UP...SHUT..DOWN

                                                                      

 “There was a duke of York…He had ten thousand men…he marched them up the hill…And he marched them down again…And when they’re up, they’re up…And when they’re down, they’re down…And when they’re only half way up they’re neither up nor down.”

A warm-up exercise to quell nervousness, that was part of a program I had been chosen as a participant my freshman year at the University of Alberta. Taught by the Christopher’s who were graduates of the Dale Carnegie Course, it was a leadership course on campus  to build confidence and speaking abilities by using your  God-given talents to make a positive difference in the world.

The class began with about 20 colleagues and 3 instructors…instructors who had an accepting aura that enveloped the room. Being introduced meant coming to the front of the room and speaking in the allotted time. I recall some participants not being able to speak a word…frozen, with what appeared to be a complete mental shutdown…stuck in the middle …not going anywhere on the march. We had to clap anyway for the fact that they got up and stood in front of the class…that was considered trying…positive reinforcement. I was not frozen in the middle, but felt as if I had babbled enough to look stupid. Relieved that my turn was over, I sat down, happy to cheer for the next candidate. Sometimes this new confident candidate did not want to shut up when the time had elapsed. Clapping had a wonderful way of signaling the end.  Growth and achievement were evident in all from week to week, no matter where you were on the march.

It is now 15 days into a government shutdown and life for the majority continues with little impact on their daily lives. There are still jobs, football games, and operas, swimming lessons, running competitions, shopping and even the Oct. 15 tax deadline. This is not to lessen the seriousness of the consequences of what is happening, it is only to point out that this could not happen in many countries where rule is imposed. Each day the debt ceiling looms closer, the voices from the citizens of the United States become more intense. They will not be shut up or shut down…all have a say and that is what a representative government is all about. However, it seems that for years we have been marching up the hill and down again where more of the hill is being eroded. If the hill becomes flat lined citizens will have no further active involvement in their government…they will only be recipients.

Is the bigger question…Does government reflect what is going on in family life? Are we content to be more involved with ourselves than we are as a family? If we shut down our technology, would that cause us to shut up? Would conversation take the place of posting? Would we still need filibusters?

  

HIGH HEELS AND SNOW

This bestselling author has sold over 80 million books and just signed a 3 year contract with Simon and Shuster…She will be 88 years old when that contract ends…but if past history is any indication, she will probably still be on an upward spiral. She received a college degree at age 50, wrote numerous short stories, 30 best sellers, a historical book as well as a memoir… all after she was widowed at 36 raising 5 children.

When does an inspiration begin?  When do you cultivate it?  When do you stop working on new ideas?

I have never read a book by her, but the latest book cover by Mary Higgins Clark captured my eye as it showcased a red high heel in the snow. Those of you who know me know that I love high heels, but hate snow…loving the high heels as an excuse to feel tall, elegant and capable…hating the snow for the cold, bundling up and treachery of maneuvering.

Two opposing forces…Opposites I had learned about as “Yin” and “Yang” in junior high school…taught in a narrow version as feminine and masculine, light and dark…Opposites!

My fascination with the words Yin and Yang caused me to delve more into this 5000 year old Chinese philosophy. The Yin Yang structure is far more defining than opposite forces. Although opposing, it is more complementary… two different energies coexisting, yet tied together. The outer circle representing everything in life…the black and white shapes representing the interaction of these two energies…a flow and balance…not one without the other.

The reporter asked, “Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio?” to the man seated on the simple wooden chair. There was silence before he answered… “I am a sinner.”  More silence… “I am a bit astute, that I can adapt to circumstances, but it is also true that I am a bit naive.” Pope Francis… Humble… yet the Leader of the Catholic Church. Complementary forces surrounded by God’s embrace. Saint Ignatius called this discernment as he struggled to reach a higher calling. His vision, and that of Pope Francis, “Not to be limited by the greatest and yet contained in the tiniest-this is the Divine.”

Ancient Buddhist Tradition describes this balance as “The Wheel of Life;” North American Indians as a “Medicine Wheel.” Other cultures also depict life in circular motion as well…all encompassing, no beginning or end! Balance only being achieved through struggle and discernment.

When opposing forces threaten to derail my life, can I see it as a call to discernment and either repair or discard the wheel that has become damaged to once again achieve harmony and growth towards a higher calling? How and when do I use discernment?

High heels and snow could be my beginning!

WHERE ARE THE LEGS

                                                             

I was listening to an interview where Bill O’Reilly was asked about his new book, and how he came up with the title “Killing Jesus”. He said “All of the ideas come to me in the middle of the night. And one night I just woke up and I went “Killing Jesus.” With that title in mind and his history writer Martin Dugard who had also been co-author of the best sellers “Killing Lincoln” and “Killing Kennedy” set out to research and write a book about the historical Jesus. Their work published within a short span of 8 months.

The idea about “Pregnancy Redefined” woke me up in the middle of the night as well. I was startled that his title had been a two word title as well, and after listening to O’Reilly, I felt shameful I hadn't pushed through the pain and continued to write. After all, “Pregnancy Redefined” indicated “full of meaning,” “significant,” “fertile,” and “rich. Wasn't my goal to put out ideas for growth to those who would find some type of inspiration from reading them? Even if one person was inspired by my writing would it not be important?

The idea of pushing through the pain is not new to me. I have achieved goals by doing just that, and yet this writing inspiration was not taking hold. I had just finished reading “The Tools” by Phil Stutz & Barry Michels, described as “5 tools to help you find courage creativity, and willpower-and inspire you to live life in forward motion.”Writing must have been in the back of my mind when I chose it.

I've been on a hiatus for awhile as I felt I had no leg to stand on writing about “Pregnancy Redefined”.  I felt I had nothing new to say to the reader to hold their interest… not relevant, old fashioned, high idealed, melodramatic, sentimental, and not trying my hardest… to put it in my own judgmental words.

But here I am again inspired to write. Our ideas come with that interior voice beckoning us to go beyond our comfort zone, push through the pain and fear, and develop a strategy no matter what our age.

The sonogram could not detect legs on the baby. As a result the doctor wanted the pregnant mother back for amniocentesis. She decided against the procedure displaying her willingness to accept this baby sight unseen. Her heart was heavy as fear, sadness and acceptance intertwined for the balance of the pregnancy. 

   

I had forgotten about this incident when my daughter reminded me of the nightmare she had faced and my response had been “We’ll just get a wheelchair for her.” She reminisced about this as we drove back from a 5K race… That baby, now 11 years old had just won first place in that 3.2 mile cross country  race, a 6^th grader beating out 167 junior high and high school girls. No wheelchair needed! Legs in motion! One leg standing… the other flying!

That 11 year old was interviewed regarding her big win. When the interviewer asked her how she won this, she replied, “I tried my hardest.”  He then asked her what her strategy was. She replied, “I started at the pace I thought was good for me and then eventually picked it up.”

I saw many girls cross the finish line that day with a winning strategy to pick up their pace. So here I am trying to pick up the pace to be able to say “I tried my hardest”. Whatever hurdles we have to overcome no matter what age, there is inspiration all around. We only have to believe we have a leg to stand on!

CIRCLE OF WARMTH

Pope declares …“no animals at the birth of Jesus!” This comment reported by a multitude of news agencies. Could this be possible?

During the Christmas season I display a number of manger scenes collected over the years. Children invariably move the animals right next to the Baby Jesus.

 In the past I had been present at a Christmas day Mass when the new Bishop of Orlando, Bishop John Noonan, was the celebrant and homilist. There is a formality and ritual that arrives with a Bishop, but grace and humility arrived with him as well. His words left me with a vivid picture of Mary, Joseph, and the animals… their breath and bodies providing warmth for this new babe.

 Small children probably “get” the importance of the animals. Mary and Joseph would more than likely think of stepping back  if the animals  provided more heat to their new infant… something that as parents,…as imperfect as we are… might also do under those circumstances. Often we see Baby Jesus surrounded by Mary and the animals,…with Joseph as protector of this tiny circle. Is this not true for many dads who shepherd our families, sacrificing their own needs, for their wife and children, and protecting us from the “cold”?

So, here was this little family, all present to one another.  Mary, Joseph, God made manifest…and the animals… all supporting one another…the first circle of warmth.

When that circle was complete, the shepherds appeared with their sheep, giving honor and additional warmth to the little family. They had been guided by the light above, and came to pay homage. Their hearts were open. They had little material gifts to give, but came to the table of our Lord anyway.

Additional warmth arrived when the Magi appeared with their camels. These astronomers had much to give in the way of material gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh – but their hearts were also open to the New Savior  as they too had been guided by the star.

The “no animals at the birth of Jesus”, controversy came from the third book of “Jesus of Nazareth …the infancy narratives”, written by Pope Benedict XVI. The book was a scholarly look at what we know about the Jesus birth. He was pointing out that the Gospels did not specifically mention the animals, (which is true, since I checked it out myself)…but he clarified that the animals were mentioned in other parts of the bible. Their presence could however be inferred since there was a manger which by definition is “a trough or open box in a stable designed to hold feed or fodder for livestock”.

Hmm! How many times have I failed to see the truth and walked away with an incomplete view?

As this New Year begins may truth and warmth surround you!

See you next time...God willing! God bless!

SURPRISE! SURPRISE!

“Surprise! Surprise! God is a surprise! Open up your eyes and see!”…the chorus of a song, my sister loved to play and sing along with.

This week… Christmas week…there were no pennies… turning up and surprising me in unlikely locations. ..Perhaps, I did not see! …

 I was preoccupied with a pain in my left arm (no it was not a heart attack. I ruled that out quickly. No time for a massage therapist either). I complained to my husband at least twice a day, took an anti inflammatory, meditated about it, and even offered up my suffering for someone I loved.

The pain…  to me!… was extreme, and it’s torture, as it lessened and gained strength  throughout the day and night,  reminded  me of my vulnerability, and the little control I had over this pain. I tried to figure out what happened. Did I hit the door frame when I entered or exited the room…this often happens, when I think I am so rushed for time, and  try to cut corners...literally! Did I pick up too many heavy objects?  The blame game even entered the picture…my husband, in trying to alleviate the pain, must have worsened it.  I tried to pray every time I would look for an explanation, rather than ruminate over the cause…not too successful!

Another of my sisters had given me a daily reading book titled, “God Calling”. Although I sometimes miss a day, (the cutting corners problem again), I always find the reading so appropriate to what is going on in my life. Allow me to quote one of the 3 paragraphs of the Dec 21^st reading titled “Smile indulgently.”

“Children, take every moment as of My planning and ordering. Remember your Master is the Lord of the day’s little happenings. In all the small things yield to My gentle pressure on your arm. Stay or go, as that pressure, Love’s pressure indicates.”

“Gentle pressure on your arm.”  I did smile indulgently… and laugh at the irony of gentle pressure versus excruciating pain. It reminded me of Tevya in the show “Fiddler on the Roof”…After bearing many burdens he says, “Lord, if this is how you treat your faithful servants, no wonder you have so few.”

The severe pain left that day!  It changed to “gentle pressure.”

My heart was changed that day also, as I developed a deep compassion for those who suffer pain, short or long term.

“Gentle pressure!”…A sign of God’s benevolence! Surprise!  Surprise!

See you next time...God willing! God bless!

TEST TRACK

                                                               

Have you noticed that many things we know and do are changing? There is re-imagined, redesigned, revamped, reopened, not to mention... redefined, if you follow my drift.

Orlando is a wonderful haven for theme parks, and this week Epcot inaugurated their new “Test Track” ride. I expect I’ll be visiting it soon to see how it has been re-imagined. I hear it’s an even more exhilarating ride, and has already received fantastic reviews as you are able to incorporate your own design into the vehicle.

My memory takes me back a while ago when I rode “Test Track” with my oldest granddaughter.  It was a ride that Disney imagineers created after visiting the GM auto testing laboratory. It allowed us to experience, in short form, the tests that an automobile must go through to perform on the highway. The ride went something like this: ascending steep terrain, downhill control, bumpy roads, 50 degree banked curves, hair-pin turns that test suspension and brakes at speeds up to 60 miles per hour. We were also subjected to extreme cold and heat tests, a misting of water to test corrosion and finally a fitfully high speed that ultimately stopped you in the nick of time before hitting a crash barrier. It was exhilarating and fun, my only fear being in the final high speed chase to the finale…and I wasn't certain what that was…until it came to a stop!

This morning I woke up with the image that life is much like the test track we experienced. Life takes us in many directions and situations, and it is our job to figure out our lives based on what we are in the midst of going through…sometimes  we like the results, and other times not. Life can be fun, fearful, and challenging, but it is our job to find a way to survive the bumps, bruises and tests of life, all along the way seeing the grand purpose of why we were created. Perhaps if we saw our lives more as a ride than a struggle, we would be able to laugh through the tough periods, and ease the burdens of not only ourselves, but also of others.

As the vehicle reached excessively high speeds, my granddaughter laughed with excitement, as I screamed with fear. The end result was the same…the end of the ride!

Next time I ride “Test Track”, I will remember her laughter and sit back and enjoy the ride. Some things take time. I thank her for this gift!

See you next time...God willing! God bless!

RE-IMAGINED SPACESHIP EARTH

One of the most recognizable icons at Epcot Theme Park in Orlando is the 18 story geodesic sphere located at the entrance titled, “RE-IMAGINED! Spaceship Earth”. I had visited it many times as “Spaceship Earth”, but in 2007 it became more interactive and “RE-IMAGINED” was added. I rode this awhile ago with my youngest granddaughter.

As we climbed the ball, I felt her loop her arm through mine, and grab my other hand with her free hand. Her nervousness was evident as we rode through the various stages of our planet’s development…a discovery of how each generation built upon previous generations…a celebration of human achievement!
It was not until we reached the interactive portion, where we had to choose what was important to us, that she let go, and became excited about  the choices we both were going to make for “our future”.  She wanted to choose the home as important to us, made of natural materials, and on the beach. Her favorite picture was of herself serving me a drink as we enjoyed the ocean view.
Her need for closeness in the beginning of the ride reminded me that children need us to hold them and gently guide them…Then all of a sudden they no longer need us as they become fully engaged in life. We step aside, and only surface again if their need for us reappears and we are called by love to be by their side once again.

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor was a 37 yr. old Harvard trained brain scientist. That did not make her exempt from experiencing severe brain hemorrhaging from a massive stroke that left her unable to walk, talk, read, write or recall any of her life.

 An amazing mother “RE-IMAGINED” her daughter’s life after the stroke. She nursed her back to “communication” with love and insight. She actually began cuddling her grown daughter as if she were still a baby and would disallow people with negative energy from entering her daughter’s presence.
 8 years later with her mother’s dedication in helping her walk, read, write, and remember… along with Dr. Jill’s understanding of how the brain functions…came the result,  not only as a neurologist… but a neurologist with a book titled, “My Stroke of insight”, and a “RE-IMAGINED” view of the medical field.
Dr. Jill described it this way, “I believe the more time we spend running our deep inner peace circuitry, then the more peace we will project into the world, and ultimately the more peace we will have on the planet.
My granddaughter grew in her unique personality as we rode “Spaceship Earth”. She saw herself not as the fearful traveler that she was in the beginning, but one who was called out of herself to serve me that drink by the ocean. This is one of many times I have observed her joyfully serving others. With children like her, we are assured of living on a joyful “RE-IMAGINED! Spaceship Earth”.

See you next time...God willing! God bless!