Life

Life - without it, nothing else matters.

Continued prayers for Damar Hamlin. 

Click here for ESPN's "Damar Hamlin showing 'signs of improvement' Buffalo Bills say"

Amazing things happen when we all come together in prayer. 

Blessed be...

Love,

T

Dear God,

Tears. People in church. Children. Children in church.

I went to 5:00 PM mass on Sunday with Russ and Zach. It's been a while since we've all gone together. I can not imagine. I can not.

Click here for: "Texas Church Shooting..." on NBC News.com

Yet the world keeps turning. Time keeps ticking by. Stores are busy getting their Christmas aisles in order and people are busy shopping, watching football games and carrying on with the daily routine of life. Yet for some, there is immeasurable heartache and loss. For some, time stands still and numbness takes hold. For some, life will NEVER be the same.

We left church, stopped at the store, went home, fed Zach and got him ready for bed. The shooting was not mentioned in the service we attended. I'm not sure the priest was even aware of it. It wasn't until we were back at home that I was able to look it up.

I saw Marianne Williamson's (world renowned spiritual author and teacher) Instagram post: "Dear God, please help us. Amen" It includes a picture of the shooter (also from her hometown of Houston, TX) with text saying that he is not a Muslim or with Isis and that THIS (he) is what a terrorist looks like. MARIANNE WILLIAMSON - a woman who guides millions of people through concepts in A Course in Miracles - is pointing out what terrorists look like and praying for help for us all on her IG account.

With tears swelling up, I thought about how to fight "hatred." I know it's with Love. I know it's with kindness and compassion. I know the "battle" that occurs within ourselves and manifests in the world between fear and Love. I know people will argue and politicians will fan flames, stirring passionate thoughts in millions of people, dividing some and uniting others in common cause. I know many will search for answers and sometimes answers will not be found. Some will believe fiercely and cling to their faith. Others might give up on it.

I checked in online to see what friends were talking about and found something positively delightful in the midst of all this horror. I smiled. Then I laughed. It was pure, genuine. Then I looked up the lyrics. THIS is how you fight hatred - with joy of heart. This sweet little girl is bringing the Light!

Dear God,
Help us all. Let us be guided by Love. Grant us wisdom and understanding in our thoughts, kindness in our deeds, and childlike wonder and joy in our hearts. Be with those in pain. When we hurt, hold us tenderly and touch our souls with the Warmth of Your Love and Divine Comfort. Heal us. Open our hearts and minds to learn, that you may teach us softly. Amen.

Thoughts and continued prayers for families affected by this unfathomable tragedy.

Namaste,
T

"Then he said: I promise you this. 

If you don't change and become like this child, 

you will never get into the kingdom of heaven."

- Matthew 18:3

"My friends, stop thinking like children. 
Think like mature people and be as innocent as tiny babies."
- 1 Corinthians 14:20

Zach Williams, Old Church Choir, with lyrics:

Zach Williams, Old Church Choir, Official Music Video:

Click here for "Why the video of this 6-year-old... went viral" on Today.com

The Non-Blog...

Instead of reading/writing this blog today...

Let's spend that time in prayer or quiet meditation to send Love, Strength and Hope to all those affected by the severe weather from hurricanes Irma and Harvey. #Faith #Love

Namaste,
T

A Moment...

I'm not even writing a blog this week. I'm taking a moment to pray.

That we all may be able to pray in peace...

Namaste,

T

A Little Prayer...

Today I bought a little prayer book titled "A Book of Healing Prayer." I was looking for some prayers to say for a relative going through some health challenges. The book is a compilation of prayer submissions from people who have served as healers at The Healing Temple at the Spiritualist community of Lily Dale, New York. Proceeds from sales of the book will go toward improving and renovating The Healing Temple there. The book includes "verse and prayers of many religions, ancient and modern, that embrace the diversity of our world. Spiritualism believes that Spiritual Healing is available to all life." I sat down and read it from cover to cover. All the quotes used here are taken from it.

As I read through all the prayers, I was keenly reminded of how much we are all alike. There are words written from people all over the world. Sentiments from people of different cultures and from different times - all seeking comfort, love, peace and understanding.

When I look at the statistics of people who read this blog, sometimes I am astounded at the worldwide audience. This week alone, there have been views from Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Germany, Mauritius, Portugal and Saudi Arabia. I am so grateful to be able to connect here with brothers and sisters from around the world!

It occurs to me that as I seek out prayers for an ailing relative, people all over the world are doing the same thing for theirs. My hope this week is that we can all say a prayer or two keeping each other in mind. There are so many of us searching for the same thing - healing, love, peace, understanding - and asking for it in the quiet of our own hearts. May we remember that we are many. May that give us strength and reassurance.

"God Is Love

With bended knees, with hands outstretched,

do I yearn for the effective expression of the

Holy Spirit working within me.

For this love and understanding, truth and justice;

for wisdom to know the apparent from the real

that I might alleviate the sufferings of men on earth...

God is love, understanding, wisdom, and virtue.

Let us love one another, let us practice mercy and forgiveness,

let us have peace, born of fellow-feeling...

Let my joy be of altruistic living, of doing good to others.

Happiness is unto him from whom happiness

proceeds to any other human being."

- Zoroastrian Prayer

"O Great Spirit

Help me always speak the truth quietly, 

to listen with an open mind when others speak

and to remember the peace that may be found in silence."

- Cherokee Prayer

"For those who have asked us to pray for them,

For those that we have promised to pray for,

For those that have no one to pray for them,

May they know the embrace of God's healing touch and love.

Amen"

 - Anonymous 

"I ask the Great Unseen Healing Force to remove

all obstructions from my mind and body

and to restore me to perfect health.

I ask this in all sincerity and honesty

and I will do my part.

I ask the Great Unseen Healing Force

to help both present and absent ones who are

in need of help and to restore them to 

perfect health.

I put my trust in the Love and Power of God."

- Spiritualist Prayer for Healing

Namaste,
T

"Calling All Angels..."

"I need a sign to let me know you're here..."

- Train

Saturday morning, I asked the Angels to show themselves to me. It was a simple prayer. I had been stressed out and wanted to feel a sense of peace and reassurance of faith. “Let me see you,” I asked of them. Shortly afterward, Russell and I drove to a Greek Orthodox Church to attend the funeral of a friend’s wife, who had succumbed to cancer.

During the service, I found myself saying the same prayer for the deceased that I had said for myself earlier, before I realized how unnecessary that was. There I was, asking that Angels show themselves to her and comfort her spirit, just as the priest was saying that the dearly departed was with her guardian Angel at that very moment. Of course! 

At the end of the service, the casket was guided down the aisle behind the priest, who walked backwards, singing prayers of Blessing and swinging incense before it. I imagined that the smoke rising from his vessel was actually Angels accompanying the dearly departed, guiding her way. As the fragrant cloud swirled and trailed off in the air, it looked as if those Angels were doing some kind of ceremonial dance with twirls, gracefully and joyously leading her back home.

Immediate family followed the casket down the aisle and I was jolted back to earth as I saw their expressions and felt a sense of loss. I could scarcely imagine what it must have been like for them. I realized that THEY were the ones who needed to see the Angels and be comforted. I silently repeated my prayer for them. They had lost their mother, wife, friend; and while we knew she was now at peace, she would also be dearly missed. They had written a beautiful remembrance of her that was read as part of the ceremony. It was a moving tribute for a very special woman whose kind spirit, generous nature, and manner of touching people's lives served as heartwarming inspiration for her closest loved ones and for all of us there. 

Driving home, I was startled as something swirled and twirled in the air before the car on the highway. It was a big feather! It lingered and danced in the air before us just like the smoke from the priest’s censer had done! I gasped aloud as my mind registered the significance. Russ noticed my reaction and momentarily interrupted his phone call to ask what had triggered it: “What? The feather?” 

He had seen it too! I had not just imagined that Angel feather!

(I’ve heard it said that feathers are signs from Angels - and I’m going to go ahead and believe it.)

Isn’t it funny how we find what we seek? I had said a prayer (or, as some might say, I had set an intention) and it was answered. I’m reminded that we can choose to see what we desire to see. We can see an Angel in a feather, in the smoke cloud of incense, in a child’s smile or in anything of beauty. Even in times of difficulty, we can choose to believe that Angels are hard at work; guiding us, challenging our limited thinking, or pushing us toward higher understanding and greater patience – or stronger faith. They can be anywhere – and EVERYWHERE we CHOOSE to see them. I wanted to see them and I did, simple as that.

This week, I hope we can set positive intentions (or prayers, or wishes, or however you want to word it) for ourselves and for all of our human family, and that we believe strongly enough in them – that we see them come true.

“Ask, and you shall receive. 

Search, and you will find. 

Knock, and the door will be opened for you.”

 – Matthew 7:7

Namaste,

T

Witness to a Miracle!

It's

a

MIRACLE!!!

On Wednesday, April 2nd (several days after posting my last blog about the dead bird), Sadie began to growl quite seriously at something toward the back of the house.  I got up and moved slowly toward the kitchen.  She was on high alert and I respect her sense of alarm.  Something was not right.  I cautiously opened the door to the back hall and immediately saw what was wrong...

THE BIRD!!!  IT WAS ALIVE!!!

- and it was trying to fly back out.

After snapping this photo I started toward the back door to open it, but soon realized that my head would have to be a foot or two away from the creature in order to do that.  I threw a coat over my head for protection.  After seeing the bird flap around at the door and noticing its pointy sharp beak, I rethought the plan.  I might have gone around outside to open the door from the other side, but it was locked and my keys were in my coat pocket hanging just below the bird.  (ARGH!)  I said out loud, "I may not be afraid of a dead bird, but I AM a little afraid of a live one!"  I was going to have to just face the fear.

I put on my heavy winter parka and my thick hat with the ear flaps THEN put the other thin coat back over my head.  After some initial hesitation and one big deep breath, I swiftly took the plunge and dove toward the back door and opened it, while pulling the other door shut behind me (so he couldn't fly back into the kitchen), and I flung open the screen door as I soared through it to end up standing there on the other side, holding it open for the bird to fly out.  (Whew!)

I stood there until I got tired of holding the door and so I propped it open.  I still had my hat and both coats on and stayed there with my eyes fixed on the door, waiting.  I continued to stand there until I got tired of standing and finally squatted down on my knees.  I couldn't leave.  I had to make sure he flew out and that no other wandering creature went in.  The sun was going down.  I hoped the neighbors weren't watching.  I looked ridiculous standing there staring at the door with garments piled on my head squatting down as if I were peeing on the ground.  I laughed out loud at the thought of how strange I must've looked.

I wondered if I should try to capture the thing with a pillowcase or something.  Swipe at it with a broom?  How long should I sit there?  The dogs in the kitchen were starting to whine.  I opened the back door wider.  Nothing.  I said a prayer for the bird to fly out.  Still nothing happened.  Then I wondered what thought I was supposed to have that would allow me to learn whatever lesson this was about so it could finally be over with.  I changed my prayer to ask for that.  

As the sun was disappearing, it was growing darker and colder.  Finally, I said (out loud) "I'm not going to wait forever."  With that, I heard the flapping of wings and watched the beauty of the moment as the bird who was trapped, whom I had assumed dead, flew off gloriously toward the sunset and I lost sight of him in the tree tops.

I stood in stunned amazement for a moment.  Then I literally filled with joy and began to laugh.  What a perfect ending!  I took the coat off my head, shut the screen door and let the dogs out.  I was BEAMING!  The bird was alive!  The bird was free!  How amazing was that?  What a miracle!

As I told the story to various people, it was interesting to hear different ideas on what it all symbolized.  One person said it means "never give up."  Another said it means "freedom can be ours."  Maybe it means we shouldn't "wait forever" or that we don't have to.  It could be about facing fear or changing what we pray for.  It could be about the Resurrection (I thought the bird was dead for three days and Easter is right around the corner).  It could be about nothing at all!  Maybe it means we should all go out and get a hat with ear flaps - LOL.  It could be about anything you think it's about, and THAT'S amazing too.  :)  Everyone can say something different, but it seems everyone says, "Wow!"

Namaste

T