"Sunset Alert!!"

This is the text I received a couple nights ago from Joy. I grabbed the camera and ran out the front door almost slipping on the ice. There it was in all its pink glory behind the evergreens and birch

trees, quickly fading into gray. I wish I could have caught it sooner. Now, I wait for the next sunset alert!

Our temps have dropped again. The predicted high today 18. I can see the sun trying to show its face and a couple of patches of blue on the gray mantle above. I put my face to the window and catch the sunlight when it breaks through. I automatically smile when it lights and warms my skin and eyelids. It's become a kind of meditation for me as I stop to breathe in the light. I invite it to fill my body. I continue to take deep breaths and feel it saturating my body from head to toes. I hold a big ball of light in my chest area and behind my eyes. I imagine every pore filling with sunlight.

Pastel painting of Bene by Susan Kirsch 2014

I wonder if the animals in the woods are sun worshippers, too. Are they happy to see the sun like me? Our little Bene has always sought out sunlight, even in Arizona. He loves to lay in whatever patch of sun he can find while the sunbeams dance all around him.

  

Golden sun in Belize

"Even after all this time

  The Sun has never told the Earth "You owe me,"

look what happens

 with a love like that,

    it lights the whole sky." - Hafiz

"I wish I could show you,

When you are lonely or in darkness,
The Astonishing Light

      Of your own Being." - Hafiz

Sunset in Belize
A sweet memory  

"There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun..." - Thomas Merton

Merton is describing how, on an ordinary day as he was walking on a busy street he was suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that he loved all the people there on the street.




He says, "It was as though I suddenly saw the secret beauty of their hearts, the depths of the core of their reality, the person that each one is in God's eyes. If only they could see themselves as they really are."  

"It is precisely this beauty and this dignity, this core of reality, the person that we each are in God's eyes, which we must respect in the other." 

The Merton quotes here are from "A Seven Day Journey with Thomas Merton" by Esther de Waal. My copy; tattered and highlighted,
a much loved book that accompanied me on a silent retreat to Old Snow Mass, Colorado many years ago.

My friend Joy and I rented a beautiful home near the monastery there where we began our day driving the short distance to the chapel in the stillness just before dawn. We walked through the darkened halls of the monastery to enter the chapel which was an elegant, simple design of wood and stone. The monks in their hooded robes sang morning devotions. The acoustics were perfect there. The male voices  hauntingly beautiful, breaking through the silence and darkness.  

Later, when the sun came up and I'd had breakfast, I'd grab my Merton book and climb to the top of a little hill. My view was the nearby mountains that were draped in brilliant fall colors. It was perfectly quiet and I was alone to do my reading, meditation, journalling and sketching. I sketched the mountain, I prayed and talked to God. It's the only time in my life that I felt I actually heard Him talk to me. Not a voice but a very gentle, powerful, insistent, loving message. It was, "Fall in love with me, Susan." It was clear, unmistakeable. Like hearing someone's thoughts inside your head. Personal and intimate. I cried. I laughed. I felt exhilarated afterward. The memory still touches me deeply.

I believe that God is everywhere, in all of us and in all of nature. So it follows that we need to fall in love with ourselves, others and all of life.

See the Light in others. Reflect it back to them. Let our own Light shine.     "...The astonishing light of our own being..."

Just the Girls

Yesterday mom and I drove into town, heading for the Wisconsin Wool Exchange wisconsinwoolexchange.com and a visit with Maud. Mom decided to pull out all her stitches and start over! I keep plugging along, mistakes and all, on my first project; the washcloth.

Mom at Emy J's

First we stop at Emy J's for a bite to eat. We settle on a bowl of soup. Mom has white bean with mushroom and I opt for the hearty vegetable. We sit at a mosaic-topped table. The place is busy. The walls are decorated with colorful local art. After lunch we walk two doors down to the Wisconsin Wool Exchange. Maud, one of the owners, is there helping two women who are looking at yarn samples. We pull up chairs at the table and settle in. Without the sun streaming through the front window, the shop is a little on the cool side today. 

A customer comes in carrying a mass of gray wool in her arms; a gorgeous sweater she's been knitting (it's mostly finished), but her dog got into it, ate her needles and pulled out some of her stitches. She needs Maud's help. This woman is a sheep farmer and the wool is from one of her very own sheep! Maud knows how to fix all our mistakes :) She pulls up a chair.

Another customer arrives with a project she started twenty-five years ago. She's stuck and was told that Maud could help her. It's a Christmas stocking for one of her grown daughters. She waits her turn as Maud helps mom and me. Maud gives mom a new skein of yarn that is all wool and has her begin again, this time with no "yarn overs". She shows me how to "decrease" and do the "knit-two-together" stitch to finish my washcloth.

As we are knitting, a fifth customer arrives. It's Sarah and after a hug from Maud, she sits and visits for awhile and eventually pulls out a pair of socks she's knitting with the tiniest needles I've ever seen. They look like toothpicks! She says they are size zero! 

Main Grain Bakery

As mom and I get ready to leave, Marlene walks in. We met her last week. She is also a friend of Maud's and a knitter. We say our goodbyes to the "girls" and decide to stop in the bakery before heading to the library. (After just a bowl of soup and all this knitting we are hungry again!)

"The Main Grain Bakery" is right next door. We walk in inhaling the aroma of fresh baked bread. I think I've died and gone to heaven! The shelves are filled with breads and cookies, cupcakes and muffins. Mom and I choose a granola bar and take it next door to Emy J's where we order a decaf for mom and mocha for me.

After a while we are joined by my mother-in-law and her friend, Bobbie, who have just been to the Riverfront Arts Center to see the "Winter's Garden" exhibit, a juried exhibition of floral/garden inspired art and live plants.

A few minutes later the door to the cafe opens again and in walks Jennifer, a friend and former yoga teacher of my mother-in-law and she also joins our table. We are having a lively conversation about knitting and art and the women at the next table hear our conversation and wander over to join in. They are artists and one owns a local pottery shop. Jennifer was showing us her sketch book from her online sketching class (Sketchbook Skool) and one of the other women also happens to be in the class! Jennifer's sketches and water colors are beautiful. She also shares photos of her knitting projects she has stored on the Ravelry website. Ravelry is a knit and crochet community site where you can organize and store all your projects. Beware! It is very addictive. 

Oh, what fun! I'm once again, inspired to create! The library will have to wait for another day.

There's nothing like spending a day with the girls!

Children's Letters to God

I read this little gem many years ago and it still makes me laugh out loud. Be sure to read it a loud to someone else; it's funnier this way and you can share the laughter! I read on line that there is a new edition and also a musical!

Dear GOD,
In school they told us what You do. Who does it when You are on vacation?
-Jane

Dear GOD,
I read the Bible. What does begat mean? Nobody will tell me.
Love, Alison

Dear GOD,
Are you really invisible or is that just a trick?
-Lucy

Dear GOD,
Is it true my father won't get in Heaven if he uses his bowling words in the house?
-Anita

Dear GOD,
Did you mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an accident?
-Norma

Dear GOD,
Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, why don't You just keep the ones You have now?
-Jane

Dear GOD,
Who draws the lines around the countries?
-Nan

Dear GOD,
I went to this wedding and they kissed right in church. Is that okay?
-Neil

Dear GOD,
What does it mean You are a Jealous God? I thought You had everything.
-Jane

Dear GOD,
Did you really mean "do unto others as they do unto you"? Because if you did, then I'm going to fix my brother.
-Darla

Dear GOD,
Thank you for the baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy.
-Joyce

Dear GOD,
It rained for our whole vacation and is my father mad! He said some things about You that people are not supposed to say, but I hope You will not hurt him anyway.
Your friend -- (But I am not going to tell you who I am)

Dear GOD,
Why is Sunday school on Sunday?
I thought it was supposed to be our day of rest.
-Tom L.

Dear GOD,
Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before, You can look it up.
-Bruce

Dear GOD,
If we come back as something - please don't let me be Jennifer Horton because I hate her.
-Denise

Dear GOD,
If You give me a genie lamp like Aladin, I will give you anything you want, except my money or my chess set.
-Raphael

Dear GOD,
Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they had their own rooms. It works with my brother.
-Larry

Dear GOD,
You don't have to worry about me. I always look both ways.
-Dean

Dear GOD,
I think the stapler is one of your greatest inventions.
-Ruth M.

Dear GOD,
I think about You sometimes even when I'm not praying.
-Elliott

Dear GOD,
I bet it is very hard for You to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it.
-Nan

Dear GOD,
Of all the people who work for You I like Noah and David the best.
-Rob

Dear GOD,
My brother told me about being born but it doesn't sound right. They're just kidding, aren't they?
-Marsha

Dear GOD,
If You watch me in church Sunday, I'll show You my new shoes.
-Mickey D.

Dear GOD,
I would like to live 900 years like the guy in the Bible.
Love, Chris

Dear GOD,
We read Thomas Edison made light. But in school they said You did it. So I bet he stoled your idea.
-Sincerely, Donna

Dear GOD,
I do not think anybody could be a better GOD. Well, I just want You to know but I am not just saying that because You are GOD already.
-Charles

Dear GOD,
I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday. That was cool!
-Eugene

Love, Service, Joy and Boldness

Mother Teresa:

"It is not how much we do, but how much love we put into what we do."

It's the simple things we do as we go about daily life; like choosing fruits and vegetables at the market, preparing a meal, tending the garden, listening to a loved one, writing a letter, reading to a child, walking the dog, silently blessing others; the children in our classroom, our co-workers, the customer in our store, the drivers on the road with us. Love has a rippling effect.  

Albert Schweitzer:

"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know; the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."

Serving others might mean volunteering in our local community. There is so much need and so many ways to volunteer; from working in a soup kitchen, to tutoring kids in reading. This can bring such great joy to our hearts and be a wonderful way to meet new friends. I think it's important to keep in mind that serving others can begin at home. Generously sharing our time and talents with parents and siblings, relatives and friends. Asking how we can help. Paying attention to their needs and finding ways to serve those closest to us. It could be as simple as listening, offering a ride, cooking, washing dishes, picking up groceries, sharing a book, bringing flowers, playing a game, holding a hand, sharing a meal, extending an invitation to do something you know they'd enjoy...  

"I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy." - Rabindranath Tagore

Goethe:

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it." 

I had a copy of this on my bulletin board when I was in college. Sometimes it just takes a leap of faith. Taking that extra step. What can you do? What do you dream of doing? Is it a book you want to write? Quitting your job? Going back to school? Learning an instrument? Becoming fluent in another language? A trip you've always dreamed of? Trying your hand at water color or photography or dance? Starting your own business? Moving to a new town? Why not begin it? 

      Boldness has genius and power and magic in it!!

Peace Begins with Your Lovely Smile - Thich Nhat Hanh

Some of my favorite quotes from Thich Nhat Hanh:

"Waking up this morning I smile. Twenty four new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion."

"Present moment. Wonderful moment."

"Peace in oneself. Peace in the world."

"This is it."

"Breathe. It'll be okay."

"Look with compassion."

"Breathe and smile."

"Peace begins with  your lovely smile."

I stop and read the words again. This time I breathe deeply and close my eyes and make the messages my morning meditation. Following the breath. Coming back to the breath and the present moment.

Again and again. Eventually peace settles into my body and my mind is calm.

I'm up early. It's dark out and the forecast says it will snow all day. I'm excited about snow! I hope the forecast is right. I make the coffee and inhale deeply as I measure the scoops into the coffee maker. One of my top favorite smells is coffee. Popcorn and rain are close seconds.

Today the painter is coming to begin painting the inside of the house. I can hear the sounds of my dogs running up the stairs and Jonathon following. Everyone is ready to start the day. I like the routines of the morning that help me get back into my body; making coffee, emptying the dishwasher,  taking a shower... and on a good day; morning exercise before my shower.

A couple of days ago we were "socked in" an expression that I wasn't familiar with in Arizona. It means surrounded by fog or clouded over. There was not one speck of blue sky or sun. It wasn't that there was low visibility, it was just that when you looked up there was one continuous cloud that covered the entire sky. On a day like this my inclination is to stay home,  but I decided when we moved here that I had to develop a new mindset about the weather and so Mom and I ventured out to the knitting store that morning to get some help with our first project.

This sweet shop is beginning to feel like a home away from home and a great place to meet other women. It's a little community where people drop in with their knitting,  pull up a chair  and visit with the owner, Maud, as she helps correct our mistakes and get us back on track with our stitches. Meanwhile, customers come and go, purchasing beautiful local yarn, signing up for classes or selecting a hand made gift. Everyone wanders over to the table where we are gathered around stitching and talking and laughing. Maud called it a "third place" and explained briefly what it meant.

This phrase was new to me so I looked it up and here's what I found; "In community building, the third place (or third space) is the social surroundings separate from the two usual social environments of home and the workplace. In his influential book "The Great Good Place", Ray Oldenburg argues that third places are important for civil society, democracy, civic engagement, and establishing feelings of a sense of place.

Oldenburg calls one's "first place" the home and those that one lives with. The "second place" is the workplace - where people may actually spend most of their time. Third places, then, are "anchors" of community life and facilitate and foster broader, more creative interaction.  All societies already have informal meeting places; what is new in modern times is the intentionality of seeking them out as vital to current societal needs. Oldenburg suggests the following hallmarks of a true "third place":

* Free or inexpensive
* Food and drink, while not essential, are important
* Highly accessible; proximate for many (walking distance)
* Involve regulars- those who habitually congregate there
* Welcoming and comfortable
* Both new friends and old should be found there

Do you have a "third place"? I think I may have found one here.