angel with moose wings

Spiritual resource to share: self-forgiveness and expectation of good

Two evenings ago, I took my dog, Mocha, out to a remote area where we could hike a wide expanse of lake. The ice on the lake had been frozen over for months and gave us an open vista to run and jump through drifts while watching the sun set.

I parked the car easily and Mocha and I were soon out of the car and onto our hike. But when returning, I realized there was an ever so slight slope to my parking space. But that was enough to keep me from backing up onto the icy dirt road and head on home. After thirty minutes of trying to get out, I was stuck.

I realized I didn't have my cellphone.

I realized that we had earlier emptied the car out of all emergency equipment

I realized that it was getting dark and this was pretty remote.

Oops.

I realized I needed to pray.

My first thought was to berate myself for not having checked before I left to see that I had what I needed in case of an emergency. I drive in remote areas so often and it is almost second nature to have with me these emergency things. I needed to forgive myself - immediately. I didn't have time to dwell in self-condemnation and fearful speculation. It was getting dark fast.

Mocha and I walked out a half mile to a paved road. Far down the road, I could see headlights of a car. I waved earnestly with both arms. It went right past me.

Sure, I thought, who is going to want to pick up a stranger with a Rottweiler at night? Right on the wings of that thought came another. I had a choice. I turned down the ideas that I could be abandoned or that we would have a long, cold lonely 10 mile walk home.

I started listening to angels - "God's thoughts passing to man" - that assured me that God is right with me. God cares for each of His children. This is a law of Love operating right now on our behalf -- and on behalf of any of God's children that happen to pass by this way!

Another set of headlights. Another car passed by, but then stopped, went into reverse and stopped again in front of me.

As the driver of this 4x4 pick up truck with a trailer hitch rolled down his window, I explained my situation and asked if he had a phone I could use. He volunteered to take me to my car and help pull me out. Mocha and I jumped in the back of the pick up and into a wide all-embracing set of wing-like antlers of a moose. We negotiated space with the antlers and then took off to find our car.

What was lovely about this experience was the man - he was kind, understanding and concerned for my safety. After he easily pulled my car out onto the dirt road, he followed me to be sure that I could get to the paved road with no problem. The fullness of God's care for each of His children was shown through this man's unselfishness and kindness. This was God's angel message in a fully equipped pick-up truck.

After many heartfelt thanks, we parted on the paved road and Mocha and I were safely on our way home.

To share your thoughts on this or to explore this idea further, please feel free to be in contact with me, add your own comments below, email this article to a friend, or add to the healing finds and sites on the web to the right.

Night

Spiritual resource to share: freshness and contentment



We were out cross country skiing at night again. There is something about the night that I find soothing. In the cold, air becomes a tangible thing. You breathe in and taste a startlingly cold and sweet freshness. You breathe out and you see wisps of rising clouds. It's magical.

Night kind of gets a bad rap when it is used to portray darkness, fear, and so on. So I'm hoping this blog, the picture and poem help to redeem night's other virtues: protection, rest and stillness.

In the dark silence, my husband and I ski. And during the swooshing sound of my skis and the squeak of the cold snow, I take time to pray. The work and persistence of skiing uphill is rewarded by the smooth sailing downhill. Prayer has its rewards as well.

I am grateful for all that night means to me and for the protection that God gives, the rest that comes from dedicated work and the stillness that welcomes every new day. I am grateful to know that prayer becomes a tangible thing. Prayer is the impulse behind kind words, corrected mistakes, forgiveness, renewed commitments and unselfish deeds.

Just as night falls unconditionally and evenly on all things, so does Love grace itself unconditionally and evenly on every thing. The rhythm of my strides and the rhythm of my prayer blend under the safe cover of night.

I found another night lover on the web. Welcome to this poem.

The Night of the Full Moon

by Lloyd Frankenberg

O come with me into this moonlight world.

The trees are large and soft tonight,

With blossoms loaded soft and white,

A cloud of whiteness furling and unfurled.

The houses give their sounds upon the air

In muted tones and secrecies,

Their lights like laughter through the trees.

The evening breathes its vows into our hair.

The evening puts its lips to throat and brow

And swears what it has sworn before

To others and will swear to more.

The evening has its arms around us now.

photo All rights reserved

To share your thoughts on this or to explore this idea further, please feel free to be in contact with me, add your own comments below, email this article to a friend, or add to the healing finds and sites on the web to the right.

Secure in a storm

One thing I know for sure ( among other things!) is that God is with us in every circumstance, guarding, guiding and protecting.

I have had many situations that bear this out including this one. Once when I was kayaking down the Ocoee, a whitewater river in Tennessee, my boat tipped over right before a major rapid. I got sucked out of my boat and under a large undercut rock and was held there by the powerful currents. I remember thinking that I had a choice to panic or pray. I prayed. It was a quick and pleading "Father!" I felt calm. I opened my eyes, reached out toward the sunlight I could see upstream of the rock and I was out.

Concerned friends who had seen the incident and were waiting for me said I was under for a long time, but all I remember is my choice, my prayer and getting swept to safety.

So the thing I know for sure is that wherever we are in a storm, a car or at the movies, God is right there with us. We can be safe in a storm. We can know our loved ones are held in God's care.

For more incidences of God's protecting power and other helpful articles dealing with praying about Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, please visit spirituality.com. These prayers and mine are joining in with thousands around the world that affirm that God is able to still the waves and calm the storm.

Peace, safety and love to you all,
k

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