This coming Monday, April 22nd, is Earth Day. It is wonderful that we have a day to celebrate Mother Earth. But celebrating Earth Day one day a year while abusing and mistreating her the other days of the year is like someone saying on Valentine’s Day that they love you and the rest of the year treating you poorly.
No matter how much someone says they love someone or something but mistreats them, it’s indicative that their feelings are not as professed. The Earth is being mistreated and abused, and the time will come when so many of the things we love will not be available for us or future generations to enjoy.
Many of us want to be conscious of our earth, so we plant trees, sing songs, celebrate Earth Day, recycle when available, drink bottled water, etc.. Still, we drink water from plastic bottles, drive gas-eating vehicles, and consume large quantities of beef.
Planting a tree is wonderful for many reasons, but we also need to be conscious of all the plastic bottles we buy when trying to drink water that isn’t contaminated. Reducing the amount of beef consumed would also greatly help the environment. The annual American appetite for beef produces 337 billion lb.CO2e emissions per year—the same amount produced by 32.3 million cars.
I am not suggesting everyone give up meat, but eliminating beef one or two days a week would reduce the amount consumed. Every bit we do today helps us protect the earth for tomorrow.
We must seriously examine what humans do to the Earth and the environment, not just one day a year but in our daily lives. How about using your car less this Earth Day, eliminating beef for the day, and including Mother Earth in your prayers, not just on Earth Day but in your daily prayer life? Or take a day of the week, say Mondays, give up beef for the day, be conscious of your need to drive your car, and gratefully bless the multitude of gifts we receive from Mother Earth.
So this Earth Day, and every day, take time to pray diligently so that we wake up and do what is best not just for ourselves now but for future generations and for Mother Earth, who has unselfishly given us so much to be grateful for.
Quote of the Week
“Clear skies, not too much to ask for,
They were here before we came,
Will they be here when we are gone?”
Lyrics “Clear Blue Skies” by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
APRIL 10, 2024
One of my favorite prayers is the Serenity Prayer: When said in the present tense, it is even more powerful. God grants me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Most of our challenges in life are caused by not using this prayer enough. Think about it—when we accept things beyond our control, we don’t live with should and should not, regrets, resentments, and the belief that the world is against us—in other words, we are victims in life.
As difficult as acceptance can be at times, having the courage to change what we can is even more challenging. The prayer says we should pray for the courage to make changes; that is not easy because it involves changing ourselves. Too often, we want “them” or “it” to change, but what The Universe is really asking is for us to change.
Change can be a scary thing. We become comfortable with how things are, and the fear of the unknown is often our greatest fear. Why? Maybe it is because we fear God will not give us what we want or that we will lose what we have. Interestingly, we never consider that the unknown good of God’s will may be better than ours. If God is a Loving God, why wouldn’t God want us to have a life even better than our current one?
The key to the Serenity Prayer is the wisdom part. How do we know what God wants for us? Are we in alignment with God’s will or not? For me, two things happen. One, I feel a tug at the core of my being, and two, familiar doors begin to close, and new ones slowly begin to crack open.
For some time, I have felt that God’s will for me differed from what I had been doing. But it is scary to step out into the unknown. The first fear that pops up is how I will earn a living. However, I know that happiness is not based on what we have but on how we show up in the world. It is who we are, not what we have or do.
I believe God’s will for me is for me to be of maximum service to God and others. That is who I am, not based on what I do. So, I am stepping out to take a road less traveled and pursue what I believe aligns with who I was created to be.
I will continue these messages, expand to video messages, and begin doing more one-on-one spiritual counseling on a love-offering basis. In other words, I am stepping out with the courage to change and grow in this final season of my life.
Quote of the Week
“When we are no longer able to change a situation – we are challenged to change ourselves.”
Viktor Frankl
There is a song by the Temptations entitled “My Girl, “and the opening lyrics are
“I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day.”
We are often blessed to get God shots that feel like a beam of sunshine on a cloudy day. It is God’s way of reminding us that It is always present and we are never alone. I had that happen to me this past weekend.
I received some disappointing news on Saturday, and then, to top it all off, I lost my phone.
I don’t know about you, but I am lost without my phone. After searching all Saturday afternoon and evening, I gave up and just turned it over.
Sunday morning came, and I still could not find my phone, so I left for a morning meeting. I got a couple of blocks away and realized I had forgotten my hearing aids (yes, I do wear them), and although I wanted to forget about them, a little voice nudged me to go back and get them.
I thought the phone had to be there as I entered my room. Then, another thought came to look in the laundry hamper. I started taking my clothes out, and there was my phone! I know that the inner voice telling me to look in the laundry basket was a ray of sunshine God sent me on a cloudy day. It was a quiet whisper saying, “I got you.”
So, like the Rolling Stones so wisely said, “We may not get what we want, but we get what we need .”
Quote of the Week
“This, too, is Good; this too is God; and this too is for me, and I demand to see the blessing in it.”
Emma Curtis Hopkins
MARCH 27, 2024
Sometimes, we are presented with things in life beyond our control. In truth, anything outside “our hoola hoop” is beyond our control. It can be frustrating, but ultimately, we have two choices: 1. We can ask ourselves if we have done everything in our control and if so, 2. We can surrender it to God and accept whatever the outcome may be.
This is true in every aspect of life. It is true when someone we love is sick, when we are seeking employment, when a loved one is deep in addictive behavior, and when an animal or person we love has died. It is also true in situations such as being stuck in traffic, the weather not fitting in our plans, or standing in a lane for ten and under when the person in front of us clearly has at least 20.
The point is that whether our issues are minor or major, the truth is the same—we cannot control people, places, or things. The only thing we can control is how we react to difficulty. Remembering that can make life less stressful and give a feeling of peace in the middle of a challenge.
Life is life, and it is not always easy. However, how we get through the challenges is always up to us, and the choice of how we deal with them is always in our control. It can be summed up in two words: surrender and acceptance. It is simple but not always easy. And because it is not easy, we are given a multitude of situations in which to practice continually.
Quote of the Week
“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”
John Wooden
March 20, 2024
For my birthday, I went to see the movie Arthur the King. The movie is based on the true story of a race called the Adventure Racing World Championship, a race by teams that are pushed to the outer limits of endurance in a five-day-long race covering 435 miles. In the race, the teams run, kayak, cycle, and climb over a terrain of jungle, rivers, and cliffs. The main character, Michael Light, is desperate for one last chance to win. As the team gets pushed to the outer limits of endurance, a stray dog comes along for the ride, redefining what victory, loyalty, and friendship truly mean.
For me, it was a movie about the angels we meet on this journey called life. Sometimes, they are the people we’re blessed to know; other times, the angels have four legs and fur instead of skin. In whatever form they may take, they come into our lives to guide us through the treacherous times for as long as we need them.
In this movie, the angel comes in the form of a dog named Arthur. Arthur is an angel not only because of his actions to protect the racers but also because knowing him allows each member of the team to become an angel to the others.
Arthur teaches them, especially Michael, to be guided by their hearts, not their minds. This previously made him obsessive about winning and caused him to lose the respect and friendship of his teammates in previous races. During the race, Michael and his teammates learn that it is not about winning but how we deal with challenges that determine whether or not we are real winners.
I believe that angels come into our lives to help us, guide us to become better people and teach us that the important things in life cannot be measured by success, money, position, or capabilities.
Like Arthur, I was blessed with a furry angel named Nike. He came into my life when I needed him and showed me love when I felt unlovable and unable to love. He gave me a reason to live when sometimes it was the last thing I wanted. I guess that is why the movie brought such tears to my eyes.
I have been blessed with many angels, and I am sure you have. Therefore, always remember to be grateful for them and know they prove we are never alone. We are loved by a Creator who sends us what we need to feel Its Presence in our lives at the right and perfect time and in the right and perfect form.
Quote of the Week
“Most of us have been told that angels have wings; some of us have learned they have paws.”
Author unknown
MARCH 13, 2024
This week is my birthday week – a time to celebrate and reflect. Regarding the future, I am leaving that up to the God of my understanding. At a point in life when most people are settling down, I am still seeking where I go from here, learning to live and waiting patiently for an answer.
It is an excellent spiritual exercise for me because no matter how much I may want some Good Orderly Direction (GOD), what I get is “be patient and wait.” I have never excelled at being patient and waiting. Still, I know that if we are not growing and being stretched in areas that may make us uncomfortable, the alternative is stagnation, and that is never a good thing (in my opinion).
When I think of stagnating in my life, I think of water with no movement; it stagnates, gets muddy, and murky, and that is not how I want to be physically, emotionally, or spiritually. The 40 years the Israelites wandered in the desert trying to get to the Promised Land is a metaphor for all of us.
The number 40 represents the time it takes to complete something. We stay where we are until we learn what we need to move forward to our Promised Land (a place of Higher Consciousness and spiritual maturity). We wait to prepare for the next phase in our spiritual journey.
If we go too soon, we may not be ready for it, or it may not be ready for us. If a friend invited us for dinner at 6, we wouldn’t want to get there at 4, as the house might not be ready or the meal unprepared. However, that does not mean that we do nothing; it means we continue to do the next right thing in front of us, one step at a time, one day at a time, leaving the results up to our Higher Power.
Life is about aligning our will with God’s, knowing everything is in Good, Orderly Direction, and trusting it is always the perfect time and outcome.
Quote of the Week
“Patience is not simply the ability to wait – it’s how we behave while we’re waiting.”
Joyce Meyer
Recently, I saw this quote by Patrick Overton, the poet, which was on a poster entitled “Faith” which said: “When you come to the edge of all the light you have, and must take a step into the darkness of the unknown, believe that one of two things will happen; either there will be something solid for you to stand on – or you will be taught how to fly.”
I spent some time meditating on the truth of that statement. What is the edge of all the light we have? It is life as we know it. That edge can be one of our choosing or changes beyond our control, such as death, illness, loss of a career, loss of a home, or the result of some natural disaster.
It can be scary, so the question to ask ourselves is, “Do we have a Power greater than ourselves that we can trust? “ If we do, it makes stepping into the dark less frightening because we know there will be a bridge or we will sprout the necessary wings.
I believe that the amount of courage I have is in direct proportion to my faith and trust in a loving God. When I am feeling connected, I have the courage and strength I need when I need it. One way I believe we can acquire a deeper connection and trust is to look at times in our lives when we or others have leaped, and the bridge or the wings have appeared.
Navigating through life’s challenges requires understanding that we are not alone. There always is a loving Presence building bridges or giving us the wings to soar over life’s troubled waters. For me, the knowledge of that makes me eternally grateful.
Quote of the Week
“It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life story will develop.”
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
We read and hear a lot about self-care, but I must admit. However, I do things daily for self–care – meditate, exercise, eat well, and spend time in my spiritual program; yet when it comes to self-care, when I am not physically feeling well, I would go about my usual business as if it was just a typical day.
However, I recently read something about the fact that self-care, especially when we are ill, is really about loving ourselves enough to give ourselves time to rest and recuperate. Maybe the times we are under the weather are opportunities God presents us to rest and relax.
Instead of ignoring that as I occasionally do, this time, when I found myself with a bad sore throat and cough, I decided to love myself enough to do just that – rest, eat well, and take some natural remedies to help me feel better by the next day.
I am also learning not to have unrealistic expectations of myself. I am not a machine; sometimes, I get sick or tired and need to look at things that will make me feel better and do them. One way to do that is to ask myself how I would care for anyone I cared about.
Jesus said to love our neighbors as ourselves, so it is time to ask ourselves, do we love ourselves enough to care about our well-being? I am improving, always remembering it is “progress, not perfection,” that matters in my spiritual growth.
Quote of the Week
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
Anne Lamott
C.S. Lewis wrote, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” I love that quote. Unfortunately, we live in a culture where youth are idolized, and those in the final season of their life are often ignored or discounted.
This is not so in other cultures where the elderly are looked to for their wisdom and experiences. On more than one occasion, store clerks have been amazed when I pull out my phone to pay with it instead of a card. It is not difficult to do, but I guess in some young minds, after a certain age, people are beyond the capability to learn new things.
But the world has been, and always is, filled with people in their last quarter of life who are functioning and doing amazing things, learning new skills, starting new careers, and living with a zest for life. My father was one such person.
He always said that our minds determine our experiences as we age. Unity believes the same thing – the thoughts we hold in our minds create our lives. Does that mean that we won’t get sick? Does it mean that things won’t change as we age? No, it means that we don’t let our circumstances (including our age) define who we are.
Gertrude Stein said, “We are always the same age inside.” I believe that God is ageless and timeless, and since God is within us all, so are we. Whatever physical condition we find ourselves in, we can look for ways to be filled with joy, enthusiasm, and gratitude for what we have and can do – whatever age we are. Helen Keller was a perfect example of that.
So was my mother. When my oldest son was very young, my mother was sick and could not walk without the aid of a walker or wheelchair. She also could not lift her grandchild, but she would have him sit next to her, play games, play with his alphabet blocks teaching him the letters, and spend precious time with him. He never realized she could not do things other grandmothers did, and he loved the times they set together.
Life happens, and many things are out of our control, but how we respond to life’s challenges is always up to us. So whatever season of life you are in, appreciate life and choose to live it well. Remember, the Creator created you, and It is within you and as you, and that does not change because of a number.
Quote of the Week
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
George Eliot
This week, we had snow! Not just a little bit, but quite a bit. Seeing all the white covering the ground, the roofs, the trees, and the shrubs was beautiful. I could have looked at it as a negative since I couldn’t get my car out to go to a meeting, but that was only temporary, and in the late afternoon, things were plowed, and I could go to another meeting.
It is interesting how we give so much power to letting the weather affect how we feel, considering we have no control over the weather. Yet so often we do that. When it is a good weather day, we feel happy, yet when the weather is not to our liking, we feel down and depressed.
Just the weather, there are many things in life we have no control over. We can’t change the fact that people get sick and, at some time or another, die. No matter how much we try to do the best we can, we can make someone do something that is not to our desire.
The more we base our happiness on the things we cannot change or control, the less peace and joy we have. We may know this, but sometimes it is not easy to practice. In our humanness, we seek outside conditions to make us feel good, which only causes suffering and pain. It is that suffering that causes so much pain in life.
The Buddha taught that the suffering in life is caused by our desires or grasping for things or outcomes beyond our control. If we think about it, most of life’s pains are caused because things are not as we want them to be. Jesus taught that we should wear life as a loose garment. This means we do not let life choke out happiness and peace, and we stay centered on a good God who only wants the best for us, no matter how that may or may not be what we want for ourselves.
This week, practice living life loosely by not letting the weather determine how you view life. Start with the weather because it is an easy thing to practice nonattachment. Then, when that becomes easy for you, try it on something else – the weather, people around you, sports events, or even politics.
I believe we will discover a happier, more joyous life and the freedom to be all we were created to be.
Quote of the Week
“The root of suffering is attachment.”
Buddha
