"A 10 minute vacation for the soul."
“It is a lovely thing to turn away from busy work to pay attention to our loved things and loved ones. We know how we wait to be told we are important. We should never wait to say or think something beautiful that will make someone’s day easier and more secure.” — Joyce Sequichie Hifler A Cherokee Feast of Days: Daily Meditations
“No man can reveal to you aught but that which already lies half asleep in the dawning of your knowledge.” — Kahil Gibran from The Prophet
My last semester of college I found myself in a different religion class than I had enrolled in. The instructor had left over the summer. So I thought I had enrolled in a class on the Old Testament Prophets finding myself in something called The God Man Christian Experience. I was a scientific minded Baptist headed for graduate school to study physiological psychology. My path was set. My faith was set.
But the Universe had a different idea. Bob Imperato was brought into my life to introduce me to Christian mysticism and things have never been the same. I spent hours in Mr. Imperato’s office ranting, but could not refute what I was learning. I knew within my spirit it was true. The wise teacher leaned back in his chair smiling and let me rant. He knew he was witnessing the awakening of truth that had been half asleep inside me waiting for the right time for the teacher to appear.
Do you have an awakening story?
“There are joys which long to be ours. God sends ten thousands truths, which come about us like birds seeking inlet; but we are shut up to them, and so they bring us nothing, but sit and sing awhile upon the roof, and then fly away.” ~Henry Ward Beecher
“The fullness of Joy is to behold God in everything.”
“When we contemplate God, we are made like unto God.”
“Between God and the soul there is no between.” — Julian of Norwich (1342-1416)
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” — Psalm 91:1
I am taking part in Rocket Squids, a “boot camp” for new Squidoo Lensmasters which includes writing weekly challenge lenses. Recently the theme was gadgets and involved writing a product review. The only gadget I could think of was a pizza cutter. Bob and I brainstormed a bit and came up with uses for a pizza cutter than just cutting pizza. I put a father’s day spin on it, hit the publish button with a little fear and trembling and submitted it to Rocket Squids for review.
Who would have thought an article on pizza cutters would not only actually sell pizza cutters but also drawing my highest traffic, comments and squid likes for this particular lens in addition to being mentioned in a Squidoo training article. If I had followed my gut and not written this because it was “not what I write” I would have missed out on the experience, the exposure and the chance to earn a few pennies.
Sometimes when we step out and take a chance the results are beyond what we could have imagined. Read Why You Should Buy Dad a Pizza Cutter for Father’s Day.
Please visit the weekly Blog Hop at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author to see what other people are celebrating.
I know that as we have been watching the news coverage of the tornado damage in Moore Oklahoma we have been overwhelmed with feelings. Sorrow, compassion, fear for the safety of loved ones, helplessness and the need to do something are all too familiar when natural disasters such as this hit. So what can we do?
1. Pray. We can all do this. Pray wherever and however your pray, but pray. Place the white light of protection around the people who live in Moore, the Mayor, Governor and other leaders, the first responders, search and rescue workers and others faced with the grim reality of mass destruction.
2. Stay put. Unless your are part of a national relief effort, do not get in your car and drive to Oklahoma to help. Do not collect supplies and drive a truck down there to distribute them yourself. You may not be allowed into the area. You also do not want to do anything that could unintentionally interfere with relief efforts.
3. Contact your local chapters of national relief agencies. Call your local Red Cross or Salvation Army. If they have a list of needed items follow that list and take the items to a designated collection point. If they are only asking for money, donate money.
4. Feel free to have a fundraiser in your own community. Have a charity baseball game, concert, ice cream social, whatever you can think of and donate the money to relief efforts in Oklahoma.
5. Six months from now ask again. After a disaster like this the needs do not stop when the news coverage dies down. Six months from now the needs will be different, but there will still be needs.
For an uplifting story from Moore click below: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/oklahoma-tornado-video-2013-survivor-interview-big-dog-19231436
“A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
I spent many years wrestling with what it meant to be called by God. What seemed like the obvious step of entering the “professional” ministry did not work for me. I was young, naïve and wanted to change the world. I learned the hard way organized religion isn’t so much about change as protecting what is.
Never in my wildest imagination did I dream my ministry would be encouraging folks to think positive thoughts, connect with the presence of God within and eat their vegetables. But it’s a good fit and I am glad that certain well laid plans of younger days didn’t play out.
When God calls, don’t hang up. Listen carefully with an open mind and be prepared for wherever the road may lead.
espirational.com