We all have our own rituals that we participate in each day- from brushing our teeth, to a yoga sequence, to tea before bed. Over the next few weeks the kids and I will be exploring how different styles of prayer and ritual can be used for spiritual fulfillment. Sometimes the most powerful prayers don’t involve any words at all. Sometimes a prayer is an action; sometimes it’s a thought; and other times it’s just being still enough to feel all that is around and within you.

Peace begins in the home. A child’s first experiences in life are the most formative. At any given second a 1-year-old child’s brain is creating 700+ connections. Those connections are then strengthened, or pruned away depending on how frequently the child has experiences related to those connections. For example, if a child’s parent talks to her a lot the neural pathways (connections) in her brain that deal with language will be strengthened. If a child has a peaceful and loving first few years of life, then peace will be the base emotion on which she returns to in her life.

Now think of a child’s consciousness in relation to our collective consciousness as a world. Think of our collective consciousness as the connections that are made in one giant brain. As I reflect on 9-11 and all of the hatred and fear that erupted from that one day in American/World history I cannot help but ponder how we are strengthening certain things in the network of human consciousness. Are we strengthening pathways of fear and hatred, or love and compassion? Whatever path becomes well trodden is what we tend to follow. Think about it. When you’re hiking, you’re always looking for a safe, clear place to step.

So, in the same way we’re always trying to protect children, and give them the best experiences of peace and love, so too we must carry this into all areas of our own lives and the way we move in this world. Strengthen pathways of love and compassion through your actions, your intentions, and your words. The less we travel the road of hatred and fear, the more overgrown it will become. Perhaps with enough neglect that road will become impassable.

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily

It is so exciting to start something new, be it a new year, a new grade, a new book, a new fitness activity, or even a new jar of peanut butter. Isn’t it just so satisfying to take that first scoop into the pristine jar? Staring something new is not the challenge. It’s sticking with something that really takes some effort. How many times have you started a new eating plan, so excited on the first day, and then fallen off the wagon a few days later, never to get back on again?  

For me a part of not seeing things through, or giving up, is partially a function of having too much on my plate to begin with. Another piece of the puzzle is looking to change the symptoms without seeing the root cause of whatever I’m trying to change. For example- if you’re trying to wake up an hour earlier than normal for yourself, but you’re only changing your alarm clock setting you may not stick with it. (Especially if you still stay up late, or drink coffee until 9 p.m.!) Stepping back far enough from your own point of view long enough to see the whole of the situation is crucial in finding the root of an issue. Our society has a sort of collective Attention Deficit Disorder- always looking for an easy way out of every proverbial “pickle”- which, by the way, is never a long-term solution.

Sticking with anything through thick and thin (a spouse, a faith practice, a class, an eating plan) though challenging is the only way to deepen our relationship with that thing, practice, or person. We’re in a really interesting place in our church’s history right now. Aside from being in a really positive place with our community with one another, outreach, and programs, we’re also in a place of great transition too. With the “New Beginnings” renovation project and capital campaign in full swing, a preschool opening in 2015, and ever-expanding offerings here I would say these things to everyone-

1.     Get Involved- Perhaps the only way you can give is with your time or talents. Or, maybe you can only help in a monetary way. Plug in, and deepen your connection with this beautiful community of faith.

2.     Get Excited- Authentic emotions are contagious. We’re doing something incredible here in Boulder while so many other churches are just “hanging on.”

3.     Stick Around- We’re in it for the long run. Are you?

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily

Hi all. I'll be putting the blog on hiatus for the summer as I am pursuing my preschool director's license. Thanks for reading, and enjoy the beautiful weather!

Peace, Love, and Laughter,
Emily

I’ve been just enthralled with a book that I picked up yesterday called Tiny Homes on the Move by Lloyd Kahn. It’s a collection of pictures and stories of people who gave up their big “American Super-Sized Houses” and most of their “stuff” for really little houses capable of being moved. Some of them are boats, some airstream campers, converted school buses, and even old circus caravan cars. In just about all of the stories the people speak about how liberated they felt by getting rid of all of the extra “stuff” in their lives.

So, I’ve been thinking, how much stuff do I really need in my life, and what of it is actually weighing me down? I’m a self-professed neat freak. Nothing gets me more on-edge than clutter. Here is an interesting article on the mental implications of clutter and how it can be a symptom of an over stimulated brain:

http://lifehacker.com/how-clutter-affects-your-brain-and-what-you-can-do-abo-662647035

What are the spiritual ramifications of an over-cluttered life? I feel that when I am disorganized and over-cluttered I am unable to rest and reflect (two very essential pieces in the spiritual puzzle). So, turn on the tunes and purge, my friends! Purge! Give yourself enough space (literally and figuratively) to live a simplified and spiritual life.

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily

Lately I’ve been thinking about what it means to have a positive self-image vs. a negative one, and the far-reaching affects of that self-image. Can we be truly spiritually healthy if we are constantly thinking critical and hateful thoughts of ourselves? If you believe that God loves you, and you are striving to be more like God, doesn’t it make logical sense that you should love and respect yourself too for all of your unique qualities?

Americans, in particular, have an idea of what perfection is in relation to our bodies, our social interactions and personality, our homes and possessions, and virtually every other aspect of our lives. If you’re obsessing over all of that stuff just think about how much time you’re wasting. Devoting time to those kinds of illusions are futile and, will most likely result in self hatred, which is the most vile of all poisons that we can have within ourselves.

So, rather than striving for perfection, just be excited that you were given another day, and use your time in a way that is kind to yourself and kind to all that is around you. I love the Pema Chodron quote, “Lower your standards and relax as it is.” You may just realize that in changing the way you look at “standards” may bring you the happiness that acts as an antidote to the poisons in your life.

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily

On the surface of Mother’s Day we’re celebrating the women who have raised us, but Mother’s Day can be a day when we can celebrate all of the qualities that we usually associate with mothers- love, kindness, compassion, strength, caring, support, nurture, patience… the list goes on.  Maybe your mother was all of these things or maybe she was not. If she wasn’t, all the more reason for you to celebrate these qualities that you see in yourself and others.

Since the kids and I have started our gardening journey we’ve been talking a lot about our Mother Earth, and how she cradles us in life- how she is all of the above qualities, and more. She gives a lot to us, but what are we giving back. Maybe you’ve had a relationship with someone who just takes, takes, takes, and never gives back. It’s not what you’d consider a good relationship. That’s the direction that we’ve moved in with our relationships to Mother Earth.

So, as you celebrate all of the qualities that a mother possesses on Mother’s Day, consider how you are reciprocating those things back in all of your relationships to other people, animals, and your environment. Radiate back the love that you’ve been given. It grows exponentially.

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily

Boy, ain't that the truth. Think about all of the great social reformers of history. At some point or another they offended people and caused change. Taking a step back to examine habits, thoughts, or beliefs is one of the most powerful vehicles for change that exists.

What if Jesus wasn't willing to offend the men who were prepared to stone a woman to death for being unfaithful to her husband? What if Martin Luther King Jr. wasn't willing to offend white bigots with his message of equality of all peoples? What if Susan B. Anthony just wasn't prepared to offend male American citizens with her idea that women's voices matter(ed) just as much as her male counterparts?

The pattern that I see in all of these reformers is that they went about their missions in a very well-intentioned and kind manner. Revolutionary thoughts are never easy to swallow because they force us to change, and we really like being comfortable. So, my thoughts are this: be brave enough to offend someone in the name of love, kindness, and equality.

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily