Speaking of Spirit

Tonight, as I was preparing for our traditional feast, the thought came to me that I wasn't quite as joy-filled as I could be.  Hmmm, I pondered, what was the matter with me? On Sunday last, I co-officiated at an Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration which I also organized.  The theme was Joy-filled Thanks.  I started thinking about what we had said during our service and realized it was time to walk the walk! So, I sat down and began to take stalk of all that I had to be grateful for as well as why this should bring me limitless joy.  Within seconds, I had a smile on my face, spring in my step and a jaunty tune running through my head.  "Give thanks as joyfully as if you were the person receiving!"  Someone in my life said this to me, but for the life of me, I can't remember who that wise someone was.  No matter. The idea has stuck and now I am sharing it with all of you.  Giving is a blessing to both the giver and the receiver, so......

  Photo Credit: Google Public Domain Images In this life, we all wear many hats. Sometimes, it is difficult to juggle the hats we wear and stay on center.  Parents have this problem.  They are parents as well as children ; they work ; they are active in their communities ; they are friends, relatives, neighbors.  Each connection requires different hats...sometimes more than one hat at the same time! Of late, I have had my poet's hat on as I have been supporting the work of The Center for New Americans , a non-profit organization that " provides the under-served immigrant, refugee and migrant communities of Massachusetts' Pioneer Valley with education and resources to learn English, become involved community members and obtain tools necessary to maintain economic independence and stability ."  As a poet, I am writing 30 Poems in November . People sponsor me, much like they do in a r ace to rai se funds for an organization.  So far , I am abou...

When I was asked to contribute to the Gratitude Quilt, I wasn't sure what it was going to look like.  What a wonderful surprise to see the words of so many people patched together into a word quilt. Thank you, Laura Hegfield for creating such a lovely example of Gratitude! http://www.shinethedivinecreativityisaspiritualpractice.com/2014/11/gratitude-quilt-2014.html

Image via Wikipedia When we think of the word parables, many people automatically think of Jesus. Parables, simple stories that taught a moral or spiritual lesson, were a common means of teaching during his day.  Jesus was a master storyteller! Other great teachers used stories, as well.  Here is a parable from the Buddhist traditions: The 84th Problem A man once came to see the Buddha to get help with his problems. After the man had told the Buddha one of his problems and asked for help, the Buddha replied: "I cannot help you get rid of that problem." The man was surprised that the Buddha could not help him in this regard, but he told the Buddha about another problem; he thought to himself that the Buddha should at least be able to help him with that problem. But the Buddha told him "I cannot help you with that problem either." The man started to get impatient. He said: "How can it be that you are the perfectly Enlightened Buddha, when yo...

Georg Flegel [Public domain],  via Wikimedia Commons We find ourselves in the seasons celebrating harvest, remembrance and light. Each faith tradition or spiritual path has celebrations or observances during the months of October, November and December.  These are the dark months, the months where we in the northern hemisphere prepare for winter.  These are the months of harvest and of remembering that at some point in this life, our "light" will cease to shine.  We will return to the Creator. And, so, we remember those who have gone ahead, praying that they have found eternal Light.  We pray that we will meet again, when our time comes.  We give thanks for what we have been given and pray that it will sustain us until the days are long once more. So, as we pass through these dark months, let us light a candle and pray - Creator, great Harvester of Light and Love, hear us as we prepare for the darkened days, hear us as we light our way ...