HELP = His Ever Loving Presence

HELP = His Ever Loving Presence.  I must remember that I can always ask for H.E.L.P. because He is always here.

People say that they don't believe in God and we have that right, but we don't need to believe in the same God. I don't remember where I found this, but here it is:

What God Is

I have seen a mother at a crib;
So I know what love is.
I have looked in to the eyes of a child;
So I know what faith is.
I have see a raindbow;
So I know what beauty is.
I have planted a tree;
So I know what hope is.
I have haerd a wold bird sing;
So I know what fredom is.
I have lost a friend;
So I kinow what sorrow is.
I have see a star-decked sky;
So I know what infinite is.
I have seen and felt all these things;
So I know what God is.

Happy Boxing Day

Boxing Day is a secular holiday that is traditionally celebrated on December 26, the day after Christmas. It is also St. Stephen's day. I like that, of course. It's origins stem from the early 1800s in England where the aristrocracy would allow their servants to be home with their families and would give them boxes with gifts, bonuses and often left over food. Church in British Commonwealth countries would celebrate the day after Christmas with placing donations and alms for the poor in boxes. I like the idea that we give to other in appreciation for all that has been given to me.

Merry Christmas

Every year, I get as excited as a child for Christmas, to have an occassion to spread joy and to give love to others.  I never imagined three years ago, celebrating Christmas in federal prison that I would be celebrating Christmas in 2010 with Kenya and much of Africa.

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

Winter Solstice

Meditation - This is a new day. The shortest day of the year. I begin anew to claim and create all that is good. I express my true being today.

A mother's love never fails...

I am so fortunate to have a wonderful mother who cares so much for me, who never doubted me and who never gave up on me...In my darkest moment, she gave of herself and gave all that she could to help me be the best I could be. I love you, Mom.

Never dreprive another the chance to grow through their pain.

My biggest character defect is that I want to rescue others...and usually at my own expense. I remember the story of the family that found a cocoon. They were a family of enablers.  Another loving family found a separate cocoon.   As each catepillar began to emerge from the cocoon to become a butterfly, the enabling family helped the butterfly by cutting away the cocoon.  The other family sat there and watched; they encouraged, prayed and gave shouts of support.  They watched as the second catepillar struggled and strained and had to fight its way out of the cocoon.  Finally, the butterfly, strong and beautiful, emerged and flew around.

The enabling family helped the first catepillar emerging, struggling and fighting, so they did all they could to make the butterfly emerge.  Once the cocoon had been stripped away, the butterfly with weak wings that had not had the opportunity to get strong, just sat there and was unable to fly...without the struggles of life, the butterfly could not survive on its own and died. 

I grow at the rate of pain.  I don't like the struggle or the pain, but I know that I am so much better from the times of adversity than I am from the times of prosperity.

Love

Love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, it is not snobbish. Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not prone to anger, neither does nit brrod over injuries.  Love does not rejoice in what is wrong, but rejoices with the truth.  There is not limt to love's forebearance, its truth, its hope, its power to endure.  St. Paul to the Corinthians.

PUSH = Pray Until Something Happens

I am always amazed and ashamed that I often forget one of the greatest tools in my life...prayer. So many of my prayers have been answered and yet I often forget to pray about issues, small and large. I forget to say prayers of thanks and prayers of need. I have had a few handful of experiences where I prayed about a situation where I was completely powerless and without answers. I prayed and an answer came. I also remember feeling close to the universe upon a sincere prayer of gratitude...God is not a cosmic cash machine. God is a power greater than me and I have learned, I have learned that when I rely on "God" and not on me, my reliance is well grounded.