Pentecost: Going Someplace Special

You are opening up more and more.  You are becoming clearer each day.  Embrace the changes taking place. They are good.  They will last.   They will take you and your life to someplace new; someplace you can’t fully imagine now because it is so different from where you have been.  All will be changed.  Your love, your life, your friends, your work,  your quiet moments, your times of sharing, your playtime and your rest time; your attitude will change; your ability to fully and joyfully experience your life will change.

Things that used to bother you, hold you down, hold you back will roll easily off of you.  Problems that used to plaque and pester you, making you feel weighted down, will be lifted easily.  You will know and trust that the answers you need will come to you.  Your powers will increase.  You will find yourself doing, knowing and feeling things that you thought only others could do.  You will find yourself gliding through life in a way that brings you joy and touches and heals others.

You will laugh a lot. And yes, you will cry a lot, too, because an open heart feels all it needs to feel.  But you will not think twice about your emotions.  You will feel them with the purity of a child and wisdom of a sage.  You will see, touch, taste and feel life’s magic in a way you never imagined.  You will love and be loved.  And you will learn it’s all the same.

You are open now: more open that you have ever been.  Trust the process and trust your heart.  The journey is not in vain.  Its purpose is to lead you to love.  Melody Beattie

Inspirational Anecdotes & Wisdom

* I’ve learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.  * I’ve learned that your life can be changed in an instant by people you don’t even know.  * I’ve learned that writing, as well as talking, can ease emotional pains.  * I’ve learned that learning to forgive takes practice. * I’ve learned that there are people who love you dearly, but just don’t know how to show it.  * I’ve learned that money is a lousy way of keeping score.  *  I’ve learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down may be the ones to help you get back up.  *  I’ve learned that I am getting more and more like my grandparents, and I’m kind of happy about it.  *  I’ve learned that when I’m angry, I may have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.  *  I’ve learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays  you’ve celebrated.  *  I’ve learned never to tell a child their dreams are outlandish or unlikely.  Few things are more humiliating, and they may believe it.  *  I’ve learned that no matter how good a friend someone is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.  * I’ve learned that it isn’t enough to be forgiven by others.  Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.   * I’ve learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.  * I’ve learned that sometimes  you have to put the individual ahead of their actions.  *  I’ve learned that you don’t have to change friends if you understand friends change.  * I’ve learned that no matter the consequences, those who are honest with themselves get further ahead in life.  * I’ve learned no matter how fast or far you go, you can’t out run God.  * I’ve learned that love is not for me to keep, but to pass on to the next person I see.   Anonymous

With God as Our Strength

Today’s Thought:  We’re not given more that we can handle.  Sometimes I take on more than I can comfortably manage. That’s one of the ways in which my life becomes unmanageable.  It happens when I’m operating according to self-will rather than the will of God.

I believe God does not expect more of me than I can produce, that along with the challenges and difficulties I encounter comes the strength I need to cope with them and learn from them.  When chaos threatens, I’m either taking on more than I should, or I am not using the resources available to me.

We can learn to arrange our priorities so that we do not get worn our with compulsive activity and busyness.  Everything becomes more manageable when we’re not trying to run the show by ourselves.  Solid experience teaches us that support is always at hand, that our God comes through for us when we ask for help.

I will face today’s tasks, confident that I will be given the ability to accomplish God’s will for me.  Elisabeth L. 1990

A Willing Spirit (Placing Trust in God)

Each day of our lives we encounter circumstances and events that we did not plan for or are out of our control.  Whether it is a sudden illness, unemployment, an accident, financial difficulties, a sick child, aging parents, or the death of a loved one, all of these life situations have the power to damage our relationship with the Lord, unless our faith in God is strong. Why? When life gets difficult, we tend to blame God for our troubles.  In our imaginations, we often become victims, wondering why God would do this to us.  Some of us might be angry with God because we don’t feel our prayers are being answered to our liking; others try to bargain with God to get their way.  Some out of frustration or despair, simply walk away from their faith altogether.

This raises the question, who is in control here, God or us? I’m sure most of us readily respond that God is in charge; however, our actions may reflect a different reality.  Whether we are aware of it or not, we are very good at telling God what to do.  Our pious prayers of petition frequently include explicit instructions on whom to heal and when, or what job we should get and how much it should pay.  Our list of needs is endless.  But what happens when our prayers are not answered to our desired outcome? Is God ignoring us? Does God not like us anymore? Is God punishing me?   Absolutely nothing is further from the truth.  Sometimes we find it very difficult to see God’s hand in a particular situation. In times like this, we are called to walk in blind faith, trusting in God’s providence.

Think for a moment. When was the last time you offered your heartfelt needs to God in prayer while surrendering the outcome to God’s will and not yours? When was the last time you let go and let God take control?  How willing are we to put faith and trust in the hands of the Lord? Are we willing to let go of our need to control things, so as to allow God to lead and guide us? Are we willing to surrender ourselves and the lives of all those we love into the hands of the Lord, trusting in God’s will for us and them? - Mary Amore, Ministry & Liturgy, November 2012

Being Positive!

“One way to become enthusiastic is to look for the plus sign.  To make progress in any difficult situation, you have to start with what’s right and build on that.” – Norman Vincent Peale.

Beginning our days with a positive mental outlook is a great depression chaser.  Simply lifting our heads and looking up and out instead of down will make us feel better.  Although we can’t spend all our time staring at the sky, we can train ourselves to look for the best in ourselves and others.  Even in the middle of difficulty and pain, we have choices. We can choose a gloom and doom attitude and endlessly replay the thoughts that accompany it.  Or we can step back and find the one good thing.  We may be blinded with pain.  The situation may appear hopeless, utterly bleak.  But recovery guarantees that we are equal to it that our pain there is at least one good thing. We are masters of our fate.  We can change even the most difficult situations with an attitude of hope and positive expectation.  Approaching each day with a hopeful heart will give us a different approach to our troubles.  Today, help me find the one good thing.  Help me to let go of fear and negativity.