No Need For Worries

"A person (usually a child) who cannot sleep due to worrying can express their worries to a doll and place it under their pillow before going to sleep. According to folklore, the doll is thought to worry in the person's place, thereby permitting the person to sleep peacefully. The person will wake up without their worries, which have been taken away by the dolls during the night." - Wiki

We have all had the experience of worrying about something at some point in our lives. Some of us have a habitual tendency to worry. We have all known someone in our lives who constantly worries at some time or another. Perhaps it could be the person you see in front of the mirror.

In order for worry to exist, we have to imagine that something bad might happen. We worry about stuff that hasn’t happened but we create this unreality in our mind.

Worry is another word for fear. Fear comes from our own ego. It is a state of needless fear. Still, most of us worry. Worrying creates an unpleasant effect on your body, mind, and spirit.

There are many different ways of worrying. For example, you might worry about your loved ones driving home in bad weather. Knowing that there is absolutely nothing you can do to guarantee their safe trip, you continue to worry until you finally hear that they've reached their destination safe and unharmed.

The next time you find yourself worrying, imagine the best result instead of anticipating the worst outcome.

Visualize your loved ones’ path surrounded in white light and clearly see in your mind’s eye their safe arrival. Call out angels or guides and ask them to watch over your loved ones as they make their way home. Generate peace and well-being instead of nervousness and unease within yourself.

Keep in mind that worrying does nothing to ensure a positive outcome. Remember that the Universe is always listening – It’s the law of attraction! Be aware of your thoughts at all times.

The Interview With God Poem

The Interview With God Poem

I dreamed I had an interview with God.

“So you would like to interview me?” God asked.

“If you have the time” I said.

God smiled.

“My time is eternity.”

“What questions do you have in mind for me?”

“What surprises you most about humankind?”

God answered...

“That they get bored with childhood,they rush to grow up, and then long to be children again.”

“That they lose their health to make money...and then lose their money to restore their health.”

“That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live in neither the present nor the future.”

"That they live as if they will never die, and die as though they had never lived.”

God’s hand took mine and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked...

“As a parent, what are some of life’s lessons you want your children to learn?”

“To learn they cannot make anyone love them. All they can do is let themselves be loved.”

“To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others.”

“To learn to forgiveby practicing forgiveness.”

“To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those they love, and it can take many years to heal them.”

“To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most,but is one who needs the least.”

“To learn that there are people who love them dearly, but simply have not yet learned how to express or show their feelings.”

“To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it differently.”

“To learn that it is not enough that they forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves.”

"Thank you for your time," I said humbly. "Is there anything else you would like your children to know?"

God smiled and said...

“Just know that I am here... always.”

-author unknown

My Cute Teacher: Charlie

Animals As Teachers

There is so much we can learn from animals. Unlike human teachers, animals can only impart their wisdom by example. We learn by observing them. An animal teacher can be a pet or an animal in the wilderness.

Animals teach us in a variety of ways about behavior, habit, and instinct. House pets represent an unconditional love no matter what our shape, size, age, race, or gender is. They care little for the differences between us and them and simply enjoy loving and being loved. Our pets encourage us to let our guards down, have fun, and take advantage of every opportunity to enjoy life.

Animals teach us about life, death, survival, sacrifice, and responsibility. If you find yourself drawn to a particular animal, ask yourself which of its traits you find most fascinating and think about how you might mimic those traits. Animals express themselves with abandon, freedom, and integrity. It’s natural to be drawn to the wisdom offered by our animal teachers.

Life Lessons: Live it Now!

Sometimes, we may find ourselves wishing we knew what our lives would look like in the future. We may be eager to find out what gifts and challenges are presented to us in the coming months or years. For some of us, we may want to know if the relationship we’re in now will last or if our goals will be recognized. Perhaps we feel like we need help making a decision and we want to know which choice will work out best. We may consult psychics, tarot cards, our dreams, and many other sources in the hopes of finding out what the future holds. I believe that even though we think we would like to know the future in all its details, the truth is that we would probably be overwhelmed and exhausted if we knew everything that is going to happen to us before we actually live it.

Take a moment to look at your life as you’ve lived it up to this point. If you are like most of us, you probably have done more and faced more than you could have ever thought you could accomplish or learn. If someone had told you as a kid of all the jobs and relationships you would experience, along with every ups and downs in your life, you would have become overwhelmed. With your head full of information about the future, you would have had a very hard time experiencing your life in the present moment, which is where everything actually transpire.

In many ways, not knowing what the future has in store brings out in us the qualities we need to grow and learn. For example, it would’ve been difficult to commit yourself to certain people or projects if you knew they wouldn’t ultimately work out. Although, realize that through your commitment to see them through that you experienced the lessons you needed to grow. In truth, your most challenging experiences with their life lessons may have ultimately brought you the greatest rewards. Not knowing the future keeps us just where we need to be—fully living life and in the present moment.

Mirror Me : Mirror You

Reflections of Me

We Are All Mirrors for Each Other

When we look at other people, we see many of their qualities in different ways and sometimes, random combinations. However, the qualities that we see in the people around us are directly related to the traits that exist within us.

"Like attracts like" is one of the spiritual laws of the universe. We attract individuals into our lives that mirror who we are. Those you feel drawn to reflect your inner self back at you, and you act as a mirror for them. For example, when you look at others, you will likely see what exists within you. When you see beauty, love, peace, or light in the soul of a person, you are seeing the goodness that resides in your soul. When you see traits in others that have the feelings of anger, annoyance, or hatred, you may be seeing the reflection back at you. Perhaps it’s those parts of yourself that you do not like much. Because we all mirror each other, look at the people in your life. It can probably tell you a lot about yourself. It’s easy to see the traits you may not like in others. It’s much more of a challenge to realize that you possess those same traits.

When you come into contact with someone you admire, search your soul for those similar admirable traits. Likewise, when you meet someone showing traits that you dislike, accept that you may be looking at your own reflection. Looking at yourself through your perception of others may be a humbling and eye-opening experience.

Be loving and respectful to all people, and you will attract individuals that will love and respect you back. Nurture compassion and empathy and let the goodness you see in others be your mirror.

Be Ready

Below is the sermon by Rev. Mary Elyn Bahlert from Lake Merritt United Methodist church, in Oakland, CA - I just wanted to share with you the message...

Be Ready

Isaiah 40:1-11
Mark 1:1-8
by: Rev. Mary Elyn Bahlert

"Prepare the Way of the Lord"

The prophet Isaiah said it this way: "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; Make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God."

Hundreds of years later, John the Baptist - who arrives out of the wilderness into the scriptures of Advent each years - said it this way, quoting Isaiah: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way a voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him."

This Advent season, you are invited to "be." Not simply to "do," because most of us know how to "do" things. Instead, to "be."

The Greek sea god, Proteus, was (like the sea) capable of changing form in an instant. In order to get any decent information out of him, you had to grab him and hold on tight while he went through his various forms - lion, wild boar, snake, tree, running stream - it wasn't easy. The verb "To be" is said to be the most protean of the English language, constantly changing form, sometimes without much of a discernible pattern. Considering that we use it so often, it is really too bad that the verb "To be" has to be the most irregular, slippery verb in the language.
And today you are invited to "be ready." How do you "be ready"?

A story: "While on one of his expeditions to the Antarctic, Sir Ernest Shackleton left some of his sailors on Elephant Island with the intent of returning for them and taking them back to England. He was delayed. By the time Shakleton and his ship returned, the sea had frozen and he had no access to Elephant Island. Three times he tried to reach them, prevented by the ice from succeeding. Finally, on his fourth try, he broke through the ice and navigated a narrow channel to save the men.When he arrived at Elephant Island, he was surprised to find the crew waiting for him, supplies packed and ready to board. They were soon on their way back to England. He asked them how they had known to be ready for them. They told him they hadn't known when he would return, but they was sure he would return for them. Every morning, the leader rolled up his bag and packed his gear and told the crew to do the same, saying, "Get your things ready, boys. The boss is coming today."

As I thought about this scripture, I remember in my own life the time before I left the Midwest to come to seminary here in California. I knew I was starting a new life, and I didn't know what that life would hold for me. I expected to return to Wisconsin - God willing - but I didn't know when. So I spent time thinking about my life and the relationships I was leaving, for the time being, in the Midwest. I remember having certain conversations with friends, clearing up misunderstandings, and saying "I'm sorry," or "I'm glad you are my friend." In a sense, I reviewed my life as I began my new life.

Who among us knows when this life - the life we are living now - may end? Who among us knows when we will draw our last breath? As people, we always face the possibility of death, and to "be ready" for death - to meet our Maker, in the old expression - we would do well to take time to look at our life and our relationships, to "be ready"?

Are you treating those you love as you want to treat them? Are you demanding, when you could be accepting? Are you allowing others to be who they are? Including your children? Are you accepting of those around you, forgiving them for their foibles, their humanity, and forgiving yourself, as well? If you left here today and couldn't say another "good bye," are your relationships in the place you want them to be?

Are you living the life you want to be living, or are you always "saving for a rainy day"? Have you put off saying "I love you, "out of pride or fear? Is there a relationship you know has not been good for a long time, and you have been afraid to leave? Be Ready.

As people, we live as if there will always be tomorrow. On another level, we know that may not be so. When we live that way, we live in denial of the reality of life - and death.

If you are going through difficult times this holiday season, remember to Be Ready. Be Ready for the return of the Light in the Darkness. Those in faith know that the light is already present, is already here, and we must ready ourselves, throw off our barriers and our resistances, to let the Light in.

Be Ready implies a sure-ness, a trust in God's goodness. Be Ready implies that when you offer your prayer to God - it is surely heard and is already being answered.

As people of faith, we can practice the Advent message of "Be Ready" by holding the sure and solid hope that all things are well. However things look on the surface, if God is active in this world, if God is surely present even in the most difficult of times, then we can be joyful and trusting and hopeful - in a word, ready - no matter how things may look to us.

Sometimes our attitude towards things is surprising. We can speak eloquently about our faith, but we groan about everything else. The two don't go together. I'm sure many of us remember the 1980's, when it was popular to spend years in therapy complaining and lamenting the dysfunctional families we grew up in. And trust me - we all did, to some degree! But there comes a time in life when we need to get over these things, and live into the lives we were meant to give. There comes a time when we can say: "yes, I had it tough, but now I'm an adult, and I can make my own life as I choose."

Several weeks ago I attended a service where people were invited to move ahead in their lives, to live into the change and the new-ness they desired. One woman spoke up: "but I had such a difficult childhood, I was so abused, and I spent so many years as an addict. Now, when I try to move ahead, I am filled with oceans and oceans of anger." The leader listened, and then responded: "so you've quantified your anger. You could have made it little, but you've made it big. It's time to move into your new life."

Be Ready. Whoever you are, whatever is happening in your life today, be ready. Live the life you were meant to live. Live with the sure hope and trust that God is shaping you and your life and the life of the world exactly as it is meant to be.

Be Ready.