The Burning Bowl

We all went to Unity last Sunday. I was ready for the burning bowl. Ready. DSD went downstairs with the kids and The Mister and I took our respective places. As we walked in we got our hugs (much to the Mister's discomfort) and we got 2 pieces of paper and an envelope. The music was rockin and the talk was better than the Christmas Eve service (a bit too New Agey for Christmas). We were told to write down all the things we wanted to let go of from the previous year or years, heck even things we'd been holding onto for a lifetime. I wrote and wrote. Sometimes the same words, over and over. Fear. Sadness. Grief. Loss. Then I'd toss in a few other choice words negativity, worry. You get the picture. I folded up my little bits of paper and waited for the time to come. But first! The children were coming and they were going to participate before us. The children. Their sweet, innocent faces were full of life and happiness. They lined up and took their turn one at a time. Ours knows where we typically sit and she found us smiling at her. She too had a paper, lit the corner and then promptly dropped it on the floor. Wups. Only ours of course. Then it was our turn, the grown-ups.

While the kids were finishing up we had a chance to write our letters. By this time The Mister's eyes had glazed over and he was playing poker on his iPhone. Yes, really. Anyway, in the envelope we were given was a blank sheet of paper. We were instructed to write a thank you letter to God. Giving thanks for all the blessings we received in 2010 and to write those blessings down. Um, easy. Our baby(ies), good health, no money worries, Syd safe with us, happiness, Love...you get the picture. Then we were told to seal it up, write our address on them and we'd get back in the mail in December. Cool. I can't wait to see how many of our blessings come to us.

The place was packed. PACKED. Lots of people participating and lots who had participated in years past. It was nice to get it out, lit by the light and let it go. Goodbye Fear. Goodbye Sadness.

Of course I couldn't help but ask what little DSD wrote on her paper. She replied, "Fear. Hate. Bullies. Dark." Later out of her pocket fell her 2010 wish list: "Family. Love. Money. Friends." Good girl. Damn good for a seven year old. I hope her wishes come true.