What's your name?
What do you want it to be?
From the movie Pretty Woman
God calls you to be. Frederick Buechner
Listen to your heart. Because wherever your heart is, that is where you'll find your treasure. Paulo Coelho
To be nobody but yourself in a world that's doing its best to make you somebody else, is to fight the hardest battle you are ever going to fight. Never stop fighting. ee cummings
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Mr. Rogers stepped out of a Manhattan subway train onto the platform. A group of people recognized him, including a young mother with her 6-year-old son. The boy brandished a Star Wars light saber, and was intent on whacking everything--and everyone--in his path. This included Mr. Rogers.
The mother stood mortified, "Honey, please don't hit Mr. Rogers! I think it's illegal. And it's not polite." Oblivious, Fred Rogers drops to his knees, next to the boy, now eye-to-eye. He whispered to the boy. The boy whispered back and put away his light saber. Goodbyes were exchanged. One hour later, the people traveling with Mr. Rogers had enough suspense. "You have got to tell us what you said to the boy!" Mr. Rogers smiled, "I told him, we are a lot alike. I have a sword too. Not as nice as yours. Mine is wood. I keep it inside me, for all the times I don't feel strong. When I think I need to impress people, I take my sword out, and I believe that when people see the sword they will think I'm strong. But when I feel strong inside, I know I don't need my sword, and I put it away. Looking in your eyes right now, I know you are a loved little boy, and I see you are very strong on the inside." The little boy said, "I guess I don't need my sword today." I can relate. I know what it is like to not feel strong on the inside. I know what it is like to take out my sword, and do my best to impress everyone around me. I also know that life's pace exacerbates the conundrum. We assume our identity is predicated on the sum of consumption (more) plus velocity (hurry). And our mantra becomes, "This is not enough." (Meaning this relationship or job or circumstance or new toy or prayer or faith or conversation or moment, or whatever.) As a result, I am not present. Given my need to impress--or consume or use or add or rush--I end up whacking everything around me. This is when my life becomes "garbled."
I need Mr. Roger's reminder: There is a word spoken about me. It tells me that I am strong on the inside. And not because of anything I have done or failed to do.
Every child has known God,
Not the God of names,
Not the God of don'ts,
Not the God who ever does anything weird,
But the God who knows only 4 words.
And keeps repeating them, saying:
"Come Dance with Me, come dance."
Hafiz
If I answer yes, then I guess I don't need my sword today.
Once, the great Hassidic leader, Zusia, came to his followers. His eyes were red with tears, and his face was pale with fear. "Zusia, what's the matter?"
"The other day, I had a vision of the question that the angels will ask me about my life."
The followers were puzzled. "Zusia, you are pious. You are scholarly and humble. You have helped so many of us. What question about your life could be so terrifying that you would be frightened to answer it?"
Zusia turned his gaze to heaven. "I have learned that the angels will not ask me, 'Why weren't you a Moses, leading your people out of slavery?'"
His followers persisted. "So, what will they ask you?"
"They will say to me, 'Zusia, there was only one thing that no power of heaven or earth could have prevented you from becoming.' They will say, 'Zusia, Zusia, why were you not Zusia?'"
If you're wearing a disguise for too long, it will be difficult for the mirror to recognize you. At the end of the day I hope you become the person they didn't expect you to be. Be proud to wear you. Dodinsky
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Poems and Prayers
We are an incarnate word, spoken by God, still being spoken by God, a word of grace, of reconciliation, truth, love, healing. But our word is often garbled. Part of our struggle here is to liberate the word within us so that it can be spoken clearly. Robert Mulholland
Some Kiss We Want
There is some kiss we want with
our whole lives, the touch of
spirit on the body.
Seawater
begs the pearl to break its shell.
And the lily, how passionately
it needs some wild darling!
At night, I open the window and ask
the moon to come and press its
face against mine.
Breathe into me.
Close the language-door and
open the love window.
The moon
won't use the door, only the window.
Rumi (Translator: Coleman Barks)
You can rest now
You can rest now
Open your heart
To the stillness
You can rest now
Let your fears go
Let your mind ease
Let your thoughts be
Let your breath rise
You can rest now
Open your heart
To the stillness
You can rest now
You can rest now
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Notes from Terry
(1) Sabbath Moment is only possible because of the generous gifts of readers. For those who have donated... THANK YOU. If you wish to be a part of making this gift possible... I appreciate your gift.
Sabbath Moment is available to everyone--with the invitation that people forward it, and share it with those around them.
Please forward Sabbath Moment to anyone and everyone you know... including groups (and even in-laws). If you work at an organization--please consider forwarding Sabbath Moment to every member of your staff or team.
(2) Join me -- or pass the word...
May 25 and May 26 -- Blue Heron Art Center, Vashon, WA -- Through the Garden Gate. "A multi-media performance inspired by Terry Hershey's book SOUL GARDENING. This magical performance includes original music, drama, dance and visual delights."
(3) Share Sabbath Moment --
May 7. 2012 -- Slow moving limos
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