Sunday, October 30, 2005
Language of the heart
Gratitude on learn to speak the language of the heart with fluency. on 43 Things:
The realization that all inharmony is unreal brings objects and thoughts into human view in their true light, and presents them as beautiful and immortal. Harmony in man is as real and immortal as in music. Discord is unreal and mortal.
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy
Saturday, October 29, 2005
DAB: Removed to Ultrasound Comment Section
Not sure how to delete a message which should have been posted in another spot, so please forgive the newbie blogger and let me know the proper procedure. Thanks and HAND-pda
And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was [free] born.
Acts 22:28
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Acts 17:28
Holy Bible, King James Version, read by Alexander Scourby
And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was [free] born.
Acts 22:28
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Acts 17:28
Holy Bible, King James Version, read by Alexander Scourby
Science is Positive
See new entry at One easy way to do this: on encourage other people on 43 Things
Trying out the BlogThis! button for the first time from 43Things :) Thanks for posting my previous message to the Blog, BW. I'm thrilled to finally be here and hope to make a positive contribution to the team! Enjoy the weekend and...
Vayan con Dios, Amigos ~
When a new spiritual idea is borne to earth, the prophetic Scripture of Isaiah is renewedly fulfilled: “Unto us a child is born, . . . and his name shall be called Wonderful.”
Jesus once said of his lessons: “My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John vii. 16,17.)
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy
Wonderful Things are Happening!
Trying out the BlogThis! button for the first time from 43Things :) Thanks for posting my previous message to the Blog, BW. I'm thrilled to finally be here and hope to make a positive contribution to the team! Enjoy the weekend and...
Vayan con Dios, Amigos ~
When a new spiritual idea is borne to earth, the prophetic Scripture of Isaiah is renewedly fulfilled: “Unto us a child is born, . . . and his name shall be called Wonderful.”
Jesus once said of his lessons: “My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John vii. 16,17.)
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy
Wonderful Things are Happening!
Monday, October 10, 2005
When Fear Cripples
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, " I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along ." . . . You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
About eight years ago I had a particularly bad series of events involving car accidents. Within a year and a half I was in three accidents...all of them almost 6 months to the day of each other. One accident is bad enough....but three.......it was bad.
The first was during a snow storm. My brother's birthday was the next day so I rushed out to the store to pick up the item I had been waiting till th last minute to get. While I was in the store it began to snow. Normally that wouldn't be a problem, living in New England you learn quickly how to drive in bad weather. The store I was at however as at the top of a very steep hill and surrounded by busy streets. I had an old Volvo with semi-bad tires and the snow was still fresh....so sand on the road, no plow had been by yet.
As I crept over the top of the hill on the long four lane driveway and edged my way down the slippery pavement I suddenly saw my worst fear. A car had spun out and sat sideways completely blocking my lane. The driver had shut off his car, gotten out and was looking at his front tires. In the lane to my direct left was another car and in each of the two lanes coming up the hill was a car. I couldn't possibly swerve into another lane without causing another accident. My only out was to turn hard to the right and try to jump the curb and go down another steep hill into a parking lot about 30 feet below. So as I picked up speed sliding faster and faster towards the other car I did just that. To my surprise though the curb was too high and instead of removing myself from the potential accident I in fact spun out sideways and slid down even faster to hit the stopped car lengthwise.
**SIGH**
Six months later I was on my way to work one morning. I had a cold and was continually having to blow my nose so I kept a tiny box of kleenex within easy reach. I was an assistant manager of a pet store at that time so I was in a hurry to get to work and open up for the day. In front of me for almost the entire drive was a particularly elderly gentleman in a mini van who was very careful to remain within the exact speed limit. Every block or so he would brake to slow back down to 35mph. I kept a good two car distance between us just because he made me nervous and the last thing I wanted was another accident. As we kept our slow and steady pace I cranked up my radio in an attempt to destress myself. Suddenly I needed a kleenex. I reached down to where I kept them but couldn't find the box. I felt around some more...still nothing. Finally in desparation I looked down and grabbed one. In that instant the man in front braked yet again and in the micro seconds that I started to look back up, I hit him full force. Totalling my car, sending me to the hospital and putting me out of work for a couple of weeks.
Double **SIGH**
Fast forward yet another six months. My then boyfriend and I were taking some people home after church. A young teenager from the church youth group and my friend. I had organized us by who would be getting out first. So the teenager was in the front seat and my friend and I were in the backseat of his tiny hatchback. As we all laughed and talked we came to the street of the first drop off. Suddenly from behind a car full of teenagers careened into us at full speed miraculously stopping just short of encasing my friend and I into the back seat.
Triple **SIGH**
After those accidents I didn't drive for two years. I was too afraid to. I didn't even like getting into a car with others. When I did get in a car it was with much apprehension and constant fear of every little thing. I changed jobs to a store that was on a direct bus route and avoided going out with people other than my boyfriend as much as possible, and walked as many places as I could. I was living in a prison of fear. It was understandable of course....those things were traumatic experiences for me so when I told people I didn't drive and explained why they understood and sympathized. One woman I worked with was even in the same place and stopped driving years earlier because her sister had been killed tragically in a car.
Over time however I began to miss the degree of freedom I had once had. I missed being able to just pick up and go for a drive in the country or not having to wait in two feet of snow for an extra 45 minutes because the bus was running behind. I saw the woman I worked with through new eyes. She was about 30 years older than me and she had become completely dependent on others because of her fear and I didn't want to end up like that. I had come to the point that I realized....it was time. I had to face my fear head on with no looking back.
It was terrifying at first....and I drove like a 95 year old for a while....but each time I got behind that wheel it got easier. Eventually I reached the point that the fear was totally gone.
Fear comes in many shapes and sizes.....but whatever it is that you fear, I pray you get to the point that you can face it head on and say, "I have lived through this terror, I can take the next thing that comes along."
Peace,
FG
- Eleanor Roosevelt
About eight years ago I had a particularly bad series of events involving car accidents. Within a year and a half I was in three accidents...all of them almost 6 months to the day of each other. One accident is bad enough....but three.......it was bad.
The first was during a snow storm. My brother's birthday was the next day so I rushed out to the store to pick up the item I had been waiting till th last minute to get. While I was in the store it began to snow. Normally that wouldn't be a problem, living in New England you learn quickly how to drive in bad weather. The store I was at however as at the top of a very steep hill and surrounded by busy streets. I had an old Volvo with semi-bad tires and the snow was still fresh....so sand on the road, no plow had been by yet.
As I crept over the top of the hill on the long four lane driveway and edged my way down the slippery pavement I suddenly saw my worst fear. A car had spun out and sat sideways completely blocking my lane. The driver had shut off his car, gotten out and was looking at his front tires. In the lane to my direct left was another car and in each of the two lanes coming up the hill was a car. I couldn't possibly swerve into another lane without causing another accident. My only out was to turn hard to the right and try to jump the curb and go down another steep hill into a parking lot about 30 feet below. So as I picked up speed sliding faster and faster towards the other car I did just that. To my surprise though the curb was too high and instead of removing myself from the potential accident I in fact spun out sideways and slid down even faster to hit the stopped car lengthwise.
**SIGH**
Six months later I was on my way to work one morning. I had a cold and was continually having to blow my nose so I kept a tiny box of kleenex within easy reach. I was an assistant manager of a pet store at that time so I was in a hurry to get to work and open up for the day. In front of me for almost the entire drive was a particularly elderly gentleman in a mini van who was very careful to remain within the exact speed limit. Every block or so he would brake to slow back down to 35mph. I kept a good two car distance between us just because he made me nervous and the last thing I wanted was another accident. As we kept our slow and steady pace I cranked up my radio in an attempt to destress myself. Suddenly I needed a kleenex. I reached down to where I kept them but couldn't find the box. I felt around some more...still nothing. Finally in desparation I looked down and grabbed one. In that instant the man in front braked yet again and in the micro seconds that I started to look back up, I hit him full force. Totalling my car, sending me to the hospital and putting me out of work for a couple of weeks.
Double **SIGH**
Fast forward yet another six months. My then boyfriend and I were taking some people home after church. A young teenager from the church youth group and my friend. I had organized us by who would be getting out first. So the teenager was in the front seat and my friend and I were in the backseat of his tiny hatchback. As we all laughed and talked we came to the street of the first drop off. Suddenly from behind a car full of teenagers careened into us at full speed miraculously stopping just short of encasing my friend and I into the back seat.
Triple **SIGH**
After those accidents I didn't drive for two years. I was too afraid to. I didn't even like getting into a car with others. When I did get in a car it was with much apprehension and constant fear of every little thing. I changed jobs to a store that was on a direct bus route and avoided going out with people other than my boyfriend as much as possible, and walked as many places as I could. I was living in a prison of fear. It was understandable of course....those things were traumatic experiences for me so when I told people I didn't drive and explained why they understood and sympathized. One woman I worked with was even in the same place and stopped driving years earlier because her sister had been killed tragically in a car.
Over time however I began to miss the degree of freedom I had once had. I missed being able to just pick up and go for a drive in the country or not having to wait in two feet of snow for an extra 45 minutes because the bus was running behind. I saw the woman I worked with through new eyes. She was about 30 years older than me and she had become completely dependent on others because of her fear and I didn't want to end up like that. I had come to the point that I realized....it was time. I had to face my fear head on with no looking back.
It was terrifying at first....and I drove like a 95 year old for a while....but each time I got behind that wheel it got easier. Eventually I reached the point that the fear was totally gone.
Fear comes in many shapes and sizes.....but whatever it is that you fear, I pray you get to the point that you can face it head on and say, "I have lived through this terror, I can take the next thing that comes along."
Peace,
FG
Monday, October 03, 2005
The Impact of Silence
"It's good to shut up sometimes."
-Marcel Marceau
A rather interesting quote from a man who was made famous because of his silence, don't you think? Makes me wonder about the lessons he must have learned from being so silent and just watching and listening. As I read it I was reminded of an experience we had at our street ministry a little over a year ago. Two of our regular volunteers are a sweet, newly married couple who have great hearts of service and desparately want to serve their God with all that they have. However, at times I have seen pride cause them to struggle with an intense aversion towards a lot of the very people we minister to. I am always asking God to break through that pride and other mental or emotional garbage with them and show them how He sees these poor and homeless people. After all, these people that are so different than what we're used to, are in fact, the entire reason we are out there. They need someone, anyone, to show them love and acceptance in a wounded lonely life where they have had none.
I always love the fact that God is so gentle with us and even has a sense of humor. We tend to lash out and correct or judge harshly making a scene and leaving wounds in the hearts of others all in the name of justice. God is so opposite though. Like any loving father, He tends to discipline in creative ways that He knows will get our attention, and make the lesson stick. This was definitely one of those lessons.
On this particular Saturday, I was behind the table serving soup and the husband of this couple was standing next to me serving the drinks which consist of water and in warm weather iced tea. This was a beautiful warm day so the water was especially in demand. As I waited for the next person in line to reach me, I glanced over to see one of our regular ladies approaching the drinks. She is only about 35, about the same age as this newly married couple, and has a very sweet and childlike spirit due to severe mental illness.
Additionally, heavy medication tends to make her talk to herself a lot....and loudly. Usually though, the things she says keep us all laughing because they are the things a 5 year old would say, blunt and yet, innocent.
She has very curly hair, which she usually lets go fuzzy. She wears every piece of jewelry she has ever owned and odd clothing combinations as well as about five layers of nail polish, all of which are chipped and peeling. She's always so bubbly though that you can't help but smile at her when she comes by. I watched as she approached the table quietly muttering to herself, and then I suddenly felt a twinge in my stomach because I knew who would be handing her the water. I quickly looked at him just in time to see him scanning her up and down and curling his lip at her current state. I was so hurt inside I wanted to lash out at him and tell him to get off the serving line if he couldn't treat her with respect. However, inside my heart I heard God tell me to keep quiet and watch what would happen next.
Just then as I saw her reach for a cup and he pulled his hand away, her muttering became audible for all of us to hear. I watched in amazement as she looked him square in the eye and quoted him the Bible verse, "..And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." Just then she took a sip and walked away and was gone for the day.
I wanted to start crying as I watched his eyes get big and follow her as she disappeared into the crowd. God is sooooooooo GOOD, and He always gets His point across far better than we ever could. Had I lashed out at him, I would have set a bad example for all the people around me, both behind and in front of the table. I wouldn't have gained anything, but instead, would have lost the trust and respect of so many who need us to be gentle with them, and learn from our example. I also wouldn't have made the point to this young man as well as God was able to, through the gentle ramblings of the very one who should have been offended by his actions the most.
Sometimes it truly is good to shut up and wait and to let God fight our battles for us. A misplaced word can illicit the effect of a bowling ball on a glass top table…sending shards of glass everywhere that can never be fixed or replaced…and some never even to be found. I'm glad I kept my mouth shut that day, and avoided those shards. I'm not always so successful however, but at least now I know if I can learn the art of well placed silence, I can avoid many regrets for years to come. Besides, God really does handle those situations so much better than we would.
Peace,
FG
-Marcel Marceau
A rather interesting quote from a man who was made famous because of his silence, don't you think? Makes me wonder about the lessons he must have learned from being so silent and just watching and listening. As I read it I was reminded of an experience we had at our street ministry a little over a year ago. Two of our regular volunteers are a sweet, newly married couple who have great hearts of service and desparately want to serve their God with all that they have. However, at times I have seen pride cause them to struggle with an intense aversion towards a lot of the very people we minister to. I am always asking God to break through that pride and other mental or emotional garbage with them and show them how He sees these poor and homeless people. After all, these people that are so different than what we're used to, are in fact, the entire reason we are out there. They need someone, anyone, to show them love and acceptance in a wounded lonely life where they have had none.
I always love the fact that God is so gentle with us and even has a sense of humor. We tend to lash out and correct or judge harshly making a scene and leaving wounds in the hearts of others all in the name of justice. God is so opposite though. Like any loving father, He tends to discipline in creative ways that He knows will get our attention, and make the lesson stick. This was definitely one of those lessons.
On this particular Saturday, I was behind the table serving soup and the husband of this couple was standing next to me serving the drinks which consist of water and in warm weather iced tea. This was a beautiful warm day so the water was especially in demand. As I waited for the next person in line to reach me, I glanced over to see one of our regular ladies approaching the drinks. She is only about 35, about the same age as this newly married couple, and has a very sweet and childlike spirit due to severe mental illness.
Additionally, heavy medication tends to make her talk to herself a lot....and loudly. Usually though, the things she says keep us all laughing because they are the things a 5 year old would say, blunt and yet, innocent.
She has very curly hair, which she usually lets go fuzzy. She wears every piece of jewelry she has ever owned and odd clothing combinations as well as about five layers of nail polish, all of which are chipped and peeling. She's always so bubbly though that you can't help but smile at her when she comes by. I watched as she approached the table quietly muttering to herself, and then I suddenly felt a twinge in my stomach because I knew who would be handing her the water. I quickly looked at him just in time to see him scanning her up and down and curling his lip at her current state. I was so hurt inside I wanted to lash out at him and tell him to get off the serving line if he couldn't treat her with respect. However, inside my heart I heard God tell me to keep quiet and watch what would happen next.
Just then as I saw her reach for a cup and he pulled his hand away, her muttering became audible for all of us to hear. I watched in amazement as she looked him square in the eye and quoted him the Bible verse, "..And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." Just then she took a sip and walked away and was gone for the day.
I wanted to start crying as I watched his eyes get big and follow her as she disappeared into the crowd. God is sooooooooo GOOD, and He always gets His point across far better than we ever could. Had I lashed out at him, I would have set a bad example for all the people around me, both behind and in front of the table. I wouldn't have gained anything, but instead, would have lost the trust and respect of so many who need us to be gentle with them, and learn from our example. I also wouldn't have made the point to this young man as well as God was able to, through the gentle ramblings of the very one who should have been offended by his actions the most.
Sometimes it truly is good to shut up and wait and to let God fight our battles for us. A misplaced word can illicit the effect of a bowling ball on a glass top table…sending shards of glass everywhere that can never be fixed or replaced…and some never even to be found. I'm glad I kept my mouth shut that day, and avoided those shards. I'm not always so successful however, but at least now I know if I can learn the art of well placed silence, I can avoid many regrets for years to come. Besides, God really does handle those situations so much better than we would.
Peace,
FG
