Time to Grow

It occurred to me today on my walk with the dogs that the grass in this picture that I took not only managed to grow up through the cracks in this heavily traveled main street in my neighborhood, but it has even managed to push out some of the pavement. Not only did the grass have the pavement as an obstruction, and the heavy traffic, but it is also winter!

I was thinking about the many occasions in my life when I just felt stuck or trapped.  Other times I was scared or frustrated that I couldn't see my way out of a situation. There were also the dark nights of the soul.  I know I'm not alone here.  We all go through "stuff."  The point is, we "go through."  Sometimes WE go through, and other times we can't even recollect how the heck we GOT through, right?  The point is, we did, and we likely will again!  It is hard to remember or have the patience for it when we are in the thick of it.  But is is imperative that we remember!

So back to this grass....  :)  Here is the good news part.  That grass can't "see" the light, yet it is designed to reach upward towards the light -- even in the dead of winter; even underneath tons of pavement; even with vehicles running over it many times a day; even covered completely in darkness; even without external encouragement.  We would consider these conditions less than favorable, and perhaps even impossible.  Yet it grows.

I am not known widely for my patience, but as I have grown older, I am learning daily to just let things "be" and wait them out.  I suppose that's growing.  What I know is that it almost always works out, but when it doesn't and I look back, it really did work out for my highest good.  I suppose that's growing, too... the realization of that.  I did some big growing standing on that street looking at that grass for a few minutes.  Now I know that it's not just about waiting it out, but there's something for me to do while I'm "stuck" or "trapped" or "can't see."

It's time to grow right where I am.

Time to get real and do away with "Bitchology!"

About Forgiveness

                   

We all know the old saying "Forgive and forget."  Some believe you can forgive but should never forget.  Jesus tells us in The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:22) that we should forgive "not seven times, but seventy-seven times."  In other words, we should continue being forgiving, and it should be innumerable, unending.  It is a simple concept, but not so easy to accomplish sometimes.

I personally struggle with forgiveness of those that commit heinous crimes, acts of violence, and most especially against children, elderly, or animals.  Don't even get me started on hate crimes!  Those are some of my biases.  It is good to know our own biases at any time, but especially helpful regarding forgiveness.  I have another personal statement in my head: Intolerance will not be tolerated!  :)  Yes, I know it is contradictory... maybe a paradox.  

Personally, I find it easiest to just realize that this is who I have in my life when I have forgiven someone for wrongdoings.  Then I am free to choose whether they should remain in my life, and to what extent.  Sometimes we can forgive, but it is not so wise to keep them around once they have shown us who they are.  'Just goes to show you that forgiveness is really for the one doing the forgiving, and not necessarily for the transgressor.  

We all struggle from time to time with that person that continues to abuse the privilege of our forgiveness, or our kind nature.  On the other hand, perhaps we have been the one repeating a hurtful error on someone -- a loved one, teacher, workmate, etc.

This quote can mean something different depending on from which perspective you are reading.  It is actually for the one forgiving, as well as the one being forgiven.  It is helpful if you can read it both ways, as there is opportunity in there regardless of how this lands for you personally.

What does it mean for you?  I would love to hear!

About Forgiveness

Deb's Feed the Hungry Campaign -- Sacramento Loaves & Fishes

Deb's Feed the Hungry Campaign -- Sacramento Loaves & Fishes

Hello friends! 

It's that time of year and I'm at it again! This year I'm doing a fundraiser to provide hot meals for homeless men, women, and children. The last two years I ran my own sock drive, and last year was PHENOMENAL! I love Sacramento Loaves & Fishes, and have served there periodically over the years. In addition to food drives, sock drives, used book drives, and serving in the dining room, I have also made lunches for the precious ones at Mustard Seed School. I'm asking everyone I know to be a part of this, too! 

The Dining Room at Loaves & Fishes serves a full course, home-cooked, meal for over 600 people everyday! That's a lot of homeless men, women, and children who won't go hungry. These are some of the most vulnerable people in our community; homeless families with small children, veterans, and the mentally ill. These are our neighbors, our friends, our community. 

I'm really excited to be a part of this, and I hope I have provided a simple way for you to be a part of it too! 

My goal is to raise $1000 (AT LEAST!). Will you PLEASE join me? ANY amount helps SO much! 

In LOVE and LIGHT, 
- Debora

Autobiography of a Yogi, by Paramhansa Yogananda - Free, Original 1946 Edition

I just happened upon this, and felt I should share this wonderful link!  Enjoy!



Autobiography of a Yogi, by Paramhansa Yogananda - Free, Original 1946 Edition

“There Is Never Nothing Going On” and “There Are No Ordinary Moments” (Way of the Peaceful Warrior)

Facebook and other social networking is like an out-of-body experience sometimes.  It is kind of like hovering over everyone's lives invisibly, and silently (or not) watching all the activities.  I am constantly amazed and reminded every day that no matter what goes on... well, it just keeps going round and round again.  Folks have family events, get married, loved ones transition from this world, we buy new homes, kids graduate, babies are born, meals are eaten, recipes shared, someone is injured or takes ill....  For some, an event is breathless, tragic, and time feels like it stops for a moment.  At the very same time somewhere else, someone is celebrating, and yet another is wishing time would stand still if only for a moment.  That person over there is wishing tomorrow would hurry up and come... and all the while we forget that we aren't alone in all this, that "my world" is really only a teeny-tiny part of the whole of it all.  Yet none of it would exist if we did not say it was so, if we were not all here cooperating in it - willingly or not, knowingly or not.

The last couple weeks have been kind of a blur... yet so much has gone on with all of you.  I may have missed your important "thing" while I was in the blur.  Please feel free to share it here.

It is all important.  “There Is Never Nothing Going On” and “There Are No Ordinary Moments."

One love.  Namasté.

No Good Answer!

Sometimes there just is no good answer.  This is not when you throw your hands up in frustration or despair, but time for acceptance that it "is.”  Move past it.  If you cannot move past it, instead of asking "why" when there is no answer, ask yourself what there is for you to do.  Doing so may or may not change what "is," but it will change you.  You may find there is nothing at all for you to do; and that is okay.  That is a perfect discovery.

The only time I think “why” may be important is if you still find yourself stuck and unable to move past what happened.  I like this Mitch Albom quote about that:  In order to move on, you must understand why you felt what you did and why you no longer need to feel it.

This morning I found myself getting caught up in the never-ending cycle of asking "why" things happen, "why" people do the things they do, etc.  I had to reel myself in and remember that people do and things happen simply because they do <period>.  Even when there is an answer, it is not necessarily the most important part about it, and often makes no difference at all in "what's so" anyway.  I am not a big believer in "everything happens for a reason.”  However, I do believe that things happen and there is likely something there for me to see/learn/do something about.  Or not.  However, there is ALWAYS something for me to learn about myself around whatever it is.

Back to basics.  Thank you, Landmark Education.

(This does not express the views of Landmark Education, but rather my views of what I learned out of participating in its education.)