MIDWEEK MESSAGE

MARCH 13, 2024

This week is my birthday week – a time to celebrate and reflect.  Regarding the future, I am leaving that up to the God of my understanding.  At a point in life when most people are settling down, I am still seeking where I go from here, learning to live and waiting patiently for an answer.

It is an excellent spiritual exercise for me because no matter how much I may want some Good Orderly Direction (GOD), what I get is “be patient and wait.”  I have never excelled at being patient and waiting. Still, I know that if we are not growing and being stretched in areas that may make us uncomfortable, the alternative is stagnation, and that is never a good thing (in my opinion).

When I think of stagnating in my life, I think of water with no movement; it stagnates, gets muddy, and murky, and that is not how I want to be physically, emotionally, or spiritually. The 40 years the Israelites wandered in the desert trying to get to the Promised Land is a metaphor for all of us.  

The number 40 represents the time it takes to complete something. We stay where we are until we learn what we need to move forward to our Promised Land (a place of Higher Consciousness and spiritual maturity). We wait to prepare for the next phase in our spiritual journey.

If we go too soon, we may not be ready for it, or it may not be ready for us. If a friend invited us for dinner at 6, we wouldn’t want to get there at 4, as the house might not be ready or the meal unprepared.  However, that does not mean that we do nothing; it means we continue to do the next right thing in front of us, one step at a time, one day at a time, leaving the results up to our Higher Power. 

Life is about aligning our will with God’s, knowing everything is in Good, Orderly Direction, and trusting it is always the perfect time and outcome.

Quote of the Week

“Patience is not simply the ability to wait – it’s how we behave while we’re waiting.”

Joyce Meyer

MIDWEEK MESSAGE – March 6, 2024

Recently, I saw this quote by Patrick Overton, the poet, which was on a poster entitled “Faith” which said: “When you come to the edge of all the light you have, and must take a step into the darkness of the unknown, believe that one of two things will happen; either there will be something solid for you to stand on – or you will be taught how to fly.”

I spent some time meditating on the truth of that statement.  What is the edge of all the light we have? It is life as we know it.  That edge can be one of our choosing or changes beyond our control, such as death, illness, loss of a career, loss of a home, or the result of some natural disaster.

It can be scary, so the question to ask ourselves is,  “Do we have a Power greater than ourselves that we can trust? “ If we do, it makes stepping into the dark less frightening because we know there will be a bridge or we will sprout the necessary wings.

I believe that the amount of courage I have is in direct proportion to my faith and trust in a loving God.  When I am feeling connected, I have the courage and strength I need when I need it.  One way I believe we can acquire a deeper connection and trust is to look at times in our lives when we or others have leaped, and the bridge or the wings have appeared.

Navigating through life’s challenges requires understanding that we are not alone.  There always is a loving Presence building bridges or giving us the wings to soar over life’s troubled waters.  For me, the knowledge of that makes me eternally grateful.

Quote of the Week

“It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life story will develop.”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

MIDWEEK MESSAGE – February 28, 2024

We read and hear a lot about self-care, but I must admit. However, I do things daily for self–care – meditate, exercise, eat well, and spend time in my spiritual program; yet when it comes to self-care, when I am not physically feeling well,  I would go about my usual business as if it was just a typical day.

However, I recently read something about the fact that self-care, especially when we are ill, is really about loving ourselves enough to give ourselves time to rest and recuperate. Maybe the times we are under the weather are opportunities God presents us to rest and relax.

Instead of ignoring that as I occasionally do, this time, when I found myself with a bad sore throat and cough, I decided to love myself enough to do just that – rest, eat well, and take some natural remedies to help me feel better by the next day.

I am also learning not to have unrealistic expectations of myself. I am not a machine; sometimes, I get sick or tired and need to look at things that will make me feel better and do them. One way to do that is to ask myself how I would care for anyone I cared about.

Jesus said to love our neighbors as ourselves, so it is time to ask ourselves, do we love ourselves enough to care about our well-being? I am improving, always remembering it is “progress, not perfection,” that matters in my spiritual growth.

Quote of the Week

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
Anne Lamott

MIDWEEK MESSAGE – February 21, 2024

C.S. Lewis wrote, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” I love that quote. Unfortunately, we live in a culture where youth are idolized, and those in the final season of their life are often ignored or discounted.

This is not so in other cultures where the elderly are looked to for their wisdom and experiences.  On more than one occasion, store clerks have been amazed when I pull out my phone to pay with it instead of a card.  It is not difficult to do, but  I guess in some young minds, after a certain age, people are beyond the capability to learn new things.

But the world has been, and always is, filled with people in their last quarter of life who are functioning and doing amazing things, learning new skills, starting new careers, and living with a zest for life. My father was one such person.

He always said that our minds determine our experiences as we age.  Unity believes the same thing – the thoughts we hold in our minds create our lives.  Does that mean that we won’t get sick? Does it mean that things won’t change as we age?  No, it means that we don’t let our circumstances (including our age) define who we are.

Gertrude Stein said, “We are always the same age inside.” I believe that God is ageless and timeless, and since God is within us all, so are we.  Whatever physical condition we find ourselves in, we can look for ways to be filled with joy, enthusiasm, and gratitude for what we have and can do – whatever age we are.  Helen Keller was a perfect example of that.

So was my mother. When my oldest son was very young, my mother was sick and could not walk without the aid of a walker or wheelchair.  She also could not lift her grandchild, but she would have him sit next to her, play games, play with his alphabet blocks teaching him the letters, and spend precious time with him.  He never realized she could not do things other grandmothers did, and he loved the times they set together.

Life happens, and many things are out of our control, but how we respond to life’s challenges is always up to us.  So whatever season of life you are in,  appreciate life and choose to live it well. Remember, the Creator created you, and It is within you and as you, and that does not change because of a number.

Quote of the Week

“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
George Eliot

MIDWEEK MESSAGE – February 14, 2024

This week, we had snow!  Not just a little bit, but quite a bit.  Seeing all the white covering the ground, the roofs, the trees, and the shrubs was beautiful.  I could have looked at it as a negative since I couldn’t get my car out to go to a meeting, but that was only temporary, and in the late afternoon, things were plowed, and I could go to another meeting.

It is interesting how we give so much power to letting the weather affect how we feel, considering we have no control over the weather.  Yet so often we do that.  When it is a good weather day, we feel happy, yet when the weather is not to our liking, we feel down and depressed.

Just the weather, there are many things in life we have no control over.  We can’t change the fact that people get sick and, at some time or another, die.  No matter how much we try to do the best we can, we can make someone do something that is not to our desire.

The more we base our happiness on the things we cannot change or control, the less peace and joy we have. We may know this, but sometimes it is not easy to practice.  In our humanness, we seek outside conditions to make us feel good, which only causes suffering and pain. It is that suffering that causes so much pain in life.

The Buddha taught that the suffering in life is caused by our desires or grasping for things or outcomes beyond our control. If we think about it, most of life’s pains are caused because things are not as we want them to be.  Jesus taught that we should wear life as a loose garment.  This means we do not let life choke out happiness and peace, and we stay centered on a good God who only wants the best for us, no matter how that may or may not be what we want for ourselves.

This week, practice living life loosely by not letting the weather determine how you view life.  Start with the weather because it is an easy thing to practice nonattachment.  Then, when that becomes easy for you, try it on something else – the weather, people around you, sports events, or even politics.

I believe we will discover a happier, more joyous life and the freedom to be all we were created to be.

 Quote of the Week

“The root of suffering is attachment.”

Buddha

MIDWEEK MESSAGE – February 7, 2024

Sometimes, we can get caught up in self-pity and despair when we are going through troublesome times.  Yet, looking at how some people have endured things much more challenging than our issues reminds us to be grateful for what we have rather than what we do not. It reminds us not to let our difficulties define who we are.

Life presents us with challenges – some harder than others – but we need to remember that when we give in to negativity such as resentments, anger, self-pity, and fear, we cannot win;, the person or thing that has caused our negativity wins because what we lose is so much more than anything in the material world, what we lose is our soul.

There is so much hatred and separation today; we can change that by not holding on to negative things. We can face our enemies by not allowing them to rob us of any peace, love, and joy we may have.

I recently watched the movie “42” about Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play in Major League baseball.  Jackie Robinson is remembered for his outstanding baseball talents, and grace under much hatred and bigotry.  One time, a player from another team purposefully stabbed him in the leg with a spike from his shoes, and another time, a pitcher purposely hit him with a ball.

We are not remembered for how much we have or how famous we are but for how we show up in life, despite conditions or situations we may face.   Are we coming from love and forgiveness –  or hatred and vindictiveness?  It is an inside job, one we must continually work on, knowing it is not about perfection but the progress that matters most in our spiritual journey in this lifetime.

Quote of the Week

I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.”

Booker T. Washington

MIDWEEK MESSAGE – January 31, 2024

I have to admit that sometimes, I am quick to make judgments. Thank God I have learned, most of the time, to pause before I act on any judgments made.

It rained all day on Sunday, so I went to the movies to see Oppenheimer. The theater I go to has recliner seats, which I love because I have trouble sitting without them, especially when, like Oppenheimer, the movie is long.

When I got to the theater, they told me Oppenheimer was in the IMAX theater, and when I got into the IMAX theater, I discovered there were no reclining seats. The coming attractions were playing, and the noise was so loud I thought this would be terrible. I must listen to this loud volume and sit in seats that don’t recline! Based on the judgment that I would not enjoy the movie because of the sound and seats, I almost walked out.

Fortunately, I paused, giving myself a chance to think. My next thought was that I really wanted to see this movie so that I will stay. The movie was phenomenal, and seeing it and IMAX was a treat. I had no idea it was even a possibility.

Not only did I thoroughly enjoy the movie, but I made it the whole three hours sitting in that seat because I couldn’t bear to tear myself away even to go to the ladies’ room.   I did not notice the sound being loud, the picture being overwhelming, or the seats not being comfortable because I was so engrossed in the movie; none of that previous judgment turned out to be valid.  I am so glad that I did not act on my initial judgment.

So often in life, we make rash decisions based on quick judgments. The saying “do not judge a book by the cover” is true not just of people but other situations as well.  A tool to help us avoid making rash, erroneous decisions is to pause when we are agitated or annoyed at something. We can breathe and ask ourselves how important whatever is bothering us is.

When we do that, we find ourselves open to new adventures, new situations, and many gifts that we would miss out on if we had reacted based on our first impression.  I hope I remember it the next time (I start to make a judgment.

Quote of the Week

“Non-judgment isn’t about stopping judgments from ever arising – that’s impossible….Instead, it’s about changing your relationship to your judgments. Knowing that they’re temporary thoughts and you don’t need to be swept away by them just because they arise in your mind.”

Patrick Buggy

MIDWEEK MESSAGE – January 24, 2024

Many years ago, I learned a thing called taking contrary action.  What does that mean?  Taking contrary action in our lives means doing things differently than we did in the past. It is taking a chance and trying something new.

It’s similar to doing the same things and expecting different results, which is the 12-step definition of insanity.  If our lives are not exactly like we like them, and yet we continue to do precisely the same things we have always done, we will not get anything different than we have always gotten.

That is ok if your life is precisely what you want and you are satisfied with not growing beyond where you currently are.   However, remember water that does not flow becomes stagnant, mucky, and murky.  If we want positive change in our lives, new results, and new attitudes, we have to do things differently.

In my final act of life, I want new experiences and adventures and to grow spiritually and emotionally until my last breath.  It is not the first time I have made significant changes in my life.  I certainly did so when I got sober and when I got married after years of being on my own.

Once again, I find myself making significant changes to my life, which involves doing things differently and trying new things. It has required me not to live on autopilot.  So when someone in a meeting asked me if I wanted to go to a Bingo Mania Saturday night event, which is bingo to benefit the Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus and is hosted by a fabulous drag queen, I said yes.

It was one of the most fun things I have done in a long time, and although I didn’t win anything, I laughed a lot, spent time with new friends, and actually got so much more from it than winning money.

So remember, change is not necessarily negative.  It can bring new activities, new adventures, and a new outlook that keeps life alive and vibrant at whatever stage of life we are at.

Quote of the Week

“You will enrich your life immeasurably if you approach it with a sense of wonder and discovery and always challenge yourself to try new things.” 

Nate Berkus

 

 

MIDWEEK MESSAGE – January 17, 2024

It never ceases to amaze me how God works in my life.  Last weekend, I went to a retreat in Asheville, NC.  Since it was held at Billy Graham’s facility, I went without any expectations – reasonable or otherwise.

Because of where I am at this time in my life, it was exactly what I needed.  The entire retreat was about navigating when you find yourself in transition. The leader was a great speaker, and she was about to let go of her work for the past two years and head into the unknown.

Even the prayer cards I received were perfect for me. An added gift was spending the weekend with my best friend, whom I do not see as often as I would prefer. The accommodations were beautiful, and the weather was in our favor other than the first evening.

I don’t know about you, but I have found God’s Presence all around me when I am open to receiving God’s Grace.  I am so grateful for my twelve-step program and Unity for teaching me about the goodness of God and the benefits of gratitude.  Doing so allows me to see the everyday miracles around me and how God works in and through my life.

Quote of the Week

“I believe that miracles happen every day…Every moment is a miracle.  If only we can open our eyes, we’ll see God’s love everywhere.”

Bo Sanchez

MIDWEEK MESSAGE – January 10, 2024

Years ago, someone once told me that there were two things we should never pray for. One was more tolerance, and the other was patience. They explained that when we pray for these virtues, the universe gives us opportunities to grow in those areas. I have had a problem with patience in the past, and I continually have to work on it.

I often have said that being in that place of the unknown is the most uncomfortable place to be. So, the Universe, or God being Its benevolent Self, allowed me to practice patience.

Back in August, I made a decision to pursue a goal for my future. Now, in January, I am still waiting for an answer. There is nothing more I can do but wait to find out what the result will be.

While waiting, I have learned that I need to use this time to continue doing what I believe God‘s will for me is – which is to serve God and others in the present moment and under the present circumstances.

So, in this time of the unknown, I can practice gratitude for the beautiful place I live in, some new opportunities to serve, to meet many wonderful people, and to cultivate new friendships. And so, although I would love to know what is next, patience teaches me a lesson in being okay in the unknown.

Like the Israelites in the desert, I am no longer in Egypt, and the promised land is just something unknown in some distant future. The one thing I do know is that God is always with me and working towards my good.

I am grateful for this time not just to practice patience but also to practice complete trust in the God of my understanding.

Quote of the Week

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”

A.A. Milne