Lessons Learned on a Slow Start Saturday Morning

On this Sweet Slow Start Saturday morning, before TV, Spotify or YouTube, I sit with open windows and a cup of dark roast coffee as I intentionally embrace the quietude.

I notice the stillness of this brand new baby day.

I notice the sound of the wind as it blows through the leaves on the trees.

I notice the distant rumble of traffic on the freeway that is two miles away.

I notice the honking of a Canada Goose as it and lands on the pond.

I notice the cooing of morning doves.

I notice the friendly barking of a dog in the nearby neighborhood.

I notice the shrill cries, warbling, chirping, tweeting, and wooing of birds announcing their presence in the trees and looking for mates.

I notice a profound sense of gratitude rising in me as I take time to notice.

I notice the sounds of life awakening and I am awakening to my part in this great chorus called Life.

Thank You Source!

I am ready for my divine appointments.

I love Life and Life loves me💕

Ric

(c) Copyright June 5, 2021 by Richard L. Beattie, all rights reserved.

Thanks In All Things - November 26 - Thanksgiving Day

This practice is about identifying 10 things each day for which I am grateful without repeating as I Give Thanks In All Things:

1. The hardy souls who showed up on our Thanksgiving Morning Zoom.
2. Watching Ashley navigate her way to cooking the first turkey on her own.
3. Paper towel cardboard tubes in the charcoal starter chimney hack I learned this summer.
4. My siblings on our first family Zoom call which was organized by Alicia for Thanksgiving.
5. Smoking the turkey on my Weber Kettle grill.
   
6. Resolving the issue Ashley and I had to text each other since I upgraded to a new phone this week.
7. Finally figuring out how to remove L2 - one of the living room lamps from the Home app.
8. An overall beautiful albeit different Thanksgiving Day.
9. Not needing to rush to get to someone else's house on time.
10. A wonderful Thanksgiving Meal!
11. Leftovers in the fridge!
    

Thanks In All Things - November 25

This practice is about identifying 10 things each day for which I am grateful without repeating as I Give Thanks In All Things:

1. The joy of delivering a gift card to one of our members. And the thank you note that they left for me.
2. Delivering 2 Thanksgiving boxes.
3. Receiving a loaf of homemade banana nut bread.
4. A great discussion after  ACIM was finished.
5. Conversation with Dave the piano tuner after getting both instruments tuned.
6. Connecting with Joe the electrical engineer and his commitment to meet with me next week.
7. Managing to purchase poultry seasoning at a small store that seemed to call me to stop there.
8. Android auto connected to Ford Mysync 3.
9. Having the sense to take it slow in heavy rain while driving through a construction zone.
10. Two pair of flannel sleep pants for 13.99 at BJ's.
11. Managing to get the last few things we needed for dinner tomorrow with a minimal amount of stress.

Thanks In All Things - November 24, 2020

This practice is about identifying 10 things each day for which I am grateful without repeating as I Give ThanksIn All Things:

1. A peaceful and restful night.
2. Following my intuition and discovering Gio Benitez is married to Tommy DiDario - the world continues to evolve.
3. The peace that rises up from deep in my spirit when I am open to see things differently.
4. Waking up in a warm house when the temperature outside is 22°
5. A sweet Happy Birthday audio message from Martha Creek and her grand-niece Hadlyn.
6. Roosevelt is doing a great job on the painting of the Sanctuary.
7. Marco's Pizza's meat lovers pizza in a bowl.
8. Nick and Kim hauling the Christmas decorations out of the basement.
9. Getting 3 more strings of light to lite up.
10. A late recording studio session with Kim & Michael Adams

Thanks In All Things - November 23, 2020

 

This practice is about identifying 10 things each day for which I am grateful without repeating as I Give Thanks In All Things:

1. The tree that fell during the storm on Nov 15 at URO didn't hit the neighbors garage.
2. The Monday morning edition of Wake Up with Ric & Joe Zoom.
3. Finding Nick at church cleaning up the leaves in the flowerbeds. Grateful me.
4. Ashley shared with me that Owen has croup, not something worse.
5. My dog, Porkchop, snoring in his bed under my desk.
6. Ashley hooking the surround sound back up over the weekend.
7. The news that the Michigan Board of Canvassers has certified our election results.
8. High-Speed Internet!
9. Lunchtime meeting with Daniel our treasurer.
10. A quiet evening watching the 3 DVD minmi series Dune, the director's cut.

Thanks In All Things - November 22, 2020

This practice is about identifying 10 things each day for which I am grateful without repeating as I Give Thanks In All Things:

1. My parents coming together to conceive me which led to my birth 65 years ago today.
2. A week off to think, pray and play.
3. An early text from my friend max wishing me a happy birthday.
4. The presence of mind to re-record the talk that was streamed today midweek because the original version was not very strong.
5. A family & community Zoom call after service today.
6. Owen running to me this morning to give me a hug and then running back and forth between his mother and me wanting hugs.
7. The first real snow of the season.
8. My dear friend Angela.
9. Understanding that I have many options.
10. The power to choose and to choose again as needed.

Day 34 - I Give Thanks For ...

My current gratitude practice is to share at least 10 things for which I am grateful for each day without repetition.

Today, I give thanks for:

1. This incredible poem, The Mood of Christmas by Howard Thurman
2. Ashley helping me get a load of old computer carcasses ready to take to SOCRA.
3. Finally being able to dispose of approximately 3 years of used insulin syringes (sealed in the proper waste containers.)
4. The fact that Rochester Hills now participates in SOCRA.
5. The two attendants at SOCRA totally emptied out the car full of stuff for recycling.
6. The sheer number of people at the Recycling Center.
7. A very helpful deli clerk at Kroger who helped me determine how many feet of submarine sandwich we need for Sunday.
8. My very portable Chromebook convertible tablet which makes note-taking easy.
9. Meeting with LD Phillip's family in Lake Orion to plan his funeral for Saturday morning.
10. A sense of accomplishment at getting a lot done today. Each load of stuff I haul out makes the entire house seem lighter.

Christmas continues ...

Ric

Day 33 - I Give Thanks For ...

My current gratitude practice is to share at least 10 things for which I am grateful for each day without repetition.

Eli carving the Rib Roast.

Today, I give thanks for:

1. A wonderful family Christmas dinner today with most of us gathered together at Darrins and Steph’s house.
2. Diane the neighbor who took a double-take as I got out of my car asking, "Ric is that you?" I said yes she hasn't seen me since I've released so much I needed energy to the universe 
3.  An absolutely stress-free day. Which was so delightful. There was a point in time where the holidays became such a hassle because we couldn't all be together or different ones couldn't be together and I never liked it.
4.  Finding Eli at home when I got up for my brothers which was a wonderful surprise because he thought he would have to work later.
5. Plenty of keto-friendly snacks such as sausage stuffed mushroom caps and Ham Roll-Ups with cream cheese.
6.  I made a 15 lb prime rib which was our main course it was absolutely delicious and perfectly roasted.
7. Jayda’s cheery disposition and willingness to do whatever is needed.
8.  Stephanie made a really good crustless cheesecake. Yummy.
9. Easy conversation between us about those dear family members who are no longer with us, yet are very much part of our gathering,.
10. Leftover's to bring home.

Christmas in my heart!

Ric

Day 32 (Christmas Day) I Give Thanks For ...

My current gratitude practice is to share at least 10 things for which I am grateful for each day without repetition.

Christmas Day Sunset

Today, I give thanks for:

1. The energy and noise of an almost 14-month-old little boy in the house on Christmas Morning. It's no different for him than every other morning. But for me, it was an incredible gift.
2. The silence in the house this morning after Ashley and Owen left to go do some Christmas stuff with other people. The transition from his youthful excited noise and absolute quiet has been a wonderful reminder for me of the very powerful gift of Silence. I could hear the quiet more clearly than I have in a long time. 
3. I received a call late this morning from my sister letting me know that she and her husband and several other people who had attended a Pizza Making Party at her house Christmas Eve were all sick with food poisoning. I'm grateful for a plan to celebrate our family Christmas on Thursday the 26th at my brother's house in Lapeer.
4. At first, I fussed with the sudden shift in plans. Over the next few hours, I realized that I was being gifted the vast majority the day it to reflect, rest, continue my own healing, listen to music, watch a documentary and some YouTube videos. In other words, Christmas Day this year was celebrate Ric day. An experience of expanding consciousness.
5. An idea that showed up in my mind or perhaps was recalled from something I've read about Christmas not being any specific day or the end of a season.  Christmas is the beginning of a season and expanding Love and Light.
6. Wearing a blue plaid flannel shirt and red plaid flannel sleep pants and not caring if the colors didn't match. 
7.  Not going farther than my own door well except to unwrap Murphy from the oak tree in the backyard. At which point of got to meet some of my new neighbors to the north family and the kids wanted to pet Murphy which she was absolutely in favor of by the way. 
8. Having lived in this neighborhood for 25 years gives me a perspective on having witnessed a couple of transitions in the neighborhood. We have a lot of younger people with families here no as earlier residents moved on and sole their homes. There was a time that gatherings of my family were some of the biggest on the street. This Christmas Day there are several large (by the number of vehicles) In our neighborhood and there are some of us that are just one or two people home. I just notice it like another chapter in a book. 
9. Sending and receiving many Merry Christmas texts filled with joy and loving thoughts.
10. The warm day, 50+ and sunny, reminded me of my first Christmas in California When I realized that it's not about the snow.  Don't get me wrong, I like the change of seasons here however if it's cold and snowy great and if it's warm and sunny great.
11. Working in my home office which has west-facing windows in the afternoon and looking up to watch the sunset which was absolutely spectacular. What an amazing day in every day.

Merry Christmas to me!

Ric

Day 31 (Christmas Eve) I Give Thanks For ...

My current gratitude practice is to share at least 10 things for which I am grateful for each day without repetition.

Today, I give thanks for:

1. Waking up at 5 am barely able to breathe and immediately working with the power of Lifeforce and denials and affirmations.
2. Having a physician who I can contact early on a Christmas Eve morning with a big 911. I woke up sick! Bronchitis, which I've been dealing with for two weeks had taken a serious turn for the worst during the night. He called in prescriptions for prednisone and augmentin.
3. Coming to terms with the distinct possibility that I may not be able to conduct our Christmas Eve Candlelight Services.
4. The complete faith that our Team would do an outstanding job without me if needed.
5. A glimmer of hope filling me a couple of hours after the initial dose of the medications, plus nasal spray and Cold-ease because I felt like I could breathe and the coughing and running nose subsided.
6. Puffs plus tissues.
7. As the symptoms continued to subside during the morning and early afternoon, I knew that I would nake it to conduct the services.
8. Realizing this was my fifth Christmas at Unity of Royal Oak.
9. Making it to rehearsal.
10. The incredible performance of our Music Team.
11. The beautiful New Thought friendly Christmas song our Creative Director, Kim Lange wrote for the service and performed with her sister Stacey
12. The 70+ luminaries that The Britt bunch prepared and placed lining our walkways and surrounding the property.
13. Kim and everyone else, helping me to get through the service. (I was not at my best)
14. Mr. Kabobs giving the church a discount oh the meal we had ordered.
15. Mary Wackrow's poem, "Pick Your Part."
16. April & Gracie sharing "The Gift of a Letter."
17. CJ sharing "A Fillmore Christmas" written by Charles Fillmore in 1919
18. Rev. Carolyn's beautiful sharing of Christmas Is An Inner Journey
19. Seeing a whole bunch of people I haven't seen in a while.
20. The Light shining through my own foggy morning and through each element of the two services. The concepts of Light and God With Us emerging so clear and strong.
21. Nick helping me to get myself packed up and into the care to go home. He could tell I was rapidly running out of steam.
22. Driving home with a big awareness of my mom riding home with me.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Ric

Day 30 - I Give Thanks For ...

My current gratitude practice is to share at least 10 things for which I am grateful for each day without repetition.

Today, I give thanks for:

1. A Big Merry Christmas from the older lady at the dry cleaners who is passionate about sharing her faith.
2. Having the same dry cleaner for 25 years.
3. Discovering that MOD Pizza has a  delicious cauliflower crust that is Keto friendly. Yummy!
4. Premier Pet Supply has the friendliest and most helpful staff.
5. Finishing my Monday errands very early.
6. My Chromebook laptop.
7. Curiosity Stream - one of a couple of streaming services I use with Chromecast.
8. Receiving an email letting me know that Google Fi is rewarding my loyalty with a free Google Nest mini.
9. Lydia  Bastianich's PBS show, Lidia's Italy.
10. Getting to bed early - tomorrow is a long day.

Almost Christmas!

Ric

Day 29 - I Give Thanks For ...

My current gratitude practice is to share at least 10 things for which I am grateful for each day without repetition.

Sunrise on the First Day of Winter 2019

Today, I give thanks for:

URO Music Makers & Mark Watson

1. Dawn after the longest night of 2019.
2. Knowing the days will slowly begin to get longer.
3. The Unity of Royal Oak Music Makers were absolutely Fabulous this morning.
4. Receiving many cards, an art heart & a candle, cookies for Own (my grandnephew, and a Costco cash card from dear friends.
5. Our "Ugly Holiday" sweater day was a huge success. I think more than half wore a sweater. What a perfect fit with the 4th Sunday in Advent theme of Joy.
6. The Hanukkah sweater in the congregation today. 
7. As I write this sentence, the sun is setting in the west and I welcome the first night of Hanukkah.
8. Listening to the music rehearsal for Christmas Eve.
9. The opportunity for clarity about Christmas Eve Services.
10. The gorgeous "New Thought" Christmas song that our Creative Director, Kim Lange, wrote for Christmas Eve.
11. Since I became the Spiritual Leader at Unity of Royal Oak, we have been able to pay the bills when we receive them.
12. 52° on the first day of winter was awesome.
13. Karen giving me homemade cookies for Owen.

Happy Holy Days!

Ric

Day 28 - I Give Thanks For ...

My current gratitude practice is to share at least 10 things for which I am grateful for each day without repetition.

Owen's Christmas Stocking

Today, I give thanks for:

1. Owen's Christmas stocking hanging on the mantle.
2. Renewed life in the lower level of my house.
3. I picked up my new tux for Christmas Eve. It had needed alterations.
4. My friend and URO member Craig Nelson picked up the donated gas range from friends Mary & Bob Hanser and delivered it to Melanie and installed it for her.
5. Melanie making french fries for her kids for the first time in a long time.
6. Lunch with my good friend Tony.
7. A young & new server who tried too hard.
8. Free air at the gas station at BJ's Warehouse Club.
9. The low tire pressure indicator is off finally Yeah!
10. Saving .20 per gallon on my fillup at BJ's gas.
11. 46° and Sunny on the day of the Winter Solstice

Only Love,

Ric

Day 27 - I Give Thanks For ...

My current gratitude practice is to share at least 10 things for which I am grateful for each day without repetition.

My Escape is Full of Love

Today, I give thanks for:

1. For several years, I've had the joy of playing Santa to three families who are provided food including a turkey or a ham, diapers if needed and gift cards for children's gifts and clothing through the generosity of the Ford Engineering Employees Christmas Fund (ECF).
2. A dear friend, Saundra Lamb, a now-retired Ford Engineer who connected me to this program several years ago.
3. The amazing Ford Employees who raise the money through bake sales, paying a fee to wear jeans sometimes and contributions. Then they shop and prepare the boxes for delivery.
4. It was cool to pull my new Ford Escape into the garage to be loaded up.
5. There is always meat and cheese for sandwiches, my choice was  Roast beef and 3 different kinds of cheese w/o bread.
6. Ford Sync 3, which led me to the delivery address in a different yet more direct way than I would have taken.
7. A ring-necked Pheasant running down a neighborhood street in Detroit.
8. A friend of one of the recipients who helped carry the boxes into the home.
9. Meeting the two-year-old twins of one of the recipients.
10. Learning that this lady had a promising interview during the week for a job with the Water Department in Detroit during my delivery visit and a phone call this evening telling me she had been offered a job beginning in January. Merry Christmas!
11. A long conversation with Kathy, the sister of a woman who is making her transition.
12. Discovering that Kathy had attended Grief & Loss with Rev. Sandy Hess.
13. A gift and a nudge from my mentor.

In the Spirit of this Holy Season,

Ric

Day 26 - I Give Thanks For ...

My current gratitude practice is to share at least 10 things for which I am grateful for each day without repetition.

Today, I give thanks for:

1. Getting up in time to be on time to meet David & Novlett at the surgery center.
2. Several times that staff at Beaumont Medical Center West Bloomfield demonstrated by asking if they could help when I was looking around for signage for the surgery center and pointed the way It was a consistent action by 4 people I met which demonstrated that there was a culture of helping.
3. Having prayer with Novlett and David before her surgery.
4. The relaxed and easy way of the surgical team.
5. Having an hour and a half talk with David. It's the second time in a week and I am enjoying the growing friendship.
6. News from the surgeon that everything went well.
7. Any easy stress-free drive south on I75 to Detroit for dinner with a friend. The freeway has been under construction all year from  M59 to 12 Mile Rd. Resulting in the Northbound lanes shifted to the Southbound side making for very narrow lanes.
8. My dear friend Cindy Jacque's suggestion of Joe Meur Seafood for the venue for this dinner.
9. The opportunity to spend time and share an incredible meal with dear friend Angela. It has been about 5 years (when I left Renaissance Unity) since we've seen each other in person.
10. Our server, Brian, was perfectly attentive without hovering.
11. Sharing a plate of ten of the largest shrimp I have ever seen with a wonderful cocktail sauce for an appetizer. 
12. One of the best flavored, perfectly cooked Delmonico steaks I have ever enjoyed.
13. Sharing a slice of cheesecake (which I haven't had in many months) was the perfect ending to an awesome evening.
14. The picture-perfect picture backdrop of Christmas trees and the server who snapped our photograph.

Day 25 - I Give Thanks For ...

My current gratitude practice is to share at least 10 things for which I am grateful for each day without repetition.

Today, I give thanks for:

1. A working furnace on this frigid day where the high is forecast to be 18°.
2. The soothing effects of hot homemade soup.
3. Being able to work at home and nurse my bronchitis.
4. Conversation with Rev. Greg Coles about a subregional Board training that URO is hosting in April of 2020.
5. Fast internet service.
6. My recliner.
7. Not having to leave the house for anything today.
8. A large cup of hot tea.
9. Adding a fresh bag to the one in the cup and more hot water - something my mom died all afternoon and it makes me think of her.
10. The way the warm cup feels in my hand
11. Sweat pants and a sweatshirt as a work-at-home uniform.
12. Hanging up the wreath and turning it on.

Light & Love,

Ric

Day 24 - I Give Thanks For ...

My current gratitude practice is to share at least 10 things for which I am grateful for each day without repetition.

Today, I give thanks for:

1. The first "Song Around The World" I heard was Stand By Me compiled by Playing For Change. It still makes me smile and tears me up after ten years of listening.
2. A wonderful breakfast meeting with my friend David this morning.
3. Excitement about our evolving Civic Engagement/Beyond Polarization/?? experiences.
4. Adding a new member to URO today.
5. Our server was a delightful woman!
6. Fluffy and cheesy eggs at Care Muse.
7. Remembering that the structures have 2 hours free during the day, so I walked a block and got free parking.
8. Enrolling in an affordable vision plan through UWM.
9. Remembering to print return address labels for CJ.
10. Managing an almost legible note in several cards.
11. An amazing clerk named Kim at a local men's clothing store who helped me get my wardrobe together for Christmas Eve. 

Peace and Plenty on this planet. Peace and Plenty here and now!

Love,

Ric

Day 23 - I Give Thanks For ...

My current gratitude practice is to share at least 10 things for which I am grateful for each day without repetition.

Today, I give thanks for:

1. Discovering this meme about everyday magic being the result of seeing everything through the eyes of love. The spiritual practice I invited our community to consider this week was looking at every person and situation this week through the eyes of love.
2. My podiatrist, Dr. John, who has taken care of my feet for many years.
3. Lake Orion, Michigan which is where I grew up and went to school. I am referring to both the Village of Lake Orion and the larger Orion Township of which the village is a part.
4. Taking a drive out Central Dr. in Lake Orion, an area called Swiss Village where we lived as I came into teenage years and puberty.
5. Memories of sleeping out in the woods with my best friend at the time.
6. Memories of skinny dipping at night out of boats especially the night of July 20, 1969. About five of us were swimming and we had thrown our jeans in the boat. Someone turned the boat over trying to climb in and I dive for the clothes. Fortunately, I got them. We got into the house just in time to watch Neil Armstrong take the first steps on the moon.
7. Memories of my first sexual experiences which involved sleepovers and sleeping out.
8. Remembering the people who lived in most of the houses back in 1970.
9. The lake (Lake Orion) after which the township and village are named. We seemed to usually find houses to rent on the lake. 
10. Finding a 15-pound Rib Roast for Christmas dinner at Costco.
11.  A pot of "Boiled Dinner" (which is what my Grandma Ledger called it) cooking on the stove. It's soup made from the end of a ham preferably with the bone, cabbage, carrots, onion, celery, and potatoes. I substitute rutabaga for the potato. Then it cooks quite a while.
12. An afternoon in Lake Orion which stirred up the memories and the stories of my childhood, my mom and her parents, my Aunt Donna & Uncle Joe and so many others.

Always with Love,

Ric

Day 22 - I Give Thanks For ...

My current gratitude practice is to share at least 10 things for which I am grateful for each day without repetition.

Today, I give thanks for:

1. Week 3 of Advent for 2019, with the theme of Love!
2. The song Love Is Still The Reason by Jason Mraz set the tone for my talk. 
3. Jeb's heartfelt musical performance today.
4. Visit from my friend Rev, Linda Dominick.
5. Meeting Linda's son from LA and her friends from Ann Arbor.
6. The beauty of our Christmas decorations at URO.
7. The view out the Sanctuary window between the two Christmas trees of the big snowflakes falling gently during our service.
8. Delicious Turkey sausage soup today during fellowship after service.
9. An awesome Board of Trustees meeting after service today.
10. Warm flannel sleep pants.
11. The "Spiritual Practice" homework for this week is to look at everything this week through the eyes of Love!

I see you!

Ric

Day 21 - I Give Thanks For ...

My current gratitude practice is to share at least 10 things for which I am grateful for each day without repetition.

PRISM Men's Chorus

Today, I give thanks for:

1. I woke up this morning.
2. Dancing with Owen in the kitchen to "Baby Shark."
3. Owen's happy reaction to the big stuffed Lion pillow I bought him.
4. Getting an important thank-you note written and mailed.
5. Reservations for dinner on Thursday with a dear friend who is a huge supporter. It will be good to catch up with each other. 
6. Watching Unsolved Mysteries, which is a program that my mother loved and I never watch. In fact, I don't think I've seen it since she made her transition. But I was going through the TV looking for something to watch for a second and there it's on and Mama is in my mind and here with me.
7. A short nap 😴
8. Finding my favorite pair worn pair of Levi 501 jeans from way back and they fit again.
9. A wonderful dinner with Kim and Simon at Brio Tuscan Grille.
10. Connecting with friends (from back in the day at Renaissance Unity) Joel and Sam with their friends & family.  
11. Attending The PRISM Holiday Extravaganza at the Macomb Center which was a wonderful event.
12. Talking to Coleen and Yvonne who were sitting next to me. The wait for the show to begin and during intermission was full of conversation.
13. 150 Men in "ugly" holiday sweaters. The PRISM Men's Chorus changed for the second act.
14. The PRISM Dancers were fantastic.

Peace, friendship & fun!

Ric