Resolutions....

Happy New Years Eve! 

May it include party hats, confetti, and noise makers! 

And don't forget the resolutions! 

Do you make them? 

Are they like this one?

 

 

I read today that 45% of us make resolutions while 38% refuse.

Also read that if you're in your 20's you have a 39% chance of success,

but for those of us over 50, our chances drop to a measly 14%.

What does that say?

So while the usual suspects top the list of the ten most popular resolutions

(i.e. weight loss, getting organized, and quitting smoking)

 I prefer these words from author Neil Gaiman's blog:

 

"I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things,

trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world.

You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes.

Make glorious, amazing mistakes.

Make mistakes nobody's ever made before.

Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough,

or it isn't perfect, whatever it is:

art, or love, or work or family or life.  

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it. 

Make your mistakes, next year and forever."

 

sheer joy

What do wise men do all day?

Meditate?  Pray?  Discuss deep theological topics?

I often wonder if they tire of one another

as they are always together.

As an extrovert I love being around people,

but I would tire of being in the constant presence of others.

And yes, the wise men have had their tiffs,

 but for the most part, they exude such a strong bond of love.

 

So I asked them today.

Me:  "How do you get along so well with one another?

Wise1:  "Ah...excellent question, dear one." 

 

Wise2:  You see, we really don't consider ourselves as separate."

 

Me:  "Huh?  I'm not sure I understand?"

 

Wise3: "Understanding is not the holy grail."

 

Wise2:  "And seeking explanations will only make you cranky."

 

Me: "Sounds rather Zen to me."

 

Wise3:  "Our spiritual practice is to focus on Love."

 

Wise1:  "And we practice Loving one another. 

Just like the Love born in Bethlehem.

For is not God known by relationships?"

 

Me:  "I don't completely comprehend your mysterious ways but I do love you!"

 

Wise2:  "And we love who we are when we are with you."

 

Wise3:  "Thomas Aquinas said it best:"

 

"God is sheer joy, and sheer joy demands company."

 

Me:  "Oh, I like that image of God as sheer joy!

 

 

And once again, the company of the wise ones brings me joy....

 

 

Wise Men Seeking the Light

 

 

 

 

While lighting my Advent wreath last night for the 3^rd Sunday in Advent I noticed the 3 wise men had made a move.  They had been back in the corner for the longest time so I was surprised to see them this close.  Not wanting to irritate them in any way (which they say I do on a regular basis) I just stood there, waiting for them to initiate a conversation.  It didn’t take long for them to speak and as usual they got right to the point.

Wise1:  Why haven’t you been speaking to us?

Me:  Whatever happened to people greeting one another with ‘Hello, how are you?’ 

Wise1:  Hello, how are you, and why haven’t you been speaking to us?

Me: That’s a bit better.  I’m well, thank you very much, and you know me,  I like to give you guys your space.

Wise2:  We think you forgot about us. That you’ve moved on or outgrown us.  We figured that’s why you moved us into this storage unit.

Me:  First of all, this is not a storage unit, it’s a 5^th wheel and I could never forget about you three!

Wise3:  5^th wheel?  We’re on 5 wheels?  Dear God, don’t start this thing on an odd number of wheels!!!

Me:  Silly wee men, we would have to be attached to a truck to go anywhere.  This is our home at the present time.  Don’t you think it’s kind of cozy?  I thought you’d like it better since you are no longer closed off in a bathroom.  Now you have a view of the whole world…

Wise1:  Which reminds us of that Disney song, “It’s a Small World After All.”

Wise3:  I apologize for my compadre's rude remark.  We just miss our bathroom shelf, especially our leprechaun and our book.  We felt comfortable there and don’t understand why we had to leave.

Me:  Well, life is about change.  Unfortunately your leprechaun pal caught a glimpse of a rainbow outside the bathroom window and ran off in search of yet another pot of gold, but I could provide you with some sort of diversion.  How about a new book to read.  Would you like that?

Wise2:  Yes please. We so enjoy a good read.  And we're pretty sure that leprechaun took our Thomas Merton book with him!

Me:  I've told you fellas that you can never trust a leprechaun...

Wise2:  And wifi would be terrific.  In the meantime, is it really the 3^rd week of Advent?

Me:  Indeed it is.  The week of Joy.  Known as Gaudete Sunday which comes from the Latin word for “rejoice.” This marks the halfway point.  Are you feeling joyful?

Wise3:  Not really.  We’ve been having a bit of a pity party and not wanting to reach out.

Wise1:  But now we’re glad we did. 

Me:  Me too…I haven’t been good about keeping connected and for that I apologize.  Which reminds me of this wonderful quote about our need for one another.  Check it out while I search for that book…

Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light.   -Albert Schweitzer

Wise3:  Yes, this is a lovely quote that wise men like us should practice.  And we really didn’t mean to complain about the housing you’ve provided.  You are kind, but when we focus only on ourselves, we tend to get a bit melancholy.  Here’s to rekindling one another’s light as we continue walking this path together!

Me:  Amen!

(If you are new to this blog and would like to read of previous adventures of the wise ones click on the "wise men" in the Labels section to the left.)

 

 

 

Guadalupe Feasting

Today is the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe

This image (which I stole from Sara Miles FB page)

gives a much richer meaning to "feast" day!



practicing eternity

 

"Seeing into darkness is clarity.

Knowing how to yield is strength.

Use your own light

and return to the source of light.

This is called practicing eternity."

 

Tao Te Ching - Stephen Mitchell

p.52



something on the horizon

In light of artist/author Jan Richardson's husband Garrison Doles having died today, I wanted to use one of her wonderful Advent quotes.  May she find the light in the darkness as she grieves the loss of her beloved.

 

“The season of Advent means there is something on the horizon

the likes of which we have never seen before… .

What is possible is to not see it, to miss it,

to turn just as it brushes past you.

And you begin to grasp what it was you missed,

like Moses in the cleft of the rock,

watching God's [back] fade in the distance.

So stay. Sit. Linger. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Wonder.

There will be time enough for running.

For rushing. For worrying. For pushing. For now, stay.

Wait. Something is on the horizon.”

Jan L. Richardson, Night Visions:

Searching the Shadows of Advent and Christmas.

 

To join her Advent online retreat go to the painted prayerbook.

Cast Away Calendar

Do you remember Cast Away?

Poor Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) spent four years on his island waiting.

The good news is that we have only four weeks to wait.

And we don't have to converse with only a volleyball.

(unless you're into that, which of course is just fine.)

  

 

 

photo from Occupy Advent

First Sunday Advent 2013

'Tis the first Sunday in Advent 2013.....in today's sermon I heard "it's time to do the deep work of Advent"....I wonder what that will look like? 
Here's what I have for today - a quote by Fr. Alfred Delp who lived a deep and meaningful life...



"Light your candles quietly,

such candles as you possess,

wherever you are."

 

Do you like my 'candles'???
My husband put lights on my prayer flag that attaches to the side of our 5th wheel....
They are making me very happy~!