MY GOOD FRIEND, GAIL

It is with a heavy heart that I take this moment to thank God for a beautiful friend who passed today, but whose life had such a wonderful and loving impact on not only mine but on the lives of all of those whom she touched with her joyful heart, her optimism and her creative gifts. She is one of those loving women I spoke so highly of in a previous blog, those who loved and stood by me in some of the most difficult times of my life.

Gail was truly a Light in God’s beautiful universe. Her spirit still lives on in all of us whose lives were graced by her loving presence, her pure spirit and her beautiful creativity which touched so many. Gail was an astounding and talented quilter who quilted for the love of the art, but also to share that art so generously with the world around her. In particular her prayer quilts and those of all the other quilters at PEACE UCC have blessed so many over the years.

With each beautiful quilt she so lovingly created and pieced together - and those we all sewed with ties that were turned into bows at each Sunday service - God’s presence was shown in the world. Jesus commanded us to love one another … to minister to the sick, the dying, to all those in need. That is precisely the way Gail led her life on this earth … always seeking to give of herself, her time, her treasure and her talents. Her gifts live on, continuing to bring beauty and comfort. And she lives on and on through all of us who love, cherish and remember her dearly.

Go with God, Gail. 

Love, Elizabeth

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW

Years ago Jackie Deshannon popularized LOVE in her song, “What the World Needs Now is Love, Sweet, Love”. The need for love has only increased in these uncertain times. If you are tempted to withhold it, do not. It is still the single most powerful antidote to any human issue, any problem, illness, dispute … even war. Love is a gift from God and one which we are given freely so that we may circulate it freely with others … not just for some, but for everyone. Be brave, love beyond reason. Love beyond fear. Love beyond humanly imposed boundaries. Be a pioneer in a brave new world where LOVE takes its rightful place. You will be a more content and peace-filled person for doing so.

FORGIVENESS

Just as love is a powerful force in our lives, forgiveness has its place right next to love: forgiveness of self, forgiveness of others … be they loved ones or total strangers. FORGIVE means to GIVE FOR: to give love and understanding in the place of anger … even if, especially if, we feel we were the one wronged. For in withholding forgiveness from another, we also withhold it from ourselves. Years ago I read these words somewhere, and they are burned in my memory: “The nine most important words in the English language are:

I WAS WRONG

I AM  SORRY

PLEASE FORGIVE ME”

No one was ever poisoned by speaking sincere words of forgiveness to another, but we do indeed poison our hearts, our minds, our spirits when we make the choice not to forgive. Choose to forgive, whether spoken aloud or in your heart or in your prayers. Forgiveness goes beyond the grave. It frees us from bondage to our past, to our own mistakes, to our own acts of unkindness. Be a pioneer of forgiveness.

 HOLDING THE HIGH WATCH

It is both an honor and a sacred responsibility

To hold the high watch for another

To stand in the Truth

Even when the Truth is difficult for them to see

Even when they go through the darkness

Of life’s challenges and wonder where

The challenge ends and the blessing begins

We hold out for only the best to be for them

When we come to see the Truth of God

In everyone we meet and learn to love as God loves

We cherish all living beings in a way that goes beyond human

And approaches the Divine, where we are meant to be

For the reality is the divine in each of us

That holding the high watch calls forth

That holding the high watch strengthens

And brings into everyday being

Holding the high watch is seeing the

Very best in all who live and all that is

Honoring beauty in all of creation

Respecting and preserving Mother Earth

Stretching beyond all that humanity knows

Into the truth that it is only love that exists

Eliminating barriers of prejudice and hate

And bridging the gaps of difference

It supersedes the bonds of earth, goes beyond time and space

Allows for and respects individuality

Both honoring and celebrating

The diversity of the human race

To hold the high watch

Is where we are meant to be

To hold the high watch

Is to live well throughout eternity

 HANDLE IT WITH PRAYER

When in doubt, handle it with prayer

When sad, handle it with prayer

When happy, handle it with prayer

When grateful, handle it with prayer

When angry or upset, handle it with prayer

I can honestly think of no better way to address just about anything that comes up in life than to do so in prayer. Precious time in silence with God as our audience is quality time. We will find no more willing and loving ear than that of the loving power that created us. Who else can know you as well as Mother-Father God who shepherded you into your mother’s womb and stayed by you throughout the birth process and every day of your life since?

Mother-Father God is a willing participant in our hopes and dreams, a tender ear to listen when we feel sad or down or questioning just about anything and everything. Too often it is tempting to look for answers out there, outside of ourselves, when more often than not, those answers can be found sitting in the silence of our own souls.

It is good to sit quietly and handle it with prayer.

 

KINDNESS MAKES THE HEART GROW LIGHTER

When in doubt, may we act with kindness.

When in pain over a loss or a disappointment, may we dwell on kindness.

Kindness lifts us out of feelings of being stuck

and frees us from worry and anger … alleviates anxiety

about things over which we have no control.

Doing something thoughtful for a stranger or a friend …

causes us to let go of our egos and its needs,

and, instead, fly on the wings of Spirit.

Kindness cures what ails; it releases whatever weighs us down.

We become like the butterfly released from the cocoon.

We are buoyant with feelings of joy and satisfaction because

someone else is happy, even if only for a single moment.

We can choose to be kind in place of anger.

We can choose to be kind despite misunderstanding.

We can choose to be kind because of the peace it instills in us.

We can choose to be kind because it cures the ills of the heart.

    GROWING IN THE SILENCE

Creation first happens inside of us, within our hearts and minds. The silence nurtures our imagination, encourages it to spring forth into awareness and then be brought into the light of day for our bold and brave expression. No matter who you are or what your background, there dwells within you a spirit of creativity waiting to be released into an awaiting world. It is your gift alone to share. And it begins when you have the courage to dream and then express that dream.

Just as a bulb planted in the fall grows its roots quietly underground before its first tender green shoots break the earth in spring, our hearts nourish our dreams in the silence, allowing them time to grow strong and sure. Each of us has a special gift planted in our awareness by a loving Mother-Father God, a gift that is ours alone to give. No one else has that gift, that talent. It is ours to nurture, ours to express. No matter what your interests or your passions, there is a space for your beautiful creation in the world. In fact, the world awaits your specific gift to show up and shine its light for all to see.

Each of us is like a single beacon shining forth into the world. Our creativity is our light. When we allow it to shine we feel good about ourselves. We feel fulfilled. We feel gratified as well as grateful. Creativity is a way to connect with one another. When we share our passions and our goodness, we find a common voice … a voice of love and peace that goes beyond differences and misunderstanding ... and celebrates those differences with love and respect. Creativity that begins within the silence brings us together in a world where, too often, we focus more on those things that separate us. Our creativity can bridge that gap.

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

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

                      BEING TRUE TO OUR OWN DIVINE COMPASS

One of life’s greatest lessons is learning to be true to ourselves. This can be especially difficult when there are so many loud voices out there that tell us we should do this or that, we should believe this or that, ... behave this way or that way. Yet, if we listen only to those loud voices coming from outside, we fail to miss that quiet voice inside of us which is our divine compass ... our True North. The more we honor that voice, the stronger and surer it becomes. As we grow and mature in our understanding of who we really are and why we are here, we are less likely to be thrown off course by louder voices than our own.

This is not to say we disrespect those whose beliefs and opinions differ from our own. The world works simply because we are all different … different but equally valuable in the equation that is life on this planet. “True North” - our own  divine compass - is the still, small voice … the one that keeps us awake at night … questioning, wondering, trying to figure things out.

Struggle is not necessarily a bad thing. It means we are alive and paying attention. Sometimes we are like Jonah in the belly of the whale fighting our higher selves and refusing to do what we feel divinely guided to do, that one thing or those many things that we were put on earth to give and to accomplish. To do those things we have to leave the safety of our comfort zones.

Being divinely guided doesn’t ensure instant success and approval from others. If we are expecting that to be the case, we are indeed fooling ourselves. That is ego talking, and the fears of our egos keep us small, keep us complacent, keep us from breaking away from the pack, breaking free from routines that no longer serve us. We are caught in them because they have become comfortable.

Yet, “comfortable” does not necessarily translate to “meaningful” to our spirits. God wants us to be great, so sometimes we are prodded by our discomfort to "get out of the boat"and go and do and say and create what is ours to create. When Jonah finally got “spit out” from that whale he ended up on the shores of Nineveh where his divine compass (God) wanted him to go in the first place.

As it is stated in Luke 12:32: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Metaphysically interpreted, the “kingdom" referred to is the center of divine ideas within us, the recognition of our own Christ consciousness, those ideas that create beauty and harmony. It is that part of us that knows and understands God. How else are we able to create anything of meaning if we do not first know our own greatness as children of the Divine, made in the likeness of the Divine?

So, let us be wise beyond our fears, brave beyond our limitations, unsatisfied by the status quo. Let us strive for the kingdom of greatness and divine ideas which are within us waiting for expression in the world. Then we will have been wiser than was Jonah.

NOTE: The Metaphysical interpretation of KINGDOM was excerpted from “TRUTH UNITY”.

  BE SOMEONE ELSE’S LIGHT

I was the fortunate recipient this morning of receiving the Light that someone else brought to my day. Our local library visits once per month in my building. Over the years I have been blessed to meet many wonderful women who bring books, videos and recorded books. They set up wheeled carts of books in our library or multipurpose room so that we may choose whatever we like. For those of us who have been using the service for years, the library staff has come to know what we enjoy most. From this knowledge has grown true friendships that last beyond the moments they visit us here.

I’ve been blessed with very wonderful women who, over the years, have become friends. The first was a lovely and energetic young woman named Brittany who, since we first met, has gone on to marriage and motherhood. The second was Jane, a wise and perceptive woman with whom I became friends over the years. Jane and her husband finally retired to a lovely lakefront home, and now enjoys her grandchildren on a regular basis. The two very kind women who visit us now are Valarie and Melanie. Like those who came before them, they shine the light on my day and on my world with each visit.

Valarie knows me well and always chooses titles by authors she knows will inspire, entertain and bring a new perspective, a new point of view into my life. This is precisely what I mean when I talk about what we do for others as shining a light into their world. We just never know the difference we may be making when we go out of our way … even just a little bit … to bring light to a place inside of a person or their life where that light is very much needed.

It doesn’t take a lot to make a pleasant and meaningful difference in the life of another. There are everyday heroes like Valarie and Melanie everywhere we look. We just have to be open to seeing beauty and an opportunity for friendship wherever we are lucky enough to find it. Each time I sit down to write this blog, I hope and pray that I am bringing just a little bit of light to someone out there.

NAMASTE

  

          DREAMS, WISHES AND IMAGINATION

Before me is a beautiful picture on my TV screen. I’ve pulled up YouTube to a favorite site titled: Whispering Waves. It is every bit as beautiful as it sounds. The music is soft piano with the theme repeating itself over and over again with different variations. The picture is of a Mediterranean-style home set atop cliffs overlooking the sea below. Lights glow softly from its windows. It is surrounded by deep greenery, and palm trees swaying against a star-studded night. They twinkle as soft clouds skid across the sky.

The rocky wall below the home is verdant green with outcroppings of trees and bushes that extend from the side of the house and down to the sandy beach below, where more palm trees sway in the breeze and lush green plants fringe the beach. Small boulders and rocks crop up in the sand along the shore. You can still see the footprints in the sand, left fresh from daylight hours, or perhaps those left by someone seeking a moonlight swim. The water is smooth, interrupted only by the gentle lapping of waves upon the shore.

It is perhaps one of the most peaceful and “romantic” settings I’ve ever seen, much less imagined. When I look at it, my mind travels far away from the couch where I am sitting as I write this. It travels to places I have not been but dream of going. It takes me far away from the reality of this little apartment and fills me with longing … this lovely picture of the sea and waves lapping on the beach. The longing for tropical settings is not a new one.

I have been to Florida a number of times on wonderful vacations. This scene brings those to mind. I remember walking along the shore, my toes digging into the white sand of Sanibel Island, stooping over to pick up one lovely sea shell after the next and collecting them by the handfuls. Those moments are some of my most treasured. There was a kind of freedom there upon the beach, looking out at the vast ocean beyond. It set my mind to imagining all kinds of wonders and adventure. That adventurous spirit lies within me still.

Travel could easily be my middle name, for some of my happiest moments from childhood on have been visiting one sight after another throughout the United States, Canada and even parts of Mexico. Almost four years ago the travel bug took me to Ireland, my first overseas adventure. It is the land of emerald green, four-leaf clovers, leprechauns, sheep, ancient castles and stone walls dividing one property from the next; those stone walls possibly hundreds of years old and constructed entirely by hand … one large stone atop another with mud between. When you view them from the seat of a tour bus, they stretch out before your eyes far into the distance. Verdant green lives year round in the magic of the Emerald Isle.

As I sit here on my couch writing this and viewing the beauty on the screen before me, those precious and glorious moments of travel come up before my mind's eye, and I am set free in a way that no other thing can set me free … can set my mind to wandering beyond the known and the usual routine ... into the magnificent grandeur of God's awesome and exquisite creation. And a wandering mind is a beautiful thing because it takes you beyond the here and now, beyond the possible into the seemingly impossible … realizing that the difference between the two is greatly that of perspective. 

For there is no limit to where the mind and the imagination can roam. Without that precious gift of imagination, there would be no beauty in this world, for it is the creative spark in every undertaking that brings more beauty and harmony to our world. Human imagination created the video I am viewing before it came to life. The human mind imagined that poem, that song, that painting, that story that captivates and takes you to another place in space and time. Imagination is one of the greatest tools available. And it is free. 

REFERENCE

BLOG NAME: Whispering Waves with Piano

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States

https://www.youtube.com/live/UAdSqls4l1U?si=iqW9DO7NQ-vmxU05

  INSPIRATION - THE BREATH OF GOD

The root of the word “inspiration” comes from the Latin word “inspirare”: to breathe into. I think that our more noble pursuits come from the mind of God; an idea revealed to us in moments of prayer and meditation or during a walk in nature or even in conversation with a beloved friend. I like to think of that inspiration, that idea, as the breath of God itself flowing in and through us and out into the world.

When we are inspired we choose to open our hearts and minds to ideas that feed us on a soul level, ideas that bring joy not only to our hearts but to the hearts of those we know and love - as well as perfect strangers. I  know I am inspired when words flow easily onto the page, when I place my pen upon a blank sheet of paper and begin to draw something of beauty.

It does not have to be a masterpiece. It needs only to have “heart” … a tender piece of me that I value dearly and want to draw forth from myself to share with and, hopefully, inspire others to feel loved, to feel special, to realize their own creative goals, their own awesome potential. When we walk beside one another in life supporting and inspiring one another to be our best selves … well, I think that is the work God put us here on earth to do.

I seek not to simply take up space on the planet, but to make changes that reverberate out into the universe itself, changes that are small but that encourage others to grow and change and express God-within-them. We are our best selves when we think creatively, beyond the box, beyond the problem, beyond the obvious and into the amazing territory of inspiration.

Remember those picture puzzle games from childhood where we were asked to look at a picture or a design and describe what we saw? Or maybe we were challenged to put a story to the picture, something we drew up from what is deep inside ourselves. That was an opportunity and a challenge to allow our imagination to run wild. Unfortunately, for too many of us, in growing older we gave up that childish creativity and imagination and replaced it with duty, logic, obligation … in effect starving that creative little kid still inside of us.

So, I challenge you to do something which sparks your creativity. You don’t need to share this with anyone else unless it feels comfortable to do so. Grab a box of crayons or some markers and a pad of paper from your local dollar store. Bring those treasures home. One evening, put aside all else: bill paying, phone calls, required reading.

Just play. See where that play takes you. Watch what happens inside when you get quiet and allow inspiration to flow through you, work its magic in you. I’m betting you’ll feel refreshed, re-energized and pleasantly surprised at the beauty that comes forth from you … the breath of God that expresses itself through you. Let go and let inspiration be your guide.

    TO MY BEST FRIEND ON HER BIRTHDAY

My dearest friend, I want all the world to know how precious you are to me. I am blessed richly by the relationship I have with you. We have known one another now for 30 wonderful years. My life is more joyous because of you. My life is better because of you, and I look forward to many more years blessed by your presence. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve commiserated, we’ve supported, we’ve given to one another over and over again. That generous giving is a beautiful part of the tapestry of our friendship.

In moments of sorrow and despair, it was the light of your wisdom, understanding and powerful spirituality that kept me going. In moments of joy and celebration, your loving warmth, your spirit of generosity and your contagious sense of humor made those moments into memories I will treasure for as long as I live. In fact, I can remember times when we laughed so hard there were tears in our eyes. You don’t experience that kind of joy and laughter with just anyone. It takes a special someone with whom you have a deep soul connection … the kind that we are blessed to have with one another.

Our precious friendship is founded on mutual respect and understanding and on our belief in a higher power far greater than our human understanding. Our deep faith is a gift we have in common which enhances every part of our lives … together and apart. Even in moments when we may not agree with one another, our tender regard and deep respect for one another and our values always shines through. We’ve discovered the secret of those words, “BETTER TOGETHER”. And the world is better because we are better together.

Our friendship has stood the test of time, the test of living far away from one another in the physical sense. But in the spiritual realm, where it matters most, we are as close to one another as our next breath because we know the secret to a life well lived and a friendship well lived is our deep faith in and reverence for the beautiful Mother-Father God that created us … in whom we live, move, breathe and have our being.

On this special day, I call upon that beautiful higher power to bring peace, fulfillment and joy to each and every moment of your life, on this your birthday and on every day going forward.

Love, Lizzie Lou

PS: I just want to tell you what a treat it was to share that very long and wonderful conversation tonight when you called me to thank me for your "birthday gift blog". Dearest friend, that call meant the world to me. I am so glad we relate at such a deep and meaningful level. Perhaps our visits in person are few and far between, but I know that in Spirit, we are always joined in love, faith and gratitude. Your phone call made my day. They always do. Have a beautiful rest of your week. God hold you in the palm of his hand until we meet again.

 

We travel an incredible road in life. It is a road of adventure into the unknown, a road to opportunity and blessings waiting to be discovered. It takes courage to walk a path we have never considered before, but that is where we find our joy ... the grace of discovery when we have the courage to take that first step in

in a new direction. Henry David Thoreau wisely said,

"GO CONFIDENTLY IN THE DIRECTION OF YOUR DREAMS. LIVE THE LIFE YOU'VE IMAGINED."

 

This was the awesome view from the window of the plane as we were descending into Ireland during my trip there in November of 2021. I was so inspired looking out at this view from above, feeling as if I was in the palm of God's hand. When you are above the earth looking down, your perspective changes. It deepens. It reminds you that you are one very small part of a vast and beautiful creation. I was both awed and humbled looking out the window that early morning. I felt the presence of something holy and something sacred. Anytime I have flown, day or night, it is not only an adventure for my senses, but an adventure for my soul as well. That beautiful trip to the Emerald Isle is one I shall never forget. Travel broadens my horizons because it removes me from my standard comfort zone into a whole new world of other possibilities. That trip was a blessing and an opportunity to increase my awareness, feed my soul and inspire me to seek the power that is greater than me that created this beauty outside my window.

                                                     THE PRESENCE OF GRACE

There have been moments in my life

When grace sufficed to see me through

The darkest tunnels lit only by

The unconditional love of God

Grace for which there was no rhyme or reason

Grace for which I did not a thing

Grace that brought about a solution

Or mended my relationship with a friend

Grace not earned or paid for

With my thoughts and actions - still

It is the action of God

Within my life at every turn

I bless my life when I recognize grace

When I share grace with others

In action, deed, thought and prayer

Holding the Light for the world

Yes, Grace is ever present in and around

Up and down

Forward and back

Side by side with God everywhere present