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Be Nice

The two words I try to live by are be nice. Those are words I heard a lot growing up and still remember my mother’s voice saying them in a rather sharp tone, followed by my full given name. These were said when my mother thought I was doing something wrong. It took me a long time to get past the thought that I was not a nice person.

Being nice is not easy, especially in today’s culture. I am often told I am “too nice.” I shouldn’t try to help people. People will take advantage. Yes, some might, but that doesn’t mean we stop trying to help where we can.

For me those two words sum up the teachings of the New Testament. Let me get out my Bible here and show a few examples.

These first two passages talk about the Fruit of the Spirit or what the lives of those who follow God should look like.

First from the book of Galatians:

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. — Galatians 5:22-23, King James Version (KJV) Public Domain

And now from Ephesians:

⁸For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

⁹(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

¹⁰Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. Ephesians 5:8-10, King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

Next we have one of my favorite verses from Philippians which reminds us to guard our thoughts, because with them we create our reality.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8 [Full Chapter]

In the book of Matthew Chapters 5-7 we find what is referred to as the Sermon on the Mount which was given by the Master Teacher Jesus, beginning with the “beatitudes. The list of people Jesus calls “blessed” is interesting. It’s not the warriors, judges, politicians or millionaires Jesus calls blessed, but the “poor in spirit”, “they that mourn”, “the meek”, “they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness”,”the merciful’, “the pure in heart”,” the peacemakers and “the persecuted”. In other words the “nice” people. Those who follow the Spirit of God that lives in each one of us. I encourage you to go ahead sometime today and read the 5th, 6th and 7th chapters of Matthew because Jesus had much more to say on this topic.

So where am I going with this? I am trying to lead us to put down our weapons, stop shouting, stop judging and feeling like we have to vindicate and take retribution for God and for Christianity. It’s time to finally dig in and connect with Spirit, follow the life and teachings of the Master Teacher, and just be nice.

It’s Your Choice

Do you have concerns about the Solar Eclipse? Bob has a new post on Espirational Faith. This is very powerful writing on an important topic. Please take the time to read it.

Thought for Today

“Religion is meant to teach us true spiritual human character. It is meant for self-transformation. It is meant to transform anxiety into peace, arrogance into humility, envy into compassion, to awaken the pure soul in man and his love for the Source, which is God.”

—- Radhanath Swami
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/spiritual.html

Thought for Today

“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.“

—. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/spiritual.html

Thought for Today

“The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep.” — E. Joseph Cossman

Thought for Today

“As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful. They are the things that fill our lives with comfort and our hearts with gladness — just the pure air to breathe and the strength to breathe it; just warmth and shelter and home folks; just plain food that gives us strength; the bright sunshine on a cold day; and a cool breeze when the day is warm.”
― Laura Ingalls Wilder, Writings to Young Women from Laura Ingalls Wilder: On Wisdom and Virtues

A Lesson in Mindfulness

Bob and I have a very nice laundry room in our home. I did not realize how spoiled we were until the dryer went out. We live full-time at a lakeside resort and there is a laundry room on the property. In fact it is less than a block from our house. But I quickly learned that dragging hampers full of wet laundry even a short distance in not fun. The first two times I tried I hurt my back and neck. After weighing my options I decided to take the laundry into town when I took Bob to the YMCA and dry the clothes at the laundromat while I waited for Bob. Seemed like a great idea. In fact earlier this week the laundry was all washed and ready to go when Bob decided he was not up to the Y. Not wanting to drive into town just to dry clothes I decided to schlep them down to the laundry room. But this time I did something different.

So what did I do? The first two times I was trying to dry clothes while also trying to work online and prepare lunch, with frequent trips back and forth between home and laundry room. It was a mess. I was a mess. Everything got done, but not well. When I was finished I was in pain.

So… this time I decided to devote my full time and attention to the laundry. I sat down and waited for the clothes to dry. I read magazines. I drank a bottle of water and had a nice conversation with a neighbor who came in to wash her clothes. What I had been seeing as a burdensome chore became a welcome break. And since I was not worried about getting everything done at once, my muscles did not tense up when I picked up the laundry baskets, and I was not in pain.

Another gentle reminder of how we create our own reality and a good lesson in living in the present moment.