It's A College, Not a Cloister

"because it's the 3rd day of the 3rd month:)"

A few days ago, I was reading a NYTimes, Op-Ed piece by Columnist Frank Bruni. It was a column re candidate Rick Santorum's remarks about college being an anti-conservative, and liberals' indoctrination site for young people.  It was quite upsetting to me and as I usual I ranted to my spouse about it a little and then set it aside.  Today I am calmer while re-reading it, yet it does bring up my own college memories and the effect that experience brought to my own life.

By the way, if you don't read the entire article, this is a quote from it -

"What good are ideas formed and fortified in a protective cocoon, without exposure to other ways of thinking? Or convictions that haven’t been tested by, and defended against, competing ones?"

But to my comments - when I left the somewhat cloistered environment of my small town in Oklahoma, I attended the University of Oklahoma.  I lived in a single sex dormitory (no one had even thought about mixed dorms yet!) where I met a diverse group of young women.  I had an assigned roommate who smoked - horrors! - we were not a good match - and the roommate experience was only the beginning of habits and personalities that I came up against, disliked, embraced, argued with,, despised, loved.

I met my first Jew, my first black person, my first sophisticated/rich (those were my descriptors then) person, I met young people with unlimited spending money, and those of us on a strict budget.  I met kids who knew how to study and did and those who seemed to have no need for study and blanched about the fact that we were actually supposed to attend classes.  (I was scared to death to skip a class for no reason!) Coming from an encouraging teacher/student high school atmosphere, I met an assistant professor who scrawled awful red marks over my first English composition with words of contempt for my style and content.  I attended my first economics class and was surprised by the fact that I actually enjoyed that class the most of all.  I was part of discussions into the night about college, fraternities, politics, religion, branded clothing and periods.  I had no idea at the time that other girls probably also discussed sex, birth control pills, and abortions.

I would say that reflecting upon the totally small town mindset and "cloistered" family life that my parents, teachers, and religious leaders had surrounded me with from childhood, that college was a huge surprise to me and for me.  It didn't turn me into a liberal nor a conservative.  It didn't insist upon nor deny that I could attend religious services nor even my classes - if I could pass without attending, that is - I didn't feel that I was being indoctrinated into anything (perhaps one is never aware of brain washing) yet, I do know it was a time I needed to grow out of my teens in an environment other than the safety net that had been devised by my parents up until that time.  I'm not denigrating that safety net, yet endorsing that college, whether it is four years at a university or two years at a community college, is a bit of a holding pattern in which the child begins to step near the edge in order to fly on its own - it is neither a den of thieves nor a cloister.

Mr. Santorum, the possible political candidate for president, is right when he says that college often exposes children to unhealthy and dangerous situations, yet would he have us all home schooled as his seven children were? What of those seven, have they all left him (with schooling outside of the home) and become right wing liberal crazies? I doubt that.  Even Mr. Santorum has, I believe, three proud letters of educational superiority attached to his performance record - an undergrad degree, an MBA, and a law degree.  Would he have all of us and all of our children remain unschooled, unfledged, uninformed, while he and his clan are or were offered their American dream and allowed to form their own opinions and way into life - perhaps in the only way that would have led to their success and foundation in life - a college education?

It's a college, not a cloister, it's an opportunity not a sentence to hell, it's life - with exposure to those we agree with and those we don't agree with..... Praise for college rather than denigration, I hope any president of the USA would endorse that opportunity for all of those who desire it, not just those who can afford it.

Prayer for choice and change

Cover via Amazon

A prayer from the John Baillie book - "A Diary of Private Prayer"- with apologies to Mr. Baillie, I've added a few of my own words to his excellent prayer for the third day of each month......

Lord of my life, for this new day I give Thee humble thanks for the myriad opportunities for choice and change, for gladness and brightness: for its long hours waiting to be filled with joyous and helpful labor: for its open doors of possibility for new choices and changes: i.e. for its hope of new beginnings.  Quicken in my heart, I beseech Thee, the desire to avail myself richly of this day's opportunities that my choices and changes now allow.  Let me not break faith with any of yesterday's promises, nor leave unrepaired any of yesterday's wrongs.  Let me never forsake the chance or choice to see a fellow traveler in distress and pass by on the other side.  Let me leave no height of duty behind me unattempted, nor any evil habit unassaulted.  Where chance or choice enhances a deed of mine that can help to make this world a better place for all to live in, where word of mine can cheer a despondent heart or brace a weak will, where prayer of mine can serve the extension of Christ's Kingdom, there let me always make the choice to do and speak and pray.  In your holy name, Amen

Just one "L"

Image by ms sdb via Flickr

I've been sharing choices and changes with you this week - those that have made a difference for me and those I hope might inspire you to make new choices/changes for yourselves.  Coincidentally yesterday (if there is such a thing as a coincidence) in my meditation/writing time a little thought  related to choice/changes subject popped up.   I'm going to share it with you today.

There's so much good in my heart and life right now that I burst with the joy of it all.   I wonder, do you feel joy as I do or do you suppress that possible exhilaration for yourself from a mindset of scarcity (thinking you have no joy or anything to bring you joy) or just from a mind full of to do lists?

Thinking about "mind full" vs "mindful" awareness, I wonder at the big  difference that little letter "L" makes in those words and in our actions.  Too busy, too stressed, too overwhelmed - minds full of tragedy, worry, trivia vs our being mindful of blessings, thanksgiving, of the abundance of life, the health we are fortunate to know for the moment, our eyes, our bed, our connection and support from families, friends and fellow mindful bloggers. 

Which will I/we choose today - mind full or mindful?  And you, which will you choose?  I pray that both you and I will make the second choice and experience how that selection may serve to change our day today and maybe all of the days in our lives.

Subjects for Choices and Changes

Image by robinsan via Flickr

Spirituality - Active pursuit.....this spring I chose to engage in two outreach E-Courses offered by Abbey of the Arts.  The first walked me through the days of Lent with daily Bible verses and inspirational readings for reflection.  The second course took me through, what I consider a somewhat neglected season, that of the actual Easter season from Easter day up to the Day of Pentecost.  Both courses were choices I made to increase my spiritual connection with God and I was not disappointed. 

Although I try to engage in daily worship and a connection with my spirituality as a created being, I find participation in something unique from my weekly worship habits to be rejuvenating and enriching.  Abbey of the Arts is filled with opportunities throughout the year to pull one's little bell chain with new ideas:)  Having made these choices and changes for myself, I recommend The Abbey anytime you need an inspirational moment of reassurance, challenge, and/or change.

Books, more books - If you're a regular reader here, you'll be familiar with the choice coming up - a selection made while visiting The Sacred Gardens of Maui; I have cited this book's content and its quotes here at the MINDSIEVE often.  The book is Way of the Winding Path and I'll just say when I purchased it, I thought to myself, "do I really need another book about how to walk the labyrinth?" and the answer to myself was, "oh, go ahead."  Very good advice I gave myself.  I'm second time reading this great little primer for life - another choice that has given me the opportunity to make those small changes, almost unintelligible details that make day in and day out life so sweet as a child of God.  Chapter 3 entitled Appreciate the Journey is headed by this Jack Kornfield, quote - "As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are.  Otherwise you will miss most of your life."  How cool is that?!   I think you can order this book online......it's by Eve Eschner Hogan.

Soul Collage - am I a broken record?  If you haven't had an opportunity to participate in a Soul Collage Workshop, I can't recommend it enough.  I'd never heard of it either until my sister began using it in her counseling practice as a one on one tool, as well as then setting up a monthly workshop opportunity for her Seattle friends and contacts - a fun opportunity fellowship,  creativity and a peak at what's on one's, perhaps unaware, mind.  I was lucky enough to host a workshop here in Walla Walla and have used my collage cards in meditation and reflection many times since pasting down my first images.  Another great choice for me and a golden opportunity for reflection and realized change.

Exercise - I've been a proponent of exercise for a long time.  I actually enjoy the activity which is not the case for all my friends and family.  But exercise change is essential for it to continue to work for your body's well-being.  Having recently taken to the road to enlist my legs in the sport of jogging/walking/running - my style would be classified as all three together for the time being, working toward a running stride......eventually:)  This a.m. hearing the rain again, I donned a cap and water resistant jacket over my duds with my endorphins saying, yeah, you go girl and whatever the opposite of the endorphins saying, o.k., o.k. - we can get wet!  The change of heartbeat, mood, and deep breathing paved the road to a smooth yoga class at 9:30.  Choosing exercise - need I say more, it'll change anyone's life!

The posts this week, they're all about me aren't they?  Well not really, because what I want them to be is all about you and the fact that you have choices and changes that may be sitting around waiting to happen in your life too.  I'm getting such a high from the places my choices and changes are taking me and I want you to feel that bliss also.  So think about it a minute - you don't have to tell me - but isn't there something just ready to burst from you, a choice you haven't but can make, a change that you would embrace wholeheartedly?  If you want to share......

Soul Collage Card by Sunrise Sister
Photo via wikipedia - Red banners heralding the Day of Pentecost celebration

Choices and Change

Image via Wikipedia

"Choices and changes" - promised subject of the week.  What a whirlwind, exciting time of my life this is - five full and fast months have flown by in 2010, the second year of my retirement already!  Yet, I haven't not lived the months that have flown by, neither have I not savored them.  Some days just seem too good to be true!  Wow, you may be wondering what happened to me today, where did all of this energy come from, what's the celebration all about?  My simple answer would be "choices and changes."

You may have read my May 30 post with a quote from Eve Eschner Hogan, and I told you yesterday how my mind has been on full speed ahead mode in my reading and study of subjects I never dared to think I would enjoy.  Ancestry and family trees,  civil rights, personal freedoms, WWII, the South Pacific - global geography......oh yes, you can recognize the manic state right now, can't you?

Before you tune out or vote to have me committed, please consider some of the choices I've made this year and how those choices are changing my well-being status.  First, instead of New Year's resolutions, I named a word of the year - the word - SAVOR.  A simple word normally attached to one's taste buds or olfactory senses - but ever so useful in the enjoyment of myriad activities.

Activities such as throwing myself on to a surfboard for no reason other than fun - (I was in Maui at the time lest you think I have a large bathtub) I mean I even did it on a day when there was NO photographer to chance my victory of an upright pose; reading more books in 5 months than I'd have imagined reading in a year and not finishing books that I don't enjoy - now that's a choice I wouldn't have allowed myself at one point in time.  The same with movies - I love my Netflix - a great choice for me as I enjoy the privacy of the small computer screen and eating popcorn at $.50 a bag rather than $3.50 at the theater.  If I like the movie, I watch it - if I don't I push the delete button.  (My spouse hates movie theaters and my love of movie "control" works out just fine for both of us:)  I believe these books and movies - words and images that I take into my mind have power to change me and I believe they are - for the better.  When I sense a negative influence, I do my best to cease that input - the book, on the Kindle anyway, and the movies - as quick as the delete button and on to something of value for me and ultimately for this world in which I partake as a global citizen.

Stay with me now....the point is I've learned after all of these years to give myself permission to do as I wish without guilt!  I've learned from my Life Coach, whoops, did I mention I have a Life Coach right now - yep, decided I was stuck on a problem that God thought was pretty irrelevant in the universal order of things, and I think He just decided to turn me over to Tonya for a few months.  She's terrific, a great listener, a hard nosed inquirer with loaded questions for my reflection and action.  With my own decision/choice to seek some professional support, this young woman has shined a light on corners of myself that I had just been ignoring or rather fussing over that were not worth the light of day.  She's become a great friend and she too is thrilled to know that I've taken one activity out of my life and opened up a whole closet full of fun on which to concentrate instead.

With and without, before and after even Tonya's presence in my schedule, I've produced more art pieces than ever, having just had two pieces accepted in a juried show in Oregon, I've given up even thinking about what other folks are doing or not doing with their lives, their bodies, their health.....those issues are their business and God's business, NOT my business; I continue my yoga and stability ball classes, and ding, ding, new activity - I'm jogging again in hopes of a 5K race soon.  (My first race was rained out due to a muddy trail a few weeks ago:(  I say, jogging again, as I haven't really done any serious jogging outdoors for at least 20 years.  I hesitate to really call it running yet; more jog than walk each day - filling me with lots of energy and optimism.  The step up in exercise is also allowing me to take more guilt-free naps - I'm listening to my total body - not just the giddy side of my brain that can wear me out occasionally.

These are some of the choices/changes that I've put in the works this year - to some of you maybe just a pittance of what you're up to.  To others maybe a go-ahead for you to make some new choices/changes as well.  If you need a personal trainer, or a Life Coach, or a Spiritual Director, Talent Agent, or whatever it is that you think would help you move forward with becoming the person that you were created to be - give yourself permission to go for it!

And in the words of a friend that you might contact one day.....she asked that God let her know what words she could use most effectively in a talk she was to give and these were the words that came to her - "Tell them to slow down, relax and enjoy - it's ALL GOOD."  And I would agree that it is all good, and ya' know, even on the days when it's NOT all good, it still is!  

How about you?  Choices and changes for you already or coming up soon?  I've got more to say on the subject and I hope you'll contribute to the conversation.