Purple Pain

Purple Pain

Purple pain, purple pain,
not it is not a typo
and it will probably never be written as a hit song,
but sometimes our pain is about more then what we feel,
it is a call to find peace,
to seek spiritual guidance,
to seek redemption
and go through a time of transformation
that brings us to a place of calm and healing.
it is about the purposeful rain which comes down on us
to help us realign and release
from the purple pain
waking us up and signaling us
to heal and explore
as we look at our inner core,
ask what we are repressing,
what do we need to wake up,
so we walk with more ease
towards and in our true purpose.
The Ultimate never means to cause us any sorrow,
they just want to see us laughing and joyful.
Sometimes we need to feel something so intensely,
that we cannot avoid it
and must address and overcome it
and then give thanks
for the purple pain.

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Finding the Oasis

Finding the Oasis

One of my students asked me
“What’s your favorite part of worship?”
I smiled and said
the time before the service begins,
when no one is with me
and it is just me and the Ultimate.
This is just one time when
I can sit in an oasis of silence
with the Ultimate.
That oasis can be anywhere.
it can be a church,
a corner of the library,
a private park,
or for me,
our prayer and meditation garden.
It is in this oasis of silence
that I am surrounded by the symphony of Spirits
I can only hear in the oasis of silence.
it is in this oasis of silence,
that I receive clarity and wisdom
that is more powerful and penetrating
then any sermon.

It is in this oasis of silence,
that my soul is watered
and my spirit soars and grows.
It is in this oasis of silence,
that I am reminded of my fertility
from which I will birth knowledge,
dreams,
understandings,
While every part of life can feed us,
I intentionally look for my oasis of silence.

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By Any Other Name

By Any Other Name

The golden rule is clear,
do unto others,
as you would have them do unto you.
It is not as they have done unto you.
Violence is violence,
no matter what you call it.
Acts against humanity
by any other name are still that
acts against humanity.
Redemptive violence,
they called it,
is still violence.
Call it by any other name,
but it is still violence.
Calling it redemptive,
does not minimize the harm done by it.
Calling it redemptive
does not minimize the pain.
You can call it by any other name,
but violence is violence
and pain is pain.
Redemption does not come from violence,
it comes from forgiveness,
from hope,
a need to make amends,
a desire to change, and
to bring about transformation.
Call it by any other name
redemption is about that,
not violence.

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That One Memory

That One Memory

Do you have one?
Do you have that one memory
that you store in your heart and soul?
A memory that brings you joy,
happiness, and
makes you feel connected to the Ultimate.
It is that memory you wrap yourself in
during those times you need to feel loved
because no matter what else is going on
this one memory wraps you in peace and happiness.
We all have one,
at least one,
that we store away for those moments
we need to feel loved.
This memory
is what I hold on to
in the roughest of times
because it reminds me who will see me through.
It makes me feel connected to the one,
to the Ultimate,
and sets me up on a cloud of peace
like it did when I was three
and protected me while it
removed all the obstacles
and filled my world with new beginnings.
Sixty five years later,
this memory
still sustains me.
Hold on to yours
it is still there where you left it.

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difficult Teachers

Difficult Teachers

I would love to say
all my teachers have been amazing
and a pleasure to work with.
I can’t.
Some of the most amazing teachers
have been difficult people to work with
and to learn from.
However, often times they are the ones
who teach me the most valuable
and hardest to learn lessons.
Those lessons I need to learn,
but do not want to learn.
Those lessons that require me
to explore my beliefs, experiences and expectations.
Those lessons that challenge me to become aware,
to take responsibility for my reactions,
forgive myself and others
and evolve to a space of peace and joy.
Often we find out we are their teachers as well.
We not only learn from them,
but teach them in how we work with them.
We are each teachers in peoples lives
and others are teachers in ours.
Sometimes we are the easy ones
and sometimes we are not.

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Peace Be Still

Peace Be Still

I remember reading the story
of Jesus and the disciples,
where in the midst of the storm
he looks at the storm and says
peace be still.
There are times in my life
when I am in the midst of a storm,
some worse then others,
and I can fill the shift in energy,
as if there is a source within me that is saying
peace be still.
Other times I can see the storms all around me
but the energy surrounding my life
is peaceful and calm.
it is like there is a protective force around me
which has said peace be still.
It makes me wonder how many times
have I felt peace in my life
and not been aware of the storms
I have been protected from.
How differently might I move
through life if I was conscious
of the force in my life which constantly whispered
peace be still
and thus there was peace.

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Alone Time

Alone Time

I have always enjoyed my alone time,
but in all honesty
I was not alone.
My alone time
is really about me
hanging out with the Ultimate
and just being
in each other’s presence.
Usually my alone time
is in mini blocks of time
but yesterday I spent
the whole day alone.
I experienced what it was like
to have Sabbath
to have a major block of
alone time
where we were together.
It doesn’t mean we are talking,
we are just being present.
Being alone with the Ultimate
allowed me to travel to a space
of peace, rest, clarity and rejuvenation.
It was a time of enjoyment,
laughter,
and dreams.
Alone time
can be any place,
any time,
for any length.
it is just about being alone
with the one you know
created you,
sustains you and
transforms you.

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Fantasy

We all fantasize,
but how many of us
fantasize
about being of greater service
to the one we call our Higher Power

What do you fantasize about?
Is it about fighting for equality
amongst all of humanity?
Or is it about working to bring about
world peace?
Perhaps it is about practicing patience
or compassion with all of humanity.
Perhaps it is about promoting
healing and wholeness

May we open
our heart, mind, and soul to
fantasizing about
making it on earth
as it is in Heaven
or at least
as we fantasize
it to be.

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Smiling

Smiling

Have you ever watched someone smile,
but it does not feel
like joy, peace, or happiness.
Sometimes you can watch them smile,
but it feels sarcastic.
Sometimes their smile reminds
you of how politicians and diplomats
smile at each other.
Sometimes their smile makes you want to leave
and avoid them .

Then there are those smiles
that brighten up a room.
There is something about their smile which is like
a breath of fresh air.
It may leave you feeling hope
fill you with their overflowing joy
make you share their happiness
or experience their piece

A smile is not just a smile.
It is a way of communicating
what is in our heart,
soul,
and mind.
It is how we share
the one who lives within us
and who wants others
to experience the love and warmth
all through a simple, but genuine
smile.

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Praying

Sometimes when I pray,
I wish I could forget
my personal agenda,
my list of what I think I need.

I wish I could lay
it all down
and focus on trusting
the one to whom I am
praying

If I trust you
when I am praying
then I remember
you know what is best,
not me.

Today I release the conflict
I free myself of the confusion
between what I want and
what you want for me.

I thank you for knowing
what I need,
and knowing that I do not
always know best
even when I think I do.
So thank you for not always
listening me while I
pray

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A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

I have heard it said that a picture is worth a thousand words. So this week I thought I would do something different and post some of my favorite images that evoke a feeling of peace in me.  As you gaze at them, may they do the same for you 

This is Washington Allston's Landscape with a Lake

Peter Severin Krøyer's Summer Evening on the Southern Beach

A Day of Peace - Paintings by John Lautermilch

Karna Bahadur Dura - Art From Nepal

World Peace Painting by Deborah Ronglien