I'm reminded of this farewell message on a previous visit just before I walked down the jetway to board the plane home.
I've returned from a fantastic trip in Edinburgh with my son and family; jetlag is behind me. Now preparing for a fantastic trip to Florence with my daughter; certainly not dwelling on the possibility of jetlag in front of me.
I'm reminded of this farewell message on a previous visit just before I walked down the jetway to board the plane home.
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Little time to write. Here are some photos from our marvelous car trip north of Edinburgh along the River Tay. Not officially into the highlands, who would know? First stopped was the Finlarig Castle ruins where we took in the sights of the Beheading Pit and Hanging Tree. Next, a walk down to the river to view the ruins of a village that was abandoned in the early 1900s. And then a stop to examine some standing stones casually standing by the side of the road.
Traveling with family is more than I could have hoped for. A lovely combination of socializing and solitude. Some things, for sure, are better enjoyed with a group. For example, the Whiskey tour. And then there was the climb to Arthur's Seat. Fifteen years ago I climbed it by myself (no picture); wearing the skirt and sandals I had travel with because the airline had routed my suitcase to Brussels, not Glasgow. Yesterday I was glad to have my family helping me along. IT IS A STEEP CLIMB! Such fun. I would Not have done it alone. Here we were at Logan airport less than 24 hours ago. No we are in Edinburgh, but no picture to prove it. I'll take one tomorrow, but right now the rest of the group is on its way to Glasgow to attend the World In-Door Track Championship. Next stop for the lucky runners is the Summer Olympics in Rome. I chose to stay in my second favorite city to wander about, and stop for fish 'n chips before an early sleep. Our hotel is on Princes Street, just around the corner from St. Andrew's Square, which was showing signs of spring, even on the second day of March. Off to Edinburgh with my son and family. It was a trip planned for late March 2020, but that didn't work out. Before we had considered cancelling, we received emails from the hotels, beating us to it. Four years alter our itinerary is different but enthusiasm the same. We'll be staying in Edinburgh for seven nights, at a hotel right on Princes Street. All five us have special spots we want to visit: I figure we'll hang out together most of the time but also go our own ways when the time is right. Here are my five: 1. Climb Arthur’s Seat 2. Tour Holyrood Palace 3. Go to a service at St. Giles on the Royal Mile 4. Explore cemeteries, including St. Cuthbert’s 5. Walk along Dean Village, the Water of Leith to Stockbridge More thoughts on forgiveness. I don't have big situations to forgive: my life has not presented me with horrifying circumstances that haunt me; the people in my life have been loving and caring. I don't have people to forgive; not even one; except, of course myself, and even that doesn't consume me. I am sorry when I miss the mark; I try to do better, and love everyone, including my enemies. But what about forgiving politicians that lie, that disrupt freedom, that don't tell the truth, that…? At the workshop on forgiveness that I attended (see my February 16, 2024 post), Br. Curtis claimed with certainty that God adores everyone, even the politicians we disagree with. Well, I'm working on that one!!! We are not in charge of everything that happens in our life. Some situations or people may anger us, worry us, and effect us negatively, but there is nothing we can do to right the wrong we feel. Br. Curtis offers us a sensible affirmation to help us understand and proceed. • I didn't cause it • I can't heal it • I can't solve it On February 10 I participated in a workshop on forgiveness at the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE) led by Br. Curtis Almquist. As you know, I am careful not to write about my faith on this blog; but I believe that what Br. Curtis shared is universal, encompassing all faith traditions and spiritual inclinations. And so I have chosen to share my notes with you, you who love silence, solitude, and simplicity and sometimes long to be alone.
The Paradox of Forgiveness: the Gift We Receive Br. Curtis: SSJE Monastery: February 10, 2024 Notes: Bobbi Fisher
• I can’t stop it
These days I'm learning about solitude, learning in new ways. My daughter and son-in-law are living with us while looking to buy a house in the area. Although solitude is different with others living under the same roof, the four of us have worked out a schedule that gives us plenty. The two cats, however, are on a schedule all their own. They have no boundaries, no considerations other than their own. Fenway, the tiny strawberry blond cat, is in geriatric mode, choosing to sleep all day under the bureau in the Angel Room--except when she notices my recliner chair is empty. Regardless, I do not feel my space or solitude has been invaded. Bean, the big, black cat, however, has taken over the room-- wandering in and out at will, walking on the shelves, burrowing under the carpet , stopping for an occasional nap. At times it is hilarious, but it is not solitude. Someone else rustling around , be it an animal or a human, does not foster solitude. However, loving companionship is worth celebrating. I often say, “It’s not your fault, but it’s your responsibility.” It is quite true that there are many conditions in life that confer a less-than-desirable experience. But it is also true that at the end of your days on this planet, your life will have been lived only by you. How you experience whatever conditions life hands you correlates directly to how much responsibility you choose to take. None of us can control all (if any) of the conditions, but we can choose how we experience the conditions we find ourselves in. angel Kyodo williams. meditations@cac.org I just added these words of angel Kyodo williams to 'Quotes' on this blog. It's all so obvious: not everything bad that happens is your fault, and you can take responsibility for how you respond. That's my read; you may have a somewhat different one. Responsibility--that's the key word I take from it. I can be responsible for what I can be responsible for, but, a big BUT, is that I have to choose to take that responsibility. Today Fenway, our resident cat, took responsibility to get our of the way of the people who were cleaning my house, hiding under the desk in the Angel Room. She knew what to do, and knew enough to shut up about it. We humans have different built-in responses, although perhaps hiding under a desk might a responsible choice. Certainly keeping our mouth shut is always a choice worth considering. What's on my mind this morning is what you might call the nitty-gritty of silence, solitude, and simplicity. It's about the clutter on my desk in the Angel Room, the very place where I escape from the chatter, family members, and complexity that I wholeheartedly love in my life right now. These piles of papers and books doesn't look like clutter but it sure feels like it, and that is my point. The visual clutter mysteriously clutters my ability to get anything done. But voila! The 20 minutes I just spent decluttering, has mysteriously freed me to get something done, in this case to write this blog. |
Contact me: bobbifisher.mac@mac.com
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