Sharing My Daily Bread

I can try to describe it, but I’d rather just show you.  This is how I feed my soul and my spirit every day.  Taste and see…

No Images? Click here Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation From the Center for Action and Contemplation Week Twenty-five Conscious Love The Heart of the Universe Friday, June 21, 2019 Summer Solstice John Welwood (1943–2019) was an American clinical psychologist known for integrating Eastern and Western psychology and spirituality. In his books Love and Awakening and Journey of the Heart, he wrote about the lifelong challenge and gift of conscious, committed love, drawing insights from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881–1955): If the bad news is that we can know another, and be known, only as deeply as we know ourselves—and coming to know ourselves can be a long and arduous journey—the good news is that love helps and inspires us to develop this deeper self-knowledge. . . . For this reason, relationships can help us face and understand ourselves more rapidly and profoundly than any other aspect of worldly life. Seen in this light, love becomes a path of awakening—rousing us from the sleep of old, unconscious patterns into the freshness and immediacy of living more fully in the present, in accord with who we really are. This is the source of a deeper kind of happiness, which goes far beyond pleasure and comfort, and the only real basis for healthy and satisfying relationships. [1] In its final outreach, conscious love leads two lovers beyond themselves toward a greater connectedness with the whole of life. Indeed, two people’s love will have no room to grow unless it develops this larger focus beyond themselves. The larger arc of a couple’s love reaches out toward a feeling of kinship with all of life, what Teilhard de Chardin calls “a love of the universe.” Only in this way can love, as he puts it, “develop in boundless light and power.” [2] So the path of love expands in ever-widening circles. It begins at home—by first finding our seat, making friends with ourselves, and discovering the intrinsic richness of our being, underneath all our ego-centered confusion and delusion. As we come to appreciate this basic wholesomeness within us, we find that we have more to give to an intimate partner. Further, as a [couple] become[s] devoted to the growth of awareness and spirit in each other, they will naturally want to share their love with others. The new qualities they give birth to—generosity, courage, compassion, wisdom—can extend beyond the circle of their own relationship. These qualities are a couple’s “spiritual child”—what their coming together gives to the world. . . . From there, a couple’s love can expand still further, as Teilhard suggests. The more deeply and passionately two people love each other, the more concern they will feel for the state of the world in which they live. They will feel their connection with the earth and a dedication to care for this world. . . . Radiating out to the whole of creation is the farthest reach of love and its fullest expression, which grounds and enriches the life of the couple. This is the great love and the great way, which leads to the heart of the universe. [3] Gateway to Presence: If you want to go deeper with today’s meditation, take note of what word or phrase stands out to you. Come back to that word or phrase throughout the day, being present to its impact and invitation. [1] John Welwood, Love and Awakening: Discovering the Sacred Path of Intimate Relationship (HarperPerennial: 1996), xiii-xiv. [2] Teilhard de Chardin, Human Energy, trans. J. M. Cohen (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich: 1969), 84. [3] Welwood, Journey of the Heart: The Path of Conscious Love(HarperPerennial: 1990), 206-207. Image credit: The Good Samaritan (after Delacroix) (detail), Vincent Van Gogh, 1890. Kröller-Müller Museum, Hoge Veluwe National Park, Otterlo in the Netherlands.  Forward to a Friend → Forward this email to a friend or family member that may find it meaningful. Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up for the daily, weekly, or monthly meditations. Sign Up → Thank you for being part of CAC’s contemplative community. You are one of 327,433 readers worldwide (as of June 2019). News from the CAC Upcoming Online Courses Immortal Diamond Richard Rohr August 7–October 15, 2019 Introductory Wisdom School (New!) Cynthia Bourgeault August 14–November 19, 2019 Interior Castle James Finley and Mirabai Starr September 18–November 12, 2019 Learn more and register at cac.org/online-ed. (Scholarships are available.) Old and New: An Evolving Faith  2019 Daily Meditations Theme As you witness so much division, fear, and suffering in our world, you may wonder what path—if any—there is toward healing and hope. Perhaps your church or faith has been important to you, but now you may be questioning if it is still a trustworthy or relevant guide. Does Christianity have anything of value left to offer? Franciscan Richard Rohr suggests that there are good, beautiful, and true gems worth holding on to. At the same time, there are many unhelpful and even harmful parts of what has passed for Christianity that we need to move beyond. In his Daily Meditations, Father Richard helps us mine the depths of this tradition, discerning what to keep and what to transcend. Each week builds on previous topics, but you can join at any time! Click the video to learn more about the theme and to find meditations you may have missed. We hope that reading these messages is a contemplative, spiritual practice for you. Learn about contemplative prayer and other forms of meditation. For frequently asked questions—such as what versions of the Bible Father Richard recommends or how to ensure you receive every meditation—please see our email FAQ. Feel free to share meditations on social media. Go to CAC’s Facebook pageor Twitter feed and find today’s post. Or use the “Forward” button above to send via email. Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditations are made possible through the generosity of CAC’s donors. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation. If you would like to change how often you receive emails from CAC, click here. If you would like to change your email address, click here. Visit our Email Subscription FAQ page for more information. Submit an inquiry here for additional assistance. Inspiration for this week’s banner image: When we’re conscious, we will always do the loving thing, the connecting thing, the intimate thing, the communion thing, the aware thing. —Richard Rohr © 2019 | Center for Action and Contemplation 1823 Five Points Road SW Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA   Like    Tweet    Forward  Unsubscribe

Pain!

Wellness proponents encourage us all to exercise, to move more, and I agree with them.  The benefits of movement are too numerous to list here.  Why, I wonder, do we rarely hear about the downsides of starting a movement regimen?  The side effects, or unexpected effects, so to speak?

For about 10 weeks I didn’t exercise consistently.  There were reasons (aren’t there always reasons? ) 🙂 Seriously, I had a couple of acute illnesses, and one of my chronic conditions which causes pain flared up.  And…full transparency…I started eating carbs again.  The unhealthy ones, the processed ones.  Pregnant pause here, because I know better.  So, yesterday, I got moving. The healthiest way I know how, walking in the pool.  It felt great, I kept cool and enjoyed the breeze.  This morning I went to walk, regular walk. First step onto the sidewalk, burning pain up my thigh.  No joints, nothing serious.  Was just sore from the day before.  Had not expected to be sore, but I should have, after all that sedentary time.

What now?  Well, I limped a little, rubbed it a little, hoped no one was watching because I probably looked awkward, and kept walking.  It kinda loosened up but never fully went away.  As I write this, hours later, I know when I get up I’m going to feel it.  Really, muscles used to inactivity will complain.  They don’t want to work.  Perhaps I should have stretched better after walking in the pool.

Don’t let pain, or soreness, derail you.  Of course, if it doesn’t improve or really incapacitates you, see a health care professional.  Just don’t be like I was, unaware and surprised.  Expect the discomfort.  Discomfort accompanies change. You’re changing the status quo, and your body will resent it.  Keep at it.  It’s worth it!  Isn’t there a metaphor  for recovery/resiliency/life in here somewhere?

Happy moving!  Happy changing!  Ouch! It hurts to get up.

Yearning To Breathe Free

People of color, immigrants, refugees, the different, the poor, live on the crumbs of liberty that fall from the tables of the descendants of British white men who threw off the shackles of their king 243 years ago. We celebrate still. Oppression still stomps on our necks, yet we learn and live because we are known by our God, so we celebrate still. Hatred and the shadow of death parade themselves in our leaders, on our TV and computer screens, but we who learned love in our families, in the quiet, in secret,

despite being bullied, beaten, passed over, humiliated, ignored, we celebrate still. We are still yearning to breathe free*. Eyes wide open we pray that the words and ideals of freedom we read and hear will become flesh, and real. We work to make it so. In return for hate and debasement we offer love and wisdom and share the grace we’ve received. Daily we bring the heaven in our hearts into the hell of this world. Against all odds, we celebrate.

Signed, An immigrant of color, a woman living with a disability, an educated business owner, who yearns to breathe free*–just like everyone else.

*Poem The New Colossus, byEmma Lazarus, November 2, 1883.

Doctor, I want to be well.

Recovery, Resilience, Wellness & Feeling Good Series, 1

“I’d like to jump out of bed without pain and creaking joints.

I’d like enough energy to get through the day without coffee.

I remember when I didn’t regularly visit my doctor.

Is it possible to be pain free?

Tell me it’s possible to feel good again.

Can’t I get better without pills?

How long will I need these meds/procedures/braces/therapies?

What I would give for a good night’s sleep!

Doctor, is there any hope?”

Sacred Pause

https://calmcom.app.link/IlR6kEHdIX

What makes us think?

Others usher us into this world when we are born. When we die, others carry us to our final resting places. What makes us think we can get anywhere on the journey in between, alone?

A Different Way

We are so mechanistic and inclined to dualistic thinking. We love to jump to conclusions. “If I do this, this will happen. This is better than that. I want to win, so someone has to lose. If I eat right, exercise, and follow doctor’s orders, I’ll live a long, healthy life. If I’m good, others will be good to me. If I work hard I’ll have everything I need.” Really? Look at your life. Is it that linear, that clear cut?

Not for most of us. Not usually. How I would love to write about doing A or B and receiving C or D. Instead, let’s get real. Life is unpredictable. Bad actors prosper while good hearted hardworking people suffer. Individuals who neglect their bodies live to be 100 while clean eating exercising folks collapse and die at age 55. People become addicted to illegal drugs or activities, hurt their families, break the law…then recover and become model citizens, helping others. Productive intelligent do-gooders develop brain diseases and die in their 40’s. People abuse children for years and get away with it. So called leaders extort and manipulate those who trust them. Wars are still happening. Who can make sense of it all?

No one. Not really. Anyone who claims to understand it, or have the answers, or show you how to triumph, is misleading him or herself and you. I am learning that I’m not in control. That seeking ways to be in control (predict the future, make other people do what I want, make myself do what I “should”, escape from reality — buy, exercise, eat, read, pray, talk myself into happiness) is futile. So what is a person to do? Far be it from me to give you advice. This is a blog, not an advice column.

I’m embracing and appreciating the mystery of it all. Sounds kinda hippy dippy but it’s true. Having less need to figure stuff out. Paying attention to intuition as I endeavor to go beyond living from my brain. Of course there are principles in the Universe, in society, in family, at work. But I’m finding life more interesting being less rule bound and more open to mystery. Believe it or not I won’t banish abuse, cruelty or evil from the world. It’s not for me to do. It is for me to breathe deep, get quiet, listen, and act out of the Love that has so abundantly been shared with me. In other words, taking a different way.

Smiling through the tears

I had just wiped tears, somehow found this wan smile, and more tears flowed later.

There’s so much being said about Resiliency these days. When I examine ideas through the lens of personal experience they come alive for me. Smiling through the tears symbolizes resiliency.

Life can throw one a curveball, a heart can be broken, the tears may flow. Then, suddenly, in the midst of the dark and the bad and the painful something arises. Something deep inside arises, that sees a way out. In the midst of crying suddenly there’s a smile. There’s a realization that there’s a reason to smile even in the middle of circumstances that we hate and that are painful. The impetus to smile can help us (here come the metaphors: climb out of the well, bounce back up, recover from the setback ) you get the idea.

The smile is not because of the pain,  the smile is not instead of the pain,  the smile is right there in the midst with the pain in the pain.  The smile is not because we made it out of the pit, we smile in the pit because we know we’re going to make it out and because we know that even in the pit we are okay. That’s resiliency to me.

 

It pays off

For some years I’ve been pursuing personal development. Many have guided me along the way. A major shout out to Allie Middleton, a mentor and wise woman who I want to be like when I grow up. Personal development easily dovetails into professional development; hmm, subject for another blog! I thought I’d review some of what I’ve learned that helps me stay well, stay active, stay having fun even while working.

It is not my intent to overwhelm you with this list. Please don’t think I do all of this! This is just a compilation of habits and practices over the years that have worked for me or for others, and might work for you. See it as a list of options from which you can choose; if you’d like to add something that works for you, please comment, share the wisdom!

I connect to nature, exercise, and relax. Use a park, patio, whatever’s near.
Photo by author, Arizona backyard

Wellness Practices — Baseline

Meditation – mindfulness

Relaxation Response

Breathwork

Movement/Somatic Practices 20 minutes 3 days a week to start

Walking

            Running

            Gardening

            Time outdoors

            Stairs

            Swimming

            Hiking

            Bike riding

            Yoga

            Tai Chi

            Zumba

Combining a mindfulness practice with movement and doing them daily yields powerful results in mental clarity, personal transformation and improved physical health. The discipline pays off!

Eating to Thrive

Increasing water drinking

Increasing raw fruit and vegetables

Increasing ancient grains

Increasing sustainable organic protein

Increasing cooking at home Increasing mindful eating

Rest and Sleep

Frequent “breathing/stretching” breaks during day – seconds to 2 minutes

Sleep hygiene, aim for 7 hours per night

Insist on taking vacation—truly disconnect—your soul needs this as much as your body/mind

Wellness Practices – Healing

Mineral Soaks

Sauna

Tapping

Aromatherapy

Herbal Tea

Herbs (e.g. red chili pepper and turmeric added to coffee or tea for cough and colds)

Body Talk

Massage

Physical Therapy

Acupuncture 

Financial Practices      

Save 10-20% of income regardless of amount

Do save for retirement

Spend less than you earn

Free yourself from shopping addiction: go to a store, browse, and buy nothing. Go to your favorite website, browse around and buy nothing. Painful at first, then freeing!

Spirituality:  Yes 🙂    

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Routine, less drama

I’ve struggled with taking psychotropic meds. For years, each time I took a pill it reminded me I had this diagnosis. I didn’t want to be reminded. I didn’t want to have this diagnosis. Really didn’t want to. Constantly, I felt if I could make it without the meds it would mean I was really OK. I really didn’t have this. It was just stress, or being overtired. And I would stop taking the meds. And the symptoms would return, sometimes suddenly, sometimes slowly. But invariably, they returned.

Don’t get me wrong, the meds were not the only thing that helped. Peer support–the knowing, encouraging, understanding of others who also had a mental health challenge and were in recovery–is probably the single most important contributor to my recovery. Therapy helped immeasurably, helping me learn how to think like a well person instead of an ill person. My family has been amazingly supportive as well, as have friends along the way. Lifestyle choices have become very important as of late: meditation, spirituality, exercise, healthy eating. 

And, daily, my meds. Less drama. Less overthinking. Like so many people who for so many reasons take medications, I take them every day. I see my doctor. I get my labs checked. It’s become routine. Thank God!

Picture Credits: Shady Street, taken by author. Property of Setup4Success, LLC, all rights reserved. Contact author for permission before copying, pasting, posting or duplicating in any medium.