FEELIN' THE RHYTHM

God's joy moves from unmarked box to unmarked box.   -  Rumi

"I got rhythm! Who could ask for anything more?" I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night." "All you need is love, ra-ta-da-ta-da..." "All I ever need is you." "Love is all we need." And on and on...                

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Nice thoughts," you say, "when you're feeling inspired or romantic. Sweet sentiments when things are sailing your way. Pleasant outlook when you're feeling happy and carefree. But what about when you're hungry? Or out of work? Or sick? Or just went through - or are facing - the death of a loved one? Then, is love really all we need?"                  

Poets, philosophers, theologians, scriptures and singer-songwriters are not always so Pollyanna as to imply that love, all by itself, will see you through - will take care of all your needs. These artists and guides are clear that pain is real and suffering cannot be denied. But the feeling still shines through again and again from these teachers, that, somehow, love can lead the way to whatever it is that we need.               

Maybe our gig on this planet has less to do with getting all we need from life and more to do with receiving and giving what life offers us. Maybe our days might be better spent as a chalice: always being filled and pouring out - rather than as a sports car: always gassing up, trying to get somewhere and look as good as possible in the process. 

Not that we can sit on our sweet butts and expect life to carry us through; but there's something to be said for enjoying the rhythm, the sun in the morning, the moon at night and whatever love comes your way.

Howard lives in a Living Cooperative with 13 other folks in Asheville, North Carolina.   They live in a 130 year-old Victorian mansion.  Each one has his/her own room, but bathrooms, common areas and kitchen are all shared. 2-3 times a week they have dinner together and at each dinner, anyone can offer a "Table Question."  It's a great way to involve everyone at the dinner with everyone else.  The questions range from, "What did you learn from your last relationship?" to "Which fictional character would you like to meet in person?" to "What movie star would you like to have as a sibling?"  The conversations can get pretty excited and often raunchy depending on how much wine is flowing and there is inevitably lots of laughter.  Though he admits it's not for everyone, Howard loves Coop Living and is pretty convinced that it can be a life-changer for many. 

ASH WEDNESDAY & MONKEY BUSINESS

I opened up my hand and the Infinite ran to the edges of space...  Catherine of Siena

Just a few days ago, the Chinese announced to the world, "Let the Monkey Business Begin!" According to Chinese tradition and astrology, February 8, 2016, marked the beginning of the lunar new year.  And, this year is the Year of the Monkey.  Nor is it just any monkey.  It's the Year of the Fire Monkey. 

OK, work with me on this: 

The Chinese Lunar New Year always happens on the second new moon after the Winter Solstice.  The Christian celebration of Easter always happens on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox.  And Ash Wednesday always happens 40 days prior to Easter.  (You still there?) Which is to say, Easter, Ash Wednesday and Chinese New Year are all scheduled by the moon and the change of seasons.  Yet another reminder that we're all  - Western and Eastern cultures - together in this.

Traditionally, in The Year of the Monkey, anything can happen.  Some of the key words for this year are "irrepressible - erratic - unpredictable - adventurous - magical - quixotic." It's the year when anything can happen and the apple cart can get turned over in the most surprising ways.  It's the year which challenges you to stay calm and unruffled in the face of unexpected challenges and changes; and to remember that on the other side of chaos is always magic and transformation.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent - a time of introspection.  It is a reminder of death - that we are made of dust and to dust we shall return. Ash Wednesday is a celebration of endings.  Chinese New Year, a celebration of beginnings. And this year, the two celebrations are within 48 hours of each other.  As if to suggest that beginnings and endings in our lives are inextricably interconnected; that magic and transformation are always part of the story; and that no matter what, a little monkey business can't hurt.

Though not a fan of cold weather (he was, after all born in Florida), Howard loves fires and has spent a lot of time lately in front of fires.  Whether in a fire pit or fireplace, Howard is convinced that fires stir imagination and conversation.  Lots of rich ideas and deep connection happen in the presence of flames - even candle flames.  So, Howard's wish for you is that you spend some time this winter in front of a fire with a friend, lover or good book.

PAYING ATTENTION

Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.  - The Book of Samuel

We have two ears and one mouth. 

We have two eyes and one mouth. 

We even have two nostrils, but only one mouth.

We have more than 2500 nerve receptors per square centimeter in our hands alone; but still, just one mouth. 

We have ten toes, ten fingers, two knee-caps, two elbows, two butt-cheeks, two shoulder blades, two sides of our brain and but two armpits, but just one mouth.  

Could Nature be trying to tell us something? Is it possible that the signals coming to and through our senses are more important than the babble coming out of our mouths.               

It's possible.

According to some anthropologists, our senses evolved in order that we could survive. If we didn't hear, see or smell the saber-tooth tiger in time, we were lunch. And if we couldn't smell or taste the rotten spot in the mastodon steak, we'd be so busy yodeling our groceries later that the pussycat would get us for sure.              

We still rely on our senses to keep from getting flattened by the UPS truck, maimed by the neighbor's demented dachshund or searing our hand to a Pittsburg-style-medium-rare with a hot skillet. We are still aware that our senses can save our butts, not to mention make life much more comfortable. But, often, we are so busy blathering on about whatever we think is important that we may actually miss what is truly important.

It may well be that paying attention is not just important in school, but is vital for our body - and soul - to survive.                 

Next week, Howard is excited to go with his LadyLove to Atlanta to play with his granddaughter, daughter and son-in-law.  That sweet family is treating Howard to a ticket to see "The Book of Mormon" for his birthday.  And then, Howard is meeting with an illustrator with the idea of creating some children's books based on songs from some of his children's albums.  2016 is off and running!

What If?

God's joy moves from unmarked box to unmarked box.  - Rumi

My favorite quote from Robert Kennedy also happens to be the only quote I know from Robert Kennedy. But it's still my favorite. In one of his speeches during his 1968 presidential campaign, said, "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?"

Which is another way of asking, "What if?" WHAT IF? What a magnificent question!

It's the question (in Tom Robbins' words) "that puts the free in freedom and takes the obligation out of love. The question that throws a window open after the final door is closed. The question upon which all adventure, all exhilaration, all meaning, all honor depends. The question that fires evolution's motor of mud. The question that the cocoon whispers to the caterpillar. The question that molecules recite before bonding. The question that separates that which is dead from that which is living."

OK, OK, in that last passage, Tom was actually writing about the word "CHOICE." But I think Tom would be cool with "WHAT IF?"

WHAT IF? is a question which offers a mischievous grin and playful challenge to every dogma and doctrine - to every popular opinion and political stance - to everyone who claims to know the mind of God or the meaning of life. 

WHAT IF? suggests that maybe everything is not nailed down - proposes that perhaps all the options have not been considered - intimates that there may be something we haven't thought about. In fact, the underlying message of WHAT IF? is this: We just might not know it all. There just might be more going on in this life right now than we can possibly imagine. And that possibility is indeed most excellent to remember at the beginning of a new year.  WHAT IF?

Howard is thrilled to hear that many people are reading his new book, "The Main Thing" - the story of Jubilee! Community - with chapters by those who know Jubilee! well.  Including Tom Robbins. Though Howard would be the first to admit that Jubilee! would never pretend to be providing the answers to all spirituality and religion, he is proud to say that Jubilee! does indeed teach us to ask better questions.  You may purchase a book through Howard's website.  Happy New Year!

Of the Stars

You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord. -  Isaiah

Jimmy Buffett sings: It takes more than DNA to tell us who we are,

                                  It's method and it's magic. We are of the stars.

But even listening to Jimmy with a top-shelf Margarita in our hands, can't convince us sometimes: Can't convince us that we are more than flesh and blood... more than the sum of our experiences. Can't convince us that we are more than our genes and chromosomes... more than our grades in school... more than our ex's memories of us, or our pile of regrets and broken dreams that we carry around in our emotional bag of tricks.

We hear motivational speakers and new-age preachers babble about how we are all stardust - how we are all offspring of light. We read inspirational posters that exhort us to "Believe and Succeed," or "Fly With the Eagles;" but, there are many days when life seems oh-so-     mundane. Routine. Dreary and tedious. And we feel far more like pasture patties than light and stardust.

If we are - in any way - connected with magic and the stars, then it would naturally behoove us to spend a bit more time in their company. And maybe, that's the problem: When we pass more of our hours in front of the television or computer than under the moon... when we bumble through our days wondering about money rather than simply wondering... when our idea of fun is to get wasted rather than to waste an evening with a good friend, then we may unsurprisingly feel disconnected from our magical heritage.

And, if all else fails, spending a moment or two remembering a time when you felt fully and unconditionally loved, either by another person, or by a sunrise, or by the taste of a mango or by your own sweet self couldn't really hurt.

Maybe Jimmy's song would be a good New Years' song. Maybe reminding us of our magical love connection is what every new year could be about.

Howard has made it clear in many ways that he is ready to emerge from the holidays.  As wonderfully holy and inspiring as their essence might be, Howard has always struggled with the commercialism, the pressure, the frenzied buying and partying.  But with all of it, Howard has had some wonderful moments with his daughters, family and ladylove.  And with the joy of those connections, he is ready to move into 2016 with a firm resolve to (as he puts it), "spend more time in the woods and listen to more Jimmy Buffett."