SACRAMENTALITY

Syncronicity

It all started this morning as I was on my way to church.  I happened to look up in the sky and there in the middle of a cloud cluster was an opening in the shape of a heart.  Then as if seeing this shape in the sky wasn't enough the song I happened to be listening to just happened to be singing a phrase that ended with the word "heart".  I just sat there and soaked in the love I felt in that moment - it was awesome.  Soon the clouds began to morph into other shapes and I moved on.  After a few more blocks, twists, and turns I looked up and the opening had morphed into a much larger heart shape.  This time I just laughed.  The universe seemed to be tickling my own heart and it was a moment of pure joy.  I went on with my day, sharing my experience with folks along the way.  Then later in the day I had to put in a couple of hours at the hospital and walking down the hall I looked up and saw a picture that was of a quilt of squares with hearts in the center of each square.  Thank you I said.  And finally on my way out of the hospital walking down the hall on a very clean floor was a lone red rose petal - and guess what - it was in the shape of a heart!  That one I picked up and brought home so I could take a picture and share it with you. 

Now the first heart shape I could write off as luck, but after the fifth incident I am speechless as to what to make of it all.  I do believe that God is sending us love and mercy continually, that we are never alone, and all that we need to make it through each day is right at our finger tips.  The message and reminder to me today was Love, Love, Love - I am loved, love others, and receive love.  How kewl is that!

Hi Rev Gal Friends!

Thanks so much for your wonderful warm welcome to revgalblogpals.  While I've not met any of you face to face you have an incredible gift of hospitality.  I'm looking forward to getting to know you and all the work you are about.  Thank you thank you for stopping by and saying hi.  Hope to see you again soon.

Welcome Night!

Give me grace Holy God, to enter the night free of fear.  Open my heart to know the night creatures as you so intimately know them.  May I embrace the message they bring as the key that opens the door to the Morning Star.  May friends visit my dreams to recall to mind the drink of love experienced in the painted sky just as night permeated the ethos.  Thank you, thank you for the dark so that my mind, my heart, my soul may rest, may heal, may greet you in the new dawn.

After the Rain

Do You Hear the Cry?

There is a profound cry piercing the ethos today.  This cry transcends religious beliefs, political frameworks, borders, economics, power, and any other tool by which we measure human worth.  It is a cry of hearts breaking as people desperately try to find loved ones crushed by falling buildings in earthquakes or tornadoes, or swept away by flood waters and typhoons - not to even mention the many who will die today due to illness, war, or unexpected tragedy.

Holy God, have mercy.

Hypermiling

I never thought I'd be one of those pokey drivers.  You know the type, the person who gets in the way of those of us trying to get to our destinations a few minutes early.  But paying 40 dollars at the pump has got me rethinking my driving habits (when I bought the car in 2001 gas was only 1.50 a gallon). I came across this term, hypermiling, and am willing to try just about anything to stretch my mpg as far as I can.  Here's what I learned;

1. Slowing down will save gas!  (We know this people!)

2. Stop using your brakes so much (who knew that braking burned gas? Apparently it does.)

3. Check the air in your tires regularly and change your oil often.

4. Live without the convenience of the air conditioner - it will save you in the long run. They also say to keep your windows up - I can't go there yet.

5. Hug the white line on highways so that you are not driving in the ruts.

6. Carpool when you can; walk when you can; or get the bike out.

7. Unload any extra weight - clean out the trunk!

8. Use cruise control whenever you can.

9. Coast as often as you can - anticipate red lights or cars slowing down ahead of you (yes, that means leaving enough space between cars)

There are lots of other things to consider, some which do not sound too safe.  But these mentioned above are simple things we can all do to stretch our mpg, save money, and most importantly - save oil.

I for one am amazed that folks overall seem to be doing little to change their driving habits.  What's it going to take - 10 dollars a gallon?

Thank You Beloved Friend

Like an angel, you showed up one day on the doorstep;

no wings could be seen

but a wagging tail and compassionate eyes

stole our hearts from day one.

You whined and we opened the door;

a seemingly small embodiment

of the divine entered

and filled our lives

connected our lives

with walks

and talks

and laughter

and tears

for a heart

that in the end overflowed.

Nature's Sense of Humor

I have to laugh at my miserable condition, the worst hay fever ever!  It feels like such a paradox, that someone can love nature so intensely and yet be allergic to it!  Several allergy tests later revealed reactions to grass, trees, pollen, the sun, and molds.  I never had such allergies as a child, they only surfaced later in life.  Not sure what to do with it all, other than popping the pills.  Somehow that doesn't seem to be the answer.  Any suggestions out there?

Invitation to Poetry

I love coming across creative blogs.  Here is one inviting others to co-create in a unique way;

http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2008/04/14/invitation-to-poetry-illuminated-from-within/

There you will find this picture along with an invitation to write a poem in response to the theme, Illuminated from Within.  Below is my attempt to do so. 

Illuminated from Within

I was given no choice in the matter
you who say I create my own reality.
I was fine, thank you very much,
in the deep dark
where my life was comfortable, secure.
Sure there were cold days, wet days,
and days when uninvited guests passed by;
the grub, the colony of ants, an occasional ground hog.
Even so, life was predictable, or so I thought.
One day, out of nowhere, everything turned upside down.
An urge so unbelievable, so irrational, so illogical,
took hold of every cell in my being.
Next thing I knew I was moving,
slowly at first, until I was moving faster and faster.
Imagine the fear when out of the deep dark
a great light appeared.
I don’t understand how or when or why
this light merged;
enveloping, incarnating, illuminating
every fiber of my being until
all I could do was laugh, shine, play,
and ride the urge to
open fully and expose the beauty within.

BEHOLD