Why do we let others fill our lives with negativity which only serves to cause stress?
Why do we continue turn on the tv and see, over and over and over, eruptions of anger and hatred?
Why do we allow fear to reign and not make choices that would place us in the company of people whose energy is loving and gentle and kind?
I wish I had the answers. I do not. I don’t know ‘why’ we do those things, but this I do know: we are responsible for making choices … choices about our friends – our tv and movie viewing – and yes, there are times when we even make choices about our families.
The British poet William Wordsworth once wrote (which may have been a mantra to himself as he faced a blank piece of paper and was about to construct a poem) these words: “Fill your page with the breathings of your heart.”
Not everyone is a poet and so not all of us sit before a blank piece of paper waiting for words to tumble forth. But each of us is an artist – an architect – a writer … of our own life.
What do we need as an artist of our life to draw a life of harmony? What do we need as an architect of our life to design a life that would lower stresses caused by things out of our control? What do we need as a writer of our life to consider words to live by which would be encouraging of positive action, nurturing of our soul, energizing to our body?
Each of us gets to determine those answers.
Perhaps we might begin by considering this adaptation of Wordsworth’s words and substitute his word “page” with this word – “life” and consider each day, which things, which people, which ways we can “fill our life with the breathings of our heart.”
Perhaps each of us can consider our answers to these questions: * What are the “breathings of your heart”? * What can you do to bring one of those ‘breathings’ into reality in your life in the next seven days? * Who can help/encourage/support you as you bring one of the ‘breathings’ into reality in your life? * What is stopping you from starting a reflection of these questions into action today? * How will your life change for the better when you begin to “fill your life with the breathings of the heart”?
If – when – we fill our lives in such a way, how can our world not be better? safer? kinder?
We say it often.
We hear it often.
But do we really know what we’re saying
when we say “good morning”?
Yesterday may have had ‘broken pieces.’
Yesterday may have brought disappointment.
Yesterday may have planted fear deep inside
But today is not yesterday.
Today is a new day.
This morning is a new morning.
And it can be a ‘good’ morning
… if only for a split second.
As I swept the leaves covering the front entrance to the house, I noticed a little bit of ‘good’ growing in a very protected place by the front door … a strawberry flower!
The birds had given an unexpected gift … a gentle reminder that every morning can offer an unexpected gift of goodness.
Thanks to the little lesson from the strawberry, I will smile and say “Good morning” to people I encounter this morning, whether I feel like it is a ‘good’ morning or not. As I smile and wish others “Good morning”, I will try to remember that each morning is the first day of the rest of their life, just as each morning is the first day of the rest of my life.
I want every day to be a day that holds to the promise of the strawberry growing unexpectedly in the front yard, bringing a “Good Morning!” wish to my soul. The unexpected gift is a reminder to share goodness with others in whatever ways I can, every day.
“Good Morning!” May this be a ‘good’ morning for you in some way. 🙂
Many people around the world are using the Advent Calendar in the coming weeks, to ‘countdown’ to Christmas. What about Ukrainians? An artist friend lives in Kyiv, Ukraine and posted the following this night. It is shared with a gentle prayer and hope that in our own preparation / ‘countdown’ to Christmas this Advent, we will not forget the people of Ukraine. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Now there are many who are not in Ukraine have started writing about the Advent calendar – countdown to Christmas. We have our own countdown – light outages, planned and emergency. We plan our lives in such a way that we make the most of it in five hours. And then, in the dark, counting the minutes until the next opportunity to do something … along with electricity, the heating is turned off. Connection and Internet disappear for many. I have no hot water, along with electricity. Stores, banks, post office, those nearby do not work. But I don’t allow myself to whine. I think of our boys and girls in the trenches protecting us on the front lines. About the boys and girls who are captive. They have their own countdown.”
(Used with permission by the author who remains nameless for security reasons.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My friends, as the world prepares for and ‘counts down’ to Christmas, safe in our homes with electricity, heating, internet access, food, safety, freedom, may we remember those in Ukraine who join in the ‘countdown’ to Christmas in a different way. Slava Ukraini!
“Baby, it’s cold outside!” And it’s going to get colder – and colder – and the snow that began falling earlier today is still falling and apparently is going to continue throughout the night.
When it began, it was just frost – making lovely patterns on the wooden fence on the back deck. Then the tiny snowflakes began to fall – creating a winter wonderland. And then the fat, wet snow filled the sky and quickly covered everything in sight.
It’s cold outside. Gratefully, I am warm, inside this little home. But so many in this community are not.
My heart doesn’t understand … why our local community centre can’t be opened so that warm shelter can be provided for those on the street.
My mind understands … that “it’s complicated” because of issues of who’s going to pay for it; who is going to staff/volunteer the facility; sanitation; meals and more. And then there’s the concern about COVID (people are still in hospital, fighting for their lives), the flu and the respiratory virus that’s affecting many children (and lately, seniors), as well as questions, raise their controversial head: … will those who will use the facility be fully vaccinated? … will those who staff/volunteer be fully vaccinated? … will everyone wear a mask? … what if violence erupts – will there be police/RCMP present? … will medical staff be present? … what about insurance issues? … what about overall security/safety concerns? … and, who organizes such a plan – municipality? province? federal government?
Some are posting on social media that “churches should open their doors.” They would love to, but If they do, the same questions above need to be answered.
But there are no easy answers. The homeless this night will sleep curled up on a sidewalk, in a doorway, huddled under a tree, as the snow falls and the wind howls. And some won’t wake up in the morning.
No answers. Just deep pain in my heart, my soul, my mind.
FAREWELL, NOVEMBER Not ‘good-bye.’ We plan on seeing you again, this time, next year.
HELLO, DECEMBER Good to see you again. May each of us bring moments of grace-filled love this month expressed in … gentleness … respect … kindness … patience … goodness … and thoughtfulness to … and … with one another and ourselves.
In so doing, may this world be less chaotic less tense less troubled less stressed.
What has been happening in your country is beyond imagining … the hatred … the fear … the lies … the threats …
You may feel helpless.
You may feel frightened as you have never felt before.
You may not feel as if you have the strength or courage to face “the next.”
You may feel alone.
Please be assured that there are people around the world who are holding you all in the Light … are praying for you … are “with you” in spirit … are hoping, praying and encouraging you to vote in your mid-term elections in numbers your country has never seen before.
May you vote love, not hate.
May you vote with hope.
May you vote with commonsense.
May you vote.
Signed, one of your Canadian neighbours, with love, who aches with and prays for you all.
