As I think back on my lesson last Sunday about finding the things that are “juicy” for you in life, I remembered something else I wanted to share.  Everything in the world is juicy for someone, because that is the only way things continue to exist. 

One of Greek mythological stories is that of Atlas, the Titan who lost the war with the Greek Gods.  He was punished by having to hold up the heavens. The typical illustration is Atlas holding the world on his shoulders.  This symbolizes the universal experience of bearing a heavy burden.  We can all relate to that! 

One of the wisdom teachers we encountered in our summer program was Glennon Doyle and her podcast with her wife and her sister - We Can Do Hard Things. I have been reading her books for several years and always find gems in her writings. The other day, this little bit of truth stopped me in my tracks –

“We’re only envious of those already doing what we were made to do. Envy is a giant, flashing arrow pointing us toward our destiny.” ~ Glennon Doyle Melton

Just like everyone else, I have been processing the transition of Dolly Parton and considering the treasures she sprinkled into my life that I intend to cherish in her memory. To begin, she was the very first singer I ever adored. My father had 8-track tapes of Dolly Parton and Porter Wagner in our cars when I was a little girl, and I nearly wore them out as I sang along.  Admittedly, I was playing cassettes and CDs of Dolly well into my adulthood too!    

At CSL Tampa Bay, volunteering is more than lending a hand. It’s an opportunity to deepen connection, live spiritual principles in real time, and become part of something larger than oneself. For many members, that journey into service begins in simple, sometimes unexpected ways.

here is an unmistakable buzz in the air this week and I felt it immediately on Monday when I was doing my early morning walk in my neighborhood – the first day of school!  As the kids walked to the front to meet the bus, you could almost smell their new sneakers and backpacks and freshly sharpened pencils!  They were walking with a pep in their step that I know  probably won’t be seen again until the last day of school next May!

In his famous essay titled Nature, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote these profound words  – “Nature is the symbol of the spirit.” 

I came across this old riddle again the other day and it spoke to me.

Five frogs are sitting on a log.
Four decide to jump off. How many are left?

Answer: five.  

Why? Because there's a difference between deciding and doing.

This week we are intentionally focusing on one of the most interesting parts of being human – relationships.  From the moment our souls breathe into our magic suits at birth, we start the lifelong journey of interacting with other human beings.  And, from those earliest connections all the way to our current relationships, we have each been learning and growing along the way.

This week we are exploring the teachings of Rev. Edwene Gaines, and she says - “You must assign significance and meaning to your life, giving yourself strength and endurance and bringing joy to your existence on a daily basis.”

On Monday, July 6th, the Dalai Lama will turn 91.  His life story is fascinating, and I encourage you to read about him.  He is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, teaching mindfulness, joy, compassion and harmony.  He states often that his religion is kindness, and he firmly believes conflicts are solved through dialogue. 

We all have friends we love spending time with. Recently, while talking with one of mine, I found myself saying, “I love who I am when I’m with you.” It wasn't simply that I enjoy her company. It was that being with her brings forth a version of me that feels authentic, joyful, wise, and alive. There is a difference between liking someone and liking who you become in their presence.

A few days ago, I spontaneously decided to explore a trail that led away from the RV campsite we were currently enjoying and so deep into the woods that I could no longer see any other campers.   It was an easy walk for the first thirty minutes, but then I came across a rather large mud patch. Wearing only my tennis shoes, I convinced myself that I could balance on the tiny patches of dried mud to transverse this wet, soggy part of the trail.

Rainbows seem to appear everywhere in June as we celebrate Pride Month. I had been considering what I might write about Pride when I came across a quote from Maya Angelou that immediately captured my attention:

"Try to be a rainbow in someone else's cloud."

Buddhism is one of the religions that influenced Ernest Holmes heavily as he wrote The Science of Mind that we study.  After all, it was Buddha who said – “What we think, we become.”  Sounds like Holmes to me! 

Who are you traveling the road of life with these days?  As many of you know, I just returned from a long period of traveling, and I did so with 7 other people, therefore there were 8 of us on planes, trains, boats, touring vans, and buses.  Eight of us were constantly together trying new foods, wearing interesting sarongs, feeding large bats, walking steep terrain to waterfalls, navigating crowds of people, observing the culture around us, dancing, telling stories, laughing and sharing everything. 

There’s an old joke about a man who finds a magic lamp with a genie inside. He rubs the lamp, the genie appears and grants him three wishes. Sarcastically, the man says, “Make me a cheeseburger.” And with a puff of smoke, the genie turns him into a cheeseburger.

There is a traditional Buddhist saying – “Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.”   Maybe you are like me and have heard that many times.  But, over the past few weeks, I learned more about that phrase and got to deepen my understanding of it through a personal experience. 

In his book, A Hat Full of Sky, Terry Pratchett wrote - “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”

It is amazing just how many choices there are to be made on a Sunday morning, just to single out one day of the week. I can choose to sleep in and cuddle my cat.  I can choose to arrive at the Center early enough to join Sacred Cup.  I can choose to arrive later for just the service, or I can choose to watch it online live or later.   And, that is just Sunday alone!