As most of you know, I’m back from Egypt and I can’t say how amazing my whole experience was — in so many ways. It was truly a trip of a lifetime (so far anyway! Maybe I’ve got more to come, I’d never want to limit the possibilities!) I’m so grateful for the opportunity and I’m grateful it came to be, especially in these ‘liminal’ times when nothing is really guaranteed.
I have always, always had a fascination with Egypt. At one time, I even threw about the idea of becoming an archeologist — which very quickly went out the window once I actually got to university and saw what was involved. After all the education required; the potential of sleeping in dusty, dirty tents out in middle of the Sahara desert; hmmm… it wasn’t so much meant for me. I’m way too fond of the creature comforts for sure!
But I’ve always had some sort of strong attraction and fascination for Egypt with its pyramids, tombs, temples and ruins, so how delightful to actually have the opportunity to visit them (with a great tour company, which is definitely a requirement) and also to have my experience be beyond my hopes and expectations. I’m sure most of you can relate to having high anticipation for something (whether it’s a movie that everyone is raving about or an event you’re looking forward to) that the actual experience of it just doesn’t quite match our expectations. I remember years ago, Rev. Lloyd Klein who was a good friend and the minister of the CSL in Vernon, telling me “all disappointment is the result of unrealistic expectations”. So for me to have my experience be above and beyond my high hopes was sheer delight! I guess either my expectations weren’t that unrealistic, or these wonders of the world really are the penultimate of what humankind can achieve.
Something I didn’t realize or know is that most of the monuments were completely buried and covered in sand. I don’t know why I’d thought that they were always visible and sitting out in the open. Apparently, it was often only when someone was going to build something or when a tiny little part of these phenomenal structures started to poke out of the sand, that the work of excavation and discovery began.
That, of course, got me thinking about us. What about you might still be covered in sand, just waiting for your discovery? What parts of our society and our world are still hidden just waiting for the work — the time and effort — to reveal what Emerson called our “imprisoned splendour”? Just food for thought. Just wonderin’ as they say.
I want to thank those who attended our Special Meeting yesterday and those who stayed on for our Visioning Session #2. It was so good to look into all your faces, even if on online. Once again, I’m going to praise the virtual technology that has come to be so that it’s possible for those of us who choose (even if it’s not our preferred way of being together) to be together.
I’m extra, super grateful for online events as well, because as part of our travel adventures, due to the new Omicron variant, Kenn and I have been instructed to isolate even though our two Covid tests have been negative. There’s a lot to be done this time of year. The good news is that we’ll be back in the studio at the Peace Centre next Sunday.
I hope those of you who are comfortable being in person are registering on our website for our Celebration of Light… Lite on December 19th at 10:30am. According to guidelines, we’re allowed half capacity, which is 50 people with masks on. Of course, we’ll be on Facebook Live as well.
Finally, as we come to the end of the year, this is often the time when those who can, choose to contribute extra funds to good works. I’d love it if you would consider our Centre for Spiritual Living Kelowna. Our funds are definitely down this second year of the pandemic and we’d be grateful for the extra support. Thank you so much, or shukran (as they say in Arabic)!
Blessings to all, Dr. Deborah
If you missed yesterday’s talk by Rev. Barbara Samuel, titled Let the Manifestivities Begin!, you can watch it (and other past services) on the CSLK YouTube channel.
Practitioner of the Week is Derek Hinchliffe, RScP. If you are looking for one-to-one prayer treatment support for ANYTHING, you can contact this practitioner directly via email at hinched@me.com.
MIND-FULL MOMENT
“Everything you want is out there waiting for you to ask. Everything you want also wants you. But you have to take action to get it.”
— Jack Canfield
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