View full issue in PDF - The Mindfulness Bell

We hope you enjoy this new section. The editor is Leslie
Rawls. Please send stories, poems, photos, drawings, music,
cartoons, and youth retreat schedules to Leslie at 14200
Fountain Lane, Charlotte, NC 28278, Tel: (704)588-1413,
Fax: (704)583-1279, Email: LCRawls@aol.com. The
deadline for the spring issue is March 1, 1997.
Seasonal Family Practice
by Sister Fern Dorresteyn
Winter is a wonderful time to have family practices
which bring us together. When I was younger, I lived
in a community that celebrated the darkness of winter as a
time to kindle the inner light. In December, every Sunday
evening we gathered in a dark room. A child would light a
candle placed in a beautiful wreath and then we would listen
to two stories. One was a magical fairy tale about a poor soul
lost in the cold winter night, who found the flame of truth,
love, and goodness. The other was a true story of how
someone like Nelson Mandela found light in the midst of
suffering and darkness. After this, we sang songs about the
beauty of winter. While in my community this season is
called Advent and is based in Christian tradition, the
practice can nourish people of any faith. Here are some
ideas for family practice in the winter:
Create a beautiful centerpiece, like a wreath made from
pine boughs. Use treasures from nature gathered with your
children which cultivate feelings
of warmth and joy. Everyone can
have their own candle in the
centerpiece.
Begin your evening with
walking meditation. The clear,
crisp night sky in the winter is
wonderful and refreshing for the
spirit. When you come back,
each person can light a candle
from the center one and say a
special prayer:
Winter is here,
the time of night
we make our heart fire bright.
When we are kind and loving,
we give warmth
to the hearts of others.
Happiness is like
the candle flame
shining light into darkness.
Afterwards, share hot milk or
tea by candlelight. Sing songs,
Family Practice
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tell stories, draw, read poetry, and express appreciation of
each other. If you celebrate the Solstice, Christmas, or
Chanukah, it might be a nice time to share the deeper
meaning of these special times and talk about your own
tradition. You may have a specific prayer each week to
nourish the seed of loving kindness:
Week 1: Thinking of my family, I wish each one of
them feels happy and loved by me.
Week 2: Thinking of the animals living outside, I hope
they are warm and have found some food . May they be
happy and safe through these winter days.
Week 3: Thinking of people who feel sad and lonely,
may they be warmed by friendship and love.
Week 4: Mayall beings, people, animals, fish, birds,
trees, and the whole earth be happy and peaceful.
You may like to take the prayers one step further by
asking "What can we doT We often feel too busy for acts
of generosity but doing them with our children gi ves us
energy and helps us feel more connected with others. Bake a
pie for a lonely neighbor. Invite some friends who need
cheering to a tea party. Donate a blanket or food to a local
shelter for people who are cold and hungry. Share with your
children what happens to animals in the winter with picture
books from the library, and then make a bird feeder or visit
a local shelter. You can wi sh the whole world peace.
Sister Fern Dorresteyn, Ha Nghiem, pictured below with
Bettina Schneider and Gaia Thurston-Shaine, lives at Plum
Village. She was ordained as a novice nun in 1996.
Ben's Laces
by Peggy Mallette
S
itting contorted on the floor,
eyes peering over bent
knees, foot held firml y in place
by fists clenched on two ends of a
shoelace, the process begins.
Forming a giant loop with two
hands, grasping the loop in a fist
with the left hand, circling the
loop, the fist is in the way.
Opening the fist, the loop
collapses. Concentration increasing,
forming a giant loop again,
circling the loop and tucking it
into the fisted grasp, separating
the fingers to allow the other
hand to seek the tangled lace, the
loop collapses.
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