Walkies

I've been getting up each morning at 6:30 and heading out for a walk with Bob. Early morning is a sweet time of the day when everything is fresh, fewer cars are seen and heard, people too for that matter. We've been noticing the odd piece of discarded paper cup and other bits of garbage along the walk. Next time we'll take a bag with us to pick them up, we tell ourselves, but haven't yet.

This morning we passed a woman walking her dog and she commented, "That's what I like to see." We looked puzzled and she tells us she likes to see people holding hands. "Happy Canada Day!" and off she went. We continue walking and using this space of time to chat about yesterdays, todays and tomorrows.

Maybe it's these moments in time that are the ones to be cherished the most because they happen most often. The ordinary consumes most of our hours dotted by the extraordinary experienced during trips, celebrations and the like. But we can't live for those.... we have to live each moment now. Looking forward to the next whatever can rob us of this "what" now.

Pic.. Enjoying wine at a Rome cafe on the block where the Vatican sits. A trip we looked forward to and enjoyed immensely.

Do you believe....

Many times I hear a person say , " I'll wait to see what God wants me to do." When I hear that, my thoughts go to... "so you believe you are separate from God?"

One Power and One Presence is a basic Unity teaching. It's active as the Universe and It is you. And that power, expressing as you, is good and always evolving, expressing more and more. In other words, it is always moving us to our greater good.

So when we are faced with,"Should I go this way or that?", become aware of your feelings. The Universe doesn't speak English, It is an energy. Get in touch with that energetic field and your "intuition or the impulse for greater expression of good" will always guide you. Just some thoughts that came to me during my meditation this morning.


Pic.. Jenn and Greg.. I believe that when these two married it was another step of movement to their greater good.

Bat or Bag?

I've written about the bat that is hanging in our tree but now I am seriously wondering if it is actually a piece of green garbage bag. It's difficult to get a real up close look.

When we are mistaken about something do we like to admit it? Mostly we want to be right, right? But it's okay to not know the answer to everything, and to say, "I don't know". The world won't end if we do. And at times when we are with others who seem to know a lot that can make us feel less....if we go there with our thoughts. Someone wrote, "compare and despair". I think that is so true.

How do we get the message into our brains that each of us is unique? If I look like you then who would look like me? If I had your talents and skills then who would express mine? Let's make no mistake about it, we are here to be ourselves, mis - takes and all.
Pic.. me in Cape Breton a couple of years ago.

One of Those Days

Have you ever had one of those days where you got up with a big plan to accomplish lots? Yesterday was that day for me. I haven't been home a lot and I need to clean and de clutter. However the day got sidetracked by a trip to Costco to look for a  deck bench. Because we wanted to comparison shop we went to two other stores and eventually returned to Costco to purchase one. A short trip turned into a 3 hour outing. 

Home again, I remembered I had research to do for that evenings board meeting, and before you know it, the afternoon was gone. The house no cleaner. I am remembering a leader who said that you stick with one job until it is done. Working on this and that doesn't accomplish what you want.

So there is hope of another day to do what needs to be done. But whatever you have to do today or wherever you need to go be present to that. We waste energy thinking we "should" be doing something else. We aren't, so, let's make peace with that. It takes letting go doesn't it?

Pic... Dont' fall into useless thinking. In other words thinking that sucks your life energy and keeps you small.

Birth 2012

Yesterday I spoke about Dec 21, 2012.. the last day of the Mayan calendar. A day when some think the world will end. Well I think the world as we know it will end. In other words we are ripe for a shift. We no longer want the world the way it is. We want to go forward creating a new world.

Barbara Marx Hubbard spoke about Birth 2012 at the Unity Worldwide convention. The birth date is Dec. 22, 2012. She is putting her energy and focus on the next day, a new day. She is asking people and groups everywhere to do something to mark Birth 2012. Stay tuned for what Unity will be doing.

Nothing in this world can change without the people changing. Do you agree? Barbara said that every familiar form is restructuring. On a personal level, I offer, that whatever you are "familiar" with, restructure it. Are you familiar with lack, disease, anger, unforgiveness?  Ask yourself, "Is that what I want?" When you answer NO you are ripe to create new thoughts and make a shift. It's a question you can ask yourself moment to moment because our mind is actively imagining the worst at times. Is that what you want?


Pic.. Wee Scooter..kittens grow with ease it seems. Humans have more to develop than just the physical. We have an opportunity to shift and grow into our very best selves.

Draw Day

At Unity today we are drawing, from 400 ballots, the winner of our 2 week Mexican Condo trip and $1,000.00. After the service tacos are being offered. It will be a fun day.

I'm speaking about Birth 2012 and offering a question that, when you ask it of yourself, will help you to shift your thoughts. I'm pondering what the world could be like if we all focused on love and loving. What a shift that would be and what a wonderful world we would live in.

Pic... beauty itself.

Wow...It's True..Science Confirms ....

Unity has been teaching the power of our thoughts as creative for over 100 years. Science is catching up and confirming that teaching is truth. Last night I went to a talk by a neuroscientist that was all about the brain. The brain is fascinating and works for us responding to our thoughts.

Here are only a few of the points he made:

To change you have to think greater than your environment; your dream; your situation

Nerve cells that fire together (repetitive thinking) wire together (create patterns)

Routine lulls the brain to sleep  ... mix it up

Your body is your unconscious mind. It can't distinguish real feelings from imagined.

If your environment is not changing, no new information is getting to the brain and therefore no new cells are created.

I like this idea:

What if you woke up in the morning and asked yourself:

What is the greatest idea of myself I can be today? Don't get up until you are that.

I'm excited and inspired to intentionally set up my day and walk into that experience. I hope you are too!

Pic.. Well my choices are few as I am writing this on Bob's laptop. Life is hills and valleys and we can determine the experiences we have.

Caught in a Downpour

As I was driving to my mom's yesterday there seemed to be a torrential downpour of rain and a lot of wind. It was difficult to see and a bit scary. The worst driving conditons, I think, are when you cannot see where you're heading.

It's funny how we get up, move through our day, go to bed and start all over again. We live as if tomorrow is a guarantee and that everything will be the same tomorrow as it was today. Of course anyone who has lived any number of years knows that those tragic days that change everything do come. And even then, we move through those with the grace of God, and find a new normal.

It may sound as if I am having one of those times, I'm not. But I can see it coming as I watch my mom changing quickly. If you are in that "sandwich generation" you know the feeling. You have your kids lives that you are involved in, still working full time and then you are also giving more and more support to your parent(s). I would do that forever, as difficult as it is some days, if it meant I could have my mom with me always. So today I am remembering to love without impatience and to value who is here.

Pic... We all come to the sunset of our lives. I think most people want to do it with ease, grace and dignity. And sometimes we're in the place of helping them do that.

We're In the Relocation Program Shhh

Okay it's not what you think. We are not in hiding. However we, and when I say we I really mean Bob, relocates animals. This morning Bob saw that our safe trap had caught a racoon. We knew one was getting into our pond and trying to eat our fish. So Bob drove the racoon to forested Springbank Park, really a much nicer place to live than our neighborhood.

I wonder what the racoon "thinks" when he realizes he is in a new world. That happens to us too at times. We find we are out of our depth in a new situation and trying to find our way. Nothing looks familiar and we feel at odds. The good news is that we have an inner guidance system that directs us. We access that system with faith knowing it is always directing us to our greater good.

A prayer I often pray is ... Thank you for the miracles in my life today and for the eyes to see them.

Pic..Each water lily rises up through the wealth of leaves and finds its own place to shine. It knows there is a place up there.

We Have A Bat

A few weeks ago we discovered a bat, hanging upside down high up, in our backyard tree. This seemed very odd to us that it was sleeping out in the open. It appears he is doing his thing flying at night eating between 2000-6000 insects, though I haven't see him/her do so. Bats seem to have a good purpose.

When I first discovered it I was freeked out a bit. Now I've settled down, seeing we can co-exist. That's the thing I guess. We often find we are very different from others. The journey is to co-exist in peace. I won't bother you, you don't bother me. In a country like Canada we can even get to not just tolerating or accepting  people who are different than us but we actually celebrate each other. I like that.

Pic... From the darkness to the light.

There's No Place Like Home

In the past 49 days I think I've been away 31 nights! I'm so glad to be home and get settled. I have luggage to unpack, laundry to do and groceries to shop for. The thing I do like about travelling and being away is other people take care of you. They shop and cook and serve and clean. Yeah!

If I won a million dollars the first thing I would invest in is a housekeeper who would clean and cook joyfully because that is their passion. It isn't mine. However I can't seem to sum up the courage to say to my husband, "I am no longer cooking!"  After all that would leave him to do it and hot dogs 7 nights a week won't do anyone any good.

My travels were to Mexico for the wedding; Florida for holidays; Detroit for a convention and the Falls for fun.While travelling I connected with a minister who long ago I wanted to be just like her. And now I am working with her as a peer. I met hotel maids who cared about their jobs and my comfort. Connected with old friends and made some new ones. I discovered new programs for churches and was inspired by great thinkers.

While it's great to be away there's nothing like being back home.

Pic... I was standing at the very edge of the falls where they make the big plung and from there I saw this beautiful rainbow, the Maid of the Mist and the both falls. Life is good and we carry that goodness with us wherever we are.

To Be Like Children

When Jesus preached he talked about our being like children. Perhaps he was asking us to lighten up and be joyful. Well this afternoon my friend Linda and I did just that. We went for a thrill ride. I won't tell you what it was but would like you to guess. The only clue.... we are at the Falls. Can you guess?

When we saw others doing this we thought... wow... that would be exciting! Let's do it! Master Yoda said... We do or we don't do. We don't try. So we made the arrangements and participated. It was exhilarating. I think we have to stretch ourselves once in awhile. That's how we grow and how we show ourselves we can go farther than we ever thought.

Pic.. .Linda and I at the Falls. It is her first time to see them.

Walking the Wire

In a few moments I will see if there are any remnants of  last night's wire walk over the Falls. I saw on the news the magnificent display of courage and skill as Wallenda balanced himself with a long balancing rod. If he moved too much one way or the other he was prone to cascade over the falls. Well, he did have a tether on him at the insistence of his insurer.

Life is so much like walking a wire. And many decisions we make can produce drastic results if we are not "awake" when we make them. Life is an exhilarating journey when we balance our activities... stretching beyond our comfort zone at times and knowing when to rest and be still at other times.

Who keeps us balanced? Who guides our way when we are walking on thin ice or wire? We live in a field of consciousness that at its purest root always wants us to move to our greater good. It's creative and affirming impulse is constant.

Wallenda showed us that in the midst of great distraction we can stay on task. We can block out the chatter and the movement around us and stay focused and succeed at our dreams. He proved we can all make our dreams manifest.

Pic.... water!

I Just Want to be Love

Day to day we have thousands of opportunities to outpicture God as love. From the person who cuts you off in traffic; the person who makes you wait or doesn't show up at all; a spouse who doesn't agree with you; children who don't keep in touch etc. Whatever I am getting upset about... the first place to look is at the "woman" in the mirror. What in me is calling the person wrong? How can I see that differently? How can I just love them?

Today I heard the expression, "You aren't going crazy, you are being evolutionarily enhanced." When I call someone wrong.. I am being given an opportunity to evolve higher. To see love. To know that every person is a culmination of God cells. Perhaps it constantly comes down to the calling from within us to overcome the illusion of separation from anyone or anything.

That's what I want to do... I just want to be love in action.
Pic.. A little soul trying to understand the ways of the Universe.

The Magic and the Misery

One of our award winners who planned to be at the conference learned of his friend's passing just before he was to travel to Detroit. He conducted his friend's memorial service and planned to come here from there to receive his award. He said to receive the Charles Fillmore Award was the biggest most important award of his career. He's been in ministry for 22 years; and ministers at a dynamic church that has as its focus diversity and leaving any prejudice at the door.

When they introduced his award and told the audience about his Unity work, the presenter said she was sorry to say he could not come. His grandson was killed in a car accident Sunday night. I don't know if there are many things sadder than losing a family member.

What was to be a magical time for him turned into a misery. The highs and lows of life are always present. No one is immune to pain. We all experience some kind of magic in our life and the polarity may be misery. We are called to manage both the best way we can.

Pic.... I think this shows both sides.. what can be magical one moment may be misery the next..

Spirit of the Law or Letter?

At the business meeting this morning at the Unity conference, we wrestled with small wording details in a proposed change to the code of ethics. It pertained to ministers being required to report any abuse of adults and children revealed during a counselling session. (In Canada we are required to report this even if our code of ethics asks us to hold confidentiality).

One person wanted to see the word "animals" included, suggesting we report any animal abuse we become aware of. The conference body agreed until one person opposed. She opposed on the grounds that we are all guilty of abusing animals because of the factory farms that raise chickens and cows. She suggested we are all aware of the abuse they suffer. Are we then to call the police on those who raise them?

Sometimes we can really get caught up in the letter of the law and disregard the spirit of the law. It was suggested the proposal go back to the committee for another year to reword it. I got up and shared that we need to see the spirit of the amendment. For me, it was very clear, that the amendment was letting ministers know they cannot hold confidence in these cases, be it people or animals. Let's not argue about which animals. I suggested we did NOT need to postpone this for a year but get it done. The amendment passed.

Do you get caught up in the letter of the law? Jesus cured on the Sabbath, a day required by Jewish law, to rest. He was persecuted for his actions. But ask the one he healed how they felt about what he had done and   I bet they were more than grateful. He saw the spirit, the intention, to heal when the opportunity arose because in doing so he was being God in action. To follow the letter of the law would mean he was a servant to man not God.

Pic... The joy expressed when our spirit triumphs!

What Holds Us Back?

The attendance at conference is down over other years because the conference is in Detroit. Some people were afraid to come here. I can understand that if it were years ago like the time Bob, myself and another couple drove to Florida.

We crossed the border at Windsor and somehow we missed the I-75 exit. Bob was driving and we ended up in the wrong part of town... I mean the real wrong part of town. Bob stopped at a gas station to get directions and after he got out of the car all he heard was the sound of 4 door locks! We were scared. Suffice to say he got directions and we got out of town..... quickly.

But this conference is down town Detroit. As someone here said, "It's not like we'd hold the conference in a ghetto!"  And after all, at most conferences, the attendees don't even leave the hotel because of the busy schedule. But tonight my friend and I ventured out on the People Mover and found a good Thai restaurant on Monroe Street. We got there and back with ease safely.

Our fears can hold us back can't they? We paint these dramatic pictures of the worst possible outcomes and give them a lot of power. Those who passed on Detroit.. have missed a lot.

Detroit people have been very friendly and this morning on the river walk we passed numerous people in bright yellow t-shirts all saying hello to us as we made our way to the Detroit Belle River boat for our prayer breakfast. As our keynote speaker said tonight.. .God is good ALL the time. And with faith we can be assured all is well wherever we are.

Pic.. of New York City... another city that I've discovered is friendly and safe.

Is There A Conversion in the Air??

On my way to Detroit I drove through Windsor. On the hotel signs was the message, "Welcome Watchtower Convention". Now at the Marriott where the Unity conference is there is also a Baptist conference. My friend joked, "Who's going to convert who?"

I think it's human nature that I want you to like what I like and to believe what I  believe. Perhaps that's because we feel better about ourselves when others agree with us? Good thing Unity is not into converting others to our way. It is not our mission, as it is for other faith communities. We don't have to "save" anyone.

That saves us a lot of work, right? When we think we have to "fix" others or save others, that takes a lot of eeennneeerrrgggyyy! Instead let's be the example of love in action and that will naturally attract others to what we are doing. At the same time, we can appreciate that whatever faith blesses them is good.. because it blesses them.

Pic... There are a lot of fish in our pond. I could waste a lot of energy trying to catch them. Instead I'll just let them swim around in their own pond.

The River

We often use water as a metaphor for how we travel through life. Do we go with the flow? Do we swim upstream? Is the water of your life wavy or still? I'm mindful of water because I have arrived at the Detroit Marriott for the Unity conference which begins tomorrow. I'm sharing a room with Linda and we are on the 59th floor! We have a fabulous view of the Detroit River and Windsor.

This week will be about making connections with other church ministers and learning what is working in their ministry. Attending day and evening sessions and workshops too. I am on the conference team and am working with the vendors to make sure their needs are met. I am also working with the speakers... sometimes praying with them before their session...blessing the chairs beforehand and being an "angel" helper.

Being in the divine flow of God no matter where you are or who you are with. It isn't always easy, right? But the effort is worth the peace of mind you feel and the love you both give and receive.

Pic.. my Angel kitty, (she looks a bit lopsided) she and her friends (our other kitties) are about love. Just petting a cat opens my heart. Yours too?

Sleepless in London

Some nights I just can't get to sleep. That was the case last night. I was up at midnight watching the late shows and Letterman had Don Rickles and Regis Philbin as guests. Rickles has never been one of my favorite comedians. His humor seems kind of mean spirited to me.

Making fun of a person and then saying, "I'm just kidding", seems to me to be insincere. The joker picks something they see as strange or wrong about a person and they are off to the races with the jokes. When this is done in front of others it can be embarrassing. Yes, I've been joked about, as probably everyone reading this has. No one seems to be immune. It's not really fun, and even less so when you see that something "strange" in yourself and now attention is being drawn to it in front of others.

Rickles has made a sizable fortune from his humor so I guess some people like it. I'm just sayin I don't. I don't want to embarrass other people; I don't want to pick on any obvious "sore" spots they may have about themselves. Does a person who is shorter than most others really need to hear jokes about it? Does a man about to get married really to need to hear any more jokes about what he's giving up?

We gain so much when we let others hold on to their dignity.

Pic.. New York City's Central park. Imagine a world where only love existed and was shared.

Gambling On How Long We'll Live

We're in the midst of a discussion about how to receive a small pension. The choices are:
1. the most dollars for as long as Bob lives; but if he dies before 2022, I'd receive the pension only until 2022
2. reduced pension by $30 a month but if Bob dies before 2022 I would continue to receive a pension, at a reduced amount, for the rest of my life. We aren't in agreement about how to set this pension up.

It feels to me that we are gambling on how long Bob will live. It isn't a comfortable discussion right? Yet, it is one we have to have. Then I got to thinking that maybe each day each of us are gambling on how long we'll live. We know that the average person eats pounds (an unhealthy amount) of sugar each year in the face of evidence it is very bad for us. We know that fatty foods clog our arteries and extra fat, especially belly fat, can create life threatening heart disease. We know when we speed we are taking a chance and even when we "J" walk (why is it called that?) we are hoping to scoot traffic and make it to the other side safely. Just getting in our car and driving to work we're gambling we'll get there. And surprisingly this past week, people who decided to shop at the Eaton Centre were taking a gamble.

Maybe the question is, "How long do you want to live, and what are you doing to help that happen?"  There are certainly no guarantees but I think we can reduce the risk and, lesson the gamble.

Pic... I was only 20 when I married this man. It was a good gamble!

Witnessing Joy

I have the beautiful opportunity to witness the joy others are experiencing. Unity's prosperity class is in week ten. Each week when we gather, the participants share their prosperity stories. There is always a story or three or four to share each week. It is heart warming to witness the successes.

The successes are showing up because the people are doing the work. We pray together affirming each other's prosperity and the participants are doing the work to change their consciousness. They are affirming I am prosperity 100 times in the morning and 100 in the evening. They are using their power of visualization to picture and live now what they want to create. They are exploring their beliefs and letting go of the ones that don't serve them. They are creating personal vision and mission statements. They are doing the work.


And that's what it takes to make changes in your life. Action needs to be taken. So a good question to ask when you are thinking about what goals you would like to manifest would be, "What am I willing to do to manifest my goals?"


Pic.. One of my goals realized was visiting the coliseum in Rome.

In A Pickle

I've just realized that a prescription of mine will run out while I am away next week. Having called my doctor this morning to get an appointment to renew... I hear his office is closed for holidays! Yikes!

Such situations call for some creativity. Where does that come from? Turn within. Instead of panicking in such situations... we can pray for divine solutions. All is well. When we stop and go within we are ready to receive answers and inspiration. If we believe we are spiritual beings having a human experience then we need to take time to "go home" to connect with spirit each day.

So if you are in a pickle....stop, get still, and go within. Affirm divine order...the presence of God in everything and pray for the eyes to see the good. I totally trust the answers come and we are always being guided to our greater good.

Pic.. The journey within can have an uphill feeling .... but when you get there the view is magnificent and inspiring.

Jubilee Means for Me???

The news is filled with joyous celebrations honouring the Queen's 60 years of service to her kingdom. From the beginning as a young woman she vowed to be of service to her people. She is the most travelled monarch having travelled to 116 (?) countries in 60 years. She has visited Canada 22 times and the queen to 16 countries.

Just think about the dedication it takes to be in service for so many years. What is the consciousness needed to be so dedicated? And as we think about the kingdom that she is queen of can we look at that metaphysically?

When Jesus talked about seek first the kingdom of God he was referring to seeking a (w)holy consciousness. With the right consciousness, a spiritual consciousness, all good things come to us. We have to be thinking right, seeing right, often beyond appearances to knowing there is a greater truth behind a situation. From this perspective we can rule over our own kingdom, our life. We don't panic when something seems to be going wrong, we pray affirming the rightness. We don't blame and shame others, we see God in every face.

This kind of consciousness will serve both us and all those around us helping us reign love over everywhere in our kingdom.

Building Relationships

I was away for the weekend with my Prayer Chaplains facilitating our annual training. Going apart with like minded people is a gift. The energy shared was positive, discussions were stimulating and the food was home made.

As well as being with others and enjoying their company, it was a time to be still and go within. Building our relationship with God within is so important. It's quite magical to get still and quiet. For me I feel warm energy that enfolds me and such peace in my mind and heart. I was very grateful for the program, the company and the place, the Michaelite House. Every year I look forward to the off-site training weekend.

You don't have to go away to experience the quiet. Just take the trip to your heart and discover the wonder that awaits you there.

Pic.... quiet looking east coast view.

People

People in our lives teach us so much about ourselves. My talk this Sunday is focused on relationships. Yesterday I was reminded how far I have to go to truly live in peace and love. Oh, I've come a long way in expressing the love of God that I am, and I am sure you have too. And every once in awhile we are shown, we receive the gift of seeing, the work that is still to be done within us so we can walk peacefully on this planet each day.

So I call forth for myself and anyone else who can use this prayer today:
Standing in the Power and Presence of God I call forth my God given capacity of love into all situations and relationships I am involved in today. Thank you God.


Pic... me in Cape Breton... seeing so much further than just the end of my nose!