Thinks I find along the way
I
Have Learned
So much from God
That I can no longer
Call Myself
A Christian, a Hindu, a Muslim,
a Buddhist, a Jew.
The Truth has shared so much of Itself
With me
That I can no longer call myself
A man, a woman, an angel,
Or even a pure
Soul.
Love has
Befriended Hafiz so completely
It has turned to ash
And freed
Me
Of every concept and image
my mind has ever known.
From: ‘The Gift’
Translated by Daniel Ladinsky
I HATE CHRISTMAS. Or perhaps it would be better to say I hate what Christmas has become. The consumerism, the expectations, the obligations; none of which have anything to do with ‘reason for the season’ — celebrating relationship with a higher power…
Perhaps that is why I like this perspective from The Minimalists so much:
What if you could receive only one Christmas present this year? What would it be?
The answer for us is simple: time.
You see, the people we care about mean much more to us than a new pair of shoes or a shiny new gadget or even a certified pre-owned luxury car with a huge bow on top.
And yet, many of us attempt to give material items to make up for the time we don’t spend with the people we love. But possessions can’t ever make up for lost time.
The next time someone asks you what you want for Christmas, consider responding with, “Your presence is the best gift you can give me.”
When you’re completely focused in the moment—no TV, no Internet, no distractions—it makes a marked difference in the lives of the people around you. When you’re fully present, your love radiates.
And if you’re going to give gifts this holiday season, why not give your unencumbered time and attention first? Your loved ones will be glad you did.” via The Best Present Is Presence | The Minimalists.
With
passion pray.
With passion make love.
With passion eat and drink and dance and play.
Why look like a dead fish
in this ocean
of
God?
– Rumi (1207-1273), translated by Daniel LadinskySource: Do you look like a dead fish? ~ a passion poem from Rumi – Loving With Power
I found another great blogger this morning — Lee Horbachewski of SimpLee Serene. Here’s a recent post I liked…
No matter who you are, what you look like, what you do, where you invest your time or how you celebrate the season, you need connection.
- Accepting people for who they are.
- Knowing what’s going on around you.
- Being present right now.
- Connecting with full attention and pure intention.
It all sounds wonderful doesn’t it? So what stops our society from doing and being this?
Busy, busy, busy, go, go, go, buy, buy, buy and dare I say it judge, judge, judge…
What if the biggest gift you can give someone you love is you: your time, your love and your acceptance?
I invite you to consider for a moment what it would feel like to experience quality time with a friend. How would it feel to receive a surprise visit, a phone call, a real life connection?
I invite you to press STOP right now on the busyness of life and what should be done. Connect with YOU in this moment, now think of the special people in your life… Do you know how they are feeling? Do you know what’s going on in their life? When was the last time you spoke to them? When was the last time you saw them?
Show someone you love, that they are special.
Show someone you care, and give the gift of connection and relationship.
And as always this begins with connecting with YOU.
Source: Give the gift of connection and relationship by Lee | SimpLee Serene
If you like this, there’s more at the Source. Add her blog to Google Reader like I did and keep your holidays happy…
“It is giving that holds the giver and the receiver in high esteem. It is giving based on a desire to do it rather than from a sense of guilt, pity, shame, or obligation. It is giving with no strings attached. Or it is giving based on a clean, direct contract. Whether it is giving of our time, efforts, energy, comfort, nurturing, money, or ourselves, it is giving that we can afford. Giving is part of the chain of giving and receiving. We can learn to give in healthy ways; we can learn to give in love. We need to keep an eye on our giving, to make sure it has not crossed the line into caretaking. But we need to learn to give in ways that work for us and others.”
Beattie, Melody (2009-12-15). The Language of Letting Go (Hazelden Meditation Series) (p. 360). Hazelden. Kindle Edition.
“There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands. You seek problems because you need their gifts.”
– Richard Bach, is a best-selling author. Source; Today’s Quotes: Problems Bring Gifts! See The Gifts!
Bright, shiny objects! 
You must be logged in to post a comment.