ARCHIVES 2022
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ARCHIVES 2022
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When three of their four children were diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic condition that causes a loss or decline in vision, Edith Lemay and Sebastien Pelletier decided to take them round the world. “We’re going to fill their visual memory with the best, most beautiful images we can." “The visions we offer our children shape the future. It matters what those visions are. They become self-fulfilling prophecies.” – Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot Affirmative prayer: I behold the beauty of this life, the near-at-hand and the sweeping visions of my eyes and heart. My soul is enlivened in this grace, and I move with reverence and a keen awareness that my life is made whole, dignified, and enlarged. I’m so grateful that this is the essence and beauty of what is before me this day. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, before alarm clocks were invented, many workers in Britain were woken by the sound of a tapping at their bedroom window. People known as "knocker-uppers" were paid to stroll around cities and wake people up, using long sticks, rattles, or pea shooters. The big question is, who woke up the knocker-uppers? “The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don't go back to sleep. You must ask for what you really want. Don't go back to sleep. People are going back and forth across the doorsill where the two worlds touch. The door is round and open. Don't go back to sleep.” - Rumi Prayer: Infinite Presence, “Awaken me. Come, meet me in the garden of my life. Lure me into elation. Revive my silent hope. Coax my dormant dreams. Roll back the stone of my indifference. May I become ever more convinced that your presence lives on. Awaken me!” – Joyce Rupp, Out of the Ordinary The pursuit of meaning has underlined human activity for millennia, stretching back to thinkers like Aristotle and Plato all the way up to modern-day philosophers and scientists. Research shows that not only does finding meaning in life inform our priorities, it also shapes how we respond to life’s twists and turns and fosters a sense of well-being. “There are two major tasks to human life. The first is to build a strong "container" or identity; the second is to find the contents that the container is meant to hold.” – Richard Rohr, Falling Upward Affirmative prayer: Today, I am becoming clear about what is important in my life. I discern the meaning of Spirit’s “I Am-ness,” aligning my self-image with the Divine’s impression of me. I hang out in the Absolute, adding spiritual qualities to my life’s container. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. Elizabeth Leighton, who lives in Dull, England, was touring the U.S. when she drove into Boring, Oregon. She sent her friend in England a message: “‘Isn’t this amazing? I’m in Boring and you are in Dull.” Inspired by the sense of connection, Elizabeth got in touch with the city councils of each town. Dull and Boring are now sister cities. “To live spiritually is to know that everyone and everything just is. Do not label, define, or judge what is.” – Joel Goldsmith, The Infinite Way Affirmative prayer: Today, I awaken from my dullness and rise vigorously toward the callings of my heart. I embrace this life with passion and purpose. Every day, I shall fall more in love with the community of blessed souls – my sisters and brothers – who bring warmth and color to my life. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. With schools back in session, students in some states are seeing the enactment of new laws restricting teaching about race, history, and gender identity – and a growing number of books are being pulled from library shelves. "What this amounts to is censorship," said Jeremy Young of PEN America, which defends and celebrates free expression through the advancement of literature and human rights. “The Divine plan is one of freedom, the birthright of every living soul. The inherent nature of all is to express itself in terms of freedom. This inner voice tells us of a life wonderful in its scope, of a love beyond our fondest dreams.” – Ernest Holmes, The Science of Mind Affirmative prayer: I give thanks for the freedom to express and abide in my life principles, and I pray that all people live in this Divine right. I honor those who support others in living their truth. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. Pakistan’s first-ever female architect, Yasmeen Lari, is saving lives. She is the cofounder of the Heritage Foundation which makes bamboo huts for Pakistanis stricken by floods. This year, more than a million people have lost their homes to flooding. Yasmeen, who is 81 years old, is creating a place for them to live. “The whole business of the Divine is to care for you, to love you with an everlasting love, to note your slightest cry, and to rescue you.” – Emilie Cady, Lessons in Truth Affirmative prayer: I give thanks for my two hands, energy, and caring heart that I may be an instrument through which the Divine brings comfort and hope to those in need. I am strengthened by my awareness of our holy union, allowing me to be a conduit for resources and Spirit’s love. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. “We reside inside God’s imagination, the territory of unbounded sunniness. As far as I’m concerned, God can dream all over me.” - Evan Hodkins, School of Alchemy Affirmative prayer: I am the out-picturing of God’s dream for complete life. I am fulfilled by my union with Universal Intelligence, the Divine Core, and the blessed souls in my orbit. We live in the heart of one another, in God’s heart. Thank you, Spirit, forever. Amen. When Tom Segura learned that Bert Kreischer drinks a gallon of Kool-Aid every day, the two friends could only laugh. Not just a little chuckle; they couldn’t stop laughing. It was the kind of spirit-lifting moment that can heal, renew, and stop time. See it here. “Laughter is a holy thing. It is as sacred as music and silence. Laughter is like a prayer, like a bridge over which creatures tiptoe to meet each other. Laughter is like mercy; it heals. When you can laugh at yourself, you are free.” – Ted Loder, Tracks in the Snow Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, I’m lightning up today and entering into sacred playfulness. I follow the holy tenet, “If I’m laughing with others and with the gods, my whole body is filled with light.” I am in the energy of God’s delight. I am enlightened. Thank you, God, forever, Amen. Photographer Mathew Nichols caught stunning images of a rainbow inside ice caves near Mt. Rainier. "It was an amazing natural phenomenon. The vibrancy of the colors was wild.” Rainbows in ice caves are given their colors by light refracting through the algae and ice. See more here. “The beauty of Divine nature is everywhere we look. The color of the desert at dawn, the daffodil in its sweet simplicity, the majestic beauty and strength in the mountain and in the wave. Beauty is symmetry, charm, grace, and loveliness. We can identify ourselves with this beauty that pours its warmth and color over everything and is the very root of our being. – Ernest Holmes, Richer Living Prayer: “Beautiful reflection of divine light, shine on me. Rejuvenate and invigorate me. Renew my commitment to the tasks of this day. Lead me to my courage. Warm what has grown cold in me. Energize all that has become lethargic. Enliven my growing moments. Help me to stand before my life with an open heart.” – Macrina Wiederkehr, Seven Sacred Pause California is starting to cover its canals with solar panels to help drought conditions. Scientists say if all of the state’s 4,000 miles of canals were covered, the panels would save 63 billion gallons of water from evaporation and provide enough green energy to power 750,000 homes. “Out of adversity comes resourcefulness.” - Phil Keoghan, host of "The Amazing Race" and "National Geographic Explorer" Affirmative prayer: Today, in the reality of Oneness, I affirm that I am resourceful in my life expressions. I look not to the conditions I face, but to the vast reservoir of creativity and power which flows through me. I am a conduit for Life’s goodness, and I can all things through Spirit which strengthens me. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. The Gemini North telescope has spotted two entangled galaxies, 60 million light-years away, that will eventually merge into one. The galactic pair NGC 4567 and NGC 4568, nicknamed the Butterfly galaxies, have just begun to unite as gravity pulls them together. In 500 million years, the two cosmic systems will complete their merger to form a single elliptical galaxy. “As the rivers flowing east and west merge in the sea and become one with it, so do all creatures lose their separateness when they merge at last into pure Being. There is nothing that does not come from the inmost Self, the Self supreme.” - The Chandogya Upanishad, Sanskrit text, 7th century BC Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, I am blessed to be a part of the cosmic journey of life. I give thanks that my whole-life awareness allows me to be a source of joy and hope for others. I revere each one’s journey, taking delight and assurance that we’re all walking this path together. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. Madam C.J. Walker, the first self-made female millionaire in the U.S., is the next role model to be honored in Barbie's line of Inspiring Women dolls. Walker, born in 1867 to slaves, founded a line of haircare products and cosmetics designed for Black women. She became an activist and philanthropist, supported orphanages and Black colleges, and advocated for civil rights organizations and women's rights. “It’ pretty hard for the Lord to guide you if you haven’t made up your mind which way to go.” - Madame C. J. Walker Affirmative prayer: I am open to the many ways that pure Spirit shows up in my life. I steadfastly follow the path brightened by the Divine, and I am grateful for the wellspring of love and power within me. I am in union with others on this journey. May I be a loving presence for my sisters and brothers. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. Researchers have discovered that brain cells with the same "birthdate" are more likely to wire together to carry out many functions, like the storage of memories. "Neurons born on the same day become part of the same cooperating assembly and participate in the same wave-ripple," says neurologist György Buzsáki. “Oneness is not a vague mystical notion, but rooted in scientific fact. Even the atoms we breathe are physically the same as the stardust from the Big Bang. We are connected to all.” – Richard Rohr Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, I’m thankful to know that, where two or more are gathered, Spirit is there in the midst. We – all of us – are unified cells in the body of Life, a Divine cooperating assembly. We dance together. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. Researchers think they can now explain the phenomenon of doppelgängers – people who look alike but aren’t related. "There are so many people in the world now that life is producing humans with similar DNA sequences,” a researcher said. “There's probably someone in the world who looks like you and even share your behavior traits.” “The identity of each of us is founded in a Divine template, the great ‘I Am’ in which we all live, move, and have our being. We share in the image and likeness of pure Spirit. We are One.” – Scott Awbrey Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, I am becoming clear about who I Am and what is important in my life. I discern the meaning of my ‘I Am-ness,’ awakening to the qualities of God in my body, soul, and experiences. With purpose and gratitude, I am carrying out the Divine’s intention for my life. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. The climate crisis rarely evokes feelings of joy, but a discovery this week had some scientists excited about what a drought has revealed. Dinosaur tracks from around 113 million years ago were uncovered in a riverbed in Texas – and more prehistoric findings are likely as water levels continue to drop. “I think that's what we all want, in the end. To know that we left footprints when we passed by, however briefly. We want to be remembered.” - Mike A. Lancaster, Human.4 Affirmative prayer: I am forever known in the heart of God. My life’s journey is underwritten by the Divine, and my legacy is already etched in the soul of the Universe. Because God is, I am. And so it is. Amen. Brandon Dalaly never again has to worry about losing his car keys after he had a chip implanted in his hand that unlocks his Tesla. A chip implanted in his other hand unlocks his front door, and it also holds his contact and medical information. What he really wants is for the chip to include info for his credit cards. “God has no other hands than ours. If the sick are to be healed, it is our hands that will heal them. If the lonely and the frightened are to be comforted, it is our embrace that will comfort them. The warmth of the sun travels on the air, but the warmth of God's love can travel only through each one of us.” - David-Seth Kirshner, Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, into thy hands I commit my life. I allow the Divine to work, play, and live through me. I’m grateful for my two hands that I may open doors of possibility and hold others in the spirit of Universal love. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. "Jim is my enemy, but it turns out that Jim is also his own worst enemy. And the enemy of my enemy is my friend. So, Jim is actually my friend. But, because he is his own worst enemy, the enemy of my friend is my enemy, so actually, Jim is my enemy." – Dwight, a character from “The Office” “We forgive not to make the perpetrator feel better. It's because the longer we stay attached to the harm, the more we absorb it and risk becoming like our ‘enemy.’ Forgiveness actually says, ‘I will never allow this to infect my heart.’" – Nadia Bolz-Weber Affirmative prayer: Today, I remember that there is truly only One Life, that I am connected with all beings. I release the need to condemn that certain person in my life, affirming that the Divine is loving them through me. Oneness, absolutely. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. Tanzania has installed high-speed internet services on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, allowing anyone with a smartphone to tweet or WhatsApp their ascent up Africa’s highest mountain. While some criticize bringing connectivity to the mountain, it will allow climbers to get weather forecasts and to call for rescue in event of an emergency. “Technology helps us to be more productive, healthier, more learned, and more secure. It can help people out of poverty, discover talent, and fix so much. But we get the best of technology only if we don't let it distract us from making human connections, addressing human longings, and inspiring the human energy.” – Thomas Friedman, Thank You for Being Late Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, I am an essential aspect of a universal spiritual current that underwrites the Oneness of all life. I give thanks that my friends, family, and all persons are interconnected in the grandness of the Universe. We are not alone, for we abide in the unity of pure Presence. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. An extraordinary drought in the West is drying up the Colorado River and draining the nation's largest reservoirs, Lakes Mead and Powell. Hydropower at Hoover Dan is threatened. All this has moved the federal government to mandate steep water cuts. Experts say the term “drought” may be insufficient to capture what is happening in the West. “Humankind is full of creative possibility. It’s called to assist God and to co-create. We can set into creation all that is necessary and life-sustaining.” – Hildegard of Bingen Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, knowing that I am called to earthly stewardship, I devote my prayers and actions to life-giving measures and the greening of our planet. By my spiritual and earthly governance, I help to maintain a climate that is healthy, balanced, and fruitful. I affirm that humankind is taking respectful and prudent care of our planetary systems, and resources are plentiful. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. A long-term research project in the United Kingdom found that returning some farm land back to nature does not decrease the amount of food produced, and it naturally creates wildlife habitats, increasing the population of birds, butterflies, and small animals. And farm yields were maintained or even enhanced for some crops. “When you move on from this world, you'll be remembered not for what you accumulated but for what you gave. You live an abundant life not because you are a chosen one, but because you have chosen to put yourself into the affluent flow of Life.” – Christian Sorensen, Living from the Mountaintop Affirmative prayer: Today I live with a grateful heart, aware of what is mine to give. My generosity is inspired by grace, energized by love, and beautified by the One who connects us all. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. Players from the Green Bay Packers made a little girl’s tea party a thing to remember. As the athletes were heading to practice, young Aria Rubens lifted her empty pink tea cup to each, asking, “Would you like some tea?” Each player gulped down a pretend sip and thanked her. One player said, “You make the best tea!” Aria’s mom, Ashley, loved the moment. “It’s crazy how people just want a good story about people being kind to each other.” “One of the ideas in Zen Buddhism is that humans are essentially Buddhas, but they get distracted from their true nature. When we take a closer look at ourselves, we can expect to find a loving-kindness already there waiting to be invoked, and that it remains with us wherever we go.” – Edward Viljoen, Ordinary Goodness Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, I align with the natural order of a spiritual Universe. By kindness, empathy, and a generous heart, I open avenues through which love can flow. I am blessed, and I am a blessing. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. My two-year-old made it through a two-hour drive to the airport, a two-hour wait at the airport where he read a book quietly to himself, an hour flight where he happily watched ‘Finding Nemo’ on silent, a bus ride where he laughed the whole time, and then screamed the entire 15-minute drive home in our own car. “What you see you become. What you see is a selective act of attention. Although you are inundated by billions of bits of sensory impulses, you selectively filter out the vast majority, allowing only a very small fraction into your awareness. Your attention and interpretations create what you see and ultimately determine what you believe.” – Deepak Chopra, The Way of Gratitude Affirmative prayer: Today, my attention is on the myriad of ways that goodness shows itself. I give thanks to know that what I believe in, focus on, and give my energy to is amplified. Today, I see wholeness. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. What takes four years to make and costs more than $20,000? A trash can in San Francisco. That costly bin is among six trash cans hitting San Francisco’s streets this summer in the city’s long saga in search of the perfect can. Overflowing trash cans are a common sight in the Northern California city. “The task of the first half of life is to create a container for one's life and answer the essential questions: ‘What makes me significant? How can I support myself? Who will go with me?’ The task of the second half of life is to find the actual contents that this container was meant to hold.” – Richard Rohr, Falling Upward Affirmative prayer: Today, I am a container for the makings of God. I release thoughts and beliefs that hinder my spiritual readiness, and I become a clear and open vessel for the wonder, love, and beauty of the Divine. My soul is filled with good measure, pressed down, and running over. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. Isaiah Jarvis was at bat in a Little League championship game when he was hit in the head by a pitch. He fell to the ground and adults raced to attend to him. Luckily, he was not hurt and, after a couple of minutes, got up and trotted to first base. The pitcher, Kaiden Shelton, was still visibly shaken and that’s when Isaiah walked to the mound and wrapped his arms around Kaiden. "I wanted to go to him and spread God's love and tell him I was okay.” Witness Isaiah’s moment of compassion here. “We are actually quite remarkable creatures. We are created in the image of God. We are God carriers. Growing in godlikeness, in caring for the other. Each time I act compassionately, I experience a joy that I find in nothing else.” – Desmond Tutu Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, today I embrace others with kindness. I live mindfully, aware of the distress of those around me. I release thoughts of separation and judgment, and I honor the compassionate heart in us all. By our God-connection, we are nurtured, uplifted, us, and kept safe. Thank you, Spirit, forever. Amen. The “world’s largest beach clean-up project” began in 2015 when Afroz Shaz started picking up the trash from Versova Beach in Mumbai. Others joined him and, to date, they’ve removed 5 million kilograms of trash. More than 8 billion tons of plastic is thrown into the ocean every year. To reduce your own plastic waste, avoid single-use cutlery, take away plastic coffee cups and straws, use your own grocery bag instead of plastic ones, and buy plastic-free products. "Never forget that you are one of a kind, that if there weren't any need for you in all your uniqueness to be on this earth, you wouldn't be here. Never forget, no matter how overwhelming life's challenges seem to be, that one person can make a difference in the world. In fact, it’s because of one person that all the changes that matter in the world come about. Be that one person." - Buckminster Fuller Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, I give thanks for the power and beauty of one person’s service to the world. I devote myself to showing up for the good of the planet and for my sisters and brothers. May I be humble, generous, determined, and resourceful. May my love be a real-world blessing for others. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. |
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