  Spiritual
This week: The Annual Holiday Letter Edited by: SophyBells  
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Hi, I'm SophyBells ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter.
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book Finding Your Religion, compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred.  |
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The Annual Holiday Letter
Every year about this time I decide I'm not going to send a holiday letter, and maybe not even a Christmas card. I get busy with work and life and the holiday rush, and can't figure out a time to carve out to get it all done. Then the cards and letters start arriving - one a day in early December, a couple each day in the middle of the month, and then a flurry of them every day as Christmas and New Year's approach. And as I start to open and read the missives from people who are dear to us but many of whom we often only hear from once a year, I change my mind and end up penning our annual letter to send to loved ones around the world who might appreciate being caught up on our lives.
This year I bought holiday stamps a week ago - some with Santa and his sleigh, and others with gingerbread houses - even though I had decided by then not to do a letter this year. I was at the post office anyway, to pick up mail after returning home from vacation, and must have known subconsciously that I would probably succumb again this year. So I bought the stamps "just in case" I changed my mind. And while as I write this my mind hasn't changed yet and I haven't written a letter, it is inevitable that I will, probably sometime next week after I receive just enough cards/letters to make me feel nostalgic. Or guilty. 
Before I write the new letter, which I make copies of, sign with a short personal note, and mail either in a Christmas card or on it's own, I always go back over letters from previous years. It's part of the spiritual exercise of it for me - revisiting what I wrote about what was going on in our lives in 2006 which, while I haven't exactly forgotten, offers a nice reminder of what we've been through, good and bad. They provide a concise journal of highlights for the years - the highs and lows and in-betweens which, for me, offer a spiritual perspective on where I was, where I am now, and where I hope to be headed in years to come.
Here are some excerpts from recent Christmases past, where we shared the highs and lows of the year with friends and family near and far:
2012 Letter
While there has been much to be grateful for this year, most of 2012 was overshadowed by the death of Sophy's mother. On May 24 we got a call that her mother was in the hospital with a life threatening condition she was not expected to survive. So Sophy boarded a plane to CA to be with her mom and the rest of her family. Our hearts broke when she died at sunrise on May 31, as peacefully as was possible in her condition. We celebrated her life in a beautiful backyard overlooking the ocean in Laguna Beach with a memorial service she would have loved! We miss her every day, and our grief is still raw, especially as we all deal with our first holiday season without her. There have also been blessings along the way. Meaningful time spent with family and friends, loving notes and phone calls of support and care, travel to new and familiar places, and work we love.
2011 Letter
Our sweet lab, Kayla, continued to struggle with health problems throughout the year – the weakness in her back legs that begin last December grew more pronounced, and she also had pneumonia several times over the year. Each time antibiotics handled the pneumonia, but as soon as she went off them, it returned. Finally on October 23, we made the difficult decision to end her life peacefully and painlessly after the pneumonia returned with a vengeance in the middle of the night. We remain heartbroken by the loss, but grateful for the sacred time with which we were blessed to share our lives with such a sweet, perfect soul.
On a brighter note, on December 31, 2011 we will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in the place where it all began - with our engagement in Laguna Beach, CA. We are grateful for the wonderful marriage we have been blessed with, and look forward to the next 25 years with joyful anticipation.
2010 Letter
What an eventful year this has been – Sophy safely turned 50 in August. Her mother and sister flew out to be part of the celebration, which included fun, laughter, good friends, and lots of wine. She became a card-carrying member of AARP, but was disappointed to discover that the $16 membership fee did not entitle her to retire as she originally believed it would. So after the festivities ended, she dragged herself back to work, muttering something about “50 being the new 30.”
2008 Letter
As always, vacations were the best part of the year (if we could find jobs as professional vacation-takers we would do so in a heartbeat!). The highlight was a river rafting trip on the Green River in Utah in May with Sophy's sister, Betsy. While Mr. Sophy and Betsy were river-rafting pro’s, it was Susan's first time on an extended river rafting trip, which lasted for five days and did not include flush toilets, showers, or cable TV. In spite of those hardships she had the time of her life floating through Labyrinth Canyon and can’t wait for the next time!
We hope you are doing well, and that your lives are filled as ours are, with much love and laughter – or at least enough light to keep the darkness at bay. We miss you, and think of you often, and are grateful to hear from you this time of year (and more often when possible).
It's actually a great writing exercise - trying to condense an entire year into one side of one page of a letter is invaluable when it comes to editing out unnecessary words and phrases. Yes, I widen the margins and shrink the font - but still end up editing it quite a bit to make it fit the page, which is even more challenging if I buy the pretty pre-printed holiday stationary to get it to all fit on. (For the sake of my dear loved ones, I try to keep my letters to one page because I know folks are getting lots of letters, and unless mine is incredibly entertaining, most won't have the time - or interest - to flip the page over and continue reading.)
If you don't already, give holiday letter writing a try. Your loved ones will enjoy hearing from you, and you'll create a file full of memories to look back on in the coming years. And whatever holiday you celebrate, may you have a blessed season of love and light, and a very happy new year!
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Below you'll find some recent offerings from other WDC members. Don't forget to leave a review and rating if you read the item.
Here's one inspired by last month's newsletter on Prayer:
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Here are a few from some newbies:
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And a few more from other members:
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Now for some comments about my last newsletter "Spiritual Newsletter (November 13, 2013)" about Prayer:
From ANN Counselor, Lesbian & Happy 
I agree with you but the same Bible Believers who are against so many things we do in America, the conservative Christian Right, would NOT agree with you because to them you've not prayed unless you said aloud, "God, I pray that.....In Jesus Name Amen". The narrow view of prayer is limiting. Poems are prayer, experiences like you suggest that lift and touch our heart are prayers inspired by the God who created us. During our lives we do "prayer without ceasing" as the Bible says because we love the life we've been given and want it to be the best possible. We pray silently many times each day and when we see a child playing or a father carrying his child or patting the child on the back, when a mother caresses her child's hair kindly with a smile, when our pet is kind to another pet, when snow falls, when rain comes after days of drought, Yes, we as humans created in a way we cannot understand pray each day to that One who created our bodies and mind and 'heart'. Thank you for reminding the narrow believers that we all pray always. Those of us with a lesbian or gay heart know all hearts are different and all pray to our Creator in different ways; other words, we all pray to the same Creator, God, as all others. Ann
I'm glad you enjoyed the newsletter - whether one agrees with me or not won't change my experience or belief about what prayer is. Glad it doesn't change yours either! 
       
From Zeke 
To me, prayer is putting yourself completely in the hands of our loving Creator.
Nice and simple, I love it.
From Pita
When I think of Mary Oliver, the one thing that jumps first to mind is:
“Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?”
― Mary Oliver
And I love your Rockwell quote on prayer. I grew up with a rigid definition of prayer, and prayer was an obligation and a miserable chore, something to be endured. Maybe rigidity served its purposed way back when, but now instead of being a portal I enter that separates the common parts of my day from the spiritual parts, I find such rigidity a bottleneck and a stopper.
Now I think it is everything I do, so long as I pay attention as I do it, is prayer. In every second we die to the past and give birth to the future, being human means one learns to stand comfortably on the precipice of whatever disasters or banalities encroach on our lives, and we're okay with it.
And thanks, Soph, for starting this issue off with Mary Oliver :)
Glad you enjoyed it - I grew up similarly to you, and found prayer to be uninspired and uninspiring. Once my view shifted, it all changed for me. And yes, paying attention is key. You are welcome for Mary Oliver - she's a blessing and her words are a prayer to my heart.
From Quick-Quill 
While a poem or even a prayerful song read is still considered prayer, communication to God to convene a meeting should be just that. What is the purpose of the meeting? Don't you need God's guidance with that? I suggest the readings should be used at the closing. We need all the help we can get from the Most High to run interference for our "selfish" desires. To be open to the needs even if they aren't what we think is the right way. I feel a prayer for guidance is necessary before a meeting. It draws the comforter to pour the oil of healing over troubled waters, even before they get to that point.
Thanks for sharing, I appreciate your reply to my newsletter. For me prayer is not about "convening a meeting with God." And it sounds like we have a different perspective about what a relationship with the Sacred is - and that's fine. I'm glad yours gives you comfort and peace, as mine does.
From Joy 
Beautiful NL, Sophy.
I loved it so, maybe because it opened up with one of my favorite poems.
Yes, what a prayer is or isn't depends upon each person's definition, but I dare think that every single thought and action converts to prayer by default, even the negative stuff since, often, a negative thought or action comes back to haunt its owner.
Excellent observation, thank you for sharing it!
From Mia - craving colour
I enjoyed your reflection on prayer.
For me 'prayer' acknowledges 'Divine Presence', whether through contemplation, quoting poetry, breaking into song or smile, the touch of a loved one,or inspiration that shows itself in our writing.
Nice, thanks for this response - very well said.
From hbar
Hello, Mrs. Sophy,
An interesting newsletter. Rarely do I comment on the few newsletters I get, and actually read, but this one on prayer stirred me to comment.
I kind of have to go with Nancy Rockwell on this one. Prayer is what we make, anything we offer to God can be interpreted as prayer, or church for that matter. Standing on a mountain peak wondering at the view and majesty of nature is truly a prayer of thanks. Drifting on the Snake River through Hell's Canyon is more awe inspiring and spiritual than a morning spent in church. Offering pain and suffering to God is or can be a very powerful prayer when put in the context of a ministry.
Anyway, just a few of my thoughts. Interesting newsletter.
John the Ogre
P.S. Oh yeah, dogs are prayers, cats are just evil.
 about cats - watch out for hate mail from cat lovers!
And yes to your connecting nature with prayer, AMEN to that!
From WriterCycle
Hi Sophie,
Great question! About six years ago I became very interested in prayer.
At the time I was, and still am, working fervently on my spiritual growth and direction then I ever had in the previous thirty years of Spiritual life. Which of course was preceded by over 20 years of worldly/secular existence.
I read a few books on the subject from various Christian sects to The Jewish Study Bible as well.
The "official" definition of prayer starts with; An address to God or deity or saint; and ends with; something wished for or hoped.
So, I would say a generic answer to what is prayer would depend upon with whom you are communicating.
I have learned in The Jewish Study Bible, which has the Torah, Nevi'im and Kethuvim that the Psalms are a collection of prayers (150) that the Jews pray for a multitude of Liturgical uses. Everything from which day it is to dedicating a new home, Psalm 15.
Which I did get down on my knees and pray Psalm 15 prior to entering my new home just this year!
There are several categories of Psalms, imprecatory, praise, complaints, wisdom, laments and more.
Two other books that are outstanding are;
1. Praying the Psalms by Elmer L. Towns
2. Andrew Murray on Prayer
One interesting foot note I read in the Jewish Study Bible was about the book of Jonah.
Part of the foot note reads as follows;
"Most of section 2 of the book consists of Jonah's prayer. The prayer of Jonah is a pastiche of verses taken from Psalms...Jonah is thereby presented as a person well versed in the language of the Psalms and able to compose a sophisticated prayer on their basis."
I became fascinated with the phrase, "well versed in the Language of the Psalms!
Eighteen different psalms he used!
Language, Prayer, addressing God! These is my connection and definition of ; What is prayer?!
It should be noted that not only where should someone pray, Jesus said in a closet, (physical location/alone) is important but, to pray from within the heart (Soul/Spirit) (not the mind) in the presence (Spiritual) of God as well.
I believe all Believers are to pray down Blessings/Direction from God to our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, country-man, leaders and those around the world as well.
I have seen many answered prayers in my life and others that I know have had prayers answered. God does really care about the 'little" things, such as finding your car keys and the 'big" things like a kidnapper making a mistake and letting a child get away to someone planting a virus into a bad guys computer.
Watching the news, reading the paper, listening to a neighbor are great sources for finding out what is pressing on my heart that I want to "communicate" to God.
Regards,
WritingCycle
Thanks for sharing all of this with us.
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming - and Happy Holidays! SophyBells |
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Spiritual: December 11, 2013 Issue [#6038]
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