Lazy Saturday, well for me.

Finding catch up time is rare, alas today I find moments to do laundry, write in the blog and stroll to Burlingame Ave. Ah, I know what they mean by Lazy Saturday. Well for me this day gave me moments of time to just putz and move and have my being be. Wishing you all a Lazy Saturday even if it's tomorrow.

Heaven's Back Gate

Heaven's back gate is wide open for all. God of mercy stands ready to welcome and to heal all. On my walk yesterday I was suddenly inspired that God had a back gate for all to enter. We often hear depictions of Peter at the pearly gates, saying yes or no. Many jokes and stories imply that some come in and some are turned away from this place called heaven. Today, on my walk, I had this beautiful realization/revelation that there is a back gate where all enter and none are turned away. When invited home or to my good friends' homes, I know to just enter through their back gate. My back gate is open and thank God heaven's is too.

Uplifting the World

Seems like the world needs a boost. Today a client and friend indicated her husband was laid off effective tomorrow. Later another colleague and friend indicated she had lost part of her hearing and several other sad things had occurred in her life. Lastly my brother asked our family to pray for a friend of his who, at age 46, had suffered a massive heart attack and was not doing well. In addition to these mentioned sufferings, it seems as people are struggling more than ever and even beyond the financial crisis that exists there is melancholy in the air. I decided during the last few days to find opportunities to provide a kind word, an open heart, and acts of service so that I might be able to uplift the world around me, if only a little. This blog, if read, has a request to you: today be more forgiving with yourself and others, be more generous with yourselves and others and do as many acts of kindness as possible. Maybe through these actions we can uplift the world.

Rocking the Universe

This morning's meditation went too fast. Thirty minutes mostly filled with silence of monkey mind as a spontaneous rocking created a beautiful peaceful nurturing connection to all. My mind rested as my body practically rocked me into a peaceful connection to the universe from heaven to earth all was one. As this occurred I was not able nor did I want this sensation to stop. It felt to me as a deep oneness with the universe, a universe that needed to be held in the arms of the Father/Mother GOD to calm the struggles of the heart, mind, body, the world's sufferings. Oh that we realize that God is waiting to rock us into peace. Today, now I have a peaceful presence and a oneness with all. I find that I want to hold the universe in my arms and rock her into the peace that is.

After the Vacation

As I move into "real life," following a lovely week with my family, I find I am reflective on all we are as family. We are all good friends and enjoy and love each other. In the thick of "real life" I am missing the week together with the people I most love. I did my meditation this morning and while I try to sit in silence and just breathe my mind begins prayers of intention for each member to have peace, health and love. A deep gratitude fills my heart to over flowing and will sustain me for a long time after the vacation with my family. I feel a refreshment and renewal that brings a sense of commitment for the work and life that is. I am deeply blessed to be a part of our family and recognize that we are part of a greater family called the world.

Stop the Madness

Just returning from our family vacation in Fresno with my 31 family members, including 15 nieces and nephews, 4 brothers and 4 sisters, 4 spouses, 1 niece's husband and mom and dad. We had fun under the leadership of my amazing sister Bridget, who runs a camp like schedule including games and family trivia. We have been getting together for the past 5 years to celebrate JP and Jonna’s wedding, birthdays, baptisms, my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary and just being together as family in "communion." During our 5 or so days together we shared more joy than frustration, more freedom than control and more love than disappointment. There are times when-- with so many people together, much sun, and late nights--exhaustion and tension creep in. Matthew called it "stop the madness." I learned from the little ones how to “stop the madness,” they would say, “Aunt Gretchen, can we go to our room?” and there we would go to sit and rest, do yoga, watch TV and play Tropix on the computer. These little breaks where we "stopped the madness" enabled us to go back to the pool and to the others with a refreshed heart and renewed energy. Take time to stop the madness and go to your room where there is rest.

Nothing on my mind

Sometimes in writing whether it is in my beautiful yellow journal or my on-line blog I find a freeing of the mental gymnastics that goes on in my mind. As I write or type, as this case, my mind begins to let the thought go to paper so that the mind can make space for nothing. Can you imagine nothing on your mind, what a blessing that would be? I will say that I am finding that expressing what needs to be said, and with a thoughtful approach mostly in communication with others, there is a freedom. A freedom of allowing full honest expression to free my mind to be open to nothing. The alternative is to mull, analyze and in my case continue to worry about what others will say if I actually speak what's one my mind. Once said I have noticed that my mind can let go. Letting go of what is my mind onto paper (in this case cyberspace) creates space. I must end now as I have nothing on my mind, and I smile, notice my breathing and just am.