Merry Christmas 2008

We know not the good we do

Here are three stories from different spiritual practices (Christian Gospel, Modern and Hindu) that points us to the possibility to the good we may be doing as we go on our way without even knowing it.


"The kingdom of the father is like a certain woman who was carrying a jar full of meal. While she was walking on the road, still some distance from home, the handle of the jar broke and the meal emptied out behind her on the road. She did not realize it; she had noticed no accident. When she reached her house, she set the jar down and found it empty."

-Gospel Of Thomas


"There is a Sufi story about a man who is so good that the angels ask God to give him the gift of miracles. God wisely tells them to ask him if that is what he would wish. So the angels visit this good man and offer him first the gift of healing by hands, and then the gift of conversion of souls, and lastly the gift of virtue. He refuses them all. They insist that he choose a gift or they will choose one for him, 'Very well,' he replies, 'I ask that I may do a great deal of good without ever knowing it.'

The story ends this way: The angels were perplexed. They took counsel and resolved upon the following plan: Every time the saint's shadow fell behind him it would have the power to cure disease, soothe pain, and comfort sorrow. As he walked, behind him his shadow made the paths green, caused withered plants to bloom, gave clear water to dried-up brooks, fresh color to pale children, and joy to unhappy men and women.

The saint simply went about his daily life diffusing virtue as the stars diffuse light and the flowers scent, without ever being aware of it. The people respecting his humility followed him silently, never speaking to him about his miracles. Soon they even forgot his name and called him 'The Holy Shadow.'

-Naomi Reiman, Kitchen Table Wisdom


A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it somewhat. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

-Author Unknown

Reverend Karen's Contemplation

"We are always on a continuum of change, growth and miracles, no matter what time of year we reflect upon...

...at any time, at any point along the path, we can observe the miracle that our lives truly are. Painful times yield growth in powerful ways , while the completion of goals brings feelings of accomplishment and joy. Missed opportunities from the past will undoubtedly present themselves in the future, if they are needed for our growth. Nothing is lost; everything has its time and place and purpose, if we only have eyes to see it from that perspective."

- Rev. Karen Tudor

We Are - Chris Pfeiffer

we are

you are the wind, if i am the canvas
you are the carpenter, i am the keel
you are the port, when i am weary
you are the pilot, i am the wheel

you are the ballast, when i am tossed, caught up in a hurricane
you are the stars, when i am lost
the voyage the path the way

(chorus)
we... are
we... are

i am the heart, you the compassion
i am the soul, you are the deep
i the mind, you the stillness
i am the traveler, you are the strength

i am the yes, of sailing on into this freedom of thine
i am the choice, of which we choose
to be you and i

(chorus)

we... are
we... are
we... are
we... are

- Chris Pfeiffer

Chris is a Texas Hill Country musical artist whose music we have enjoyed at our Unity church and at a local concert lately. We Are is one of my favorite of his songs. Follow the link to learn more about him and his music.

Meditation

Friends and I enjoyed a night a few weeks ago where we watched the movie, The Secret. It prompted an inquiry about methods of meditation.

Some years ago, I took a 3 part class on meditation giving by Rev. Karen Tudor, my current minister who was then at Unity Church Of Christianity in Houston. Below are some lessons she shared with our class...

Differences Between Prayer, Meditation and Contemplation:

Prayer - any mind/heart activity that is God-directed. (Life Of Prayer, pg 8)

Meditation - purposeful stilling of the mind and body to receive from God.

Contemplation - practice of holding an object, idea or word for the purpose of greater understanding and revelation.

Setting Up a Meditation Practice:

- Patience
- Deciding on Time of Day
- Setting Up Atmosphere

Sounds: Music, Chants, Tones or Mantras, Crystal Bowls, Chimes/Bells/Drums, Natural sounds, Silence

Sights: Lit candles, Altar w/ pictures or icons, View from a window, Light/Darkness

Scents: Incense, Scented candles, Oils

Postures: Lying down, Standing, On Floor, Bench or Pillow, Mat or Blanket, On Chair-spine straight, Walking, Kneeling, Yoga poses

Focal Points: Breath, Body, Heart Center, Scripture, Holy Word or Name, Mirror

Inspirational Text: Sacred books such as Bible or Torah, Bhagavad Gita, Tao te Ching, Poetry

Developing a Routine:

- Inspirational reading
- Prayer
- Affirmations
- Relaxation Stretches
- Journaling Insights

Recommended Reading:

Deepak Chopra - Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success, Book Of Secrets
Thich Nat Hahn - all writings
Rumi - poems
Marsha Sinetar- Ordinary Peple as Monks and Mystics

Women's Retreat

I spent last weekend in Leakey, Texas. I was there attending my Unity church women's slumber party. This is what I came back to Texas for!

To reach Leakey, you leave the populated San Antonio behind and travel to Medina. There you pick up State Road 16. I was completely unprepared to have to down shift as I traveled out of steep grade areas. I found myself giggling out loud, alone, from the sheer joy that the beauty of the drive brought me. The visitor's website boasts, "Swiss Alps of Texas, with elevations up to 2400 ft and deep canyons cut by the Frio and Nueces Rivers." Doug and I have finally found where we want to be in the Hill Country.

Our retreat talks lead us to ponder our power as women. Discussions ended with the metaphysical reading of the part in Revelations where a nameless woman/mother is victorious, ending with the head of the serpent under her heel. We did freak out fellow visitors with our percussion chants and scarf dancing - until they learned we were a church group (they thought we were practicing witches!).

I returned home from my retreat indeed feeling powerful. The goddess nature is less appealing to me than that of the female warrior. This retreat was beneficial, helping me to be able to articulate that for myself. After all, the women who've made history weren't exactly known for their feel good chanting with a bunch of ladies and waving scarves around overhead (Goddesses do have their purposes).

We were hosted at River Haven Cabins. I would highly recommend Margie and her husband's site. Cabins were cozy and comfortable with views of the river. The meals were catered by the Frio Canyon Lodge Restaurant. It was as if Paula Deen was cooking our meals, including the Gooey Cakes. Each of us brought our own fixings for breakfast, here's mine:

CABIN BREAKFAST

Cottage cheese
Cubed watermelon
Sliced bananas and strawberries
Granola
Raisins

Inspired by a salad I had many times at News Cafe in South Beach, Miami

Mustard Seeds vs Mountains

"For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."
Matthew 17:20

"Everything is possible for him who believes."
Mark 9:23

Crucifix, Great Mosque of Cordova, Spain


Doug and I were pointed to a crucial element in the story of the Resurrection: faith. And that we are not always required to have an incredible amount of faith. Faith is so powerful that even the tiniest amount, say the size of a hardly-visible mustard seed, can yield the ability to do what appears to be unsurmountable to us, like that of moving a mountain. Today, The Secret teaches us to believe and we are directed to find an unwavering faith. These lessons warrant contemplation from me.

Easter is not only a time of spiritual observance but a time to celebrate Spring's arrival, a season of birth and renewal. We were inspired to reconnect with friends we haven't seen as much of as we would like so we hosted them for a cookout.

My friend, Alexandra, teaches us that our daily homemaking and entertaining activities can become mindful meditations and be elevated to spiritual practices. I also think Jack Cornfield was leading to a similar conclusion in, After The Ecstacy, The Laundry. A pleasant meal with friends can be an opportunity for small acts of worship among menial tasks involved in its preparation (writing that we should prepare every meal as thoughtfully as we would if Jesus were coming to dinner). Some mustard seeds in the steak marinade to remind one that things aren't as impossible as they might seem, a few sprigs of rosemary to symbolize our remembrance of the Father in the Son, the Son in the Father, and the Son living on in each of us.

EASTER COOKOUT RECIPES

PARMESAN TOASTS
1 baguette loaf
6 oz Parmigianno Reggiano cheese, shredded
olive oil
Slice rounds of baguette canape size. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle liberally with cheese. Broil until bread toasts and cheese is bubbly, 2-3 minutes.

ROASTED SHRIMP by Ina Garten
SHRIMP SAUCE by Ina Garten
GRILLED RIBEYES by Giada De Laurentiis
with Marinade and Gorgonzola Sauce
GRILLED MILD ITALIAN SAUSAGES
Pre-grilling poaching method by Michael Chiarello

SPRING VEGETABLE POUCH
2 zucchini in half moon slices
2 yellow squash in half moon slices
1 carton cherry tomatoes, whole
1 package baby portabello mushrooms, quartered
2 lemons, sliced
6 cloves garlic, whole
1 medium shallot, sliced
4 springs rosemary
olive oil
salt and pepper
1 large sheet aluminum foil

In large bowl, mix all vegetables together with the lemon and garlic. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. To make foil pouch, cut a double length of aluminum foil. Fold the foil in the center. Lay foil out flat and place vegetable mixture to the rightof the fold. Add rosemary sprigs. Seal the sides, then the end with double folds. Place on grill on high heat for 12-15 min or in oven at 450 for the same.

ARUGULA AND ROASTER RED PEPPER SALAD by Giada De Laurentiis
SEASONED RICE from Carla Veliz
FRESH FRUIT PLATTERS from Aida Zorrilla
PEACH PIE by Paul Newkirk











Ricardo and Rebecca Veliz
Post stair circuits and crafting
bunny faces and Easter boxes!

Celebration Of Abundance

As Doug and I look to the new year pondering what it will bring, we also reflect on all that we have with gratitude. The traditional Christian observance for this is known as the Epiphany.

Epiphany means to manifest. "Epiphany is about the unveiling of God's purpose in our lives", Karen Tudor told me in 2001. She also said if we are to receive ideas from God, then we are open to the gifts those ideas bring. I find this New Thougth perspective compelling since Covey, Chopra, The Secret, et al teach us that everything in our physical dimension is brought about by the power of our mind.

We will observe the day by steaming a dungeness crab (honoring baptismal waters) and opening a nice wine (honoring the water to wine miracle).

There is a custom of blessing the house, which is especially appropriate for us in our new home in San Antonio.

Along with this prayer:

Bless us, O Lord, and bless the time and seasons
yet to come.
Teach us to number our day aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
And fill this new year with your kindness,
taht we may be glad and rejoice
all the days of our life.
Amen

And God bless you all, Carolyn

New Year's Service

"Context is everything." --Rev. Karen Tudor

• Human beings create their experiences by the activity of their thinking. Everything in the manifest realm has its beginnings in thought.

• Knowing and understanding the laws of life, also called Truth, are not enough. A person must live the truth that he or she knows.
  

Unity concepts