Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day, and a low-key time for me, now that my daughter is a mother and I am a grandmother!

Agenda Today:

1. Journal query

2. Mother Meditation

3. Read "Everyday Simplicity"

4. Transform my world brainstorm

1. Journal query: 

What do I really want for Mother’s Day?

 

Plan three things to do for myself today to honor my role as a mother, and to bring myself peace and joy:

1. Meditate on, and honor my mother
2. Visit Meeting with my daughter and grandsons
3. Talk to my son.

2. Mother Meditation:

I have some time today to pause and think about my Mom and all she has been, and is to me now. I'd like to bring the two images of her - the sharp-minded young mother and the vaguer old woman - together in my head.

Let an image of my mother - when she was young - come to mind. Just hold the image of her, and observe her - her 
eyes, expression, posture. Imagine her with a smile on her face, ready to be with me. Give her a hug and tell her I love her. 

PAUSE…

Keep one hand on that image of mom, and let an image of my mother now - in her old age - come to mind. Just hold the image of her, and observe her - her eyes, expression, posture. Imagine her with a smile on her face, ready to be with me. Give her a hug and tell her I love her.

 

PAUSE... Now gather the two Moms together into a hug and just feel the love.

3. Read "Everyday Simplicity":

I bought myself this little book, by Robert J. Wicks (2000), as a birthday treat. The subtitle is: A Practical Guide to Spiritual Growth.

Chapter 16 concludes the topic of prayer, with Gently Develop a Little Rule; that is what he calls a set of prayer practices: "...a framework so life doesn't slip by without our sensing both the gestures of God and the preciousness of a life lived with sensitivity, gratitude, awe, and compassion." 

The practices he has discussed - silent reflection, conversations with God, sacred reading, and sharing my faith with others - is a starting place, but I must find the Little Rule that works for me; that I want to engage in because it brings me the greatest joy and peace.

Practice for this section: My Little Rule is this - Take time each morning to be silent, center with my breath, and open a connection to Love, Truth, and Creativity. Ask, "What is Love calling me to today? How does Truth ask me to Act? What will I bring into existence?"

4. Transform my world brainstorm:

My "Get Your Ducks in a Row" book begins with a deep-dive into our reasons for living, creating a map for our path forward, and a plan for how to give full effort to our priorities. Then we center our living in love by giving open-hearted attention to our daily interactions with the people in our life, to our personality style, and to generosity, equanimity, and other virtues and social skills.

After all that, the only thing remaining to do is to go out and transform our world. That's the gift we have - to see what needs to change and do the work to change it. No matter our limitations, we CAN make the world better, one smile, kind word, or conversation at a time.

When I say "transform your world" I am suggesting a shift towards a better life: It could be mostly an inner renovation, or lifestyle alteration; it could be an adjustment in your relationships; it could be a new project or area of growth; or it could be a move into activism or service. 

Today I will think about where I'm being nudged. I will-

• Write the heading "Transform my world".
• Meditate a bit on what area of my life I most want to transform this summer -  inner world, relationship world, community, or universe. Write about what I want my life to stand for - how I wish my world could change, and what would make it better for everyone. Write about big and little problems in my life and in the world that I would like to see solved. Ask yourself, If I could change anything in the world, what would it be? 
• Collect information: Go into my goals lists and review all the ideas there, and collect those that are on my growing edge - those ideas and goals that might help me to transform my world.
• And brainstorm some new goals, dreams, and exciting ideas that could lead me to change my world for the better. Just write whatever I think of, without judgement; put down everything I really want to do, and everything I only dream of doing, and include at least a few crazy, improbable ideas.
• Weigh the possibilities. Take a break for a few minutes. Get a fresh cup of tea or go outside to look at the sky, then come back and read what I wrote. Write a list of the choices and options i have for transformation now and in the future.