Speaking of Spirit

(c) 2019 Rev. Linda M. Rhinehart Neas “Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.” ~ Ann Landers We are all born letting go.  With that first rush of water and the cutting of the umbilical cord, we are released into a world in which letting go becomes a fine art in which beauty reigns or a misery that haunts us. Autumn is a time of great beauty as well as of letting go. If we sit outside for a minute or two here in New England, we can watch how gracefully the trees let go of their leaves. We can see the geese and other birds letting go of their summer homes to head south. We can hear the farm equipment bringing in the crops from fields and orchards that let go of their bounty.  Nature teaches us this art. Unfortunately, many of us have trouble letting go.  We cling to relationships that are toxic for fear of being alone. We cli...

  © Tomas Castelazo, www.tomascastelazo.com / Wikimedia Commons I just finished reading Greta Thunberg's speech to Congress on Climate Change. What an amazing young woman! Then, I heard her speak to those gathered for the UN Summit on Climate Change.  She didn't mince words. What a courageous young woman!  But, wait...she is not a woman, she is all of 16 years old - a child! Yet, she has the poise and determination that many adults lack and wished they had. What she is saying for all the world to hear is that we adults have done nothing but lip service to the issue of climate change, even though we have known for years (at least the last 100, if not more) that this is an issue. I remember learning that scientists back in the 50's and 60's were warning of catastrophic problems from too much CO2. When a child looks at the leaders of the world and says, "How dare you steal my dreams!" it is tough to hear. True there are those who diligently have t...

Photo Art: (c) 2019 Rev. Linda M. Rhinehart Neas In the Catholic church there is a prayer said before Communion - "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but say the word and I shall be healed." I don't think I ever really thought about what was being said - what the words meant - until I watched a new series from Britain called, Broken .  The main character in the series is a priest who is struggling with flashbacks from his abusive childhood. He is a good man, dedicated to serving the people of his parish. He is compassionate, thoughtful, respectful, gentle and understanding with them, yet he struggles to be this way with himself.  Not until his mother dies, after he has forgiven her for her part in his painful and traumatic childhood, does he finally understand the words he speaks each time he celebrates the Mass.  The realization for me was that we say words, rote prayers and often do not connect with the words. Like a record that skips, we keep re...

(c) 2019 Rev. Linda M. Rhinehart Neas From my window seat Creator paints the seasons Simple sustenance

 Photo (c) 2016 Rev. Linda M. Rhinehart Neas Long before her death, my mother told me that the yellow butterfly was her sign or symbol.  She said, "When you see a yellow butterfly, it will be me."  After her death, a yellow butterfly has visited me often.  The serendipity of these sightings is often so poignant as to bring me to tears.  Skeptics, on the other hand, tell us that we see signs and symbols because we want to see them. They say that our need to have some kind of proof causes us to find an answer where there really isn't one. This may be, however, there are times when things happen, when signs appear where the variables are simply too high to brush off as matter of fact. In my life, I have found signs and symbols that could not be reasoned away on multiple occasions. Allow me to give you an example of the most recent event.  My daughter and family were on a river in Maine with her husband's sister and her family. The boys were playi...

Over that past two weeks, the stories of love and compassion shared with our family and friends have been extraordinary.  My brother, Barry touched the lives of others in so many ways.  During his eulogy, I said that his life was a mosaic - broken pieces held together with hope, faith and love. After hearing all the stories about Barry, I can see that Love was the glue that made a difference. You see, Barry believed in treating everyone from prince to paupers the same. The mosaic of Love Lessons from Barry's life can help us all learn. Here are a few that really touched my heart. When a young woman and companion was stuck in a parking lot with a car that had broken down, Barry and his niece saw them, lent a hand and developed, on the spot, a life-long friendship. When Barry was recovering from a liver transplant, his donor needed help on the farm. Barry went...no questions asked. As Barry was battling from stage 4 lung cancer, he learned of the cancer diagno...

Photo Art: 2019 Rev. Linda M. Rhinehart Neas “Who needs superheroes when you have a brother.” In this life, we each have something to learn and something to teach. I believe this. One of the great teachers of my lifetime, my younger brother, Barry, was also one of the greatest superheroes I have ever met. As a lifelong student, Barry, struggled at times, but never gave up. Once he learned a lesson, he shared it with everyone...and I mean everyone! (which is how he became an amazing teacher...no degree...simply a naturally born teacher) His elevation to superhero came after his struggle with liver failure five years ago. After a liver transplant from one of his best friends, (who was a closer match than Barry's male relatives) he dedicated his life to giving back to others and helping as many people as he could.  This week, he joined the Saints when his battle with cancer came to an end.  The following are lessons, our Barry taught with great abandon! Lif...