Dear Friends,

 We hope that you are safe and well.

 Today's meditation features Carrie Newcomer reflecting on seeing this Blue Heron and it leading her to meditate on the thin spaces where the seen and unseen meet--finding wonder where we are.

 We invite you to join us as we commit ourselves to working tirelessly to end systemic and structural racism in our society, in the church, in healthcare, in the workplace--wherever it shows up so that everyone may come to have more abundant life. May this meditation nourish our contemplative-active hearts and sustain all of us in action.

In the spirit of our philosophy of co-creating community and our awareness that the Spirit speaks through each of us, we invite you to share your meditations with us as well. We truly believe that it is God's economy of abundance: when we share our blessings, our thoughts, our feelings, we are all made richer.

We hope and pray that you find peace, healing, hope and the infusion of joy in your life!

With our love and care,

Ron and Jean

MEDITATION 771: Carrie Newcomer reflects on The Blue Heron

The Blue Heron - Sunday Post

Carrie Newcomer

Sep 4

I was sitting by a lake last week on a particularly calm and clear morning, when a great blue heron glided elegantly across the water. Sometimes things stand out in clear relief. It is brightest daylight or darkest night. The cup of tea is steaming hot, the glass of tea is ice cold. That was utterly wrong and this could never be anything but right. Such are the ways of a particular kind of clarity. But as I took in the herons wing beats and its perfectly mirrored reflection, I was reminded of how often my life is not this or that, here or there but instead a curiously overlapping now. Today I noticed that although the temperature has barely changed since last week, the light has grown golden and air feels crisper, the hummingbirds are feeding heartily preparing for their long migration, the crickets have begun to sing in earnest in the daylight hours, signaling that summer and autumn are gliding along in tandem, separate and the same, like the heron and its reflection.

It is when I encounter these thin places, where it is hard to tell where seen and unseen begin and end, I am encouraged to feel more at home in the liminal and find a greater ability to find wonder where I am. Such are the ways of thresholds, transitions and holding the both/and of daily living.

Blue Heron

Blue heron glides

The barest breath above

The unbroken surface

Of the morning lake.

A clear reverse image of itself

Wing beat

Matching

Wing beat

A perfect unwavering reflection of itself.

Wonder is the same as it has been

As we limited and limitless souls

Live in this mysterious side by side world

Where the seen and unseen

Meet and ever so briefly touch,

Where silence and sound press palms

And where the telling of a story

And the story itself overlap

Not unlike the way

The spirit and melody

Of a singular song

Is carried away

In the beating

And winged heart

Of the listener

- Carrie Newcomer

Question

Can you remember a time when you felt the overlapping of seasons? The overlapping of spirit in the physical world? The overlapping of a time of life?

(photo taken on a walk with my dogs a couple days ag0)

A Very Cool Online Retreat Being Offered By My Good Friend Parker J. Palmer

I have LOOVED attending and presenting retreats, and co-hosting The Growing Edge Podcast with my dear friend Parker J. Palmer. I wanted to let everyone know about this beautiful online retreat he will be presenting himself! Parker is a treasure this world, full of wisdom, humor and ability to lead workshops and retreats in brilliantly life giving ways.

I wanted to let everyone know about this wonderful upcoming event so you can reserve your place right away! Here's the scoop :-)

Old Maps No Longer Work: Finding Our Way in an Unmapped World

Sat., Nov. 5, 4:00-6:00 PM CDT—An Online Exploration with Parker J. Palmer

A lot of us feel lost right now in a world we thought we knew. Many of the “maps” we’ve relied on no longer work. Some, we’ve learned, were based on false assumptions. Some became obsolete as spiritual, political, and physical violence reshaped the terrain, to say nothing of the pandemic. How can we map new paths of personal meaning and purpose in this “brave new world”—paths that might take us toward new life for ourselves, others, and our world?

For a more FULL description and pay as you can ticket reservations visit https://tinyurl.com/mtsebybd

PARKER J. PALMER is a writer, teacher, and activist whose work speaks deeply to people in many walks of life. Author of ten books—including several best-selling and award-winning titles—that have sold nearly two million copies, Palmer is the Founder and Senior Partner Emeritus of the Center for Courage & Renewal. He holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley, and thirteen honorary doctorates. His books include Let Your Life Speak, The Courage to Teach, A Hidden Wholeness, Healing the Heart of Democracy, and On the Brink of Everything.

For More Info, Workshop Format & Ticket Reservations Click Here

My Upcoming Shows

September 9 & 11 - I’ll be at The FAR Gallery with the Handpicked Series performing at with a full string quartet with Gary Walters, Allie Summers and The Skylark Trio. If you do not live in the Bloomington IN area you can still experience the show through the Mandolin online streaming concert platform!

Sept 10- Gary Walters and I and a very heart opening show for the Green Festival (Mingling of Art, Eco-Justice & Spirituality). Presented by many amazing organizations supporting the arts, sustainable living and spirituality!

For Tix for the GREEN FESTIVAL Click HERE