Breathe in the fresh, changing wind,
That will cause your mind to bend.
Towards the pure light like a plant,
That feeds itself in a slant.
Anchor your soul like a ship.
When waves billow, you won’t slip.
Though the sways may cause alarm,
Hold tight to God’s steady arm!
Lynn M. January 1, 2017
Before this year slips away, take a moment to pause and list all of the wonderful things that have occurred in your personal world. First sigh and “Breathe, you are alive!,” as Thich Nhat Hanh says.
Take out a pad and pen and do an inventory. Leave no stone unturned. If you keep a journal or a daily calendar, review the year of 2016 as you take one month at a time.
Jot down these things as you go through your notes from the year. See that you have been shown many degrees of mercy. Take nothing for granted and give thanks for even the smallest bits of grace!
Get ready for the New Year and a newer you. Label the year as a success because you are still here, alive, alert and paddling your own canoe!
Lynn M. December 27, 2016
In hushed tones we wait
For the arrival of the Newborn Babe.
Who will bring light,
Hope and peace to a world
Teetering on the brink of despair.
In hushed tones, we see
The Three Wise Men’s
Silhouettes pass through
The night and follow the
Guiding Star’s direction.
In hushed tones, we see
Them presenting their gifts and
Placing them around the Babe’s manger.
In hushed tones we sing
Alleluia or Ava Maria and
Songs of reverence as we
Acknowledge that there is
An assurance of spiritual leadership.
In hushed tones, we sigh and wait
For the Christ within each of us
To awaken as we cleave to
All that is possible.
Hush now and listen.
Lynn M. December 24, 2016
It is almost here- the most wonderful time of the year! The most precious holiday is almost upon us. People busily prepare for Christmas Day!
Trees are strewn with colorful lights. Bells ring for hopeful donations. Malls are filled with throngs of people looking for that perfect gift. Children spell out their Christmas Wish Lists. And, the beat goes on as each person has a personal agenda for that special day.
Some will stand in long lines at the airport hoping for minimal delays. Others will gas up the family van or car for that sainted road trip as they constantly check the weather forecasts for warnings and safety tips.
Some may opt out of being a part of the frantic pace and simply bring their activities to a slow halt. They may choose to have a low-key retreat and truly let those “chestnuts roast on an open fire.”
Others may decide that a good holiday is a time to put on the new pajamas and curl up with a good book. They may cook, eat, sleep and deepen that groove in the couch like a couch potato with the remote control close by.
Whatever the choices, it is a time to be merry, safe and filled with that blessed cheer!
Lynn M. December 18, 2016
Is there something in your past that you can’t face? Have you masked over the pain to avoid feeling the hurt? A high price is paid when you are either unable or unwilling to face those unpleasant issues. You must take a deep breath and peer down into the well of darkness so that you can truly heal.
The New Year is around the corner and you want to get off to a fresh start. Here are some suggestions:
•Go to the memorabilia closet and pull out those items from that painful era such as pictures, brochures, garments or music.
•Place them all around a room.
•Give yourself at least 48 hours to relive those times and face the good, the bad and the ugly.
The pain could center on some loss such as a job or of a loved one through separation, divorce or death. But loss is loss and unresolved pain is unresolved pain. Perhaps, you have been trying to numb the pain for years by traveling, buying expensive clothes, houses or cars.
However, the nagging ache still lingers down in the depths of your being and nothing seems to bring real satisfaction. Sometimes you know what is bothering you and sometimes you have to take time to remove the layers that blanket the core of your discomfort.
If you really quiet your mind and let those pensive thoughts surface, some faces, names and events will show up like the Ace of Spades in a deck of cards. Once you start facing the fact that there is some unfinished business from the past, you should put that card face up on the table and spend some time with that phase of your life.
Pick up a pen and pad or iPad and write down what you are feeling. Pause. Then, dance with it. Cry about it, if necessary. Ask yourself if you could have handled things differently. Either way, it is a time that has gone by so the only thing that you can really do now is face it. Own it.
Then, you can see what was learned. After all, some things are simply out of your control so the best thing you can do is accept it and adjust your feelings about whatever or whomever. The bad feelings will begin to lift and eventually, they will evaporate into thin air.
It all occurred to make you stronger. And by all means, remember the good times. Every phase of your life left some good memories. It all helped you reach a higher tick mark on your totem pole of inner growth.
People can only give what they have to give. Life is often seen through rose-colored glasses and you may have assumed that there was more depth to the barrel. You got all that was available.
Make peace with it and walk on into your brighter future. Breathe! Smile and sigh “Thanks!” You lived through it and it helped to shape the you that is you!
Lynn M. December 11, 2016
I thought of the spiritual song, I Won’t Complain when I read the line “I won’t crank and moan,” from Bernie Mac’s book, Maybe You Never Cry Again. His mother’s pearls of wisdom are filtered throughout the book. He decided that he wanted to be a comedian when he saw her go from depressed tears to a hilarious laughter in a matter of minutes as she listened to a comedian. He wanted to know who had the power to make a sad person laugh that wholeheartedly. The seeds for his comedic success were planted on that day.
His mother, Mary, passed when he was a young teenager but she laid the groundwork and left him with a host of teachings that he called Mac-isms. His mother and grandmother reminded him that every day that he woke up, he had something to accomplish.
Isn’t that a great lesson for all of us? We are basically a complaining society as we stay in quest of just one more material thing. We tell our woes and vent to all who will listen as we go through life and accumulate more belongings.
Unfortunately, it’s the way of the world. The news, the talk shows and our conversations are normally filled with what we see wrong, what we fear or what we denounce and find uncomfortable.
We go on and on but, we must simply stop and curtail that list of the negative observations and feelings. We should fill up our daily gratitude pages. One minister graciously reminded us to be thankful for something as small as a stick of chewing gum. We should write or audibly voice more thank you’s and not crank and moan so much.
The more we praise, the more we raise and lift up the standard of being mindful of what we have already been given. Then we can humble ourselves, locate more peace and practice housing a more appeased Spirit. We can become more magnanimous and grateful as we downshift into cruise mode as we close out 2016.
Lynn M. December 4, 2016
We hear the jingle of bells,
Yes, December. All is well!
We hasten to get those gifts,
We shop to give others lifts.
Last month of the year is here,
Spreading that holiday cheer.
Buoyant hopes raise our trust,
As we bake and cut pie crust.
Soon, it’s 2017,
It will roll in with a zing!
Lynn M. December 1, 2016
Lynn M's Reflections 
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