Life's Loving Memories

 WAKING UP TO KINDNESS, PEACE AND TRUTH "Love is a synonym for God"            --Ralph Waldo Emmerson Have you ever experienced something you immensely dislike, gone to sleep the same night, and woken up the next morning praying that what really happened to you was just a nightmare? As the morning progressed you realize that what you experienced was real? What did you do about it? In my forties, I went through a divorce. At the same time I was involved in a Toastmasters Club that met at The Center for Joyful Living in Bonita, California. I had been attending Toastmasters for three years in the same place. One day, I picked up a brochure that advertised the center, that had also been there for three years. After reading the brochure, I went to the Center the very next Sunday. I discovered the faith that I had believed all my life, and found that there were other people who believed the same thing. Going through my divorce allowed me to realize that I ha...

MARCH OPENS ITS EYES " The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.”                                                                       ―  Mahatma Gandhi Oh my word, one more event in the Middle East to examine; and a choice as we decide how to examine it. Do we respond with minds, hearts, and clarity; or automatically react to it with bombs and unrest.   My prayers are for peaceful resolutions, for protecting children and innocent citizens, and for the wisdom to consider what is ours to help with, and what is not. In our own communities and the nation itself, there are many situations that require our attention. Peace starts from within, so does helping humanity: food and shelter for the homeless; health care for those who have none; education for those seekin...

 EXPRESS YOURSELF " I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”   – Mother Teresa Remember the expression, "If you see something say something"? Yesterday I heard our ministers at LVCSL speak brilliantly about, "The Edge of Possibility." The general message was that peace is possible, and there is a difference between "Peace" and "Harmony". Peace is basically the absence of violence, where harmony is a blend of something. Voices, instruments, people working together for a common cause, are all examples of this harmony.  Another phrase you may have heard, is, "It takes a village." To me this says, it takes  people working together to generate peace in this world. Rev Cheryl spoke of peace being possible, and I agree. It does begin with a positive mindset. Spirit has given us eyes to see, ears to to hear, and brains, and voices to speak with. Express your opinion, especially if y...

IT STARTS WITH KNOWING "Lead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth; lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust;  lead me from hate to love, from war to peace. Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe."   From the Hindu Upanishads, by Satish Kumar I read an email from a friend this morning that spoke about training dogs with love. It spoke about using positive thoughts when speaking to your pets. For example, instead of screaming "Get down", say softly but firmly, "Paws on the floor". What a great lesson for people as well. When something bothers you, can you express it without heat in your voice? There is so much going on in our world today that I find unsettling. I could start shouting about all of these things until my voice becomes hoarse, but would that solve any problems-- probably not. Instead I can start my day with mindful practice. Instead of "Paws on the floor", "Mind stayed on Peace." The problems are...

BEING THE  WISDOM, LIGHT, AND LOVE THAT GOD IS  Liberty, Humanity, Justice, Equality —  Susan B. Anthon y What does it mean to experience "Real Love"? If real love automatically excludes someone or something, can it be real love? What are some of your own key values. I think Susan B. Anthony hit a few of mine. Liberty, humanity, justice and equality, are important to me, and I believe they go hand in hand with Real Love, and creating a world that works for all. What are some ways in your own community that you can contribute your talents to organizations that help in providing food, shelter, and support for those who can use it?  A woman's shelter in Kennewick, Washington created a bakery that taught women how to make bread, pastries, and pasta that they could sell to the public. It provided training, a small salary, comradery and purpose in women's lives. What volunteer organizations provide a meal for those who share their time assisting with projects. Volunteering...

ADDRESSING DIFFICULT TOPICS WITH WISDOM AND LOVE "If one has courage, nothing  can dim the light which shines from within." Maya Angelou What happens when someone you love says or does something hurts your feelings very deeply? Do you immediately respond in like manner, stinging him or her with biting words of retaliation? Do you storm off to another room to cry, or phone a friend and go over what happened to you blow by blow? There was a time in my life where I would have done any one of these things. Through experience I have found that the only wise and loving thing I can do to resolve the issue is to address it with wisdom and love. This may take leaving the room for a while, allowing myself to think about what happened, but eventually I need to share what I felt in the moment it happened. In my first marriage, I made a very large mistake in my checking account. I had written a check for a bill that was much more than what was really due. As a result, a check my former hu...