Come get me
Sometime I hear it in Creator’s call to my soul
Sometimes I hear it in the pulse of my heart
Beyond death and life; beyond words and worlds
It is a passionate pursuit
Come get me
It is the cry of a lost homesick child
The impatience of an anticipating lover
It is full of longing and desire
It is full of hope; a great adventure
Come get me
With fear of rejection, of being unworthy
With humility and patience and contradictions
With forgiveness and gratitude
An invitation without conditions
Come get me
Playfully; knowing that life is all a game, there really is no separation
A romp in a Shakespearian Mid summers night
And laughter - sparkling eyes
A message on the wind, in a breath
Come get me
It speaks of wonder, the great dance
beyond all distinctions and divisions, race, class, whatever
A memory of bliss that has yet to happen
A promise of a reality that knows not past, present or future
Come get me
Forgetting any and every impediment
Nothing is more important
Not any thing, not any time, not any place, not any person
The time is now - only love
Come get me
It says take my hand on the path together
Of Beauty (Tiferet), of compassion (Chesed),
Of justice and strength (Gevurah), of wisdom (chokhman)
And of understanding (Binah)
Come get me
We will journey through the hidden place
To the great mystery (Keter),
Into eternity, being one in One without end (Ein Sof).
In pure and perfect peace and wholeness (Shalom)
Come get me
(Oh compassionate One, May you come to us, speedily and in our time. bimhayrah be'yameinu. Amen Selah)
[Rachel Carey-Harper; April 2007]
Thursday
Tuesday
Its all for the Best
Friends,
2006 was a difficult year. It is fitting that it ended its last week with the death of an artist and two presidents. Some would say one president was all good, the other all evil and the performer; well, transcendent. But I hold with the idea that all three encompassed all three attributes albeit to differing degrees.
This year there have been times when it’s been extremely difficult for me to really see either that divine spark in everyone and that “Gamzoo l’tova” (Its all for the best). From my perspective it seems like a lot of people I loved and trusted “drank the kool-aid” this past year and things descended into extreme negative, unhealthy, judgmental, rigid and seemingly irrational thinking.
How is going through this and other interpersonal problems for the best? How do I continue to see the Light in people in the face of hurtful behavior? Gamzoo l’tova. This in no way justifies atrocities rather is a personal spiritual attitude of acceptance. I am learning about unconditional love while at the same time I’m learning to let go of unhealthy relationships and separating from unwholesome situations. I’m working to let go of all disappointment. I've learned that I can actually control my thoughts and have the power to choose where I focus my energy. I've learned that since I don't have control of anyone else, best not to dwell on longing for things to be different. I can choose to simply move forward in the positive, in those ways that connect with that which is eternal, with love. I can do this with the understanding that it isn't that there is something fundamentally wrong with them or me. It is the combination that is toxic. It’s a journey; we must cross the darkness until we reach the light. Unconditional love however requires me to always hold out hope. Nothing is beyond the Creator’s power. Unconditional love means allowing for the possibility that people change and relationsips can heal.
To leave often requires a leap of faith, but in such times we are not be alone. I know this and realize that really I’ve been so blessed! I have Gail and Pamela, Allan and K, Yvonne and Jamie, Jim and my Dad, Sharon and Mother Bear, lots of other people too numerous to mention and of course holding everything grounded my beautiful sweet brilliant husband. Thank-you each and every one. I love you so much and am so very, very grateful for you in my life!
I've been thinking about Plato's Republic and that famous cave. The reflections on the wall were thought of as reality instead of turning around and seeing that they were mere shadows of something between the light and the wall. Sometimes there is only so much we can learn in the place of comfort. The longer we wait the more time we waste. When we take that leap, when we turn to face the light, marvelous things can open or us. The way of Love is simple but not easy. Not only is the path often hard to find it can be get us into situations that feels dangerous. But for me I found that the true spiritual home is in fact right here and now and open. The path of G-d's ultimate truth of righteousness, of respect, joy and of wholeness is above all else an inner reality that transcends everything else. This is what we see in its shadow form as we go through our days hoping for approval or respect, accolades or acceptance.
Loss can be the first step on a new beginning. It can be healthy. Goodbye 2006. When something new is started something old usually gets left behind and that can be sad. Some of us (myself included) at times find ourselves looking for, longing for, a real spiritual home. Sometimes we think we've found one only to find it doesn't really fit. There is no need to fret. Gamzoo l’tova. All is good. Love surrounds us. Just let it be what it will be. The task of walking the walk of spiritual thankfulness is to follow where G-d leads even as we seek and question. The trick is to make a commitment to the Eternal presence and open our ears and mind to what this force is communicating all around us. It’s like Plato in teaching the Pythagorean theory in the play the Republic. A youth off the street learns the theorem by simply answering questions and one led to another. Just so for us. We can find the first simple answer knowing that for a spiritual question it will be grounded in peace, compassion and justice. Then we find the next and the next. We are in the hands of God. All wisdom comes from this source and its there for us discover when we and the world are ready. This will guide us where we need to go even if at the time it seems hopeless. Imagine Joseph in the dungeon, Job who was laid so low that his wife said “curse God and die”.
I start 2007 healing and faithful. Exciting things are afoot for this New Year! The Quakers of the Light is solidly formed. We has a perfect building to use, a gorgeous professional sign and have doubled attendance in the first month. We are working on a number of exhilarating programs; from proactive action around homelessness, to a program that removed the shame and blame and promote a healing model for discussions about racism. We have a beautiful place to worship, a place to learn and fascinating people to encourage us. And after all it is about how we walk not what we talk and talk and talk.
So the final question is, what is our spiritual commitment in 2007? Are we working, walking toward a new tomorrow of peace and joy and love? Are we going to let all unhealthiness go and work toward the positive? Can we walk into the Light and make this world a better place, one little bit at a time leaving the rest up to G-d. You never know. One little effort might be the last mitzvah necessary to push the world to the time of being ready for true holiness. After all it really is waiting just inside for us. All we have to do is let it out. Former presidents Gerald Ford and Sadaam Hussein and the Godfather of soul, James Brown all impacted the world in a significant way. But maybe we can do even better, G-d willing and come what may, Gamzoo l’tova.
take good care of your beautiful Self,
Rachel
2006 was a difficult year. It is fitting that it ended its last week with the death of an artist and two presidents. Some would say one president was all good, the other all evil and the performer; well, transcendent. But I hold with the idea that all three encompassed all three attributes albeit to differing degrees.
This year there have been times when it’s been extremely difficult for me to really see either that divine spark in everyone and that “Gamzoo l’tova” (Its all for the best). From my perspective it seems like a lot of people I loved and trusted “drank the kool-aid” this past year and things descended into extreme negative, unhealthy, judgmental, rigid and seemingly irrational thinking.
How is going through this and other interpersonal problems for the best? How do I continue to see the Light in people in the face of hurtful behavior? Gamzoo l’tova. This in no way justifies atrocities rather is a personal spiritual attitude of acceptance. I am learning about unconditional love while at the same time I’m learning to let go of unhealthy relationships and separating from unwholesome situations. I’m working to let go of all disappointment. I've learned that I can actually control my thoughts and have the power to choose where I focus my energy. I've learned that since I don't have control of anyone else, best not to dwell on longing for things to be different. I can choose to simply move forward in the positive, in those ways that connect with that which is eternal, with love. I can do this with the understanding that it isn't that there is something fundamentally wrong with them or me. It is the combination that is toxic. It’s a journey; we must cross the darkness until we reach the light. Unconditional love however requires me to always hold out hope. Nothing is beyond the Creator’s power. Unconditional love means allowing for the possibility that people change and relationsips can heal.
To leave often requires a leap of faith, but in such times we are not be alone. I know this and realize that really I’ve been so blessed! I have Gail and Pamela, Allan and K, Yvonne and Jamie, Jim and my Dad, Sharon and Mother Bear, lots of other people too numerous to mention and of course holding everything grounded my beautiful sweet brilliant husband. Thank-you each and every one. I love you so much and am so very, very grateful for you in my life!
I've been thinking about Plato's Republic and that famous cave. The reflections on the wall were thought of as reality instead of turning around and seeing that they were mere shadows of something between the light and the wall. Sometimes there is only so much we can learn in the place of comfort. The longer we wait the more time we waste. When we take that leap, when we turn to face the light, marvelous things can open or us. The way of Love is simple but not easy. Not only is the path often hard to find it can be get us into situations that feels dangerous. But for me I found that the true spiritual home is in fact right here and now and open. The path of G-d's ultimate truth of righteousness, of respect, joy and of wholeness is above all else an inner reality that transcends everything else. This is what we see in its shadow form as we go through our days hoping for approval or respect, accolades or acceptance.
Loss can be the first step on a new beginning. It can be healthy. Goodbye 2006. When something new is started something old usually gets left behind and that can be sad. Some of us (myself included) at times find ourselves looking for, longing for, a real spiritual home. Sometimes we think we've found one only to find it doesn't really fit. There is no need to fret. Gamzoo l’tova. All is good. Love surrounds us. Just let it be what it will be. The task of walking the walk of spiritual thankfulness is to follow where G-d leads even as we seek and question. The trick is to make a commitment to the Eternal presence and open our ears and mind to what this force is communicating all around us. It’s like Plato in teaching the Pythagorean theory in the play the Republic. A youth off the street learns the theorem by simply answering questions and one led to another. Just so for us. We can find the first simple answer knowing that for a spiritual question it will be grounded in peace, compassion and justice. Then we find the next and the next. We are in the hands of God. All wisdom comes from this source and its there for us discover when we and the world are ready. This will guide us where we need to go even if at the time it seems hopeless. Imagine Joseph in the dungeon, Job who was laid so low that his wife said “curse God and die”.
I start 2007 healing and faithful. Exciting things are afoot for this New Year! The Quakers of the Light is solidly formed. We has a perfect building to use, a gorgeous professional sign and have doubled attendance in the first month. We are working on a number of exhilarating programs; from proactive action around homelessness, to a program that removed the shame and blame and promote a healing model for discussions about racism. We have a beautiful place to worship, a place to learn and fascinating people to encourage us. And after all it is about how we walk not what we talk and talk and talk.
So the final question is, what is our spiritual commitment in 2007? Are we working, walking toward a new tomorrow of peace and joy and love? Are we going to let all unhealthiness go and work toward the positive? Can we walk into the Light and make this world a better place, one little bit at a time leaving the rest up to G-d. You never know. One little effort might be the last mitzvah necessary to push the world to the time of being ready for true holiness. After all it really is waiting just inside for us. All we have to do is let it out. Former presidents Gerald Ford and Sadaam Hussein and the Godfather of soul, James Brown all impacted the world in a significant way. But maybe we can do even better, G-d willing and come what may, Gamzoo l’tova.
take good care of your beautiful Self,
Rachel
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