As we end 2008 and begin 2009, we often reflect by looking backwards and plan by looking forward. Often we look with regret and plan with new year resolutions we won’t keep. Why I ask spend time looking back? You can’t change what has happened. Maybe you see mistakes and learn from them? Look forward — maybe some planning is good. Though I don’t know what will necessarily happen tomorrow let a alone the next day or next week or next month. How about this. Live for now, for today. Instead of worrying about the past or worrying about the future, live for now, live for today. Oh, don’t be foolish. But make the moment you are in now COUNT! It could be your last and you want it to be good, be right, be rewarding, be wonderful. Live for now, that’s my resolution for 2009. So long to 2008. What do you think?
A mother gives her daughters jade and lapis jewelry bought by their father over 25 years ago before her daughters were even born.
A 25 year old daughter gives her parents each a framed poem titled “Mom” and ” Dad” that she had written in the 8th grade. The parents had never seen the poems before; the daughter discovered them recently in an attic clean-up.
Daughters give their Dad a twelve month calendar made especially for him with pictures of his daughters and his pet cat.
A Dad gives his daughters a bag a their favorite childhood candies — Reese’s peanut butter Christmas trees, Christmas Kit Kats, Life Savers Books, Holiday M and M’s among the candy.
Does this sound wonderful? It was. It was my Christmas this year. We decided to give gifts from the heart instead all the expensive gifts avoiding the holiday on slaught and hype. We were worried it wouldn’t work. But it did. It was the most wonderful Christmas we have had. God Blessed us!
What do you think?
Filed under: Friends, God, friendship, hello | Tags: family, life, love, spiritual
Yesterday, December 28 was the first anniversary of my father’s death following a long battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease. (See my poetry blog for more on my Dad.) The day for me began with Sunday church service. For reasons unbeknown to me (and quite unexpected), I teared up as the service began with the singing of the song “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing!” It was a solemn beginning. But the day brighten as went for coffee and yogurt at Starbucks. This was followed by a visit to a local bird sanctuary. (The bird sanctuary rescues injured and ill birds; nurses them back to health and sends them back into their natural habitat.) We then went to the Great Swamp; a national wildlife sanctuary and did a three mile walk. As the trek was concluding, the sky seemed to open up with one of the most beautiful sun sets I have ever seen. It was bright and full of color — reds, oranges, blacks and blues. I was reminded of the “light” and that my father had ascended into it just a year ago. Though it did not make me feel sad, rather the opposite. It reminded me is has eternal life now with no suffering, pain, etc., just eternal happiness. I couldn’t help but be happy there seeing the sunset with my family. I am a lucky man for having had such a wonderful father; for having a such a wonderful family, friends and despite the hardships and tough times, a wonderful life. It’s a Wonderful Life — the movie, remember it ends with the song “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing!” What do you think?
We just shoveled out from our first storm of the season. It arrived with nine inches of snow and ice, just two days before the equinox (December 21). Old man winter is here! Last night (the official first day of winter) cold (-4 with wind chills) and winds (45 miles per hour) arrived. Today we won’t be over 25. Long johns, furried slippers, shoveling, fires in the fireplace all are part of this winter arrival. Winter – it’s all about attitude or so I tell myself. You can either love it or hate it. I think more recently I fell into the hate it category. With all going on this year, e.g., poor economy, etc., it would be easy to take that same attitude. But I am not. No, I love winter! Think positive. Shoveling is good exercise. Right! I’m trying. After all, spring is only three months away. What do you think?
Filed under: God, friendship, love, mind, music, politics, spirituality | Tags: afterlife, God, spirituality
The noted 16th century biblical scholar, Matthew Henry (author of the “Exposition of the Old and New Testaments”), wrote ‘It ought to be the business of every day to prepare for your final day.” According to Henry, our life on earth is a passage between birth and the eternal after life. How we live on earth determines our eternal after life with God. So Henry contends we should live each day as as if preparing to descend into Heaven.
What a wonderful thought. If we each lived our lives that way, would the world have less violence, less strife, less prejudice . . . more love, more peace, more calmness?
Is Henry’s view different from the old saying “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” I think so. That way of living suggests you should live as if you have a lot of time on earth . . .have fun, worry about your eternal life later. In Henry’s view your time here on earth, in your earthly body, is nothing more than a blink of the eye of your total existence. And your time on earth should be devoted to preparation for your eternal life. How do you live your days – as the last day or the first day?
Filed under: Friends, animals, politics | Tags: animals, birds, friendship, love
Is the Cardinal (aka the Redbird) our country’s favorite bird? According to the list of state birds, the Cardinal has been selected the state bird by seven states. These are the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. There are only two birds close in number of state birds. These are the Western Meadowlark chosen by six states and the Mockingbird selected by five states.
The Cardinal is a robust, seed eating bird with brilliant red color. The Catholic Cardinals, special advisors to the Pope, adopt their name from this Redbird and the color of their testaments are from the Cardinal’s red coat.
I am a devoted lover of Cardinals. The Cardinal is my friend. See my poetry blog http://jimandfriendspoerty.wordpress.com to feel that friendship. Certainly the Cardinal or the Redbird is my favorite bird.
How about yours?
Filed under: Friends, God, animals, books, cats, friendship, hello, mind, music, politics, spirituality | Tags: books, God, life, spirituality
I started reading Rick Warren’s bestseller “The Purpose Driven Life”. This is the second time for my reading this book; I had read it previously in 2005. The point of the book is you must have a to drive your life. Drive is defined as “to guide, to control, or to direct.” According to the author life without purpose is meaningless. And life driven by something other than purpose (i.e., guilt, resentment, anger, fear, materialism, need for approval) is a life in motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason. Trivial, petty and pointless — life without purpose. I’m only to Chapter 3 of the book. (You read a chapter a day over a 40 day period. Do you know the significance of 40? A topic for another “Thought”.) But I am already thinking about my purpose. Given that I only read the book and became a subscriber to it’s philosophy a short three years ago, why do I need to think about my purpose? Why do I want/need to read the book again? Do I need to discover my purpose again? Renew it? Change it? Maybe I do; maybe I don’t. We’ll see as I progress over the next 37 chapters and days. Regardless, I do believe that purpose provides a purpose. Huh? That is clear to me. Does purpose drive you? Does purpose direct you? What do you think? More later from me as I progress through “The Purpose Driven Life.”
Filed under: Friends, God, animals, friendship, mind, politics | Tags: friendship, mind, spirituality
Do you view your life as the glass half full or half empty? I have always thought of myself as a half full type of guy. My life has it problems and problems that some days seem insurmountable, but I always try to stay positive and count my blessings. Recently, I was discussing this old adage with a good friend. This friend has one of best outlooks on life of anyone I know. So was I surprised when she told me she does not view her glass as half full. I asked how she could not. She told me I view my glass, my life as “my cup runneth over.” I thought about this and realized that even a half full cup still is half empty. My life is not half empty, but is full of joy, blessings and is just plain good. So I no longer think of my glass, my life as half full. Now my cup is running over. How blessed I am. How about you?
