The Bonds that Unite Us ...

Hello from my heart to yours....

“There's one thing stronger than magic.... sisterhood." Robin Benway

I belong to a sisterhood. I have belonged to this sisterhood for 10 years now. We our bound by our faith. We come and go and come back again. We are bound by our desire to journey together. We call one another "My Sister in Christ." Whether we maintain a friendship outside of the sisterhood or not, twice a year, we gather and pray and laugh and cry and walk the road to Emmaus together as if we have never walked it before. Each time, a different experience.. a different "AHA" moment... a different connection... finding ourselves again... finding God again... setting our hearts on fire all over again.... 

I think that last night was the first time I had ever been to a meeting.... I usually just parachute in on the weekend of the retreat and serve wherever I am needed... I don't  like to make commitments.. and going to all the preparation meetings leading up to the retreat, commits me to a specific task or job during the retreat... I like to go where the Spirit leads me once I get there... Anyway, while that seems fine and dandy, I thought, "It's time i grow up and commit to going to the meetings this time..." I have made a new commitment to God through the moon phase... and I intend to keep it..... in knowing myself and loving myself better, I will know God better... Of course, He knows what I need, but He cannot possibly give it to me, if I don't know what I need in order to be the blessed person He wants me to be...

It felt good to be in the prayer circle last night... it made me realize that sisterhoods (or brotherhoods or yoga groups or fitness groups or "whatever your heart desires" groups) are beneficial to everyone involved... I just happen to choose the Emmaus Ministry as my group... I do have other groups though... I have my "childhood friends" group... We are bound by childhood memories.. ice cream trucks, bicycles, barefoot kickball, Nehi soda, jolly rancher candy, Miller Road, Lake Catalina and Hidden Valley.... as adults, we come together as often as we can to continue "playing" .. just like when we were kids... except now, we bring our kids and we create new memories..... 

I, also, belong to a group bound by the Spectrum... a group of people (mostly women) who share what goes on in their daily lives while trying to raise children in the Spectrum... I don't always relate to every story they post, but I offer my support and receive support from them when the day doesn't go so well for me with my kids... it's comforting to know that total strangers can connect on such a level that, by the end of the day, we feel the love from one another... 

I hadn't really thought about the "sisterhood" thing until around 2:00 am... (yes, I was up at that time after a strange phone call from someone who clearly is alone in the world) ... this morning when I woke up, I wondered if it was all just a dream... I feel sad for this person today.. I feel sad for the people whose lives are being affected because of the frantic ranting... I could almost relate to it... I have had my share of breakdowns.. it's not pleasant for me or anyone around me, however, I like to think of breakdowns as "break-throughs" ... a time to come to terms with what stirs all those frenetic emotions and allows them to explode with practically total disregard for the people around you... the fortunate thing for me is............ I have a place to go back to to recover.... I believe God lets us stumble along, finding our way, giving us chances to pick each other up... and so, I go back to my sisterhood.... maybe I am wrong in thinking this person doesn't have a support group to turn to... if they do though, I hope they make their next midnight phone call to one of them...

 

Anyway, may you all have a "group" you can take refuge in... a group that lifts you up and sparks the light in your hearts until the flame is as constant as a beacon... (By the way, I neglected to mention family here because in my family, it is a given)..... however, sometimes I believe that in order to know yourself completely, you must extend your love to all of your brothers and sisters in the world.. those bonds are "chosen" ones... there is always an outstretched hand somewhere looking for a friend they would like to call "sister" .. or "brother" or simply "family" .... remember that you are loved beyond measure... you are a cherished blessing to the world... 

May your weekend be blessed with bonds of LOVE.... 

Elena

Duty ... Storytelling ... Listening

Hello from my heart to yours.....

"Duty is the stuff of human existence." Rod McKuen, poet, composer and friend 

Yesterday, I went to visit a tenant who is moving out... the alarm company told me that the system had not responded for a week...  I had been trying to reach her by phone, but now the voice mailbox was full.. when I drove up, she was sitting outside on the porch... most everything she owns has been moved into a storage unit... personal things are at her new apartment where she will now live alone... the  garage is still full of boxes that "someone" (she is not sure who) is supposed to pick up for her.. and she has some furniture that she is willing to give to whoever wants it... her electricity and water have been cut off since last week.. (hence the reason the alarm was off) ..... she is 83 years old... 

I performed my duty as the "property manager" and walked through the house making sure that everything was still in working order and in good condition... We spoke about how much more time was needed to vacate the house and what she was leaving behind for us to deal with... she was very embarrassed about the reason why she had to move.... she was worried about the grass being so overgrown... I got her new number and told her I would call her again tomorrow to check on the progress.... I gave her a hug and I left........

And then.... I performed my duty as a human being.....

I went to Subway and picked up some lunch and went back to the house... she couldn't believe it... she just kept shaking her head saying,  "no se porque hiciste esto?" (I don't know why you did this).... but she cleared the patio table of the small boxes she had there and set up the chairs... and we ate and we talked about life... and faith and hope and love... she is a beautiful soul... and brave and strong ... as I listened to the stories that made her such a strong and independent woman, I felt so small and insignificant..... it was quite humbling....  I really enjoy listening to the stories from "the old country"...  people who really remember what it was like before they came to "El Exilio" (the Exile..as they refer to the U.S.) have such fascinating tales to tell and some can even transport you there with their memories...(and she could do this)... I could totally see myself in Varadero with her...  (course, maybe because I have my father's memories engraved in my heart, too.. so I recognized the beach as she described it...)  .... regardless, you would think she came here just a few years ago, when in actuality, she has lived here longer than she lived in Cuba.. 

Anyway, her husband passed away a little over a year ago and she says she is living a new exile.... her family members have taken advantage of her loving and giving nature and treat her as if she is incapacitated .. they have used her and taken her money and left her all alone... yet, she is unafraid... she says she has lived in God's grace and none of them can take that away from her.. she is a woman of conviction and good morals... she reminds me a lot of my mother.......she was so animated and full of energy as she was telling me about her great-grandson... I was having the best time with her..... somehow the conversation turned to the stars.. so, I took the opportunity to tell her about the "New Moon" phase that we are experiencing and she was excited by what it could mean for her... a new "emancipation" she said...... she sat in silence for a few minutes.. it was really hot... technically, we are done with the "dog days of summer", but in South Florida, I think they should adjust the dates and extend it well into September.... suddenly, she got up and went to the garage... she came back with a votive candle in her hand and placed it in the center of the table.. "Let's light this candle for our intentions", she said and continued, ..."because you must be an angel" ... I was already in tears when I saw the candle... now they are streaming down my face like a waterfall........ we prayed.

I learned so much from her in the 2 hours that we shared... I could go on and on about her philosophies and beliefs, but the constant theme of the afternoon was what I have always written about... faith, hope and love ... THAT is what we need to sustain us... everything else falls into place.. God sends us His angels when we need them... and to me, she was my Tuesday angel.... 

Bryce Courtenay said, "Each of us has been designed for one of two immortal functions, as either a storyteller or as a cross-legged listener to tales of wonder, love and daring. When we cease to tell or listen, then we no longer exist as a people." 

Yesterday, I performed my duty.... as an employee and then, as a human being... I had lunch with a story-teller... and I listened .. WE were one people ... 

May you always be able to perform your duties.. may you be the best storyteller.... may you be the best listener... and most of all, May you be blessed with all things filled with faith, hope and love......

With love,

Elena

Glitter.. Silence... New Moon... Love

Hello from my heart to yours.....

"We need to find God, and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence' see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence.... We need silence to be able to touch souls."  Mother Teresa

This morning, I awoke in a melancholic mood... daydreaming from the minute I went outside and felt the morning sun on my face... during these "mood swings", the same song will play over and over in my mind and heart... "Glitter in the Air" by Pink... and I cried...several times during the day... that's the kind of love that everyone should experience.. not just romantically, but I think spiritually as well... to me, it's about letting yourself be vulnerable to truly love someone and allowing yourself to be loved by another.. love is about taking that "leap of faith" ... the uncertainty of it all creates many emotions inside.. excitement, fear, happiness and disbelief... "the tip of the iceberg, the sun before the burn, the thunder before the lightening, the breath before the kiss, the walk before the run" ... all those lyrics stirring emotions... the line in the song that brings me to tears every time is "there you are, sitting in the garden.. clutching my coffee.. calling me "Sugar".... you called me "Sugar" .... OMG... seriously??? imagine that for a moment..... of course, you are thinking about "romantic" love.... as you should....just as I have a million times.....   but, for just a moment (indulge me here) ... imagine that it is God speaking to you... and asking you if you "have ever felt this way?".... imagine if you were to take that "leap of faith" and "closed your eyes and trusted.. just trusted" .... imagine that in the silence of your garden, you go outside and there He is..... sitting in your garden... yeah, okay...... maybe it's a way out concept for some of us.... and until the very moment that I wrote this, I never thought of it that way.... but that's how it happens... that's how the Spirit moves me.... and.. I found a little inspiration today......... :-)

Being the loon that I am though, I, of course, thought.. I better check the moon cycle... it might explain the melancholy.... and why I have been practically hypnotized by the song....  oh and big surprise.... it's the "New Moon" ... this is what was said about it, "The energy from the New Moon up to the Full Moon (September 8th.. which by the way, is the Harvest Moon) is gradually building in strength and intensity; thus the New Moon is a great time to set your intentions, write down goals or begin new projects for the forthcoming cycle. Consider sitting in ceremony or personal meditation and affirming to the Universe your intentions & inner-most heartfelt desires for the cycle."  ... so there you have it... as if saying "Wake up, Elena..." ..... 

There is no possible way that any of you can imagine what all this means to me... besides the song and the moon.... I received a text from an earthly angel, whom I haven't spoken to in almost 2 years I think.. it read, "thinking of you.. wanted you to know you are loved and adored immensely.. I see you. " ... and on Saturday, another friend, who I also, haven't seen in about 2 years, asked me why I haven't written... "lack of inspiration," I shrugged... and he said, "We have to find a way to help you get it back" ...  totally unrelated things.. all random God-incidences, if you ask me.... all sending me a message... saying "close your eyes and trust in Him... have faith in God... remember you are loved beyond measure.... meditate in silence and offer your intentions to God" ..... and maybe some day down the road, I'll have that romantic love, too....... lol......(I don't always practice what I preach)....   I mean, I am all over the place here... really just unable to gather my thoughts completely... but, at least I am inspired some.. and I am feeling the love right now.... ... and I wanted to share that with you all.... 

May you be able to use whatever you need to get to the point that you feel the love on fire in your heart... be it romantic or spiritual... at whatever level you want to connect to the world and the world's people... may you be able to get to the place of silence where you will be able to touch others souls.... and may you be able to hold your breath and ask "will it ever get better than tonight....?"  

Much love and light.... you are cherished blessings to the world... may you be blessed and may others be blessed by you.... I lift you all in prayer ... may you all feel the love that is yours in your Divine Right as children of one God...... and may it make you want to throw a fistful of glitter in the air.... xo

Elena