Day 5

After leaving Chebeague, we traveled to Branford, CT to see more family.  Brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and friends were gathered for the weekend.  We ate out a lot, I love home cooked meals as much as possible. 

I love spending time with the kids.  I love seeing life through their stories, life, smiles and eyes.  They see so clearly, without the many filters that we as adults add.

Our newest niece, Emma, was the one that everyone wanted to hold.  Her older (by a year) sister Avery, was also a star.  She had the right thing to say at the right time… spot on.  And the “older” kids… it was fun listening to their stories about school, friends, hobbies, life and family.

As excited as I was to begin our vacation, I began looking forward to being home and having “my” routine…

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves. 

One day.  One journey.  One person, at a time.

May peace, love and compassion be with you…AND from you!

Rev. Royal D. Bush is the founder of Inclusive Life, where he serves as a multifaith Chaplain.  He shares this message to all: “You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are.”  He holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary.  He holds a current certificate of spiritual counseling with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling and is a member of Spiritual Directors International.  He actively volunteers and remains active in many social justice issues.

Contac me:

chaplainroyal@inclusivelife.org

www.inclusivelife.org

www.facebook.com/chaplainroyal

402-575-7006

3622 Leavenworth Street Omaha, NE 68105

The Forth and Final Morning.

The forth, and final morning on the island.  We decided at the last minute to change our plans.  We were to have breakfast with Peter and Linda in Portland and take the 9am ferry in.  That changed to not having breakfast and taking the 630am ferry in, as we needed time to stop in Foxboro, MA on the way in to Branford, CT.

Getting up was no problem.  We said our heartfelt goodbyes.  For me I was a bit emotional.  I felt that I was being torn from a place and feeling and people whom I had so very quickly become attached to for so many reasons.  It felt healing, powerful, wonderful, authentic, right, needed, good. For the first time in my life, I was “on vacation” from the entire world.  I plugged into me.  I plugged into life.  I plugged into my spirit.

The ferry ride from Chebeague to Portland seemed to take twice as long as when we came out… in fact it was about as half as short!  The water seemed sad, the air was brisk, and I was aware that although I felt that I didn’t want to go, I knew it was a good thing.  Too much of anything isn’t good for you… it IS about moderation.  I know I will return, I know what is waiting, I know that we can return any time.

I hope the many lessons I learned stay with me.  Sometimes I get frustrated that I, like many others, “go to church” and as soon as we walk out the doors we forget the “lesson” we just learned and go back to our “habits” which may not be good,  healthy, intentional, or in our best interest.

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves. 

One day.  One journey.  One person, at a time.

May peace, love and compassion be with you…AND from you!

Rev. Royal D. Bush is the founder of Inclusive Life, where he serves as a multifaith Chaplain.  He shares this message to all: “You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are.”  He holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary.  He holds a current certificate of spiritual counseling with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling and is a member of Spiritual Directors International.  He actively volunteers and remains active in many social justice issues.

Contac me:

chaplainroyal@inclusivelife.org

www.inclusivelife.org

www.facebook.com/chaplainroyal

402-575-7006

3622 Leavenworth Street Omaha, NE 68105

Day Three

Our Third, and final complete-day on the Island was interesting for me, I began to feel a little sad.  I REALLY enjoyed myself in ways that I never have, and I didn’t want it to end.  And I knew it was going to soon.  The day began with Linda preparing pancakes for us for breakfast.  They tasted incredible.  We sat around the house and talked a bit.  Caught up on time, life, family and faith. 

The night before, we ate dinner outside on the picnic table and we all shared a bit about our journey.  Today it seemed focused on family, sharing about our own journeys. 

I enjoyed lobster for the very first time in my life.  (Yes, I am a 44 year old mid-westerner that has never eaten lobster before.)  It was very good.  And I AM addicted to Lobster Bisque soup and fried clams!

Having time to slow down and have meaningful, deep and intentional conversations with family is important, it is healing, it is good!  I enjoyed getting to know Peter more, Linda, more, Jonathan more and yes, myself more.

It seems that in a time that is filled with nothing except email mails, text messages, a brief phone call here and there, it is good that we spend time and “be” with one another.  Facial expressions, personal habits and all.  Soak in it, for we will not have each other forever!

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves. 

One day.  One journey.  One person, at a time.

May peace, love and compassion be with you…AND from you!

Rev. Royal D. Bush is the founder of Inclusive Life, where he serves as a multifaith Chaplain.  He shares this message to all: “You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are.”  He holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary.  He holds a current certificate of spiritual counseling with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling and is a member of Spiritual Directors International.  He actively volunteers and remains active in many social justice issues.

Contac me:

chaplainroyal@inclusivelife.org

www.inclusivelife.org

www.facebook.com/chaplainroyal

402-575-7006

3622 Leavenworth Street Omaha, NE 68105

The Second Day

On the morning of our second day, Linda prepared a most wonderful meal of bacon, eggs, English muffins, and I even tried a blueberry jam, it was incredible! 

Dad took Abbie for a walk and I joined.  We walked a little over a mile and a half.  We walked along the beach of Casco Bay on the East side.  I found an assortment of shells and pieces of shells.  Their shapes, colors and textures spoke to me.  Some would make great prayer/meditation/worry stones… others are simply beautiful. 

We passed a new house being built.  It was not a “traditional” house (like the rest on the island) it was very contemporary, square, lots of windows (in fact 80% of the front of the house IS windows!)  Some had the opinion that it just didn’t fit. Others didn’t mind.  Nonetheless, the house is built, sometime soon someone will be living there.  And life will go on.

Life will go on.  That was the message I got from this walk.  No matter what you like or don’t like, what fits or does not fit, what dies and what lives, life goes on, and on and on…  If you look at most any city, there is old surrounded by new surrounded by old, surrounded by new…  Life is like that as well.  The circle of life that we are surrounded by is just that, old surrounded by new, surrounded by…

Let us all live with more intention…  Being intentional about how we live, how we share, how we love, how we make life better for ourselves and in turn for others…

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves. 

One day.  One journey.  One person, at a time.

May peace, love and compassion be with you…AND from you!

Rev. Royal D. Bush is the founder of Inclusive Life, where he serves as a multifaith Chaplain.  He shares this message to all: “You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are.”  He holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary.  He holds a current certificate of spiritual counseling with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling and is a member of Spiritual Directors International.  He actively volunteers and remains active in many social justice issues.

Contac me:

chaplainroyal@inclusivelife.org

www.inclusivelife.org

www.facebook.com/chaplainroyal

402-575-7006

3622 Leavenworth Street Omaha, NE 68105

The First Day

We arrived on Chebeague and Peter (Father in-law) was there to meet us on the dock with Abbie (THE dog…)  We went to the house and got settled.  Linda (mother in-law) was at home awaiting our arrival.  From the moment I stepped into house, I felt safe, warm and comfortable.  It was a sacred space.  They invited us to attend a meditation group with them, one that they attend each week.  We agreed. 

We had dinner at the Crab Shack, a local kitchen.  It was my first time trying Hallock and clams.  I enjoyed them both, very much.  After dinner we headed over to Beverly and Dave’s.  Their extra large picture window provided a breathtaking view of Chebeague Islands East view of the Casco Bay.

Dave began playing the crystal bowls, as we closed our eyes, concentrated on our breathing, cleared our minds, and allowed our mind, body, soul and spirit to rest and just be… the song, vibrations and rhythm of the bowls transported us to our inner-selves.   

After being there for a couple of hours we headed home.  For me it was a feeling of peace, calm, quite, warmth, love and serenity.  This was the first time that I have felt this at once.

I didn’t sleep well that night (Tuesday) but it wasn’t because my mind was busy, it was because my body was awake.   

It is not often that I allow myself time to stop.  I don’t remember ever being able to shut my mind off and just be still (mind, body, soul, spirit.)  I believe that this was the first time that I experienced the calmness that is seen, watching a vibration in the water…

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves. 

One day.  One journey.  One person, at a time.

May peace, love and compassion be with you…AND from you!

Rev. Royal D. Bush is the founder of Inclusive Life, where he serves as a multifaith Chaplain.  He shares this message to all: “You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are.”  He holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary.  He holds a current certificate of spiritual counseling with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling and is a member of Spiritual Directors International.  He actively volunteers and remains active in many social justice issues.

Contac me:

chaplainroyal@inclusivelife.org

www.inclusivelife.org

www.facebook.com/chaplainroyal

402-575-7006

3622 Leavenworth Street Omaha, NE 68105

Turmoil

I took this photo while on the ferry heading to Chebeague Island.  It represents a place that I have been in my life many times, perhaps you have too.

This photo, to me, clearly illustrates "smooth" life can be going on along and then... here it comes.... the rough waters.

We all have rough water times in our life, some on a larger scale than others. Some more often.  Some with reoccurring reasons.

What I have realized after my 44 years of life is that there seems to be times when I made choices (often bad ones) I knew that it was not the best choice (my little voice said, my intuition guided me, my heart knew...) and somehow I knew that rough waters were coming.  It was as if I knew I brought them on, called them if you will, to come to me, by making the decision(s) I did.  (I don't remember that being a class in high school between typing and world geography.)

I agree with and repeat often that we are the authors of our own life story.  We, and we alone, make the choices, decisions and to a degree; the direction in our life.  And I also say that I am grateful for the many "unwise" decisions I made in my life.  I am not proud or glad I made them, I am thankful that I made them early enough in life that I could reap the benefits of such experiences and share that with others in hope that they may see an alternate choice for themselves in their life journey...

My vibration...

As I began this trip to Maine to visit family, I realized in many ways it would be a bit of a "retreat" for me.  Many firsts.  My first time in a ferry, my first time to Maine, my first time to Chebeague Island, and my first time staying with my Father In-law and his wife.

On the ferry ride over, I was mesmerized by the waters of the Castco Bay (part of the Atlantic Ocean)

It reminded me of this blog, and I didn't know why.  Perhaps it was the "vibrations" that I saw in the water.  Maybe it was the vibrations that I knew were going on at home with some unfavorable news in the community.  Or maybe it was something else.  Only time will tell.

My mother in-law is a retired UCC Minister.  Her and I have talked a lot over the years, and we have had some great conversations.  I knew we saw eye to eye on many aspects of faith, spirituality and religion.  Tonight at dinner she shared a more personal view of aspects of her journey in life.  She has inspired me to journal again, this time from my heart and not from my head/for the ministry.

I look forward to continuing this with you all...