Tag: peace

Positive Vibes

Hi guys! Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. I’ve been working on developing two writing projects and they are taking up a lot of my inner daydreams. Thinking about plots and characters and such.

I wonder how many of us have been taking a break from the heavy stuff. The news just makes me sad sometimes and I have to step away for a while, especially the back and forth comments on social media. I feel for the family of George Floyd. I couldn’t even watch that video all the way. It was horrible.

I’m hoping and praying for y’all that life gets better for everyone and things become more inclusive and kind. For all its drudgery and despair, this world is still a beautiful place. I’m sending positive vibes your way tonight.

Unity, peace, love, understanding….these are things I admire and wish for you all.

As the coronavirus ravages and the peaceful protests hit the streets…I’ll be here in my little corner of the world while working my garden, hanging out with my family and pets, and pouring my energies into creative writing.

It’s not much but maybe if we all collectively work on these little things in our lives, it will have a ripple effect of positivity. Focus on building and maybe it will counter the things separating us from our common human connection.

“When it is raining, look for rainbows. When it is night time, look for stars.” Find the silver lining. Keep your face to the sun like a sunflower. Nurture. Grow.

It reminds me of a Tibetan Buddhist ceremony I went to once. The monks spent an entire week building a beautiful, intricate sand design. At the end of the week, the sand was all blown away. Thus is life. But even knowing this reality did not stop the monks from building. And neither should it stop you or me.

Life goes on. We get older. Things fall apart. All is just dust in the wind. What we do now may matter very little in the long run as things we were, things we did, things we tried to accomplish fade away to memories and then become forgotten.

But build we must for what is the purpose of existence if not this. Hope lives through our building efforts and continues through our children. And civilization continues through them and their descendants.

Unity, peace, love, understanding…strive to build these and the world of tomorrow can prosper.

Advertisement

Amazing Grace

Do you know the story of the man behind the gospel song, Amazing Grace? He was a slave trader. His name was John Newton and he lived from 1725 to 1807. John Newton was a slaver, a captain of slave ships. But in 1748, he was on a ship off the coast of Donegal, Ireland. The ship was hit by a massive and terrifying storm. It was said that night, that John Newton experienced a Christian conversion when he prayed amidst the winds and rain and tossing of the ocean waves. He prayed for deliverance.

He later gave up the slave trade and became a vocal advocate for abolition in England. He became a very charismatic Anglican clergyman and produced many speeches and a book of hymns. Amazing Grace is one of his hymns.

Here is a really beautiful version of Amazing Grace by BYU Noteworthy:

At this time, when our world is facing the Coronavirus pandemic, I wanted to bring you some encouraging and hopeful songs as well as prayers you can use for your loved ones. Here are some great songs. I will include the prayers in my next post. Please enjoy these songs and I pray you and your loved ones are safe and well.

December 12th is Ugly Christmas Sweater Day

Time to drag that Christmas sweater vest out from the back of your closet.  Dust it off and match it to a lovely 1980s style turtleneck, preferably a bright red or kelly green one.  Find yourself a jingle bell necklace to match it and you are set.

I know I’ve got mine ready for work on Thursday.

Here are some other great ugly Christmas sweater ideas from Google Images:

Earth Song

This is a place of magic.

Brilliant beautiful songbirds in hues of the rainbow nest their families in the green trees.

Their gentle music carries on the soft breeze. 

Red cardinals, like angels, gather on the limbs above whispering notes of tranquility. 

The sun slowly rises, lifting her gorgeous head from another night’s slumber.

She graciously shines her light for all and suddenly the sky bursts into captivating watercolors. 

Purple, orange, pink, and blue with clouds so white and fluffy surrounding us comfortingly.

The beautiful light of day reflects and glistens on the shimmering waves of the lakes, rivers, and oceans.

Mountains rise to embrace the sky. 

Valleys dip playfully downward covered in vivid green and wildflowers.

Majestic waterfalls cascading, some powerful and yet others delicately trickling from little wilderness streams.

Everywhere, flowers lovingly planted, contribute their colorful blooms. 

The red, pink, and yellow roses of this garden offer a pleasing scent. 

Think of all the people rising to face this day around this great big globe.

A world of dreams and destinies intertwined.

Think of a world in peace, in harmony with the songbirds.     

Mothers and fathers everywhere waking children to get ready for school.

Parents heading to work every day to build a future.

Millions and millions of boys and girls filled with hope for their day.

Grandparents helping their children and grandchildren,

Nurturing them with words of wisdom. 

Babies being born into a planet of people,

All living for the present moment. 

All together in this moment of magic.