All is Well

Sometimes, in the midst of unspeakable darkness, the message that comes, like a beacon of light, is "all is well".  It seems paradoxical to me, to think this way when I cannot see a path forward, but I have a sense that, to affirm this in all circumstances, is empowering.  To stand when I feel like giving up, to find that courage and hope can emerge when I ask for Divine help and then, to discover a wellspring of peace within my own being, are all blessed assurances that I am not alone.

 

I have help, from somewhere… a Being that I call God, who has many names, but who stands with us in the darkness and is our hope.

This morning, stepping outside, I ground to the earth, drink in the pink and purple sky of sunrise and give thanks for the gift of life. I see that today will be sunny and my winter weary body rejoices in this small blessing. I affirm again, that all is well in this moment.  

Today, may we open our eyes to see

Finding Clarity

Some mornings, it's harder than others to focus and experience clarity of mind.  Busy dreams, a fitful night and morning distractions, all can make it more difficult to carve out a few moments of quiet time for prayer and meditation. 

My biggest distraction is my little dog, Shamus.  I find that I need to wake up well before he does, or he barks at me until I fulfill all his morning needs.  I suppose this is an indication of a poorly trained dog, but I'm sure most can relate to having a needy child, dog, cat, or other dependent creature to care for, one whose needs have to be met before we can do anything for ourselves.

Shamus, ready for his morning walk

Finding time to be quiet can be challenging, but the rewards are great.  It is a much needed practice in our busy, technologically driven, social media obsessed world that brings us back to the ancient rhythms that speak to our spirits.  It can help us to achieve clarity of mind and purpose in our daily lives. 

So the quest to find clarity begins with:

·       Waking early, which is easier said than done some days, but certainly a goal worth attaining in order to avoid distractions

·       Finding a quiet place-a corner all your own, with inspirational books, journals, essential oils, candles, flowers…whatever brings you peace

·       Stretching and breathing-I recommend yoga to clear morning debris, but anything helps

·       Emptying the trash: releasing the mental baggage that accumulates overnight as well as the busy thoughts that rush in with the morning’s return to conscious thought.  A good way to do this is through journaling, writing down worries, concerns, prayer needs, to do items, etc, so they are not cluttering the mind

·       Giving thanks, which puts us in receiving mode-thankful for what is, whatever the circumstances and open to receiving the day’s gifts

·       Becoming still-this can be the hardest part, but it helps to focus on breathing and to have a word or phrase to focus on, such a “peace” or “love”, or a scripture or phrase that has special meaning

·       Journaling or recording whatever thoughts or inspiration come to you during this time, as this is your inner guidance…when we listen, God speaks

·       Praying for others-once we have clarified our mind and soul, we are in a good place to pray effectively for others (it’s like the “put your own oxygen mask on first” instruction the airlines give-we can’t help anyone else if we’re in a bad place)

Then, take action on the insight and wisdom gained, trusting

 in the inner guidance of God's spirit!

The Song of the Rocks

I traveled to New Mexico recently to visit my daughter and her family.  We prayed together, seeking protection and peace during a challenging time.  One afternoon, we drove to a trail in the Gila National Forest, a pristine wilderness area that has a special energy all its own.  We hiked through the forest a bit at the meandering pace of my two year old granddaughter, admiring the scents of juniper, cedar and spruce and eventually found a spot next to a small creek to relax, do a little water play and soak in the winter sun.

 

I crossed the creek to sit on a large rock that was surrounded by others that were mammoth sized.  I sensed that the rock was ancient, connected to some deep wisdom that the earth had to share.  After a few minutes of peaceful meditation, I noticed that the rock seemed to be singing.  The sound was amazingly beautiful-like Tibetan singing bowls on a large scale and the peace that I felt was indescribable.  The words that came to mind were "God is my rock and my fortress", which I later found to be from Psalm 18:2.  The message seemed to be clear: God's spirit has the power of an impenetrable shield, protecting us from darkness and evil.  Whatever difficulties arise, this Rock is our source of infinite strength. 

The next day, we walked in the neighborhood, ending up at the Buddhist Center, where I sat on a stone bench to rest and contemplate for a few minutes.  I had the thought that there are many things common among religions...Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Judaism, all teach that stillness, seeking the Divine within, not ruminating on the past or being anxious about the future and being fully present are the means to finding true and lasting peace.

Today, may we rest in this and in the protection of our Rock, knowing that all things will be well.

Step outside, breathe deeply the cold winter air, ground to the ancient wisdom of the earth and connect to the Source of all knowing.  Experience peace in this moment.