Think Before Speaking

When we are tempted to speak uncharitably or
to bring up someone’s past failures,
let us hear Jesus say:
Throw the stone only if you are free from sin.

-- from Thirsting for God: A Yearbook of Prayers and Meditations

Forgive and Forget

You must forgive and forget all the difficult things
of yesterday for yesterday has gone.

Tomorrow has not yet come.

But you have today to love Jesus as he loves you,
with a deep personal love.

-- from Thirsting for God: A Yearbook of Prayers and Meditations

On Gobal Warming

What Bush won't say

Lead paragraph in the German publication Deutsche Welle: "Former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt called for an end to the 'hysteria' over global warming in the lead-up to the [Group of Eight] summit. The topic is 'hysterical, overheated, and that is especially because of the media.' "

Mr. Schmidt reasoned there's always been climate change on earth, "warm [ages] and ice ages for hundreds of thousands of years." To assume that global climate change can be altered by world leaders attending this week's G-8 summit, he said, is "idiotic."

-- Washington Times

Inside the Beltway

06.06.07

Negative Pull

Sometimes we start out with the best intentions to think and speak only positive thoughts, but the people around us throw us off course. Not everyone fully understands the power our thoughts and words have, or even if they do, they may be stuck in old patterns of negativity. Much of our habitual communication takes the form of complaining and criticizing, and it can be hard to find a way into certain conversations without lapsing into those old habits. However, we always have the option not to participate in negativity or to find a way to influence the situation in a positive direction. In the right company, you may even be able to directly acknowledge the fact that things have taken a negative turn, thus freeing yourself and others from the negative pull.

Not everyone will respond to your cues, and there's no need to become overly attached to the idea of changing other people, because people have to choose for themselves how they will be in the world. Many people choose negativity because it is familiar to them and feels safe. It is important to give people the space to find their own way, but you can always set an example, subtly representing the power of being positive. At times you may interject an affirmative statement into the conversation, and at others you may simply change the subject. You may also simply withdraw your energy and presence, which also makes a subtle statement. If you feel comfortable enough with somebody that is always negative, perhaps you can have an honest conversation with them; after all, awareness is the first step to change.

A powerful way to free yourself from the negative pull is to enlist allies who are similarly minded. You and a friend, coworker, or family member may agree to work together to continually shift the energy in a situation in a positive direction. The power of two people working to promote the positive is exponentially greater than one person working on their own. As you and your allies work together to lift the energy around you, you will be amazed to see how quickly the positive pull begins to draw people into its orbit, freeing one mind after another from negativity into light.

-- DailyOM

Relationships

If only the human being could understand the power of proper relationships, the need for power and control could be abandoned.
It's not what is going on that matters, but how we look at what is going on.
It's our relationship to it that counts.
Nothing in the world has any meaning except the meaning we give to it.
To be more effective at this, we need to consider our relationship with the Creator.
Our relationship to the Creator determines how we will perceive the meanings we put to places, people, institutions and things.
We need to let the Creator tell us and guide our thoughts about these relationships.
Any relationship that we have that is causing problems means we need to pray for a new point of view.

Creator, let me see the world and the people through your eyes.

The Natural Laws

There is no power greater than the Natural Laws.
These powers were set up by the Creator in such a way that the human being has no access to it, except by obeying.
If we choose not to follow the Natural Laws, our live will be filled with confusion, tension, anxiety and stress.
If we poison the Earth, we poison ourselves.
If we poison the Water of the Earth, we poison ourselves.
As we do to the Earth, we do to ourselves and our children, even the children unborn.
May we think about this today and ask ourselves,
"Are we holding and acting toward the Mother Earth in a good way?"

Creator, teach me the Natural Laws that govern the Earth.

Accepting One's Sins

"If one can accept one's sin,
one can live with it.
If one cannot accept it,
one has to suffer the inevitable consequences."

-- Carl Jung

I must come to accept my past acts before they will stop causing me pain.
I will no longer regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
Am I coming to accept myself?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And ne'er a word said she;
But, Oh, the things I learned from her
When Sorrow walked with me!

-- Robert Browning Hamilton

I may think that forgetting the past is essential for growth and peace of mind.
It's a tempting idea: I'll start over again, I think, fresh and new.
But if I lose that old pain, I'll also lose all that I have learned.
I may repeat my mistakes, or make even worse ones next time.
Dwelling on the past is equally dangerous.
I began my journey to build a better life.
To find and maintain my balance, each area of my life needs attention.
With my remembering, I can truly experience the repentance that frees me from regret and remorse.
When I acknowledge my mistakes, I can learn from them and come to forgive myself.