Listen...

This past Sunday the kids and I experienced two very different ways to connect with God; one very quiet and introverted, and one quite boisterous and extroverted. In our quiet activity, which was walking the advent spiral, (a very simple labyrinth constructed out of greens and other natural items) a very profound question was asked. We had been talking about how meditative practices, like walking a labyrinth, are opportunities for the mind to quiet just enough to hear what God is saying.

One child asked, “ How do you know what God is saying?” I suppose that he, like I, and I suspect most of the population, had never had a really tangible “God moment” in which actual words rang out in his ears from a

source beyond. (Please hear me when I say that other “God moments” are no less real or valuable when God speaks in other ways.) I had to think about it for a moment, and then it just came to me. For me, God speaks through emotions and feelings. When something feels right, it usually means that it’s leading me back towards balance in my life, and thus leading creation back to balance. When something feels wrong, I either need to rethink my decision, or the way I’m handling my decision.

I gave this example: How do you feel when you hurt someone or something? You feel bad, right? That’s a subtle message from God. Vice versa, when you give love to someone. Some people, however, bury their emotions through layers of the ego, and therefore have a hard time hearing the faint non-verbal messages, which God sends so frequently. Emotions, after all, are the language of the heart.

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily

Trading thanks for Joy

“Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.” –Marianne Williamson

You might be tired or stressed, but if you’re reading this article, chances are, you have a home, people who love you, and all the means you’ll ever need to survive. Life is good! Even if you don’t have these things, you have life. I believe that life is like one big course of study, and even the assignments that you don’t enjoy doing teach you something in the end if you are open to learning. Sorrow is what happens when we loose sight of this. Happy people are constantly taking inventory of the things that they have to be grateful for. (I even give thanks for the challenges in my life, because they have made me stronger, and wiser.)

If you constantly focus on your gratitude, even for the tiniest things, you’ll soon forget about all that is lacking. Start to notice and give thanks for things that you normally just overlook, like a good cup of coffee, patience or understanding from a friend, or the smell of pine trees. You’re the only one who’s preventing joy in your life. I know that’s hard to hear, but it’s true.

Wishing you Joy this advent,

Emily

P.S.- Come visit the advent spiral in the upstairs far classroom!

Advent Spiral

The rhythms of nature tell me to slow down during this time of year. Strangely enough, my culture is telling me to do the opposite- shop till I drop, clean the house, go to another party, fret over Christmas gifts… etc. Yes, advent is a time of preparation, but remember the most precious thing that you must prepare in this season; yourself. In slowing down, and contemplating the wonder of the season you’re priming your heart and your mind for what Christmas is all about.

This year we’re starting a new tradition for the kids, congregation, and community. We’re building an advent spiral in one of the newly remodeled classrooms. Think of the advent spiral kind of like an advent specific labyrinth. The roots of the advent spiral are traced back to Germany in the 4^th century. Today, advent spirals are often associated with the Waldorf teaching method. It’s constructed out of real evergreen garland, candles, and items from the natural world. In the center of the spiral is the nativity.

As we journey in towards the center of the spiral, we are moving in towards Christ. We each light a candle, and then, on the Journey out we bring the light of Christ into the world. I hope that you will take the time to slow-down and contemplate the true meaning of Christmas with the advent spiral. It will be open for congregational/community use Sundays, for an hour before and after the service, and Monday-Thursday 10:00 am through 5:00 pm.

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily

The Miracle of Flowers

“If we could see the miracle of a single flower, our whole life would change.”

–The Buddha

Orchids are notoriously difficult flowers to cultivate. About a month ago I noticed little sprouts on three of my orchid plants (even the really sad looking orchid that I recued from Bob’s office), all of which had shed their blooms months before. I had relinquished all hope that I would ever see blooms again on these beauties. But, soon enough the miracle of the orchid will return to my office. I was almost giddy with excitement when I first noticed the sprouts, because I’m not really known for having a green thumb. As David jokes, “Emily is really good at growing ivy.”

Half of the battle of giving thanks is really taking inventory of all there is for which to give thanks. We forget about the little miracles that permeate all of existence. Think about the intricacy of something as small as a flower- the millions of years of evolution (flowers showed up about 135 million years ago), the incredible process of photosynthesis, or the delicate curvature of the petals. An awful lot of things had to happen to make this flower on my desk possible.

So if you’re struggling to find things for which to be thankful, contemplate how incredible it is that any of this (life, you, orchids) even exists at all. Finding wonder in “simple” things will ensure you always have cause for thankfulness. Remember, “We don’t give thanks because we’re happy. We’re happy because we give thanks.”

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily

This one goes out to the ladies...

The pendulum swings until, loosing momentum, it settles in the center at equilibrium. Prior to the dawning of the common-era the divine feminine was, if not central to the spiritual lives, at least present in the lives of our ancestors. Now fast-forward through the past two millennia, and religion is dominated by masculine figures (the father, and son, male dominated clergy in all major religions, etc.) So, where are we headed next? Logic would tell me that the pendulum wants to settle in the center- honoring both the masculine and feminine in religion.

But, is Christianity ready to fully embrace such a change, especially with the pervasiveness of masculinity? The church does not have a great track record with keeping up with the times, always a few steps behind popular culture. What are your beliefs on the balance of masculine and feminine in religion? How has this contributed to the decline of Christianity in America? What do you think the church should to keep in step with “the pendulum?”

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily

Philippine Disaster Relief This Sunday

 I can’t sit by and watch as disaster strikes. I have to do something. The typhoon that hit the Philippines this past Friday was beyond devastating to the country. Relief workers are completely overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster, especially because the country’s infrastructure was not great even before the typhoon hit. The best way to get involved is to offer up monetary gifts to charitable relief organizations. To find a comprehensive list of these organizations please click here for the New York Times’ list.

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/11/how-to-help-philippines-typhoon-victims/?ref=asia

So, this Sunday after the service we’ll be having a “Minute to Win it” fundraiser. Participation will be open to everyone. Here’s how it will work: folks will donate “tips” to the game stations in exchange for playing the games… which all take one minute, or less. We'll be having fun and raising money for a great cause.

Would you like to volunteer to run one of these game stations? Just email or call Emily. All stations will be set up and ready to go before the service this Sunday, 11/17. All proceeds will be donated to the Philippine Red Cross for disaster relief.

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily

Beyond Need

Astronomers have just reported to the New York Times that there may be as many as 40 billion inhabitable “earth sized” planets in our galaxy alone and it is estimated that there are roughly 100 to 200 billion galaxies in the universe. About one in five “sun-like” stars has a planet orbiting in the so called “goldilocks zone”- not to hot and not too cold. Reading this information catalyzed my thoughts towards the implications of these findings.

The optimists will think, “Awesome, well, if we trash this planet we can just move on.” Except the closest one is 12 light years away. Even if we were to find a way move beyond our little island home here what would happen when we trashed the next planet. Will our human legacy be one of destruction? I hope that this is not the case.

Humans are the only beings in nature who take more resources than needed for survival. A lion will not kill unless it requires food. A tree will not continuously send forth roots for the sake of taking up more and more space to the point of over extending itself and eventual self-destruction. So, what piece of the puzzle are humans missing? I believe it is a connection to the divine. We all experience that in different ways; monotheism, polytheism, pantheism, even atheism. The rich diversity of spirituality takes innumerable forms. I think what unifies them all together in a beautiful way is this; honoring that all things are indeed connected in some way or another. With this attitude how can we take more than we need?

So, the next time you think that you cannot live without that new gadget or addition to your home, ponder whether or not you’re indeed trying to fill a void in your spiritual life.

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily

Benefits of Boredom

How often do you allow yourself to get bored? According to research (and, duh, common sense) boredom, especially in solitude, is actually a great catalyst to creativity. Children, in particular, should have the opportunity to “get bored” on a regular basis, so that the child’s creativity may take hold in those situations. Click here to read an article about this phenomenon.

One of my favorite movies is The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. It’s a French film based on the memoires of Jean-Dominique Bauby, a one-time editor-in-chief of French Elle magazine. He led an extraordinarily extravagant life, until he suffered a massive stroke at the age of 43, leaving him with a condition known as “locked-in-syndrome.” This is a condition wherein the mental faculties remain intact but most of the body is paralyzed. For Bauby, the only movement he could muster was to blink one of his eyelids, which was later discovered as his means of communication leading to the painstaking writing of his memoires- one blink at a time. I imagine the hours of solitude in his hospital bed left him beyond bored, thus leading to astonishing creativity.

Anyway, I love this film because it highlights, in a visually exquisite form, the power and refuge of the imagination, as Bauby might have known it. Incredible imaginary scenes play out in his mind. I think that this kind of creativity is forged only in the greatest of need, and truly I believe that creativity is of greatest need in our world today. Everyone needs to be creative to solve the challenges of modern life. The creative mind is the only kind to stand up to the injustices of the world. Is that not our charge? So, take some time to get bored today, and see where it leads you.

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily

This moment...

The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.

-Emily Dickinson

Before I am here on this earth as a musician, teacher, wife, or daughter I am here as a learner. The day I close myself off to the richness that every moment has to offer, that is the day I’ve died, figuratively. Each moment, be it joyful, sorrowful, peaceful, or dull holds a treasure within- a lesson: if you are open enough to receive it. You’ll be able to make peace with the trials and tribulations of your life if you just shift your view of their presence in your life. They were not sent like assassins, rather more like wise old professors.

So, the trick is living fully in every moment, while also taking time to step back and let the whole picture come into view. So, while busy, devote yourself fully to one task, rather than trying to squeeze two pegs into the same hole. (Read: Stop multitasking.)  Take time to be still, and really listen to the currents of this magnificent existence. Appreciate one small thing each day- the vibrant green of a weed peeking through the sidewalk, the warmth of the sun, a smile from a child, or the challenge of a task.

Be flexible. You never know when a profound lesson will present itself in your life.

If that seems like too much at least you have the gift of memory to be able to look back upon your experiences and glean meaning from them. Be patient. The answers to life’s questions are ever evolving. Go with the flow. Know that life will lead you to strange and wonderful places that may not be on the journey you’ve prepared for yourself.

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily

Farm/Factory

I’ve been an animal lover since day one. You know, the kind who will capture a bug in a cup and release it outside instead of killing it. (I do however draw the line at mosquitos.) I’m not a vegetarian, but I do consider myself a conscious carnivore… well, omnivore I guess. We don’t buy anything factory farmed because, quite frankly, it’s completely repulsive the way that animals are treated in these torture houses. On top of it all, factory farming is one of the biggest culprits contributing to global climate change and pollution.

Judaism has kosher regulations for food and Islam has halal. Both of these provide for humanely treated animals in life, and the least painful of deaths. Most Buddhists and Hindus are either vegetarians or eat only humanely raised and slaughtered animals, and only on special occasions. If you look in the Bible you’ll find plenty of references to vegetarianism. More importantly you’ll find even more verses about compassion. I happen to believe that to live a compassionate life one mustn’t extend compassion only to human interactions, but to every action that we make.

Yeah, organic, free range, and local usually mean a higher price tag, but also a higher quality. For that reason we eat vegetarian meals more often. I don’t judge people for the choices they make on this issue, but I have a hard time tolerating folks turning a blind eye to the uncomfortable facts. If you would like to know more please visit this website:

http://www.farmsanctuary.org/learn/factory-farming/

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily

Attitude of Grattitude

Happy people are grateful people. Makes sense, huh? Grateful people think about the things in their lives that have affected them in a good way, and by reliving those positive things they seem to manufacture positive vibes. Science agrees with this theory. Those who give thanks every day have overall higher levels of serotonin than those who do not give thanks.

I decided to put this to the test in my own life. You may not know this about me, but, I’m pretty sensitive, and when I get stressed out I develop tunnel vision. When I feel my mind spiraling, I now take a moment to give thanks for things past, present, and future. Within a minute or two I’m calm and reminded of all the reasons I have to be happy.

Also, I know that when things (for me) are out of sight, they’re out of mind. So, I like to keep little reminders for myself- the tiny glass turtle in my pocket, the note on my desk. Find your own little reminders, and take a minute or two here and there to be reminded why you should be jumping for joy J

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily

What Box?

When you let go of the rules that you give yourself for living, and start thinking outside of the box it’s astounding the dreams that you’ll dream, and the freedoms that you’ll find. The next time you think, “I can’t do that,” ask yourself precisely why that is. In all likelihood there is not great reasoning to back that up. Most of the rules that we find in our lives are “man-made” or “woman-made” so to speak.

It’s easy in theory, but challenging in practice because it requires that the individual be vigilant in policing their own thought patterns. Luckily, we know of several practices that can help in the realm of thought patrolling. Keep a journal of your dominant thoughts, questions, or feelings, and then go back and read what you’ve written. Meditate, and experience life without thought. Talk to someone. Getting another perspective can make all the difference in your interpretation of life.

The ultimate lesson is to understand that “the box” that you’ve been thinking in, it doesn’t even exist.

Wishing you freedom of mind and spirit,

Emily

What image?

We are made in the image of God. Physically? I have a hard time believing this, but made in the image of God spiritually, now this is something that I can ponder. What is the anatomy of the spirit? What is it made of? Are there different parts of the spirit, as there are different parts of the body?

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the spirit and it’s connection to the body- how the two influence one another, and how the parts of the body correspond with the seven chakras, or “energy centers” of the body. My opinion is that the spirit is energy. Ancient wisdom and science recognize that all of life has a very real electrical current running just below the surface of our physicality. You literally have electricity running through your being. When the body dies, the electrical current leaves the body, and as Einstein taught us, energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only transformed.

So, I suppose my question is this: Is my spirit put together in the image of God, and does that image relate to the energy centers of the body? What do you think? Comments and questions are more than welcome. 

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily