The Most Beautiful Flower
Perhaps he'd been blessed with true sight from his heart ...

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read
Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree.
Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown,
For the world was intent on dragging me down.

And if that weren't enough to ruin my day,
A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play.
He stood right before me with his head tilted down
And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!"

In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight,
With its petals all worn, not enough rain or too little light.
Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play,
I faked a small smile and then shifted away.

But instead of retreating, he sat next to my side
And placed the flower to his nose and declared with overacted surprise,
"It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too.
That's why I picked it; here, it's for you."

The weed before me was dying or dead.
Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow or red.
But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave.
So I reached for the flower, and replied, "Just what I need."

But instead of him placing the flower in my hand,
He held it mid-air without reason or plan.
It was then that I noticed for the very first time
That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind.

I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun
As I thanked him for picking the very best one.
"You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play,
Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day.

I sat there and wondered how he managed to see
A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.
How did he know of my self-indulged plight?
Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight.

Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see
The problem was not with the world; the problem was me.
And for all of those times, I myself had been blind,
I vowed to see the beauty in life, and appreciate every second that's mine.

And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose
And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose
And smiled as I watched that young boy, another weed in his hand
About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

~Author Unknown~

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As You Go Through Life

Set your own pace ... When someone is pushing you,
 it's ok to tell them they're pushing.
Take nothing for granted ... Watch water flow, the corn grow,
the leaves blow, your neighbors mow.
Allow yourself time to be lazy and unproductive ...
Rest isn't a luxury, it's a necessity.
Listen to the wind blow ... It carries a message of yesterday
and tomorrow ... And now ... Now counts.
Rest on your laurels ... They bring comfort whatever their size,
age or condition.
Talk slower. Talk less. Don't talk.
Communication isn't measured by words.
Give yourself permission to be late sometimes ...
Life is for living, not scheduling.
Listen to the song of a bird ...The complete song. Music and nature
are gifts, but only if you are willing to receive them.
Slow down. God is still in heaven ... You are not responsible
for doing it all yourself ... right now.
Remember a happy, peaceful time in your past ... Rest there.
Each moment has a richness that takes a lifetime to savor.
Quit planning how you're going to use what you know,
learn or possess ... God's gifts just are.
Be grateful and their purpose will be clear.
When you walk with someone, don't think about what you'll say next ...
Thoughts will spring up naturally if you let them.
Talk and play with children ... It will bring out the unhurried
little person inside you.
Create a place in your home ... At your work ... in your heart ...
where you can go for quiet and recollection.
You deserve it.
Take time to think ... Action is good and necessary,
but it's fruitful only if we muse, ponder and mull.
Make time for play ... The things you like to do. Whatever your age,
your inner child needs re-creation.
Watch and listen to the night sky ... It speaks.
Listen to the words you speak ... Especially in prayer.
Learn to stand back and let others take their turn as leaders ...
There will always be new opportunities for you to step out in front
again.
Divide big jobs into little jobs ... If God took six days to create
the universe, can you do any better?
Direct your life with purposeful choices, not with speed and efficiency ...
 The best musician is one who plays with expression and meaning,
 not the one who finishes first.
Take a day off alone ... Make a retreat. You can learn from
monks and hermits without becoming one.
Pet a furry friend ... You will give and get the gift of now.
Work with your hands ... It frees the mind.
Take time to wonder ... Without wonder, life is merely an existence.
Sit in the dark ... it will treat you to see and hear,
 taste and smell.
Once in awhile ... Turn down the lights, The throttle,
The invitations. Less really can be more.
Let go ... Nothing is usually the hardest thing to do ...
but often it is the best.
Taste your food ... God gave it to delight as well as nourish.
Notice the sun and the moon as they rise and set ...
They are remarkable for their steady pattern of movement,
not their speed.
And as you ramble on thru life my dearest friend ...
Keep your eye upon the doughnut, which is all you have ...
and not upon the hole ... the small part missing.
"AND SLOWLY COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS ONE AT A TIME"

Author Unknown

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The Seven Wonders of the World

1.  to see
  2.  to taste
    3.  to touch
 4.  to hear
5.  to feel
   6.  to laugh
7.  to love

Those things we overlook as simple as "ordinary" ...
are truly wondrous.

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Make Every Day Count?

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away
that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose,
to teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out
who you are or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be
(possibly your roommate, neighbor, professor, boyfriend/girlfriend,
long lost friend, or even a complete stranger), but when you lock eyes with them,
or feel their energy, you know at that very moment
they will affect your life in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful,
and unfair at first, but in reflection,
you find that without overcoming the obstacles
you would have never realized your potential,
strength, willpower, or heart. Everything happens for a reason.

Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck.
Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness,
and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul.
Without these small tests,
whatever they may be,
life would be like a smoothly paved, straight,
flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable,
but dull and the utter downfalls you experience,
help to create who you are and who you become.
Even the bad experiences can be learned from.
In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them,
they have helped you learn about trust and importance of being cautious
when you open your heart.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally,
not only because they love you, but because in a way,
they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

Make every day count.

Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything
that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again.
Talk to people that you have never talked to before and actually listen.
Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high.
Hold your head up because you have every right to.

Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself,
for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.

You can make of your life anything you wish.
Create your own life because you never know
what tomorrow may have in store.

And learn a lesson in life each day you live.

Today is the tomorrow you were worried about yesterday.
Was it worth it?

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Let It Be ...

To let be doesn't mean to stop caring ... It means I can't do it for someone else.

To let be is not to cut myself off....
It's the realization that I can't control another ...

To let be is not to enable ...
but to allow learning from natural consequences.

To let be is to admit powerlessness ...
which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To let be is not to try and change or blame another ...
I can only change myself.

To let be is not to care for ...  but to care about.

To let be is not to fix ... but to be supportive.

To let be is not to judge ...
but to allow another to be a human being.

To let be is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes ...
 but to allow others to affect their own outcomes.

To let be is not to be protective ... It is to permit another to face reality.

To let be is not to deny ... but to accept.

To let be is not to nag, scold, or argue ...
 but to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To let be is not to adjust everything to my desires ...
 but to take each day as it comes and cherish the moment.

To let be is not to criticize and regulate anyone ...
 but to try to become what I dream I can be.

To let be is not to regret the past ... but to grow and live for the future.

To let be  ... is to fear less  ... and love more dear ones.

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Words of Wisdom

Subject: Words of Wisdom

(1) God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.

(2) Dear God, I have a problem, it's me.

(3) Growing old is inevitable, growing UP is optional.

(4) There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.

(5) Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.

(6) Do the math....count your blessings.

(7) Faith is the ability to not panic.

(8) Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.

(9) If you worry, you didn't pray. If you pray, don't worry.

(10) As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home everyday.

(11) Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.

(12) The most important things in your home are the people.

(13) When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be
still so He can untangle the knot.

(14) A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.

(15) He who dies with the most toys is still dead.

(16) We do not remember days, but moments. Life is moving too fast -
so enjoy your precious moments.

(18) Nothing is real to you until you experience it,
otherwise it's just hearsay.

(19) It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again.
Just be sure to flush when you are done.

(20) Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage.
The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk taking.
Learn from the turtle, it only makes progress when it sticks out it's neck.

(21) Life is uncertain; eat desert first.

(22) Be more concerned with your character than your reputation,
because your character is what you really are,
while your reputation is merely what others think you are."

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Walking by the Sea ...

Walking by the sea I saw from a distance ...
a crowd of people lined up the other way down the beach for a great distance.

As I came closer I could see the crowd focused on this one man. As I came
even closer I could see why, he was healing people.

So I stopped and watched with intrigue from a distance,
curious I went up to the edge of the sand dune and sat and watched.
I sat and watched while the sun set and rose four times.

From the time I sat down this man never once took a break from healing
these people, he healed them from all manner of infirmities.
He healed all who came to him young and old, woman and man,
he healed them all, every last one of them.

Shortly after the sun rose on the fourth day
he was down to healing the last person.
I got up from my seat and moved toward him,
I had seen this man only from behind,
as I approached him the last he was healing was going away.
Then he turned and faced me,
when I saw his eyes they were light as the morning sunshine.
At first I was tempted to look away but I could not.
I knew there was nothing to fear.

He spoke, "What is it that I can do for you?"

I was so awe struck that I could not stand up my legs collapsed out
from under me I fell to the ground.

As I sat up, he asked, "Are you okay?"

I said, "Yes Sir, I am okay, I am just taken back
after what you have been doing for these last four days
and the first words from your mouth were, '
What can I do for you?'
Excuse me Sir, after what I have just seen you do,
I do not feel there is any way
I could be justified to ask you to do something for me.
I feel you have done more than enough already."

There was a moment of silence and I spoke,
"Sir, maybe there is something you could do for me.
First, let me say that was really impressive,
what you did there healing all of those people.
I am curious.
Can someone else besides you do that?
If so, how would they go about accomplishing that ability?"

Again there was a bit of silence.
He spoke, "Trust, Trust our creator,
Trust we have a Loving, Forgiving Creator.
Know that our Universe has provided for us in abundance.
It was not me who healed that crowd of people,
but their own Faith, their own Trust healed them."

Again he spoke,
"You ask if someone else besides me can do these things
that you've watched for the last four days.
I am but the son of a housekeeper and a carpenter,
if I can do these things
anyone can and even greater things than these others will do."

Then I asked him, "Sir, if I were to need healing
like these people here that you just healed.
Being as how you have healed so many already,
how could I possibly do it for myself?"

Again there was some more silence, then he spoke,
"Many struggle with cares of this world,
they believe that you can put things in your mouth that harm you.
It is not what you eat, or what you drink,
or what you breathe that harms the person.
What it is that harms the person
are those things which proceed from out of their heart.
Their fear, their anger, their irritability, all the things
they are offended by and every thing they hold unforgivable,
these are the things that harm the person.
What one can best do for themselves is to unlearn
these beliefs I just mentioned"

Again he said,
"Love more than the others,
Love those who harm you and fear you and use you.
Do your very best to let only the Love inside see your pain.
When the pain paralyzes you,
put on a happy face and give to the world around you.
If you do this,
the Love within will see your trust and reward you openly.
If you are angered forgive quickly,
it is those who forgive quickly who shall inherit the earth."

"Always include the element of Love in everything you do,
to your very best ability.
Many build things and leave out the element of Love,
thus all they do returns to dust.
Without Love what one builds has no foundation."

"Be tolerant and patient with those you are offended by
and with those who make you irritable.
Taking offense to this and that and being irritated
is one's own damnation of one's own self."

"If you teach, set people free,
tell them they have absolutely nothing to fear.
It is better to take the binders off people for you set yourself free.
If you say to people, fear this and fear that, you bind those people,
thus you bind yourself."

"Then after all of these things,
we come to the final healer of one's own heart, forgiveness.
Be similar in forgiveness to the forgiveness of our Creator Universe.
Forgiveness is an essential ingredient for one to heal
what really harms the person.
If we hold anything unforgivable,
then we condemn ourselves to our own unforgiving nature …
the very essence of let the dead bury their dead.
The deep truth in death, the living death,
is to hold something unforgivable."

"This may seem like a lot,
but trust me when I say that learning to trust our Creator Universe
and taking from the abundance that it has provided,
and giving to others,
and forgiving the things that cause one's pain
is easier than fearing and
being unforgiving."

Again there was a silence and for the first time since our eyes met
he looked away,
he looked into the setting sun and then he looked back at me,
and said,
"Do you realize you have not eaten or drunk in five days
and are you hungry, do you thirst?"

I answered, "No."

Then he said, "In your choosing to be here,
you have had a taste of what it means
to be Free."
- Recorded from a dream, dreamed on January 14, 2001 by Kim Whitaker

You are the savior ... we have all been waiting for dear ones.
Do you know how to overcome the negative feelings in you ...
so all you feel is Love?

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Be Someone ...

Be someone who listens, and you will be heard.
Be someone who cares, and you will be loved.
Be someone who gives, and you will be blessed.
Be someone who comforts, and you will know peace.
Be someone who genuinely seeks to understand, and you will be wise.
Be someone kind, someone considerate, and you will be admired.
Be someone who values truth, and you will be respected.
Be someone who takes action, and you will move life forward.
Be someone who lifts others higher, and your life will be rich.
Be someone filled with gratitude, and there will be no end
to the things for which you'll be thankful.
Be someone who lives with joy, with purpose,
as your own light brightly shines.
Be, in every moment,
the special someone you are truly meant to be.
Ralph Marston

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Understanding Life from the Heart

The most destructive habit......................Worry
The greatest Joy ...... Giving
The greatest loss ...... Loss of self-respect
The most satisfying work ......Helping others
The ugliest personality trait ......Selfishness
The most endangered species ..... Dedicated leaders
Our greatest natural resource ..... Our youth
The greatest "shot in the arm" ..... Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome ..... Fear
The most effective sleeping pill ..... Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease ..... Excuses
The most powerful force in life ..... Love
The most dangerous pariah ..... A gossiper
The world's most incredible computer ..... The brain
The worst thing to be without ..... Hope
The deadliest weapon ..... The tongue
The two most power-filled words ....."I Can"
The greatest asset ..... Faith
The most worthless emotion ..... Self-pity
The most beautiful attire ..... SMILE!
The most prized possession ..... Integrity
The most powerful channel of communication ..... Prayer
The most contagious spirit ..... Enthusiasm
The most important thing in life ..... GOD
The most beautiful human expression .... God in the heart before action

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Within You ...

"Within you is one of the most beautiful oases you will ever find;
it is absolute love.
Seek the oasis within your heart, mind and soul.
If you cannot find your oasis, you are living in a desert.
Walk out of the desert, into the openness of your mind,
and you will see your oasis.
Start your journey by loving yourself each day.
Fill your chalice with love from your oasis within
so when you meet others who are thirsty on the road of life,
you have something to share."
Ron Rathbun

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A Piece Of Cake

Sometimes we wonder ...
"What did I do to deserve this," or
"Why did God have to do this to me." 

Here is a wonderful explanation!
A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong
she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her
and her best friend is moving away.
Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake
and asks her daughter if she would like a snack,
and the daughter says, "Absolutely, Mom, I love your cake."
"Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers.
"Yuck" says her daughter.
"How about a couple raw eggs?"
"Gross, Mom!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"
"Mom, those are all yucky!"
To which the mother replies:
"Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves.
But when they are put together in the right way,
they make a wonderfully delicious cake!
Life works the same way.
Many times we wonder why God would let us
go through such bad and difficult times.
But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order,
they always work for good!
We just have to trust Him and, eventually,
they will all make something wonderful!
God is crazy about you.
He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.
He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
I hope your day is a "piece of cake"

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Moments in Life ...

There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that
you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real! 
When the door of happiness closes, another opens;
but often times we look so long at the closed door
that we don't see the one which has been opened for us.

Don't go for looks; they can deceive. 
Don't go for wealth; even that fades away.
  Go for someone who makes you smile,
because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. 
Find the one that makes your heart smile.

Dream what you want to dream;
go where you want to go; be what you want to be,
because you have only one life and one chance
to do all the things you want to do.

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet,
enough trials to make you strong,
enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy.
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past;
you can't go forward in life until you let go of
your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born,
you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.
Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling
and everyone around you is crying.

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The Most Delightful Friend

I have a new delightful friend,
I am most in awe of her.
When we first met I was impressed,
By her bizarre behavior.

That day I had a date with friends,
We met to have some lunch.
Mae had come along with them,
All in all . . . a pleasant bunch.

When the menus were presented,
We ordered salads, sandwiches, and soups.
Except for Mae who circumvented,
And said, Ice Cream, please: two scoops.

I was not sure my ears heard right,
And the others were aghast.
Along with heated apple pie,
Mae added, completely unabashed.

We tried to act quite nonchalant,
As if people did this all the time.
But when our orders were brought out,
I did not enjoy mine.

I could not take my eyes off Mae,
As her pie a-la-mode went down.
The other ladies showed dismay,
They ate their lunches silently, and frowned.

Well, the next time I went out to eat,
I called and invited Mae.
My lunch contained white tuna meat,
She ordered a parfait.

I smiled when her dish I viewed,
And she asked if she amused me.
I answered, Yes, you do,
But also you confuse me.

How come you order rich desserts,
When I feel I must be sensible?
She laughed and said, with wanton mirth,
I am tasting all that's possible.

I try to eat the food I need,
And do the things I should.
But life's so short, my friend, indeed,
I hate missing out on something good.

This year I realized how old I was,
She grinned, I've not been this old before.
So, before I die, I've got to try,
Those things for years I had ignored.

I've not smelled all the flowers yet,
There's too many books I have not read.
There's more fudge sundaes to wolf down
And kites to be flown overhead.

There are many malls I have not shopped,
I've not laughed at all the jokes.
I've missed a lot of Broadway Hits,
And potato chips and cokes.

I want to wade again in water,
And feel ocean spray upon my face.
Sit in a country church once more,
And thank God for It's grace.

I want peanut butter every day,
Spread on my morning toast.
I want un-timed long-distance calls,
To the folks I love the most.

I've not cried at all the movies yet,
Nor walked in the morning rain.
I need to feel wind in my hair,
I want to fall in love again.

So, if I choose to have dessert,
Instead of having dinner.
Then should I die before night fall,
I'd say I died a winner.

Because I missed out on nothing,
I filled my heart's desire.
I had that final chocolate mousse,
Before my life expired.

With that, I called the waitress over,
I've changed my mind, it seems.
I said, I want what she is having,
Only add some more whipped-cream!

Be mindful that happiness is not based on possessions,
power, or prestige, but on holding love and respect
 in all relationships ... with self as well as others ...

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Do More than ...

Do more than exist ... live.

Do more than touch ... feel.

Do more than look ... observe.

Do more than read ... absorb.

Do more than hear ... listen.

Do more than listen ... understand.

Do more than think ... reflect.

Do more than just talk ... say something.

-John H. Rhoades

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20 Rules of Wisdom

1) God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.

2) Dear God, I have a problem, it's me.

3) Growing old is inevitable, growing UP is optional.

4) There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.

5) Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.

6) Do the math....count your blessings.

7) Faith is the ability to not panic.

8) Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.

9) If you worry, pray. If you pray...don't worry.

10) As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home everyday.

11) Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.

12) The most important things in your home are the people.

13) When we get tangled up in our problems, be still;
God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.

14) A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.

15) He who dies with the most toys is still dead.

16) We do not remember days, but moments.
Life is moving too fast - so enjoy your precious moments.

18) Nothing is real to you until you experience it;
otherwise it's just hearsay.

19) It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again.
Just be sure to flush when you are done.

20) Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage.
The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk taking.
Learn from the turtle,
it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.
Author Unknown

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A Beautiful Zen Story

Two Zen monks came upon a beautiful young woman ...
that wanted to be carried across the stream.

The one monk lifted her up and carried across,
let her down and continued on his path.
 
After some time the other said to his companion,
why had he not mentioned anything further about her.

His reply was ...
that he did as he was asked, he recognized the need, and helped,
but he also pointed out that his companion was still carrying her on his back.

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When You Enter Someone's Life ...

When you enter someone's life ...
whether by plan, chance or coincidence, consider what your lesson will be.
Will you teach love or a harsh lesson of reality?
When you die, will your life have resulted in more loving or more hurting?
More comfort or more pain? More joy or more sadness?
Each one of us has the power over the balance of the love in the world.
Use it wisely!"
Author Unknown

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Put The Glass Down

A lecturer was giving a lecture to his students on stress management.
He raised a glass of water and asked the audience,

"How heavy do you think this glass of water is?"

The students' answers ranged from 20g to 500gm.
"It does not matter on the absolute weight. It depends on how long you hold it.
If I hold it for a minute, it is OK.
If I hold it for an hour, I will have an ache in my right arm.
If I hold it for a day, you will have to call an ambulance.
It is the exact same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."
"If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,
we will not be able to carry on, the burden becoming increasingly heavier."
"What you have to do is to put the glass down,
rest for a while before holding it up again."
We have to put down the burden periodically,
so that we can be refreshed and are able to carry on.
So before you return home from work tonight, put the burden of work down.
Don't carry it back home. You can pick it up tomorrow.
Whatever burdens you are having now on your shoulders,
let it down for a moment if you can.
Pick it up again later when you have rested...
Rest and relax.
Life is short, enjoy it!!

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FOCUS

The 92-year-old, petite,
well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed
each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coifed
and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind,
moved to a nursing home today.

Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home,
she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready.
As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator,
I provided a visual description of her tiny room,
including the eyelet curtains that hung on her window.

"I love it,"
she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old
having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room ... just wait."
"That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied.
"Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.
Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on
how the furniture is arranged, it's how I arrange my mind.
I already decided to love it. It's a decision I make every morning.

When I wake up, I have a choice;
I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have
with the parts of my body that no longer work,
or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.
Each day is a gift and, as long as my eyes open,
I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories
I've stored away just for this time in my life."

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Death and the Other Side

A sick man turned to his doctor, and said,
as he was preparing to leave the examination room
"Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."
Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know." "You don't know?
You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"
The doctor was holding the handle of the door;
on the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he
opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager
show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog?
He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside.
He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened,
he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death,
but I do know one thing... I know my Master is there and that is enough."

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Does Evil Exist?
An excellent example ...

A university professor challenged his students with this question.
"Did God create everything that exists?
A student bravely replied, "Yes, He did!"

"God created everything?" the professor asked.
"Yes, sir," the student replied.

The professor answered,
 "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists.
And according to the principal that our works define who we are,
then God is evil."

The student became quiet before such an answer.

The professor was quite pleased with himself, and boasted to the
students that he had proven once more that the faith in God is a myth.

Another student raised his hand and said,
"Can I ask you a question, professor?" "Of course," replied the professor.
The student stood up and asked, "Professor, does cold exist?"

"What kind of question is this? Of course it exists.
Have you never been cold?"
The students snickered at the young man's question.

The young man replied, "In fact, sir, cold does not exist.
According to the laws of physics,
what we consider cold is, in reality, the absence of heat.
Everybody or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy.
 Absolute zero (-460 degrees F) is the total absence of heat.
All matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature.
 Cold does not exist.
We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat."

The student continued. "Professor, does darkness exist?"
The professor responded, "Of course it does."
The student replied, "Once again you are wrong, sir.
Darkness does not exist either. Darkness is, in reality, the absence of light.
We can study light, but not darkness.
In fact, we can use Newton's prism to break white light into many colors
and study the various wave lengths of each color.
You cannot measure darkness.
A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it.
How can you know how dark a certain space is?
You measure the amount of light present. Isn't this correct?
 Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when
there is no light present."

Finally, the young man asked the professor, "Sir, does evil exist?"
Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course, as I have already said.
We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man.
It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world.
These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied,
"Evil does not exist, sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself.
Evil is simply the absence of God.
It is just like darkness and cold --
a word that man has created to describe the absence of God.
God did not create evil.
Evil is not like faith, or love, that exist just as does light and heat.
Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have
God's love present in his heart.
It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat,
or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.
The young student's name -- Albert Einstein.

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The Importance of Time

A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door.

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man.
College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way.
In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams.
There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past
and often no time to spend with his wife and son.
He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him,
"Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday."

Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel
as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?"

"Oh sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him.
I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing.
He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence'
as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser
stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said.
"I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him.
He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important...Mom,
I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown.
Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful.
He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home,
Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.

Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment.
It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time.

The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories.
Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.

"The box is gone," he said.

"What box?" Mom asked.

"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk.
I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside.
All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most, '" Jack said.

It was gone.
Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it,
except for the box.
He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said.
"I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died.
Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox.
"Signature required on a package. No one at home.
Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package.
The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago.
The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention.

"Mr. Harold Belser" it read.

Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package.
There inside was the gold box and an envelope.
Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett.
It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter.
His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box.
There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.
Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing,
he unlatched the cover.

Inside he found these words engraved:
"Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."
"The thing he valued most ... was ... my time."

Jack held the watch for a few minutes,
then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days.
"Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.
"Oh, by the way, Janet...thanks for your time!"

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take
but by the moments that take our breath away,"

Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.

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Becoming Enlightened

Becoming enlightened is like being a pumpkin.
God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you.
He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff -
including the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc.
Then He carves you a new smiling face
and puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see.

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Take Time

Your presence is a present to the world
You're unique and one of a kind
Your life can be what you want it to be
Take the days just one at a time

Count your blessings, not your troubles
You'll make it through whatever comes along
Within you are so many answers Understand, have courage, be strong

Don't put limits on yourself
So many dreams are waiting to be realized
Decisions are too important to leave to chance
Reach for your peak, your goal, your prize

Nothing wastes more energy than worrying
The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets
Don't take things too seriously
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets

Remember that a little love goes a long way
Remember that a lot goes forever
Remember that friendship is a wise investment
Life's treasures are people.... together

Realize that it's never too late
Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way
Have health and hope and happiness
Take the time to wish upon a star.

And don't ever forget... for even a day
how very special you are

Author Unknown

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Friends

When I was little, I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,
and then I started to become a woman.
And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,
God would show you the best in many friends.

One friend's best is needed when you're going through things with your children.
Another friend's best is needed
when you're going through things with your momma.
Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.

One friend will say let's pray together,
another let's cry together, another let's fight together,
another let's walk away together.

One friend will meet your spiritual need,
another your shoe fetish, another your love for movies,
another will be with you in your season of confusion,
another will be your clarifier, another the wind beneath your wings.

But what ever their assignment in your life, on whatever the occasion,
on whatever the day, or where ever you need them to meet you
with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back
or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself...
those are your friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one woman,
but for many it's wrapped up in several ...
one from 7th grade, one from high school, several from the college years,
a couple from old jobs, several from church, on some days your mother,
on others your sisters, and on some days
it's the one that you needed just for that day
or week that you needed someone with a fresh perspective,
or the one who didn't know all your baggage,
or the one who would just listen without judging ...
those are good girlfriends/best friends.

I thank my girlfriends, those who honor intimacy,
and those who hold trust,
and those who hold me up when life is just too heavy!
The special bond we share is unique.

Thanks for the words we've shared. The prayers we've sent up.
The laughs, the tears, the phone calls, the emails, the shopping, the movies,
the lunches, the dinners, the talking, talking, talking
and the listening, listening, listening....

So whether you've been there 20 minutes or 20 years, I love you!

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Care

Love the world as your own self,
then you can truly care for all things.

~Lao Tsu~

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Do You Have Time to Love?
The greatest gift you can offer loved ones is your true presence.  

To love, in the context of Buddhism, is above all to be there.
But being there is not an easy thing. Some training is necessary, some practice.
If you are not there, how can you love?
Being there is very much an art, the art of meditation,
because meditating is bringing your true presence to the here and now.
The question that arises is: Do you have time to love?

I know a boy of twelve whose father asked him one day:
"Son, what would you like for your birthday present?"
The boy did not know how to answer his father,
who was a very rich man, able to buy anything for his son.
But the boy did not want anything except his father's presence.
Because the role the father played kept him very busy,
he did not have time to devote to his wife and children.
Being rich is an obstacle to loving,
When you are rich, you want to continue to be rich,
and so you end up devoting all your time,
all your energy in your daily life, to staying rich.
If this father were to understand what true love is,
he would do whatever is necessary to find time for his son and his wife.

The most precious gift you can give to the one you love
is your true presence.
What must we do to really be there?
Those who have practiced Buddhist meditation know that meditating
is above all being present: to yourself, to those you love, to life.

So I would propose a very simple practice to you,
the practice of mindful breathing:
"Breathing -- I know that I am breathing in;
breathing -- I know that I am breathing out."
If you do that with a little concentration, then you will be able to really be there,
because in our daily life our mind and our body are rarely together.
Our body might be there, but our mind is somewhere else.
Maybe you are lost in regrets about the past, maybe in worries about the future,
or else you are preoccupied with your plans, with anger or with jealousy.
And so your mind is not really there with your body.

Between the mind and the body, there is something that can serve as a bridge.
The moment you begin to practice mindful breathing,
your body and your mind begin to come together with one another.
It takes only 10 to 20 seconds to accomplish this miracle
called oneness of body and mind.
With mindful breathing, you can bring body and mind together
in the present moment, and every one of us can do it, even a child.

The Buddha left us an absolutely essential text, the Anapanasati Sutta,
or Discourse on the Practice of Mindful Breathing.
If you really want to practice Buddhist meditation, you must study this text.

If the father I was talking about had known that,
he would have begun to breathe in and breathe out mindfully,
and then one or two minutes later, he would have approached his son,
he would have looked at him with a smile, and he would have said this:
"My dear, I am here for you."
This is the greatest gift you can give to someone you love.

In Buddhism we talk about mantras. A mantra is a magic formula that,
once it is uttered, can entirely change a situation, our mind, our body, or a person.
But this magic formula must be spoken in a state of concentration, that is to say,
a state in which body and mind are absolutely in a state of unity.
What you say then, in this state of being, becomes a mantra.

So I am going to present to you a very effective mantra,
not in Sanskrit or Tibetan, but in English:
"Dear one, I am here for you."
Perhaps this evening you will try for a few minutes to practice
mindful breathing in order to bring your body and mind together.
You will approach the person you love and with this mindfulness,
with this concentration, you will look into his or her eyes,
and you will begin to utter this formula:
"Dear one, I am really here for you."
You must say that with your body and with your mind at the same time,
and then you will see the transformation.

Do you have enough time to love?
Can you make sure that in your everyday life you have a little time to love?
We do not have much time together; we are too busy.
In the morning while eating breakfast,
we do not look at the person we love, we do not have enough time for it.
We eat very quickly while thinking about other things,
and sometimes we even hold a newspaper
that hides the face of the person we love.
In the evening when we come home,
we are too tired to be able to look at the person we love.

We must bring about a revolution in our way of living our everyday lives,
because our happiness, our lives, are within ourselves.

By Thich Nhat Hanh From "True Love" © 2004.

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Risk

To laugh is to Risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to Risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to Risk involvement.
To expose your feelings is to Risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to Risk their loss.
To Love is to Risk not being loved in return.
To live is to Risk dying.
To believe is to Risk despair.
To try is to Risk failure.

But Risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life
is to Risk nothing, do nothing, have nothing, be nothing.

Those who don't Risk may avoid suffering and sorrow
but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love and live.

Chained by their attitudes,
they are slaves - they have forfeited their freedom.

Only a person who Risks is free.

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The Lord's Prayer in the Ancient Aramaic language.
A translation directly from the Aramaic into English
(rather than from Aramaic to Greek to Latin to English).

THE LORD'S PRAYER
O cosmic Birther of all radiance and vibration!
Soften the ground of our being
and carve out a space within us where your Presence can abide.

Fill us with your creativity
so that we may be empowered to bear the fruit of our mission.

Let each of our actions bear fruit in accordance with our desire.
Endow us with the wisdom to produce
and share what each being needs to grow and flourish.

Untie the tangled threads of destiny
that bind us, as we release others from the entanglement of past mistakes.

Do not let us be seduced by that which would
divert us from our true purpose but illuminate the opportunities
of the present moment.

For you are the ground and the fruitful vision,
the birth power and the fulfilment, as all is gathered and made whole once again.

Translated by Mark Hathaway

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THAT'S GOD

Have you ever been just sitting there and all of a sudden you feel like
doing something nice for someone you care for?
THAT'S GOD talking to you through the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever been down and out
and nobody seems to be around for you to talk to?
THAT'S GOD wanting you to talk to Him.

Have you ever been thinking about somebody that you haven't seen
in a long time and then next thing you know you see them
or receive a phone call from them?
THAT'S GOD. There is no such thing as coincidence.

Have you ever received something wonderful that you didn't even ask for,
like money in the mail, a debt that had mysteriously been cleared,
or a coupon to a department store where you had just seen something you needed,
but couldn't afford? THAT'S GOD knowing the desires of your heart.

Have you ever been in a situation and you had no clue how it was going to
get better, how the hurting would stop, how the pain would ease,
but now as you look back on those times you see . . .
THAT GOD has taken care of you all along?

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The Cab Ride

Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living.
When I arrived at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single light
in a ground floor window. Under these circumstances, many drivers
would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away.

But, I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis
as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger,
I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone
who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself.

So I walked to the door and knocked.
"Just a minute", answered a frail, elderly voice.

I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80's
stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat
with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.
By her side was a small nylon suitcase.

The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years.
All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks 
on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters.
In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said.
I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.
She kept thanking me for my kindness.

"It's nothing", I told her.
"I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated".
"Oh, you're such a good boy", she said.

When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, then asked,
"Could you drive through downtown?"

"It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly.

"Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I'm in no hurry.
I'm on my way to a hospice".
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening.

"I don't have any family left," she continued.
"The doctor says I don't have very long."

I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
"What route would you like me to take?" I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city.
She showed me the building where she had once worked as an
elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she
and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds.
She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had 
once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building
or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said,
"I'm tired. Let's go now."

We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, 
with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up.
They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door.
The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

"How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse.
"Nothing," I said.
"You have to make a living," she answered.
"There are other passengers," I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.
She held onto me tightly.

"You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said.
"Thank you." I squeezed her hand, then walked into the dim morning light.
Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly
lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk.

What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,
or one who was impatient to end his shift?
What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once,
then driven away?

On a quick review,
I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.
But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped
in what others may consider a small one.

People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said,
But ~ they will always remember how you made them feel.

Life may not be the party we hoped for,
but while we are here we might as well dance.
Every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special.
Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift from God.

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New Year Resolutions

Did I express love this year, real love?
The kind of love that doesn't announce itself in 
flashy circumstances or structured conditions -
but an authentic, quiet, internal love?
The kind of love that bubbles to the surface when I gaze at another
with understanding, a love that places me in their shoes,
granting freedom from judgment and deepening my compassion?
A philanthropic love that expresses because it simply feels compelled to,
because it knows there is more than enough and everyone can benefit.
If not, then I resolve to be and do better in my authentic loving.

Did I forgive this year, really forgive?
The kind of forgiveness that cracks open my heart,
peeling away one more layer of righteous indignation,
thus allowing my soul to breathe?
The kind of forgiveness that loosens my clinched fists held high
at a situation so that I don't enter into the next one with guarded mistrust?
The kind of forgiveness that comprehends there is a difference
between understanding a behavioral choice and condoning it?
If not, then I resolve to be and do better in my forgiving.

Did I stop this year, really stop?
The kind of stopping that can't help but make me vulnerable by
becoming more familiar with who I am without distraction,
smoke screens, excuses or self-imposed numbering?
The kind of stopping that turns me, naked, towards my feelings,
giving them permission to express?
No right or wrong - a stopping that simply lets me
hear what I need to hear so that I can live more effectively?
If not, then I resolve to be and do better in allowing myself to stop.

Did I seek adventure this year, real adventure? 
The kind of adventure that requires me to not only take a leap of faith
off my cliff of familiarity but actually sends me back to get a running start?
The kind of adventure that shakes the dust off my capable
but underused wings and gives them an opportunity to 
catch the gorgeous wind of change?
The kind of adventure that knows there is no outside safety net 
in this physical world, only an internal one?
The kind of adventure that shouts, "I choose to live fully!"
If not, then I resolve to be and do better in seeking adventure.

Did I seek wellness this year, real wellness?
The kind of wellness that requires me to be fully conscious of what
I put in my body - the kind of wellness that requires me to
practice what I preach when it comes to self-love
while understanding that the power to dissolve poor habits starts
by simply choosing to change?
Wellness that says, "This is the only body you've got.
Treat me with respect, praise me daily
and honor me as the holy temple that I am?"
If not, then I resolve to be and do better in allowing wellness in my life.

Did I play this year, really play?
The kind of play that gives value to the heavenly activity of fun -
knowing that fun is sacred, that play is the equivalent of work
and that during play - renewal and relaxation usher in
the newest ideas and the clearest choices for better manifestations?
Did I view play as a necessary life function and not a debatable luxury?
If not, then I resolve to be and do better
in my relationship to playing.

Did I set a goal and see it to completion this year, really complete it?
The kind of completion that lets the vibration of satisfaction and
confidence in my abilities heal any opposing ideas of not being good enough?
 Did I honor my life and its sacred purpose by utilizing my time
with forward thinking and letting my mistakes be motivators not antagonists?
Did I dissolve my insecurities and procrastination by understanding
that my untapped genius has but one mode of expression
and that is through idea, thought, word and action?
If not, then I resolve to be and do better
in setting and completing my goals.

Did I open myself up to learn this year, really learn?
The kind of learning that entices me to enroll in being a student of life
with thirst and enthusiasm?
Did I set an intention for uncovering more of my potential,
letting divine intellect eat from my plate
and stepping deeper into the waters of wisdom?
Did I open a book, take a class, study a language, 
learn an instrument, write a poem, visit another culture?
Did I learn to surprise and thrill myself with the infinite capacity
I have to master more than I thought I could?
If not, then I resolve to be and do better on my personal path of learning.

Did I clean up my relationships this year, really clean them up?
The kind of cleaning that requires me to break open the lock,
pull back the curtain, throw open the window and start removing
the dust of harsh words, grudges, false accusations
and misguided choices that have layered my heart?
Did I make amends for the fearful ways that disheartened another, 
for neglecting to honor their point of view?
With careful examination, did I communicate my truth,
understanding that sometimes all we may be able to do is agree 
to disagree and to do so without judgement or malice?
If not, then I resolve to be and do better
on cleaning up my relationships.

Did I share my good this year, really share? 
The kind of sharing that comes from the pure joy of seeing another succeed,
not from what I think they can or will do for me in return?
Did I tithe back to where I was spiritually fed, transformed and inspired?
Did I practice random acts of kindness and give of my time, talent,
and treasure realizing that my good is a part of a never-ending wellspring
that cannot run dry -
whose source is and always will be the infinite wellspring of the Divine?
Did I commit to walking the altruistic path, remembering that every step 
brings healing and enlightenment to the world?
If not, then I resolve to be and do better in my sharing.

Did I pray this year, really pray?
The kind of prayer that is spoken not to God but AS God -
prayers that affirm rather than beseech,
are pregnant with knowing rather than bloated with doubt?
Did I make my every day activities a prayer -
realizing that every thought I think carries with it  
the responsibility of an effect on the world?
Did I remember how truly powerful my own prayer actually is
and that by simply devoting myself to the practice of it,
I become the change?
Did I remember that my prayer takes what I seek
and introduces it to me, the seeker?
If not, then I resolve to be and do better with praying.

Did I do all these things because deep down inside I fully understand
how precious I am and that these activities will help me
to see that I am held in the light as a perfect idea?
Did I remember that I have been perfectly conceived and am always held
in the perfect mind of God as perfect being?
Did I know that there is nothing that I can ever say,
nothing I can ever do that will separate me from the love of God?
If for any reason, I forgot my divinity this year,
then I resolve to be and do better in my knowing of it,
to fully understand and embody the truth that it is done unto me as I believe.
And I believe in the power of Good, for me, for you, for all.

(c)2004 Rev. David Ault

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A Sweet Thanksgiving Story

One day a father of a very wealthy family
took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose
of showing his son how poor people live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm
of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son,
"How was the trip?"
"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.
"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.
The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four.

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden
and they have a creek that has no end.

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on
and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us,
they have friends to protect them."

The boy's father was speechless.
Then his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing?

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Symptoms of Inner Peace

"Inner peace is a communicable disease
that could possibly infect your home or workplace.

You may already be showing signs of it
and quite possibly be passing it along to others!

You may have already caught this disease!
See how many of these symptoms you exhibit:

1. A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than from fears
based on past experiences.
2. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
3. A loss of interest in judging self.
4. A loss of interest in judging others.
5. A loss of interest in conflict.
6. A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
7. A loss of ability to worry (this is a serious symptom).
8. Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
9. Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.
10. Frequent attacks of smiling through the eyes of the heart.
11. Increasing susceptibility to love extended by others
as well asthe uncontrollable urge to extend it.
12. An increasing tendency to let things happen.

If you have all or even most of the above symptoms,
please be advised that your condition of PEACE may be so far advanced
as to not be treatable."

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In Appreciation of a Remarkable Person

Some share their faith by explaining Christ,
But you do it better - you live the LIFE.

Some push their faith with Bible quotes each day,
but you do it much better with joy that words can't say.

Some exalt Christ with speeches they impart.
You do it much better with love in your heart.

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Prayer of the Chelas in India

I go forth this day in all things immersed wholly in God and abundance.
The conquering Christ stands forth one with God's abundance
and in every activity of this day.
Now I know that I am God's supreme child.
I move each moment of the day immersed in God and God's divine love.
God!   God!   God!
The great flame of love flows through every atom of my whole being.
I Am the pure golden flame of God.
I pour this divine flame through my physical body.
The conquering Christ salutes you, God, my Father.
Peace!   Peace!   Peace!
The great peace of God prevails.
From Life and Teachings of the Far East, Book 5

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A Greeting From 1513 A.D.

I salute you. I am your friend and my love for you goes deep.
There is nothing I can give you which you have not got; but there is much, very much, that,
while I cannot give it, you can take...No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today.
Take heaven! No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present little instant. Take Peace!
The gloom of the world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within our reach is joy.
There is radiance and glory in the darkness, could we but see, and to see we have only to look.
I beseech you to look.

Life is so generous a giver,
but we judging its gifts by their covering, cast them away as ugly or heavy or hard.
Remove the covering and you will find beneath it a living splendour,
woven of love, by wisdom, with power.
Welcome it, grasp it, and you touch the angel's hand that brings it to you.
Everything we call a trial, a sorrow, or a duty, believe me, that angel's hand is there;
the gift is there, and the wonder of an over-shadowing Presence.

Our joys too: be not content with them as joys. They too, conceal diviner gifts.
Life is so full of meaning and purpose, so full of beauty, beneath its covering,
that you will find earth but cloaks your heaven. Courage then to claim it: that is all!
But courage you have, and the knowledge that we are pilgrims together,
wending through an unknown country, home. And so, at this time, I greet you.
Not quite as the world sends greetings, but with profound esteem
and with the prayer that for you, now and forever, the day breaks, and the shadows flee away.

Fra Giovanni  1513 A. D.

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Sometimes when we look at Someone or Ourselves ...

Sometimes when we look at someone, maybe even ourselves,
it doesn't look like much from the outside.
It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it.

Sometimes, we see another person or ourselves as less important than
someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy.
But you know ... we have not taken the time to find the treasure
hidden inside each person and ourselves.

For there is a beautiful treasure hidden in each and every one of us.
If we take the time and get to know another person and ourselves,
and if we ask God to show us the beauty He sees in them or us,
then a brilliant gem begins to shine forth.

May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that
we have thrown away a fortune in friendships and true love for ourselves
because the gems were just a little hidden.
May we see each person and ourselves as God sees them.
Namaste'

Author Unknown

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WHERE

"Where shall I look for Enlightenment?" the disciple asked.

"Here" the elder said.

"When will it happen?" the disciple asked.

"It is happening right now," the elder answered.

"Then why don't I experience it?" the disciple persisted.

"Because you do not look" the elder said.

"But what should I look for?" the disciple continued.

"Nothing. Just look," the elder said.

"But at what?" the disciple asked again.

"At anything your eyes alight upon," the elder answered.

"But must I look in a special kind of way?" the disciple went on.

"No. The ordinary way will do," the elder said.

"But don't I always look in the ordinary way?" the disciple said.

"No, you don't," the elder said.

"But why ever not?" the disciple asked.

"Because to look you must be here. You're mostly somewhere else," the elder said.

From "There Is a Season" and Spiritual Literacy

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The Lord's Prayer translated from the Aramaic
(Translated from Aramaic, Jesus' language, into English ... rather than from Aramaic to Greek to Latin to English)

O Cosmic Birther of all radiance and vibration!

Soften the ground of our being and carve out a space within us
where Your Presence can abide.

Fill us with your creativity so that we may be empowered to bear the fruit of your mission.
Let each of our actions bear fruit in accordance with our desire.

Endow us with the wisdom to produce and share what each being needs
to grow and flourish.

Untie the tangled threads of destiny that bind us,
as we release others from the entanglement of past mistakes.

Do not let us be seduced by that which would divert us from our true purpose,
but illuminate the opportunities of the present moment.

For you are the round and the fruitful vision,
 the birth-power and fulfillment, as all is gathered and made whole once again.

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Daily Survival Kit

Items Needed ...
Mint    ...   Candy Kiss    ...   Tea Bag    ...   Eraser    ...   Rubber Band    ...   Toothpick
Chewing Gum    ...   Band Aid    ...   Pencil

Why?????

TOOTHPICK -
to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others. -

RUBBER BAND -
to remind you to be flexible. Things might not always go the way you want,
but it will work out. -

BAND AID -
to remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else's.  -

PENCIL -
to remind you to list your blessings everyday. -

ERASER -
To remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and it's okay. -

CHEWING GUM -
to remind you to stick with it, and you can accomplish anything. -

MINT -
to remind you that you are worth a mint. -

CANDY KISS -
to remind you that everyone needs a kiss or a hug everyday. -

TEA BAG -
to remind you to relax daily and go over your list of blessings. -

Lord,
Thank You for loyal, loving friends who are there in winter or springtime fair.
New acquaintances are easy to come by, but true friendship is extremely rare.

A friend always sees the best in you, although they've known you at your worst.
They laugh with you in the good times, when storms threaten, they'll be there first.

They'll offer a shoulder to rest your head when tears are welling in your eyes.
Take a walk down friendship's path with you and help chase away those stormy skies.

Lord, thank You for all the gifts You give;
Each one makes our life seem more worthwhile.
But one of the finest gifts you've given us is the warmth of friendship's loving smile.

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Less is More

A smile-

The Universal Language

It needs no words!

Warmth

Welcome

Understanding

Empathy

Happiness

Acknowledgement

Friendliness!

SO LITTLE EFFORT TO ACCOMPLISH SO MUCH!

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Listen

I hear you best when
I'm not trying to listen with my ears.

~Carole Anne Williamson~

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THE LIGHT

The Truth and The Light walk together...
those who seek the truth.. find The Light

~Militza Segura-Landrau~ From the book "Biography of a Soul"

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Want To Fly?

"How does one become a butterfly?" she asked.

"You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar."
~Tina Paulus~

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A Native American Way of Giving Thanks

Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.

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Beauty

"They told you that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

What they failed to tell you is that it is best seen with the eyes closed.
What you look like isn't important.
What is important is who you are inside and the choices you are making in your life."

~Tiana Tozer -
1992 Paralympic silver and 1996 bronze medalist, women's wheelchair - basketball~

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A Delightful Positive Attitude

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror,
and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

"Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today."
So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror
and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.
"Hmmm," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today."
So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror
and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.
"Well," she said, "Today I'm going to wear my hair in a ponytail."
So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror
and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.
"YEAH," she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"

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Expected In A Cosmic Religion

"Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected
in a cosmic religion for the future:
it transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology;
it covers both the natural and spiritual, and is based on a religious sense aspiring from
the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity."
~Albert Einstein~

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Peace

It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work.
It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.
~Unknown~

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Love after Love

The time will come when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other's welcome, and say, sit here. Eat.

You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart to itself,
to the stranger who has loved you all your life,
whom you ignored for another, who knows you by heart.

Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes, peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
By Derek Walcott - An Excerpt from "Buddha Poems from Beat to Hiphop" edited by Gary Gach

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come out

you've got to come out of the measurable doing universe into the immeasurable house of being
~e e cummings~

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HELP YOURSELF

You can be helping many people, but if you are not helping yourself,
you have missed the one person you were born to heal.
~Alan Cohen~

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Think Love

Think Love ... when you do, everything around you transforms.

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What Life is All About

Life isn't about keeping score.
It's not about how many friends you have. Or how accepted you are.
It's not about if you have plans this weekend or if you are alone.
It isn't about who you're dating, who you used to date,
or how many people you've dated, or if you haven't been with anyone at all.
It isn't about who you have kissed. It's not about sex.
It isn't about who your family is or how much money they have,
or what kind of car you drive, or where you are sent to school.
 
It's not about how beautiful or ugly you are, or what clothes you wear,
what shoes you have on, or what kind of music you listen to.
It's not about if your hair is blonde, red, black, or brown.
Or if your skin is too light or too dark.
It's not about what grades you get, how smart you are,
how smart everybody else thinks you are,
or how smart standardized tests say you are.
It's not about what clubs you're in or how good you are at "your" sport.
It's not about representing your whole being on a piece of paper
and seeing you will "accept the written you."

But, life is about who you love and who you hurt.
It's about who you make happy or unhappy purposefully.
It's about keeping or betraying trust.
It's about friendship, used as a sanctity or a weapon.
It's about what you say and mean, maybe hurtful, maybe heartening.
About starting rumors and contributing to petty gossip.
It's about what judgments you pass and why.
And who your judgments are spread to.
It's about who you've ignored with full control and intention.
It's about jealousy, fear, ignorance, and revenge.
It's about carrying inner hate and love, letting it grow, and spreading it.
 
But most of all, it's about using your life to touch or poison
other people's hearts in such a way that could have never occurred alone.
Only you choose the way those hearts are affected,
and those choices are what life's all about.

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Top Ten Things to Think About If You Want to Change the World

Mahatma Gandhi believed that we must be the change we want to see in the world.
One of the most powerful countries in the world yielded to the commitment
of one man and the dream of millions.

What change can we effect? What's the difference we want to make in the world?

Gandhi said, "In a gentle way you can shake the world."
Here are some things to think about how to do just that.

1. Know that all significant change throughout history has occurred
not because of nations, armies, governments-and certainly not committees.
They happened as a result of the courage and commitment of individuals.
People like Joan of Ark, Albert Einstein, Clara Barton,
Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison and Rosa Parks.
They might not have done it alone, but they were, without question, the change makers.

2. Believe that you have a unique purpose and potential in the world.
It's not so much something to create as to be discovered.
And it's up to you to discover it. Believe that you can and will make a difference.

3. Recognize that everything you do, every step you take, every sentence you write,
every word you speak-or DON'T speak-counts. Nothing is trivial.
The world may be big, but there are no small things. Everything matters.

4. To be the change you want to see in the world, you don't have to be loud.
You don't have to be eloquent. You don't have to be elected.
You don't even have to be particularly smart or well educated.
You do, however, have to be committed.

5. Take personal responsibility. Never think that "it's not my job".
It's a cop-out to say, "What can I do, I'm only one person." Y
ou don't need everyone's cooperation or anyone's permission to make changes.
Remember this little gem, "If it's to be, it's up to me."

6. Don't get caught up in the how of things.
If you're clear on what you want to change and why you want to change it, the how will come.
Many significant things have been left undone
because someone let the problem solving interfere with the decision-making.

7. Don't wait for things to be right in order to begin. Change is messy.
Things will never be just right. Follow Teddy Roosevelt's timeless advice,
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

8. The genesis for change is awareness. We cannot change what we don't acknowledge.
Most of the time, we aren't aware of what's wrong or what's not working.
We don't see what could be. By becoming more aware, we begin the process of change.

9. Take to heart these words from Albert Einstein -
arguably one of the smartest change masters who ever lived:
"All meaningful and lasting change starts first in your imagination and then works its way out.
Imagination is more important than knowledge."

10. In order for things to change, YOU have to change.
We can't change others; we can only change ourselves.
However, when WE change, it changes everything.
And in doing so, we truly can be the change we want to see in the world.

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Words of wisdom from one's last day of life ...

"When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world.
As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change,
so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.

But it, too, seemed immovable.

As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt,
I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.

And now, as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize:
If I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family.

From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country,
and who knows, I may have even changed the world."

Inscribed on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop in Westminster Abby (1100 A.D.)

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One Step Further

Do more than exist: live ... Do more than touch: feel ... Do more than look: observe ...
Do more than read: absorb ... Do more than hear: listen ... Do more than listen: understand ...
Do more than think: reflect ... Do more than just talk: say something.

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