! *chagrin* !!!
I nearly forgot what day it is today, but thankfully The Anchoress reminded me. I've been waiting on one thing all day, I really need to get this one last action out before the end of the fiscal year (tomorrow is The Last Day for Fiscal Year 08), so I've been fretting about getting the quote which is 1) essential to finish and 2) the only thing I need to finish and 3) I don't have but 4) was promised by a Chicagoan named Liam that I would get it today. Oh, and 5) I told Jer (team leader) that I was gonna stick around today until I got it.
And, all the other news, and somehow having a much better news-memory than the news-people themselves, and fretting and fretting. . .
And I can't believe, despite it being scrawled on my calendar right next to Iruka-sensei's smmiling face, that today, today is one of the most important days of the year! (At least, to a Catholicish Nerd like me).
Because today (and I cannot believe I nearly forgot!), is Michaelmas!
Well, it's now the Feast of the Holy Archangels, because they decided to lump all those dear friends into one day, when they used to have seperate days-- and this was Michael's.
While I'm quite chargrined (you who know about me and Michael would understand the complete, wish-the-Earth-would-swallow-me-embarrasment), I'm also exceedingly grateful that it was this day that was chosen. The day before the end of the fiscal year, about one month before the elections, when the leaves on the trees are starting to catch alight with autumn's flame. . .
I'm grateful that my friend and sometimes metaphysical father figure (I've been known to refer to him as Dad from time to time. We'll not mention some other aspects of the relationship) is here to force me to a stop, like a brick wall saying "Yo, snap out of it!" Much as he literally did once upon a time. . .
It's good that this comes at the most stressful part of my year (work wise), and this year, in the middle of all this. . . this, whatever it is. [*flutters fingers into the ether, motioning vaguely toward the sticky, frenzied morass of Malkuth, the hurried, frenetic dance of thousands of little ants struggling through molassass.*]
It's a good reminder to just chill out, to remember that this, here, it not everything, or even a small part of everything. This is just the surface, like the surface of the ocean, roiling, perhaps, but in many ways the least important part of the sea. Just the edge, the part most visible, and most prone to upset but, all in all, nothing more than the boundary betwenn ocean and not-ocean. This day is a good reminder to not get caught up in the surface turbulance, the storms that skitter over top. Today is a good reminder to dive deep, into the cool and calm depths of everything that really is. As the Philosopher (and kickass martial artist) Bruce Lee once said, "Be like water, my friend."
My my, all this water, very Gabrielite. . . [*quirks eyebrow toward Goddess. Clearly, the Prophet is being unduly influenced*]
From a more Michaeline point of view, this end of September has one all aflame, but not with the flames we're supposed to be lit up with. We are supposed to burn with the Fires of Heaven, of the Holy Spirit, not the Flames of the World. Such fretting as I've been expiriencing comes from forgetting (for even a moment!) my priorities, the order things should be in.
Thinking on the angels reminds one of how they should approach the world, based on the characteristics of each angel. Raphael reminds us that our Minds should be clear, like Air. Gabriel reminds us that our Hearts should stay calm, like a silent pool of Water. Michael reminds us that our Soul must only burn with the Divine Fire. And for those who remember him. . . Uriel reminds us that our Physical-- the Temple of our Spirit-- is to be kept strong, like the very Earth itself.
*Sigh* I still haven't gotten that quote. But, having taken a little time. . . it's okay. Jer's been emailing Liam, I've been at my station. If I must wait, I will wait.
^___^ Have a good day everyone.
PS: . . . which should be easaier when you recall that the Redskins beat the Cowboys in Dallas yesterday!!!! Whoo-hooo! Yeah, baby!
PPS: Images by way of many people, originally from The Gryphon Rampant. Check 'em out! Buy their stuff! Help our economy!!!