A Note From Anne

Dear ,

As most of you know, I have been taking care of my sister in LA for several weeks. She had a major heart attack, and is better now. When I left, I was confident that she would be well taken care of and that she was on her way back to independent living.

I learned three things when I was in California:

1. I am bigger that I thought I was. I stretched myself two or three sizes in courage, adventure, and compassion.
2. Even the most difficult times are miracle strewn and can be amazing. My days were punctuated by wide-open blessings. AND
3. LA is a foreign country. The hospital was run by Filipinos; everyone who emigrated from another country must have opened a restaurant; ashrams abound – one minute I felt like I was in Thailand and the next minute, I’m in Armenia. Oceans, mountains, homeless people, exasperated drivers, gas fumes – Dorothy knew she was not in Kansas and I knew I was not in Texas. Each place has its grace and shortcomings. Even though I enjoyed my medical vacation (taking care of my sister), I am happy to be home.

I hope you have a great week and that you make life easier than ever. Ease is a choice of perception and the gift of surrender.

Take it easy,

Anne

  My LA Trip

On July 22, 2013, I left Chicago, where I had been attending the National Theosophical Society's National Conference, flew to Houston, and in less than 12 hours, I was on my way to Los Angeles. I was nervous, my sister Lois's life was in jeopardy, and I was already physically exhausted. My flight was wonderful and, fortunately, I sat across the aisle from an airplane angel. They are the ones the universe seats next to exasperated parents of small children and first time fliers.

I had gone from thinking someone would pick me up at the airport, to knowing I would take a bus from the airport to a parking lot housing my sister's unairconditioned 1987 Honda Civic (I actually didn't find out about the no AC until I got in the car). From the parking lot I would drive to the hospital, and then go to CCU to see my sister. My concern for my sister was overshadowed by the thought of having to drive in LA and park in a foreign country. My airplane angel listened to my plight and told me I was going to be fine. She was a saint and a cheerleader for me.

It all went well. I got the bus, drove the car, parked the car, saw my sister, saw my nephew, but then found out I would have to drive to her apartment at night. The previous plan was for me to stay that night to relieve my nephew.

This is when the airplane angel's belief in me stopped working. I had to drive to my sister's apartment, late at night though the hills, on an interstate under construction. My husband usually drives when we are in Houston and the suburb where I drive is not like driving in a big city. I was in a car that could barely make it up the hills, the freeway was loud, with 18 wheelers zooming by – of course, my windows were open – and I was scrunched into a lane beside a concrete barrier. I was already sleep-deprived and my body was screaming. I'm not sure what it was saying, but it was not happy. I was rattled to my edge and in the moment I thought, "I can't do this; my throat got scratchy – the genesis of a cold."

When I arrived at my sister's apartment, I parked on the street – parking places are scarce, if not nonexistent. It's night. I couldn't get her car locked. I was exhausted. Finally I get the car locked, only to get to her apartment, drag my bags up 15 steps, then stand in front of her apartment with a key that I could not manipulate. Ten minutes later I enter a hot, unaircondtioned apartment, found a blow up mattress, blew it up, and collapsed.

The days slipped by; plight after plight, miracle after miracle; how intense. I was rereading The Autobiography of a Yogi on my trip to LA, and when I finally reached my sister's hospital room, I found her window overlooked a Self-Realization Fellowship Center. SRF's are Yogananada's centers that are located in California. Several days I sat in the garden, soaked up some much needed sun, and meditated in the temple. What a respite. A wonderful young man, Carlos, befriended me and held me up for a few days.

My nephew, Vic, returned home and became the primary care taker. My sister returned home after two weeks in the hospital. Did I mention that she was crazy from the drugs and the lack of sleep and that I had very little sleep myself? When we arrived home, she was fragile, and I felt like a new mom with her baby. There were doctor's appointments and medication rituals to be figured out. One day I spent three hours on the phone working on "things," and there was a long "Do this if this happens" list. I had been pretty sick with a virus and chest cold the whole time. Fortunately, she hadn't caught it, but I was bone-tired.

Sunday morning I went to Agape Fellowship, the large church led by Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith. It turned out to be only nine miles from my sister's home. When I arrived, I was surprised to find a friend of mine giving the main talk and a musician I knew was doing the music. Wow – how cool.

Somehow, in all the mayhem and mischief of operating outside my normal life, the inconveniences, the unknowns, the sweat-filled clothes, the disappearance of my life – everything was Lois focused – everything was okay. I felt no regrets for being there; no frustrations over my plight. I was sleep-deprived, my throat was excruciatingly sore almost every night I was there, I lost five pounds, and I would never drive home late at night on one particular freeway, but I was still okay and life was still amazing.

I wasn't really upbeat or filled with positive passion most of the time, but I was part of the time. There were moments of sheer delight. I was happy to get these weeks with my sister and to feel the unbounded love we had for each other, to experience her total trust in me, and to meet person after person who became a vibrant word in the story of my life. I would not want to do it again, but I would not trade the experiences I had. I know I complained to my daughter and my husband, some moments were overwhelming, I cried several times, but that's okay – it was all the part of the tapestry of life, and I love tapestries. Don't you?

P.S.: If you would like to attend the same service I attended at Agape, click on this link. I attended this service on 8/11 but it is archived as 8/4. You can catch Michael Bernard Beckwith's live services on Sunday Mornings at http://agapelive.com.

Join me in LA on a walk to my sister's house. Recorded live as I walked down the street. I thought it would be fun to share a few minutes of my trip with you. Excuse the background noise. Go here: http://youtu.be/eA8WKLFM5is.

  Health Tip: Cotton Balls

I use cotton balls to clean my eyes. One day I started thinking about the pesticides in cottons and realized these conventionally grown cotton balls might not be in my best interest. Cotton covers 55% of the world's cultivated land yet uses 75% of the world's insecticides, more than any other single major crop, according to this article. What a startling fact! You better believe I'm washing anything cotton before I wear it.

My eyes are delicate. Do I want to clean them with pesticide drenched cotton? Of course not. I was delighted to find organic cotton balls at CVS and Whole foods. If you use conventional cotton balls to clean anything on your body, you may want to switch. It just makes sense.

  Anne's Books

Standing in The Dark

EZosophy Book

Offbeat Prayers

Click here to see all three of Anne's books

What people are saying about Standing in the Dark:

"If as you said, it is not a positive thinking book, then, however, it is a positive being book, because positive has its own rewards. You wrote very eloquently, and gracefully about very hard to cover topics. More than that, your shadow is a light unto us, Anne, and your night is like a day. I thank you."
  – Veronica Nannee, Houston, Texas

"Someone asked me how you could be spiritual and live in the world. Your book spells it out perfectly."
  – Helen Hutchison, Nacogdoches, Texas

  Quotes

"We are not here to set things right: we are here to see things right."
  – Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith

"Our gifts and talents do not belong to us; they belong to the community."
  – Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith

"You may not know what the future holds. But you know what holds the future."
  – Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself."
  – Jesus Christ

  EZosophy CD/DVD Spotlight

Each week in this space we'll be featuring one of Anne's CD's or DVD's. Click the link below to learn more.

EZosophy CD: Breath of Life

Have you ever wanted to develop a daily breath practice? Pranayama is the art of breathing in a specific patterned breath that allows you to breathe energy. The Breath of Life CD guides you through two breathing processes. One process is an effective morning wake up breath with self massage. It gets you going, energizes you, and helps you feel clarity and focus. You will be ready to go after just a few minutes of vigorous breathing. The other breath is a 10 minute detoxification and calming process. With a few added breathing tips, this CD allows you to develop an effective daily pranayama practice. Enhance your life force with conscious breathing. This CD is designed to work with both sides of the brain. This special effect is called Split Brain Learning. The split brain theory proposes that we have two separate realms of conscious awareness: two sensing, perceiving, thinking, and remembering systems. The left hemisphere controls language, sequential learning, and information storage. It is logical, rational, and linear. The right hemisphere is holistic, creative, thinks in pictures. It is nonlinear. This CD works with both sides of the brain to expedite a new understanding that will make your life easier. You need to work with each CD for 31 days or more to experience miraculous changes that make you live easier in the area you have chosen. CD: $14.99 Downloadable MP3 file & Printable Cards & Affirmations in PDF format - $9.99. http://www.annegillis.com/Books-CDs-Etc.html#Split

  What is EZosophy?

What is EZosophy? Click the graphic above to find out.

NOTE: If you are viewing this on a cell phone, be sure to scroll to the right to see the other column.

Special Notice to Gmail Users Because this newsletter was sent to you by an autoresponder company, Gmail's new tab system may place it in the Promotions tab, instead of in your inbox, which is now under your Primary tab, so you may think it hasn't arrived. So, if you find that you're missing this newsletter, check the Promotions tab. If you find this there, drag it into your Primary tab, your main inbox. Then it will land there from now on. Thanks. Click the Subscribe button above to get your own copy of Anne's newsletter sent to your email inbox every Tuesday morning. You'll receive a free MP3 on the principles of EZosophy when you confirm your subscription. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you can UNsubscribe by clicking this link. Click the Archives button above to read past issues of this newsletter.            FOLLOW Anne. Help Spread the Word. SHARE Anne by sharing this issue.      Like the newsletter? You can support it through your donation via PayPal. It's certainly not necessary, but it is greatly appreciated. It's not tax deductible, but a small $8 donation helps defray our costs. Thank you in advance.   Anne's Services Need a Coach or a Rent-a-Friend? Interested in getting ongoing support? Try life coaching with Anne. Anne offers options for both short-term and long-term coaching. Contact her for details. Click here to contact Anne by email or Click here to view information on Anne's One Year Seminar.   Schedule Anne You may reach Anne by phone at 281-419-1775 or click the button below to contact Anne by email. Anne is also available to officiate at weddings and funerals.

  Anne's Schedule

September 11, 2013
Wed., 7:00 PM
"Get in The Spirit"
Creative Life Spiritual Center
5326 Spring Stuebner Rd., Ste. 200
Back Building
Spring, Texas 77389
281-350-5157

September 11 & 13, 2013
Wed. & Fri., 10:00-11:50 AM CDT
"EZosophy"
Lone Star College
Montgomery Campus
Conroe, TX 77384
936-273-7000
Offered as an ALL Class

Recorded Interviews:

Click here to hear a recording of Keith Anthony Blanchard interviewing Anne Sermons Gillis on June 3, 2013.

Click here to hear a recording of Dennis Tardan interviewing Anne Sermons Gillis on May 30, 2013.

Click here to listen to a recording of Rick Archer interviewing Anne Sermons Gillis on April 27, 2013.

Click here to hear a recording of Ken Keis interviewing Anne Sermons Gillis in January 2004. It's a good overview of EZosophy.

  Ask Annie G

I'm back from LA, where I was caring for my sister Lois, but I haven't had time to post for this column this week. I expect to be able to post again next week. Look here then.

Annie G

NOTE: Send your questions on life, health, food, spirituality, and relationships to Annie G.

  Anne Art

Big Bird
Photo-enhanced pen & ink drawing
Click the image to see a larger image.

Two Birds, Too Fishy
Photo-enhanced pen & ink drawing
Click the image to see a larger image.

Remember, if someone forwarded this email to you, you can click this link to have a copy delivered every Tuesday morning to your own email inbox.

If you're currently subscribed and no longer wish to receive this newsletter, click this link to UNsubscribe.

Editor/Publisher: Charles David Heineke of TheDoorwayBlog.

Share Anne by sharing this issue.