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Lent is over and Catholics on Holy Saturday await Easter

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Soundtrack: These days I toggle back and forth between Taylor Swift’s latest albums (Folklore and Evermore), the yoga class playlists I create on Spotify — you can follow my Spotify channel HERE — and my latest Audible purchase, in this case Beauty: The Invisible Embrace by Irish poet John O’Donohue. I have been totally enthralled with the gorgeous readings of poets O’Donohue and David Whyte. My previous Audible listen had been Being Ram Dass, which was pretty good although I will admit that I made it through “only” 15 of the 18 hours. I had to surrender at that point.

Bookshelf: I just finished Dusk Night Dawn: On Revival and Courage by Anne Lamott, which at times made me laugh out loud and at other times made me long for the Anne Lamott whose writing I fell in love with years ago. This one felt a little rushed, like she needed to get a COVID-related book out there before it was too late. I would have preferred a more thoughtful book that did not need to respond to COVID but responded instead to the human condition that exists with or without a pandemic. Maybe I was just cranky when I read it. Still worth your time, for sure, especially if you are a Lamott fan. I guess I just expect more from one of my writing heroes. I am currently reading a bunch of yoga-related books, including Radiant Rest: Yoga Nidra for Deep Relaxation and Awakened Clarity by Tracee Stanley. This is a book that’s as beautiful to look at and hold as it is to read. And, of course, I’ve been reading along with my own book of Lenten reflections, Not By Bread Alone. It’s always interesting to me to see what I wrote more than a year ago and how it applies to life today.

Menu: We opted to do a big Palm Sunday dinner yesterday since ham is not something our girls will eat — one vegetarian and one who eats only poultry. It was nice to set the dining room table on a non-holiday and break out the good china. Alongside our ham was homemade mac and cheese and roasted asparagus. We’ll be doing chicken/tofu parm and pasta for Easter dinner, so that’s something delicious to look forward to. Dennis has been cooking up lots of amazing meals lately — Thai chicken, pork chops pizzaiola, turkey dinners on random weekends. We’ve been eating far too well over here, and the scale shows it.

Viewfinder: I’m loving the signs of spring outside my window and the funny furry friends who keep us company every day. I remember at this time last year how consumed I was with the birds at the feeder and the bright green buds pushing up through the earth. Every single thing felt like a sign of hope in the midst of fear. This year it feels like a sign of hope that we have made it through the worst of the pandemic. I am already getting out onto our deck every time the temps rise and the sun comes out, sipping my coffee or wine (depending on the hour) and listening to the persistent cardinals high up in the trees calling to one another and the less showy but still delightful sparrows and juncos and robins pecking around near the feeder. Life is good. Here are a few shots:

Datebook: The big news at our house is that four out of five Pousts have received our first vaccines, all last week in four different locations. It felt like a great sigh of relief, and I can’t wait until we can get our second round. Easter is just a few days away, so that will be a day to celebrate, especially since we will see Olivia this week for the first time in months. I’ll be at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany on Easter morning for Mass with Bishop Scharfenberger at 11 a.m. Join us if you’re in town! And a few weeks down the road is Chiara’s Confirmation. Since she has chosen my dad as her sponsor (and Helena as her name in honor of my paternal grandmother) I’m hoping my dad and stepmom will be able to visit. We have not seen them since Christmas 2019, which is just crazy. Can’t wait to be together again.

GPS: Other than my excursion up to South Glens Falls to get my vaccine, my beautiful “lava-orange” Sante Fe doesn’t get much of a workout. I head into the office three days a week now and over to Jai Yoga School several times a week to teach or take classes. That’s pretty much the confines of my world at this point. Oh, and physical therapy for a back issue, although I hope that will wrap up this week. Essentially I don’t need a GPS and rarely drive more than six miles at a clip. I’m hoping that as the weather improves and our vaccines kick in that will change. Maybe we’ll even get to go on a vacation this summer, although that’s still a long shot. Here’s hoping, for all of us.

Have a peaceful and prayerful Holy Week. Spend some time in silence in the presence of God, even if you can’t get to a church due to COVID concerns. Just make some time to be present to this special time in our Church year. If you’d like a little Holy Week inspiration, check out this beautiful video message from Lutheran pastor Nadia Bolz Weber:

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Soundtrack: I’m toggling between a few things: Advent at Ephesus by the Benedictines of Mary. Gorgeous! The playlists I create for my yoga classes, which you can find on my Spotify. And yet another new Taylor Swift album, Evermore. And, of course, the occasional Christmas carols. Lots of good music going on over here.

Bookshelf: As it turns out, I’m toggling over in the the book department as well. On my nightstand in hard copy format is The Long Loneliness by Dorothy Day, which I have started multiple times and am now finally getting around to reading fully. Powerful. When I’m in my car I’m listening to Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty on Audible. Loving this one so much I’ll probably buy the hard copy as well. Lots of helpful tips for prioritizing our lives and living more fully.

Menu: It’s been a carb-heavy season so far, much to the chagrin of my waistband. Homemade pizza last night, pasta and meatballs the night before. Mexican ordered from Los Panchos in Delmar — delish! That’s become a pandemic favorite. It’s among some of the local restaurants we had never visited or ordered from until COVID hit. La Empanada Llama is another new favorite for orders in. If you’re local, give them a try!

Viewfinder: Since I’m teaching so much yoga these days, lots of photos of Jai Yoga School or home yoga practice make their way into my feed. In addition, I’m doing an Instagram series on Christmas ornaments we pick up whenever we travel. Ornaments on location. Here are a couple of images from both series. And, if you don’t already follow me on Instagram, you’ll find me @MaryDTP518.

Datebook: In addition to working from home most days with visits to my “real” office once or twice a week, I am teaching at Jai two times per week, sometimes more if I’m subbing, as has been the case the past two weeks. You can find me in-studio or online for Gentle Yoga on Sundays at 11:!5 a.m. and for Invigorating Gentle on Mondays at 6 p.m. Today (Dec. 14) I also happen to be teaching Detox Yoga at 4:30 p.m. If you’d like to join me in-person or online, register at Jai Yoga School.

GPS: Not a lot of traveling these days. Most days my car doesn’t leave the garage. It pretty much drives to Jai Yoga School and back. That’s about it. We didn’t travel for Thanksgiving and we won’t be traveling for Christmas, because COVID. Stay home, stay safe, wear your mask when you’re out. This has been a Public Service Announcement.

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So that beautiful blossom you see here? We all know what’s just on the other side of surrender. Blossoming, beauty, transformation. The same is true for us, if we trust the process. This week, can you loosen your grip and let go enough to begin the transformation. It doesn’t have to be all at once. Even just a small loosening will allow your petals to unfurl. Blossom today, right where you are planted.

And now, on to the rest of our show.

Bookshelf: I always have multiple books going, usually a few different types. I can only read one novel at a time, and at this point that novel is The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett. This book has been sitting on my bookshelf unread for years. Not sure why. But, last week, when I was going remote camping, I needed something light and okay to get wet, so I decided that was the book. I’m loving it, but I’ve always loved Ann Patchett. (If you haven’t read State of Wonder, go get it and dive in. So amazing.) I am also just starting Mary Karr’s The Art of Memoir, which I picked up at at Dove & Hudson used books in Albany recently. It had been on my Amazon Wish List for years. Now it’s on my nightstand. I’ve become a big fan of memoir in the past couple of years. I can’t imagine I’ll ever write one, but I’m intrigued by how others do.

Soundtrack: I haven’t been listening to a ton of music lately, but when I do it’s often the new Taylor Swift album, Folklore. It’s a beautiful album. Even if you’re not typically a Swiftie, it’s worth checking out. I also tend to listen to a lot of spiritual music that verges on weird. Okay, it’s straight up weird. Wahe Guru by White Sun is one of my current favorites. I find it so soothing. Sometimes I just tell Alexa to play it while I’m making the bed or getting dressed. Calms my nerves. Now, what I AM listening to regularly, are my latest Audible selections. I just finished I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou — and read by Maya Angelou. Powerful, poetic, painful. If you have never read this book, I highly recommend listening to Maya tell her story. I’m following that up with Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequest. Another beautiful book, one I wish I would have written. As the title suggests, it’s about being present in our own lives in a very God-centered way. I may buy the hard copy after I finish the audio version.

Viewfinder: So much beauty out there in the world, despite the challenges we all face, individually and collectively, these days. I cannot get enough of the Rose of Sharon in my backyard and the birds and bees flying around and entertaining me on a full-time basis. Here are a couple of shots from the yard:

Menu: Lots of fresh produce this time of year, so that means lots of good meals, some cooked over a campfire. (A special kind of awesome.) Just yesterday I made Giambotta, which is the Italian version of Ratatouille, a vegetable stew chock full of summer goodness: eggplant, zucchini, green beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and garlic, of course. Oh and lots of fresh basil torn up and thrown in at the last minute. You can serve it over crusty bread, over rice or couscous, or over pasta, as was our preference (big surprise). Here’s a photo of the end result:

GPS: We did not get to do a family vacation this year due to COVID, so that was a great disappointment, but I was lucky enough to be able to catch a few days of mother-daughter camping with Chiara up in the Adirondack Mountains. We spent one day at Pyramid Life Center before heading to a remote camp site nearby. What makes it remote? We have to bring all our gear in by canoe and kayak. We paddle everything across the lake, firewood included, and set up camp in a beautiful little spot where we can listen to the loons as we sleep in our tent at night, float around in crystal clear water, read as we swing in a travel hammock or sit by the fire, and generally forget the real world. There is zero cell service, which is a beautiful thing. And I get to spend quality time with my daughter and another mom-daughter duo.

Datebook: Some good news on the datebook front. Finally after months of quarantine and social distancing. The retreat I’m leading at Pyramid Life Center in September is ON. I have nine people signed up so far. Room for about 10 more while maintaining social distance requirements. Stillpoint: Creating Calm amid the Chaos will be offered Sept. 11-13 at the always beautiful Pyramid Life Center. It will be semi-silent (silent breakfasts and evenings after closing talks). There will be an opportunity for kayaking, hiking, collaging, journaling, praying, talking, and, above all, resting and renewing. The cost is only $150 and that includes the retreat, rustic accommodations, and all meals, all in a socially distanced setting. Below is a photo from my recent visit to Pyramid and one from a previous retreat. Sign up HERE if you’re interested (just scroll down in the dropdown until you see Stillpoint), or shoot me an email if you have additional questions.

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Bookshelf: So this weekend I thought I’d thin out my book collection. It didn’t take long for me to remember that there’s a very good reason my book collection is out of control: I love them all!!! Even the ones I never finished, or haven’t yet picked up. Almost all of my books have some sort of story or connection attached. It was a favorite book during college, it was the book that got me to expand my writing, it was the novel that sucked me in and changed me forever, it was the spiritual book that introduced me to new places in my soul. Bottom line: No books were harmed during this exercise. In fact, I had two more books arrive via Sunday USPS delivery: Rewilding: Meditations, Practices, and Skills for Awakening Nature, which may have been an overreach on my part since it looks very outdoorsy and challenging, and One Degree Revolution: How the Wisdom of Yoga Inspires Small Shifts that Lead to Big Changes,” which looks like the perfect complement to my yoga teacher training and life in general during this time of isolation. I’ll let you know if I tackle any of the fire-stoking, shelter-building and trail-blazing in Rewilding. If you don’t hear from me for a while, send a search party. I’m lost and completely ill-equipped to forage for food (another activity in this book).

Now Playing: This isn’t really playing now, because I’ve already seen it, although it’s free for viewing during the pandemic, so I might watch it again, and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves silence or wants to learn to love silence: In Pursuit of Silence, a meditative exploration of our relationship with silence, sound and the impact of noise on our lives. You can watch it free HERE. I loved this so much that I then purchased Notes on Silence by Cassidy Hall and Patrick Shen. It’s so marked up with neon pink post-it notes, the pages are more marked than unmarked. Check it out, and let me know what you think. And if you try these and want more, go check out the podcast Encountering Silence, which is what I used to listen to as I drove to and from work — back when I used to have to leave the house to work.

Soundtrack: Although music is a staple here in the Poust House, this week I have to share with you the Audible book I am devouring: What to Remember When Waking: The Disciplines of an Everyday Life, by poet David Whyte. I ended up with this book because Audible recommended it for me. I had never heard of it before and clicked the “purchase” button because I figured, Why not? It sounded pretty good. Oh, it is SO much better than good. It is beautiful, astounding, heartbreaking, soul-filling, mind-stretching… I could go on. I plan to buy the print book, because see above adjectives, but if you are going to give this book a try, by all means, go with Audible. His reading of this book is as good as the writing of this book. I actually found myself weeping at one point when the author read one of his poems about his daughter and the slant of light on her palm as he carried her. It is a gorgeous book that I believe I’ll come back to again and again whenever I need a dose of beauty, peace, inspiration, and perhaps a nudge toward transformation. Go buy it. You won’t be disappointed.

Viewfinder: My camera is usually pointed at something we’re serving up for dinner or something spotted in my yard. It’s that kind of pandemic. Maybe that will change in the not-too-distant future. Let’s hope. But here’s a quick glimpse of what I’ve been seeing and snapping this week:

Menu: Lots of good food happening over here, but this was definitely one of the highlights: a nutella-strawberry crepe whipped up for me by Olivia. It was unbelievably delicious, and I am unbelievably spoiled.

GPS: I have not left the premises since the April 29 outing I posted about here last week. How crazy is that?!? Still locked down. Although I have to admit that I am pretty content living within the confines of my house and yard and slowing down long enough to soak up the everyday beauty all around me. Not that there aren’t also everyday annoyances, but, overall, I’m pretty lucky to be locked down in such a beautiful, comfortable spot with my whole family at home. #grateful

Datebook: Coming up on May 23 is my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training midterm. I have not taken a midterm since I graduated from college in 1984. The struggle is real, especially when anatomy is involved. But, I’m chugging along, taking practice tests, reading and re-reading and trying to remember where the heck the “h” goes in every Sanskrit word. Is it after the “b” and “v” but not after the “d.” I’m working on it folks, getting closer every day. I am so excited to be shifting back into forward motion on this training and to know that maybe certification and registration as a yoga teacher is not that far away. This goal has been a long time in the making.

See you next week. Stay safe, stay happy, stay true to you.

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Bookshelf: As is almost always the case for me, I am currently reading about five different books, while also listening to something on Audible, which has become one of my favorite ways to devour books ever since Dennis gave me a subscription for Christmas 2018. But I’m very particular about what kind of books I will consume via audio. (A post for another day!) Rather than give you all of the books I’m reading now, I’ll give you one, the first book I read every day. I’ll cover the rest in future posts. Every morning I read a daily reflection from Mark Nepo’s The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life you Have. I love, love, love this book, even though there are days when some internal barrier doesn’t want to let in his beautiful suggestions and I find myself silently shaking my head no. Clearly that’s a sign I need to stay with that particular reflection for more than a few minutes, maybe for more than a few days. If you’re looking for a book of daily reflections, this is one to check out.

Now Playing: We just finished After Life, the Netflix series created by (and starring) Ricky Gervais. Funny but also thoughtful. During the last few episodes I found myself crying, so be warned if you think this is just going to be a lot of Gervais snark, although there is definitely plenty of that. It’s actually a really healthy look at grief but with doses of humor. Be warned, heavy British accents. In fact, Dennis was saying he wished we’d watched with subtitles since some characters were really hard to understand at times. We’ve now moved on to Dead to Me, the Netflix series starring Christina Applegate. (I sense a death-centric theme in our viewing choices.) This one is good but really strange. Still, we found ourselves dissecting it over lunch and trying to figure out where it was going, so probably deceptively good because it’s gotten under our skin.

Soundtrack: This category is a little like the bookshelf; there’s a lot going on here on any given day. Lately we’ve got a few things that seem to be surfacing again and again: Good Souls Better Angels, the new Lucinda Williams’ album, brilliant as always; the new Bob Dylan songs that appear out of the blue, including the 17-minute “Murder Most Foul”; the new Stones song, “Living in a Ghost Town”; whatever the girls happen to be blasting, which was “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John yesterday and the soundtrack from Camp Rock (!) today; and various and sundry weird yoga-related music that I will tell Alexa to play whenever the Spirit moves me. Put on some music and sing and dance. I promise it will make you feel a whole lot better about being cooped up.

Viewfinder: Birds, flowers, bright green leaves and clear blue skies. I am totally obsessed with the bird feeder, the bunnies, the chipmunks, and the little creature kingdom outside my window. Cannot get enough. I’ve even been known to stand in my kitchen with binoculars on days when it’s too cold to go out and stalk them with my camera.

Menu: Tonight we are having a delicious slow-cooker Thai chicken that is one of Dennis’ specialities. It will be served over Basmati rice with steamed snow peas on the side. Amazingly delicious and healthy as well. We’ve been eating really well during the pandemic, too well, since we’re all home and have plenty of time to cook. It’s been so nice to have everyone around the kitchen table every night with one great meal after another. That’s one thing I’ll miss when this is over and the busyness of real life intrudes into the quiet slowness of pandemic, at least in our household.

GPS: As is the case for most of us, the GPS has been idling since lockdown on March 17. I have not driven a car since I came home from work on March 16, the longest I’ve gone without driving since I was 17. Dennis does all our shopping, and the one time we did go out, I meant to drive one way but forgot to take the wheel. Our one adventure was on our 25th wedding anniversary. Instead of going to Madrid — our original plan — we headed up to Peebles Island State Park where we took a walk around the beautiful grounds and even caught sight of a bald eagle in its nest. Here’s a view through my zoom lens. The one below it gives you perspective on how far from it I was and where we were standing. I was in awe of this bird.

Datebook: Yesterday was supposed to be my graduation from 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. I can’t tell you how disappointing it is that we didn’t graduate and still don’t have a timeline for when that will happen — because no one has a timeline for anything these days. Still, I’m keeping up with my yoga almost daily and staying strong. This was one of my proudest yoga moments since lockdown began, nailing Bakasana, aka Crow. I can’t wait to be back with my prabhus at Jai Yoga School!

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I have been so touched by your willingness to share your own faith stories and to talk openly about your struggles, accomplishments and moments of crisis. Our community of blog regulars might be small, but you are mighty and devoted little band of followers. You constantly remind me that being willing and able to share the secrets of my soul is not only a great opportunity for spiritual growth but for personal transformation.

In a world where we are often far from family and cut off from daily interactions with friends, this virtual community can serve as touchstone, buoying us up when we are starting to list. Every once in a while when I start to wonder if I am just spewing my spiritual insecurities to no one in particular, a virtual version of talking to myself, I inevitably receive a comment or email telling me how something on the blog struck a chord or gave someone a feeling of peace. I can assure you that when I started this blog all those years ago, I never imagined that I would be granted such access to other people’s spiritual thoughts and lives. I am humbled and grateful.

Going forward, I hope to be back here more frequently with new writings, retreat offerings, and maybe even a podcast. I bought the microphone and equipment. It’s all sitting in my basement office. I just need to figure out how to make it go and what to say — minor technicalities! So watch for that down the road. I’m also in the process of taking yoga teacher training, something I have wanted to do for 30 years. By Mother’s Day, I hope to be certified, and, when that happens, I hope to bring this physical movement into my existing spiritual offerings to help others find a way to quiet their busy bodies for deeper prayer.

Thanks again for sticking with me. You are a blessing in my life. Peace and Love, Mary.

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Those two letters made me wonder how we can bring peace and unity to our world when we can’t even find it in our own Church. The beauty of our faith is that we have an almost limitless supply of prayer possibilities that offer us the opportunity to deepen our relationship with God daily, whether we do that in silence on a cushion, on our knees before a candlelit altar, or even in our sneakers on a jog through the neighborhood.

Today’s Gospel message is one we would do well to take to heart in this climate of growing intolerance: “Whoever is not against you is for you.” If we are praying and working and acting in the name of Jesus as we go about our lives, what does it matter if my way isn’t your way and vice versa? As long as we are all on The Way, we can’t go wrong. Division serves no one, least of all the One who matters most.

Mary DeTurris Poust, “For and Against,” from the September 2019 issue of Give Us This Day www.giveusthisday.org (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2019). Used with permission.

Photo by Robert Koorenny on Unsplash

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Why am I so passionate about something that many people (wrongly) feel ashamed to talk about? Because I would rather talk about this disease and pay attention to this disease than die of it, which is what my mother did just about 30 years ago at the ripe old age of only 47. So, listen up, people.

If caught early, colon cancer is a curable disease. If not caught early, it will kill you. Sometimes very quickly. My mother had months not years, and not very good months considering what they did to try to save her. So, for your health, for your family, for anyone who cares about you, go get a colonoscopy as soon as you can if you are over 50 and have never had one, or if you are under 50 but have a family history of colon cancer or any diseases of the colon. It is not as bad as you would imagine. Really. I’ve had four so far and the advances they’ve made in the prep work that needs to be done is remarkable. The first two experiences were like night and day, and I can honestly say that I no longer fear the next one, which, I am happy to say, has been moved out from every two-to-three years to every five years, thanks to my sterling record.

In addition to getting a test to makes sure you don’t already have colon cancer or the polyps that can lead to cancer, you can also take some steps to try to prevent colon cancer. Increase fiber, decrease meat. Yes, that’s right. Cut down on meat. It’s something I need to remember. There was a time I was a vegetarian precisely for this reason, but now I’ve gotten lazy and complacent and pile on the animal fat with abandon. Not good. Red meat, especially, is no friend to the colon. Cut it out or at least cut it down. High fat diets aren’t so great either. Click HERE to read about dietary suggestions for colon health.

If you want more information on the signs and symptoms of colon cancer, testing, prevention and more, go to the American Cancer Society by clicking HERE. Now, go call your doctor and make an appointment before I put up photos of someone’s unhealthy colon just to scare you.

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