Beauty of Autumn

The rain falls gently
Quenching the thirst of a landscape
Parched by the rays of the hot Summer Sun.

The song of the birds is now silenced.
The petals of a once brilliant flower have faded
A bright, azure sky with soft white clouds is gone,
Replaced by the grey dampness of the season.

The caressing breeze of summer
Has turned into the stormy winds of fall.
Leaves once proudly perched on the limbs of trees,
Now dance gaily through the air.

Brightly colored in the warm tones of autumn.
Children laughing merrily on their way
As they hear the crackling sound of leaves beneath their feet.

A jack-o-lantern sits in the window,
Showing a wide, toothless grin or scowling frown.
The snapping of pitch from a burning log,

The faint scene of pine filling the room,
Flames leaping about as if it were a ballet.
Performing for its audience.

The soft, comforting glow of candlelight
Bringing with it serenity and quiet thoughts
I sit in amazement watching all that is around me.

Yes, there is a God.
Only He could have made the wonders I see before me

I will accept the solitude and indifference of winter.
So I may anticipate and appreciate.
The re-birth of spring.

index blog website fast

Thanksgiving Blessing

Thanksgiving Blessing

O God,

We thank you for this earth, our home; for the wide sky and the blessed sun, for the ocean and streams, for the towering hills and the whispering wind, for the trees and green grass.

We thank you for our senses by which we hear the songs of birds, and see the splendor of fields of golden wheat, and taste autumn's fruit, rejoice in the feel of snow, and smell the breath of spring flowers.

Grant us a heart opened wide to all this beauty; and save us from being so blind that we pass unseeing when even the common thorn bush is aflame with your glory.

For each new dawn is filled with infinite possibilities for new beginnings and new discoveries. Life is constantly changing and renewing itself. In this new day of new beginnings with God, all things are possible. We are restored and renewed in a joyous awakening to the wonder that our lives are and, yet, can be.

Amen.

(Walter Rauschenbusch)

Ping-o-matic

White Raven

A separate species from the black raven, white ravens are extremely rare. They are larger and more intelligent than their black counterparts, if that could be possible!

White ravens are known to have black or blue eyes, and therefore are not albino, but leucistic. Albinism occurs when one of several genetic defects where the body is unable to produce or distribute melanin, a natural substance that provides color to the skin; and leucism is a condition in which there is partial loss of pigmentation in an animal resulting in white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, a known phenomenon in nature. If the animal lacks all pigmentation and has pink eyes, it is an albino. If it lacks pigmentation in only some parts and does not have pink eyes, it is leucistic.

This usually arises when two common black ravens, with the same genetic defect, mate. The chances of this happening are rare, however, since they are monogamous and live long lives, there is a good chance they could produce successive generations of white ravens.

The white raven is highly regarded by many native cultures and has special spiritual significance.

Wisdom and subtlety of truth is attributed to the white raven; as well as introspection, courage, self-knowledge, healing, creation, rebirth, magic and mysticism, shape shifter, prestige and the complexity of nature.

Several legends credit the white raven for bringing light to the world by freeing the sun, moon, and stars, which were locked away by an evil being. In the course of its heroic deed the white raven was turned to black. The occasional sighting of a white raven is meant to remind people of how the world was saved for all mankind and animals of creation.

Bearing magic and mysticism, ravens have a long history of myth enshrouding them. Shamans know the power of an unexpected piercing sound in shifting consciousness. Ravens have this power, giving out varied sounds, and can assist us in shifting our consciousness into various dimensional realms. Hence one of the reasons why the raven is referred to as a shape shifter with magical powers.

Ravens are considered to be highly intelligent and clever mimics. They can mimic and use the calls of other species in their own vocabulary and can show us how to understand ‘animal language’.




The raven's black color is linked to darkness, the place where unconscious fear resides, and is regarded as a bad omen; therefore feared by many.

Like all wildlife and nature – ravens should be respected, rather than feared. Some refer to them as the keeper of secrets: a link to the void. Ravens are master magicians and represent transformational energy, revealing to us how to rid ourselves of our inner fears.

If a raven has flown into your life, magic and healing abound, awakening the energy of our will and intention. You have the ability to make great changes in your life. Raven are strongly linked with death and rebirth.

Remember not to be fearful of the raven, but rather to give thanks for the teachings he brings. The raven chooses its student according to their knowledge, and usually stays as long as needed to help transmute karma, returning you to the light.

Mentally Strong People - Do's & Don'ts

1. They DON'T make the same mistakes over and over. (Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein)

    They DO self-reflect and accept full responsibility for past behaviors and are willing to learn from mistakes.

2. They DON'T dwell on the past; wasting time feeling sorry for themselves or their circumstances.

    They DO take responsibility for their actions and outcomes, having an inherent understanding of life. When a situation turns out badly, they are able to emerge with self-awareness and gratitude for the lessons learned.

3. They DON'T become complacent and stagnant.

    They DO embrace change and welcome challenge. An environment of change and even uncertainty can energize a mentally strong person and bring out their best.

4. They DON'T waste energy on things they can’t control. They don’t complain about such things as traffic, lost luggage, weather, or other people.

    They DO recognize that certain factors are beyond their control, and recognize the one thing they can control is their own response and attitude.

5. They DON'T become jealous or resentful of other people’s success.

    They DO have the ability to work hard for their own success, and possess the strength of character to feel genuine joy and excitement for other people’s success.

6. They DON'T give away their power to others to make them feel bad or inferior.

    They DO understand they are in control of their actions and emotions, knowing their strength is in their ability to manage the way they respond.

7. They DON'T people-please, or go out of their way to dis-please others as a way of reinforcing an image of strength.

    They DO strive to be kind and fair and to please others where appropriate, but are unafraid to speak up. They are able to accept the possibility that someone will get upset and will navigate the situation, wherever possible, with grace.

8. They DON'T feel the world owes them anything.

    They DO enter the world prepared to work and succeed on their own merits, throughout life.

9. They DON'T fear alone time, or depend on others to make them happy.

    They DO enjoy, even treasure, the time spent alone; using it to reflect, plan, and be productive.

10. They DON'T fear taking calculated risks or failure.

      They DO weight the risks and benefits thoroughly, fully assessing potential downsides and worst-case scenarios before taking action. They are willing to fail again and again, if necessary, as long as the learning experience from every “failure” can bring them closer to their ultimate goals. Every failure is a chance to improve.

11. They DON'T expect immediate results.

      They DO understand that genuine changes take time and know that they are in it for the long haul”. They apply their energy and time, celebrating each milestone and increment of success along the way.

Just One

Poet Unknown

One song can spark a moment,

One flower can wake the dream.

One tree can start a forest,

One bird can herald spring.

One smile begins a friendship,

One handclasp lifts a soul.

One star can guide a ship at sea,

One word can frame the goal.

One vote can change a nation,

One sunbeam lights a room.

One candle wipes out darkness,

One laugh will conquer gloom.

One step must start each journey.

One word must start each prayer.

One hope will raise our spirits,

One touch can show you care.

One voice can speak with wisdom,

One heart can know what's true,

One life can make a difference,

You see, it's up to YOU!

how to promote blog

What is the Soul

Jesus is the great Shepherd of souls.

The human soul, created by God, is distinct from the heart and the mind. It can be strong or unsteady; it can be lost or saved. We know that the human soul needs atonement and is the part of us that is purified and protected by the truth and the work of the Holy Spirit.

In many religious, philosophical and mythological traditions, the soul is the incorporeal and immortal essence of a living thing, the non-physical part of every human being.The soul is different from the body and that it continues to live after physical death. Catholic theologian Thomas Aquinas attributed "soul" (anima) to all organisms but argued that only human souls are immortal. Other religions, most notably Jainism and Hinduism, teach that all biological organisms have souls, and others teach that even non-biological entities, such as rivers and mountains, possess souls. This latter belief is called animism.

Anima mundi is the concept of a "world soul" connecting all living organisms on the planet.

The Ancient Greeks used the word for "alive" to also apply to the concept of being "ensouled", indicating that the earliest surviving western philosophical view believed that the soul was that which gave the body life. The soul was considered the incorporeal or spiritual "breath" that animates the living organism.

The human soul is central to the personhood of a human being. As George MacDonald said,“You don’t have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.” In other words, personhood is not based on having a body. A soul is what is required. Repeatedly in the Bible, people are referred to as “souls”, especially in contexts that focus on the value of human life and personhood or on the concept of a “whole being”.

Francis M. Cornford quotes Pindar by saying that the soul sleeps while the limbs are active, but when one is sleeping, the soul is active and reveals "an award of joy or sorrow drawing near" in dreams.

It has been said that there are only two things that last: the Word of God and the souls of men. This is because, like God’s Word, the soul is an imperishable thing. That thought should be both sobering and awe-inspiring.

Every person you meet is an eternal soul. Every human being who has ever lived is a soul, and all of those souls are still in existence somewhere.

pingomatic

A Buddha Is Among You

Author Unknown

The abbot of a once famous Buddhist monastery that had fallen into decline was deeply troubled. Monks were lax in their practice, novices were leaving and lay supporters deserting to other centers. He traveled far to a sage and recounted his tale of woe, of how much he desired to transform his monastery to the flourishing haven it had been in days of yore.

The sage looked him in the eye and said, "The reason your monastery has languished is that the Buddha is living among you in disguise, and you have not honored Him." The abbot hurried back, his mind in turmoil.

The Selfless One was at his monastery! Who could He be? Brother Hua? ... No, he was full of sloth. Brother Po? ... No, he was too dull. But then the Tathagata was in disguise. What better disguise than sloth or dull- wittedness? He called his monks to him and revealed the sage's words. They, too, were taken aback and looked at each other with suspicion and awe.

Which one of them was the Chosen One?

The disguise was perfect. Not knowing who He was they took to treating everyone with the respect due to a Buddha. Their faces started shining with an inner radiance that attracted novices and then lay supporters. In no time at all the monastery far surpassed its previous glory.

pingler