dolphin run!

spotting dolphin and manatee

sandy Sunday

surf doggie dog

Love

Yesterday, I was blessed to be reminded of selected verses from Kahlil Gibran's masterpiece, The Prophet. Just wanted to share them with you here once again...

When love beckons to you, follow him,


Though his ways are hard and steep.


And when his wings enfold you yield to him,


Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.


And when he speaks to you believe in him,


Though his voice may shatter your dreams


as the north wind lays waste the garden.






For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.


Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,


So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.






Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.


He threshes you to make you naked.


He sifts you to free you from your husks.


He grinds you to whiteness.


He kneads you until you are pliant;


And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.






All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.






But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,


Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,


Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.


Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.


Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;


For love is sufficient unto love.






When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, "I am in the heart of God."


And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.






Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.


But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:


To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.


To know the pain of too much tenderness.


To be wounded by your own understanding of love;


And to bleed willingly and joyfully.


To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;


To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;


To return home at eventide with gratitude;


And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

- Kahlil Gibran

Advent Solitude Day

Special thanks to First Presbyterian Church of North Palm Beach (especially Dr. Ron Hilliard and Catherine Hilliard) for inviting Labyrinth Wellness, LLC to bring the labyrinth for Advent Solitude Day 2010. It was a truly wonderful morning...

Participants had several hours of unstructured time to simply rest silently, journal, pray, read, reflect or walk the labyrinth. Plenty of wonderful reading material was available, but really, the idea was just for attendees to use the time as they felt God was leading them to do. There was absolutely no set agenda (what a blessing)!

It was a beautifully sunny, crisp morning so the courtyard and the prayer garden were particularly nice spots to just sit and to "Be Still." Delicious refreshments were set up in the coffee house whenever folks needed a bit of nourishment. Reverend Hilliard was available for one-on-one prayer time on an outside bench for anyone that desired some quiet conversation. A small, quiet room was set up where prayer candles could be lighted, communion could be taken, and individuals could remember their baptism by water.The choir was rehearsing for their Christmas Concert in the sanctuary, so participants could slip into a pew and enjoy some beautiful music as well.

In the gymnasium of the Youth Building, we had several returning labyrinth walkers and many individuals who had never walked the labyrinth before. It was such a blessing for me to get to share a bit about this spiritual tool with those who had questions before they began their walk. I also brought lots of different finger labyrinths that walkers could sit on the comfortable couches and trace before or after their walk.

Afterwards, we had a brief time for sharing. Many wonderful insights and impressions were spoken about the day within the quiet, supporting circle of participants. Again, it was such a lift to my heart to learn that the experience of walking the labyrinth had touched so many lives throughout the morning.

May each of you find your own personal ways to rest in the Silence and the Solitude of the Season...

Peace for your Advent Path,

Robin

a quiet time to reflect

Smilebox

I created my first-ever electronic Christmas card this week using Smilebox. I called it "Holly Jolly Eco-Friendly Wishes" and folks have really, really loved it!

You can do this totally for free, or do what I did, and choose a low-cost option that lets your recipients view your card full-screen with no ads. I used some cool music already available with the Smilebox template I chose, and then I added my own family photos and my own text. Really cool and more personal than a regular e-card. If you try it, let me know! :)

brrrr....

Irony for your Path

our little twenty-year-old tree with it's new set of environmentally-loving LED lights

Peace to the Earth!

reach for the stars

just tall enough

Welcome Facebook friends of Labyrinth Wellness and OceanPrayer!

Hi Facebook Friends,

Thanks so much for finding me here on my blog!

Thanks also for your overwhelming support of Labyrinth Wellness and OceanPrayer on Facebook. I am currently updating several of my websites. Exciting times, and I am very thankful.

Please follow Labyrinth Wellness (labyrinthwell) and OceanPrayer (OceanPrayer) on Twitter (see easy links to do that right here in my blog's sidebar). You'll also find me on Twitter as "wisdomlabyrinth." When the new Facebook pages are available, I will be sure to let you know.

Again, I am so grateful for your amazing support!

Peace for your Path,
Robin

Second Sunday of Advent

Blessings to you...

Happy Advent!

I was so honored to contribute to this lovely 2010 Advent Devotional published by The First Presbyterian Church of North Palm Beach.

Download and share your own free copy of "A True Sense of God" today!

http://firstpresnpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2010-Advent-Devotional-BOOKLET.pdf

fresh-as-a-daisy Lil

But not-nearly-as-cheerful-Lil after her humiliating driveway bath.

Ah well...Beauty can be painful as any girl knows. Peace for your Path, Lily!

stil-kissable Lil

naughty Lil

A morning trip to the dog park goes awry...

I plan on leaving this sign up all year