Droplets from Life

A JOYFUL NOISE

2012-01-25T17:45:00.001+11:00

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

It has been a long time since anyone has enjoyed my singing. That is if never can be classified as a long time. While my singing voice sounds fine to me to others it is no treat. I have been told it is far too high and off key at times and that it sounds strangely soft and raspy as well. Even my speaking voice has been likened to Winnie the Pooh with a cold.

I can remember as a boy in Church when my older brother nudged me so I wouldn’t sing the hymns so loud. In school I was never invited to join the choir or any band. Even when I used to

sing lullabies to my children during their baby years I would get puzzled expressions instead of sleepy eyes. And often when I used to sing aloud in the house my dogs would join in and howl the melody. Finally, I decided that it would be best if I only sang aloud when I was alone.

Still I sing. When I am walking outside by myself, I sing. When I am in the shower I belt out a tune or two. When I am driving my car and a great song comes on the radio I join right in.Even when I am mowing the lawn in the Summer and shoveling snow from the drive in the Winter I find myself pouring out all the love and joy in my soul through my voice. Even though it may not be pleasant to others’ ears, it still brings happiness to my heart. After all, God never asked us to make a beautiful noise, only a joyful one.

God doesn’t care about the sound of our voices, the features of our faces, or the cut of our clothes. God only cares about the song in our souls. I pray then that all of you never stop singing

yours. I hope that all of you make a joyful noise all the days of your lives here. When you are too shy to sing with your voices then sing with your hearts. Sing with your thoughts. Sing with

your feelings. Sing with your actions. Sing with your lives. Make your every moment here a love song that delights Heaven with its sweet music.

LETTING GO.....

2012-01-24T06:03:00.001+11:00

To “let go” does not mean to stop caring, it means I can’t do it for someone else.

To “let go” is not to cut myself off, it’s the realization I can’t control another.

To “let go” is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences.

To “let go” is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To “let go” is not to try to change or blame another, it’s to make the most of myself.

To “let go” is not to care for, but to care about.

To “let go” is not to fix, but to be supportive.

To “let go” is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.

To “let go” is not to be in the middle arranging the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own destinies.

To “let go” is not to be protective, it’s to permit another to face reality.

To “let go” is not to deny, but to accept.

To “let go” it not to nag, scold or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings, and correct them.

To “let go” is not to adjust everything to my desires but to take each day as it comes, and cherish myself in it.

To “let go” is not to criticize and regulate anybody but to try to become what I dream I can be.

To “let go” is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future.

To “let go” is to fear less, and love more.

(Source Unknown)

The Seed of God

2012-01-24T05:52:00.001+11:00

The seed of God is in us. Given an intelligent and
hard-working farmer, it will thrive and grow up to God,
whose seed it is; and accordingly its fruits will be
God-nature. Pear seeds grow into pear trees, nut seeds into
nut trees, and a God seed into God.

-Meister Eckhart

The seed of goodness and creativity is in everyone. This
seed does not need to be planted on a particular date, for
it is already within us. It is indestructible. In the depths
of the Dakota winter, this seed, the God-seed, can thrive;
in the heat of Death Valley it can still flourish. No matter
what our past has been, no matter how many mistakes we have
made, the God-seed is still intact.

When at last we begin to search for it, we discover it is
covered with weeds - weeds of fear and anger, giant
thistles of greed. We shouldn't feel discouraged. Once
we cease to water them, the weeds begin to wither and droop,
and finally they fall to enrich the soil where the God-seed
is growing. This God-seed within us will grow into a
God-tree of love and service if we nurture it carefully.

Eknath Easwaran. From his book 'Words to Live By'

SCRIPTURE TO PONDER

2012-01-15T20:33:00.000+11:00

As far as the east is from the west, so far have I removed your sins (ie self-centreness) says the Lord.

From the rising of the sun to the going down of it, the Lord's name is to be praised.

Early in the morning shall I search for you, O Lord.

~~All from The Bible

THE IMPORTANCE OF DISCRIMINATION

2012-01-14T19:51:00.001+11:00

Loss of discrimination is the greatest source of danger.

-Sanskrit proverb

The greatest source of danger to a human being is loss of
discrimination, and this is the main malady in our modern
civilization, where we have lost our capacity to
differentiate between what is necessary and useful, and what
is unnecessary and harmful.

How often do we stop and ask, "What is really
important? What matters most to me?"

If every one of us starts asking this simple question, it
will transform our daily lives and even the world in which
we live. After all, we need clean air and water more than we
need microwave ovens. Doing work that is meaningful and of
service to others is more important than owning luxury cars.
We need loving human relationships more than we need home
entertainment systems.

Many modern conveniences make life more pleasant and can
save time. We needn't live without them, but when we
begin to think such things are not merely useful but prized
possessions, we may gradually lose our discrimination.

In order to understand what is important in life, what our
real priorities are, discrimination is essential.

******

The Thought for the Day is today's entry from
Eknath Easwaran's book Words to Live By:
http://bmcm.c.topica.com/maapxIlab7AvTciSZqRb/
(Copyright 1999-2005 by The Blue Mountain Center of
Meditation.) http://bmcm.c.topica.com/maapxIlab7AvUciSZqRb/">www.easwaran.org

Kyria Blog: Assessing the Year that Was

2012-01-14T12:07:00.000+11:00

Kyria Blog: Assessing the Year that Was

BLESSING CHILDREN

2012-01-09T09:18:00.002+11:00

I give thanks for the blessing of the children in my life and in my
heart.

I give thanks for God's blessings of children and grandchildren of my own and all the children of the world. I find joy in observing children as they find delight in even the simplest aspects of life--the excitement of finding a bug in the garden, the fun of rolling in the grass, the joy of running in the rain. I am grateful for the love children and I have shared and for the wonderful adults they are becoming or have become.

I may not have children or grandchildren in my home, but I thank God for the chance to mentor children who might not otherwise have a positive role model in their lives. I revel in their excitement when they have learned a new skill or mastered a difficult subject. "Thank You, God, for each and every opportunity to love and work with children."

"Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to
such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs."--Matthew 19:14

(www.dailyword.com)

RICHNESS ALL AROUND YOU

2012-01-07T14:22:00.001+11:00

Wherever life may find you today is a beautiful place to be. Whatever you currently have to work with is everything you need to make this a memorable and fulfilling moment.

There is value you're able to create right now that will always stay with you. There are joys to be experienced today that can change your life forever.

No matter where you may choose to go, the first step is ready for you to take. The journey toward any destination you can imagine begins right here and now.

There is richness all around you. There are possibilities stretching out in every direction.

See the beauty in every detail and the value in every challenge. Listen to the purpose that springs from deep within you, and follow the feelings that you know are true.

Let the brand new abundance that is born in every moment fill you fully with its warmth and substance. On this day, in this place, with the world as it
is, take it all in and let the beauty of life shine brightly through you.

~Ralph Marston~

Thank you to Ashley who sent this through to me. I love receiving contributions so do send me your quotes, reflections, etc and so long as they reflect the true spirit of this blog I'll post them. Thinking of you all today! Enjoy every moment!

THOUGHTS FOR A NEW YEAR

2012-01-03T05:24:00.002+11:00

* Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

* Memorize your favorite poem.

* Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

* When you say, “I love you”, mean it.

* When you say, “I’m sorry”, look the person in the eye.

* Believe in love at first sight.

* Never laugh at anyone’s dreams.

* Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it’s the only way to live life completely.

* In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

* Talk slow, but think quick.

* Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

* Call your Mom and Dad.

* Say “bless you” when you hear someone sneeze.

* When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

* Remember the three R’s: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.

* Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

* When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

* Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

* Spend some time alone.

* Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

* Read more books and watch less TV.

* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back,
you’ll get to enjoy it a second time.

* Trust in God but lock your car.

* A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to
create a tranquil harmonious home.

* In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.

* Read between the lines.

* Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.

* Be gentle with the earth.

* Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

* If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are
living. That is wealth’s greatest satisfaction.

* Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes the blessing.

* Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.

* Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

* Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

— And most importantly —–

* Pray. There’s immediate benefits.

John Mark Ministries: www.jmm.aaa.net.au

DON'T WAIT FOR THE OTHER SHOE

2011-12-30T15:45:00.002+11:00

Written by Jane Mullikin
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
I am definitely spending too much time paying attention to the financial markets' daily dance of despair. But just before I quit watching and stay still while waiting for God's moves, the markets will make one of their infrequent leaps of joy, holding me captive once again. I am angry with myself for allowing myself to become absorbed when I already know the end of the story--God has a plan and his plan will not be thwarted. Even if I may not like living with the complications of the short term, I know all will be well in the end. From the beginning of time, it has been made clear, a plan is in place: it is the right plan, it will happen slowly for it will not allow short term gains to compromise the long term goals. And that's another reason I am angry with myself: I've lived through short-term pain and realized the long-term reward. I know that over the span of a lifetime all those difficult seasons eventually evolve into a really great lifetime experience if we keep our sights on God and we make a relationship with him our only priority. It really does work! and it is beautiful!! So I am resolving to stop waiting for the other shoe to drop and begin waiting and watching for indications of the big plan and where it's taking me. Jane Mullikin.www.spiritualsisters.com

THE NEED FOR QUESTIONING

2011-12-28T20:29:00.002+11:00

No matter how much one knows or how little, no matter how much one thinks or how little, no matter how much one reads or how little, one thing is indispensable for the discovery of truth - the need to enquire and question. If we do not enquire deeply, from the bottom of our heart, if we do not question with the force of our entire being, how can insight and awareness awaken within us?

The freedom to question is the freedom to be aware; therefore, one needs not merely the freedom to question but an enormous passion to question and enquire, to discover the nature of truth in our lives. Obviously, the freedom to question and the enormous passion to enquire can arise only if our minds are not shackled by the heavy chains of authority.

(C) http://www.ashokgollerkeri.com

THE NIGHT PEACE FOUND ME

2011-12-28T20:20:00.002+11:00

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

My oldest son turned 24 recently. When it comes to the soul, however, time is irrelevant and memory can melt away the years in a second. When I looked at my grown son my mind took me back to one very special time only a few weeks after his birth. I had awakened in the middle of the night after hearing him stir in his cradle. My wife was still recovering from the emergency c-section that was needed when complications occurred during his delivery. Wanting to let her rest, I picked my boy up and slowly walked into the living room.

Taking a bottle with me I sat down in our rocking chair and fed him while I gently rocked us both. His loving, innocent eyes gazed up at me and I smiled down at him. After feeding him and burping him I watched him fall asleep on my shoulder. I continued to rock and looked out the window at the starry, night sky. In that second, time stood still and I felt something I had never felt before: true peace.

All the worries of life faded away. Every desire, want, and fear of the future seemed meaningless. All the anger, frustration, hatred, greed, jealousy, envy, and sadness that had plagued me in my life melted away from my heart. All that was left was that moment of
perfect peace. All that was left was a feeling of oneness with God carried straight into my soul on the wings of love and joy. I sat there with tears in my eyes, thanking God for my baby boy and for this wondrous feeling of peace.

That special moment started a change in me. Material things soon lost their importance. What I wanted instead was the peace that I had felt in that moment. What I wanted was the joy and oneness with God that went with it. What I wanted was to show everyone how to have it as well. Thankfully, that peace isn’t hard to find. It is waiting for us in every loving choice we make, prayer we pray, and thing we do. May it find you always.

LOST

2011-12-26T17:36:00.000+11:00

Here's the new, wee hours of the morning, make me get up
poem! Enjoy!
Richard

LOST

Some year’s back

Right before Old Grandfather’s passing,
Or as he used to poke fun at seers saying,
“Transitioned”,
He asked me of all the lessons he taught,
“Which was the hardest one for me to grasp?”
Without pause
I told him it was the lesson/concept of
Never being lost.
You see,
He had said that if one learned to be comfortable
Within one’s self
And always believed in and
Kept the spiritual door open
With the Creator of all things,
Then no matter what situation
One found themselves in
On this physical plain of existence,
They’d never be lost.
The highest lesson we all need to learn is,
As long as we take care and nurture
Our own spirits,
Never losing our relationship with the Creator,
Then our indivisible worlds would be complete.
He smiled at me and asked me
If I’d finally learned and felt it,
I humbly smiled and told him,
“I’m still working on it!”

12-14-2011

Copyright 2011, Richard Dean Cook

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Blue Skies and Gentle Winds
Richard D. Cook
http://tellingbird.com (Main Gallery)

BE THE GIFT

2011-12-26T13:39:00.001+11:00

Today, be the flower that flows from a rock.
Be the flame that banishes darkness.
Be the unspoken Love that nourishes all life.
Be the color that brings dance into the day.
Be the heart that opens wide to this moment.
Be the peace that underlies all chaos.
Be the clear water that gives fish a home.
Be the stillness that provokes sunset peace.
Be the compassion that quenches all fear.
These are the seeds of joy.

(C). Elsa Joy Bailey. www.elsajoy.com

I think Jesus is the only person who has truly and fully shown us these attributes. Let us aspire to be like him:). Happy Christmas too, to all my beautiful readers! God bless you all:):)

REMEMBERING OUR LOVED ONES

2011-12-10T17:11:00.000+11:00

This is a message I gave at St Paul's Anglican Church Boronia. December 2011. It was given at a Remebrance Service for those who have lost loved ones through the year. Maybe you are one of those people too, so if so, may it bless and comfort you - God Be with you, Christine

Today we are all united by our love and our lovingmemories for someone we have lost. Today we are brought together, linked witheach other to form a community of support for each other at this time of oursimilar shared experience. Like you, I too have precious family to remember.I’m remembering our son Brendan, both my parents, my sister Lesley, among otherimportant family and friends. Four weeks ago our much loved niece Joy Mareedied very suddenly, so as I was preparing for today I was also remembering her.

1. Remembering someone welove is really important and brings with it many precious gifts. Every photobecomes precious; the name of the person becomes precious and every time wehear it spoken we remember with love and longing; little things they may havegiven us, and made for us, become important in an entirely new way. Each of ushas a store of memories related to the person we have lost - conversations wehad, little ‘in-jokes’ we shared, unusual idiosyncrasies they had, funny littlehabits, ways of expressing themselves, perhaps their laugh – even theirwrinkles, especially when we recognize that we are developing exactly the samewrinkle in the same place - all of these memories are incredibly precious nowand it is important to hold these in our hearts, and to recall them frequently,for they keep the person alive within us. For our relationship with this personwill never be replicated.

2. As we remember today, weare invited to look back over the life of our loved one as a completed whole.From this perspective, we are able now to ask ourselves, what needs to be heldon to: What unique qualities have we gained from our relationship with thatperson?; in what ways they have taught us how to live our lives?; what have welearnt about ourselves from this relationship?; which values and traditions oftheirs are important for us to continue on, in their absence? What example hasbeen set for us to emulate?, What have we learned about suffering? About death?About courage? About life? About memory? It is important to blend these newunderstandings into ourselves as a result of our experience.

3. Whilst remembering, we oftenneed to look at what needs to be laid to rest too, for there is also a call forletting go. There may have been tensions, family discord; there may have beenmuch physical pain, perhaps hurtful words spoken, and perhaps upsetting remarksby well-meaning friends. There may be some very difficult memories. It’simportant for us to let these memories drop away, for they are no longerhelpful for us. I have had some painful memories relating to my mother, for ourrelationship was not close, and whereas I prayed all my life for a mother who Isensed loved me, that didn’t ever occur. So I have learnt, like many of us herethat sometimes we need to let go of some of our dreams and our hopes, too, andrelinquish these over to God in order to live our lives well now.

4. We also need to rememberthat we are now living in a new kind of reality, where we have real needs thatare valid and require our attention. Loving and nurturing ourselves is reallyimportant. Caring for ourselves in no way diminishes our commitment to thememory of our loved one; in fact it may be the best way of all to do exactlythat, for our loved one would want us to be well. We need to get sufficientsleep, and if sleeping is difficult, or nightmares persist, we need to see ourdoctor. We need to eat healthily, for our whole body has been assaulted withthis pain and loss. We need to exercise according to our energy and capabilitylevels. We need to find and join in with the company of others. That might meanjoining some of our church activities here, or beginning a new interest such asa new sport, learning a musical instrument, joining a gym, a craft group, abook club, or helping in the community in some way. We may find we want toreach out and help others who are travelling a similar road to ours.

5. So how do we move on,respectfully yet freely? For me, a change occurred in my grieving over ourlittle boy Brendan as I changed my thinking about him and the way he died, forhe died as a result of a doctor’s and then a nurse’s error. Originally, Ithought about Brendan as being OURS, OURS by right. He was OUR son. This way Ifelt cheated, I was angry because I thought Brendan belonged to US and had beensnatched away. But when I began thinking of Brendan as the gift he was to us, agift that ultimately belonged to God, not us, then the anger over losing himfrom our lives began to give way to gratitude over having had Brendan in ourlives for the time he was given to us.

Gradually as I viewedBrendan as God’s gift to us, I changed and I stopped demanding a big answerfrom God for my many questions. Instead, I allowed myself to simply be, Ilearnt to live with the questions and reach resolution and peace by resting inthe presence of God, trusting him for the courage to move on, without the needfor answers.

6. If we allow it, God can bemore fully revealed to us through this experience. God loves and cares for us verydearly. In Zeph. 3:17 it says, “He, (God,) will take great delight in you, hewill quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing”. Imaginethat! God sings over us and quietens us much like a new mother sings lullabies toher troubled little one. God is one who delights to calm and settle us in ourtimes of distress.

The Bible tells us thatGod gathers us up just like a mother hen gathers her chicks and places herwings completely over the top of them, keeping them warm and safe from harm. Isn’tthis picture of God a beautiful one? Here we see a picture of a God who gathersus to himself, shields us and protects us.

In Isaiah 46: 3-4 God says:“Listen...you who I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried yousince your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who willsustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and Iwill rescue you”. God is one who carries us and sustains us, right through ourlives, with everything it holds.

God speaks again, “See, Ihave engraved you on the palms of my hands”. Let’s grasp that! God, who knowsall about our precious memories, our present pain, as well as our future, hasus in the very palm of his hand. God is one who is always holds our uniqueneeds and situations ever-present in his awareness.

In Isaiah it says: “Theythat wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up onwings like eagles, they will run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint”.Let us wait on God today, and as we learn to lean into the waiting arms of God,dependant and resting on him, we can trust him to take us from where we are nowto where he wants us to be. God will do the changing and adjusting for us andin us if we allow him in to our lives to do just that – all we have to do iswait, close to God, and allow him to lift us up. This is a gentle movement. Wedon’t do anything, but lean into God, and gradually, ever so gradually; he willraise us up with the breath of his Spirit – little by little. And one day, ayear from now, or maybe more, we willlook back and realise that, yes, in fact we have moved, we have risen thatlittle bit. Gradually God will raise us up on wings like eagles. As we acceptGod’s love, protection, care and comfort for us, we will desire not just tolean and rest, but actually run without hesitation into his open outstretchedarms, and he will catch us, hold us, and comfort us, and in time, raise usup.

May each of us bestrengthened today, as we recall our love and our loss; as we remember with joyand gratitude; as we find new ways to move on in healthy ways; as we continueto care for ourselves and to become involved in our changed world; and as we learnto wait close to God and allow him to lift us up. May we each be encouragedtoday and filled with peace.
(c). Christine M Jones.

STAY CLOSE MY LITTLE ONE

2011-11-08T21:50:00.001+11:00

“Stayclose to me my Little One,

Don’ttry to run ahead.

Thereare things I want to tell you,

Specialthings I want to say,

Iwant to show you things of beauty

Aswe walk together on Life’s way.”

Iwant to tell you that I love you, I want to show you that I care

Togetheron Life’s journey there’s so much I want to share.

Attimes you will grow weary,

The path will seem so steep

Yourburdens will be heavy

Andyou will long for sleep.

Ifyou are close beside me you will hear my gentle voice

Encouragingyou so softly to keep looking up ahead.

Whenyou can go no further

Andin pain you start to weep

I’llgently take you in my arms

Andyou will safely sleep.

Nextday we’ll start all over on another lovely day

I’llhave more things to show you and more special things to say.

I’lltell you that I love you more than you will ever know

I’mso glad that I have made you – you and so proud to watch you grow.

Stayclose to me my little one

Don’ttry to run ahead …..

ButAbba, I’m a big girl now

Ican! Myself! I know!

Idon’t need you always telling me the path that I must go!

Iwant my independence I want to prove my worth

Ican! Myself! I know!

Stayclose to me my little one

Don’ttry to run ahead

Thereare dangers on that

Pathyou chose you’ll fall

Andhurt yourself.

Iknow it looks an easier way, More exciting, Lots more fun

ButI’m your Abba Father My plan says this path is best.

No!I want to make my own decisions I want my own control

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thengo ahead my little one I’ve blessed you with free will

Yourchosen path will be rocky but there are lessons you must learn

Justremember that I love you I am always with you still.

Andjust a little way ahead a stumble on the path

Grazedknee, skinned hands and a bump upon the head.

Dustytears and quiet sobbing darkness closing in

Windblows, rain falls and fear begins to spread.

Whereare you Abba Father? I’m scared, I’ve lost my way

Ineed you here beside me to survive this awful day.

Strongarms, Soft hands,

Yourtears upon my face, Your heart so full of grace.

Ohlittle one I am here I’ve been just where I said

Youdidn’t stay close beside me, But chose to run ahead.

Nowwe are back together I will gently heal your pain

Stayclose to me my little one Don’t run ahead again.

Abbalook! That way! I can see exciting things

Friendsto meet, games to play, Let’s go that a-way

Ohno my precious little one I have your life’s map.

Ifyou decide to go that way You’ll fall into a trap.

Many,many miles ahead, Many days and nights have passed

She’snot a little girl now Life has gone so fast

She’smade her own decisions

Madeher way amongst the strife

She’shad her independence

Andplayed the game of life

Grazedknee became a broken heart

Skinnedhands now loneliness

Dustytears became depression

Quietsobbing never ceased

OhAbba You’re so far away I cannot hear your voice

Icannot feel your strong arms Or see youface a glow

I’velost the peace that I once had

Becauseof stubborn pride

Iwish I’d listened to you voice and stayed with You beside.

Iwish I’d never run ahead determined to control

NowI know the wisdom of the words that You once gently said.

“Stayclose to me my Little One,

Don’ttry to run ahead.

Thereare things I want to tell you,

Specialthings I want to say,

Iwant to show you things of beauty

Aswe walk together on Life’s way.”

Iwant to tell you that I love you, I want to show you that I care

Togetheron Life’s journey there’s so much I want to share.

Ohmy darling daughter I never went away

Allthat you had need to so was stop

Andyou’d have found the way

I’vebeen steadily walking onward

Butyou chose to run ahead

Youdidn’t hear me warning of the peril

Youwere in.

Butnow accept again my grace

Forgiveness,love was never lost

It’sbeen with me all the time.

Letme rescue you now my little one

Andgently heal your wounds

Wewill join our hands again

Ourjourney start again

Stayclose to me my daughter

Don’ttry to run ahead

Togetherwe will travel on

Pastforgiven, hearts restored

Thereare special things I want to show you

Specialthings I want to say

Yesmy Abba Father take control again

I’llstay close beside you and will not run ahead

Myjourney has been difficult

consequencesmust be borne

Butall my sins have been forgiven

Nomatter what’s been done

Becauseof Abba Father’s Grace

Iknow I am restored.~

(c). 2007. Lynne Graham. I have been a Christian for many years, however like many, those years have not all been easy ones. The Lord has blessed me with trials and tribulations which have taught me many lessons and gifted me with the ability to share through word pictures and poetry.

A huge thankyou to Lynne for sharing this with us on the blog. May God really bless you in every way imaginable. ~~ Christine

COOKIES

2011-11-08T16:46:00.000+11:00

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

I had just picked up my son from the sheltered workshop for the handicapped where he works part-time. We were driving home listening to music on the radio when suddenly a news break came on. It appeared that a reality television star had just wasted 10 million dollars on a wedding for a marriage that lasted 72 days. The next story predicted that BILLIONS of dollars could be spent on negative attack ads in the coming election year. I sighed and wondered about this weird and crazy world we live in. "Is there any hope for us at all?," I thought.

"Dad, I shared my cookies!" I turned my head to see my son’s sparkling eyes. He started
telling me how he had shared the cookies I had put in his lunch box that morning with some of the other handicapped people who worked at the sheltered workshop. I smiled and told him what a great boy he was. Then I realized that God had instantly answered the question in my mind with the sweet voice and loving example of my own son.

Is there any hope for us at all? Yes there is! It lies in the beautiful souls of people like my
son. It lies in the caring hearts of people like you and me. It lies in the common sense of all of us who know that it is better to give than to receive, that people are far more important than profits, and that when you stop to help even one person you change the world for the better.

Yes it is a crazy and weird world we live in. It is a world of warped values where inequality
and stupidity often go hand in hand. Yet, in this world live so many caring souls, so many
loving hearts, and so many joyful spirits shining their light for all to see. There is hope for us all then. Our choices are clear and the path of love lies straight before all of us. All we need to do is take it and walk it in joy. All we need to do is grasp the hands of those we meet along the way, stroll together in God’s sunshine, and maybe even share a few cookies together.

THE MYSTERY OF PRAYER

2011-10-30T22:05:00.003+11:00

There are many things in life I find to be a mystery. For instance, if my body was created with a system to dispose of waste, why is it I still carry so much extra with me every day? Another mystery that baffles me is why some random seats in theaters and airplanes are larger than others but I always manage to possess the smallest in the facility.

A serious mystery in my life, however, is the mystery of prayer. Perhaps these question don't vex other people the way they do me, but I often wonder why it is necessary to pray. I mean, if God is eternal, omniscient omnipresent and omnipotent, how are my praises, thanksgivings, confessions and petitions going to have any real lasting effect on Him? I can't change His nature or His will. He is not added to nor diminished by my prayers or lack thereof. So why do it?
Then again, the question really does look at prayer from only one angle doesn't it? Is what we really want from prayer to be able to manipulate God to our will? Do we want what we want or are we seeking what we need?

So, as I have matured as a Christian I committed myself to the practice of prayer for the sake of spiritual growth. I began to have my �daily quiet times.� These were prescribed times in which I was to devote myself to praise, thanksgiving, confession, meditation, and petition in that specific order. I call these prescribed times because in my bringing up they were literally prescribed by my spiritual elders for the temptations and emotional upheavals that came my way.

But my mind is a wanderer. I can't sit still for that length of time, and if I do, my mind ends up in Pakistan or some other exotic place.

I really wanted an answer to all this. And help came to me by way of a 16th century monk by the name of Brother Lawrence. Seems Lawrence suffered from my condition; a deep desire to commune with God but a short attention span.
Brother Lawrence is famous for developing the practice of experiencing the presence of God throughout our daily life.

Practicing the presence of God is a life of continual joy. Following are some factors that come from this practice.

To practice the presence of God is to be in constant communion with our heavenly Father. Charles Spurgeon relates the story of a man known for his remarkable spiritual depth. When the man died Spurgeon visited his home to learn a little about how he gained so much maturity. He was especially interested in the man�s prayer life. When Spurgeon asked the family where the man retired to pray, they replied that he didn't have a specific place, but that he was in a constant state of communion with God. Few realize that God is with them in everything they do. Those that gain this realization find great joy in it.

To practice the presence of God is to carry a spirit of prayer into all aspects of life. Only those who have been deprived of the ability to breathe freely truly appreciate the act of breathing. Only those who have experienced great pain appreciate what living pain free truly means. Unfortunately many Christians take their ability to pray to God any time and anywhere for granted. But prayer is for us what breathing is for the body. We need constant contact with God, a continual presence which brings us our spiritual oxygen.

To practice the presence of God includes sleeping in His presence. The Psalmist says �Rest in the Lord� Psalm 37:7. Psalm 127:2 says �He giveth His beloved sleep.�

To practice the presence of God is to walk the direction God walks. It is impossible to walk with God if we walk in a way that is contrary to His will and nature. Jesus said, �I am the way.� Many take that to mean He is the means to an end, the way to get to Heaven. But his statement is much more profound than that. He is the way to live. To be in Christ is to be in The Way. In fact the earliest Christians referred to themselves as The Way or Followers of The Way.

To practice the presence of God is to develop a friendship with Him. John Anthony Hanne in his book Prayer and Pretense said �prayer is a friendship with God that makes conversation possible.� Being friends with God is as essential to our spiritual relationship as being friends with our spouse is to our marriage. The characteristic of friends is open communication. Friends talk about anything and everything openly.

When we come to praise God on Sunday and spend time in His presence it should be a very natural act, an outgrowth of what we have done all week. Let�s not allow our praise times to be like running into someone on the street we were supposed to call but forgot.

� 2005 Jerry SizemoreJerry's Neighborhood
(www.spiritualsisters.com )

THE WAYS WE CAN PRAY FOR OTHERS

2011-10-26T14:03:00.000+11:00

There are many ways that wecan pray for others. Here are some ideas:

*Make a prayer list and keep a journal, as I mentioned earlier,including the names of our family, friends, community, etc. Sometimes it workswell to divide up the days of the week and pray for say, our friends on a Monday,our work colleagues on a Tuesday, etc.

* Pray through the newspaper, the women’s magazines and the like. If weread about a struggling family, or a road death, or some tragedy, then stop andpray for the folk involved.

*We can light a candle, and each time we see the candle, we pray for aspecific thing. This need not be a candle, of course. Perhaps a flower could beplaced in a vase. David Steindl-Rast, a modern contemplative and pray-er, wearsa plaited leather wristband and throughout the day he frequently notices hiswristband, which reminds him to pray.

*Sometimes we can imagine the person we are praying for healthy, orhappy, or free of emotional pain, free of addictions. We picture them whole,and ask God to do whatever it takes for that health to be accomplished in theperson’s life, recognizing that it might be quite different to what we mayimagine.

*We can do a breath prayer. As we breathe in, we mentally say theperson’s name, and as we breathe out, we hand them over to God.

*Sometimes a short arrow prayer to God works well. The old King Jamesworded it “be instant in prayer.”We can send a quick prayer for others wheneverwe think of them – at work, home, doing chores, while walking, in the car, etc.If a person mentions a prayer request, ask if they’d like you to pray about itright there and then. This is a great expression of Christian love, and apowerful witness too.

*We can pray as we walk, mulling over the situation in a prayerfulmanner, or conversing with God as friend to friend. This is a great time topray for our neighbours too.

*We can pray for each person as we write out their Christmas andBirthday cards, or write letters. We can pray a blessing every time we click‘Send’, to forward on an email.

*We can pray intentional prayers. With this prayer, we say to Godsomething like, “While I’m working, or fasting, or reading, or studying, orcleaning, Dear Lord please can you do that for Shane”, or similar.

*Keep a diary and pray for contacts with friends, family etc, etc as wewrite in and reread our planned events for the day. This works well at worktoo.

*We can look at photo albums, recalling and praying for the people inthe photos. Corrie Ten Boom, the noted author and missionary, did this when shecould no longer speak and was confined to bed. Her family placed herphotographs on the walls in her room, and the albums on her lap, and she wouldsit, her eyes scanning slowly across the rows, as she prayed for the people andplaces in the photographs.

*When we speak on the phone, we can pray for folk either then if itseems appropriate, or after the call.

*We can keep a prayer journal. This is a fantastic faith builder when wereread what we have written some months or years earlier, for we will definitelynotice many answers to our prayers.

*Praying Scripture is a great idea. Choose a shortish passage and placeyour person’s name in the passage. The prayers of Paul are great places tobegin. For example: Using, say, Ephesians 3:16-19,we can pray “I pray that outof God’s glorious riches he may strengthen Clare with power through his spiritin her inner being, so that Christ may dwell in Clare’s heart, through faith”,etc. Using written prayers in the same way also works. The Prayer Book is agood place to begin with that idea.

(c). Christine M. Jones. How and where do you find space to pray? I'd love to receive your ideas. Just leave a comment below:)

HE HEALS THE BROKEN HEARTED

2011-10-20T16:43:00.000+11:00

Oh the pain Lord, it’s morethan I can bear

My heart is shattered,pieces scattered

Tears tumble, words fail

Cries of anguish deepwithin

All seems lost

Why?

I tried so hard Lord

Where did I go wrong?

All my hopes and dreams, -my life

Lay in tatters all around

Oh the pain Lord, it’s morethan I can bear

Rejection, Lies,Deceitfulness

Betrayal, desertion too

Abandoned, blamed

Condemned - alone

Remember the Cross mylittle one,

I knew pain almost morethan I could bear

I understand rejection,lies, deceitfulness,

Betrayal, desertion too

I’ve been abandoned, blamed

Condemned - alone.

Oh sweet little one of mine

The pieces of your brokenheart

I gently put together

With cords of My love Ibind them

And seal them with My blood

Softly the Spirit breathesnew life

The heart begins again to beat

New start

... ... ... New hope

... ... ... ... ... ... .New dreams

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... New life

(c). Lynne Graham. Lynne says of herself:-

I have been a Christian for many years, however like many, those years have not all been easy ones. The Lord has blessed me with trials and tribulations which have taught me many lessons and gifted me with the ability to share through word pictures and poetry.

A huge thankyou to Lynne for sharing this with us on the blog. May God really bless her in every way imaginable. ~~ Christine

With joy and thanksgiving

2011-10-11T13:56:00.000+11:00

By: Joseph J. Mazzella
I recently got some pictures of my Aunt’s 86^th birthday party. Although I haven’t been able to
visit her in many years she looked as happy and beautiful as ever. Her eyes sparkled with the
same youth and vitality that I remembered from our Summer visits to her home some 35 years
ago. Gazing at her picture took me back in an instant to those wonderful times once again.
Her home was an eight hour drive from ours over mountainous roads so we could only visit
during the Summer. When we arrived, though, we were always greeted with hugs, tears, laughter
and love. The highlight of our visits was always the early Thanksgiving dinner that we shared.
The dining room table would groan under the platters of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, yams,
rolls, stuffing, pumpkin pies, and ice cream. After saying grace we would all feast until we
couldn’t feast anymore. My late Uncle Rich would always smile after dinner and joke that we
had to visit more often because this was the only time that Aunt Charlotte ever fed him well.
In the evening I would go to bed with a full stomach and a happy heart. Sweet laughter would
drift up from the front porch and into my open bedroom window while Mom, Dad, Uncle Rich,
and Aunt Charlotte talked long into the night. A peaceful feeling would fill my spirit as the
sounds of joy and thankfulness floated up from below to be my loving lullaby.
Those beautiful childhood memories have stayed with me to this day. They were by far the
greatest gifts my Aunt Charlotte could have ever given me. They helped shape my soul and
opened my heart to the love of God that was all around me. They helped me to see the kind of

life that I wanted to live and share with others. I will be forever thankful to her for her wonderful

lessons on living with laughter and love. I will be forever grateful to her for showing me how to
go through each day with both joy and thanksgiving

TUNING INTO GOD

2011-09-21T19:16:00.000+10:00

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

I find myself using the mute button on my remote control more and more these days. There is just so much on television right now that I don’t want to listen to. Whether it is hypocritical politicians blowing enough hot air to cause a Summer heat wave, shallow television stars arguing on horrible reality shows, or screaming commercials trying to force me to buy something I neither need nor want, I find myself turning them down, tuning them out, and turning them off.

Usually after muting the media I will sit at my kitchen table, sip some cold tea, and gaze out the window. I will look at the beauty of nature instead of the glare of the television. I will allow the noise of the world to melt away and rest in the silence of my own soul. Then I will breath deeply, close my eyes, and listen carefully for the loving voice that never lies, argues, or screams.

This sweet voice uplifts me and encourages me. It tells me to keep trying, to keep loving, and to keep doing all I can to make this world a better place. It reminds me that life is worth living, that goodness lies in us all, and that we are all here for a purpose.

This gentle voice is God speaking to my heart, soul, and mind. He is always ready to talk to us in these quiet moments of prayer. He is always ready to bless us with His peace. He is always ready to guide us with His wisdom. He is waiting patiently to fill us with His love. He is waiting patiently to show us how we can love each other as well. He is waiting patiently to give us joy.

Take the time today to tune into God. Turn off the television, silence the cell phone, and shut down the computer. Sit down in the quiet. Close your eyes and open your heart. Breath slowly and deeply. Gently pray to God for His love and His guidance. Then just listen. You will be amazed at the thoughts that come into your mind, the peace that comes into your heart, and the love that fills your soul. You will be amazed at how tuning into God can tune up your life.

ON AGING

2011-07-29T16:36:00.000+10:00

Thought for the Day from Eknath Easwaran

Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.

-Eleanor Roosevelt

The modern world puts a high premium on youth. By this standard, retirement brings the freedom to take on a second career, or find fulfillment in new hobbies, or to recapture the pleasures of youth. But the last years of life spent in such pursuits are often full of frustrations and regrets.

By contrast, from a spiritual perspective, the second half of life is the natural time to turn from physical satisfactions to inner growth. These are years of opportunity - of continued growth rather than decline. This is the time when we need to concentrate on spiritual development if we are to fulfill our highest potential and realize our immortality. All the world's religions agree that death is not the end of life, only the end of one chapter.

*******************************************************************************

The Thought for the Day is today's entry from
Eknath Easwaran's book Words to Live By:http://bmcm.c.topica.com/maapaqKab5vnQciSZqRb/
(Copyright 1999-2005 by The Blue Mountain Center of
Meditation.) http://bmcm.c.topica.com/maapaqKab5vnRciSZqRb/">www.easwaran.org

MYSTERIOUS WAYS

2011-07-13T14:03:00.000+10:00

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

God sometimes works in mysterious and wondrous ways. If you don’t believe me then let me share with you what happened here recently. I was out walking my dogs a few days ago when my neighbor called out to me. She was upset and asked if I had seen her own little black dog. It had gotten out of her yard and hadn’t come back since that morning. I spent the rest of that afternoon helping my neighbors search for him but to no avail. That night I said a little prayer
that he would be found or follow his nose back home.

The next day I was catching up with some friends on Facebook when I saw a picture that my cousin had posted online. There he was. His black furry face was looking sadly into the camera. I quickly let my cousin know that it may be my neighbor’s dog that she had found and rescued. Then my son, neighbor, and I hopped into my car and drove the half mile to my cousin’s house. The little pooch was waiting for us on the porch and was more than happy to get back home into his owner’s loving arms.

Now isn’t it amazing that a lost little dog found his way safely through woodlands and a very busy roadway to the home of my cousin? Isn’t it amazing that my cousin would post his picture online and that it would travel through cyberspace right to my waiting eyes the next day? Is it all just a big coincidence or is there perhaps a Loving, Heavenly hand at work behind it all?

What I do know is that this is just one of a hundred times that God’s mysterious, wondrous,and loving ways have been shown to me. I fully believe that He is watching over us, guiding us, and giving us all countless opportunities to help, learn, and love here. All we have to do is open our hearts to His love, our minds to His guidance, and our lives to His will. Then our own lost souls will find their way back home again into His loving arms.

READY TO FLY

2011-06-22T16:09:00.000+10:00

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

Something new showed up on my Dad’s front porch this Spring: a nest. A robin decided that the top of a corner post just under the metal roof would be the perfect place to put her new home. Slowly she started to build it stick by stick. My Dad noticed what she was doing and tossed her work back off the porch, hoping that she would take the hint and choose a nearby tree instead.

The robin was determined, however, and kept returning to rebuild her nest again and again. Finally, my Dad gave in and let her finish her work. When it was done the robin laid her eggs and settled into her warm, dry, safe home.

A few weeks later three tiny heads suddenly emerged over the corner of the nest. I had never seen baby birds so close up before. Each one looked like a tiny vulture dressed in a fluffy, wool sweater. I watched in wonder as the little heads tilted back and the ugly beaks stretched wide to receive the food that was dropped into them. I knew too that their mom would continue her work
everyday, lovingly feeding her babies until they were grown, beautiful, and ready to fly.

Watching those baby birds made me think too about how so many of us huddle in our own nests day after day waiting for the time when we will be ready to fly. So many of us look over the edge terrified to make that first leap to live and to love. So many of us spend our hours dreaming of soaring in the clouds while we sit scared on a pile of sticks.

We aren’t meant to hide in our nests, though. God created us to fly. God created us to soar into the sky on the wings of love and joy. God created us to go higher and higher with every good thought we think and kind act we do. We just have to make that first leap. Don’t let the birds have all the fun then. You are ready. Live well, fly high, and help a few others out of their nests along the way. Keep your spirit in the heavens even while your feet are here on Earth.

A YOUNG SPIRIT

2011-06-15T09:41:00.000+10:00

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

It was my daughter’s 21^st birthday. Dinner was finished and cake and ice cream were about to
be served. As I looked out on my three grown children I was amazed at how quickly the years
had gone by. My youngest was now 18 years old. My daughter was a college graduate. My
oldest boy was 23 and getting older every minute. Just thinking about it I could feel my hair
getting thinner and grayer and my wrinkles getting deeper.

I dragged my aching, aging body into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. Yes,
the hair was thin and gray. The face and forehead were wrinkled a bit. The few extra pounds of
middle-age were showing in places. Then I gazed into the eyes staring back at me from the
mirror and I saw him: a young spirit shining out of them from deep within me.

He was the spirit that still delighted in the twinkling lights of the fireflies every Summer.
He was the spirit that still soared along with the birds in the morning sky.
He was the spirit that still thought the laughter of a child was the most beautiful music in the world.
He was the spirit that had always known that bodies are temporary but that life is eternal.
He was the spirit that had always tried to keep one foot in the wonder of childhood and one foot in the love of Heaven.

I smiled back at that shining spirit and took my youthful soul back out to the kitchen table to
join my forever young children in some red velvet cake and vanilla ice cream. I thanked God too for reminding me that I will always be young no matter how old I get.

Always remember who you really are.

You are a beautiful, shining, loving soul.

You are blessed by Heaven and loved by God.

You are both eternal and forever young.

You can never grow old unless you let yourself.

May all your days be blessed with youth, laughter, and joy then.

May all your years be full of loving God, yourself, and others

MY DAUGHTER THE GRADUATE

2011-06-14T07:47:00.000+10:00

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

My daughter graduated from college this Spring. I couldn’t be more proud of her. Through countless hours of study, books read, papers written, and tests taken, her hard work has paid off. She is no longer the little girl I once pushed on a swing and taught to ride a bike. She has become a wise, mature, giving, caring, and loving adult. She has learned so much and is ready to start the rest of her life.

I think the things I am most proud of her learning, though, aren’t the ones she learned in the classroom. They are the ones she learned through living her life. My daughter already knows things that it took me much longer to learn.

She knows that money can’t buy or even rent happiness.
She knows that you never rise higher than when you stoop to help up another.
She knows that laughter exercises the lungs and love opens up the heart.
She knows that a good cry isn’t a bad thing. It washes out your eyes so you can see more clearly.
She knows that petting a dog warms your heart and hugging a friend uplifts your soul.
She knows that doing what you love and loving what you do turns work into play.
She knows that children are life’s most precious gift and that every child should be treated with gentleness, kindness, and love.
My daughter knows that life often isn’t fair, that society often isn’t wise, and that everyone of
us will face our share of problems.
She also knows, however, that with love in our hearts we can bring learning, laughter, and joy to even the toughest days.
She knows that true faith brings us closer to God’s love and never seeks to judge or hurt another.
She knows that life is a journey taken on a rocky road and that sometimes we stumble and fall.
She knows too that we can pick ourselves up each time and even help someone else up as well.

Most of all she knows that she is still learning, just as we all are.
May she always know too just how much I love her.

LOVE EVERYTHING...

2011-06-13T17:31:00.000+10:00

Love all that has been created by God, both the whole and
every grain of sand. Love every leaf and every ray of light.
Love the beasts and the birds, love the plants, love every
separate fragment. If you love each separate fragment, you
will understand the mystery of the whole resting in God.

-Dostoyevsky

The Correct Path

2011-06-10T18:05:00.000+10:00

By Jim Coleman

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye.” -Psalm 32:8

Recently at a dinner gathering, my wife, Sheila, was seated to my right. Immediately to my left, and directly across the table from me were two gentlemen - both “car guys,” I discovered. So, guess what we talked about? One of these men, David, had attended (as I had in my younger days) a five-day racing school, where you actually drive real race cars, on a real racetrack, and learn real race car driving techniques.

The very first thing David had learned, before even entering the car, was this: No matter what happens behind the wheel...if and when your car slides, skids, goes sideways, heads toward the wall or begins to run off the track…keep your eyes and your concentration on the way you originally intended to go. When you remain focused on the correct direction of travel, then all of your reactions, instincts, and responses will naturally follow.

What a great lesson for life!

When your emotions skid...when your relationships slide...and even when everything seems to crash in around you…keep your eye and your concentration on your goal and on your God. Yes, our God and our goals are one-in-the-same when we place our lives in His will.

He is your direction. He is your true North Star. He is your Rock, your very Foundation. When the road of life gets bumpy, takes a sharp turn, becomes blocked with debris and flooded with water...when the way seems impassable…keep your eye above and beyond the fray. God will be your guide.

Prayer:
Lord, even when events in my life seem totally out of my control, I will choose to keep my eyes and my concentration on You, my Guide. I love You, Lord. Amen.

* * *

Franciscan Benediction

2011-06-04T10:01:00.000+10:00

Last night we were thinking of the great compassion Jesus showered upon those he met, especially thinking of disadvantaged people. I was part of a group where we prayed to be the light and love of Jesus in all of our relationships, and be compassionate like Christ. This prayer sums up how I feel today as I reflect upon last night. It is the Franciscan Prayer, written hundreds of years ago yet still relevant today. This is my prayer for today. May it be yours too:

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain to joy.

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in the world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Amen.

Meditation and Action

2011-06-02T16:57:00.000+10:00

Dive deep, O mind, dive deep In the ocean of God’s beauty;

If you descend to the uttermost depths,

There you will find the gem of love.

-Bengali hymn

Don’t think the purpose of meditation is to go deep into
consciousness, wrap a blanket around yourself, and say, “How
cozy! I’m going to curl up in here by myself; let the world
burn.” Not at all. We go deep into meditation so that we can
reach out farther and farther to the world outside.

In meditation we are going deep into ourselves, into the
utter solitude that is within. As a counterbalance to this,
it is necessary to be with people: to laugh with them, to
sing with them, and to enjoy the healthy activities of life.

Meditation and selfless action go hand in hand. When we try
to live more for others than for ourselves, this will deepen
our meditation. When we deepen our meditation, more and more
energy will be released with which we can love and help
others.

******
The Thought for the Day is today's entry from
Eknath Easwaran's book Words to Live By:http://bmcm.c.topica.com/maaoXOXab4Ga1ciSZqRb/
(Copyright 1999-2005 by The Blue Mountain Center of
Meditation.) http://bmcm.c.topica.com/maaoXOXab4Ga2ciSZqRb/">www.easwaran.org

TODAY'S PRAYER

2011-05-16T22:10:00.000+10:00

I praise you, O Lord, for your awesome and holy being. I thank you for the life you have given me. I appreciate the beautiful blessings you have provided in the earth around me and the simple, but important, things of life. Thank you for family--my birth family, my extended family, my family of the church. Please forgive me of taking them for granted sometimes, and help me to always show my appreciation and love to them. Thank you for taking care of me. Thank you for answering my prayers in the way that you know is best. Thank you for always being here for me. With all my love, in the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LITTLE BOXES - AN EASTER PRAYER

2011-05-07T15:22:00.000+10:00

How could they seek to contain you, O Lord,

when they saw

how you break forth like the morning,

how your love expands beyond the skies?

How could they imagine a God so small

when your glory is so great?

How can we seek to control you

with our petty prayers,

our desire for a neat and tidy

little life

when we witness your wild

Abandon,

your lavish and unruly hand

throughout your Creation?

Can we not dream bigger?

Can we not allow our thoughts of you

to encompass more

than the small portion of the world

we can see with our eyes and

hear with our ears?

Is there not planted

within us

a blazing hope,

a fantastic imagination

that dares to consider

a greater possibility?

A God who surprises,

who breaks all the molds

humanity

has ever created?

O children of the Infinite,

of the reckless ruler of the universe,

let go.

Prepare to receive the wild abundance

of God’s reckless Love.

A profusion of Love

©Sue Magrath 4/18/11

LAYING AWAKE AT NIGHT

2011-04-27T09:12:00.000+10:00

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

I was a young boy reading a book on the floor of our living room. A few feet away a fire was blazing inside our old coal stove. Its warmth filled the room. Still, my Dad looked chilled and weak as he sat in his chair under a blanket. Times were tough financially so a few weeks earlier he had taken a higher paying job in an underground coal mine. He had started work with high hopes of bringing in more money for his family. He had also started the job, however, with a case of the flu. Working in the cold, damp mine had quickly turned it into pneumonia and he had been forced to quit and go back to his old job as a mechanic.

My Mom walked into the room and told me to put up the book because it was time for bed. I saw the worried look on her face when she looked at my Dad. For days he had come home coughing because he couldn’t afford to miss any more work. Putting in full days working on cars while fighting the infection had left him pale and thin.

I walked into my bedroom next to the living room while my Mom gave Dad some soup and straightened his blanket. For a long time I lay awake scared while I listened to the voices drifting in from the living room. I wondered if my Dad would ever be well again. Then I heard something I hadn’t heard in a while: laughter. Its sweet sound floated on the air. First my Mom’s, then my Grandma’s, and finally my Dad’s happy laughter filled my ears. I noticed too that for the first time in weeks my Dad wasn’t coughing. At that moment I felt safe, happy, and loved. I knew that my family was going to be alright and that we were rich in everything that
mattered. I said "Thank You" to God for making my Daddy well and then fell blissfully asleep, wrapped in the love that binds us all together.

It is that love which is the real wealth of this world. May your life always be rich in it.

GOD'S PRESENCE

2011-04-13T20:58:00.000+10:00

By Robert H. Schuller

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17

God's presence - behind you, in front of you, and around you. You can feel it, know it, believe it, have it and hold on to it; you can face anything, anytime, anywhere, and win - really win!

I really believe that God is before me, behind me and around me. One thing I know - I never asked to be born. I did not choose my father or mother. I did not choose my race, the color of my skin, or the language that I learned as a child in my family home. I did not choose the community in which I was born and raised. I did not choose the school I attended from the first grade through high school. It was not until I graduated from high school that there were forces around me which caused me to select my college, and which influenced me to move in certain directions.

One thing I believe. There is a sense of destiny in my life. There is also a sense of destiny about your life. Everything I've said about myself, you could say about yourself. You are God's idea. You are God's dream!

A poet once said that he wished there was a wonderful place called the Land of Beginning Again, where all our cares, heartaches and grieves could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door and never put on again. Well, there is such a place - the Land of Beginning Again. It is called NOW. In His mercy, God has granted each of us a new beginning at the dawn of each new day. When God is present within us, all things become new!

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I am assured that new beginnings are always open to me because You are with me! Thank you for Your sacrifice so that I might enter "the land of beginning again." Thank You for forgiving me and helping me to live a new life in You! Amen.
**************************************************************************
Do you believe that you are God's idea? What purpose and destiny do you believe God has planned for your life? I'd love to hear your ideas, thoughts and comments. Please email me at: christinesdroplets@yahoo.com.au

"I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD''

2011-04-04T15:57:00.000+10:00

By Sheila Schuller Coleman

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." -John 8:12, the words of Jesus (NIV)

I have a special suitcase that sits on the top of my stairs. It is full of darkness. I can bring it into a room full of light and open it and all the darkness spills out and drowns out the light. If I don’t have a flashlight handy, I will be lost in the darkness spilling out of the suitcase.

Not!

When I open my suitcase of darkness, light rushes in, and the entire suitcase is filled with light. And the lighted room is still just as bright as it was before I opened the darkness-filled suitcase.

When we lost power at our home one recent evening, it was so dark that I could not see my hand directly in front of my face. I stumbled through the house feeling for a candle and matches. I was finally able to strike the match and light the candle. Wow! That one tiny candle brought so much light into the dark room.

Light always overpowers darkness! Always! It takes very little light to compensate for deep darkness.

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." What a promise! Jesus provides the light we need so we don’t have to fumble around in the darkness, lost. He shows the way brightly!

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, that You came to be the light of the world. Thank You that I do not need to walk in darkness - but, instead, have the light of life - You - in my life today! Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Shine Your light into my life. Amen.

****************************************

What part of your life needs illumination? How can Jesus bring light into your life? I'd love to receive your responses. Please email me at: christinesdroplets@yahoo.com.au

WISDOM

2011-04-04T10:14:00.000+10:00

On Saturday I did it again. I spoke out exactly what I was thinking, and it all came out wrong. I wasn't rude, however I could have been so much kinder had I thought about it first. More importantly, I could have sent a quick arrow prayer to God first, and that would no doubt have changed what I said.

I realize at times like this just how much I need wisdom. The Bible tells us to seek wisdom above all else, for if we are wise in all our conversations, we will respect others at all times. That's what I need.
To be wise...
To be kind...
To be thoughtful....
AWAYS.
Only God can give me that, and it's only as I invite God to change me and keep refining me, that it's going to happen. So I'm praying today, for wisdom to speak encouragement and hope, everywhere I go.
What about you? Do you need wisdom too, like me?

SPIRITUALITY

2011-04-01T21:28:00.000+11:00

“Every now and then take a good look at something not made with hands – a mountain, a star, the turn of a stream. There will come to you wisdom, and patience, and solace, and above all the assurance that you are not alone in the world.” ~ Sidney Lovett

"Spirituality is seeded, germinates, spouts and blossoms in the mundane. It is to be found and nurtured in the smallest of daily activities." ~ Thomas Moore

"Help us to be ever faithful gardeners of the spirit, who know that without darkness nothing comes to birth, and without light nothing flowers." ~ May Sarton

"The deepest expression of spirituality is love." ~ Robert L. Simpson

"We are not human beings trying to be spiritual. We are spiritual beings trying to be human." ~ Jacquelyn Small

“I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.” ~ Mother Teresa
“We are like little fountains rising up from the deep, underground river of God.” ~ Unknown

A GOOD MIND

2011-04-01T21:19:00.000+11:00

Eknath Easwaran's Thought for the Day

A mind that is fast is sick. A mind that is slow is sound. A

mind that is still is divine. -Meher Baba

Somehow, in our modern civilization, we have acquired the idea that the mind is working best when it runs at top speed. Yet a racing mind lacks time even to finish a thought, let alone to check on its quality.

When we slow down the mind, we work better at everything we do. Not only is the quality of our work better, we are actually able to get more done.

A calm, smooth-running flow of thought saves a lot of wear and tear on the nervous system, which means we have more vitality and resilience in the face of stress.

********************************************************************************
(Copyright 1999-2005 by The Blue Mountain Center of Meditation.)
http://bmcm.c.topica.com/maaoKtCab3IHMciSZqRb/

Read the Thought for the Day for any day of the year:
http://bmcm.c.topica.com/maaoKtCab3IHNciSZqRb/

HE LOVED

2011-03-31T20:39:00.000+11:00

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

I stared at the blank page nervously. The school assignment was to write your own obituary but how was I supposed to write a summation of my life when I hadn’t even lived it yet? I looked to my left and right and saw people pouring paragraphs out of their pens. I tried to think of what I wanted to accomplish in my life but my crazily racing thoughts crashed into each other.I glanced back at my clean sheet of paper and my writer’s block intensified.

I tried to imagine the man I wanted to become but couldn’t see him clearly. Looking up at the clock on the wall I saw that there were only fifteen minutes left in class. Finally, in a panic I scribbled down a few
sentences of what I hoped someday to do and turned it in. Let’s just say when I got the paper
back it wasn’t the highest grade I had ever gotten.

If I had that assignment to do over today, however, I think that my obituary would be even shorter. It would probably get me an F on the assignment, but it would get me an A in life. In fact, I would sum it up in two words: He Loved. To love is what I want to do today, tomorrow, and for the rest of my life. To love is what living is all about. The rest is just details.
Everything about living well and good and right is wrapped up in the arms of love.

To love is to serve, to give, to be kind, and to help others.

To love is to have joy and to bring joy as well.

To love is to make this world a better place just by being in it.

To love is to create a little Heaven everyday while still here on Earth.

To love is to be the wonderful child, caring parent, tender spouse, fantastic friend, and beautiful person that you have always wanted to be.

To love is to become the bright, shining soul that God meant for you to become.

Fill your days with love then and you will have truly lived. Fill yourself with love and you will be the best possible you. Fill your life with love and your obituary will take care of itself.

Billy Graham quotes

2011-03-20T23:16:00.000+11:00

Billy Graham quotes

ACTION VS CONTEMPLATION

2011-03-19T16:33:00.001+11:00

Eknath Easwaran's Thought for the Day

What we take in by contemplation, that we pour out in love. -Meister Eckhart

The old dispute about the relative virtues of the active way to spiritual awareness versus the contemplative way is a spurious one. We require both.

They are phases of a single rhythm like the pulsing of the heart, the in-drawing and letting go of breath, the ebb and flow of the tides. So we
go deep, turn inwards in meditation to consolidate our vital
energy, and then with greater love and wisdom we come out
into the family, the community, the world.

Without action, we lack opportunities for changing our old ways and we
increase our self-will rather than lessen it; without contemplation, we lack the strength to change and are blown about by our conditioning.

(March 16th - Words to Live By).

Do you find that one of these is easier for you than the other? Is it easier to be active or contemplative? I'd love to hear from you. Email me at: christinesdroplets@yahoo.com.au .Enjoy your day! Christine

THE TIME OF THE SINGING OF THE BIRDS HAS COME

2011-03-19T12:30:00.000+11:00

By Sheila Schuller Coleman

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they are?" -Matthew 6:26 (NIV)

Many of you have heard my father preach on this scripture: "The time of the singing of the birds has come" (Song of Solomon 2:12). And, every time I have heard him share on that scripture, I had a hard time relating to it. Don't birds sing all the time?

Here in sunny Southern California, we have birds around us all of the time. They don't migrate south for the winter, and others migrate in from colder climates. I was thinking about that the other day when I received a text message from my youngest son, Nicholas. Nicholas is in graduate school on the East Coast in Connecticut. This is his first winter outside of sunny Southern California. So, he calls me and sends me pictures of the piles of snow that he's trudging through. He has complained loudly about how cold he is. I hear from him, "Why am I here? It's ten degrees below zero. I'm walking home from studio at midnight in a blizzard. I can't even see where I'm going."

Meanwhile, back at home one sunny, warm California morning, I opened my windows and started thinking about Nicholas back east in all that snow. I thought, "I bet he doesn't open his windows because it's too cold." But, even if he did, he wouldn't hear a bird sing. All the birds have migrated south for the winter where it's warm. However, spring is on its way. In fact, when spring arrives in Connecticut, I expect Nick will open up his windows to hear the birds singing again. When spring returns, "the time of the singing of the birds has come" - the sign that the winter is over and the blizzards are gone.

For you and me, for many of us, we have been experiencing a winter in our lives - brought on by the recession, serious health concerns, and troubling relationship issues. It has been a long, hard, stormy winter. When will spring come?

God always promises! The spring always arrives! The winter always comes to an end. And, with the end of winter, with the beginning of spring, the birds return. The birds' songs is are a signal that the winter blizzard is over. A new life has sprung. A new day has dawned.

The time of the singing of the birds will come and, even if you still see no signs of spring or encouragement that the storms are ending...., hear the song, feel the warmth of the love song of Jesus in your heart. No matter how cold your day is, the Lord will warm your heart.

Prayer:

Lord, why should I be discouraged? Yes, the tempests blow and the winter is still bitter and cold. But, I have You in my life. Your eye is on me and I know You care for me. Open my ears to Your love song today. Thaw my heart and warm my spirit, no matter what I face. Amen.

* * *

To help lift yourself out of discouragement and worry, what can you do today to hear the love song of Christ in your heart? I'd love to hear your ideas. Please email me at: christinesdroplets@yahoo.com.au

Kyria Blog: Sanctify My Mind

2011-03-19T09:10:00.000+11:00

Kyria Blog: Sanctify My Mind

THE STILL SMALL VOICE

2011-03-09T09:02:00.000+11:00

By: Joseph J. Mazzella
It was a sunny, Spring day, but that was lost on me. In my mind a thousand concerns and worries were racing around and around. Looking back now I can’t for the life of me remember a single one of them. In the days that followed like most worries they all either faded or amounted to nothing. At the time, though, they seemed like they were going to wreck my life. I had even foolishly taken the day off work so I could spend more time on my worrying. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t relax. I couldn’t even sit still.

Hoping to clear my head I drove to a local lake that had a graveled path around it. As I walked along my brain continued to race. Halfway around I stopped at a small bench and sat down. My legs weren’t tired, but my brain was exhausted.

After sitting a few minutes I just let go and stopped thinking. I listened to the gentle music of the birds singing their love songs in the trees. I watched as the sun sparkled and danced off the crystal clear waves of the lake. I noticed the first wild flowers of Spring growing towards the light. I breathed in the fresh, clean air. I felt at peace for the first time all day. It was then that I heard the small, still voice of God whispering in my mind. "What are you so worried about?,"
He said. "I have loved you since the day you were born. I love you now. And I will continue to love you forever."
I stayed happily there on that bench for a long time. And when I finally left I
took the peace and love with me. I remember singing childhood hymns as I half walked and half danced the rest of the way around the lake. It felt so good knowing that I was loved.

The next time that the foolish voices of worry start chattering in your head, tell them to shut up. Then sit down, be quiet, and listen for the small, still voice of God. He will be there waiting to love you, to guide you, to strengthen you, and to bless you with His peace forever.

Thanks so much for this article, Joe. Let's remember to tune in to our deep centre, that place within where our true selves meet with God. It is from this place that we will find the direction we need at any given moment. If you'd like to make a comment, please email me at: christinesdroplets@yahoo.com.au

BRINGING HEAVEN TO EARTH

2011-03-03T04:43:00.000+11:00

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

I believe in Heaven. I have for a long time now. With me it is not just a matter of faith either. I also believe in Heaven because of all the evidence I see here on Earth. I see this evidence not only in the glorious natural world all around us but also in the endless acts of love that come

from the hearts of people as well. These are the people who bring a bit of Heaven to Earth everyday and they are the ones I wish to thank now.

To all the people then who pick up the trash off the ground and plant trees and flowers in its place, thank you.

To every parent who spends the day hard at work and then goes home and makes the time to play with and read to their kids, thank you.
To every kind heart who has ever taken in and loved a stray dog or cat, thank you.

To every person who has ever opened their purse or wallet and given to a charity not out of duty but out of love, thank you.

To everyone who has ever offered a ride, opened a door, or shared a smile with a stranger, thank you.

To every good Samaritan who has stopped along the way to help a person in need, thank you.

To every gentle spirit who has shared their laughter, encouraged a friend, or inspired another soul, thank you.

To every single person who has tried to make this world a little better through what they do, thank you.

And to every soul who not only knows the words "Love your neighbor as yourself" but tries to live them as well, thank you.

God doesn’t just want each of us to one day reach Heaven, He also wants each of us to bring a little Heaven down here to Earth as well. Do your best then to love and be loved, to care for others and the world around you, to create joy rather than sadness, and to help everyone you can

every chance you can. Do your best to let God’s love live through you. Then you will be ready for Heaven, because you will carry a bit of Heaven with you wherever you go.

I'love to hear your comments, or perhaps you'd like to contribute an article to this site. Please email me: christinesdroplets@yahoo.com.au

WHAT HAPPENED TODAY

2011-02-10T14:15:00.000+11:00

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

The television news was droning on and on this evening. It was full of every bad thing that happened in the world today. Finally I had to turn the set off. It wasn’t that I couldn’t handle the bad news. It was just that I knew all that was being left out. I knew what else happened today.

Today a mother held her newborn baby in her arms for the first time and felt her heart open with a love she never knew she had.

Today mothers and fathers both played with their children, hugged them tight, and kissed them goodnight when they tucked them into bed.

Today animals were petted, fed, and cared for by loving owners.

Today a child learned how to be kind when she saw her Mom hold a door open for an elderly lady.

Today wise words were spoken and minds were opened in a million school classrooms across the world.

Today clothes, food, and money were collected to be shared with the poor and hungry.

Today the sick were cared for, the disabled were helped, and the crying were comforted by so many caring souls.

Today smiles were shared and kind acts performed with no thought of reward.

Today songs were sung, sweet words were said, and laughter was heard.

Today adult children gathered around their Mom’s deathbed to hold her hand, tell her they love her, and kiss her for one last time.

Today someone finally realized just how much God loves them.

Today a million prayers went up to Heaven on the wings of faith and a million "Thank You’s" were said to God with hearts full of love.

Today this world was made better by the good we did, the kindness we shared, and the love we gave to others.

Today all the angels of Heaven joyfully smiled as they watched us strive to love each other, to help each other, and to live as God’s Children here on Earth.

That is what happened today. That is what happens every day of our lives here. Don’t let the bad news bring you down then. Its hate and darkness can never stand against our love and light.

Christmas Prayer

2010-12-17T21:52:00.000+11:00

"Loving God, Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the
shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate
and open the door of love
all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with
every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the blessing which
Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy
children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake.
Amen".
-- Robert Louis Stevenson

LOSING YOURSELF

2010-12-16T20:27:00.000+11:00

"Know that when thou learnest to lose thy self

Thou wilt reach the Beloved.

There is no other secret to be revealed,

And more than this is not known to me.

-Ansari

To know completely, the knower has actually to become one
with the known. To know you as you really are, I must
somehow get out of my own shoes and step into yours. I must
get myself out of the way in order to know you as you really
are. This is what we catch some glimpse of in totally
faithful love, where we forget ourselves completely in the
happiness of another.

The mystics of all faiths and all ages
testify that when we know directly, intuitively, what the
needs of the other are, and we do our utmost to make sure
those needs are fulfilled. It is this direct awareness that
we can develop through the sustained and enthusiastic
practice of meditation." Eknath Easwaran

2010-12-16T20:22:00.000+11:00

'The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.' -Galatians 5:22

"This is an amazing list of qualities; the very character traits that we are to live out and display in our lives. The ultimate attitude-adjustment list. I remember as a child my mother was fond of saying, 'Check your attitude,' when I would get out of line, talk back, mope around, raise my voice in anger, or at times ignore family conversations in the car while I lived in my own little world. As a parent, I've repeated those words to my teenagers. I'm sure many of you can relate. You were once scolded, or have scolded others over attitude.

Yet, how do we check ourselves? In what way can we check our own attitudes, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day? How in our rough-and-tumble world can we possibly model such fruits of the Spirit? It's so easy to get frustrated with our fellow humans - in the office, at home, at play. The answer is actually quite simple, and easier than you think. Pay close attention to the first six words from Galatians 5:22: 'The fruit of the spirit is...'

Displaying these incredible qualities is the wonderful outward display of the Holy Spirit of God living within you!".........(Jim Penner) (www.hourofpower.org)

I have just been thinking about this. What we need to remember in this is that only the Holy Spirit can grow this fruit. We cannot conjure it up, and make ourselves joyful, peaceful, kind, etc. We can try to, but we will always mess up. We need to learn to sit with God each day, and allow him to shape us from the inside out. God will reveal to us what attitudes and motives need to be changed, and where we need to relinquish control and attachments. Then we need not only to listen to God's promptings, but also to obey him by asking for him to take these difficulties and forgive us and remake us little bit by little bit.

Then and only then, will God be able to grow within us these beautiful fruit. The more of ourselves we give over to God, the more room God has available within us to grow fruit such as love, joy, peace, kindness, etc. We can do nothing to make fruit grow - not real fruit or spiritual fruit. All we can do is create an environment where the fruit is likely to grow, and then wait for the process to occur over time. It takes patience and time to grow as we wait for God to grow the fruit within us -then and only then will we be able to really shine with the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control which St.Paul speaks about.

Christine M. Jones.

UNIQUE AND SPECIAL

2010-12-12T22:52:00.001+11:00

One of the potential blessings of mystical practice is that it welcomes the Holy Spirit to facilitate a more profound appreciation of the eternal spark within our souls as well as the impermanence of our personal existence. We also come to the awareness that the same conditions are true for everyone else, which begets the further blessing of greater compassion for others. We can come to know and accept that each of us is a unique flower of God’s love – our petals budding, blooming, fading and then falling to return to the soil within a very short span of time, yet contributing to the ongoing processes of creation, of life and love, in ways that we cannot even begin to fathom. This is a significant development in the spiritual formation and self-actualization of a mystic. We do not have the foresight to know the effects of all our choices but we can proceed with the faith that a life of uniquely loving attitudes and actions will contribute to a healthier, more diverse, and more beautiful garden. In this vision it is sad to think of a flower choosing to keep itself wrapped up tight, as though there is some special merit in trying to remain a bud. It is sad to imagine a lily trying to pretend it’s a rose, as though only a rose can be loved by the Gardener and other flowers. Why would the Gardener, who is Love itself, expect us to torture ourselves so?

Your heart knows what kind of flower you are, even if your mind can’t clearly foresee it. Just let it bloom. You’ll love it! Other flowers will love it too. The Gardener already does, and there is no better way to surrender to the Gardener’s will.

(Chuck Dunning - http://www.christianmystics/wayoftheheart.com/ )

SHINE THROUGH US

2010-12-12T20:32:00.000+11:00

Dear Jesus,

help us to spread your fragrance everywhere we go.

Flood our souls with your spirit and life.

Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly that our lives may

only be a radiance of yours.

Shine through us, and be so in us, that every soul we come in

contact with may feel your presence in our soul.

Let them look up and see no longer us but only Jesus!

Stay with us, and then we shall begin to shine as you shine;

so to shine as to be a light to others; the light, O Jesus, will be all from you, none of it will be ours; it will be you, shining on others through us.

Let us thus praise you in the way you love best by shining on those

around us.

Let us preach you without preaching, not by words but by our

example, by the catching force, the sympathetic influence of what

we do, the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to you.

Amen.

(C). Cardinal John Newman.

There are several versions of this prayer in circulation, varying slightly to accommodate prayer by individuals or by groups, by Catholics or by non-Catholics. This is appropriate, for John Henry Newman lived fully half of his life as a Protestant, ... and after his conversion in 1845 went on to become equally well known as Cardinal Newman, defender of the Catholic faith. This version is from Daphne Rae's book on Mother Teresa of Calcutta and the Missionaries of Charity, Love Until It Hurts, where it appears along with the prayer of Saint Francis as one of the daily prayers of this community dedicated to serving “the poorest of the poor.”

A BOOK BY ITS COVER

2010-12-05T16:48:00.000+11:00

I was driving home the other day on a sunny afternoon. I had a smile on my face as I sang along to the songs on the radio. It was a beautiful day. I felt full of happiness and oneness with God.

My good mood ended, however, when the radio station took a news break between songs. Suddenly I found myself listening to yet another story of a rich, beautiful celebrity involved in scandal, hypocrisy, and lawlessness. I shook my head in disbelief as I came to a stoplight.

As I pulled to a stop I noticed four, leather jacketed bikers. They were standing in the middle of the road with two on either side of the light. They looked rough and dangerous, but as I got closer I noticed each one was holding their helmet in their hands. I rolled down my window as one approached my car.

"We are the Brother’s of the Wheel", he said. "We are collecting for a Christmas toy drive for needy children this year."

As I pulled a dollar out of my wallet I looked past his beard and tattoos and into his eyes. They shined with a goodness and kindness that came right from his soul. I dropped the money in his helmet and waved to the other bikers as I drove off.

My good mood had returned. My faith in mankind had been bolstered. And I had to laugh along with God as I remembered once again never to judge a book by it’s cover.

Our society often judges books by their covers but God reads what is written in our hearts and souls. Perhaps one day we will all learn to see the world through Heaven’s eyes. Perhaps one day we will realize that looks matter little and actions matter much. Perhaps one day we will see that the wealth and success of Earth are not the wealth and success of Heaven.

Over two thousand years ago a poor, homeless outcast walked the Earth. His clothes were tattered and His companions were rough fishermen. He was scorned by the elite of the day. Yet, He showed everyone of us how to live and how to love. May we all follow the truth He shared.

By Joseph J. Mazzella. If you'd like to write a comment about this article to the author, his email is: joemazzella@frontier.com

SEEING GOD

2010-12-02T20:19:00.000+11:00

Eknath Easwaran's Thought for the Day

If your heart were sincere and upright, every creature would be unto you a looking-glass of life and a book of holy doctrine.

-Thomas a Kempis

The pure in spirit, who see God, see him here and now: in his handiwork, his hidden purpose, the wry humor of his creation. The Lord has left us love notes scattered extravagantly across creation. Hidden in the eye of the
tiger, the wet muzzle of a calf, the delicacy of the violet,and the perfect curve of the elephant's tusk is a very personal, priceless message.

Watch the lamb in awkward play, butting against its mother's side. See the spider putting the final shimmering touches on an architectural wonder. And absorb a truth that is wordless. The grace of a deer, the soaring
freedom of a sparrow hawk in flight, the utter
self-possession of an elephant crashing through the woods - in every one of these there is something of ourselves. From the great whales in the blue Pacific to the
tiniest of tree frogs in the Amazon basin, unity embraces us all.

A DROP IN THE OCEAN

2010-11-03T17:21:00.000+11:00

I was in the post office the other day waiting to mail out a few letters. As the line moved slowly forward I chatted with the woman in front of me. She was carrying a large package that she was mailing to her daughter who lived on the other side of the country. It was clear from her voice too just how much she loved and missed her girl.

When it was finally her turn she slowly but happily counted out her money for the postage. Her smile faded, however, as she discovered that she didn’t have enough cash with her to mail out the package. Quickly, I reached into my own pocket and got the extra change she needed. It was only a few coins but the smile and thanks she gave me in return were priceless treasures. I left that post office with a smiling face and a happy heart.

Now I know that my little act of kindness was only a tiny drop compared to the vast ocean of God’s love. Still, over the years I have come to see that in the eyes of Heaven every single drop counts. Every kind act, every caring smile, every loving thought, and every helping hand adds to the ocean of God’s love here. Every single drop makes it greater.

Every little thing we do in this life is important. Every little thing we do makes a difference. Drop by drop God wants us to add to the endless waters of His love that wash over this world. Start today then. Give the world the gift of your smile. Share a laugh with your friends. Give your loved ones a heartfelt hug. Open a door for a stranger. Give a few coins to a person in need. Pass on a friendly wave, a bit of good news, or a positive thought. Shower people with your kindness and love. Help everyone you can every chance you can. Sow a few seeds of joy in the Winter even if you won’t get to see them bloom in the Spring. Keep adding to your drops of love until they become a river that flows joyously back into Heaven’s sea.

By Joseph J. Mazzella

THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON

2010-10-25T22:49:00.000+11:00

By Jim Penner

"Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established." -Proverbs 16:3, NKJV

Solomon was a man who found favor with God. So much so, that in 1 Kings 3:5, God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said to him, "Ask! What shall I give to you?" What would your answer have been? I've often wondered what mine would have been at various times in my life.

Solomon's answer was actually an unlikely one. In 1 Kings 3:9, Solomon answered, "Give to your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" The world was laid at his doorstep and Solomon chooses to ask for wisdom.

God's response? "Because you have asked for such a thing, and have not asked for long life for yourself, nor have asked for riches for yourself, nor have asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold I have done according to your words. See, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have given to you what you have not asked; both riches and honor" (1 Kings 2:9-13).

As I read the Proverbs of Solomon, I often think that, according to God, here is the wisest man we shall ever know. A man endowed with wisdom from God himself. And here, among the great wisdom of Solomon's Proverbs, is a gem for us to live by: "Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established."

Do you commit your works to the Lord each day? Putting your hand to whatever you do in life, is it done with this thought in mind: I do this for God's glory. I know this is a standard I certainly don't live up to. But what's interesting is, when I do commit something to the Lord, my thoughts are established. Performing a task for the honor and glory of God becomes effortless because our mindset changes, for God, Himself, changes it.

Try it in your own life. Commit your works, all that you do, to the Lord. The wisest man who has ever lived, or ever will live, is saying that this is truly the only way to live.

Prayer:
Almighty God, living for You, for Your honor and for Your glory, is the only way to live! Grant to us wisdom in all that we say and do that we might be a blessing to all we meet this day. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

* * *

DETACHMENT

2010-10-16T16:16:00.000+11:00

Manifest plainness,

Embrace simplicity,

Reduce selfishness,

Have few desires.

-Lao Tzu

Detachment from likes and dislikes, habits and opinions, is
not a sign of weakness. It is an enormously strong and
positive quality. Nor does freedom from likes and dislikes
mean that life is insipid for us, but rather that we are not
driven compulsively by rigid ways of thinking. Even if we
don't get what we want - or if we do get what we
don't want - we can still function cheerfully
and efficiently.

Detachment from habits does not mean that we have no habits.
Good habits can be very useful to cultivate in life. But we
should be able to change our habits gracefully, or drop them
altogether when necessary, especially if we learn that they
are harmful to us or are not exactly endearing us to those
around us. If we are used to a cup of coffee every morning
with our breakfast and one morning we discover that we are
out of coffee, we don't say, "I can't
function without my coffee," and go back to bed. We
should be able to say cheerfully, "I'll have tea
instead - or soy milk."

******

The Thought for the Day is today's entry from
Eknath Easwaran's book Words to Live By:
http://bmcm.c.topica.com/maaojosab0NPYciSZqRb/

DAD, HELP!

2010-10-16T07:09:00.000+11:00

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

     When I was a little boy we lived in a house by a river. The only way to reach our home from
the road was to walk across a rickety, old, swinging bridge. It made for a long trip unloading the
groceries from the car. Once when I was six years old I decided to help my Dad and big brothers carry the things in from the store. As soon as my brothers started across the bridge with their bags I quickly grabbed a big bag full of canned goods and left the bag of bread for my Dad. My Dad smiled and asked if I needed help. "I can do it myself!," I said determinedly.

     About half way across the swaying bridge, however, the sack began to feel heavier and
heavier. I took a few more steps, staggered, and yelled "Dad, Help!" Quickly my Dad steadied
me and switched my bag of cans with his bag of bread. Then together we walked happily the rest of the way into our home.

     Most of us go through life determinedly saying, "I can do it myself!" There always comes a
time, though, when life gives us too much to carry. There comes a time when we all start to
stagger and fall. Wouldn’t it be better if before then we wisely asked our Heavenly Father for
His help? It would be a lot safer, a lot easier and we would be a lot happier too.

     Don’t wait until you are about to fall off the bridge of life before you ask God to help you. Do
so this morning, today, right now. Ask God to help you with your problems, struggles, and
difficulties. Ask your Heavenly Father to help you to do your work and live your life the best
you can. Ask the Dad of us all to help you to do His will and share His love. Life doesn’t have
to rest on your shoulders alone. Our loving Father is always ready to help you carry your bags.
His hand is there to steady you. His smile is there to shine on you. And His love is there to
uplift you. All you have to do is ask.

BE NOT CONFORMED....

2010-10-16T06:54:00.000+11:00

Be not conformed

To the world

Be not conformed

To your family, your friends,

Your church, synagogue, mosque,

Club, neighbourhood, political beliefs.

Be not conformed:

to those who love you

or those who don’t;

those who expect the best from you,

or those who find the worst.

Be not conformed:

to the face in the mirror,

for even this one so familiar

often tells lies.

No, remember you are uniquely different

from anyone else who has ever lived.

Like a snowflake you are infinitely

created.

No other snowflake

matches you entirely.

Be transformed

by the renewing of your mind:

a life journey that is constantly

renewed by learning and unlearning

by being loved and unloved.

By growing and staying the same.

Celebrate the uniqueness of God in you.

In this you prove what is that good and acceptable

will of God ~ that you should reflect His Glory

as no other person can.

MEDITATION QUOTES

2010-10-14T19:31:00.002+11:00

Don't try to force anything.

Let life be a deep let-go.

See God opening millions of flowers everyday without forcing the buds.

~~ Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh

Within you is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.

~~ Herman Hesse.

This art of resting the mind and the power of dismissing from it all care and worry is probably one of the secrets of energy in our great men.

~~Captain J.A.Hadfield

MEDITATIONS PRACTICES OF THE EARLY CHRISTIAN MYSTICS

2010-10-14T16:31:00.000+11:00

....Christian mystical meditation is a form of quiet contemplation often
associated with prayer or scripture study.

It is rooted in the Bible, which directs its readers to meditate. In
Joshua 1:8, God commands his people to meditate on his word day and
night. The psalmist says that "his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and in his law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:2).

The Bible mentions meditate or meditation twenty times.

Formal Christian meditation began with the early Christian monastic
practice of reading the Bible slowly. Monks would carefully consider
the deeper meaning of each verse as they read. This slow and
thoughtful reading of Scripture, and the ensuing pondering of its
meaning, was their meditation. This spiritual practice is called
lectio divina or "divine reading".

Sometimes the monks found themselves spontaneously praying as a
result of their meditation on Scripture, and their prayer would in
turn lead on to a profound focus on God. This deep level of sincere
spiritual reflection they called "divine contemplation" ......

St Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) practiced contemplative prayer for
periods of one hour at a time, twice a day. In her life she recounts
that she found this very difficult for the first several years. She
had no one to teach her....

Because St Teresa sometimes found it difficult to concentrate, she
would use devices such as short readings from an inspiring book, a
scene of natural beauty or a religious statue or picture to remind
her of her intended focus. In due course, the mind becomes
effortlessly still. The initial practice St Teresa viewed as the
voluntary effort of the individual, while the subsequent stillness
and joy she saw as gifts from God.

Jeanne-Marie Bouvier de la Motte-Guyon (1648-1717) was a French
mystic and writer. As a 19-year-old, she was greatly influenced by an
encounter with a Franciscan priest who had just emerged from a five-
year desert retreat.

She asked him why she was having such difficulties with prayer, and
he replied: "It is, Madame, because you seek without what you have
within. Accustom yourself to seek God in your heart, it is there you
will find Him."

...Two contemporary forms of Christian meditation emerged during the
twentieth century.

Dom John Main (1926-1982) learned mantra meditation from Swami
Satyananda in Malaya. Swami Satyananda told him he must do "Christian
meditation" and so John Main used the mantra Maranatha, which is
Aramaic for "Come, Lord," as in I Corinthians 16:22 and Revelation
22:20.

Dom John Main later found parallels with John Cassian's (4th century)
mention of the repetition of a short verse as a focus for prayer. Fr
Laurence Freeman continues Dom John Main's work.

Fr Thomas Keating and Fr Basil Pennington teach a contemplative form
of prayer named "Centering Prayer." Here a sacred word is used only
to express the intention to be in God's presence. The other part of
the practice is a progressive letting go of the individual's
psychological baggage.....

In Hinduism, meditation is a component of Yoga and is considered
crucial in enabling the seeker in attaining enlightenment, ("union" with God).

Meditation is a method of spiritual discipline, like prayer or
fasting, is often considered a form of worship, and is an effective
technique for quieting and clearing the mind in preparation for
Divine inspiration.
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- -------

Peace be with you,
The Nazarene Way

MATURITY

2010-10-13T20:13:00.001+11:00

Published by Yaholo under Poetry - Mystic

Photo by Madame Aradia

It is never what you do.
It is why you did it.
It is never what you say.
It is what you communicate.
It is never where you go.
It is why you are there.

It is never what you wear.
It is why you wear it.
It is never what you have.
It is what you use it for.
It is never what you believe.
It is what you trust.

It is never the difficulty of the painting.
It is the insight of the artist.
It is never the skill of the music.
It is the heart of the composer.
It is never the technique of the prose.
It is the understanding of the author.

It is never the historic fact.
It is the lesson learned.
It is never the experience.
It is the wisdom.
It is never the knowledge.
It is the understanding.

It is never the number of friends.
It is the depth of the relationship.
It is never the size of the family.
It is the unity of the home.
It is never a church.
It is the Body of Christ

For man looks at the outside,
But God looks at the heart.
The path a man walks,
Spawns from his heart.
You cannot change the heart
By changing the path.

But a humbled heart,
Leads a righteous path.
For a man can do many things right,
And never right his own heart.
Gaining the whole world,
And losing his own soul.

THE FRAGRANCE OF LOVE

2010-10-08T22:37:00.000+11:00

Just as a flower gives out its fragrance to whomsoever
approaches or uses it, so love from within us radiates
towards everybody and manifests as spontaneous service.

-Swami Ramdas

FRIEND OR FOE? A PERSONAL POLICY AND PROCEDURE

2010-10-08T12:35:00.000+11:00

"If your brother or sister sins against you, go and show them their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." -Matthew 18:15-16 (TNIV)

When I was a new principal of our private Christian school, I instituted a new policy based on this Bible verse. We call it the "Matthew 18 Policy & Procedure." Every staff member and every parent now signs a covenant that includes this policy. Here's how it works:

When a parent has a complaint against a teacher, for example, and calls the office, the administrative assistant asks, "Have you talked to the teacher about this?"

If the answer is yes, a meeting is set up with the parent, the teacher, and the principal. The result? Nine times out of ten, there was a misunderstanding and a positive solution is reached. Consequently, the students experience positive parent/teacher partnerships. The conflict in our school has been reduced and issues resolved significantly and positively.

Why are so many of us reluctant to practice the Matthew 18 principle? Because it's hard to do. We don't want to hurt someone's feelings, so we talk about him or her behind their back. In the process, their feelings are hurt more than if we had gone to them directly, and we hurt ourselves, as well.

"If they listen to you, you have won them over." Another Bible version, The Message, says, "You have made a friend." Talk about the person behind their back - lose a friend. Talk to them face to face, one on one - gain a friend. The choice is yours.

Prayer:
Lord, the next time I'm hurt by a friend, family member, co-worker, or neighbor, I'll ask You for the courage and wisdom to go lovingly to them and share with them how I was hurt. Open their ears so they will hear my heart and learn more about You in the process. Amen.

* * *

By Sheila Schuller Coleman.

A FEW SIMPLE SECRETS

2010-09-29T14:51:00.000+10:00

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

     There is a story from long ago that I really love. A young novice had entered a monastery run by a wise abbot. One day the abbot told his monks that he was going to share a secret teaching with them that would bring them lasting peace and happiness, but if they shared it with anyone else they would be expelled from the monastery.

   The next day several of the older monks saw the young novice sharing the secret teaching with everyone in a nearby town. They ran back and told the abbot what they had saw. The abbot just smiled and said, "I can teach this young novice nothing further. He is already an abbot in his own right."

     In the spirit of that young novice then I have a few simple secrets that I would love to share with you today. In truth, they aren’t really secrets. Everyone knows them in their hearts even
when they don’t accept them in their minds. Like that young novice, though, once I welcomed them into my soul I couldn’t wait to share them with all of you. Here then are a few simple
secrets from a student of life who is still learning.

     God loves you. God loves you even when you don’t love Him back. God loves you with a love so powerful and eternal that nothing can destroy it. And you can love too. You can choose
love. You can share love. You can pray for love. You can learn of love. You can grow in oneness with God’s love each and everyday of your life here. And when you love, you will have joy. You will have the lasting peace and happiness we all search for and want. Then no matter what troubles you deal with or tragedies you go through you will know God is with you and you will face them with love.

     The secrets of life are simple but never easy. Do your best then to learn them, live them, and share them with everyone you can. Be the eager student and loving teacher of life always.

MEDITATION PRACTICE

2010-09-25T06:20:00.000+10:00

.......No doctor has a single medicine sitting on his or her shelf to hand every person who comes to the office. The same is true of spiritual practice, more pointedly meditation or contemplation. One’s relationship with God is personalized, for my own experience has been that God speaks to us in so many ways that what our job is must be to find the way and connection that works for each of us. Fortunately, there are great souls who have gone before us who have left not so much guidelines as checkpoints, as it were, to help us realize when we may have wandered off the path into the woods and are in danger of being lost.
I’d like to mention one thing that I find myself doing, almost spontaneously. I find that first thing in the morning, when our chronically loud household (and I mean really loud, I won’t get into the details) is quiet, I love to sit on my back porch/deck with the many plants and trees, the wind and the sounds of birds or squirrels chattering and even of trains passing a mile or two away.
I find what appeals to me is to move back and forth between three very distinct but gracefully linked things. First, I think it is essential to have something to have that will realign me when I find my mind wondering, something to center myself in that particular moment. For that reason, as in this morning, I took a longtime favorite passage by St. Teresa of Avila:

Let nothing upset you,
Let nothing frighten you.
Everything is changing;
God alone is changeless.
I let my breathing work on its own, no forcing or controlling, just letting it work at its most natural rhythm as I think:
Let nothing upset you, (On the inbreath)
Let nothing frighten you. (On the outbreath)
Everything is changing; (On the inbreath)
God alone is changeless. (On the outbreath, making sure to smile slightly)

This leads to a few thoughts as I think about one of the lines – think about things changing — loved ones, my own body and health, the need for change if we are to have life, my own and every other person’s mortality, the way a hard and fast enemy can become a great and trusted friend, and on and on.
When my mind is thinking of something on my desk or on an Internet site I saw last night, etc, I stop and go back to the “Let nothing upset you (on the inbreath)” part of things until I’m centered again.
The third and final, wich happens on its own, is to drop the thoughts altogteher, to simply be there as much as the tree that moves in the breeze, the sound of the train or bird that is happening without me grasping at it, the blue sky with the clouds moving past and changing. If I’m starting up the thinking process again, I just go back to focusing on my breath and watching it until things are calmed down again. If it’s really a distraction, I go back to the St. Teresa of Avila quote and the breathing without kicking myself for having messed up, without criticism or discouragement. Those are feelings that are changes as well, I guess, and I let them go.
How long do I do this? I’m not trying to be a champion, I’m just trying to really be there for a few minutes. I think fifteen minutes is wonderful if it can be done comfortably, but sometimes, like this morning, I find a half hour shoots by without me being aware of the passing of time.
Of course, this idea may or may not appeal to you, but it is the structure I wanted to at least offer up. Change the quote to fit your needs at the time, but it must NOT be one of those quotes about how sinful you are, or how oppressive and judgmental God is, but, rather, a loving compassion that points beyond itself.
I’d love to hear what your short “verse” might be if you were to give this a try.
Blessings,
Brian
(www.christianmystics.com)

THE FIRST LEAF

2010-09-05T16:23:00.000+10:00

It was an early August night. Even with the fans on the heat was stifling as I tried to sleep. I

awoke early, wiped the sweat from my forehead, and took my dogs out for their morning walk.

The lone Maple tree in my backyard kept a quiet watch on the rising sun. As I walked over to it I

was surprised to see the first red leaf of the year glowing in the grass below it.

I gently picked up the red leaf and smiled. In the midst of the Summer’s heat and humidity it

signaled the coming Fall. It was leading the way to a glorious change that would soon take place.

I could feel the cooler breezes blowing on my face. I could see the trees covered with thousands

of red, yellow, burgundy, and orange leaves shimmering in the sunlight. I could see the forests

and mountains here painted by Heaven’s own hand. I could feel the joy of a beautiful Autumn

awakening in my soul.

I took the little leaf into my home so I could see it every day. I still smile every time I look at

it. It reminds me that there is a radiant, red leaf in all of us just waiting to come out. It reminds

me that on the hottest Summer’s day and coldest Winter’s night we can still share our love and

joy with others. It reminds me that our purpose is to add the colors of Heaven to the sometimes

grey world around us. I only wish that I had been the first leaf of Fall instead of such a late

changer myself.

Whether you changed sooner or later isn’t important, however. What is important is that you

shine today. What matters is that you make this world a better and more loving place now. Let

your true colors out then. Share a smile. Give a hug. Say a kind word. Feed the hungry. Visit

the lonely. Comfort the crying. Care for the hurting. Show others just how much God loves

them from the life you lead. Then your soul will glow like the leaves of Heaven.

By Joseph J. Mazzella

OPEN HANDS - A MEDITATION

2010-09-03T13:34:00.000+10:00

"Honour Him who holds in His hands your life and all your ways." - Daniel

letting go –

of the past,

of things lost, taken away, or

never received,

of bitterness over past hurts,

of fear and anxiety,

receiving -

the gift of life today

our daily bread,

every good gift from the Giver,

every ray of love,

offering –

ourselves to the Father,

our resources to bless others.

(www.whatdidjesussay.com)

Faith is...

2010-08-13T21:25:00.001+10:00

Faith is not an effort, a striving, a ceaseless seeking, as so many earnest souls suppose, but rather a letting go, an abandonment, an abiding rest in God that nothing, not even the soul's shortcomings, can disturb. ~~ Source Unknown (www.mydevotions.com)

HAPPINESS

2010-08-08T15:24:00.000+10:00

A sheltered life can be a daring life as well. For all
serious daring starts from within.

-Eudora Welty

I am sitting in my chair at home in the country, looking out
on the green hills. There is everything right here to
satisfy me: birds, flowers, trees, reasonable comfort, loyal
companions, and the precious opportunity of selfless
service. Right here is everything I need for complete
happiness always.

But as I look out of my cottage window I see a camper in the
distance traveling along the road. Somewhere in my mind is
the uneasy stirring of a desire to jump into that camper and
go out chasing rainbows to find the pot of gold at the end.
This belief that somewhere out there is the land of joy dogs
our footsteps wherever we go. As long as we look upon
happiness as something outside us, we shall never be able to
find it. Wherever we go it will still be beyond our reach,
because "out there" can never be "in
here."

As Jesus says, "The kingdom of heaven is
within."

******

The Thought for the Day is today's entry from
Eknath Easwaran's book Words to Live By:
http://bmcm.c.topica.com/maaoahYabZy9FciSZqRb/
(Copyright 1999-2005 by The Blue Mountain Center of
Meditation.) http://bmcm.c.topica.com/maaoahYabZy9GciSZqRb/">www.easwaran.org

SHINE THROUGH US

2010-07-13T17:08:00.000+10:00

Dear Jesus, help us to spread your fragrance
everywhere we go.
Flood our souls with your spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly
that our lives may only be a radiance of yours.

Shine through us, and be so in us,
that every soul we come in contact with
may feel your presence in our soul.
Let them look up and see no longer us
but only Jesus!

Stay with us, and then we shall begin to shine
as you shine; so to shine as to be a light to others;
the light, O Jesus, will be all from you,
none of it will be ours;
it will be you, shining on others through us.

Let us thus praise you in the way you love best
by shining on those around us.
Let us preach you without preaching, not by words
but by our example, by the catching force,
the sympathetic influence of what we do,
the evident fullness of the love
our hearts bear to you.

Amen.

~~Cardinal Newman

There are several versions of this prayer in circulation, varying slightly to accommodate prayer by individuals or by groups, by Catholics or by non-Catholics. This is appropriate, for John Henry Newman lived fully half of his life as a Protestant, becoming well known as a speaker for the evangelical Oxford movement, and after his conversion in 1845 went on to become equally well known as Cardinal Newman, defender of the Catholic faith. This version is from Daphne Rae's book on Mother Teresa of Calcutta and the Missionaries of Charity, Love Until It Hurts, where it appears along with the prayer of Saint Francis as one of the daily prayers of this community dedicated to serving “the poorest of the poor.”

A QUIET MIND

2010-07-12T14:53:00.000+10:00

'Quiet minds cannot be perplexed or frightened, but go on in
fortune or misfortune at their own private pace, like a
clock during a thunderstorm'.

-Robert Louis Stevenson

In order for me to attain a quiet mind, which I have found to be a glorious state in which to remain, I need to practice Silence, Solitude and Meditation. A quiet mind does not simply arrive becasue I want it to.
But when I enter into Silence, accompanied by God, I find my busy mind begins to unravel, and I begin to move about more slowly and at a more consciously even pace. As I refrain from speaking, and move into a place without noise (I may turn off the T.V., or move from the company and conversation of others into a room on my own), here in this place I begin to quieten down. I find my true centre, and am able to tap into that deep well (which is inside all of us) which contains the wisdom and insight I need.

When I place myself in Solitude for some hours, I find myself noticing my environment and I begin to see things in nature that had previously eluded me. I might see an intricate spider's web, or notice a new bud on our camellias, and as I do, I begin to absorb beauty in new ways. Solitude provides for me a way to quieten my mind because instead of talking and involvement, I am detached and free from the busy-ness around me.

And when I elect to specifically meditate upon God, I find my mind empties itself from the clutter that has been entangling it, and begins to fill with gifts from God - peace, tranquility,gentleness, and I achieve for a time that quiet mind of which Stephenson speaks. Here, together with my God, I discover a new generosity welling up from within me, fresh love for myself and others, and a new sense of the harmony of life.

A quiet mind is a non-dualistic state of serenity for me. In this state new life abounds from within. I am free 'to love and serve the world'.
(C). 2010. Christine M. Jones.

EASWARAN ON MAKING YOUR LIFE COUNT

2010-07-11T16:39:00.000+10:00

Posted on July 8, 2010

If we grasp this great truth – that the Lord lives in each and every one of us, regardless of who we are – we will never be discourteous to others, we will never be unkind, we will never try to avoid people, we will always be glad to work in harmony with those around us. Then it becomes impossible to quarrel, to be angry, to hurt others, to move away.

This doesn’t mean weakening your convictions or diluting your principles. Disagreeing without being disagreeable is one of the arts of civilized living. This is what Gandhi means by nonviolence, and he calls it the most active force in the world. You don’t retaliate, you don’t retire; you just stand where you are, firmly rooted – rooted in wisdom, rooted in love, unshakably kind in the face of criticism, opposition, calumny, or slander.

If life offers so many opportunities to practice this today, it is because all of us have been so conditioned to focus on ourselves. Because of this, we have become so impatient that we burst out at the slightest provocation – not only mentally, not only verbally, but with our heart, our lungs, our whole nervous system. Not to be provoked, not to be frightened, not to retaliate requires a lot of stability inside so that these passing storms do not upset us.

Read the rest of this article by Easwaran which appeared in the Summer 2007 issue of our quarterly Blue Mountain journal.
(www.easwaran.org.blog)