Who are we talking to?

I had one of those deep conversations with a friend today where I walked away feeling like a better person. You know the kind... where things are happening on a level we don't fully understand, and questions are being answered, that we haven't even asked out loud.

The most significant thought she passed on to me was how she had recently been in a situation where her and a couple friends were distressed about some relational conflicts. But instead of talking/gossiping about it, they stopped, and prayed over it together. We continued to talk about how powerful that would be if we made a commitment to always pray over people instead of talk about them.

I remember one of my favorite people, Phil, saying, "If I'm ever in a rough spot, and you want to help me, don't just 'send me your thoughts.' Please, go talk to someone who can actually help me... go talk to the Creator on my behalf." I love that thought. It reminds me of how prayer isn't something we do, its someone we talk to.

So today, over a cup of arabic coffee, my friend and I made that commitment to each other: that we would take the iniative to pray for people instead of talk about them. Culture is changed with decisions like that.

It only seems right to end this entry, and end this day, doing just that...

God-- thank you so much speaking to us in a voice that only our soul can hear, thank you for speaking to us through the conversations of others. Please forgive me for any words that I have spoken that have damaged someone else. And forgive me for talking with other people, instead of you, about the things that anger, hurt, annoy and worry me. Teach us how to really love each other.... and how to really love You.

Threads...

"The deeper we grow in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the poorer in spirit we become-- the more we realize that everything in life is a gift. The tenor of our lives becomes one of humble and joyful thanksgiving. In conversation, the disciple who is truly poor in spirit always leaves the other person with the feeling, "My life has been enriched by talking with you." This is neither false modesty nor phony humility. His or her life has been enriched and graced. He is not all exhaust and no intake. He does not impose herself on others. He listens well because he knows he has so much ot learn from others. " - Brennan Manning

I first stumbled on this thought in the mid-90s and it changed my whole perspective in relating to people. At that time, I taught graphic design classes at Truman State University and helped mentor a group of design students in the Publications Office. Being in such positions caused a lot of pride to grow inside of me--thinking I had so much knowledge/insight that I could impart to my students on many different levels.

I remember the night that changed, though: we were driving through Kansas on the way back from a long road-trip, I was driving, it was 3 a.m. (the sacred hours of the day) and I was the only one in the van awake. In these quiet and contemplative hours I had been soaking in these thoughts of Brennan's, and I suddenly saw how blind I had been. Memories of every student I mentored flashed by and I realized how much each one of them taught me--how each one of them enriched my life.

I look back now at how much the people in my life have shaped who I am today, and I can't help but celebrate the thought of how interwoven our lives are. So many beautiful people have become like the threads of love and influence that now make up the fiber of my personality/outlook on life. I truly have been enriched. Thank you: kathy, lee, jeff, mary, bruce, olive, elnathan, carla, pam, dave, emily, kathy, dan, bee, maryjo, ken, trish, john, linda, lucy, peter, dudley, veronica, tim, keith, rich, jessica, emily, mary, mike, dorothy, nancy, jeff, mutt, margaret, kathy, heidi, tom, mark, doug, jill, david, marlin, kathy, serenity, pam, greg, buddy, jose, winston, teresa, jay, dan, ernest, kris, pat, mark, gretchen, jan, brian "buck", chris, casey, david, michelle, joe, jason, matt, jim, phil, cricket, laura, jennifer, john, chad, abby, tyler, nicole, jessica, stephanie, abby, madison, kelley, josh, mikey, katie, kara, george, mary, cindy, dawn, mia, jon, silvia, robert, keith, kelly, kyle, kara, diana, pam, crystal, diana, barb, tara, mike, phil, sarah, susan, t.w., jack, gary, wilma, dee, judith, ben, sarah, silva, jake, nina, cameo, hans, natalie, guy, stephanie, terri, michael, neal, mark, angela, jessica, erin, nate, victor, linda, ryan, trish, jim, montana, emily, mikey, alyssa, josh, jeff, kyle, steve, kate, aubrey, lolly, matt, joey, nate, david, eric, brit, bryan, ben, torey, bobby, phil, delisa, robert, pam, lisa, mary, robyn, alex, shaleen, lisa, nettie, chris, jamie, william, david, elijah, matt, rob, john, brennan, teresa, vittoria, jeanne, phil, erwin, john, richard, abe, clive, pete, mike, john, deb, david, tim, eric, brian, ted, rita.... You all are such a rich weave. Thank you.

La Luna

I've always loved the moon, not only because its the greek meaning of my name, but because she's just innately poetic.

Even though her surface has been severly pocked by incoming meteors, the light she reflects graces the sky each night. Whether full or just a sliver, she continually romances us.

But the truth is, without the sun,
she is only an ugly gray mass...
as are we.

The most beautiful things I have seen in other people,
are reflected light from a brighter source.