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Sorry...
It's very Canadian to say, "sorry" but I don't think my "sorry" today comes from being Canadian. I hope it's coming from learning, insight, wisdom, and growth.
Sorry # 1
I don't know exactly why but I have this burning desire to teach everything I learn and I think in my excitement I sometimes share things before they are fully integrated into my life. So sorry #1 has to do with that.
I think it's the nature of preaching and teaching (and I come from a long line of both preachers and teachers) to share things that we haven't necessarily fully applied to our lives. Worse yet, is when religious and spiritual teachers say one thing and totally live another way. Unfortunately, it saddens me tremendously to admit this, but I am guilty of that too.
I need to ask myself continually, "am I living in full integrity and aligned with my own values?"
This is an ongoing bleeding learning edge for me.
Sorry # 2
Sorry #2 has to to with giving advice. I want to be someone who only shares what's working for me. I don't want to give out advice, or "how to's" and I certainly don't want to be a person who "shoulds" on anyone. I know I've done all of the above and I'm sorry.
I love how they share in recovery meetings. It's exactly as I'm speaking about it here. During a meeting, there is no advice-giving or cross talk. One of the guidelines is to only speak about your own recovery and experience. You're encouraged to avoid talking about others and to take responsibility for your life and avoid any sort of blame. It's so good.
And then there are the coaching and spiritual direction models that I've been participated in and been trained in. Bottom line, there are so many conversations that I've been in and forgotten about these models and I end up walking away wishing that I had been more curious and asked more questions instead of giving in to the voice in my head that is only thinking about me and sharing ideas and thoughts without being asked for them.
Today...
May you feel honored
May you be understood
May you be heard and seen for the amazing human and spiritual being that you are
And with all that's going on out there, may you be safe.
~ Rod
The meditation I created is called Experiencing Oneness in a Divided World. In it, we explore a deep and comforting truth: that everything is connected.
As I venture out this morning, I'm thinking about the Mary Oliver poem, wild Geese, where she says, “You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.
I just want to bow 🙇♂️ in gratitude (also laugh because there’s a 🙇 bowing emoji)
For a period in my life I used to go to a particular place in a park not far from my house to meditate and pray. It was the beginning of a practice that I continue to practice to this very day, although this post is about a time when I took a break.
Our guest today is author Eric Janzen. Eric is probably best known for his high fantasy fiction books. He's written a trilogy called The Dreamtrekker Journals Trilogy, and more recently released a new series entitled The Essence Tales. In Eric's bio, he says he will continue writing until he can't anymore.
Our daughter Jess gifted me with a poem today. She says... Wrapping up my last few days on the coast for now… it’s been so amazing to get so much “normal” time with my family, and one of my favorite things is morning walks with dad. His practice of noticing and of being quiet enough in spirit to notice the minute details is always a gift.
Our new little bundle of joy - August (Gus) Matthew Toews - has reminded us all how powerful and incredible love is.
I am contemplating emptiness this morning which I know sends cautionary shivers down the spines of some Christians. I was warned about this by a "well-meaning" Christian on the weekend when I used the word emptiness at a retreat I was co-leading.
snowy days (meditation) Hints of Gladness
Are sounds like this (birdsong, babbling brooks) meant to touch our souls? I think they are.