Saturday, September 24, 2011
One pair of hands
You have followed me to my comfort zone. I welcome you with open arms and hope that these words somehow touch your heart, and ease your troubled soul. This is a time of such great unrest for many. Families are sometimes overwhelmed by a feeling of powerlessness, magnified by trials and tribulations relationships are taut and sometimes torn. Hang on to the promises that you are not alone. You are loved by many and blessed in ways that may not have been revealed to you yet. Trust that you can meet the challenges as many have before. Put one foot in front of the other,just one day at a time.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Uncertainty and the power of good people
Today I had the opportunity to walk the walk, to practice what I preach, and to take a stand. I'm proud of myself and all the others who sent over 14,451 supportive emails in about two hours, to a prime minister who will enter "the loins den" and speak on behalf of peace between two countries.
Regardless of where you stand politically, even a self educated man can see the bigger picture ,and will walk alone or follow the lead of the man on the white horse. The one without the sword,and sometimes the more humble of men. Certainly, now armed with the support of many in the USA, the prime minister will feel empowered and more confident in his country's future.
I have reached a time in my life when speaking up comes easier then the days when being politically correct was the way to go. Trying to please the least pleasing of people soon failed in my eyes. As well as the eyes of others who thought that keeping peace meant not making waves, and then held on for dear life, when the waves came anyway. Follow your hearts,trust in your soul and have faith in your God, no matter how others paint the paths they think you should travel. This is the time to lay claim to what belongs to the just and the peace keepers among us. There is power in prayer and in good people,if they choose to use it.
Regardless of where you stand politically, even a self educated man can see the bigger picture ,and will walk alone or follow the lead of the man on the white horse. The one without the sword,and sometimes the more humble of men. Certainly, now armed with the support of many in the USA, the prime minister will feel empowered and more confident in his country's future.
I have reached a time in my life when speaking up comes easier then the days when being politically correct was the way to go. Trying to please the least pleasing of people soon failed in my eyes. As well as the eyes of others who thought that keeping peace meant not making waves, and then held on for dear life, when the waves came anyway. Follow your hearts,trust in your soul and have faith in your God, no matter how others paint the paths they think you should travel. This is the time to lay claim to what belongs to the just and the peace keepers among us. There is power in prayer and in good people,if they choose to use it.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Our country is not the only thing...
"Our country is not the only thing to which we owe our allegiance. It is also owed to justice and humanity.Patriotism consists not in waving the flag,but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong.
James Bryce
As we are caught up in all the unrest in the world, our once small world has become larger. Humbled by our blessings, and proud of our success as a nation. We as a people must always strive to be all inclusive. The melting pot, that now seems like an impossible dream,is actually a work in progress.
Our success and our failures, must not be measured by our political landscape, one that often looks like our dirty laundry. Better yet, see for yourselves the sometimes invisible acts of our citizens.
James Bryce
Our success and our failures, must not be measured by our political landscape, one that often looks like our dirty laundry. Better yet, see for yourselves the sometimes invisible acts of our citizens.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Jonathan Livingston Seagull came for a visit today
While walking my small Yorkie today we couldn't help but be distracted by the sudden influx of seagulls,each squawking as if they were having a meeting of the minds as they lined up on the rooftops on this inland town in New Jersey.
This isn't the first time they made a visit and the feeling of the damp air and westerly winds made it likely that our shores were stormy.
However, always amused by human nature and our wildlife I started to wonder more about Jonathan Livingston Seagull.{Thank you Richard Bach} There he was along with all the rest of the flock, frustrated with meaningless materialism,ritualistic conformity,and bored with his life as a seagull. He again with some of his friends searched for new challenges.
Jonathan knew there were better things in life,higher callings waiting somewhere. Even if half the flock stayed behind and some talked of casting him out,he searched on for the freedom he wanted. Many times against the high tide that ravaged the shores.In time Jonathan, while being true to himself,flew higher and higher with seagulls he knew to be wiser then himself. Soon Jonathan knew that he must return to his flock. There was much that bonded them to each other,regardless of their differences.
While in flight Jonathan felt his spirits fly higher then they had ever flown before. It was then when he looked down on the rooftops, and he saw the scattered flock that he knew flying higher was a gift,and of equal importance was love,deserved respect and forgiveness along with the freedom from pressure to obey rules just because.
For as a seagull,and as a man,we can fly no higher.
Now, what I want to know as I look up at the rooftops,have these Sea Gulls left yet or have they just returned from their highest flight ?
This isn't the first time they made a visit and the feeling of the damp air and westerly winds made it likely that our shores were stormy.
However, always amused by human nature and our wildlife I started to wonder more about Jonathan Livingston Seagull.{Thank you Richard Bach} There he was along with all the rest of the flock, frustrated with meaningless materialism,ritualistic conformity,and bored with his life as a seagull. He again with some of his friends searched for new challenges.
Jonathan knew there were better things in life,higher callings waiting somewhere. Even if half the flock stayed behind and some talked of casting him out,he searched on for the freedom he wanted. Many times against the high tide that ravaged the shores.In time Jonathan, while being true to himself,flew higher and higher with seagulls he knew to be wiser then himself. Soon Jonathan knew that he must return to his flock. There was much that bonded them to each other,regardless of their differences.
While in flight Jonathan felt his spirits fly higher then they had ever flown before. It was then when he looked down on the rooftops, and he saw the scattered flock that he knew flying higher was a gift,and of equal importance was love,deserved respect and forgiveness along with the freedom from pressure to obey rules just because.
For as a seagull,and as a man,we can fly no higher.
Now, what I want to know as I look up at the rooftops,have these Sea Gulls left yet or have they just returned from their highest flight ?
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Spotlight On Donald Hancock
A Hug of Comfort
After a loss that was too close to home,each of us tried to provide some sort of comfort to a friend. Some words just seemed to say it all. Like those of Donald Hancock, who as a retired Chaplain has comforted hospice patients and their families for many years, and now he was comforting all of us with these words.
" I believe that each of us comes to earth with certain goals, things to learn
things to accomplish and people to help in their own life plans. In some lives it takes 80 or more years to finish this,and then we go to another phase of our existence {we graduate}to enter another high level experience. But in other lives as with your son { and Jesus in the bible} all these goals are accomplished far sooner. And we are left { again with Mary the mother of Jesus} saying in our hearts; why? Why? It is my firm belief that,though we are left in sorrow, no one dies one moment sooner or later than his plan of life has called for. And though our love pays the price of sorrow, as the old song says, we actually will understand bye and bye. Thank you for allowing me to try to give a hug of comfort."
Don Hancock
Donald has shared his thoughts about his passion to live life so that when he dies folks will say he was a gentle, loving man and he was a lot of fun too.
Donald's writing friends will tell you that he has long ago proved that so.
After a loss that was too close to home,each of us tried to provide some sort of comfort to a friend. Some words just seemed to say it all. Like those of Donald Hancock, who as a retired Chaplain has comforted hospice patients and their families for many years, and now he was comforting all of us with these words.
" I believe that each of us comes to earth with certain goals, things to learn
things to accomplish and people to help in their own life plans. In some lives it takes 80 or more years to finish this,and then we go to another phase of our existence {we graduate}to enter another high level experience. But in other lives as with your son { and Jesus in the bible} all these goals are accomplished far sooner. And we are left { again with Mary the mother of Jesus} saying in our hearts; why? Why? It is my firm belief that,though we are left in sorrow, no one dies one moment sooner or later than his plan of life has called for. And though our love pays the price of sorrow, as the old song says, we actually will understand bye and bye. Thank you for allowing me to try to give a hug of comfort."
Don Hancock
Donald has shared his thoughts about his passion to live life so that when he dies folks will say he was a gentle, loving man and he was a lot of fun too.
Donald's writing friends will tell you that he has long ago proved that so.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
There are four questions of value in life
There are four questions of value in life- What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for and what is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same. Only love-
Author unknown
Author unknown
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