Uphill idealist

Unforeseen circumstances cause people to be literally stuck. Unexpected travel snafus, debit card ooopsies and distances too far to fix face-to-face or in the nick of time. In those moments, there are many unseen disasters that can happen. Nothing, it seems, can budge the stuck. For reasons I can't explain these hiccups that can turn into terrible things happen. Some circumstances leave stuck chaos... but others open a window for grace to enter. Tonight for my son stuck in Midtown , grace came walking by. She saw a need and softened a heart to help - and planted a seed for hope to grow. Where self and darkness could have won; light and kindness made it's way. Thank you Jessica from the Midtown Hilton. Your random act of service and kindness was a blessing deeper and wider than the miles that my college freshman son and I are apart. Your were the bridge we so needed tonight. Thank you Jessica, for your amazing grace.

My daily reader (Simple Abundance)   had something to teach me about 'Ecopsycology' today. According to the author, Psychologists that embrace " ecopsychology believe that deepening our emotional ties to nature is vital to our well-being as the close personal bonds we pursue with family and friends. When we follow our instincts to leave the city for a weekend in the country, garden in the early morning...visit a zoo... we are responding positively to psychological and physiological urges to connect for survival." (Simple Abundance, Oct 16 entry)  In August of this year, I relocated to a more urban area than I've lived for twenty years, but thankfully where I live is surround by a considerable amount of green space. My living room also connects me to the outside world by a small terrace that looks out onto a green courtyard...this morning I noticed the sweep of fallen yellow leaves dusting its corners. This small change and contrast to the green delighted my

In 1995 I had a miscarriage of pregnancy surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday.  I was almost four months along, but on going to my first sonogram appointment it was discovered that there was no heartbeat and the pregnancy was not viable. For the days to come, I went through some serious medical risks and ended up having to go through labor to deliver the baby that I'd never really know. While I grieved the loss of my unborn child, I was thankful that my own life had been spared -  but some guilt remained for having survived it. Today this child would be almost 20 years old. I do not know its gender. To this day I have a tiny little knit hat tucked into the top drawer of my dresser as a means of remembering this little life.  That November, I never named this child, but somehow it seems right today to give this child it's name - Courage. For the losses we live through and the loved ones we miss, we move on in courage and hope. Today marks the annual

Some days, our feet hurt and our hearts are weary. Some days, our minds our worn out and our vision is fuzzy. In the midst of our questions, we find nothing more that more - questions. We wonder what the point of all this is. But somehow in the questions and uncertainty we keep on living. For me, I sense a particular presence of God in this uncertain space. The questions, for me, have become the space where the Spirit is a work -  glimmering hope here and there and calling me to a space of welcome where unrest usually resides. All are welcome in the questions. In the questions - God is present. God is present - where you happen to be. Peace.

The following reading was w ritten by Henry Scott Holland (27 January 1847 – 17 March 1918) was Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford... My friend Sarah shared this reading with me earlier today and I can't quite articulate why it cut me to the quick, but it did. Death is something that we often want to separate from daily life. We remove ourselves - or try to - from grief. But death and life are married. Death and life can't be separated. While I don't know the ways that death or loss have impacted you life,  I do know that death has impacted and continues to impact me. But death is a part of life that I can't live without - like the quote states... "death is nothing at all...All is well."

Just a few days ago, a robin greeted me in an unusual way. As I opened my car door something brushed against my leg. I turned to see a robin hop into the front seat of the car and  settled on the front dash. Image is a cross-stitch that translates from Greek as "Good Morning" created by Penelope Panagopoulos The bird did not seem scared of me - but was looking for a way to head back into the beautiful sunshine and open sky. With a little help the robin made its way out into the parking lot and flew away. But after it flew away, I could not help but wonder if  this feathered friend had a message for me... In some native american traditions, robins are viewed as messengers carrying a message "Peace". This message is one that I'm happy to receive. Peace can hop into our lives when we least expect it - if we are willing to open to door.

How often is it that a ten year old boy says to his great aunt, "I want to be baptized. Will you baptize me?" Earlier this summer my great nephew Eli asked me this exact question. His question came on the heels of he baby brother, Atticus, birth. Days passed, but Eli would not forget his question about baptism. He got the ball rolling and kept it going until October 11, 2015. This story gets even better as Eli continues to ask for what he desires and requests my husband Ian and I to stand as godparents for himself and Atticus.  We were honored. We said yes! The day arrived. The Eastman and Sullivan clan arrived in full force. We were so proud, of Eli's desire to be called a child of God and carry his three month old brother to the waters of baptism with him. This was a day to treasure - and remember. Elias Robert Eastman and Atticus Joseph Sullivan  are publicly and forever children of the water. In Gratitude - Auntie Vic