Jul 7
“A jug fills drop by drop.” – Buddha
“Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.” – Langston Hughes
A drop, a gesture, a step, a smile, a glance, a song, a walk, a flower, a hug, a laugh, a beam, a rainbow, a moment. It all adds up and creates a life. Skies darken and the rain pours down. Clouds clear and the dark is overcome by warmth and light. A drop at a time.
Jun 23
“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.” – Wilma Rudolph
Another Grandma’s marathon, another first marathon to celebrate. This time it was my niece Emily’s turn and she did it! The first marathon is about finishing. It’s the “I think I can and I’m ready but I’ve never done it before” elusiveness.
Four to five months of training, commitment and hard work gets you to the start line. You learn the value of preparing your mind as much as your body as well as your spirit. All play an important role in getting to the finish line.
Many training runs by yourself convince you that you are alone in this effort. But when you get to marathon day, you soon realize through the support and encouragement of family, friends and complete strangers along the way that you are in no way alone in the endeavor, or in life for that matter. The cowbells, people yelling your name, the texts from family and friends checking in, the running by your side the last mile show how many people are cheering for and sharing in your success.
“The greatest achievement of the human spirit is to live up to one’s opportunities and make the most of one’s resources.” – Luc de Clapiers
Whether it’s a marathon or another dream or goal, the meaning comes from the journey before ever getting to the start line. It’s the unfolding and freeing of the human spirit that deepens the meaning and calls us to seek more challenges and dreams. There are no short cuts – the secret is in the intersection of time, effort, focus, consistency, faith, optimism, persistence and determination.
Pick your “marathon” and go for it with your whole heart, mind and spirit. We all have longings that pull at us to go out into the world to give and be our best, beyond what we could ever imagine. We need only to take the first step and each that follows become second nature. Your human spirit is ready and waiting to take flight.
Jun 17
“We like things to manifest right away, and they may not. Many times, we’re just planting a seed and we don’t know exactly how it is going to come to fruition. It’s hard for us to realize that what we see in front of us might not be the end of the story.” – Sharon Salzberg
Last night the power went out from the wind and storms. It was so quiet, I could hear the birds chirping outside instead of all of the chirping that goes on in my head about what was or is about to come. The silence was beautiful music.
The last time we had a big storm a few years ago, my tree in the back was hit by lightning, fell on the power line and took out the power for the neighborhood for 24 hours. Not quite as somber.
I remember that summer well – removing a 50 year old tree, “recarpeting” with sod and planting two new trees, lamenting the loss of the shade. As I look at those new trees, they have really grown and taken on their own character.
A good reminder that as things change, we need to keep replanting so something is always growing. As we plant seeds along the way, new gifts and blessings bloom to make the journey more fruitful and fulfilling. Replant.
“The joy of life consists in the exercise of one’s energies, continual growth, constant change, the enjoyment of every new experience. To stop means simply to die. The eternal mistake of mankind is to set up an attainable ideal.” – Aleister Crowley
Jun 7
Songs can bring us back to a time and a place we have long forgotten. And some songs are timeless poetry and truth in motion. As the cantor at church tonight started singing “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” I was sent back to grade school when we sang this song often. As I grow older, it holds more meaning than ever before.
And we can do more than talk about, wish and pray for peace. We can start peace moving in our own corner of the world. How we talk to each other, where we invest our time, how we reach out to others first with a smile or an encouraging word – all ways to ignite a peace that could succumb the world.
“Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.”
In this moment, we can vow to be the peace we long for. Turning an idea, a wish, a longing into reality with simple acts that we can do and be each day. Peace moves from a platitude to a whole new meaning when we own it and live it instead of putting on someone else to take care of. Really want peace? Let it begin in your heart, words and actions. Begin with me – be first.
Jun 2
“Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.” – Carl Sandburg
Blessed are those who not only see the glass half full but overflowing. Those who race into the rain to find the same joy found in the sun and breeze amidst the puddles and mud. Those who are lost in time, knowing that time passes swiftly whether we are happy or sad, so they wisely choose happy. Those who show us that life is found in ordinary moments and draw the marrow out of each one. Those that take silliness, fun and delight as serious business of the utmost importance.
“Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.” – Langston Hughes
May I be awake to my many blessings more often than not. May I not look back with regret, which is found in what we don’t do, what we don’t see, what we don’t appreciate. Blessed are those that recognize and act upon the abundance of blessings that are more than elbow and nose deep.
Jun 1
“Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.” – Golda Meir
We are three weeks out from Grandma’s Marathon, hence the 20 mile run. Last year, my brother ran his first marathon. This year, my niece Emily is running her first marathon. I am training for my third marathon in October, inspired by many who have gone before and encouraged by friends and family. Each of us can and are called to inspire, encourage and be encouraged by others.
Yesterday, I ran 13 miles of Emily’s 20 mile run, mostly behind her of course. It was in the low 80s most of the run. It was a hot one. John and Tina followed along on the bike with water, Gatorade and a cow bell. I remember my first marathon and am so excited for Emily to experience the fruition that comes from the seeds she’s planted, the work she’s done to get here.
“Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles.” – Alex Karras
While it’s an important part of the training plan, the 20 miler is more important mentally than physically. It give us the confidence and reminds us that all the work over the past three months will pay off and we have it in us to finish 26.2 miles. We’ve done the work, now enjoy the ride.
We often need to overcome our own definitions, limitations and perceptions of what’s possible, to believe in what we are made of and to act on it. Whether it’s a marathon or another dream that’s written on your heart, pursue it vigorously, put in the work and know that you have it in you to finish the race.
May 28
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
I sighed when I read Maya Angelou passed away today. What an inspiration, artist, creator, model, survivor, thriver, poet, leader, writer, lover of life.
What will we leave behind? Not just at the end of our life, but at the end of each day as we pass through people’s lives.
Seeds or weeds
Inspiration or angst
Light or shadow
Joy or pain
Laughter or tears
Kindness or callous
Soft or hard
Delight or doom
Passion or indifference
Faith or doubt
What power we have each day to leave a something lasting behind, to be missed when we leave, to cast light in an often dark world.
You will certainly rest in peace Maya Angelou since you offered so much peace and love as you passed through. We pass through for such a very short time. Carelessly and relentlessly scatter perennial seeds of love that remain long past our time on earth.
“I know for sure that loves saves me and that it is here to save us all.” – Maya Angelou
May 24
“So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing.” – T. S. Eliot
When we are still . . . our senses awaken to the beauty that remains even when we can’t see, hear, feel, taste and breath through the noise and distractions that can overcome and distort the truth.
We hear the birds singing in harmony;
We feel the soft breeze of a Spring morn;
We see the hues in the sky;
We breath in and absorb the fragrance of flowers bloom;
We empathize instead of judge others because we realize we are in this life together and merely want to be seen, accepted and loved;
Time stands still because we live and appreciate the depth and brevity of each moment.
Be still.
“I drank the silence of God from a spring in the woods.” – Georg Trakl
May 20
“Everything can be taken from a man or woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” – Victor E. Frankl
Two and a half years and 353 posts later, this quote remains the foundation of Cast Light. And when you consider Victor Frankl wrote this about surviving three years in the horror of a Nazi concentration camp in his book Man’s Search for Meaning, it puts our days into proper perspective and offers deep hope.
As our thoughts scatter chaotically from the past to the future, from what if to why me, we are missing the beauty and gift of the present moment. Moments that won’t return.
We can’t remain the same and expect things to change. We have the power and responsibility to set the tone for our day, our own life. And when we surrender that power to others or our circumstances, we lose our way.
Life is awesome and we must actively search, find and foster that awe in each day. The more beauty and light we see, the more will come because we recognize it. And when we take in light over shadow, we can cast it back out to light our own path and those that choose to join us on the journey.
May 11
“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” – Maya Angelou
Mothers prove that unconditional love is possible and what we are all called to – men and women, single and married. Mothers model the way and invite us on the journey of abundance with them. Often through actions more than words, they teach compassion, acceptance, wholeness, faith, grace, joy, peace, giving without counting, hard work, sacrifice, resilience, strength, kindness, perseverance and spirit – our ultimate higher selves.
As I observe the women in my life, often those who are closest to them don’t see the depth and breadth of their commitment and dedication. And yet they continue, not for recognition or praise, but because it’s who they are and they can’t be anything different. Never questioning or hesitating, they forge ahead leading the way. We all have the capacity to get outside of ourselves and move into the world to love unconditionally, to cast light. We should honor and revere our mothers every day and more importantly, follow their lead.
