I read about this week’s challenge just before I took my ex-husband Al home from having a cardioversion, a procedure to stop his heart from fibrillating. To me he is the epitome of endurance.
On the way home from the cardioversion last Friday.
In 2002, Al had a massive heart attack. It was so bad that they had to leave his chest wall open for several days because every time they closed it, his heart would stop. Our children, Sreejit and Chaitanya came from California and India respectively, to be with him and to take care of him. I recently found out that the doctor said he had never had a patient with that level of heart attack survive. The doctor credited his survival to the care Sreejit and Chaitanya gave him in the hospital and at home.
At the time of the heart attack, Al had a stent put in. In 2009, he had more surgery. This time six stents were inserted. Since then he had three cardioversions for atrial fibrillation.
His endurance was tested again last year, in a completely different way. In December 2013, my children and I were in India when we received a phone call from Al, saying that he had been mugged and beaten at 5:30 in the afternoon as he was going into his apartment building in the International District. He was 73 years old at that time and has M.S. in addition to his heart condition. Because of the M.S., he is very unstable on his feet, but he decided he wasn’t going to take it and fought back. As a result, all he lost was his phone.
He was very happy that he had stood up for himself. He also felt very grateful. Al has one eye that has been pretty much destroyed by glaucoma. If the mugger had beaten Al’s good eye, he would have been blinded; but since he beat the damaged one, Al still has good vision. I could understand Al’s sense of gratitude but was amazed at his ability to maintain a positive attitude in that situation.
I think by now, you can understand why I think Al is a very good example of the quality “Endurance!”
Dungeon Prompts this week asked us to sing the praises of someone who is a superhero to us. The instructions were:
We all have heroes that we look up to for some reason or another. We may not want to follow in their footsteps, but there is something about these people that make them bigger than life to us. They may not be perfect individuals; they may not even be real people at all. Whether it is a story book figure, a comic character, a celebrity, someone doing good in the world, friend, family or otherwise, this week let’s take the time to sing the praises of one of our heroes.
Last year, I discovered someone whom became a superhero to me. Mother Antonia Brenner was born on December 1, 1926 and died on October 17, 2013. I learned of her when I read her obituary in Time magazine. Continue reading “A New Superhero for Me: Mother Antonia”→
I am so grateful to Al, my ex-husband, who several years ago, on my birthday, gave me my first laptop. Al always recognizes Mother’s Day by giving me flowers but it is not our practice to exchange presents on birthdays or other events. I was so surprised, and delighted. I had wanted a laptop for a long time, but hadn’t made it happen.
I am so grateful to the friend, whom I know would want to remain unnamed, who has helped me with my various computers, year after year. For the last 15 years or so he has spent countless hours aiding me in setting them up, keeping them running and when it is time, guiding me in purchasing a new one.
I am so grateful to the laptop itself. There were many times during the last three years, when I felt like I lived on that computer; writing a monthly newsletter, corresponding with clients, family and friends, planning workshops, and organizing events. The laptop made it possible for me to begin blogging in March, so it has been even a bigger part of my life since then. For years, it has accompanied me around the U.S., and to Canada and India.
Over the last few months, it has become obvious that my laptop’s life span was quickly coming to the end. Last week there was no doubt that it was time for me to thank it for its years of service, say goodbye and move on to its successor. My friend once again helped me in making that transition.
So now I am so grateful for my new laptop. I love the feel of it and how well it runs! I anticipate that we will be working together for many years. I am particularly looking forward to all the blogging we will be doing!
Overcome any bitterness that may have come because you were not up to the magnitude of pain that was entrusted to you. Like the mother of the world who carries the pain of the world in her heart, each one of us is part of her heart, and therefore endowed with a certain measure of cosmic pain. You are sharing in the totality of that pain. You are called upon to meet it in joy instead of self-pity.
What is your reaction to his suggestion?
From: Pir Vilayat, Khan, Introducing Spirituality in Counseling and Therapy (New York: Omega Press, 1982).
I am oh so grateful for my daughter Chaitanya. She was born on September 14, 1977 so today is her 37th birthday! I feel so blessed to have her in my life.
Chaitanya has always lived life fully, whether it be playing with her friends, participating in drill team, running track or doing the many other activities she enjoyed during her childhood and teenage years.
Sreejit, Chaitanya, and dad
She and her brother Sreejit have a very special relationship. The pictures below give just a tiny glimpse into their life together!
Best of friends
Chaitanya went to India for the first time in 1993. She felt so at home in that country, especially at Amma’s ashram. Over the next few years, she visited the ashram several times. On her 21st birthday she decided to move to India on a permanent basis, choosing to dedicate her life to supporting Amma’s humanitarian work. For many years, she has overseen the work at the cafe and canteen that serves Western food to ashram residents and visitors.
Chaitanya and her husband Akshay met at the ashram and have been together since she turned 28. They have so much in common and are blessed to have each other.
Her dad and I, of course, also have many memories of special times with her.
Playing around
When she was a young adolescent, Chaitanya loved watching old Broadway musicals, especially if Gene Kelly was involved. Over the years, she created numerous short plays of her own. Since 2009, however, she has written and directed hour-long musicals every year. The plays are performed on Christmas eve in Amritapuri. I recently wrote a post about one of them.
Below you will find the mp3 and lyrics for two of my favorite play songs; the first is from God is Able and the second is from A Guiding Light.
One segment of God is Able is about Rachel, the woman who was healed by touching the hem of Jesus’ garment. Rachel had been sick from childhood. The first words on the recording are from the mother, responding to Rachel’s concern that she (Rachel) is such a burden. Rachel then responds to her mother’s comments by singing this beautiful tune. I still cry when I hear it, especially if I’m also watching the play DVD.
Mama you’ve given your whole existence To serving this child plagued with illness You look exhausted, your face full of strain It’s I who should be easing all of your pain.
If I had strength in this body of mine I’d cook and I’d clean till the walls began to shine I’d put your feet up, tea in your hand Let you enjoy the life God has given
This may be a fantasy, an impractical dream I just long to return the love you’ve shown to me I’ve known there’s no cure a doctor can give Only a higher power can change what’s been destined.
I pray to you dear God, if it’s your will from above Give me the strength to overcome. There’s nothing I want more than to ease her weary soul To serve her is all I’m asking for.
*****
One part of A Guiding Light is about the three wise men who traveled to Judea to honor Jesus at the time of his birth. This song takes place at the beginning of that journey. (I recorded this song from the play DVD, using the voice recorder on my phone, so the sound certainly isn’t ideal, but it works!)
Wise men together:
High in the sky a star shines bright Through unfamiliar paths it will be my guiding light A journey I will make to a far off land That I may greet God in the form of man
Wise man 1:
I shall bring to him this gift of gold Treasure that never fades nor grows old Gold represents his earthly kingship In Righteousness he’ll rule, with love and virtue
Wise man 2: I shall bring to him sweet Frankincense These simple sticks hold great significance They symbolize his priestly role in life A burning offering of love and sacrifice
Wise man 3: I will take this bottle of embalming oil Though his body’s born, his soul is immortal He is beyond both Birth and Death Yet if he resides on earth life is surely blessed
Wise men together:
Yet if he resides on earth life is surely blessed
I am so proud of you Chaitanya. You have grown into a remarkable, adult woman whose strength, talent and wisdom I admire greatly. Happy Birthday!
As usual, this week’s Dungeon Prompt is one that makes us explore our inner realms. Here are the questions we were asked to address:
Imagine that you were in an accident and you can feel your life fading away. With your last breaths, what does your mind fly to? Are you scared? Accepting? Worried for friends or family, work unfinished or some other business? Does your focus change to the hereafter? With your final breaths, to what do you cling?
I had an experience about 17 years ago that gave me some sense of what might happen when that time of my life comes. In December of 1997, I took my yearly trip to Amritapuri, Amma’s ashram in Kerala, India. Half-way between Singapore and India, our plane started shaking. Simultaneously all of the oxygen masks fell from their compartments. As we struggled to put on our masks, the plane started falling, first 15,000 feet, then another 10,000. The entire fall took about a minute. As the plane began to descend, my daughter and I glanced at each other and then we each focused inward. My mantra immediately started flowing freely within me. With the mantra came a great sense of peace. I had awareness that if I died that day, I could leave the earth without regret. I had no sense of unfinished business. (You can learn more about that experience at A Reason to Believe.) Continue reading “With My Last Breath”→
I have been reading gratitude posts on SeasonedSistha2 for some time. She regularly participates in Gratitude Sunday and today I read her Thankful Thursday post. That got me thinking. Why have I not started participating in one of those weekly gratitude prompts?
To me, the ability to feel and express gratitude is an incredibly important component of healthy living. I once was taught that depression and gratitude cannot co-exist. I don’t know if that is actually a researched fact, but I believe it to be true. I know that when people begin to focus on gratitude, the negativity within them diminishes and their spirits lift. They also learn to see the positive in events that might normally be considered negative. Continue reading “Gratitude Sunday in Advance”→
“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.”-William Shakespeare
His endurance was tested again last year, in a completely different way. In December 2013, my children and I were in India when we received a phone call from Al, saying that he had been mugged and beaten at 5:30 in the afternoon as he was going into his apartment building in the International District. He was 73 years old at that time and has M.S. in addition to his heart condition. Because of the M.S., he is very unstable on his feet, but he decided he wasn’t going to take it and fought back. As a result, all he lost was his phone.
Living, Learning and Letting Go 