November 2009
If you have visited this Newsletter since yesterday – either because you just happened to, or because you got an email notifying you that a new edition had (finally) been posted, you got an odd surprise – a couple of lines remarking on it being Halloween and on how challenging – and spooky! – I sometimes find the world of technology. And that’s it! What might you have thought? Some obscure Halloween joke? And odd version of trick or treat in which no treat is actually offered?
Actually, it’s much simpler. I spent Halloween morning working on my website with its designer and getting lessons on updating the Newsletter, among the other things. I had no idea that my “practice version” would go out to subscribers before I was ready! OOPS!! But what is the spiritual opportunity here? If it’s really true – or even just a useful perspective to take on life – that there are no accidents and that whatever happens has its place in our learning, and therefore is a part of the Path of Joy I believe we human beings are meant to be on in this lifetime, what might that opportunity be in this case?
How about the chance to show up in my full humanness as a person who is, like everyone else, in the business of learning as I go along and making the best of whatever “mistakes” present themselves? That’s a pretty powerful spiritual practice in itself. And not an easy one. So there is a chance for me to be myself with you fully here and just tell you exactly what happened. Since authentic presence is at the heart of the spiritual path, how can that be a bad thing?
And may I say another spiritual opportunity is being presented by the Universe even as write. As far as I can discern the Universe clearly does have a sense of humor! I am writing this update, which I don’t want to delay, while sitting at a Starbucks, listening to a worse than the original version of the 1950′s rock’n roll fave: ”Duke of Earl” which I didn’t care for the first time around and don’t much like any better now. It’s definitely distracting! What’s the opportunity this time?
Maybe to just notice how much this environment is not conducive to “deep thinking” and to simply accept that. Maybe trusting to the Universe (and you) to give me a little latitude here, and accept that this version of the November In the Spirit, which, while eertainly an improvement over yesterday’s, is not deathless prose either. And that’s really okay. Because this is the best I’ve got for now. What we’ve got in a given moment needs to be good enough – because it’s what we’ve got! The next moment – something new may happen. A whole new insight can arise. And maybe I will have more tomorrow that I’ll enjoy sharing with you here! Until then… or next time, may we all find the humor / opportunity / learning in whatever arises without being too derailed by “mistakes.” As to me, I’m going to get back on track with my plan for the day – going to the beach!
In the Spirit, Rev. Cat