Ruminations from the Temple

Yes, that poor baby is standing on what is usually liquid. It has been so cold this winter! The canal at our beloved beach house froze so much that we could throw medium sized rocks on the top and they would bounce!  Along with these cold temps, I started my last J-Term at PLU, and my last official  religion course. Gosh, I have taken so many religion courses, but there are so many more I would love to take! But, alas, it is time to wind up this chapter of my life by intently studying medieval Christianity (a favorite of mine, really).  ************ Speaking of Star Wars, (and who isn't!), check out those sticky note pads! Cool, eh? We went to see Rogue One: A Star Wars Story for the second time - love it ! What a great back story to take you right into A New Hope (Ep. IV). I really resonated with the Jyn Erso character, and the blind martial artist/monk, Chirrut Imwe . I won't say anymore, and won't give spoilers, but I think if you like Star War...

I love this blog. It seems to be a refuge in a way other venues just cannot. It is no wonder that throughout history people have withdrawn to writing as a way to both record moments and history, and to think deeply about their human experience. And, what's not to love about that? As the fog moves up the canal this late December morning, I am again awed at the place I find myself. Call it fortunate, or blessed, or just plumb-ass lucky...I am so very grateful for my circumstances. I think the seagulls that bob along with the winter migrating ducks agree. So, a bit of clearing the clutter is in order, I suppose. I took the luxury, during this school break, to clean out my closet. Gosh, I have another bag to give to donation; at the risk of sounding redundant, have you checked out the Fast-Diet  yet? It is neither a fast nor a diet, but I have been quite successful in dropping pounds and improving my health - which is the major benefit. Anyway, it was nice to clear out the old ...

In hectic times, I tend to create a lot of bookmarks, and also send myself a lot of found online gems. All this results in clutter! Let me share a few... this is pretty awesome! Check out more of this ARTIST Well, my application is being reviewed at Lesley. While I wait, I can practice mindfulness, of course! Try this MEDITATION from Nancy Waring, director of the Mindfulness Studies Masters Program at Lesley. Maybe it will help you, too. Ah, come on...it won't hurt, I promise. :-) Weird happenings: Somehow, I ended up with two of the same book for my J-Term class. How the heck did that happen? It's a good book, but I don't really need two... probably the most important questions... ************ I am fully enjoying reading 365 Tao Daily Meditations by Deng Ming-Dao - it is one of the most impacting daily reading books I have ever had the pleasure to read (and, I have read quite a few of these daily thoughts types of books). I have to share another entitl...

Welcome to 4:30am at my house... The 13th week of this term is ending, and the last full week starts on Monday. I am truly trying to stay in the here and now, but I cannot wait until this term is on the transcript. Anyway, I have a few stickies...(or is it stickys?)...to get off my desk: First things first: On the bookshelf I am going to grab a copy or two of this BOOK to help out a fellow traveler. Maybe you would like to, as well? Gift giving time is upon us, y'know. And, a couple of interesting tidbits from the Latin student : betcha didn't know that, eh? And, then there is this intelligent ARTICLE  about safety pins, yard signs, and all that jazz.  What else...oh yes, I applied for grad school. That's a sticky, for sure. On the car radio , and now on the wish list: Can't you just feel the hot, sticky Mississippi heat on your skin when you listen to that? It not only makes me want to travel, but takes me back to George County whe...

It is the end of week 11 of this term, and man , it's hard! Well, I have to say it is the intensity that makes it hard. Almost there. In the midst of the push of Latin, post-grad sticky notes abound. Transcript ordered, recommends in place, application needs to be completed. So many stickies that are being pushed to the side in order to drill Latin vocabulary. A few Latin snips: volo, velle, volui, _____ - be willing, want or wish dubito, dubitare, dubitavi, dubitatum - hesitate, doubt fas , n., (what is divinely) right; (what is) permitted But, what about this year's word of the year...could it be a new dictionary ENTRY ? In the feed: A Washington Post ARTICLE that was interesting. I wanna make my own! On the cushion: Wind in the cave; Movement in stillness. Power in silence. "In a cave, all outer sounds are smothered by rock and earth, but this makes the sounds of one's own heartbeat and breath audible. In the same way, cont...

So, yeah. I closed my pinky finger in the car door. omg. Who knew how much that would hurt?? I'll spare you the pic. So, there's that. And one more week down. And yes, there is a lot of clutter hangin' around. Kinda like the Halloween candy that we had for the trick-or-treaters that didn't come. Time to grab a 'fun size' and clean up this mess! Let's put on some music while we are at it... Don't you just need that on your iTunes? Love it. From the Latin class: qui, quae, quod - who, which qui, quae, quod - what? which? quis, quid - who, what quam ob rem - on account of which thing quare - why??? You got all that, right ? At the Bookmark : There is never enough time to read all that I want to... The Tao of Yoda , by D.W. Kreger - this is just too good not to share! Amazing work and amazing wisdom of Lao Tzu (in the Tao Te Ching )...here's a taste: The Great Force flows through all living things manifest ...

I love to lay in bed, in the early morning hours, and listen to the rain outside my window. It is even better if the wind chimes softly join with the breeze. Together they make such a lovely way to awaken. Gratitude is a great way to lift your spirits, re-energize your mood. I am so very grateful for laughter and learning, that I am able to enjoy my home everyday without strife, and that I am loved.  Mental clutter: What do you make of THIS ? Wow! Chuck said absolutely not. Not even a chance.  Random Latin snips from the beginner: moneo, monere, monui, monatus - (verb) to warn, remind, or advise lex, legis , (noun, f.) law caecus, -a, -um , (adj.) blind; hidden, secret, dark Hmmm...I sense a theme here! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Now, this is INTERESTING . "The practice of generosity can serve as a corrective to addictive consumerism. Generosity ena...

Clutter. I hate it. Little bits and pieces of stuff--life really--hanging around. Mostly clutter doesn't have a place to call its own, so it just gets put wherever. By the front door, or stuffed to the edge of the counter pretending it cannot be seen. Until I see it, that is. Real clutter is easier to handle than clutter in my mind. Little things and big things bounce around from the front of my attention, then get relegated to the shadows, only to squeeze their way back into the light. I think I'll just post them here. Perhaps all these disparate pieces of mental stickies will find purpose and meaning living on a blog post... "Our practice is always to resurrect our selves, going back to the mind and the body with the help of mindful breathing and walking. This will produce our true presence in the here and now. Then we will become alive again. We will be like dead people reborn. We are free from the past, we are free from the future, we are capable of establis...