“Trust Yourself….”

“Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.”
Golda Meir

(Photograph: Botanical Garden/ Callaway Gardens/ Pine Mt., Georgia/Julie Cook/2013)

If you are unfamiliar with the author of today’s quote, Golda Meir, may I recommend further reading–as her story is most fascinating as well as inspiring. Born in the Ukraine in 1898, with an eventual emigration to the US by age 10, her family settled in Wisconsin. Golda attended a teachers college earning a degree which afforded her a career as an educator in the public school system.

In 1915 Golda joined a Zionist youth movement, she married and eventually moved to a Kibbutz in Palestine in 1921 where she continued work as a teacher. By 1924 she and her husband moved to Jerusalem. We must remember that at this time in our history there was no “official” Jewish State, no Israel as we know of today.

The area surrounding modern day Jerusalem had been under British control, being known as a Mandate State, issued by the League of Nations. Great Britain was chosen to serve as a “protectorate” of the people of what would become modern day Israel. It was the general consensus of the League of Nations, who believed the Jewish people of the region had a rightful, historical and ancestral “place” in the Arab dominated region which was an area surrounded and dominated by great instability–much as we see today—with kings and princes of Arab nations all jockeying for power and control. Familiar names such King Abdullah of Jordan, the grandfather of the current Jordanian king, acting as one of the areas more powerful figures.

For nearly the next 50 years Golda was heavily involved in the governing of what would eventually become modern day Israel working as an Ambassador to the Soviet Union, trade and labor union’s leader and eventually leader of the State. In 1969, at the age of 71 she was elected to serve as the world’s only 3rd female Premier (female World leader) as well as Israel’s 4th only Premier. She earned the name “iron lady” well before the British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, would earn the same title. It was due to Golda’s steely determination which she exhibited during momentous crises and surprise attacks and brutal wars.

I think Ms Meir’s quote used today is most fitting giving her own life’s journey.
She was a woman who quietly began an assent to leadership just as women in the United States were given the right to vote. She lived and worked in one of the world’s most tenuous regions of instability that continues to be equally fragile to this day. She was a woman who, at the time, was expected to marry being a quiet supporter of her husband and of his career. And yet she decided at an early age to fan her own flames of possibility and potential.

May we all be inspired by the same desire of achievement and determination noting that possibilities abound for us all, no matter of our start in this life—some of us just have to work much harder at it but we should never be deterred. Trust yourself and go after those dreams with gusto…Happy Wednesday

Civility

“When once the forms of civility are violated, there remains little hope of return to kindness or decency.”
– Samuel Johnson

(photograph: Callaway Gardens Butterfly House/ Pine Mt., GA/ Julie Cook/ 2013)

As a teacher, as well as a parent…not to mention just being a human being, the idea of civility—that of a civil society, is something that has always been very important to me. I use to stress, to my students, the importance of rules, along with the accompanying of certain positive actions—not a laundry list mind you of endless does and don’ts, but rather a basic list—-a list of simple classroom rules along with the consequences of not following those rules, that would keep our world, in Room 202, afloat.

A list of rules that we could all live by—happily, comfortably, agreeably… with everyone’s safety in clear sight. I would tell them that some rules are most necessary for a “civil” society—otherwise we’d succumb to the pure pandemonium known as anarchy—which I know appeals to that daring sense of the teenage mind of damning the adult’s status quo, but for those of us who have hindsight, such is indeed invaluable to life.

I am becoming ever more wearisome with what I observe being the lack of civility in our modern day society–so much so that I grow gravely distressed. Oh you can call me old fashioned if you wish—at 53 I hate thinking I’m categorized into the group of having one foot in the proverbial “home” or worse, grave, but I suppose some reading this may just check me off as simply being of a different time.

Is it being from a different time that causes me to not appreciate hearing the “F word” at each and every turn when at the mall, crossing a street, in a restaurant, watching a ball game and reading a player’s or coach’s lips or walking down the hall at school…only to have the list go on and on? When did such a word, which is, in its origin, considered vulgar slang, become common place? That we now, as a society, condone vulgar slang as “ok”? That our music, movies—our overall entertainment, is saturated with such—that which was once used for “effect” has become all but common place……is that a good agreeable thing to be accepted?

That our politicians work harder at the practice of digging “dirt”, more so than the practice of governing and managing the Law –is even more than alarming. That we are more concerned with condemnation before we even consider common ground let alone reconciliation. That our news media relishes in the lashing out at any American whom they deem “on the wrong” side.

Having grown up as an American, the only wrong side I ever thought to be at issue was if one was anti-democracy! I grew up thinking it was ok to be an American who disagreed as you were still an American—now, however sadly, if the news media finds you in disagreement with their line of thinking, you are considered an enemy of the State–depending on the news station’s affiliation with two simple words–liberal or conservative….hummmmm, I don’t like where that all seems to be headed.

I liked life when we were kinder to one another, when we were considerate to one another. We held doors open for one another, we said yes mam or yes sir even if we were grown ourselves, we weren’t too busy or too self-consumed that we didn’t notice the young mother trying to get out of the busy grocery store pushing a full cart and keeping two young children from running out ahead of her into a busy parking-lot not hesitating to offer a hand. I liked it when television was not laced with profanity, when people thought about what they wore out in public and left the pajamas at home.

The Italian academic Pier Massimo Forni, a professor at John Hopkins University and the founder of the Civility Initiative has a tremendous insight when discussing the importance of a civil society….
“Civility means a great deal more than just being nice to one another. It is complex and encompasses learning how to connect successfully and live well with others, developing thoughtfulness, and fostering effective self-expression and communication. Civility includes courtesy, politeness, mutual respect, fairness, good manners, as well as a matter of good health.”

This thought coming after, this past week, the world witnessed a gross lack of civility in the Italian Parliament where Italy’s first black MP took to the floor and fellow MPs greeted her by throwing bananas. It’s one thing to argue in disagreement, it’s another entirely to dehumanize a fellow human being. It is this dehumanizing our of fellow man/ woman that is now becoming the norm…spiraling out of control as the social filter of civility has gone out the window.

Decorum, civility, manners, morality…however you wish to name it, is woefully lacking in our lives—and we as a people, a “civilized” group of people, are the less for it. We become “less than” in a very negative way, we sadly value ourselves less and less. I merely hold firm to these words uttered by the famous anthropologist Margaret Mead….“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”

Let us hope for a thoughtful group of “citizens” who may be out there somewhere who can remind us all of the importance of our kindness, our thoughtfulness, our playing fair and playing by the rules, by knowing the difference between right and wrong, by demonstrating respect for all, reminding us that it’s ok to disagree, that it’s still important to possess respect for things and people older and wiser than ourselves, to smile more and fuss less…..that we may recall the greatest commandment….to ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40 NIV).

Remember you are a civil individual.

Where did you go?

“God is at home, it’s we who have gone out for a walk.”
Meister Eckhart

It was a warm afternoon when we decided to go for a ride over a piece of wooded property in mid west Georgia. This property is a large tract of land used solely for “recreational” purposes—the hunting of deer and wild turkey. Not being a hunter, I enjoy tagging along and simply enjoy the opportunity of getting outside and riding the 4 wheeler or simply walking in the woods.

As we were riding over an overgrown path, a large turtle shell suddenly caught my eye. My husband stopped long enough allowing me the chance to investigate. Sadly, the shell was empty–slightly broken but not looking old or as if there had been any sort of trauma–the question remained… where in the world was the turtle? Or better, how in the world could a turtle get out?—or maybe the better question is how did something pull the turtle out of its shell?

No matter, he was gone and I was pretty certain he wasn’t coming back–sadly so I thought.

When I saw the quote by Meister Eckhart, I thought how appropriate and perfectly suited it was for this picture of the shell. The empty shell denoting the absence of anyone being “home” and a nice example of ourselves—often out and about with little thought about our comings and our goings. We take the ability of our coming and going pretty much for granted—that is until there is a trouble.

All this reminded me of a verse from Deuteronomy (31:8), one of the first five books of the Bible known as the Pentateuch or simply, The Law— as these books contain the laws and instructions given to Moses and the people of Israel….. “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

It does me well to be reminded that no matter where I go– or, when I go– or, when I come back or even if I come back—that God already knows all of that—He knows my comings and my goings–even if it’s for something stupid like forgetting to pick up the milk and driving all the way back to the store—He knows how “OCD” I can be and that I won’t rest unless I do go back……(He can help me in that area if I’d let Him, but I suppose one character flaw at a time….)

So on this new morning of a new week—when you find yourself dashing and darting here and there… stop for just a moment to ponder that Someone already knows of your darting and dashing—just that single thought may take some of the “hecticness” out your day—helping you to slow down just long enough to be grateful that you’re not having to run about all alone. I find it rather nice knowing that I’m never truly alone—

Two paths, two choices

(Photograph: Callaway Gardens Chapel/ Pine Mt., Ga/ Julie Cook/2013)

Psalm 1
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree
planted by streams of water,
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.

The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
(RSV)

The above photo is of an altar located in the beautifuly quaint and very tiny chapel located within the botanical enclave known as Callaway Gardens. The chapel is located in the middle of a beautiful nature park situated in middle west Georgia, surounded by endless virgin woods, rhododenrens, a gently cascading waterfall, and a lovely small lake—representing the epitome of solitude.

The bible that was resting on the rock slab altar was open to the book of Psalms—one of my most favorite books of the Bible–as I so often relate to the angusih, the lamentations, the cries, the shouts, the triumphs, the joys—the wealth of emotions that make up these poetic songs. So naturally I thought I should mirror what was in the picture—Psalm number 1

And perhaps the whole two path thing was most appropriate for the location—I had come upon this tiny chapel, tucked away in the middle of a forest, by way of a wooded path. There was another path that lead away from the chapel, out around the tranquil lake whose still waters beautifuly refelcted this delightful respite from the world.

This was the kind of place that I could live—isolated, quiet, peaceful, tranquil…nothing but the sounds of the gentle waterfall, the croaking of the bullfrogs, the buz of the cicadias…..the gentle breeze brushing against my skin. But alas, it is not where I live—it’s not where many of us live. When I often find such a spot and wistfully mention that I could live in such a spot, my husband always quips “you’d get tired of it and bored”……would I? Hummmmm…maybe I’d like to give it a test try to see if that would be the case….

I had brought friends here who were visiting from England–she from Germany, he from Finland. I hope they too found the setting and the moment most rewarding and tranquil. Somehow I doubted it compared with anything in Finland, or any place in Barvaria…but to me, this little Georgia girl, this was beauty par excellence—-

Today’s Psalm reminds us that life is all about choices—in this case the choice being the walking on one path or that of another path. One path is about following the Law, which in this case is the Law of God. The other path remains to those who chose not to follow God’s Law. The idea of dried up chaff, just blowing away in the wind, only to become dried up dust is not very appealing. I like the idea of being planted by lovely streams of water—something like where this chapel sits.

God is gracious and a gentleman—always yeilding to our whims and desires. He’s not pushy, never wishing to force anything on anyone–it’s all a matter of choice—a simple choice. It does all seem so simple doesn’t it?—path A or path B—and yet this world is in such a terrible mess—which leads me to think the latter path is quite full—I want to follow on the former path—the first path, the one where I’m not walking in the counsel of the sinnful and wicked.

In order to do so, once again, I’ve got some choices—God’s choices for me and my life, or the world’s choices. When put this way, it all seems so simple—then why in the heck do we, do I, make it so hard and difficult?! It shall be my goal to focus on my choice of the right path—it’s a life long work but I tend to believe, most worth it………..

“far away, there in the sunshine…”

“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.”
Louisa May Alcott

(Photograph: Callaway Gardens Botanical Gardens/Pine Mt., GA/ Julie Cook/ 2013)

Oh how I love this quote as it piggy backs so nicely off of yesterday’s post concerning aspirations and goals. Here we have the thought of these goals/ aspirations always being out ahead of us somewhere, just beyond our reach—and yet, happily they are indeed out ahead of us– offering us direction, the proverbial bread crumbs left to us as the trail in which to follow.

We may bask in the warmth they reflect, in the beauty offered– as Ms Alcott notes. They provide a sense of security as we actually have something to seek or “go after”, being in pursuit of… there is the possibility of never quite reaching these said aspirations and goals…and yet, there is no sadness in that fact as the following is simply too inviting and delightful.

I wish you, this day, much sunshine for all of your dreams, aspirations, pursuits and goals…….

Principles and Direction

“Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them.”
Napoleon Bonaparte

It is good to have ambition and drive. Goals, aspirations, hopes, dreams, etc. are all good and even essential components to one’s life but it’s what directs these goals, hopes, aspirations, etc– what motivates these dreams and ambitions—that is the truly important key behind the impetus to and eventually success of one’s life’s quests.

We can look at someone like Napoleon, whose quote is the basis of today’s post, as an example of someone who possessed great ambition. There is no denying that he was a great general and leader—that is, up to a certain point. His is the story we in America love—the small-town boy who comes from obscurity, the difficult, somewhat dysfunctional upbringing–a young boy who comes from very humble, and what many at the time considered very poor beginnings, certainly no silver spoon in his mouth. He is laughed at and scorned for his rough around the edges roots, even his accent is ridiculed….and yet he achieves a momentous level of greatness–all because he is driven to do so by an intense desire to succeed.

He does possess one very important attribute which proves to be a decisive factor in his life’s journey, the key to whether he rises to the top in life or remains a part of his very humble surroundings—and that attribute is ambition sprinkled with a strong dose of determination. The only caveat is that the principles and drive behind this ambition, this determination is a tad skewed. Napoleon wants so desperately to rise up and be someone of great importance, not so much as to lead people in the right direction, but rather to prove to others that he is capable of greatness—it is a very selfish and self-centered drive to the top—a sort of “I’ll show them mentality.”

When one’s goals are based solely in the “I’ll show them” category, the rise to greatness may be fast and glorious but the impending fall is blindingly disastrous.

It is my hope that you do have dreams and goals—that we all do. It is also my hope that those dreams and goals are backed by humility, purity, honesty—a desire to not necessarily prove anything to anyone, no aims to “show them” but rather a wish and a hope to make the world a better place. Sincerity of heart is easily recognized—or not. You must decide what is your driving force in life—if it is of a selfish nature, it will never come to positive fruition—history teaches us that.

Take time today to examine your own goals and desires of life looking closely at the driving forces behind them—are they pure and genuine, built upon sharing, kindness, being steeped in the betterment of others or are they laced with self-centeredness, revenge, selfishness, or even subject to the rationalized eventual harming of others? If they are of the former, they are bound for success, but if they are of the latter, then failure is inevitable–and most likely at a terrific cost

Take time today to examine the question “what are your principles and what directs them?” Doing so can make all the difference in not only your world, but in the world of those you inhabit.

All shall be well

(photograph: Purple coneflower/ Botanical Gardens–Callaway Gardens, Pine Mt., GA/ Julie Cook/ 2013)

“He said not ‘Thou shalt not be tempested, thou shalt not be travailed, thou shalt not be dis-eased’; but he said, ‘Thou shalt not be overcome.”
― Julian of Norwich

or in a more plain language

“He did not say ‘You shall not be tempest-tossed, you shall not be work-weary, you shall not be discomforted’. But he did say, ‘You shall not be overcome.’ God wants us to heed these words so that we shall always be strong in trust, both is sorrow and in joy.”
–Julian of Norwich

I have always had a keen interest in St. Julian of Norwich–not knowing exactly why that is….
History tells us very little about Julian. She was born sometime around the year 1342. Unfortunately we don’t even know her “real” name. What we do know is that she was most likely not a nun but rather an anchoress/ anchorite—-that being a woman who would literally “anchor” themselves to a church—living in a small cell attached to a church.

Often times these anchoret’s cells were truly cell-like whereas the occupant was literally ‘bricked in” for the duration their life. The cells would have windows allowing for the anchoress to listen to then offer advice to those who came seeking help with various concerns–another “window” looked into the sanctuary of the church allowing her to hear services and receive the holy sacraments.

The cell she chose to occupy just happened to be attached to the small church of St Julian, Bishop of Le Mans in Norwich, England—thereby, forever proclaiming this enigma of a woman, to be known simply as Julian of Norwich.

We do know that she is the first woman of the English speaking world to have published a book. The book, The Revelations of Divine Love, was based on a series of visions/showings/ revelations she received shortly after having turned thirty. Earlier in her life she had asked three things of God—to be ever mindful of Christ’s passions, to, by the time she turned 30, experience a bodily sickness as this was the same age when Christ began his earthly ministry, and finally, to have three have 3 wounds (as in Christ’s three wounds); true contrition, loving compassion and a longing for God.

It was shortly after turning 30 that she was struck by what appeared to be a life ending illness and yet miraculaouy survived. It was during her convelesing that she recievded 16 visions, showings or revelations. It was at this time she decided to dedicate her life to God by becoming an Anchorite– of what is believed to have been a Benedictine order at the time.

One of the visions expressed in her writings is the concept that whatever God does, He does so, always, in and with love—therefore “all shall be well, all shall be well, all manner of thing shall be well”

That simple statement, mantra, prayer has been a sustaining force in my life—being reminded and ever mindful that… with God—all shall indeed be well—despite whatever pickle, trauma, turmoil, woe, tragedy, sadness besets me… I just need to be reminded, sometimes strongly so, that I will overcome…all because He overcame long ago……..and all shall be well….

The importance of making time

(photograph: Callaway Gradens Butterfly House, Pine Mt., Georgia/ Julie Cook/ 2013)

“Our deeds disguise us. People need endless time to try on their deeds, until each knows the proper deeds for him to do. But every day, every hour, rushes by. There is no time.”
John Locke

My life has always been so busy–I seem to have rushed through so very much of it—busy with this and that–busy with the art of “doing”—with the majority seemingly having been for things that I now recognize as being not nearly as important as I had once thought—work, school, the countless meetings, rushing here and there–always in a near state of panic as not to be a moment late—

I fear so many of us have lost the art of “living”—we hide behind a charade of what we think is living…but it is truly just a cardboard cutout that is so easily toppled—sadly the illusion is discovered most often too late.

I love this quote by Mother Teresa—“Smile at each other. Smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at your children, smile at each other- it doesn’t matter who it is- and that will help to grow up in greater love for each other.”

It seems we so often forget to do the small kindnesses for those nearest to us. We are so busy with colleagues, clients, students, customers–that we forget the importance of our own families, often before it is nearly too late—but the tiny saint of a woman reminded us that we need not look far in order to begin important works of peace and love—it begins with the closest—our family–the people with whom we live–seeing, albeit often in passing, everyday…

Take time this week to slow the “rush”, discovering the deeds of what are truly important in your life—not the deed of making time or making money, but for nurturing, loving, caring, listening to those whom you most often overlook…….

Remember how to be small when needed

(Photograph: Butterfly house Callaway Gardens, Pine Mt., Ga/ Julie Cook/ 2013)

“We must remain as close to the flowers, the grass, and the butterflies as the child is who is not yet so much taller than they are. We adults, on the other hand, have outgrown them and have to lower ourselves to stoop down to them. It seems to me that the grass hates us when we confess our love for it. Whoever would partake of all good things must understand how to be small at times.”
Friedrich Nietzsche

Remember the importance of seeing the world, from time to time, as through the eyes of a child.

What path are you traveling?

(Photograph: Pacific Rim Trail, Yachats, Oregon, Julie Cook/ 2013)

This-Worldly Life—July 21, 1944

It is the complete this-worldliness of life that we must first learn how to believe. When we have fully renounced making something out of ourselves—be it a saint or a converted sinner or a church man or woman (a so-called priestly figure!) , a righteous or an unrighteous person, a sick or a healthy person—when we have renounced all of that, we fall completely into God’s arms and into what I call this-worldliness, namely, living in an abundance of tasks, questions, successes and failures, experiences, and helplessness. We then take seriously no longer our own suffering, but the suffering of God in the world. We watch with Christ in Gethsemane. This, I think, is faith. This is conversion and in this way we become human beings and Christians (cf. Jer. 45). How can we get carried away with successes or failures if in the life of this world we empathetically suffer the sufferings of God?… I am thankful that I have been able to recognize this and I know that I have been able to do so only on the path that I am now traveling. Therefore, I think gratefully and peacefully about the past and the present.
May God lead us as a friend through these times, but above all, may he lead us to himself.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Letters from Prison

I realize the date on this “letter” from prison is dated actually from yesterday 1944–I thought the message most timely…be it yesterday 1944 or today July 22, 2013….so….On this new day to a new week…will you be taking the right path?