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Posts from the ‘Friends’ Category

Jan 5

5 Comments

Impractical, but…

“Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.” – H. L. Mencken

Sometimes love isn’t easy. And that’s the time when it’s needed the most. Love says we should choose…

Patience over frustration
Forgiveness over resentment
Praise over criticism
Kindness over gossip
Ideas over complaint
Understanding over judgment
The best over assumptions
Silence over “I told you so”
Faith over fear
Present over past
Attention over busy
Character over popularity
Second over first
Hope over despair
Blessing over curse
More over less
Light over shadow

Love is impractical, but it is the only choice we have to live the life we are meant to live, to become our true self. It calls us to let go. It calls us to real, lasting peace. It calls us and we must answer “yes”, even and especially when it makes no sense at all.

“Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

“Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Dec 22

3 Comments

Blanket

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” – Norman Vincent Peale

“Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn't come from a store.” – Dr. Seuss

“Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn’t come from a store.” – Dr. Seuss

May the grace, joy and love of the season warm and comfort you like a soft blanket. Be light as a snowflake and let the spirit of Christmas be your companion all year long. Merry Christmas.

Dec 11

2 Comments

Passing

“Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away.” – Marcus Aurelius

“In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” – Albert Camus

“In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” – Albert Camus

Amidst the cold days that have arrived early in the season, I am vividly reminded that all things pass quickly. Seasons come and go. People move in and out of our sight. We wake up feeling like we’re 24 and we’re 49.

So as we dread the “15 degrees below days” that come all year round, there is beauty to be found even in these days. If we base our happiness on the weather, a compliment or a list of “rules” that we put on ourselves and others, we are passing by instead of passing through our lives. Each day has its gifts often disguised as inconveniences and interruptions. Get interrupted, wake up and let not this day pass without notice and deep appreciation of the fullness of each moment. Find summer in each day.

Nov 30

2 Comments

Never Too Late, But

“The life that I could still live, I should live, and the thoughts that I could still think, I should think.” – C.G. Jung, The Red Book

It’s never too late…to give forgiveness, to ask forgiveness, to break the silence, to dream, to pursue your dreams, to dance, to give, to laugh, to understand, to be grateful, to stop, to listen, to be heard, to say thank you, to try something new, to let go, to change, to yield, to learn, to play, to love.

It’s never too late, but someday it will be. And we know not the day. Start today, so regret has no place to visit tomorrow.

Nov 27

4 Comments

Bob and Weave

Like a boxer in the ring, we bob and weave through our days, fists up to protect a hook to the chops, a jab to the ribs. On the defense to protect ourselves from a cheap shot.

Business, politics and the media thrive on the negative, the downside, survival and “winning” by demolishing the opponent. Competition that challenges and improves our skills has become mean-spirited, unreasonable and hollow. Ideas and healthy debate to create better solutions to make our world better have turned into polar left and right, I’m right and you’re wrong. Cynicism is in fashion.

And in the midst of it all, hope and light remain. Perhaps quiet at times, but strong and present as ever. Lately, we’ve had coworkers’ babies, kids, puppies and dogs stopping in the office. A young father tenderly holding his first child. A mom with two confident little ones walking in the office like they own the world with their best friend as their driver. A puppy cuddled and the tone of our voices get higher and animated. And as we gather to witness and be a part of it, we become softer, tapping into our hidden reservoir of joy and delight. We wake up.

We are transformed by connection, conversation, time with family and friends. Reminding us to reaching out instead of retreat. Less bobbing and weaving. More light and life.

Nov 22

7 Comments

ASK

ASssumeK

“Great thoughts and a pure heart, that is what we should ask from God.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

When we move past assumptions and go deeper by asking, we will discover a new world. We are surprised when we learn something new about a person we thought we knew, usually based on our first impression or gossip. Our assumptions and judgments hold us back from asking. Like a rock thrown across the water, we skip barely touching the surface, missing out on the deep waters of connection.

She never talks so she must be stuck up. Really she’s an introvert and just needs to be drawn out. He’s in a bad mood. Really he’s just found out his wife is leaving him. There are a lot of undercurrents in people’s lives that impact their behavior and they are more complicated than our assumptions allow. When we move outside of ourselves, we can see our world in a different light. “They” becomes “us.”

We leave a lot of unopened gifts under the tree. And we miss out on the flavor of all different people with one desire in common – to be seen for who they really are.

Assume the best. Ask and listen.

Nov 14

13 Comments

Uncomplicated

“In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don’t try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.” – Lao Tzu

It’s really pretty simple. Each day we choose. To see wonder or despair, light or dark. A new toy, wrestling, going for a run hunting up squirrels, time together. Lily and Molly have it figured out.

Stop overcomplicating it all with drama, assumptions and comparison. It’s your life – do something with it and enjoy the journey. Our regrets will be made up of what we didn’t do, the chances and opportunities we missed while we were distracted by noise, insignificance. Make some music and dance. A polka is pretty uncomplicated. 1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3.

“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” – Mother Teresa

“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” – Mother Teresa

Nov 9

4 Comments

Everyday Stuff

Everyday stuff – that’s what Cast Light is all about. I’ve discovered when I notice the ordinary of each day and put myself in its midst I find meaning and joy. And I am grateful for the grace and faith to see the bigness in the small.

I bought four new books with my Amazon birthday gift cards – thanks Anna, Chris, Lynn – and just finished Anne Lamott’s new book Stitches, A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair. My kind of book and I love her writing style and insights, here’s one that sticks:

“The search for meaning will fill you with a sense of meaning. Otherwise life passes by in about seven weeks, and if you are not paying attention and savoring it as it unfurls, you will wake up one day in deep regret. It’s much better to wake up now in deep regret, desperate not to waste more of your life obsessing and striving for meaningless crap. Because you will have finally awakened.” Pretty good advice.

The three Fs – Faith, Family, Friends. Here’s to some of my everyday stuff – Lily and Molly. Mom and Dad. Running group on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Sole Sisters hanging out. The extraordinary in the ordinary.

everydaystuff

Nov 6

5 Comments

Go First

“Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you.” – Jim Rohn

Competition at its best makes us better, improves our game, teaches us teamwork. I’ve never been one for getting a trophy for merely showing up. Being your best, cheering for others, learning from losses and coming back stronger is a worthy pursuit.

Go out today and be the first one to smile, say “hi”, start a conversation, include others, be kind. Don’t wait for others to make the first move. Be yourself without asking permission, without reserve. Don’t hold back pursuing excellence (not perfection), improving and recruiting others for your team. There’s a great freedom and power in personal responsibility, working hard and doing more than merely show up. And something magical happens when we stop blaming others for our circumstances. We take control of our game and win our lives back, our happiness.

There will be obstacles, complainers, spectators shouting for you to quit. Count on it. Tempted to do nothing in the face of opposition, push harder, push through. Don’t ever quit the pursuit of being your best and encouraging others to be their best along the way. Life is a team sport. Game on.

Nov 3

12 Comments

Cast Light

“If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.” – George MacDonald

Cast Light started from a small seed of thought and desire to seek out and shine light on the positive, the goodness in each day, if we choose it over shadow and cynicism. Over a year and 279 posts later, the act of writing the blog challenges me to align my thoughts and desires to my attitude and actions. To live out what I believe, to recognize when I fall short and most importantly to relentlessly pursue light, not perfection.

In conversation with others, I am reminded to get outside of me and to be present in the moment, in relationship. While we are vividly aware of our own feelings, we never really know what someone else may be going through. And when we put aside and rise above our assumptions, judgments, and biases, we discover the humanity, frailty and beauty of those who cross our path each day. CAST = throw forth LIGHT =  love.

“When walking through the 'valley of shadows,' remember, a shadow is cast by a Light.” – Austin O'Malley

“When walking through the ‘valley of shadows,’ remember, a shadow is cast by a Light.” – Austin O’Malley

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