Notes To Myself

Self, please be careful with how you spend your money.

Sometimes it is important to go through difficult times in order to see one's life as it really is.

Today is the last day of the first of your life. Get ready for a change.

Attitude of Gratitude

 1. Thanks-thinking
 2. Thanks-giving
 3. Thanks-living

I have so much to be thankful for. I must stop every so often and think about these things. When I have realized the gifts that I have received, I must give expression to the gratitude that I have to those who have given me the gifts. As my sense of gratitude grows greater, I must share these gifts with others.

To Rabindranath Tagore's Prayer

Let me not pray...

Wisdom from the Past

Everyone, it is true, wishes to do as he pleases and is attracted to those who agree with him. But if God be among us, we must at times give up our opinions for the blessings of peace.

Furthermore, who is so wise that he can have full knowledge of everything?

Do not trust too much in your own opinions, but be willing to listen to those of others.

If, though your own be good, you accept another's opinion for love of God, you will gain much more merit; for I have often heard that it is safer to listen to advice and take it than to give it.

It may happen, too, that while one's own opinion may be good, refusal to agree with others when reason and occasion demand it, is a sign of pride and obstinacy.

            -Thomas à Kempis

Thoughts Inspired by my Garden

I have a beautiful little vegetable garden growing right now. The collards are growing beautifully and should have some leaves of eating size before much longer.  The carrots that I seeded a month ago are being so slow about growing. I am getting impatient with them though I know that carrots are naturally slow growers. I am probably not giving them enough water either. The beets and the chard are doing well but are still quite small, just seedling stage.

I have not been writing or reading much poetry lately.

 Maybe “spiritual” does not lend itself to words.

            Silence

– hearing the still small voice

– the public pulling in every direction

– Retreat Richard. Retreat.

Do not waste your energy mourning your losses.

Use that energy to celebrate the life that you have and all of the gifts that remain.

Yesterday

A cool day
but sunny

nice day
to be
outside

finding something to do
or sitting still
enjoying life.

My Creed

1. I believe that the seed of good and evil resides in each of us.
2. I believe that each of us is capable of committing acts of good and evil depending on which seeds we nourish. It is for us to choose.
3. I must work diligently to identify the acts of violence that I participate in knowingly or unknowingly and take action to make things right with the victims of said violence.
4. I believe that I should not stand in judgment of anyone.
5. I must never believe that violence can serve righteousness.
6. I must never believe that I am incapable of violence.
7. I must never believe that good is good if it is only for me and mine.
8. I believe that I will know peace only when I find it at the center of my being.
9. I believe that I will be an effective peacemaker in the world only to the degree that I know the peace that is at my center.
10. I believe in silliness.
11. I believe in taking “ME” lightly.
12. I believe in the spirit of play that is holy.
13. I believe in the holy human spirit.

I believe that this is the spirit of “LIFE”.

pax