Today's news reminded me of the man behind the curtain, or more accurately, the man behind Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off - ironically enough, as I learn now, someone who started in the business I now inhabit. I was a little older at the time (1980's) than the intended audience, but these movies so reflected some of my feelings and experiences in high school. I'm curious how the youngsters today view these films. I always feel uplifted (as I watch them still)...and even more so after reading the blog below. Thank you, John Hughes, your voice will be missed but always cherished, never forgotten.

A friend of my boss was once John Hughes' pen pal................an exquisite eulogy.

http://wellknowwhenwegetthere.blogspot.com/2009/08/sincerely-john-hughes.html

Change and energy...........miracles.....

I find myself often astounded by how easy change can be when I'm expecting it to be hard; and how difficult it is when I'm expecting it to be easy, or not expecting it at all. Perhaps a funny thing to be thinking about on a Sunday summer afternoon, but there is a good reason for the thoughts.

I attended church this morning for the express purpose of attending the Core Council meeting, and participating in the decision to close down our small congregation at the end of this month. I'd not attended for the past six weeks, where I'm usually a weekly regular, due to a variety of circumstances. And I'd not had time, due to those same circumstances, to read through the epistle of e-mails pertaining to the church's financial condition languishing in my inbox. I do know that our situation, our energy, our need to have a 7 day space instead of just a Sunday AM space has been much on my mind lately as I drive around the Eastside, observing empty store fronts, thinking about the money we spend in rent for just 4 mornings a month --- musing that there must be a way that the the energy we put in could be banked for us, a repository where we and others are reaping ongoing instead of isolated benefits on our physical and energetic investments. I knew there had to be a way, but I was just not seeing it, and I admit I wasn't looking forward to this afternoon's conversation.

As things developed, however, on Friday, the opportunity to share space with some like-minded groups manifested. What was a choice between shutting down completely or continuing as a study group without a minister suddenly became an opportunity to share a beautiful space which, while not ideal as if designed for us, gives us an office space, a real bookstore space with 6 day per week access, worship, classroom, and concert space at substantially less than our current rent. We could do better than break even, re-establish our savings and building fund, and be visible in a larger way in our community. We'd be on a main road, in the middle of bustling activity, with signage. What I felt was going to be an emotionally wrenching meeting and choice - and day - turned into something simple and uplifting. While I'd not seen the space, it seemed only right to put my faith in Spirit, in my friends, in my community, and move forward into this new form, into this unexpected change -- into our own small miracle. I think the hardest part was believing that a solution to what has been three or four difficult years could appear so suddenly, at exactly the right moment.

So, change --- in location, in energy, in how we interact as and with a community. The new energy that the place generates -- and that we bring to this whole idea of ourselves as a group. And the miracle -- the building that I went down to see straight from church. A lovely space -- smaller, but in so many ways nicer and more welcoming than any of the spaces we've inhabited. As they are open on Sunday afternoon, I went in to check out the tea shop and was greeted by the nicest people, and a comfortable space that invites peace and inspires conversation and sharing. Apocatastasis - something good is happening in every moment, despite appearances.

I'm big on quotes -- I love them. So I went looking for one for today, for this surprise of a silver lining in a big dark storm cloud of "difficulty." And how appropriate that it comes from Napoleon Hill.

"Opportunity often comes in disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat."

Napoleon Hill

And while looking for that, this one asked to come along...

"Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure."

Napoleon Hill

So, I say again............miracles........

An impulsive beginning.....

An impulsive beginning it is. I am notorious among my friends not only for being unable to journal on any kind of regular basis, but also for being very guarded (often worded as diplomatic) about sharing my thoughts and feelings. An odd thing to be sure as I was a literature major in school, am a voracious reader, and write extensively for business every day. But I avoid committing myself to paper. Maybe a virtual format will make it easier. We will see.



But, as I am engaged in changing my life and creating even more blessings in my and others' lives, I might as well do something way out of my comfort zone.



So here I will speak and share the things on my heart, those that bring beauty into each moment, and melodies that inspire my song of life.