Who sees all being in his own SELF

"Who sees all beings in his own Self and his own Self in all beings, loses all fear". This quote comes from the Isa Upanishad. I continue a periodic meditation and want to do it daily however I allow other distractions to keep me from sitting. This morning, in The Book of Awakening by Mark Nero, a gift from Joan Trabucco, I read the quote above, and the reflection Mark wrote and it resonated with me. Practicing seeing me in everyone helps to take away judgment, enhance compassion and deepen each relationship. I have also been practicing being in the present moment. As my mind wanders to worry about the future, I keep bringing myself back to experience where I am, who I am with and find the beauty of each moment deepening.

My neighbor Jenny

Jenny is 95 and we see her sweeping her yard, getting her newspaper and taking her recycling and garbage cans to the curb each week. She is vibrant and friendly and knows the history of our neighbors, and our home as she has lived in her home across the street since 1957. She maintains her yard beautifully, and she invited me to see her backyard yesterday. WOW, like the paradise I imagine. She has a green lawn with a bird bath in the middle and surrounding the lawn are big beautiful hedges and trees. She grows beautiful geraniums, most from clippings. Jenny's life is simple and she claims her good health is from taking care of her garden. I believe her and I think this is the best advice for healthy living. She is living proof of her claim. My brief encounters with Jenny are always joyful and filled with a nugget of interesting facts or tips on living. Thank you Jenny.

Letting my compass guide me

Sometimes I am clouded by society's measures of success: having more money, bigger house, exotic travels, younger body and all of the material matters you or I can name. I continue to seek my way out of the clouds through meditation, my yoga practice and returning to my values, most especially faith, family, friends and health. In my practice today, the image of an inner compass guiding me to contentment was present in every breath. When I focus on my breathing and notice the inhalation, the subtle pause and the exhalation, the peace that is within becomes ever present. The idea of following my compass, perhaps a metaphor for following the Holy Spirit dwelling within, in order to balance my life between earth's realities and heaven's graces, I am allowing the compass to create the path of balance. Today, I felt contentment as lightness of being, literally lifting me into heaven while being fully grounded "rooted" to earth. What earth represents I will describe as my basic needs of food, shelter, meaningful work and what heaven represents I will describe as quiet, peace and contentment. My compass pulls me into a balance between earth's call to focus and work and be productive and heaven's call to live with grace and in peace. Perhaps the enlightenment for today is that bringing the grace and peace to my daily work has created contentment beyond all measure. My compass is guiding me in every moment to grace and contentment

Meditation for today

It began with forgiveness, gratitude, petition, and became reflection, silence, tears, lightness and healing. This was the order of my meditation this morning. I wish for you today to close your eyes, sit quietly and find the healing of just being in God's presence. Love Gretchen

My Lenten Journey

Aspiring to simplicity as a lifestyle has brought much joy. Lent, a season in the Christian faith marks the 40 days before Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the penitential preparation of the believer—through prayer, penance, repentance, almsgiving, and self-denial. This year like many years I'm giving up something and trying to do more for the poor, particularly through my service in St. Vincent de Paul. Also this year I took a broader approach to my overall journey and that is trying to live more simply. For me, this includes walking as often as possible, eating light meals with fresh ingredients, praying as a way of life, and practicing moderation in food, drink, activity, to do lists and other areas that try to lure me into gluttony. I am finding that being this is creating a simplicity that is life giving. I feel more alive every day, my energy has increased exponentially and frustrations dissipate sooner. My Lenten journey of prayer and penance is creating peace, almsgiving is returning gifts of love untold and self denial is bringing joy in abundance. Perhaps I shall continue these 40 days forever.

I Hold You

This expression, "I hold you", is used frequently by my youngest nephew Nathaniel when he wants to be held. I love it as it really articulates a deeper level of need that exists in the world, a need to be held and comforted. Children, who have not formed the "crusts", as I call the layers of armour built around our body as a protection or defense that is a result of either our upbringing or desire to be politically correct, state exactly what they want and express their inner feelings including asking to be held and or having tantrums. In our own way, when we do not speak from our mind or heart, these "crusts" of supposed protection usually creates a more negative outcome. Specifically, when we hold in our words, thoughts and actions because we think that is what we are suppose to do, in lieu of crying, shouting, sometimes cursing or other expression not expressed, we develop rigidity and worse disease. This morning, as I was meditating, I began to feel the rocking sensation that often occurs during a deep meditation and with clarity in mind I felt a sense of being held by God. I picked up my little cross that I keep near while meditating, held it to my heart, and knew that God was calling me to hold Him. PS I recall often, my mother sitting on my father's lap at the end of a long day and being held by dad. Is there someone you can hold today? I hold you.

Back on Track

My theme this year revolves around keeping resolutions, through periodic fresh starts and clean slates. Each day I reflect on what I want to do and some gets done and some does not. Well here I am, on January 23 and using rain as my excuse, I am not inclined to go out on a walk nor did I walk last week. This morning I shall do a yoga practice including some quiet meditation. I read that meditation may in fact help us stay focus, certainly allows for some quietness in otherwise full days. I am recommitting this morning to at least doing my yoga this morning. Here I go.