time to write in my journal, unload the dishwasher, make and eat some oatmeal, play with Molly, pull some weeds in my front yard, chat with some passers-by, breathe in the ocean air, start a load of laundry, and relax before selecting these cards to share. I'm confident I'll figure things out sooner or later. In the meantime, I'm choosing mindfulness and trusting that this too shall pass.

And now ... I'll post this and get started with problem resolution ... after wishing for you all a delightful day, wonderful week, and marvelous month between now and Christmas Day.
Hugs and blessings,

Day 30 Harmlessness, Harmony, and Humility (My Sacred Life)

A COURSE IN MIRACLES teaches (among many other lessons) that

"giving and receiving are the same"
"love is letting go of fear"
and
"our safety lies
in our defenselessness"

... three powerful and humbling ideas when allowed to settle into our psyches and guide our decisions. These teachings bring to mind the idea of "Do onto others what you would have them do unto you" that comes from my Christian roots. Of course, today's Zen Cards present the following three ideas for consideration:

"HARMLESSNESS
ALL beings fear violence.
All beings fear pain.
When you see YOURSELF in all
your brothers and sisters,
then how can you
bring harm to them?"

How indeed? Sometimes we create harm out of thoughtlessness ... failing to pay attention to the effects of our actions and/or the chaos we leave in our wake. Sometimes it's through selfishness ... believing there's not enough for everyone, so the need to "get our share" (no matter what) drives us to make foolish choices. Sometimes we believe we deserve to be "punished" for our "sins" ... whether consciously or buried deep in that place of embarrassed self-loathing we've locked away in the depths of darkness (and, all too often, thrown away the key). And sometimes our "defensive behaviors" (designed to protect ourselves from real and/or perceived dangers) are seen as "attacks" by others ... who then respond in kind, causing situations to escalate and spin out of control. If what we think about expands in ours lives, then "harmlessness" seems worth some mindful meditation. How to be harmless ... good question to consider ... for sometimes it's hard to predict outcomes ahead of time.

"HARMONY
Restore harmony.
Create PEACE in all situations.
Rather than
pushing the river,
FLOW with it."
Daniel Levin

Smiling with recognition here because for me, the choice for peace in all situations remains an on-going challenge. I learned from ACIM (or perhaps from the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh in PEACE IS IN EVERY STEP?) ... to stop and say to myself (in moments of anger, frustration, pain, irritation, fear, self-doubt, confusion, etc.)
"I could have peace instead of this" ... and the thought would stop in in my tracks. I'd realize I'd been holding my breath ... so I'd exhale ... allow myself to take a few deep, relaxing breaths ... realize we all make choices all the time (some better & some worse than others) ... consider my options along with lessons from the past ... and choose my next step more mindfully ... at least for the moment. This practice taught me about ...

HUMILITY
The way of the EARTH
is to empty
that which is full,
and fill that which is empty.
True HUMILITY
brings great fortune."
Daniel Levin

The Universe brings us many opportunities to learn and to teach what we need to know. In the early 70s I happened upon a book by Jerry Jampolsky entitled TEACH ONLY LOVE. I've been working on that lesson ever since. Simple ... not always easy ... but certainly worth the effort required, and I'm grateful.

Blessed be ... and so it is.

***Simple Truths of Service

"What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others." Pericles

I just watched an inspirational presentation that really touched me and I wanted to share it with you. I hope you enjoy it also. It's called The Simple Truths of Service
Hugs and blessings

Addendum -- Thanks to Olivia to mentioning this videoclip at Happy Luau to spread the word. Somehow her direct link no longer works.

Day 28 The Journey (My Sacred Life)

In Carla's Sacred Sunday post this week, she wrote of EGO as "edging God out" ... something I'd heard before, but forgotten. Coincidentally, the next Zen Card said:

"EGO
Those who say they know
do not know.
Those who SAY they do not know,
also don't know.
Therefore,
be quiet
and let your ACTIONS
speak for you.
They speak much louder
than your words
anyway."
--Daniel Levin--

Then the Daily Message from Renaissance Unity offered this quote:

“For thousands of years, the spiritual path has been shrouded in mystery. By demystifying your spirituality and taking practical steps in your growth, you will discover exciting ways to create measurable changes in your thoughts, attitudes and decisions. By utilizing Spiritual Power Tools, you will unveil the hidden knowledge contained within your soul.”
~Jane Hart

I carried these ideas with me as I moved through the day ... mindfully (before and after listening to Thich Nhat Hanh and posting about my ruminations at Small Reflections) ... and awareness of the amazing way things work settled upon me.

Returning to post here later, I drew two more Zen Cards ... and noticed a smile of recognition cover my face.

"FORGIVENESS
Forgive
yourself and everyone
around you.
When you judge others,
YOU
are the one who
feels pain.
Through forgiveness,
all pain disappears."
Daniel Leven

Exhaling here ... I remember discovering this truth first-hand while listening to Don Henley sing "It's about forgiveness, even if ... even if ... you don't love me any more" as I finally accepted the fact my marriage was over but life continued. Forgiveness was a gift I gave myself ... grudgingly ... yet blessedly.

FRIENDSHIP
To LOVE people
who love you
is easy.
Choose to be
everyone's friend,
whether they like you or not.
When you love
and ACCEPT others
as they are,
you will have friends everywhere.
Daniel Levin

Exhaling again (a habit I formed in those difficult years when I realized I lived life holding my breath all too often ... waiting perhaps for "the other shoe to drop" and wanting to be ready to run for cover) the most amazing lesson I learned was how to befriend MYSELF ... how to be as good to myself as I'd always been to others. Beyond that, I discovered that taking better care of myself allowed others to do likewise and everyone benefited. Who knew?

Simple ... though not necessarily easy.

I've read it's not about the destination. It's about the journey itself. I'm grateful to find others walking the path in front of me (opening doors & pointing the way), along side (companionship is comforting), and behind (offering hope and reassurance to those who follow). Many of my friends laugh and tell me I'd dig for a pony in a pile of dung, and maybe I would ... but even though I've been "there and back again" ... I'm convinced it's a wonderful world!
Blessed be ... and so it is.
Namaste

Day 27 Dancing with Destiny (My Sacred Life)

For the 3rd day in a row now, I've turned to Daniel Levin's Zen Cards for inspiration and guidance ... and today I'm "dancing with destiny" ... joyfully right now ... inviting you to join me.

"DANCE
In dance,
no movement or direction
is BETTER or worse
than another.
This, too, is a way to view
all of life.
See all
the 'good and bad' things that
happen to you
simply as movements
in the
DANCE of life."

"DESTINY
You can look ... and
you will FIND it.
You can not look ... and
you WILL find it.
That which is yours
will surely
come to you."

Reminds me how this summer (in a store across the street from Moon River Gifts) on the Enchanted Circle drive near Taos, New Mexico ... I found little metal discs with words inscribed on them ... designed to wear on a chain around the neck ... and three selected me.

They say
DREAM ... BELIEVE ... ACHIEVE.

In the few weeks I've explored this virtual world, the commonality of experience and the issues being explored by so many of us here … grows increasingly obvious. As each turns inward to listen to and learn from "the still small voice within" ... and dares to believe & follow our personal truths genuinely ...sharing with one another honestly ... we encounter and acknowledge one another on the path ... sometimes leading, sometimes following ... continually emboldened by a sense of community. Rather perfect isn't it?
Hugs & blessings,

Day 25 Creation Continues (My Sacred Life)

Smiling here with recognition and gratitude.
Today's daily email from Renaissance Unity reads:

Creation Continues
"We take no step unpartnered. We may feel like the fool from the Tarot deck, stepping heedlessly into blank space, but that is not reality. The Great Creator is an artist and he/she/it is an artist in partnership with other artists. The moment we open ourselves to making art, we simultaneously open ourselves to our maker. We are automatically partnered."
~Julia Cameron
Quote is taken from:
Walking in This World: The Practical Art of Creativity

The affirmation is: I am co-creating a masterpiece as my life.

Wednesday's Zen card reads:

"Clarity
Be clear in all things.
As a calm POND
reflects the full moon perfectly,
let your actions
REFLECT your speech,
and your speech
reflect your actions."
Daniel Levin

Thursday's card:

"Community
Understand that you
will be like those with whom
you SURROUND yourself.
Your environment
is stronger than you are.
Daniel Levin

and today's:

"Concentration
As a drowning man wants air,
as the lover SEEKS their beloved,
this is the way you
must FOCUS on that which you want.
This intensity of concentration
will remove all obstacles."
Daniel Levin

Messages around us always, pointing the way. All we must do is believe and respond. Simple or complex, the path lies ahead ... beckoning me across the bridge unencumbered. Blessed be and so it is ... thank you very much.

Day 22 On Growth and Courage (My Sacred Life)

Some time ago (perhaps in late Spring about a month after I committed to attending the Taos Writers Retreat) I received this message from Renaissance Unity in my MSN email box:

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'
You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
~Eleanor Roosevelt

Today's Affirmation: I am filled with confidence, courage, wisdom and desire enough to do what is before me today.

I'd heard the last line of Eleanor Roosevelt's quote many times, but the rest felt new (as well as timely since I'd made the decision to push some personal boundaries by participating in this retreat & was experiencing periodic episodes of sheer panic as I wondered what I'd gotten myself in for). The affirmation resonated as empowering, so I added it to the "inspirational reminders" in my Palm Life Drive and checked the "repeat daily" box to keep me focused and calm. (I've since changed to repeat "monthly" so it shows up regularly even now).

This morning's message from Renaissance Unity reminded me of the previous one, and I'm pondering both as I move through the day.

"It's been proven that the only effective way to deal with fear is to walk through it, through the pain that accompanies doing something you're afraid to do. It takes courage to fulfill your commitments, courage to stay on track, courage to follow your dreams, courage to reach your goals, and courage to walk through your fear. Remember, reaching goals is not so much about doing big things when the feeling hits you; it's more about doing little things every day that move you toward your dream. It's about staying steady and on course."
~Francine Ward

Today's Affirmation: I am capable, constant, courageous and confident.

It took about 6 weeks (after returning from Taos) for me to act on the suggestions of so many of the writers I met at MDL & finally accept Kara's challenge to check out this "Virtual World" ... and in the past three weeks since I dipped my proverbial "toe" in the water, I've faced my fear of "being known" ... jumped into the Blogosphere with both feet (well actually with both hands and all my fingers), encountered an array of lovely, supportive people sharing in this virtual space, discovered (with surprised delight) the decades of personal writing practice in journals has led to fluidness of thought & expression here, and now I wonder what the big deal was all about.

I suppose my next steps will involve returning to those journals and mining them for whatever pieces of myself from the past that I'm willing to share, but I'm seeing Joy's advice in my head here ... (the "angel" who found & left me a comment on my very first post at Small Reflections before I'd added anything but my Profile to my side bar, spurring me onward with a promise to return) ... gently reminding me "baby steps" ... and I'm grateful.

What fears call you to face them today?

Day 21 Calmness (My Sacred Life)

Today's card from Daniel Levin's Zen Box says:

In all activity, practice CALMNESS.
To remain calm amidst the chaos of Life
requires a tremendous amount of focused ENERGY.
Be calmly active and actively calm.

I do my best to strive for balance. The idea of being "calmly active" while being "actively calm" reflects my on-going efforts to be mindful in all situations and consider paradoxes ... learning as I go ... releasing gently while holding on. So much of life is about embracing opposites ... seeing how things complement one another. It reminds me of "force nothing and hold nothing back" ... a recurring theme at our Writers Retreat this summer. I choose this idea for my walking meditation today ... "Be calmly active and actively calm."

Let's hear it for paradox ...
"both/and" rather than "either/or" thinking!
What opposites pull at you today?

***Have you seen this incredible story of Patrick Henry Hughes & his amazing dad?

Patti at 37 Days provides this link to Living on Purpose where she shares a YouTube "must see" link to the most inspiring father & son team I've ever seen. If not, I hope you take the time to check it out today and pass it on.

Day 20 On Taking Action (My Sacred Life)

This morning I revisited what I've written here and at Small Reflections in the first three weeks of Blogging. I'm surprised by a number of observations.

First off, I appreciate all who have left comments on both sites, and apologize for not acknowledging most of them sooner. I only just discovered them today as I was scanning "the appearance of things on this site" after making some changes to the sidebar (the same way I found early comments & responded previously). I've figured out how to stay on top of this from now on and have posted at Small Reflections about those discoveries. Anyway, I've left my responses today and will be notified by email when new comments are left from now on, so I can reply in a more timely manner from now on.
Live & learn ... :)

Second, I'm surprised by what I've accomplished on these two sites in just three weeks and marvel at the wonder of it all. I frequently ask myself "Who knew?" and respond "Certainly not me!" ... and yet I might have known if I'd given more credence to the words of family and friends throughout the years. They've told me repeatedly my words "resonate" and should be shared with others, but I assumed they believed these things and encouraged me to publish because they loved me ... not because they recognized & understood something I didn't. I'm grateful they didn't back off (nor push me too quickly, for I needed to come to awareness in my own time). I apologize here & now for "discounting" their input for so long, and promise I'll do better (now that I know better).

Finally ... I'm acutely aware of the need for action (finally) and as I continue to explore on these two Blogs, I feel assured that my next steps will become clearer as I travel this path.

"However many holy words you read, however many your speak, what good will they do if you do not act upon them?" Buddha

What's calling YOU to take action on today?