What do I stand on? Why do I say this today?
I just returned from an exciting and fun race in Canada. This morning, I again am able to sit quietly and do my spiritual study. In chapter 6 of the ACIM text, it says that the Holy Spirit is the answer to the ego's doubts about what it is. The Holy Spirit always answers (tells me) something like this: I am a priceless child of God. He created me as part of Him. His decision cannot be undone.
The text is saying that the ego's whole idea is to undo the Idea of God, and not be part of Him. The Holy Spirit's job is to provide the answer. I get to choose which I want to listen to, hear and learn.
My foundation is to accept the Holy Spirit's answer and always say it again to my ego. When my ego brings up doubts, fears, angers, hatreds, I answer with the Holy Spirit's answer. In this way, I am not projecting anything other than inner peace because a child of God knows they are safe and nothing else is real.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
The Promise
Earlier today, I was standing at gate 98C in Newark airport, awaiting flight 1199 to Houston. I was going to be on time. I was standing next to a power source and it wasn't long before someone asked me if I was going to use the plugs. I said no. She put her phone on it. I was looking at my boarding pass. A female pilot wandered over to charge her phone. We got to talking. Somehow, the United boarding process came up. I mentioned that I was one of the regular people. I'm not platinum, gold, or anything.
I looked again at that boarding pass.
My boarding pass was a miracle in itself. It represented me being in Newark about 5 hours earlier than originally planned; and that United had changed my flights without charge and the first flight from Ottawa had arrived in time to make my connection. I suddenly blurted out to random stranger plugging in her phone, "Just think, I'll get to Houston, no traffic on Beltway 8, no traffic on 225, no traffic on 146."
She was not from Houston and had no idea what I was talking about. But I had blurted out an impossible situation; there is never no traffic on these highways at 5:30 pm.
On the other hand, as I looked at the paper boarding pass, I thought it represented a promise. A promise from some higher authority that I would be taken care of.
Amazingly enough, I drove home from the airport, 40 miles during rush hour, without a single bad traffic area.
I have spent most of the day in steel tubes flying through the air. But, I was also alone it seemed. I thought of my medal picture from the Ottawa 2012 half marathon:
It is a still life.
This morning, I spent 3 hours in a car with someone feeling tension. Now, I am driving home, 2,000 miles and hours away from this morning. As I drove the last few miles to my home in Houston, I felt the stillness of the picture. It is a memory of an event, a memory of living flowers. It is a memorial of an experience. It is silent.
I am a girl who will go on running. I will go into my elliptical now. I will do my balance exercises today. I just had my green tea and there is fresh spinach in the fridge. My boss has already sent an e-mail asking if I would help a colleague.
But, alone, I feel the stillness. It is so beautiful, I may cry. Thank You Stillness.
I looked again at that boarding pass.
My boarding pass was a miracle in itself. It represented me being in Newark about 5 hours earlier than originally planned; and that United had changed my flights without charge and the first flight from Ottawa had arrived in time to make my connection. I suddenly blurted out to random stranger plugging in her phone, "Just think, I'll get to Houston, no traffic on Beltway 8, no traffic on 225, no traffic on 146."
She was not from Houston and had no idea what I was talking about. But I had blurted out an impossible situation; there is never no traffic on these highways at 5:30 pm.
On the other hand, as I looked at the paper boarding pass, I thought it represented a promise. A promise from some higher authority that I would be taken care of.
Amazingly enough, I drove home from the airport, 40 miles during rush hour, without a single bad traffic area.
I have spent most of the day in steel tubes flying through the air. But, I was also alone it seemed. I thought of my medal picture from the Ottawa 2012 half marathon:
It is a still life.
This morning, I spent 3 hours in a car with someone feeling tension. Now, I am driving home, 2,000 miles and hours away from this morning. As I drove the last few miles to my home in Houston, I felt the stillness of the picture. It is a memory of an event, a memory of living flowers. It is a memorial of an experience. It is silent.
I am a girl who will go on running. I will go into my elliptical now. I will do my balance exercises today. I just had my green tea and there is fresh spinach in the fridge. My boss has already sent an e-mail asking if I would help a colleague.
But, alone, I feel the stillness. It is so beautiful, I may cry. Thank You Stillness.
Monday, May 28, 2012
ORW - Running with a Maniac
Sunday, I had a fabulous time running the Ottawa Race Weekend half marathon. I ran with a guy I've chatted with on-line but never met before. It went really well and was a good time.
I was staying in a hotel near the start. This allowed me to use a nice bathroom very soon before the race. I sallied forth at 8:40 for a race that started at nine. It was easy for Ken to spot in my running mania top. He hugged me.
I insisted on starting in the first wave. My check out time became my motivating factor for running a relatively fast race. Ken and I talked of ultra marathoning and fueling. He asked me why I went to a monastery and how I got kicked out. IronGirl passed us. I said, "Congratulations!" She said, "for what?" Then at the same time we both said, "Being here." Ken knew I would need a porta stop. He pointed out some "good" (no line) portas. With 10k left to go, the bands started energizing us and the energy increased. We picked up our pace. My heel was hurting. during the last 5k or so. Miss Smiles cheered for us. Avis cheered for us.
I finished happy (2h17).
There was a massive human traffic jam right after the finish line. I waded through it, picked up my medal and then exited out the side. I then jogged to the hotel and in 15 min took a shower and packed up; getting out by 12 pm. Whew!
Then I went to the Runningmania meet and greet, meeting several new maniacs. Then I left with JoJo and drove to her home town. This morning, I took a picture of my medal with her flowers.
Then, we took C-Moss for a walk on some trails nearby. It started raining so we cut it a bit short. Then we went driving around Kingston ON and also walked around town. I succombed to my curiosity regarding Vibram 5 Fingers and bought a pair on-sale. Low and behold, Spaff wandered into the store. OMG! What a treat to meet one of my ultra idols, whose blog I read.
Tomorrow, I'm leaving Kingston early and flying home. I will be glad to get home and relax for a day before going to work. I have trouble being surrounded by people so much. I miss my quiet pondering. So, that is the insite for this report. Going to races and meeting others is fun. But not for me as a way of life. Just being quiet is my practice. My mind is quiet and I can hear the inner Voice. "Being" alone lives in the kingdom. It is hard to just be with others around. "Being" is forgotten.
My new toy:
I was staying in a hotel near the start. This allowed me to use a nice bathroom very soon before the race. I sallied forth at 8:40 for a race that started at nine. It was easy for Ken to spot in my running mania top. He hugged me.
I insisted on starting in the first wave. My check out time became my motivating factor for running a relatively fast race. Ken and I talked of ultra marathoning and fueling. He asked me why I went to a monastery and how I got kicked out. IronGirl passed us. I said, "Congratulations!" She said, "for what?" Then at the same time we both said, "Being here." Ken knew I would need a porta stop. He pointed out some "good" (no line) portas. With 10k left to go, the bands started energizing us and the energy increased. We picked up our pace. My heel was hurting. during the last 5k or so. Miss Smiles cheered for us. Avis cheered for us.
I finished happy (2h17).
There was a massive human traffic jam right after the finish line. I waded through it, picked up my medal and then exited out the side. I then jogged to the hotel and in 15 min took a shower and packed up; getting out by 12 pm. Whew!
Then I went to the Runningmania meet and greet, meeting several new maniacs. Then I left with JoJo and drove to her home town. This morning, I took a picture of my medal with her flowers.
Then, we took C-Moss for a walk on some trails nearby. It started raining so we cut it a bit short. Then we went driving around Kingston ON and also walked around town. I succombed to my curiosity regarding Vibram 5 Fingers and bought a pair on-sale. Low and behold, Spaff wandered into the store. OMG! What a treat to meet one of my ultra idols, whose blog I read.
Tomorrow, I'm leaving Kingston early and flying home. I will be glad to get home and relax for a day before going to work. I have trouble being surrounded by people so much. I miss my quiet pondering. So, that is the insite for this report. Going to races and meeting others is fun. But not for me as a way of life. Just being quiet is my practice. My mind is quiet and I can hear the inner Voice. "Being" alone lives in the kingdom. It is hard to just be with others around. "Being" is forgotten.
My new toy:
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Ottawa 2012 - Half Marathon Prelude
Pictures from the hotel lobby:
The cool jersey is Runningmania.com gear. I've been a part of that discussion board for several years. The other people live in Canada. So I come up here every year to say hi to them in person.
Ottawa Race Weekend is a huge event. There is a 2k, 5k and 10k on Saturday evening; then a half and full marathon on Sunday. Last night, I met 2 maniacs I haven't met before. Today, I am running with one I haven't met before but chatted with almost daily. And then, many maniacs will meet for a post race meal and I'll get to say hi to at least 20 maniacs.
I am as usual studying A Course in Miracles. It says (Chapter 6.III) the message of the crucifixion was: teach only love for that is what you are. The ego was made without love and cannot hear the Holy Spirit. The ego is what asks, "What are you?" and is the part of the mind that doubts.
"...the one answer of the Holy Spirit to all questions the ego raises: You are a child of God, a priceless part of His Kingdom, which he created as part of Him. Nothing else exists and only this is real." "The only safety lies in extending the Holy Spirit, because as you see His gentleness in others your own mind perceives itself as totally harmless. Once it can accept this fully, it sees no need to protect itself. The protection of God then dawns upon it..."
And now I sit quietly in my hotel room, waiting for the race start. I will sally forth ego and mind to join the Son of God.
The cool jersey is Runningmania.com gear. I've been a part of that discussion board for several years. The other people live in Canada. So I come up here every year to say hi to them in person.
Ottawa Race Weekend is a huge event. There is a 2k, 5k and 10k on Saturday evening; then a half and full marathon on Sunday. Last night, I met 2 maniacs I haven't met before. Today, I am running with one I haven't met before but chatted with almost daily. And then, many maniacs will meet for a post race meal and I'll get to say hi to at least 20 maniacs.
I am as usual studying A Course in Miracles. It says (Chapter 6.III) the message of the crucifixion was: teach only love for that is what you are. The ego was made without love and cannot hear the Holy Spirit. The ego is what asks, "What are you?" and is the part of the mind that doubts.
"...the one answer of the Holy Spirit to all questions the ego raises: You are a child of God, a priceless part of His Kingdom, which he created as part of Him. Nothing else exists and only this is real." "The only safety lies in extending the Holy Spirit, because as you see His gentleness in others your own mind perceives itself as totally harmless. Once it can accept this fully, it sees no need to protect itself. The protection of God then dawns upon it..."
And now I sit quietly in my hotel room, waiting for the race start. I will sally forth ego and mind to join the Son of God.
Friday, May 25, 2012
ORW - Prelude
I'm getting ready to go to Ottawa Canada to run a half marathon. Tomorrow, Saturday, I fly. I'll be met at the airport by a running maniac friend and we will zip into town in time to watch the evening races. I'll be meeting some new people and cheering them in their 10k. On Sunday, I run a half marathon at easy pace with a new internet friend.
Today, Friday, I took a day off work. I slept for 11 hours! And then, after running errands, and after the Houston weather had got to 85F, I went for a 2 hour jog. Yes, I can run in heat and humidity.
Now I have done some packing and eating and soon will do the evening workout.
I marvel at the status of my life. There are so many places where a path had to be chosen and radically different outcomes ensued. I could've stayed in California instead of moving to Missouri. I could've stayed a drunk rather than get sober. I could've skipped the monastery. I could've skipped Texas. I could've got fat and sick. I could've stayed a Catholic, or become a Buddhist.
Have I learned anything? I have learned peace; even in the midst of a busy city existence. I have to find the secret of the desert monks in the midst of cars, airports and a huge chempark.
I find this existence in my living room as I ride my elliptical. I find it in the tiny park across the street where one lap in 0.28 miles but trees provide shade. At the back of the park is a swamp. Birds with long legs find their lunch. Snakes perch on fallen logs.
In the desert, I find Christ within. I find love in all the other people I meet. I find that deep well of the Hidden Christ in the silence within.
Today, Friday, I took a day off work. I slept for 11 hours! And then, after running errands, and after the Houston weather had got to 85F, I went for a 2 hour jog. Yes, I can run in heat and humidity.
Now I have done some packing and eating and soon will do the evening workout.
I marvel at the status of my life. There are so many places where a path had to be chosen and radically different outcomes ensued. I could've stayed in California instead of moving to Missouri. I could've stayed a drunk rather than get sober. I could've skipped the monastery. I could've skipped Texas. I could've got fat and sick. I could've stayed a Catholic, or become a Buddhist.
Have I learned anything? I have learned peace; even in the midst of a busy city existence. I have to find the secret of the desert monks in the midst of cars, airports and a huge chempark.
I find this existence in my living room as I ride my elliptical. I find it in the tiny park across the street where one lap in 0.28 miles but trees provide shade. At the back of the park is a swamp. Birds with long legs find their lunch. Snakes perch on fallen logs.
In the desert, I find Christ within. I find love in all the other people I meet. I find that deep well of the Hidden Christ in the silence within.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
This Blog....
Because of this blog, there are several people who I have met in person and several others I exchange with on the internet. But it troubles me that lately, a Russian source comes here 20 or 30 times a day. Is it a robot or a real person? Is it a hacker of some sort? I don't want to cancel the blog because the Russian robot is bugging me.
In other news, my 2012 world running tour goes international this weekend: Ottawa Canada. What is funny is that this 2012 running tour is also scheduled to have a stop in Germany. I did not plan any of this really. I signed up for some races because I wanted to. I signed up for others because work was taking me to that area. But really, 5 states and 2 other countries is crazy.
I have found a chiropractor in Houston area who does ART/Graston. She works on my left achilles and heel. Yesterday she gave me some foot strengthening and balance exercises. Wow! If I keep doing those, I won't be one of those little old ladies anyone could push around.
In other news, my 2012 world running tour goes international this weekend: Ottawa Canada. What is funny is that this 2012 running tour is also scheduled to have a stop in Germany. I did not plan any of this really. I signed up for some races because I wanted to. I signed up for others because work was taking me to that area. But really, 5 states and 2 other countries is crazy.
I have found a chiropractor in Houston area who does ART/Graston. She works on my left achilles and heel. Yesterday she gave me some foot strengthening and balance exercises. Wow! If I keep doing those, I won't be one of those little old ladies anyone could push around.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Chapter 5 - Intense Holy Spirit Learning
A Course in Miracles Text chapter 5 is really deep into the Holy Spirit. I deeply feel Him inside. I remember. Or I stop and listen; experiencing the reality.
All this as I ride the elliptical or walk on the tread mill.
"Healing is the vocation of the mind.
In the mind, God put the Call to joy."
I'm still in the hunt for completing a 24 hour run. Maybe this one near Atlanta on September 1:
http://www.dumassevents.com/Merrill_s_Mile.html
Surreal eh?
All this as I ride the elliptical or walk on the tread mill.
"Healing is the vocation of the mind.
In the mind, God put the Call to joy."
I'm still in the hunt for completing a 24 hour run. Maybe this one near Atlanta on September 1:
http://www.dumassevents.com/Merrill_s_Mile.html
Surreal eh?
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