Habits of the Heart

“The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”

As a survivor of heart disease and open heart surgery I fear our divided nation is suffering from heart disease as well. I am constantly asking myself “what do we need to do to heal?” We need to embrace the powers of the heart. We need to embrace empathy, compassion, equity, generosity, courage, and listening, deep listening. 

Our hearts are the home of President Lincoln’s “better angels.” Our “better angels” can be found in reflection, contemplation, meditation, going slow, awe, nature, music, poetry, dance, painting, sculpting, gardening, and service to our community. 

One of my heroes, Dr. Parker Palmer offers these 5 habits of the heart:

1. An understanding that we are all in this together. 

2. An appreciation of the value of “otherness”.

3. An ability to hold tension in life giving ways. 

4. A sense of personal voice and agency. 

5. A capacity to create community. 

How can we participate in these habits of the heart and democracy? 

Can we turn off the phones at mealtime and discuss our day? 

Can we invite someone different than us for a lunch or coffee?

Can we empower student voice in our schools?

Can we build community through our service?

Can we spend some time in reflection?

I would love to hear what answers come to you. 

A Prayer for Now

Dear God, we give our heart and soul to the cause of bringing unconditional love to all humankind. Allow us to see hate and tyranny fade like a shadow. Let our faith and understanding spread in the hearts and minds of all your children. Let us experience true brotherhood with the knowledge of hope and unity. Let us heal the better decisions and join together as one family in your peace. May we protect and cherish mother earth and allow her water, air, and life to grow and flourish. Let us acknowledge all ethnicities, colors, faiths, and sacred beliefs as different perspectives, as seen through your eyes.

Give us the courage to begin to heal our divisions so that our children and our children's children grow up in a world of peace and love. Grant us the knowledge of oneness. Let us fully experience the knowing that if anyone is hurt, we all hurt. If anyone loses their freedom, we all lose our freedom. If anyone is hungry, we are all hungry. Let us all share freely and feed each other. Let us all know love, truth, freedom, justice, safety, security, and above all, your peace beyond understanding.

Let us all march forward for peace and love.

Thank you, Dear God, for your blessings.

Equity

“True equity starts with ensuring that everyone has access to the most basic needs.” - Mikki Kendall

I believe equity is synonymous with integrity. Integrity means “whole”. Our words and behavior match. What I think, feel, say, and do are in alignment. If we believe in equity, than we must work towards a world (read your school, classroom, neighborhood) where each and every person has clean water, shelter, healthy food, and a sense of belonging. 

We must create a world where we all feel safe from physical and emotional violence. Where we strive to create equity. We open the doors to connection, understanding, empathy, and compassion. These experiences can bring us to harmony and peace. 

Let us practice the truth that we are emanations of God’s unconditional love. Let us live and have our being in a world that supports everyone. 

Some things I've learned...

Some things I've learned in almost 74 years on earth.

- Stand up for truth, justice, and true love (in all its forms).

- Practice empathy, compassion, forgiveness, and gratitude.

- Love yourself enough to take care of your mind, body, emotions, social interactions, and spiritual well being.

- Believe in something greater than you.

- Be in nature every day. Appreciate the plants, animals, flowers, birds, rocks, streams, sunlight on your shoulders, and the stars at night. 

- Let people know you love them. Hold nothing back. Life is not a dress rehearsal.

- Play, sing, dance, draw, write, and engage and participate in a variety of arts.

- Find the work that you love and fulfill your purpose.

- Let people know they matter.

- Be who you are. Everyone else is taken. Live the life you want. 

- Take care of your spouse. Express your love every day.

- If you have children, teach them the things you love. Observe what your children love and make that experience memorable.

- Learn, continue to learn, and learn some more.

Growing and changing

I believe every experience is an opportunity for learning. If something did not work out the way we wanted, it is not a failure, it is an opportunity to learn. The mistakes we make in life are opportunities to assess and choose differently next time. 

We are constantly growing and changing. Becoming fuller and healthier with each new choice. Our self awareness and self management grow with each new decision. Our world view expands with each new relationship. Our wisdom expands from birth to old age. Even our greatest pains are essential in our life learning. Through all my physical challenges (spinal injury, heart surgery) I have learned to ask for help. Through the experience of our daughter’s passing, I have learned that unconditional love has no boundaries and goes on forever. I have learned the grace of God is with us always. 

Do not waste precious time berating yourself. Self punishment leads to stagnation and illness. 

Reflect on each day. Be grateful. Commit to your chosen path with passion. Learn and act. 

A precious gift

There is a precious gift in each of us. In reflection, take time to be aware of the source of our ancestry. Become aware of our innate spirit. Become aware that integrity and love is our pathway home.

Education and selfless service to human kind will enable the healing of all. From this learning and service, we will all live more beautiful, fulfilled, joyful, and loving lives.

We are meant to fully realize the spirit within us. We are meant to enjoy our humanity.

May we all feel the Divinity within.

The Good

Good thoughts, good feelings, good actions. All for the greater good of all humanity. This is where we need to focus our energy. 

As we focus on positivity and good for everyone, the good increases and we all improve. Every new growth opportunity creates a new vision and every new vision leads to a greater and greater new creation. Progress is eternal and we are unlimited. 

There is no limit to the potential of the universe and we are part of this limitless universe. Every day is a new beginning. Every day we can make fresh and new. 

Let us use the skills and discipline of meditation, contemplation, positive thought and positive action to create the peaceful and loving world we need. 

You can do hard things

You can do hard things.

You can bear the unbearable.

How do I know this? Because, like you, I have done these things. We are human. I am your brother, your sister, your mother, your father, your friend. There is an ancient truth in us that knows we are here to transform beyond the illusion of loss. We are here to remember we are all one with the unconditional love of the infinite universe. 

Let us open our hearts wider than our sorrow. Let our arms open to share love, let our movement be towards service and compassion. Let us see as God sees. Let us love as God loves.

Diversity within Unity

Let us give our energy to unity, wholeness, and love.

All life is connected. We are all emanations of the Divine universal love. In this core belief, let us assess and examine our behaviors, relationships, goals, and actions through the lens of unity.

This is the reality of life. The exquisite paradox of diversity within unity. All life is difficult. We are all different and connected. It is only by striving for unity that we will survive. Let us meet the separation and pain of this life with the commitment to give our energy to unity and wholeness.

Let us trust in the spirit of unconditional love that is within all of us. 

Educators

“Do not neglect the gift that is you.” 2 Timothy 4:11

Educators are people of great faith. Educators believe in the ability and potential of their students. Educators see what is possible. Educators are possibly the ones who teach their students to think. They do not teach them what to think, they teach them to think. 

Every time we teach someone to think, we liberate them from the prison of indecision. Teaching someone to think brings them the freedom to make their own decisions. 

Trusting educators teach students to think. 

Educators have so much faith, they teach us to think. 

Thank you. 

Holding the hand

There is a particle of the Divine in each of us. There is an essence in us, that is a mystery that has its home in God. When we have completed our commitment here on earth, we return to our home in God. 

It has been a privilege to share the blessings of this life with each of you. We have spoken together, we have walked together, we have cried together, and we have laughed together. Our memories are full of love. 

So let us see each other through the eyes of serenity. Let us know that those we walk through this life with are holding the hands of God. 

Build Bridges

Building bridges has been one of the sacred commitments of my life. Bridges unite us, bridges connect us, bridges bring us options and choices. We build bridges with our hearts. An open heart with an open mind invites and welcomes, as my faith believes. Our bridges are built with kindness, compassion, empathy, trust, and respect. These are not soft skills. These take a lifetime of commitment and effort. These are the hard-earned skills of character building. 

So let us build our bridges of character. Let our character and courage carry us back and forth across the bridge of love. 

Lorenzo Quinn's Building Bridges

Venice, Italy

Transcendence

I recently attended a beautiful classical music concert. The orchestra and choir performed 2 hours of music by Bach. As I was transfixed, I became aware, I wasn’t just seeing singers, violinists, oboe. I was becoming part of the orchestra, part of the music. I was awakened to the reality that my appreciation for the music corresponded to who I am as a person. Through my senses, I was taking in beauty, love, and transformation.

We discover things outside ourselves that in reality are part of who we are. We do not appreciate the music, words, and actions of transcendence unless we join with them. We do not understand the meaning of transcendence unless there is something in us that understands the truth of our essence. 

All acts of creativity are a reciprocal transfer of universal energy. 

When we are in service

Love, commitment, trust, and integrity are sacred core values in my life. 

When we are the best versions of ourselves, we make contributions that make a positive impact on the world. When we see our sisters and brothers through the eyes of love, we close the gaps of perspective and understanding. As we commit to the time and effort to understand, we heal our hearts. And through miracle of empathy, we heal the hearts of others. It is then that we see through a friend-like lens and compassion begins to grow. 

So let us use ourselves in the service of kindness. Sometimes we know our service has made a positive impact and other times we give our best and yet we are not sure we have hit the mark. Let go of self evaluation and focus on intention. Where our intention is to serve the greater good. That is enough- you are enough. 

The best that we offer comes from those places that don’t have names. They are deep, mysterious, and universal. our greatest acts of service come from unconditional love. 

I am blessed

The seasons, months, and years change. A peace of heart and mind rests upon my soul. I still remember your perfect little nose, your delicate thin fingers, your deep brown eyes, and the scent of your baby hair. 

There remains an atmosphere of love. Your presence still fills my life. We share a knowing, an awareness of unconditional love. 

Your essence fills my world. And the pain that once filled your life, is gone. You are now free, part of the universal light and universal love. 

I am blessed to be your father.