I had gardened tonight until nearly dark.   Then I sat outside on a beach chair in our “leanto” watching the heat lightning brighten up the western sky.  I sit and sit and hear a peeping noise.  The noise comes closer and closer.  I see a bird, with a head similar to a cardinal, come into the fronds of the two palm trees which grow four feet away from me.  The bird’s color is indistinct because night is falling.

This bird continues peeping and I think it will fly away shortly.  But the peeping slows down and then stops.  I realize this bird has decided to sleep there tonight.

I am flabbergasted.  I am so close to this bird.  I am talking quietly with this bird.  This bird is so close to the house and the house lights outside have come on.  I sit and sit and say, “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” because just before the bird arrived, I had been wondering if we should cut these two palms down.  They are close to the house, maybe too close, might cause trouble in a hurricane…….yet I like the wavering shadows these palms make inside and outside the house, and the birds do enjoy the fruits that appear often.  So, here is my answer, just like that, clear as a bell…….. So these two palm trees stay, yes!

So then I say to myself, as it is getting darker and darker, “For sure this bird will get up and leave once I stand up, fold the chair seat, and walk towards the house.  But no, this bird does not move nor make another peep.  I stand by the garage wondering why this is going on.  I wonder if this birds feels safer by human habitat?  I wonder if this birds knows my voice?  I wonder does this bird know it and all nature and mankind is included in our loving kindness meditations?

May you be happy.

May you be healthy,

May you be free of fear,

I do not know, but I am feeling very blessed by this guard outside the door.

Last evening had a magnificent sunset paddle out of Gill Dawg Marina.  A group of 40 paddled out to Durney Key.  We wanted to see the sunset as well as enjoy the full moon.  I enjoy paddling so very much, and I want all other people to enjoy these water adventures also.

I noticed several people paddling very hard, with all their might.  Yet they were slow going with all that energy expanded.   Should I say anything?  MYOB, mind your own business is the key until someone asks for help.

So, later as we waited to make and enjoy eating smores after the paddle, I was talking with a fellow paddler who expressed discomfort in her upper arms.  I quizzed her about her technique.   “Oh,” she says, “I keep my hands under the paddle and pull it towards me.”

HMMM, I thought…….however, the idea is to make paddling ENJOYABLE and EASY on YOUR BODY……………..

I did explain how it works best if you keep your hands very lightly on top of the paddle, and after paddle is in the water, you use your STRONG PALMS to PUSH and move EFFORTLESSLY FORWARD or BACKWARD, as the case may be.

This morning I realize how much paddling is like our lives.  We make things so difficult.  We do not believe that life can be easy and fun and make us laugh.  We trudge along thinking everything must be hard.

So, WAKE up and ENJOY today!  Please choose one thing you like to do, go out and do it, and realize the FUN that is always waiting.  YOU ARE LIGHT AND LOVE, FEEL and BE AWARE of that truth in your whole being.

A friend who lives in Ireland had e-mailed me this article from the newspaper Irish Mirror:

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/crime/gardai-begin-probe-800-babies-3657033

The article tells of a prior 1975 discovery of a mass grave site, this site only being investigated now in 2014.

My friend and I use tapping of Chinese acupuncture points to clear our old stories and lessen the impact of things that trigger us emotionally or physically.

Yes, this article triggered me. It opened up more of the pus under the scab unearthed after I had seen the movie Philomena. The pus seemed to relate to how church has done what the church believed was for our best, while the church benefitted economically. Please note I am using this word “church” in a general way to cover more than one denomination here.

So, reading this article brought forth ideas to tap on. I share them here, and I plan to keep working to uncover more of a solution. May these ideas help you also find more peace.

“Even though some people in the church do mean things and things to profit themselves, I deeply and completely accept myself and my feelings of anger and distrust.

Even though I grew up believing the church was right and knew the best for us all, I deeply and completely accept myself and my feelings of anger and disappointment.

Even though I believed so strongly that the church was correct, I accept my feelings of anger and disappointment.

KC: I needed to have security

TH: I felt protected by the church

EB: I was so naive.

UE: I could kick myself for believing the church and its rules.

UN: I feel so stupid.

CH: I feel so stupid and say, “Is there any good that comes out of this?”

CB: A good for me: I am learning to trust myself and my gut feelings.

UA: A good for me: am learning to trust in myself and validate my own behaviors and beliefs.

UN: A good for me: I am positive my heart and my feelings connect me to integrity.

Wrists Together: The universe is constantly looking out for my welfare.

TH: I am fearful of replacing one dogma with another.

EB: I am searching for my own true values and universal truths of our world to lead me on our common journey.

SE: I trust that being open and connected with all people of the world will help me accomplish my purpose here on earth..

UE: I trust my own guidance system.

UN: I love myself and my viewpoints.

CH: I enjoy people who calmly argue and say their positions pro and con on all topics.

CB: I speak my truth with calmness and love and joy.

UA: I listen with respect and an open mind.

UN: I digest and clear out old or toxic or misinformed ideas.

Wrists Together: I am ready to forgive those in the church.

TH: I choose to forgive people in the church; they were doing the best they could.

EB: If I forgive them, will anything change?

SE: I trust the universe will open the minds of people involved and bring about change in church.

UE: I see that all churches use all their resources to support people in their life journey.

UN: I see churches discovering their purpose to improve the lives of women, children, and men.

CH; I see a world whose people are free of fear and are able to grow to their fullest in spirit, mind, and body.

UA: I see a world where all people know they are connected and their actions show that connection.

Take three big breaths; drink some water if you are thirsty.

Please send all healing energy to Ireland.