"Authorities are looking for three muggers who punched and kicked a Bronx man before stealing his Bible. The NYPD says the attack in Fordham Heights was captured on surveillance video."
- From news services
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Rose Gardens
Thirty years ago we walked in the rose garden at Hartford's Elizabeth Park. It's an amazing place, but we thought it was ordinary because it was just, you know, the park. There was a pond where we fed leftover bread to ducks. We brought apples for a snack, and ate some bread if we were still hungry.
Then we walked to his apartment and watched the shades of light change on the wall as the sun went down. We ate smoked gouda and canned asparagus on a wooden table with a red and white table cloth.
We have only rarely been apart from each other since that time. And when we are apart, we have a letter (remember those?) or a telephone call.
In 1981 we were just finishing college.
This fall our 18 year old son will begin college.
We wish him academic success, good friendships, gardens,
and rose colored sunsets.
Then we walked to his apartment and watched the shades of light change on the wall as the sun went down. We ate smoked gouda and canned asparagus on a wooden table with a red and white table cloth.
We have only rarely been apart from each other since that time. And when we are apart, we have a letter (remember those?) or a telephone call.
In 1981 we were just finishing college.
This fall our 18 year old son will begin college.
We wish him academic success, good friendships, gardens,
and rose colored sunsets.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
The Woman With One and One Half Legs
My friend, Fern, teaches yoga for all abilities. She works with older people and not so old people who sometimes do yoga sitting in chairs and moving what they can. When they finish class, they've had good yoga practice filled with healthy, mindful breathing, stretching and loving attention for their bodies and souls.
The yoga studio I go to is more of the sexy-hot-pants variety. This is unfortunate since I'm more of the fitting-into-my-pants variety, but I work with what I've got.
This morning at sexy-hot-pants yoga we practiced in a circle, each student a spoke of the wheel facing center. Most were lithe young women. A few people taking the class were also teachers. I spot them not only by the quality of their movement but by the quality of their focus. They don't follow the teacher's lead, but follow their "inner teacher", noticing what their body requires in each moment. This morning that meant while the rest of the class was standing in Warrior I, one teacher/student was in a kneeling lunge.
This beautiful yogini had intensity and focus that made you notice. Her practice was 100%. She gave herself over to glory. She also made massive adaptations to her poses. That inspires me since the fitting-into-my-pants practice is such a work in progress.
The beautiful yogini wore black knee length shorts. One of her legs ended at the hem line. She was missing the portion of her leg from the knee down. A round plastic nub was at the bottom of her shorts.
I've been thinking a lot about legs and motion. Last week I happened across "Meditations from a Moveable Chair", a beautiful collection of personal essays by Andre Dubus about his life as lover, father, person of faith, writer, and accident victim/survivor. One of his legs had been amputated and he could not use the other. Dubus so craved the feeling of his body in motion that each morning after daily Mass he wheeled his chair around the slopes of the church parking lot for an hour while singing at the top of his lungs. (he sang torch songs)
Thank you, Andre Dubus for your beautiful essays. Thank you, teacher for your inspiration.
The yoga studio I go to is more of the sexy-hot-pants variety. This is unfortunate since I'm more of the fitting-into-my-pants variety, but I work with what I've got.
This morning at sexy-hot-pants yoga we practiced in a circle, each student a spoke of the wheel facing center. Most were lithe young women. A few people taking the class were also teachers. I spot them not only by the quality of their movement but by the quality of their focus. They don't follow the teacher's lead, but follow their "inner teacher", noticing what their body requires in each moment. This morning that meant while the rest of the class was standing in Warrior I, one teacher/student was in a kneeling lunge.
This beautiful yogini had intensity and focus that made you notice. Her practice was 100%. She gave herself over to glory. She also made massive adaptations to her poses. That inspires me since the fitting-into-my-pants practice is such a work in progress.
The beautiful yogini wore black knee length shorts. One of her legs ended at the hem line. She was missing the portion of her leg from the knee down. A round plastic nub was at the bottom of her shorts.
I've been thinking a lot about legs and motion. Last week I happened across "Meditations from a Moveable Chair", a beautiful collection of personal essays by Andre Dubus about his life as lover, father, person of faith, writer, and accident victim/survivor. One of his legs had been amputated and he could not use the other. Dubus so craved the feeling of his body in motion that each morning after daily Mass he wheeled his chair around the slopes of the church parking lot for an hour while singing at the top of his lungs. (he sang torch songs)
Thank you, Andre Dubus for your beautiful essays. Thank you, teacher for your inspiration.
Friday, June 24, 2011
True Worship
Be a gardener. Dig a ditch, toil and sweat, and turn the earth upside down and seek the deepness and water the plants in time. Continue this labor and make sweet floods to run and noble and abundant fruits to spring. Take this food and drink and carry it to God as your true worship. - Julian of Norwich  | ||||
Monday, May 16, 2011
Sacred Objects
The structural engineer declared our house sound. He also gently suggested the slight sag in our bedroom floor could be eased by lightening the attic load.
Mel and I both want to clean out the attic which is stuffed with old life vests, holiday mugs, a turn table, 2 Monopoly sets, a penguin lamp, a wooden duck, a food grinder, 60s T.V. trays, and much much more.
Yesterday I learned that Laurie, whose baby was due last Wednesday, did not have a rocking chair, and so I was very happy to pull ours out of the attic for a worthy cause. Mel and I bought the chair when our son was just a few weeks old, and since he was the orneriest non-sleeper, he and I spent MANY hours in it - him nursing and me reading novels, or just kissing and sniffing his head.
I didn't tell Laurie, but there is a little milk stain on the chair. How could I give the rocker to a stranger when it had this precious mark that had passed between my son's mouth and my body? Laurie and I were both happy with the exchange - she for getting a free chair and me for giving the sacred artifact to someone I hold in affection.
The little guy that I used to rock in the chair is going away to college this fall, and I still kiss his head when I have a chance, now through a massive red afro. And I still give it a little sniff sometimes as well.
Mel and I both want to clean out the attic which is stuffed with old life vests, holiday mugs, a turn table, 2 Monopoly sets, a penguin lamp, a wooden duck, a food grinder, 60s T.V. trays, and much much more.
Yesterday I learned that Laurie, whose baby was due last Wednesday, did not have a rocking chair, and so I was very happy to pull ours out of the attic for a worthy cause. Mel and I bought the chair when our son was just a few weeks old, and since he was the orneriest non-sleeper, he and I spent MANY hours in it - him nursing and me reading novels, or just kissing and sniffing his head.
I didn't tell Laurie, but there is a little milk stain on the chair. How could I give the rocker to a stranger when it had this precious mark that had passed between my son's mouth and my body? Laurie and I were both happy with the exchange - she for getting a free chair and me for giving the sacred artifact to someone I hold in affection.
The little guy that I used to rock in the chair is going away to college this fall, and I still kiss his head when I have a chance, now through a massive red afro. And I still give it a little sniff sometimes as well.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Spirit Shed
Today's Washington Post has an article about a high school in Chantilly, VA with a marvelously inspired outbuilding called a Spirit Shed. The reason the Post found it newsworthy was that it is being demolished to make room for road improvement.
I wondered, "What's a Spirit Shed"? and then, "How nice that a high school in Chantilly had a Spirit Shed." And finally "Maybe I need one for myself."
In the past, when I've thought about a dedicated space for prayer or meditation, the structure had the shape of a Japanese Tea House, eventually involving gardens of moss and stone with koi ponds, arching bridges and 40 year old wisteria vines.
Now I see that I need a more practical approach. It will be a simple structure. Neighbors will walk by and ask, "What's that in your backyard?" and I'll say, "Oh, that's the Spirit Shed." I can even paint the alley side with large lettering that reads, "SPIRIT SHED". I'll invite people in to take a look. The newspaper will come and do an article on it. Before long people up and down Veazey Street and 37th and from even further away will be constructing Spirit Sheds of their own. They will become so popular that Home Depot and Sears will have them pre-made and available from their on-line catalogues.
For the Spiritual Do-It-Yourselfer
Handsome 12 x 12 Spirit Shed. Guaranteed for Many Lifetimes. Fits perfectly into any backyard. Customer reviews report that once spiritual lives are in order, everything is in order. This must-have for your spiritual tool box is maintenance free, creating even more time for your spiritual needs. Do yourself a favor and order your Spirit Shed today. Assembly Required.
I wondered, "What's a Spirit Shed"? and then, "How nice that a high school in Chantilly had a Spirit Shed." And finally "Maybe I need one for myself."
In the past, when I've thought about a dedicated space for prayer or meditation, the structure had the shape of a Japanese Tea House, eventually involving gardens of moss and stone with koi ponds, arching bridges and 40 year old wisteria vines.
Now I see that I need a more practical approach. It will be a simple structure. Neighbors will walk by and ask, "What's that in your backyard?" and I'll say, "Oh, that's the Spirit Shed." I can even paint the alley side with large lettering that reads, "SPIRIT SHED". I'll invite people in to take a look. The newspaper will come and do an article on it. Before long people up and down Veazey Street and 37th and from even further away will be constructing Spirit Sheds of their own. They will become so popular that Home Depot and Sears will have them pre-made and available from their on-line catalogues.
For the Spiritual Do-It-Yourselfer
Handsome 12 x 12 Spirit Shed. Guaranteed for Many Lifetimes. Fits perfectly into any backyard. Customer reviews report that once spiritual lives are in order, everything is in order. This must-have for your spiritual tool box is maintenance free, creating even more time for your spiritual needs. Do yourself a favor and order your Spirit Shed today. Assembly Required.
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