joy
The moon glow was bright as Gracie the Golden raced to her early morning relief. The coolness of the air marked the change for the coming new season. Grass glistened with the presence of dew reflecting the light of the moon. Dawn had not yet broken, signaling yet another validation of seasonal passing from summer to fall. Suddenly hissing and snorting sounds arose from the direction of the gazebo. Gracie was frozen in her tracks as she attuned her head and ears in the direction of the sound. Small branches were broken as the owner of the hiss took flight into the safety of the nearby ground cover. More hissing and snorting followed as yet another apparent deer leapt into the safety of the brush. The timid Gracie came bounding back to the house that gives her refuge. Safe within the walls of her abode, the Golden curled at her master’s feet to be reassured that all was well in her world. In the apparent joy at her refuge a short nap gave evidence to her gratitude for shelter from the strange onslaught. May gratitude be your solace as you venture into the new discovery that is today!
By: Cathy Garrott
I am very much looking forward to a visit from my brother and his wife … the first time in 33 years that anyone from my family has come to see me in Japan. I’ve tried to take little steps in preparation for their visit, so that I would not be stressed and exhausted by their time in my home. Here it is, 2 days before their arrival and suddenly I am dealing with stiff joints, trouble walking, exhaustion, balance. This sneaked up on me without my realizing it! Is this how it’s going to be? Is this enemy going to control the special time I’ve so been looking forward to for the past several months? I am determined to not allow it to be so!!!
Stress comes in many forms, according to my doctor. There are good things as well as bad things that give us stress. Weddings, graduations, the birth of a baby, visits from loved ones or friends that fill us with joy … each of these can produce as much stress in our body as dealing with the loss of a loved one through sickness, death, divorce, moving, etc. can dump on us. The PD body reacts to stress in many ways, and often it takes us completely by surprise. We can choose how we react and respond to it, even if we cannot control what is happening. I choose joy, thanksgiving, setting aside time to rest a bit throughout the day as needed. They will understand and help me deal with it. I can climb this mountain that looms in front of me with the love, understanding, and encouragement of my loved ones!
(By Cathy Garrott)
A friend asked me this morning, “How are you doing?” His question was genuine, and was an expression of his real concern for me. I responded, “Oh, I’ll live, and I MAY even prosper!” He laughed and said, “You’re okay!”
Webster defines “THRIVE” in this way: 1. To grow vigorously; do well 2. To gain in wealth or possessions; PROSPER, FLOURISH. Roget’s thesaurus likens it to success, health, and strength. There are many days that I feel NONE of that! I just want to ignore the world, curl up, and be done with the struggle to enjoy what life I have. Some days I feel I am doing more surviving than I am thriving.
I’ve had to learn to delight in things I never dreamed would bring me joy … being able to exercise without pain (I never thought I’d delight in “exercise” for any reason at all!), losing weight by lowering my calorie intake (I never thought I’d delight in NOT eating for any reason at all), finding a doctor who knows how to deal with my health issues (I never thought I’d delight in going to a doctor for any reason at all), etc. Rather than “gaining in wealth or possessions” I find that I am letting go of things that used to seem so important to me.
Maybe I am re-defining “thrive” … I am learning to think beyond the temporal and concentrate on the eternal. As Paul advised … whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
Contact Cathy at cathy@shinsei.org
Clouds boasting bright pink and lavender make a swath across the northern sky as the morning sun makes its appearance from the east. The stillness of the morning permeates the frost laden fields painting an almost surreal picture on nature’s canvas. The artistry signifies a change is on the way. Sun and scattered clouds will soon give way to a darker canopy of rain and snow. The change is inevitable and if comfort is to be maintained, accommodation must be made for its arrival. The change from activity midst tropical breezes and warm surroundings to that of colder and more foreboding climes requires accommodation as well. A change back to regular visits to the health and fitness club along with carefully executed stretching and flexing will restore this movement resistant body to one more adept at negotiating what non disease affected persons experience as normal movement. Blanketed with the embrace of gratefulness this thankful heart beats rhythms of joy at today’s opportunities. Let the victories begin!
I recall the shared wisdom from childhood that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. It is so very reasonable, yet along life’s path I have rarely experienced a straight line. The drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the mountains of North Carolina takes one from point “A” to point “B” but rarely does it do so in a straight line. Aside from the virtual impossibility of a straight trek, the thrill of the journey might well be diminished if curved ascents and descents were eliminated. I have discovered that life is experienced in much the same way. Straight lines have seldom been undertaken, even when planned. There seems to have always been some unexpected hill or valley to negotiate, sometimes taking me seemingly far from the goal. Often, upon having the goal in sight, I discovered it did not even resemble what was originally envisioned. What I have learned these few years along the path of life is that the richness of the journey often renders the destination point far more illuminated than when the travel began. A few stumped toes along the path have given a new respect for the how important feet are on the road. Letting go of the fascination with the destination allows the joy of the journey to be fulfilled.
A gentle breeze swept by as we sipped espresso while taking in the morning vista from our tiny balcony overlooking the bay. The morning sun in Sorrento illuminated the hillside as we viewed the village below. The journey into the blue grotto the day before and the ascent to Ana Capri had been highlights of the previous day. Basking in the glow of gratitude for the safe journey from Rome, we prepared for the visit to Pompeii before our drive to Florence. The distance of two millennia suddenly compacted into one short visit filled us with joy at the opportunity to sample just a grain of the sand that had passed through the hourglass of history. As long as there is life therein lays yet another opportunity to experience more grains that are the sand of time. For every grain that remains to sample, we give thanks to the Master who holds the glass.
The streets were crowded in that early evening of mid December in Ahmadabad, India. The court order for custody of my daughter had been signed. We crossed the treacherous threshold to the ashram and wound our way to the entrance for that last visit. My daughter would be soon in my full time care and no longer a ward of the State of Gujarat. For six months I had jokingly told the lawyer there that when the order for Ahsha’s custody was signed, the heavens would cry for joy and Gujarat would get its rain. The monsoon had been virtually nonexistent that year. As we entered the dimly lit ashram from the gently falling rain, a clap of lightening descended with a thunderous roar and all went black in those halls of Odhav. Suddenly, candles arrived as we were escorted to the Superintendant’s office. Mosquitoes, drawn by the candle light, were so thick I had to cover my mouth and nose with one hand while signing the release papers with the other. In the candle glow, my daughter, wrapped in a blanket I had purchased for her six months prior, was handed to me. I held her close as tears of joy streamed down my face in gratitude that we were finally together. As we drove away from the ashram, the rain pummeled the packed earth, quenching its thirst. We soon arrived at the home of our host to the exclamation of a neighbor in the doorway, shouting with arms raised to heaven; “all of India is blessed because of this child.” Although much more had to be accomplished, the expression of gratitude and blessing that evening would serve as fuel for the journey that lie ahead. Faith, hope, and love have sustained through the years as God’s mercy and grace have been poured out.
The energy of the city was palpable as people strolled to their desired destinations that afternoon in London. An afternoon free from lectures in the course I was taking offered the opportunity for a leisurely stroll past the British Museum to a theatre whose marquee gave evidence of a matinee performance of Les Miserable. I had read Hugo’s book in high school and was familiar with the story, so I was eager to see the stage adaptation. From the opening song to the triumphant closing, I was vicariously transported to another time and place. On several occasions the scenes and music of grace and deliverance ignited uncontrollable waves of emotion as tears flowed down my face. I caught out of one eye a lady sitting two seats away who seemed taken by my emotional reaction to the theatrical events unfolding. Aware that I was being observed, I self-consciously attempted to rein in the sensitivity to the music and drama being played out before me. I have seen the musical several times since and have each time experienced the deep emotional reaction to the musical portrayal of acts of grace that offer freedom to the one being granted. I am less self-conscious these days of the way I emotionally react to life events, movies or plays. There is a degree of freedom that comes in accepting one’s emotional bent and giving oneself permission to live through the expression that embraces such an integral part of who one is. Whether the genesis of one’s emotion rests in illness, disability, loss, the receipt and or giving of grace, or moments of great joy, the acknowledgement and expression of that emotion becomes a part of living a healthy life. That moment does not become one’s life, but one’s life is enriched by living through that moment! Every moment is a gift.