Service of HOPE AND HEALING December 18th at Hope United Methodist Church.  Services are at 3:00pm and at 5:30pm.  This is a service for those for whom this season is one of sadness and loneliness--it's hard to be "out of sync" with the rest of the USA.  You are not alone.  Through readings, prayers, and music, we hope you find peace and comfort and hope and go from dark into light.  Christina Cortruvo will be playing her beautiful harp for each service.
301 W. St. Marie St.    Duluth, MN
218-724-2266  office@hopeumcmn.org
www.hopeumcduluth.org


Hope is grief's best music.  Anonymous

This is a better poster of the movie I just wrote about.

Yesterday we went to see "The Sessions," a most amazing movie.  It is based on the writings of  Mark O'Brien, who is a quadriplegic, and who wants to be able to have sexual intercourse at least once in his life.  Helen Hunt plays his sex surrogate therapist.  I'll say no more.  I laughed and also wept.  I think what touched me so deeply was his complete vulnerability.  In a way, he couldn't help being so vulnerable, given the fact that his muscles didn't work.  But, he remained open to life and allowed his true feelings to surface, and, almost in spite of himself, was filled with hope.

Oh that I can bow down and surrender to my life and allow myself to be as vulnerable.

ITCH

Generally one wants to be still while meditating, as this facilitates going deeper.  So, if you have an itch, don't scratch; you learn that it eventually goes away.  Same with those thoughts that keep running through our minds while meditating.   Don't scratch--just notice and let them move on through.  (Note:  reacting in some way to them would be the same as scratching them.)

Enjoy the practice!

Exciting Class

It's not too late to sign up for the exciting self-illumunating study of the yamas and niyamas, yoga's ethical guidelines for life--a life of integrity, joy, and freedom. Check the website at Yoga North Duluth.com for details and to register.  Our book is Deborah Adele's fabulous book on these guidelines--"The Yamas and Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice"--and the class is taught by yours truly.

The first class is October 28th and will be held on the 3rd Sunday of each month following through May from 6:30 - 8:00 pm.  

I would love to have you join our study!

KARMA YOGA

The other day, I was feeling pressured to "get all of the things/tasks done before I had to leave the house.  My spouse has been somewhat under the weather, so that added to my list.  I could feel me "gripping" in my body.  Thinking that would not do, plus it wasn't any fun, I decided to practice "Karma yoga."  Everything I did, and was going to do, was in service--to my spouse, to others, to humanity.  What a lovely switch I experienced!  Peaceful, even joyful.  Every time I felt myself tightening, I just remembered to breathe and that I was doing karma yoga.  My tasks were accomplished easily and peacefully.

Trust

I've been thinking about ways to deal with unpleasant things in my life.  Just naming them "unpleasant" reveals my attachments to not wanting them at all.  Some of my Parkinson's symptoms are very unpleasant and even painful and do affect my life.  Luckily, they seem to come and go.  Lately, we've also had some real worries about certain family members, fearing for them.

Turning to my yogic philosophy--everything is good and perfect--which is not always easy for me to  believe, I am experimenting with a new practice.  When I am confronted with pain, unpleasantness, fears and worries, I thank God.  Here's how it might go:  "Thank you God for my (specific symptom here) Parkinson's Disease.  I don't know what good will come from it, but I thank you; I trust you God."  Or, "Thank you God for (name here) problems (state specific problems).  I don't know what good will come from it for (that person), but I thank you and I trust you God."

Whatever concerns me doesn't go away, but I am lifted and eased in a small way, and more open to what is.