Happy Holidays...

"Happy Holidays!"

The stranger called out to me as I rode my bike around Lake Hollywood.

"Happy Holidays!"  I called back.

Late December can be a difficult time.  Even for those who don't struggle through the shorter days (and longer nights!), the season can be fraught with uncertainty:  mounting bills, colder weather, a dwindling food supply.  Maybe that's why, across the centuries and throughout the variety of human experiences, cultures and traditions, this time of year has been a time for celebrating.  If we have a party, we'll all feel a little better!  So we have Solstice and Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Christmas--to name but a few--each rooted in faith and tradition, each an opportunity to celebrate with renewed hope. 

The way we celebrate Christmas today would have been unrecognizable to the man named Jesus of Nazareth.  Wreaths and evergreen trees and holly are symbols from Pagan traditions.  Falling snow would be a strange sight to someone living in the eastern Mediterranean.  Mother Mary didn't spend her time in the kitchen baking springerle or krumkaka.  The Wassail Bowl and the Yule Log are not traditions rooted in the belief that God broke into human history in a unique way in the life of the Galilean Jesus.  Christmas as we know and celebrate it, while wonderful in its own right, is hardly Christian.  

That's why I have trouble getting worked up over someone I don't know wishing me a Happy Holiday.  That stranger has no way of knowing what makes the Holidays HOLY for me any more than I know what makes them HOLY for her.  

And yet, how incredibly holy and hopeful that each of us can wish the other a joyous season without knowing anything more than that we share in being human.

Just like God.

Happy Holy-days to you and yours!

Langsam!

It means slowly.  I used to hear it a lot.  My Grandma would watch me rushing around, and over and over again I'd hear her say: 

"Langsam, langsam!"  "Slow down!"

If you know anything about German culture, you know that Germans aren't famous for being patient.  Punctuality and precision, yes.  Patience?  Not so much.  And even though Southern Germans, like my Grandma, have a reputation for being a bit more laid back, that's only by a standard measured against Northern Germans, not American kids from New Jersey.  Even so, my impatience and regular rushing around were apparently cause enough to elicit my very German grandmother's regular admonition: 

"Don't be so hasty!"

I've always heard that patience is a virtue, but I don't buy it.  Sure, it makes sense to set your mind at ease when confronted with situations that are out of your control.  It doesn't help matters to stomp your feet and snort and grumble when you're on the slow line at Starbucks (I've tried, believe me).  Being patient can help get you home safely on a jammed freeway.  But a virtue?

It seems to me that patience is an excuse.  Too often, when the time to act is NOW, patience is used as a justification for inaction.  Seriously, folks, how long should we wait for justice?  How long should we sit around and hope that someone else takes the bull by the horns?  How long must people languish in poverty and despair?  Until the time is right?  What time would that be?

The time is now.  Patience is no virtue when opportunity is slipping away.  Patience is no virtue when the homeless are dying on the streets.  Patience is no virtue when people are silenced or imprisoned unjustly.  Patience is no virtue when we live in a society where the color of one's skin determines how they are treated.  Patience is no virtue when anyone has to wait for the slowly shifting tides of public option in order to gain equal treatment under the law.

My Grandma was right, ich habe kein Ruhe im Arsch.  I'm not very patient.  I come by it honestly.  Life is short, and people need us, and somewhere in all the self-centered hustle and bustle of our busy world, I can still hear a voice calling....and it's asking, "How long must I wait?"

"This is the day...this is the day!"  Carpe diem.  Seize it. 

Unf*ck....

Wait!  Before you hit delete...before you walk away in a huff, think about it!

It's so clear that people around the world are becoming more and more dissatisfied with the way things are.  In every corner of the globe ordinary people are simply giving up hope.  The messages from Wall Street and K Street and Madison Avenue don't help:  "It's all about ME and my special interests." 

You and I are just left feeling disconnected, hopeless and helpless.

I don't know about you, but sometimes I just want to say "f*ck it!"  Sometimes I just want to give up. 

I saw a t-shirt today.  It said "Unf*ck the world."  I looked at that t-shirt and realized that it is, in a nutshell, the message of Jesus.  Of course, Jesus didn't put it  quite that way--he said things like "Love your neighbor" and "Welcome the stranger" and "Feed my sheep."  But in essence what Jesus was saying was, "Unf*ck the world."  Make it better.  Do what you can.  In the face of insurmountable odds, even if you feel hopeless and helpless, do one thing that makes the world better: send a note, pick up some trash, email your representative, give alms, cook a meal,  hold the door, smile.  Because the only way the tide will turn--the only way the miracle will happen--is if people like you and me, one by one, act as if it's worth the effort.

"If you have done it for the least of them, you have done it for me."  --Jesus of Nazareth

Wonder View

Climbing up into and around the hills of Hollywood, it is, I believe, a well-named street:  Wonderview.

It's well-named because of what you experience when you get to the top: as Wonderview winds around you are treated to panoramic views of this amazing City of the Angels.  From one side, with Hollywood literally at your feet, you can see both East and Westsides, Downtown and Mid-Wilshire and Century City...and on a clear day the Baldwin Hills and the Bay.  Circle around and the San Fernando Valley spreads out in front of you--Universal City and beyond: the Verdugos, the San Gabriels, the Angeles National Forest.  It's a wonderful view.

But on a glorious and clear morning, as I struggle to pedal to the top, another reason the street is well-named comes to mind.  You see, through my grunting and grinding and panting and sweating I start to wonder if the view is really going to be worth the effort it takes to get there.

Life is like that, isn't it?  So often we wonder if it's worth the effort--the grunting and grinding and panting and sweating--when suddenly the view becomes clear and we are treated to a slice of the sublime.  We stop wondering and simply view.

And I suppose the trick is simply this: as we struggle along from day to day, grinding away in a seemingly endless climb, to remember what's coming and just keep going. 

Because the view from the top is wonderful.

 

A Higher Calling

It seems to me that many religious folks take a great deal of pride in their faith.  I often notice believers looking down on those who believe differently than they do, or not at all.  A sense of superiority over others tends to go along with religious faith.  Maybe you've noticed it too. 

This creates a problem and presents a challenge.

The problem is that all of the major religions today have their roots in ancient times, when the tenets of their beliefs were not irrational and required little or no suspension of disbelief.  That is, when today's religions were forming, the truth claims they make made sense based on what people knew and experienced.  For example, in Medieval times, as frequent plagues devastated the population, in the grip of a fear of the unknown it was rational to interpret these things in terms of divine punishment or protection.  It just made sense.  No one knew or understood about viruses and bacteria.  Religous tenets do not evolve among people who think they are silly or irrational--they come into being among people who believe they make sense.

So what do we do when many of the ancient religious claims ARE revealed to be silly and irrational, based on what we know of the world today?  Well, it seems either we take on some level of pride that we continue to believe such things despite their silliness, or we stop believing them.  That's the problem.

The challenge for the many who continue to claim to believe is that all of the major religions also teach humility.  But it's hard to make a case that one is being humble while at the same time looking down one's nose at those who have abandoned what they see as superstitious nonsense.  Isn't it?  On the other hand, it's also clear that many religious folks have taken on an armor of superiority in reaction to the pain of being looked down on by those who see their faith as nonsense.

Perhaps it's time for those who continue to call themselves religious to revisit teachings on humility.  What does this mean, and how can it be a tool one uses to help make the world a better place--something the major religions all claim as a priority.  And for those who claim no faith at all, it might not be a bad idea to try on some humility too: it just makes sense.

"What credit is it to someone to cry 'Lord, Lord' and then treat her neighbor with disdain?"

Dancing with the Devil

It never ceases to amaze me who we're willing to shack up with when it comes to our principles (or lack thereof).  Folks who normally wouldn't give each other the time of day suddenly become bosom buddies when they discover a common cause. 

Now that's not all bad.  Finding out that we have something in common with others, and then working together toward a goal can be a really good thing!  Walking beside someone to raise money to help people in need, building "sweat equity" alongside others, working toward the advancement of the oppressed with people who look different or worship differently or believe differently--it's all good.

But what I'm talking about are those less than holy alliances, the ones that find us jumping into bed with the devil.  Why is it that religious folks who disagree on just about everything else can suddenly join forces to further marginalize those who are already oppressed?  Why do disenfranchised youth seek to associate with terrorists?  Why do politicians cross the aisle for some issues and not for others.

I'm afraid the answer is obvious, albeit not readily admitted, and can be summed up in two words: self interest.

So the next time you roll over and find yourself in a deal with the devil, you might ask yourself, "Why?"  And if the answer you hear yourself giving sounds more like self-justification than anything else, it might be time to kick that bad ass out of bed.

"You're known by the company you keep."

A Balancing Act

Most mornings I try to set aside a little time to do some simple Yoga stretches.  The practice helps me wake up my body and increases my focus, flexibility, and energy level throughout the day.  (Here's a shameless plug for my friend Max at Mt. Olive in Santa Monica...check out their website, www.mtolivelutheranchurch.org, and join one of his classes if you're in the area...you'll be glad you did!).

One of the Yoga poses I like to do is called a tree pose:  while looking straight ahead and maintaining focus, one foot is lifted to the inside of the other leg.  The pose is held as long as possible.  Now you have to understand, I've never been a very coordinated type, so it's been a good thing, finding a practice that helps me increase my balance and ability to focus.  

I've gotten pretty good at it, too, I'm proud to say.  But this morning I noticed something--something really important.  While attempting that tree pose a thought came to mind: I pictured others watching me, and I lost my balance.  A second attempt and the same thing happened.  No one was watching (well, except maybe the cat). It was only the THOUGHT of someone watching that threw me off kilter.

Hmmmm....think about THAT!  The mere idea of an audience can create an imbalance in our lives.

There are many times in life when the observations of others can help us get back on track.  We need community--each other--to remind us of what's important and steer us away from danger toward safety and prosperity.   On the other hand, being too focused on those who may or may not be watching us can be a dangerous source of imbalance in our lives.  

All of which reminds me of that helpful saying, 

"What other people think of me is none of my business."

It's most certainly true--especially if they aren't thinking of me at all!

Wishing you all a well-balanced week!  If you enjoy reading these, please feel free to share them with others!  You'll find this post, as well as past blog posts at www.realacorns.blogspot.com.

(c) 2014, Stephen Fiechter

Where is that Control?

I looked for it everywhere...in the drawer near the TV, in the cushions, underneath the couch.  Did I take it with me to the bathroom?  Did the cats find a way to drag it off?

I've searched for it everywhere, and still haven't found that control.

Glasses?  Got 'em.  Car keys?  Right where I left them.  Wallet, check.  TV remote, check...

No control.

I've been looking for a long time now, too--ever since I can remember.  Back in school I looked for it when kids would get mean and say terrible things; I looked for the control to make them stop, to make them take it all back.  At home I tried to find the control so I could make my dad stop getting so angry.  I looked in the mirror to see if the control was there to make me feel less awkward, less afraid.  I tried to find the control so that I would be more athletic, thinner.  I needed the control so that my hair would be less frizzy and would look more like the cool kids' hair.   I searched for the control that would make me like sports more and cooking less.  And I searched everywhere for the control so that I would be attracted to girls instead of boys.

I never found it.

I have found one thing, though, in my search for that control.  I've found that life is so much better when I stop looking for it.

And now I wonder, sometimes, if maybe the world wouldn't be a better place if we'd all stop looking, and just start loving.

I once was lost but now am found.

So glad if you enjoy reading...please feel free to share.  Subscribe and check out previous posts at www.realacorns.blogspot.com.  

(c) 2014, Stephen Fiechter

Hot Stuff!

As I write this, many on the West Coast of the U.S. are experiencing extreme heat.  And it's not a so-called "dry heat" either...it's accompanied by a monsoon flow, don't ya know.  

Think hot and sticky.

I'm reminded, though, that it could be worse.  Even as we are baking in the heat and in the midst of a serious drought, it could be much worse.  For many in this world there is no shelter available.  For many in this world there is no choice but to be subjected to the horrors of diseases like Ebola and malaria.  Many have no clean water to drink, no food to eat, no clothes to wear, no roof over their heads.  And many of these are right here in our own back yard.

Which, in this heat, makes me wonder why anyone would worry about a place called hell while failing to see that it could all be avoided if we could just figure out how to share.  You see, every nickel in the bank of a wealthy person in the developed world (and that's most of us, frankly) is a nickel that could be used to alleviate the suffering of others.  Every vote to maintain the status quo, no matter how comfortable it may be for us, is a vote to starve the life out of someone in need.  That's the bottom line in a world of limited resources.  If some have, others do not.

Change is in order...the change in our pockets, and a change in perspective too.  It may not be popular with those of us who have grown quite comfortable in our air-conditioned homes with pretty green lawns, but who ever said doing the right thing was about being comfortable?  

Now I know that many who read this are generous folks, and to you I say "thank you."  And many who will see this don't have a lot of spare change rattling around.  To you I say, "God bless you."  As for the rest of us, maybe it's time to consider a little redistribution of our thinking, and of our love.

Be generous.  It's good for you, too.

So glad if you enjoy reading...please feel free to share.  Subscribe and check out previous posts at www.realacorns.blogspot.com.  

And be sure to drink plenty of water!  It's hot out there!

(c) 2014, Stephen Fiechter

 

What are You Building?

How could anyone be naive when it comes to human behavior?  People are capable of doing some pretty rotten things, and we all know it.  Just read the papers, check the internet, watch TV.  For that matter, think about your own life.  You've been the victim of insensitivity more than a few times, right? 

You've been on the giving end of insensitivity, too.  C'mon now, you can admit it.  Haven't you?  Haven't we all?

Today I was reminded of something I learned a long time ago--that putting a positive spin on people's intentions (that is, assuming they mean us well) is a good practice for more than just one good reason.  First, it sets me free from negative thinking.  My day gets so much better when I assume the best rather than expect the worst.  Second, it sets others free, too.  Haven't you noticed that people generally tend to live up to your expectations?  So why, then, would you want to set the bar so low?

Does that mean you won't ever be disappointed?  No.  Does it mean that others always want what's best for you?  No.  But isn't it better to experience a momentary disappointment in an otherwise good day, than to live in constant dread of what someone else might do so that you're never disappointed again?

All of which makes me wonder.  When I walk around bracing myself against things that may or may not ever even happen, when I set a low bar for the behavior of others and assume their insensitivies are aimed directly at me, am I not walling myself off from a better life, as well as depriving others of the opportunity to improve?

So the next time someone cuts me off in traffic or throws some trash on my lawn...the next time someone disregards my feelings or says something nasty to me, even if I know better, I'll assume they meant me no harm and I will wish them well.  Maybe if I assume the good, it will one day become reality.

Likewise I'll hope that the next time I'm careless in word or deed, that those who are the victims of my insensitivity will give me the same benefit of the doubt.  

It's the least I can do.  How about you?

"Put the best construction on everything..."

Wishing you all constructive week!  If you enjoy reading these, please feel free to share them with others!  You'll find this post, as well as past blog posts at www.realacorns.blogspot.com.

(c) 2014, Stephen Fiechter

Just Listen to those Hypocrites!

More and more we live in fear that the places we once thought were safe--our churches, our schools, our movie theaters, our homes--are not safe anymore.  So not too long ago I re-tweeted a video of a string of celebrities calling on the public to take some kind of action and make a positive change in society in order to curtail the escalating gun violence that has invaded every corner of our lives.  Now, whether or not you agree with the assertion that it's too easy to purchase and carry around weapons that can wipe out a classroom of kindergarteners faster than you can say "See Dick and Jane run!", you can't blame folks who have a platform (for whatever reason) for using it to express their opinions.

But apparently you can.  Someone commented on how the celebrities in that video were all hypocrites, which I presume means that we don't need to bother listening to anything they have to say.  Now that got me thinking: if I don't have to take seriously the opinions of anyone I judge to be hypocritical, that narrows the field!  I don't have to listen to anyone in my family, because over the years I've seen them do things that contradict what they say they believe.  I don't have to listen to any of my co-workers or bosses at work, because they don't always follow through on their stated goals.  Politicians?  Forget it!  And I sure don't have to listen to anyone at church, because heaven knows there's a lot more preachin' than there is practicin' going on there!

Then again, if I only ever listen to people who never do things that contradict what they say, I'd never listen to anyone--not even myself.  As it turns out, saying one thing and doing another is a universal practice.  You might even say it comes with being human.

So maybe what we're really doing, when we turn down those voices we judge to be hypocritical, is creating an excuse not to listen.  And maybe it would be better to simply own up to our own fear of facing the challenges of this world together, which at times seem insurmountable, rather than refusing to become a part of the solution and blaming others for our own choices.

See, just because someone is a hypocrite doesn't mean they don't have anything important to say.

"....remove the log from your own eye..."

Persevering

They were everywhere we looked--growing on the side of the road, along driveways, in front yards: blackberries, plump and juicy and ripe for the picking.  If only our trip (and the Washington summer) could last a little longer!  But despite all best efforts, as suddenly as those berries seemed to pop up out of nowhere they would soon be gone--gobbled up by greedy tourists and hungry birds and maybe even a local or two.

Not to worry, though!  Some sugar and some heat and there would be jam on toast for the winter months: a sweet reminder--summer preserved.

I'm pretty sure he didn't even realize his error, the reader on Sunday morning relaying an ancient message first written for a people long gone: persevere.  But rather than using that word, a reminder to stick with hope despite the shifting ground beneath our feet, instead we heard "preserve."

Now that may sound pretty sweet to those who wish summer could just go on forever, those who go kicking and screaming into the inevitable future, doing everything possible to preserve the past.  The thing is, preserves may be delicious, but they're not fresh berries, and even preserves don't last forever.  As swiftly as the summer flies, so too the winter.

Which leaves me thinking the ancient preacher had it right after all--rather than trying to hold on to the past that will slip through our fingers no matter how tightly we grasp--perhaps it would be best for us to simply let go, and stick with hope instead.

"...persevere in prayer."

Thanks for reading!  Have a sweet Labor Day weekend--and feel free to share these messages with family and friends.  Read past posts or subscribe to new ones at www.realacorns.blogspot.com.

(c) Stephen Fiechter, 2014.  All rights reserved.

          

Ups and Downs....

It's been said that life has its ups and downs, though most of us really don't need to say it. 

So it was for the mountain climber in Yosemite who recently climbed to the top of Cathedral Peak with his girlfriend where he proposed to her that they spend the rest of their lives together.  She accepted.  In a quick phone call home he reported it as "the best day of my life."

He fell to his death that same afternoon.

What can we make of a story like this?  How is it possible to reach a mountain top--to be able to say "this is the best day of my life," and then in an instant, crash to the bottom?  What kind of a world affords this horrible juxtaposition?

Well, THIS kind of world...that's what kind.  Our lives are filled with highs and lows and in-betweens.  Each of us has stories to tell of mountain-top highs and ocean-bottom lows.  Some don't live to tell their stories.  But something tells me that whether on the mountain top, in the valley below, or somewhere in-between, we're not alone...

Which may just make it all---every high, every low, every in-between---worthwhile.

Whether high or low or in-between, you are not alone!  

"If I make my bed in Hades, you are there."

Thanks for reading!  If you enjoy reading these, please feel free to share them with others...encourage them to subscribe at www.realacorns.blogspot.com.  Thanks!

Gimme a Break!

It's been said that in a single day in 2014 we receive as much new information to process as a person in the Middle Ages would have received in her entire lifetime.  Can you even wrap your brain around that?  Is it any wonder that we so often feel so worn out?  We live in a world of information overload; our brains are being asked to process an enormous amount of data.

No wonder I can't find my car keys!

We all need a break from the barrage of information.  Regular sleep is a good place to begin.  It's also a good idea to disconnect once in a while:  I promise the world will not stop spinning if you don't know the latest headlines, haven't read your email, and don't know what's on sale at Target.

But your brain will thank you for the break--something even the ancients understood when they received with joy that weekly gift that continues to be honored across the traditions.  Many still call it the sabbath.  

It seems that someone knows us better than we know ourselves, and is telling us to unplug and rest.

Remember the Sabbath, and keep it.  (Wholly!)  

Goin' My Way?

Lately I've been a bit more attentive to the notion that life is a journey...and by that I don't mean a trip with a planned destination, but more of an adventure in which each new day offers up surprises, challenges, joys, sorrows, and everything in-between.

I've also noticed how intent I often am in trying to convince myself that other people are on the same journey as I am, and so spend inordinate amounts of time comparing myself to them.  Somehow being in the same place at the same time leads me to believe that we're all heading in the same direction.

Ah, but it's not so.  A more honest way of understanding our lives might be found in the realization that we are not all heading in the same direction, and while we may find ourselves walking alongside others--even for long periods of time--each of our lives is a unique and wonderful adventure.  Comparing ourselves may just serve to diminish us all.

How grateful I am for those who accompany me in this life, even if only for a short time!  And how wonderful to know that this is my adventure, and you have one too--and though our stories may be unique, we are no less or no more for being different.

Wishing you peace for your journey!  Thanks for reading, thanks for sharing--Steve Fiechter

"We're all just walking each other home."  Ram Dass

 

It Really IS Science!

I tend to think that the important things in life are fairly simple--which is why one of my favorite sayings is, "It's not rocket science!"

As it turns out, though, even the simple things--those things that we think are simply obvious--may be a bit more complex than we ever realized, and are increasingly becoming scientifically verifiable.

Take, for example, the idea that paying someone a compliment will increase their sense of well-being, value and self-esteem, and putting someone down or criticizing them will reduce their overall productivity and could even send them for a loop.  Simple, right?  Well, modern brain science now shows us that certain chemicals are released in the brain when someone receives a compliment.  Those chemicals stimulate the part of the brain that controls complex thought and productivity.  On the flip side, if someone is criticized, it can release a chemical in the brain that shuts down productivity and sends the person into "self-protect" mode.

And guess what!  The chemical that's released when we hear a compliment is only effective for a short time--maybe an hour or so--while the one that is released when we hear criticism can last for days!

So my dad was right: "One 'aw-%$#@' really does cancel ten 'attaboys'."  The science backs it up!  And now the question for us is simply this:  If we know we can increase well-being and productivity by being positive rather than putting others down and being critical, will we choose to share a positive word?

That choice seems rather simple to me.

"A kind word turns away wrath."

So glad if you enjoy reading these, and hope you'll feel free to share them with others.  Visit the blog, www.realacorns.blogspot.com for previous posts.  Thanks for reading!  -Steve

Just say "No"

Seems to me we live in a culture of "yes."  Everywhere I turn, people tell me exactly what they think I want to hear, mostly so that I'll do exactly what they want--buy, buy, buy.

But I'm not buying it.  In fact, what I'm doing is remembering words from long ago: that's it's better to say "no" and then do what's right than it is to say "yes" and do nothing.   It's better to be honest about our indifference or resistance but then act with compassion than it is to pretend we care and let the world go on suffering.

Because, in the end, if I only SAY what is right and don't do it, my words are empty and meaningless.  But if I DO what is right, right will be done--no matter what I say.

"Let your 'yes' be yes and your 'no' be no."

Keep Your Eye on the Birdie...

The other morning the cats were a little more animated than usual.  When I went to investigate I discovered that they had found a new plaything: a baby sparrow.

I had mixed feelings.

Being the sentimental type, I felt badly for the baby bird.  On the other hand, the kitties were having a ball.  What to do?  I decided on a compromise, and scooped up the little sparrow and took it outside.  I figured it would have one more chance to get away--and my kitchen might stay free of the fur and feathers.

Turns out it was too late.  By the time I left for work, well, I won't trouble you with the gory details....

But it all left me thinking.  If God's eye was really on the sparrow, as the old song goes, what kind of day was I about to have?  Is that the kind of protection I could expect?  

And what about the cats?  Was it simply their day?  Was God's eye, God's favor on them that day, rather than on the sparrow?  

The problem with reducing the fullness of our experience to cliches is that the cliches never really do more than reduce the fullness of our experience.  Trying to capture the mystery and magnitude of creation in a catch phrase is like trying to pour the Pacific into a pail.  It may be wet and salty, but it's no ocean.

So the next time I find myself trying to sum up the complexities of life in a sentence or two, I think take a step back and live in the mystery for a while before trying to explain it away.  

Consider the lilies...they neither toil nor do they sow.

Hey, if you enjoy reading these, that's awesome...feel free to share them around.  And if you missed one, or want to read them again, you can always find them on the blog at www.realacorns.com.

Happy Independence Day to all!  -Steve

Tick Tock...

You know, I'm getting tired of hearing myself say it:  

"Wow, that went fast!", and;

"It's July already?", and; 

"Seems like 2014 just started, and here it is half over!"

Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever get used to the swift passage of time.  But one thing I do know: my statements noting how quickly time flies are all tinged with a bit of fear.  You know it too: the fear that it will all soon be over...and then what?

Yet lately I find myself growing more comfortable with the idea that it's somehow meant to be this way, and that if the passage of time seemed to slow as we age (rather than speed up), it all might become a bit of a bore.  Besides which, even if it is only an illusion, the ever advancing speed of time's passage is a regular reminder to be grateful for each day, each hour, each minute--to see each moment as a gift to be enjoyed rather than endured, each new day an opportunity to experience the fullness of life.  Life is not a race to the end.  Life is a journey.

So as hard to believe as it may be, to all I wish a very happy Independence Day!  Remember that none of us gets through this life on our own.  Spend a little of your precious time in gratitude--every day is a gift. 

Speaking of which, I'd better get shopping.  It'll be Christmas before you know it!

Time, like an ever rolling stream, 
	bears all who breathe away; 
	they fly forgotten, as a dream 
	dies at the opening day.

The "F" Word

It's that dirty little F-word that compels us to do things we wouldn't dream of doing were we in our right minds...that dirty little F-word that makes us turn on people we love and scream at strangers, run from our responsibilities, hide in closets, hoard our possessions, lock our doors to keep out strangers, and generally behave badly.  It's that dirty little F-word that makes our stomachs churn and keeps us up at night.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt said we've nothing but this dirty little F-word to fear, and he was right, of course.

These days Science is telling us a lot about this dirty little F-word; that it's been a part of our survival tool box for a long, long time, that without it we would likely die out as a species, that the part of our brains that reacts to perceived threats--the so-called "reptilian" brain continues to be an important part of our personal survival...and who would argue.  "Duck and cover" or "run like hell" seem to me to be appropriate fear responses in our 2nd Amendment obsessed, fear-driven society.  

But we're also learning that, in many ways, this dirty little F-bomb of a word can truly be the death of us.

So the next time you find yourself pacing the floor..maybe you can stop for just a moment, and ask yourself what it is that you fear.  Is it something over which you have no control?  Then perhaps your energy would be better spent on something more constructive than wearing a hole in the carpet.  

And the the next time you're rolling around in the sheets with the fear of that which may never even happen keeping you wide awake...maybe take a moment in the wee small hours of the morning to consider that love--as trite as it may sound--may truly be the answer.

And maybe the next time it seems that life is crashing down around your ears your eyes will be opened to a new reality, and you will see that it was a house of cards all along, and that the only constant in this world God made is the foundational love God has for it...for US...for YOU.

It's all a big risk, of course.  And what you're giving up may be your life.  But who knows?  In giving up your life...you may just find it.

And what's to fear in that?

For you see, in the inevitable end, God has already won--love will never die....and you have nothing at all to fear--not even fear itself.  

Glory, Glory, Glorious...

One of my favorite bike rides takes me up Nichols Canyon Road in Hollywood.  If I get on the road early enough it's mostly mine to enjoy as I wind my way up the canyon, in tune with the bird songs and breezes.

Glorious mornings.

Yet I've often noticed, in that early morning light, that if I try to look too far ahead my glorious morning soon feels more like a dreaded chore.  You see, in some spots along the road I can only see a short distance ahead.  Without knowing what's around the next bend it can feel as if I'm just going to have to keep on pedaling forever!  From other places on that road I can see far ahead to the top of the canyon.  Seeing the high altitude to which I aspire from my lowly vantage can leave me feeling like I'm facing an impossible task.  It's easy to forget that I won't be getting there in a straight line; the road will bend, carrying me upward at a steady, manageable pace.

But isn't that like life?  How often do we feel as if we're on a treadmill because we don't have the vision to see around the bend to what's coming next?  How often do we look so far ahead and lose hope because we forget that life is not a goal to attain, but a journey to be enjoyed--with all it's twists and turns--a glorious adventure?

The next time I feel a bit short or long of vision, I'm going to try to remember Nichols Canyon.  The view from the top may be spectacular--but it pales in comparison to the wonderful adventure of getting there.  

Thanks for reading!  If you've enjoyed this, please feel free to share it.  You can read this and other posts at www.realacorns.blogspot.com, where you can subscribe and get new posts in your email inbox.

Wishing you joy for your journey!

What Do You Expect?

It had been a minor selling point, but one that had finally moved me into the "buy" column.  The neighborhood looked great, the condo was in good shape and had a really nice layout and design.  The complex even had a pool.  But the thing that finally helped sell me was the little lemon tree on the back patio.  Lemonade!

I looked forward to being closer to my new work and getting to know a new part of town.  I quickly discovered that from an upstairs window of my new condo I could watch the Disneyland fireworks every night, and it would soon be only a short walk to the new Starbucks under construction on the corner.  And the lemonade....I looked forward to the lemonade!

After a few years, though, it all proved to be a bit of a disappointment.  Oh, the fireworks were always good--but after a while running up the stairs to watch got kind of old.  The Starbucks was typically hot and fresh...but you know, sometimes it's nice to enjoy your morning coffee at home.  The pool that was right across the street turned out to be for the apartments there--our pool was a ten minute walk across a busy highway, and so I never really got in the habit.  And the lemons?  Well, even though I kept that tree nicely trimmed and it produced plenty of fruit each year, those lemons never seemed to be any good--after a while they would turn yellow, but they tasted funny and seemed to go bad before they were any good.

So after several years, when life called in a new direction and the "For Sale" sign went up, I wasn't very sad to go.  It had been a good place to live, but it never quite lived up to my expectations.  

It's a funny thing, though.  As I was packing up to go, that little lemon tree was just loaded with fruit--fruit that I'd learned would never make the lemonade I'd once looked forward to.  When I explained my disappointment to my partner, Ben-Andy, who was busy helping me pack, he took a closer look.

"Limes" he said.  

So there you have it.  For five years I'd hoped for fresh lemons and dreamed of lemonade.  For five years I'd been disappointed because a lime tree hadn't produced the lemons I'd expected, and watched as one beautiful crop of limes after another just rotted on the branches.  For five years I'd insisted on lemonade and never once heard that tree saying "Margaritas!"  

We all go through life with expectations, hopes and dreams.  But I wonder, sometimes, how often we miss the party that's within our grasp because our expectations have blinded us to life's glorious reality.  If life is handing us limes, instead of letting them just rot on the tree, maybe we should wake up and smell the coffee!

"Love," after all "does not insist on its own way." 

I Remember

The sign has been replaced, the bank and curb repaired--but you can still see the damage on the tree at the place where she'd driven off the road and lost her life.  

I stopped at the spot today to remember.  It had been so quiet that morning as I went out for my run, the sound I heard so different from the "crash" you hear in the movies.  But I knew something was amiss and ran toward the spot.  I was the first on the scene, and completely ill-equipped to do anything other than signal to others to call for help.  We'd all learn soon enough that it was too late anyway.

Who was she?  What was her life like?  Did she have a family?  What were her hopes and dreams?  Where was she headed that day?  Who grieved for her?  

On this Memorial Weekend we pause to remember those who gave themselves in service, most of whom we've never met.  With hopes and dreams they went off to fight someone else's battles. And whether, like me, you despise the act of war or not, you cannot help but admire their bravery and give thanks for their sacrifice.  They had names and dreams.  They had families and friends who grieved for them, and maybe still do.  They had hopes that were ended so that we can still hope today.  

For these we are thankful.  For these we all grieve.

These we remember. 

Seeing the Light

Are we living, or just clicking and tweeting?

Not long ago we spent a day at an area amusement park.  It was crowded and the lines were long, and I found myself mumbling things that I once thought I'd only ever hear my father say.  

It's OK.  There is a season for everything.

I noticed something, though.  While there were plenty of people who seemed to be having a great time, there were also many who simply appeared to be there to make a record of it all.  There was the grandmother who, though seated next to her grandchild, was more intent on making a video of her experience on the spin-around ride than actually experiencing it herself.  She held on tight to that iPad while her grandchild held on tight for dear life.  And there was the teenager who held a bright cell phone high above his head in the dark, scary ride, thus ruining the effect for the rest of those who had boarded the ride hoping to suspend reality, not watch as someone else took a picture of it.

Now don't get me wrong.  A Kodak moment is a Kodak moment, and even though Kodak has gone the way of the dinosaurs, the legacy of creating a record of our experiences, a lasting memory, lives on.  But my question, in this age of amazing technological advances, is this:  Have we crossed the line?  Are so many of us running around looking at the world through our smart-phones and tablets that we're missing something?  Are we living in a virtual world, forgetting there's an actual world out there beckoning us to experience it?  

What's our plan for today--to watch videos of what we didn't actually do yesterday?  

Technology is a wonder.  But when we get to the end of this life, let's not wonder why we didn't spend more time in the garden and less time sniffing at the pictures of roses on our computer screens.

If you enjoy reading, please feel free to share.  And at some point be sure to shut it down and go out and smell those actual (real, living, blooming) roses!

Everywhere

I don't remember where it came from or exactly how it looked, but I do remember what the little plaque on the wall of my grandmother's front porch said:

"God couldn't be everywhere, and so invented mothers."

Happy Mother's Day to all!  I hope this Mother's Day has been a terrific day of celebration and remembering, of thanksgiving and hope.

Now back to that little plaque for a minute--because I have to admit that I never really liked it much.  In fact, it bothered me--a LOT.  Maybe because it seemed so trite.  Maybe it bothered me because I knew that there were plenty of folks who didn't have mothers to care for them...or anyone to care for them, for that matter.  Maybe it was a little of all of that...but mostly it bothered me because I didn't believe it was true.

That's not to say that I didn't think my mom was wonderful.  I still think she's wonderful.  In fact, it's precisely because my mom is such a blessing that I didn't believe that plaque....because if I learned anything from my mom--from her patience and love and care--it was that God indeed COULD be everywhere...God IS everywhere.

And sometimes God is present through the caring hearts of those we call "mother."  And always, God is present through the actions of those who love and care for others.

Maybe even through you.

Share the good news....offer a listening ear, a helping hand, a caring heart!  

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And have an amazing week!

Are You There?

Do you ever feel as if you're missing something?  That there's something going on and no one bothered to tell you?  Have you ever felt as if you've been left out of the loop, uninvited, left behind?  Have you ever wondered why it seems like you're the only one who didn't get the memo?

You're not alone.  Belonging--the desire to be a part of something bigger than ourselves--is a normal part of the human condition.  That's why there are times when we feel as if we are insiders, and other times when we feel left out.

It's a good thing, too.  Our desire to be included helps to keep us connected in ways we might never seek if our sense of independence and self-reliance were given free reign.  If we're going to survive on this planet--which seems to me a noble goal--a recognition and deliberate practice of our interdependence is going to be increasingly important.  On the flip side, an overwhelming desire to be included can be a source of trouble in our lives and even lead to all kinds of destructive behavior.  After all, your mother was right to ask, "If they jumped off a bridge would you jump too?

Our desire to belong can also blind us to the presence of others who, themselves, long for inclusion.  These are the lost and lonely, the sick and the sick at heart, the homeless, the abused, the neglected, the ones we've been promised would be with us always...in many ways, the presence of God.

So the next time you're feeling left behind, remember--you're really not alone.  Somewhere, waiting for you and not very far away, there's someone who knows exactly how you feel.  I think you'll know what to do.

"When did we see you, Lord?"

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Beans

I have to admit, I don't know beans about beans...or at least very little about cooking them.  But the other day I decided that the ham bone that was in the fridge, an Easter leftover, would make a really good foundation for a pot of beans.  

So I dove in (figuratively, that is) and wound up with pot of fairly tasty bean soup.  Not bad, if I do say so myself--even if my orginal intent was just beans, not soup.

Neuroscientists tells us that we human beings are only aware of a very small fraction of what our brains are actually doing.  And that's more than just keeping our hearts pumping and our lungs breathing without our consciously thinking about it, too.  Our brains are processing data at lightning speeds that put computers to shame--gathering in all kinds of information of which we're never even aware, and then setting up our conscious minds to make what we then believe are autonomous decisions.  It's like having an army of dutiful soldiers and secretaries in our heads, taking care of business while we go merrily on our way thinking we've got everything under our control.  Yeah, right.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that there are many things in this life about which I know beans.  I don't even know what's going on in my own brain most of the time.  But even so, if I start out with a good foundation and stir in a little variety, the results--while maybe not always exactly what I plan--are usually pretty nourishing and sometimes even delicious.

But then, maybe that was the plan all along.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled."

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Expecting to Dye

Last weekend as I read the Sunday paper I took note (with perhaps a little too much glee) that Target had eggs on sale for 99 cents a dozen.  99 cents!  I couldn't resist the bargain, and when I commented to the woman checking me out how cheap they were, her response surprised me:

"It's for Easter!"

Guess I should have expected it.  What major retailer wouldn't want to take advantage of all that dyeing?  

The truth is, there's a lot of dying going on.  So much so, that most of us hardly even take notice.  That is until it hits close to home--someone we love--maybe even us.

It's springtime again--that crazy wonderful season when religious people of all stripes and spots make some fairly outrageous claims--of release from bondage--of light overcoming darkness--of blooming flowers and empty tombs and fear transformed into joy.  It's the time of year when we celebrate the hoped-for and the unexpected: when all that dying suddenly changes color...and there is life.

Joy and peace to all!

Steve

Thanks for reading!  You can read previous posts to this blog at www.realacorns.blogspot.com

Piece of Cake!

I have to admit that when it comes to cake, I don't know "no."  Red velvet, chocolate mousse, or anything with the word "cheese" in it, and I'm done for.  It doesn't matter if I'm trying to watch what I eat--to cut back on the fat or the sugar, the carbs or the calories--all of that is swiftly swept from my plate as soon as I hear someone say "there's cake!"

The problem becomes obvious when you consider that cutting back, which would amount to a balanced and healthy diet, is important to me too.  The choice to eat that cake, or at least consider the consequences, is usually one that's made too swiftly and at a cost typically unconsidered.  If there's a battle raging between the voice that says "mmmmm, cake!" and the voice that says "no," well, it's generally a blood-bath.  "Mmmmm" wins every time, usually without even trying.

Now you may ask, "so what?" or "where's the harm?"  Welcome to my warfare!  You just joined the "mmmmm" army and you're about to help win another battle.

A long time ago, in his own process of reflection, someone by the name of Paul opined in a similar, if not more general fashion:  "I do what I don't want to do."

All these years later, most of us are still fighting that same battle.  But I've a hunch that victory for the underdog is in the works, and in these waning days of fasting and reflection, I'm doing what I can to listen to the quieter voices of reason.  I'm doing what I can to take the time to reflect for a moment longer than usual before leaping for that fork.

Because as much as I may want that cake, I also know that Easter's coming, and the impossible is just waiting to happen.

"With God, all things are possible."

Wishing you all a very happy and blessed season!  Follow this blog at www.realacorns.blogspot.com.  Follow me on twitter: @stevefiechter.  And if you find these reflections to be useful, be sure to share them with your friends and family!

Peace to all....Steve

So Hungry!

Every Wednesday my partner and I observe a fast.  We abstain from eating and we drink only watered-down juice.

Our fast serves several purposes:  it is like a reset button on our diet, it reduces our total caloric intake, and it gives our insides an opportunity to rest from the onslaught of our modern on-the-go diet.  By reducing our food consumption we reduce our impact on the planet.  Fasting also reminds us that there are many who regularly go without enough to eat--and not by choice.

Call it what you will, but we find it to be a healthy and meaningful practice.

The thing is, when I don't eat for a whole day, I get really HUNGRY!  And sometimes, in that hunger, I gain new insights into other ways that people experience hunger.  In fact, for many, it's not about food at all--but about love.  It seems to me that our world is simply starving for it.

And what's the cost?  When Jesus told his disciples to feed the crowd of people who had come to hear him preach they were understandably hesitant (not to mention a bit stingy...).  But love isn't a food that is depleted by sharing it.  When we give love we don't have less--we have more.  And it is entirely possible that those with whom we "share the love" are starving for it.

I wonder how many gunmen would have set down their weapons had they been adequately fed--were they not starving for love.  I wonder how many fits of rage could have been avoided had those who raged only experienced love.  An eye for an eye?  I wonder...don't you?

It's really not very hard.  There is love in a smile, in a polite gesture, in a kind word.  There is love in a compliment rather than a complaint, in a simple "thank you" and an understanding glance.  There is love in a gentle touch that casts out fear.

And in the end there might just be enough to go around after all.

"We do not live by bread alone..."

Spent

Recently I spent some time angry with someone.  Oh, if you were to ask me the particulars of it now, I'm not even sure I could tell you.  But at the time it all seemed righteous and justified.  Doesn't it always?

My anger involved a lot of stewing and steaming.  It usually does.  But in the end I can't say it amounted to much more than wasted time: time in which I didn't notice the sunset, or catch the gentle spring breeze, or smell the roses, or spend a single, memorable moment with someone I love.

Justified or not, righteous or not, I let that anger go on and it wound up stealing a piece of my life away--a part of me that is gone forever.  

Oh, I'm pretty sure that one day my anger will come back.  It usually does.  Something will happen, or someone will say something and I'll be back in a stew.

But I'm hoping that next time I don't forget the roses.

"Don't let the sun set on your anger."

Thinking About Fred...

By now you've heard that the notorious Fred Phelps, deposed leader of Westboro Baptist Church, has died.  No death is good news, and I'm grateful that (for the most part) people are being kind and hopeful.  It is comforting to me that his vitriol seems to have died--or at least died down--with him.

But has it really?

Now that the source of so much venom has passed on, many have reflected that his words have died with him.  But I'm not so sure.  Do words ever really die?  And isn't saying that Fred Phelps' words have died with him simply a denial of the power in our own words?  After all, we all know the truth: words have power, and words can kill.  Our words can kill.

You see, God only knows who pulled the trigger or tied the noose or took the pills because they saw a sign, and that sign said to them "God hates me."  God only knows...

Let the lesson, then, never die.  And let us all be careful what we say...

"Set a watch before my mouth..."

Numero Uno

It's difficult, isn't it?  We get mixed messages, and so it's hard to know....

On the one hand, we are consumers.  And so at least according to what I've always heard, "the customer is always right."  That means I'm entitled to good service, to a friendly "hello" and respectful treatment.  Just like everyone else with money to spend, I deserve to be treated with dignity.  If not, well then, I'll spend my money elsewhere!

On the other hand, I wonder.  If it's only those with money to spend who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, that leaves out a growing number of people.  And I wonder what transformation might take place if those with no money were actually treated with dignity and respect, regardless of whether or not I think they deserve it.

On the one hand, it's all about the power of the consumer...and more power to us!  On the other hand, shouldn't it have something to do with what Jesus and the prophets called "loving our neighbor?"

I guess, in the end, it has to do with who we are listening to, and where our own hearts happen to be.

"For where your heart is, there your treasure will be too."

Have a terrific weekend!  If you like what you're reading, consider sharing it with others!  Connect them to Acorns via www.realacorns.blogspot.com.

Looks Good to Me!

What does God look like?  What (or whom?) do you think of when you think of God?

Have you ever noticed that when you think about God, most of the time you're thinking of yourself?  The character of God that comes to our minds is most often a reflection of ourselves.  So God thinks like we do and acts as we would and loves those we love and hates those we hate and, when push comes to shove, wouldn't you just know it...God is on OUR SIDE!

It is a challenge when we define God as some kind of unseen force or energy or entity or person who is the ultimate in benevolence, because it leaves us vulnerable.  With a God so clearly undefined, we're liable to impose on God whatever character or personality works for us, and God's limitless benevolence then becomes a mere reflection of our own limited self-love.  

So, what is the truth about God?  

The truth, or course, is that no one really knows--though I've a hunch there are those who've known, or at least come close to knowing.  To us they've left a legacy of assurance that no matter how certainly we believe that we have God all figured out, in that we are most certainly wrong.  They've also shown us that it is beyond our scope of duty to define God.  And if that leaves us all feeling a little uncomfortable, well, I suspect that's the point.  It keeps us on our toes.  It keeps us striving.  It forces us to step out from behind the protective walls of religion and into the light of reality.  

After all, there is one thing we do know of God...and that is that God isn't here to be figured out so much as to be experienced.

"No one has seen God."

Everlasting

It's not as if I did anything terribly strenuous.  In fact, this time I think I was just sitting there minding my own business when, suddenly, I felt it: that old familiar stabbing pain.  And just as suddenly I knew I was in for a long and painful two weeks.  That's just the way it goes--when it goes.

It's the little things.  Pick up that pencil?  Reach for the faucet?  Put on my socks?  Not without bracing myself for another spasm and that excruciating pain.

It's OK, though.  It gets better.  The Advil helps--and rest (easier said than done!). After a while, most folks get used to the wincing, the cloud of wintergreen, the constant excuses.  "Wish I could."  And usually, after a while, the muscles relax again, and eventually things go back to normal...at least they always have before. 

I wondered, though, this time.  What if they don't?  What if things don't go back to normal?  What if "normal" now means "in constant pain?"  It was almost a panic that washed over me--and then I was filled with sadness.  What kind of a life would that be?  Would I want to live it?

Chronic.  It means "lasting for a long period of time."  How many people live with things we call "chronic"?  How many live with constant invisible pain?  Emotional stress?  Mental illness?  How many live with a "normal" that is chronic and unbearable?

These days I find myself so grateful.  Not because "there but for the grace of God go I."  But because I've been given a new gift: to see that I don't always see--that I can't possibly know what burdens others may be bearing.  And all I can do is live out the call to see beyond my assumptions about them, to be a little less judgmental and a lot more helpful.

I hope it lasts...

"Bear one another's burdens."

  

Perfect Together!

That's what the ad in my in-box said: "Perfect Together."

It had little hearts all over it and was clearly geared toward the discerning Valentine's Day shopper.

But it stopped me dead in my tracks...because I suddenly realized that they were dead serious.  They really meant it: perfect together.

Thing is, it can't be true--can it?  Human relationships are never "perfect," at least not in the sense that everything is always wonderful and people never stop swooning and the floor never stops spinning and the stars never stop twinkling and our hearts never stop racing.  The reality of human relationships, as you well-know, is something else entirely.

What is true is that people are wonderful, and people are horrible--sometimes people smell like a bouquet of Valentine's Day roses, and sometimes they just stink.  And a "perfect" relationship isn't one that denies this reality, but embraces it...and keeps loving anyway.  You remember: "What credit is it to you if you love those who love you?"  Real love embraces the UNlovable...which is ALL of us--at least at one time or another.

Come to think of it, the ad may not have been that far off--because as long as the batteries are charged and my internet connection is in tact, my iPad and I really are "Perfect Together."  

It's just not much of a relationship, that's all.

With love to all for a Happy Valentine's Day!

Birthing Room

Strange things happen under the couch in our living room.  I really can't explain it, but it's like another world under there: a world I know little about...

Oh sure, every once in a blue moon some light is shed on that mysterious land.  Things get moved around for a little cleaning, maybe, or the beam of a flashlight sweeps across that barren, dusty plain as it searches for something dropped or misplaced.  But something tells me that when the light hits it the magic pauses...until my eyes turn away...and then it all begins again.

I have no proof, of course, only evidence: a beauty of a tabby, once a tiny orange kitten whose announcement--just a faint cry in the hustle and bustle--rose from that underworld to let us know he'd arrived.

And while I may never fully know what's going on in that land of mystery, as I go on fooling myself into believing only in that which I can see for myself, I sometimes wonder.  

Maybe there's more.  Maybe there's more.

"Now I see through a glass, darkly."

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Bless You!

With cold and flu season upon us, chances are you're hearing the words with some frequency:

"Bless you!"

Some say that the practice of offering a blessing when someone sneezes is rooted in an ancient belief that a sneeze was the body's way of expelling evil spirits that were trying to work their way inside.  The blessing was offered as a prayer that those demons would be gone for good.  In a way they had it right, though these days we're more likely to call them "germs" rather than "demons."

Same difference.

It's all said rather casually, though, and that's what gets me wondering.  If we were to stop and think about what we were saying--if we were a bit more deliberate in not just spouting off but actually delivering on our hope and promise--the world might a better place.

So the next time I find myself saying it, I'm going to stop and think about it too.  How can I put my own words into action, and be a source of healing?  I've a hunch, in doing so, some of my own demons might just be gone too.

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."

The Whole Enchilada

Ever since the king of burgers told us that we could have it our way (OK, maybe even before that!) we've gotten a bit spoiled, don't you think?  It's really hard for us to accept those package deals...we want control over all the details.

"I like the color of THOSE and the style of THESE and the shape of THIS ONE..."

"I like THAT model, THIS year, THAT feature..."

"I'll take that one over there, but with THESE, and not THOSE...."

Options, options, options.  If we can't have it OUR way, well, we'll just head over to the Golden Arches, right?

We run into a bit of a problem, though, when we're dealing with people, don't we?  We may prefer certain features over others, and get a little frustrated (or worse!) when we have to take the package deal.  So I might enjoy my friend's good humor, for example, but when she needs to let off steam because her marriage is in a shambles, I'm no longer entertained.  You might like to be entertained by Uncle Harry's story-telling, but when he has one-too-many at the party (which happens more often than not...) you soon lose patience.  We're good with good listeners, until they want us to listen to them.

Can't we have the parts we like and leave the rest behind?

The answer is "yes....and no."

Yes, we can just enjoy the pieces of others we like and leave the rest behind.  But the consequence, for us and for them, is a fast-food diet of shallow relationships.  If we're willing to go deeper, though, and to accept people completely for who they are, we'll discover a deep, rich, complex blend of flavors and textures that is mutually nourishing and, in the end, far more satisfying....

It's the whole enchilada, which is probably what we've been craving all along--and maybe what we all really need.

"Love one another as I have loved you..."

True Colors

There's a purple church in Hollywood--you may have seen it--just off the 101 at Hollywood Boulevard.

Yes, it's purple.

Now, from what I gather it wasn't always purple.  Something about the sun shining on the tile and the weatherproofing that was used that turned this house of worship a light purple.

It's subtle.  It's also unmistakable.  

The original designers and builders didn't intend for that church to turn purple, you know.  And I can imagine that the congregation of that purple church, at one point, found themselves in a state of dismay over the color change.  But do you know what they've done?

They've embraced it.  Check it out: www.hollywoodsda.org.  Their website pops up in varying shades of purple.  Their online blog is called "The Purple Journal."  

All of which makes me wonder how those of us who call ourselves a "people of faith" deal with change--the unexpected surprises that seem to develop out of nowhere sometimes.  What do we do when life turns us purple?

Do we then turn black with rage?  Green with envy?  Red with shame?  Blue with sadness?

It seems to me that we have a choice.  And how we choose to embrace an ever-changing world reveals what you might just call our "true colors."

Don't put your trust in the things of this world "...where moth and rust destroy" 

(and occasionally things turn purple)