BLESSINGS and GRATITUDE

As the old year draws to a close, may you release all that no longer serves you, letting it burn in the Sacred Flame. And as the New Year unfolds within a field of Infinite Possibilities, may you, may we and All Beings be blessed by 

being Present, Prospered and Peaceful.

With best wishes for a Healthy, Happy and Harmonious New Year

 Rudi Harst

THANK YOU for holding the Circle in your heart by visualizing a generous flow of financial abundance. Thank you for supporting us as we continue our work of fostering a creative, inclusive approach to spirituality. We are deeply grateful.

JOY TO THE WORLD

I hope you will be able to join us for our uniquely inter-faith celebration on Christmas Eve this Sunday morning. I, for one, am feeling deeply grateful for the simple joy of being able to gather with friends and family to celebrate the Holidays, because our car wreck in October has given me a renewed sense of joy and gratitude for the gift of life itself. Plus, the enormous outpouring of kindness and generosity we experienced has radically shifted the way I see the world and I am reminded even more of this field of infinite possibilities. Now, more than ever, the story of the Nativity speaks to me personally as a miraculous story of Divine Manifestation in the midst of the most humble circumstances.

It would be wonderful to share the space with you in person this Sunday, to see the light shining in each others' eyes as we celebrate that meaning of the Nativity story with our blend of multi-faith songs, poems, meditations and reflections. But whether you are there at SAY Sí in person, or tune in on FaceBook Live, or simply open your Divine Imagination to join us in consciousness wherever you are at 11am on Sunday, I hope you, too, can feel the power of our connection across time and space as we affirm once again, "We Are One."

With best wishes for a Blessed Holiday Season,

     Rudi Harst

THANK YOU for holding the Circle in your heart by visualizing a generous flow of financial abundance. Thank you for supporting us as we continue our work of fostering a creative, inclusive approach to spirituality. We are deeply grateful.

A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE

     I recently found a single piece of a jigsaw puzzle in our grocery store parking lot. There was no one else nearby, and it brought lots of questions to mind, so I couldn't help but pick it up and take it home. How did it come to be there, separate from all the other pieces in the puzzle? What did the rest of the puzzle look like? Who dropped it? And will s/he find herself feeling frustrated when she tries to complete the puzzle without it?

     While it's still an interesting, colorful piece of cardboard in and of itself, it doesn't have nearly as much meaning or value now as it would if it were connected to the larger picture. Nor can the whole puzzle ever be completed without this piece sitting on my desk.

 A PIECE OF THE WHOLE

     Similarly, should you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, confused or out of sorts in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season, it's entirely possible that you have temporarily forgotten that you are part of a much larger whole. Perhaps you've succumbed to the illusion that you are isolated, alone and a victim of the circumstances that surround you. If so, won't you take a few moments to reconnect with Spirit, with the Sacred Mystery that binds us all as One. The same Divine Source that gave birth to billions of galaxies and the infinite complexities of life on Earth certainly has a sufficiency of resources to support you, too, if only you will pause, reflect and reconnect with that Source.

 A PIECE OF THE PEACE

     Of course, you are a valuable and powerful individual, too. But you don't have to have all the answers, don't have to figure out the best way forward, don't have to handle everything alone. In the words of the late Jesuit mystic, Anthony De Mello, "Life is not a puzzle to be solved, but a mystery to be contemplated." And, a gift to be received - if only you are willing to receive it in Peace. At least, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

      With best wishes for a Blessed Holiday Season,

     Rudi Harst

THANK YOU for holding the Circle in your heart by visualizing a generous flow of financial abundance. Thank you for supporting us as we continue our work of fostering a creative, inclusive approach to spirituality. We are deeply grateful.

WINTER WONDERLAND

     It snowed last night, and today the internet is full of photos, proclaiming the first significant snowfall in metropolitan San Antonio since 1987. I certainly appreciate and share in the delight; it was Big Fun to bundle up and wander through the neighborhood, gaping at the sight of those big, fluffy snowflakes falling. I didn't think it would last, so it was an equally wonderful surprise to wake up to find that there were still significant patches of snow decorating the scenery. 

     But, now, as I stand here in the morning light, seeing the last of the snow melt away under clear blue skies, I'm reminded once again that it's ALL a miracle: every single tree, rock, bird, cloud and breeze. Each person, each feeling, each moment is deserving of the same wide-eyed wonder, gratitude and joy. Aaahhhh...

 

With love,

     Rudi Harst

THANK YOU for holding the Circle in your heart by visualizing a generous flow of financial abundance. Thank you for supporting us as we continue our work of fostering a creative, inclusive approach to spirituality. We are deeply grateful.

STAYING FOCUSED

     It's another beautiful, crisp autumn morning in South Texas, with waves of butterflies weaving their way through our garden, while overhead flocks of geese fly south under clear blue skies. Every few moments, another stiff breeze sends golden showers of pecan leaves fluttering down, making the softest of sounds as they land on the ground underneath the ever-more-bare branches above. It's as if all of nature is conspiring to remind me once again that life is in a constant state of flux. That this moment is precious and fleeting. That it is a blessing to be alive and aware.

 

STAYING PRESENT

     Walking out to the mailbox, I take small, slow, but steady steps, doing my best not to favor my still stiff knee. The physical therapist says it's important to spread my weight as evenly as possible, in order to avoid creating bad habits while re-learning how to walk. It's slow going, but also a good opportunity to practice staying focused, mindful of the gift of life, present in this moment.

 

FEELING GRATEFUL

     Heading back into the house, my prayer is simple:  may I stay mindful throughout the day, in whatever activity comes my way, grateful for this gift of being alive. In the words of the beloved poet, Naomi Shihab Nye, "...walk around feeling like a leaf. Know you could tumble any second. Then decide what to do with your time."

 

With blessings,

     Rudi

THANK YOU for holding the Circle in your heart by visualizing a generous flow of financial abundance. Thank you for supporting us as we continue our work of fostering a creative, inclusive approach to spirituality. We are deeply grateful.