Cha-Cha-Change

The Starting Point this week coincides directly with my state of mind lately.  I skipped a week of Gather Ground due to some unfortunate changes that swept through my life, and now a few weeks later it appears there are even more monumental changes in my path!  Such is life! So in honor of change, and what it does for our growth and character, I have chosen the following scripture and anecdote to spur us on towards a true appreciation for the ups and downs of life.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (The Message Version)
"So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever."

Anecdote from The Art of Becoming Oneself by James P. Brennan Ph.D.
"A renowned Buddhist teacher from the eighth century, named Shantideva, utilized a simple yet profound analogy to illuminate this point.  He compared the external conditions of life to the surface of the earth, which contains many rocks, thorns and other hazards by covering the entire world with animal hides, he taught that the protection we seek could be achieved merely by the amount of leather it takes to cover our feet.  If we know how to keep our feet covered, we can walk anywhere.  Likewise, the most direct and efficient way to prepare ourselves to deal with the adverse conditions of the outer world is to cultivate our best inner qualities.  In this sense, we learn to cover our feet through greater understanding, mindfulness, patience, humility, kindness and courage."

Join me Saturday at any point between 10am and 2pm for coffee, brownies and a healthy dose of good ol' fashioned girl-time.  We need to be connecting face-to-face and encouraging one another to laugh more and smile in times of adversity.  Gather Ground is for all ladies - just email me if you need directions or more info.  Parking can be confusing, but I assure you it is always possible and my dogs will be confined for those who are canine-cautious.  I look forward to spending time with all of you! Let's stay strong and beautiful together.  Let's Gather Ground.

Note: I am also going to add a current event topic each week to encourage more online feedback.  Check back for the Discussion Summary for the topic we tackle this week.  Hint: Someone very famous is retiring!