Angel Monday

This is Monday of the Angel.  Yesterday was Easter Sunday.  Someone had to announce, “He is Risen!” Or else no one would know what is going on in the cemetery where Jesus was buried.  The angel does a singular job and then disappears from the scene.  The angel was of central service for a singular moment.  I keep that in mind when I am needed for something.  It is not all about me.  Show up for what is needed, do it, and then let go of being a focal point.  The angel did a very important and central task but did not get a big ego about it.  A good example of humility, responsibility, and anonymity.  I did important things in church the last several days but now I can return to anonymity.  I try to keep “being needed” separate from “being important.”  But maybe I will get a day named for me! 

Connection

 People can drive drunk and they can drive sober.  The choice involves a feeling of connection.  The sober person sees a red light and stops.  They feel a connection with the person on the street who sees the “Walk” sign is begins to cross the street.  The drunk sees no connection with a person, but only a connection to get that next drink or get to that next place so that they can “fix” their life.  If I am stressed and get behind the wheel, I remind myself first that I am not the only person trying to get somewhere to do something.  It keeps me connected.  I am sure the walker and other drivers are better off for this brief pause.  

The Bonnet

 Happy Easter!  I will celebrate it in my way.  May I suggest you ladies think about today being the day of the “Bonnet?”  Yes, wear a hat today to celebrate Easter.  If you tune up the movie, “Easter Bonnet” or the song of that name, you will see that women walked down the NY Avenue on Easter with their Easter hats.  They always walked with a man in the movies.  But this is a different time.  You can go it alone.  I will look around for a special hat for myself in my closet.  And if someone inquires, “Why the Hat?” Just say it is Easter.  Of course if you wear a hat it won’t quite fit in with jeans and a tee shirt.  What special clothes will I wear today inside church and out on a walk along a San Francisco street?  

A Drink

Walk into a crowded bar or social event that has alcohol.  You don’t know anyone.  No one seems to know you are there or care.  You feel like an outsider.  Maybe you feel like you don’t matter or fit in.  Then you have a drink and maybe another one until suddenly, you feel a part of.  You feel that you matter.  You fit in.  Nothing has changed in the crowd.  Only you have changed.  It is the great delusion of alcohol.  The real thirst is for connection. Spare your liver.  Just introduce yourself to someone, anyone.  Well, anyone who is sober.  Or be of service and walk up to someone who is alone.   

Good Friday

 Today is referred to as “Good Friday” by a lot of people.  It used to be a church visit day, but is more of a “get away” day for the weekend.  If you are clueless about why it is called “Good” the explanation might be most puzzling.  It celebrates or recalls a miserable death by crucifixion of an innocent man who loved everyone.  What is so good about that?  Good question.  Well, what if you had nothing to give to people who hated you or did not even know you, or did know you but were pretty clueless about who you truly are.  Ignore them maybe?  Stay away from such people?  What if you gave your life for them, since you do not have money or things to give.  Or give all of yourself in service to people who you don’t even know.  Law enforcement or military, or a bus driver for school children who dies to save others.  We call them good, not crazy.  If you call their action meaningless, you might check your quotient of self-centeredness.  It is not all about you.  

The Messenger

 I try not to focus on the messenger, but rather the message.  It’s why I stay with the same groups.  I don’t always like everyone in the group or church for that matter.  But I am more interested in what message people bring to the group or church.  Sometimes, volunteers and people who do service in church or a group and not to my liking.  But the message they bring is important.  They are being of service as I should be too.  Or someone I don’t particularly feel drawn to, says some very important things that help me.  If a pastor has a message that helps me, I don’t leave and go somewhere else simply because I don’t much like the pastor.  Besides, the message might challenge me to be more tolerant.  Maybe the messenger is having a bad time, or a bad life, but my spiritual Power is using that person to speak to me.  

Geography

The problem with God for many people is geography.  They are looking for a god out there in the cosmos who is supposed to be fixing all the world problems, but is not, in their opinion.  They are not looking for the God within themself.  They have no meditative life and often their prayer life is fox-hole type prayers after some mess, often of their own making.  But they often blame the out there god for the mess.  Anyhow, I try to make meditation a daily part of my life.  It helps me.  And I am less likely to blame anyone for the mess around me.  Meditation helps me to ask what I can do to make the world around me a better place.  Being of service is not natural to me, but it is spiritual.  So I try to be spiritual-centered early in the day.