dailydatewithgod

 Today is the feast of the Epiphany in Christian churches.  The day when the three magi visit Jesus in Bethlehem.  These great kings and wise men traveled from afar to visit the lowly baby Jesus in a manger.  They were directed by the North Star and came bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  As a kid growing up I remember the song, “we three kings of orient are . . . star of wonder, star of night, star of royal beauty bright . . .”  What if we are led by that star?  What if we are called to follow the star to our hearts where our radiant light exists.  When we are connected to that radiant light (God) within our hearts then we becomes the shining star for others to see and be led to God.  Being radiant is more than just shining brightly.  Radiance implies an everlasting experience.  Everlasting to me means connected to God.  Nothing else in my experience is never-ending power.  Radiance is also more than just radiating light, it means being lit up with hope and joy.  Isaiah chapter 60:1 implores us to be radiant.  We sometimes have this notion that if we shine brightly we will diminish the lights of others, so we try to keep our lights hidden.  But as I have referenced before, our shinning brightly gives others permission to shine brightly.  We are not all going to do it in the same way.  We each have our own rays, our own gifts to give to the world.  Our lights will reach out to different people. It is important that we all connect with the source of our radiance so that we can be in alignment with the Great Light of all. The three kings each brought their own radiance for the king of kings.  What if your radiance is fit for a king as well?  Think of a time when you have been touched and perhaps inspired by the radiance of another.  My prayer for you today is that you are able to connect to your own radiance (God within you) and see how you can bring that as a gift to others. Make it a bright one!  Peace~Colleen

 It is funny that my mind balks at this idea.  Even the notion of being simple is not simple.  It is not enough, there must be more to it.  My mind/ego is not interested in how this could be true.  Life is complicated, right? Or is it?  When I think of the spiritual masters who have graced us with their presence on this earth–Jesus, Moses, Buddha, Gandhi, Mother Theresa, and so many others.  They all exuded the idea of simplicity.  Simplicity of kindness, of love, of purpose.  It is though they had a magnifying mind that kept them focused on their purpose and mission and they didn’t get caught up in other things.  When I think of great leaders–spiritual or otherwise, those are the characteristics of great leadership.  By simply focusing on their purpose–they achieved great things–Martin Luther King Jr., Lincoln, Caesar Chavez, Dorothy Day, and so many others who escape my mind at this hour of the morning.  I have heard it said that we should live simply so that others may simply live. I often thought of that in terms of the material, but it never occurred to me until this morning that it applies in the spiritual and emotional realm as well.  When we live simply in our minds–focusing on the essentials–love, tolerance, acceptance, kindness, humility, integrity then those around us have room to be themselves.  We are not busy judging them because they do not fit into some complicated scheme that we have created for what is good in our lives.  When we live simply we trust that God is in charge, that whatever happens can be used to achieve a greater purpose.  Keep in mind that it is simple, but not easy.  It means letting go that I am right, that I know what is best for me and for everyone.  It keeps my ego in check.  By living simply I have room to breathe and so do those whom I encounter and connect to.  We all have the opportunity to just be, be who God wants us to be. Today as I go throughout my day I make a commitment to you to stop and pause and ask myself if I am doing whatever it is simply or am I making it more complicated than it needs to be.  How might you be able to live more simply today?  My prayer for you is that you can embrace that the simplicity is enough because God is more than enough.  Make it a great one!  Peace~Colleen

 This made me laugh when it came to mind this morning.  It suddenly brought up all these memories of high school and wanting to be one of the cool kids.  I had a mixture of friends in high school but certainly didn’t run with the popular or “cool” kids.  Of course, at my high school they did a lot of drinking and other assorted activities that I wasn’t too interested in.  Okay maybe I was curious but I was too busy trying to be a goodie two-shoes and make sure I was what people expected of me to want to step out and experiment. As the fat girl you learn to just be the really nice girl so you don’t make any more waves, at least that is the path I chose.  When I recall those “cool” kids at school it is the confidence that I remember (whether it was real or fake), the fun they seemed to be having and the lack of fear in standing out and being recognized.  Those are certainly qualities I can emulate.  There is a quote from the book of proverbs that describes the ideal woman, “She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs at the days to come.” (Prov 31:25) Sounds like a pretty cool cat to me. Also sounds like someone who is cool in God’s eyes.  I carry myself with confidence (strength and dignity) and I don’t worry about tomorrow–i.e. I am present in the moment. It always seems to come back to that doesn’t it.  This moment thing, this being where my feet are.  If I am there, God is a gift to the world through me.  I can enjoy the moment because I have no fear about what is to come, it is a complete trust in God (confidence).  When I behave in that matter, I am cool. How do you know that you are cool? My prayer for you today is that you recognize the ways in which you are cool, and look to ways that you can be cool throughout your day.   Who knows, maybe we are more popular than we think (in God’s eyes).  Make it a great one!  Peace~Colleen

 Therese of Lisieux was a young girl who lived in France at the end of the 19th century.  She joined religious life at the age of 15 and died at the age of 24 of tibureculosis.  She is known as Therese of the little flower.  I remember seeing a movie about her life when I was in junior high school and being blown away by her conviction at such a young age of how she wanted to live her life for God. The beauty of her message was she lived the idea of turning the little things over to God–making her bed, washing the dishes.  It seems simplistic but when I read her biography and autobiography she exuded the idea of complete trust in God and doing all things for God.  I think of her often when I think of the little things that I recognize God in and turn over to God.  I learned many years ago that things that I turn over to God and the things that I appreciate and acknowledge as coming from God are the areas in my life in which I experience the most peace.  The things that I hold on to (even the small and simple ones) because I think God is too busy to be concerned about, are the things with which I struggle.  I have come to appreciate the love of God in small things.  I’ve begun to see God in action by appreciating the little moments and experiences of life.  All it takes is one moment to appreciate that moment, whatever it is.  What I focus on expands and when I focus on the little things in my life that I appreciate, all of a sudden I am surrounded by a life for which to be tremendously grateful.  What are little things in your life that you appreciate or can appreciate?  My prayer for you today is that you can see some small elements of your life to appreciate (see God in) today.  Make it a great one!  Peace~Colleen

 It seems to be a misnomer that we graduate.  Yes, we graduate from high school and college (they even have kindergarten graduation these days).  But we do not graduate from life, I suppose, that is until we die.  That is good and bad news for some of us.  I know for me I am always looking to get things done. Perhaps it is the Aries in me that is focused and driven or some idea that I can relax when I get it done, when I graduate.  I no longer have to do so much work.  Yet when I think about it when I have experienced those graduations, they were simply times of transition in which more opportunities for living were given to me.  It is in those opportunities that I needed to keep the mind of a student, the mind of a learner and be teachable.  There are so many opportunities in one given day to learn something and when I am closed off to what I can learn, then I am closed off to God.  It is humbling to be teachable because in a world that values those who “know” and have it together and are masters, being teachable is vulnerable.  I think most would agree that in a classroom one looks to the teacher to get a sense of what is going on.  However, in my experience as a teacher, if you really wanted to know what was going on, you would check with my students.  The students are the ones who are having the experience, who are embracing ideas and creating.  It is in the student where life is being lived.  What is a teachable moment that stands out in  your experience? My prayer for you today is that you are open to a moment in which God is your teacher.  It could be something about yourself, about others, about the world at large.  I will look for moments when I can learn something new and let it touch my heart.  Make it a great one! Peace~Colleen

 There is something to be said for the excitement of new beginnings.  I know that each day I feel it on some level, but maybe because I love the number 13 that I am especially excited today.  The root for the word inspire comes from the Latin meaning to breathe into.  I always think of the Holy Spirit or Great Spirit being involved.  It calls for motivation, action, being with one’s breath.  Inspiration draws a picture of being touched by others and moved in one’s heart to love and to create.  I think about when I see a beautiful performance or a great athlete.  They are inspiring in that moment because they are fully living out their gifts and it is as if in that moment God shines like a beacon through them into my heart.  I am called to connect with that Great Breath in my heart each day, each moment, so that I too can inspire others.  It requires me to be present in the moment.  The breathing that happens on a moment to moment basis is predominantly unconscious.  It is only when we are out of breath or exerting ourselves that we stop and think about our breathing.  What if that is how I live my life?  How different would it be if we spent more of our day consciously with our breath? How inspiring would we be?  I like the quote (attributed to a couple of different sources): “Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away.”  This year, one day at a time, I will strive to stay connected to moments big and small that call me to be conscious of my breath, connected to the Great Spirit, and thus touch, move and inspire myself and others.  For today, I see myself smiling for no reason at all.  I know that I will be connected with God and see God in others as I do so.  My prayer for you is that you choose to connect with your source of inspiration, your breath, and to shine that to others.  How can you see yourself as inspired today?  Make it a great one!  Peace~Colleen

 God is love.  I believe therefore that all things that come from God are love and are good.  That includes me. That includes the circumstances in my life.  I have read in a number of a different places that God uses all things for the good.  For me to be goodness I need to put on the eyes of God.  To be able to see the good in everything and everyone. Since my mind is not always attuned to the mind of God I need some correction, so I put on some glasses.  If you imagine a pair of glasses, the left strap would be “G”, the two eyes would be “O”s and then the right strap would be “D”.  I wish I could draw a picture.  As I think back on this past year and all that has happened, there are many times when I felt as though I could see the GOOD.  I was aware of goodness in myself and in others.  From simple things like the love of my parents have for each other still after 40 years of marriage, the assertiveness of my niece as I first saw and heard her say “THAT!”, the thank you from the homeless man when I gave him a granola bar, the families in the hospital cafeteria who stood up and prayed together before they ate, the laughter of my colleagues at our Christmas party or each time we sang happy birthday, the fun of seeing my classmates after 20 years, the smile of my trainees when I ask them about something that makes them smile, the process of letting go of many an old idea that no longer serves me,  and the ways that I stood with myself in the face of challenges . . . clearly, I could go on and on.  My point is that when I put on the eyes (or spectacles) of God, I can see the goodness in the small and big, the mundane and things that might miss my eyes entirely.  I must keep those glasses on when I see myself as well.  My prayer for you today as you close out one year and begin another is that you have the courage to put on the spectacles of God and see the GOODness (GODness) in you, your life, and life all around you. Make it a great one!  Peace~Colleen

 Often we might stop during this time of year to review the year past and think about what we have accomplished and what we would like to accomplish in the new year.  We look at what our intentions were at the beginning of the new year and what did with them as the year progressed.  What do we want to carry with us into a new year? What do we want to let go of? I am not a big person on resolutions, I do much better with decisions.  I find that when I make a decision about something I am more likely to create an action plan around it.  When I make a resolution, it is more like a fantasy.  The best thing that I can do is live each day as it comes.  I strive to be more connected to God, to myself and thus to the world.  I know then that I can make an impact.  I hope it will be a lasting positive impact or imprint on the world, but I have no control over that.  I encourage you to take some time in the next day or so and think about what kind of impact you can make  one day at a time in the new year. The truth is that we impact ourselves and others in some way. We are all interconnected and affected by each other. We would hardly be human if we didn’t experience each other.  No man is an island.  What kind of impact have you had this year? My prayer is that you can recognize the ways that you have positively impacted yourself and others (even in some small way) in 2012. That will give you the confidence to make a decision to do more of the same or to up your game to do more in 2013.  What we focus on expands, so let us start of the year thinking about ways that we can continue to contribute, to continue to share God (make an impact) with ourselves and with others.  Make it a great one!  Peace~Colleen

Be the person you want to be.  Be the feeling you want to have. Be the experience that you desire.  It is all within your reach to create.  I think we spend a lot of time wanting or desiring something instead of being in action about it.  It is much easier to be in fantasy.  But I believe that God needs people who are doers of life.  People who take action.  It may be small or large action, it doesn’t matter.  Just do it (as Nike says). I find that I can’t always think my way into action but I can act my way into thinking.  Taking even a small step in the direction of where I want to go is a step.  If I am looking for kindness then I need to be kindness.  If I am looking for excitement then I need to be excited.  I cannot wait for things to happen to me.  I am not a victim who is waiting to experience things, I want to be a player of life that creates experiences.  It is risky and vulnerable to step out and do things.  It is much safer to stay in fantasy about how wonderful things will be when (fill in the blank . . . I get the job, the boyfriend, the car, the acknowledgment, etc.).  However the reality is that if I do not cultivate that which I want to draw from the experience within myself I will have not be able to receive it when comes to me.  I continually see that God uses whomever shows up. Not the people who do things perfectly, but the ones who step up and say, “What do you want me to do now Lord.”  I believe that the dreams and desires that we have in our hearts are placed there by God and they are ultimately an expression of God in the present physical moment when we move towards them.  We may be waiting for all the perfect moments to line up in order to take action. All the while we are missing out on the present moment (where God dwells) and opportunities to take those small steps which lead to the culmination.  Life is about the process, not the end result.  I know this because my life today is not at all the way that I thought it would be as a kid.  I thought for sure by now I would be married and have a family.  I imagined I would still be teaching and well, I am not sure that I had many other thoughts of the future other than that given I was mostly just trying to survive growing up.  Today, however, even though I don’t have those things I feel the way I always wanted to feel–a sense of peace, lightness of heart, delight in life, compassion for myself and others, and richness of spirit.  I didn’t set out to achieve those things and it’s not as though I feel them all the time, but certainly more often than not.  It comes from right living.  From connecting with God and aligning myself with His will.  Most importantly it comes one moment at a time by showing up.  How can you be that which you desire or dream in this moment today?  My prayer for you is that you have the courage to take a step in the direction (no matter how small) toward that which your heart desires and know that God is with you.  Make it a great one!  Peace~Colleen

 There is a loaded concept!  It is as though my mind rebuffs the moment I hear it.  We are not “supposed” to be dependent on anyone.  Part of growing up is becoming independent and self-reliant.  We need to make our own decisions and face the consequences of those decisions.  Being independent is what being a grownup is about.  Right? This notion of dependence is not mean that I get to hang out at home all day and eat bon bons and wait for someone to take care of me and do for me what I can do for myself.  To be dependent on God means to acknowledge that I am a finite being.  My power in most cases which means my intellect and will is limited.  I need to connect with an infinite source.  A source that sees past the little world that I live in.  A source that encompasses an entire universe and can orchestrate the interaction and flow of everything on the planet.  Sometimes I just think of it when I see a beautiful sunrise.  Something greater than me kept the planet turning while I was asleep so that I don’t have to spend the whole day in the dark. Like most spiritual concepts being dependent is a balance.  A balance between me doing what I can do and then relying on God for the rest.  I have heard it said that I should row as though it depends on me to get to shore and pray as though it depends on God. To me that means that I need someone or something greater than me to keep my mind in check.  Some might say our ego (our independence, etc.) is the problem.  I heard a contemplative spiritual man named Jim Finley speak once and he said that the ego is not the problem.  We all need a healthy ego.  The problem is when the ego thinks it’s all there is.  Dependence on God is a recognition that more is needed.  I like to think of it as a hope for something greater to come about.  There is a wonder and a gift that comes from surrendering that I cannot do it all on my own.  Some of the greatest gifts in my life have occurred when I turned to God and said–here is what I have done, I cannot see to do more nor do I know how, please show me what to do next.  Then, I get quiet and let go.  It calls on me to trust that God cares and that will turn out as it should.  Being dependent takes courage.  Is there a time in your life when you have depended on God or even on another human being and things turned out greater than you could have imagined?  My prayer for you today is that in moments of needing God you may see the courage that you are displaying by living in trust and faith that there is a greater plan for us all.  Make it a great one!  Peace~Colleen