Aug 6
“When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought ‘surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.'” – Genesis 28:16
How often we are asleep as we walk through our days, missing the goodness, blessings and gifts. Wake up, you’re in the middle of your day, your life and God is surely in this place. Aware, grateful and awestruck – three really good places to be in. Cast light and let light be cast on you.
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 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 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 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 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.
Apr 29
“For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but rather the specific meaning of a person’s life at a given moment.” – Viktor E. Frankl
Moments pass so quickly. We’re young and then we’re not. We surrender too much time to worry and what if, frivolously letting joy-filled moments pass by without notice. Looking through a box of old photos, I found some photos that capture simple family moments. There’s a special beauty and clarity in black and white photos.
“Be grateful for the home you have, knowing that at this moment, all you have is all you need.” – Sarah Ban Breathnach
A collage – a story of family, youth, fun, love. Family history that has lead to this very day. A reminder that while we age, we need not be old. Each day, we can choose to be grateful, to love more and to linger in the simplicity and depth of each moment.
Apr 8
“If small things have the power to disturb you, then who you think you are is exactly that: small.” – Eckhart Tolle
Try as we may, we sweat the small stuff. Those people that cause the most consternation only have an impact because we give them permission, even though we know better. We often become that which we try to avoid. Instead of getting the last word in or a flip remark, choose your words and silence carefully. Often silence is the better option.
Each day, we must choose between our authentic self or our conforming self. And if we have a nagging feeling inside, we’ve chosen to conform. Instead of grand gestures, we can simply offer the subtleness of a gentle tone, the gift of civility and eye contact with a smile that says, “I’m listening.”
Cast light and worry not of the darkness around you. It’s longing for light too.
“To know yourself as the Being underneath the thinker, the stillness underneath the mental noise, the love and joy underneath the pain, is freedom, salvation, enlightenment.” – Eckhart Tolle
Mar 9
“The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring.” – Bernard Williams
Beneath the weight of the snow lies green grass ready to awaken, flowers ready to burst from the earth. The warmth of the sun brings a slow, steady melt. Renewed and refreshed from the dormancy of Winter, Spring patiently waits to unfold in its time.
Through the seasons of our life, we cycle from hibernation to fruition, never the same, growing and unfolding into ourselves. We can remain buried beneath the layers and weight or we can let the heaviness melt away, letting go, forgetting, forgiving, moving on.
Spring releases Winter. We need not carry it any further. It has served its purpose. Melt, soften, become more gentle. Breakthrough the layers, burst, bud, bloom. Be bright, bold and beautiful. Beneath, beneath, Spring has come.
“The winter solstice has always been special to me as a barren darkness that gives birth to a verdant future beyond imagination, a time of pain and withdrawal that produces something joyfully inconceivable, like a monarch butterfly masterfully extracting itself from the confines of its cocoon, bursting forth into unexpected glory.” – Gary Zukav
Mar 8
“Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” – Anais Nin
We celebrated Lily’s fourth birthday this morning with a run with friends. The party hats didn’t make it too long on the dogs, but the rest of us wore our hats for the entire run. We got a few strange looks but when we explained we were celebrating a dog’s birthday, it made all the sense in the world.
“Enthusiasm moves the world.” – Arthur Balfour
Friends wear silly hats, sing “Happy Birthday” in the parking lot and know how to make fun of a run together. In a hectic and often unkind world, we can create our own celebrations and moments every day. We have so much more than we often recognize. Today, I am grateful for Lily and Molly and good friends that make life fun, silly and deeply meaningful all at once.
Today’s a new day. Get your party hat on!
