A Message From “Paul From The Pocono’s”.

Posted on | April 24, 2015 | 1 Comment

Paul Boggia

Mike Magee

My brother-in-law, Paul, is visiting this weekend. He’s the director of the Main Street Counseling Center in Stroudsburg, PA. If you go to his site, you will find a Mission Statement which says, in part, “It is our belief that with the powerful healing combination of hope, compassion, and clinical expertise, every person who enters the Main Street Counseling Center can undergo a truly genuine, life-transforming, healing experience.” The site also says that they have attempted to create an environment “designed to foster a sense of peace and tranquility as you will experience the moment you enter.”

The Center does great work for a wide range of kids, adults, and families, many of whom struggle with very limited resources. I know this because I have been there. And much of the credit for creating this haven of peace goes to Paul. And much of the credit for making Paul who he is goes to my mother-in-law, June Davis Muller.

June Davis Muller

This week marked the 10th anniversary of her death, and without prompting, our daughter Meredith remembered her grandmother on her site, Homegrown Friends. Here is what she said:

“Today is the 10th anniversary of my Grandmother’s death. June Muller (the woman my little Charlotte June is named after) was remarkable to say the least. In her early 40s my Grandmother lost her husband leaving her to care for 10 children ages 1-14 by herself. She was a fighter, and yet a vision of peace. When so many people were telling her to split up her children and put them in various homes she kept every one together. She welcomed the poorest, loneliest people into her home on Christmas, despite the fact that she barely had enough for her own family. My grandmother understood that true wealth is found in your heart.”

“She could stretch a roast chicken to feed a week’s worth of hungry mouths (something I now do weekly). When I was 14 and really questioning organized religion I asked her if she thought I would go to Hell if I didn’t believe in religion. Without skipping a beat she said ‘No, but I think you’re dumb.’ Kinda loved her for that. My Grandmother’s faith in religion was endless.”

“She was incredibly intelligent graduating as salutatorian (probably missing valedictorian because she was a woman) and an amazing actress.”

“The last words she spoke to my mom and her sisters before she died were ‘Love and Laughter’. I can’t think of a better ending and mantra to remember my Grandmother by.”

Paul loves the US Postal Service. We get mail from him often, sometimes more than once a week. He always signs his postcards and notes, “Love, Brother Paul” or “Love, Paul from the Pocono’s”. We love getting mail from Paul.

This week he sent me an article, “How a garden can teach you creativity, spirituality and more”, written by William Hageman of the Chicago Tribune, and reprinted in the Pocono Record. It included an interview with gardening author, Fran Sorin, who wrote “Digging Deep: Unearthing Your Creative Roots Through Gardening”.

Paul sent me the article because he knows I love to garden – so does he. Sorin’s mantra is: “Play with dirt. Play with ides. Play with possibilities – every single day of your life.”

Hageman asked her why everyone doesn’t garden. Her response: “We are so disconnected from nature. There has been this profound impact of technology. And people are afraid to let their kids go out. We spend 90% of our time indoors. I saw a recent study of American parents, and the three biggest concerns for their kids were grades, bullying, and a lack of connection to nature. There is nothing like being on your knees, in the soil, digging deep.”

“What has your garden taught you?” asks the interviewer. “Patience, humility, connection, playfulness…I think you can take nature and learn everything from it.”

By the way, my mother-in-law’s home was always filled with plants.

For Health Commentary, I’m Mike Magee.

Category: happiness, Health Choices, prevention
Tags: creative gardening > fran sorin > gardening > healthy living > meditation > peace. > spirituality > william heageman

Comments

One Response to “A Message From “Paul From The Pocono’s”.”

Ethan
June 12th, 2015 @ 12:04 pm

Det bliver mere og mere in at meditere på arbejdspladser og skoler. Før i tiden havde man mange fordomme om meditation og troede at det var noget der tilhørte yogier, som boede oppe i himalayabjergene. I dag er vi i Vesten blevet klogere og ved at det har mange fordele, for vores velbefindende at give os selv et kvarters pusterum.

http://lifeisgreat.dk/events/meditation/