Week 105 - Sitting in the Power

Celebration of life

I charged myself with the task of creating an opening prayer for an upcoming celebration of life. As a Spiritual Director, I learned to weave words for ritual. Rituals give our lives a rich and lasting connection to meaningful moments, instilling them within our hearts so we remember.  

Not all moments should be remembered. Some we need to experience and move past, making sure they don’t smack us on their way out of our lives. Other moments must be treasured because they hold truth and joy.

Each of us experiences these types of moments. We endure the hardships and we await the joys. Life can be so taxing, I have found myself preparing for the hardships and forget about looking for joys. Thankfully, there are enough distractions in this world that I come upon them and they remind me to say, wait a minute. What can I do to make me feel better?

As I age, I realize I create these moments, not wait for someone else to create them for me.

I have a complicated food history and am compromised with my choices. No gluten, no dairy, no soy, no corn…the list goes on. Yet, this week in an extended day of obligations, I found myself in a store that offered food I could eat. I had the pleasure of ordering a tuna melt with gluten free bread and dairy free cheese. I was hoping I would enjoy it, and preparing myself to accept what I got.

I am excited to say I found joy. I enjoyed my tuna melt so much. It brought me back to past times when I had no food intolerances. I felt elated with every bite. It was so big, I used it for two meals, so I had a double experience. Not often can I find excitement over food. This day it found me.

I take moments of pleasure whenever they pop up. It is my right to find them and I deserve the break. We all deserve a break so be awake and aware when they present themselves.

And become your own personal sleuth and find joyful moments when you can.

When you find yourself less interested, less energized, less of everything, be the giver and open the door, even for a moment to something that will please you.

·      Take a moment to experience nature.

·      Enjoy a warm drink that soothes your soul.

·      Experience beauty.

·      Soak in warmth.

·      Surround your senses with music.

Find whatever works for raising your energy and help you take in a deeper breath.

Know this. Right now we are living in very difficult times. You are doing the best you can. We all are. These times are hard because life is hard right now. Create a moment to gift yourself some solace. You deserve it.

I remember years ago an incredible minister friend sermonized about rocks in our armpits. When we feel less than charitable to ourselves, we carry rocks in our armpits and live day after day in the discomfort. You can imagine. Drop the rocks. Let them go and lighten your load. Even for moments at a time.

I totally enjoyed my tuna melt moment so much so I am planning on finding it again in my coming days. I deserve the pleasure.

In the words of my opening prayer for a celebration of life,

“And may we also remember something about ourselves:

that every life is unfinished

every person is more than their worst moment

and every human being yearns, in one way or another, to be seen

to be known

to belong and

to be loved.”

Each of us has the ability to offer ourselves a moment of respite. Let us practice together.