Labrinth Walking Mediation

This summer I have begun exploration of Labrinth Walking Mediation.  This has been a great activity for my school age children to enjoy with me.  This ancient form of meditation entail walking a winding path to the center of the labrinth to clear the mind.  Once at the center, one should stay as long as desired to meditate and/or pray.  Then one leaves the center by walking the winding paths again while contemplating on what was learned in the center area.  The beauty of this meditation is the free form is provides the walker. 

We began this journey with a visit to the Saline St. Joseph/Mercy Hospital Labrinth in Saline, MI.  This is located east of the Medical Office Building and South of the Hospital.  It can easily be access from Russell Street and there is ample parking.  The path itself is very narrow & only 1 person wide.  There are 2 benches upon which to sit.  As an allergen alert, there is a great deal of poison ivy growing just outside of the mowed grass area.  This path is made of crushed stone & river rocks. 

Wedding Bliss

I was honored to watch a simple wedding ceremony at Sharon Mills Park in Manchester, MI this evening.  It was a short, sweet and beautiful legal ceremony.  The bride and groom were ready for their big day.  The extended family was present, happy & relaxed.  The children were excited to be a part of this wonderful day. 

My best wishes to the family one their new journey.

Summer Lovin'

Today is yet another gorgeous June Day in Michigan.  I am blessed to have my children home with me now that school is out.  Swimming at the local pool, attending safety town, catching fire flies, and going to the park is filling our days.  Ice pops, sponge cake, watermelon and ice tea have been filling our meals.


The unity that summer brings my family is a great blessing.  For this I am grateful.

Peace,
 Minister Kelly

Rapture Free

Well, it is 9:44pm in my time zone & we are rapture free here in SE Michigan.  This is a very good thing.  I came across fewer people that thought it "just might" happen than during previous dooms day predictions, such as Y2K.  I believe the internet makes such predictions just seem more ludicrous.  After all, I could probably find such a "mathematical biblical calculation" to show the end of the world will will occur during any given week of the current year.  In ecology, we would refer to it as, "how to lie with models". 

Today was a the most beautiful weather day thus far in SE Michigan in 2011.  We had warm weather, sunny skies, light breezes and gentle rains that did not fall until 8pm.  Every gardener in the region was out getting as much done as possible.  I doubt that folks pushing lawn mowers and planting weeds thought for a moment their work was for naught.  Indeed, they were betting that their work would result in delicious vegetables to eat and gorgeous plants to enjoy all summer long.

Faith.  The gardener's work is of faith.  Faith the warmth will hold.  Faith the rain will fall.  Faith the birds and the bees will come and then go.  Faith that the work will be beneficial to an entire community, be it of man or beast.

Today my prayer is of faith.  The faith the ancient calendar celebrations of solstice, equinox, solstice and equinox provide.  This are happening just as they should.  Things will continue just as they will.

Blessed Be!
Minister Kelly

The ceremony...

You've decided to marry one another.

Now it is time to choose the ceremony that represents your love and your new family.

Just as all couples are unique, so should your ceremony.

I offer civil, multicultural, inter-denominational, fun and sassy, quiet and romantic, wedding services.

I will work with you to make your day the special occasion it ought to be.

I am ordained through the Universal Life Church.
The ULC has 2 tenents:

To promote freedom of religion
To do that which is right

Contact me at ministersaiyacork@gmail.com to determine if I am the right officiant for your marriage.

From Rev. Lisa Fisli, 2004-03-21

The Door    

By Rev. Lisa Fisli 2004-03-21

With a heavy heart and the burdens of a hard life, a man shyly walked up to the doorstep of God. Curious and slightly intimidated, he lightly tapped on the golden veneer of the Almighty?s magnificent front door. After a few uncomfortable seconds of silence, he thought to himself, ?How odd?? Maybe God did not hear his knock, so he rapped on the door just a little bit harder. Again, there was no answer. Confused, as one might expect, the man began to knock louder and harder. Still, there was no answer. His anticipation turned into worry. His worry turned into fear. His fear turned into desperation. Panicking, he thought to himself, ?Does God not hear me? Is He ignoring me? Why doesn?t He answer? Where is He?? Yet all the while, although the man did not notice, God was patiently and lovingly watching this man claw and fight and pound in desperation. Still, The One did not speak a word. Like a two-year old throwing a temper tantrum, the man began begging and pleading with God to open the door. He clawed, scratched and kicked the door. But God did not open the door. The man continued to kick and bang on God?s door. He made great promises in hopes to barter his way into the house of the Lord. He yelled at God. He threatened God with their very relationship! And God watched with persistent love. Firm in His resolve, He did not open the door. In what seemed like an eternity to this man, he sat down at the threshold exhausted and spent from his roller coaster ride of emotions. Tears streaming down his face, and breathing heavily, he decided it was time to rest. He came to the uncomfortable realization that God was just not going to open this door for him no matter what he did or said. His actions, his words, his begging, pleading and promises yielded him nothing in return. And God patiently watched with all the love that only He could give. This man will come to the correct, divine and perfect solution in due time. As if a light bulb flashed in his head, the man stood up! He took a deep breath and began to smooth out his clothes. He took out a handkerchief and dried the tears from his eyes. Carefully, he took hold of the glorious handle of God?s front door and gently turned the knob. The door was unlocked! With a small push, he opened the door and peeked inside. His heart pounded with curious excitement. ?Hello?? the man queried. No one answered. Nervously, he slowly opened the door all the way and tiptoed inside the threshold where he saw the most magnificent sight! Everything he had ever wanted from God was there for him, unmoved and unspoiled; just waiting right there for him! Oh how his heart sang! The man thought to himself, ?Why did God not answer my prayers? Why did I have to wait until I stood before the kingdom of Heaven in order to obtain those gifts I?ve always wanted and needed from Him?? And the answer came to him as natural as breath: ?The kingdom of God is inside you and all around you. Not in mansions of wood and stone. Split a piece of wood and I am there. Lift a stone and you will find Me.? ?Everything I ever needed was within me all along!? He thought. Do not look outside yourself begging God to open the door for you. Open your own doors. Be the co-creator you were designed to be. Choose your path knowing that the choices you made were divinely laid before you. Go forth, co-create and realize all the potential of The Creator. His gifts are your gifts just waiting to be shared.

This sermon gratefully found & shared on:
http://www.themonastery.org/?destination=sermons#78

September in Michigan

And so begins September in Michigan in 2010.  Just as anticipated, the sun is shining, the wind is light, the air is crisp.  This is the month that makes the long Michigan winter bearable.  It is the month of comfort.

Comfort is a luxury so many look to achieve.  The comfort of good weather.  The comfort of good food.  The comfort of good people.  Our search for comfort far too often leads us to very uncomfortable lives.  We find ourselves working to achieve luxury and instead of working to achieve comfort.

A quest for a comfortable house turns to unaffordable mortgages and taxes.

A quest for comfortable meals turns to oversized portions and excess fat and sugar.

A quest for comfortable cloths turns to overflowing closets and large credit card bills.

When we find ourselves questing for comfort, we are no longer comfortable with our lives.  Questing results in working too hard to achieve that which is right before us.  Comfort does not require force, it requires peace.  Comfort does not require exertion, it requires action.  Comfort does not require proclamations, it requires conversation.

When you are feeling uncomfortable, stop and look around your life.  Take a good look at the people you see.  Take a good look at the things that surround them.  Are you or they lacking in peace, action or conversation?  What can you do to initiate these critical ingredients to a comfortable life?

Take one step.   Take one step at a time.  Take one step at a time and then stop.  When you stop, ask yourself, "What comforts can I find right here, right now?"  When you stop, ask yourself, "What comforts can I bring to those with me right here, right now?"  When you find your answer, take one step.  Take one set at a time.  Continue on this path and comfort will makes itself available to you.  Once this happens, snuggle up and enjoy its warmth.

September in Michigan.  My most favorite month of the year.

Blessed Be!
Rev. Kelly

Sunday September 5, 2010