The Still Point of the Post-Pandemic World
Announcement to all!
Hillside will hold a Zoom Service, Sunday, November 17, 2024
with Dr. Susan Nettleton
Topic: Spirituality, Plain and Simple
Date: November 17, 2024
Time: 11:00 AM Mountain Time, 10:00 AM Pacific Time
If you are not on our email list for Zoom service and would like to
attend, please email us at Hillsideew@aol.com or through the contact page on our website: Hillsidesource.com or message us on Facebook with your email address.
My usual intent with these Sunday posts is to encourage you to move into each new week with a spiritual perspective. Because we live both in the world of society and the world of nature surrounded by a vast expanse of "outer" space, the Spiritual permeating all, is easily lost in the struggles of modern life. The post from last Sunday was submerged in a flood of news, anxiety, threats, shocks as well as celebrations aimed at the U.S. elections. It is easy to be swept away by the tremendous power of social media, television and online programing. We, collectively, have been wondering how the news and passionate campaigning which overtook simple conversation would fare once the election results were clear. Now that it is, have you reclaimed your space of Peace yet?
Tomorrow is Veteran's day, a national holiday. It is a day set aside to honor the men and women of the American military, in gratitude for their service and sacrifice, seen and unseen. That service has been grounded in democracy, and ultimately, in service of Peace for the U.S.A. and really, the entire world. We can argue about what is the path to political peace, or to social peace, but the arguments themselves unravel the deeper, abiding Spiritual Peace. So I encourage you this week to find the time to remember those who have served in war and in the prevention of war, those who give of themselves in service to sustain American democracy. And, most importantly, I encourage you to take the week to reclaim your own Peace within.
Reclaiming your inner Peace may well mean stepping back from the election uproar until your own path is clarified or renewed. If you need a point of focus, consider the contemplation practice I wrote about in the November 3 post. And if the upheavals and post-election happenings seem too much, join me next Sunday, May 17, at 11:00 a.m. MT on Zoom, for "Spirituality, Plain and Simple". If you are not on our mailing list and you would like to attend Sunday's meeting, email me at hillsideew@aol.com. Peace, let it begin with you. (Susan Nettleton)
“Do you have the patience to wait
Till your mud settles and the water is clear?
Can you remain unmoving
Till the right action arises by itself?” Lao Tzu
for poetry: https://hellopoetry.com/poem/5056/peace/ https://allpoetry.com/poem/8507381-Peace-by-Patrick-Kavanagh https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/.../Ivelearnedto/index.html
Today, I am inviting you to a contemplation practice and I encourage you to extend the practice beyond just today if possible, all the way through Tuesday (Election Day) and the entire week ahead. Contemplation, like many spiritual practices, can be defined in varied ways. For this week, I am outlining a general definition of contemplation as "constant"remembrance, by repetition of, and reflection on, a specific word or phrase. This is similar to mantra meditation that is practiced by mental and usually silent, repetition of a word or phrase that serves to focus your attention as you let go of other thoughts and feelings as they arise. In meditation, attention and thoughts (and feelings of different types) come and go, and as we recognize that, we gently return our attention back to our mantra, and regain a relaxed state. When I say 'relaxed', I am specifically including muscle relaxation, throughout the body, as best we can. Of course there are other forms of meditation that involve imagery or sounds or movement, but the point for today, and the week ahead, is contemplation.
This contemplation is not just an intellectual exercise. It is a spiritual practice that is moving you toward new insight or understanding. Keep the practice easy; simply move through the day, into the evening and night, waking up the next day with your same word or phrase. Let it run through your mind throughout the day. When you forget, which you inevitably will, you forget. But, the practice itself will cycle back to you at some point and you will pick it up again.
This particular week, such a practice offers a fresh perspective, a personal spiritual perspective, however the election may be unfolding. Let it stay an undercurrent, moving inside you while you watch whatever updates and news, and otherwise go about your life. As it echoes in you, let it be private. If you want to share your experience with anyone, wait until you have completed the practice. And let it be positive; affirmations lend themselves well to contemplation. There is enough frightful speculation floating around this week; explore the Good. Consider your contemplation extending to, or connecting, with the larger Life, the All. A possible starting point might be a single word repetition like Peace, Healing, Love, Light, or Gratitude , or simply "Here." Or a phrase, "An Open Door", "Wisdom's Gift", "Newness of Life", "Where I Belong", or "It's all Grace", or from last weeks post, "Wonder unto Wonder".
Yesterday, when I sat to meditate, I realized I had not given myself a phrase to contemplate this week! So I sat in silence briefly, inviting the right phrase to come to me. Despite my advise to keep yours private until the week is done, I decided to share mine and the story behind it. I first practiced contemplation 45 years ago in a class designed by Albuquerque minister Helen Brungardt-Pope, that included 6 phrases for contemplation, to be practiced sequentially, one per week for six weeks. Initially, Larry Morris, was the teacher, but after the first meeting, he was suddenly hired as an English Professor at Eastern New Mexico University and left. Helen continued the class. While I did complete the contemplation sequence, the intensity peaked as I (along with Helen and Larry and several others from the group) attended a meditation retreat at the Grand Tetons. The class contemplation practice that week was "I am." One night during that retreat, walking back to my cabin through a moonlit field, repeating "I am", I had a life changing, self-shattering, mystical experience. In the years that later unfolded, Larry returned to Albuquerque, I began ministerial studies, Helen eventually left Albuquerque, and Hillside Church was formed. I do not remember the whole of the class practice; my life had changed. But in meditation yesterday, one of the phrases from that original class came to me for contemplation this week: "Thou art That."
Don't overthink this process. There will be pauses in your practice, when you find yourself, bringing the word(s) into new perspective for you at this time in your life. Life is change. Let Life lead you. (Susan Nettleton)
For Poetry: https://grateful.org/resource/today-when-i-could-do-nothing/ https://thevalueofsparrows.wordpress.com/.../poetry.../ https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/.../Descendfromy/index.html
For Larry Morris' perspective-- https://hillsidesource.com/.../2018/6/16/motionless-doing...
For many people, this last week of October brings parties, festivals, and preparations around the theme of Halloween. Halloween evolved from All Hallows' Eve, the night before All Hallows' Day, or as we term it now, All Saints' Day, celebrated in Catholicism as well as several other Christian denominations. I always find it an interesting cultural twist that Halloween is counterbalanced with All Saints' Day on November 1 and All Souls' Day, November 2, first reverently giving honor to all Saints, known and unknown. Then the following day, is given to remembering and praying for faithful Souls who have passed on (depending on different traditions that may include those who attain heaven, or those who are in purgatory, still fulfilling penance). These two celebrations overlap with Day of the Dead, a more social, family recognition of friends and family members who have died, now celebrated throughout many countries, but with deep roots in Mexico. Here, we also have the belief that there is a space in time when those who have died can intersect with the living, briefly returning for a reunion. So the end of October and the beginning of November brings an energy of meeting, past and present, life and death, the terrifying forms and the sweet treats of life, daily human life co-mingling, touching transcendent spirituality, and love that is lost, then cyclically returned--in a magical, mystical dance.
As we all plow through these times we live in, the transition from October to November also brings the national and state elections to another kind of co-mingling of opposing politics. As yet, we are moving toward unknown outcome. Yesterday in meditation, I found myself wandering in thought. My wandering went to wondering: what comes next? I know many are not just wondering, but are are worrying--with all sorts of frightening possibilities popping up in their minds--many triggered by social media from the thoughts and images of others, created for the sole purpose of stirring fear and conflict. In my meditation, I unexpectedly saw a link between worry and wonder. Wondering what might happen can take a turn to worry, Worry turns to fear. Fear feeds itself. Can we shift our worry back to wonder? And then, consider wonder not as a verb, but wonder as a noun: Wonder. This is word play, yes, but it led my thoughts back to stillness, peace and the Wonder of it All. That Wonder supersedes the fears of the unknown and clarifies your own personal path.
So let today, and the week ahead bring you Wonder, not worry. Even if you choose not to join in the revelry of Halloween, the sanctity of All Saints Day and prayers of All Souls Day, or none of the often intense emotions and liveliness of Day of the Dead, know that millions of people do, in this transition to November. That in itself is Wondrous. Rituals are their own form of the Wondrous. You can find your Wonder to lift you past election intensity, and remind you of your Larger Life. Meditation can open that door. (Susan Nettleton)
For poetry: https://www.awakin.org/v2/read/view.php?tid=475&op=audio https://kundalinisplendor.blogspot.com/.../deeper... https://www.bartleby.com/.../249-the-mystic-trumpeter/
This morning I am reflecting on spiritual acceptance. I purposefully qualify the word "acceptance" by linking it to the "spiritual"underpinnings of life. Although, depending on your idea of spirituality, we struggle with behaviors, situations and outcomes on all sorts of human and social levels, labeling them as unacceptable or grudgingly tolerating as part of the human mix, spiritual Acceptance is a step toward Peace in the larger movement of Life. Acceptance is receiving with recognition that this, whatever 'this' is, is happening or has happened. Since there are obviously many aspects of Life that we do not understand, and life includes loss and suffering, as well as beauty, companionship and joy, spiritual Acceptance involves clarity and faith.
Years ago, a friend of mine told me the story of their early life in Germany during WWII, the continuous bombing where they lived, and the family's dramatic escape to America. The trauma impacted their entire life, affecting education, jobs, relationships and my friend's later attempts at meditation. As I usually do, I talked about forgiveness as the path to healing. This friend wasn't sure forgiveness was possible and left to consider it. Some time later, when we spoke again, they told me that forgiveness remained out of reach, but new Peace and deeper meditation had come through Acceptance. This conversation in turn, gave me new perspective on the power of Acceptance as well as the blocking power of denial. There are layers of meaning in both denial and acceptance. Denial can be protective. New Thought has a prescription for denying the power and 'substance' of adverse events in order to free our thinking to accept the Good we are seeking. But that can easily degrade into psychological denial--crippling our ability to digest, and come to terms with overwhelmingly painful or frightening events. Ironically, when we are able to integrate both the painful and the deeply satisfying wonders of our life, in Acceptance--however we get there--we know both Peace and Gratitude. Life opens in new ways.
Acceptance is not then just about trauma or the flaws of others or our dissatisfaction with ourselves and our life. Spiritual Acceptance includes our ability to graciously recognize and receive gifts which are freely given. We receive and learn acceptance on the level of human relationships, in the world of nature, and in our spiritual practice. Ultimately, we learn to accept the unearned Grace of God. Before I settled into writing this post, I decided to first venture outside and empty my recycling bin. What a magnificent, clear October day! As I came back to the front door, I gazed at the mountains to the North and scanned the trees around me, looking up at the high tree right next to the front door. All the lower limbs had recently been trimmed away and today, the high branches were suddenly full of apricots! There are other fruit trees in the yard, but I have never seen any sign of fruit on this tree, where I have exited and entered daily for 3 summers. I was stunned. When had they arrived? How could I not know this was a fruit tree? Did the pre-storm pruning bring the fruit? What about the extreme heat? I have no answer, but I have a harvest of apricots. "Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest," flashed through my mind. What other ripening nourishment awaits your acceptance? (Susan Nettleton)
https://www.greatestpoems.com/love-after-love/... https://www.greatestpoems.com/mending-wall/#more-380 https://allpoetry.com/Human-Family https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/.../WhenWorld/index.html
October has arrived! This weekend in Albuquerque brings one of the most photographed events in the world, the International Balloon Fiesta. The skies will be filled with an unimaginable array of colors and shapes as hundreds of hot air balloons rise in succession and float across the city. If you are in Albuquerque, there's no way to ignore them; you simply have to stop, and look upward. If you ever longed to recapture the joy of childhood wonder--no matter how brief--let those balloon work their magic. Yes, the traffic and influx of travelers can be vexing, so look up. Rise above it all. For those not in New Mexico this year, myself included, there are many videos online that offer a sprinkling of balloon magic.
I open this post with the Balloon Fiesta, to counter the worldwide tension of this month. There are heavy happenings in the world right now, with war escalation in the Middle East, the disastrous flooding of Hurricane Helene and more storms and floods on the horizon, as we come to grasp climate change. We are on the cusp now of a divisive election that adds to a collective uncertainty across the globe--all the more reason to look up and around for October's gifts. This morning in meditation, I heard one single bird exquisitely announcing the clear day. My mind told me it was signaling nearby birds, but my heart said his song was to me, with only a prefabricated wall of separation between us. It was a reminder of the interconnected web of life we share.
When we can realize and accept that we have what we personally need, it is natural to share and support others; right action flows out of us, like bird song. Life taking care of life is not just a transcendental or abstract thing; it includes our personal lives, and our collective care. It includes the realm of prayer support, the realm of forgiveness even in the faee of meanness and other trespasses. It includes as well, feet on the ground action, showing up, giving, sharing. What unites you to the world around you? What isolates you? To give in these ways really requires that we are a part of the Whole. So look up, above and beyond your usual frame. Even if you are far from a balloon filled sky, or your vision is physically obscured, sweep beyond the frame.
When I was twenty, I attended a University retreat for educators in Houston, held at a lovely monastery with a quadrant court yard. I was very focused on academics, but I met someone who wanted to talk about spiritual matters. Standing in the courtyard with a cloudy sky overhead, my new friend challenged me with, "Look around you, look at that sky, how can feel this is all there is to the world and there is nothing beyond all of this?" I looked up.In that moment there was a loud thunderclap and a powerful lightning bolt flashed across the sky above me. Then that light burst open my thought structure. I entered my Path. Don't underestimate the sky or the bird outside singing, or the bloom at your doorstep. Spiritual windows are everywhere today. Look up! Look around! (Susan Nettleton)
for poetry: https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/.../WhyINeedBird/index.html https://poets.org/poem/more-loving-one https://literatureapp.com/sylvia-plath/balloons https://allpoetry.com/A-lightning-flash
Last week I encouraged a Sunday spiritual practice of recognizing, naming, and appreciating the Good. Of course spiritual practice is not bound to Sunday tradition, but it is strengthened by consistency and routine, in whatever rhythm fits your life. Today, I want to add another element to expand an awareness of Good, our capacity to change perspective. Change of perspective can be subtle or dramatic and comes more easily to some than others. Ironically, too rigid a practice can settle-in and actually resist the further insight that comes from shifting perspective.
Earlier this is week I received a notice of a research study published recently in BMC (BioMed Central. DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03569-8) The article inspired me to consider the intricacy of our human capacity to view events from different angles, and the complexity of the way our minds draw conclusions that re-enforce--or challenge--our habitual interpretations of life events. Perspective and interpretation feed our default view of Life. The workings of our intellect and logic, as well as intuition and faith, give name and shape, and ultimately meaning, to our days. Yet, perception is not solely choice. Much of our brain circuitry seemingly operates on it's own. How do we change perspective?
This research project looked at the human skill of mental rotation as a possible way to lower post-traumatic distress. The research was part of a future goal to develop tools to prevent and decrease early symptoms of PTSD. This controlled study followed 164 health care professionals who were experiencing disturbing, intrusive memories with involuntary images of traumatic events during the COVID-19 pandemic. It involved a one-time-only instruction: researchers selected a visual image that "triggered" the participants memories, and then taught them to shift their awareness from the trigger to an unrelated, imagery-based, visuospatial task. The task was to play the computer game Tetris for 20 minutes. The game requires "mental rotation", our ability to imagine what something would look like if it were rotated to a different position and could be seen from a different angle. The successful player mentally rotates each upcoming digital block so that it can be strategically placed to complete lines of blocks. The theory here is that activation of mental rotation competes with the cognitive mechanism of intrusive memory, and thereby reduces and/or prevents disturbing memory images. Participants recorded any intrusive episodes of memory-images daily, for up to 6 months. Analysis showed remarkable decrease of traumatic image intrusion, with only the 1 training session.
This research pinpoints a specific path of healing of the mind's intrusive and disruptive reminders of trauma, by shifting awareness to mental rotation that "sees" the possibility of a change of perspective to complete the game "puzzle". The fascinating aspect to me is the seemingly unrelated activities. The puzzle game apparently "blocks" the disruptive memory. This is not an isolated phenomena, because the gaming industry has produced other types of digital therapy for other disorders, including PTSD, ADHD, as well as games that boost mental acuity in aging. They all re-enforce, in one way or another, changes of perspective--seeing Life from a different point of view, different from the confines of our personal concerns and consciousness.
In a spiritual process of discovering Life as an unfolding Good, sooner or later, we open the door of personal perception and it expands beyond the ideas we have been faithfully (or fearfully) rehearsing. To me, this snippet of research is a reminder of the power of re-arrangement, that we often resist. Re-arrangement inevitably provokes our perspective. Whether it is an unexpected rearrangement of our schedule, or of our "things", our relationships, our ideas and feeling states, or our physical bodies--consider it may be a call to a change of perspective, a healing, a fresh expansion of Good. (Susan Nettleton)
for perspective poetry:
https://allpoetry.com/.../11611734-The-Changing-Light-by... https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/.../Mydailyactiv/index.html https://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php%253Fdate...
In Western culture, Sunday is viewed as a day of rest, coming out of the Biblical creation story that ends on: "Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." In other parts of the world, of course, there are other Creation stories, other calendars and other holy days. Monday usually marks the beginning of the week. Living in the U.S., I post on Sundays but as a (semi-retired) Minister, Sunday is mobile, sometimes marking the end of the week, sometimes the beginning, but always a day to affirm the Goodness of Life, and I encourage you to join me in that simple practice.
If your days include scrolling social media, online and TV news flashes, and radio broadcasts, it may be difficult to remember the spiritual significance of affirming the Good when conflict, tragedy, and threats from both nature and human drama dominate the news. So today I remind you to simply take a moment, a meditation, an outing, a prayer, even a conversation, to recognize, name, and appreciate the Good that continues. Savor it. Know it as genuine and as your understanding of the even larger, unfathomable reality of Good. Let (let, not force) any shadows that may fall around that Good dissolve. You don't have to take care of the shadows in this practice; this spiritual practice is to affirm and support the Good, the Beautiful and the True.
As part of my own practice today, I recognize the amazing work and dedication of the firefighters who have been battling 3 large fires in near Los Angeles: the Bridge, Line, and Airport fires. I dedicate this post to them as spiritual expressions of Good. The Line fire began during Labor Day weekend. The other two followed a few days later, as extreme heat hit these areas and the danger and scope rapidly spread. The bravery, dedication and skill of these firefighters goes beyond the term 'good', but rather, elevates to the realm of Spiritual Good, encompassing skilled firefighters and their support teams such as strike teams of engine and hand crews, water tenders, wildfire falling module units, and those manning infrared imaging and aircraft. In all, it is a massive effort that includes the circle of other states in an intricate, mobile necessity of trained, dedicated people and equipment. Spiritual Goodness further expresses through the Cal Fire website that meticulously and generously provides not only daily life-saving updates for those in the area, and but also conveys powerful messages of living in community. As the message from the Chief put it, "We are all here to help each other". The website clarifies daily closures and evacuations, listing shelters for residents, and shelters for large animals and small animals. As I write, these fires are now all over 56% contained. The weather this past week suddenly shifted to much colder, more moisture, and calmer wind.
Yes, the terrain, some structures and homes have burned. There have been injuries and loss of wildlife. Yes, the Line fire was arson, and the Airport fire crew suffered a transport rollover that insured several of the crew, some seriously. These are sobering events that we can acknowledge and recognize as loss. We have our social structures for justice, and our means of resilience and recovery. We have knowledge and prayer for healing. I maintain that the recognition of Good, even when coping with loss, opens new possibilities of continued and expanding Good. Not all of us can rest on Sunday, but we can find Good wherever we are. It maybe as simple as a bite of food, or a lovely smile, or a flitting butterfly, or a space of peace within our own hearts. Give it life, savor it, name it Good, and very Good. (Susan Nettleton)
Poetry https://www.ayearofbeinghere.com/.../rainer-maria-rilke-i...
https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/.../Isawagreatli/index.html
"CLARITY II'
The French say:
beau temps,
not a beautiful day
but a beautiful time.
The day can't be beautiful
but the time can be.
(Larry Morris, On this Sweet Earth)
After a smoky-sky beginning, this morning has given way to beau temps! I remember discovering the morning salutation "Quel beau temps!" many years ago, while staying at a quaint guest house on the French island Noirmoutier in the North Atlantic. The early morning had been misty, cold and gray, but by mid-morning, the clouds gave way to glorious sunshine, blue sky, and clean ocean air--beau tempe. The French hotel host that morning enthusiastically greeted me, with "Quel beau temps, and happily began to educate me (in English!) on the layers of its meaning. My meager French was self-taught, so I was open to his lesson. When I latter told the story to Larry Morris (who had actually taken French courses at UNM), it inspired the poem, Clarity II.
I knew 'quel' translated to the exclamative 'what!' and 'beau' meant beautiful, but I learned that 'temps' has two meanings: it can mean 'time', in a general sense, (like "take all the time you need") but it also has evolved to mean weather. There is some speculation that the words 'time' and 'weather' were originally associated through ancient systems of measuring time, like the sundial. Predictable, periodic times of changing weather developed the concept of seasons, with distinct challenges and delights. "Time" extended to include fluctuating social conditions as well, giving us such ideas as "hard times"/"temps difficile"and "better times"/"meilleurs temps". Today, I encourage you to consider how you habitually greet the day and label "the time(s)" we live in.
The California Covid surge this summer, the horrendous heat waves of September, the current fires here in L.A. County and across the country, and all the added conflicts and challenges around the globe do not easily meld into a time of beauty. This, I think, is what Larry meant when he wrote "the day cannot beautiful". We humans carry the weight of social issues and the consequences of conflict with nature and each other. Yet, there are always alternative ways to view life. We have the capacity to re-name our reality. Because Life is immeasurable, there is life hiding within life: birth hiding within death, peace hiding within conflict, love hiding within fear, resilience hiding within failure, and beauty--depending on how you define and experience it--everywhere. If only for today, greet the beauty inherent in time and in timelessness. My favorite way to greet the day is the adage: "As the sun makes it new, day by day, make it new, yet again, make it new." Find or refine your own morning greeting. Why not Walk in Beauty and Newness of Life? Quel beau temps! (Susan Nettleton)
For poetry: https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/.../WhenWorld/index.html
Today I am still reflecting on my commitment to adapt to Life's changes in the 21st century as a key principle of my spiritual life. My sense is that the larger spiritual framework of Life, name it God, or a Power, Presence, and Intelligence Un-named, guides and directs creative adaptation, expressing through me, and you as we respond to It. This past week brought new challenges in the form of extreme heat. I grew up in Houston, and even decades ago, there were times of humid, muggy days over 100 degrees. Then I moved on to Albuquerque, where the desert-like dry heat of summer surpassed Houston. This week's heat-wave in L.A. County, has gone beyond the peaks of those days, with severe heat warnings and scorching afternoons (outside and indoors in air conditioning not designed for extreme conditions)! With my grandchildren in need of rides home from school this week, I was pushed outside at mid-afternoon peak temperatures. After 1 day of the building afternoon heat, and warnings of daily escalation, I realized I had to pay close, physical and spiritual attention and that this was an exercise in adaptation.
That same evening, a friend sent me an Instagram clip of Thích Nhất Hạnh from the monastery he founded, Plum Village. In the clip, the gentle Buddhist master spoke of a very simple practice of meditation, with a focus on breath: "Breathing in, I am calm, I relax; Breathing out, I smile. Calming; smiling", or he offers alternatively, you can say, "I listen, I listen deeply. This wonderful sound brings me back to my true home. Breathing in I establish myself in the present moment; breathing out I know this is a wonderful moment...Present moment; Wonderful moment."
The text explains that this is known as a gatha, a short "poem" recited as spiritual practice to bring the mind into harmony with the breath. This practice is also linked to a meditation bell as a reminder to stop and breathe the "poem". The post is a invitation to the plumvillageapp, which has it's own structure for the bell, but for me, this was all a reminder that meditation, like breath, is something I take with me, wherever I go--be it in extreme heat, pleasant weather, or winter freeze. Reminders come from everywhere, like my friend who spontaneously sent the video clip.
The next day, after my own practice of meditation--an inner availability, an inner deep listening--it became clear that the extreme heat requires simplicity--that translates to some very practical ideas--short after-sunset runs to the grocery as needed, simple warm-it-up-in-the-microwave meals, and take-out, lots of home-made ice in the freezer, a small cooler of drinks with ice for the grand-kids on the drive home, conserve the electricity, pay attention to the city updates, check on one another, expect the Unexpected Good...simplify whatever can possibly be simplified; this too shall pass. Consider today, whatever your weather, the simpler path: Calming; Smiling. Present moment;Wonderful moment. (Susan Nettleton)
for Poetry: https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/.../BrightField/index.html
The Hillside Source is an online resource project of Hillside Community Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
