Today’s quote from O magazine’s daily inspiration:

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“I cannot hold up any book and say, ‘Here. This is what I believe.’ I do not know of any church where I would feel at home. But I do believe that what people call God refers to something real… I would even go so far as to say that this God of mine makes demands. To learn, to teach, to engage. To be aware of and respect the world around me. To acknowledge that there are things greater then myself and to be humble in their presence.” — Dan Jackson

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“The world is perfect.  As you question your mind, this becomes more and more obvious.  Mind changes, and as a result, the world changes.  A clear mind heals everything that needs to be healed.  It can never be fooled into believing that there is one speck out of order.”     ~ Byron Katie ~

For my friend, Jodie, whose question helped me dig a little deeper.  And in loving memory of my friend, Paul.

She Let Go

by Rev. Safire Rose~Agape Int’l Spiritual Center

She let go. 

Without a thought or a word, she let go.

She let go of fear.  She let go of judgments.  She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head.

She let go of the committee of indecision within her. She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons.

Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.

She didn’t ask anyone for advice. She didn’t read a book on how to let go.

She didn’t search the scriptures.

She just let go.

She let go of all the memories that held her back.  She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward.

She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.  She didn’t promise to let go.  She didn’t journal about it.

She didn’t write the projected date in her Day-Timer.  She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper.  She didn’t check the weather report or read her daily horopscope.

She just let go.

She didn’t analyze whether she should let go.   She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter.  She didn’t utter one word.

She just let go.

No one was around when it happened.  There was no applause or congratulations.  No one thanked her or praised her.  No one noticed a thing.

Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.

There was no effort.  There was no struggle.  It wasn’t good.  It wasn’t bad. 

It was what it was, and it is just that.

In the space of letting go, she let it all be.  A small smile came over her face.  A light breeze blew through her.

And the sun and the moon shone forevermore.

I’m absolutely scattered this morning.

I woke up tired, intending to go see my sister in the hospital, but realized that I was too tired to drive 5 hours, much less drive back.  I feel like a loser.

I haven’t heard from my husband yet today after he worked 12 hours and then drove to Green Bay, arriving some time after 1am and I’ m worried.

So, I’ve piddled around this morning, watching TV, drinking coffee, trying to write, talking to my daughter in hopes that I’ll somehow “get it together” and be productive today.

Then my reminder message came up, “What do you need?”

I set this reminder message up months ago as a way for me to check in with myself.  Most days, I ignore it.  I’m too busy.

And that would explain the results or lack thereof I am experiencing in my life.

Asking yourself that question and listening allows you to see where your thoughts are.  And where your thoughts go,  your attention and actions follow.  And since most people are often thinking about what’s NOT working in their lives or what they DON’T want, it’s no surprise why many of us are so unhappy.

So, what do you need?

When I paid attention to the message today, I came to the blog to write.  I NEED this blog.  It isn’t for YOU, per se.  I have this blog for ME.  

I have something to say.   It no longer matters if anyone agrees or even cares.  I had to start listening to ME.  And the voice has said to me, over and over and over again to write.  So I am.

What do you need?

I need to sit in silence for a few minutes and honor the moment.  I need to remind myself that I am worthy and lovable.  I need to do something loving for ME. 

What do you need?

What you give yourself is what you give to others.  How you treat yourself shows others how you want to be treated.

Are you getting what you need? 

If not, start NOW by giving it to yourself.

Yesterday was my birthday.  The outpouring of love was overwhelming and something I don’t take for granted.  Connection is really what my life’s work is about.  It’s the fuel that drives me.  I am grateful beyond words for the connections I’ve made in the last 43 years.

One connection that I have that I rarely celebrate is with one of my sisters.  We are adopted but biologically share the same father.  We were born 25 days apart in adjacent counties.  She was born to a married white woman who had several other children.  Me, to a 15 year old Mexican immigrant.  Dad clearly didn’t discriminate. 

No wonder I was a diversity professional.

Anyway, growing up, we were like “twins.”  But in our teenage years we took different paths and our lives couldn’t be any more different if we’d been born on different planets.

Friday, April 5, my 43 year old sister had a heart attack.

She is still in ICU, fighting for her life.  The prospect of losing her doesn’t make me sad.  I have said all I needed to say, long ago.  But for her, I want to share a funny story, that I hope energetically, will bring her some laughter and peace.

One day when I was about 3 or 4, , I asked my sister to come out to the garage with me and look in Daddy’s refrigerator.  He kept worms in there, so I was always afraid they’d jump out at me or something. She wasn’t afraid of worms, so having back-up was cool.

We found some ”grape juice” in there and sat down with these itty bitty glasses to drink some.  We didn’t want Daddy to know we’d been in there and we really just wanted a sip.

I don’t remember much after that until Mom came out.  She was ticked.  I was laughing my ass off and my sister was crying.  Mom demanded to know what we were doing, ’cause apparently, she’d been calling us for awhile. 

My sister, still crying, say’s, “Lisa made me have ‘munnion.”  

Yep, we had our own communion, but what we thought was grape juice was actually homemade wine!

We were stupid drunk, but all Mom could do was clean us up and put us to bed until we slept it off.    

As you can imagine, communion was never the same.

Every time we told that story, my sister would just laugh and laugh.  I hope she’s laughing now.

Leah, no matter what you decide, whether you choose to stay or join up with Mom and Dad, I love you.  And ‘munnion will be waiting for you, either way.

I encourage you to take a minute today and share a laugh with someone you love.  And say a prayer for my sister.  Thanks.

Love, Lisa