…heartbeat
of the positive revolution
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Aging Beauty Approaching my 7th decade, I am no longer the young chickadee who spent summers romping on New Jersey beaches. In my 50’s I’ve grappled with aging skin, deepening lines, folds, spots, sags, bags…oh my! It had not been easy to keep my agreement to “See the Best in Myself…” until Mother Nature stepped in. While hiking along the Oregon coast I was transformed by Her majesty. All around me I saw the magnificence of aging. Rocks and caves proudly showed their purple scarring and other “imperfections” from their intimate relationship with life. Ancient, gnarled trees commanded my respect and elicited my admiration for their persistence and tenacity over decades of battering winds and rain. The ever-maturing coastline revealed strikingly beautiful sculpture from its lifelong marriage with the sea. Nature’s Spirit gently guided me to notice the exquisite beauty in aging. In a moment of illumination, I realized that I too am NATURE. I have always loved basking in the sun, playing in the water and dancing with the wind. Like the aging trees, rocks and cliffs…wouldn’t I expect to be carved and colored and distinguished by my lifetime of interaction with Mother Nature? Indeed, wouldn’t it be a privilege to wear the signs of my cherished relationship with the elements of which I am one? Perhaps. Yet at nearly 60, my body is still fit, the signs of aging surely not as visible to others as to myself. How will I feel when I am obviously and irreversibly weathered? When the mirror reflects back to me the changes sculpted by life’s precious experiences, I must trust that my newfound spiritual perspective will hold steady. As the self-consciousness of my youth continues to give way to greater consciousness of Self, I hope I will naturally see the best in myself and others. For truly we are Nature’s magnificent models of aging beauty. With gratitude,
God grant me the serenity Your stories are the heartbeat of the positive revolution. Keep them coming! Spiritual Support for Women In Prison Rev. Joanne Buchanan-Brown is ordained in the United Church of Christ (UCC). Her ministries are varied and include: a private practice in spiritual direction, teaching and supervising students in the Benet Hill Benedictine Spiritual Formation Program; providing interim parish ministry in local congregations of the UCC and; serving as a volunteer chaplain at Denver Women’s Correctional Facility. As a volunteer chaplain I have been working with a woman preparing for release who has been quite anxious and concerned about failing on the outside. I thought practicing the Agreements might help ground her both mentally and spiritually. We began with the first Agreement, discovering her life’s mission, and then focused on the three categories of Truth, Acceptance and Gratitude (T.A.G.). T.A.G. could provide the mainstay for most offenders. Truth can be about discerning the truth of not only what has happened to them, but who they are in the wholeness of themselves within the bigger context of their life journey, and transforming from this. Acceptance might mean accepting responsibility for the results of their choices and learning how to move on, not as a victim, but as a more enlightened being. “Acceptance is the first law of Spirit.” Gratitude examines the blessings and opportunities they have known, as well as those still available to them right where they are, helping them to make better choices for their future whether on the outside or in prison. Practicing gratitude, they can hopefully discover the blessing they are to themselves and others. Witnessing this one woman’s positive response to the Agreements makes me eager to move my vision ahead to achieve two goals: (1) create and offer a 12-week class several times a year to the general offender population and (2) use the Agreements in my “Exploring Spirituality” group with offenders on the Special Needs Unit. As with my Grief and Loss class, I truly believe that the spiritual Agreements classes will develop a life of their own and spread--perhaps even to the staff. Now, that just might become my third goal! Monday-Friday, October 18-22, Southeast Region Unity People’s Conference, Hilton Oceanfront Hotel, Indialantic, FL Marian & Glenn Head keynote this 5-day conference on Monday night with Agreements to Live By. On Tuesday, they present Let’s Play T.A.G. – Truth, Acceptance, Gratitude. Join us for a week of play, meditation and discovering practical spiritual tools for walking the walk. To learn about the many special presenters and uplifting events, go to http://www.unityinjax.com/f/NEW_2010_SE_Unity_Conference.pdf or call (321) 777-5000. Saturday, September 11, Diamonds & Denim, Longmont Radisson, CO – It’s not what you wear it’s that you care! Join Marian, Glenn & Linda Leary for this annual party for Teaching Peace and the Longmont Community Justice Partnership, which cultivates a safe and caring community by bringing together crime victims and offenders to be heard and repair the harms. http://www.teachingpeace.org/support-the-peace/annual-benefit I’m reminded daily that I am no longer 28, 38…or even 58! But there are signs that “I’ve still got it and it ain’t half bad.” I just need to relax and experience the life that is still very much in me. This Boomer Babe is still kickin’!
I’ve Still Got It I got out of bed the other day I looked in the mirror and thought to myself, I looked at the clothes that I used to wear “Lighten up” I think, surrender with grace I’ve learned a few things in my 60 plus years, Like summer all youthful blooms must fade |
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