A friend
needs
the song
in your heart
and can sing
it back
to you
when
you need it.
In some ways,
friends
are
mirrors
to us,
and, at times,
we can be
mirrors to them.
Friends
can know
how
to sing
words of encouragement
and love-
music
to our hearts-
when
we need them.
I think
that one of the signs
of real friendship
is the
reciprocity
of
keeping in touch.
livinglinesreflections.com
Each
friend
represents
a world
in us,
a world
possibly
not born
until
he or she
arrives.
I have a bouquet
of friends,
each one
different.
I find
myself
revealing-
sometimes
discovering-
different
aspects
of myself
with each
of them.
livinglinesreflections.com
When you feel
life is too intense,
imagine it as
a TV soap opera.
Turn the sound down
until it seems manageable
or mute the sound
and read the text.
It reads
differently
than it sounds.
What is
going on
in your life
may seem
less dramatic.
Sometimes
we can’t
eliminate
the drama
in our lives,
but we can
turn the volume down.
Do you have
ways
that help
you ?
Pictures remind
Easter finery.
New bonnet,
Spring coat, perhaps
passed down
through
sisters and cousin.
New dress,
polished shoes
or new
patent leather!
Small flower corsage
from Daddy.
Some may still
dress this way
for Easter services,
I may admit to
a little envy.
We looked our best
or so it seemed.
The best outside dress-up
cannot cover up
the violence of
terror or the
insulting language
in the political campaign.
Steady reams of
news
proclaim
more crucifixion
than resurrection.
There are many
moments
of love and caring,
even random
acts of kindness.
What will it take
to dress up
ourselves,
our families and friends,
our neighborhoods
and our world
with sincere conversion
from the inside out.
Real love and kindness
generate
warmth and smiles.
How can we
dress
ourselves
with the
realization
that
we are all
in this world together?
Respect
for
each and every other,
dressed in finery
or clothes unfamiliar.
Garments given away
clothe
those without anything.
Respect
is the best
place
to begin.
We all
can dress ourselves best
caring for
each other.
Amen.
I
no longer
make
a plan
for
myself
but
respond to the
things and people
in my life
that are
part of a
plan or a pattern
I cannot see.
These words
may sound
passive
but remind me
to
strive
for an active
awareness
realizing that
I am
in the midst
of a
“holy confusion”.
Discovering
these two words,
I chuckled
and
remembered
my mantra.
Ann Patchett,
wonderful writer,
reflects,
“Sometimes not having any idea
where we’re going
works out better
than we could
possibly have imagined.”
Why do we have
the illusion
that life
should be easy?
Until we can
embrace
the hard times,
the losses,
we will be surprised
when illness,
pain,
loss
and
disappointment
come into our lives.
Sometimes,
all
at the same time.
Centering Prayer
and
Inner Awakening
offers
a helpful way
to “be” with
difficult
things in life,
even a
painful thought or feeling.
The Welcoming Prayer
can bring
awareness,
giving
the experience
space
to clarify
and not resist.
It may sound
counter-intuitive
but opening
up
to what
is going on,
may
help.
Cynthia Bourgeault, author of Centering Prayer
Once upon a time
Not so very
long ago,
before the digital revolution,
my data
was on paper.
Bills came through the mail,
checks written,
receipt on bill
kept in a box,
mailed with a stamp.
Snail mail
it is called now.
There were
advantages
to that system.
Letters
were hand written.
Pleasure
as the receiver opened.
Handwritten
usually.
Personal.
Some people
claim
as do some offices
to be
paper-free.
My records,
e-mails
credit card bills,
etc, etc. etc.
are kept in a
hybrid system.
Not everything
gets printed
on paper.
But
anything I believe
to be important
gets
printed.
At this time of the year,
when records
are put in some
order
to prepare
for tax paying
in April,
I attempt
to go through
the files
on my computer
and my
paper files.
Increasingly
the IRS is
encouraging
people
to file their
tax returns
on-line.
I don’t wait
for spring cleaning
to attempt to
weed out my
computer
and paper
files.
Of course,
some paper records
are copies of
digital records.
File by file,
a few at a time,
I look to see
what needs to
be kept
and dispose
or delete
unnecessary
information.
There is just
too much
data.
How much
data is secure?
Credit cards
are hacked.
Today,
a large hospital system
announced that
their electronic records
had been hacked
and they would
notify the patients
effected.
And
on and on.
The amount of time
to manage all of this
has expanded
along with
the advantages
of this digital
revolution.
One health insurer
chose the same
company
the federal government
chose to set up
the Affordable Care Act.
When the new system
failed,
employees
had to learn
to process
applications,
by hand
on paper.
We can’t go back
to the ways things
were.
Is there a
solution
to the
reality
of so much
data
and not having
a choice
about whether
to put your
whole life
on electronic systems?
Do the best
you can
with what
you have.
Enjoy the ride!
A 90 year old
shares the secret.
If we aren’t
satisfied
doing
our best
with
what
we have,
we won’t enjoy
what
we did
accomplish.
livinglinesreflections.com
We all need
to learn to
set limits.
Do you live in an
unnaturally
high setting
for normal?
Are you
expecting
too much of
yourself and others?
When is life or
our response to it,
just too much
or just enough?
Can you build in some
flexibility?
What if our lives are
right on
the edge,
and we don’t see
the precipice?
livinglinesreflections.com gift a book
There are many
ways
to
lead
an Examined Life.
On your own
or
in a place
which gives you
space
and
silence
to contemplate,
observe
and
learn.
Moment by moment
awareness
examined
at the end
of each
day.
Maybe a day
or several days
to
Be
not
Do.
Do
you
have
a
way?
Living Lines Moment by Moment 