Assurance

Be not afraid!  - Angels

Lighting bonfires on the night of the Winter Solstice is a great activity for friends. And it gives you something to sit around while you drink your brew and share your beef jerky. But, from what little we know of our ancient past... particularly our Celtic ancient past... lighting fires on the night of the Winter Solstice was more than an excuse to buzz and belch. Lighting fires on the Solstice and on nights preceding and following the Solstice was once considered a spiritual necessity to keep the sun from disappearing entirely.            

No doubt, grog or some kind of fermented fluid was consumed during these ceremonies. A big chunk of the Celtic population were ancestors of the Irish, after all.   But, as far as we can tell, fire lighting was a way of reminding the Sun God or Whatever Powers That Be, to get The Big Eye on its way back into the high heavens so that life could and more grog be brewed for next year. 

And when the sun did start it ascent, once again, in the Celtic skies, we can only assume that there was great rejoicing; or, at the very least, a calm and relaxing gladness that filled the hearts of all those who knew that their lives depended on it.           

Assurance is such a miracle because it comes in so many ways. Assurance not only happens when the sun comes back, but when the moon comes up. When the tides go out or the hope comes in. The miracle of assurance appears in a dream or a memory or a kiss. In a song or a taste or a silence. Of the reality and multiplicity of this miracle, however, you can rest assured.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Howard is thrilled to announce his newest book, "The Main Thing." It has been a two-year project and is the story of The JUBILEE! Community.  Co-authored with others who are key to the Community, including Matthew Fox and even a forward by Tom Robbins (one of Howard's all-time favorite authors), the 228 page volume takes you through the origins and operation of this amazing 26 year-old celebrating community.  "The Main Thing" is available online and in selected independent bookstores.  

Gratitude

Look at the birds of the air... Consider the lilies  - Jesus

"If the only prayer you ever prayed was 'thank you,'" sang out Meister Eckhart, "that would suffice."             

What if it all boils down to that? What if when you shuffle off this mortal coil... when the fat lady has finally sung... when you go permanently offline... when you become the worm banquet... what if at that time, when you're floating around in Spirit World trying to figure out what the hell just happened, what if God shows up, looks you straight in the face and says, "I just want to know one thing: Were you grateful?"                  

And what if that's finally what it all boils down to? What if gratitude is the springboard for all good stuff that happens in this life? Gratitude, the bee that fertilizes the blossoms of goodness.   All acts of love, forgiveness, compassion, generosity, joy and peace - what if they are all somehow spurred, sparked, sprouted and spiked by gratitude?            

The argument could be made that Thanksgiving is the holiest day on the year. It's the one time when friends and families are brought together simply to say, "Thank you." No gifts. No obligation. No flashy lights. No displays at the mall. No religious differences.  Just a day to simply and humbly accept the gifts that have been given to us. To say a prayer or sing a song or hug a seldom seen loved one.  It's a day and tradition which never fails to bless. 

Howard is up to his bald head in gratitude this year. His daughters, Kelsey and Windsor, along with Windsor's husband, Alex and baby (aka grandbaby) Ellie are in Asheville for Thanksgiving.  Howard's LadyLove, Joyell, is thrilled with her new position at The Farm in Tennessee and Jubilee!'s wonder-woman, Delia Bailey, is again hosting a Thanksgiving dinner at Jubilee! for anyone who doesn't have a place to go.  Delia fed over 130 people last year.  So may things to be grateful for; so little time.  Howard wishes deep joy to you on this Thanksgiving Day.

Dreams & Visions

Feet sandaled with dreams tread paths of vision leading to wisdom's sharp peaks.

- Aberjhani

"I'm sick of following my dreams," goes the FaceBook post. "I'm just going to ask them where they're going and hook up with them later."                  

Dreams and visions can be pesky little boogers. Always nagging at you. Always pestering you when you're trying to go to sleep or watching some mindless television hoohah. And the big-big problem with dreams and visions is that they are always an inside job. They don't come from your friends or therapist or minister or internet or Dear Abby.  They come from inside your own stupid head. Unlike an irritating mosquito that you can slap and be done with, dreams and visions bug you from the inside out.              

Which is one reason some folks become workaholics. Or alcoholics. If you throttle your brain with enough activity, distractions or drugs, you can sometimes put those irksome dreams and visions to rest.                  

And, sometimes, they'll up and leave you. Sometimes they'll give up on your nappy ass.  But that's always unfortunate. Sometimes tragic. When your dreams and vision have left the building, it could lose you the ball game.                

So when a dream or vision comes knocking at your soul's door, let 'em in. Entertain them. Give them some attention. Don't have to keep 'em; but if you do, they just night take you where you want to go.

 Maybe it's the autumn air or change of seasons, but Howard lately has been getting excited about the possibility of starting some new Jubilee! rituals.  His friend, Chris Andrews - Jubilee! minister in Baton Rouge - leads in a cabaret style with his congregation sitting at tables eating and drinking.  The idea of a Jubilee! Cabaret in Asheville has triggered Howard's imagination.  In the meantime, he is loving the autumn magic in the mountains.

Giving

A poor widow put in two small copper coins worth a penny.

From a story by Jesus                  

You can give a flip or give a damn. Give your word or give an opinion.   You can give up, give back, give in, give way or give over. You can give a recital, give a cold, give offense, give approval, give an excuse, give a spanking, give and take or give up the ghost. You can give your time, give your money, give your thoughts, give your strength or give your attention. You can even give your life. Or, you can sit back and say, "What gives?"                

Giving - especially giving of the heart - has a way of turning things around. For the giver and the receiver, something magical happens when a gift is given. Maybe it's an exchange of energy, maybe it's a refocusing from the self to the gift. Or maybe, it's simply an unspoken way of reminding ourselves that giving and receiving is the way life works. The way our hearts and lungs work. A reminder that we are each and all - plants, animals, humans, oceans, air and rivers - utterly interdependent.                

There's something about giving that disperses anxiety, breaks up clots of fretfulness and crumbles walls of despair or loneliness. Giving might well be the antidote to many of the struggles that send us to therapists or to our knees in prayer. Maybe it really is more blessed to give than receive. And maybe one of generosity's blessings is reminding us how incredibly blessed we are.   

Howard is tremendously excited for his LadyLove, Joyell Smith, who is giving a presentation this week at the Geologic Society of America Conference in Baltimore.  He is also eager for the release later this month of a new book about Jubilee! Community which he helped author, titled, "The Main Thing."  And, then, next week Howard will head to Atlanta to visit his granddaughter, Ellie.  It's a joyful time for Howard.

WHEN 'NO' WHISPERS 'YES"

God breaks the wings of one intention and then gives you another.   - Rumi

"I got fired," she said. "I got dumped from my freaking job. They said it was a money thing. Said they had to downsize. But of all the other employees, I was the only one picked for the downsizing. They simply didn't want me or want what I offered." She breathed deeply, drew finger circles on the table next to her coffee. "I've never been dumped before. Never. And I thought I was doing a good job. Thought I was living up to their expectations. I have felt so rejected. So unwanted. I felt like a cast-off - something that was tossed away because it was weighing them down and now they think they can fly better."                

The waiter came by. "More coffee?" he asked.

"Yes," she said. She paused. Breathed. "But I don't want more coffee in this cup. I want a fresh cup. With fresh, hot coffee. Can you do that?"                 

"Of course," he said, lifting her cup from the table.             

"You know what?" she said. "Maybe that's what a need: a new cup. A new cup for my life. Or even just for this day. With something fresh and hot in it. How's that sound? Maybe it works both ways. Maybe that stupid outfit can fly better without me; and maybe, just maybe I can fly better now as well. "Waiter!" she called, "bring me something hot and sweet with that coffee. I just might be getting ready to fly."   

Howard is feeling full of excitement these days.  New grand-baby... Doctor Daughter Kelsey flying high... and his LadyLove, coming home soon.  One of Howard's favorite T-shirts asks, "What are you grateful for?"  Lately, he says, he has no problems answering that. 

And, if you like these Mental Breathers, Howard has a book of them titled, "Drink Deeply With Delight."  Check it out at his website.