On Awakening

“Kiss a lover
Dance a measure,
Find your name
And buried treasure…”
Neil Gaiman, The Graveyard Book

Awakening…… to ideas, opportunities, love, light…… awakening…… in hope and gratitude.

We’ve all experienced situations where we stumbled around, trying desperately to find our way…… then, seemingly out of nowhere, the light shone brightly……. the answer magically appeared….. in the field of psychology we call this insight…. A sudden understanding of what is happening, our part in the matter, and where we need to go, moving forward. Yet, this concept has always left me a bit cold……. I’m not convinced that knowledge is ever magical, or sudden. I believe it is accumulated, over time and experience.

The part that feels accelerated, in my belief, is awakening. Awakening is a gradual process, but the final stages feel immediate….. oftentimes, so immediate, it feels like  a splash of cold water, thrown in one’s face. Even so, rarely is there an occasion where circumstances spontaneously pop; usually, there’s been a progressive shift….. however glacial the pace.

In order to seize the new, we must release the old……. this bit of conventional wisdom is easy to swallow, in the abstract. It becomes more difficult when we’re called to action, charged with the prospect of stepping outside one’s comfort zone. There is a grieving process that takes place, and it is as natural as the air we breathe.

So, we grieve…… for a day, a month, a year…… and sometimes,  we realize that some losses are not designed for complete release. Some losses are designed to weave into a tapestry of awakening…… and maybe we don’t have to fully release everything, after all.

What is required is the willingness to stir…… to awaken…… there is no possibility of union with the Sacred Assignment if one is unwilling to move, onward and upward. Awakening can be likened to a  beautiful quote from Simone Beauvoir: “I tore myself away, from the safe comfort of certainties, through my love for truth –  and truth rewarded me.” Commitment to awakening implies an openness to truth…. and love….. and all of the other wonders of this world.

The Sacred Assignment is filled with junctures of awakening…… taking the next step, the next mini-assignment….. wide awake….. or remaining in yesterday’s path, with its limited ability for elevation. Oftentimes, it takes great courage to awaken…. but the results are incomparable.

Saddlin’ Up

“One man, with courage, is a majority.” – Andrew Jackson

Before he was elected president, John F. Kennedy was a Pulitzer Prize winning author. His 1955 book, Profiles in Courage, summarized eight stories of dissidence, in the face of political pressure. Courage was part of the 1950s zeitgeist; on the heels of global victory, our country was deeply enamored with the notion of bravery. It is no wonder this timeless work won the 1957 Pulitzer Prize for Biography….. it spoke to a deep place, within people’s souls…. and immediate experience.

So much has changed, in the almost sixty years since the publication of this book…… yet courage was a precious virtue before Profiles, and has remained one, ever since. It is a timeless notion, grounded in principle and valor. Through the lens of pop culture, we can see its tremendous appeal; The Cowardly Lion wanted it, Nike implored us to “Just Do It!”……. these are just two examples of how courage has seeped into the collective consciousness.

What does all of this even mean? Is courage something we mere mortals can only strive for…… or is it an everyday ethical pursuit? As with most things, the real definition of courage lies somewhere in the middle.

Getting out of bed each day is an act of both hope and courage. There is no way to predict what might happen, as soon as one’s feet hit the floor. Ordinary people are called on to mobilize tremendous courage, every day. Rearing children…. takes courage…. so every parent in the world must dip into his/her reserve.

Teaching people…. takes courage… the courage to speak the truth, regardless of reception. All manner of teachers (classroom, parental, pastoral, artists, etc.) must  plumb their depths, for courage, to guide and support. Courage is particularly helpful when one sets out to teach one thing….. and unexpected lessons surface. Many times, unexpected lessons also contain unbidden feelings…… this is a combination that begs for courage, dressed in armor, with no possibility of being undermined.

We all understand ,on a basic level, the courage required to save someone from a burning building….. jumping in front of one’s comrade, on the battlefield….. courage personified.

What about the nurse, who tends patients, day after day…… knowing full well that some of them are reaching the end of this realm’s assignment? What about the patient, who is faced with the prospect of letting go…. with dignity? Are each of these things an  illustration of courage, often symbiotic, in their unfolding? My answer is a resounding yes.

I love the quote about courage being a still, small voice that says “I’ll try again tomorrow.” It circles back to the above assertion, that every day we pull back the covers, we are displaying remarkable courage……  and certainly, some days call for more  courage than others.

Thinking, feeling, believing, acting, dreaming, hoping, loving, giving, receiving, teaching, learning, creating….. all of these things need courage, as their foundation. Without courage, the will to engage becomes dim.

Considering the Sacred Assignment, with all its mini-assignments……. the road is paved with all sorts of stepping-stones….. but courage is engraved, on each of them. Courage is a virtue of the mind, heart, soul and spirit……. when in need, check each of these places…. it’s there, waiting for you.

A Pocket of Possibilities

A Pocket of Possibilities.

A Pocket of Possibilities

Audrey Hepburn famously said “Nothing is impossible. It says so, right in the word…. I’m possible!”

“Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.” – Gloria Steinem

Earlier this week, a very dear friend sent me an encouraging text : “Wishing you a pocket full of possibilities!”, it read. I loved that……a pocket full of possibilities…….. the imagery alone was staggering.

We each carry a world of potential….. and potential is a huge part of possibility. Seems that things get in the way, though….. fear, obligations, broken promises…..  fear…… time constraints, scheduling conflicts, fear….. preconceived notions, dashed expectations, fear…….

Why does fear keep cropping up? Perhaps it is the catalyst for all the other “reasons” possibilities never materialize?

Marianne Williamson claimed in her run-away best seller, A Return to Love, that the only two emotions that are real are love and fear. According to her, all other emotions are off-shoots of these two primal emotional experiences. A Course in Miracles,  the spiritual book which motivated Williamson to write, claims that love is our spiritual inheritance, and the opposite of love is fear……. but because love is Divine, it is all that really exists, and cannot be threatened by what isn’t real (illusory). Say that really fast, three times.

After your head stops spinning, try to think about the above in the context of possibilities. What stands in the way of potential, of possibility? Fear……. always fear. “So, did you tell Brian how you really feel?” ” No…. the words wanted out so badly, but I couldn’t seem to get my mouth to cooperate.”

” What is the prognosis? Is there a way to cure this?”   “Well……. probably….. maybe…. I don’t really know. Honestly, I’ve decided I’m not going to the doctor. I know what I’m up against, and while there’s a chance I could cure it, or at least manage it…… Meh. The only time they could see me was 12:30, on a Friday. That’s right when my favorite show comes on, right at the end of the week, prime time for a cliff-hanger. I can’t be bothered, thinking about doctor’s appointments, when I might lose track of my favorite plot line!” Don’t point out that DVR services can solve this issue. S/he doesn’t want to hear that.

“How did things go, when you went for the job interview?”  ” I felt really good before walking in there, but as I entered the conference room, I saw nine people around the table. That’s eighteen eyes. All looking….. at me. Eighteen ears….. all listening to each word, waiting for me to say something……. ” I won’t even finish that….. because each reader can finish the sentence for him/herself.

The nature of the above scenarios are not so far removed from the excuses we make, even when faced with REALLY important decisions/opportunities. Each person is responding to possibilities with fear. The fear wears a different suit, in each vignette; fear as shyness, fear as denial, fear as intimidation.   i deliberately left the last one open, for reader interpretation….. because most of us have some sort of mental device that loves to get really vocal, right as we’re attempting something that is fresh, promising and scary. We allow our inner bully free rein, with no real effort to corral him/her. We shut ourselves off to possibilities……. before we even get started.

Life is filled with a million plus one possibilities, for every living person. Possibility is at the heart of our Sacred Assignment. Shutting down possibilities, willingly or subconsciously, is an Assignment hazard. How often might fear distract one from a crucial mini-assignment, in the bigger, singular grand scheme of one’s Sacred Assignment?

Those who pursue the path of Assignment must have thick skins, stifled inner-bullies and enough love for self to welcome every opportunity that comes his/her way. Sometimes the possibilities involve something dramatic, completely life-changing. Other times, possibilities dwell in the seemingly mundane….. until a sudden burst of insight reveals the real reason why you forgot to pick up salad mix, on the way home from work. There was a specific reason…… and while you may not know the exact reason today….. the seeds could only germinate if you slapped your forehead, as you walked in the front door.

Love verses fear…….. seems reasonable to me. As you start your week, think about how many possibilities lie ahead…. just between 7:00 – 8:00, tomorrow morning. Set your sights on infinite possibility….. fear can chase you, but one who is truly excited about possibility, and Sacred Assignment…. will outpace fear, every time!

Moving Past Lamentations: Some Thoughts on All Soul’s Day

There may be more here than meets the eye.

“I will remember them, and my soul is downcast, within me.” – Lamentations 3:20

In certain spiritual  traditions, November 2 is known as All Soul’s Day, a time for remembrance and honoring of our dearly departed. The temporal world struggles with such loss, both the experience and the explanation.

Human events are riddled with mysteries, rife with rites of passage that defy complete understanding. The loss of a loved one certainly falls into this category; under some circumstances, the passing of souls seems senseless. In all situations, the loss of a loved one is an occurrence for which no one is ever fully prepared. This unyielding part of the human condition creates despair, tumult and a very uneasy tension between the tangible and the abstract.

However, there is great hope found in the notion of a soul which reaches beyond the confines of human form. Regardless of faith orientation, all spiritual practices include a narrative about what happens when we die. Whether one subscribes to Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism or some other belief, there is a common thread which firmly states this ain’t the last train. The manifestation of this belief varies….. greatly….. but nevertheless, it remains that each system allows for some version of soul continuity.

The very word belief introduces the possibility of doubt. In the temporal, tangible world, knowledge is grounded in facts, facts are predicated on evidence, and evidence is based on proof. The precise reason death feels so barren is the lack of confirmation about what comes next. Yet there is something deep down, in the still, small arena, that whispers “This ain’t the last train.”

How is this meaningful, for both coping with loss and fulfilling one’s own Sacred Assignment? If the mere possibility exists, that our loved ones’ souls are thriving, despite the absence of their physical selves, can we not rejoice in this fulfillment? Further, if each of us is on a journey, with a Sacred Assignment, that includes a multitude of mini-assignments…. does that not give us some breathing space, in terms of discernment, development and cultivation? If the soul is on a path….. and a detour occurs….. the chances of course correction increase dramatically….. assuming this ain’t the last train.

In my own personal life, I’ve had to consider the balance of my Sacred Assignment against the crushing personal losses I’ve endured. My grand”parents” (I put parents in quotations because they wore dual roles) reared me; I lost my grand”father” at age seventeen and my grand”mother”, who was also my personal hero, at age 35. I was born into loss….. both of my biological parents wanted me aborted. There is a psychological effect, in that awareness, that could easily derail a Sacred Assignment.

I’ve made a conscious choice to transform my losses into a deep desire. I am highly motivated to discover, develop and cultivate my Sacred Assignment. There are two choices in situations : resignation and defeat, or transformation and accomplishment. I am consciously choosing to move past lamentations, recognizing that life is a gift…. and my soul has purpose. Your soul has purpose, too. As some of us honor the souls of those we miss the most, let us move forward, in confidence, that we are still on this train for a reason….. and it ain’t the last train.

Pruning at Harvest Time

According to Gurus Lowman Pauling and Ralph Bass, the darkest hour is just before dawn. Michelle Phillips, of The Mamas and the Papas, concurred.

“It’s coming on Halloween

They’re dressed up like thieves

Stealing all my joy and love
Won’t you have some mercy, please? ”   –   Alternate take on the Joni Mitchell classic, River.

Don’t quit my day job? Capeesh.

Happy Halloween, dear readers! Whether you plan to spook or be spooked…… I wish you all a safe, fun evening.

I have a problem…… and it’s a problem that has dogged me for many years. I love so many people…. so dearly…. and find something charming, funny and thoroughly engaging, in each person I meet. Everyone has a story…. a story worth my attention. Many times, I hear people talking about their Sacred Assignment, without even realizing that’s what they’re describing. What an honor, to witness this awakening! I know….. so far, not really hearing or seeing a problem.

I’ll try again. I have a problem, and it’s an issue I’ve dealt with for as long as I can remember. I find everything fascinating… genuinely fascinating. I can become engrossed in a book, film, piece of art, novella…… you name it….. and the whole world falls away. I am transfixed by whatever I’m viewing/hearing. Still a first-world problem, but the picture is becoming more focused.

Discernment and development of one’s Sacred Assignment takes a lot of contemplation…. and, frankly, isolation. Distractions are thieves, when it comes to reflection. If my attention is fragmented I can’t hear the still, small voice. Dr. Brene` Brown, whose work I adore, might suggest that there’s some unconscious intention here….. distractions are numbing behaviors, mind tricks designed to pull us away from more complex thoughts and feelings. I can’t disagree with her, on principle.

I think soberly confronting this obstacle is critical to determining one’s Sacred Assignment. Dr. Brown refers to it as living in a whole-hearted way. I love that…… I would further fold that into the Sacred Assignment path…. but I digress (see how easy it is to get distracted by engaging thoughts?)

We are currently in the season of harvest….. reaping the bounty….. a beautiful time of year when we can’t really ignore all the wonder and grace which surrounds us. Harvesting and pruning are not commonly connected; yet, they should be. In order to bear the most bountiful harvest, all sorts of things must be pruned. Branches, buds, roots….. any obstacle to the greater good of the crop/flowers. So it is with each of us, and our Sacred Assignment.

It is nearly impossible to determine and cultivate one’s Sacred Assignment without some pruning. This can mean a pruning of the self (ouch….. but necessary)…… a clearing of any internal brush that stands in our way…… or a pruning of activities….. prioritizing a busy life, so that it mirrors the priorities of the heart…… it can even mean a pruning of relationships, which is scary.

Notice, the first item on the list is a pruning of self…… this is not a one-day undertaking. Self-pruning is a constant evolution of conscious decision-making….. which individual characteristics are working for the cause of supporting one’s Sacred Assignment, and which traits are obstructing sacred movement? Sometimes, it takes a few tries before one can fully understand which idiosyncracies serve (not all of them are counterproductive) and which ones impede. In the human pruning world, this is job one.

Next, we take stock of the choices we make about investments, both time and genuine heart connection. If I could fragment myself into a million tiny Shannons, to minister, support, laugh, cry, basically engage with multiple people/events at once….. I wouldn’t. My heart says “Sure you would!” but my head says “No can do, slick.” It is a slick deception of the mind, when we convince ourselves we can be all of these different things, to all of these different, equally worthy, causes. The mortal body is not designed that way. It doesn’t mean rejecting anyone or anything…. it means pruning it all back, to see the forest for the trees.

Pruning is not always fun…… a wise friend once told me, “Nobody wants major surgery, but sometimes, it’s the best option on the table…. no pun intended.” Distractions, of mind, heart, body, spirit…….. too dangerous for the task of Sacred Assignment. Pruning becomes one’s ally…… an ally in the quest towards the best assignment you’ll ever get!

Coming Home……….

“You’d be so nice….. you’d be paradise….. so nice to come home to and love.”

I hope this finds you, dear reader, well and happy. Today, I want to talk a little about home….. it’s fall, the idea of home and hearth are especially vivid, at this time of year. Thanksgiving (personally, my second favorite holiday) is right around the corner….. a time for reflection, on all the gifts in our lives…… a time of gratitude, for all of the things which create our home.

Today is the 92nd Anniversary of my grand”daddy” ‘s birth…… he and my grand”mother” lovingly reared me; their story is inextricably bound with mine. The minute my grand”parents” met, on a cross-country train ride, my grand”daddy” said he knew Tootsie was his home. They met during WWII….. young men (and women, for that matter) didn’t really know what the future looked like; they could only plan for the day under their feet.  Yet, he said he knew……. she was his destiny…… he would survive…. he would see the other side of the War….. and she would be at his side. This unshakable sense of ordinance elevated him, in the days ahead….. days that ensured almost-certain death…… and allowed him the great gift of envisioning home.

Home is much more than a place…… home is a feeling. Home is what we each carry, in our hearts, regardless of where we find ourselves. Home is composed of people……. the frame of shelter is the house….. the people inside that frame define home.

Creating “home”, for self and loved ones, is a huge part of the Sacred Assignment. Regardless of each individual’s life path, there’s got to be a place to hang one’s heart and hat….. and whether that place is filled with family, fur babies, or simply a zone of refuge, from a world that is too often cold and impersonal……. the space is deflated until each of us infuses it with meaning. Discerning one’s Sacred Assignment is conjoint with a personal definition of “home”. Regardless of what one is facing, a sense of “home” creates a foundation, a feeling of security, that fortifies one, under any circumstances. It is a vision that transcends time and location. Home is truly where the heart is.

From sunny California, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana…… back to Shreveport, my grand”daddy” ‘s home town….. he and my grand”mother” made manifest his self-fulfilling prophesy. This “home” is still in my heart, as I seek, and search…… to discover and fulfill my Sacred Assignment. I invite each of you to explore your “home”…… no judgments, no analysis….. just the feeling, the heartbeat……. then gratefully say to yourself, and your Sacred Assignment….. “Welcome home.”

The Long and Winding Road of One’s Sacred Assignment

Fairy Tale? Horror Story? All the same book…….

I’ve always been encouraged to write,,,,, fun little prompts such as “If you don’t use a gift, it is a sin.”  or ” Why are you talking?? Begin writing!”  Well, two things…… First, I’ve never had the desire to commit anything to paper which wasn’t strictly original.  Secondly, I suspected the latter as an attempt to channel my ever-racing thoughts… into something constructive…. and quiet.

As time passes I do feel there’s more to say…… and less time to say it. Still, I’ve always vowed that I would write only  when I had something novel to say. I am a freshness freak….. derivatives drive me crazy.

Wait….. hold the phone…… wasn’t it Mark Twain who said “Write what you know?” In 2012, some writing communities deemed this quote as “misinterpreted”….. believing that a more symbolic understanding breathes new meaning into this time-honored piece of advice. Write what you know, as in write what you feel, based on what you’ve experienced. Now…. we’re getting somewhere.

Write what you know…. based on interpretation, feeling, subjective experience….. yet make it accessible, so that it connects with most anyone who comes across the piece. The clouds are beginning to part…… the light is shining through.

I’ve become quite interested in the idea of “Sacred Assignments”…… we’ve all read and heard about concepts such as The Purpose Driven Life; we’ve all been  comforted by series like Chicken Soup for the Soul. The immense popularity of such works tells me people are searching for two things; meaning, in the ordinary and encouragement, for the inevitable dark nights. These two desires combine, in my mind and heart, to create a need for discovering one’s Sacred Assignment…. and we all have one.

I am currently working on gathering ideas that are spiritually based, with practical applications….. a road map, if you will, for uncovering one’s Sacred Assignment. It is an exploration, excavation, transparent nation (no artifice on this path) of people, willing to participate in a daily process of discovery, joy, sorrow, forgiveness (for self and others), depth and openness to encounters….. of all description. Words fail me, at this time, to describe the finished product…. but I think that’s the point.

I invite you to join me as I search, seek and share. I have enthusiastically accepted all parts  of my Sacred Assignment; I am thoroughly convinced that a large portion of my assignment is partnering with you. The relationship between the writer and the reader is always sacred…… and so, this begins.