Anne's Note reminds us that it's Gratitude Season. The main article, One Life, wants us to realize that life is bigger than we can know with our minds yet it’s the perfect size to be known in our hearts. Healthy Living reminds us to Think Healthier about holiday eating. The Anne Talk is A Guided Meditation into the Light. The Featured Product this month is Anne's latest book, Standing in the Dark.

The EZ Mantra: "Everything can be EZ or at least EZier." – Anne Sermons Gillis

Living EZosophy, November 24, 2015
Published Weekly on Tuesday Mornings

Phone: 281-419-1775
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  A Note From Anne

Dear ,

It’s Gratitude Season. Paul Williams was interviewed by Dan Rather and he spoke of the power of gratitude. He said if you are in a car accident, be thankful you got out without injury. If you are injured, be thankful you are still alive. There’s something in every situation, even tragic ones, to be thankful for. Gratefulness has become the organizing principle of his life and moved him from addiction to grace.

During this season, when thoughts of terrorism and fear loom large in the collective mind, let’s not let terrorism and tragedy become defining points in our lives. Let’s reach deeper and find life’s blessing; it’s always here. Blessing is more powerful than cynicism, hate, and fear. The angel Gabriel said, “Fear not.” I think that's a great idea.

Still enjoying Texas and seeing the perfect people finding our home, buying it, loving it, and living in it!

Anne

  One Life

I don’t like to list things I’m grateful for. It’s a popular practice these days. Oprah herself writes a gratitude journal, but it’s not my thing. If I had to make a list, it would have one thing posted at the top, bottom, and in the center. The list would read, “I am grateful for my two little grandchildren, the twins, Thomas and Reynolds. It is like wonder to watch them, see the pictures, FaceTime them, and hear reports from their mama.” But, I prefer to express myself in other ways than making out that darn list, because saying what I’m grateful for is tough. I want what I say to be alive with gratefulness and the list thing falls short for me.

This week was a sad week at the spiritual center I attend. The son of one of our members was brutally murdered in a hate crime. This tragedy, that followed the Paris bombings, left everyone at our center more pensive than celebratory. But we have this tradition, so on the heels of these events, we will celebrate. The Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, we gather. Everyone who wants to participate goes to the microphone and tells what they are grateful for. Oh no, It seems like that list thing again. What can I say to get across how I feel? What is bigger that these destructive events? Regardless of the outer circumstances, there is more milling around below the surface than appearances reveal. Can I speak to that?

This week was a sad week at the spiritual center I attend. The son of one of our members was brutally murdered in a hate crime. This tragedy, that followed the Paris bombings, left everyone at our center more pensive than celebratory. But we have this tradition, so on the heels of these events, we will celebrate. The Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, we gather. Everyone who wants to participate goes to the microphone and tells what they are grateful for. Oh no, It seems like that list thing again. What can I say to get across how I feel? What is bigger that these destructive events? Regardless of the outer circumstances, there is more milling around below the surface than appearances reveal. Can I speak to that?

These existential questions hung on the tip of mind, and, finding myself paper-bound, I grabbed my pen and started writing. The following speaks to what I know is beyond these tragic events:

“One Life”

I live in the depth of a blessing so deep, so wide, that nothing can hide from its view.

A blessing so sweet that my heart bends down to drink from its wonder.

I live with a wholeness, a worship, and an appreciation that’s nearer than breath, and I am clear that No Thing (Source) wants everything to shout out that life is unconquerable.

Life cannot be beaten or slayed. It can’t be lost or fragmented. Life cannot be for nothing. It can’t be meaningless.

It can’t be ruled by injustice. Life can’t be marginalized, passed over, or victimized.

Real life is transcendent. It’s not that made up stuff, tinted by fear. Life is the music of being, and it’s always played on key.

It is harmonious and can never be silenced, and for that I am grateful. Grateful for every twist and turn, every shadow that plays in the light; grateful all of it, for there is only One Life. SO Be it.

Life is big. It is bigger than we can know with our minds yet it’s the perfect size to be known in our hearts. Regardless of what is going on for you this week, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, and a heart full of appreciation for life itself. There is only one life. It comes in many forms. Let’s share it, love it, and appreciate it, because when we do, life becomes EZier and EZier.

Anne

  Quotes

"Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain which grows flowers, not thunder."
— Rumi

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened."
— Buddha

"If one busies himself with an outer display of scriptural wealth, what time is left for silent inner diving?"
— Sri Yukteswar

  Featured Product This Month

  What is EZosophy?

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  Healthy Living

Think Healthier

Holidays are sweet and what can be sweeter than homemade pumpkin pie? I’m including my favorite pumpkin pie recipe. If you buy canned pumpkin, it most likely will contain BPA, which is an endocrine interrupter. Why not buy a small pumpkin, cut and gut it, then roast it in the oven at 350 F degrees. The freshly cooked pumpkin makes a scrumptious filling for one of the most cherished holiday pies. And to make the deal even sweeter, there are plenty of organic pumpkins available this year. I’ve even substituted acorn or butternut squash for pumpkin – anything to keep me away from canned pumpkin. It’s fun to take our traditional recipes and make them over into healthier versions.

If you are not a good pie crust maker, and I’m not sure why I can’t make a decent crust, try Trader Joe’s brand. While it is made of white wheat flour, it also contains butter and all recognizable ingredients. It is yummy and will have your family and friends drooling. Stay away from pie crusts that contain unknown ingredients. Chemical additives and preservatives are not recognized by the body, so the body stores the toxins in the joints and we get inflammation and joint pain. After our joints are saturated, the toxins go into other areas, like the organs, fatty tissue, and who knows where, but it’s not a pretty sight in the body. Best to stick to things that have real ingredients, like Bryer's natural vanilla ice cream for topping, rather than eating topping that contains mystery potions. For an even healthier topping, try a cream cheese honey topping. Mix cream cheese with mixer and add honey or agave to taste. This is so rich and tastes heavenly. No, this is not health food, but it is healthier food. Almost everyone eats special holiday sweets. There seems to be a sweets imperative for celebrations. Think healthier during the holidays: your tummy will love them, your need for tradition will be satisfied, and you will feel innocent about what you’ve had to eat!

Pumpkin Pie Recipe

3 eggs
2 cups fresh cooked pumpkin
1 cup coconut milk (not coconut water, not canned – try the dairy section)
1/2 cup honey (agave works too)
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon or maybe a little less salt

Beat eggs, add other ingredients, and mix with blender, food processor, or mixer.

Pour into unbaked pie shell.

Bake at 325° for one and ½ hours or until knife comes out clean in the center.

Anne

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