Tomorrow my family and I are headed to Oakland, CA to visit our best friends in the world, the Carlson's!! We're all so excited we can hardly wait! I'll be sure to post pictures upon our return. This should be a fabulous time - even if we are only staying for five days!
San Francisco - here we come!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Grandpa's Faith
My grandpa is the most wonderful man in the world. He is in his early 90's, and has begun truly contemplating what legacy he wants to leave behind when he dies. I am in favor of this contemplation, and I think that everyone should force themselves to consider such things. You never know when your time is due, or which day will be your last in this life.
He sent me an email (yes, I have a very tech-savvy grandpa!) today with the intention of bearing the testimony of his heart, and pleading with me (and the rest of his grandchildren/children) to consider the truth that he has discovered in the faith to which he subscribes.
My first knee jerk reaction was a bit overzealous, and felt somewhat off kilter, and cocky. I grew up in the faith which my grandfather speaks of, and have a slight tendency to discount anything that anyone says about it - because I chose to step out of that setting years and years ago. Upon feeling that repulsion to what my grandpa had written, it made me stop and ask myself what I was doing, how I was feeling, and what my problem was.
Here is a man who loves me very much. A man who has never been anything but beautiful, helpful, loving, and kind to me and my family, even when making choices in my life which he would highly disagree with. He has never preached at me, or made me feel anything but unconditional love and acceptance from him. I decided to open my heart and my mind just a little bit further, and hear out what he was saying - perhaps really even reading between the lines.
Ultimately, he wants what is best for me and my family. Isn't that all any of us want for our loved ones? Perhaps we go about trying to provide what we feel is best for others, in the one and only way that we know how. Perhaps that is part of the misunderstandings that so many family members and friends go through together. When we really stop and consider, not the words that people speak, but the feeling they are portraying BEHIND those words - that is where the real communication comes in. The trick is finding ourselves sensitive enough to those feelings to be able to identify them.
My religious beliefs and experiences are one of the largest parts of my life. I ultimately would like for it to be the entirety of my life. Because of these experiences at Summum, and my involvement there, I think I was able to respond to my grandfather in a way that unified us, rather than divided us. Instead of disagreeing with what he was saying, or even respectfully declining his invitation - I was able to honestly tell him how much he means to me, and how graciously I could accept his testimony and the message in his heart.
Regardless of the label we decide to slap on Creation, or God, or Universal Essence - the feeling, the substantial essence BEHIND that label is always the same. It is that which unites each of us to one another. It is that Substantial Essence through which we experience love, and all things beautiful and awe-inspiring. It is that substantial essence that binds us all to Itself - cradling each spirit like a babe to the mother's breast.
It is this Spirit, this Love, this Creation that my grandfather will return to when he has drawn his last breath here. And there, I pray, he finds me.
He sent me an email (yes, I have a very tech-savvy grandpa!) today with the intention of bearing the testimony of his heart, and pleading with me (and the rest of his grandchildren/children) to consider the truth that he has discovered in the faith to which he subscribes.
My first knee jerk reaction was a bit overzealous, and felt somewhat off kilter, and cocky. I grew up in the faith which my grandfather speaks of, and have a slight tendency to discount anything that anyone says about it - because I chose to step out of that setting years and years ago. Upon feeling that repulsion to what my grandpa had written, it made me stop and ask myself what I was doing, how I was feeling, and what my problem was.
Here is a man who loves me very much. A man who has never been anything but beautiful, helpful, loving, and kind to me and my family, even when making choices in my life which he would highly disagree with. He has never preached at me, or made me feel anything but unconditional love and acceptance from him. I decided to open my heart and my mind just a little bit further, and hear out what he was saying - perhaps really even reading between the lines.
Ultimately, he wants what is best for me and my family. Isn't that all any of us want for our loved ones? Perhaps we go about trying to provide what we feel is best for others, in the one and only way that we know how. Perhaps that is part of the misunderstandings that so many family members and friends go through together. When we really stop and consider, not the words that people speak, but the feeling they are portraying BEHIND those words - that is where the real communication comes in. The trick is finding ourselves sensitive enough to those feelings to be able to identify them.
My religious beliefs and experiences are one of the largest parts of my life. I ultimately would like for it to be the entirety of my life. Because of these experiences at Summum, and my involvement there, I think I was able to respond to my grandfather in a way that unified us, rather than divided us. Instead of disagreeing with what he was saying, or even respectfully declining his invitation - I was able to honestly tell him how much he means to me, and how graciously I could accept his testimony and the message in his heart.
Regardless of the label we decide to slap on Creation, or God, or Universal Essence - the feeling, the substantial essence BEHIND that label is always the same. It is that which unites each of us to one another. It is that Substantial Essence through which we experience love, and all things beautiful and awe-inspiring. It is that substantial essence that binds us all to Itself - cradling each spirit like a babe to the mother's breast.
It is this Spirit, this Love, this Creation that my grandfather will return to when he has drawn his last breath here. And there, I pray, he finds me.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Seriously?!? Could it have truly been longer than half of a year since I posted last? Wow. Just wow. Apparently my creative outlet must build itself up further, until I can no longer contain myself. Well, here I am.
Things have proceeded, as they always do. I have made some progress in my fitness goals, by losing 10 pounds. Still so far to go, but at least it's a start! I'm loving the program I'm doing, it fits so well into my life. I finally have gotten to a point where I know I will do this, without a shadow of a doubt. It's just time. Perhaps this is the 'click' that people speak of, when the light comes on, and your whole life changes.
My involvement at Summum has been fairly consistent lately. I have had the opportunity since April to provide a clean, fresh home environmentm every other week for our beloved master. I must say that it is something I look forward to doing every other week. It's a full on meditation of work for me, and I love it. It helps me feel in some small way that I'm giving something back. How important it is in our lives to consciously choose to give. How many of us do that really?
So often we are surrounded with the message of consuming, take everything you can, get it before it's gone, keep gaining one up on the Jones's. How often do we take a look at our lives and actually CHOOSE to give, rather than to take?
How easy is it for you to hand that dollar to someone who needs it? How easy is it for you to give away the last piece of pie? How difficult is it for you to give your old clothes, items, away to those who may put them to better use?
I love this time of year. The holiday's are approaching, and for some reason because of these holidays it generally helps people consider generosity. I would like to make a personal challenge to anyone reading this (yeah, right) - don't wait for Christmas, or Thanksgiving. Give something away today. Give something away that you feel you just cannot part with. See what it feels like to sincerely give something to another. I bet it will surprise you.
It is only when you give away everything that you realize you have everything. :)
Things have proceeded, as they always do. I have made some progress in my fitness goals, by losing 10 pounds. Still so far to go, but at least it's a start! I'm loving the program I'm doing, it fits so well into my life. I finally have gotten to a point where I know I will do this, without a shadow of a doubt. It's just time. Perhaps this is the 'click' that people speak of, when the light comes on, and your whole life changes.
My involvement at Summum has been fairly consistent lately. I have had the opportunity since April to provide a clean, fresh home environmentm every other week for our beloved master. I must say that it is something I look forward to doing every other week. It's a full on meditation of work for me, and I love it. It helps me feel in some small way that I'm giving something back. How important it is in our lives to consciously choose to give. How many of us do that really?
So often we are surrounded with the message of consuming, take everything you can, get it before it's gone, keep gaining one up on the Jones's. How often do we take a look at our lives and actually CHOOSE to give, rather than to take?
How easy is it for you to hand that dollar to someone who needs it? How easy is it for you to give away the last piece of pie? How difficult is it for you to give your old clothes, items, away to those who may put them to better use?
I love this time of year. The holiday's are approaching, and for some reason because of these holidays it generally helps people consider generosity. I would like to make a personal challenge to anyone reading this (yeah, right) - don't wait for Christmas, or Thanksgiving. Give something away today. Give something away that you feel you just cannot part with. See what it feels like to sincerely give something to another. I bet it will surprise you.
It is only when you give away everything that you realize you have everything. :)
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Becoming...
Boy have I missed this outlet in my life.
I have not reached my fitness goals as I had planned. Never-the-less, I am determined. I am focusing on all areas of my life, else I find myself unbalanced, and quickly.
In the philosophy of Summum, there is an aphorism that speaks volumes:
"Where your attention is, is where you are." - Summum
While I've read this, and studied along side it, and recognized it in my daily life for some years, I find that I frequently am not aware of where my attention is. I am lost most of the time throughout my daily life.
I've been reading another book, called "Who Am I?" by Jean Klein. In this book, he states the exact same thing, in different words:
"You become what you absorb." -Jean Klein
Reading this statement hit me, strongly. Of course!! My attention moves into everything which I absorb - be that the food I am consuming, the television show I am watching, the conversation I have with friends at work, the news I read about online, etc. etc. etc. I BECOME WHAT I ABSORB! It is precisely, where I am, is where my attention is focused. LIGHTBULB!
It's funny to me that the words we are exposed to become something we just hear, but don't really acknowledge. The SAME meaning can be transmitted through different words, and suddenly the entire concept is solidified.
Summum is an invitation to liberate us from ourselves, from our illusions, and mental prisons we create for ourselves. It is a wake up call to our sleeping self that is consumed, and absorbing the dream-life we are walking blindly within. The freedom of this awakening is what I choose to absorb - what I choose to become. I want to invite everyone to do the same. Awareness is not elusive.
http://www.summum.us/about/purpose.shtml
-Cami
I have not reached my fitness goals as I had planned. Never-the-less, I am determined. I am focusing on all areas of my life, else I find myself unbalanced, and quickly.
In the philosophy of Summum, there is an aphorism that speaks volumes:
"Where your attention is, is where you are." - Summum
While I've read this, and studied along side it, and recognized it in my daily life for some years, I find that I frequently am not aware of where my attention is. I am lost most of the time throughout my daily life.
I've been reading another book, called "Who Am I?" by Jean Klein. In this book, he states the exact same thing, in different words:
"You become what you absorb." -Jean Klein
Reading this statement hit me, strongly. Of course!! My attention moves into everything which I absorb - be that the food I am consuming, the television show I am watching, the conversation I have with friends at work, the news I read about online, etc. etc. etc. I BECOME WHAT I ABSORB! It is precisely, where I am, is where my attention is focused. LIGHTBULB!
It's funny to me that the words we are exposed to become something we just hear, but don't really acknowledge. The SAME meaning can be transmitted through different words, and suddenly the entire concept is solidified.
Summum is an invitation to liberate us from ourselves, from our illusions, and mental prisons we create for ourselves. It is a wake up call to our sleeping self that is consumed, and absorbing the dream-life we are walking blindly within. The freedom of this awakening is what I choose to absorb - what I choose to become. I want to invite everyone to do the same. Awareness is not elusive.
http://www.summum.us/about/purpose.shtml
-Cami
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