The Path of Acceptance

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