Tickle Me, Jesus

I am not blogging much lately -- my days are very full because I am pushing to finish my medical transcription practicum while carving out moments for writing. However, a friend shared this on a social network today and I wanted to preserve it here for future laughter-as-medicine needs.

I myself love daylight saving time, which has recently returned. But I sympathize with those who long for that lost hour -- and an hour with light at that -- at the beginning of the day. ( I always miss that light at the end of the day when things change again in the fall).

Just check out the video in the post below, and you will be healed.

Post by Keithra Morley.

Centering Prayer: "A monastery without walls"

Here is a fine short article on centering prayer by Sidney Callahan from the Jesuit magazine America. In one section, he points to how centering prayer might appeal to those who define themselves as "spiritual-but-not-religious" or "nones" --

"One: Centering prayer is a completely lay and democratic movement with no need for hierarchical church oversight. It has been called 'a monastery without walls.' Or perhaps the growth of contemplative practice can be likened to the sea of faith's incoming tide.

Two: Centering prayer is a self-validating practice that experientially changes its practitioners from within over time. Those drowning in babble and trivial distractions find healing in silence.

Three: Centering prayer and contemplation is non-doctrinaire and ecumenical. It can be seen as related to Buddhist and other valued forms of meditation and mindfulness."

(emphases mine)

Read the full article here.

Laniakea: "Immense Heaven" Is Our Home

I love this article (and the beautiful accompanying Nature video) on Laniakea -- the name given to the recently identified supercluster of galaxies in which our own Milky Way galaxy is suspended:

"This discovery clarifies the boundaries of our galactic neighborhood and establishes previously unrecognized linkages among various galaxy clusters in the local Universe. 

'We have finally established the contours that define the supercluster of galaxies we can call home,' said lead researcher R. Brent Tully, an astronomer at the University of Hawaii in Manoa. 'This is not unlike finding out for the first time that your hometown is actually part of a much larger country that borders other nations.'" 

To read the article and view the video, click here. 

Life is Like a Cup of Coffee

A simple life-wisdom story from Spiritualstories --

Seeing God

A man came up to Jesus and complained about the hiddenness of God. "Rabbi," he said, "I am an old man. During my whole life, I have always kept the commandments. Every year of my adult life, I went to Jerusalem and offered the prescribed sacrifices. Every night of my life, I have not retired to my bed without first saying my prayers. But . . . I look at the stars and sometimes the mountains -- and wait, wait for God to come so that I might see him. I have waited for years and years, but in vain. Why? Why? Mine is a great grievance, Rabbi! Why doesn't God show himself?"

Jesus smiled and responded gently: "Once upon a time there was a marble throne at the eastern gate of a great city. On this throne sat three thousand kings. All of them called upon God to appear so that they might see him, but all went to their graves with their wishes unfulfilled.

"Then, when the kings had died, a pauper, barefooted and hungry, came and sat upon that throne. 'God,' he whispered, 'the eyes of a human being cannot look directly at the sun, for they would be blinded. How, then, Omnipotent, can they look directly at you? Have pity, Lord, temper your strength, turn down your splendor so that I, who am poor and afflicted, may see you!'

"Then -- listen, old man -- God became a piece of bread, a cup of cool water, a warm tunic, a hut, and in front of the hut, a woman nursing an infant."

"Thank you, Lord," the pauper whispered. "You humbled yourself for my sake. You became bread, water, a warm tunic and a wife and a child in order that I might see you. And I did see you. I bow down and worship your beloved many-faced face."

--From The Last Temptation of Jesus (1960), by Nikos Kazantzakis

My Mother's Parting Note

Mom in her 70s, with my brother Mike

Happy Mother's Day to all moms. And tears and tender thoughts to all those who are missing their mothers, to all those who do not feel mothered, and to all mothers who are missing their children.

My (adoptive) mother died in 2001. In her "important papers" box, my brother, sister and I discovered a note labeled "Death: Open in Case of." I am so grateful she wrote it. Whenever I read it, I feel her presence in my heart. Here is a short excerpt:



To my children:

...One is born and one must die. The in-between is probably the most important.

You were my chosen -- the "why" is much too difficult for anyone to explain. Reasons are many and complex, more than the human mind can fathom. I loved you from day one and will love you even after death. Love each other, talk to each other, and -- most important -- pray with and for each other. Pray for understanding, a needed "item." You will need it. If you have difficulty talking, try writing... 

Our growing years were valuable. I learned much. You will also if you pray for understanding... 

Be sad if you must ... but only for a short while. Remember Mom was lonesome but never lonely, therefore not unhappy. I enjoyed you very much... 

Don't forget you are much loved.

Your Mom

May Prayer

May I be like the almond tree
That, whether there be cars -- 
Or no cars -- on the winding roads,
Wars or no wars,
Whether there be music in the house or not,
Or famine, or concentration camps,
Or the systematic drowning of billions
In tsunamis of perpetual distraction -- 
Still brings forth her blossoms in silence.

~~Andrew Harvey, inspired by Thomas Merton