THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD – Henry Drummond
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EVERY one has asked himself the great question of antiquity as of the modern world: What is the summum bonum–the supreme good? You have life before you. Once only you can live it. What is the noblest object of desire, the supreme gift to covet?
We have been accustomed to be told that the greatest thing in the religious world is Faith. That great word has been the key-note for centuries of the popular religion; and we have easily learned to look upon it as the greatest thing in the world. Well, we are wrong. If we have been told that, we may miss the mark. I have taken you, in the chapter which I have just read, to Christianity at its source; and there we have seen, “The greatest of these is love.” It is not an oversight. Paul was speaking of faith just a moment before. He says, “If I have all faith, so that I can remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. “So far from forgetting, he deliberately contrasts them, “Now abideth Faith, Hope, Love,” and without a moment’s hesitation, the decision falls, “The greatest of these is Love.”
Wondering about the future of planet earth…
Posted by asophiad | Filed under Belief
Glory of nature
I´m looking out of my living room window onto the most beautiful view of mountains, hills and a reservoir surrounded by small villages. These are the foothills of the Andes, 12,000 feet above sea level. Living here reminds you of the timelessness and power of nature. Our daily comings and goings take on a different meaning when you are constantly reminded of the eternal mysteries that make up this planet. Mother nature rebels against our violations of her dignity like an elephant whisking an insect off of her back. How long will we be allowed to co-exist with God’s creatures on this planet? How long will we be allowed to suck from her goodness before she says, “Enough” and shakes us from her surface? I wonder. Perhaps, before this happens, we will finally come into the realization that our true power doesn’t lie in petrol, gold and platinum, or even in water and land, but its inside of us. “For the kingdom of God is within you.” Jesus
What do wrinkles mean?
Posted by asophiad | Filed under Age is not a limit, Belief
Wearing her wrinkles with love
Have you ever noticed how people’s wrinkles reveal more than just the age? Some might make them look sad, tender or sweet. Others reveal inner anger , frustration and greed even when the face is smiling. Life has a way of sculpting and forming the soul. One can hide innermost feelings, but the strokes of destiny and the emotions allowed free reign in the heart will chisel the countenance. I look in the mirror and see my worries, failures and questions, but I also see the lines of joy, laughter and a life lived with meaning. No amount of collagen renewal cream will totally erase them, and so I will sport them daily, without shame. Hopefully, as time goes by, I will develop more of the laughter and smile lines. So, let the wrinkles reign in all their splendor. Let us bear them with pride and dignity. Youthfulness is really a state of mind and wrinkles are the stripes we wear to prove our battle history. I wonder when people began to be ashamed of their age. Who told us age was something to hide? I suspect its all about losing ones attractiveness, and sex appeal. Well, to lose some of that and gain the state of a wise and worthy human being seems far more attractive to me. There is nothing more unpleasant than the sight of someone who has undergone multiple plastic surgeries to hide the truth. Why would anyone feel so insecure as to want to hide the years they have survived? We should wear medals for having lived, fought and stayed afloat in this life. When you know there is an eternity and the tiny measure of years we spend here on earth is merely a fraction of the life we have and will live, then a few wrinkles should do nothing more than prove our worth.
Hereafter
Posted by asophiad | Filed under Age is not a limit, Belief
I strongly recommend the recent movie produced by Clint Eastwood starring Matt Damon, “Hereafter”. It brought home some powerful concepts that are so often avoided because we don’t want to look farther than the here and now, or prepare for death. It touched me deeply. When the movie was over, I found myself in a state of reflection that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. It occurred to me that there are relationships in my life I’ve got to leave behind. It’s not about cutting anyone out of my life, but about letting my old emotions towards these people die to allow room for freedom and new space to get to know each other in a different way. It’s as if I had gotten stuck in the past, basing my love for my family on old, overprotective feelings that had them and myself trapped. It’s about moving on.
The hereafter doesn’t start at death, but follows a pattern all through life’s journey. Living today and letting yesterday die, allowing the metamorphosis of transition and growth give us new wings by shedding old skin and setting to the mission at hand must become more important than old worries, frozen mind sets and habits.
When the Hereafter arrives, my prayer is that I’ll be ready to pass on with a full heart to meet those who are already on the other side where we will share joy and a sense of closure.This physical life is but a speck in eternity. If we can come into the knowledge that it will go on, then we can choose whats important among the vast buffet of events and feelings presented to us. The art of it is to find the delicate balance between living with the heart here and now, making things right and better while keeping the focus of eternity alive and burning.
Long live life! It’s here forever! Let us live it fully!
Age is relative, change is essential
Posted by asophiad | Filed under Age is not a limit, Belief
While watching the Copa Libertadores soccer tournament with my fanatical, Argentine husband, I took in a few well learned lessons. The Argentina team kept coming out even, not winning, not losing. One of their players is considered the best in the world but he had no room to move freely on the field. There wasn’t “team chemistry” going on, and the criticism of his playing was cruel. Finally, the Technical Director made some key changes, taking out a few old timers who weren’t giving enough space, and putting in those who would support the talent of the best player.
The brilliant changes manifested in the results of the next game, Argentina won,3/0. This outstanding player was free to set up plays that led the whole team forward and the attitude of the new players was to catch the spirit of team action. Their opposition had no chance at the ball.
When we have come to a stagnant point, life calls us to evoke changes at all levels. Perhaps we need to sacrifice a well meaning relationship, throw out old mind sets and bring in new strategies, renew our core beliefs and discern what space our “best player” needs to take over the field. Age should not be a limiting factor; on the contrary, we are now aware of whats really important and our loyalty to useless habits can be eliminated. We are ready to give it our best shot throughout the years we have left. It’s time to let change take its course, do or die.
Many great men have drowned in despondency and boredom, procrastination and depression. Habits, routines and inflexible inner conversations have the power to kill creativity within the soul. But like old wine, if one matures with the ability to cultivate the richness within, and bring it out to enjoy, there is no age limit or fear of death and uselessness. The bottle must be occasionally turned to mix the flavor as the years go by. Bottoms up!
What to do when you have been severely misunderstood?
Posted by asophiad | Filed under Belief, Healing
When communication breaks down and there seems to be no way to get across your side of the story, its time for some deep reflection. No matter how complicated the issue or how long the misunderstanding has taken place, I believe there must be a way to work things out. Life is a breeding ground for learning to relate that begins in the womb and lasts to the grave. I will not give up, even when things become so complicated there seems to be no way out of the maze. As the years go by, life’s school seems to bring new factors into focus and put others on the back burner. Priorities change, things you were so sure of vanish or transform as you start to look back instead of looking forward. It becomes easier to apologize and relinquish the desire to be in the right.
There is a situation in my life that will require a large dose of patience and understanding. It’s not simple and it’s not just one person, but a few very angry and determined individuals who have targeted me as the protagonist in a tragic situation. After many years of being defamed online, I am doing my best to communicate, with all sincerity, my side of the story. I can only hope for the best. Knowing my own heart in depth has helped me to understand and face it without reproach or fear. I know myself enough now to confront this as an opportunity to stand on my belief system of truthfulness and compassion.
Cause and effect, is it true that our thoughts will reflect in our situation even when they are unspoken?
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I have been reading a lot lately about the effect our inner conversations have on the outcome of our destiny. It’s not clear if many unspoken conversations in the mind are inherited, or if they are developed since our birth. One thing seems sure; the opinion we have of ourselves and others seems to translate into the realm of physical and material conditions and relationships. This is an over whelming concept because thousands of thoughts are running through your mind all at once and the ability to control and check them is almost impossible on a conscious level. Many thoughts are just temporary, calculations of the present moment and how to navigate throughout the day. But here we’re talking about deep rooted attitudes, our belief system that effects everything around us; “It’s all so difficult…this is too much for me…nothing will ever change…people don’t like me…I don’t want to be around anyone…nothing ever works out…etc.” Or the even more serious, core attitudes where these thoughts are initially born; fear, hatred, bitterness, anger and remorse.
This is where faith in a superior force comes into play. I believe that not only do we rule our surroundings by the thoughts we cultivate, but we have access to a higher force to help us rise above the flood of unwanted emotions and thoughts that come into play throughout life’s constant stream of events. In my case, knowing how my mind and emotions can run wild, I commend my heart and mind to God every day. When I became aware of the magnitude of this basic truth, that thoughts actually play a part in the outcome of things, it’s become a necessity for me to spend time each morning in reflection and prayer. I need the extra power to discern and clean out the attitudes that if cultivated, will bring me down. Through some powerful, self-help programs, I learned about tuning in to the inner eye that scans the heart and soul. But I have found that this isn’t enough. I am only human and in my search for growth and greater usefulness, I must adopt a spirit of humility to ask for help. It’s been an eye-opener to become aware of my thoughts on a deeper level, and a bit overwhelming. But I am overjoyed to be learning about this new dimension where I can plant a firm standard, with the Lord’s help, to uphold creative, loving and powerful thoughts of triumph and success. A new set of inner conversations can be set in place and the atmosphere around me can be transformed. I believe it!
About 2012, Nostradamus, Egypt and the future.
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Afro-indigenous girl saying her prayers, north Colombian coast
As I read article after article on the disturbing interpretations of the Mayan prophecies, Nostradamus’ visions, scientific data describing a change in the vibrational field and direction of the planet’s movement coinciding with this date, and Muslim scriptures talking of the arrival of a great Muslim leader who will subdue all other powers before 2013, one asks oneself….what am I planning for? Is it all coming to an end? Should we continue to develop long term projects, or must we begin preparing for the seemingly inevitable transition that according to the prophets, will mean an entire re-haul of planet earth?
Throughout history, the prophets of doom have been spokesmen for apprehension and reflected our sense of guilt about the way we are managing things . Many have come and gone, and yet the world is still orbiting, perhaps slightly wounded by our selfish intervention in the environment, but orbiting nonetheless. One thing I believe is true, our hearts are being tested and tried according to the personal stand we take as human beings who have the power to destroy or create. It is a time of unprecedented spiritual advancement with people of all cultures and nations searching for universal truth. The tremendously complicated and demanding society humankind has created seems to be teetering on the brink of dinosaur proportions. These prophecies, combined with the amazing collection of predictions in the Bible, point to a change coming. The words of the prophets carry a message of hope to those who know we are severely off track and perhaps deserving of a big melt down, while they instill fear in the hearts of those, who in ignorance, seek to conserve the status-quo.
I take a stand for love and compassion. Whether the end comes with some catastrophic event or after a ripe old-age, every soul will be obliged to eventually learn what we were sent here for. And the little people of the earth, the victims of poverty and war, will find justice and peace, “The meek shall inherit the earth.” If the heart stands on the kind of faith that can’t be shaken or destroyed by outer circumstances because there is belief in a greater, eternal destiny, then come what may, it will pass through fire and come out as white as snow. Plant that tree, pay that bill and love those around you with all your heart. This is our protection from regret and shame and the ticket to a wonderful future on planet earth and beyond. At the end of the day, is there anything more important? NO FEAR!
Quantum Physics and faith…fascinating!
Posted by asophiad | Filed under Belief, Healing
I just read something amazing about the connection between Quantum Physics and faith. It talks about our interaction with the invisible world of atoms and electrons, with the energetic and vibrational power that we, human beings possess when we observe, pronounce and wish for things to happen. Even things that are supposedly out of our human reach can be transformed over time by our words and intentions. In other words, nothing is impossible. All the motivational writers and speakers tell us of the innate potential we have to change and transform the world around us and how our thoughts reflect in our environment. But until I read this scientific explanation, I didn’t understand intellectually how faith works in the actual, physical dimension.
For example, when Jesus walked on the water or raised the dead, he was demonstrating to us that there is another, vibrational dimension where we can operate using the power we have to command change, against all odds. This wasn’t only for Him, it was for anyone who wants to learn how pure, crude faith can operate to transform the natural, physical laws when it is untainted with doubt, confusion and fear.
I plan to keep on reading about this fascinating subject, and I am thankful that science is delving into this supposedly “illogical” realm. It has always occurred to me that science and faith must join together at some level. It is tremendously comforting to find these answers. During my lifetime, I have experienced several life or death situations that were reversed through persistent prayer, and I have resorted to blindly believing these things, trying to live with faith as my dearest companion and seeing it work time after time. Now, studies of Quantum Physics offer explanations. Our Lord said, “Blessed is he who believes tho he sees not….” Well, this has been my journey, to believe without explanations but I am grateful for the wonderful people who have done the groundwork to verify and explore these concepts, and I feel privileged to find a new step towards understanding more about faith, to be able to “see” a little into the actual reasons why it works.
The week in between…listen, pray, reflect.
Posted by asophiad | Filed under Belief, Healing
Christmas has come and gone and life goes on as usual. The tree still stoically bears its tiny, white lights, hovering above the bits of brightly colored wrapping paper that remain to be swept aside. The fireplace is warm from last night’s family carol time and that special, yuletide scent hangs in the air.
My little granddaughter, Nicky (5 yrs.old), insisted on accompanying Grandpa and Grandma for our daily walk on the mountain road this morning. Her blacks curls bobbed up and down and her little legs pumped to keep up as she grasped hard to my hand.
“Do you want to hear about the dream I had last night?”she asked. “There were flowers everywhere and all the people came out of their houses, including us, to plant flowers that grew real fast. The people were all dressed in Christmas clothes and everyone was singing Christmas songs. There were big, beautiful houses and rivers and lakes with green, green grass on the hills and everyone was smiling.”
My eyes filled with tears. All through December we were moving so fast, performing music all over town, that I had little time to stop and listen. Now I was listening. Nicky is the kind of child that can make up stories using two forks who talk to each other or sing and converse incessantly with the pile of pillows she retrieved from the sofas, each one playing its special role in her story. She loves animals, hugs and kisses and will dance to music that only she can hear.
Was it a dream or her imagination that took her to this place? It reminded me of the visions people have had of a perfect world in the afterlife and places I have visited myself in dreams that leave a lingering feeling you’d rather not wake up from. But today was the day after Christmas and the childlike fervor with which she described this place contained a sort of divine message about the ongoing joy and beauty we yearn for and strive to recreate, at least yearly, at Christmas time.Today, I had no obligations; I could stop to listen.
A new year is at our door. We have a bit of time to let go of both the celebration or sorrow of last year and turn a new page. I strive to collect the lessons learned, eliminate the old baggage and put it all in order. Nicky’s dream brought to mind what is truly important. What am I really striving for? The years pass by so quickly while life’s turns and twists absorb us with efforts to reach our earthly goals; how easy it is to lose the essence of it all, the meaning of each hour and moment. Ambitions to be somebody have slowly disappeared and the simplicity of life’s true content comes to the fore.
This wonderful week in between Christmas and the New Year provides the space to listen, pray and reflect. It cushions the year with time to stop, and then start again. May we listen to find the answers in the sounds that our soul emits and begin this next year’s journey on the pathway that will lead to the higher calling. As Leon Hieco, the famous Argentine singer expresses in his most famous song, “May death not find me empty and alone without having done enough.” May this be a year that will bring us a step closer to the culmination of our personal mission, no matter how apparently great or insignificant it may seem. Every silent act of love and blessed thought sent out to strengthen another, are the vehicles to take us there.
