Friday, September 27, 2013

Ending, Beginning

I LOVE baseball.
Actually, I usually refer to myself as "wacko nuts about baseball."
I have had a terrific summer watching the KC Royals, and a "wait till next year" summer watching the Cubs (a phenomenon with which I am very familiar, sad to say).
Major League Baseball's regular season ends this weekend. I'm shocked and a bit sad. It seems that Opening Day was just yesterday. Another ending in life...
And another beginning...October means the playoffs start and lead to the World Series. Though none of my favorite teams is in the playoffs, I'll be glued to the TV to absorb as much of this favorite sport as I can before winter comes.
For each ending, there is a beginning. For each clearing out, space is created for something new to take its place. Let's let the endings pass freely, and enjoy the exciting anticipation of the beginnings to come.
Open to enjoy,
Leta

Monday, September 23, 2013

Better and Better

This quote comes from Rev. Suellen Miller:
"Life is about taking each moment and trusting that while this moment may not be perfect, or may not feel good, it is only one step in the process of becoming. Remember that we all made it through that uncomfortable process called birth. It was worth it."
One might also bring to mind the phrase, "This, too, shall pass."
Life keeps on getting better and better. Every single moment may not be better than the last, but the general progression is to get better. This is because in each moment, Spirit is expanding itself as you and me, and It only moves to greater and higher good. Spirit's perspective is quite a bit broader than ours, thank goodness, so that It holds the "better and better" vision when we as humans are thinking that right now feels less that glorious.
Certainly there's an element of faith involved in all this. And I'm OK with that. We all put our faith in something, so I choose "better and better" rather than "worse and worse."
Joy, peace, be,
Leta


Thursday, September 19, 2013

Feeling Loved

I just spent a long weekend in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with friends I dearly love, and who love me dearly in return. There were laughter, tears, open-hearted sharing, and the opportunity to absorb bold, life-changing perspectives.
Our hotel room looked out onto the magnificent Atlantic Ocean and the awesome beach was only a street crossing away. What an incredible gift to walk along the shore, hearing the ocean waves break, feeling the sand and water on my feet, smelling the salt water, seeing the earth's beauty. It makes me feel extraordinarily loved by the planet and all its vibrant life.
In a Sunday talk, our group leader shared how a friend had recently taken her own life, and left a message saying she did not feel loved. Yet she was very much loved.
This is very serious stuff--do you feel loved? You are, but if you don't feel it, DO reach out. Let someone know what's on your heart. There is so much love and community and joy and hope available, and you deserve them all in overflowing abundance.
Loving life, loving you!
Leta

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Sadness

     I recently had it lovingly pointed out to me that one of the ways to release unhelpful, lingering "stuff" from the past is to shed those unshed tears. OK, I'm good with that, I don't have a problem crying.
     But alas, I generally need something to get me started. Whoa, did the Universe deliver today! I was a bit teary at home this morning, and then my brother dropped the bomb--he and his wife had put down their dog, a magnificent Golden Retriever named Ben, and he had forgotten (in his grief, no doubt) to tell me. I only saw this dog occasionally, but I adored him. Let the floodgates be opened!
     I've been crying off and on all day. My son also has a Golden Retriever, Dusty, three years old, and I adore him, too. I can't even begin to bear the thought of anything bad happening to Dusty.
     I'm exhausted from crying. My nose and eyes hurt. But I do feel lighter and more open. I love how crying, even if I have no clue what it's about, can clean out a multitude of gunk. It's gone, and I don't care what it was. Tears are a blessing.
With love and joy,
Leta

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Everything is Twice Created

"Everything is created twice. The first creation is in the mind, and the second is in physical form. Since this is how it works, we might as well go all out in the first creation and enjoy the pleasures of the second in physical expression." Words by Sunshine Daye.
In other words, the bigger you dream, the bigger you create.
Also, entertaining thoughts of judgment, resentment, anger, criticism, ooooooooooooo, what do those create? Worth considering!
Believing life is good with my Whole heart,
Leta

Monday, September 2, 2013

Sustained Effort

I'll admit right now that sustained effort is generally hard for me. I'm the sort of person who likes to complete a task so that I can cross it off my to-do list. Those things that take a long period of time (more than a day) to complete leave me feeling unsettled, but I'm getting better at it.
I am crazy-wildly-fanatically in love with baseball, being a die-hard Cubs fan. Now there's sustained effort! The Cubs have gone the longest of any team in baseball between World Series wins, since 1908. Yes, early LAST century. They keep showing up and playing, I can too.
If I were a baseball player, with my annoyance at sustained effort, I'd throw in the towel by the end of April. What fun is that?!?! Baseball is really getting exciting now, in September, as we head toward the playoffs. So I have a great example of keeping on keeping on in front of me nearly every day.
I have a lot going on now that requires both patience and sustained effort. Please give me strength to keep showing up, Spirit!
Hang in there!
Leta