Adding to Peace, One Moment at a Time, Even When Exhausted ....... 9/2/12

How blessed and good it is when brethren
 dwell together in unity.    Psalms 133:1

The hills in my neighborhood. I used to roam among

 these trees and still do, from time-to-time. 

    Good morning,

How are you?  As an aside, I reworked yesterday's post, adding links and additional comments. You might want to revisit it. It is another example of
lasagna cooked for a second time, usually it tastes better, when it is. My latent perfectionism is displayed. Writing is an appropriate area where I can let perfectionism loose, allowing it to exercise its legs.

     Today, I've been up since 4:30 a.m. My body is out of whack, in terms of my sleeping patterns. Earlier this week I had to rise early to meet some businessmen and I haven't been the same.

     I've made use of today's early hours to pray, meditate, study, write and reflect.  Would it be possible for you to please check in? You do that when you leave gratitudes in the comments section, below.

    What has lifted your heart with joy?  It's easy, complaining. Seeing the silver lining to life requires discipline. I know much about about that. What many guests to this inn don't know is that as a child I suffered from depression.

    That isn't the case, now. I don't want to mislead you. Life, at times---like now---can be hilly, perhaps even mountainous. As I posted the other day,
 "Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things."

     Gratitude is a muscle. The more we exercise it, the easier it is, and the stronger we become, emotionally and spiritually.  I know from personal experience.

     Yesterday, I met with others in the morn. The subject matter was a favorite of mine: having a spiritual awakening. You don't know it, but, even though I'm often a public speaker, I'm still introverted by nature. Professionally, I can be extroverted, outgoing. Afterwards, I need to withdraw, in order to recharge my batteries. 

     I was with more than twenty people, feeling emotionally vulnerable, I wanted to draw within my personal cocoon. I didn't. 

     Encouraged to speak, yesterday, I voiced my views. I really felt like passing, letting someone else talk, but didn't. That was growth for me.  I was tired and depleted by the outpouring of energy that happened in my various meetings yesterday and my lack of decent sleep. 

     I attended a business meeting yesterday, following that gathering.  I was surprised seeing the guy leading it was left-handed (so am I), because he didn't talk left-handedly. In fact I was annoyed, even though I didn't show it. I made sure to not react. (That took energy, and I had little to spare.) 

     Calmly, I disagreed with the moderator.  I'll him call Bob.  Bob tried controlling the discussion. That doesn't work for me, I like consensus when business is done, and asked for it, from those there. I invoked a written tradition of this organization. I reminded him and those attending that our authority is a loving God who reveals himself through our group conscience, our consensus. Nobody  governs, we are all equals. 

    Bob was perplexed, but yielded. That was something, considering he is a recently transplanted from New York City.  He didn't know how to respond as he was taken to task by a supposed laid-back Californian.  I'm not, especially when principles are violated.  Saying no, as gently as my yes, I've learned. Through practice, I'm kind and courteous, even when I disagree with others.  There's no need to be an angry dog. I prefer non-violent communication. 

    

    When his detailed, analytical, long sentences confused me, I told him so, as politely as I could. "I'm confused. I don't understand what you are saying."  When he talked over me, I was glad that I had the presence of mind to calmly say, "I'm sorry, but we don't talk over others.  Please allow me to finish what I'm saying." He did, and apologized. 

     I'm thankful during this time I used slogans that help. I asked if we could "Keep it Simple." At first, there was tension in the room. Most attending this meeting didn't see conflict handled well, in their families. Most had tyrants for parents (I knew those attending)---dictators who would not brook their opinions, especially as children.  Their feelings---like mine---as little ones or adolescents were neither validated nor valued, sought. 

     I knew many avoided this business meeting, because of Bob. Where once twelve attended, there were four of us, yesterday. Though tired, this fact prompted me to sit in. 

     I'm happy that when he felt put upon, that when he felt that he was being told that he was "wrong," that I clarified his perspective. 

     "I don't think this is a matter of you being wrong," I stated. "My focus is that we meet the need for harmony, trust, consensus----none of us here are to govern, we operate by a group conscience."

  

       I've always found, that when in conflict, instead of pinning blame on someone, looking at the needs presented in the issue of contention allows us to move forward, unencumbered by the weight of judgment, criticism, fear, or shame. I'm thankful for learning that that we can all have different opinions with none of us being wrong.  This allows us all to fit together.

"When no one has to be wrong, we can all fit in, just as we are."                            Courage to Change, p. 140

      After the business meeting, the two others besides Bob thanked me for attending.  I'm all for contributing to peace whenever I can.