10 of 40 Day 29 Spirituality

Yesterday, I worshipped at my childhood church.  When I was a kid it was a vibrant alive energetic church with many organizations and a large congregation.  But times change and today my church is a shell of its former self. The congregation of my youth has either moved away, passed away or moved on.  There are still people there that I know and appreciate.  People who work hard to keep the church going and support each other.  For this I am grateful.  My mom still attends and participates as an usher, a counter, in Bible Studies, selling flowers and pumpkins during fundraisers.  My Dads name is on a plaque downstairs honoring him as their first president of the United Methodist Men and my brother is on a plaque along with others as an Eagle Scout. My family is connected to this church and it's history and I am honored to be a part of the memories.  

When I think about the changes to this place, I called my church home and family for 18 years I guess I should be sad.  But I am not. I feel blessed to have experienced the relationships, the laughter, the opportunities to learn and grown in faith.  I feel blessed to have had a place as a child and young adult that I knew was safe and where I could develop my belief system.  So, as I see this place, this church that I am not sure will make it into next year, I smile and remember the good times. The times when my friends and I prayed together. I smile as I recall my Dad teaching my Sunday School class about Paul on the road to Damascus with his friend Mr. Fernandez. I think about my brother receiving his Eagle Scout award in the basement of the church, I think about playing Mary in the Nativity story, singing in the youth choir, going on retreats, alcolyting and dressing up like a UNICEF box to ask the congregation to support this wonderful charity.  So, how can I be sad when so much good has taken place.  I just have to remember that change happens and with change often times rebirth leads us to our next great adventure. I will be in prayer for my beautiful church and I will look forward to seeing what comes next and cherish the past that I so appreciate. 

What about you? Do you have a church family you love or have loved? If so, keep in mind we are all needed to help it continue to thrive and grow for ourselves and the next generation. We cannot take for granted the impact our connected church community can have on an individual or a family and on the people the church is there to serve.  

Wishing you Grace, Peace & Healthy Living,

Lorraine

10 of 40 Day 28 Spirituality

Freedom Tower

Yesterday I spent the day at the 9/11 Memorial.  In the past I have said I would not visit this site.  But as I stood at the Memorial outside the museum I recognized that I wanted to pay tribute to the people that had not only died there but also the people that survived.  I must say that this place was as spiritual as any church I could be standing in.  It was filled with stories of heroism and hope, love and caring for people known and unknown.  One story that stood out was a team of people that carried a wheelchair bound paraplegic down the stairs.  Exhausted after walking down numerous flights, the group sat down in utter tiredness and disbelief outside the building, when suddenly a group of rescue workers started screaming from all directions "You can't stay here" "Get up and RUN, RUN, RUN. This powerful moment was amongst many other outstanding moments of courage and fortitude.

Inside the 9/11 Memorial Museum

Throughout the day there was one thing I knew for sure, God was there, God was there with the rescue teams from the fire department and police department that ran in as everyone was running out.  God was there after, as teams of people continued to search and painstakingly look for those both dead and alive.  God was there as flags were raised and as our country and our world cried together.

Outside of the Memorial Museum at the 9/11 Memorial Site

The world, our world was changed after that fateful day.  And I like to believe we changed for the better.  We remembered what was important and we remembered what it means to love one another.  As I walked the halls of the memorial I was thankful for all the people who showed us what it means to be a child of God, what it means to be a citizen of this country and what it means to be a committed member of a community.  

God showed up in many ways that day and the days that followed.  And as one wall says so very poignantly "No Day Shall Erase You From The Memory of Time" - Virgil. 

Wishing you Grace, Peace & Healthy Living,

Lorraine

10 of 40 Day 27 Spirituality

I had the great fortune of visiting The Rubin Museum of Art located at 150 West 17th St, in N.Y.C. www.rubinmuseum.org yesterday. As stated in their mission statement  "The Rubin Museum of Art is a dynamic environment that stimulates learning, promotes understanding, and inspires personal connections to the ideas, cultures, and art of Himalayan Asia."

I was struck by two exhibits in particular.  The first was on the 6th floor called "The World is Sound"  This amazing exhibit actually doesn't really start on the 6th floor but on the 1st with a Le Corps Sonore (Sound Body).  It is a sound installation that flows through the Museum's vertical axis, from a resonant bowl up to the ceiling on the uppermost floor.  The work is the ultimate expression of Ellane Radigue's "Sonic Labyrinth,"  I love labyrinths, so you can imagine just how inspirational a sound labyrinth can be as you climb the incredibly beautiful spiral staircase and listen to the sound waves.  It is truly an amazing piece of listening art, that coincides perfectly with the idea found on the sixth floor of "Listening with Your Whole Body" specifically, using Tibetan Buddhist principals. You will experience listening as you lay down, as you place your hands on the walls and hear chants, as you watch videos that show the impact of the vibration of sound and as you look at art throughout the floor.  

A photograph of ladies drying fabric in India by Henri Cartier=Bresson. 

The second exhibit that I connected with was Henri Cartier-Bresson: India in Full Frame.  This exhibit was filled with the photographs of the famed photographer and his visits to India.  He captures the people and the country with such depth that you feel like you are there in the picture.  I was struck by what he and his camera found which included pictures of Gandhi after fasting for political purposes, just before his assassination and his funeral including the procession.  The images are striking and the work of this artist is worth a visit to The Rubin or of course at The Foundation Henri Cartier-Bresson in Paris, France. 

The entire experience made me much more aware and considerate of the Buddhist religion.  I have often said I am an advocate of meditation, but this exhibit truly showed me a deeper connection to this practice and the impacted it can leave on a person and the world.  I am a reader and appreciator of Thich Nhat Hanh.  His book "Living Buddha Living Christ" is a perfect example of a man enlightened to see the connection between our two religions and knowing that the similarities outweigh the differences. 

“~ “We have to continue to learn. We have to be open. And we have to be ready to release our knowledge in order to come to a higher understanding of reality.” ~”

— Thich Nhat Hanh

I think it is clear to say that I would recommend this experience to anyone visiting or living in the NY area.  It is a experience to appreciate through all of your senses and especially in this time of noise and distraction it is a  breath of fresh air and opportunity to really truly...... listen. 

Wishing you Grace, Peace & Healthy Living,

Lorraine

10 of 40 Day 26 Spirituality

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”

— John 3:16

Love

Do you believe in unconditional love? We talk about it as if it is possible but is your love truly unconditional.  We know God loves us unconditionally.  He loves us like we are His children. And I would believe that for most of us the love of our children is as close to unconditional as we can get.  But….do you have a breaking point?  A point when enough is just truly enough.  Have you lived that reality? If so, I can imagine it would be one of the most painful experiences to face.

Throughout the centuries God has had to teach us, forgive us, love us, forgive us, teach us again, forgive us and the pattern continues on and on.  But one thing that doesn’t change is His love for us.

When it comes to how we love, we talk about “falling” in love.  Falling is a scary thought.  True love can fill us with fear.  Fear of that love not being reciprocated, fear of being hurt, fear of losing ourselves in another person.  But love can also fill us with hope, joy and complete inner peace, a vibrant energy that with it we are free to do and be anything.

Does the positive outweigh the negative? For me, that answer is yes.  Look into the eyes of someone you love, don’t use any words, just touch the person on the shoulder and feel your heart.  Can you feel the energy – the electric surge of connection? Can you feel yourself connected to something more, something greater than yourself.

Now, think of God. Think about God’s love for us. Think about His connection. Meditate or pray, speak to God directly.  Can you feel it? Can you feel the love and energy that He is sending around you and through you.  As you feel the power of this moment, remember that this love is unconditional.  It is there for you and only you.  It is meant to give you hope, joy and peace. Enjoy the moment and bring it with you throughout your day knowing that you are special, unique, cared for and forever loved!

Wishing you Grace, Peace & Healthy Living,

Lorraine

“There is no greater power in Heaven or on Earth than pure, unconditional love. The nature of the God force, the unseen intelligence in all things, which causes the material world and is the center of both the spiritual and physical plane, is best described as pure, unconditional love.”

— Wayne Dyer

10 of 40 Day 25 Spirituality

Forgiveness

One of my fathers favorite comedians was Flip Wilson.  Flip Wilson would do a bit "The Devil Made Me Do It" Often times his character Geraldine would do something she shouldn't and then tell her husband with an elaborate story that "The Devil Made Me Do It" The stories were hysterical and if you've never had an opportunity to hear or see Flip Wilson make sure you look up some of his sketches.  

I bring Flip Wilson up because I think about how often we do something we actually regret, not like the Geraldine character trying to explain why she bought a dress. 

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9 NIV

Do you have pain you hold on to? And do you believe God truly forgives or is it difficult to imagine God forgiving you for the mistakes you make?

We can read the many verses in the Bible that talk about forgiveness, but isn't it difficult to believe that God can forgive us when we struggle not only forgiving others but ourselves as well?

Is it possible that when we learn to be understanding, when we judge less and accept more, when we stop the gossip and recognize the beauty in all people, even when they make a mistake that we can be more present to the love God provides in us and others. That maybe we can then learn to stop judging and condemning ourselves and those around us and know that God does forgive us and in turn we can be open to do what God asks of us and forgive others. 

Each Sunday, you most likely pray the Lord's Prayer in church.  But do you pray verse 14-15. 

“
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

— Matthew 6:9-15 NIV

The older I get the more in tune I have become to the notion that I do not understand or know why someone does what they do.  There is usually a bigger story than the one I know and most importantly it is not up to me to be the judge, jury and executioner.  I have made my fair share of mistakes and missteps in life.  I would like others to forgive me, and it is my goal to forgive others and to judge less. It many times may not be easy, but don't we all recognize - it's the right thing to do. So, take a moment today. Forgive those who have hurt you or someone you love and then take a moment to forgive yourself for what you have done to hurt yourself or someone else. And remember that - God has already forgiven you!

Wishing you Grace, Peace & Healthy Living,

Lorraine

10 of 40 Day 24 Spirituality

Christmas in July

We've all heard the advertisements - "Enjoy Christmas Savings in July!"  So, here we are once again in July and Christmas couldn't be any further away from our minds. Or is it?.... I just purchased my first gift for someone last week and it has me thinking about the monetary value we've connected to this very special day designed to remember the birth of our Lord and Savior. 

Are you starting to plan out your gift giving? Preparing to over shop, over think and over spend for this 2017 Christmas? The thought has me thinking....We so often start saying things like, "we need to end the commercialism of Christmas" (and other holidays for that matter), "we need to be thinking about the reason for the season," "we need to make Christmas about faith, family and love."  But do we ever follow through? Often times, when we start making these statements it's too late to make the necessary adjustments, people have already bought gifts for us and time starts rushing by quickly. Maybe, if we start considering a solution earlier.  What if we start planning now, in July to scale back on the gifts, volunteer more or volunteer to do a specific project, go to church and connect with our family.  Christmas in July could be a beautiful time of readjusting our thoughts and actions to really consider the magnitude of the day and by living it we could adjust our lives monumentally. What if we talked to family and friends about giving up the gift giving or using the money we would have spent to donate to our favorite charity and just spend time together. Could we collectively change the scope of our connection to others and to God this year?

With this thought in mind, I am going to begin implementing a new plan for December, right now. We will be scaling back the gifts, plan activities that give back, spending more quality time with family and friends and give to those who are truly in need. 

Let's take back our holiday and see what we gain. The gifts we receive may be far greater than the pretty boxes with bows under the tree. 

Wishing you Grace, Peace & Healthy Living,

Lorraine

10 of 40 Day 23 Spirituality

Inspiration

Do you feel inspiration in your life? For me nature inspires but you need to be present truly present to notice it.  As I sit outside typing this blog I stop and listen in on the birds chatting, I see the calm glass like lake slightly ripple and reflect the trees above, occasionally a fish jumps and I am reminded that there is as much going on under the water as there is above it. The gentle breeze moves our American flag banner ever so slightly and I find that my thoughts go to this day. Independence Day. An inspiration of a different kind.  Our forefathers and mothers battling to find a new life for us.  Sacrificing their lives to make our country great.

Are there other things to inspire me on this quiet morning?  My coffee is good but not the best I've made.  I am a coffee mug snob, so I am pleased to be drinking out of my white Starbucks mug. The coffee is black and warm and rich and I am inspired as I think about all the things that had to happen for this coffee to get to me.  All the lives the beans touched and the places that it came from before it graced my mug.  Something we take for granted in this beautiful country of ours, is that everything is available to us at any given moment. So yes, I believe even coffee can be inspiring.

Spiritually right now, I am inspired by Thomas Merton, St. Francis of Assisi, Richard Rohr and St. Teresa of Avila. I've read books like the The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer that have brought about such deep soul searching that I have to prepare myself to read it a second time. I read the beautiful writing of Thomas Merton whose book "The Seven Storey Mountain" is filled with poetic descriptions of his life and faith. I read "Love Poems from God - Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West" by Daniel Ladinsky and I am transported by the words. I am currently reading "Falling Upward" by Richard Rohr and wonder how he knows me so well. I also enjoy an app "Pray as you Go" Each day except Saturday you receive a new piece of music, scripture, reflection and time of prayer.

I am inspired by meditation and by music. By life stories of courage and love. By books and poems, by writings and nature.  I was recently inspired during a seminar, where the instructors had us do an exercise that we were able to feel the energy between us and connecting us. Now, that was inspiring.  

I am inspired by my husband, my children, my brothers, sisters in law and my nieces and nephews. I am inspired by friends. All of these people teach me everyday the importance of hard work, connection to others, using your inner energy to wake up to the world around you and they teach me to try to be free and kind.

Overall, the real gift of inspiration is one that I am still learning. To be present and use my senses, to recognize the gifts that stand in front of me, beside me and hold me up when my legs can't bear the weight of another day. 

So...I guess for me, my inspiration comes from many places. I just need to be awake to hear the voice within and open my heart to feel it's vibration.

Wishing you Grace, Peace and Healthy Living,

Lorraine 

“IN A WAY THE GRAIN CAN FEEL

Remember, God that we are the plants in your fields
so connected to the
earth
that you know what would happen
if you did not rain
upon us.
And if your light ceased to lift us from the ground
and craft our bodies,
how might we near you like the
suns?
Remember, God, to love us in a way
our souls can taste
and rejoice
in.”

— St. Teresa of Avila

10 of 40 Day 22 Spirituality

Nature

Do you see God in nature? I would assume everyone said "YES!". God is all around us,  in the birds and the trees, the water, and the breeze. God is in the owl you hear as the moon begins to disappear and the sun just starts to wake up in the sky. God fills the air with birds chirping in the morning and the sounds of squirrels rustling the leaves in the trees, God is the green grass and the blue skies. God is the smell of rain and the scent of lilacs on a spring day.  God is in the cool smooth water and the tickle of sand between your toes. God is in the fresh taste of corn from the stalk, sweet watermelon and crunchy broccoli.  

How do you feel God in the breeze and the warm sun? How are your senses awakened by God? What are the ways you feel the energy and the silent connection to something bigger than you, bigger than us, bigger than our world? When you are touched by that energy, that vibrant love that is living all around us, what do you do? How do you take note and what can you do with that feeling?

I am most awake and aware when I sit on my porch at the lake, when I walk along the beach or when I pick fresh vegetables from my garden.  When in these moments, I am overwhelmed by the sense of greatness all around me.  A world of beauty filled with textures, vivid colors, harmonious sounds, delicious smells and tastes. It is an opportunity to thank God for this gift.  A gift of wonder and beauty.  My favorite Bible verse is from Psalms 118 verse 24.  "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." I recite this verse every morning as a reminder that this day is beautiful no matter what the weather or the chaos that will possibly consume me later.  Because no matter what,  God's world is here for us, giving to us and loving us.  

Just like the amazing book "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. In the end giving "the boy" a stump to sit on.  Always giving to the end, God just like the giving tree - always there to help us and lend a stump to sit on and join Him. 

Wishing you Grace, Peace & Healthy Living,

Lorraine

“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.”

— Mother Teresa

10 of 40 Day 21 Spirituality

Faith & Religion

“God said, I am made whole by your life, Each soul, each soul completes me.””

— Hafiz

I am a Christian.  I grew up as a Methodist in a town that was predominately Catholic or Jewish.  My Dad grew up with Catholic traditions, so of course we ate the dreaded fish stick every Friday night. My father in law was Catholic so of course I would have rosary beads hanging in my house. My sister in law grew up in a Catholic household and went to Catholic school for the entirety of her pre-college education.  And I must say I really do like this Pope.  Pope Francis appears to be kind, smart, loving, fair and expectant of his flock and fellow clergy to do the right thing. So, I feel comfortable saying that I have an understanding of the Catholic church. I spent my entire adult life working for or volunteering for the Methodist Church.  I have been an Administrator, Children's Minister, Recreation Director, Sunday School Teacher and on multiple boards and committees. So, I once again, feel comfortable saying that I have an understanding of the Methodist church. I have friends that are Jewish, Catholic, Non-Denominational, Wesleyan, Presbyterian, Methodist and many other faiths.  In the end, I would say that I believe in formal religion and I have a good understanding of the overall concept. 

So what does it mean to be religious and what does it mean to be faithful? To me faith represents how we feel and in many ways religion is how we think.  Both aspects are important.  I must say you can have religion without faith and you can have faith without religion. But putting the two together is a perfect marriage. 

One of the areas I am sad to say that I often see is religious judgement.  If someone follows another denomination there is often a sense of judgement. I am also sad to say, there was a time that I had been one of those people. We tend to believe that if you do not worship the same way I worship or if your belief system is different,  than you are either lost, misguided, ignorant or you just don't have the "faith" that I have.

But if we really think about it, is that what God would want from us? Instead, what would happen, if we took the opportunity to appreciate that we each learn, grow and teach from a different perspective.  That we all love one another and teach that love to others, if we use less judgement and more faith and consideration of what we are guided to do - then isn't that living our faith? Faith is joy, faith is love, faith is acceptance, faith is the knowledge that there is More. Religion is thought, connection, participation and community.  

Putting together our joy, love, acceptance, thought, connection, participation and community can only guide us to calmer seas.  I use this wording based upon the Bible verses James 1:2-8.  It makes sense, at one point or another we are each like the wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. But, in those moments when we are strong and living our faith we can become the calm and feel the deep fulfillment of God in our lives.  And although this verse comes from the New Testament doesn't it apply to all that are faithful to God? 

Wishing you Grace, Peace & Healthy Living,

Lorraine

“My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ”

— James 1: 2-8

10 of 40 Day 20

Connecting the Dots....

These past 10 days I have discussed meditation, connection with others, finding your inner artist, your inner critic, mindfulness, TED talks, cardiac rehab, balance and forest bathing.  If you watched the TED talk by Jill Bolte-Taylor you will recognize that each of these areas are lighting up our brain.  Igniting a spark of life and connection to our body.  As discussed in the cardiac rehab blog our minds and our bodies are connected in ways that I do not feel we yet fully understand.  And as such we need to flex, stretch and exercise all of the different quadrants of our mind.  Whether we are opening ourselves up to expression in the arts and sciences, to learning new recipes, noticing a forest with all of our senses or sitting quietly in meditation or mindfulness.  Exposing our mind to concrete facts and to the possibilities can not only give us more purpose and presence in our daily lives it can also make us healthier, happy people, living longer more productive lives.  Think about the ways you can light up your brain today and then do it!  Visualize the electricity and appreciate your ability to do so.  

““To experience peace does not mean that your life is always blissful. It means that you are capable of tapping into a blissful state of mind amidst the normal chaos of a hectic life.”
”

— -Jill Bolte Taylor, My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey

Life Coaching is not for everyone, and I write these blogs for a multitude of reasons but if you are interested in Life Coaching as a way to grow in thought, mind and experience, please contact me.  Coaching can be done in person, via FaceTime or on the phone.  I hope to hear from you - focusing on our overall health is the greatest thing we can do for ourselves and all of the people in our lives. 

Wishing you Grace, Peace & Healthy Living,

Lorraine