Holy Day

Every day is indeed special... but yesterday was more so. I say that because Spirit’s Presence and hand in the unfolding of events was so clear.

Yesterday Rog and I were called into service to marry Alana and Matthew, a college couple who wanted a simple wedding ceremony in Sedona. They asked us to gather the two witnesses required by the state and to select a locale. We chose the site of the Amitabha Stupa, a bronze image of the Buddha of Limitless Light that is filled with hundreds of millions of prayers for peace, sacred relics, and ritual objects. It is a beacon of light and virtue and is considered a vortex of Enlightened Presence, radiating waves of compassion to all beings. And, you don't have to be a Buddhist to visit it and benefit from it.

Here the grounds have character, the vistas are beautiful and abundant. There is even a ramada to offer some protection from the elements, which was a consideration yesterday as it was blustery and there was a chance of rain.

Rog and I arrived early to go over the logistics. Over the course of time while waiting for the bride and groom to arrive, not only did the two people we’d asked to be witnesses show up, but one-by-one so did three other people we knew! When we explained why we were at the Stupa wearing our ministerial stoles, they were all intrigued. We asked if they’d like to join us in the wedding and they readily agreed.

Each of our five friends contributed to the wedding celebration both in the physical realm and spiritual. One friend led the group in the ceremonial walk of seven times around the Stupa, chanting a Tibetan prayer. Another had a video camera with him as he had bicycled over to the Stupa to shoot sacred garden space - little did he know he’d be photographing a wedding! Another had an orange and a bar of chocolate that she turned into a ceremonial offering for the wedding (she found out you’re not permitted to leave food as an offering at the Stupa) - she was also the unexpected still photographer. Another offered up words of congratulations, love, and wisdom as we toasted the newlyweds drinking sparkling apple cider in plastic champagne glasses (the bride and groom’s of course were specially decorated). And, our fifth friend provided restaurant suggestions for a romantic dinner. All contributed their spiritual consciousness.

Much of this was unplanned - well, at least by us humans. There was way too much synchronicity and “woo-woo-ness” to go into detail here, but suffice is to say that Spirit indeed had a plan. Nine beings were brought together at a sacred space in Sedona to celebrate a sacred sacrament. It was awesome.

Each ‘guest’ played a part in uplifting and supporting Alana and Matthew as they embarked on their new life. Each called themselves into service on a moment’s notice. This was a wedding that could not have been more perfect if it had been planned for 12 months, had cost $50,000, and 200 guests attended. For this perfect wedding was orchestrated by God and God needs no advance timing, money, or more people than is required to do His work.

We converged at the Stupa as if by clockwork and this coming together was not lost on any of us. I don’t think this event was just about two people entering holy matrimony. I think it was so much about God wanting to send us messages - many messages - and clearly announce Its existence. I’m still processing it all; I’m so grateful to have been a part of this extraordinary experience - thank You, Spirit!

We joked that this couple had eloped because they have big families and didn’t want to have a big wedding where most of the guests are... well, ya know, strangers. Instead they chose to be with us... strangers! But of course, we were not strangers at all. We came together as one family under God, with God’s presence shining. It was indeed a holy day to recognize God all around and in us.

Congratulations, Alana and Matthew! And, thank you for bringing us and God all together to celebrate you!

Holy Prayer

“If you begin to live life looking for the God that is all around you, every moment becomes a prayer.” - Frank Bianco

... and everywhere we are standing, we are in God’s Presence, we are on holy ground.

Beautiful Moments

“Open your arms to beautiful moments and they will come to you.” – OurPrayer.org

Today I open myself to the beauty of the day, to The Presence.

Surrounded by the physical beauty of Red Rock Country and the spiritual beauty of people in my life, I go forth with opened arms to receive and embrace beautiful moments, to feel the Holy Presence.

Thank You, Spirit, for this beautiful life made so by my connection to Your Presence and Your Love.

KP Learning

Learning can occur anywhere, anytime.

This morning, as I was putting away the coffee cups from yesterday afternoon’s coffee vacation, I knocked one into the shelf. No damage to the cup or my hand – but an “Ah-ha!”. I immediately got that I was not exercising ‘consciousness’. Really – that’s the word that came into my head. If I’d been paying better attention, I’d have lifted my arm sufficiently to clear the shelf.

It’s food for thought. Putting the dishes away is a relatively minor task in the grand scheme of things. But, it made me aware of how many things, large and small, I often am not as fully conscious about as I could be.

When I’m on KP (kitchen patrol) duty preparing potatoes, am I focused enough so that I slice them into consistent cubes while not cutting myself? When I pay the water bill, am I mindful of all the blessings that come from having water flow directly into our house and as much as we want? What about gratitude for the channel God used to get the money into our checking account to be able to pay the bill? How present am I when I’m in conversation? Reading? The list goes on and on...

Gratefully, I am becoming more focused on the Now and attending to it. And, the more I do so, the richer my relationships and my life are. No doubt the better a human being I am to my fellows and Spirit.

Whether involving my inner life or my outer one, every situation is an opportunity to practice the present, the Presence, to be fully conscious. Every encounter is a holy one, and I want to be involved to the fullest.

Anniversary Eve

Tonight is the eve of our 4th wedding anniversary. It is a joy to think back to this time four years ago when I was about to embark on the greatest commitment of my almost 50 years of life.

Rog and I had met on match.com and within two weeks of full-time email correspondence and two face-to-face meetings, we were talking about spending the rest of our lives together. And, only seven months later, we each promised to do our best to always see the Light in the other and to be their perfect shelter, where they could be reborn in safety and in peace. This from the ex-atheist who’d never been in a romantic relationship more than two years!

As I was preparing for Rog to come into my life – The Man Project –, I talked with God and asked for help. While I had yearned to find my life partner for as long as I could remember, I was used to living on my own and enjoyed it for the most part. I knew that I still hadn’t learned all my lessons regarding relationships (really!) and I didn’t want to let that ‘small’ matter keep my good from coming to me. I asked God to help me be ready for The One and help me with whatever I would need to make the relationship a ‘successful’ one.

It’s been a growth opportunity to say the least, and it’s been the most joyful, love-filled, fun time of my life. Being with Rog, my twin flame and ‘bestest-bestest’ friend, is quite the adventure. And, while it was somewhat a leap of faith for me to make such a monumental commitment to someone I knew only seven months (in this lifetime), I knew God was an integral part of this precious, divine relationship. With God all things are possible, and this holy union proves it!