Nourish Your Life

The weather has been perfect, here in Michigan. Indian Summer  is upon us.  Yesterday, it was 65 degrees and sunny, so  a group of us decided to go hiking on the Potawatomi Trail; a trail I had heard stories of-the most common story is that it is uphill the whole way…   

We started out after our “bootcamp” class at the gym-great way to get warmed up for the hike~I figured~and warmed up, we were!

The trail was only five miles long, and-yes, it was uphill the whole way!   The fallen leaves crunched under our feet; the wild life romped on all sides of us.  We could smell the warmth of burning leaves far off, and the crisp smell of a cider mill not too far off.  We chatted and laughed and told stories (the remember when…kind) “on and off.”  Between the “on and off,” we simply basked in the beauty of the day and the nature that surrounded us.

I am truly grateful for God’s gifts to us that day.  …And His gift to me as He led me up the “steps” of nature with gratitude.  I am Blest!  I am on Higher Ground.

What steps have YOU climbed these past few days? 

Are YOU on Higher Ground?

We had an incredibly beautiul prayer and healing service at our chuch last Sunday evening.  I have been pondering it all week.

Our earth needs healing and the people who dwell on it need healing; some people more than others, of course.

There are many formats for Healing Services, and many venues; the ones we see on televison, those in hospitals and homes; this one was a simple yet profound service in the setting of our santuary.

The service elements were: music, liturgy, prayer,  annointing with oil and the Blessing Prayer for Healing.

I wish to share this prayer with you now, and may it be my prayer for all of you.

A Blessing Prayer to be Healed

May you desire to be healed

May what is wounded in your life be restored to good health

May you be receptive to the ways in which healing needs to happen

May you take good care of yourself

May you extend compassion to all that hurts within your body, mind and Spirit

May you be patient with the time it takes to heal

May you be aware of the wonders of your body, mind and Spirit and their amazing capacity to heal

May the skills of all those who are caring for you be used to the best of their ability in returning you to good health

May you be open to receive from those who extend kindness, care and compassion to you

May you rest peacefully under the sheltering wings of Divine love, trusting in God’s gracious presence

May you find little moments of beauty and joy to sustain you May you keep hope in your heart

Amen

Have I climbed to Higher Ground as a reflection of this Service?  You bet I have…

Have YOU?

Tomorrow I leave for the U.S. Olympic Center to study sports nutrition with the Olympic athletes and their dietitians!  I am sooo excited-I can hardly wait!

As I am packing, I want to include my “steps.” 

For simplicity, I will only pack one outfit for each day.  (Usually I pack half my closet~ “just in case”)

For nature, definitely my hiking boots; after all, we will be at the foot of Pikes Peak.

For education, my sports nutrition books and a “mind like a sponge!”

For gratitude, my Gratitude Journal, of course.

What an adventure this shall be!  David Grayson says it well: “Adventure is not outside man; it is within.”

Are YOU ready for an adventure?

What would YOU pack to include YOUR “steps?” and Where would YOU go?

I am soooo excited!  Next Wednesday I am leaving for the U.S. Olympic Center in Colorado Springs!  I will studying sports nutrition with the Registered Dietitians who work with the Olympic athletes and the athletes themselves.  Wow!  What an education that will be…

I wonder how many steps  to Higher Ground I will climb after this adventure?  Not only will my adventure include education, but also nature (how could it not, at the foot Pikes Peak  the mountain), simplicity (I will be living in the dorms), and gratitude-for the beauty, the knowledge and and the entire experience at the Olympics Village!

How often do YOU have an adventure that includes ALL of YOUR stepping stones?

How can WE create more of them?

When I woke this  morning, the moon was full and shining in the bedroom window, right on me!  As the moon beams came through my window, they brought with them this amazing energy…I couldn’t wait to get out of bed and start my day!

This has happened to me a number of times before; being energized by moon beams…being energized by nature…

No wonder  nature is one of my “stepping stones!”  It brings with it, the ENERGY to climb higher

How can I bring more nature; more energy into my life?  I shall ponder that today…

What brings YOU energy?

Have YOU been energized by moon beams?  by nature?

It is October 1st!  …and that means my “fall cleaning”  WILL begin.   How long does “fall cleaning” last?…  until Winter, of course.

I try to break it down into each week’s goals; then  I do not find myself, the week before Winter begins, cleaning everything in sight.  (I can feel you nodding your heads-you have done it too, huh…)

Just for October, my week one will be ten days and my week three will be ten days.  (I am going to Colorado the “middle” ten days of the month to study sports nutrition at the Olympic Athletic Center and then other nutrition issues in Denver.) 

 Week one: I will clean my office small bookcase, desk top, table top, file box top, computer desk top and window ledge.  So…the tops of EVERYTHING plus the bookcase.  Hmmm..that feels “right.” 

Week three: Still in my office-the closet bookcase, file drawers and desk drawers.  Whew!  That will be alot for one, ten-day, week!  I need to get it done, though, to bring back my “santuary.”  That is all the motivation I need

What steps to Higher Ground will I be climbing?  Certainly simplicity; probably education (as I am sure I will end up reading ALOT.)

Iwill find nature and gratitude in October in other ways.

What is YOUR plan for October?

Which stepping stones will you be climbing to YOUR Higher Ground?

Just to take a break from my “Fall cleaning” thoughts, I want to share this great article that I found on Oprah’s website.

Here you go.

I know I still have four days before I have to…OOPS-I mean- I GET to start my “fall cleaning.”

I am just getting it altogether in my head, so I can put it on paper.

I know that my office/sanctuary will be first.  I wasn’t sure how my office can ALSO be my sanctuary until I sat down in “my chair” and pondered it.

I have, in my office/sanctuary, a computer table, desk, four drawer vertical file box, a big, comfy chair and a small what-use-to-be-a nightstand- table.  There is also a small book case next to the table and a bi-fold closet turned book shelves.

 This room is always my office, but only my sanctuary when the room is clean and organized…and THAT  is why I need to clean, organize and simplify it first!

I need my office, but even more than it-I NEED my sanctuary

What do YOU need to do first?

What is YOUR reason?

We are talking about education this month; the month of September.  I learn from many people, many ways, many mediums.

This morning, I learned from my coach, Jo.  In her BLOG from yesterday, she told us of a mountain climbing experience she recently had.  She had almost made it to her destination but did not think she could go on…please read her story.

What did I learn from this?  Her words, “It was so worth it!”

What have I quit just before “reaching the top?” I am going to ponder this today. Why did I quit and what would have changed in my life, if only I had gone on? Would it have been “so worth it!”  Stay tuned…

What have YOU quit just before “reaching the top?” What would have changed in YOUR life if only YOU had gone on?  Would it have been “so worth it!”

I love to learn!  There are so many ways to “learn” available for us!  In September, we think about going “back to school.”  Going back to the formal education; and…I am all for it-after all, I teach at the college level…but I do recall reading a quote by Albert Einstein:  “It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education.” And, there is something to be said for that!

And so…as I ponder the different ways there are to learn, I first think of my stepping stones: nature, simplicity, gratitude and and how my newest stepping stone, education, all fits together.

Ponder with me, be curious with me, if you will…How do YOU view education?  Do YOU prefer “formal” or “not-so-formal” education?  What part does education play in YOUR Stepping Stones?  How do YOU learn from them?

I certainly am curious   Are YOU?

Stay tuned, as we ponder this together