Author Archives: Patricia Ann

Please…Just Cut the Red Tape

Posted on by

It’s all over the news that a mother from Alberta gave birth to her two month premature baby in Ontario while visiting family.

She had been given clearance by her doctor to make the trip. There was no reason to believe that the baby girl would make her appearance while out of province.

Because the hospital where she was delivered could not accommodate this premature birth, mother and baby were flown to a neighboring hospital in the same province to the tune of approximately $30,000, which the airline stated in advance of the emergency flight. (Why $30,000?!)

Of course the mother agreed…what was she going to say…”No, no, I can’t pay to save my baby’s life!” Knowing she lived in Canada, she felt her Canadian health care would be looked after…and normally it would.

Now each of the provinces are declining to accept health care responsibilities.

What is the big deal??? This is a life and death situation of a brand new human being, of not the child’s nor the mother’s choosing.

Why can’t each province split the cost of the air ambulance…a mere $15,000 each. Each province can afford it and obviously, the young mother cannot.

When, oh when, is our society going to start implementing humane values to human conditions?

When are we going to start making exceptions to the so-called “RULES”?

When are we going to put human life ahead of the bottom line?

When are we going to cut the red tape in favor of the right thing to do?

Is this blog going to make a difference to this young mother’s plight? Not likely…but at least for once I won’t just sit back and say, “There’s nothing I can do about that.”

There comes a time to take a stand to cut the red tape.

Call on the Power Inherent in You

Posted on by

Deep within us is a vast reservoir of untapped power waiting to be used…so wrote Norman Vincent Peale. I also wrote about this power within in my poem, All Things Are Possible, in 1984: to wit, all goals can be reached, all dreams can come true, when you call on the Power inherent in you. 

Here are a few Biblical points on power:

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV)

A wise man has great power...(Proverbs 24:5 NIV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…(Acts 1:8 NIV)

…I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you….(Romans 9:17 NIV)

And then there is this poem which I wrote in 1998:

THE POWER OF YOU

If you would be more powerful

release your ego

let it soar

let the roar of you subside,

look inside,

see the power of you

released

to empower others.

©1998

Empowering others does not decrease our own power, but on the contrary, seems to enhance it so that we are ready at a moment’s notice to boost those in need of a surge.

Go ahead, call on The Power.

 

 

 

 

 

A Spiritual Dimension

Posted on by

Years ago, I wrote a poem called A New Dimension, which I will post here.

After I wrote it, I wondered what that new dimension was, never being sure of the words that came to me. In church last Sunday, spirituality was mentioned and how there are those who never accept, or experience it.

Spirituality could definitely be viewed as another dimension of our life experience, I thought, remembering my poem of 1979.

Didn’t Jesus say, “…seek and you shall find…”? (Matthew 7:7)

Here then, is:

A NEW DIMENSION

Somewhere between each rising

and setting of the sun

a new dimension opens up

to each and everyone.

It’s there for us to welcome

a new challenge, a new day

we need only make ourselves aware

in every subtle way.

We need only make our senses

come alive, alert and more

responsive to the little things

we usually ignore.

So seek that new dimension

it’s there for everyone,

somewhere between each rising

and setting of the sun.

©1979

…to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:6) KJV

So, seek that new dimension…why not?

No Matter What

Posted on by

Here is a verse that had me baffled for awhile. The promise is so promising that I didn’t expect to experience anything but wonderful events in my life.

However, what followed after reading Jeremiah 29:11 in 1995 was anything but promising.

Through the years, I suffered broken bones, business loss, cancer, heart disease, and the death of the second love of my life,

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

These are the plans you have for me Lord? Forgive me if I don’t seem too excited to embrace them!

But embrace them I did. My bones healed; caregiving replaced retailing; I survived lung cancer and heart disease, and grief gave way to peaceful acceptance. Prosperity isn’t always of monetary value. Believe me, I am prosperous in more ways than one.

The point is to keep on believing in God’s good, despite the disasters life throws at us.

Through it all, my faith stayed strong…no matter what.

Christian Humor Starring Forest Gump

Posted on by

One of my church friends is suffering much pain and discomfort from a broken wrist. Trying to inject a little chuckle into her life, I sent her a card with the following funny tucked inside. She suggested that I share it on my blog, that other people might enjoy it. However, it helps if you have seen the movie Forest Gump.

Forest Gump and St. Peter

Clean Religious Jokes

When Forest Gump died, he stood in front of St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter said, “Welcome, Forest. We’ve heard a lot about you.” He continued, “Unfortunately, it’s getting pretty crowded up here and we find that we now have to give people an entrance examination before we let them in.”

“Okay,” said Forest. “I hope it’s not too hard. I’ve already been through a test. My momma used to say, ‘Life is like a final exam. It’s hard.’ ”

“Yes, Forest, I know. But this test is only three questions. Here they are.”

1) Which two days of the week begin with the letter ‘T’?”

2) How many seconds are in a year?

3) What is God’s first name?

“Well, sir,” said Forest, “The first one is easy. Which two days of the week begin with the letter ‘T’? Today and Tomorrow.”

St. Peter looked surprised and said, “Well, that wasn’t the answer I was looking for, but you have a point. I give you credit for that answer.”

“The next question,” said Forest, “How many seconds are in a year? Twelve.”

“Twelve?” said St. Peter, surprised and confused.

“Yes, sir. January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd …”

St. Peter interrupted him. “I see what you mean. I’ll have to give you credit for that one, too.”

“And the last question,” said Forest, “What is God’s first name? It’s Andy.”

“Andy?” said St. Peter, in shock. “How did you come up with ‘Andy’?”

“I learned it in church. We used to sing about it.” Forest broke into song, “Andy walks with me, Andy talks with me, Andy tells me I am His own.”

St. Peter opened the gate to heaven and said, “Run, Forest, Run!”

(Actually, another congregation member also has a broken wrist. I hope she enjoys this also. Please heal, ladies.)

Once In a Blue Moon

Posted on by

If you have something you can only do once in a blue moon, tonight’s the time to do it because it is the night of the blue moon.

Now, the moon won’t actually be blue; it is just that it is the second full moon this month which is a rare occurrence. So don’t strain your eyes looking for a blue hue, just enjoy the extra full moon lighting up the universe…a celestial phenomenon.

You may want to click on the following link and enjoy Frank Sinatra’s rendition of the song “Blue Moon” as you gaze heavenward. Enjoy.

Frank Sinatra Blue moon. – YouTube

 

PHOTO: There is a blue moon on Friday.

July 31, 2015

Stayin’ Alive

Posted on by

“Stayin’ Alive” is a hit from the seventies, written by the Gibb brothers, Barry, Robin and Maurice, members of the popular group,  the Bee Gees.

To give people a better understanding of how to perform CPR when needed, a you tube video shows actors performing the procedure to the beat of this popular disco song of the seventies.

Hands only CPR requires 100 chest compressions per minute and the tempo of “Stayin’ Alive” is 103 beats a minute, making the song a potential life saving hit with the American Heart Association.

Here is the link to one of the “Stayin’ Alive” videos, featuring Saturday Night Fever with a very young John Travolta.

 

 

Reunited

Posted on by

“Reunited and it feels so good”…those are the only words I like in the song of the same title.

Yesterday I was reunited with the me I used to be. It happened with Abba, the Swedish singing group. Actually,  it was “The Best of Abba” CD with such hits as Supertrouper, Dancing Queen, Waterloo, and Fernando, among other great songs.

Dancing was a huge part of my younger life. I loved it! Somehow it went by the wayside when debilitating health problems took a toll on my body.

It was on a one hour drive that I popped the CD into its slot and the me I used to be was suddenly behind the wheel of my 2006 Kia Magenta SX.

Oh, the joy of feeling that music coursing through me, caused my  entire body to react to the sounds vibrating from the speakers. I could have been on a dance floor instead of a highway.

For a full hour I relived my dancing days, and really felt the meaning of “Reunited and it feels so good”. The me I used to be was happy to be back and I welcomed her with open arms, if not dancing feet.

Think we’ll stay connected😊