The Cool Breezes of October!

 

The cool breezes of October help blow away our old stale thoughts.  The winds serve us as they swirl around and stir things up like the rotating leaves in a cesspool.

Those negative things float to the top like fallen leaves that have left their life source.  They are no longer important nor do they contribute to our well-being.  They will soon be in big trash bags like the gathered leaves waiting to be crushed and thrown away.

Those worn-out notions, beliefs and error thoughts will disappear along with an array of false friends and acquaintances.  They can no longer attach themselves to our lives and pretend to be genuinely concerned about our welfare. The seasons change and we must change with them.

The fluttering leaves have fallen from the living tree. They have served their purpose though they once offered us a sense of beauty.   But time moves on and as nature continues on its course, we graciously sweep up the discarded.

We get ready for our personal harvests to arrive and we know that in just a matter of time we will gleefully exclaim, “Behold, I will do a new thing!”  (Isaiah 43:19)

 

Lynn M.                                                                          October 13, 2018

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Today is Cash!

How many times have we looked back at times gone by and claimed that they were better than the present day?  But are we really being honest with ourselves?

Perhaps we selectively choose to remember snippets of the Truth.  If we are really honest, those cherished days had its flaws and share of pain, disappointment and hours of anxiety.  Those times were also filled with life’s imperfections.

Of course, we all wish we felt comfortable all of the time, but then we would not experience those growing pains which are needed to grow us up, so to speak.  Yes, life is a process and at some point we must all learn that it is filled with both light and dark just like the day and night.

When we look back at those former days, we choose to recall the minutes of light.  We remember the sun and the fun.  We unconsciously hide the times of darkness and anguish and tuck them away because they are too painful to revisit.  And why should we pull open that drawer and rummage around unless we need to do a deep cleanse to work towards greater wholeness and healing?

Case and point?  Enjoy today!  Seize the moment.  There are several movies about angels who want to return to this life for at least one more day.   They would exchange places with us in a heartbeat.  The saying goes, “Yesterday is a cancelled check.  Tomorrow is a promissory note.  Today is cash.  Use it wisely!”

Lynn M.                                                                       September 19, 2018

Through the Clouds

Many spiritual lessons remind us that the sun is always shining underneath or behind the clouds.  It is a comfortable thought but when we are feeling gloomy or have limited inspiration, we may find this hard to believe.

Yet, when things lighten up and we feel better, we are more able to say, “Hmm, there is some truth in that statement.”  Once we are feeling more jubilant, we can see that hindsight is indeed 20-20.  We say, “Oh, I was simply traveling through the fog.”

We can then congratulate ourselves for keeping it moving though the destination was not visible to us at the time.  We can comfort ourselves and even give ourselves a loving hug because we kept on going forward and did not get stuck in the middle of the tunnel.

It’s comparable to the takeoff of an airplane.  As the plane makes its ascent, we passengers cannot see anything but surrounding clouds on both sides of the plane. But the pilot already knows the altitude that he or she plans to reach before leveling off.

As we passengers hold in our breaths, it finally happens.  The plane rises above the clouds and the beautiful sun and clear skies are sitting right there.  It is as if they were saying, “Welcome to better times. We were right here waiting for you and cheering you on.  You just had to get through the clouds!

Lynn M.                                                             September 8, 2018

Fellowship

Having fellowship with a confidant or friend helps to wash away the hurt feelings and creates a vacuum.  Then that new space that can be filled with the cool breath of greater understanding.

Once those dark feelings and emotions have been shared with a dear friend, the heaviness begins to dissipate. There is more room for light to pour in because it takes the sunlight of truth to nurture our growth.

Being energized, there is a lightness that frees us to graciously advance forward.  We feel strengthened and more able to cope with our missions in life.

We step livelier as we hoist up our crosses and stand firmly to face our battles. And yes, these are our personal battles that no one can fight for us.

Friends and well-wishers can, however, assist us by listening and acting as sounding boards as we wheedle through the stuff, as Alice Walker calls it.

Once we have refilled our cups, we can take a warrior’s poise and get ready to slay the Goliaths that try to block our paths.

The cobwebs of our minds have been swept down and now the daylight of clarity shines in every corner.  We continue on and fill up our gratitude pages as we thankfully progress on our journeys.

We see ourselves as overcomers because those grand fellowships serve as mirrors. Our reflections are silently singing that, “Every little thing is going to be alright.”

”Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Philippians 2:2

Lynn M.             August 11, 2018

Are You Rich or Poor?

What does it mean to be rich?  By most standards, being rich means that a person has an abundance of things like houses, cars, boats, planes and access to loads of cash.  Yet, as recently seen in the media, an abundance of things do not necessarily bring those lasting treasures such as joy, contentment and peace.

Some have traveled the world over yet they still have a continual need to keep grasping at the straws. They still want more like an insolent child who screams to get his or her way. They continue to spend their assets and use their resources to get or do more, failing to realize that oftentimes, less truly is more.

Paul wrote about Christ and said, “though he was rich, yet for your sakes, he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich.” (II Corinthians 8:9)  And how did he become rich in his poverty?  The poor often have an increased wisdom and understanding.  They know what it feels like to be in pain so in turn they are able to share compassion with others.

The poor have walked in meekness and humility after they realized that they could not force change. They have learned to wait until the tide changes, as it surely will.  During their wait, they have grown in patience.  Like an astute farmer, they have become attuned to nature and its timings.

Yes, the poor are well-seasoned in long-suffering yet unconsciously they have become richer as their inner peace expands beyond measure.  In a quiet, yet watchful grace, the poor become witnesses to the passing of the material things as they cling to their faith and a more spiritual assuredness.

Ultimately, hope floats to the top and sure enough others reach out to them. They want to garner a few moments in the presence of the poor to feel their richness of spirit though it is often a mystique.  The humble poor are often well-loved because they have successfully found those real treasures of life blanketed around their inner joy!

Lynn M.                                                                                    July 28, 2018

Regaining Balance!

Last week, I wrote a piece on Whitney Houston after seeing the new documentary about her private life.  This week, I focus on her dearly beloved cousin, Dionne Warwick who has been serenading us for the past several decades.

I went on You Tube last night and listened to the hauntingly beautiful theme from the movie Valley of the Dolls.  It had been playing in my head and when I found it, I was pleasantly reminded that it had been sung by Dionne Warwick in 1968.

The movie had a strong impact on those of my generation and the lives of these three women still speaks volumes today.  It reveals what happens when each of them get caught up in the game as they look for success and love along the way.

Some get the material gains but lose their souls while stampeding on others as they race to the top (Patty Duke).  Some are overwhelmed and crushed by life’s circumstances because it all proves to be simply too much (Sharon Tate).  And some are fortunate enough to walk away though battered and bruised by the storms of life (Barbara Parkins).

When feeling like you are continually waking up in a scene from the movie Groundhog Day, listen to this theme song.  Those feelings are timeless and there are ways of getting off of the merry-go round and regaining your balance and equilibrium.

Push play and listen to Dionne Warwick do what she can do like no other singer!

 

Lynn M.                                                           July 14, 2018

 

 

 

Rock On!

When you are ready to make a change towards something more positive, you have to get your feet moving and become like the little penguin, Happy Feet. Take small steps and rehearse the verse “Precept upon precept; line upon line; here a little, there a little” (Isaiah 28:13).

Snails may move slowly but they are thorough and effective. They keep it going like the tortoise in Aesop’s The Tortoise and the Hare. Those who run at an amped-up pace like the hare usually deplete themselves.

They are too exhausted to be around for those important things. They may have seen a lot of things as they moved at a breakneck speed, but did they truly experience them? Was every moment truly savored or were they wondering, “What’s next?”

Slow down and smell the roses but keep moving both gently and succinctly. There are ways to let the universe know that you are ready for something new.  Try moving a few pieces of furniture or fixtures around in your home and create a bit of feng shui.

It has been said that the movement of 27 items immediately brings new energy, new auras and new points of view.  Wayne Dyer stated, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

While living in this society that demands instant gratification, it is crucial to take the time to become quiet. Listen to that still small voice.  As you become aware of new things, jot them down. Stay open and formulate new plans of action.  Then, glide forward effortlessly like a sailboat on a sunny day and rock on!

Lynn M.                                                          June 30, 2018

 

In the Stillness!

 When life is shaking you up and down like a salt or pepper shaker, just stop. Go inside to the center of your power like the eye of a hurricane while things on the outer are being tossed in circles.

Give thanks that you are a witness and not a victim.  If you are able to see or observe it from a distance, then you have a chance to walk away from the shuffle.  Yes, it may cause some discomfort but change is like that because as the adage goes, “No pain, no gain.”

Realize that you are being shaken from your foundation and the old beliefs and thoughts that no longer serve you must go. They have no place in the new and evolving you that is growing and stretching.  New and beautiful islands are formed from unsettling and scary volcano eruptions because Mother Nature knows what she is doing.  Similarly, the oyster’s inner agitation produces that priceless pearl.

So, in the midst of mighty change whether on the world stage or within your own soul, first find a safe space.  Create a breathing room, a reflective spot or a scenic corner where you can find solace for a short time while the outer things continually spin around and around.

Let the storms of life pass over as you become still.  Breathe deeply.  Become centered and take time to remember who you are when nobody is looking or demanding your attention. Reflect on times gone by as you acknowledge and bless them.  It took every nuance and event to shape who you are today. Now, pause.  Salute the new and wonder-filled you that is determined to push right on through!

Lynn M.                                                                                         June 23, 2018

Beam On!

Have you ever felt like you’ve just scaled a mountain?  Or perhaps, you may feel as if you’ve been running like there is no tomorrow?  Either way, at some point, you have to stop and take a station break, so to speak.

And then, you turn and look back and when you see how far you have come, what you were able to do and how far you have moved forward, you simply say, “Wow!”  Then, you can Cash In, the title of a song by the great Phoebe Snow.

You can take all of the chips that you have gathered and as you count the stockpiles, you can hear the cash register ring cha-ching. There are monetary gains yes, but there are so many other assets.  There may be new friendships and associations formed or new skill sets added on as you unconsciously prepare for your next level.

Then you pause again and see that it’s time for a little self-indulgence.  You may not be where you want to be but when you really get still, you can express gratitude and sigh, “It is enough.  I have enough. I am enough.”

So you smile softly knowing that you shot your best shot.  You have let your light shine.   You then take the time to repair your mind, body and soul.  You know that yes, the battles of life have taken their tolls but the rewards are immeasurable.

You realize that every wrinkle was bought with a price along with all of the other changes that come from walking this earth over time.  W. Herbert Brewster, a Southern poet, wrote a poem called “Be Proud of Your Wounds and Scars.” Accepting life as it comes and presents itself, you just beam on quietly knowing that you gave it all you had!

 

Lynn M.                                                                                                             June 2, 2018

Soft Landings

Have you ever felt as if you were a juggler as you tried to manage all of the pins being shoved your way? If so, you understand why the jugglers don’t take their eyes off of the pins because one wrong move can cause the whole game to come crashing down!

Life is like that as you try to keep it together or keep on keeping on.  It is comparable to watching a dog jump through hoops or a skilled track and field sprinter clear those hurdles in a timely manner.

But if there is huge slip-up, it’s just like an opponent in a chess game calling out “Checkmate.” You then know that the game is over. There is no other recourse other than to simply start  over, if given the chance.

There is a children’s story called Anansi the Spider and Anansi was prone to trouble; yet, his six sons often saved him.  Each son used his unique gift to successfully rescue their father as the brothers worked as a team.

On one occasion, they had to save Anansi from a huge falcon. After Anansi was freed from the mouth of the bird, he fell towards the ground.  His youngest son, Cushion, then positioned himself so that his father landed on his back.  Cushion offered a buffer and and helped his father have a proverbial soft landing.

So, the next time that you find yourself in the middle of running a challenging race, remember that in the end, the most you can hope for is a smooth landing. Later, when you have time to reflect and let out a big sigh of relief, you can lean on the words of Shakespeare.  He wrote, “All’s well that ends well!”

Lynn M.                                                            May 5, 2018