Meditations

This morning has been a morning of reflection and meditation. Some have been of past friends and family. Mom and Da have been on my mind this morning. Thoughts of what Da taught me growing up. Silent teachings by his example. Stewardship and responsibilities. He bestowed upon me my love of the outdoors, specifically my mountains. I learn from him about the diverse beauties of the desert, the great plains. Seeing, and having a desire to see, every corner of this continent. 

Mom taught me that I need to care for others. It does not matter whether I know them well or I am even in their proximity. I need to show that I care by asking how I can help rather than if I can help. Help when you can without seeking for the recognition of your works. Mom also taught that if you are going to laugh about something later, you might as well laugh about it now.

I do try. 

Another thread in my thoughts this morning are three people who grew up as neighborhood friends and went through school together. A was married for years and came home from work one day to be told by her husband that he was not happy with her and their children and had found someone else and that they were getting divorced. She moved into an apartment, then took a job in another city and moved affairs. Their children grew into their own selves and have moved into their own families and other parts of the country.

D1 was on his second marriage and to all appearances happy, but had reconnected with A as a friend (important) and eventually the two had decided that they would be happier (important) together. D1 and A were both silent about this, but D1's ex-wife did post something about changes in her life. She did not broadcast things, but would answer anybody who asked her privately. 

D2 asked, and then got vocal to A and D1, and, I am sure, to anybody else who would listen. Neither A nor D1 replied publicly, but kept their private life private. So far, the only comments I have heard from A was a mention that karma happens when it became public that D2 in all his sanctimonious expressions was arrested for downloading child porn. 

I guess my take on this is both do what you need to be happy, but let others be happy as well. I need to remember, and I do feel I manage to do this, that I have my own faults and really should not judge others.

One Day At A Time

 I realize that a lot of my posts sound as though I am completely down and out, that I am in a completely dissociative state, but I would like to offer that I use my blog to vent a lot. I do  not like to use it only for negative thoughts so I really do make an attempt to post good things as well. I suspect that I, like many others, find that I will live in the moment when things are up. I would rather live in the happy than risk losing it as I stop to note it online.

I have what I call “Thank You” moments. Moments where I make a conscious effort to thank God, the gods, Spirit, whomever, for the moment I am experiencing. Yesterday I had one such moment. Before I started my day, I was sitting in the death chair (a chair I obtained after someone had died), and Dougall was sitting with me. He was sleeping that completely relaxed, boneless sleep of pure contentment. Siobhan was snoring under one of her blankets (all of the blankets in the house are hers…) and I had a blue blanket a friend had made for me for Christmas a few years ago thrown over my lap. 

And suddenly, time just stopped. Liminal space. That space between heartbeats. And just that quickly I knew I needed to be thankful. I needed to recognize that there are glorious tidings in the world. That was one of them

And then, my heart beat once again, then again, and then started to keep rhythm once more. Maybe a little slower pace, maybe greater at peace.

I reminded myself that I need to remember to see these moments. I reminded myself that one day at a time works. If not one day, then one hour. If not one hour, one minute. 

I wish you peace.

The "Big Ben" minute

During World War II, W. Tudor Pole, an English author, adventurer and businessman campaigned for what came to be called "The Big Ben Silent Minute." The chiming of the Big Ben clock in London at 9:00 PM took about a minute. The chimes were broadcast each night on BBC radio at the beginning of the 9:00 news. Pole suggested that the hearing of the chimes, either in person, or on the BBC should be accompanied by one minute of silent prayer for those who had been killed that day in battle as well as remembering all who had been killed in the war. Churchill supported the idea, which became known as the "Big Ben Movement."

Recently something similar has been occurring around the world. People of all faiths are taking a minute at Noon to pray for our service men and women. Praying for those who were killed or injured. And, most of all, praying for peace.

Regardless of how you feel about the war, regardless of which faith you follow, please take a minute each day and pray. Many people are setting alarms on their watches, cell phones or PDA's to remind them. Imagine the power of a few words of humble prayer coming from each of us. Please pass this along to anybody that you think would be interested.