Yesterday was one of those days when faith seemed to disappear down the drain.
So much for trying to deepen my relationship with the Holy in the waning days of 2020.
I couldn’t even find the Holy.
I suspect many others of us in the United States felt the same as election feelings swirled.
A couple of friends mentioned holding fast to the Serenity Prayer as the day unfolded: To accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference.
I couldn’t even say the prayer. All spiritual practices failed. It was just one step before the next, and most of the day felt like my face was in the mud.
Helpless to do anything except persevere through.
Except. Except. There were lovely encounters with friends and family. Zoom time with my spiritual dyad partner. Short messages, texts, connections with dear ones. “How are you doing today?” we asked. We listened, we shared, we reached out and held virtual hands.
In the middle of the afternoon I drove over to the lake and breathed while sitting on the rocky beach. The goodness of nature surrounded. I couldn’t even thank nature, but it didn’t mind, it simply embraced like a loving parent.
And finally–in the middle of a long sleepless night–I did realize again what really matters. The rock, the foundation, the silence of the Holy.
To turn again and again and again toward the Holy, no matter how many times the face ends up in the mud of human turmoil. If we keep doing that turning–I feel we can never lose, no matter what presidential candidate wins.
Thank you, Holy, for that middle of the night reminder. Bless all of us, and help us continue on with Your guidance no matter what happens in the outside world. You are our rock.
Day 18 of a seventy-five day journey to connect more deeply with God, Spirit, Holy, Love…to explore “What the Heart Knows” during the waning days of 2020.
Lake Superior Spirit 
Bless you, Kathy. Thank you for sharing all that you do. I’m heading out for a walk today, too. 💙
Bless you, Barbara! I hope you enjoyed your walk yesterday. I had a delightful walk along a canal in a nearby town.
Aww, Kathy… I have no words today… Just – hugs.
Thanks, Reggie. Hugs back to you, too. ❤
Amen ❤
Amen again & again. Thanks, Larissa. ❤
Hugs.💕
Same to you, dear Ruth. ❤
I actually felt upbeat and hopeful until last night . . . this morning in the Daily Guide within my Science of Mind magazine, I read –
“May I recognize my brother and sister that I may open my heart to them.”
~ Ankhsheshonq
So this morning, I am in a dis-spirted kind of acceptance. The Senate did not flip and even if Biden prevails, it will be a frustrating 2 years until we get another chance in the 2022 mid-terms.
The evidence is clear by the popular vote totals what a divided country we are regarding values and beliefs but we are also so embedded with one another (I live in Missouri which – no surprise – went to Trump) that while it yet remains unclear what we will become, we are still in the process of becoming what we will be.
Deb, it is so interested how we can turn from upbeat and hopeful to that dis-spirited kind of acceptance. And how frustration can turn up on a dime. It’s a study to watch the human emotions stream through. Big hugs to you this morning as we await more results. ❤
Linda, I spent last night with a good mystery, then went to bed early. During my years as a working journalist, I spent far too many election nights up late, waiting for the results to come in. It’s far more peaceful to avoid the talking heads on TV with their predictions of voting outcomes — and ‘peace’ is something we all need after such a challenging year!
Debbie, it sounds like you’ve found a way to just relax and encompass peace on the day of the election. I didn’t know you were a journalist–that was my training, too, although have followed an entirely different trajectory. May we all find that peace in the upcoming days…
I never got out for my walk yesterday. Not because I was obsessing over the election, but because I got busy with office-y stuff. Oddly enough I found that as pleasantly distracting as going for my intended walk. Just doing something normal seems to be the key to not getting upset– at least for me.
Ally Bean, how lovely that you found some office-y stuff to keep you occupied. My problem is that I keep getting drawn into the news-world. Hopefully we’ll both get out for a walk today. Is it nice & warm in your neck of the woods, too?
Yes, it’s delightfully sunny and warm for this time of year. I shall walk today, oh yes I shall!
a friend once told me that the “short” version of the Serenity prayer is “lighten up”. I looked at the smile on that sweet grandfather rock and exhaled 🙂
Osa, that is a lovely summary of the Serenity Prayer. (I wish I could have been present enough with grandfather rock to see what he was offering. It took until much later before noticing his sweet smile.)
A mud facial can be good for the skin! Ha ha!! You did what you set out to do, the experience may not have felt like you had accomplished your goal yet you acknowledged your loss. In so doing you searched, you reached out, you wrote this blog sharing your spiritual experience of the energy of the country, of the world.
I distracted myself with who knows what? I didn’t accomplish the actions I had set out to have done by the end of the day. I did make Apple Cider Donuts!
Love the photos!
Sending ((((Hugs & Healing)))
Jeff, such wisdom! You are so right with all your loving words. And I am still in such a heart space after your messaging offer yesterday. Thank you for being you. (And hope you enjoyed the apple cider donuts!)
I see you. I see you in me and me in you. I mostly stuck to my plan last night and I did pour a bourbon. This morning I walked the dog and then worked on an art project before I had to get ready for work. I never make art in the morning, but that is what called me. Peace to you, to me and to us all.
Sarah, i thought maybe many of us could see each other in this example. Smiling that you poured a bourbon. I had an IPA while Barry and I watched a show on Netflix. And how cool that you were called to make art in the morning–how unexpected!
I like that prayer. 🙂 Last night, fortunately, recordings and Netflix don’t have election coverage., but it was on my mind so much, I didn’t sleep well. However, today I’ve avoid the television and relying on music to soothe my mood. Peace to you and to all.
Frank, it sounds like you really enjoy music as a way to connect with your Holy Heart. We don’t have TV, but I can get a little too obsessive watching headlines on the internet. Peace to all of you, as well.
I guess I had a bit of Kathy bliss yesterday without the TV. 🙂
I am glad! *grin*
I needed this today. And am I the only one who sees the smile in the rock of holies? Life is holy – we just need to treat it that way. ❤
Pam, so glad to share. You were not the only one who noticed that smile. I didn’t notice it–even while taking its picture–but later finally relaxed enough to see the Holy smiling. xoxoxo
It’s always there, the Holy, even when we have trouble finding it. XOXO
Amen, dear sister. I so agree with you! ❤
In the end, it’s the friends and family who count, Kathy – always. xx
Yes, precious gold, indeed. (I oddly typed “god” instead of gold. hmmmm….)
Interesting … ❤