Feb
12

I Had a Great Time in the 2008 Grammy’s Home Audience

I don’t generally watch the Grammy Awards show, not without flipping channels a lot. But for some reason, it appealed to me this year. From the beginning, I was entertained. Alicia Keys’ opening with Frank Sinatra was great. Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli were fantastic. Several times throughout this 50th Grammy Awards show, I caught my breath. The tribute to the Beatles ending with “Let it Be” was truly moving. Aretha Franklin and BeBe Winans, Beyonce and Tina Turner were so energized.

Still, the performance without peer for me was “Rhapsody in Blue” performed by stellar musicians. The piano performances of Lang Lang and Herbie Hancock…I have no words even today more than 24 hours later. Each time I hear that song performed well, it takes me to another place.

The blend of the old and new was masterfully choreographed. I was delighted to see Patty Austin and so many others in the audience. The footage of the honorees is always fun. It would have been great for me if they’d showed more footage of Max Roach. I’ll be hanging out on YouTube until I’m content.

Max Roach, 1924-2007

Max Roach on YouTube

I’m not sure I follow the mass appeal of “Rehab,” but hell, I’m old.

It was a great night for me right here at home. From talking with friends and family, I’m not the only one who enjoyed it. None of us was happy with everything, but we enjoyed most of it. I figured it had to be good if it kept my attention.

Dec
25

The Break

My Wisdom TreeEveryone was arguing and part of me wanted to join the verbal fray. Someone yelled, “I hate the way she…” when my attention was snatched away by a loud crash in the next room. I missed the last part of the statement. We all went to see what happened.

From the doorway, I could see pieces of what used to be the BIG flower pot now scattered across the floor reaching toward the door, flowers strewn outward, slammed down like the end of the statement, or a pleading. I was stunned and so was my mother who was just behind me at the door. Mom immediately turned away, walking through the noise-makers who were trying to see. She went to get sweeping tools and I got the kitchen garbage can. I was picking up the big pieces and the plant when mom returned with her tools.

The noise makers pontificated about how it could possibly have happened and trailed back into the kitchen leaving mom and me to clean up. Quietly mom commented to me as she swept up rich, dark potting soil, “It is rather strange that this fell over and broke so completely, don’t you think?”

“It is,” I said. “It shouldn’t have fallen according to its positioning. It’s as if the smashing was meant to signify “Enough!” to the raucous everybody was making.” Mom replied, “I think it’s right.”

Dec
06

It’s All Good: A Message from My Daddy

Dancing SpiritsI sat by my favorite tree hoping to find a way to unwind. I figured out, from a previous meditation, the best way for me to cast off my burdens. So, there I was, breathing deeply and leaning on a truth made manifest through practice more than comprehension. Moments passed and I lost myself in my internal space and reality passed away. In this session the sun was shining brightly as I rested against my tree. For the first time since I’ve begun practicing Morning B.R.E.W. sessions, I was visited. It was my dad who came and sat with me. He let me know that he was fine and all was well. I was in my meditation because I was all wound up over making things ready for dad’s celebration. He let me know that I needed to relax and have some ice cream.

A few things I must make clear. First, I said that my dad made me know things. I didn’t say “he told me” because it’s a different way of communicating when it’s out of body. The reason I was frustrated and stressed was because I was trying to make people move to help me with dad’s funeral program. You see he had died two days before.

Anyway, I took his advice, calmed down and had some ice cream. It turned out that he was right and everything worked out even better than I thought it would. My mom was pleased. According to my own assessment, I believe that my dad would have liked the way things went as well. So, really, holding onto my stress would not have done me any good. Most probably, it would have impeded my progress.

All the lessons I learned in my life are made manifest time and again throughout my experiences. Everything happens for a reason. Every thing in its own time. And really, whatever the hurdle, there is a blessing in the mix, if you sift and wait and let it rise to the top. Attending to life gives profoundly real and realized meaning to “It’s all good.” Look a little closer, even in the midst of turmoil, try to be empty of stress and worry, sit with an open heart and a receptive spirit. If you do it right, you’ll see them too, gifts of insight and assurance.

Sep
25

I Broke the Hold of Stress

From September, 2007.

I’d been running around trying to get things done, fretting over stuff not in my control and generally giving myself a pain in my spirit. Funny thing is the faster I went the behinder I got until there was hardly any discernible forward movement. To begin this particular day, I did my morning B.R.E.W. with considerable effort to Be Still, the first step.

I went to my favorite spot of trees in my mind, with the fat trunks and thick foliage. My thick trunk with the curve of my back worn into it was empty waiting for me. The air was crisp and the sound of the waters around me were soothing. I was in My Place. And I was sad, burdened even here, heavy laden with a rucksack of my current worries and fears and hopes I hesitated to have. I needed help.

It was easy to put down my worries a few months ago. Now I wasn’t even sure how to set them down. Then a waterfall appeared off to my left, a little ways away from where I sat. Just at my feet there appeared a push broom. I managed to set down some troubles briefly only to reach to get a few back, to hold onto them for a bit longer. And then my help came in the form of a stronger me.

One by one I’d set down my burdens and then took back a few until I had most in hand once again with little room to hold the push broom and very few things to push away. Putting them down made me feel a great sense of abandonment; it seemed like my burdens and I needed each other—obviously I was confused.

My alter ego watched with pity and thoughtfulness. She took from me the burdens that I’d re-collected from the pile and replaced them on the ground. She took the push broom from my reluctant hands and hushed my protesting movements. She pushed the burdens over the waterfall in one strong push of the broom; they made no sound nor flailing for salvation and I sat in the curve of my tree stunned.

My alter ego sat next to me and told me—made me know what we did was right. I hadn’t abandon anything really. This was my back-of-the-boat time. She did one thing more for me; she took off my back, the rucksack chocked full of issues. She had to be careful because part of it was fused to my back. She cut it away, brought it to the edge and flung it over the waterfall. I fell back against my tree, nothing between my back and it, and that comfort was new again. I closed my eyes.

It was the closest I’d been to a rested spirit in a long time. She returned and sat next to me again and said, “There.” She raised an arm and I laid down my head in her lap and wept. And I felt better. Then there was room for step two—Receive God’s Love . . .

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