Life's Loving Memories

JUST CURIOUS     "Life follows you, and sometimes it catches up to you.                                         Make good use of the present moment and radiate life."                                                                                                                                                      Sandra Lindsey Smith    --Life's Garden of Weekly Wisdom. Very often, around any holiday, I think about how quickly the years pass by, and all the things I have and haven't done....

  GRATITUDE-A LITTLE THING THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE "I am so blessed, I am so blessed, I am so grateful for all that I have." Karen Drucker, I Am so Blessed Eleven days left until Thanksgiving. What are you grateful for? I am grateful for being alive. Despite what events may be happening around me, I am thankful for my friends and family. I am thankful for my faith tradition, and for the ability we all have in America, to choose a faith that resonates with our individual soul. Each day I pray for peace in our world, and the ability for all to recognize the gift we have in sharing the talents that our diversity brings to the world. United we stand, divided we fall; and that unity means that the tapestry of our unique talents must be blended together to represent strength, in a world that works for all. I took a class this past year that was taught by one of the practitioners at our center, The Las Vegas Center for Spiritual Living. Gary Alaimo taught a class on Gratitude, a...

HIDE THE TURKEY, THANKSGIVING IS NEAR   “To my family: I love you. To the turkey: I’m sorry.” – Unknown My husband speaks of a childhood memory. He and his cousins would visit Grand Mother for every Thanksgiving he can remember. One year in particular he can remember going to visit, and enjoying playing with the young turkey she had purchased. From New Years to Valentine's Day, to Saint Patrick's Day, to all the birthdays celebrated early in the year, they played with Fred, the name they had given him. Eventually Thanksgiving Day came, and he and his cousins rushed to the back yard to play with Fred.  They moped around all day wondering where that darn bird could be.  There was much talk around the dinner as to where Fred could be. Finally, grandma could take it no longer and she said, " I don't know why you are crying about that turkey, he's right here in front of you on the dinner table." It was a blow to all the kids around the table, and it was the first ...

  OUT OF THE CHAOS - INTO PEACE, LOVE AND CARING "Regardless of what has happened to you in your life, regardless of how young or how old you think you might be...there's a power within you that's greater than the world. " Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith What does the world look like to you? Does it seem like it is going in the right direction? Do you feel a little uncertain about what to expect as events unfold around you?  Perhaps you are a little like me, feeling like the times are a little chaotic. What is chaos? The dictionary defines is as: 1. A condition or place of great disorder or confusion. 2. A disorderly mass; a jumble. What did it look like in my own home growing up? The house never really looked like it was cleaned up; everybody always had their own opinion, and they thought it was the right and only valid opinion;  when the family gathered, there were no preset plans as to what we were going to do for the day; but, in a pinch we all stuck together.  My p...

  A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP "The Spirit within me is in perfect rest. The center of my being is quiet and poised. I let my inner spirit fill my whole being with peace and stillness. With this word, I now relax in body and mind. I let Divine tranquility fill me." Ernest Holmes,                    --The Essential Ernest Holmes To sleep or not to sleep, that is the question. Whether to toss and turn, slumber deeply,  ruminate about something you could have done differently yesterday, or musing about the excitement of a new adventure in the day to come -- all of these are definite possibilities. But, what to do about dropping into a sound sleep? For me, when I can't sleep, it is usually because something is on my mind, something I need to work out, or something I don't want to forget to do. From an early age I have gotten in the habit of keeping a journal by my bed, to write about what is on my mind. I pick up my pen and let the word's ...

WHICH WITCH IS WHICH We are counting down the days to the next Halloween. What a fun time to dress up and step into the wonderful world of Imagination! Can you remember what your very first Halloween costume was? My mother wrapped me in a sheet, put a crown on my head and handed me a flashlight. She told me I was the Statue of Liberty. Through the years I have donned many costumes but I think my favorite ones were a boy scout, and when my husband and I dressed up like two peas in a pod. Being a high school drama teacher for about thirty years also helped me create so many memorable moments. Imagination is such a wonderful tool. Keeping it as we go through the years is such an amazing gift, and I think it really does make our wits grow sharper. So share the magic this Halloween, and may your treats be many, and your tricks be few. "Let your words include the positive self-talk that reaps a glorious Spiritual harvest! Sandra Lindsey Smith,              ...

  PEACE WITHIN, SHARE THAT WITH THE WORLD I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there. Mother Teresa Where does Peace begin? I believe that it starts with the individual soul. It is a quality of God, and just as Love, Wisdom, Joy and Acceptance are also qualities of God, the Peace begins within. It is an inside job. Can I be the peace that God is? Can I radiate Peace into the world that surrounds me? Certainly I can, and it is a wonderful first step, but how may I take loving action to be the Peace I wish to see?   The age-old question. Does might make right? Is one man's thinking all man's thinking? Is one man every man? I believe there is a Higher Power behind all creation, and the many beliefs of various faith traditions tap This Source. It is referred to by many different names, Spirit, God, Jehovah, Lord, Father/Mother Earth, and numerous others, but ...

ALL UNFOLDS AS IT SHOULD "Use your imagination to picture yourself and all whom you know as living embodiments of health, vitality and perfection. Your imagination is a mighty force for creating good. It is the pearl of great price among all other great faculties of Mind."  Raymond Charles Barker,                    The Power of Decision Whenever challenges appear in one's life, perhaps the hardest thing to do, is to keep from getting caught in the feeling of fear. Yes, the challenge may seem daunting, but the outcome will be brighter if  our thought is concentrated on a positive outcome. Right now my husband is experiencing some health issues. He was admitted to the hospital, and has been released into a rehabilitation facility. He is getting stronger day-by-day, and he finally has some answers as to what is going on in regards to his health. Getting the assistance he needed, is allowing his health to improve as it should....

  HOPE, PEACE, AND LOVE "Love is patient, love is kind...it always protects, always trusts, always perseveres.  Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 15:4 Emerson tells us that, "Love is a synonym for God." I find it ironic that we as individuals often wear blindfolds to that very fact. Love should protect and persevere, always. Love is the guiding Force behind all creation. Love is unconditional, and by that very phrase, it sends a message that it should be felt by all.  Of all the many faith traditions, there are several principles that are held in common. Being kind to others, honoring all life, creating harmony, being of service to others, to mention a few. I find it ironic that many battles are driven by belief that, "God is on  my side." There are always at least two sides. How can Spirit be on both sides. Perhaps God is really for Peace.  Shelter, sustenance, equal justice, must be available to all humanity. The Dalai Lama tells us that his religion is,...

  LOVING LIFE "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference." Winston Churchill What does one need to have a loving life? To me it means living the life you love. When one is actively enjoying the present moment, observing humanity in every act of kindness, celebrating the uniqueness of every individual who crosses your path, and being the love and peace you wish to see, a loving life is really happening,  it brings light into the world. In principle it seems so easy, and yet it also seems like a challenge. Often times we think, why can't THEY be different? If every act of kindness and love begins within, then each of us must consider what vibrations we are sending out. Being the love, peace, kindness, equality; and the including of all, starts with practicing those qualities in ourself. Be the candle that lights the flames of others. When I was going through a divorce 35 years ago, I discovered a new faith, Religious Science. When I attended my first Center, ...

 HERE'S TO EVOLVING WITH THE TIMES "Human beings are not our enemy. Our enemy is not the other person. Our enemy is the violence, ignorance and injustice in us and the other person. When we are armed with compassion and understanding, we fight not against other people, but against the tendency to invade, to dominate, and to exploit."               --Tich Nhat Hahn I am in my early seventies, and I am certainly the one who struggles with technology, but still I try. For me, I have agonized over each new phone that I change to, after I finally have mastered the old phone. But, life goes on and we have the ability to change with the changes that occur in our every day life. Have you ever struggled with this, or are you the brave and curious person who welcomes new technology? To me, I think new technology is something that moves life forward. It's a little bit like embracing the newness that comes with Spiritual evolution. Many faiths struggle to k...

 LVCSL's GOT  TALENT!! "The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned." Maya Angelou,                    --Rainbow in the clouds I am amazed at all of the hands that go into redecorating a youth church space. From the many minds who visioned what it would look like; the wise and wonderful persons who moved furniture, cleaned and pared excess items in and from the cupboards; to the painters and the trim layers and finally, the rainbow on the wall--it was real magic in it's unfolding. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who had a part in it's unfoldment! Also, a gigantic thank you to Rev Staci and Rev Cheryl for their whole-hearted support in this endeavor. So now we have built it, how do we draw new kids in? Watch for some fun events in the near future to build the interest. Also, if you have kids or grandkids, invite them to check our youth church out. Let them see for t...

 CHANGE YOUR THINKING, CHANGE YOUR LIFE Shift your perspective. We are always at choice as to how we respond to anything, and when we choose to respond with calm, the world is a kinder place. Life's Garden of Weekly Wisdom,              Sandra Lindsey Smith Has there ever been a time in your life when it seemed like it was one problem after another? For me, it was like this every day for the past week.  Being stung by a hornet; ordering something through amazon for myself, and realizing I had sent it to my sister by accident; and showing up for a blood draw on the wrong day. Now I am taking care of all the mishaps, and making efforts to clear my consciousness and remain focused in the moment. So if I am always at choice, I need to be mindful enough to make a focused choice. My thinking needs a once over. So, I am going to follow my every day, every way plan. Journal, write a treatment for myself, read a Science of Mind book. The Spiritual Min...

 BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME "If you build it, they will come." (Field of Dreams 1989) We are right in the middle of remodeling our Youth Church Room, and last Sunday I arrived early at the center to finish organizing the room. It will still take some time to finish, but at least the essentials were put away in the cupboards. Who should walk in at the start of the service, but two very bright kids, ready to participate in our Youth Service. We learned about kindness, and how it is often sparked by a smile. We handed out smile cards to some of our members, towards the end of service. All of this shouted, "If you build it, they will come!" There is more to come in the decorating of the room, but it has been blissfully blessed with love. laughter and learning! Share the word; kids, grandkids, neighbors with kids, all are welcome! "An interesting question to ask is, Do we find God, or does God find us? When we are ready, I think  the voice of God speaks to us. Just...

STEP OUT OF THE HAMSTER WHEEL  "I don't have to be perfect, I'm doing the best I can, I give myself permission to be just who I am." Karen Drucker Do you ever find yourself fixated on something that went wrong in the past 24 hours? Over and over again you replay the situation?  When that happens, cut yourself some slack, long enough to remember all of the hundreds of other things that went right the same day. The past is indeed the past, and you may let it go. In the present moment, move on with mindfulness and know, that you don't have to be perfect, and that you are doing the best that you can. On the occasions that I find myself worrying about something that has happened or is going to happen in the future, I have found that the best solution is to journal about it, and then conclude it with an affirmative prayer treatment. For example, a week ago today I had a tooth extracted by an oral surgeon. My regular dentist  referred me to him because of the position of...

FIRE AND WATER " Living things have been doing just that for a long, long time. Through every kind of disaster and setback and catastrophe. We are survivors. " Robert Fulghum While watching "The Weather Channel" last week, I look at all the places where a fire was burning. I remarked, "wouldn't it be easier to show where a fire wasn't burning?" Then I look at the pouring rains and floodings  that are occurring as well, and I wonder why the storm water couldn't occur  immediately where the fires had started; but weather isn't always logical. All weather is very unpredictable, and very often devastating damage takes place. Tornados, raging fires, flash flooding may be forecast so many times in one area, that people become complacent about the fact that the warnings have happened, and the event never actually occurred. Sort of like the story of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf". Climate is changing, and weather predictions are becoming more a...

 THE POWER OF BELIEF "To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best." The Optimist Creed,                     -- Christian D. Larson In Science of Mind, there is a message that is quoted often. "Know, and know that you know." This is a saying that means, know what you desire, and follow it with your belief, pray about it, until you know it is so. Give substance to your affirmative prayers! Now, doing this may seem like your desire may never happen, and if that is what you truly believe, it will probably never happen. Just like you plant your plants, you know you must fertilize them and water them, tend them with love. Positive attention to them makes them grow vibrantly. The very same thing applies to individuals, care must be given to your desire. If it's getting in shape, start imaging all that you can do when your habits change to support you. For some of my own siblings, they thought about how wo...

 LIVE, LAUGH, AND BE WELL "Love, laugh, and be well speaks to the idea of seeing the good in each and every situation. When we can find the good. shift happens." Sandra Lindsey Smith,               --Life's Garden of Weekly Wisdom" It is said that laughter is the best way to improve a person's mood. fearful, lonely, unhappy, going through a difficult situation, all can be helped with a little bit of laughter. I have a friend whose husband died, and she said what turned her around from reliving that fact, was sitting down and watching reruns of I Love Lucy. S he said it felt healing to be able to laugh, and take her mind off of the painful sadness. If you are anything like me, something may happen, and I feel that my life is crumbling around me; but after a little time has passed, I can look back to see the reason why that event happened. I went through a divorce at 48, and I realized that it opened a path for me to discover my wonderful new f...

 DON'T LET LIFE PASS YOU BY "The power of the One  Mind creates for us." Ernest Holmes Are you a part of your own life? Or do you let life pass you by? Are you awake, aware and focused on what is happening in the world around you? Do you have something you enjoy doing? I am retired, and I don't drive as much as I used to, but every day I rise and write a little. It's something I enjoy doing. Writing in my journal helps me to focus, and then I write a prayer treatment, remembering what I am thankful for. This starts my day off right. I feel blessed by the things I still love to do, reading, writing, talking to friends and family over the phone. These may seem like little things, but they help me to feel connected. When opportunities present themselves, I travel. Being retired for a few years now, I still get out and walk, and I love to read books and take classes. I love to treasure each moment and to shine light wherever I go. Events that happen around me seem unb...

JUST BREATHE "The last of the human freedoms--to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."       Victor Frankl Yesterday at The Las Vegas Center for Spiritual living, Rev Cheryl gave a wonderful talk, on remembering to breathe. She shared that pausing to breathe, brings our body and mind to the present moment; that fear, anger, or anything that brings us angst, can often be lessened, by taking a calming deep breathe. Another key point that she reminded us of, is that we don't breathe alone, Spirit and community are always there, if we take a deep breathe to remember that. As a young child, I was very shy. I often had things I wanted to say, but I wasn't always brave enough to share my thoughts. Somewhere along the way, I grew into finding what I enjoyed, theatre. I found other people who enjoyed some of the same things that I enjoyed doing. That's when I found my family of loving friends, and then it became hard to ...

 JULY IS BUSTING OUT ALL OVER💥 "When I think back into my life, I know that I did what I had to do at the time I was doing it. Would I have changed some of those things? Probably yes, but I also know that everything I have done in my life has brought me to the person I am today." Sandra Lindsey Smith,            Life's Garden Grows Out of June into July, the year is officially half way over; but there is still a half of the year to go. Time to think of the new possibilities for being kind and helpful to the myriad of people who need our love and compassion at this moment in our history? We need to  concentrate on what we can do, and trust that what we are doing will be mirrored by others. Helping at homeless shelters, creating food banks, providing school supplies to those who need them; and keeping these United States in our prayers, to remember that liberty and justice for all really means just that, "Justice for all" . I was delighted to hear ...

MAKING A DIFFRENCE AND IMPACTING THE WORLD "You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." Jane Goodall  I love this quote by Jane Goodall. Jane was always a curious person. When she was a young child her mother was looking all over their property to find where Jane had gotten to. She was finally found inside the henhouse underneath the chickens to see how an egg was laid. This curiosity has continued through her experience, observing life, and becoming a zoologist, primatologist, and anthropologist. She is probably is best known for her work with primates in Africa. Roots and Shoots is a program she founded for children to learn more about plants and animals. She was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace. I speak of her today, because she is an inspiring difference maker in this world. At 91 she is still growing strong. When she was in h...