Archive for June, 2007
they say it’s your birthday
“There are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents, and only one for birthday presents, you know.”
Lewis Carroll
Birthday or un-birthday, every day with you is a gift.
All my love.
No Commentsgoing green and still courtesy flushing
Some of you may remember my post about courtesy flushing a few months back and know how important this practice is to me. Well, today I walked into a public bathroom and instantly became the victim of a discourteous non-flusher.
As soon as I reached for my nose to pinch it shut, I heard a voice. It was the little green angel that has recently carpooled onto my shoulder saying, “This toilet paper isn’t recycled…the toilet doesn’t have a low-volume tank…AND YOU’RE WORRIED ABOUT COURTESY FLUSHING, MISSY!”
I have to laugh at the unexpected corners my latest awarenesses have reached into. I had no idea going green would infringe on my delight, nay, my fervent belief and undying advocacy, of the courtesy flush.
But the facts are that we use a lot of water unnecessarily; water that’s also being polluted so fast that our children’s children may end up a very thirsty lot.
Is the courtesy flush just a luxury, I wondered as I left the rank bathroom.
My malodorous episode in il bagno stinko reminded me that balance and moderation, those wise old sisters, apply to green livin’ as much as they do consumption, technology and flushing. That eco-actions are not about legalism or bondage; but have their deepest roots in freedom. That as much as we seek to live more whole-istic and responsible lives, we cannot deny the world we find ourselves in.
And, I think you’d all agree, sometimes the world we live in demands a courtesy flush.
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child’s pose
“You want me to do what!” I asked the elastic yoga chick on my TV this morning. As I contorted and stretched, bent and flexed, I couldn’t help laughing at my inability to properly mimic many of the asanas performed by this flexible femme.
But I knew what was coming and it kept me going through 30 minutes of near-impossible poses: bala-asana.
Bala-asana is the official yoga term for Child’s Pose. This position is typically saved till the end of a series of poses and is achieved by kneeling, forehead on the floor, arms hung limp at your side. In this pose, instructors often tell us to close our eyes, breathe, and melt into the stretch.
It’s a resting place, found only when I cease all activity.
It’s a humbling place because I’m laid low, incapable of any act of power, blind even to the things around me as my eyes focus on my mat and fall closed. All I can do is receive.
It’s a freeing place because, in child’s pose, I am able to be who I really am: a child, Abba’s child.
(It’s an encouraging place, too, because I can actually do this one!)
As I breathed this morning, connecting my racing mind to my quieter soul, and felt my body relax, I became aware of deeper things. Even through a child’s pose.
2 Commentssponge season
*Have you ever experienced a sponge season, one of those times where you, said sponge, are soaking up so much good, so much truth, so much peace, that you can hardly find an empty pore for more absorbance?
I’m telling you what, I’m in a flood as God pours out His truths about simplicity, freedom, dreams and the kind of life He’s calling me to. Can I get a super-absorbant sponge here, please!
Since this gush of excitement and passion seems bottle-necked between my soul and the page, let me at least share the tools God has used to transform my life these past two months.
Plenty: One Man, One Woman, and a Raucous Year of Eating Locally by Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon – This witty true story challenged the way I approach food. As a result, I have found the freshest, best tasting, and most economical fare I’ve ever enjoyed.
“What we could not ignore was the gut feeling more common and more important than policy makers or even scientists like to admit, that things have gone sideways.” ~ J.B. MacKinnon
From Vines to Wines by Jeff Cox – This approachable reference book has opened my eyes to the beauty of winegrowing.
“The intrigue of wine is unlimited. As a winegrower, I have the great pleasure to observe the varied moods of a single wine in its lifetime – on the vine, in the fermenter, during its aging in barrel and in bottle, and in a glass throughout the course of a meal.” ~ from foreward by Tim Mondovi
Green This! by Deirdre Imus – Practical, informative guide to greening your life, specifically your cleaning. A life-changing eye-opener for someone who thought she was already just about as green, granola and thrifty as you could be! (You’ll be hearing way more about my green revelations!)
“Cleaning up my life made sense.” ~ Deirdre Imus
It’s All Too Much by Peter Walsh – Wow! God has used this book to break me of so much deep-ceded attachment to my stuff, helping me see clearly the freedom that comes with letting go.
“…re-examine your priorities and let go of the things weighing you down.” ~ Peter Walsh
“The things you own end up owning you.” ~ Fight Club
Green Living by the editors of E/The Environmental Magazine – Another practical book with tips – and the reasons behind them – for living a whole, simple, healthy life.
“Every time we pull out our wallet, we are casting a vote for the kind of society and economy we want…we vote with our dollars every single day, either for or against sustainability, for or against health, for or against justice.” ~ Ronnie Cummins
And, just for kicks, the Patty Griffin album, Impossible Dream. Soul-stirring, heart-washing music.
As I row, row, row
Going so slow, slow, slow
Just down below me is the old sea…
“The Rowing Song”
You should have seen it; two of these books actually fell on my feet as I walked past their shelves. Almost like they had something to say just to me. So I listened. And I’m listening in deeper places to God, what He had to say about all this stuff. And it’s good. It’s about simplicity, dreams, hope, passion, freedom.
And I am wondering, when is He going to wring me out?
*****
(I know, I know…I said my posts were going to be shorter. This is one of those exceptions!)
*I have no doubt you’re hanging out where I’m at. Please spread the word here at Pendrops about some of your own life-changing “Ah-ha” moments!
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