Gratitude-The Third Element of the Pyramid

Greetings my very gentle readers to this week's installment of the "Be Yourself, Often" blog. Ah yes, a time to look at the metaphysical moments of the day and all the blessings that we have that cannot be bottled or ingested, but appreciated and loved.
Over the past 2 weeks (with the exception of the week I took off to be in Copenhagen), we have taken a look at the perfect, parfait driven live from the cornerstones and ultimate pinnacle of a pyramid. In God we Trust, with the All-Seeing eye on the obverse of the American $1 bill. But this is the pyramid symbolic of personal and strength that we are reflecting up. The 4 bases of this pyramid will be the Mindfulness, Reflection, Gratitude and Altruistic giving with the pinnacle representing Prayer/Spirituality.
As we have learned, the main cornerstone and anchor of the pyramid that is us in strength and humanities is mindfulness. That is being at one and connected and in the moment, appreciating all aspects of the moment. Its so very hard to fill ourselves with crap and fear and anxieties when all of our efforts are rooted in the flower in front of it! And of course, right beside that beautiful rooted flower is the anchor of reflection. Ah, so many sights, colours, flavours and anything that titillates and impacts on our five senses with imprint a reaction on us. That is part of reflection. Reflection is inwardly or outwardly. Sadly for many, it is often cowardly... and the glass is distorted or a true image is never obtained. It reflects a world of delusions within illusions.
If we are truly aware and feel with all of our sense what we are doing and how we are doing it and for what cause and see it to be good, then that inherently will create the third component of the triangle. That is gratitude. In and of themselves, a pyramid is comprised of the three dimensions of three triangles with a solid square at the base. This square allows the pyramid to gain height, stability and structure. Yet within the structure lies the trinity. The number 3 is mystical and often found in cultures around the world, and links into the concepts of theology.
So, to round out this triangle, we look to and appreciate gratitude. And truly what better day than today to express such, than Mothers Day? Almost seems like my agent had these steps conceptualized perfect! Have to swing them a bonus! A triangle with no third point is a plain ole line. Boring. No third dimension and flat as the Earth was 600 years ago (except to the inspired- and they were called crazy-> Ah, thats a story on the insanity of the sanity for another day). Gratitude means that we can take the moments that we have mindfully appreciated and reflected on how well they fit in the the story of a life that we are writing word by word, page by page and chapter by chapter and FEEL it with thanks.
Gratitude means that we take the good and the bad, positive and sad, yin and the yang and see it in the incredible harmony that it is. Gratitude is realizing that everything happens for a reason and appreciating that it has happened and has added to the complement that is us. We tend to apply gratitude to the tangible gifts that come in life and cover those said gifts. The more expensive, the more the gratitude. The better the date, the more likely to have (ahem) fun time at the end of it. That is the most screwed up concept of gratitude I have heard of, yet it defines our society.
Maybe, just maybe yet again the societal driven way is a perversion of what we should really do and feel and have. We already discussed honesty, integrity, being a kid and putting together things that may normally done in a "proper" concept; up can be fun, overcome dis-ease and thus disease and more. So why not gratitude as well? Im more grateful for a $100 gift than a $1 gift? Because it means more? Is that not a societal driven expectation from the men in the blue pinstripe suits? I had to work harder, lose more of life to make more money to get more gratitude? Whacked.
Lets try a gratitude of actions and appreciation instead. That we feel at ease with what happens, and even when life takes a turn you didnt expect, we are mindful of that, reflect what it will mean and do and fit in with the moment and then hive thanks. The thanks is gratitude. The best gifts in life come through kindness and actions. Maybe thats why Mothers Day is so valuable and moms mean so much and its easy to give thanks and gratitude for your mother... all that they have given, given up and sacrificed when we reflect has made us part of who we are. We know the love of a mother and even if there were bad times and days, we must remember that they are human, but they do put their babies first. I give thanks for the mom I had as she gave everything, even when there was nothing. That is love...an intelligent concern for others.
Want gratitude? Be grateful for the miracle that is you first and all the miracles that exist in the moment about you. Get over yourself and the ego driven concept of self importance and know exactly where you fit into the big blue marble. Appreciate the flowers, earth, sky, wind, fire, water and life that is in such abundance about you. Gratitude for the colours, sight, sound and ability to communicate. That you are not trapped in a mind with demons and cant see, or communicate that hell you are in. To see that (and I know a person like that, deaf/mute/ blind and suffering :( ) helps you put everything in perspective.
Why are some grateful for small wonders and that begats happiness while those in mansions with millions are in personal agony and suffer? This is perspective and perspective defines reality. Perspective is in large part gratitude.
Be at ease with the surroundings you are in and at ease my gentle friends. Appreciate and give thanks that you are a miracle, surrounded my miracles, for then you shall see and be yourself, often.

  --- Rev. Dr Joel Lamoure    May 2012   (Mothers Day)

Defining life with honesty

From: http://www.joelwlamoure.com/2012.03.01_arch.html

Greetings my gentle readers to this weeks installment of the "Be yourself, often" blog. Ah yes, a time when we are able to step back and reflect on the myriad of successes and challenges of the week. Time to quietly step back and reflect over a cup of coffee and answer the extistential question. "Was I the pigeon this week... or the statue"? 


Interestingly.. usually you can be both and sadly enough depending on the degree of perspective and how the lens is applied you may actually be both! A hero in one vein and a villain in the other. Ah the joys of trying to satisfy many masters. But where is the you in there? Where is the hope, faith and belief that every human being has the inherent chances, rights and opportunities to have? Well my gentle readers, that is often lost in the fact that we are so wrapped up in trying to achieve what we THINK is important and lose the crucible of the moment. Sometimes to the point where its so bad that the crucible breaks, spilling the contents into the fire. And ouch... burn baby that one hurts like a son of a sun.


Peace, patience, silence, humility and serenity. Not serenity now, darn it! I believe that these 5 items which are my mantra as many of you know are essential to good health and wellbeing. sadly, I dont achieve those very often, but I do try. True serenity I believe will come as the mind quiets down and listens to the silent voice in the wind. And that requires some brutal honesty that is lost in the mind numbing western cultural things that we have. In tv, mass media and social media... we lose ourselves and our minds and our self-identification in things OTHERS want us to believe in. I mean, to have an attention span of 3 minutes on some topics is very sad. Means that we are not able to be able to take in any more than the highest level of sensory input. And that is usually associated with a mind dissolving salve of what the men in the blue pinstripe suits want you to know and do. Sheeple.


I believe that to define a life with honesty and traversing down this road we need to practice and live our mantras. Maybe the "law of diminishing returns" had something to do with life as well. as we rev our little Model T Ford engines in this Ferrari society... we get run over. Seeya baby and booya. Dont write. We do have that choice to race with the big boys but you will lose almost every-time. Sure there are some that win the game.. and its like buying a lottery ticket. Set those hopes, goals and dreams and still get left holding worthless paper. Maybe then we should not focus on the paper, but redefining our lives with that honesty and integrity. To rev the engines mean they blow meaning you dont optimize performance. What if, in line with the Law, that we optimize our efforts to 70-80% and spend the rest of the time on us? To sit back in the buckwheat and appreciate the voices in the wind and the animals in the clouds. Per wit, to be a kid again at heart and in spirit and actions and even more important, beliefs.


That just maybe my gentle readers, through redefining life with honesty and more balance that we are able to infuse in our busy lives what matters. Faith and Belief are 2 key elements in this new crucible. Where and how did the miracles of the moment come from? Maybe youve had enough and dont want to race anymore... I dont blame you. There are miracles abound and I am hypothesizing that by capturing and feeling this Heaven on Earth... you might just be able to be yourself, often.


--- Rev. Dr. Joel Lamoure    March 2012 

Being a General with a Platoon of Idiots

From:http://www.joelwlamoure.com/id43.html

Greetings my gentle readers to this week's installment of the "Be Yourself, Often" blog. There has been so many things that have transpired in the worlds of nature, politics and rumblings at a small and large level on so many fronts. A time for reflection on who is wearing a mask and who is true... addressing old party lines along a new perspective. A time where the old have fallen and the new jockeying for acclaim beyond their time in shameless displays of self-perpetuity. A time when the real core of individuals come out and please allow me to state, it isnt pretty. Man truly does have many sociopathic traits and truly does not play well with others. But whats new?

Enough on my lament on the discourse of human beings and human behaviours in situations that are stoked by things that at then end of the day truly do not matter. I have and would rather to continue to practice with pride, honour and integrity and lose than to cut someone down... and then that it it is allowed to be continued to propagate at a minor and local level, which will ultimately translate into larger failings. Ouch.

Ok... I diverted again from my initial thoughts. That being to define what is truly important at the end of the days. I know that I have said over before in this very venue that an infusion of $50 bills (Canadian polymer pending) being run through and IV line will not save you. At the end of the day, it comes down to the person that we are and what we believe, which defines  what we think which defines our thoughts and thus defines our outcomes. People are quite predictable if you can look at and assess their root belief system. One can see how good they will be in the good days and in the challenging days.

Who are you? What do you stand for and what is your belief system? if its all about you and you are a General in your own army, then you are leading a platoon of fools my friend. Soory to say that. If you do truly believe that you know best and not open to the concepts that your way may not be the best, then the logical way you react is to attack. Scorched earth policy and hurt everyone before those darn liberals come out and nail you with their books and rhetoric. Yet the liberals may also react the same way in their bunker of books and suffer from their own rhetoric, plus smoke inhalation (puff-puff-pass dude).
Yet as trite as those comparisons are, they do certainly not capture the real essence, and that is the root analysis of humanity. And who are we and what are we able to do? Especially if we can link together and realize we are neither general nor soldier... nor liberal or conservative. There is a root humanity that we should really address and that is an intelligent concern for others, plus ourself.
We need not look to the large picture as we will get lost, but rather look to the smaller gifts and thoughts in the days. There are evil people and evil deeds and the converse. But in ourselves, we have that ability to make the decision of which way that we wish to be in this game of life. And to find the big picture and the grand schema, we must honestly look to the smallest and insignificant pieces in life. For these are NOT insignifant, but of great importance. The ability to be alive and to love, to express intelligent concern for others. To offer a gentle hand to others and not suspect or worry of them lashing back, but merely to do it for the sake of helping. Only we can truly decide how we feel about things and events.

I would rather be at one with nature and appreciate that we are made in The Image and to be comfortable in our own skins. For that is to be at- ease. And to be at ease will prevent dis-ease which is the root of disease. It is your call and your choice under the Free Will Covenant.

You can find me out looking at the stars and watching the patterns as the water freezes and looking at things with the wonderment of a child. You may join, or go on fighting your own battles and tilt away at a windmill General. Your call. Sir.

I like to think that intelligent concern for others and the simple things will quite simply, let us be yourself, often.

--- Rev. Dr. Joel Lamoure   January 2012