Life gets exciting in the realm of ideas, because there anything is possible. Pure ideas that have promise to elevate humanity, come straight from divine Mind.
Who knows which of these innovative, bright new projects might replace dependence on oil as fuel. But there are a lot of creative thinkers experimenting in various areas. A lot of people thinking outside the box looking for practical solutions.
I believe good ideas will continue to incubate and hatch, as they are given a warm and welcoming environment. Here's one based on photosynthesis - the process by which plants turn sunlight into sugar. Too simple. The goal is to get enough energy from a bottle and a half of water to power a small house.
Link to the article.
Mar 26, 2011
Mar 20, 2011
What's the point?
OK. Why are we here, anyway? What’s the point?
What if the point is to affirm life?
What if the point is to tell one another, “I’m so glad you are here, because your life makes a difference to me!”
What if the point is to give joy wherever you can?
What if the point is to challenge apathy and indifference with purpose?
These five gentlemen of advancing years discover something of their purpose by vigorously challenging, together, the limitations of aging. What a courageous first step.
This life-affirming video is captioned, for those of us who don’t read Chinese!
What if the point is to affirm life?
What if the point is to tell one another, “I’m so glad you are here, because your life makes a difference to me!”
What if the point is to give joy wherever you can?
What if the point is to challenge apathy and indifference with purpose?
These five gentlemen of advancing years discover something of their purpose by vigorously challenging, together, the limitations of aging. What a courageous first step.
This life-affirming video is captioned, for those of us who don’t read Chinese!
Mar 19, 2011
Gratitude - just a healthy emotion?
The video clip below features a popular motivational speaker.
Although he doesn't say so till nearly the end, his topic is gratitude. He identifies gratitude as the most healthy human emotion.
Gratitude is certainly important. And, if we allow God into the conversation, even as central to the conversation, we discover that the reason gratitude is so important is that it identifies specific good. Identifying specific good is important, because all that is truly good in our lives originates in God, for God is wholly good. Whatever isn't good, doesn't come from God.
Thought open to good has the effect of seeing good multiply.
For me gratitude includes thanking the Creator for Her generous goodness. Even in the middle of a crisis, it's possible to discover the activity of good.
The people of Japan, for instance, are still battling unforeseen and enormous odds. But let that not overshadow the importance of the calm discipline of its own people, the skill of their own experts, the practical help flying in from all over the world.
For normal events that are not on the scale of global crises, gratitude can play an active and transforming roll at a very local level. This motivational clip speaks to that kind of every day living. Even though the speaker doesn't mention the word God, that doesn't keep anyone from thanking Her with a loving life.
Mar 18, 2011
Super moon
Things are not always what they appear to be.
Obvious illusions include parallel railroad tracks that appear to join in the distance, water dancing on a hot concrete highway that is dry; or other clever illusions that people create, like this flower.
Which center is larger?
Although the center on the left appears to be larger, they are both the same size. It's the size of the circles around the center that fools our eyes.
Here's an illusion that nature creates about every 18 years, and it's rather beautiful! Enjoy the super moon, but don't be deceived by illusions when it comes to making decisions. Find out what's real, and base your conclusions on reality.
Great NASA flick.
Great NASA flick.
Mar 12, 2011
New movie: Fambul Tok (Family Talk)
Good news tends to get buried. It has trouble competing with head-line grabbers promoting the bizarre and frightening.
Fambul Tok is good news worth sharing. It's the story of forgiveness and reconciliation quietly bringing Sierra Leone together after the horrors of a wretched civil war.
In Africa, before the colonial powers arrived, the people in a village would get together in the evening to discuss the events of the day, and to solve any problems that had arisen. It was fambul tok, or family talk.
The first video is a trailer for the movie. The second explains the concept of fambul tok, and the hopes for healing.
It's a logic of restoration -- helping perpetrators become useful community members again, rather than imprisonment. See what you think.
Forgive all who have offended you, not for them, but for yourself.
~Harriet Nelson
Mar 11, 2011
Surprise spiritual buddies
I pray to know when to be at my desk, when to run errands, when to take a walk. And where. This afternoon’s trail was a paved path past scenic spillways designed to help cleanse the adjacent shipping canal. Several such aeration parks along the canal are achieving their goals. But that’s another story.
Hearing footsteps, I turned to see a cheery woman matching my pace. We introduced ourselves. We connected very quickly, and Janet (not her real name) shared her story.
A recovering alcoholic, Janet is active in AA, and wants a career helping others find their freedom from addiction. She came from a long line of alcoholics. At fourteen she dropped out of school, self-taught herself after that, and worked at a good job until alcoholism took over.
“For an addict,” she says, “It’s all about me. What I want, when I want it.” She had to learn patience, and she had to find God.
When she was at rock bottom, Janet decided to pray. Her prayer, she chuckles, was more of an ultimatum, because she didn’t know if there even was a God. “OK, God,” she said. “I’ll try AA for three months. I’ll do everything they want. If that doesn’t work, I’m gone.” AA connected her with a sponsor, and she made another pact with God. “OK, God,” she said. “I’ll give this relationship six months. If it doesn’t work, I’m gone.”
During this period she socialized with new friends and discovered she actually had fun being sober. She realized she was a worthwhile person, that people liked her for who she was. That there really is life after addiction. And it’s genuine.
Her 20-year old son, also a recovering alcoholic, began attending AA. He enrolled at the community college where he lives. Janet enrolled at her Community College. This woman, who doubted she had the intelligence to succeed, maintains a straight A average. Now Janet knows she has a purpose.
She was delighted to learn that I am into spiritual healing. I explained briefly that I help people through prayer to discover their oneness with a loving God.
“How exciting is that! I just love God so much!" she said. I can see why! We hope to walk together again.
I thank God for enriching my life with surprise spiritual buddies.
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| New walking buddy |
Hearing footsteps, I turned to see a cheery woman matching my pace. We introduced ourselves. We connected very quickly, and Janet (not her real name) shared her story.
A recovering alcoholic, Janet is active in AA, and wants a career helping others find their freedom from addiction. She came from a long line of alcoholics. At fourteen she dropped out of school, self-taught herself after that, and worked at a good job until alcoholism took over.
“For an addict,” she says, “It’s all about me. What I want, when I want it.” She had to learn patience, and she had to find God.
When she was at rock bottom, Janet decided to pray. Her prayer, she chuckles, was more of an ultimatum, because she didn’t know if there even was a God. “OK, God,” she said. “I’ll try AA for three months. I’ll do everything they want. If that doesn’t work, I’m gone.” AA connected her with a sponsor, and she made another pact with God. “OK, God,” she said. “I’ll give this relationship six months. If it doesn’t work, I’m gone.”
During this period she socialized with new friends and discovered she actually had fun being sober. She realized she was a worthwhile person, that people liked her for who she was. That there really is life after addiction. And it’s genuine.
Her 20-year old son, also a recovering alcoholic, began attending AA. He enrolled at the community college where he lives. Janet enrolled at her Community College. This woman, who doubted she had the intelligence to succeed, maintains a straight A average. Now Janet knows she has a purpose.
She was delighted to learn that I am into spiritual healing. I explained briefly that I help people through prayer to discover their oneness with a loving God.
“How exciting is that! I just love God so much!" she said. I can see why! We hope to walk together again.
I thank God for enriching my life with surprise spiritual buddies.
Mar 9, 2011
What can we trust?
Jesus said, "This is why you get sick and die: Because you love what deceives you. Anyone who thinks should consider these matters." The Gospel of Mary, by Karen L. King
Sounds like if we trust what deceives us, we're headed for trouble. We see that plot in novels and movies all the time -- a person with good intentions trusts someone with not so good intentions, and the story develops from there.
Mar 5, 2011
Tough love and angels
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| Boys sledding on President's Day |
Thursday was my day for Grandma duty. As he got out of school, the 12-year old called me at his house where I was fixing dinner.
“Grandma, can I hang out with Parker?”
“What does ‘hang out’ mean?”
“You know, just hang out.”
“I need to know where you will be. ‘Just hang out’ isn’t good enough. Invite Parker here.”
Silence. Finally, “All right. I’ll come home.”
Three minutes later another phone call. “Grandma, can I go to Parker’s house?”
“Is Parker’s mom there?”
“No, but his brother is.”
“I need an adult I can talk to there. Invite Parker to come home with you.”
Silence. Finally, “All right, I’ll come home.”
He came home shortly. “I have no friends,” he informed me accusingly. “All the other boys are going over to Parker’s.” He was not in a mood to listen to anything, so I was quiet.
His younger brother was shooting hoops in the driveway with some buddies. Today hoops didn’t appeal. Picking up a baseball and a mitt, he asked, “Can I go across the street to the park?”
“Sure.” He crossed the street and I watched out a window as he slammed the ball into the soft earth at his feet, repeatedly. Clearly some prayer was needed. Turning away, I reached out to our dear Father-Mother. “What do you know about this boy right now?” The answer that came was, “He has his own angels.”
Of course! I didn’t have to sort all this out. God was already being God, already communicating to every one of Her children. Telling each one of their worth, their purpose, showing Her love in tangible ways. I prayed for some minutes until I could rest in the assurance of the angels, God’s very own thoughts, doing their communicating.
My grandson walked in the door just as dinner was ready. “I found someone to play with,” he said in a pleased tone. “He was a third grader, but that was OK.” He stopped short of saying he'd had fun.
“Oh thank you, dear Mother-Father God!” quietly and to myself.
There’s more. The other grandma, who was with the boys the following day, and was aware of Thursday's events, added this.
“After school I asked him if he wanted to invite Parker over. He said, ‘Parker’s grounded. He had all these boys over yesterday, and he wasn’t supposed to.’ “
Sweet! Apparently Parker and his parents have their angels as well.
“Grandma, can I hang out with Parker?”
“What does ‘hang out’ mean?”
“You know, just hang out.”
“I need to know where you will be. ‘Just hang out’ isn’t good enough. Invite Parker here.”
Silence. Finally, “All right. I’ll come home.”
Three minutes later another phone call. “Grandma, can I go to Parker’s house?”
“Is Parker’s mom there?”
“No, but his brother is.”
“I need an adult I can talk to there. Invite Parker to come home with you.”
Silence. Finally, “All right, I’ll come home.”
He came home shortly. “I have no friends,” he informed me accusingly. “All the other boys are going over to Parker’s.” He was not in a mood to listen to anything, so I was quiet.
His younger brother was shooting hoops in the driveway with some buddies. Today hoops didn’t appeal. Picking up a baseball and a mitt, he asked, “Can I go across the street to the park?”
“Sure.” He crossed the street and I watched out a window as he slammed the ball into the soft earth at his feet, repeatedly. Clearly some prayer was needed. Turning away, I reached out to our dear Father-Mother. “What do you know about this boy right now?” The answer that came was, “He has his own angels.”
Of course! I didn’t have to sort all this out. God was already being God, already communicating to every one of Her children. Telling each one of their worth, their purpose, showing Her love in tangible ways. I prayed for some minutes until I could rest in the assurance of the angels, God’s very own thoughts, doing their communicating.
My grandson walked in the door just as dinner was ready. “I found someone to play with,” he said in a pleased tone. “He was a third grader, but that was OK.” He stopped short of saying he'd had fun.
“Oh thank you, dear Mother-Father God!” quietly and to myself.
There’s more. The other grandma, who was with the boys the following day, and was aware of Thursday's events, added this.
“After school I asked him if he wanted to invite Parker over. He said, ‘Parker’s grounded. He had all these boys over yesterday, and he wasn’t supposed to.’ “
Sweet! Apparently Parker and his parents have their angels as well.
Mar 2, 2011
Diversities of gifts
Have you ever felt you weren't quite getting it? Maybe everybody else around you is in sync, and that makes it worse.
It's all right. Each of us is unique. God has given each of us has different talents. Not everyone is meant to be a teacher or an auto mechanic or an accountant or a baker. We are each meant to find what we're good at doing, and to delight in doing it well.
I'm sure this little girl will get her talents figured out too. I love the kindness of her teacher. "It's OK," she says, "if you shoes aren't doing it (the first position in ballet class)."
"There is a variety of gifts, but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them."
(I Corinthians 12:4-6. Jerusalem Bible)
Mar 1, 2011
Scout traditions
Our Webelos Cub Scout became a Boy Scout yesterday. Each advancing Cub listened to good character-building advice in the Arrow of Light ceremony preceding the crossover. Seven qualities were highlighted:
- Wisdom
- Courage
- Self-control
- Justice
- Faith
- Hope
- Love
A thoughtful explanation followed each quality For example, Self-control. “Self-control isn’t limited to the control of one’s temper, but control of one’s self in all things - emotional, mental, and physical.”
Finally, behind each of the dozen Cubs stood a welcoming Boy Scout. Each older Scout took a new red and black neckerchief and arranged it around the neck of the Scout he was welcoming.
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| New Boy Scouts get their new neckerchiefs |
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