Matters of Grace

I try really hard to work 'grace' into my attitude ..... but that doesn't mean I don't complain. A lot. Truth be told, I've never really noticed how much I complained until I happened upon a fantastic blog written by a woman who made the decision to kick the habit. You can check out the inspiring blog here: http://bit.ly/4bU2Er Perhaps I've never noticed my complaining because, to me, it was just another part of "venting" or even *problem solving.* But it's not. Venting is a release of something, be it air, heat or emotion. So when a person 'vents' s/he releases some sort of tension then forgets about it and moves on. Problem solving , according to Wikipedia, is " mental process and is part of the larger problem process that includes problem finding and problem shaping. Considered the most complex of all intellectual functions, problem solving has been defined as higher-order cognitive process that requires the modulation and co...

A friend of mine, one I've known on such a deep level for more than five years, forwarded an email to me. It was a casting call put out by a reputable agency that read: " LOOKING FOR UNUSUAL & UNCONVENTIONAL POSTMODERN FAMILIES ." Well, okay, I suppose he sent this to me because he finds my household to be unusual and/or unconventional. I suppose some might feel that way, given that I'm a single mom to three. Then again, the kids and I forget that we are a "single parent" household; on the contrary, we feel like an ordinary "normal" and "healthy" family who camps, laughs and struggles the same as any other "normal" and "healthy" family. It has been said that single parenthood has been linked to drug abuse, poor grades and other horrible things; however I cannot verify this as my children bring home A's from school, no one abuses toxins and we do not live off of government assistance. I love my friend and u...

Next Wednesday is "Ash Wednesday" which, as many know, is the first day of Lent. Lent is my favorite season of the Liturgical calendar not because I like to give up chocolate, or fish or whatever it is people like to do without, but because it is the time of the year when we stand closest to what is true. It is the time of the year that begins when my pastor dips his fingers into ash, marks the sign of the cross on my brow and says: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" I take a good deal of comfort in those words because they strip away the facades I work so hard to build and they do it with simplicity. From the labels that stoke my ego's fire to the costumes that dictate the roles I choose to play, all removed. And the relief is almost too great to digest. Now if only I can maintain that freedom well into the year to come. Perhaps it might help to meditate upon the words of one of my favorite wordsmiths, T.S. Eliot: Suffer us not to m...

This year I decided to add to the holiday by making our very own Advent calendar using that most wondrous of materials: felt. (I love felt) Gracie assisted by holding my materials down I stitched a little pocket for each day (and admit that by pocket 6, I was wondering what on earth possessed me to want to stitch an Advent calendar in the first place) But after a few days of vigorous stitching, I finished all 24 pockets; here they are: ......now all I need are some stockings to match: (Working on them) :) Peace of the season!

Autumn has always been a favorite season of mine, and it's only natural for me to get out onto a trail and savor the season's offerings. Also, I hike whenever I feel confused as hiking clears the mind. All through the Summer I've been confused about the Yoga class I was teaching at a local Dojo. Deeper than that, I was confused about how I felt about teaching Yoga at all; suffice it to say that, above most other industries, the machine of American Yoga is knee deep in empty promises and worthless ego-feeding spiel. For other areas of business, empty promises do not bother me; however, Yoga is something I care about and believe in. Linda-Sama, from the blog Linda's Yoga Journey, said it best: "Fancy arm balances and pretzel poses no longer impress me. Show me how you live your life and what you can give up for 10 days at a retreat without complaint -- that will show me what you've learned from yoga. Show me your service and gratitude." Though I do not b...

.... don't even think about trying to escape. Yesterday I had a really, REALLY bad day. It was the type of day where you wake up thinking life is good, then half way through realize it's nothing but a steaming pile of unpaid bills gone to collections (with interest.) The type of day that makes you want to sing old blues songs, like: Once I built a tower to the sun, Brick and rivet and lime, Once I built a tower, now it's done, Brother, can you spare a dime? It was the type of day that makes you want to cry out things like 'why me' or 'it's not fair!' And people try to come to you and say things like 'it's okay' or 'one day at a time' or some other pithy phrase that makes you feel like this: And just when I wanted to crawl into a dark pit, cover myself with ashes and dwell in my misery forever, I looked up to see my three kids...... ...and they were d a n c i n g . All three of them were smiling and cutting a rug, wavin...

The Karuk Indians lived in Northern California and were known as the Upper River People. History is not fair; like countless other cultures, the Karuk are now all but forgotten by the masses. The following is from a conversation between two Karuk elders, c: 1900. Translated by Julian Lang; I found it interesting and post it now for your edification: The Old People were following the Ikxareeyavs , the Spirit People , all the time. All the People did the same long ago; whatever the Ikxareeyavs did, the People did. And the things that the Spirit People ate, that was all the Old People ate. That's what they were told, "You must eat this kind of food" So the Spirit People ate salmon and they spooned up acorn soup, eating salmon along with acorn soup. And they ate deermeat. And the Old People claimed that the Spirit People ate two meals a day. And so that's the way the Old People did as well. When the white people came, the Old People said "they are eating food ...