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