Leave the past behind after learning from it. Learn from the present, it will soon be the past. Live for the future, the best is yet to come. Happy Saturday.
Author Archives: Patricia Ann
Our Anxious World
Make no mistake about it. Our world is us…we the people. So what about us is influencing the marked increase in anxiety among our young, mid-age, and elderly?
Some say it is the food we eat, the meds we take, the air we breathe, the games we play, a synapse malfunction…and a myriad of other reasons. Granted, some of these may be responsible but why not look into ourselves? Could there be a connection to the way we treat others, to the way we tune out the conversations that make us uncomfortable, to the way we handle our differences, to the way we exhibit aggressive behavior with the excuse that ‘that’s just the way I am’? All this and more is seen in families, business, the coach’s bench, schools, churches…you name it.
Anxiety is not only a modern day problem. It existed two thousand years ago and even longer. It existed in the Garden of Eden. But that’s not to say that it can’t be overcome. A change of attitude on the part of ourselves and the people we share the world with would be a good first step. Asking ourselves if we could be a contributing factor to our own or someone else’s anxiety and then making a move to do something about it would be a good second step.
I feel that like cancer and other debilitating diseases we deal with on a daily basis, we must continue to look for ways to eradicate this mind-numbing, body-stiffening, nausea-producing ailment before it eradicates us as a humanity.
I, for one, am praying for healing of the afflicted and know that with our own awareness and God’s help, they will be restored. There is a way…let’s find it.
Your Favorite Place
May you spend time in your favorite place of worship this day even if it is in the beauty of the great outdoors…give thanks. Happy Sunday.
Blessed With the Best
Upon reflection, the small things that get us down in life do not compare with the suffering others go through. Until we are faced with the tragedies felt by our fellow humans, let us be thankful when we are blessed with the best. Happy Saturday.
Just For Now
One hour after her eightieth birthday, Barbara was blowing out candles in heaven. It was one birthday her husband and daughters could not attend physically, but be sure they were wishing her well in the midst of their own grief.
Two months after his one-hundredth birthday, Bob traded in his wheelchair on earth for a chariot in heaven. Bob’s birthday party was well attended and a resounding rendition of “Happy Birthday to You” filled the auditorium of St. Andrew’s Scarborough where both Bob and Barbara had attended for many, many years.
Yes, in January we at St. Andrew’s bade farewell to two more of our dearly loved members; people who not only attended the church but attended to the church in so many ways over the years.
We were one month into the new year when Barbara and Bob climbed that stairway to heaven, following in the footsteps of the many who had gone before them. We at St. Andrew’s who love our people deeply, also grieve deeply when they answer that final call to “Come Home.”
Although they leave behind two separate families who miss them, they also leave behind one church family who misses them also.
And so we say not “Good-bye” to Barbara and Bob, but “Just for now.”
How To Be Your Own Valentine
Okay, so we’re not all lucky enough or blessed enough to have a special someone in our life anymore. But we do remember the time when we did, and it is a good memory. Or not.
So here’s what to do if you are all alone on Valentine’s Day.
- Thank God that you’re alive…alone or not.
- Have your favorite breakfast.
- Call someone else who is alone.
- Arrange a lunch or dinner date with them.
- If that doesn’t work go to #6 and #7.
- Prepare your favorite lunch.
- Cook your favorite dinner…better still, order in.
- Look for someone to hug…if that doesn’t work hug yourself.
- Smile in the mirror and say, “I love you.”
- Start looking for next year’s Valentine so you don’t have to be your own.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Peace Be With You
The Trappist monk Thomas Merton once said, “We cannot be at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we cannot be at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God”. Peace be with you. Happy Sunday.
Favorite Things
Whether you are enjoying your favorite Olympic sport today, doing your favorite thing or being with your favorite person, may your Saturday be a mountaintop experience.
Blessing or Curse?
Jesus Christ!
To those of us who know about him, or better still, know him, just seeing these two words is a blessing. They fill us with hope, faith, peace, happiness, awe, expectation…
But to others, these two words are used as a curse. Why? Because they don’t know any better. They don’t realize that he was an actual man who walked the face of this earth over two thousand years ago; who was a born leader, a teacher, a philosopher, a son, a brother, a friend, miracle worker…
I prefer to believe this rather than think that people know of him and still use his name as a curse. That would not only be disrespectful, cruel, cutting, but blasphemous.
So why not use anyone’s name as a curse? There are plenty of historical names that could be used, names of people who were known as destroyers of humanity by their evil deeds. Or why not just any ordinary person’s name. Why not yours or mine?
The fact is Jesus Christ did once inhabit a place on this planet as do we today. The fact is that he does not deserve to have his name “dragged through the mud”. The fact is that he obviously has a place in our consciousness or we would not be using his name in any way.
Whether or not we believe that this man was also the Son of God, it is incumbent upon us to rethink how we utter his name.
Jesus Christ!
Blessing or curse?
Now that you know…choose…
Are You Ready?
Someone once wrote, “Imagine feeling like God is calling you to change direction. How easy would it be to let go of everything you have built in order to follow that call?” It happened for me in 1984. Are you ready? Happy Sunday.
My Precious Life 