Big Words Are Not Scary…

A common complaint of those closest to me is that I use big words too often. Interestingly enough, when they tell me this I am surprised. I am surprised because I was not aware of what words they considered big, and I was not aware they were uncomfortable.

I ran across this quote recently and felt understood, finally on this topic. How could I possibly know what words are big or little to someone else? I only use the words that I have discovered and have come to know, because once you understand a thing it loses its scariness or bigness and becomes simply what it is; an expression.

I never want to limit my ideas or thoughts to the vocabulary I have today. I want to see how much more I can come to understand. Could this be a secret of childhood? If we all stopped knowing more when we said things like, ” I wuv you.” imagine the beautiful expressions we would  miss out on. So many times people bemoan losing themselves as children to become adults. Could it be that adulthood as we know it is really just forfeiture of discovery? I think one of the secrets of childhood is accepting ourselves without judgment, and then opening ourselves to knowing, exploring, and discovering more.

“People laugh at me because I use big words. But if you have big ideas, you have to use big words to express them, haven’t you?”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Monday Morning Laughs…

A friend emailed me a series of jokes, here are the 2 I really liked… These are courtesy of Aunty Acid @ Facebook…

Who doesn’t feel like this some days??

Oh and this one! Sometimes it is fun to admit we could all improve something about ourselves…

Courage is a Beautiful Thing

I found this pic on FB and it was a moment of truth.

Ever have this problem of not being able to shut your brain off? Whether you are worrying about something or whatever?

I think it takes a hull of lot of courage to lay down your worries and just breathe. Lay them down and trust in something; whether that be the faithfulness of God or the goodness of other people.

Anytime we corner ourselves into thinking there is no way out, there is no one to help us, we are alone; we are doing our own selves the greatest injustice in the world.

Have the courage to let it go. Discover the peace of freedom from your own incessant worrying. Depending on what it is that is pecking your mind, you may need help in order to shut the squirrel down.

There are little things we can exaggerate, and there are big things we can ignore until they crush us. Ask for help.

Be responsible for your own peace of mind. It is not for someone else to give you, it is not for someone else to do for you. It is yours and yours alone to choose.

 

Confession Ultimately Begins Healing

Why is confession so important to repentance and healing?

I am not talking about the abstract confession that comes to mind, like you in a box, with a priest on the other side of a screen. I am talking about you telling the person you hurt, or even just someone else the hurt you have caused.

It is important because it is the beginning of the journey that corrects the pain of skewed action.

Picture this; the universe is a skyscraper. In this skyscraper every person has a room with four walls. This is the inner us. This is the place of our minds, emotions, and spirituality. No one can forcibly tell us how to decorate this room, how to be while we are in this room, or our choice of how and when we might leave this room to visit with another person in their room or let another into ours.

So now imagine that someone invited you into their room and you spilled something on their floor. You imprinted their room by your actions and they are hurt because of it. You immediately retreat to your own room because it hurts you to accept that you have hurt them.

While in your room you pace around. You change the décor a couple times to adjust for this uncomfortable feeling of “messing” someone else’s room. You begin to feel uncomfortable in this special place that is only you, and suddenly you are changing the décor over and over again in an attempt to find comfortableness.

Then it dawns on you, you will pace in this room forever unless you reach out to this other person and show them your room, and you should help them clean the mess you left.  So you open the door between your rooms and knock on theirs, leaving your door open. They answer, but they are unwilling to fully open the door and let you in because they are still looking at the mess you left and wondering how they can clean it up.

When do they let you into their room? How do you cross the threshold?

Bingo! When you make your confession to them.

You accept that you hurt them and you ask for forgiveness, and you take positive action to help them clean their room. If the other person is open to repentance and ultimately forgiveness a wonderful and exciting thing happens. You and them can turn the mess you left into a new and possibly beautiful decoration in their room. It gets better too. Suddenly, a part of that decoration is now also in your room, and you like it. You have shared the inward you with someone else. You have discovered that you do not have to be alone. You have also discovered that it can feel good to let a person come into your room now and again and sign your wall.

Life is a journey, sharing it deepens it.

When my time comes to pass through death I hope to be able to look at the walls of my room and see innumerable signatures of other souls adorning my walls.

“The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.”
Saint Augustine

 

 

Do You Know this Feeling?

That moment when the darkness fades and gives way to the victory of the light is a feeling so powerful one has to wonder if they can fly. Or better yet do they dare. ~Beth

All of eternity can happen in those moments when for an instant I understand everything clearly as if it was just whispered to me. Then, because everything is not mine to know it ekes away from me and is lost.

The saddest sensation in my imaginings happens once this moment has passed.

It is like looking for a fix of inspiration, after the first potent experience I never get enough and search constantly for it again.

Pure, brilliant, clarity resonates through my soul and fills me.

I call these moments “Abraham Moments” not because they necessarily have religious connotation all the time, but because I imagine he had this kind of moment when he picked up his flocks and family and changed his world.

Grab your moments of grace. Change the world with them one moment at a time.

Friday Truth and Inspiration

“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.”
― Anne Frank

It’s Mother’s Day, Hug Your Momma Today…

I know it feels like another reason for flower shops and Hallmark to make more money, but it doesn’t have to be like that unless you let it.

Give your Mother a hug and a kiss. Tell her how important she is and remember all the things she does for you throughout the year. I lost my mother in 2008 and my father in 1998, when these days come around I used to miss them more, but now I can think of them and smile.

It’s not about buying things or giving things today, for me its about appreciation and a sincere desire to let wonderful parents know the impact they have made in our lives.

No one is and island, and we all have a mother. The lucky among us can also choose our biological mother as that wonderful friend and  person in our lives who not only gave us life, but also taught us how to live a good life.

Our spiritual mother is a choice, look for her, seek and you will find her waiting to offer hugs and encouragement. This mother is like an elusive fairy, hiding right before your eyes.

Have a great Mother’s Day.

“Baby mine, don’t you cry
Baby mine, dry your eyes
Rest your head close to my heart
Never to part
Baby of mine
Little one, when you play
Don’t you mind what they say
Let those eyes sparkle and shine
Never a tear
Baby of mine
If they knew sweet little you
They’d end up loving you too
All of those people who scold you
What they’d give just for the right to hold you
From your head, down to your toes
You’re not much, goodness knows
But you’re so precious to me
Sweet as can be
Baby of mine
If they knew sweet little you
They’d end up loving you too
All those same people who scold you
What they’d give just for the right to hold you
From your head, down to your toes
You’re not much, goodness knows
But you’re so precious to me
Sweet as can be
Baby of mine
Baby of mine “- from Dumbo

Am I the only one who cries with joy an sadness when Dumbo’s Mother sings him this song? To me it is the breadth and sum of motherhood, no biological ties required.

What Are Your Affirmations?

What do you hold to be true? What principles or affirmations guide your journey?

My Dad loved to say, “Stick to your principles.” You know, in my older age I have discovered he was right.

Those things we hold to be true may in some ways grow and change as we accumulate more knowledge, but at the end of the day if we have them then we will be able to make the next leap into more sophisticated thought and behavior.

I believe there is a God who is the Creator of all things and is in all things.

I believe I am a good person.

I believe in forgiveness.

I believe that all people are worthy of existence.

I believe people get confused and make seriously bad choices.

I believe in love conquering all.

I believe that apathy sucks.

I believe that I have a purpose.

I believe I make choices and shape my existence.

This could go on and on, but you get the idea. I think one of the reasons that people sometimes feel  like they are just being tossed on a stiff breeze is because they forget some of their affirmations.

Remind yourself once in a while who you are by reflecting on your affirmations, and perhaps discovering some new ones.

Are You Afraid to Walk Alone on Your Journey?

We are all afraid of loneliness. It can seem oppressive at times. The silence in loneliness is louder than the bangs of thunder on a warm June night.

I think the great secret that eludes many people is this, none of us are truly alone.

We feel that way, definitely.

We hurt from it, definitely.

We agonize about how to change it, definitely.

We spend so much energy wondering, hoping, hurting; maybe it is time to do something radical…

Pick someone and reach out. There is someone in your life waiting to end your loneliness, look for them, see them, and feel connected…

If you just stand still you may miss them, be brave and take that step, you are worthy of great love.

See without expecting and you will be amazed at who is there.

What Wisdom Does a 91 year old Have?

The answer is lots.

I recently saw this in an email, the person is Regina Brett. She said several things, but this line really hit me right between the eyes.

“It is never too late to be happy, but it is all up to you and no one else.”

Do you believe this lesson she learned over her life?

Do you let other people determine your happiness?

Do you even realize it when you do let other people determine your happiness?

I believe this to be true. I also believe that Beth’s happiness is completely in Beth’s control because I am responsible for myself, and I decide who, what, where, and why I am going to act.