Take 2: Lenten meditation

The link below contains a piece that appeared on this page last year.  This being the Season of Lent, it is an appropriate time to make an encore.

Lenten Meditation

Ducks and Heaven

Courtesy of Roger (BFFJosie's husband) who received it from his shipmates at their Military Retiree Association.  Thanks y'all!

Three women die together in an  accident

And go to heaven. 

When they get there, St. Peter says,
'We only have one rule here in heaven:
Don't step on the ducks!'

So they enter heaven, and sure enough,
There are ducks all over the place.
It is almost impossible not to step on a duck,
And although they try their best to avoid them,
The first woman accidentally steps on one.

Along comes St. Peter with the ugliest man she ever saw.
St. Peter chains them together and says,
'Your punishment for stepping on a duck is to
Spend eternity chained to this ugly  man!'
The next day,
The second woman steps accidentally on a duck
And along comes St.  Peter,
Who doesn't miss a thing.
With him is another extremely ugly man.
He chains them together
With the same admonishment as for the first woman.

The third woman has observed all this and,
Not wanting to be chained
For all eternity to an ugly man is very,
VERY careful where she steps.

She  manages to go months
Without stepping on any  ducks,
But
One day St.Peter comes up  to her
With the most handsome man she has ever laid eyes on
.... Very tall, long eyelashes, muscular.

St. Peter chains them together without saying a word. 

The happy woman says,

'I  wonder what I did to deserve being
Chained to you for all of eternity?'

The guy says,
'I don't know about you,
But I stepped on a Duck.  

This one is really worth passing on.

Dreams coming true

The reason I love watching "American Idol" is plain and simple:  the show makes dreams come to life.

Every season singing talents are put into action and the crop of hopefuls continue to amaze and inspire.  With Simon Cowell gone, the judges have made the AI stage a kinder place to showcase one's talent.  We no longer hear Simon's trademark sarcastic comment, "You made an utter mess." 

Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson do say things to improve the talent's performance, pin-pointing where the flaws lie, but their critique is neither harsh nor sugar-coated... just kind and thoughtful.  Young people's self-esteem can be fragile and there is no point rubbing salt to the wound!

My wish is that the children of the world would tune in to this show.  It brings to life, not only spectacular talents, personal discipline, and the pursuit of one's bliss, but also demonstrates how perseverance to follow a dream can produce positive results and the attainment of life's goal. 

My belief is that everyone is given a talent for a reason.  Children who realize what they want to become so early in their years are lucky.  They are doubly blessed if the people in their life do everything in their power to encourage the honing of those God-given gifts.

American Idol is an example of how to inspire gifted young people to focus their energies on becoming who they are meant to be.  AI hopefuls who auditioned and never got the chance to shine should not lose hope.  Don't get discouraged.  Allow your talent to develop in your own way, in your own time.  There is always the next season.

Jessica Sanchez
photo credit:  micahjesse.com



Exercising with red wine

Thanks to Kenneth, my friend in Australia, who shared the following video of an amazing exercise routine...

Hula Hoop With Red Wine

Spring at last!



Anyone who had to put up with winter during the last few months can now be in a celebratory mood.  In many places, the snow has melted, the bare trees are coming to life and the brown on the ground is coming out green.

It is the first day of Spring! It can be a lovely time, but allergies can get in the way of enjoying what the season offers.  Actor Robin Williams might have described this season best:  Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"

Yes, indeed, after months of hibernation and putting up with frigid temperatures and blankets of snow, we can finally temporarily retire the layered look, the bundles of winter clothing in the closet while the T-shirts, flip-flops and warm weather apparel can come out.

I can't wait to putter in my backyard and see what surprises are waiting for me in my garden.  The birds will soon come to visit my red chokeberry tree and their cheery chirps will again bring the greenbelt behind my yard to life!

Spring is a season for new life, renewed hopes and lovely inspiration.  If you've been stuck with a less than cheerful winter, now's the time to get your mojo back.  Find your Spring groove and feel alive!

Celebrate this season and make it a warm memory to cherish!
 

 

Bachelor Benjamin: Journey's End

Monday (March 12th) was an uncomfortable time for me.  Not only did Bachelor Ben Flajnik pick the gir I didn't want him to end up with, I watched the finale burdened with a gas leak situation and seeing his journey end while the electric company guy in bright yellow hard hat was inspecting my furnace.

When I got home that day, there was a note left on my front door and a notice from the electric company that my gas had been shut off.  The handwritten note came from my next door neighbor who smelled gas coming from her heater vents.  When she had her furnace guy inspect her heating system, he recommended having the electric company serviceman come over for a check-up.  To make a long story short, the gas odor was suspected to be coming from my furnace!

You see, my townhome shares walls with my next door neighbors.  Our furnaces all sit in the crawl space and, apparently, there is a tiny gap between our walls, big enough to transmit lethal threats such as the invisible gas leak.

My household emergency couldn't have happened at the most inconvenient time.  You see, that night I came home excited for Ben.  I live my romantic life vicariously through "The Bachelor/The Bachelorette" and every time the Final Rose ceremony comes around, I nurture the hope that the lead would find their "happily ever afters."  Finding my neighbor's note on my front door and having to deal with an unromantic occurrence like a gas leak certainly rained on my parade.  The issue was made worse by the electric company guy's pronouncement (at the very moment that Ben was baring his heart and soul, proposing to Courtney) that, yes, there is a serious gas leak coming from my furnace... that a plumber should come and tighten a loose connector valve.  That was very late in the evening and I couldn't call for service until the next day.  He had to shut off my gas which meant not having heat overnight.  Thankfully, the weather was on my side because it turned out to be a warm winter night.  Thank You, Jesus!

Anyway, back to Ben's quest for love... as we all know, his Chosen turned out to be the girl everyone loved to hate.  Despite his wish to end up with someone who won't be unpopular with his friends and family, his heart was drawn to Courtney Robertson from almost the beginning.  He saw his present and future with her, skinny dipping or not.

In a way I can appreciate where Ben's coming from.  I know a couple of women who have been called witches by the people around them, yet are so adored by the men they ended up with... who even put them up on pedestals!  Whether we like it or not, there really is a strange, inexplicable component to this thing we call chemistry.  The sad truth of the matter is that more often than not, the attraction to someone can sometimes defy logic or reason... even sanity. 

With that said, I wish Ben and Courtney a life of lasting joy!

photo credit:  abc

Delivering the news

My weekend newspapers used to come from the newspaper stand around the corner. One day the metal box that had become a fixture on that corner of my neighborhood simply vanished.

Back in those days I enjoyed driving anywhere and the missing newspaper stand gave me another excuse to drive to the nearest supermarket.  Later the novelty of picking up the newspaper and paying for it on the counter eventually wore off.  It was a timely blessing that the newspaper company sent me an offer for weekend home delivery that I couldn't pass up.

For about five years now, the weekend news have been arriving outside my front door.  In the beginning my newspaper carrier was pretty considerate, reason he tops my holiday gift list.  Over time my newspaper had found its way on the front lawn, its plastic cover wet from the sprinkler system.  Recently, I have noticed that most Saturdays I had to walk down my front porch to get the news.  That's quite alright if the weather's kind.  But lately it's been snowy and digging the newspaper under a cold blanket of white has not been fun.  

I have never met my carrier so one Saturday morning I just had to find out if a man or woman was delivering the news.  That day a man quickly got out of his dark blue car and mechanically threw the newspaper three steps down my porch.

Last Sunday morning I heard a loud thud outside my front door.  I knew it was the carrier throwing the newspaper.  I opened the door and caught sight of a red car slowly moving away and stopping on my neighbors' driveways.  Instantly, I knew it was the carrier making the rounds.  But unlike the Saturday carrier, Sunday's delivery person was a woman.  Another thing that was quite noticeable was that the newspaper was at the bottom corner of the door so that when I opened it, the paper was lying conveniently on the side.  I appreciated the thoughtfulness because I didn't have to go out in the cold air nor walk down the steps.

Come to think of it, my Sunday paper had always sat where I could easily pick it up without much trouble nor effort.  I couldn't help but think that my female carrier walks the extra mile.  For her it's not just a job... it's making sure that the news not only got delivered on time, but delivered right.  She obviously put care in what she does for which I am truly grateful.    



Shamrock blessings

Allow me to share these St. Patrick's Day greetings from one of my favorite charities, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.  This is the place where my lovely 100+ rosary collection had come from.





May shamrock love and luck shine upon you!

The taming of wild gorillas

Enjoy this video of gorillas in a man's midst.  My thanks to KCT for sharing!

Click here> Wild Gorilla Encounter

How would you like to have been that man?

Quotes to live by (Part 6)

Below are inspirational words that can accompany us in our journey through life...

* * *

When you come to the edge of all the light you have,

and must take a step into the darkness of the unknown,

believe that one of two things will happen.

Either there will be something solid for you to stand on---

or you will be taught how to fly.

~ Patrick Overton ~

Everything in life is most fundamentally a gift.

And you receive it best, and you live it best,

by holding it with very open hands.

~ Leo O’Donovan~

Life is not intended to be simply a round of work,

no matter how interesting and important that work may be.

A moment’s pause to watch the glory of a sunrise

or a sunset is soul satisfying, while a bird’s song

will set the steps to music all day long.

~ Anonymous ~

Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others,

and the delight in the recognition.

~ Alexander Smith ~

The wonder of living is held within the beauty of silence,

the glory of sunlight… the sweetness of fresh spring air,

the quiet strength of earth, and the love that lies

at the very root of all things.

~ Anonymous ~

The greatest gift is a portion of yourself.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

Notice words of compassion.

Seek out deeds of kindness.

These are like the doves from heaven,

pointing out to you who are the ones

blessed with inner grace and beauty.

~ Christopher De Vinck ~

Not everything that counts can be counted.

Not everything that can be counted counts.

~ Albert Einstein ~

It is good for us that we sometimes experience adversity and sorrow,

for they often make our hearts understand

that we are only strangers and sojourners here for a time.

~ Anonymous ~

Time is a very precious gift from God;

so precious that it’s only given to us moment by moment.

~ Amelia Barr ~

Take your everyday, ordinary life---

your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life---

and place it before God as an offering.

Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him.

~ Romans 12:1 MSG ~

I have never been a millionaire.

But I have enjoyed a crackling fire,

A glorious sunset, a walk with a friend…

There are plenty of life’s tiny delights for all of us.

~ Jack Anthony ~

No love, no friendship can cross the path of our destiny

without leaving some mark on it forever.

~ Francois Mauriac ~

Little acts of kindness which we render to each other

in everyday life, are like flowers by the way-side to the traveler:

they serve to gladden the heart and relieve the tedium of life’s journey.

~ Eunice Bathrick ~

We encounter God in the ordinariness of life,

not in the search for spiritual highs and extraordinary,

mystical experiences, but in our simple presence in life.

~ Brennan Manning ~

Whoever walks toward God one step, God runs toward him two.

~ Jewish Proverb ~

Our deeds still travel with us from afar,

And what we have been makes us what we are.

~ George Eliot ~

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass

under the trees on a summer’s day,

listening to the murmur of water,

or watching the clouds float across the sky,

is by no means a waste of time.

~ John Lubbock ~

It’s the little things we do and say

That mean so much as we go our way.

A kindly deed can lift a load

From weary shoulders on the road.

~ Willa Hoey ~

Half the joy of life is in little things taken on the run.

Let us run if we must… but let us keep our hearts young

and our eyes open that nothing worth our while shall escape us.

And everything is worth its while if we only grasp it and its significance.

~ Victor Cherbuliez ~

Kind words are jewels that live in the heart and soul

and remain as blessed memories years after they have been spoken.

~ Marvea Johnson ~

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything;

tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank Him for His answers.

~ Philippians 4:6 TLB ~

Quotes to live by (Part 5)

Below are inspirational words that can accompany us in our journey through life...

* * *

Live today fully, expressing gratitude for all you have been,

all you are right now, and all you are becoming.

~ Melodie Beattie ~

Your heavenly Father knows your needs.

He will always give you all you need from day to day.

~ Luke 12:30-31 TLB ~

A happy life is… built up of…

little clumps of violets noticed by the roadside,

hidden away almost so that only those can see them

who have God’s peace and love in their hearts.

~ Edward Wilson ~

To be glad of life, because it gives you the chance

to love and to work and to play and

to look up at the stars… to think seldom

of your enemies, often of your friends,

and every day of Christ; and to spend as much time

as you can, with body and with spirit in God’s

out-of-doors---these are little guideposts

on the footpath to peace.

~ Henry Van Dyke ~

People who deal with life generously and large-heartedly

go on multiplying relationships to the end.

~ Arthur Christopher Benson ~

Live in peace with each other.

~ Romans 12:16 NCV ~

Life is short and we never have enough time

for gladdening the hearts of those who travel

the way with us.  O, be swift to love!

Make haste to be kind.

~ Henri Frederic Amiel ~

Life is what we are alive to.

It is not length but breadth….

Be alive to…. goodness, kindness, purity, love,

history, poetry, music, flowers, stars, God, and eternal hope

~ Maltbie D. Babcock ~

We are not human beings on a spiritual journey.

We are spiritual beings on a human journey.

~ Pierre Teilhard De Chardin ~

Love is everything.  It is the key of life,

and its influences are those that move the world.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

Eating lunch with a friend.  Trying to do a decent day’s work.

Hearing the rain patter against the window.

There is no event so commonplace but that God is present

within it, always hiddenly, always leaving you room

to recognize Him.

~ Frederick Buechner ~

Reflection… enables our minds to be stretched in

three different directions---the direction that leads

to a proper relationship with God,

the relationship that leads to a healthy relationship

with others, and the relationship that leads

to a deeper understanding of oneself.

~ Mark Connolly ~

Every step is an end, and every step is a fresh beginning.

~ Goethe ~

What matters is not your outer appearance---

the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear,

the cut of your clothes---but your inner disposition.

Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind

that God delights in.

~ 1 Peter 3:3-4 MSG ~

Therefore, as we have opportunity,

let us do good to all people.

~ Galatians 6:10 NIV ~

Love… binds everything together in perfect harmony.

~ Colossians 3:14 NRSV ~

The ideals which have always shown before me

and filled me with the joy of living

are goodness, beauty, and truth.

~ Albert Einstein ~

We see those we love in every sunrise

and in every sunset, in every tree and in every flower.

~ Anonymous ~

Be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs.

God’s strong Hand is on you;

He’ll promote you at the right time.

Live carefree before God; He is most careful with you.

~ 1 Peter 5:6-7 MSG ~

Quotes to live by (Part 4)

Below are inspirational words that can accompany us in our journey through life...

* * *

Share your life, and find the finest joy one can know.

Do not be stingy with your heart.

Get out of yourself into the lives of others,

and new life will flow into you---share and share alike.

~ Joseph Fort Newton ~

The smile on your face is the light in the window

that tells people you’re at home.

~ Anonymous ~

Each of us may be sure that if God sends us

on stony paths He will provide us with strong shoes,

and He will not send us out on any journey

for which He does not equip us well.

~ Alexander Maclaren ~

The great lesson is that the sacred is in the ordinary,

that it is to be found in one’s daily life,

in one’s neighbors, friends, and family, in one’s backyard.

~ Abraham Maslow ~

Happiness is not a station you arrive at,

but a manner of traveling.

~ Henry O. ~

Don’t lose a minute in building on

what you’ve been given, complementing your

basic faith and good character,

spiritual understanding, alert discipline,

passionate patience, reverent wonder,

warm friendliness, and generous love,

each dimension fitting into

and developing the others.

~ 2 Peter 1:5 MSG ~

Love is extravagant in the price it is willing to pay,

the time it is willing to give, the hardships it is willing to endure,

and the strength it is willing to spend.

Love never thinks in terms of “how little,”

but always in terms of “how much.”

Love gives, love knows, and love lasts.

~ Joni Eareckson Tada ~

Joy comes from simple and natural things:

mists over meadows, sunlight on leaves,

the path of the moon over water.

~ Sigurd E. Olson ~

May God give you eyes to see beauty only the heart can understand.

~ Anonymous ~

So, chosen by God for this new life of love,

dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you:

compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.

~ Colossians 3:12 MSG ~

Be kind to one another,

Tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

As God in Christ has forgiven you.

~ Ephesians 4:32 NRSV ~

Be beautiful inside, in your hearts,

with the lasting charm of a gentle

and quiet spirit which is so precious to God.

~ 1 Peter 3:4 TLB ~

A porch is the only real reward you need after a long summer’s day.

~ Shawn Sell ~

I may not have gone where I intended to go,

but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.

~ Douglas Adams ~

I am thankful each day that my life is blessed

by the sweet love of friendship.

~ Lois Wyse ~

Love is always bestowed as a gift---

freely, willingly, and without expectation….

We don’t love to be loved; we love to love.

~ Anonymous ~

No eye has seen, no ear heard, nor the human heart conceived,

what God has prepared for those who love Him.

~ 1 Corinthians 2:9 NRSV ~

Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later.

~ Ecclesiastes 11:1 TLB ~

Thanksgiving puts power in living,

because it opens the generators of the heart

to respond gratefully, to receive joyfully,

and to react creatively.

~ Anonymous ~

If we learn to give of ourselves, to forgive others,

and to live with thanksgiving, we need not seek happiness.

It will seek us.

~ Anonymous ~

Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul.

Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.

~ Pamela Vaull Starr ~

Quotes to live by (Part 3)

Below are inspirational words that can accompany us in our journey through life...

* * *

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly.

What is essential is invisible to the eye.

~ Antoine De Saint-Exupery ~

The wonderful thing about sunset,

and much the same can be said for sunrise,

is that it happens every day,

and even if the sunset itself is not spectacular,

it marks the beginning of the end of another day.

It’s a great time to pause and take notice.

~ Elaine St. James~

Only the heart knows how to find what is precious.

~ Fyodor Dostoyevsky ~

The best things are nearest:

breath in your nostrils,

light in your eyes,

flowers at your feet,

duties at your hand,

the path of God just before you.

~ Robert Louis Stevenson ~

Give away your life; you’ll find life given back,

But not merely given back---

given back with bonus and blessing.

Giving, not getting, is the way.

Generosity begets generosity.

~ Luke 6:38 MSG ~

Notice words or compassion.

Seek out deeds of kindness.

These are like the doves from heaven,

pointing out to you

who are the ones blessed with

inner grace and beauty.

~ Christopher De Vinck ~

At every crossroad, follow your dream.

It is courageous to let your heart lead the way.

~ Thomas Leland ~

Blue skies with white clouds on summer days.

A myriad of stars on clear moonlit nights.

Tulips and roses and violets and dandelions and daisies.

Bluebirds and laughter and sunshine and Easter.

See how He loves us!

~ Alice Chapin ~

As we grow in our capacities

to see and enjoy the joys that

God has placed in our lives,

life becomes a glorious experience

of discovering His endless wonders.

~ Anonymous ~

Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals;

cherish the music that stirs in your heart,

the beauty that forms in your mind,

the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts,

for out of them will grow all delightful conditions,

all heavenly environment.

~ James Allen ~

What a wonderful world, God!

You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side,

Made earth overflow with Your wonderful creations.

~ Psalm 104:24 MSG ~

The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.

~ Chinese Proverb ~

Take time to notice all the usually unnoticed,

simple things in life.

Delight in the never-ending hope

that’s available every day!

~ Anonymous ~

Happiness is a sunbeam….

when it strikes a kindred heart,

like the converged lights upon a mirror,

it reflects itself with redoubled brightness.

It is not perfected until it is shared.

~ Jane Porter ~

Keep thou thy dreams--- the tissue of all wings

Is woven first of them; from dreams are made

The precious and imperishable things,

Whose loveliness lives on, and does not fade.

~ Virna Sheard ~

Loving and being loved is the greatest of human joys,

the ultimate human experience.

We can exist without love;

but we are not living fully

as human beings without it.

~ Edward E. Ford ~

When our relationships are born in the heart of God,

they bring out the best in us, for they are nurtured by love.

~ Don Lessin ~

Life is but a brief moment between eternities.

There is no better time than now to assess the values

which are worthy of our existence on this earth.

~ Dr. James Dobson ~

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

and that has made all the difference.

~ Robert Frost ~

Let love be your greatest aim

~ 1 Corinthians 14:1 TLB ~

Quotes to live by (Part 2)

Below are inspirational words that can accompany us in our journey through life...

* * *



When we take time to notice

the simple things in life,

we never lack for encouragement.

We discover we are surrounded

by a limitless hope that’s just

wearing everyday clothes.

~ Anonymous ~

Don’t let artificial light and city streets

keep you from noticing sunsets and sunrises,

from experiencing the spring of new life

and the harvest of fall.

~ M. Basil Pennington ~

If God is not lost in our lives,

if goodness is not lost in our lives,

if memories are not lost in our lives,

then we will have an easier time

of finding our way to personal happiness.

~ Christopher De Vinck ~

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

~ Galatians 5:6 NIV ~

May you always have something to do,

someone to love, and something to hope for.

~ Anonymous ~

If there is anything better than to be loved,

it is loving.

~ Anonymous ~

Gratitude…

takes nothing for granted,

is never unresponsive,

is constantly awakening to new wonder

and to praise of the goodness of God.

~ Thomas Merton ~

There is far more to your inner life

than the food you put in your stomach,

more to your outer appearance

than the clothes you hang on your body.

Look at the ravens, free and unfettered,

not tied down to a job description,

carefree in the care of God.

And you count far more.

~ Luke 12:22-23 MSG ~

It seems to me we can never

give up longing and wishing

while we are alive.

There are certain things we feel to be

beautiful and good,

and we must hunger for them.

~ George Eliot ~

There are no little things.

“Little things,” so called, are the hinges of the universe.

~ Fanny Fern ~

We may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly,

but let us never lose sight of the reason for the journey,

or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way.

~ Gloria Gaither ~

I expect to pass through life but once.

If therefore, there can be any kindness I can show,

or any good thing I can do to any fellow being,

let me do it now… as I shall not pass this way again.

~ William Penn ~

One can get just as much exultation

in losing oneself in a little thing as in a big thing.

It is nice to think how one can be recklessly lost in a daisy!

~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh ~

I found loveliness today

Down along life‘s broad highway---

Beauty within pastures green,

Next in clouds of silvery sheen,

Golden glow at break of day,

Joy in children at their play,

Scented odor of wild rose;

Peace I found where violet grows---

All along life’s broad highway

I found loveliness today.

~ Carleton Everett Knox ~

There are only two ways to live your life.

One is as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as though everything is a miracle.

~ Albert Einstein ~

Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

~ Proverbs 16:24 NIV ~

Every spirit builds itself a house,

and beyond its house a world,

and beyond its world a heaven.

Know then that world exists for you.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

Because of our routines, we often forget that life is an ongoing adventure.

~ Maya Angelou ~

Our God gives you everything you need,

makes you everything you’re to be.

~ 2 Thessalonians 1:2 MSG ~

The secret of life is that all we have and are

is a gift of grace to be shared.

~ Lloyd John Ogilvie ~

I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think,

all the walks I want to take,

all the books I want to read,

and all the friends I want to see.

The longer I live, the more my mind dwells

upon the beauty and the wonder of the world.

~ John Burroughs ~