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Thoughts, spiritual experiences, happenings and insights
from the woman who discovered the Personal Connector Word to God
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Saturday, February 28, 2009 WILL MARCH COME IN AS A LION OR A LAMB? DOES IT MATTER?There is an old saying that if March comes in like a lion
(rough, snowy, or windy weather on the first day of the month) that it will go out as a lamb (calm, good, sunny weather)
at the end of the month. Thus, if tomorrow your weather is "lion-like," you can expect that on March 31st it will be
"lamb-like." One suspects that much of this will be determined by where you live. If the weathermen are to
be believed (always a big "if"), the east coast of the United States is in for some lion weather tomorrow, whereas say,
Phoenix, Arizona, will be basking in 89-degree lambs. However, the real point of this wise old saying has
little to do with the order of one's weather during the third month of the year. So, just what is the point?
It's simple enough.
No one always has good weather and no one always has bad weather. No
one's life is always full of lions and no one's life is always full of lambs. Nothing is always great and nothing is always
horrible. Life, whether we like it or not, is made up of cycles. The bad weather eventually gives into the good, just as the
good weather eventually gives into the bad. And the secret to living a happy, peaceful life is merely to realize
this. And to accept it. It's knowing that things always change and it's believing that all cycles have
a purpose.
But it's even more than that. It's knowing that, in truth,
there is no good or bad weather. There is just weather. And just as we can't control the weather,
most times we can't "control" events in our lives. We just have to "weather" them, knowing that as Little Orphan Annie
said, "The sun will come out tomorrow." We can only trust in God, follow His guidance and His signs, and believe that any
lion-like weather today will give way to lamb-like weather tomorrow.
Remember, even the most vicious lion has his calm and loving days;
even the most placid lamb can bite the hand that feeds him. Again, there is nothing that is all good and there is nothing
that is all bad. If we would accept the simple tenets that this old weather saying implies, we'd all make some great progress
down our spiritual paths. We would judge less. We would accept and forgive more. We would rarely get "down," because we would
know and expect that things will change. Just like the weather in March.
Sunday, February 15, 2009 WHAT ITEM WOULD YOU STOCK UP ON?I was talking with my sister the other day and we were
remarking about the fact that the stores seem to have less items in them these days. With the economy in such bad shape, it
seems stores are putting less and less on the shelves, either because they believe people aren't buying and they'll get stuck
with stuff; or else because their cash flow is slow and they can't afford it; or else because manufacturers are shutting
down or producing less items; or all of the above. Who knows? But we both have noticed that there is less variety and
less numbers of items in department stores these days.
Then my sister said something that made me laugh. She said, "I'm stocking
up on hairspray. I'm afraid I won't be able to get it soon, so I'm stocking up on hairspray." I laughed and laughed. My sister
has always been a stickler about her appearance, so I could see how lack of hairspray might cause her some concern. Nevertheless,
it seemed like such a silly statement. I envisioned the world coming to an end and my sister, with a knowing smile, reaching
for her last can of hairspray saying, "Thank God I stocked up on hairspray!" It seemed ridiculous to me at first, but
then again, why not? If the world comes to an end, it doesn't really matter what we are reaching
for, does it? Hairspray, if it makes my sister happy, seems as good a choice as anything.
That got me to thinking about what I would choose if I had only one
item to "stock up on." The obvious choices (food, water, toilet paper, batteries) didn't come to mind quickly, which is kind
of ironic considering that I live in "hurricane territory" and know all the essentials to stock up on for survival living.
Most of them are on my storage shelves right now. But, I had to think and think what one item I would not want to
be without if shortages came or if I were living in the "end times."
Then it hit me. Chocolate! I'd stock up on chocolate. I couldn't imagine
a world where I couldn't get my hands on a piece of chocolate, especially if the world were going to end. Yes, if times were
so bad that I couldn't get toilet paper or batteries anymore, I'd still be glad I had a shelf full of Snickers.
Hairspray and chocolate! Isn't it amazing that when you put yourself
to the test, you don't pick something that is "essential" for living, but rather something that makes you "feel good."
Emotions, in the end, rule over logic. The heart will always rule over the brain. Such a simple lesson, you wonder why
we don't apply that principle to other things in life--why we don't
just apply it to everyday living now. Why don't we put value on the people and the things that make us "feel good," instead
of the people and the things we think we are supposed to value? Even when those people and things frighten us, confuse us,
or demoralize us. For instance, when it comes to religion, wouldn't
it just make sense to follow a spiritual path that makes you "feel good" ?
Sunday, February 8, 2009 ISN'T IT TIME TO GET OFF THE BENCH AND GET IN THE GAME?Maybe it's still the excitement and hype from the Superbowl,
but I've been thinking lately that what is wrong with most religions and spiritual paths is simply this: we spend more
time in practice, more time with the playbooks, more time on the bench than we do in the game.
What do I mean by that? Well, it applies to all of us, including myself.
We get so caught up in reading about God (whether that be the Bible, New Age spiritual books, science books proving God doesn't
exist, inspirational stories, etc.) or going to seminars (Bible study groups, metaphysical workshops, atheist gatherings,
"laws of attraction," etc.), or searching the Internet (Youtube videos, blogs, forums, chatrooms, groups, etc.), that we never
get "in the game."
We talk a lot. Some of it is even "trash talk." We posture a lot. We
cheer a lot. We watch "game videos" till we know every move by every religious and spiritual leader out there. We critique.
We analyze. We seek. We search. We sit on the bench (pews) till our tushes hurt, listening to ministers and guest ministers
try to tell us how to live. But do we ever really "get in the game"?
What game, you ask? Dealing directly with God. One-on-one. Going for the "touchdown" with God. Not watching
Holmes score the TD, but actually being "Holmes" in the spiritual game of life.
God is present now. God is in your heart now. God is speaking to all
of us, individually, now. All we need do is turn off the computer, put down the book, silence the phone, and look around.
We don't need to read other people's opinions, we need only be open and receive what God is sending us. We don't need to argue
or defend one path or the other--we need only get quiet and see where we are led. (You, too, atheist, because God will evidence
himself to even the "brightest intellectual" among you, if you would just drop your guard for a few minutes and be open.)
Because the important thing about a spiritual path is not whether we are RIGHT or WRONG, but whether it makes us a happier,
better person. Does it improve us and make life a more enjoyable experience for both us and the people we interact with?Are
we more forgiving, more helpful, leading more fulfilled and abundant lives? What is important is do we FEEL more connected
to our divine source or not?
The time is now. The kickoff is happening now. Will you remain on the
bench, listening to the coaches, the roar of the crowd (audience on-lookers), and talking the talk? Or will you stand up confidently,
put on your helmet, and run onto the field, knowing that you, and only you, can "make it happen." Lift up your head and look
at the horizon--God has put up a goalpost only for you. He will guide you to it, if you just let Him. He will give you a greater
thrill than Holmes had when he caught the winning pass in the Superbowl. But you won't get that feeling sitting on the bench
or in the pew. You've got to get out on the field!
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