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Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Flying in the afterglow

I did not want to get out of bed today for completely different reasons than yesterday. Yesterday was remarkable inspite of my attempts to sabotage it. The sister girlfriends came over and we all flew! There was great music, good food, and exceptional company. We all told our stories, the ones that most people do not get to hear. Cookie brought her Goddess of Transition doll and we all marveled over her.

Today, I just wanted to bask in the afterglow of a wonderful event. I wanted to savor the delicious morsels of the day. Again I thanked God for not allowing me to stay in bed with my head under the covers yesterday. I am glad He did not let me lean on my own understanding. I did not understand that my presence in the universe was required. I understand that today. Tomorrow, I may need to be reminded again. That is what friends are for. Had I done things my way, I would have missed so much. The sad thing is that I would not have known what I missed.

I am so glad that I was obedient. I am not usually so obedient. I try, but often I get in my own way. So today I will listen and try to be continuously present in the universe. I will take breaks and fly basting in the afterglow.

My mother sent me this story a while ago. I do not know who wrote it, but it is speaking to me today.

Carrots, Eggs & Coffee

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.'
'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.
Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.
Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

May we all be COFFEE!!!!!!! And may we all fly high today.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

The blog today made me think of this passage. I would like to share it with others.

God has Purpose

God has kept me here for a reason.
I survived because He has a plan for me.
All my bad relationships, the consequences, the
hard times, the sad times, the death of my loved ones, the back
stabbing from my friends, the negative thoughts, or the lack of
support; I made it because I am blessed!!

I released and let go of all past hurts, misunderstandings and grudges
because I am abundantly blessed! I recognize them as the illusions
they are, and sent from the enemy to kill my spirit, steal my joy and
destroy my faith; For God is all there is. All else is a lie!! Now give
yourself a hug, wipe your tears away and walk in victory!!!!!!!!!
I love you, but

Anonymous said...

oops! I left off the last part of the message. Here it is

I love you but more appropriately God loves you BEST!!! Be blessed and know that you are at one with THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD! And may the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.
Genesis 31:49. Amen!!!

Anonymous said...

My devotion for today is applicable to my latest blog stream.

No Problem!
It is valuable to go out and do someting enjoyable while you are waiting for God to solve your problem. You may not feel like it, but do it anyway. It will help you! Get your mind and your mouth off the problem!

The scripture reference is:

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. Psalm 91:15

Anonymous said...

You were God sent. I just finished crying...I cried because my life is in chaos right now. Name it I am going through something. I am losing my sense of spunk and risk and spontaneity.

I feel down and old and stagnant and then I wiped my eyes to get on line to send out some resumes and there is your email. I use to be coffee and I want to be coffee again.

Thanks for uplifting me and for being just in time....that part was to God.

Anonymous said...

I am glad you found something here to lift your spirits. I pray that you find your joy again to be the best coffee that you can be!