OPEN MY EYES

By Lori Carmody

Last summer I got the fun idea to feed our daughter’s cheer team a meal after a game near our home since they would have a four-hour drive back to college. 

Last summer it was 75 degrees and sunny.

On Saturday, when my husband and I served dinner to the team, it was 54 degrees and it not only rained; it downpoured.  There were four quarters to the football game and at the end of each quarter I prayed, “P-L-E-A-S-E, God, have the time clock run down!” 

As we schlopped the food from our car to the tables underneath the canopy, we walked through a parking lot that, on this day, might have qualified for an Olympics swimming venue!  

We managed to get everything set up and ready for the team just as they were about to arrive.  I looked over at my sopping wet husband (who goes along with so many of my “fun ideas”).  All he said was, “kinda rainy today.”   I burst out laughing.

The puddle on the northwest corner of the canopy that was “keeping us dry” grew so large that, while we were having dinner, comments were made about our lovely “lake front” tailgate location J!

This unexpected and unwanted experience reminded me of a couple things.  Next time life throws me a curve ball, I need to name my new truth ~ “kinda rainy today” ~ and begin to “live and help live” (one of my favorite Bill Moyer quotes).  Most likely I am not the only one who is facing the new reality.    I can make life miserable for myself and everyone else by how I react to the situation or I can consciously embrace what is present before me and live in such a way that I help others to deal right along with me.

The parking lot may have been flooded with no end in sight to the rain.  We couldn’t do anything about that.  We could choose our attitude and laughing warmed us from the inside out.  Seeing our day with a “lake front location”  didn’t change the weather or the ground beneath our feet but it very well may have made all the difference in the world.

Thanks for reading my blog.  I appreciate it. 

J Lori

HOLDING SPACE FOR HOPE

By Lori Carmody

It is 3 days until an election that has ignited our Nation.  More of us have been having political conversations than ever before in recent history.  I find that a refreshing and positive take away from what otherwise has been an awful political season.

As I reflect on what has transpired, I would like to suggest a few tasks for us to consider along with voting:

1. We, as a nation, brought forth two deeply flawed individuals for the highest elected office in our country.  That says something about all of us.  It is my hope that we can begin to deeply ponder where we need to grow individually so that the collective whole may rise to higher standards in the future. 

Reflection :  What does “one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” mean to me personally?  How do I listen to God’s invitation to remember that I am loved and created for this moment, this time and this country in which I live.

2. No matter what political party we identify with (or whether we choose to not identify with one) we are likely to have mixed feelings and some regrets on Wednesday morning, November 9^th.  I remember being so very sad after the election where Washington State voted to accept the measure called “Death with Dignity."  I was listening to the radio that morning when it was suggested to plant some spring bulbs, remembering that, with God, there is always hope.  I went out that day and bought some daffodil bulbs.  As I was down on my knees planting each bulb I whispered, “With God, all things are possible.”  (Matt 19:26). 

May I suggest that we buy some spring bulbs and get them in the ground this week?  I have purchased some crocus bulbs.  No matter who wins our presidential and state elections, God has this!  Take hope!!  The flowers will bloom in the spring and they will remind us what the words of Jeremiah 29 proclaim, “I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.  Plans for a future and a hope.” 

Reflection:  What does it mean for me to be a person of hope?  Is there a “bulb” -  be it an actual flower bulb or a song, verse, photograph, action - that reminds me of hope?  How can I let it inform me today?

3. I have intentionally made it a point to talk with people on both sides of the aisle.  I was seeking to understand politically why choices were being made as well as I wanted to listen to people’s heads and hearts about what was impacting them personally as the election season was getting more and more heated.  I believe there is going to be deep grief in some of us or our neighbors after the results come in.  We need to “hold space” for our neighbors as they sort through their thoughts and feelings.  I was sent a fantastic article a while back.  It gives lovely advice on how to listen well.  I encourage you to read it.  http://upliftconnect.com/hold-space/

Being a spiritual director for over 20 years, I know that grief has its own time line.  I hope that we can be present to one another for however long it takes to grieve this electoral season.  Individually we need to heal and we, as God’s people, must hold one another tenderly moving forward.   

Reflection:  “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other”  ~ Mother Teresa  What am I feeling as I reflect on this quote today?

If we are dismayed with the electoral process, devastated by the results, noticing that people we know are upset, bummed out about one of the proposition that didn’t go our way, or simply exhausted by the past couple months of commercials, I will end with the prayer by Henri Nouwen (that I also have now in the Bold Faith portion of the blog).  “If life knocks you on your knees, and it will, why not stay there?” 

Thanks for joining me on the blog today.

Lori

PS  I want to thank Johanna and her daughter (who I don’t even know but who graciously sent the Holding Space article to her mom for me).  Because of both of you, all my readers are blessed!  On this same note, thank you to all of you who have forwarded my blog onto others encouraging them to sign up.  I so appreciate you!  Blessings.