First published October 26, 2016 on Facebook
I just went for coffee and these are some of the things that I noticed: First I saw an older gentleman, he had to be a grandfather holding a younger child, and they were both laughing together.
Coming towards me on the sidewalk was a young father and the same thing was going on. He was holding his daughter and they both had big bright smiles on their faces.
Then I went inside the coffee shop and I noticed the incredible teamwork of the employees behind the counter. They were working hard and having fun.
While I was waiting for my coffee I thought about a friend of mine who has taken in a fifteen year old boy who has been abandoned by his parents. I am in awe of his kindness.
The coffee shop was full of people sitting together having conversations and just listening to one another. It felt so healthy!
On my way back to the apartment I noticed someone sweeping leaves off the sidewalk and picking up litter and for some reason it made me think of the bombed out streets in Syria. It made me so grateful to live in a country where there are no bombs and people can walk with their children and their grandchildren on clean sidewalks and laugh together in peace and safety.
The leaves on the trees in the square outside our apartment have turned a beautiful bright yellow.
Mmmm... beauty = joy.
When I got back to the apartment and gave Kath her coffee, I was so grateful that I have someone in my life who loves me and puts up with me the way she does.
And finally, I thought in these days of such discouraging political and world news that there is so much to be grateful for - even on a short walk to the coffee shop.
The meditation I created is called Experiencing Oneness in a Divided World. In it, we explore a deep and comforting truth: that everything is connected.
As I venture out this morning, I'm thinking about the Mary Oliver poem, wild Geese, where she says, “You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.
I just want to bow 🙇♂️ in gratitude (also laugh because there’s a 🙇 bowing emoji)
For a period in my life I used to go to a particular place in a park not far from my house to meditate and pray. It was the beginning of a practice that I continue to practice to this very day, although this post is about a time when I took a break.
Our guest today is author Eric Janzen. Eric is probably best known for his high fantasy fiction books. He's written a trilogy called The Dreamtrekker Journals Trilogy, and more recently released a new series entitled The Essence Tales. In Eric's bio, he says he will continue writing until he can't anymore.
Our daughter Jess gifted me with a poem today. She says... Wrapping up my last few days on the coast for now… it’s been so amazing to get so much “normal” time with my family, and one of my favorite things is morning walks with dad. His practice of noticing and of being quiet enough in spirit to notice the minute details is always a gift.
Our new little bundle of joy - August (Gus) Matthew Toews - has reminded us all how powerful and incredible love is.
I am contemplating emptiness this morning which I know sends cautionary shivers down the spines of some Christians. I was warned about this by a "well-meaning" Christian on the weekend when I used the word emptiness at a retreat I was co-leading.
snowy days (meditation) Hints of Gladness
Are sounds like this (birdsong, babbling brooks) meant to touch our souls? I think they are.