Another marker on the way...

The hardest times have been when it looks as though nothing is happening, or, worse, when it looks as though something is definitely wrong in my life. "It's not working," I say to myself...I have to keep reminding myself that nothing is wasted time. I may not understand what is happening, but I can begin to appreciate that the impasse is another marker on the way.
From "Plain and Simple - A woman's journey to the Amish" by Sue Bender

Get Back Up

Here is a video clip from a young man, Nick Vujicic, who was born with no arms or legs and now travels the world sharing an inspiring message of hope.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MslbhDZoniY

"We Alone" by Alice Walker

We alone can devalue gold
by not caring
if it falls or rises
in the marketplace.
Wherever there is gold
there is a chain, you know,
and if your chain is gold
so much the worse for you.






Feathers, shells,
and sea-shaped stones
are all as rare.

This could be our revolution:
To love what is plentiful
as much as
what is scarce.


From: Anything We Love Can Be Saved by Alice Walker

“By keeping the green bough within our hearts – the singing bird will come.” (Arabic proverb)

Image: Tree, Bird, Heart go to http://www.frenchtoastgirl.com/

...How the Light Gets In

Ring the bell that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.

Leonard Cohen

Image sent in to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/photo_gallery/3077437.stm
by Dougie Johnston

"Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves….
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
The world offers itself to your imagination,
Calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –
Over and over announcing your place
In the family of things.

For Our World

We need to stop.

Just stop.

Stop for a moment…

Before anybody

Says or does anything

That may hurt anyone else.

We need to be silent.

Just silent.

Silent for a moment…

Before we forever lose

The blessing of songs

That grow in our hearts.

We need to notice.

Just notice.

Notice for a moment…

Before the future slips away

Into ashes and dust of humility.

Stop, be silent, and notice…

In so many ways, we are the same.

Our differences are unique treasures.

We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts

To nurture, to offer, to accept.

We need to be.

Just be.

Be for a moment…

Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,

Like children and lambs,

Never judging or vengeful

Like the judging and vengeful.

And now, let us pray,

Differently, yet together,

Before there is no earth, no life,

No chance for peace.


By Mattie J.T. Stepanek

His picture follows: