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Just what I needed

Swami Kriyananda performing the Festival of Light

I always find Ananda’s Sunday service to be inspiring, but some weeks it is so deeply inspiring that I feel fully recalibrated by the end.

Today was one of those Sunday services, and it was just what I needed — exactly when I needed it! (Not to mention the lingering impact of the uplifting Sevaka Retreat that took place the day before.)

I’m so grateful to be starting Spiritual Renewal Week with a renewed awareness of — and strengthened commitment to — living my life in service to God.

I especially love the words in this portion of the Festival of Light that we hear every Sunday:

Many times has that light descended,
Drawn to earth by the call of aspiring love.
Your chosen people have always been
Those of every race and nation
Who, with deep love, chose Thee.

(The minister lifts the candle aloft with both hands to symbolize this choice.)
Please pray with me:

O Lord,
With all my heart,
With all my mind,
With all my soul,
And with all my strength
I choose Thy love,
I choose only Thee.

And so I do…again and again and again. 🙏

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Switzerland on my mind (still)

It’s not that I’ve been actively thinking about Switzerland a lot; life’s way too busy for that!

But I had a dental appointment the other day and there was this beautiful video playing on the monitor. My first thought was that it reminded me of Switzerland, but I figured I was getting a little fixated. After all, there are many beautiful places in Europe, with castles and mountains and lush green grass.

However, I had to explain to the dental assistant that I couldn’t address the issue with my tooth sooner due to being out of the country. She asked me where and when I said “Switzerland” she immediately gestured toward the monitor and laughingly asked if I didn’t recognize the images.

Sure enough, it was all Switzerland!

Turns out she “visits” different locations during her workday by selecting these drone videos. I never knew such videos existed, but it’s actually really cool.

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Taking the plunge

Tomorrow morning is the Sevaka Order retreat, which is pretty much the warmup act to Spiritual Renewal Week.

Spiritual Renewal Week is pretty much the biggest week of the year at Ananda Village, with classes every morning; special events pretty much every afternoon and evening; and guests joining from all around the globe.

Music in a variety of forms is featured every day throughout the week. I think we’ve got all our music bases covered, but I’m so “detailed out” at the moment it’s hard to be sure.

Regardless — tomorrow we take the plunge and it all begins!

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Grateful for enduring friendships

It’s been a full day with many tasks accomplished (emails, meetings, laundry, practicing, rehearsal), but I’m most pleased about the fact that I finally finished reading and responding to all my birthday greetings.

It’s so fun to tune in — however briefly — to friends from all the different eras of my life: high school buddies; classmates at university and conservatory; professional musician colleagues; fellow seekers from different spiritual congregations; and those I met while living in other countries.

It leaves me feeling more grateful than ever for the rich and varied life I’ve been blessed to lead.

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My favorite day

It’s probably because I’m (literally) a solstice baby, but I absolutely love the summer solstice.

There really is a magical quality about the longest day for me.

Of course, with tomorrow will arrive the awareness that we’re now heading in the opposite direction — toward the shortest day.

Such a great example of duality.

But for now….Happy Solstice!

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Happy birthday to (most of) my family!

Four out of us five siblings have our birthdays in June! Clockwise from top: Brian (the exception; his birthday is in MARCH!); Gilbert; Cathy; Jonathan; and me.

Yes, today is my birthday, but first thing on my mind this morning was the fact that I owe birthday greetings to a lot (and I do mean a lot) of family members.

I got so busy after returning from Europe that I fell behind on acknowledging the early June birthdays. So I want to catch up on those, but I’m also thinking to save myself some stress by going ahead and sending July birthday greetings as well.

So, happy birthday to my brother Gilbert and his wife Carolyn! And happy birthday to my niece, Janaya! Happy birthday to my sister, Cathy; to my brother, Jonathan, and to another niece, Lauren. And that does it for June.

Moving on to July…happy birthday to Lauren’s daughter, Malyah; to yet another niece, Nina; to Dad; and a happy heavenly birthday to my mother, Louise!

Then there’s Ramesha’s family, and friends who are like family: Happy birthday to Lia, Samuele, Nancy, Nicole, and Karin!

If ever we plan a June/July birthday party it will be huge. 🎂

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Swimming in details

We are fully back to our traditional (as in “pre-pandemic”) Spiritual Renewal Week, which means a Tuesday night concert with approximately 30 singers from Ananda Village and an additional 35 or so singers from Ananda communities around the world.

And only one rehearsal. Which not everyone will arrive in time to attend.

Then there’s chanting and a song before each weekday class. Plus a kirtan. And an Indian banquet with a musical entertainment component.

I was tempted to title today’s blog: “Drowning in details,” but that would be an exaggeration. I just have to keep going and I’m fine.

But if I were stop and try to tread water, it would be all over.

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Grateful for Gilbert and Louise

This Father’s Day I’m thinking about both my Dad and my Mom.

Yesterday — the day before Father’s Day — was the 30th anniversary of my mother’s passing. It boggles my mind how so much time can have gone by already.

Thinking of you with love, Mom. And feeling more grateful than words can express that my Dad is still with us.

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A sacred addition to our home

During our brief time at Ananda Assisi, we finally had a chance to visit our friend, Shantidev, at his Meditation Art studio.

I had been admiring Shantidev’s artwork for some time and, once we were there in person and I saw this beautiful (but small) spiritual eye, I just knew we needed it for our (small) apartment.

We had it shipped home and it finally arrived the other day. Needless to say, we love it!

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A satisfying movie night

We watched “A Man Called Otto” tonight and enjoyed it very much.

Of course, you can’t go wrong with Tom Hanks. We also really enjoyed the supporting cast, especially “Marisol” (played by Mariana Treviño) and an oh-so-elegant kitty.

The movie made us think, as well as evoking a wide range of emotions. There was sadness, for sure, but it was ultimately life-affirming.

One review referred to it as a “tender message of hopefulness and spiritual renewal” and I have to agree.