Archive for April, 2008
04-08-2008
Sacred Tears
Recently, I ran into an old friend, one of those friends who connects with your soul in a way that if you don’t see them for a really long time you pick up right where you left off. I was so thankful we had a chance to visit and catch up, when all of the sudden my friend asked me this totally inappropriate personal question… “How are you? Really?” As the tears pooled into my eyes, I chocked back the baseball size lump suddenly choking my throat and desperately tried to use my otherwise conventional response, “fine, good… how are you?” But something else happened, something I did not expect, nor was prepared for, or wanted… tears, unrelenting tears. They leaked out incessantly to no avail even though I desperately attempted to fight them back. No luck, my cheeks were soaked, my eyes blood shot, my nose red, wet and runny. What was happening? Why was my usual somewhat composed nature now being compromised in such a way? Why did they have to ask such a horrible, prying question, “How are you? Really?” As I sat before my friend, the tears flowing incessantly, I apologized profusely. I was more than embarrassed by my emotional impropriety. My friend smiled with a look of reassuring compassion (one of the reasons they are my friend) and handed me a Kleenex. Later, as I processed my tear-fest with my spiritual director, I relayed my frustration with my lack of emotional stability and questioned my psychological state. He led me to an entirely different epiphany of self awareness, one that was far less protective and much more vulnerable. He made me aware of the authentic sacredness of tears. That when we are able to release our true feelings, uninhibited, in the form of tears, that we are intimately aligned with God’s truth. Therein is a vulnerability that cannot be manipulated by the self. It relies on a sacred alignment with the God who also shed tears, even tears of blood. After I left spiritual direction, I returned home to find the following message from my friend. Never be afraid of tears. The so-called civilization has made you very afraid of tears. It has created a kind of guilt in you. When tears come you start feeling embarrassed. You start feeling, “What will others think? I am a man, or woman, and I am crying! It looks so desperate and childish. It should not be so. If you stop those tears…you kill something that was growing inside of you.
”Tears are far more beautiful than anything that you have with you, because tears come from the overflow of your being. Tears are not necessarily of sadness; sometimes they come out of great joy and sometimes they come out of great peace and sometimes they come out of ecstasy of love. In fact they have nothing to do with sadness or happiness. Anything that stirs your heart so much, anything that takes possession of you, anything that is too much, that you cannot contain and it start overflowing – that brings tears. Accept them with great joy, relish them, nourish them, welcome them, and through tears you will know how to pray. Through tears you will know how to see. Tear-filled eyes are capable of seeing truth. Tear-filled eyes are capable of seeing the beauty of life and the benediction of it”. The Diamond Sutra
Someone once told me that tears were once upon a time considered to be sacramental. All the sudden that thought came back to me; Holy, sacred tears- closely aligning us with He who loves us without pause or condition. I then understood that God was giving me a gift, the gift of tears, and the gift of a safe place to share them, through both a friend, and in spiritual companionship. I was not to be ashamed of this sacred water pouring forth from my soul, but rather it was a part of my heart that I was releasing, even sharing. I was experiencing a holy, sacred, alignment with my beloved Lord who also cried, even tears of blood, and my God who also cried out “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Yes, holy tears indeed! May we together share in the sacred gift of tears as we align ourselves closely with God’s authentic truth. 
Blessings, and Holy Kleenex to you! Tammy
P.S. Special thanks to my awesome sisters inTupelo,
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04-08-2008
YMCA Freaks ~ No April Foolin’
Dear Spiritually Fit Fun Fools,
Happy April~ No Foolin’ YMCA Freaks
Speaking of fun foolishness - can you remember a song that you listened to over and over in your youth that just made you feel good? I will date myself here, but for me, my first goose bumps to music arrived during the prelude to the song YMCA. I wonder if The Village People had any notion of the legacy they were creating?
Recently, as I was running in the desert mountains, the familiar beat came to life through my walk-man head phones as did the instantaneous smile associated with it. The nostalgic flash back brought me front and center to my jr. high gym were girls were neatly arranged on one side, and boys assembled on the opposite, except during one song – YMCA. It was during that song that all pretension of being cool faded away (at least for a moment), inhibitions were cast aside as people crowded onto the dance floor throwing their hands up in the air and wildly spelling out Y, M, C and A with their arm limbs flailing overhead. It was electrophying. Talk about fun foolishness!
Although I had sung along with the words many times, I don’t know that I ever really listened to them until my run. This time, new images immediately emerged, the initials Y.M.C.A. – Yahweh Messiah Christ Abba
I began to change the words as I sang along making it a prayer… (See below for full prayer version by a delirous runner). So next time you hear YMCA whether you think of dancing at a wedding, in jr. high, or a runner’s prayer, I hope you smile and know you are loved by YMCA, Yahweh, the Messiah, Christ, Abba (the Father).
YMCA- by the Village People – edited by Tammy Amosson for Spiritual Fitness News 08
Young (All) man, (People) there’s no need to feel down.
I said, young man, (All God’s children) pick yourself off the ground.
I said, young man, (My Child) ’cause you’re in a new town
There’s no need to be unhappy.Young man, (My beloved) there’s a place you can go.(to Me)
I said, young man, (precious) when you’re short on your dough.
You can stay there, and I’m sure you will find
Many ways to have a good time. (I’m with you always)
It’s fun to (stay with the YMCA , (Yahweh, Messiah, Christ, Abba)
It’s fun to stay with the YMCA. (Yahweh, Messiah, Christ, Abba)
They have everything for (All) to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the through the YMCA (Yahweh, Messiah, Christ, Abba)
It’s fun to stay with the y-m-c-a.
It’s fun to stay with the y-m-c-a.
You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal, (reconciliation, break bread)
You can do what about you feel … (talk about feelings in community)
My beloeved are you listening to me? (Be still and listen)
I said, My Child what do you want to be?
I said, loved one you can make real your dreams.
But you got to know this one thing! (I love you)
No man does it all by himself. (We need each other)
I said, precious child, put your pride on the shelf, (ask for help, let go of ego)
And just go there, to the y.m.c.a. (Come to me all who are weary, I will give you rest)
I’m sure they can help you today. (Find me with skin in those around you, call for help today)
It’s fun to stay with the y-m-c-a. (Yahweh, Messiah, Christ, Abba)
It’s fun to stay with the y-m-c-a. (Yahweh, Messiah, Christ, Abba)
They have everything for you men to enjoy, ( I will give you all that you need)
You can hang out with all my children (You are NOT alone)
It’s fun to stay at the y-m-c-a. (Yahweh, Messiah, Christ, Abba)
It’s fun to stay at the y-m-c-a. (Yahweh, Messiah, Christ, Abba)
You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal, (wash feet, share in community)
You can do what about you feel … (Follow your heart, don’t judge)
My love, I was once in your shoes. ( I go before you always)
I said, I was down and out with the blues. ( I suffered too, I was human, I was tempted)
I felt no man cared if I were alive. (I too felt persecuted, betrayed, and abandoned)
I felt the whole world was so tight … ( I felt like I did not belong, I was suffocating)
That’s when someone came up to me, ( I will send you an advocate, a helpmate, another soul to help you)
And said, my brother, take a walk up the street. (Walk with me, I will take you by the hand and guide you, we weren’t meant to do this alone)
There’s a place there called the y.m.c.a. (Yahweh, Messiah, Christ, Abba)
They can start you back on your way. (I make all things new)
It’s fun to stay with the y-m-c-a. (Yahweh, Messiah, Christ, Abba)
It’s fun to stay with the y-m-c-a. (Yahweh, Messiah, Christ, Abba)
They have everything for you men to enjoy, (Once you are with me you will have everything you need, you will hunger no more)
You can hang out with all the family… (WE are all connected, one family- many parts, one body in Christ)
Y-m-c-a … you’ll find it at the y-m-c-a. (Yahweh, Messiah, Christ, Abba)
Me beloved, my child there’s no need to feel down.
My precious, my love, , get yourself off the ground.
Y-m-c-a … you’ll find it at the y-m-c-a. (Yahweh, Messiah, Christ, Abba)
Me beloved, my child re you listening to me? ( I am calling you)
My precious, my love, do you want to be free? (I am the light and love)
Y-m-c-a … just go to the y-m-c-a. (Yahweh, Messiah, Christ, Abba) (I am the way, the truth and the life)
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