Bucket List of Intentions as a Parent

I woke up with the crystal clear thought on my mind- “Make scrambled eggs with the kids.” Not turn the kids into scrambled eggs mind you, but get the whisk out and show the kids how to mash up an awesome batch of fluffy scramble. So we did, and it was delicious (both the eggs and the time).

It felt like the most important thing I did that day, like the sort of bucket list moment that you just store in your own mind.

Do you have times like that? It can go either way. It can direct where you put your attention, as in making scrambled eggs, or it can be a decision to not spend any more energy on something that doesn’t feel worthwhile.

Sometimes I wonder if the whole notion of an afterlife was just a cunning plan from ancient spiritual leaders to get us to make the most of this life. An afterlife is so mysterious and unknown. What is right in front of our noses is not.

So when Jesus said “don’t store up treasures in barns for some future time” I hear it as call to urgency. Buddha was attributed with saying something very similar. Maybe it’s a universal truth. There’s no point scrambling eggs and putting them in Tupperware for later. Life doesn’t reheat well. It needs to be savored now while it’s fresh. There’s no point just thinking about spending time with your kids. Actually do it, and don’t delay.

All of this urgent energy bubbled up into a fresh baked affirmation, a Seed of Urgency, particularly for parents but it relates to all of us.

Seed of Urgency
What are you waiting for? Your time with children at home is fleeting. If you store up treasures, you could miss your chance to enjoy them. Apply the same principle to much larger things than money; like forgiveness or praise. If you store up kindness or encouragement for some future time, you just might miss your chance to express them. Don’t delay. Express something you have been meaning to say to your children. Do it today.

Say to yourself: I take every opportunity to express my love for my kids.

So here’s my bucket list of intentions as a parent-
1. See my kids smile every day.
2. Tell my kids I love them every day.
3. Tell my kids they’re amazing at specific things every day.
4. Begin every correction, with encouragement.
5. Forgive myself for moments of impatience.
6. Forgive my kids for any and every time they mess up.
7. Learn from my kids how to play in the moment.
8. Put time with my kids before chores.
9. Help my kids give voice to their dreams
10. Savor every fleeting moment

Now, excuse me. The kids have some scramble ready for me. They don’t even need my help any more.

Thoughts about Faith in a Rabbit Hole

Im very grateful to Sharon Salzberg, Joseph Campbell and Alice in Wonderland for helping to clarify some thoughts about faith. Alice taught me that asking questions that don't need answers creates a new perspective. She took Joseph Campbell's advice and jumped, only to discover that her own curiosity provided a parachute like cushion. Sharon Salzberg put flesh on an idea that makes all the sense in the world. Faith comes in several different varieties; bright faith, verified faith and abiding (or unshakeable) faith.

Bright faith beams at the possibilities of life. It is pure optimism. Many children have bright faith. It is beyond their comprehension that life will not bend to their will. We get jaded and lose it at some point. Bright faith is appropriate for children. For adults, bright faith can come close to blind faith. Mature faith is never blind. The problem with blind faith is that even though faith can move mountains, you need to see which mountain needs to be moved.

Verified faith includes a memory of past survival and achievement. It is learned wisdom. Verified faith works closely with doubt. Doubt is not the opposite of faith. They are two sides of one coin. Doubt sharpens faith, and faith affirms doubt.

The Buddha told a story that showed the movement from bright faith to verified faith. He compared faith to a blind giant who meets up with a very sharp-eyed cripple, called wisdom. The blind giant, called faith, says to the sharp-eyed cripple, "I am very strong, but I can't see; you are very weak, but you have sharp eyes. Come and ride on my shoulders. Together we will go far."

Abiding faith is unwavering in the face of change. Abiding faith doesn’t expect life to remain stagnant. It is in tune with a purpose that doesn’t depend on circumstances. It is one with the flow of life. It manifests in whatever way is effective in the changing circumstance.

Read the whole sermon, and let me know your own story of unshakeable faith.

http://www.christ-community.net/sermons/sermon01_11_09.htm