More than I can imagine…

Photo by A. Rausch

Everything changes is the spiritual life. Thomas Keating talks about impermanence. John O’Donohue talks about “clay dance to balance you.” Pádraig Ó Tuama writes about “learning most from situations you did not choose.” All these wise souls. are giving me much peace and joy in this season of waiting. Be well and Happy Christmas.

Freedom is Voting

A Practice…

Rumi is one of my favorites. Here is a quote I’m trying to repeat several times a day, “I belong to the Beloved.”

Photo by K. Rausch

Soul Consoling Tower

Last month I visited Manzanar in California where the United States interned Japanese-Americans. The below picture was taken at the cemetery and is called the Soul Consoling Tower. I’m pausing on this Labor Day to remember to care for my soul and silence in nature is one way. Some books I’m reading are, Palaces For The People, by Eric Klineberg, The Art of Power, by Nancy Pelosi, Table For Two, by Amor Towles and Breathing Under Water, by Richard Rohr. A poem I’m savoring is Padraig O Tuama’s “The Fact of Life.”

Photo by K. Rausch

4th and Walnut

Louisville, KY photo by K.Rausch

I’m driving across the country and have visited some good places that have given me great pause, Manzanar, the National Civil Right museum, and Bill Clinton’s Presidential Center and Park. But the surprise was going to Louisville, KY and walking past Thomas Merton’s famous experience at 4th and Walnut. He said in his book, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander how connected to others and saw their beauty. He felt they were all shining like the sun. Be well and share that sunshine.

Retreats

Villa Maria del Mar, Pacific Ocean. Photo by Angela Rausch

There’s something about slowing down and savoring in nature that refreshes the soul. Here are somethings I’m savoring after being close to the deep, deep sea…

• If we are absolutely grounded in the absolute love of God that protects us from nothing even as it sustains us in all things, then we can face all things with courage and tenderness and touch the hurting places in others and in ourselves with love.

  James Finley

• Welcome to the Online Meditation Chapel and our online multi-faith community of contemplatives. If you are called to find the sacred in the stillness,  we are here for you, see www.meditation chapel.org

• The Way of Discernment: Spiritual Practices for Decision Making By Elizabeth Liebert

• Without a sangha you lose your practice very soon.

  Thich Nhat Hanh https://plumvillage.org/community/international-sangha-directory

• Centering prayer guidelines, https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/centering-prayer-method/

• Ignatian Examen app, https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/reimagining-examen-app/

• The Full Serenity Prayer
   
  God grant me the serenity
  To accept the things I cannot change;
  Courage to change the things I can;
  And wisdom to know the difference.
  Living one day at a time;
  Enjoying one moment at a time;
  Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
  Taking, as He did, this sinful world
  As it is, not as I would have it;
  Trusting that He will make things right
  If I surrender to His Will;
  So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
  And supremely happy with Him
  Forever and ever in the next.
  Amen.

• She Let Go

  by Safire Rose https://safire-rose.com/books-and-media/poetry/she-let-go

Freedom

In one of my meetings recently I heard that Mary Mrozowski said, “You can right or you can be free,” I’m aiming for freedom. In my trips recently I visited Ellis Island, there was a window and a reflection that were revealing. There is a way through my friends.

Ellis Island

Guides

A few things I’m sitting with these days are who are my guides? But underlying that is how my “spiritual adventure” is going, am I being adventurous? Last month I preached on Awe, Abundance and the Advocate, ask me about it. Some things I’m playing with these days are these signs I saw recently…

Bliss = Awe?

Let the spiritual adventure flow.

Unknowing

Thomas Merton, one of my bff’s (best friends forever), in Thoughts in Solitude, speaks of having no idea where he’s going. I get that and I’m trying to live into that space of uncertainty. I suppose that’s a really good way to define faith, unknowing but living in hope. The other important note is God sends tons of grace.

Lots of good podcasts filling me joy lately are: Kelly Corrigan Wonders, Hidden Brain and Brené Brown. And a book that was a great read, Guilded Mountain: A Novel.

And finally, Holy Mother Earth is pure beauty, this picture was taken in Lake Tahoe in December.

Silence

There’s something about sitting in silence that stills the soul and allows the Divine within to speak. There are many ways to be with this image for me it speaks about freedom and the joy of just being. And by the way, it cultivates my listening skill. The books I’m reading are by Katherine Hayhoe, “Saving Us,” and Yushi Nomura, “Desert Wisdom,” both are giving me pause.

Lake Tahoe, photo by Vinh-Khiem Hoang

Bourbon Balls

As a child my father’s patients would bake him treats at the holidays. An annual gift was bourbon balls. As a child they were dreadful and for over 40 years that was seared in my mind. But transformation comes slowly and unexpectedly. Now I feel otherwise. Along those lines, the movie, The Banker is worth your time.

Beginnings

As I dropped my youngest off at university I saw this quote, “Let your soul hold itself tranquil and peaceful, ready to submit to the action of God.” I think submit means openness.

East Coast

The Green Mountains of Vermont in June are a deep contrast to the brown hills of Silicon Valley both are good. As I celebrate my wedding anniversary today I’m remembering a quote by George Sand, “There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.”

Vaccines

Let me just say vaccines are good. This freedom is good.

Blogs

My blog is intended to shine some light on the persons, places or things that are giving me pause. Much of the spinning in my head, body and heart are related to these beauties I’m encountering. Enjoy.

Movie: The Trial of the Chicago 7. Absolutely riveting.

Poem: Rumi, This Is How It Works. There are just so many names for the Divine.

Places: The beauty of Lake Tahoe.