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"Where there is great Love,
there are always miracles." - Willa
Cather
One of the most interesting Americans
who lived in the 19th century was a man by the
name of Russell Herman Conwell. He was born
in 1843 and lived until 1925. He was a lawyer
for about fifteen years until he became a clergyman.
One day, a young man went to him
and told him he wanted a college education but
couldn't swing it financially. Dr. Conwell decided,
at that moment, what his aim in life was, besides
being a man of cloth - that is. He decided to
build a university for unfortunate, but deserving,
students. He did have a challenge, however.
He would need a few million dollars to build
the university. For Dr. Conwell, and anyone
with real purpose in life, nothing could stand
in the way of his goal.
Several years before this incident,
Dr. Conwell was tremendously intrigued by a
true story - with its ageless moral. The story
was about a farmer who lived in Africa and through
a visitor became tremendously excited about
looking for diamonds. Diamonds were already
discovered in abundance on the African continent
and this farmer got so excited about the idea
of millions of dollars worth of diamonds that
he sold his farm to head out to the diamond
line. He wandered all over the continent, as
the years slipped by, constantly searching for
diamonds, wealth, which he never found. Eventually
he went completely broke and threw himself into
a river and drowned.
Meanwhile, the new owner of his
farm picked up an unusual looking rock about
the size of a country egg and put it on his
mantle as a sort of curiosity. A visitor stopped
by and in viewing the rock practically went
into terminal convulsions. He told the new owner
of the farm that the funny looking rock on his
mantle was about the biggest diamond that had
ever been found. The new owner of the farm said,
"Heck, the whole farm is covered with them"
- and sure enough it was.
The farm turned out to be the
Kimberly Diamond Mine...the richest the world
has ever known. The original farmer was literally
standing on "Acres of Diamonds" until
he sold his farm.
Dr. Conwell learned from the story
of the farmer and continued to teach it's moral.
Each of us is right in the middle of our own
"Acre of
Diamonds", if only we would realize it
and develop the ground we are standing on before
charging off in search of greener pastures.
Dr. Conwell told this story many times and attracted
enormous audiences. He told the story long enough
to have raised the money to start the college
for underprivileged deserving students. In fact,
he raised nearly six million dollars and the
university he founded, Temple University in
Philadelphia, has at least ten degree-granting
colleges and six other schools.
When Doctor Russell H. Conwell
talked about each of us being right on our own
"Acre of Diamonds", he meant it. This
story does not get old...it will be true forever...
“Opportunity does not just
come along - it is there all the time - we just
have to see it.”
Earl Nightingale,
From "Our Changing World" Radio Transcript
"Formulate and stamp indelibly on your
mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding.
Hold this picture tenaciously and never permit
it to fade. Your mind will seek to develop this
picture!"
Dr. Norman Vincent
Peale |
A time comes in your life when
you finally get it…
When in the midst of all your
fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks,
and somewhere the voice inside your head cries
out – ENOUGH!
Enough fighting, crying or struggling
to hold on. And, like a child quieting down
after a blind tantrum, sobs begin to subside,
you shudder once or twice, you blink back your
tears and through a mantle of wet lashes you
begin to look at the world through new eyes.
This is your awakening.
You realize that it’s time
to stop hoping and waiting for something to
change or for happiness, safety and security
to come galloping over the next horizon. You
come to terms with the fact that she is not
Cinderella and you are not Prince Charming and
that in the real world there aren’t always
fairy tale endings (or beginnings for that matter),
and that any guarantee of “happily ever
after” must begin with you; and in the
process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.
You awaken to the fact that you
are not perfect and that not everyone will always
love, appreciate or approve of who or what you
are… and that’s OK, (they are entitled
to their own views and opinions.) And you learn
the importance of loving and championing yourself;
and in the process a sense of newfound confidence
is born of self-approval.
You stop complaining and blaming
over people for the things they did to you (or
didn’t do for you) and you learn that
the only thing you can really count on is the
unexpected. You learn that people don’t
always say what they mean or mean what they
say, and that not everyone will always be there
for you; and that it’s not always about
you. So, you lean to stand on your own, and
to take care of yourself; and in the process
a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.
You stop judging and pointing fingers…and
you begin to accept people as they are, and
overlook their shortcomings and human frailties;
and in the process a sense of peace and contentment
is born of forgiveness.
You realize that much of the way
you view yourself and the world around you is
as a result of all the messages and opinions
that have been ingrained into your psyche. And
you begin to sift through all that you’ve
been fed about how you should behave, how you
should look, and how much you should weigh;
what you should wear and where you should shop,
and what you should drive; how and where you
should live, and what you should do for a living;
who you should sleep with, who you should marry,
and what you should expect of a marriage; the
importance of having and raising children or
what you owe your parents.
You learn to open up to new worlds
and different points of view and you begin reassessing
and redefining who you are and what you really
stand for.
You learn the difference between
wanting and needing and you begin to discard
the doctrines and values you’ve outgrown,
or should never have bought into to begin with;
and in the process you learn to geo with your
instincts.
You learn that it is truly in
giving that we receive. And that there is power
and glory in creating and contributing; and
you stop maneuvering through life merely as
a “consumer” looking for your next
fix.
You learn that principles such
as honesty and integrity are not the outdated
ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that
hold together the foundation upon which you
must build a life.
You learn that you don’t
know everything, it’s not your job to
save the world… and that you can’t
teach a pig to sing.
You learn to distinguish between
guilt and responsibility, and the importance
of setting boundaries, and learning to say NO.
You learn that the only cross to bear is the
one you choose to carry, and that martyrs get
burned at the stake.
Then you learn about love, romantic
love and familial love. How to love, how much
to give in love, when to stop giving, and when
to walk away.
You learn not to project your
needs or your feelings onto a relationship.
You learn that you will not be more beautiful,
more intelligent, more lovable or important
because of the man or woman on your arm or the
child that bears your name. You learn to look
at relationships as they really are and not
as you would have them be.
You stop trying to control people,
situations and outcomes. You learn that just
as people grow and change, so it is with love…and
you learn that you don’t have the right
to demand love on your terms…just to make
you happy.
You learn that alone does not
mean lonely. And you look in the mirror and
come to terms with the fact that you will never
be a size 5, or 6 feet tall, or a perfect 10,
and you stop trying to compete with the image
inside your head and agonizing over how you
“stack up”.
You also stop working so hard
at putting you feelings aside, smoothing things
over and ignoring your needs. You learn that
feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK….
And that it is your tight to want things and
to ask for the things that you want… and
that sometimes it is necessary to make demands.
You come to the realization that
you deserve to be treated with love, kindness,
sensitivity and respect; and you won’t
settle for less. You allow only the hands of
a lover who cherishes you to glorify you with
his/her touch… and in the process you
internalize the meaning of self-respect.
You learn that your body really
is your temple, and you begin to care for it
and treat it with respect. You begin eating
a balanced diet, drinking more water and taking
more time to exercise.
You learn that fatigue diminishes
the spirit and can create doubt and fear. So
you take more time to rest. And, just as food
fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So
you take more time to laugh and to play.
You learn that for the most part,
in life you get what you believe you deserve…
and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling
prophecy.
You learn that anything worth
achieving is worth working for, and that wishing
for something to happen is different from working
toward making it happen. More importantly, you
learn that in order to achieve success you need
direction, discipline and perseverance. You
also learn that no one can do it all along and
that it’s OK to risk asking for help.
You learn that the only thing
you must truly fear is the great robber baron
of all time, fear itself. You learn to step
right into and through your fears because you
know that whatever happens you can handle it,
and to give in to fear is to give away the right
to live life on your terms. And you learn to
fight for your life and not to squander it living
under a cloud of impending doom.
You learn that life isn’t
always fair, you don’t always get what
you think you deserve; and that sometimes bad
things happen to unsuspecting good people. On
these occasions you learn not to personalize
things.
You learn that God isn’t
punishing you or failing to answer your prayers.
It’s just life happening. And you learn
to deal with evil in it’s most primal
state – the ego. You learn those negative
feelings such as anger, envy and resentment
must be understood and redirected or they will
suffocate the life out of you, and poison the
universe that surrounds you.
You learn to admit when you are
wrong and to building bridges instead of walls.
You learn to be thankful and to take comfort
in many of the simple things we take for granted,
things that millions of people upon the earth
can only dream about—a full refrigerator,
clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long
hot shower.
Slowly, you begin to take responsibility
for yourself by yourself; and to make yourself
a promise to never betray yourself and to never,
ever, settle for less than your heart’s
desire. And you hang a wind chime outside your
window so you can listen to the wind. And you
make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting,
and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.
Finally, with courage in
your heart and with God by your side you take
a stand; you take a deep breath, and you begin
to design the life that you want to live as
best you can.
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BELIEVE
WHILE OTHERS ARE DOUBTING
PLAN
WHILE OTHERS ARE PLAYING
STUDY
WHILE OTHERS ARE SLEEPING
DECIDE
WHILE OTHERS ARE DELAYING
PREPARE
WHILE OTHERS ARE DAY DREAMING
BEGIN
WHILE OTHERS ARE PROCRASTINATING
WORK
WHILE OTHERS ARE WAITING
SAVE
WHILE OTHERS ARE WASTING
LISTEN
WHILE OTHERS ARE TALKING
SMILE
WHILE OTHERS ARE POUTING
COMMEND
WHILE OTHERS ARE CRITICIZING
PERSIST
WHILE OTHERS ARE QUITTING.
By William Arthur
Ward
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Today we mourn
the passing of an old friend, Common Sense.
Common Sense lived a long life, but died in
the United States
from heart failure early in the new millennium.
No one really knows how old he was, since his
birth
records were lost long ago in bureaucratic red
tape.
He selflessly devoted his life to service in
schools, hospitals, homes, and factories, helping
folks get jobs done without fanfare and foolishness.
For decades, petty rules, silly laws, and frivolous
lawsuits held no power over Common Sense.
He was credited with cultivating such valued
lessons as
to know when to come in out of the rain, why
the early bird gets the worm and that life isn’t
always fair.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial
policies (don’t spend more than you earn),
reliable parenting strategies (the adults are
in charge,
not the kids), and its okay to come in second.
A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the
Great Depression,
And the Technological Revolution, Common Sense
survived
cultural and educational trends including body
piercing,
whole language and “new math.”
But his health declined when he became infected
with the
If-it-only-helps-one-person-it’s-worth-it”
virus.
In recent decades his waning strength proved
no
match for the ravages of well intentioned
but overbearing regulations. He watched in pain
as self-seeking lawyers ruled good people.
His health rapidly deteriorated when schools
endlessly implemented zero tolerance policies.
Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual
harassment for kissing a classmate,
a teen suspended for taking a swig of
mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired
for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened
his
condition. It declined even further when schools
had
to get parental consent to administer aspirin
to a student but could not inform the parent
when a
female student was pregnant or wanted an abortion.
Common Sense lost his will to live as the
Ten Commandments became contraband,
churches became businesses, criminals received
better treatment than victims, and federal judges
stuck their
noses in everything from the Boy Scouts to professional
sports.
When an individual, too stupid to realize that
a
steaming cup of coffee was hot,
was awarded a huge settlement,
Common Sense threw in the towel.
As
the end neared, Common Sense drifted in and
out
of logic but was kept informed of developments
regarding questionable regulations such as those
for low flow toilets, rocking chairs, stepladders
and auto emissions.
Common Sense finally succumbed when,
while the United States was fighting a
war on terrorism, a federal judge declared
the Pledge of Allegiance to be unconstitutional.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents,
Truth and Trust; his wife Discretion;
his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.
He is survived by two step siblings:
My Rights and I’m a Whiner.
Not many attended his funeral
because so few realized he was gone.
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1. Look at your past - don't
run from it. Things grow in the dark and stuff
in the dark can be scary. Bring it out in the
open. Share it. No matter what, you've done
your best. You, like everyone, have been seeking
to be happy - to find love, acceptance, joy...
in the ways you knew.
2. Question everyone's perception or definition
of who you are. Even the ones who care about
you have their own need to see you a certain
way.
3. Don't kid yourself. No one is better than
you. Everyone has "stuff."
We are all in the same school of life. Some
have just learned to hide "their stuff"
better, or it's more acceptable in today's world.
4. Don't let anyone tell you how you feel, should
feel, or how you should live. (Even me).
5. If your guy (or gal) doesn't honor you and
isn't willing to change it -
honor yourself and get rid of him (or her).
There are plenty of good partners out there.
6. Read a good book. Make time for a cup of
tea at least once a day....
7. Visit with your girlfriends. They understand.
8. Trust your intuition - it's kept you alive
so far. Act on it.
9. Read stories of women who've succeeded against
the odds: Alice Walker, Maya Angelou, Gloria
Steinem, Louise Hay. Remember Melody Beatty,
( Codependent No More ) and J.K. Rowling ( Harry
Potter ) both wrote their books while on public
assistance. Be inspired.
10. Honor your feelings - even the hard ones.
They aren't there by accident. Feel them. Talk
about them.
11. If your kids are acting out - remember,
they are looking for love too. Spend some time
with them: doing homework, playing a game, hugging
them. Learn from them. Read to them. Give them
what you might have wanted from your world and
didn't always get... Attention, acceptance,
patience, praise, consistent boundaries, and
more praise.
12. Meditate each morning before starting your
day. It allows some special time with yourself
and your God. Besides, who else is up that early?
13. Watch Oprah everyday!
14. Take walks - enjoy a sunset, a sunrise,
or the neighbor's flower garden.. Nature heals.
15. If you struggle with depression or anxiety
- it doesn't mean that you are less than anyone
else. Get help. Remember, sometimes it's a chemical
imbalance or a genetic condition. Counseling
helps too.
16. Do what you can for today. Don't push yourself
( or others ) too hard.
17. Oh, and the saying "Live one day at
a time" works great - except in your checkbook.
18. Don't strive for perfection - you'll be
mighty lonely when or if you ever get it.
19. Discover your family history. It will tell
you much about where you are today.
20. My son has a Fairie Godmother who calls
him, "Sir Danyon, King of the Future."
I love it. Now I have a wonderful little Mary
Englebreit* tea cup that says, "It's Good
to Be Queen." Be Queen of your life and
your future.
21. While you make new, healthier and sometimes
very different choices, some of your friends
and family may not like it. Make them anyway.
22. In your past you've needed a lot of energy
just to "survive" and "get by."
Now you can use that same energy to open to
other - more artful aspects of your life. Obsessive
thoughts of fear and worry are habits that can
be changed. Make a new habit. Express yourself
- Be Creative.
23. Question the ways in which women ( and girls
! ) are treated and portrayed in our world.
Speak out. Others will get it, eventually.
24. Look for the small everyday miracles. A
smile from a stranger, a card in the mail, a
child's laughter, five minutes of peace and
quiet...
25. We've been taught we have to "do it
all." Someone lied. Ask for help when you
feel stuck or overwhelmed.
26. Believe in yourself. Write down goals and
dreams. Anything is possible.
Then, look for signs that you are on the right
track.
27. And finally, plant a garden, however small.
Then, if someone flips you shit. Toss it in
your garden - it makes great fertilizer !
©2001-AnneMarie
Lewis, Cool & Funky Wisdom for Today's Woman
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Dear God,
Thank you for the baby brother but what
I asked for was a puppy. I never asked for
anything before.
You can look it up.
Sharon
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Dear God,
Please put another holiday between Christmas and
Easter. There is nothing good in there now.
Georgie
Dear Mr. God,
I wish you would not make it so easy for people
to come apart. I had to have 3 stitches and a
shot.
Luke
Dear God,
If we come back as something, please don't let
me be Jennifer Horton - because I hate her.
Danny
Dear God,
It rained for our whole vacation and is my father
mad! He said some things about you that people
are not supposed to say, but I hope you will not
hurt him anyway. Your friend (I am not going to
tell you who I am).
Jennifer
Dear God,
I read the bible. What does begat mean? Nobody
will tell me.
Love, Katie
Dear God,
How did you know you were God?
Cathy
Dear God,
Is it true my father won't get in Heaven if he
uses his bowling (golf) words in the house?
Mary Elizabeth
Dear God,
I bet it's very hard for you to love all
of everybody in the whole world. There are
only 4 people in our family and I can never
do it.
Billy |
 |
Dear God:
Did you really mean "Do unto others as they
do unto you," because if you did then I'm
going to fix my brother.
Casey
Dear God,
I like the story about Chanukah the best of all
of them. You really made up some good ones.
Christopher
Dear God,
My Grandpa says you were around when he was a
little boy. How far back do you go?
Love,
Amanda
 |
Dear
God,
Who draws the lines around the countries?
Sally |
Dear God,
It's okay that you made different religions but
don't you get mixed up sometimes?
Bridget
Dear God,
Did you mean for a giraffe to look like that or
was it an accident?
Nykia
Dear God,
In bible times did they really talk that fancy?
Joseph
Dear God,
What does it mean you are a jealous God? I thought
you had everything.
Jason
Dear God,
How come you did all those miracles in the old
days and don't do any now?
Sydney
Dear God,
Please send Dennis Clark to a different camp this
year.
Jack
Dear God,
Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other
so much if they had their own rooms. It works
with my brother.
Michael
Dear God,
You don't have to worry about me. I always look
both ways.
Erica
Dear God,
My brother told me about being
born but it doesn't sound right.
Matt
Dear God,
If you watch in Church on Sunday I will show
you my new shoes.
Maria
Dear God,
Is Reverend Cole a friend of yours, or do you
just know him through business?
Johnny
Dear God,
In Sunday School they told us what you do. Who
does it when you are on vacation?
Karen
Dear God
We read Thomas Edison made light. But in Sunday
School they said you did it. So I bet he stole
your idea.
Sincerely,
Anthony
Dear God,
I do not think anybody could be a better God.
Well, I just want you to know, but I am not
just saying that because you are God.
Shakier
Dear God,
It is great the way you always get the stars
in the right places.
Maven
Dear God,
I am doing the best I can.
Gracie
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Dear
God,
I didn't think orange went with purple until
I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday. That
was cool!
Michael |
Love is what's in the room
with you at Christmas if you stop opening
presents and listen. -- Bobby, age 5
When you love somebody, your
eyelashes go up and down
and little stars come out of you. -- Karen,
age 7
If you want to learn to love
better, you should start with a friend who
you hate. -- Nikka, age 6
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People are often unreasonable,
illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish,
ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false
friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat
you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy
overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be
jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget
tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never
be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between
you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
—Mother Theresa
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|
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As you travel through life
there are always those times
When decisions just have to be made,
When the choices are hard, and solutions seem
scarce,
And the rain seems to soak your parade.
There are some situations where all you can do
Is simply let go and move on,
Gather your courage and choose a direction
That carries you toward a new dawn.
So pack up your troubles and take a step forward
—
The process of change can be tough,
But think about all the excitement ahead
If YOU can be stalwart enough!
There might be adventures you never imagined
Just waiting around the next bend,
And wishes and dreams just about to come true
In ways you can't yet comprehend!
Perhaps you'll find friendships that spring from
new things
As you challenge your status quo,
And learn there are so many options in life,
And so many ways you can grow!
Perhaps you'll go places you never expected
And see things that you've never seen,
Or travel to fabulous, faraway worlds
And wonderful spots in between!
Perhaps you'll find warmth and affection and caring
And somebody special who's there
To help you stay centered and listen with interest
To stories and feelings you share.
Perhaps you'll find comfort in knowing your friends
Are supportive of all that you do,
And believe that whatever decisions you make,
They'll be the right choices for you.
So keep putting one foot in front of the other,
And taking your life day by day ...
There's a brighter tomorrow that's just down the
road —
Don't look back! You're not going that way!
~Author Unknown~
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| Hopi
Elder Speaks |
 |
You have been telling the people
that this is the 11th hour.
Now you must go back and tell the people that
this is the Hour.
And there are things to be considered. . . .
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside of yourself for the
leader."
Then he clasped his hands together,
smiled, and said,
"This could be a good time!
There is a river flowing now very
fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those
who will be afraid.
They will try to hold onto the shore.
They will feel that they are being torn apart
and will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore,
push off into the
middle of the river, keep our eyes open and
our heads
above the water.
And I say, see who is in there
with you and celebrate.
At this time in history, we are to take nothing
personally.
Least of all, ourselves.
For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth
and journey
comes to a halt.
The time of the lone wolf is over.
Gather yourselves!
Banish the word struggle from your attitude
and your vocabulary.
All that we do must now be done in a sacred
manner and in celebration.
We are the ones we've been waiting
for."
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|
 |
With the recent passing of
Ray Charles and the release of a compelling film
about his life, called RAY, I thought I would
share a few insights regarding Ray's persevering
spirit with you.
There is an old adage that says, "The arrow
that hits the bull's eye is the result of a hundred
misses." And that is so reassuring to those
of us who are pursuing a dream and along the way
things don't go as fast or exactly as we'd hoped.
Ray Charles was a testament to the power of never
quitting. When he was six years of age, he lost
his eyesight. His mother told him, "Ray you've
lost your sight, but you haven't lost your mind.
You can still create a productive life for yourself."
To a young, poor, blind child from the south,
the possibilities didn't seem too bright. But
as Ray thought about what he really wanted to
do with his life, he dreamed of becoming a recording
star. His dream wasn't just to produce an album,
but becoming a star. So as a child, he would practice
playing the piano and singing each day. A teacher
heard Ray practicing at school and told him, "Ray,
you can't play the piano, and God knows you can't
sing. You'd better learn how to weave chairs so
you can support yourself."
This type of comment would stop most people, but
it didn't stop Ray. He deeply wanted to become
a star and remained focused on his goal. Many
times after auditions, people would tell him that
he should just quit, that he couldn't carry a
tune in a bucket. But Ray continued.
Ultimately, Ray's perseverance paid off. He received
countless awards for his music including winning
12 Grammies and he was inducted into The Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame. He performed before millions
of people including presidents and heads of state.
And his unique musical style has made a lasting
imprint on all forms of popular music in the past
50 years. All because he didn't listen to the
negative influences in his life and refused to
quit.
The next time someone tells you to forget your
dream, remember Ray Charles, and if your dream
is something that you REALLY want, don't let anything
stop you until you achieve it!
Cynthia
Kersey
Cynthia is an author and speaker. You can visit
her website at: www.unstoppable.net
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Don't squat with your spurs
on.
Good judgment
comes from experience, and a lot of that comes
from
bad judgment.
Lettin' the cat outta the bag
is a whole lot easier 'n puttin' it
back in.
If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look
back every now and
then to make sure it's still there.
If you get to thinkin' you're
a person of some influence, try
orderin' somebody else's dog around.
After eating an entire bull, a
mountain lion felt so good he started
roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along
and shot him. The
moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth
shut.
Never kick a cow chip on a hot
day.
There's two theories to arguin'
with a woman. Neither one works.
If you find yourself in a hole,
the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
Never slap a man who's chewin' tobacco.
It don't take a genius to spot
a goat in a flock of sheep.
Always drink upstream from the
herd.
When you give a lesson in meanness
to a critter or a person, don't
be surprised if they learn their lesson.
When you're throwin' your weight
around, be ready to have it thrown
around by somebody else.
The quickest way to double your
money is to fold it over and put it
back in your pocket.
Never miss a good chance to shut
up.
There are three kinds of
men.
The one that learns by reading.
The few who learn by observation.
The rest of them have to pee on the electric
fence.
Some make it happen, some watch it happen, and
some say,
"What Happened"
-Unknown |
We are all One
When One is Harmed, All are Harmed
When One is Helped, All are Healed
Therefore in the name of Who I
Am One with All, Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient
and All Loving
One with All the Masters, Saints
and Prophets, with All Beings and the Christ
I ask that only that which is
the highest good of all concerned to happen
here:
I ask for the greatest Beauty
on the physical plane,
The greatest Joy and Love on the
emotional plane
The greatest Illumination and
Wisdom on the mental plane.
And the greatest Unity on the
spiritual plane.
And now I give thanks that this
is done.
Ah-Ommmmmmm |
"Do not be too moral.
You may cheat yourself out of much life so.
Aim above morality.
Be not simply good,
be good for something . . .
Let nothing stand between you and the light
. . .
When you travel to the Celestial City,
carry no letter of introduction.
When you know, ask to see God - none of his
servants."
- Henry David Thoreau
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Think of it this way: it is
actually selfish of you NOT to step out and share
your gifts. People are waiting for YOU to be their
teacher and guide.
Even if your dream seems huge, you can get started
in some small way.
The longer you suppress what you are being called
to do, the less energy you feel for life.
-Unknown |
I was angry with my friend;
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe;
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I water’d it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles of revenge,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright;
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine,
And into my garden stole
When the night had veil’d the pole;
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretch’d beneath the tree.
William Blake (1757-1827)
English poet, artist and visionary mystic.
Ignored by his contemporaries and considered
mad.
Today he is regarded as one of the most original
and greatest figures in literary history.
|
Jerry Buccannan |
 |
What ever you give away today,
or think, or say, or do,
Will multiply about ten fold, and then return
to you.
It may not come immediately,
or from the obvious source,
but the law applies unfailingly, to some invisible
force.
Whatever you feel about another,
be it love, or hate, or passion,
will shirley bounce right back at you
in some clear, or secret fashion.
If you speak about some person,
a word of praise or two,
Soon tens of other people, will speak kind words
to you.
Our thoughts are broadcasts of the soul,
not secrets of the brain.
Kind ones bring us happiness,
petty ones, untold pain.
Giving works, as shirley as reflections in a mirror,
If hate you send, hate you’ll get back,
But loving, brings love nearer.
Remember as you start this day,
and duty crowds your mind,
That kindness comes so quickly back
to those who first are kind.
Let that thought and this one,
direct you through each day.
The only things we ever keep,
are the things we give away.
|
I wish you clear sailing
I wish you calm seas
May your sails come to life
on the sweet billowed breath of a breeze
I wish you safe harbor
I wish you sweet dreams
May your tempest be never so troubled
and tossed as it seems
I wish you clear vision
I wish you strong voice
May you walk straight and tall
down the well lighted path of your choice
I wish you good lover
I wish you true friend
May you find 'neath the guise of one person
a balance and blend
I wish you full dance card
I wish you full moon
May the band know the music and the words
to your favorite tune
I wish you full belly
I wish you square meals
May you only know hunger for knowledge
and thirst for ideals
I wish you bold venture
I wish you bright star
May you know someone loves and appreciates
all that you are
I wish you rich harvest
I wish you glad heart
May your work in the world transcend work
and come closer to art
I wish you good evening
I wish you God speed
May your journeys through life
be focused and purposeful
rich and rewarding, ennobling in spirit
in thought, word and deed --
in thought, word and deed
James Durst (www.jamesdurst.com)
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There are moments in life when
you miss someone
so much that you just want to pick them from
your dreams and hug them for real!
When the door of happiness closes, another opens;
but often times we look so long at the
closed door that we don't see the one,
which has been opened for us.
Don't go for looks; they can deceive.
Don't go for wealth; even that fades away.
Go for someone who makes you smile,
because it takes only a smile to
make a dark day seem bright.
Find the one that makes your heart smile.
Dream what you want to dream;
go where you want to go;
be what you want to be,
because you have only one life
and one chance to do all the things
you want to do.
May you have enough happiness to make you sweet,
enough trials to make you strong,
enough sorrow to keep you human and
enough hope to make you happy.
The happiest of people don't necessarily
have the best of everything;
they just make the most of
everything that comes along their way.
The brightest future will always
be based on a forgotten past;
you can't go forward in life until
you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying
and everyone around you was smiling.
Live your life so at the end,
you're the one who is smiling and everyone
around you is crying.
Don't count the years-count
the memories........... |
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To be so strong that nothing
can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every
person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something
worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make
your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the
best and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of
others as you are about your own.
To give so much time to improving yourself that
you have no time to criticize others.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on
to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and
give a smile to every living creature you meet.
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this
fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great
deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on
your side, so long as you are true to the best
that is in you.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger,
too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the
presence of trouble.
|
The song that silenced
the cappuccino machine
by John Thomas Oaks
It was chilly in Manhattan but
warm inside the
Starbucks shop on 51st Street and Broadway,
just a
skip up from Times Square. Early November weather
in New York City holds only the slightest hint
of
the bitter chill of late December and January,
but
it's enough to send the masses crowding indoors
to
vie for available space and warmth.
For a musician, it's the most
lucrative Starbucks
location in the world, I'm told, and consequently,
the tips can be substantial if you play your
tunes
right. Apparently, we were striking all the
right
chords that night, because our basket was almost
overflowing.
It was a fun, low-pressure gig
- I was playing
keyboard and singing backup for my friend who
also
added rhythm with an arsenal of percussion
instruments. We mostly did pop songs from the
'40s
to the '90s with a few original tunes thrown
in.
During our emotional rendition of the classic,
"If
You Don't Know Me by Now," I noticed a
lady
sitting in one of the lounge chairs across from
me. She was swaying to the beat and singing
along.
After the tune was over, she approached
me. "I
apologize for singing along on that song. Did
it
bother you?" she asked.
"No," I replied. "We
love it when the audience
joins in. Would you like to sing up front on
the
next selection?"
To my delight, she accepted my
invitation.
"You choose," I said.
"What are you in the mood to
sing?"
"Well. ... do you know any
hymns?"
Hymns? This woman didn't know
who she was dealing
with. I cut my teeth on hymns. Before I was
even
born, I was going to church. I gave our guest
singer a knowing look. "Name one."
"Oh, I don't know. There
are so many good ones.
You pick one."
"Okay," I replied. "How
about 'His Eye is on the
Sparrow'?"
My new friend was silent, her
eyes averted. Then
she fixed her eyes on mine again and said, "Yeah.
Let's do that one."
She slowly nodded her head, put
down her purse,
straightened her jacket and faced the center
of
the shop. With my two-bar setup, she began to
sing.
Why should I be discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
The audience of coffee drinkers
was transfixed.
Even the gurgling noises of the cappuccino machine
ceased as the employees stopped what they were
doing to listen. The song rose to its conclusion.
I sing because I'm happy;
I sing because I'm free.
For His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me.
When the last note was sung, the
applause
crescendoed to a deafening roar that would have
rivaled a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall.
Embarrassed, the woman tried to shout over the
din, "Oh, y'all go back to your coffee!
I didn't
come in here to do a concert! I just came in
here
to get somethin' to drink, just like you!"
But the
ovation continued. I embraced my new friend.
"You,
my dear, have made my whole year! That was
beautiful!"
"Well, it's funny that you
picked that particular
hymn," she said.
"Why is that?"
"Well . ..." she hesitated
again, "that was my
daughter's favorite song."
"Really!" I exclaimed.
"Yes," she said, and
then grabbed my hands. By
this time, the applause had subsided and it
was
business as usual. "She was 16. She died
of a
brain tumor last week."
I said the first thing that found
its way through
my stunned silence.
"Are you going to be okay?"
She smiled through tear-filled
eyes and squeezed
my hands. "I'm gonna be okay. I've just
got to
keep trusting the Lord and singing his songs,
and
everything's gonna be just fine."
She picked up her bag, gave me her card, and
then
she was gone.
Was it just a coincidence that
we happened to be
singing in that particular coffee shop on that
particular November night? Coincidence that
this
wonderful lady just happened to walk into that
particular shop? Coincidence that of all the
hymns
to choose from, I just happened to pick the
very
hymn that was the favorite of her daughter,
who
had died just the week before? I refuse to believe
it.
God has been arranging encounters
in human history
since the beginning of time, and it's no stretch
for me to imagine that he could reach into a
coffee shop in midtown Manhattan and turn an
ordinary gig into a revival. It was a great
reminder that if we keep trusting him and singing
his songs, everything's gonna be okay.
|
Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist ate bugs
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer...AND
Lazarus was dead!
No more excuses now!!
God can use you to your full potential.
Besides you aren't the message, you are just the
messenger.
God bless.............
|
Some people understand life
better. And they call some of these people "retarded"...
At the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants,
all physically
or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting
line for the 100-yard dash.
At
the gun, they all started out, not exactly in
a dash, but with a
relish to run the race to the finish and win.
All, that is, except one little
boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over
a couple of times, and began to cry. The other
eight heard the boy cry.
They slowed down and looked back. Then they
all turned around and
went back......every one of them. One girl with
Down's Syndrome bent
down and kissed him and said, "This will
make it better."
Then all nine linked arms and walked together
to the finish line.
Everyone in the stadium stood, the cheering
went on for several minutes.
People who were there are still
telling the story..... Why?
Because deep down we know this
one thing:
What matters in this life is more than winning
for ourselves.
What matters in this life is helping others
win, even if it means slowing down
and changing our course.
If you pass this story on,
we may be able to change our hearts as well
as someone else's.
"A candle loses nothing by lighting another
candle"
So, what ya gonna do?
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