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Indirect Light

12/31/2015

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We know that unless the sun explodes that light will always be with us. This is also true of spiritual light. Unless something happens to destroy the universe and all other universes known and unknown, there will be light. The moon is a reminder that even when the sun doesn’t shine, there is still light even though its path isn’t a direct one. 
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Other Possibilites

12/30/2015

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Those of us who grew up in a strict religious background know what it is like to be told how to live our lives. At some point, we discover that we don’t have to experience life exactly how we were taught, but that we can still listen to the voice of wonderment and awe, and that we can open to new possibilities beyond what we ever imagined. This not only holds true with religion, but with other areas of life.
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Life Lessons

12/29/2015

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Some of our best lessons come through the school of hard knocks. These lessons might be painful at the time, but unfortunately there are times when the only way for us to learn something doesn’t come from head knowledge but from heart knowledge. But, once these lessons are learned, most of the time they are not forgotten even though we might make the same mistakes.

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Weekly Reading: Humility

12/29/2015

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      A humble heart is also a grateful heart. Gratitude and humility are inseparable. To seek humility is a noble goal, but it is as elusive as the idea of enlightenment. Once you think you’ve achieved it, you realize it has slipped just beyond your grasp. Humility is an outward measure of an open spirit. The ego would have you brag that you are humble, even if only to yourself. But, if you believe what the ego says, then your humility will be overtaken and the subtle force of pride will slowly rise to the top.
      Humility is one of those qualities that is perhaps best left unsought. But, if we were to try to add it to our repertoire of positive characteristics, then the search belongs not within, but without. Humble people see themselves as no greater or no worse than any other person. They do not believe they are special in the sense that they are better than someone else. All people are seen, and treated by them, as perfect creations of The Divine, and as such, are worthy of love and respect.
      This is what is meant when we say we seek humility outside of ourselves. Humility is characterized by the way we treat other people and by the extent to which we give love and acceptance to everyone.
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Winter Rest

12/28/2015

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Rest is built into our DNA and into the DNA of the planet, maybe not literally, but at least figuratively. Winter brings a time of rest, but during those months when it seems as if everything is dead, there is still life. We use those times to center ourselves, make plans for the months ahead, and to reconnect with the earth. As we embrace the winter of our lives, we can cherish the years we have been given and recognize that life is made of energy, and energy never dies, it just changes its appearance. 
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Negatives into Positives

12/27/2015

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I discovered a simple prayer that can help us to choose happiness instead of sadness, and it goes like this: “Help me to change negatives into positives.” We believe the negative experiences bring us unhappiness, but if we could simply change those negatives into positives, our joys would be increased. Even if we are only mildly successful, we will still improve our state of mind, and as we continue to practice and learn ways to turn negatives into positives, we will improve our lives immensely.
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Refuse to be a Victim

12/26/2015

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​We are a victim only if we choose to be one. It is a mindset that can be changed by simply choosing to believe differently. How we change those beliefs in order to lose the victim mindset depends on the circumstances, but by refusing to play the part of the victim we rise above our situation, and we can overcome the obstacles that we perceive affect our ability to be happy.
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The Voices of Angels

12/25/2015

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​They tell us that the voices in our heads aren’t real. But, I wonder if that’s true. I recall a conversation that was going on a few feet away from where I was working concerning a dog that needed a home. I had been thinking about the possibility of getting a dog, but it wasn’t anything I was ready to pursue. But, the more I heard the discussion, the more I knew that the dog in question was meant for me. It was as if the voices were telling me, “That’s your dog. You are meant to have it.” The inner chatter kept up until I spoke up. In addition to the voices there were other little signals that made me confident that dog would be mine, almost as if angels were brushing their wings against the hairs on my arm. The dog, who I named Jimmy in honor of the man who rescued him, became the sweetest dog I’ve ever brought into my life.
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Equal Parts Love

12/24/2015

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​Some would have us believe that it is wrong for us to love ourselves. They would have us deny ourselves and focus solely on the needs of others. Sometimes they would even have us focus on their needs, and if our behavior fails to live up to their expectations of how we should love, they can be quick to judge and condemn us. They, however, would not tolerate the same behavior if someone else did it to them. In order to have a healthy, balanced love, we must love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves, but we must also love ourselves as much as we love our neighbor.
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Admiration

12/23/2015

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What impresses us the most? Is it someone who is highly intelligent, or skilled in a physical sport, or someone famous? Is it someone with great power or riches? Perhaps there’s nothing wrong with being impressed with people who have achieved great success in these areas, but what about those who are kind, generous, humble, and have integrity? What about those who love greatly, laugh generously, or mend the broken? We might want to examine the people we admire and don’t admire. Each one is human and has flaws that they often try to hide from us and themselves. Let’s admire all equally and be less judgmental of those who seem less desirable. 
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The Inner Voice

12/22/2015

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Many people were taught that there were two voices running through their minds, the voice of evil and the voice of good. The struggle then becomes a constant battle to decide which voice to listen to. One philosophy states that the one we feed the most is the one that will win. But, perhaps underneath these voices that clamor for attention is the quiet voice of The Divine that waits for us to still ourselves so that it may be heard. We can hear it no matter what is going on around us if we will but choose to do so. Today, let every voice except that of your Higher Power be silenced.
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Weekly Newsletter: Thank You

12/22/2015

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​      Appreciation goes a long way in helping us accomplish the tasks assigned to us whether those tasks are job related or Spirit related, and often they are the same. One of my favorite quotes is attributed to Leo Buscaglia and it states, “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest accomplishment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
      Before I sat down to write these words, I was the recipient of two kind words: “Thank you.” I was being thanked for something I had written that touched another person’s life. The fact that that person took a few seconds out of their day to let me know I had helped in some small way was enough to bring tears of joy to my eyes.
      Stone Twelve begins with the words, “I am grateful,” and ends with the sentence, “I thank those who have guided me on my path.” How important it is to show our appreciation to those who have given us a word of encouragement, a hand to hold, an ear to hear, and a heart to share their love with us.
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Question Beliefs

12/21/2015

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​Wouldn’t it be sad if we believed something for our entire life only to discover that it was wrong? Some of our beliefs don’t matter, but our core beliefs and our religious/spiritual beliefs are important. We should be willing to question our beliefs regularly and let go of those that lead us away from the Light. 
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Emotion Control

12/20/2015

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It is difficult to control our emotions when we are alone and perhaps even more difficult to prevent others from controlling our emotions. But, if we can feel our emotions without letting them control our behavior; if we can feel them and then release those that would prove destructive, then peace would be the result. Our emotions serve a purpose and we do not want to live our lives without them. We do, however, want to be the one in charge and not our emotions.
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Power of Laughter

12/19/2015

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Laughter is healing, inspiring, and load-lifting. Whenever we are discouraged, laughter comes along to cheer us. Whenever we are angry, laughter comes along to show us how useless is our anger. Whenever we lose hope, laughter brings smiles and renewed confidence in the Universe. Laughter brings new possibilities and can turn the darkness of the past into light and love.
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A Common Goal

12/18/2015

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In time, I’m sure the world will realize that our divisions only weaken us, creating wars and conflicts that prohibit our ability to find and maintain peace. In time, we will realize that some things must be accomplished by working together in a unified goal—peace on earth. Maybe that time has come. Maybe we can lay down our hatred and our weapons in order to promote peace and love.
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Unlearn to Learn

12/17/2015

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Most of us have heard the expression, “You learn something new every day.” I want to propose that sometimes, especially when it comes to religious abuse, “We have to unlearn something old every day.” Perhaps some of the things we were taught about the divine creator were simply wrong. Sometimes people take a measure of truth and take it too far, creating a black-and-white world in which there is no room for mistakes. Perfection or hell seems to be our only alternatives. We have freewill choice, and so we can believe what was taught us, even if it contradicts what others were taught, or we can choose to believe that a loving divine being would not act in harsh, judgmental, and condemning ways. 
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The Inner Path

12/16/2015

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Searching for happiness in the external world rarely produces long-term results. Happiness is more of an inner quest rather than an outward destination. To be happy means to connect with the eternal, feel its presence, and follow the road that it would have us walk. Happiness does not mean we will feel no pain, only that we will be able overcome and continue moving forward.
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Be Grateful

12/15/2015

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Grateful people are happy people. The two emotions work together to create an atmosphere of joy. So, if we want to be happy, we might try finding things for which we are grateful, and that decision becomes an exercise in self-development, self-awareness, and self-enjoyment. Be grateful—be happy.
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Weekly Newsletter: Dealing with Guilt

12/15/2015

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​      Guilt is a relative term that has different meanings to different societies and in different times. In Hinduism, the cow is thought to be sacred, and most Hindus refrain from eating beef. If someone from that culture were to eat beef, they would probably experience guilt, and even shame, or condemnation. Some of their fellow Hindus might judge them and even refuse to associate with them. Their belief that a cow is sacred creates their guilt.
      Most Christians don’t experience guilt when they eat a juicy piece of steak. The difference is in the underlying belief system. The cow is not a sacred animal in the Christian religion. But, if Christians understood the reasons why the cow is thought to be sacred, we might decide those reasons were valid. We might change our minds about whether or not we should eat beef, and we most certainly would have a better understanding and a deeper appreciation for the Hindus belief.
      Likewise, if Hindus understood the reasons Christians don’t consider the cow as sacred, it might change their thinking and allow for understanding and graciousness concerning what appears to them as a barbaric custom. Where does guilt come into play in all of this? It doesn’t. Or, at least it shouldn’t. We respect the beliefs of other religions and cultures and try to understand them—not change them to our way of thinking, speaking, and acting.
      Guilt is defined differently by different cultures, but also by the different times in which we live. In the past, slavery was tolerated and accepted by many people. For the most part, those who owned slaves felt no guilt. As time passed, people came to realize that slavery was wrong. In this situation we see a positive side of guilt. To take away one’s freedom and to demand hard work without pay or hope of advancement came to be understood as a cancer to society.
      As more and more people became enlightened to the truth that all men (and women) were created equally, the nation’s conscience was disturbed and changes happened. Guilt played a positive role, and, even after slaves were set free, guilt continued to play a useful role to those who decided to help right the wrongs that had been committed against their fellowmen.
      Step Eight says that we are to “Seek forgiveness from those we hurt unless doing so would cause further harm.” But, once we determine that this is something we are meant to do, we can let go of any hold that guilt has had over us. It takes time, but often it begins with simply the intention to make right what was wrong. And, if circumstances are such that we are unable to right the wrongs, then intention and prayer become the tools to set us free.
      When we consider guilt from a religious perspective, we find that this tool has often been misused by religions and religious leaders to keep their flocks in line. One way we can fall prey to this abuse is when we believe the pastor is the master. When we put all our faith in one particular religious leader, we open ourselves to the mistakes and flaws they carry with them.
      Another way we can fall prey to religious abuse is when we give away our power to think and make decisions for ourselves. By letting the religious leader and his faithful followers dictate what we think, we close our minds to any different opinions. These opposing opinions might also include the voice of reason and the voice of The Divine. Any attempt to think outside of the basket into which we’ve placed our religious eggs is met with guilt, judgment, and often condemnation.
      This is the negative side of guilt—the ugly, manipulative side of guilt. When we fall prey to this abuse, we will come to believe that no matter what we do, no matter how hard we try, we will never be good enough. Our self-worth will be attacked, and our every decision and action will come under scrutiny, with ourselves being the most severe judge of our behaviors.
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"Shallow Hal"

12/14/2015

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The movie, “Shallow Hal” taught us a lesson about seeing the inner beauty instead of simply looking at the outer beauty. The more we learn to live a life of love, compassion, sharing, and forgiving, the more we will build a life of inner beauty that will outlast any physical beauty, or lack of physical beauty. Of course, there will always be “shallow Hals” around to make fun and treat us with indifference if we fail to measure up to their “shallow” view of what real beauty is. A beautiful heart needs no defense. It speaks for itself and can handle anything that comes along.
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A Posture of Defenselessness

12/13/2015

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Retaliation rarely solves problems. In most situations it causes more problems than it solves. Fighting with those who would oppose us doesn’t bring winners and losers. It usually brings anger, more conflict, and a lack of peace. Choose to overcome without angry words or deeds. Choose to give someone the benefit of the doubt and extend to them the courtesy of genuinely listening with an open mind. Questions are useful as long as they are not contentious because by asking questions we can help ourselves and others to open to new possibilities. The best defense is defenselessness, and when we come from the strength of loving compassion, we can take a posture of defenselessness and honor another person’s opinions.
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Learn Something?

12/12/2015

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“We learn something new every day” is an expression I’ve heard often, but for the most part I haven’t given it much consideration. Do we really learn something new every day? I suppose in some ways we might, but what if chose to be more intentional in our learning? What if we exposed ourselves to books, movies, and plays that push us to question what we believe and offer new information and insights? We might want to also consider questioning some of the things we thought we knew, and in essence, unlearn something old every day.
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Free from Ego

12/11/2015

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When we let our egos dictate our lives, we will not find happiness or peace. It will always be just beyond our grasp. When we let go of ideas that we are better than or less than someone else and develop our abilities to love, forgive, show compassion, and connect with our Higher Power, we will silence the ego and find more joy in life.
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Trust the Journey

12/10/2015

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It is always nice to find someone to share our spiritual journeys. To guide us, to teach us, and someone to let us lean upon their experience. Our paths may not coincide forever, and it’s best to remember that they are there to help us, but they can’t walk the path for us. If we do part ways, we might go for long periods of time without finding someone to walk with us, but that’s okay. Learning to find our own way is part of what it means to have free will, and it’s better to walk alone than to walk with someone who jeopardizes our journey.
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