In the process of planning a cross-country move, simplicity soon became a major theme. Extreme simplicity. As you get quotes for the cost of shipping your stuff, it is easy to begin to question how much you really need it. Like is it $3,400-shipping-cost worthy?
I had been itching for a new wordpress theme and this one seemed to fit nicely with my focus on simplifying. It is also netbook friendly which is important to me since I transitioned to a netbook.
This was actually part of the seeds of my simplicity quest. I love the idea of affordable, mobile technology. I have Linux (Ubuntu) installed on my netbook but have thus far been only booting the Windows XP which involves no learning curve. But just using XP is a simplification from my miserable Vista laptop. It’s funny how the 15 inch laptop now seems humongous compared to my 10 inch netbook.
Seminary studies and life have kept me busy and I have found it hard to “indulge” in blogging. How can I justify taking the time when there is so much to do! Also, much of where my heart is right now relates to my concerns about my elderly parents (at almost 82, I think my mom still doesn’t appreciate being labeled as elderly). If you’ve read my blog in the past, you know that my mom reads it. I haven’t been sure how to venture into this subject area without being overly concerned about offending her.
Tonight thanks to my husband (aka great spiritual teacher), I came face-to-face with the fact that I possess the same trait that is driving me crazy in my mom. He offered to head off to the laundromat by himself with our laundry while I stayed home and studied. Rather than happily accepting his generous offer, I was plagued with both guilt and “but you won’t do it like I do” thoughts. I was the only one who was surprised by this. He took my feeble protests in stride and didn’t have too big a smile when I admitted my wrong thinking. (I did remind him not to get on a high horse, that he isn’t perfect either.) So he’s off doing the laundry and I’m realizing that even if something comes back a tiny version of itself, it is well worth the gift I have received. Amen.
Today we released our beloved cat, Tao, from her suffering. We are grateful for the blessing she was in our lives for the short nine years she has been a part of our family. I post this prayer in honor of her passing and with the belief that she died in the embrace of our love.
May all creatures be freed from their suffering
May all creatures be freed from their illness.
May those in fear be comforted
And those bound be set free.
May all creatures lost in this wilderness
they do not know
be guarded by the love of celestials,
and may they be led to a place
of everlasting peace.
Buddhist Prayer, adapted by Lynn L. Caruso Blessing the Animals: Prayers and Ceremonies to Celebrate God’s Creatures, Wild and Tame
P.S. Reading this old post (with favorite Tao photo) is giving me comfort. I had forgotten about the night she brought a dragonfly in from the balcony. I was laying on the floor and heard a strange buzzing sound as she ran past me. Then when the dragonfly got loose, my husband and I showed our true colors as we both ran for cover!
As my class in Theological Reflection comes to a close, I am feeling grateful for the introduction to theological perspectives that I have found very exciting. I am continuing to explore process theology and liberation theologies (look in My Library to see what I am reading). One of the most meaningful class discussions was about religious perspectives about Creation. Feminist and process theology understandings of all Creation as interconnected and Sacred particularly resonate with how I see the universe, from the magnificent trees that share my walks to the smallest creatures that I admire from afar to the animals with which I develop close relationships. All are Sacred to me and fill me with awe as I feel not only connected, but changed by my experience of them. As I prepare to leave for my second two-week intensive class, I anticipate the healing presence of the forest in contrast to the stressful environment of urban life.
I have a habit of listening to radio show podcasts on most of my daily walks. Speaking of Faith is one of two my favorites. After writing the last paper for my class, I decided to finally listen to the podcast of “Whale Songs and Elephant Loves.” The stories of whales sharing their songs and of elephants communicating beyond our ability to hear took on new meaning in the context of theological perspectives based on an interconnected Creation that is calling us to deeper relationship. I loved hearing the sounds of the whales singing and the elephants rejoicing as they reconnect with their family members.
Also this week, one of the barrage of Twitter posts in my TwitterFox stream had a link to this wonderful video of musicians all over the world lifting up their voices in the same call to community (excerpt from the documentary, “Playing For Change: Peace Through Music“).
Earlier this year, I fell in love with a radio show on Pacifica station KPFA, the Visionary Activist Show. I’ve been happily amazed by how so many of my favorite subjects and authors get woven together on Caroline Casey‘s show. I love the mix of mythology and social justice issues. The day she quoted from both Zora Neale Hurston and Loren Eiseley, I was hooked. I listen to the podcast when I go for walks, and after obsessively working my way through the archives I am finally caught up. The guest on last week’s show, Paul Stamets, will be a presenter at the upcoming Bioneers conference. I had heard of his amazing work with mushrooms (video below) but this was the first time I heard him speak about it. His research includes cleaning polluted soil, creating new insecticides, and treating smallpox. Van Jones, the 2008 Ware Lecturer will also be at the Bioneers conference, as will Atema Eclai, Director of Programs at the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Attending the conference is definitely on my list of things to do, when I have a few bucks to spare.
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