Celebrating love

"Love seeketh not itself to please,
nor for itself hath any care,
but for another gives its ease,
and builds a Heaven in Hell's despair."

-- William Blake

"Too Slow for those who Wait,
Too Swift for those who Fear,
Too Long for those who Grieve,
Too Short for those who Rejoice;
But for those who Love,
Time is Eternity"

-- Henry Van Dyke

Thursday night I was asked by an old friend from CA to find a quote for a brother and sister-in-law who had "fought the good fight" and were celebrating their 25-year anniversary. The request went something like this:

"I've been searching for a good quote…somewhat in vain. Most of them are syrup-py quotes about love, and harmony etc. I'm looking for something short, succinct, thought provoking…profound even :) Something much more in line with the kind of quotes you send out. The tenor would be something along the lines of the value and rewards of perseverence, the ups and downs of the journey, the wisdom gained so far, and the beauty of the experience that lies ahead. In essence I'd like to congratulate them and honor their 25 year accomplishment, and give encouragement for the promise that lies ahead (e.g. they are in a position now to reap even more rich fruits because of the investment they have made)."

So, without even knowing what was lying ahead for me yesterday, I found these two in my archives and sent them along to R.C. Then came yesterday, my day with my "sister," K.L., and her fiance, G.K. - a day to capture their shared vision for their future together. Well, we had the most amazing day, getting into the most amazing stuff in each of their lives - going to the "Hell"'s of their fears and shining a bright light to help them build the "Heaven"'s of hope, and at one point one of them said, "It's not fair that we had to wait until we were in our 60's and 50's to find true love, what we've been dreaming of all our lives." What became crystal clear as the day went on, was that when they were being fully present to the other, and to their love for both themselves and each other (and it happened often yesterday), time stretched out to eternity. So, thank you, R.C., for making your request and previewing my day, and thank you, K. & G., for being such bold adventurers and putting your souls in my hands, trusting me with with your deepest fears and wildest dreams. I love you both so much.

Our struggle with God and the importance of Faith

I met an amazing women last night, and she showed me her manuscript for a book she's written about career planning. Well, it wasn't really about that; it was about following your dream. She has a company dedicated to this, and she's written a book to be part of a kit of material to help people find and follow their dreams in life. At one point it became apparent that she was struggling with the question of whether or not to use the word "God" in her book. She wanted to be sure the material was widely "accessible." Well, it was clear that she was conflicted on this subject, because on the one hand her relationship with God was obviously a powerful source for the book, and on the other she could feel God was testing her with how long it took and how difficult it was, and there were some other costs in her personal life that had her a little angry with God. I challenged her on the subject of being true to herself in the writing of the book, and including "all of it" - the whole story about her "thing" with God. After all, it was a book about being true. And then she said the magic words that will forever ring in my heart and mind when I think of her. She had created numerous cartoon characters as part of the book, fictitious other "students" in the program with personal profile materials she made up to be both amusing and educational - a way to keep the reader company on their journey through the program. They were very cool, clever, and cute characters. One of the main characters - a kind of "narrator" of the book - was named Faith. When I asked her about the process of writing the book - what was her inspiration and source of strength? - she said that she was too scared to write it, it was just too big and important, and that "God gave me Faith to write this book." Well, she meant the character, Faith, but immediately after saying it, the bigger meaning landed on both of us, and we just smiled. It was an awesome moment of great connection between us, and we both definitely felt God present then. Thank you, L.D., for your artistry in bringing this book, this company, and this process forward and out into the world. It is such a great service. And thank you for sharing your joy and your struggle with me. They were both inspiring. And remember what they say about art at its best - that it's "a collaboration between the artist and God, and the less the artist does the better."

If you want to learn more about L.D. and her company, check out www.careercamp.com.

True giving

“There are those who give little of the much which they have -- and they give it for recognition, and their hidden desire makes their gift unwholesome. And there are those who have little and give it all. These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty. There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward. And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism. And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue; they give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space. Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes [God] smiles upon the earth.”

-- Kahlil Gibran

I am happy and proud to say that I know one of these people, and I'm going out to Austin this morning, after my run and bagelatte with Jake, to be with him. We will be finishing the assignment stage of his Life Plan this afternoon. He has demonstrated such incredible patience as it's unfolded over the last few months, and he has savored every step and every word. Then we'll be attending a seder together tonight, and then I will be sleeping on his floor in a sleeping bag after staying up late and sharing stories, I'm sure. This man possesses his life; it does not possess him. He cares for himself, such that he feels worthy to give of himself. When he gives, which is often, he gives most of what he has, which is more than I can fathom, and yet his life remains rich and full. I find it interesting that he has invited me into his life as a Life Coach, and yet clearly I have so much to learn from him. He has taught me one of the greatest contributions you can make to another human being is to lovingly accept their contribution. Thank you, BMS, and here I come, so let the lessons begin! So, for anyone in Houston who might be looking for me at Diedrich's, I will be in Austin with BMS on Thursday and with my "sister," KL, on Friday, helping her and her fiance (WOW, doesn't that sound cool, Sis?) create a relationship vision for their partnership. What a trip, and then I'll be home on the weekend.

Magnifying glass

"When you ask God to heal and use your life, He shines a very bright and focused light on everything you need to look at."

Wow, K.T., does this say it for our day yesterday or what? In a very moving life planning day yesterday with a woman who "glows with beauty," both inside and out, and who is eager to rejuvenate, expand, and re-focus her commitment to a life of profound and selfless service, we came up with a compelling visual metaphor for her life - that of a magnifying glass, which focuses diffused light to a sharp point of great heat and intensity. It was also clear to both of us that I was playing a similar role for her as a Life Coach, offering myself and the life planning process as a tool for God's spiritual cauterization work in her life. I believe it was actually a powerful healing day for both of us, for that matter. K.T., it was such an extreme pleasure to honor you in this way, ... just for being you. As a great man whose friendship I cherish once said to me, "Thank you for being alive."

In honor of P.C.

“But let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls."

-- Kahlil Gibran

Yesterday I spent a wonderful day with an amazing woman who is being called to higher and higher levels of leadership and love in her life. The theme for her visioning day and the ensuing Life Plan revealed itself immediately: "celebrating, embracing, and owning the many new opportunities to love and lead - and the resulting abundance - that are being thrust upon me." She is an example of most truly great leaders I know, in that leadership is pursuing her, vs. the other way around. Well, I asked her to tell me her favorite author and her favorite visual imagery, and she answered Kahlil Gibran and seashores, which immediately led me to this. This message also reminded me of her wedding ring. So, I offer this message in honor of P.C., as she ventures out into the great unknown, and to her husband, C., with whom she will share this amazing journey. To accompany her and give her courage, I'll offer another few inspiring quotes, one of which is also from Kahlil Gibran, just for good measure:

"There is more in a human life than our theories of it can possibly allow. Sooner or later we are called onto our particular appointed path ... This is what I must do, this is what I've got to have, this is who I am."

-- James Hillman

"Advance, and never halt, for advancing is perfection. Advance and do not fear the thorns in the path, for they draw only corrupt blood."

-- Kahlil Gibran

Let go of the need to possess.

"Possessiveness is a form of self-doubt. People cling to what they (think they) have because they doubt they're worthy of it. If they knew their own worth, they'd know there is no need to cling to anything or anyone."

-- Paul Williams

When we feel unworthy at our core, there is no amount of money or stuff that will ever satisfy us. In fact, the feverish pursuit of these things only tends to exacerbate the feelings of pressure, longing, and despair, because it now adds guilt to the mix - guilt for having abandoned God, ourselves, and what we've known all along - that life itself is the most precious gift, making our worthiness obvious. And life ironically gets so much richer the more we give (vs. get). So don't fall into the trap of being owned by your possessions (or the fear of their loss); give freely of yourself until you break the code of the mystery, remembering how truly and wonderfully blessed you already are, ... and why you are here.

The circle of life

"All of life, day to day and century to century, is a never-ending circle of pride and humility; humility leading to greater awareness, with that awareness leading to greater achievement, leading to pride; pride breeding blindness, lack of awareness, imbalance, downfall, and a slow (or rapid, depending on the intensity of the lesson) return to humility, and then the circle is repeated again and again and again ..."

Many of us keep wanting to get to that place where the lessons finally end, where we know everything, and we can rest comfortably in that blissful knowledge, ... and it just never comes, ... because that's not the way it works. No matter how much we strive to learn and grow so that we can apply our hard-fought lessons and finally prosper for all eternity, this truth remains, that we never get any closer to the finish line, because it's not a line at the end of a race, it's a perfect circle, spinning into eternity. Enjoying our lives requires learning to enjoy this circle, and learning to accelerate through and accept all of its components in our daily routine, letting it guide and support our every human interaction. Trying to get to and then stay on the one side of the circle where "human success" gets measured simply drives one to distraction, gums up the works, and hinders the smooth flow of life, causing great anxiety and tension in all parts of the process. If you know you're on a circle anyway, why not relax and enjoy the ride. And remember to watch our children; they seem to really get it.