As I’ve mentioned here before, one of the richest memories of my life is how I used to get up at 5:30 in the morning with my dad. It was our time. We’d eat GrapeNuts and tell each other about the miracle(s) we’d seen the day before. I still try to like GrapeNuts and I still try to look for miracles every day.

Finding the miracles has been harder for me latley. I might notice (my word for 2015) lovely people, places, or things, but I’ve allowed circumstances, over which I feel powerless, to cloud my ability to recognize them as miracles. That’s gotta change.

Here’s how I’m going to change it. Yes/And. I completely accept the reality that YES there are many things going on the world, over which I have no control. AND while I continue to attend to what I can, I’m going to focus on the light, the good, the possible, along with the people doing the light, good, and possible.

YES, the divisions, gloom, fear, and darkness will still be around. My focus, however, will not be as glued to it, as it has been lately. I’m going to focus on the power of miracles. When I find myself tempted to dwell in the negative longer than is necessary, I’m going to seek out AND people, places, and things. AND people, places and things are the miracles Daddy and I used to share with each other daily. I’ll share some of them with you here.

I spent much of last week at a Tibetan Buddhist retreat house in Kentucky called Loose Leaf Hollow with three profoundly powerFULL women and our very brave leader, Joe Z.

Our primary focus was how to experience life ‘outside the box’ (of time, grief, judgement, fear, resentment, etc).  Joe modeled the intent for us with his candor, trust, humor, Christian and Tibetan Buddhist spirituality, generosity, wisdom and willingness.  

I won’t go into more detail, but I do want to share a few images that will help me return to living outside the box when (not if) I find myself stuck back inside. Two are from the grounds of LLH.  The other two are from the grounds of the Abbey of Gesthemani (which is a short drive from LLH). 

As a lifetime Christian, I speak fluent Episcopalian. I also speak a little Buddhism. These ways of living both speak to me.  And both help me live a more compassionate and loving life. 

YES, my Christian faith is the foundation from which I build my life.  It helps me see the world with the eyes of my heart.  AND the teachings of Buddha help my install doorways and windows from which I can see with fresh eyes and even step outside, when I get stuck.

What helps you when you need to get unstuck?