Archive for the ‘respect’ Category
Be The Hands
Be the hands of God
Guaranteed to cure
With “Jewish Penicillin”
Beyond themselves to others
God answers through them
Reaching out to help another is a clear demonstration of these “10 simple words — hope, love, care, culture, kindness, faith, knowledge, health, comfort and warmth.” This quote is not mine… but I repeat them here because these concepts mean so much …
Especially today, October 14th, Columbus Day in the USA. Our banks and post offices and federal buildings and some schools are closed today in honor of Columbus. Why?
Because :
“In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue!”
I memorized that rhyme as a kid in school. Why was it important? Well, Columbus purportedly “discovered America” on this day.
But, who Really “Discovered” America?
I received this e-mail from St. Joseph’s Indian School today:
“They are 10 simple words — hope, love, care, culture, kindness, faith, knowledge, health, comfort and warmth — but they mean so much … Especially today.“
St. Joseph’s Indian School here in Montana wants you to know it’s not about Columbus! They announced, “Today is Native American Day!”
They continued, “…we want to celebrate in a BIG way! Today we are hosting a special day of giving at St. Joseph’s Indian School. We need 365 people — one donor for every day of the year — to open their hearts and give a gift.
Will you be 1 of the 365?
BE 1 OF THE 365
Some St. Joseph’s students arrive without knowledge of their deep, rich Native American culture. They have spent their young lives more focused on surviving day to day than learning about their ancestors and traditions.
Today, you can change that by giving a gift to help enrich the lives of young boys and girls with their cultural experiences, education and more. You can see some of the experiences for yourself when you watch this video.
As more people give, more student programs and services will be unlocked.
At 165 gifts, donors will help unlock regalia for students to wear during powwows. At 165 gifts, donors will help unlock a cultural trip.
At 365 donors: we will receive a special matching gift offer of $25,000 from a special group of friends who have pledged to support the Lakota students!”
You can join in this effort to recognize, help enrich, and appreciate our Native American friends today. Let’s acknowledge the ones who REALLY discovered America… our Native Americans. They were here long before some white man came to rob them of their land and relegate them to reservations!
I am a faithful supporter of St. Joseph’s as well as the school for our Lakota Natives here in Montana. Won’t you join in?
Be the hands and heart of God!
Philámayaye — thank you— for your kindness.
God Bless You.
See ya tomorrow.
Hackers Waste Our Time
Hackers waste our time;
Don’t they have more productive
Ways to spend their time?
Today a scammer
Hacked my Facebook page and sent
Garbage to my friends.
S/He wasted my time
And the time of my friends, too.
Why not send out love?
If you have the brains
To figure out how to scam,
Why not do some good?
Use your brains for cheer.
Publish ways to improve life.
Reap Heavenly Gold!
Spend quality time
Enjoying celebrations!
Create joy instead.
Exchange misery
For chances to increase joy.
Hackers are dead wood!
Exchange your dead wood
For sweet natural beauty.
Honor your great brain!
Don’t waste precious life
Sending misery on-line.
Spread kindness instead.
Have you had trouble with scammers
or hackers on your computer?
How do you handle it?
See ya tomorrow
For the Love of Raptors
Loving each other
Includes the birds of the air.
We love our raptors.
The Bridger Raptors
Are celebrated each year
At this Festival.
because they’ve been damaged somehow
and would not be able to survive
in the wild on their own.
Wonderful surprise –
Look at who I encountered:
Our ATV Buds!!
What a great surprise!
They were right there on the deck
Enjoying birds, too.
I decided to
Have a bit of fun with Bob.
Here’s my new boyfriend!
I showed this photo
To Bob, and told him “Tough Luck!
I have a new friend!”
Always the good sport.
He looked to find the foursome.
“Great to see you, Buds!”
and drink a toast
to our beautiful raptors!
Life is good!
Here’s a toast to birds…
A toast to fillet mignon…
To Scott for great wine!
We came home with a book that will continue to help us learn more about our raptors. Do you have raptors in your part of the world? What’s your favorite bird? I’m fascinated by bald eagles. We actually see them in our area. What bird that fascinates you do you see in your area?
See ya tomorrow.
Radical Interdependence
Are there any absolutes left? Or is everything in the world relative? Is there such a thing as right and wrong?
In her blog today, Barbara Franken
Barbara Franken, Me, My Magnificent Self
wrote,
“As the weeks, months and years roll quickly by, we observe how the world around us widens the separation of people, organisations, countries, opinions, beliefs… all warring against each other. Extreme opposites and deep conflict is being forged. Yes – No, Light – Dark, Good – Bad, Right – Wrong, This – That, Mine – Yours… each side adamant they are correct!
So who is correct, which side do we choose, which way do we go?“
Barbara Franken went on to say,
“Choosing for oneself means choosing love.
Love has no sides, no conflict and honours all.”
It’s interesting that I was reading her blog right after relishing the words of Wm. Coffin and Joanna Macy in Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat’s book, Spiritual Literacy. They quoted Coffin and Macy who wrote:
Yes, we ARE radically interdependent. The actions of each of us has an effect on the rest of us. And there ARE absolutes. There IS right and wrong. And when we see things headed the wrong way:
- hate vs. love
- dark vs. light
- bad vs. good
- wrong vs. right
- destruction vs. enhancement
- falsehood vs. Truth
- broken vs. working/productive
- criminal vs. just
- immoral vs. ethical/principled
… then we know it is time to step up to the plate and do what we can. Do you think, “The problems are too big; who am I to make a difference?”
If so, just look at Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teenager who is leading global protests demanding action on climate change.
Greta was quoted as saying,
“We will do everything in our power to stop this crisis from getting worse…”
God bless her! Today’s Bozeman Chronicle carried this article about her:
What issue are you passionate about?
How can your voice make a difference?
What can you do? Think about it.
Know that we are indeed
“One World… Radically Interdependent”
… and each of us CAN make a difference.
Will I?
Will you?
Ten Ways to Keep Marriage Alive
Ten Ways to Keep Marriage Alive
Bob and I have been married more than 57 years. Our love for one another is more alive today than it ever has been. (I read that statement to him just now and asked if he agreed. Of course, he said, “Of course,” That’s part of the secret, guys! Ya gotta readily agree on things like that!)
How do we do it? How do we keep love alive after all these years? What is a healthy marriage anyway?
Jane Smiley, in her book, At Paradise Gate, wrote the following:
“You know what getting married is? It’s agreeing to take this person who right now is at the top of his form, full of hopes and ideas, feeling good, wildly interested in you because you’re the same way, and sticking by him while he slowly disintegrates. And he does the same for you. You’re his responsibility now, and he is yours. If no one else will take care of him, you will. If everyone else rejects you, he won’t.
What do you think love is? Going to bed all the time? Poo! Don’t be weak. Have some spine! He’s yours and you’re his. He doesn’t beat you or abuse you, and you’ve made the same bargain. Now that you know what it’s like to be married, now that all the gold leaf has sort of worn off, you can make something of it; you can really learn to love each other.”
I love that take on marriage by Jane Smiley. It coincides with my opinion on what it takes to make a marriage work. Here is my list:
Ten Constant Steps toward Being Married Happily Ever After:
- Accept and Respect one another’s differences, and celebrate your areas of sameness.
- Stick by one another – even as you slowly disintegrate.
- Take responsibility for yourself and your actions. Be forgiving.
- Defend one another to a hostile world.
- Be strong in your faith; pray and laugh and play together.
- Be a diligent partner, doing more than your share without bitterness or resentment or complaint.
- Praise one another for the little things.
- Never take one another for granted.
- Always be trustworthy; don’t stab one another in the back!
- Practice the art of compromise – with God as your Constant Guide.
Keep Learning
Yes, when all the gold leaf has sort of worn off and you’re each comfortable in your own space, keep the space open and inviting. Invite one another in. Keep on learning to love one another as long as you both shall live.
You’re in this box together. You’re in it for the long haul. Enjoy the ride!
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Hang tight!!
See ya later.
Ubuntu!
Ubuntu!
Guest Minister
Today at church our guest minister was Dan Hollard, a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Bozeman, Montana. Our pastor for the past 25+ years has been Rev. Jean Johnson. Jean is on disability leave right now … in a rehab facility in Great Falls, MT.
Pray for Jean
Join me in prayer for Rev. Jean Johnson’s release from pain and ability to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.
Sunday Surprises
Meantime, it’s a surprise each Sunday to see who is in the pulpit and to hear a different kind of message. Today’s message was titled, “Spirit of Peace.” I think Dan Hollard must have spent some time in Africa, because he put on an authentic African accent and told us the story of Ubuntu (Oooo-boon-too).
He based his message on the scripture of Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.”
Here’s what I heard through my filter and took away this morning:
Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com
There was a woman in Africa named Dorothy
Who embodied the spirit of Ubuntu
She was all about community and humanity.
Her kitchen was open to all … she’d welcome you.
She lived the spirit of Matthew 25:
If you see someone naked, clothe them.
If you see someone hungry, feed them.
We’re all one; you should never loathe them!
Dorothy was like a mother to all
Who entered her village; she’d invite
The hungry and poor to dine in her kitchen.
The sense of community was pure delight.
Like Nelson Mandela who invited his captors
To enjoy his inauguration feast,
Dorothy welcomed one and all –
Didn’t label anyone as one of the “least.”
Instead she lived a life that demonstrated
“I am who I am because of who we are.”
She knew “We are all connected.”
Her love lifted all people to “par.”
Everywhere in the world what we need
Is more Dorothys who live out Matthew 25.
Regardless of religion or color or creed,
We need Ubuntu to spread far and wide.
We must fill our world with love and joy.
We must fill the world with God’s peace.
We must feed the hungry and show respect
And love to all. Come and join my feast!
Shalom!
Ubuntu!
Have a Matthew 25 Sunday.
“I am because we are.”
We are all connected.
See you tomorrow.
