After a 10-day long festival, Ganesh Chaturthi came to an end on Tuesday, September 25, 2007, with the idols of the Lord Ganesha being immersed in water. Hindu worshippers are reported to be increasingly returning to the humble clay and paper idols in a bid to avoid pollution caused by the immersion of thousands of idols in water during the festival.

Singing hymns and beating drums, long processions wade into the water to submerge the idol to mark the natural cycle of creation and dissolution. The effects are typically felt in the environment for weeks after as idol fragments, made mostly of plastic and plaster of Paris, wash up on shores and toxic chemicals from the paints pollute waters and poison fish.

So I went back to work after being on vacation for 3 weeks. There was a notice for a "chocoholic's buffet" on the door of one of my units. I commented that it looked good only to be told that it had been on Saturday and the woman talking regrets eating so much there. I lamented that I miss the fun things that my staff members do together. The same woman later mentions that I should come the next time they go on a "food run", which will be a swanky hotel. But the condition was that we have to bring at least 5 "hunkalious men" with us.
I looked at her a little annoyed. "I'm married and I'm clergy. Where am I going to find someone to fit that description?" "Well you'd better get looking then.."

We walk to the other end of the nursing station where another woman is sitting. She is not often on our unit and I commented to her... "Never know what you're in for when you come up here eh? Does it make you wonder what kind of people you work with?" She smirked.

Art as Expression of Spirituality

Today is one of the remaining days for the Monet to Dali Exhibit as it closes on Sunday, 16th. I went this afternoon specifically to see this exhibit. It was about the Impressionist, Post-impressionist, Modernism, and Post-modern artwork, featuring Picasso, Cezane, Monet, Dali, Degas, to name a few. Some of the works were portraits, others were nature scenes experimenting with lighting and visualization. The famous statue "Thinker" by Rodin was also there. It was smaller than I imaged. Rodin's statues were profound, with explicit detail, and muscle definition in the human figures, and facial features.


The second exhibit was less appealing. It was House of Oracles: A Huang Yong Ping Retrospective. It was not really to my liking, I guess because I didn't really understand the purpose of it. This exhibit is/was controversial. This I realized when I saw a new part "Media, Blog and Email" which featured videotaped newscasts detailing public outrage with this exhibit. As you can see from the picture of the "cage", it is an exbihit about animals. The "cage" as I call it, featured live animals. Not while we were there. The emails, newscast, and newspaper clippings displayed detailed the outrage and disgust that many people felt from seeing live animals -- bugs, iguana, spiders, etc, in the "cage". SPCA protested vehemently. Even without the animals, it turned my stomach. One display that did interest me was the globe that the artist had taken apart, unraveled and had in a spiraling string. The different countries were labelled with pins marked with past and future events such as drought, extinction of certain species, earthquakes.. and other natural occurences that affect our climate and hence our animal species.

There was another exhibit, Andrea Zittel: Critical Space, that reminded of IKEA products. The artist was making a statement about the way we live our lives -- the space required to function. Most of the creations were "boxlike" contraptions that had bed, kitchen, computer room, bathroom. Interesting statements, but still a little wierd.

I now understand the statement that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Some things are a thing of beauty, appeal to some, but not to others. I prefered the Impressionist and post-impressionist features. Cubism (Picasso's work) was a bit odd. Perhaps I have preferred artwork/media of portrait, nature scenes as opposed to abstract. Which is probably why I was glad to end the tour by seeing the works of Emily Carr and the Group of Seven. I liked the deep green of Emily's work.
Art is but one form of spiritual expression. Art, such as painting, sculpture, and poetry, are a way to express one's soul. Artists often state that they "created" whatever because "it was in them and they needed to get it out". To express the essence of what was in their soul. One of the artists stated that we find a need to organize things to make sense of them, but just because you find a system that works for you, doesn't mean that you can/should impose on the world as the only way that works .I guess this can apply to the variety of artforms. What appeals to one may not appeal to another, hence the statement "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

Relationships -- what is healthy?

Recently, I have been thinking about the different relationships in life. We first start with bonding/attachment as in the parental relationship. Attachment is needed for the child to feel secure, loved. Attachment can be healthy, too much (smothering) or not enough (distanced).
Then we have relationships with siblings.
Then there are relationships with peers, also refereed to as friends.
Friendship is the main "relationship" that I will focus on here.

Speaking from a point of psychology, relationships are necessary to help us feel attached to others. From a spiritual point, relationships/friendships are helpful to attach us to the world. We focus on other people, not just our small/narrow view of the world. It is said in the Bible that God created us (humans) for relationships.


Relationship with God, relationship with Self, and relationship with others.
I have found that as we develop, we put more emphasis on the relationship with "others" than we might on God or Self. Ironically, it is the views of others that shape our opinion of our selves. (This is especially noticed in adolescence, and hence peer pressure, either real or perceived, comes into play here.) Hopefully, we develop someone normal and have relationships which help us to feel happy/content, and as time goes on, we realize that it our opinion of Self that matters, and God's opinion that matters versus the opinions of others (unless of course, we are acting in a way that harms self or others.)

Relationship are dependant on a number of factors. Personality, social skills, boundaries, reciprocity, trust, accountability, and a host of others.

I remember when I was younger, I had low self-esteem, and few friends. I thought that a bad friend (or date) was better than no friend. Well I have changed my mind. One of the key aspects about relationships is reciprocity. Do you get out of the relationship what you put into it? Is the one person doing more of the "work" at maintaining the relationship? Because of my low self-esteem, when younger, I sought to do everything I could to maintain this "friend" otherwise I would be alone. But I came to a realization about a few "friendships" that I had. That they weren't true friendships. We didn't share equally -- either because of our own lack of ability, or because of the lack of trust. True, there are certain people that we only go shopping with, only to the gym with, lunch with -- we save certain activities for that person, but not we do not "share" our lives totally.

In relationships, of any kind, there is give and take. One person is the "giver" and the other is the "taker". A similar theory (psychology) also states that in a relationship. One person is the "pursuer" and the other "recedes". The more that person pursues, the more the other one backs away. When the pursuer stops, the other person stops backing away and moves forward. (I guess the hunter and prey?) When I learned this theory, I remember seeing correlation of said pursuance and avoidance in various relationships. (What about when both back away? Obviously the relationship will break up/die, and wasn't "true" to begin with.)

Over the years, I have had various friends complain about the "needy" someone in their life. It is likely that this "needy" person has had attachment/security failure at some point in their life. Based on what I wrote above, this person is trying to get fulfillment from "others" versus Self or God. I think that we need all three in the relationship. This is the dilemma. As a Christian, I have been taught that all people are created in the image of God, by God, and hence they are just as important to God as I am. I have also been taught that we are to help others just as would need in our life. (This is reinforced by such teachings as the "Golden Rule" Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. As well as Matthew 25:35-46 in the parable of the Sheep and Goats...

'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' )

Society also teaches us that sometimes the way to help someone is to let them fail. Where is the line between helping from sense of duty, and the line that says this "needy" person is using you? How/when do we put our foot done and say enough is enough? It hurts us to hurt others when we are trying to help them, but they don't want the help we wish to give. or is it hard to say "no" because we are taught, as above, that we should help others because what goes around comes around. I think that one answer may be in the Credo below. This talks about honesty, trust, boundaries and how to maintain a healthy balance for Self and others involved.

A Credo For My Relationships

You and I are in a relationship that is important to me, yet we are also separate persons with our own individual values and needs. So that we will better know and understand what each of us values and needs, let us always be open and honest in our communication.

Whenever I'm prevented from meeting my needs by some action of yours, I will tell you honestly and without blame how I am affected, thus giving you the chance to modify your behavior out of respect for my needs. And I want you to be as open with me when my behavior is unacceptable to you.

And when we experience conflict in our relationship, let us agree to resolve each conflict without using power to win at the expense of the other losing. We will always search for a solution that meets both of our needs - neither will lose, both will win.

Whenever you are experiencing a problem in your life, I will try to listen with acceptance and understanding (empathy) , in order to help you find your own solutions rather than imposing mine. And I want you to be (such) a listener for me when I need to find solutions to my problems.

Because ours will be a relationship that allows both of us to become what we are capable of being, we will want to continue relating to each other - with mutual concern, caring, and respect.

- Dr. Thomas Gordon
Effectiveness Training, Inc.

Recently, I have been thinking about the different relationships in life. We first start with bonding/attachment as in the parental relationship. Attachment is needed for the child to feel secure, loved. Attachment can be healthy, too much (smothering) or not enough (distanced).
Then we have relationships with siblings.
Then there are relationships with peers, also refereed to as friends.
Friendship is the main "relationship" that I will focus on here.

Speaking from a point of psychology, relationships are necessary to help us feel attached to others. From a spiritual point, relationships/friendships are helpful to attach us to the world. We focus on other people, not just our small/narrow view of the world. It is said in the Bible that God created us (humans) for relationships.


Relationship with God, relationship with Self, and relationship with others.







I have found that as we develop, we put more emphasis on the relationship with "others" than we might on God or Self. Ironically, it is the views of others that shape our opinion of our selves. (This is especially noticed in adolescence, and hence peer pressure, either real or perceived, comes into play here.) Hopefully, we develop someone normal and have relationships which help us to feel happy/content, and as time goes on, we realize that it our opinion of Self that matters, and God's opinion that matters versus the opinions of others (unless of course, we are acting in a way that harms self or others.)

Relationship are dependant on a number of factors. Personality, social skills, boundaries, reciprocity, trust, accountability, and a host of others.

I remember when I was younger, I had low self-esteem, and few friends. I thought that a bad friend (or date) was better than no friend. Well I have changed my mind. One of the key aspects about relationships is reciprocity. Do you get out of the relationship what you put into it? Is the one person doing more of the "work" at maintaining the relationship? Because of my low self-esteem, when younger, I sought to do everything I could to maintain this "friend" otherwise I would be alone. But I came to a realization about a few "friendships" that I had. That they weren't true friendships. We didn't share equally -- either because of our own lack of ability, or because of the lack of trust. True, there are certain people that we only go shopping with, only to the gym with, lunch with -- we save certain activities for that person, but not we do not "share" our lives totally.

In relationships, of any kind, there is give and take. One person is the "giver" and the other is the "taker". A similar theory (psychology) also states that in a relationship. One person is the "pursuer" and the other "recedes". The more that person pursues, the more the other one backs away. When the pursuer stops, the other person stops backing away and moves forward. (I guess the hunter and prey?) When I learned this theory, I remember seeing correlation of said pursuance and avoidance in various relationships. (What about when both back away? Obviously the relationship will break up/die, and wasn't "true" to begin with.)

Over the years, I have had various friends complain about the "needy" someone in their life. It is likely that this "needy" person has had attachment/security failure at some point in their life. Based on what I wrote above, this person is trying to get fulfillment from "others" versus Self or God. I think that we need all three in the relationship.

A Credo For My Relationships

You and I are in a relationship that is important to me, yet we are also separate persons with our own individual values and needs. So that we will better know and understand what each of us values and needs, let us always be open and honest in our communication.

Whenever I'm prevented from meeting my needs by some action of yours, I will tell you honestly and without blame how I am affected, thus giving you the chance to modify your behavior out of respect for my needs. And I want you to be as open with me when my behavior is unacceptable to you.

And when we experience conflict in our relationship, let us agree to resolve each conflict without using power to win at the expense of the other losing. We will always search for a solution that meets both of our needs - neither will lose, both will win.

Whenever you are experiencing a problem in your life, I will try to listen with acceptance and understanding (empathy) , in order to help you find your own solutions rather than imposing mine. And I want you to be (such) a listener for me when I need to find solutions to my problems.

Because ours will be a relationship that allows both of us to become what we are capable of being, we will want to continue relating to each other - with mutual concern, caring, and respect.

- Dr. Thomas Gordon
Effectiveness Training, Inc.

God: One idea ...

This was sent to me via email. It is an interesting commentary on God and the way that humans view him. It is a response to when people doubt God's existence, or question the cause of suffering.


BY ROBIN WILLIAMS, NO LESS.

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen. It's an explanation other people will understand.

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects.

When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists." "Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine loving a God who

Would allow all of these things."

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and un-kept.

The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist." "How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"

"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards,

like that man outside." "Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me."

"Exactly!"- Affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

If you KNOW God exists, send this to other people---If you think God doesn't exist, then just delete it!

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING