it's not easy being green

Happy St. Patrick's Day Weekend!

Happy International Women's Day 2012

In celebration of International Women's Day today, I have obtained special permission to share this photo of an original painting by acclaimed Bahamian artist, Chantal e.y. Bethel:

"Threshold"

Included below is the Artist's Statement regarding this painting:

 "In a world where violence, hatred, political turmoil and natural disasters are prevalent, human beings crave authentic interconnections to one another, to beauty and tenderness, to justice and peace, and to sustainable hopes for humanity. For the past year I found myself driven by a strong desire for Hope and harmony. With that consciousness, I have created works that invite the viewer to a peaceful positive experience of love, faith, resilience and luminous energy."

"Threshold is one of these pieces inspired by the Labyrinth in Freeport, and I would like to thank Barbara Chester - facilitator and founder of the Grand Bahama Labyrinth - for making this experience possible for all of us on the island." 

“Threshold”  36”x36” oil on canvas:  The experience involving preparing oneself at the threshold, as we follow the single path to the center, spending time in the center, following the same pathway out from the center back to the threshold, and responding to the experience.

Please visit the website of Chantal e.y. Bethel to view more of her incredible paintings, sculptures, carvings and public art projects: www.chantalbethel.com

*Special thanks to my dear friend, Barbara Chester, founder of The Grand Bahama Labyrinth in The Garden of The Groves for introducing me to Threshold and to the rest of Chantal e.y. Bethel's work last April. To read more please visit the labyrinth's page on www.thebahamasweekly.com 

(Thanks also to Editor, Robbin Whachell of The Bahamas Weekly).

like a drink of cool water: Casting Crowns - The Well (with lyrics)

a little devotion

Thanks so much to First Presbyterian Church in North Palm Beach for including two of my writings in their Lenten Devotional for 2012. 

My contributions were a little bit unconventional this year (i.e. one regarding Facebook and the other about Turkey Buzzards), so I especially appreciate the loving kindness (and good-hearted humor) of my treasured friend, Sara M., for including them.

Here they are: 

(photo above courtesy of Wikipedia Commons)

Saturday, March 17, 2012

“You must first understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.” – James 1: 19-20 (NRSV)

            Facebook – do you love it or hate it? Maybe, like me, you simultaneously feel both emotions about the popular social media outlet. At times, my visit to the site uplifts me. I delight to read an inspirational article or quote shared by a friend. Other times, I am plunged into utter despair when I read hateful and judgmental statements which - more often than not - are sadly made by fellow Christians.

            I was in just such a frustrated state the other morning when an online friend complimented me about my good listening skills. Suddenly, I was rendered speechless. I realized with utter clarity that I had completely lost my spiritual gift for Sacred Listening when it came to Facebook. I was guilty of an intense, ego-driven need to constantly share my own thoughts, interests, and opinions. I began to consider that if everyone else was as consumed as I was with what they were personally saying, then could anyone really be listening to anyone else? And if no one was actually listening, then why in the world did we all continue to keep talking, talking, and TALKING?

            Five minutes later I posted a statement declaring my profile page a “Sacred Listening Space.” For the past week, I have (mostly) only permitted myself to listen intently to the conversations of my friends. I comment just when I have something positive to say. In fairness, I also force myself to read the postings of viewpoints with which I do not personally agree. I then try to use the period after my Facebook time for prayer and reflection rather than give into the sinful emotions of anger like I used to do.

            The wisdom I am learning through this ongoing exercise of discipline continues to bless me daily. With Christ’s help, I am learning ways to better love the people I dare to call my “Friends.”

“Holy Father, please zip my lips whenever I am tempted to speak on my own accord. Keep me silent until you directly place into my throat the words you wish me to share aloud. Grant me the courage to then speak those words with Love in Christ’s holy name - Amen.”

Robin Bradley Hansel

(photo above courtesy of Dr. Ron Hilliard) 

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

“For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.” – Psalm 91: 3-4 (NRSV)

The Turkey Buzzards are back. They are staring straight at me from atop my neighbor’s roof. In the past, I’ve counted up to ten of their dark, shadowy figures. Today, there are only three.

For me, the vultures’ presence used to elicit an ominous feeling of trouble on the horizon. This morning, I observe them with a peaceful soul for I know they merely symbolize the shedding of an old, decayed sin from my heart. Today, I am a witness to the beauty and grace of each awkward bird. They stretch their giant wings and shine brilliantly in the late morning light.

Interestingly, I’d found a Turkey Buzzard feather earlier in the week while walking our dog. Not realizing its origin at the time, I lovingly placed it on my writing desk dreaming of great majestic cranes, eagles, hawks and osprey. During dinner, I brought it proudly to the table to show my family. They burst into laughter recognizing immediately what it was. I angrily rushed to grab my laptop to properly identify it but found, unfortunately, that they were absolutely correct. I promptly threw the feather in the garbage and set about disinfecting my hands and every household surface that it had touched.

But today, on this quiet morning of reflection, I can laugh aloud for it suddenly makes perfect sense. First, I believe I needed to really take a long, hard look at my own brokenness. It was important for me to pick it up, hold it in my hand and turn it over for awhile. Eventually, I had to stop trying to justify the ugly significance of my sin and see it as death and destruction. I had to ask God to help me cast it out of my life. Only then would the Holy Spirit arrive with winged wisdom and reveal to me that through Christ’s love and sacrifice I was already washed clean.

“Loving Father, thank you for all the quiet ways you speak to me through your Creation.  – Amen”

Robin Bradley Hansel


P.S. Thanks, God, for this inspiration: http://greenletterbible.com/index.php

my first frost

Also shared on my WordPress blog: http://greentreehousemedia.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/a-favorite-first/

yesterday. a year.

Is this your angel-eye view of my coffee table right now? I hope so.

I miss you.

I meant to mark anniversary of your ascent in an extremely special way yesterday. I intended to write you a poem - or some other fitting kind of tribute - or conduct a private ceremony or make some unique remembrance of Love.

 But, I did not. Yet I did remember. All of us did. All day long.

What I did do, today, just now, was read a bit of Thomas Merton, take a nap, wake up slowly with you in my heart, sit quietly and perfectly still,  pet my dog, walk the labyrinth with my fingers (the same one you walked, too) while taking the time to really FEEL every crevice and turn completely, and then, finally, I lit a candle in your honor. 

It's oh so many colors, Virginia, - a mosaic of brilliance - flaming bright in the center of our Circle of Friends. Just like you.

And it shall burn all day and then on and on in my heart for all days - for always...

Peace for your Path, Friend. 

I  love you,

Robin

join us tomorrow for "Third Thursdays on the Labyrinth"

Drop by anytime between 10am and 12pm to walk the outdoor labyrinth with me. This is a free, ongoing community event. Visit www.goodsheponline.org for details. Peace for your Path, Robin

welcome to my newest office space: greentreehousemedia.com

The view is spectacular! 

Come on up and have a look around: 

Blog, Mini-Website, Facebook, Twitter

in the flow

Many happy things to share with you, kind readers and fellow walkers!

(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:UnderwoodKeyboard.jpg)

I'll soon be unveiling my newest little site devoted exclusively to my freelance writing/editing and social media consulting services. I've secured the domain name (which I really LOVE), and I've started the blog, but I still have much to do before the big unveiling...Please stay tuned!

Until then, let me know if there are any creative writing or editing services I might be able to assist you with as I'd be happy to help. Perhaps you are starting a new blog and need a bit of help installing widgets, plug-ins, etc.? Or maybe you want to add a Facebook Page to your personal profile or start learning how to use Twitter, Pinterest or LinkedIn to promote your own products and services? 

I'd be happy to talk with you and design a proposal that easily fits within your time frame and budget. No assignment is too small (or too large). If you are a little overwhelmed by all of this web-wonderment and just need someone who has "been there" to discuss how to learn-it-yourself, well, we can absolutely create a simple plan for that, too!

Peace for your Path,

Robin

labyrinths 101

In preparation for a labyrinth walk I will be facilitating tonight with a new group, I thought I'd quickly put together an easily accessible blog post with several of my favorite links about labyrinths all in one place.

This is just a very brief overview of resources. I hope you'll find it useful as you take your first steps on the labyrinth.

Veriditas: Guidelines for Walking the Labyrinth

The Labyrinth Society: Downloadable Labyrinths to Share and also a Virtual On-line Labyrinth Walk

The World-Wide Labyrinth Locator: Enter your Zip Code or City to Find Local Labyrinths to Walk

Labyrinthos: Extensive Labyrinth History and Incredible Photographs

Lauren Artress: Books and Resources

Walking the Labyrinth: My Article for Devozine

The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From the Labyrinth: Latest Issue of our Quarterly Journal

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Peace for your Path,
Robin

this is my favorite issue yet!

But I think I say that every quarter, don't I?

As always, if you work professionally with labyrinths, or if you simply love to walk and share them with others, please contact me with your ideas for future articles and features.

Peace for your Path,
Robin
journal@veriditas.org

Robin Bradley Hansel, Editor
The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From the Labyrinth

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ISSUE TO SHARE!

Listening for the Sacred

 http://pinterest.com/pin/226024475018402679/ 

I want to hear the whispers behind your words. I want to ask you questions and then create a silent, sacred space that allows me to hear the your answers - not my own.

I want to become a Listener...

Sex, Marriage, & Fairytales || Spoken Word

a beautiful journey

I am sentimental beyond belief over hand-written letters, my kid's art work, beach sea glass and old family photos. But regular "stuff" - not so much. That's why my grief over the decision to finally trade our thirteen-year-old car yesterday truly caught me completely off-guard.

Meet Black Beauty.

Our teenage son was not even walking when she first joined our family in the late 1990's. She faithfully carried him first in his car seat and then his booster seat on countless trips back and forth to preschool, kindergarten and elementary school. When he was finally big enough to ride without a booster seat, she promised me it would be OK. When I carpooled other friend's kids and drove on school field-trips, she promised me she would protect those children as well.

Much later, when our son was nearly as tall as me, she was there for our first, nervous side-by-side conversation on the way to middle school. And her air bag did NOT spontaneously or mysteriously deploy (thank you especially for this, old friend).

Our Black Beauty carried us on many, happy family vacations. We strapped a cargo carrier to her top when we moved our aging dogs with us from KY to FL, and she never once complained. Later, after both had moved on to Heaven, she drove us home again while our son cradled his brand-new puppy in his arms. She's hauled bicycles, surf boards, golf clubs, soccer gear, kayaks and so much more. Not one time did she ever leave me stranded alone and away from the house. If she had a flat tire or needed a battery, she always let me know while we were safely still in the driveway. Beauty helped me to avoid many potential accidents, and in all those years, we were never involved in even the tiniest fender-bender. 

The other day I had a nasty little exchange with an older woman driver in my neighborhood. I won't recount the details here, but I do understand now that part of my anger at this driver was related to my knowing that my days with Beauty were numbered. I felt this woman refused to see Beauty's true worth and instead saw only her 176,000 plus miles of weathered paint and dirt. Nor, could she seem to comprehend the preciousness of the cargo - my son and our dog - that Beauty was carrying for me at that moment. 

So, on Monday, I spent some unhurried, prayerful time telling Beauty thank you for myself. I removed the sea turtle, butterfly, dove, cross and love chimes that were draped around her rear view mirror. Afterwards, I stopped to look at the reflection of my own eyes for several moments, thinking of all the two of us had seen on Life's highway. Under the driver's seat, Beauty gave me one final gift - a tiny piece of amber sea glass. It must have dropped out of my pocket after one of our many trips to the beach. It's crescent moon shape found a perfect resting spot here beside me at my writing desk.

Afterwards, we headed off to car line pick-up, the grocery and then one final sunset together...

It's been a very Beautiful ride.

a tiny contemplation from the Center

I had sort of a cruddy afternoon yesterday. My little temper tantrum was completely self-imposed, and I invited it to stretch far into the evening and this morning.

My son commented as we were turning out the lights late last night, "Mom, you were just looking for a fight today, weren't you?" I think I totally was.

Why is that? Why do I do look for trouble more times than I want to admit? What snaps within me that takes me from laughing one minute to wanted to claw someone's eyes out the next?

Hormones? History? Hysteria?

Whatever the cause, I totally know better. I've bitten the wormy hook of hate cast in my direction by others far too many times. I always seem to learn something whenever I allow misery to reel me in, and, thankfully, those lessons usually come while I still have a bit of breath left in me. Often, I learn them on the labyrinth.

After all our walkers were finished this morning, I removed my shoes and set out on the Path myself. I had much to ponder from yesterday's happenings and other concerns of the heart. Before I realized it, I was sitting within the Center's fifth petal feeling the sun's warmth upon my back. I intended to stay just a few moments, but remained there much, much longer. I simply did not want to leave that sacred and familiar space.

I walked in with all my questions. I was hoping - maybe even expecting - some definitive answers. I received none.

Instead, I watched an ant.

With a deep, contemplative awareness that I have been unable to attain since my retreat time at Advent, I watched this ant with my entire being. He crawled beneath my outstretched knees through the Center of the labyrinth and straight out the exit. After a few more minutes, I started to get up to follow him, thinking his exit might be a sign that it was far past time for me to leave. It was then that tragedy struck.

A Live Oak leaf blew right in front of him. He scrambled up it and teeter-tottered in the breeze for a few joyous seconds. When he climbed off, the leaf blew on top of him.

I thought nothing of this at first until he didn't move for over a minute. When I got up to investigate, I realized with despair that the leaf had actually sliced off one of his middle legs. Imagine being so incredibly delicate that a leaf becomes a deadly razor capable of ending your life...

The ant now crawled in an erratic pattern around the exterior of the labyrinth's center in apparent shock. The song "Fragile" by Sting started playing in my mind. I took a few, sad steps onto the Path. When I doubled-back to check on him, he was gone.

Vanished. Like the wind. Odd.

And I am left wondering, how is it that I can have more genuine compassion for an ant than for an angry human being?

And wondering, again, if the compassion that I lack for her or for him or for you or for them might be more deeply rooted in my own lack of compassion for -

me? 

I wonder.

walk the labyrinth with us tomorrow

Join us tomorrow, January 19th, between 10am and 12pm for THIRD THURSDAYS ON THE LABYRINTH at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. For more info visit http://www.goodsheponline.org

TheMotherhood.com has a brand-new design TODAY!

Check out the brand-new look of TheMotherhood.com and be a part of the first Live Chat of the year beginning today at 1pm Eastern Time!

more than just words to remember

Source: allposters.com via JoAnn on Pinterest

2012. May it be filled with Grace.

This tiny post is in response to someone else's which read:  "2012. May it be all you deserve."

God help us to receive not what we actually deserve, but rather please pour upon us Your divine Grace. Amen.

Merry Christmas Morning

I was reminded of this beautiful song last night during church services. Though we didn't sing it right then, I hurried to copy down the words from the hymnal. I heard the song years ago on one of my favorite Christmas albums by Shawn Colvin. Her version is slightly different.

I had no idea that one of my favorite poets wrote the original lyrics or that it was even really a hymn. 

I just love it....

Here are both versions for you as an early Christmas morning gift. Have a most blessed day, everyone. 

Love, Robin

Words: Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894), before 1886


Music: "Garton," traditional Irish melody
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF / XML

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love Divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and Angels gave the sign.


Worship we the Godhead,
Love Incarnate, Love Divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?


Love shall be our token,
Love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.