Hineni ~ Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

Present and available must cohabit.  It is not enough to be singular in this.  They must exist together.  They must march in unison.

Today I had several things cloying for my attention in the early hours.  For this reason, I chose to be present and available for others things and am just getting to my wiring now.  It has been interesting that this week as I have been writing about it my balance has been tested. 

I must measure all that I do by being present and available to what matters.  When I am with others for a purpose my personal concerns, my agenda, and my phone must take a back seat.  Life must be lived in the moments of presence and availability.  I must be there to be impactful.

As much as there are times when I need to check out I must assure that I do not harm others in order to accomplish that.  Being present and available is the action of assuring the Father that I am here to be of use. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Hineni ~ Single Serving Friendships

Greetings Dear Reader,

Yesterday morning as I was nursing my first cup of coffee at my Our-for-Friday-Breakfast diner a priest came in the door. No, this is not the start of a joke.  He obviously did not know that he could sit wherever he wished so I informed him.  To my surprise he asked if he should sit at a table or by the window.  I suggested that since it is not cold yet it could be nice to sit by the window.  He did.

He opined that I must be a regular at the diner.  My favorite waitress in the world confirmed that I have been coming in for fifteen years.  What ensued was a brief but deep conversation about the very topic of presence and availability.  He asked why I came every Friday.  I explained that it was a discipline to keep me from being too much a workaholic.  I also ventured that I post that I am doing this so that those who wish to can join me. 

Father Randy was awaiting someone so we stood there talking until his guest arrived.  These moments only occur when we are present and available.  They only work when we are open to single serving friendships.  I think that this is something we must master to be truly available to others.  All of my Children are excellent at it.

I realize that some of you Dear Reader have challenges like social anxiety that hinder this.  Do the best you can and leave the rest to us irritating extroverts.  We will cause enough trouble in this area to compensate for you. 

The long and the short of it is that as we move through the world, the day, or the moment we must available and present.  We must be in the moment with those who venture a smile, a question, or a word.  We lose nothing from being kind and welcoming. 

I was told by a grocery clerk that I was her favorite customer.  When I asked why she said that I always really interact with her when I come through her line.  I am grateful for her noticing but it disturbs me that this is not the normal course of her day.  Everyone is on a journey through the day and we must be a people that make encounters with us an oasis in that day. 

I must be present and available.  Humans are what we are about.  It is the Father’s purpose for all of this, that we love each other.  Besides that, we get to improve a life if even for a moment.  That is something indeed. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Hineni ~ Be Prepared

Greetings Dear Reader,

This is so much more than the Boy Scout motto.  When it comes to being available to others it requires that we have our own situation managed so that we can be available and present.  Considering all the challenges of everyday life this may be more important than it seems to be on the surface.

When I do not deal with my personal shortcomings, difficulties, and pain I am not prepared to be available and present for others.   must not carry these as my banner.  I must not let the challenges define me.  I must be honest and open about them but I must deal with them.

There is not a single human who does not experience difficulties.  We tend to compare and neutralize things.  Instead I must assure that I deal with mine so that I can focus outwardly on others and their needs.  This does not mean that my needs are invalid or should be shuttled aside. 

What it does mean is that I trust that my needs will be met and that I must devote my energy to accepting this and remaining available for others.  I cannot say to the Father, “Here I am. Use me” if I have not prepared my heart and mind to be available to others.  No one I encounter wants to hear me complain and wail.  I can be honest about my struggles without doing this. 

I must always be prepared to see the needs of others, be present to comfort, and not seek attention through crisis.  That is not our banner.  That is not our place.  I cannot be available if I do realize that all the things that want to distract me are things that will pass.  The love and kindliness I show to others will remain.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Hineni ~ Busy Life

Greetings Dear Reader,

My Grandfather and much later one of my favorite professors used to always say, “Beware the bareness of a busy life.”   It was that same professor that when asked where the quote came from make me read Socrates to find it.  I have woven in and out of this bareness Throughout my life.

When I get too busy I make poor choices.  I get so wrapped up in the work that I do not pay attention to the people.  I have developed a way to avoid this but I have to consciously, intentionally make sure that I do not put getting the job done ahead of those doing it.  I am thankful for this weakness.  It makes me more aware of the needs of others.  It forces me to be more mindful about how I am treating my “neighbors”.

When I am too busy I am not available.  I am not even present at times.  When my oldest Son was newborn I was too busy to properly care for my wife and spend time with my Son.  When my Daughter, Rachel passed away I sunk myself into my work and became blind to the needs of my wife. 

Since I have llived in the Midwest I have been better at not doing this but I must always be aware of this weakness.  This wolf is always at the door.  We do this with many things other than work.  We make up rules for cleaning house that keep us busy.  We develop hobbies that consume all our time.  We get our children involved in so many activities that they do not have time to be children. 

We feed the machine of the busy life the lives of our friends, family, and children.   We are not present.  We are not available.  A virtual calendar controls our lives.  I have never heard a parent say that they wished they had less time with their children.  I cannot get enough time with mine now.  We must be available and present. 

Breathe – Jonny Diaz

Alarm clock screaming bare feet hit the floor

It’s off to the races everybody out the door

I’m feeling like I’m falling behind, it’s a crazy life

Ninety miles an hour going fast as I can

Trying to push a little harder trying to get the upper hand

So much to do in so little time, it’s a crazy life

It’s ready, set, go it’s another wild day

When the stress is on the rise in my heart I feel you say just

Breathe, just breathe

Come and rest at my feet

And be, just be

Chaos calls but all you really need

Is to just breathe

Third cup of joe just to get me through the day

Want to make the most of time but I feel it slip away

I wonder if there’s something more to this crazy life

I’m busy, busy, busy, and it’s no surprise to see

That I only have time for me, me, me

There’s gotta be something more to this crazy life

I’m hanging on tight to another wild day

When it starts to fall apart in my heart I hear you say just

Breathe, just breathe

Come and rest at my feet

And be, just be

Chaos calls but all you really need

Is to take it in, fill your lungs

The peace of God that overcomes

Just breathe (just breathe)

let your weary spirit rest

Lay down what’s good and find what’s best

Just breathe (just breathe)

Just breathe, just breathe

Come and rest at my feet

And be, just be

Chaos calls but all you really need

Is to just breathe

Just breathe

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Hineni ~ Our Place and Our Time

Greetings Dear Reader,

Yesterday as I was thinking about this part of the journey my friend Doug posted the following on his social media page:

Our door is always open. My house is safe. Coffee can be on in minutes, and the dining room table is a place of peace and non-judgment. Anyone who needs to chat is welcome anytime. There may be laundry to be folded but it can wait! It's no good suffering in silence. I have food in the fridge, coffee in the cupboard, and listening ears, shoulders to cry on and love to share. I will always be available...you are always welcome!! This is an old value that has been lost to technology...a text, face-time, or emoji is not the equivalent of making time for those we love or care about!

Could at least one friend please copy and re-post (not share)? I'm trying to demonstrate that someone is always listening, you are never really alone!

MAKE TIME TO TAKE TIME!

Once again, this rings of the need for us to not only be present but available.  Before my current residence I have always has an open home.  I am working toward being there again.  We need to be available when people need to talk. 

I have seen people in dire need seek out someone who they trust.  They instead of a response of availability and compassion have been brushed aside.  I know at least two people who have walked away from faith because of this.  We must be available when someone needs our ears and compassion.

In contrast I have a couple of friends who show up just to listen.  They come to where I am not to get their needs met but just to invest time in our friendship.  Too often our busy lives keep us from being there for others. 

I know a church that is a very good church.  I do not expect any church to be perfect.  There is, however, a pattern within the pastoral staff that troubles me. I have seen these good honorable men set appointments with those in crisis and something else comes up that causes them to cancel or not show.  I know there is no intent.  I know there is no malice.  The problem is that we cannot make ourselves available in word only. 

Sometimes we hang on long enough to get in front of that friend, pastor, or family member who has said he or she will make time for us only to find that the interaction we need is unavailable.  He or she does not see our level of pain or need.  The impact to us is greater than they imagine.

I must be available, willing, and present.  When you come to speak to me I need to be engaged with what you need.  I must be there when I say I will.  Beyond that I need to create open space where I am available to anyone who shows up.

As a professor I did this with open office hours.  As a manager I did this by leaving open spots on my schedule and my office door open.  I have a friend who has breakfast at a local diner once a week and announces to the world that he is there for anyone who shows up.  It is vital that we be available, open, and present. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Hineni ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

“The word 'Hineni' means 'Here I am' in a spiritual sense, which is what Abraham says and means to God to indicate his readiness when he is called on in Genesis 22:1.”  It denotes not only presence but availability.  I seek to understand my level of availability. 

It is not enough to be present.  One must be available.  One must be involved and active.  This axiom becomes obvious when thinking of things such as school, family, or work.  It is not enough to show up.  One must be available and involved. 

In the wake of a month of storms, earthquakes, floods, and murderous violence I ask if I am doing enough.  It is all too passive and easy to offer "thoughts and prayers."  As I wrote last week prayer must be accompanied by action.  I ponder if I am present but unavailable.  I know that I take opportunity to do good when it is present.  I wonder if I seek it enough.  I wonder if my yearning to be constantly aware of the good I can do in the moment is enough. 

I intend to briefly ponder the things for which I must be more available.  Some of this will be difficult for me.  Some will be simple review of things to assure that I am not only present but available.  Your company, questions, and counsel are always of benefit to me Dear Reader.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Intention versus Action

Happy New Year Dear Reader,

I waited until later in the day to post today to give us all time define our intentions for the New Year.  I realize that some of your resolutions may not have lasted the day.  I understand that we resolve with the best of intentions.  The problem is that intentions are worthless without action.

If we are going to be better at something we must practice that thing.  If we are going to stop doing something we need to manage the circumstances that lead to those things.  One cannot buy cigarettes if they wish to quit smoking.  

We rationalize hovering on the edge of things we wish to leave behind.  We intend to do well but get in own way.  We put our vices ahead of responsibility.  Our intentions and plans are worthless without action.  We cannot claim to understand without application.

You will not find me talking about resolutions as I begin the year.  Rather I have quietly mapped out things I wish to change and a plan to act on them.  I will pray and build hoping that I have chosen some worthy goals. 

As I start the journey through the year I hope that I exit it a better man.  I intend to act follow Christ more closely.  I will act to achieve my goals.  Most of all I will use that is given me to do what is right. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)