Gratefulness.org - Word For The Day

From the wonderful site Gratefulness.org:

 WORD FOR THE DAY

Monday, Dec. 28
If there is anything I have learned about men and women, it is that there is a deeper spirit of altruism than is ever evident. Just as the rivers we see are minor compared to the underground streams, so, too, the idealism that is visible is minor compared to what people carry in their hearts unreleased or scarcely released.
Dr. Albert Schweitzer

From their site under Vigils angels of the hours:

Prayer at Vigils

The Night Watch

In the stillness
before my day begins,
I open my heart
to the gift of this hour;
gratefully I listen
to the silence.

It's The Way You Do It

 Another wonderful quote from the quotegarden.com:

As the bus slowed down at the crowded bus stop, the Pakistani bus conductor leaned from the platform and called out, "Six only!"  The bus stopped.  He counted on six passengers, rang the bell, and then, as the bus moved off, called to those left behind:  "So sorry, plenty of room in my heart - but the bus is full."  He left behind a row of smiling faces.  It's not what you do, it's the way that you do it.  - The Friendship Book of Francis Gay, 1977
 

work large cascading pool of wonder
striving to meet the challenges alone
victory of the thorough over the swift

May we be merciful

Yesterday's Poem

winter water wending it's way through
i pray my parking lot will not become ice ink
she prays for falling of soft fluffy snow

"Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories."  - From the movie An Affair to Remember (found on the site Quote Garden)

May we have warm memories to enfold us

Testify To Love - Avalon

I was listening to a sweet song, Joseph's Lullaby, on my friend Sandy's blog, Life is Beautiful. Life Is Crazy. I was reminded that I do have a favorite song by the group Avalon - Testify To Love.

"What you yourself hate, don't do to your neighbor. This is the whole law; the rest is commentary." - Rabbi Hillel

Over 26,000 people have affirmed the Charter For Compassion. It makes me happy hat the seedling continues to grow nurtured by great souls.

"Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity." 9th line of the Charter For Compassion

connected by rivers interwoven with seas
sharing the star filled sky, moon and sun
the same air, same hearts, same love

May we recognize the power of love

Finding Warmth

shivering cold icy toes
missing southern winters
sipping warm ginger tea

"The color of springtime is in the flowers, the color of winter is in the imagination."  - Ward Elliot Hour

Soft Morning

waking slowly on a foggy day
hazlenut gorgonzola scone
a delicious beginning with tea

"The natural world is the larger sacred community to which we belong." Thomas Berry

May we be grateful for the food we receive

Stopping To Rest

"Derive happiness in oneself from a good day's work, from illuminating the fog that surrounds us." Henry Matisse

activity sweeping swirling
times of frenzy and confusion
tired warm resting melted

A six day work week is a bit more action than I'd like on a regular basis. Though there have been some very satisying moments. This week and next at six days of work then I should be able to shift into my "regular" longer five day work week. The company is slowly making it self known. We are on the edge of getting in "new" computers. Sadly, it is hard for me to imagine a smooth, calm, uneventful event. If that happens I will be ever so pleased.

May you find time to rest.

Ancient Heart

"Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect." 2nd line from Charter for Compassion

into the heart of the grove they went
an ancient seed was planted and water
now the seedling begins to grow

Over 17,000 people have affirmed the Charter now. I understand that placques with the Charter for Compassion are being made and will be hung in different spots around
the world. I saw I posted I liked giving the synopsis of the Charter on the blog called moneymagic (thanks, to blogger Piers Young):

The Charter does NOT assume:
* all religions are the same
* compassion is the only thing that matters in religion
* religious people have a monopoly on compassion
The Charter DOES affirm that:
* compassion is celebrated in all major religious, spiritual and ethical traditions
* the Golden Rule is our prime duty and cannot be limited to our own political, religious or ethnic group
* therefore, in our divided world, compassion can build common ground

May we nuture goodness where we find it

Community

"Tell me what company thou keepst, and I'll tell thee what thou art."
- Miguel de Cervantes (1547 - 1616) Spanish novelist.  (found on friendship.com.au)

More on the solitary side by nature, I must admit to enjoying some wonderful and interesting people time this week.

Wednesday was my monthly Book Club. It was again heartwarming and comforting to be surrounded by this group of women. We enjoyed some time catching up on each other's lives and discussing this month's book Water For elephants, and a bit more on last month's book The Shack. It was a nice interchange of ideas which is always nourishing. I was wanting to imbibe as with my new work schedule I won't be a Book Club for a while so I'll have to share vicariously.

sipping tea with books & ideas

stopping to listen to new views
comfortable camaraderie enfolds

Enjoying The Moon

lights flicker around satin ringed moon
clouds illuminated with translucent rays
the rest of the sky is dark, clear and cool

“May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night and a smooth road all the way to your door.” Irish Blessing

Honoring More Ancestors - November 2

"May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window open to great possibility" -Mary Anne Radmacher

This video is to honor my French ancestors, and my Lithuanian mother who played the accordion

Satisfied

"Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth." - Mark Twain

Last night, I had a nice surprise when Judy Collins appeared on the David Letterman. Not a show I care for, I had turned the channel waiting for another show to start. It is was wonderful to hear her. I have been a fan of hers since the 60's, it is inspiring to hear her singing, voice strong still after all this time.

lovely, fresh, cool wind
sweeping across asphalt
little bits of life drifting

May you enjoy the sounds of the world

Childhood & My Sacred Bears

 "Bears are not companions of men, but children of God, and His charity is broad enough for both... We seek to establish a narrow line between ourselves and the feathery zeros we dare to call angels, but ask a partition barrier of infinite width to show the rest of creation its proper place. Yet bears are made of the same dust as we, and breathe the same winds and drink of the same waters. A bears days are warmed by the same sun, his dwellings are overdomed by the same blue sky, and his life turns and ebbs with heart-pulsings like ours and was poured from the same fountain....." - John Muir

I remember bear as an important animal from my childhood. One of the most tender memories I have of my father is him drawing pictures of teddy bears on my thumbnail. Today, it's hard for me to imagine I sat still that long. Now I wonder was it my father's unusual tenderness, calm and focus? Or was it watching the magic of having an animal come to life right on my hand. Either way I think it was a bigger gift than either of us knew.

Then like many others I remember my first teddy bear which went everywhere until it was so tattered my mother was begging me to give it up. I still remember going to the five and dime in redondo beach, calif. to get the replacement while still trying to convince my mother how wrong she was.

Then there was a teddy like bear not like my "real" one in color. Somehow it was named brownie. This caused me a bit of confusion when I met my step-grandfather's sister brownie.

When I was sorting through my drawing one day I noticed that I have drawn bears far more than any other animal. Is it an unconscious link to my childhood or it is a manifestation of a spirit animal who looks after me. I think maybe it is both, and fine with me.

cup of the sacred
splash of the ordinary
sprinkle of the absurd

"Direct your eye right inward, and you'll find a thousand regions in your mind yet undiscovered. Travel them and be expert in home-cosmography." - Henry David Thoreau

The Myriad of Me

"Whenever two people meet there are six present. There is the man as he sees himself, each as the other person sees him, and each man as he really is." - William James

many pieced mosiac
constellation of elements
ancestry and synastry
all this I am

May you enjoy who you are

Edmonds - More Photos

“Don't grow up too quickly, lest you forget how much you love the beach.” - Michelle Held

La Conner - More Photos

I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.  I travel for travel's sake.  The great affair is to move.   - Robert Louis Stevenson

Quiet Living

“Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.” John W. Gardner

stepping to silence
deep in the solace of night
we hold wishes close

I enjoyed seeing the blog by artist, illustrator, woodcrafter Karen Davis, Moonlight and Hares. I recommend taking a look a her beautiful works of art in several mediums.

And since I've been mentioning the current Jewish Holidays, I will include a link to virtual cantor where you can listen to the different holiday services, prayers, etc.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” - Mahatma Gandhi

Happy Autumnal Equinox

"Youth is like spring, an over praised season more remarkable for biting winds than genial breezes.  Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits."  - Samuel Butler

luxury of time
watching crows sit
60 second eternity

Ah, time for cranberry sauce and pumpkin time, and wondering what this beautiful season will bring.

May Peace Prevail In Our Hearts

 From the website of The World Peace Prayer Society:

The Power of Words
Words carry vibrations strong enough to inspire, heal and transform the human heart as well as the Kingdom of plants, animals and all creation.

May Peace Prevail On Earth

Universal Prayer

Loka Samasta Sukino Bhavantu
Loka Samasta Sukino Bhavantu
Loka Samasta Sukino Bhavantu
OM
Shan'ti Shan'ti Shan'ti

(Loka Samasta Sukino Bhavantu =  May all the beings in all the worlds be happy
Shanti = peace)

Like a flower bud
peace bloom unfolds
fragrance of love enfolds

And on a light note:
"Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world." - Marilyn Monroe

La Conner Day Trip

“
“The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” Don Wlliams, Jr.

I took an opportunity this week to take a day trip up La Conner. It's a nice waterfront town with boutiques, galleries, restaurants, inns. And, There is the Museum of Northwest Art and the Quilt and Textile Museum.

I did a little browsing, but I spent most of the time at the waterfront along with some other people watching the heron on the dock. and boats going by.

After the visit, I stopped at a wonderful roadside stand, Snow Goose Produce, in fir island in skagit valley. They're known for their very large ("immodest") ice creams in home made waffle cones as well as produce, cheese, and other local products. Additonally, they prove themselves to be good global citizens caring items from cambodia that support the humanitarian organization C.A.R.E.

It's for this soul to get a change of scenery though beauty is everywhere.

residing in a moment
living inside a sunset
opening to the all now

“The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.” Ralph Waldo Emerson