It's waiting that's hard; I want it now, but some things take time; hand to the plow. Plant the seed and watch it grow. Like it or not, life is so. No matter how hard I wish or pray, I just have to wait for another day. Patience develops when I'm able to say: perhaps tomorrow, but not today.
The home of Kindness is a caring heart, where this fine virtue gets its start. In time kindness moves to a smiling face, and then to hands of mercy and grace. Before you know it, kindness controls the daily encounters of body and soul. In these days of pain and sorrow, kindness will create a better tomorrow.
My mom once said: "Take the Honest way in all you do, whether work or play." She was right, of course, and I know it now but then, it seemed, no matter how I lived my life, how I chose to be, it all came down to what suited me. Bend the rules? What's the bottom line? No matter the cost, not yours but mine.
Finally Love, where all virtues combine, self-giving love that is inclined to take the risk, to pay the price, beyond the platitudes of being nice. Love is patient and love is kind, give it away and you will find that love returns to the place of its start, the living flesh of a Christ-like heart.
No. That is not me. I’ve never had a burning desire to ride a surf board. You? But I do admire the fortitude and courage of those who paddle out beyond the first breaker, stand up on that slippery board, and ride to glory. The people in this photo are quite near the shore line, but there are several more much farther out in the ocean waiting for The Big wave. Courage. It takes courage for some people to get up in the morning, to face difficult decisions, to try new things…to change from the familiar to the untried. Especially today I think courage is required as women and men try to hammer out peace in the Middle East, to address border issues right here in our own country, to stand up for justice and fairness in the political arena and in the marketplace. Maybe you are aware of the need for courage in your average day. I remind you to let the life of Jesus be a guide map to courage. He had it, used it, and calls us to do the same when it comes to matters of human welfare. Be strong and of good courage, for you are a child of God and a brother or sister to the Lord of our lives. May God, this day, strengthen your spirit and grant you courage to be the fullness of who you are. Amen.
A Manzanita illustration of the famous poem, “Footprints In The Sand.” Walking with God through life, the poet sounds an accusing tone: You walked with me, God, in all the good times, but in the tough times you abandoned me. I know that because there is only one set of footprints instead of two. In reply, the Lord corrects this mistaken observation. No, I didn’t leave you alone. When you see one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.
Ever notice one set of footprints when you look back over your life? Probably. Welcome to the human race. The Spirit works in us and through us, even when we don’t know it’s happening. What love that is! Be grateful for the unfailing strength and love that sustains us through all circumstances.
St. Paul was correct: ”Love never gives us, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”
This is not the usual ShiningSpirit posting, but I think it is important for me to collect some information regarding readership for this site. I wrote the first entry about ten years ago, and I’ve tried to be diligent in keeping the site active and meaningful. Over the years, many of you have offered lots of encouragement and constructive comments. But it is time now for me to do some evaluation, and I’m hoping you will help. I am asking you to spend just a few minutes considering three specific questions. If you agree to do this, you can text or email or comment through the site or drop in at our Oregon address and share your responses. Participate or not, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season this year.
I read ShiningSpirit: Every day___ Once or twice a week ___ Rarely____
I am registered as a “Follower” (you receive a separate email every time a posting it done). Yes___ No___
I would like ShiningSpirit to continue in 2024. Yes___ No___
You are welcome to make narrative comments but I will leave that to you. Thank you very much for reading the postings. Your help in evaluating the site is very important and truly appreciated.
I got an example yesterday of how human beings have contributed to the evolution and development of this good creation. There are three seagulls in the photo. One is on the left side, just above the beach. Another is in the foreground, probably watching the other two glide through the air. And the third bird, in the upper right corner, appears to be flying by. But let me explain exactly what is happening in this photograph. You are looking at the fundamental flight procedures at any sizable airport. Bird number 1, on the far left, is coming in for a landing. He has his wings extended to full shape; we call it having the airplane’s flaps in landing position…more air under the wing. The bird’s landing gear is down…legs and web feet…and he appears to be looking straight ahead at the landing zone on the beach. Airport runways have landing zones where the aircraft should touch down. Bird number 2, foreground, is holding at the end of the runway until number1 touches down and turns off the runway. At major airports, Ground Control moves planes into position for takeoff and guides landing planes to various gates. That leaves number 3, who is not just flying by, but is on his downwind leg in the landing pattern and is about to make a left turn into his final approach for landing. There is a lot of orchestration, maybe choreography, in the daily routines of big city airports. Amazing to watch, the dance of take-offs and landings is a tribute to human intelligence and skill. But here’s the point: I am really impressed with seagulls and other birds that have learned from human intelligence. Those birds are smart to have mimicked how we intellectually superior humans do things. Clever birds.
Pay attention. Watch what’s about to happen. The well-dressed man in the front row clears his throat loudly. An attention getter. A hush falls over the crowd as Mr. Prominent rises to pose a question to the guest teacher. Here’s what he asks: ”Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He didn’t ask “what MUST I do…” or “what must I DO…” He said: “WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?” (All CAPS means he said it in a very LOUD voice.) The “I” in the question sounded like this: ”What must I do…” Upper case “I” in a large, bold font. And all the audience whispered among themselves: Why, he is a religious leader, a man set apart for Yahweh. Jesus will probably run to him and give him a big welcome hug. Jesus didn’t. In response, the teacher listed a few important life responsibilities, like, don’t murder somebody; don’t steal; be good to your parents. Everybody nodded. Once again, Mr. Front Row cleared his throat to alert everyone that he was about to say something significant. And again, not in a soft reply, he announced for all to hear: I HAVE DONE ALL THOSE THINGS SINCE I WAS A CHILD. Yea! He’ll be at the front of the line for the bus to eternal life. And then Jesus dropped the bomb. In a rather matter-of-fact voice, the teacher told him, sell all your possessions, give the money to the poor, then come and live with me. Wham-O! In fact, it was a double Wham-O. Jesus punctured his pride and hit him in his weak spot….possessions. Money. Riches. The stuff the man prized most. Stuff, indeed. This story is told in Luke 18 and makes this point: in the time of Jesus, rich people, particularly wealthy religious leaders, were generally thought to be less than honest, not very charitable, sometimes downright crooked. Two observations: if you were then, or if you are now, among the less than rich…among the struggling or the poor…rich people still stand in question. ”Why does he have so much when I have so little? How did he get it, anyway?” Second, you and I are rich. Don’t giggle. You and I are among the wealthy of the world. Surely that is obvious. So, don’t be too quick to dismiss the story as old, out of date or irrelevant. It would be a gut punch if Jesus said that to any of us. This is not about surrendering position or power or prestige. This is about accepting an alternative manner of life that is directed by a different set of principles. What is the ultimate commitment or allegiance in my life? What do I value most? What gives me the greatest, the deepest joy? What or who could I never walk away from? You’ve just named your “god.” The Teacher never said his way was easy. It’s not. But it is authentic. Authentic.
Come on. Let’s go for a walk. Mind that big fallen tree on the left. This is one of my favorite pathways and I thought you might like it, too. That wonderful sound you hear is the song of a very happy stream, also on our left. It twists and turns, all the while pushing its way to the ocean. There aren’t many flowers along the way, but the trees are dense and tall, like a rain forest because there is a dampness that makes everything glisten. I love the sound of gravel crunching as we walk past more fallen giants, past rock formations that look just like art exhibits in a classy gallery. If we stop for a moment and stand very still, we can hear the ocean surf hitting the rocky beach behind us, the cracking of twigs off to our right. Don’t worry…no bears; maybe a moose or one of the hundreds of deer that live in these woods. As we keep moving, the path will twist and turn following the stream and we will see exhibit after exhibit of Creation’s glory. Want to sit for a few minutes and listen to the heartbeat of the universe? How about right here? Make yourself comfortable. This is a moment you will remember for a long time.
Where do you go when you need refreshment? To the beach for a walk, to the mountains, to your familiar route through the neighborhood, that special trail or pathway, to a gathering of good friends, to a quiet spot with a good book to read, to the company of a person special in your life, to prayer or meditation? Long list, and you could add more. Think about your “refreshment place.” Honor it as an essential part of your life, and visit it every time you feel overwhelmed or exhausted. Don’t run away from the confusion; run to the clarity. Believe it or not, every one of us needs soul refreshment now and then . Maybe even today. “Be still and know…” Be still and be known. And from the knowing, be a blessing.
Shining Spirit 
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