Sunday, April 26th

Isolation Blues?

Weekend greetings to you all ~ We’ve been hearing and seeing lots of comments here and there about how the isolation is getting to folks.  How ’bout you?  And what (if anything) are you doing about it?  Even though the “stay at home order” in Colorado is being lifted on Monday, the general consensus is that we’re still “safer at home”, so that feeling of isolation may linger for a while longer.  It’s tough for those of us that thrive on human touch to refrain from hugging friends and family, or to be intimate with those we’re in relationship with, but don’t live with.  Allow yourself to grieve these things; perhaps journal or meditate on it.  Immerse yourself in nature if you can.  We felt so much better this week after taking a “socially-distanced” hike with some friends, and we’ve been out in the kayaks a time or two.  It was exhilerating!  Above all, keep being kind to yourself and others.  This, too, shall pass, but the love remains.

You’re in our hearts,
Colleen and Mark

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

As we look longingly toward a time when we can be together again, we are content with our recent decision not to pursue Paths of Heart Zoom meetings. Thank you for all the notes we’ve gotten affirming to “let that one go!” As one Paths attendee stated (while encouraging us to be kind to ourselves), “Right now, we’re inundated with more online connections and resources than I can manage, and that’s probably true for many other people at Paths.” She had a great suggestion as an alternative ~ anyone who’s been inspired by something they’ve seen on the internet could send us links and we’ll include them in subsequent newsletters. Here’s a video she sent that might remind you of Paths of Heart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIm23dJ5Jz8&list=RD-Kf-9kx_oSg&index=7

Gratitudes

We are truly grateful for all the support we’ve had in the past several weeks in donations through the mail and on Paypal, even from folks who have never attended Paths of Heart in person.  Wow!!  It warms our heart that our gatherings and even just our newsletters are an important part of your week and that they bring you inspiration and solace during these days of isolation.  Thank you!

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” ~ Anonymous

“You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Today I choose to live with gratitude for the love that fills my heart, the peace that rests within my spirit, and the voice of hope that says all things are possible.” ~  Anonymous

Sunday, April 19th

Walking in Gratitude

Greetings dear ones ~ This week seems to have zoomed by (ha ha!) and mostly our minds and hearts have been focused on gratitude.  After the last 2 roller coaster weeks, we were grateful to catch this post by friend and fellow musician, Michelle (Dalziel) Ingrham which noted, “I’m sure I am like so many of you. Some days are harder than others. I feel like crying all the hours of the day because I feel helpless, and other days I feel accomplished and grateful for the gifts God has given me that sustain me. All in all I am grateful for my life and I know this is all temporary and I’m not alone… It is ok to feel all the things we feel through this! It is ok! I think I broke down like 10 times on Saturday, trying to do simple everyday tasks. I’m ok with that because I know it’s not the tasks, it’s the edge of everything!  Just know that I have ugly cried and I have belly laughed just like many of you have. We truly are in this together!”
WOW – same here!  This really helped us put these last few weeks in perspective and led us back to that beautiful state of gratitude, knowing that ultimately – in the grand scheme of this mysterious and magnificent universe – things don’t happen to us, but happen for us (though we KNOW it’s often hard to accept that when we’re in the thick of things!).  We can acknowledge our despair and grief, while at the same time knowing that in everything there is a lesson, and we can be grateful for that teaching. Our response to circumstances can make us bitter, or better, human beings.  AND It’s ok to have a bad day some days.  (that’s a link to a song Michelle wrote about the subject!).

“Let everything happen to you
Beauty and terror
Just keep going
No feeling is final” ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

In gratitude for it ALL,
Colleen and Mark

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

As we look longingly toward a time when we can be together again, we are content with our recent decision not to pursue Paths of Heart Zoom meetings.  It simply doesn’t feel like a match for us.  Thank you for all the notes we’ve gotten affirming to “let that one go!”  As one Paths attendee stated (while encouraging us to be kind to ourselves), “Right now, we’re inundated with more online connections and resources than I can manage, and that’s probably true for many other people at Paths.”  She had a great suggestion as an alternative ~ anyone who’s been inspired by something they’ve seen on the internet could send us links and we’ll include them in subsequent newsletters.  Here is one of hers, of Canadian female physicians in a virtual choir, singing “We Rise Again.”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wuiqee-AC-o

Very moving!

Be well, and be kind and gentle with yourselves and others, till we meet again!

Gratitudes

We are really grateful for all the support we’ve had in the past several weeks in donations through the mail and on Paypal, even from folks who have never attended Paths of Heart in person.  Wow!!  It warms our heart that our gatherings and even just our newsletters are an important part of your week and that they bring you inspiration and solace during these days of isolation.  Thank you!

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” ~ Anonymous

“You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Today I choose to live with gratitude for the love that fills my heart, the peace that rests within my spirit, and the voice of hope that says all things are possible.” ~  Anonymous

Easter Sunday, April 12th

Letting Go

Hello dear friends ~ It’s been another difficult week here we must say, and we’re sorry to report that we will not be going online for an Easter Sunday gathering after all.  Neither Mark nor I have ever even been a participant of a Zoom meeting, let alone been a host for one, and the frustration of learning the ins and outs and subleties of this and other video platforms was just one more stresser in an already stressful week. Something had to give.  We felt like we were struggling against the rushing stream that we mostly strive to flow with.  We did not want to disappoint the many folks who encouraged us to try this in the first place, nor the many who reached out to tell us they were so looking forward to it when we announced our intention to do so last week.  But I (Colleen) reached a breaking point yesterday, and found myself sobbing uncontrollably.  It made us realize that we just need to hunker down and take care of ourselves and our family right now; be gentle with ourselves and not take on anything which will cause more stress in an already fragile time.  We do hope you all have a beautiful Sunday with loved ones in whatever way is possible for you at this time.  We plan to be participants in several Zoom meetings this week, and if we become familiar and comfortable enough with it over time, maybe we’ll have another go at it.  We’ll see…

Sending love, light, prayers, comfort, peace, gentleness, kindness, and caring to everyone,  Colleen and Mark

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

Easter Sunday, April 12th ~  We’d been thinking of playing these 2 songs for you this Sunday.  So here are links to them instead.  The first is from our “Miracles” CD.  The second is an informal live performance that Colleen and Emma did with our friend and fellow musician, Darryl Purpose, as part of Darryl’s Sunday Songs project back in 2018, right here in our Paths of Heart gathering place.  It is a facebook link, so some of you may not be able to access it if you’re not on Facebook.  Sorry ’bout that!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztHNLdLr-Lk 

https://www.facebook.com/DarrylinNed/videos/10213401241480065/

We hope you enjoy them!

Here is a poem by Lynn Ungar we got from yes! magazine in the mail this week that we also planned to read.  So moving!  I found it online and am copying it here for you.

Pandemic

What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
 
And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.
 
Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.
 
–Lynn Ungar 3/11/20

Be well and be kind and gentle with yourselves, dear ones…

Gratitudes

We are really grateful for all the support we’ve had in the past several weeks in donations through the mail and on Paypal, even from folks who have never attended Paths of Heart in person.  Wow!!  It warms our heart that our gatherings and even just our newsletters are an important part of your week and that they bring you inspiration and solace during these days of isolation.  Thank you!

“The dominant characteristic of an authentic spiritual life is the gratitude that flows from trust – not only for all the gifts that I receive from God, but gratitude for all the suffering. Because in that purifying experience, suffering has often been the shortest path to intimacy with God.” ~ Brennan Manning

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” ~ Anonymous

“You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Today I choose to live with gratitude for the love that fills my heart, the peace that rests within my spirit, and the voice of hope that says all things are possible.” ~  Anonymous

Sunday, April 5th

The Path of Acceptance

This is the path we must be on right now.  The last few days have been exeedingly difficult ~ learning of friends’ loved ones sick and dying, and hearing their anguish in not being able to be there with them for comfort, and then to grieve in the aftermath.  Our family is grieving together today, as we had to let our sweet kitty, Lizzie go from this life where she has brought us such joy for the past 17+ years.  The process of life (and death) has gotten so complicated and alien, making it all the more heartbreaking. The isolation is getting to us, as we are social people and big huggers (!), and sometimes the internet just doesn’t cut it.  And we have many more weeks to go of this strange new existence…
So we contemplate acceptance, and then reacquaint ourselves with the practice of acceptance.  And it does take practice, from our experience anyway.  It’s a process ~ a sometimes daunting and messy one, which includes letting go (in small increments perhaps) and non-attachment to outcomes.  It can, though, lessen our suffering, and maybe we can further transform that suffering by serving and helping others.  We’re getting there, making our way out of the fog, little by little.  We invite you to contemplate and practice acceptance with us this week.

Sending everyone love and light in these confusing times,

Colleen and Mark

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

Easter Sunday, April 12th ~  Okay, we’re going to try this “gathering online” thing.  We picked Easter, because it just might take a miracle to get these non- tech savvy folks to figure it out – ha ha!!  Also, we have faith that one day, we will all be able to emerge from our caves and be together once again, and this leap of computer faith is inching our way toward that.  *footnote* We are having you contemplate “acceptance” the week prior, so you may be more forgiving if it doesn’t happen after all!  🙂  Also, with all the press on security and privacy issues with the increasingly popular Zoom platform, we are thinking of trying Cisco Webex.  We will send a link to you mid-week with instructions on how to join in.  What an experience this will be!

During this challenging time, if you have the means to continue your financial support of Paths of Heart, we would be honored and grateful.  Even though Mark and Colleen are not receiving compensation for Sunday gatherings at this time, there are still ongoing expenses such as our monthly charitable contributions to Children International, FOCO Cafe, and Water4, website hosting and maintenance, and office expenses.  You may donate online, https://pathsofheart.org/donate or send a check to Paths of Heart, 117 Evans Dr., Fort Collins, CO 80524.  Thank you so much for considering, and we so appreciate those who have chosen to make a monthly donation, even though they may not attend every week, and now, when we aren’t even meeting!  It means so much.  

Gratitudes

We so appreciate all the love and support you’ve given us over these past 2 weeks, first with Colleen’s illness, and now with the loss of our kitty, Lizzie.  We are grateful to be surrounded by so much light and love.

“The dominant characteristic of an authentic spiritual life is the gratitude that flows from trust – not only for all the gifts that I receive from God, but gratitude for all the suffering. Because in that purifying experience, suffering has often been the shortest path to intimacy with God.” ~ Brennan Manning

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” ~ Anonymous

“You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Today I choose to live with gratitude for the love that fills my heart, the peace that rests within my spirit, and the voice of hope that says all things are possible.” ~  Anonymous