"Celebrating Age"

"It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking
like a fool, for love, for your dream, for
the adventure of being alive."
Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Today a good friend of mine died. She
was about twenty years older than I am,
but our age difference never meant a
thing to either one of us.

I count Bev as the person who got me
started on my road to recovery from
co-dependence and religious addiction.

She was not afraid to look like a fool
as she talked to others about things
that might help them to be able to live
their lives differently.

I will miss her greatly, and I'm so
grateful that she was there when I
needed her.

I think it is so sad when people get
caught up in ages, and miss the
opportunities of being able to share
their lives with people of different
generations.

I have several people older than I am
that I count on for their wisdom, and I
am grateful for some that are younger
that don't seem to mind hanging out
with me.

Together we live. Together we dream.

Let Us Pray:
Living Loving Presence, we value Your
Presence in us. We are grateful for
each person that comes into our lives
as we live this adventure. Thank You
for Bev. We are grateful. Amen.

I'm grateful for your faithfulness in
supporting this ministry.

Grace-filled blessings,
Sandy

"Getting to Know You"

"It doesn't interest me what you do for
a living. I want to know what you ache
for, and if you dare to dream of meeting
your heart's longing."
Oriah Mountain Dreamer

So many times it seems like I meet
people on a superficial level. What do
you do? Do you have children? etc.

Not that those questions aren't
important at all, because they are a
part of getting to know someone when
you first meet.

What I do want in my life are the
relationships that go deeper where both
of us feel safe in sharing our heart's
desires and where we can be real with
one another.

My prayer partner and I have developed
this kind of relationship.

Yes, we share some of our day to day
lives, but we also trust one another
enough to share "what we ache for..."

It is a treasure beyond diamonds and
pearls to have someone in your life
that truly accepts you for who you are
--extra poundage and all.

Do you have someone like this? If you
do, you understand, and if you don't I
encourage you to make this a priority.
You will be so glad you did.

Let Us Pray:
Living Loving Presence, we go within
and connect with You. We are grateful
for Your Presence and that we can
trust You with every part of our lives.
Thank You for the wonderful relationships
You have brought that encourage us and
support us on the journey. Amen.

"This is what I ache for: intimacy with
myself, others, and the world, intimacy
that touches the sacred in all that is life."
O.M.D.

Peace, Love, and Joy,
Sandy

"We Are One"

"All creatures, although appearing
separate, are truly only one; all beings
emanate from the Godhead and are
united in the Godhead. The one who
truly learns this becomes the Godhead
and thereby attains liberation."
Bhagavad Gita Chap 13:30

According to the verses quoted above,
we are set free when we begin to know
the truth that we are all one.

Can you imagine what our world would
be like if we suddenly saw each person
as One?

Perhaps we would be able to look for
the ways that we are alike instead of
focusing on our differences.

And, even as we see how we are each
unique, we could see the beautiful
kaleidoscope that our differences create.

It takes a lot of energy to hold grudges,
and to build walls.

What a boring world this would be if we
were all made out of the same mold or
thought the same way.

We are all one, from One.

There is no separation, no lines, no
boundaries except for the illusion we
have created.

That is true freedom and liberation as
we realize we are one. Let's build
bridges and tear down the walls.

Let Us Pray:
Sweet Spirit, we go within and connect
with You. We are One. We celebrate
who we are as Your Creation. We give
thanks. Amen.

Every day is a day to celebrate and
remember our Oneness.

Peace, Love, and Joy,
Sandy

"Be Here Now"

"You are where you are. So be there.
Stop trying to protect yourself from the
harshness of right now, fleeing into a long
fabrication about how it's going to be one
day. That's a way of avoiding the
here-and-now truth of our lives."
Sue Monk Kidd

One of the saddest things occurs when
we don't accept the gift of the present,
and spend all of our thoughts on what we
are hoping will make us happy in some
future time.

It can be, as our quote states, "a way of
avoiding the here-and-now," if we live in
the future.

Perhaps we are not finished with school,
and so we're looking to when we will
graduate. We think things will be so
much better when we aren't faced with
classes, tests, and teachers. We forget
about bosses and fellow workers that
will be a part of the future, along with a
whole new set of responsibilities.

As I prepared to go to seminary several
years ago a good friend of mine gave me
some advice, "Enjoy the journey."

Today, this present moment, and all that
is here for us now, is a part of our journey.

If we are so caught up in tomorrow, we
will miss the gift of the present.

Let Us Pray:
Living, Loving Presence, we go within and
connect with You consciously. We are
grateful for this day and all of the gifts in it.
Thank You for leading, guiding, and
directing us. We desire to enjoy the journey,
and be fully present to Your Presence. Amen.

Together we continue to travel, and may we
truly enjoy the journey.

Grace-filled blessings,
Sandy