One Way We Can Tell…

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apathy, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, doing the right thing, Earth, Fear, God, greater good, greed, growing up, humanity, integrity, kindness, love, mission, nature, peace, Purpose, Religion and Spirituality, systems, world issues

 

Love is always the answer.

One way we can tell if something is done in love or not, is to ask ourselves if it is inclusive or exclusive.

This seems an easier question when practiced individually. For instance, I can easily judge my own actions and motives and determine if they are inclusive or not, and match up with my personal values.

But it becomes harder to live this in our global systems, whether that be governments, corporations, religious groups, educational systems or any other groups. These systems often benefit the few and leave everyone else out in the cold. They contradict what we hold dear individually, and most shockingly, we seem ok with it and deem our values irrelevant because that is what needs to be done if we want to ensure the economy thrives, and our belief system stays intact, and (insert any other terrifying disaster) does not come to pass. At least that is what we have come to accept. We think that we must either play along, or fall into chaos. It’s either this or that.

How do we reconcile that? How do we cherish the truth which love; love for humanity, love for all living creatures, love for our planet reveals, and continue to buy into a system that serves the few and excludes the many? Is it really only this or that, or is there another way?

One way we can tell if something is done in love or not, is to ask ourselves if it is inclusive or exclusive.

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

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The Little House Sparrow

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courage, Diana Schwenk, dreams, Fear, God, kindness, living in the moment, love, My Creator, Purpose, trust, vulnerability

This morning, just before I awoke, I dreamt of a little House Sparrow.

She appears suddenly from behind the curtain in my living room. As I wonder how I might best get her back outside, she flies toward me and lands on my hand which is casually propped up by my elbow on the armrest of my chair.

Amazed and delighted by her courage, I chance a quick look at her, not wanting to scare her. Her little heart is pounding; she does not look at me. In an instant I know that she knows her only way out of this dilemma is me. I could be her savior or I could be the end of her. She has concluded, however, that at least she has a chance of getting back out if she just gathers up her courage and trusts me.

“Open the window,” I say.

And then I woke up.

It occurs to me now, as I reflect on this dream, how often I have found myself in a situation where I have had to let go of my fear and trust the one, who could both save me and destroy me, to get me out of my dilemma.

Wishing you all a happy Sunday filled with trust and gratitude!  ❤

Diana xo

We Can’t Do It All… What!

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200 words, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, God, happy, health, integrity, joy, life, living in the moment, My Tribe, Necessities of Life, priorities, Purpose

“Common sense is instinct. Enough of it is genius.” – George Bernard Shaw

GOD  TRIBE  NECESSITIES  PURPOSE  HEALTH

It’s time for spring cleaning. It’s time to de-clutter.

And I’m not talking about my domicile.

There’s been some changes of late.

Things I’m excited about.

And other things that weigh on my heart – that with a little fixing – I may yet, be excited about.

And it strikes me that when I have a lot going on, whether it’s good or bad, the first things that get thrown by the wayside are the things that give me energy and life; the things that spiritually feed and sustain me.

So I’ve come back to the (above) five priorities I set for myself back in January 2014. Although the definitions under each have changed a little since then, these priorities are still a grounding force for me.

Common sense tells me I can’t keep doing everything I did before I started my wonderful new job and thus it’s time for spring cleaning so that I can focus on the things that are important to me.

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

What are your priorities? How do you create space to stay focused on them?

I think an angel lives across the street…

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angels, believe, Calgary, compassion, courage, Diana Schwenk, doing the right thing, generosity, God, goodness, Homelessness, kindness, living in the moment, love, mercy, passion, Relationships, world issues

Something very beautiful happens across the street. And it’s been happening for quite some time, long enough so that I can’t pinpoint exactly when it started.

I don’t often see them go into the apartment complex across the street.

I’ve only seen two or three enter the building over the years.

They looked as if they’d lost all hope. Their bodies bent by some unseen weight on their shoulders.

As if every drop of strength had been beaten out of them.

Dirty

unkempt

under the influence

seemingly at the end of their rope.

No, I haven’t seen many go in, but I have seen them come out.

Usually between 8:00 and 9:00AM. Sometimes just one, other times they exit in groups of two or more. Always groomed. Clean clothes. A travel coffee mug in hand. And on their backs, a backpack that I imagine is filled with their meager belongings and maybe a snack for the road. Their bodies still bent, yet maybe a little less so.

I think an angel lives across the street.

A kind soul who takes pity on those who live on the fringes of society. A loving human being who gives them shelter at night. An angel of mercy who washes their clothes and lets them have a shower. A compassionate man or woman who may even feed them breakfast before they head out for the day to face the harsh reality of their lives on the street.

The actions of this angel do not end homelessness in this cold Canadian city. These actions do not provide a permanent solution to homelessness. But to each individual person who is touched by this angel, these actions must mean the whole world.

I don’t really know what happens across the street. But I believe I am witness to something quite extraordinary. The truth is, I don’t think knowing more is even necessary.

Something tells me the benefactor across the street is not doing it for recognition or praise. That shining a light too intensely on his or her kindness would somehow ruin these beautiful acts.

I think an angel lives across the street…and that’s enough for me.

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

I have marveled and wondered a lot about the activities across the street over the years. Does your neighbourhood have an angel? Can you think of a time when you witnessed an act of compassion and kindness that touched you deeply?

Standing On Sacred Ground

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200 words, Burning bush, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, doing the right thing, God, grace, integrity, journey, judging, life, mission, sacred ground, spiritual, vision, Who I am

Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others. ~ H. Jackson Brown Jr.

One of the most life-changing letters I ever received was sent to me from a missionary in Guatemala when I was in my early twenties.

I was new in my faith and struggling with questions of judgment and grace and had written to him about it.

His reply to me referenced the Biblical Burning Bush story found in Exodus.

He told me my journey was my own. That I shouldn’t worry about other people and what they did on their journey. That God would reveal to me when I was standing on sacred ground and when it was time to remove my sandals from my feet.

Why is it that when we discover a truth about our own journey, we feel a need to impose it on everyone else? How does our way of doing something suddenly become the right way for everyone else to do it?

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

What would happen if instead of judging and correcting others, we sought solely to be the best version of ourselves?

Happy New Year! Moving Forward in 2015.

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believe, courage, Diana Schwenk, family, God, happy, health, Hump Day Chronicles, integrity, living in the moment, My Tribe, Necessities of Life, Purpose

Last year I chose the word tenacity for 2014 and it sure came in handy, let me tell ya!

There were times I just wanted to give up on The Other Bottom Line, but I stuck it out even though it seemed crazy to do so.

I also chose 5 priorities in 2014: God, Tribe, Necessities, Purpose and Health – priorities that I will again carry into the new year.

Tenacity and courage and boldness and freedom are natural words for me to choose and truly there’s nothing wrong with those words – they’re good attributes!

Yesterday I wrote this post about my word for 2015 on my other blog.

It’s a very short read but in case you don’t want to head over there, the word I chose is service.

Let me tell you how I ended up landing on the word service.

As you may recall, in 2014 I wrote a few rants, some of which can be found here, here and here  – these posts were mostly jabs at the government.

The other night, I was flying off the handle again about our provincial and federal governments with my BFF. When she stopped me in my tracks by saying:

Look Di, it doesn’t matter which leader or party is in power. They’re all gonna have this sense of entitlement. They’re all going to eventually look after their own interests.

The rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer. 

They’re selfish.

I’m selfish.

You’re selfish.

It’s human nature.

The only person’s actions that you can control, are your own. Stop asking what the government is going to do. What are you going to do?

We both sat silent for a moment. A heavy feeling of hopelessness and sadness came over us.

Having sat with the heaviness of this for a few moments, we started to talk about what this can mean for us. We didn’t have complete agreement, but here were a few of my thoughts:

What right do I have to complain about the government for not doing something about the issues right in front of them, if I am not doing something about the issues right in front of me?

Sure, I’ve been involved with non-profits. And yes, I believe I’ve made a difference many times over. It was my job to do so. I was paid to do it and of course I’ve been passionate about it and have striven to do my best.

But there are so many people who feel alone, who are hurting, who are desperate for just one person to care enough to help them through right here in my neighbourhood, in my family, in my realm and ability to make a difference.

To be fair, I have done so on several occasions, yet there have also been times when I’ve looked away and kept going about my business; isn’t that what I’ve been accusing the government of doing?

I don’t know how my word will play out in 2015 – I’m a tad nervous about it. I’m not sure how I will balance my needs with the needs of others. But I do know that when I meet my Maker and give account for my choices, he’s not going to ask me who I voted for, or how I held my government, or anyone else for that matter, accountable.

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

And that is how I came to choose the word service for 2015. Did you choose a word for the new year? If so, what’s your word?

The Bike Messenger

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200 words, coffee, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, God, Homelessness, integrity, lessons, life, listen, living in the moment, love, poverty, Purpose, Who I am

When love and skill work together… expect a masterpiece. ~ John Ruskin

Photo credit: 2jere2beseder.com

Friday was a beautiful, sunny day so my bestest friend invited me for coffee on our favourite bench in Tomkins Park.

As soon as we sat down, Michael rode in on his bike with an important message on his heart.

The most life-changing lessons I have learned over the years,  have come from people experiencing homelessness.

One can learn a lot about what is important from those who have very little.

“Who you are isn’t who you are,” he said. 

“I am native. I am homeless. But that is not who I am.

That is not who God sees. You have to look deeper than that to see.”

Michael continued, “When you know who you are, you can act from love and do what you’re meant to do.”

Then he added, “I’m hungry. Going to eat some chicken now and then I’ll be looking for a wife. So if you’re still here when I get back…”

As he left, I turned to my friend and said, “Yeah, so we should go now,”  She laughed.

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

Grace

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angels, Calgary, calling, Charity, Diana Schwenk, dreams, friends, God, grace, growing up, joy, living in the moment, love, memories, mission, Purpose, Relationships, The Mustard Seed, vision

When I moved to Calgary in March 1990, I’d been sure for a number of years that I had a calling to work with the homeless. When I arrived I discovered Teen Challenge in the phonebook and called them immediately, convinced I could get a job there. They told me they didn’t hire women because staff had to be physically strong enough to handle when their clients were going through withdrawal.

I was disappointed and was starting to wonder if I had just imagined my calling. My roommate Bonnie decided she would take me out for lunch to cheer me up. When we had ordered our meal, Bonnie said grace. And by saying grace, I mean she said a very loud prayer over our lunch. I was mortified and embarrassed!

It caught the attention of a woman sitting all by herself at the other end of the restaurant and she came over to our table. “Hi, my name is Grace. Pardon me for just barging in but I’m new in town,” she said. “And I’m looking for a church that I can attend.” We talked about the church we attended and invited her to join us. She then focused her attention on me, remarking that I seemed sad. I told her my whole story; the calling, the long waiting, the disappointment – all of it.

“Why don’t you go check out the Mustard Seed,” she said. “It’s only a block and half away from here.” I thanked her for the information and she wrote her phone number and address on a piece of paper for me so that I could call her and make arrangements for her to attend my church.

After lunch, Bonnie and I headed over to the Mustard Seed. That’s where I met Adele. I asked her if I could speak to the head pastor and she picked up the phone to inquire about it. She told me he’d be awhile and invited us to sit and wait. While we waited we chatted with Adele. I’m sure I told her that I would be a brilliant hire or something like that. A young good-looking man wearing acid-washed jeans and a purple tie-dyed T-shirt stopped in and we chatted with him for 30 or 40 minutes.

Not being the most patient person in the world, I finally turned to Adele and said, “So when is this head pastor gonna show so I can talk with him?” She laughed and gestured toward Mr. Acid-washed Tie-Dye and said you’ve been talking to him for half an hour!

Tim Bonenfant, Diana Schwenk, Pat Nixon, Karen Cates, Herb White
Taken in 1991

After that day I began volunteering at the Mustard Seed and by the time this picture was taken for a magazine article, I was on staff as an Outreach Worker. In total I spent about 20 years at the Mustard Seed. When I left in 2010, I was the Chief Development Officer.

This past Saturday, I attended an informal ‘Old Mustard Seeders’ reunion. Now, 24 years after I first walked through the doors of The Mustard Seed, it was good to catch up with everyone. We shared about what we’re all up to now and talked about the good old days. Pat Nixon, who was the leader of the Mustard Seed for over 26 years told us we should be proud of what we were able to contribute in the time that we were there. And we are proud and grateful for everything we learned about life and what’s really important from our amazing street friends.

Trish Sonnenberg, Pat Nixon, Diana Schwenk, Chuck Harper, Adele Toews, Ty Ragan, Christie Halliday, Herb White
Photo taken March 29, 2014

We plan to get together again, perhaps for a picnic in the summer, with many others who couldn’t attend this past Saturday.

~

Oh yes, and what about Grace? I called her for weeks and weeks and her phone just rang and rang and rang. Finally, I got on a bus and went to the address she’d given me. It was a long-abandoned, empty lot.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. ~ Hebrews 13:2

 ~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

 

 

Choose Your Life!

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200 words, choose, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, God, health, life, My Tribe, Necessities of Life, Purpose, vision

Trust in what you love, continue to do it, and it will take you where you need to go. ~ Natalie Goldberg

If you’ve been following my blog for some time, you know that I’ve been going through a process to actualize my vision for my life: IGNITING THE POWER AND PASSION IN OTHERS…

You also know that part of that vision includes The Other Bottom Line.

But if that was the only thing I was working on, it would be insufficient. (My opinion anyway)

That’s why I’ve taken a hard look at my whole life and identified 5 major priorities that I intentionally think about every day in all that I do. These priorities are: God, My Tribe, My Needs, My purpose, and My Health.

This journey I’ve been taking is exciting and life-giving!

It is also scary and risky and some days I wonder what the hell I’m been thinking!

But I want you to know that I would not go back and change a thing.

What do you love?

If you could fill your days doing the things that give you life, what would that look like?

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

What’s stopping you?

What Makes Your Top 5? Part 2

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community, daughters, Diana Schwenk, family, God, happy, health, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, love, mission, My Tribe, Necessities of Life, Purpose, vision

A week and a half ago, I invited you to see your life with all the pressures and to-do’s in it, imagine it all gone, and then bring back your top 5.

The purpose of this exercise was to ensure that we include our priorities into our schedules. I enjoyed your comments and lists very much. As promised, here’s my list.

5. My Mission/Purpose

I mean The Other Bottom Line of course, but it’s bigger than that. I need to ignite the power and passion in others and relate with, promote, and speak community wherever I am, whatever I’m doing. That’s the great thing about having a vision and mission statement; it reflects who you are, what you do and how you do it. It also serves as a ‘measuring stick’  when making decisions.

4. My Health

I’m intentional about the food I eat. I try to exercise and get a good 8 hours of sleep. I could do better and I’m going to be more diligent about keeping health on my list of priorities.

3. Necessities of Life

I don’t need a lot to be happy. Some of the best things in life are totally free. I do need certain basics though: I need food. Shelter. Clothing. To love and be loved. To feel safe and secure. I will work hard to do what needs to be done in order to provide the necessities of life for myself.

2. My Tribe

I love the word Tribe. It saves me from long run-on sentences like: I really appreciate my family, friends, co-workers, blogging community, mailman, acquaintances, mechanic, grocer, doctor, internet provider, dancing partners, hair dresser, dentist, contacts…all those who knowingly and unknowingly contribute to my sense of belonging and joy – and hopefully, I contribute to theirs. My tribe is more important than any inanimate  thing.

1. My God

My Creator. He who knew and loved me before I was formed in my mother’s womb. I will see Him in the wonder of snowflakes, the beauty of sunsets and in every loving act. And I will be grateful for all my blessings.

I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions. It makes sense to me though, to give these 5 priorities a prominent place in my life before I even attempt to schedule in all the other things that would demand my attention.

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. ~ Stephen Covey