… or lack of it. The storm here Friday afternoon wiped ours out. Earliest possible restoration Monday midnight or as late as Weds.…300,000 in SE Michigan lost power.

This has me reflecting: What is the source of my/our power? My literal one right now is a small generator, but enough to power this Mac at 1 AM when all else (some lights, fans, TV) is turned off . No AC, no stove or hot water (laundry), but enough! Gratitude for this device, which is essential for Hal‘s living as he needs oxygen and has essential medical lift devices (he is paralyzed) all needing electricity. Given its daily feeding of fuel, it runs well, though I’m told with a huge roar of sound which makes deafness a short-term blessing.

Wind & rain power at the lake beach Saturday, a second huge storm. Friends sheltering safely on a porch sent me a video of this tree falling!

Sun power, fueling my garden and warming my dog!
Lots of still-green tomatoes and baby squash too.

Love power; each visit, my granddaughter loves to brush Banner

I’m going with Love Power. Then I’m back to gratitude! We DO have a generator. So much of our world never has electricity! One of Hal’s longest-time caregivers (5 years) is from Ghana and is finishing an advanced nursing degree. Two years ago, when power was out (before the generator) I found him building a small fire in the back yard to cook our food. When I was surprised by his ingenuity he said, “I grew up in a village with no electricity!” Saturday night three of Hal’s caregivers and families, all with no power, brought food from warming refrigerators and we barbecued on this back deck -chicken, steak, hamburger, corn, salads… a lovely celebration: we are not powerless!

The greed and hatred in our world worries me as I know it worries you. Each loving gesture, each opening of our hearts, each sharing with others, each refusal to become caught in stories of hate and hopelessness, is the ground of our power to build the world we envision and seek.

I find it’s mostly fear that leads people to seek power over others, and to take more than their share. I must say “no” when people try to bully me that way, to try to force me or steal from me… but can I have compassion for us all as I go through that experience? My power is in learning to say both yes and no with love. Yours is too!

My power lies in mindfulness of arising fear and anger: kind intention not to manifest these in the world: awareness of the essence of compassion and loving kindness in each of us: and trust.

I AM love; you are love. We can do this! Aaron reminds me it’s what we came for.

Thanks to google for this image