Hello Rumi Tuesday! Before death takes away…

What stops you from giving what has been put in you to give?

Perhaps the fears of giving the right things

in the right ways,

or making it perfect?

Or fear of not having enough to go around?

I’ve been spending more time with my father this year.

At 94 years old, he has seen much of this world.

In the past few months, two of his friends

that he has known since high school passed away.

How many at his age can say that?

Shortly before, his wife of the past 13 years passed away.

My mother transitioned almost thirty years ago.

On Sunday, Mother’s Day, he had me drive him through the cemetery

so he could pay his respects to those he cares about.

There were many on the route.

He keeps flowers on the tombstones,

and checks to make sure they are still there,

fresh and clean.

I can’t help but believe he knows more people under the ground

than above the ground.

I tried to hide my tears

and hoped he couldn’t feel the aching in my heart.

I hoped his heart was not hurting so.

My father enjoys his life.

He laughs a lot, gives and shares generously,

and does not take himself too seriously.

His mind is sharp, and his energy is good.

His spirit is strong.

With all I’ve done to diligently maintain

my physical and spiritual health

through diet, exercise, meditation, study,

spiritual practices and reverence,

my father teaches me what is needed to live fully –

to laugh, to love, to express God-given gifts,

and to help others whenever you can

fearlessly with generosity and gratitude.

We can’t let the shoulds and supposed-tos

keep us from being present with what is right in front of us.

Much love and gratitude for you, Dad!

You’ve likely heard it a hundred times,

and it helps to see a living example

of how you come to be one with

all that is –

to live in the Essence of the One.