I was running really late this morning...and I had to hustle to my auction! As I walked out the door I heard the squaking and cawing of a large group of crows--this was not usual for our neighborhood--these were big (sorry, ugly, nasty looking guys). I looked for the source of all this commotion and spotted a beautiful fawn-colored pigeon in the grass. I though he might be injured and I could perhaps save him from the circling crows. As I carefully walked towards him, he rose up with his dead mate grasped tightly. My heart became at once heavy. How dare we humans think that we are the only species that truly loves. How arrogant, narcissistic.

We are called to love and connect--all existence loves or shrivels. I am so grateful for this sweet reminder.

I didn't buy anything at auction--after my gift of seeing true love and faithfulness--it all seemed like fluff.

Blessings for the day.

Mary & Jones & Cole

LIGHT SHINING

Yesterday I, among thousands of others, watched and listened to Pope Francis at the Evening Prayer Service and Re-dedication of St. Patrick's Cathedral. I watched as this simple man brought a spirit of unity to our Nation. His first spoken words were expressions of compassion and brotherhood for the Muslim community in regards to the developing tragedy in Mecca. The Pope's exhortation to all of us who listened (I interpreted his words as not being limited to Catholics/clergy-but applicable to all of us of faith) to lives our lives in gratitude, rejecting money and power and materialism as worthy personal goals. He urged reconciliation, forgiveness, generosity and love for the poor. Praising women; not judging or condemning those who were previously rejected by the Church. He urged a rededication to the work of the Church in service to those in need; at the same time he stressed the importance of balance and rest as forms of personal renewal. 

I so often loose my way, my balance in life--how is simple it would be to always remember to seek rest and renewal in its most simple form. I think of the times that I slip into judgement of others--usually because I've allowed my self to become out-of-balance--maybe too hungry, thirsty and especially tired. How much easier life would be if I could just automatically remember to be grateful; if I could automatically remember that my purpose in life is to bring light into my present.

I am honored to witness renewal and growth in so many forms that is occurring in the World at this time. Renewal, any kind of change that disturbs the status quo, will bring with it turmoil, but I feel that change is definitely coming and I would hope that I could welcome it with an open fearless heart.

Mary

GRIEF--COURAGE

As a nation our grief is immeasurable; our sadness, personal and collective. Lives lost, others in tatters.

Whether the Boston bombings were an act of international terrorism or the act of a home-based radical group makes no difference.

What we do know is that these individuals are  cowards.

The choices that we have as individuals in how we respond to this tragedy can be as varied as the spokes of a bicycle wheel. There are choices that we can make that will make us stronger as individuals and as a nation. I choose to walk fearless; I choose to have compassion for the victims and give to their support; I choose to talk about the unity of all mankind; I choose not to blame a particular ethnic or religious entity; I choose that an act of cowardice will never determine who I am or become; I choose to believe in the goodness of man; I choose to believe that all humanity is one; I choose to forgive my brother; I choose to connect with those that I might have previously rejected; I choose love in the face of fear; I choose hope in the face of darkness; I choose to  reject the assumption that further restrictions on The  Bill of Rights and human rights is a valid response; I choose prayer in the face of despair.

I am not in any way minimizing what has happened. I lived in a terrorist ridden environment for three years--we were under threat on a daily basis--these were the choices that I made every day. 

We are as safe as we can possibly be, there is no possible way to avoid tragedy--we make a daily assumption that we are safe so that we can function and conduct our lives. Most of the time our assumptions prove to be true. 

Let us continue to make that assumption. We are safe and strong and a nation faced with many challenges. Let us grieve and give thanks for what we have been given. Let us become better participants in the governance of this country-- with our eyes wide open with strength and courage.

Mary

EASTER SUNDAY

Today is the day of Resurrection. A day of Gratitude. A day when we are called to action.

I'm cooking, and then going to my daughter's home where the big boys--14, 13, and 10 are coloring eggs and then having the joy of hiding them for the little girls--so much joy in the giving.

But today is also the Day to remember that we have just been through a terrible financial crisis that was brought on by the greed (and sinfulness) of those who we all trusted to monitor our financial institutions. There are other impending disasters on the horizon--GMO's, failure to regulate huge corporate entities such as Monsanto, Bayer, gun proponents, mass polluters--the list goes on and on.

Are we going to have the courage as represented in the Risen Christ and the faith of Passover to raise our voices in a resounding NO MORE? 

Isn't that one of the messages of Easter and Passover? We have overcome fear of death, fear to voice our concerns and stand up for what is right? We, the people, have immense strength and power--we are all part of the Resurrection. Jesus was a radical as was Moses: can we go passive when confronted with their strength and leadership?

Can we see the helpless poor and sick and not help them? Can we stand silent in the face of enormous wrong doing by our leaders? Can we fail to bring our financial criminals to justice? Can we fail to have compassion for the mentally ill? Can we continue to uphold a broken health care system where only those with the privilege of company obtained health insurance have access to adequate care? Can we allow a system based on corporate profits determine care for sick individuals? Can we allow the richest 2 per cent to pay a lower tax rate than the struggling middle class--trickle down economics is a figment of economic imagination. Can we continue to allow women to be treated as second class citizens? Can we continue to allow the rampant prejudice that is so pervasive in every culture without raising our voices in protest?

I THINK NOT.

Today is a day of resurrection of our personal integrity and strength. To follow Jesus who stood for radical action and compassion.

SERENDIPITOUS GIFTS

I don't have any photos today.........I'm under the weather (will be back in action tomorrow) with a bug.

I subscribe to various little newsletters and this morning I received this in my inbox from "Biz Tips"


          "By recognizing and accepting the things you cannot do well,
           you will cause the universe to present things to you that you
           can do well".


I don't know about anyone else, but I have spent years trying to master things that I really abhor (bookkeeping, spelling, house cleaning, mail, etc.) and I have obsessed about my presumed failures. I'm now finally understanding (first step in mastering) the principle of focusing on the good, the present and adding up my strengths instead of my weaknesses (still a work in progress).


Self-acceptance doesn't mean being stuck and not growing--it simply means no more negative self-judgment and perfectionism. Every single particle in life is constantly evolving--.if I stay stuck in negative self (and other) judgment, I will simply miss all of the great stuff of life.


The "flow" is a purely positive movement outward--there is no struggle with flow--the energy is smooth, free flowing and effortless. The minute I introduce a negative thought into that effortless flow, it gets stuck and I am definitely "out of it" in more ways than I can describe. 


At heart I'm still that little Irish girl who was raised in a convent school where we curtsied to the nuns as they walked by; went to Mass with our heads covered,prayed before every class, etc.  But most of all WE KNEW WHAT SIN WAS and what happened when we sinned--don't ask.... We made the Sign of the Cross on our foreheads saying "in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit"---we were taught about The Father and The Son, but never about THe Holy Spirit.  After spending the last five years reading The Tao--it's only 81 verses---I now know what the Holy Spirit is: The Holy Spirit is The Tao of life. The flow of life every where in this amazing world. It is the Spirit that gives life, and joy, creation, renewal, determination and all of the positives in life (Gifts of the Spirit). And now I know that when I step outside of this spirit, I am outside of the flow of life. And what is sin? (Baltimore Catechism paraphrase) Sin is when we are separate from God (out of the flow of life). 


And the biggest sin of all is our intentional (or not) negative self criticism and the criticism of others---this is when we take ourselves out of flow, and wallow in our self-righteousness.  


The best solution for getting back in the flow: over-flowing love and gratitude for everything that we have been given and the manner in which these gifts are given. An open receptive attitude towards life and all of its blessings (even when the blessings seem to be curses) will place us dead-center in the heart of God. 


The Holy Spirit/Tao doesn't value (human) perfection--all is perfectly created and awaiting our awakening.


Now I'm going to spend a few minutes  reading The Tao; settling my dust; in gratitude; in love.  Sounds easy doesn't it?--well, sometimes it's a kick in the butt.
Be well,
Mary and Jones (who is always in flow)

Ruminations on "And The Winner Is..." (Grammies, Oscars, Little League Titles, Olympic Medals...etc.) etc.

                                                                                                Jones

I didn't watch the "Grammies" Sunday night (and I didn't watch the Golden Globes, neither) because  TV was rotting my brain (so I no longer have one). But I am left with my usual sense of unease following these immensely expensive endeavors at self-promotion. I feel the same way when I see bumper stickers regarding someone's child being an honor student somewhere or a Little League Team (and I was a team mother for many, many teams), a high school football. soccer. volleyball....track team being No. 1 in LEAGUE. (And just how big was that league)
I usually come away from such designations wondering who really remembers, in the larger scheme of life and years down the road, whether Vince Gil or Lady Gaga or The Black Eyesd Peas won a Grammy (besides, doesn't Grammy mean grandmother?) in 1975?
I'm showing a picture of Jones--because he is a No. 1 winner in my book, but I am biased and the pond is relatively small for such a broad designation. I will never show Jones (at 8 months he was more than I could handle; so off he went to get snipped) and I will never need outside verification to know that he is awesome. And more to the point, Jones is happy being a happy dog who loves to go to work and greet everyone--I don't think there are any awards for being a greeter........
The same is true of so many areas where participants are forced into artificial categories of competition. Is it possible to rank competitively the love shown by parents to children??? No. Can you measure quantitatively the joy of discovery between individuals? No--and the minute you would attempt to quantify joy--it would disappear into the "me first" ego race.
I have been blessed to have a child who would never fit the standards of "And the award goes to.."--he has always walked with a different step and fought valiantly for his own path. Through him I have learned compassion, tenacity in the face of many up-hills battles, and most of all, I have had to learn to remain silent (this is still a lesson in progress). Would having a child who consistently came in No. 1 have given me the same invaluable gifts? (And I also have one of those) No. But this creative being who started writing poetry in the ninth grade while getting a D+ in English, still carries the scars of not being able to fit into the role of "No.1" from his first and second grade teachers. What are we teaching our children about who is valuable??  I hope that the love that is represented by St. Valentine becomes the measure of greatness--who wins No. 1 lover?  Can't be measured or judged because love is what exists in our hidden hearts. It is overflowing love for all of creation that will propel our world forward.
Anyway, I'm spending Valentine's Day with and baking brownies and lemon bars for this very special gift of a unique son....and finally it feels good and right.  He will be off--back to living in Thailand, and yes, TEACHING ENGLISH. And writing poetry and music and he will be missed.
Happy Valentine's Day to all Mothers and Fathers!!!
Be well, Mary