Sunday, December 31, 2017

A lasting impression


Though we may choose to place ourselves
in beautiful surroundings,
it will still be our own character and personality
that leaves the more lasting impression...

Saturday, December 30, 2017

Traversing the gap


The distance from me to you isn't all that far,
and yet we view the world
from completely different perspectives.
Is the only way to traverse that gap
to learn to walk on water?

Friday, December 29, 2017

The invitation


The invitation's always there, the path that beckons you 
forward into light; the sense that something new 
is always waiting, just around the bend;
something that will help you further realize
the fullness that you bring into the world.

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Awash in Gratitude



One of those moments when --
Whatever the body may be doing --
The soul is on its knees,
Awash in gratitude.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Reveling gratefully in the present


Treasure those moments -- rarely predictable --
when the present is so rich with color and light
we forget to regret the past or worry about the future
and find ourselves simply reveling gratefully in Now.

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Guiding the light


Though the place where you're standing seems dark,
reach up, and cup your hands together;
you'll find the light's still there, 
just waiting for you to guide it home...

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Advent: Sunday, Week 4


Today's Readings:
2 Samuel 7: 1-11, 16
Luke 1: 46b-55
Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-26
Romans 16: 25-27
Luke 1: 26-38

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Advent: Saturday, Week3


Today's Readings:
Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-26
Judges 13:2-24
John 7: 40-52

Friday, December 22, 2017

Advent: Friday, Week 3


Today's Readings:
Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-26
2 Samuel 6: 12-19
Hebrews 1: 5-14

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Advent: Thursday, Week 3


Today's Readings:
Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-26
2 Samuel 6: 1-11
Hebrews 1: 1-4

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Advent: Wednesday, Week 3


Today's Readings:
Psalm 125
Malachi 3:16-4:6
Mark 9: 9-13

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Advent: Tuesday, Week 3


Today's Readings:
Psalm 125
2 Kings 2:9-22
Acts 3:17 - 4:4

Monday, December 18, 2017

Advent: Monday, Week 3


Today's Readings:
Psalm 125
1Kings 18: 1-18
Ephesians 6:10-17

Sunday, December 17, 2017

Advent: Sunday, Week 3


Today's Readings:
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126
Luke 1 46b-55
1Thessalonians 5:16-24

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Advent: Saturday, Week 2


Today's Readings:
Psalm 126
Habakkuk3:13-19
Matthew 21: 28-32

Friday, December 15, 2017

Advent: Friday, Week 2


Today's Readings:
Psalm 126
Habakkuk 3:2-6
Philippians 3: 12-16

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Advent: Thursday, Week 2


Today's Readings:
Psalm 126
Habakkuk 2:1-5
Philippians 3: 7-11

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Advent: Wednesday, Week 2


Today's Readings:
Psalm 27
Malachi 2:10 - 3:1
Luke 1:5-17

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Advent: Tuesday, Week 2


Today's Readings:
Psalm 27
Isaiah 4: 2-6
Acts 11: 1-18

Monday, December 11, 2017

Advent: Monday, Week 2


Today's readings:
Psalm 27
Isaiah 26:7-15
Acts 2:37-42

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Advent: Sunday, Week 2

Today's Readings:
Isaiah 40: 1-11
Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13
2Peter 3: 8-15a
Mark 1: 1-8

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Advent: Saturday, Week 1


Today's Readings:
Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13
Ezekiel 36: 24-28
Mark 11:27-33

Friday, December 8, 2017

Advent: Friday, Week 1

Today's Readings:
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
Jeremiah 1: 4-10
Acts 11: 19-26

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Advent: Thursday, Week 1


Today's Readings:
Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13
Hosea 6: 1-6
1 Thessalonians 1: 2-10

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Advent: Wednesday, Week 1

Advent readings for today:

Psalm 79
Micah 5: 1-5a
Luke 21:34-38


I've felt for some time now that my morning meditations had an emptiness to them. I assumed it had to do with the relentless busyness of my new role -- managing a community podcasting station is a very time-consuming activity.

... and then I thought, well -- maybe it's my reading material (I always read before I meditate); maybe I needed something new and different to read. So I thought I'd try something I hadn't tackled before: Ram Dass's Be Here Now, and I ordered a copy -- which arrived yesterday.

It wasn't at all what I expected, so I'm not sure I ordered the right book. But what I see as I flip through is the same sort of messages everything else I've been reading has been giving me, so I have this sort of been there done that response; it's not meeting my needs.

So then I thought -- I've been away from my faith a long time. Not that I've lost it, I've just been so careful in this blog not to inflict my Christian leanings on anyone; not to mention words like Jesus and God. But have I been depriving myself in the process? Because faith for me was always very rewarding, full of juice and relevance.

And at that point I remembered that ten years ago, when I first started this blog, I did a series of Advent meditations. Maybe I needed to take some time off and just re-publish those. So I went back and looked at them, and then I realized that we are in a different lectionary year. The official readings for most mainline churches are broken out into 3 years -- A, B, and C -- so that over the course of a three year cycle we basically get exposed to the entire Bible. The readings I used for the meditations in 2008 (the year I prepared these) were for year C, but now we're in year B. What to do, what to do...

So I've decided I will use the same images, but update the words to the readings of year B. It works for today, at least, so perhaps it will work for the rest of Advent as well? We'll see. At any rate, I invite me to join me on a faithful walk through Advent. And if Bible readings are not your cup of tea -- well, then, come visit after Christmas, when I'll be back on the old spirituality-not-religion path again.  Farewell for now: I wish you a joy-filled Advent, rich with compassion and generosity, and the merriest of Christmases. -- Diane

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Advent: Tuesday, Week 1


Today's Readings:
Psalm 79      Micah 4:6-13
Revelation 18: 1-10

Dressing for the season


At one with nature, we ready ourselves
for the season, dressing our surroundings
in the red, white and green of holiday cheer...

Monday, December 4, 2017

Advent: Monday, Week 1


Today's Readings:
 Psalm 79     Micah 4:1-5
Revelation 15: 1-8

The space you're in


Whatever it is you're waiting for
may be a long time coming.
I hope you'll spend that time appreciating
the space you're in right now.

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Changing roles and opportunities


It can be hard to accept at times that at different points in our lives
our roles and opportunities may vary widely;
that there are periods when we're meant to be on the move,
and others where true wisdom lies
in staying put and enjoying the community we've built.

Advent: Sunday, Week 1


Today's Readings:
Isaiah 64: 1-9         Psalm 80: 1-7, 17-19
1 Corinthians 1:3-9       Mark 13: 24-37

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Pleasures of the present



We spend so much time worrying,
Hoping to protect ourselves 
against an uncertain future...
What if, instead, we spent that time
Reveling in the pleasures of the present?

Friday, December 1, 2017

A private complaint


Sometimes, when life is really making you crazy,
it's good to go someplace private
and just squawk it out of your system...

(Note: in the worst days of my first marriage, 
I used to go out and sit in my car and scream)

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Peace after turmoil


On those lonely days, it's nice to see
another being steaming by, even from a distance --
but it's also kind of refreshing, 
after the turmoil of the holidays,
to have the whole landscape to yourself... 

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

It's all one


There may be two kinds of people in the world,
two different ways of doing things,
two sides to every story, 
but from a distance, it's all part of the same picture.

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Challenges of consumption


It's easy to get love backwards
when we get too caught up in Christmas shopping...

Monday, November 27, 2017

Dream a bit


As winter's chill begins to settle in our bones,
the memories of summer travels keep us warm.
Close your eyes, and dream a bit
of warmer times gone by, and those to come...

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Last hurrah



Wandering round an island far from home,
Searching for coffee in an all-island power outage 
after a fierce November storm,
I found this lovely straggler --
A last fading reminder
Of a summer now long gone...

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Appreciating beauty


There are so many different ways of being beautiful in this world.
I hope someone appreciates yours.

Friday, November 24, 2017

The light that calls you home


In following the light that draws you inward, and onward,
may you find that it is also the light that calls you home.

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Thanksgiving for the bad stuff

Thanksgiving is a little different this year: because our daughters have other plans, we're spending it alone; just the two of us, no cooking, no shopping, just... gratitude.

So I thought I'd take some time to talk about the blessings that have been brought into my life as a result of bad stuff that's happened. I know -- it's an odd approach to take, but it's where my brain went this morning.

We are so much more than the stories we tell ourselves, the losses we regret and the mistakes we have made, the pride we take in our accomplishments and the many ways we set ourselves apart. This being human is both a challenge and an opportunity to learn, and so today I want to remember how grateful I am for everything -- both good and bad -- that brought me to this moment.

So here's the bad stuff I'm thankful for:

1. Being raised by a narcissistic mom, which taught me both humility and empathy: fastest way I know of to develop those vital mirror neurons!

2. Early heart problems, which have made me both less fearful of death and more able to reassure my daughter as she deals with similar challenges.

3. A painful first marriage and divorce, which taught me to look beyond surface beauty to the heart that lies beneath, introduced me to meditation and Buddhism, and helped me to discover my own resilience; that I could go to the roots of my pain and still survive.

4. The challenges of raising a child on the spectrum, which helped me to uncover my own capacity to love.

5. The hard work and subsequent betrayal of working for the Church, which helped me to discover a deeper faith that goes beyond what I found in the pews.

6. The death, abandonment and betrayal of my father, which freed me to reinvent myself apart from what I imagined to be his expectations.

7. The financial ups and downs of life, which have taught me to be frugal, to be grateful, to be willing to let go, to be generous with what I do have, and to trust that what I have will be enough.

But what about the good stuff, you ask? Oh, my -- too numerous to mention: my husband, my health, my daughters, my home, my friends, my community, all the opportunities to serve and to create that come my way, and all the blessings of this amazing life -- including you, dear readers. Thank you for your continued presence, your willingness to listen and return for more, and for the grace you carry out into your own lives. Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Running around in circles


Ah, the wisdom contained in a simple road sign --
If you find you're running around in circles,
maybe it's time to slow down!

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Identity


Isn't it amazing, how easy it is for us
to get caught up in our identity?
Who are you, really, underneath?

Monday, November 20, 2017

Islands in the sea of life


We are, each of us, islands in the sea of life.
There's the popular side that the tourists know and love,
and the dense, dark, private side
that even the natives fear to explore...

Sunday, November 19, 2017

The illusion of safety


We work so hard to create the illusion of safety --
retreating to our caves at the end of the day,
building fences to define our territory
and keep the world at bay, hoping against hope
that the water won't rise, the sky won't fall,
the earth won't tremble, and illness, pain, and loss
will walk some other shore, just not our own...

Saturday, November 18, 2017

A grand adventure


Life's a grand adventure
when someone you trust 
is very much in charge and keeping you safe.
So if, then, we believe in Something Else
that's in charge and keeping us safe,
doesn't life become a grand adventure?

Friday, November 17, 2017

Trapped in our fears


It's all too easy to get trapped in our assumptions;
to assume the world is black and white,
and that all the fears our mind projects in relentless iterations
will ever be released or solved by worrying about them.

Thursday, November 16, 2017

When life intervenes...


Life has a way of intruding upon our reflections.
Don't think of it as a distraction,
but rather -- a completion.

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Our hope for years to come


"They fly, forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day..."
It's curious, isn't it -- the way those old familiar lyrics
keep popping into our heads...