(not necessarily in that order)
Today was an overcoming resistance kind of day.
A day to support a friend, but within an uncomfortable context that was challenging for me.
And a day to knuckle down and do some important tasks that I’ve been majorly procrastinating about.
Grateful to have the day behind me and feeling good about what I accomplished! 💪
I had a big “aha” moment the other day. Our work, our ministry, our very raison d’être is music — especially the music of Ananda. And in the normal way of things, we would be immersed in it all the time.
We would be singing or playing — solo, duo, choir, or instrumental — virtually every Sunday for service. We would be rehearsing choir every Tuesday. On the other days we would be reviewing music, working with small groups, planning programs, and otherwise discussing things musical in preparation for Sunday or Tuesday or an upcoming event like the Oratorio or Christmas concert or something similar.
But for almost a year now we haven’t had that! Sure, we’ve performed as a duo, even a few times as part of a quartet. And we’ve put together virtual choir pieces. But we’re engaged in only a fraction of the music that would be usual for us.
Making the situation worse is the fact that Ramesha and I aren’t in the habit of listening to music at home. Mainly because it’s hard for us to focus on anything else when music is playing. But also because, after hours spent singing and playing, or listening to others sing and play, we enjoy going home to silence.
So, the bottom line — my big “aha” — is that we’re actually music-deprived right now and need to make some serious adjustments in order to restore the necessary musical equilibrium to our lives.
Today Ramesha did a livestream where he shared this Cosmic Chant (by Yogananda) and it got me thinking…
I was mainly pondering the fact that I have to consciously choose the sweetness of life, joy, health, and praise. Not just once, but moment by moment, day after day after day.
I also have to remind myself — again and again — that death, sorrow, sickness, and blame are the dream. And, yes, I’ve lost many loved ones to death; I’ve felt deep sorrow; I’ve experienced sickness; and I’ve both cast blame and deserved it myself. On the level of consciousness which I currently inhabit, these experiences are very real, indeed!
But that’s why I’m on the spiritual path, doing my best to live in the light, to raise my consciousness, and wake up to a higher reality. And I love this chant because when I sing it or hear it, that higher reality feels more and more real, which is especially comforting in challenging times like these.
I pray that we may all do our best to allow the Divine Song to flow through us a little more every day. 🙏
When Thy Song Flows Through Me
O life is sweet
And death a dream
O life is sweet
And death a dream
When Thy song flows through me, my Lord
When Thy song flows through me
Then joy is sweet
Sorrow a dream
Then joy is sweet
Sorrow a dream
When Thy song flows through me, my Lord
When Thy song flows through me
Then health is sweet
Sickness a dream
Then health is sweet
Sickness a dream
When Thy song flows through me, my Lord
When Thy song flows through me
Then praise is sweet
And blame a dream
Then praise is sweet
And blame a dream
When Thy song flows through me, my Lord
When Thy song flows through me
It’s becoming increasingly clear to me that I’m being given a definite assignment for 2021!
I mean, how else to explain the fact that I’ve been getting some version of this message (see above) pretty much every day lately?!?
So…. YES! Here I am, Lord; ready to give my all, by placing it in the Master’s hands; inviting you to use my God-given skills in order to manifest through me.
And now that I’ve got the WHAT, it’s time to move forward with figuring out the HOW (I’d say “wish me luck” but I know all will be revealed in perfect divine timing). 😊
I’ve been thinking about the idea of being in the world but not of it (yes, I know it’s from scripture, but I’m just paraphrasing). To me this speaks to the challenge of finding that fine balance between being engaged and responsible in the world, while at the same time being aware of — and trying to live more on — the higher levels of reality.
Of course, that’s hard work (especially these days)! So, it was perfect to find this video of Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five” — because it’s time for a break (“take five” — get it? 😉) and because this is such a surprising, yet totally entertaining, rendition of the piece.
Of course, then I had to go back to the source and listen to the original version of “Take Five.” Why? Because Paul Desmond continues to be my all-time favorite alto saxophonist hero. His playing was just so darned tasteful and melodic.
But also because I learned to love the Dave Brubeck quartet when my Dad played the album as I was growing up. Plus Miles Davis; all nine Beethoven symphonies; Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition; Oscar Peterson; Schubert’s Rosamunde; Thelonious Monk; and so on and so forth. ..
Great memories…and we still love listening to music together (or would if we could get together; oh well). Thanks for the gift of music, Dad! 💗
The theme of joyful service and humble self-offering which has been the focus of my last couple of blog posts continues to resonate. And I realize that’s because I’m feeling called to step out in a new way.
Saying, “Here I am, Lord!” and “I will go, Lord!”
Knowing I’m an just an ordinary person who’s willing to give my all, no matter how small my all might seem to me…
“…because little becomes much as you place it in the Master’s hands.”
That’s all I need to do. It’s all I really can do.
A few months ago a random comment brought back the memory of a song that I had loved in the 80’s, but hadn’t heard — or even thought about — since. Suddenly, I really, really wanted to hear it again! I remembered that the singer was one of my sister’s favorites all those years ago, but since I was guessing the wrong name, as well as misremembering the lyrics, she couldn’t help me find it.
But I really felt like I had to hear it again, so I kept searching on the internet…and finally something clicked and I remembered the name Danniebelle! From there I was able to identify the song as “Ordinary People.”
Not only does the song still touch me deeply, it reminded me of yet another song along the same lines that we used to sing at my Unity church in the early 90’s, called “Here I Am, Lord.”
(Lyrics to both songs are below the videos.)
I have to wonder whether I knew, on some level, that a life of service to God was what my soul craved. Because that’s what both of these songs — though completely different in style and vibration — are expressing. And I’m so deeply, humbly grateful that for the past twenty years I have been blessed to live such a life.
These songs also put me in mind of the two men mentioned in yesterday’s blog post: Rep. Andy Kim and reported Andy Larsen. “Just ordinary people” who followed an inner prompting (“here I am, Lord”) and are doing major good as a result. Because…
“…little becomes much as you place it in the master’s hands.” Amen. 🙏
Ordinary People
Just ordinary people,
God uses ordinary people.
He chooses people,
just like me and you
who are willing
to do as He commands.
God uses people that will give him all,
no matter how small
your all may seem to you,
because little becomes much
as you place it in the master’s hands.
Just like that little lad
who gave Jesus all he had.
How the multitude was fed
with a fish and loaves of bread.
What you have may not seem much,
but when you yield it to the touch
of the Master’s loving hand,
then you will understand
how your life could never be the same.
Here I Am, Lord
I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go, Lord,
If You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my Word to them.
Whom shall I send?
I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
‘Til their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?
Repeat chorus
By now you’ve probably heard of Representative Andy Kim of New Jersey. That’s him in the photo above, cleaning up trash in the rotunda of the Capitol Building at midnight this past Wednesday. Because he saw the mess and felt compelled to do what he could to help.
But maybe you haven’t yet heard about the sports reporter who accidentally raised $55,000 for people in need. This blurb in the Goodnewsletter is what got my attention: After discovering $165 in a box from childhood, he [Andy Larsen] tweeted that he would donate the money. Within 24 hours nearly 1,000 strangers pitched in, and he was able to help out 64 families with rent, car repairs, groceries, medical debt, and more.
(Read the whole story by clicking here.)
I love these stories! No big fanfare. Just people experiencing for themselves the joy of saying “yes” to the divine inner prompting, and letting God use them for good.
…and a quietly beautiful end to a crazy week.
May your weekend be filled with peaceful repose and joyful fun. 🥰
“Detach yourself. Control the reactive process. Live the teachings.”
Words of deep wisdom from a devotee friend who was dying of cancer, spoken to her husband. This was ten years ago but her words have inspired and challenged many of us ever since.
Although I’ve reflected on them often over the years myself, today I had an “aha” moment. I can’t say for sure, of course, but for the first time I found myself pondering the order of the words and I would be willing to bet it’s no accident that “detach yourself” comes first.
After all, how can I possibly “control the reactive process” if I’m attached — to the outcome; to my opinions and my rights; to people being or acting a certain way; etcetera etcetera ad infinitum?!? Where there’s attachment, I’ll continue to feel a “charge” around the issue, and to be “triggered” anytime someone “pushes my button!”
No, I must develop the ability to put even a teensy bit of space between me and whatever “it” is. Once I do that I gain perspective; I can be the observer. Then and only then is there the possibility of pausing and choosing my response.
In thinking about all this, I found again a blog post by Nayaswami Jyotish that offers both spiritual insight and practical suggestions:
“Be attentive to the very next thing that upsets your peace of mind. Now trace back to why you are upset. Were you holding an expectation regarding the behavior of others? If you can let go of the expectation, you can let go of the negative reaction. Only once the negative reaction is gone, can you begin to surround the person or situation with peace, love, and harmony.”