We we welcome you to Solace: Soul + Grief . I'm Candee Lucas , your host . When we started this ministry , we understood how difficult it was to lose a loved one , and we had hoped to create a space and a ministry that addressed these concerns and served as a source of comfort and wisdom for those who travel with God on their grief journey .
This podcast is brought to you by Catholic Cemeteries , Diocese of San Jose . We're glad you're here . You're always welcome in our circle of healing , love and support . There is a story of the devoted servant of Buddha wanting to bring tea to the Buddha , but not his visitor .
Bringing tea to the Buddha is a metaphor for offering something of value or significance to someone who is already enlightened or complete . It suggests that the act of giving is more important than the actual gift itself and it represents a gesture of respect , appreciation or devotion .
In this story , the servant wants to bring tea to the Buddha , but not to his visitor . This reflects the idea that the servant values Buddha more than the visitor and wants to show him special attention . We should wonder if we are handing out our love and compassion like we only had a finite amount and not enough to go around .
No matter how many times we say it or read it or speak it , or pray it , it seems like there's not enough to go around . Maybe we get this idea from living in a culture that gives high value to things that are scarce or makes scarce things of value . This makes our own mindfulness all the more meaningful .
If we stop and worry about running out of love or compassion or energy , we need to remember that we can find all those things in the now . This is easy to say and oftentimes more difficult to do , but we should remember this moment is perfect .
We are not in pain , we are loved , we are fed , we are warm , we want for nothing and we do not wonder about or worry about the next moment . And we do not carry the last moment into this one . We are listening to the rain and a tiny bell behind it . It is lovely , it is now . I am breathing , I am centering , I am aware that God is surrounding me .
It is now . It makes me wonder about the difference between a memory and a dream . Both are now , but holding the past too dear and too near . W e are learning to tune ourselves into the vibrations , the energy , the breath , the God that is now . This is what God asks of us . We should be glad to be reminded . Breath is prayer . It's what we did first .
It's what we will do last . In this moment , I will not dwell on my past disunion , dismemberment of good from humans , from other humans . In this moment , they are all me , I am all of them . There is no difference . I am the Buddha , he is me . Jesus is me . I am Jesus . We are God . There is no difference , no boundary . Our breath is our breath .
As we breathe in together and breathe out together , it is one breath . But this presentness does not address our longing for and yearning for God . Theology tries to fill that gap .
Teach us , let us educate ourselves , into a space where we can be in now and also long for oneness with God , true union that cannot be while we walk this earth and with our fellow wanderers , yearners , longers . It's that space we want to learn to hold on to . That concludes another episode .
Please support us by subscribing on Spotify , Amazon Music , Apple Podcasts or Google . We always welcome your comments and feedback . Remember , spiritual direction is always available through Catholic Cemeteries . I'm Candee Lucas , Chaplain , Aftercare Coordinator and Spiritual Director at Catholic Cemeteries . You can reach us through the email or telephone number in the show notes .
Be gentle with yourselves . Travel safely with God . Vaya con Dios .