It is a man-made lake, still, there is a mix of birds that make it their home. It's near the bay so of course there are gulls. There are wild geese, domesticated geese, mud hens with their beutiful green headed mates, pigons and little black coots.

At some points along my walk, they were very segregated, this lake community of birds. And I thought, "Is this natural, is it better to stay amongest one's own kind?" Then as I continued I noticed there was a huge gathering on a little knoll, and all varieties of birds were strutting or waddeling, honking or chirping, seeming to get along just fine.

It doesn't have to be one way or the other - Both ways are perfectly fine.  Everything is in a constant state of evolution - physically, mentaly and Spiritualy. The extent that we are able and willing to adapt to what is present here and now measures how our choices are made throughout our life's journey. We are free to choose - Choose to be afraid of, or simply not interested in being neighborly with anyone different than ourselves. We can also choose to welcome the beautiful diversity of other cultures, traditions and religions. We can learn so much from our four-legged, winged and gilled co-habitants on this beautiful Earth.

I passed others of varying ages, sizes, races. Some were  running, some walking or sitting on benches. And one elderly Asain man just standing looking out over the water, contemplating the ripples or perhaps in meditation.

As I came back to my starting point for my walk around the lake, I observed four wild geese (well not so wild anymore). Three were standing on one leg with their beeks under a wing and the fourth one seemed to be standing gaurd, alert and watchful of movements around him. Were the three resting or were they perhaps meditating too? Hmmmmmm

This was part of Rev. Ouida's message on Sunday, 12/06/09 at Alameda Spiritual Living Center. So here I am telling about what a powerful service it was.

For me, to be in tears and so aware of why, is amazing in itself. When I think I have it all figured out - I absolutely don't.

I do have to become aware and 'pay attention' to the guidance I am receiving. Surrender may not seem to have a place in using reason, yet it does. Very much so. There is a big difference between analysing everything and using reason.
Analysis is a process of breaking something down, testing, investigation. While reason may include a little of these, it also includes intuition, logic, and experience , "The definition of Reason is the ability to use intuitive and rational thought to develop logical inferences based on degrees of evidence (empirical and circumstantial)." http://moderndeism.com/html/deism_expanded.html ~
I use this quote because I have very recently discovered that Deism fits like a glove with my personal Spiritual Belief System.  It has developed over the years, from having no belief in God, to a knowing that God is within everything. Like the Peter Mayer song, "Everything is Holy Now".

I pray I will never cease to be Astonished by the many wonderous ways we may become more and more awake. More and more aware of the Universe, of Creation and our part, our purpose, our privilege in being human and spiritual beings.

My Intention from here on is; To Pay Attention to Life Happening within and around me, Be Astonished by something at least once a day and Tell Someone About It!