A Cup of Kindness: Rev. Bob Estling

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear
. . .
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet
For days of auld lang syne*

In December 2002, nine years to the month before Rev. Dr. Robert S. Estling* made a peaceful transition, my spiritual journey turned away from Florida to India, ending my mentorship by Rev. Bob at the Seraphim Center,* founded by him and his wife, Rev. Janet Claire Moore, in 1998. During five years of learning from his rich spiritual wisdom, I had completed an Interfaith Ministerial Ordination,* and a four-year practice of Intuitive Emotional Health Counseling.

My initiation into kindness unexpectedly happened in August 1997, at 11 p.m., as a guest on the houseboat of friends that was moored in Miami, Florida. After wrapping up a workshop, I had arrived late at the houseboat and was in bed on the second-floor deck. "As I listened to water lapping the sides with my notepad on my lap, I began writing automatically. My pen moved across the paper without any thought: 'No matter what he says or does, you are only to treat him with kindness. It has taken him many lifetimes to prepare for this one with you.' I knew immediately who the words were about—they could only be about Jesse, [a man I barely knew]. But the words were for me alone. To be in a place of love, no matter what was said or done would be training that was far beyond what I knew then."* I began to practice kindness with fresh awareness of its new coloring—until, about fifteen years later, with a second book editor,* I thought to ask her about my message to be kind to one particular man, without matter for his words or behavior. Her words surprised me. I felt inner warmth, pleasure, and gratitude as she told me that kindness is the highest form of love.

In remembering Rev. Bob from April 1998 through December 2002, these are two of the many moments I savor from his cup of kindness.

In 1998, I was seated in a large circle of listeners seated around Rev. Bob, who was talking about spiritual views. By now his soft voice was familiar to me. Shifting his attention to each of our faces, he spoke slowly to help us absorb the meaning of each of his points and regularly interrupted himself with little smiles of encouragement. At one point, a loud male voice broke into our silent attentiveness with an emphatic B--- S---! In the immediate, stunned silence, Rev. Bob's low voice pleasantly continued with—"Belief System."

Following the first Seraphim Center ordination of the Alliance of Divine Love ministers, my new friendship with Rev. Darlene White Morning Glory* continued in an excited sharing of our decisions to engage in the one-year required internship. When we heard about a new minister who intended not to participate, we immediately went to Rev. Bob to offer our help with the supervision of internships. Brushing aside our offer, with his eyes twinkling, he instead elaborated enthusiastically about how Rev. Darlene and I were going to benefit from our own personal commitments to the internships. Then he ended the conversation with his usual big smile. After we thanked him, I walked away aware of my gratitude. Once again—as had often been repeated—he had given me the higher truth of life.

My realization is, "True kindness* comes from the heart, and has the strength to last in memory."

* Dougie MacLean - Auld Lang Syne, Scottish song with words attributed to the national poet of Scotland, Robert Burns. Lewis, Robert. John. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 8th ed., “Internet.” 20 vols. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2009. The composer is not definitely known. In English-speaking countries, the first verse and chorus are now closely associated with the New Year festival. (Britannica resource info) (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Auld-Lang-Syne BY Robert Lewis) The Canadian-born bandleader Guy Lombardo helped make “Auld Lang Syne” a New Year’s Eve tradition in North America. His band, the Royal Canadians, played the song at the turn of the new year in a series of popular radio (and later television) broadcasts that began on December 31, 1929, and continued for more than 30 years. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Auld-Lang-Syne

*  Robert Stanwood Estling, https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/gainesville/name/robert-estling-obituary?id=9799625

* Seraphim Center, Rev. Dr. Janet Claire Moore, Senior Minister writes, “The Seraphim Center is an interfaith spiritual center, dedicated to the Light. … The Seraphim Center honors healing in all aspects: Both traditional and non-traditional methods are acceptable, as are the varied methods of divination. We believe that our planet and all life on it are precious, and are meant to be cherished, nurtured, and respected; and that we are to live our lives as best we can in joyfulness, peace, gratitude, and love.”

* Alliance of Divine Love, The Alliance of Divine Love (ADL) trains and supports ministers to counsel, heal, teach and contribute to those in need and those seeking to awaken to their higher consciousness as they are divinely guided. https://www.allianceofdivinelove.org

* Prema Jasmine Camp, A Flower for God: A Memoir (Seattle, WA: Wilson Duke Press, 2021, p. 200.

* Rosie Pearson, Editor Rosie Pearson:* Spiritual Light, Inspirer and Guide, Expert on Grammar, Reiki Teacher … and Bosom Buddy. Message shared on Feb 14, 2018. Read about Rosie at www.editorrosie.net and www.entertheflow.net

* Rev. Darlene White Morning Glory: Reverend Darlene White Morning Glory. Message shared on April 29, 2015.

* Kindness, https://www.fatherly.com/love-money/nice-vs-kind-big-difference-why-it-matters/

Christmas

Bird Feeders

Snowflakes softly called me to my window,

opened.

My bare arm extended

above the bed

of dormant rhododendrons,

a memory, from across the yards,

returned from days of watching

my neighbor's birds

at her feeder,

that also came to mine.

My arm, resting on the light covering,

felt chilly. More snow

was due

that week of waiting.

Many years have gone by.

I had a small angel

with a broken wing, a crystal

star,

 Scandinavian figures that weren't Santa,

but Christmassy.

One year,

I took them off the kitchen table,

carrying

each

to hang

on low branches
of a tree whose name

is lost to memory.

It had to be taken

down.

But memories,

recorded well,

stay,

as with this month,

one that cheers my heart.

My realization is, "Christmas may bring more than gifts in paper and ribbons; it may also bring memories of other Christmases as gifts unwrapped.”

Reaching

Photo courtesy of Craig M. Brandt

Snow has fallen on autumn leaves. Fading, still mutely attractive, I see the leaves reaching. "What are you reaching for," I ask—already having the answer. Their chemical promptings have been toward the burning of leaves raked and piled, the match lit, air igniting, and dryness consumed. The cooled ashes might mingle with soil or raked thin, blow up and down the street. "Leaves, your renewal will take months," I tell them. Then winter comes.

By March, the first buds, bark brown, will appear on the deciduous trees, tree eyes watching that will open and grow until surroundings are crowded again by green color. And summer is reached.

My life has been an unwinding for two years—the writing of a book, done. Daily thoughts spoke, Let go. Let go more. Furniture, storage cabinets, and appliances waited on the front porch for the men I gave my things to, bringing tempos for transport. The families' older ones, and the young children, will enjoy a broad chair, with its strong supporting back, and its smooth wooden arms for all size hands. I smiled at the men as each tempo left—my smile returned.

For months I have been reaching for a return to my home country, America. I am still reaching. But I remember the leaves . . .

My realization is, "As we are changing, attuning to the patterns of nature offers us awareness of our fellow travelers in their changing."