Vibration Issue

A lady ran over a mattress on the highway and became hung up under the car, she decided to just keep going down the highway, thinking it would just fall off sooner or later. The ensuing jumble finally whipped around enough to put a tear in the gas tank. The subsequent lack of fuel is what finally brought this vehicle to a stop. She had driven it 30 miles with the 60lb tangle of wire and fabric wrapped around the driveshaft. The vehicle had to be towed to a dealership. When asked about the problem, the puzzled looking lady complained that the vehicle had a kind of "shimmy" when driving at high speeds. This is what the dealership found . . .

Notes On A Desert Heart

The early desert fathers fled the desert not to get away from people but to find inner freedom and learn better how to love others and God.
According to Thomas Merton, "These were men who believed that to le oneself drift along, passively accepting the tenets and values of what they knew as society, was purely and simply a disaster"
These spiritual adventurers who chose to live in the wilderness and nourish a down-to-earth, gutsy spirituality became the first monks.
The desert call of these spiritual pioneers continues to appeal to me because I too search for a primal way of addressing my longing for God.
Perhaps I reached a point in my life when, in spite of the influence of a secular culture, I yearn for detachment as a way of freedom and peace of heart.
The desert heart is a heart broken open, expansive, and yearning for love. Its humble posture is its prayer.
Love as an attitude of hear is not about achieving some ideal but living day to day with a disposition, with an openness to the fullness of divine presence.
It is a firm commitment to grow in relationship with God and others.
Fundamentally, humility means keeping in mind one's true condition before God – both my brokenness and need – but also remembering divine forgiveness and mercy.
Humility softened the heart and allowed room for love to grow.
Remembering my true place in the eyes of God, I keep my feet solidly planted on the earth and realize that love is only possible with the help of grace.
In the fertile soil of humility, the seed of inner life finds nourishments to grow.
The seed grows in incremental but important stages as I learn to take small but essential steps to make room for love.
In humility, I do not see myself as capable of heroic tasks but as weak and vulnerable, utterly dependent on the Spirit's grace.
I may have come to a point in my live where I am disillusioned with social expectations, political chaos, and a cultural tide of restlessness.
I seek peace beneath the turmoil as well as inner freedom.
It is not as if I want to isolate myself from the world but desire to find a way to live in it but not of it.
The desert call emerges especially during those times of suffering that strip us of our usual props: a meaningless job, chronic illness, a crumbling relationship, or the loss of a loved one.
I sense the urge to risk all, even if this means participating in the slow process of inner renewal and learning a humble posture of being.

The Refreshing Stream

God in his power is refuge and strength;
God in his mercy is the river that refreshes the soul;
God in his beauty stills all our useless struggles
and gathers us in his peace.
Grant peace, O Lord.
You are a helper close at hand in times of distress: -- grant peace of heart for all who are troubled and afraid.
You are in our midst when life's ills assail us: -- keep our hearts fixed on you amid all disturbances.
Your word is the river of life which gives joy to your people: -- refresh in prayer all who are burdened.
You put an end to war and to the weapons of war: -- teach us to lay aside all quarrels and attacks on our neighbors.

A Prodigal's Welcome

The story of the prodigal son is the story of when I choose, foolishly, to cast away the home I have with God for a cold and hungry exile.
Let me never hesitate to return and confess my sin, for I will always find the prodigal's welcome from a Father who loves me more than I can ever imagine.
Each day I get a new start on my life and an opportunity not to turn away from my Higher Power.
But people, places, situations and things quickly cause me to forget out of my own selflessness.
When I pause for a moment and just breathe, I can quickly ask for help to return His love.
I just have to do the things I should and not the things I should not.

Opposites

Praise cannot exist without blame; it has no existence without its opposite.
-- Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

There is a pair of opposites in all things, and in each there exists the spirit of the opposite: in man the quality of woman, in woman the spirit of man, in the sun the form of the moon, in the moon the light of the sun.
The closer one approaches reality, the nearer one arrives at unity.
Life is differentiated by the pairs of opposites.
Praise cannot exist without blame, for nothing has existence without its opposite, just as pleasure cannot exist without pain.
No one can be great and not small; no one can be loved and not hated.
There is no one who is hated by all and not loved by some-one; there is always someone to love him.
If one would realize that the world of God, His splendor and magnificence, are to be seen in the wise and the foolish, in the good and the bad, then one would think tolerantly and reverently of all mankind
How does the Sufi struggle?
He struggles with power, with understanding, with open eyes, and with patience.
He does not look at the loss; what is lost is lost. He does not think of the pain of yesterday; yesterday is gone for him.
Only if a memory is pleasant does he keep it before him, for it is helpful on his way. He takes both the admiration and the hatred coming from around him with smiles; he believes that both these things form a rhythm within the rhythm of a certain music; there is one and two, the strong accent and the weak accent.
Praise cannot be without blame, nor can blame be without praise.
He keeps the torch of wisdom before him, because he believes that the present is the echo of the past, and that the future will be the reflection of the present. It is not sufficient to think only of the present moment; one should also think where it comes from and where it goes.
Every thought that comes to his mind, every impulse, every word he speaks, is to him like a seed, a seed which falls in this soil of life, and takes root.
And in this way he finds that nothing is lost; every good deed, every little act of kindness, of love, done to anybody, will some day rise as a plant and bear fruit.
by Hazrat Inayat Khan

Thank You For This Day

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day.
I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning.
I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God.
You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.
Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said
or thought that was not pleasing to you.
I ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please keep me safe from all danger and harm.
Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.
Let me make the best of each and every day
to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.
Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.
Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over,
and give me the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.
I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart.
Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.
Keep me strong that I may help the weak.
Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.
I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way.
I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood.
I pray for those who don't know You intimately.
But I thank You, that I believe that God
changes people and God changes things.
I pray for all my sisters and brothers.
For each and every family member in their households.
I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes;
that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.
I pray that everyone knows there is no problem,
circumstance, or situation greater than God.
Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.
I pray that these words be received into the hearts
of every eye that sees it in Jesus' name.
Amen!

Let Go & Trust

Sometimes, the way is not clear.
Our minds get clouded, confused.

We aren't certain what our next step should be, what it will look like, what direction we are headed.
This is the time to stop, ask for guidance, and rest.

That is the time to let go of fear.

Wait.

Feel the confusion and chaos, and then let it go.

The path will show itself.

The next step shall be revealed.

We don't have to know now.

We will know in time.

Trust that.

Let go and trust.

Inches Make Champions

Vince Lombardi, the football coach who brought the Green Bay Packers from fifteen losing seasons to successive world championships, thought success was a matter of inches.
A bit more concentration, one extra push in practice, a consistent second effort for a tiny additional gain.
He didn't ask his players to be something other than they were - he asked them to improve their best an inch at a time.
He knew inches add up, in life as in sports.
In life as in football, it is often the little things that count: going to meetings when we feel like staying home, or speaking our minds, no matter how insignificant our opinion may seem. When we feel like simply hiding - inches make the difference.

A Prayerful Life

The question now arises how to attain to this prayerful attitude in life.
In the first place, for those whose prayer is one of praise, if their whole life is to assume a prayerful attitude, they must carry this praise and gratitude into the smallest details of life, and feel grateful for the slightest act of kindness done to them by anybody.
Man falls very short of this ideal in life.
He is so stiff, he misses so many of the chances of giving thanks.
It is sometimes because of his riches, while at other times he is blinded by his power.
All that is done for him he thinks is his due because of his money or his influence.
When a man has been able to attain this attitude of praise and thanksgiving for all things in life, then his life may indeed be called a prayerful life.

Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan

Already Broken

“You see this goblet?” asks Achaan Chaa, the Thai meditation master. “For me this glass is already broken. I enjoy it; I drink out of it. It holds my water admirably, sometimes even reflecting the sun in beautiful patterns. If I should tap it, it has a lovely ring to it. But when I put this glass on the shelf and the wind knocks it over or my elbow brushes it off the table and it falls to the ground and shatters, I say, ‘Of course.’ When I understand that the glass is already broken, every moment with it is precious.” -- Mark Epstein, Thoughts Without a Thinker

Burned Biscuits

When I was a little boy, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then.

And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.

On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad.

I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed!

Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school.

I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits.

And I'll never forget what he said: "Baby, I love burned biscuits."
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned.

He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired.

And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"
You know, life is full of imperfect things . . . and imperfect people.

I'm not the best housekeeper or cook.

What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults -- and choosing to celebrate each other's differences -- is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
And that's my prayer for you today.

That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life.
Since when were burnt biscuits a deal-breaker?
We could extend this to any and all relationships, in fact -- as understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!
Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket -- keep it in your own.

Connected To Life

He that plants trees loves others besides himself. -- Thomas Fuller

Trees take many years to become beautiful.

They start out small and scrawny, and they need attention and care.

Planting them is a lot of work for very little payback in the short-term.

But over time, trees become big, beautiful, and useful.
When we plant trees, we are doing it for the people who will come after us.

We care that this place will be beautiful for them. To help them make decisions, some Native American tribes ask, "What will be the effect of this decision on the children to come after us seven generations from now?"
Seeing ourselves as part of life is truly a gift.

We can feel the connections with those before us and those yet to be born.

Let's do it with love.

Prayer for the Day:

Higher Power, help me feel connected to all of life today,
and help me to act lovingly with care for the past and the future.

God Grant Me... by Anonymous

Renunciation

The final victory in the battle of life for every soul is when he has risen above the things which once he most valued. -- Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

The final victory in the battle of life for every soul is when he has abandoned, which means when he has risen above, what once he valued most. For the value of everything exists for man only so long as he does not understand it. When he has fully understood, the value is lost, be it the lowest thing or the highest thing. It is like looking at the scenery on the stage and taking it for a palace. Such is the case with all things of the world; they seem important or precious when we need them or when we do not understand them; as soon as the veil which keeps man from understanding is lifted, then they are nothing.

Do not, therefore, be surprised at the renunciation of sages. Perhaps every person in the spiritual path must go through renunciation. It is not really throwing things away or disconnecting ourselves from friends; it is not taking things to heart as seriously as one naturally does by lack of understanding. No praise, no blame is valuable; no pain or pleasure is of any importance. Rise and fall are natural consequences, so are love and hatred; what does it matter if it be this or that? It matters so long as we do not understand. Renunciation is a bowl of poison no doubt, and only the brave will drink it; but in the end it alone proves to be nectar, and this bravery brings one the final victory.

The real spirit of renunciation is willingness; and willing renunciation comes when one has risen above the thing one renounces. The value of each thing in life -- wealth, power, position, possession -- is according to the evolution of man. There is a time in his life when toys are his treasures, and there is a time when he puts them aside; there is a time in his life when copper coins are everything to him, and there is another time when he can give away gold coins; there is a time in his life when he values a cottage, and there is a time when he gives up a palace. Things have no value; their value is as man makes it; and at every step in his evolution he changes their value.

by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan

Occasionally A Lawyer Educates A Bureaucrat

Occasionally A Lawyer Educates A Bureaucrat (occasionally)

LOUISIANA - Part of rebuilding New Orleans caused residents often to be challenged with the task of tracing home titles back potentially hundreds of years. With a community rich with history stretching back over two centuries, houses have been passed along through generations of family, sometimes making it quite difficult to establish ownership. Here's a great letter an attorney wrote to the FHA on behalf of a client. You've gotta love this lawyer . . .
A New Orleans lawyer sought an FHA loan for a client. He was told the loan would be granted if he could prove satisfactory title to a parcel of property being offered as collateral. The title to the property dated back to 1803, which took the lawyer three months to track down. After sending the information to the FHA, he received the following reply.
(Actual letter)
“Upon review of your letter adjoining your client's loan application, we note that the request is supported by an Abstract of Title. While we compliment the able manner in which you have prepared and presented the application, we must point out that you have only cleared title to the proposed collateral property back to 1803. Before final approval can be accorded, it will be necessary to clear the title back to its origin.”
Annoyed, the lawyer responded as follows (here's the actual letter):
“Your letter regarding title in Case No. 189156 has been received. I note that you wish to have title extended further than the 194 years covered by the present application. I was unaware that any educated person in this country, particularly those working in the property area, would not know that Louisiana was purchased, by the U.S. , from France in 1803, the year of origin identified in our application.
“For the edification of uninformed FHA bureaucrats, the title to the land prior to U.S. ownership was obtained from France , which had acquired it by Right of Conquest from Spain. The land came into the possession of Spain by Right of Discovery made in the year 1492 by a sea captain named Christopher Columbus, who had been granted the privilege of seeking a new route to India by the Spanish monarch, Isabella. The good queen, Isabella, being a pious woman and almost as careful about titles as the FHA, took the precaution of securing the blessing of the Pope before she sold her jewels to finance Columbus ' expedition.
“Now the Pope, as I'm sure you may know, is the emissary of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and God, it is commonly accepted, created this world. Therefore, I believe it is safe to presume that God also made that part of the world called Louisiana. God, therefore, would be the owner of origin and His origins date back, to before the beginning of time, the world as we know it AND the FHA. I hope you find God's original claim to be satisfactory.
Now, may we have our loan?”
The loan was approved.

Procrastination

Higher Power, it was so easy to put things off during my addiction.
I pray to remember that postponing facing up to reality is really self-pity in action.
When I procrastinate about solving problems, I am only making the problems worse.
Let me remember that solutions come from taking action.
I pray to stop wasting precious time.

The 12 Step Prayer Book Volume 2 by Bill P. and Lisa D.p