From Mother Laura at RevGalBlogPals...
We are right in the middle of a move--only twenty minutes away, but we're still a mix of busy, excited, nervous and surprisingly full of grief about what we're leaving, for me at least. So this week's Friday Five asks about your experience of the marvels and madness of moving...
1. How many times have you moved? When was the last time?
I think I have moved about 22 times, but I may be forgetting one or two. The last time was about 6 months ago.
2. What do you love and hate about moving?
I love the newness and freshness of being somewhere new. What's much less wonderful is packing everything up, living amongst boxes, the weirdness of being somewhere new, and the difficulty of finding what you need when it now not where it "used to be".
3. Do you do it yourself or hire movers?
I have very rarely done it myself. I have paid movers, I have solicited help from friends and the last three times had LOTS of help from family members.
4. Advice for surviving and thriving during a move?
Get outside, away from the mess, a lot. Soak up everything wonderful about nature and lose yourself in it for minutes at a time or longer to temporarily soothe away the stress.
Release yourself from responsibilities like cooking, entertaining, etc. Go out to eat and get away from the house for a while.
Be prepared to live with chaos for a while. It isn't possible, or even wise, to try to get it all unpacked and tidy immediately. When you do start to get things in order, elicit plenty of help.
Take Airborne or plenty of vitamin C. People get so stressed out during a move that they sometimes get sick right after getting settled.
Say a thorough goodbye to the place you're leaving. Take pictures if you haven't already.
Take time off work--at least one day more than you think you'll need.
Get extra sleep and drink plenty of water!
After it's all been done and you're completely unpacked, it may still feel weird for a while. Be patient with yourself and your family.
5. Are you in the middle of any inner moves, if not outer ones?
I think so, but I'm only vaguely aware of what they are. As my wife likes to say, I'll keep you posted as events warrant :).
Bonus: Share a piece of music/poetry/film/book that expresses something about what moving means to you.
My last move is what comes to mind here. I was forced to move because of my landlord's decision to sell the charming Victorian I was renting. I had lived there for 4 years and loved it. I could not imagine living somewhere else I would love as much but knew I had to deal with it and find a place.
I am ever so grateful for the way it turned out and I love my new place!
The movie I'm reminded of, I think, is Working Girl. The last scene where Melanie Griffith calls up her friend and says, "you'll never guess where I am!" and her friend gives this big whoop of joy, jumps up and throws up her arms. That ending moves me every time because she expected and was prepared to live with so much less than she got!
And the theme song ...
It's asking for the taking
Trembling, shaking
Oh, my heart is aching
We're coming to the edge
Running on the water
Coming through the fog
Your sons and daughters...
It's good for both internal and external moves
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rCPwhC6R8A
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Are we Christians?
We were on the way home from church this afternoon, and my 7-year-old son asked me if we were Christians. He had heard something during children's church that prompted the question. So I gave him a short list of qualities I associate with being Christian ...
Having a relationship with God
Following Jesus & His teachings
Wanting to be more like Him
So, I asked if after hearing that, he thought he was a Christian and he said no. he also didn't think that I was, either. We talked about why but his answers were bewildering. He described what a "relationship" would look like and agreed that we both did those things, but he wouldn't budge that we weren't Christians.
I said that the label wasn't that important but that I was puzzled by his saying that he didn't think either of us had a relationship with God.
Eventually, we got to the bottom of it: he was afraid that if we were Christians, we'd get killed the way Jesus did!!
I quickly did what I could to allay that fear, but an hour later (we discussed it at dinner), I am still surprised at the things he finds to be afraid of! It tells me that a sense of safety needs to be a main target for healing.
Anyway, the verdict is in: he guesses we're Christians as long as it's safe!
Having a relationship with God
Following Jesus & His teachings
Wanting to be more like Him
So, I asked if after hearing that, he thought he was a Christian and he said no. he also didn't think that I was, either. We talked about why but his answers were bewildering. He described what a "relationship" would look like and agreed that we both did those things, but he wouldn't budge that we weren't Christians.
I said that the label wasn't that important but that I was puzzled by his saying that he didn't think either of us had a relationship with God.
Eventually, we got to the bottom of it: he was afraid that if we were Christians, we'd get killed the way Jesus did!!
I quickly did what I could to allay that fear, but an hour later (we discussed it at dinner), I am still surprised at the things he finds to be afraid of! It tells me that a sense of safety needs to be a main target for healing.
Anyway, the verdict is in: he guesses we're Christians as long as it's safe!
Friday, April 4, 2008
A Revelation Friday Five
From Sally at RevGalBlogPals...
With this Sunday's gospel reading in mind, that wonderful revelation of Christ to the companions on the Emmaus road, I wonder where you might have been surprised by God's revelation recently.So with no further waffle I offer you this week's Friday 5:
How has God revealed him/herself to you in a:
1. Book: Right before Easter, I read those chapters in John where Jesus is saying goodbye and trying to prepare his disciples. It's like he's trying to make sure he's said and done everything he needs to do before he leaves them.
I was really touched by that, it felt like looking into his heart.
2.Film: There's a scene in Brokeback Mountain, toward the end, where Ennis goes to Jack's house and meets his parents. The tenderness and concern offered by Jack's mother and the way Ennis found the shirts both seem like the hand of God in Ennis's life.
3. Song: The music at my church frequently moves me. Most of the time, it's the expressions on each person's face. Their vulnerability, their transparency, the way they make a gift of themselves during the performance.
Well, on Easter Sunday, my pastor was one of the men who sang the song I mentioned in a post a week or so ago. The video is there, too, if you'd like to see what I mean. When he sang, it was like looking at his heart! But it was like looking in one of those weird mirrors--I saw his heart but I also saw God. And what a beautiful sight!!
4. Another person: Earlier this week (also, mentioned in another post), my son reminded me all day not to forget to "call the lady" to find out if we could buy her washer and dryer. Well, it turned out that the buyer she'd expected did, indeed, show up to buy it as planned.
When I told my son, he burst into tears and said, "I really wanted that for you!".
The surprise I felt is just like the surprise I sometimes feel when it dawns on me that God loves me purely in just that way.
5. Creation: I marvel each Spring as everything sprouts and blooms and makes itself new. Just yesterday or the day before, I was thinking about how reassuring that is about God's faithfulness in our lives in general.
Bonus answer: your choice- share something encouraging/ amazing/ humbling that has happened to you recently!
The fullness and the generosity of my son's love humbles me every day!
With this Sunday's gospel reading in mind, that wonderful revelation of Christ to the companions on the Emmaus road, I wonder where you might have been surprised by God's revelation recently.So with no further waffle I offer you this week's Friday 5:
How has God revealed him/herself to you in a:
1. Book: Right before Easter, I read those chapters in John where Jesus is saying goodbye and trying to prepare his disciples. It's like he's trying to make sure he's said and done everything he needs to do before he leaves them.
I was really touched by that, it felt like looking into his heart.
2.Film: There's a scene in Brokeback Mountain, toward the end, where Ennis goes to Jack's house and meets his parents. The tenderness and concern offered by Jack's mother and the way Ennis found the shirts both seem like the hand of God in Ennis's life.
3. Song: The music at my church frequently moves me. Most of the time, it's the expressions on each person's face. Their vulnerability, their transparency, the way they make a gift of themselves during the performance.
Well, on Easter Sunday, my pastor was one of the men who sang the song I mentioned in a post a week or so ago. The video is there, too, if you'd like to see what I mean. When he sang, it was like looking at his heart! But it was like looking in one of those weird mirrors--I saw his heart but I also saw God. And what a beautiful sight!!
4. Another person: Earlier this week (also, mentioned in another post), my son reminded me all day not to forget to "call the lady" to find out if we could buy her washer and dryer. Well, it turned out that the buyer she'd expected did, indeed, show up to buy it as planned.
When I told my son, he burst into tears and said, "I really wanted that for you!".
The surprise I felt is just like the surprise I sometimes feel when it dawns on me that God loves me purely in just that way.
5. Creation: I marvel each Spring as everything sprouts and blooms and makes itself new. Just yesterday or the day before, I was thinking about how reassuring that is about God's faithfulness in our lives in general.
Bonus answer: your choice- share something encouraging/ amazing/ humbling that has happened to you recently!
The fullness and the generosity of my son's love humbles me every day!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
My Aunt's Homophobia
My mom and son and I went out for lunch this afternoon, and had a great time!! I had apricot tea and quiche and lemon cake for dessert. Yum!
But then, I asked my mother about talking to the aunt who had called her just to say that she didn't want to be confronted with my homosexuality. I asked her if she'd talked about it with her since then and she said that she had. Apparently, my mom called her to talk about it, to clarify that she had meant to make as strong a statement as she seemed to be making.
Well, they seemed to have cleared it up to my mother's satisfaction. But not to mine! And I am pretty sure now that I will not be going to the family reunion.
My aunt clarified that she has nothing against us personally, she just dislikes the issue, and doesn't want to deal with it. So if my wife and I were ever to see her together, she wouldn't want me to introduce her as my wife.
Guess what! She needn't worry.
But then, I asked my mother about talking to the aunt who had called her just to say that she didn't want to be confronted with my homosexuality. I asked her if she'd talked about it with her since then and she said that she had. Apparently, my mom called her to talk about it, to clarify that she had meant to make as strong a statement as she seemed to be making.
Well, they seemed to have cleared it up to my mother's satisfaction. But not to mine! And I am pretty sure now that I will not be going to the family reunion.
My aunt clarified that she has nothing against us personally, she just dislikes the issue, and doesn't want to deal with it. So if my wife and I were ever to see her together, she wouldn't want me to introduce her as my wife.
Guess what! She needn't worry.
Monday, March 31, 2008
My Sweet Son
I have such a sweet son!
I have been keeping my eye out for a washer-dryer set because my apartment complex does not come with them, just a coin-operated laundry room. Well, I saw an ad for a washer-dryer set for an incredible price and when I called, the lady told me a guy promised to bring money for it in a few days and to check back after that in case it fell through and then, I could have it.
Well, when I called, the set was sold. Ah, well!
But when I told Jonathan, he burst into tears!! "I really wanted them for you!"
And it took him a few minutes to get past the disappointment. I didn't even know he was holding it so close. I was quite moved by that.
I have been keeping my eye out for a washer-dryer set because my apartment complex does not come with them, just a coin-operated laundry room. Well, I saw an ad for a washer-dryer set for an incredible price and when I called, the lady told me a guy promised to bring money for it in a few days and to check back after that in case it fell through and then, I could have it.
Well, when I called, the set was sold. Ah, well!
But when I told Jonathan, he burst into tears!! "I really wanted them for you!"
And it took him a few minutes to get past the disappointment. I didn't even know he was holding it so close. I was quite moved by that.
Friday, March 28, 2008
A Million Dollar Friday Five
From Singing Owl at RevGalBlogPals...
"My husband and I started musing (after watching "Deal or No Deal") about what we could do with a million dollars. I thought I'd just bring that discussion into the Friday Five this week. It's simple. What are five things you would want to do with a million dollar deposit in your bank account?"
1) Build my dream house: a log cabin on a lake
2) Put most of the rest of the money in savings, but donate some to my church
3) Live modestly off the interest of whatever is left after buying the house
4) Work part-time in my healing practice (maybe one day a week)
5) Spend more time with family and friends
"My husband and I started musing (after watching "Deal or No Deal") about what we could do with a million dollars. I thought I'd just bring that discussion into the Friday Five this week. It's simple. What are five things you would want to do with a million dollar deposit in your bank account?"
1) Build my dream house: a log cabin on a lake
2) Put most of the rest of the money in savings, but donate some to my church
3) Live modestly off the interest of whatever is left after buying the house
4) Work part-time in my healing practice (maybe one day a week)
5) Spend more time with family and friends
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Opening the Heart
Not only did I work on clearing, I also did some work on opening my heart, and I felt so much better afterward!
I've been having a great work day!!
I had a session with a client who was stuck with regard to the issue being worked on so I offered to do some distant healing work right then and there and then, call back to check on the progress. I prayed for it to be really powerful and unstick the client :).
When I checked back and used my intuitive testing technique to determine where the client was, there was a 30% increase in healing that issue. WOW! What I used was a combination of the Healing Codes, reiki and crystals.
So that inspired me to do some distant energy work on a friend of mine and with that issue, there was a 40% reduction in the problem.
Another client today was having a healing response and through my distant healing work, I was able to clear him of it in about 5 minutes. He told me that his headache cleared completely and so did his dizziness. And I didn't even know that those were his symptoms but while I was working on him, I saw stuff coming out of his head. I believe that angels help me when I heal and I intuitively saw them pulling energy out of his head. How cool!
I am so encouraged and inspired by all that happened today!! It really reinforces the direction I want to shift into, which is doing more distant healing work. How exciting!
I've been having a great work day!!
I had a session with a client who was stuck with regard to the issue being worked on so I offered to do some distant healing work right then and there and then, call back to check on the progress. I prayed for it to be really powerful and unstick the client :).
When I checked back and used my intuitive testing technique to determine where the client was, there was a 30% increase in healing that issue. WOW! What I used was a combination of the Healing Codes, reiki and crystals.
So that inspired me to do some distant energy work on a friend of mine and with that issue, there was a 40% reduction in the problem.
Another client today was having a healing response and through my distant healing work, I was able to clear him of it in about 5 minutes. He told me that his headache cleared completely and so did his dizziness. And I didn't even know that those were his symptoms but while I was working on him, I saw stuff coming out of his head. I believe that angels help me when I heal and I intuitively saw them pulling energy out of his head. How cool!
I am so encouraged and inspired by all that happened today!! It really reinforces the direction I want to shift into, which is doing more distant healing work. How exciting!
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