THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Are you at peace

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What are you focusing on

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What are you doing to maintain peace in your life

SOLID AND CALM

I remember reading
how the disciples woke Jesus
up in the middle of the storm
and all he said was
“Peace, be still.”

He did not panic
or stress
or worry,
He just laid there
solid and calm
and said
peace be will

What if we did that
when others are
stressed and worried?
What if we are the ones
who are solid and calm?
What if we are the ones
who remembers
this too shall pass
amd models that for others?

We have the power
to be the solid and the calm
in the midst of the storm
and help others
make it through

LIVING WITH HOPE

Hope is not a person.
Hope is what keeps me positive,
focused,
and patient.
Hope is what reminds me
there is a light at
the end of the tunnel.
So today I choose
to live with hope.

I know when hope has left,
because I become irritable,
impatient,
and agitated.
I live with fear,
frustration,
and am unfocused.
it is then that I seek
to know what I have
lost hope in

Hope is what brings
me through the storms.
Hope is the understanding
the Ultimate is holding me
and walking through it all
with me.
When I live with hope,
I live with the Ultimate
and the Ultimate lives within me.

SONG OF THE WEEK

I love this song because it captures the frustration over why we have suffering in the world and brings us a sense of peace in that we are all joined together in our hopes for peace.

https://youtu.be/vWwgrjjIMXA

FANTASY

We all fantasize,
but how many of us
fantasize
about being of greater service
to the one we call our Higher Power

What do you fantasize about?
Is it about fighting for equality
amongst all of humanity?
Or is it about working to bring about
world peace?
Perhaps it is about practicing patience
or compassion with all of humanity.
Perhaps it is about promoting
healing and wholeness

May we open
our heart, mind, and soul to
fantasizing about
making it on earth
as it is in Heaven
or at least
as we fantasize
it to be.

SONG OF THE WEEK

“Take control of your mind and meditate”. Focus on your objective, don’t waste your energy on the things you can’t control. https://youtu.be/WpYeekQkAdc

REST IN PEACE

Rest in peace
my friend.
It is what we say
when we lose a dear one.
When we know their
life’s work is done
and they can now
rest in peace.

What if anytime we
gave something time to rest,
we said rest in peace.
Like when one parks their car,
or lets their meat rest before cutting
or I shut my wheelchair off
or we shut our technology down
or we give anything that serves us
time to rest.

Rest in peace
my car,
my phone,
my computer,
my wheelchair,
my friend.
Thank you for your service today.
now rest in peace
until we meet again.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Let your kindness radiate to others

MENDING

I have to begin by owning my mistakes.
I cannot mend,
what I cannot own.
I cannot fix,
what I do not admit I damaged.

Mending the world
begins with me.
If I am living at peace in my soul
then my home is
When my relationship is joyous,
we share that with the world
When we share our joy
we make our community better,
which makes our region better,
which makes our state better
which makes our country better
which makes the world better.

My being mindful about mending
that which I need to mend
is about me making this world a better place.
it is about me helping to mend
the world.

What if each day we fixed our mistakes
before we went to bed.
What if we fixed things
as they happened,
instead of letting them build.
What if we focused on
mending
our lives,
and the world

SMILING

Smiling

Have you ever watched someone smile,
but it does not feel
like joy, peace, or happiness.
Sometimes you can watch them smile,
but it feels sarcastic.
Sometimes their smile reminds
you of how politicians and diplomats
smile at each other.
Sometimes their smile makes you want to leave
and avoid them .

Then there are those smiles
that brighten up a room.
There is something about their smile which is like
a breath of fresh air.
It may leave you feeling hope
fill you with their overflowing joy
make you share their happiness
or experience their piece

A smile is not just a smile.
It is a way of communicating
what is in our heart,
soul,
and mind.
It is how we share
the one who lives within us
and who wants others
to experience the love and warmth
all through a simple, but genuine
smile.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Don't try to change your past, but love you for who you are because of your past

PRAYING

Sometimes when I pray,
I wish I could forget
my personal agenda,
my list of what I think I need.

I wish I could lay
it all down
and focus on trusting
the one to whom I am
praying

If I trust you
when I am praying
then I remember
you know what is best,
not me.

Today I release the conflict
I free myself of the confusion
between what I want and
what you want for me.

I thank you for knowing
what I need,
and knowing that I do not
always know best
even when I think I do.
So thank you for not always
listening me while I
pray

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with us.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Are you smiling and blossoming like a flower?

STAYING CALM

He walked on water
because of his faith
and his calm.
He slept through the storm
because of his faith
and his calm

Staying calm
in the midst of the storm
helps us all
stay afloat.

Staying calm
helps others
to stay calm.

Staying calm
reduces my temptation
to create waves
and stir up the situation.

Today, I am staying calm
in the midst of the storms
and know that everything
will be ok.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Peace is in every step, do you feel it

PEACE WITHIN

Are you in peace?
Peace within is
about creating and claiming
that Sabbath space
in our own being.

Sometimes we need to stop and
rest in our own being.
We need to connect with the
peace within.

When we are not connected to the
peace within,
how can we meet others
who have found the
peace within.

How can we see mystery
in everyday life;
or see the mystery of life
in the plants which surround us;
or see the teachings
embedded in the elements which surround us
or see the treasures
in humanity when we are not in touch with
the peace within.

It is in that peace,
that peace within,
when we have eyes that can see,
ears that can hear, and
senses which are in tune
with the vibrations of the Divine.

This season,
and year-round,
may we take time to experience the
peace within.
What a great gift
we give to ourselves
others,
and the world
when we all experience the
peace within.

BOWLS FOR VEGGIES

When we began this new vegan journey, I had no idea how much I would be learning and considering as I planned out our menu for the week. Not that I stick to it exactly, however, it helps me think through how much I am preparing and what I need and am I making sure we are getting enough of all the nutrients we need. There are so many processed vegan products and we have been trying where possible to avoid those. However, making our own seitan to make “chicken” patties and other faux meat products can be a bit more time consuming then our schedule allows.

The other challenge can be that Zoe and I have different palettes and love different kinds of food. Zoe loves foods that are crunchy, salty, sweet, and fried. As a friend of ours says about her husband, you can be an unhealthy vegan, especially when you are filling your diet with deep fried everything, ice cream, and foods that are loaded in pasta, pizza dough, etc. I tend to like more vegetables, especially the ones Zoe does not like, such as eggplant.

When we find something we both like we get uber excited, as that rarely happens.

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