Pondering over Pancakes

I was listening to NPR this morning as I was cooking pumpkin, strawberry, and chocolate chip pancakes. (Not all in the same pancake!) In the introduction to an "I believe.." segment I heard the following statements. "I believe that life is a spiritual journey" and "I believe that God is in the space between people". As I flipped the pancakes I found my mind flipping back and forth between the two.
"Spiritual" stirs in me thoughts of connectedness, wholeness, and mystery. An awareness that there are powers at work beyond what I can see, hear, and touch. Something Holy, Sacred. "Journey" implies that I cannot stand still, stagnant. My encounters with the sacred are ongoing, evolving. It is only after I mix the flour, eggs, milk, etc. and heat on the grill do the ingredients come together to be pancakes. So too with my "spiritual journey".
As I serve pumpkin pancakes to Mary and chocolate chip pancakes to John I think about the second statement. The one about God being experienced in the space between people. The pancakes I've created cannot serve their purpose unless I serve them to those who will enjoy them. The truth is; I do not like either pumpkin or chocolate chip pancakes. What I like, is watching the people I love enjoy what I have been able to create. Maybe this is what Jesus meant when he said "Love one another as I have loved you."

Happy!

      "Happy" is the title of a critically acclaimed documentary film made in 2011. When most people are asked what they want to accomplish in life, the answer is to be "happy". What do they mean? How does one  go about "being happy". Are some people just naturally happy? Are wealthy people happier than those who are not wealthy? Why do some people bounce back more quickly from tragedy and sadness than others? What role does spirituality and religion play in happiness? Is there a connection between compassion and happiness? These are just some of the questions that this film addresses in an entertaining and challenging manner. It made me smile (a lot) and also brought tears to my eyes.
     Did you know that our happiness depends only 10% on our circumstances? 40% of our capacity of happiness depends on decisions and actions that we personally take. Learn more about the film at the link below. It is available on Netflix as well as dvd.

“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. (John 15:11 MSG)

http://www.thehappymovie.com/

Half Full

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down! (from Science is Madness)

Listening to the Divine

Read an interesting article this morning regard prayer. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/17/we-talk-with-god-what-evangelical-christians-hear.html

Florida Post

I'm going to attempt to post some photos here of this past week in Florida. We purchased a new Canon AS2300 point and shoot for 79 dollars and it seems to be working pretty good.

 And I thought that I knew how to stick my neck out!

 Majestic!

 Saw many beautiful vehicles at show but was especially impressed with this truck.

 My first pic with new camera. John with an icee drink!

 Sawyer on swing at park.

 Manatees in park.

 John on special swing for disabled folks at park.

 Sawyer at Pine Island.

The Last Piece

Our daughter-in-law shared the following story about our grandson, Noah, age 8.

Tonight after I finished putting Clara down for bed, Noah said, "Mom, I want to show you something downstairs." At the dining room table, was the insanely hard 200 piece puzzle we have been working on for the last two nights. The puzzle look completed until I noticed he was holding up piece for me. He said, "I saved the last one for you for you mom." His sweetness is sometimes beyond me.

How does this story fit your understanding of life? Of faith?

Who has saved the "last piece for you?"

What does the "last piece"represent?

Drive-Thru Ashes

Here is an interesting story. Silly? Maybe at first glance but it is certainly an example of going "out to the people". http://www.wlwt.com/Tri-State-Church-Offers-Drive-Thru-Ashes/-/9838586/10428592/-/sdnnio/-/index.html

Can't see the Gorilla right in front of your face

".....what we're thinking about — what we're focused on — filters the world around us so aggressively that it literally shapes what we see."

I heard this interesting story on NPR this morning about sight and focus and blind spots. You can read it or listen to it here:  http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/02/11/171409656/why-even-radiologists-can-miss-a-gorilla-hiding-in-plain-sight

It seems that when you are told to focus on a particular thing, in the case of radiologists that would be cancer cells, you can miss even the sight of an angry gorilla right in front of you. This has got me thinking about what I am focusing on and what I might be missing. Is this a good thing? I think it might be. If I choose to focus on kindness, love, and joy does that blind me to selfishness, hate, and sadness. No, of course not, because those things are a part of me and the world. Maybe what we focus on determines the power of particular things over us? However, if it is a real angry gorilla in my face will he not do me harm whether I see him or not?

Smith Wigglesworth - “I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe.”