February 27, 2012

   I am adding a new feature to the blog, Light A Candle which can always be accessed from the "A Few Good Sites" links on the right side of the page. You will be lighting candles as prayer for who or what you want. The directions are easy to follow and the candle will be lit for 48 hours.
   For a few weeks the link will also be posted here. Just click on the text below the candle. On the site click on an unlit candle to start. The candles will be lit under the group heading which are the letters of the name of this blog. We will also be able to see each others prayers and comments. The picture is not mine.

Light A Candle

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    Today I woke and was blessed with the sight of what God created for wonder and awe - every tree and branch down to the smallest stem of the beech trees golden brown winter cloaked leaves were covered with snow. Since we have had so little snow this winter here in Maine it came as a surprise that filled me with delight to come alive on this day to such a scene. There is indeed glory in the moments that our loving God seems to enjoy presenting to us, especially as it seemed winter was soon to be over.

   I got dressed, 6:30 AM (late for a lot of people but early for me) grabbed the camera and became truly present to the beauty that I felt greatly gifted to behold. This was an exclamation point and an affirmation that mindfulness and awareness to each moment has rewards beyond limits. The last decade of meditation and the practice of prayer as the present moment to be experienced has given me moments such as this morning. 

   All efforts to be ready to be taken into God's Presence have their answers come alive when least expected. How have I found the willingness to be ready for the Gifts always waiting on my inner sight coming alive? The answer to the Carnegie Hall joke has my truth, "practice, practice, practice." The effort is simply to "Be here now." (Note the period.) Putting in the necessary time, years in my case, have granted me the patience to wait on God's desires for any given day, and the gift of generosity to myself to be patient has been the path of least resistance.

   Here are two pictures of this wonderful morning.

There are days when I find it hard to believe I live surrounded by nature's beauty. Thanks be to God.

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   An offering from another who had immense gratitude for blessings no matter where he was. A lesson for me to ponder.

The Akathist Hymn: "Glory to God for All Things"

   

   This Akathist, also called the "Akathist of Thanksgiving," was composed by Protopresbyter Gregory Petrov shortly before his death in a prison camp in 1940. The title is from the words of Saint John Chrysostom as he was dying in exile. It is a song of praise from amidst the most terrible sufferings.

   Kontakion 1

  

   Everlasting God, Your will for our salvation is full of power. Your right arm controls the whole course of human life. We give You thanks for all Your mercies, seen and unseen. For eternal life, for the heavenly joys of the Kingdom which is to be. Grant mercy to us who sing Your praise, both now and in the time to come. Glory to You, O God, from age to age.

   Ikos 1

   I was born a weak, defenseless child, but Your angel spread his wings over my cradle to defend me. From birth until now Your love has illumined my path, and has wondrously guided me towards the light of eternity; from birth until now the generous gifts of Your providence have been marvelously showered upon me. I give You thanks, with all who have come to know You, who call upon Your name.

Glory to You for calling me into being
Glory to You, showing me the beauty of the universe
Glory to You, spreading out before me heaven and earth
Like the pages in a book of eternal wisdom
Glory to You for Your eternity in this fleeting world
Glory to You for Your mercies, seen and unseen
Glory to You through every sigh of my sorrow
Glory to You for every step of my life's journey
For every moment of glory
Glory to You, O God, from age to age 

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     Last week I put a link here to a video called "Simple Gratitude" which if you haven't looked at it please spend the 5 minutes it takes to view it, you will not be disappointed. Here is the link to another video by the same photographer on the beauty of pollination is many forms. 

   The video starts at 3'15" into the showing with an explanation by the creator of fine images.

                           

                                   http://wn.com/the_hidden_beauty_of_pollen

  

    An offering from Chabbad, the site of the Lubovitcher Jewish sect on gratefulness and the bagel.

   A short article that has a lot to offer ...

 http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1755346/jewish/Gratefulness-and-the-Holey-Bagel.htm

   A song from John Michael Talbot, a Franciscan whose music has meant a great deal to many, many people. This song is about who we may find ourselves to be if we allow God to have God's way in us.

          http://www.box.com/s/co5q24uclqjz9o8981oc

   Here is the entrance to the Metropolitan Museum Of Art in NYC, one of the most remarkable places in the world, and my favorite place to be in Manhattan. It is a picture of a gateway to so many surprises and wonders the bring up awe frequently and unexpectedly to all visitors.

  Until next week, Peace and Serenity, The Gifts of the Spirit. be with us all.
         
                            Bill Lagerstrom

     

 Please read:

    I have received several emails from readers who are having trouble responding to this blog in the box at the bottom. Here are the directions:

   The easiest way is to get a Gmail account which you do not have to use other than access to the posting section of this blog, and or any other of the free Google services you may care to use.

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   It really is easy to do. To leave a comment hit comments at the bottom of the weekly post, pull down the "Comment as" menu and sign in with you Google name and password, type and send your reply.

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   This week I am pondering Karma and the effect my actions, and how the actions of others have an effect on my outlook. Karma is not some mysterious force in life - which is what I once thought - it is simply put as:

                                          Because this happens, that happens.

   By example, if I cut my hand while cooking, what happens can be pain, bleeding, a possible emergency room visit to get stitches, more pain, etc. What could also happen is that I don't take care of the wound and I eventually die. Because this happened, that happened.

   Another example, I see you in emotional pain - I experience what I sense about your distress - I then perhaps hold you in your tears, find compassion in myself to enable being more fully present to you, you feel less alone in the disturbing issue, we talk working through the problem if possible, and you feel better. 

   These two examples are a short series of Karmic events that happen between here and there, this and that, what is and what is. Problems happen when we don't pay attention to the unfolding events that are always happening. So, how can we be more awake, more attentive to what is going on moment by moment? Practice is the answer, and having a "Practice," a way of living that promotes skillful understanding of this moment, and this moment, etc. is a truly worthwhile endeavor to develop.

   I have included a list of twelve steps that are in its essence an excellent way of life and living  at the end of this post. There are many more available once we seek them out and know our desire to incorporate good directions in our life.

   The life we have is what we have. The solutions to the eternal question, "Why are we here," can be over time understood a little at a time if we have a Practice that promotes understanding and brings to the forefront our Gift of compassion for our self, and for others in all of life's happenings.

                     - Seeing the forest for the trees is seeing the forest one tree at a time -

   Here is a chapter from the book of Proverbs, ancient biblical advice about guarding against enemies we create and whose long life we can foster. It is followed by the part of the next chapter in proverbs that offers an insightful answer - or perhaps just insight.

Proverbs 7

Warning Against the Adulterating Of Our True Self

 ¹ My child, keep my words 
   and store up my wisdom within you. 
² Keep my commands and you will live; 
   guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. 
³ Bind them on your fingers; 
   write them on the tablet of your heart. 
⁴ Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” 
   and to insight, “You are my relative.” 
⁵ They will keep you from the adulterous woman, 
   from the wayward woman with her seductive words.

 ⁶ At the window of my house
   I looked down through the lattice.
⁷ I saw among the simple,
   I noticed among the young man,
   a youth who had no sense.
⁸ He was going down the street near her corner,
   walking along in the direction of her house
⁹ at twilight, as the day was fading,
   as the dark of night set in.

 ¹⁰ Then out came a woman to meet him,
   dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
¹¹ (She is unruly and defiant,
   her feet never stay at home;
¹² now in the street, now in the squares,
   at every corner she lurks.)
¹³ She took hold of him and kissed him
   and with a brazen face she said:

 ¹⁴ “Today I fulfilled my vows,
   and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
¹⁵ So I came out to meet you;
   I looked for you and have found you!
¹⁶ I have covered my bed
   with colored linens from Egypt.
¹⁷ I have perfumed my bed
   with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
¹⁸ Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
   let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
¹⁹ My husband is not at home;
   he has gone on a long journey.
²⁰ He took his purse filled with money
   and will not be home till full moon.”

 ²¹ With persuasive words she led him astray;
   she seduced him with her smooth talk.
²² All at once he followed her
   like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer stepping into a noose
 ²³ till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
   little knowing it will cost him his life.

 ²⁴ Now then, my sons, listen to me;
   pay attention to what I say.
²⁵ Do not let your heart turn to her ways
   or stray into her paths.
²⁶ Many are the victims she has brought down;
   her slain are a mighty throng.
²⁷ Her house is a highway to the grave,
   leading down to the chambers of death.

Proverbs 8 - Wisdom’s Call

 1 Does not Wisdom call out?

   Does not understanding raise her voice?

2 At the highest point along the way,

   where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

3 beside the gate leading into the city,

   at the entrance, she cries aloud:

4 “To you, O people, I call out;

   I raise my voice to everyone.

5 You who are simple, gain prudence;

   you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.

6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;

   I open my lips to speak what is right.

7 My mouth speaks what is true,

   for my lips detest wickedness.

8 All the words of my mouth are just;

   none of them is crooked or perverse.

9 To the discerning all of them are right;

   they are upright to those who have found knowledge.

10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,

   knowledge rather than choice gold,

11 for Wisdom is more precious than rubies,

   and nothing you desire can compare with her.

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             Do not move away from the tree before it reveals something of its "self " to you

   Here is a fine article on the website of Plum Village, Thich Nhat Hahn's community in southern France. It is an excellent set of directions for living well -

   http://www.plumvillage.org/mindfulness-practice.html

   Please watch the following wonderful short video that proclaims the joy of living one day at a time -

   http://www.flixxy.com/simple-gratitude.htm

   A fine talk on the Eightfold Path to Understanding by Gil Fronsdal who is an excellent, gentle teacher of the Buddhist Way Of Life - Well worth a listen -

   http://www.box.com/s/f92i836unmszgg0obz13

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   The Twelve Steps Of The Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path - (Practiced by 300 million plus Buddhists worldwide.)

The Four Noble Truths

There is suffering.
There is the recognition of suffering.
There is the recognition of the path out of suffering.
There is the path out of suffering.

(Which is: ) The Eightfold Path


Right Understanding
Right Thought
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration

    It is said that practicing these twelve steps can in themselves be the path to enlightenment, the way to living life fully.

   There are many books on the items on this list, two of which I have placed in the "recommended books" at the top right of this blog.

   Peace and serenity,

   Bill Lagerstrom

                   Seeing the trees one at a time is the the path through the forest