paravanes:meditations

Are you leaving someone or something behind in 2014? Release with love. When you release with love, you no longer look back with frustration, regret, or resentment. You no longer ask these questions: "why did they do that?", "what were they thinking?", or "how can I get even", or "God, how could you allow that?" When you release with love, you no longer need explanations. When you release with love, you accept others as you accept yourself: imperfect, but striving; flawed, but still seeking; wounded, but still alive and growing. Perhaps this is what Jesus meant when He taught His followers to "turn the other cheek": release with love, go in a new direction, and trust Me to make it work out. You can easily become the thing you fight. So do not fight unless you seek to become like your opponent. Instead of fighting, pray, plan, speak, and act. Release with love.

Christmas is another chapter in a very old and very long story of God reaching out to us, His beloved--but distantly alienated--children. How many of us will reach back with faith? The final chapter is not written.

Enjoying the planning and giving of gifts as much or more than the receiving? Perhaps this is a sign of spiritual growth?

What will we do with the Virgin Birth? Dismiss it, because our science does not understand it? Believe it without taking the time to ponder its meaning? There is a third path. Be open to knowing and finding meaning in mystery. The best and truest things in life--love, courage, faithfulness, honesty--cannot be diagrammed or outlined . They are simply there.

Christmas reminds us of the folly of regret. God's power changes circumstances and the meanings of circumstances. Being born in a smelly stable doesn't seem like the best way to begin a life. Yet, look what came from that life that began where none of us would chose to be.

Christmas is God "contracting to a span"--(a borrowed quote)--becoming one of us, and giving us the choice of a never-ending life worth living. No compulsion, just an option.

Christmas is God coming near and finding us, because we could never find Him on our own. Because He comes near to us, no one need ever live without love.

He became like us, so that we could become like Him. This is the full circle of love, life, and light.

 --Promo piece for Dark Girls Recently, I viewed (for the second time) the D. Channsin Berry/Bill Duke documentary " Dark Girls ." It was a painful view, but I felt compelled to watch and listen carefully because I could identify so deeply with much of what was said. This message rang through the film: there is something ugly and unpleasant about being a "dark girl". This does not mean dark girls are ugly or unpleasant. Still, much of what is presented in this film shows how differently dark girls experience life. Generally speaking, these differences are not considered positive ones. I think there was much truth and painful honesty in this film, but a part of the story is missing. Since Lupita Nyong'o won an Oscar, made a famous and well-documented speech , and appeared on several fashion magazine covers, I have listened and watched many women describe how triumphant Nyong'o's story is: she is the manifestation of dark bea