When Life Throws You a Curveball

by Karen Steinbrecher

We know where we are going and what we want to do.  Then due to forces outside of our control, things don't go as we had planned and life changes – sometimes in the blink of an eye.

After helping my husband heal following a major back operation, I was feeling lighter, breathing deeply in gratitude. Then I found myself facing my own personal health crisis. And the fear returned.

My long-time QiGong practice supported me in that moment, inviting me to take a deep breath and open my mind to a new opportunity – with the knowledge that curve balls are a way of keeping us awake. Sometimes curveballs are even a gift.

Breathing in gratitude in the face of life’s curveballs is not always easy to do! This morning, as thoughts rushed through my mind and my body filled with anxiety, I returned – as I do each day – to the gentle flowing movements of QiGong. And as I began to move, flow, and stretch my body with the many movements that I practice and lead, I began to feel better.

QiGong provides us with an opportunity to release any energy that gets blocked and can stagnate in response to the stressors of life. The flowing movements send a signal to our brain, the body's repair and maintenance manager, to rebuild our joints, muscles, and tendons. QiGong exercises body, mind, and spirit and helps support an internal alchemy of balance and integration, creating our own personal medicine.

Karen Steinbrecher teaches QiGong classes at The Resiliency Center on Tuesdays at 2:30 pm and Thursdays at 6:20 pm. Cost is $10. To RSVP, contact Karen at Karensteinbrecher@msn.com  or 215-836-7184.

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The Call by Dean Solon

"irony is merely death walking among us.  it doesn't take up the challenge, it isn't life speaking."   (kim stanley robinson)

God is the One thing, God is the only thing that does not exclude all else that matters in your life.
God is the One thing, God is the only thing, God includes all else that matters in your life.
why is God-in-your-life frightening for you?
because it---IT---is the one thing, the only thing, the real and true thing, in your life.
because when you are Called---when you hear the Call---you must answer the Call, or you will die to what is real and true, to what is utterly genuine, to what is utterly authentic, in this life.
the most important connection, the most vital connection, the One that matters, is your connection with God.
even if you lived in a culture, in a world, that accepted, that supported, that encouraged, that respected and honored this to be so---that the most important connection is with God, and that hearing the Call is a gift of gifts, an honor of all honors---it would still be a difficult path, would still be challenging...could still be frightening to you.
because when something is everyThing, all is included.
because when something is everyThing, you must be and are
                                                                                   all in.

it also may be written, also may be read, in this way:

this is the one thing, this is the only thing that does not exclude all else that matters in your life.
this is the one thing, this is the only thing, this includes all else that matters in your life.
why is this-in-your-life frightening for you?
because this---THIS---is the one thing, the only thing, the real and true thing, in your life.
because when You are Called---when you hear the Call---you must answer the Call, or you will die to what is real and true, to what is utterly genuine, to what is utterly authentic, in this life.
the most important thing, the most vital thing, the One thing that matters, is being connected.
even if you lived in a culture, in a world, that accepted, that supported, that encouraged, that respected and honored this to be so---that what is most important is to feel, is to be, connected, and that hearing the Call is a gift of gifts, an honor of all honors---it would still be a difficult path, would still be challenging...could still be frightening to you.
because when something is everything, all is included.
because when something is everything, you must be and are
                                                                                 all in.

"it's not a kingdom like any you know,
the kingdom of God that's within you,
but hundreds and thousands of kingdoms."     (rumi).


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