Reserved

When we see a sign that says reserved, we generally respect it.  We go out of our way to find another place to sit or park or whatever the circumstances entail.  Bottom line is we look for another alternative.  Why?  Well because we respect that someone else has booked ahead, paid for a spot or have taken the time to plan for the occasion and made sure that the space is available.  We do this for a physical, tangible thing.  Now, let me ask you, what about your quiet time?  Do you reserve it?  Mark it as unavailable for this period?  Do you respect it?  Do you make sure that others respect it?

Peace of mind is no laughing matter.  Statistics say that anxiety is on the rise in all age groups and will be the leading chronic disease in a few short years. With this in mind the idea of having a reservation for oneself to sit quietly, in a space that is both peaceful and fills you with peace would seem to an important investment.  Why is it so hard to invest in ourselves?  In the great adventure of life, we invest in a variety of things but when it comes to our own health, particularly mental health we are more concerned with how it might look if an hour or more a day is marked reserved.  Reserved for quiet, contemplation, peace.  Reserved to just be!

Yesterday, Laurence Freeman talked on no parking.  He took the talk down the road of following Jesus.  But his talk took me on a slightly different path.  Not merely no parking but reserved.  Reserved for a period of time each day for quiet, for peace so that the spirit as well as the physical and mental aspect of the body have time to recharge, refocus and renew.  Reserved not because we have nothing to do, not because we are lazy, not because we are slacking off but because it is essential to our whole being.  But as essential as it is, it is all too frequently the time we give up the quickest because life is busy and we will always be able to fit that hour in sometime later.  Later rarely comes. What does arrive is an overwhelming sense of too much to do and too little time to do it.  The reality is that hour will make little difference in the big scheme of things but in the here and now of our well being it changes everything for us.  Peace, calm, quiet and investment in the self by and large means we are more productive in the long run.  So, I encourage you to invest.  Invest in yourself and your whole being.  Find a space in your day that is just for you and sit quietly.  Listen to the waves, listen to the birds singing, watch animals at play and let the peace wash over you and come away from your reservation completely renewed.  What are you waiting for?  Make your reservation and most importantly honour it!

Rough Seas

The sea, oh the sea, the wonderful sea
Long may she roam between nations and me;

And everyone here should go down on one knee,

Thank God we're surrounded by water.

(Dick Nolan, Thank God we’re surrounded by Water)

There is nothing quite like hurricane season!  After eight years away from the island I was home and got to experience the hurricane season.  The warnings were dire and everyone was preparing to the best of their ability but nature is unpredictable and one never knows if the looming storm will change directions, blow out, make landfall or a whole host of other possibilities. So with some trepidation we waited for Dorian to arrive.  

Well most waited and despite warnings of how much rain we might get, how much wind could be expected, road washouts that could definitely occur (and on and on the list of concerns were voiced) my friend CHT and I hit the road for a weekend in my hometown.  A warm welcome and a yummy dinner awaited us even as the wind picked up and the rain began.  It was a blustery night but not the worst we had experienced.  The winds gusted at 110 km, this little town is used to more.  Yes the house occasionally shook and there really is no way to describe the howling wind.  Nature was putting on a show it its full glory.  The following day the winds had dropped back (a mere 80km or so) and with only squalls of rain we headed out in the car.  No not to leave but to go to the beach and see the majesty (and terror) of the sea as it rolled and kicked up a storm.  The crashing waves were spectacular ( it was clearly not a day for a lot of walking) but honestly I do regret not taking that hike from earlier this summer, I am sure the pictures would have been worth a soaking.  

Suffice it to say my sister thought I was a bit crazy and that maybe, just maybe, I had been gone to the mainland for too long.  For me there was the beauty of the waves, the roar of the sea and for the local people relief that it had not been a whole lot worst.  However, my friend CHT braved the elements with me and yes we got the requisite selfie!

Nature in all its beauty is glorious and terrifying and while the hurricane caused so much damage, destruction and death it’s ending was to show not merely the power of nature but the beauty that one can find at the end of the storm.  Enjoy the pictures of the ending of Tropical Storm Dorian.

 The sea crashes with a mighty roar in the beach

There is nothing quite so spectacular as the

waves crashing against the rocks

Here we are getting the selfie

 with a fabulous background

 A look from the top of the hill

You can appreciate how angry the sea is

A view from around town 

No ships sailing today

Life is like the ocean.  It can be calm and still, and rough or rigid, but in the end it is always Beautiful.  (Author Unknown)

Be the Reason

Today I listened to a man recount an experience that he had a few years ago.  He tells that it was at the airport, near the holidays.  He had been expecting long line ups so he had gone early to allow lots of extra time.  But much to his surprise it wasn't busy and that meant he had time for coffee.  The server entered into a conversation with him while taking his order and making his coffee. She smiled, laughed and they had a thoroughly pleasant conversation.  He was walking away to go to his gate when he stopped, turned around and returned to the counter.  He could not leave without asking her how so close to the holidays she could be so pleasant.  How she could smile, laugh and be with people in such a way when surely she would much rather be else where.  Her response was remarkable; she said she wasn't serving coffee she was pouring happiness in people's lives one cup of coffee at a time.  He finishes by saying "I'll never forget that cup of coffee."

After listening to this story I could not help but be impressed by the attitude of the young server.  This person chose to be happy but more than that she chose to share that happiness with others that she encountered across a coffee counter. In a world that rushes along, largely ignoring others, when we encounter such pleasantness we are often surprised.  Sadly too we are often doubtful about the sincerity.  I'm sure that there are even a few who scoff and say that a person can not be that pleasant or happy.  And yet, when we are fortunate enough to have that chance encounter it leaves us feeling a little better about the world, it makes us smile just a bit more largely and it definitely leaves a lasting impression with us.

Like the young lady in the story we all have choices.  We can choose to lament what we could, should or might be doing or we can enjoy the place and the moment we are in right now and enrich not only our own life but perhaps in the process even touch the life of another and leave a lasting, positive experience.  So as the quote says, in a world where you can be anything be kind!
In a world where so many face challenges and difficulties...
In a world which challenges us daily and sets us back,
In a world that causes us to keep our guard up,
In a world that  makes us put barriers in place to protect ourselves remember to always be kind.  And more than this help pour kindness and happiness to make our world a gentler, better place.  In so doing we change not only others but ourselves in the process.

Memories of My Father’s Cup

My Dad's tea cup.

Photo credit Kevin Thorne

Every now and then and for no particular reason memories pop in my mind.  Sometimes they relate to a particular event, date or experience and other times they are random, seemingly  coming to mind for no apparent reason. As I was driving home one evening I had one of these random thoughts and I began to think about my father's tea cup.

Now tea for my father was an event.  It rarely meant tea alone.  He liked to have something to accompany the hot beverage.   It might be crackers (with lots of butter), tea buns (biscuits here on the mainland) a slice of cake, a cookie or two or old fashioned plain donuts.  Yes indeed, tea was an event.  It occurred more than once throughout the day.  In fact by 10 am he would be in looking for a snack to tide him over to lunch followed by an afternoon snack or two before the evening meal and you guessed it about 9 p.m there would be more tea and goodies for him.  And as pleasant as these warm memories are the snacks were not what drew me to my memory but rather the tea cup.

My father liked his tea boiling hot, none of the luke warm tepid water for him.  A good rolling boil of the kettle was required.  The water, almost still boiling was poured over the bag in the cup.  To that was added several heaping spoons of sugar and carnation milk.  The cup was fine bone China, a proper tea cup.  No mugs for my Dad.  Apparently the tea just didn't taste right unless it was in a cup (a mug was just not acceptable).  He always complained that it never stayed hot enough.

The cup though was what I started to think about.  One memory, the cup, led to many more and certainly added a smile for me as I thought about the cup, the tea and all the snacks my Dad enjoyed.  Then there were the visitors he welcomed with a cup of tea and the willingness to share moments together over a cup and a snack.  We never quite knew who he might have invited in or what he might have had ready to offer.  Many years ago, my DH was at a meeting and he met a person who proceeded to tell him about the generosity of the people in Newfoundland.  He wanted to know where in NL my DH was living and working.  During the conversation he ascertained that my DH had in-laws in the very community that he and his friends had visited.  The man proceeded to tell my DH that they had been looking for a place to eat, saw a man sitting on the front bridge so they pulled the car in the driveway to ask him.  They were told that he wasn't sure where the best place might be in town but he was happy to give them lunch. So they went in had lunch together.   Once they finished and had a little visit they went on their way, they left with a very different but welcoming experience.  This man then told my DH the name of the man.  My DH started to chuckle and told them it was his father in-law. A small world, a shared memory.  In reality we never knew how many people my father invited in and offered a cup of tea (and a whole host of other goodies).


All of this got me wondering what happened to his favorite cup whether it was still in the cupboard at home or long gone. (As you see from above it is still there).  This prompted me to ask my mother and subsequently ask my brother to take a picture and send it.   A random thought that popped into my head on a short drive home took me on a beautiful walk down memory lane.  My Dad died twenty years ago and while he is missed every day I treasure the memories that we shared together.  The laughs, the arguments,  the tea.  I am reminded by him in our last conversation together that he is always with me because he is in my heart and according to him that was a good place to be.  So  I  smile at the memory, shed a tear as I remember and miss him and now maybe I'll go boil the kettle, find a cup and toast him with a hot cup of tea!

Time Out

Holy Cross Priory Chapel

Whenever I hear the words "time out" I immediately think that someone is being punished for doing or saying something inappropriate.  The phrase and action is most often associated with young children.  But it does not have to be that way.  So I am in a time out. My time out is utterly pleasant and relaxing.  I am taking a time out of my real life and enjoying a quiet retreat.  The focus that I have given myself is mindfulness.

It is easy to enjoy the time out when you are living with a community.  So for one week, I have retreated to the Holy Cross Priory to be quiet, mindful and prayerful.  It was while I was talking with one of the Brothers that I began to ponder what this community means.  It is more than an escape, more than time out of time, more than prayer.  It is a place of belonging to re-group, re-focus and re-connect, not merely with the community but with ones self.

It is also a reminder of how there are so many who pray for everyone in the world, intentionally!  The rhythm of prayer is a continuous circle, beginning here while finishing elsewhere, finishing here and beginning somewhere else.  The reminder of the rhythm offers comfort and hope.  A fitting reminder that even if we lose focus in life, stumble and struggle on our path, someone somewhere is praying for for us and for new light and hope to shine in us.



I have always found a great comfort in being

with my Holy Cross community and,(after being absent from them for three years (far too long)) to be reminded that the rhythm continues, prayers are offered, and the circle of prayer goes on is a source of strength and comfort.  In my mindfulness exercise I am reminded in this time that there is a continuum.   The circle of prayer goes unbroken.   All of humanity is held in loving prayer.  And whether you are rushing through your day, taking a time out, or involved in other activities...someone, somewhere says a prayer.  Someone, somewhere prays for you.

Lamps, Lifeboats, Ladders

Be a lamp or a lifeboat or a ladder.  

Help someone’s soul heal.  

Walk out of your house like a shepherd.

RUMI

It is strange the little things, sayings or quotes that give a reminder of another experience or story. Today when I opened my grateful word of the day and read it my mind went to an entirely different story. It was a story that I had once used in a sermon illustration.

A terrible storm came into a town and local officials sent out an emergency warning that the riverbanks would soon overflow and flood the nearby homes. They ordered everyone in the town to evacuate immediately.
A faithful Christian man heard the warning and decided to stay, saying to himself, “I will trust God and if I am in danger, then God will send a divine miracle to save me.”
The neighbors came by his house and said to him, “We’re leaving and there is room for you in our car, please come with us!” But the man declined. “I have faith that God will save me.”
As the man stood on his porch watching the water rise up the steps, a man in a canoe paddled by and called to him, “Hurry and come into my canoe, the waters are rising quickly!” But the man again said, “No thanks, God will save me.”
The floodwaters rose higher pouring water into his living room and the man had to retreat to the second floor. A police motorboat came by and saw him at the window. “We will come up and rescue you!” they shouted. But the man refused, waving them off saying, “Use your time to save someone else! I have faith that God will save me!”
The flood waters rose higher and higher and the man had to climb up to his rooftop.
A helicopter spotted him and dropped a rope ladder. A rescue officer came down the ladder and pleaded with the man, "Grab my hand and I will pull you up!" But the man STILL refused, folding his arms tightly to his body. “No thank you! God will save me!”
Shortly after, the house broke up and the floodwaters swept the man away and he drowned.
When in Heaven, the man stood before God and asked, “I put all of my faith in You. Why didn’t You come and save me?”
And God said, “Son, I sent you a warning. I sent you a car. I sent you a canoe. I sent you a motorboat. I sent you a helicopter. What more were you looking for?”

The author of this piece is unknown. The story makes an incredible point. We so often look about for answers, solutions thinking it will be the big expression. The small events that seem insignificant can sometimes pack a bigger punch. And yet too often we ignore all of the little signs around us. We want the big miraculous event and all the while what we need has been constantly available.

More than this is also the quote from Rumi. We just might be the ladder, the lamp or the lifeboat that someone else needs. We might be the one that brings a connection, light and hope to another who is lost and searching. But in order for us to know how to respond, we first need to go out our doors, be present and less self absorbed and truly see what is required of us. God sends all that we and others need; ladders, lamps, lifeboats the key is to recognize that it comes in various forms, interesting ways and different people.

You are what you eat

What do you feed yourself on a daily basis? Oh, I don't mean what's good for you or if you are following a proper nutrition plan; not that it is not important.  But I want to know what you feed your brain.  It seems everytime I listen to the news there is yet another tragedy being reported.  And it seems as if life is of less and less value.  I ask myself regularly why is there so little value placed on life.

You see I still live in a bit of an ideal world.  And in my ideal world people are equal.  Everyone is treated the same and afforded equal opportunities.  I believe when you look at a person you do not see the outer shell but the value of the person, no matter what their abilities.  I did warn you I am an idealist.  And as much as the world intrudes and reminds me of the great levels of hate that exist I refuse to sink to the same level.  I insist on doing my best to treat those that I meet by seeing the person first and the shell that we cart ourselves around in as a happy after thought.

Now I'm  about to date myself! I still remember the scene in Family Matters when Waldo, not known for his intellect said "you guys think you can walk all over me because I'm dumb.  But I have feelings too.  If you cut me, do I not cough?  If you hit me, do I not sneeze?  And if you call me names, do I not eat?"  In a very humorous manner he reminded his friends and television watchers that underneath our skin we are all the same.  We all hurt.  We all bleed. We all feel.

So in a world that focuses too much on our differences,  focus instead on how we are all similar.   In a world that chooses to focus on hate, focus instead on love.  In a world that focuses of the bad be the one who does some good.  In  a world that often fails to value the person let those you encounter know just how valuable they are.  And one small encounter of goodness and hope at a time we will hopefully see a change around us.  Feed hope, love and compassion  to yourself daily and then in turn share the same with others.