A TWO-CUP MORNING

I really love people, I mean LOoooooVE them! Everyone is so amazing...so magical and mysterious and mostly kind. I spend a lot of my time staying connected, scheduling the calendar, talking on the phone, writing long emails. Nevertheless, today is one of those days when I am content to socialize with the inner crowd; that circle of women who together make up me.

It's a two-cup morning, one for me and one for myself. I'm drinking out of my favorite cup; the one with colorful African women on it. Often I clean my kitchen and straighten up the living room because someone is coming over and I really am not ready for them to know how sloppy I really am. But today I cleaned so I could invite myself over for tea and drink in the loveliness of my home while I take a moment to sit and be grateful for this moment. I'm wearing a dress, not because I have to, but because I feel content in it. I've got my favorite shoes on (flip-flops). I combed my hair and put on my favorite earrings. The sun is obliging by providing the special effects necessary for me to watch the shadow of leaves dancing with the design on my rug. I meditate, spend some time thinking about my friends, in praise of life. I giggle quietly at the oddity of my life with no apologies. I am not in the mood for brooding today. Today, my head and heart are chatting quietly and slowly about love, about flowers and sunrises and the joy in living through yet another day. Today, I am sipping my tea and savoring this wonderful taste of life.

It's such a lovely private moment that I wondered if I should share it. But then I thought perhaps it was worthy to invite you to have your own two-cup morning. Could you take a little extra time for yourself? to wonder? to wander? to sip slowly and savor the flavors of life? Could you invite yourself over for tea? You can you know. It only takes a short time, a few deep breaths and voila! Suddenly you are in the presence of the best company you ever invited over.

FIRE

this passion
burning deep within
consumes the trash heaped upon it
returning to dust and ashes
underbrush, dead branches,


life's longing for tomorrow
fueled by yesterday's adventure
this fire of love and forgiveness
burning everything
that stands in the way
creating space for the new
transforming life into life

(photos taken by jules while burning the brush pile at my mother in law's house)

About Noise & Silence....and finding the Holy in it. Entry #1

A parable by Theophane the Monk in his book Tales of a Magic Monastery:

"Would you teach me silence?" I asked.
"Ah!"
He seemed to be pleased. "Is it the Great Silence you want?"
"yes, the Great Silence."
"Well, where do you think it is to be found?" he asked.
"Deep within me, I suppose. If only I could go deep within, I'm sure I'd escape the noise at last. But it's hard. Will you help me?" I knew he would. I could feel his concern and his spirit was so silent.
"Well i've been there," he said. "I spent years going in. I did taste the silence there. But one day Jesus came--maybe it was my imagination--and said to me simply, 'Come, Follow me.' I went out, and I've never gone back."
I was stunned, "but the silence...."
"I've found the Great Silence, and I've come to see that the noise was inside."

I hope you enjoy this parable form Theophane. I read it and immediately decided to do a series here on noise and silence. Perhaps i should ended it with this. I think I'll just see where each entry takes me. Tune in for more about noise and silence.

blessings on your noise,

jules