PowerPoint singalong

A presentation read verbatim from the slides without observations, notes, comments or asides of any kind.
Monotone optional, but not required.

Spiritual Self

Perhaps the truth which emerges is this:

If you have your spiritual self in order,

your earthly commitments will fall into order also.

“[S]eek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness,” said the carpenter from Nazareth, “and all these things will be given you besides” (Matthew 6:33).

Geezers

"Geezers" (slang for an old men) are easy to spot:

At sporting events, during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner, Geezers remove their caps, stand at attention and sing without embarrassment.

They know the words and believe in them.

Geezers remember the Depression, World War II, Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Normandy and Hitler.

They remember the Atomic Age, the Korean War 1950-55, The Cold War, the Jet Age.

The 50 plus Peacekeeping Missions from 1945 to 2005 and the Moon Landing, not to mention Vietnam.

If you bump into a Geezer on the sidewalk, he will apologize.

If you pass a Geezer on the street, he will nod or tip his cap to a lady.

Geezers trust strangers and are courtly to women.

Geezers hold the door for the next person and always, when walking, make certain the lady is on the inside for protection.

Geezers get embarrassed if someone curses in front of women and children, and they don't like any filth on TV or in movies or in e-mails.

Geezers have moral courage.

They seldom brag unless it's about their grandchildren.

It's the Geezers who know our great country is protected, not by politicians or police, but by the men and women in the military serving their country.

This country needs more Geezers with their decent values.

We need them now more than ever.

Thank God for Geezers! Thank goodness we still have a few 'geezers' around . . .

Holiness

"Holiness is not perfection
according to human criteria;
it is not reserved for
a small number of exceptional persons.
It is for everyone;
it is the Lord who
brings us to holiness,
when we are willing to
collaborate in the salvation
of the world for the glory of God,
despite our sin and
our sometimes rebellious temperament."

Pope John Paul II

Celebrate Growing Older

Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

When in doubt, just take the next small step.

Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

Don't take yourself so seriously.
No one else does.

Pay off your credit cards every month.

You don't have to win every argument.
Agree to disagree.

Cry with someone.
It's more healing than crying alone.

It's OK to get angry with God.
He can take it.

Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

It's OK to let your children see you cry.

Don't compare your life to others'.
You have no idea what their journey is all about.

If a relationship has to be a secret,
you shouldn't be in it.

Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
But don't worry; God never blinks.

Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

It's never too late to have a happy childhood but,
the second one is up to you and no one else.

When it comes to going after what you love in life,
don't take no for an answer.

Burn the candles,
use the nice sheets,
wear the fancy lingerie.
Don't save it for a special occasion.
Today is special.

Over prepare, then go with the flow.

Be eccentric now.
Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

The most important sex organ is the brain.

No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

Frame every so-called disaster with these words:
"In five years, will this matter?"

Always choose life.

Forgive everyone everything.

What other people think of you is none of your business.

Time heals almost everything.
Give time time.

However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.
Your friends will.
Stay in touch.

Believe in miracles.

God loves you because of who God is,
not because of anything you did or didn't do.

Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.

Your children get only one childhood.
Make it memorable.

All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

Get outside every day.
Miracles are waiting everywhere.

If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,
we'd grab ours back.

Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

The best is yet to come.

No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.

Yield.

Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Highest Appreciation

As we express our gratitude,
we must never forget that the highest appreciation
is not to utter words, but to live by them.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy

The Four Absolutes

The Four Absolutes

by the Oxford Group,
used by early AAs before the Twelve Steps were written

Absolute Honesty
Both with ourselves and with others, in word, deed, and thought.

Absolute Unselfishness
To be willing, wherever possible, to help others who need our help.

Absolute Love
You shall love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. And. . . you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Absolute Purity
Purity of mind, of body, and of purpose.