My home is in such a sweet spot under two grand poplar trees. My favorite view is out my kitchen window—it’s all Nature, but the earth is barren. “Oh, I’d so love to look out this window and see some green grass,” I’ve lamented at least three times since I moved here, “but it’s too much work and too expensive. Oh, but it would be so nice!” That was it. I had to let it go. I never told anyone about my secret wish.
Then a few days ago my friend Heiko drove up to my place hauling a trailer behind his truck. He skipped up my cabin steps and looked at me with a twinkle in his eye and a smile, “Want some grass?” he enquired enthusiastically as if I had phoned in an order for sod that morning.
My hands flew to my cheeks and my eyes were as big as a child’s who has just been handed the biggest lollipop she’s ever seen.
Next thing I new I had wet mud squishing through my toes as I laid down squares, rectangles, and unnamable shapes of sod, forming them into a grand 12′ x 12′ circle, aided by my friends Heiko, Craig and Greg.
We finished and I ran back into the house, and peered out my kitchen window to see the bright green grass was sparkling with little drops of water from the sprinkler we had turned on to welcome it home.
With a feeling of utter gratitude and love, as though a large bouquet of roses had descended from heaven, care of my Divine Beloved, I realized how much God loves me and how it is true what Paramahansa wrote, “In every moment God is answering the whisper wishes of your heart.”
It was not very spiritual of me to hide in the bathroom and cry when my daughter called and told me her new car had broken down for the second time just as she was heading for an important appointment relating to the start of her new in-home care business for the elderly. Instead of letting pity overwhelm me, I should have followed the example of my 5 year old grandson who was with her and her husband at the time of the P.T. Cruiser’s sudden infirmity, and who exemplified perfectly that the difference between trouble and joy is 100% attitude.
My daughter reported to me that when the tow truck arrived, Little David was overcome with excitement and cried out, “ARE WE GONNA RIDE IN THAT TOW TRUCK?!?!” As his Mommy and Daddy climbed into the cab of the truck, they turned around to pull Little David in. Rather than being upset about the car trouble, he was wearing an ear to ear grin, excited for his first ride in a real tow truck. After climbing in, he immediately perched himself backwards to have a perfect view of the action in the back of the truck.
“Our car’s in the air! Our car’s in the air!” He exclaimed with glee. After that, they all got strapped in and headed to the repair shop, and he asked with hopeful anticipation, “Are we going to ride in here all day?”
LOL! I determined that I’d follow David’s fine example next time I had car problems…which was today.
I was on my way to Los Angeles when I noticed that my faithful air conditioner was running warm. I looked at the gauges and found that the hot/cold gauge was maxed out on HOT. My hand flew over my mouth in surprise and concern (the actual word would be “consternation” defined as the feeling one gets when one is in big trouble and is at a loss at to how to get out of it).
Having left from Buellton, I had not even made it to Santa Barbara. I reduced my speed and hoped to make it to Stork Ave. where there is a gas station flanked with a nearby Starbucks and sushi restaurant. I was trying hard to make it to that off ramp where I could suffer in comfort and pleasure.
Suddenly, the car began to smoke, which could have been a sign of fire (this was the point where I began to swear, but only three words and they were all the same word.) I pulled over to the side of the highway.
It wasn’t until I was climbing into the tow truck that I remembered my grandson’s positive attitude. I consciously turned myself around in my seat to look out the back window and see if I too might be excited by the sight of my car in the air. All I wanted to do was cry. Unable to rejoice, what I DID do was IÂ thanked God. After all, my first mission in L.A. was a most unpleasant one, and my travel crisis was conveniently taking me out of that picture. It would have to be handled without me –Â thank God.
I was also grateful and thanked God that the expense of getting the car fixed was hitting my budget at the beginning of my fiscal month and not at the end of it when I sometimes could not even afford to replace the plastic lei of flowers that hangs from my rear view mirror.
Well then, if I cannot be excited by my challenges, I can at least be grateful for the graces that are hidden within them. God is good, oh yes, ALL THE TIME.
Last week I moved my dad out of his house in Los Angeles to a home in the California desert. There was nearly 70 years worth of things to move out! By the time the big truck had pulled away, I had Dad’s car packed almost to the ceiling—and then, his car wouldn’t start!
We had to get to the desert fast in order to be there when the truck arrived the next morning. It was such an outrageous situation that I knew: God was up to some mysterious good. I decided to stay peaceful.
I went in the house to find my daughter. “Want to know something funny?” I asked her.
She had the solution right away, pulling a stranger out of his car to jump my dad’s vehicle. The third time he jumped the car my daughter kept her foot on the accelerator so it wouldn’t die.
With her foot on the accelerator, my daughter whipped out her iPhone, like the Lone Ranger draws his trusty gun, “BMW dealership, are you still open? Can I bring in a car? Yes? Okay, we will be there in 20 minutes….Enterprise? Do you have an SUV left for rent today? Yes? Okay we will be there shortly; please hold it for us.” I am truly blessed to have such a capable daughter as Charlene.
My 92 year old beloved dad was in the house going through little drawers to see if he had left anything behind. God only knows if we would EVER have gotten him out of there if it hadn’t been for the transportation emergency!
The very last day I was going to leave the desert after helping Dad settle in, he said in a most pitiful and sad way, “Why don’t you stay one more night. You don’t have a reason to leave today.”
I stayed one more night, and we went through a box of family photos, enjoying our time together hugely. We found two wonderful photos of my sweet Mother, and one of Dad that we framed immediately and set on the kitchen table. It was an evening ordained by God many days before, and made possible by the most unlikely events.
Truly, everything happens for a reason, and God makes all things work unto the good of those who love Him.
Last night I came back to my cabin after dark, but I had left the porch light on so was able to see into the birdbath which has been the friend of so many birds AND bees this year. To my surprise, there at the edge of the water sat a little frog. He was so small and plump that “Adorable” must be the name his mama gave him. He was totally content. His body was halfway submerged and he was in such a state of deep relaxation (bordering on bliss), that he did not stir although I passed within a couple feet of him.
I was completely charmed, and could have left it at that, but I began to think in terms of wonder at this tiny creature: how on earth did he get up into that birdbath? It stands about three feet off the ground supported by a slippery plastic pole which he could not have climbed. He must have actually JUMPED up there; but how did he know that there was water in the bowl? He could not have seen it from the ground, being only knee high to a blue jay.
So here is my story…
Froggy was born in a little pool far up the valley. A pool that has long since dried out in this summer drought. Froggy was thirsty, and he longed to be cool and slimy all over.
“Fugetabout it, pal,” his friends told him. “We are all gonna die of thirst, there ain’t no water ‘round here nowheres.”
But Froggy believed in his heart that somewhere he would find what he needed and longed for, and that the Lord would help him locate it. So, with a fervent prayer for help and protection, he set out to find water.
This was no easy task since Froggy was so little and the valley was so big. Froggy put out his best effort, travelling at night as smart froggies do. He stopped once or twice to sing and keep his spirits up.
After days and days (which is equivalent to years and years in human terms), froggy got wind of a sense, the sense that water was around somewhere not too far. He came upon this tall structure (three feet was very tall) with a bowl on top.
“I can’t SEE water, but I just KNOW it’s there!” said Froggy with the faith that could have moved mountains of water. He took three deep, yogic breaths and JUMPED with all his might off of my porch step and landed on target in the middle of my birdbath.
“Ahh, water! Thank you God!” little Froggy exclaimed with all his heart.
Swimming in gratitude, he moved himself to the edge of the bath where he relaxed. He contemplated the goodness of God and how much God loves him that He would lead him to the cool waters.
The Lord, seeing how much Froggy loved Him, stretched out His hand of Grace, and blessed the little frog right into Samadhi.
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
Now, Froggy, was in dire circumstances and near death from drought, yet he had the courage to travel far and pray and believe in his salvation, and he found and received it. Can I not then do the hard things that I know I must do to share his same destiny? Everyone knows for himself what he must give up, do, or practice in order to win the Pearl of Great Price.
I’m waking up to gratitude for the AMAZING life God has given me. I feel that if there is one thing we can do to truly bless God in this life, it is to BE HAPPY. The Divine lives in us. If we are happy, He feels our happiness. If we are discontent and down hearted, She feels that too. It’s like being in love and waking up next to my beloved. Would I say, “Good morning, Honey. Life is so hard. I’m so depressed.” What kind of partner would THAT be, lol! No, for the sake of my Beloved, I must wake up and say, “Good morning, Darling! It’s a new day! I can’t wait to go on many adventures with You today. Oh, let’s LOVEÂ this world together. I’m so thankful that you are in my life!”I just made myself a mug of Yogi tea, and guess what the tag says!
“The purpose of life is to enjoy every moment.”
I’m going to go make another cup of tea…this one is for God.
This week on California Gold, Huell Howser took viewers to a Japanese restaurant that was in a pickle over a certain fish. Three times they had enlarged his tank, but the fish kept growing and growing, and had now outgrown its third walled water home. What was the big red thing on the fish’s nose? A callous because he kept bumping into the glass walls of his aquarium!
Huell accompanied the restaurant owners as they transported the big fellow to his new home: the lake at Church of Self-Realization’s Lake Shrine!!
Can you imagine how elated that lucky fish must have felt, now free to swim as much as he likes in spacious waters? Previously, he must have thought to himself, “Well, this is my life. I’m stuck. I have had three tanks, and I’m always stuck. This is always gonna be my life; how awful!” That fish had no idea what compassion surrounded him, and what a wonderful destiny awaited him. Not only was he released from his tight prison, but he was taken to God’s swimming pool at Lake Shrine!
We can never know what Grace awaits us just around the corner.
