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 7 - 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. Making the decision to stay home last night.
2. The meme to the left about taking care to select awesome people to surround me.
3. Realizing that there is greatness within me because I am a vessel for God.
4. A Saturday with nothing on my calendar.
5. The new Maytag Washer & Fryer I bought a few months ago. Much more efficient.
6. This quiet putzy day.
7. The brand new Aldi that just opened in Rochester Hills.
8. I made Dearborn Brand Kielbasa & sauerkraut for dinner. I like this brand.
9. Listening to Wyndham Hill Celtic Christmas Vol 2. A favorite for many years.
10. My wonderfully working eyes!

Peace & Plenty on this planet, Peace & Plenty here & now.

Ric

The Fourth Day of Christmas

Four Calling Birds

Today, I am grateful for these among other things:

1. The confidence Tom and Greg place in me to serve the spiritual needs for a growing number of their clients.
2. Meeting & working with Cheryl's family, such sweetness.
3. Automatic Traffic Signals
4. My neighbor giving me his old PC so I can make a Linux jukebox out if it.
5. remembering to communicate next Wednesday's funeral plans to the staff a week in advance, WOOT!
6. The opportunity to remember Gus' Roadhouse and family memories there as I researched for Cheryl's service.
7. Growing up in Lake Orion
8. B.A. comments about how much The Work has helped him after a couple of conversations and a single Worksheet. 
9. A beautiful crescent moon in the sky, visible from my office tonight.
10. Being invited to Craig's birthday party.
11. Acting on the thought to check in on M.S.

Odd, Quiet Thursday

Today, gratitude for:

1. To have gone shopping with my brother a day earlier than usual
2. Blah days are good for reflection
3. Swollen lymph glands, sneezing and a runny nose - nature letting me know that I need to slow down and care for me
4. Candlelight Wedding Chapel calling me for a quick, small wedding
5. The gift of officiating Craig & Karen's wedding and the two of them sharing tears and open hearts with me
6. Craig's adding a gift "for the alms plate at church" on top of an honorarium for the wedding
7. Noticing that it is not too late for love, taught by a 60 year old man getting married for the first time
8. Still loving me after an unplanned pizza
9. Noticing that I have friends from many and diverse political backgrounds: tea party to OWL devotee, Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians and everything in between and loving them all.
10. An evening at home, alone, when I really needed it.

Mid Week Miracles

The ruins of the pool of Bethesda

Grateful for:

1. Wonderfully spirit centered Healing Service tonight.
2. Being able to drop of groceries to a dear woman and her two children on my way home from service
3. Honoring and serving our staff today with a Christmas Luncheon
4. An ability to touch people through prayer
5. A Visa gift card
6. An unexpected financial gift from a dear friend.
7. The color Royal Blue
8. Sharing the sermon with Jim.
9. The story of the healing of the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda
10. The staff of Lil Mamas catering

A bunch of Oneness

It is January 11, 2011 or 1/11/11 for some reason I have been noticing the clock at 11:11 frequently for the last few days, and then again today. I take both the date and my noticing the time as pointing to our oneness. We are all connected for these is only Life which expresses itself in so many wonderful ways including you and me.


I am one with the One!


Peace,


Ric

A Quiet Hush to Welcome the New Year

The last few months have been very busy for me. Early on December 30th, my Mom had a critical health scare and was hospitalized teh same day I was leading our church in a first ever Youth Ministry led service involving more than a hundred children. It felt like I was running hurdles, each event completed merely revealed the next hurdle to jump, so when we had finished the New Year's Eve Burning Bowl service at church I knew it was time "To Be Still and Know..."

I have always enjoyed a big snow storm. There is a magical quality for me in watching snow fall one fragile, unique flake at a time while everything seems to move slower and slower until there is so much snow the machine of civilization takes a break. Snowed in at home and all is calm.

Take a moment to allow yourself to be...