HeartMath

I've heard about HeartMath for a long time but only recently decided to delve into it a bit more. It is a well researched approach to health and wellbeing (physical, emotional, spiritual, lifestyle...) I know a GP who recommends it to her patients and someone highly qualified in education who has trained to present its application to schools - children and teachers.

If you are interested in exploring the many free resources here's a link to one page: http://www.heartmath.org/free-services/solutions-for-stress/index-of-all-solutions.html  From there you can see other free downloads in the side bar or go to the home page.

The "God Particle"?

I am fascinated by discoveries in science and cosmology. I am definitely an interested layperson with no expertise in the intricacies of any of it! But I am fortunate to be part of a Church community with some "real scientists". One of whom is Dr Jeff Tallon, a physicist who specializes in superconductivity.
He recently wrote an article for the Herald on the recent excitement about the discovery of the Higgs Boson particle. If you missed it click here. He has an interesting line about the origin of the term "God particle"!

Whether or not we think this discovery brings us any closer to "understanding" God's creative activity, it certainly reminds me yet again of the amazing complexity of the universe. We (Ponsonby Baptist Church community) were encouraged - half jokingly I think - to see how the discovery of the Higgs Boson particle could lead to a call to worship. Several people responded and this prayer was used last Sunday as just that - a call to worship:

In the chaos of collision comes enlightenment.
From high speed disintegration we learn something more 

of the secrets of big bangs and new beginnings.

We collide: with life, with meaning, with others, 
with a vast and unknown darkness

Our chaotic thoughts shatter and decay

pinpricks of light making momentary marks on the vast screen of reality.

We collide with you God

In our chaos and brief flashes of registered presence

Grant us insight on what really counts

and peace to live with our short moments of lucidity and light

before the flash of existence and life becomes a faded memory.

                                                                                                (Thanks to Rob Kilpatrick)

Much food for thought here! 

I think this prayer lends itself to being used for a Lectio Divina (Divine Reading) meditation. If you are not familiar with that way to pray the simple steps are:

1. Read until a word or line draws your special attention. (Lectio)

2. Reflect on what that might be about for you. (Meditatio)

3. Respond in some way - a prayer, a cry, a commitment. (Oratio)

4. Rest in the awareness of God present in all of this. (Contemplatio)

(There is a much more detailed explanation of Lectio Divina here.)

Healing the Future

Following on my from my previous post about not giving up hope when the daily news seems full of atrocities... I recently bought the latest book by the Linns (Dennis Linn, Sheila Fabricant Linn and Matthew Linn) They have written many books over the years - all with a healing theme. This one is called Healing the Future: Personal Recovery from Societal Wounding. On the back cover they say: "This book recounts a journey in which we were nearly overwhelmed by the toxic aspects of our society. As we noted what helped us we began giving retreats on "Healing the Future". Here we share how we and our retreatants recovered.
We are between two worlds. The world we've known, of competition, rewards and punishments, individualism and domination, is crumbling around us. A new world with different economic, political and spiritual assumptions is emerging. How can we live through this transition, in touch with our power to fulfill our dreams for ourselves and our children?
Based upon research in psychology, biology, spirituality, current affairs and other fields, this book also offers simple healing processes for facing the future with confidence and hope, drawing upon the inner wisdom that has guided us through 13.7 billion years of evolution." Denny, Sheila & Matt.

I have enjoyed all of the books written by the Linns over the years. This one is no exception. It particularly struck me that they have done a great job of blending vulnerable personal experience with rigorous research into so many current fields of expanding knowledge. Dennis and Sheila now have a son and they found themselves quite depressed about the future he might face. This I'm sure will be an experience shared by many parents. Matthew is a Jesuit priest (so was Dennis before his marriage.) All of their healing ministry is set in the context of deeply lived faith.

Nelson Mandela

The paragraph below is a quote from the Spiritual Directors' International newsletter to members. The writer had recently been in South Africa at an African spiritual directors' conference.

"On July 18, Nelson Mandela celebrates his ninety-fourth birthday. All over South Africa, I saw how people are preparing to pay him homage. On the chalkboard of the local restaurant, “Happy Birthday, Madiba!” is carefully scripted in bold rainbow colors. People gathered in the streets to be filmed singing happy birthday to be given as a gift on his special day. The Johannesburg Star newspaper asks, “What are you doing for Madiba’s birthday?”"


Nelson Mandela is another "living saint" in my view. He managed to maintain a courteous and compassionate manner even when imprisoned so unjustly for 27 years. That in itself is inspiring. I'm not sure I could remain courteous for 27 days when unjustly accused! Inspiring also is the fact that he never gave up his hope and belief that apartheid could be changed. He lived - and lives - to see this hope eventuate. To me this is a powerful reminder not to give in to despair when daily viewing the atrocities that still happen in many parts of the world (sadly this includes South Africa). 


I hope Mandela's birthday gets a mention in NZ on the 18th of this month. I am celebrating it in advance by renewing my commitment to "faith, hope and love" (1 Cor 13:13) in every situation however unlikely a positive outcome may seem.

Brother David Steindl-Rast

Brother David is a living saint. He is one of the people I most admire. I was privileged to meet him at a Spiritual Directors' conference a couple of years ago. The Gratefulness website he instigated is well worth a regular visit. Recently it gave a link to a series of videos where Brother David talks about his 85 years of life. It is an oral autobiography - something I have never encountered before - but what a treat. He recalls life in Austria during the second world war, poverty, hunger and the death of loved ones. He recounts his peak (mystical) experiences from a very early age; how he came to enter a Benedictine monastery; his surprise at being encouraged to do training in Zen; his gradual calling out to be a speaker and world traveller even though he was supremely happy in the silence of the monastery... and so much more. The videos are beautifully presented with an excellent interviewer guiding the four one hour sessions. I was struck by Brother David's joy and humor - and his excellent memory! I know four hours is a long stretch but if you can make the time it will be well worth the effort. The most direct link to the videos is here.

With Passion

I very much enjoy and value the writings of Rumi the 13th century Sufi poet and mystic. He was born and lived in Afghanistan. In the book Love Poems from God translator Daniel Ladinsky expresses some of Rumi's poems in a delightful way. Here's one I read yesterday:

With

passion pray. With

passion work. With passion make love.

With passion eat and drink and dance and play.

Why look like a dead fish

in this ocean

of

God?

Charter for Compassion

If you haven't yet heard about the Charter for Compassion I've copied it below. It was initiated by Karen Armstrong after she presented a TED talk in 2008 and won the TED prize. She is an amazing woman and a wonderful writer. Her recent book Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life is a very accessible (and very challenging) read. I hope you will sign the charter here and pass it on to others.

Charter for Compassion

The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.

It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.

We therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.

We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensable to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.

Three good books!

I've been in recuperation mode for a while now and reading is always one of my mainstays (even when I'm not recuperating!) So here are three books I've enjoyed for quite different reasons over that time.

I heard a Radio NZ interview with Russ Harris some time ago and requested The Reality Slap from the library at the time. In that synchronistic way life has - it arrived as I was coping with less health, energy and confidence than usual.

It is an excellent book that covers many things other authors  have said  e.g. re living in the present moment, mindfulness, dealing with anxiety, illness or personal loss. But what I specially liked was its down to earth, very practical and applicable strategies. Russ is living with his own "reality slap" as his child at age two was diagnosed as autistic. He talks very personally about how he coped (and didn't cope) at various points. This is book I will buy to re-read and have on hand to lend. Click here for more about the book and here for a link for the Radio NZ interview.

Zeitoun is the true story of a Muslim family in the aftermath of Cyclone Katrina. It is a gripping and disturbing story. Dave Eggers is an author committed to telling true stories that need to be heard. This one reveals the growing horror as the enormity of Katrina's effects became apparent. It covers the inadequate responses of so many government and supposed relief agencies. But the most revealing thing for me as I read was how prejudice against Muslims impacted Zeitoun himself  - a well known and loyal Syrian immigrant who had served his community faithfully for many years. While everyone in this immediate family survived, the long term effects continue. It is a sobering reminder of how easily prejudice and fear combine to create terrible, and unnecessary suffering.

I have mentioned Psalms for Praying previously. I am still reading and praying a Psalm each day. (Up to Psalm 90 today!) I find Nan Merrill's way of making each Psalm relevant to the internal journey as much as to any external circumstances very helpful. Here are some quotes from Psalm 90 that would be lovely to read at a funeral:

When our days on earth are ended,

You welcome us home to your Heart,

to the City of Light,

where time is eternal

and days are not numbered.

You gather those who love you as

friends returning from a long

journey,

giving rest to their souls.

You anoint them with the balm of understanding,

healing the woulds of the past.

If you want to be a rebel, be kind

In the latest issue of Parabola magazine is an article that touched me deeply. I wrote a long Blog with quotes from the article - and then found that the whole article is available on line from The Daily Good website! I strongly encourage you to click and read:  If you want to be a rebel, be kind. 

It is the story of Pancho Ramos Stierle who was raised in Mexico and became a student at the University of California to pursue his Ph.D in Astrophysics. As time went on he realized that his research supported an institution that actively proliferates nuclear weapons. That awareness and his observation of so much inequality between those with power and those with none led him to non-violent protest actions which resulted in his arrest, loss of his student visa and therefore being an "undocumented" citizen with no rights. He was now unable to get a job, hold a bank account or obtain any insurance.

"Here is someone capable of being a rocket scientist, whose father is an economics scholar and author in Mexico, who chooses to live without any financial currency - just so he can be of service to his struggling brethren. ... There are those who use anger, sarcasm and parody to confront unjust action. Pancho does it with just the simple - and radical - power of love."

(If you Google his name you can see YouTube videos, other information  and his  Facebook page.)

...to change the things I can...

I am currently reading a fascinating book: A Beginner's Guide to Changing the World by Isabel Losada. Based on the Serenity Prayer she decides to find out what she can and can't change in regard to the situation in Tibet.

This quote struck me today: "... The landscape was so dramatic and powerful it was hard to mind about the danger. I leapt out, sat on a rock and tried to take it all in. This was Tibet. The land of snows. And the struggle to live and be joyful in this frozen and beautiful land is what has made the Tibetan people who they are. Their faith is not in a God outside themselves who will change their circumstances for them - but is a faith in the qualities within themselves that they have to develop in order to live and be happy in this place. So every day the focus is on peace of heart and mind and the development of compassion. I read once that the Dalai Lama said that Buddhista are good at talking about compassion but Chriatians are better at taking action. This may be so, but in the West it is rare to find people who really have Christ's teaching at the centre of each decision they make. In Tibet it is rare to find people who do not have their faith central to their lives."