On March 24, 2008, little Madeline Elizabeth Logelin came into this world.
The next day, her mother left it.
From this impossibly tragic event, a community was born. A community of individuals, united in their desire to help and support Madeline and her father, Matt. This community formed the basis for what would become a worldwide charitable foundation:
So strong and large was the community that spontaneously formed around Matt and Madeline, it seemed not only natural, but necessary to harness the strength of that network and turn it into something – something that could help ease the pain and lighten the load felt by widows and widowers everywhere. And it all sprang from the Love of Liz.
Image via Wikipedia
Image via WikipediaWell, now that I have your attention!!!"I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it."
So, in your day today don't fail to notice
the fragile beauty of some lingering sprig of green grass
the white pristine silence of falling snow
the cornflower blue of a child's eyes
the warming golden radiance of the sun
or, the color purple in a field somewhere.
Om shanti.
In the end what matters most is
How well did you live
How well did you love
How well did you learn... to let go.
May your year and your life be filled with peace, and empty of suffering.
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti
Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.
First, let us reflect on our own work and the effort of those who brought us this food.
Second, let us be aware of the quality of our deeds as we receive this meal.
Third, what is most essential is the practice of mindfulness, which helps us to transcend greed, anger and delusion.
Fourth, we appreciate this food which sustains the good health of our body and mind.
Fifth, in order to continue our practice for all beings we accept this offering.
You can read more about this tradition, here.
As you sit down for you next meal, take the time to take a deep breath, and give thanks for the pleasure and benefits that food provides.
Image by ilkerender via Flickr
All the pictures in this post were taken by me on my morning walk on the Greenway Trail in Gastonia, North Carolina. This Autumn was spectacular, and I was awed and filled with gratitude for every falling leaf.
It is easy sometimes to be grateful for the big stuff. It's right there up in our face, getting our attention. We are more accustomed, and conditioned, to remembering to be thankful for the big things. But, developing a rich and deep sense of gratitude is well informed by taking time to give the small stuff the same focus and attention.
Ask yourself the question, "How conscious and present am I in my daily activities." By starting this inquiry into yourself you will invite awareness and mindfulness into your life on a new level. You many find yourself stopping much more often during your day to really "take in" what is happening in that particular moment: what are you looking at? what can you hear? touch? smell? With these moments of clarity come an expansive sense of child-like wonder. You may feel as if you are experiencing many things for the first time. It's like walking down a brand new, beautiful path.
While you continue this beautiful awareness inquiry, add also a moment to pause, and say a prayer of gratitude for what you have discovered in this moment. This will be easy with the lovely things you come across, but I encourage you to try to address your prayers of thanks also to the troubling and challenging occurences; paying them due homage as the great teachers that they are.
Image by Wonderlane via Flickr"...fear is generally a result of attachment. Buddhists consider attachment (”grasping”) a bad thing. Everything changes, and that’s something we have to learn and accept. That’s a whole lot easier to say than do, but that really is it in a nutshell. Think for a bit on what causes your fear. What are you afraid of losing? Is that something (or someone) that you are going to lose eventually anyway? Most things and people are going to be lost someday, no matter what we do; it is important to understand and accept that."The Loden Jinpa website provided more why and how information on this concept, including guidance for engaging in a meditation on death, here.
"Everything that you can do is a gift from God. Everything that you can't do is part of the wonderful challenge and adventure of life."
I am also grateful because creating a wedding is a lot of work! You know, I had heard this many times, but our wedding is so small, only 26 people...including us! How could it be so much work?!
