FAITH

"If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it."

~ American Saying ~

Living in alignment with our true selves, 

No matter what seeming obstacles or difficulties may come our way,

A path will open,

And we will be shown the way through. 

I trust in life's unfolding journey. 

TANK

"In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing."

~ Robert Ingersoll ~

The emotional pain of the loss of our German Shepherd, Boss, in December, has largely eased into the background as a kind of soft glowing memory... until we committed to a puppy the other day. Excitement over the pup has newly awakened the pang of our great friend's going, and disturbed us with tickling feelings of betrayal.
     To be clear, we are not replacing Boss- he is completely irreplaceable. We are simply stepping forward into a new relationship inspired by time and need, with a lively little ball of fluff we have named Tank.

There is no stopping the living drive. I embrace it, and move on. 

POSSIBILITY

"Pull another hand into the light."

~ Norman B. Rice ~

We are all out to make a difference and save the world, but maybe the world doesn't need saving in the way we think it does. 

Maybe what it really needs is discovery, anew.

Perhaps earth is actually heaven, and heaven, earth.

SHIFTING THE URGE

"I exist as I am, that is enough."

~ Walt Whitman ~

The messages of modern culture encourage action and speed and intensity- 

"Do more! Be more! Get to work! Lose weight! Have fun! Exercise! Multi-task!
Be your best self!"
These urges come from all sides, 

even from inside ourselves, 

and the core message is that 

as we are, 

we are not enough. 

And this message breeds suffering in the world.

Let's shift the urge.

Let's slow down,

Look around, 

Discover our true nature, 

Stop exhausting ourselves trying to be somebody, 

And experience life 

exactly as we are.

I am complete and whole.

GRACE

"Earth's tribulations diminish in proportion to the elevation of our souls."

~ James Lendall Basford ~

There is a way through even the most challenging and seemingly horrific situations. 

It is sprinkled with Grace 

and the most unlikely of angels.

I stay tuned and the path unfolds.

BEING QUIET

"Silence is as deep as eternity; speech, shallow as time."

~ Thomas Carlyle ~

Much as I am a wordsmith, 

I do understand and appreciate 

that words can sometimes cheapen an experience. 

In such cases, 

our eyes speak, 

and the silence.

There are times when nothing need be said.

THE MARGIN OF ERROR

"Truth only reveals itself when one gives up all preconceived ideas."

~ Shoseki ~

We can be 100% certain about something and 100% wrong at the same time. 

Think of the implication of this! 

All of us running around acting on false beliefs, 

insisting on facts that aren't accurate, 

certain other people don't know what they might actually know... 

It's not exactly a recipe for healthy relating. 

We might do better to 

remain open to alternate possibilities,

and acknowledge the fact

that our vision may be limited

and short. 

Even though I feel sure, I may still be wrong.