I had a conversation yesterday about gratitude and awe , how essential they are to awakening, to enjoying life and in shifting moods.
And how connected one is to the other: a felt sense of awe giving rise to a felt sense of gratitude.
This felt sense of awe, body -mind connection, may well be what gives rise to a sense of mystery. Or maybe it’s the other way around.
When I have an awareness. That moment when I know that I do not know and that wonder arises. It creates an openness and ignites a desire to know and experience.
I would like to be conscious of God at the time of death, and therefore not accepting another material body which is full of suffering and misery. the magic is to take advantage of this rare opportunity of human life and be successful in my journey back home.. back to God.
Watching the bulbs growing in my backyard, tulips and daffodils I’m guessing. Seeing birds arriving in the trees, some singing, some completely unfamiliar to me. I just saw one that was bright red in the upper half … couldn’t grab my binoculars out in time to identify. I love Spring!
I just had my daughter take a photo of a garden near her apt in Philly – I will post it in the Lounge. For Mother’s Day, I asked each of my kids for a specific nature photo to print on canvas and I will have new art to decorate in one of my rooms. (I asked my son to take a pic of the beautiful cypress trees along the Hillsborough river near him and my other daughter to take a pic of the weeping willow tree I planted years ago.
Spring is slow to arrive at 7900′ but the yellow iris’s are emerging along the border of our garage and a few migratory birds are back.. A larger than normal robin contingent here at the place. Hope Springs Eternal dear Pilgrim.
Watching a sunrise, admiring the sun and the full moon, these essential parts of life´s mystery which without those, there would be no such trace of these life´s magic moments where there is nothing but awe.
I don’t know about mystery feeling magical but I can recall many times when the mystery of grace has been a gift that sustained me. I share one of those times when I was gifted with the mystery of grace. I wrote about it in a morning meditation.
Morning Med Dec 1 2017 The Mystery of Grace
“I do not at all understand the mystery of grace–only that it meets us where we are but doesn’t leave us where it found us.” Anne LaMott
Good Morning,
I found this quote from Anne LaMott awaiting me when I turned on my computer this morning and thought of the many times I have been saved by grace and the graciousness of others. As I have shared many times with all of you, I married a good man but his alcoholism both fed my anxiety and also called on me to face it and deal with it.
I will share an example of what LaMott calls the “ mystery of grace” that took place many years ago in my life and has influenced me every since. My children were probably about 8 and 10 years of age; we were living in the country on our small 20 acre farm; I was a stay-at-home mom and my husband was working at the local army post as a construction inspector. He was drinking quite heavily daily and one evening when he arrived home sober, he advised me that right after dinner, he would be going into town to meet with a contractor he was currently working with on his job. My gut went into a knot as I knew that this was not kosher according to the government standards for contractor/government employee relationships. I literally begged him not to go but he went promising that he would have a couple of drinks with whomever and be home soon. Needless to say, midnight came, one, two, in the morning came and I could not sleep. I paced the floor and my mind raced. Where was he? Was he in an accident? What was going on? Finally, I literally screamed out loud and will never know why it did not wake my children. I cried out, “You, meaning God, are not supposed to give us more than we can bear and I can’t bear this walking the floor time after time, wondering if he’s going to make it home safely.”
I experienced a profound gift and the only word I can find to describe it is GRACE…. In that moment I felt my whole body relaxing, releasing, letting go. I literally felt like even the roots of my hair actually relaxed. I walked from the bedroom to the kitchen and felt like I was floating on air. I made a cup of hot cocoa and I felt like every movement I made was in slow motion. I drank it slowly and then returned to the bedroom and when I fell into the bed it was like landing on a cloud. I slept so deeply that I don’t know when my husband arrived home.
The next morning, he said nothing. It was obvious that he was suffering from a immense hangover. He left for work in my car. I thought, how strange but reasoned that he must be low on gas. However, when I went out to go some where later in the day in his car, I realized it had been wrecked. The manifold (I think that is what it is called) was resting on the ground and the driver’s side of the car was full of mud and dried grass. He had apparently had a blackout (a common happening with alcoholics) and ended up in a ditch. To this day I have no idea how he and the car got home…the car was not drive-able. I thought, it’s the driver’s side of the car that took the ditch. He must have been driving in the wrong lane. What if a car had been coming from the other way? I wept with relief, that he apparently had not harmed any one else.
As Ann says, Grace does not leave us where it found us. How could I ever doubt the power of grace again?
Dear Carol, I know that this event occurred many years ago…but just reading made anxious . I cannot imagine your anxiety/worry that night. I cannot explain what happened to you…but Thankful that you felt Grace and Peace at a most disturbing time. I am so very happy that your life now is Blessed.
Nannette, Thanks for your kind words. I’m much older now and have been blessed with many years of experience. I have decided that we are never alone. Grace is always available. I guess my despair that night allowed me to surrender to the moment and claim the grace that is always there. For me, It isn’t magical. It is fact.
Totally resonate with your own story, Carol. however, there were three children involved when my mother snatched us away from that animal. I’ll be forever indebted.
Blessings!
Luv-1-Nutter, Thankfully, my husband was not violent and was a good father. His drinking was emotionally but not physically painful for me. Our children grew up with two loving parents. If it had been dangerous for them, I, too, would have snatched them away. It sounds like your mother and you and your siblings were not that fortunate. My heart goes out to you and I’m glad your mother protected you.
Last night we saw a performance of folks who defied gravity and flew through the air. The mystery was how it was done, why they do what they do, and to leave ones country and perform in another. This, to me, is mystery and magical entertainment. Maybe mystery and magic is to take us beyond. May all religious celebrations this week be blessed.
The mystery of the tides coming and going, the vast ocean with the sun shining upon it and hours later the moon glowing on the water….the tree’s budding with life, the flowers coming up and giving us beauty, the Turkeys’s running in my field, my field!!, the birds singing each day. The purrs of my cats and the heart beat of my dog….The love of my husband….loving me. And today on the Christian Day of Good Friday, thinking of the sacrifice of one man for all of man….all beyond magic…and wonder.
Right now I’m this very moment! It’s magical that I have running clean water every day that goes from hot to cold and I am grateful for the people and smother earth who made that happen! The olive oil that I am using right now is magical! People grew the trees and picked the olives and think of all the work that went on I getting here for me to buy in a store ! Not to mention the magic of natures flow to have it all happen ! Wow ! I’m so grateful and these are two examples! Imagine how many more things happen for us all the time ! Thank you natures flow ! I love you !
Magic is all around me in sunrises, the rejuvenation in a cup of tea, birds building nests, the physical presence of my kids, the cycle of the seasons, river currents and ocean tides, one-celled bacteria and whales, and how everything works together in some unseen plan or schedule. It all seems magical to me. All those bits of magic reflect The Mystery.
I have wireless internet here. I have a laptop and a wireless scan/printer/copier but no cell/smart phone. I do understand the basic physics of the wireless technology but I was born in 1957 and it is all so Merlinesque to me!
Every time I think of how much of the world relies on combinations of 1 and 0 I’m amazed all over again. How that works is always a magical mystery to me.
I too sensed Mystery interwoven with Magic viewing the spring full moon. I’m in awe of morning hoar frost on trees, spring dew on the grass, a bird pecking at my suet feeder. Each catches my breathe and I see the fingerprints of God.
Right now looking up at the beautiful full moon.
Harry Potter books come to mind:)
castles, witches, bats and cats, secret gardens – I think I’m going more towards magical than mystery, lol
looking forward to reading others answers. Happy Friday everyone:)
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I had a conversation yesterday about gratitude and awe , how essential they are to awakening, to enjoying life and in shifting moods.
And how connected one is to the other: a felt sense of awe giving rise to a felt sense of gratitude.
This felt sense of awe, body -mind connection, may well be what gives rise to a sense of mystery. Or maybe it’s the other way around.
When I am travelling to a new place. My first trip to Ireland was very magical to me. I was in awe of my entire experience there.
When I have an awareness. That moment when I know that I do not know and that wonder arises. It creates an openness and ignites a desire to know and experience.
I would like to be conscious of God at the time of death, and therefore not accepting another material body which is full of suffering and misery. the magic is to take advantage of this rare opportunity of human life and be successful in my journey back home.. back to God.
Watching the bulbs growing in my backyard, tulips and daffodils I’m guessing. Seeing birds arriving in the trees, some singing, some completely unfamiliar to me. I just saw one that was bright red in the upper half … couldn’t grab my binoculars out in time to identify. I love Spring!
I just had my daughter take a photo of a garden near her apt in Philly – I will post it in the Lounge. For Mother’s Day, I asked each of my kids for a specific nature photo to print on canvas and I will have new art to decorate in one of my rooms. (I asked my son to take a pic of the beautiful cypress trees along the Hillsborough river near him and my other daughter to take a pic of the weeping willow tree I planted years ago.
Spring is slow to arrive at 7900′ but the yellow iris’s are emerging along the border of our garage and a few migratory birds are back.. A larger than normal robin contingent here at the place. Hope Springs Eternal dear Pilgrim.
Watching a sunrise, admiring the sun and the full moon, these essential parts of life´s mystery which without those, there would be no such trace of these life´s magic moments where there is nothing but awe.
I don’t know about mystery feeling magical but I can recall many times when the mystery of grace has been a gift that sustained me. I share one of those times when I was gifted with the mystery of grace. I wrote about it in a morning meditation.
Morning Med Dec 1 2017 The Mystery of Grace
“I do not at all understand the mystery of grace–only that it meets us where we are but doesn’t leave us where it found us.” Anne LaMott
Good Morning,
I found this quote from Anne LaMott awaiting me when I turned on my computer this morning and thought of the many times I have been saved by grace and the graciousness of others. As I have shared many times with all of you, I married a good man but his alcoholism both fed my anxiety and also called on me to face it and deal with it.
I will share an example of what LaMott calls the “ mystery of grace” that took place many years ago in my life and has influenced me every since. My children were probably about 8 and 10 years of age; we were living in the country on our small 20 acre farm; I was a stay-at-home mom and my husband was working at the local army post as a construction inspector. He was drinking quite heavily daily and one evening when he arrived home sober, he advised me that right after dinner, he would be going into town to meet with a contractor he was currently working with on his job. My gut went into a knot as I knew that this was not kosher according to the government standards for contractor/government employee relationships. I literally begged him not to go but he went promising that he would have a couple of drinks with whomever and be home soon. Needless to say, midnight came, one, two, in the morning came and I could not sleep. I paced the floor and my mind raced. Where was he? Was he in an accident? What was going on? Finally, I literally screamed out loud and will never know why it did not wake my children. I cried out, “You, meaning God, are not supposed to give us more than we can bear and I can’t bear this walking the floor time after time, wondering if he’s going to make it home safely.”
I experienced a profound gift and the only word I can find to describe it is GRACE…. In that moment I felt my whole body relaxing, releasing, letting go. I literally felt like even the roots of my hair actually relaxed. I walked from the bedroom to the kitchen and felt like I was floating on air. I made a cup of hot cocoa and I felt like every movement I made was in slow motion. I drank it slowly and then returned to the bedroom and when I fell into the bed it was like landing on a cloud. I slept so deeply that I don’t know when my husband arrived home.
The next morning, he said nothing. It was obvious that he was suffering from a immense hangover. He left for work in my car. I thought, how strange but reasoned that he must be low on gas. However, when I went out to go some where later in the day in his car, I realized it had been wrecked. The manifold (I think that is what it is called) was resting on the ground and the driver’s side of the car was full of mud and dried grass. He had apparently had a blackout (a common happening with alcoholics) and ended up in a ditch. To this day I have no idea how he and the car got home…the car was not drive-able. I thought, it’s the driver’s side of the car that took the ditch. He must have been driving in the wrong lane. What if a car had been coming from the other way? I wept with relief, that he apparently had not harmed any one else.
As Ann says, Grace does not leave us where it found us. How could I ever doubt the power of grace again?
Blessings, Carol
Thank you for the story. Makes me truly realize the trauma and mental anguish I have caused my lovely wife in the past. Namaste Carol.
Dear Carol, I know that this event occurred many years ago…but just reading made anxious . I cannot imagine your anxiety/worry that night. I cannot explain what happened to you…but Thankful that you felt Grace and Peace at a most disturbing time. I am so very happy that your life now is Blessed.
Nannette, Thanks for your kind words. I’m much older now and have been blessed with many years of experience. I have decided that we are never alone. Grace is always available. I guess my despair that night allowed me to surrender to the moment and claim the grace that is always there. For me, It isn’t magical. It is fact.
Totally resonate with your own story, Carol. however, there were three children involved when my mother snatched us away from that animal. I’ll be forever indebted.
Blessings!
Luv-1-Nutter, Thankfully, my husband was not violent and was a good father. His drinking was emotionally but not physically painful for me. Our children grew up with two loving parents. If it had been dangerous for them, I, too, would have snatched them away. It sounds like your mother and you and your siblings were not that fortunate. My heart goes out to you and I’m glad your mother protected you.
Last night we saw a performance of folks who defied gravity and flew through the air. The mystery was how it was done, why they do what they do, and to leave ones country and perform in another. This, to me, is mystery and magical entertainment. Maybe mystery and magic is to take us beyond. May all religious celebrations this week be blessed.
Sounds like a wonderous performance, YRAM!! I have always wanted to see one of these shows. I am glad you enjoyed it.
The mystery of the tides coming and going, the vast ocean with the sun shining upon it and hours later the moon glowing on the water….the tree’s budding with life, the flowers coming up and giving us beauty, the Turkeys’s running in my field, my field!!, the birds singing each day. The purrs of my cats and the heart beat of my dog….The love of my husband….loving me. And today on the Christian Day of Good Friday, thinking of the sacrifice of one man for all of man….all beyond magic…and wonder.
Right now I’m this very moment! It’s magical that I have running clean water every day that goes from hot to cold and I am grateful for the people and smother earth who made that happen! The olive oil that I am using right now is magical! People grew the trees and picked the olives and think of all the work that went on I getting here for me to buy in a store ! Not to mention the magic of natures flow to have it all happen ! Wow ! I’m so grateful and these are two examples! Imagine how many more things happen for us all the time ! Thank you natures flow ! I love you !
Magic is all around me in sunrises, the rejuvenation in a cup of tea, birds building nests, the physical presence of my kids, the cycle of the seasons, river currents and ocean tides, one-celled bacteria and whales, and how everything works together in some unseen plan or schedule. It all seems magical to me. All those bits of magic reflect The Mystery.
Mystery feels magical when it’s sprinkled with alittle bit of excitement, anticipation and wonder.
I have wireless internet here. I have a laptop and a wireless scan/printer/copier but no cell/smart phone. I do understand the basic physics of the wireless technology but I was born in 1957 and it is all so Merlinesque to me!
Every time I think of how much of the world relies on combinations of 1 and 0 I’m amazed all over again. How that works is always a magical mystery to me.
I too sensed Mystery interwoven with Magic viewing the spring full moon. I’m in awe of morning hoar frost on trees, spring dew on the grass, a bird pecking at my suet feeder. Each catches my breathe and I see the fingerprints of God.
Right now looking up at the beautiful full moon.
Harry Potter books come to mind:)
castles, witches, bats and cats, secret gardens – I think I’m going more towards magical than mystery, lol
looking forward to reading others answers. Happy Friday everyone:)