Rules of Life -- as dogs would write them

This delightful text came in a forwarded email -- author unknown.

Live simply. 



Love generously. 



Care deeply. 



Speak kindly.

Smile because you’re happy.



When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. 



Remember to play!

Run, romp, and play daily. 

Never pass up the opportunity to encourage your friends. 



Relish the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face.



When you take a nap, stretch before rising. 



Thrive on attention -- giving and receiving -- and let people touch you. 



Avoid biting when a simple growl will do. 



When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. 



Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Always be ready to make new friends.



Be loyal. 



Never pretend to be something you're not.

 

If what you want lies buried, 
dig until you find it. 



When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

Enjoy now!



A Lifetime Relationship

Keen boots!

Hiking feet need to be happy feet. In my quest for comfortable hiking boots, I stopped at the local REI store.

The knowledgeable clerks offered guidance and answered questions I didn’t even know I had. And the boots felt like bedroom slippers. Well, pretty close. I had no idea hiking boots could be comfortable!

As I clutched the boot box to my bosom, the clerk asked if I knew about REI membership. I admitted I was not a member now, but had been in the early 70s. “Well then,” he smiled, “You are still a member. It’s a lifetime membership! All they need is your phone number or your address.”

In 1970 we had lived in Carmichael, California, many phone numbers and many addresses ago. It didn’t sound promising. Yet the check-out guy and his computer successfully retrieved my membership from the “archives.”

The integrity of the transaction pleased and amazed me -- that a business would remain so true to its intent, as to have recorded memberships that began over a decade before computers were generally available.

And then I thought of the relationship of mankind to God. That’s a lifetime relationship of integrity too. Even if we don’t report in for years, our creator as infinite Mind knows everyone of His/Her ideas. Wherever we are, whatever our circumstance, this infinite intelligence is right here for us.

So that when we suddenly decide to re-establish that connection, it’s incredibly simple. We haven’t even been archived! We are always on the active list. It’s easier than driving into the parking lot and walking in the door.

A sincere desire to really discover who we are in relation to infinity becomes a mental and spiritual reaching out to the Life of the universe. That help desk is open 24/7 and answers in the language of the heart. And the heart and the feet that make that journey are happy ones.

Laying aside every weight

Based on the shape of a carriage

this boxy Ford represented wonderful progress.

Let’s assume life is a progressive experience. It moves forward. Life doesn’t have to reach a peak and decline even though Western society has pretty much accepted this pattern as the norm.

The fact of human life is that experience teaches us wisdom

This isn’t necessarily because we’re so clever that we never make any mistakes; rather it’s because we have an ability to learn from them. So we go forward and try not to repeat previous gaffes.

As we make better decisions – individually and socially – life becomes less complicated because we don’t have to spend so much effort extricating ourselves from the tangles of dishonesty, inattentiveness, or just plain foolishness.

The writer to the early Hebrew Christians viewed life as a race to be run. The purpose was to reach the goal, not necessarily to be the first one there, but simply to finish.

His approach was to drop all the weights, all the distractions that slow us down, and to focus on the finish line – for him this would be Christ.

He wrote, “Let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up.” Living Bible

What great advice. As we go forward, let’s strip away whatever holds us back or makes us stumble.

We can see this concept in new car designs, the goal of which is to diminish wind resistance. The engineers strip away obstacles to moving forward, and sleeker, more graceful vehicles become realities.

If, for instance, my goal is to be a blessing, then I am going to strip away selfishness, self-will and self-importance because I know those inward-turning characteristics interfere with the unselfed love that reaches out to find the blessings in relationships.

Sure it takes effort. Some days are better than others. But if the goal is worthwhile, we’ll stick to it and reach the finish – the point where being a blessing becomes more second nature and less hard work.

No and Yes - the poem, revised

Each of us is unique, special,

one of a kind!

No, no, no-no-no!
God’s goodness does not come and go.
Yes, yes, yes-yes-yes.
Good is now and here to bless.

What God intends, He carries out,
It will not do to fret or doubt.
You are essential to God’s plan
Of perfect God and perfect man.

You are the proof that Love is here,
That good is real, that man is dear.
Wherever you go, you are God’s light,
Scattering fear and darkest night.

You’re cherished now, one of a kind,
Unique expression of one Mind.
He needs you and you love to be
His child – holy, pure and free.

Yes, yes, yes-yes-yes.
You better believe you’re here to bless.
Your job today? To make God known
Through our love, His love is shown.

No, no, no-no-no!
What comes from God won’t ebb and flow.
His love is focused, won’t digress.
You are His great delight, oh yes!

by Sandi Justad

New self-help book!

Thought you might enjoy this commentary on the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament of the Bible.

New Self-help book!

Opens with solid reasons for reading the whole book.
Has been in print for some time.
Included in the world’s best-selling book.
Human nature hasn’t changed in all recorded history – this book on human nature has stood the test of time.
Quick read - thirty pages, with about a chapter per page.
A short book with short chapters can’t be that intimidating.
Found in every hotel room where you’ll ever stay.
Some places will give it to you just for asking.
It’s pithy sayings tell how to live intelligently and wisely.
They highlight the benefits of being honest, just, and fair.
When applied, these techniques make the young resourceful, the aged wiser.

A few samples:

· A cheerful disposition is good for your health;
Gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.

· The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam,
so stop it before it bursts.

· A good leader motivates,
Doesn’t mislead doesn’t exploit.

· First pride, then the crash –
The bigger the ego, the harder the fall.

A must-read!

What is your song?

Playing her song

Have you ever thought of your life as the music God has composed for you to play?

So, what’s your song? Music performed by Elvis? Bon Jovi? Marty Stuart? Beethoven?

And what if we find ourselves humming a tune we don’t even like -- or a sad song -- or maybe the same old, tired refrain over and over? What then?

Three thousand years ago, a wise man wrote, “Sing unto the Lord a new song!” He recognized that the world’s songs don’t always fill us with joy and hope. He was ready for something with more substance.

God has given us each wonderful spiritual qualities, and our expression of these qualities is our music, the music God has given us to play.

Everyone’s expression of life should be unique. It may come out as folk music for me, rock and roll for you, country and western for a neighbor, jazz or classical for someone else – and it is all good. Whatever God has given us is excellent. How we play it is our own expression of that excellence.

Our decisions, the thoughts we choose to think, determine how we play our music. How much is stormy, how much is gentle, whether there are lovely duets or trios. How we sing or play – the timing, tempo, dynamics, and nuances – are our contribution to the world.

What about you? Are you ready for a new song? We find our identity, and therefore our special song, by looking to our source. We might call Soul the source of all that is beautiful and spontaneous and pure.

And if we say God, or Soul, is the composer of the music that is our lives, can we say Christ is the conductor? Christ -- that law of God that brings everything together for good and defines our being and purpose --interprets the music God has written. Christ cues individual players to confirm the timing of their entrance, their solo, their melody, or their countermelody. Christ brings everyone together at the right time for greatest blessing.

If we use an orchestra as an example, these musicians can look at their music, count the rests, and come in at exactly the right place. The music indicates how quickly or slowly to play the notes, how loudly or softly, even how to touch each note (legato or staccato). Dynamics, phrasing -- all the refinements the composer intended are written on the page.

In jazz, the musicians are more likely to play from sparse notations and improvise. They are so at one with the melodies and chord progressions that good singers, reed, brass, string, and keyboard players, can close their eyes and improvise marvelous solos.

In any musical group it is important to listen to the other musicians, hear what they are playing, and know when and how they come in, and also when they are silent. Thoughtful listening helps us discern better how our part fits into the whole score, the big picture.

Even so, we are not responsible for what somebody else is playing or not playing. We are responsible for playing our own music the very best we can. And if we are carefully listening, we might be able to help others find their place through the grace in our own lives.

Christ Jesus’ life showed how to play these vibrant life melodies. Scotsman Henry Drummond observed that Jesus spent a lot of his recorded life just going around being kind to people. Simply being kind to them.

Jesus expounded brotherly love in what we call his Sermon on the Mount. Treat others the way you would like to be treated. We can take the initiative in our relationships and be caring first.

Love expressed in kindness -- this is one of the genuine and magnificent pieces of music our lives are to play.

Traveling with Paul

Ships in Bible times

Paul, as in the Apostle, is my theme today. I’m traveling with him mentally, perhaps spiritually.

What I’m loving about Paul right now is the fact that his many trials increased his conviction that he could never be separated from the love of God.

Never.

Shipwrecked, three times, he says. Beaten, stoned, often in danger from those who hated his words, in danger in the city, in danger in the wilderness, at sea, and among those who pretended to be his friends but were not. He adds that he was often hungry and thirsty and cold.

But never separated from God’s great love.

Fearlessly he forged ahead.

I think, “I’m not Paul. I don’t have to be brave. I’m not a threat to anyone, so far as I know. People don’t hate me - well, so far as I know.”

Yet each day requires some bravery on our part. The events of any given day are unknown when we awake each morning. We assume a certain routine, but that could be interrupted any time – a colleague is promoted, or fired; a treasured friend moves away. Someone who loved us is no longer around.

We can lean on that same great Love that sustained and inspired Paul through much scarier days and nights. Life does go on and, if we’re holding back, we need to shift gears and participate in Life’s fullness. The world needs our caring, our prayers, our peace, our laughter, our involvement.

Paul felt he was a conqueror. He conquered his fears, his insecurities, his doubts, his short-comings - because he knew he had a purpose.

We can do the same. God intends us to be conquerors too. You too have a God-given purpose to bless.

Doing the right thing

Chicago transportation - many alternatives

Today I attended an all-day seminar on “The Social Media Revolution.” Very cool insights on the role of blogs and podcasts within an organization.

But that’s not what this piece is about. This is about doing the right things.

I had learned through an email that Bill was signed up for this seminar too and, amazingly, he lives not far from me. I don’t get excited about driving into Chicago, especially during rush hours. Bill had received the same email, so, "Aha," I thought, "Perhaps he’ll offer to drive."

He didn’t. Two days before the meeting it occurred to me to offer him a ride (and then maybe he would offer to drive). Since I’m trying really hard to listen to what I call “angel messages,” those intuitions from God that guide us safely and wisely, I emailed Bill and offered to pick him up.

He accepted – but did not offer to drive. In fact, he needed a ride. It turns out that he is very familiar with side streets into and out of Chicago, and he had a great route for us that avoided the gridlock of the expressways. Because of his newspaper writing background, he shared a wealth of Chicago history unknown to most folks.

He also told me about parking at Midway Airport's CTA lot and taking the Orange line into the city – something he has done often. I was grateful to learn about this practical alternative.

From time to time I’ve noticed that God helps me do the right things – in this case taking the initiative to offer Bill a ride -- in spite of my own line of (well, yes, sometimes self-centered) reasoning.

Speaking of doing right things, I remember hearing how my grandfather came upon a car accident beside the road. Think 1930s. He stopped to help and discovered someone pinned underneath. He should not have been able to physically do this, but Walter was able to lift the car, so the injured person could be pulled to safety.

As I see it, there’s a lot God can do with an honest heart.

Do not forget that an honest, wise zeal,
a lowly, triumphant trust, a true heart,
and a helping hand constitute man,
and nothing less is man or woman.
Mary Baker Eddy

Respect for life - even when it's homely

I guess it’s a Chicago area phenomenon, the 17-year cicadas. They have been singing to us, in some areas VERY loudly, for over 3 weeks now.

My friend, Marge, has been teaching her boys respect for life with these small alien things – which have the disadvantage of not being beautiful. They do not hurt people or other animals. They are not skillful flyers. This failing makes them easy to catch, mid-air delicacies for dogs, squirrels, seagulls and anything else that’s hungry.

We peer at each other as these six-legged wonders tickle their way up my arm. Perhaps they do not think I am so pretty either.

The frenzied decibals of the early June mating calls are already diminishing. Soon they will be silent 17-year memories. What’s to be learned from these infrequent visitors?

I think Marge has it right. To give us human beings a gentle opportunity to step away from the fear and arrogance whose tendency is to destroy anything that’s different; to appreciate and value uniqueness; to teach children the fathering qualities of compassion and curiosity, and the importance of protecting the helpless.

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The one Spirit includes all identities.

God is the Life, or intelligence,

which forms and preserves the individuality

and identity of animals as well as of men.

This creation consists of the

unfolding of spiritual ideas and their identities,

which are embraced in the infinite Mind

and forever reflected.

Mary Baker Eddy
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About cicadas