“Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible—it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possession could.” Barbara DeAngelis
Walking in the forest noticing the sunlight filter through the trees, watching the birds flit from place to place, listening to the wind whisper through the trees, smelling the fresh fragrance of the trees, my soul is filled with joy.
Walking barefoot on the beach at the ocean, feeling the sand between my toes, feeling the cool breeze through my hair, watching a family building a sand castle. Walking in the garden, smelling the sweet fragrant flowers, feeling enchanted by a hummingbird. A hug from a friend, a smile, laughter, a shared cup of tea.
These are my places of joy. These experiences are so essential to my wellbeing. Joy feeds my soul, raises my energy and expands my awareness.
Feeling joy can at times feel a bit irresponsible. Life can be challenging and there is so very much to do. There are endless issues to face and significant decisions to make. But that is the exact moment when we need joy.
The months during the pandemic there were many days that felt joyless. One day I picked up the phone and called a friend. We laughed, and cried and our hearts were open again. The simple gift of connecting lifted us both.
Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us, “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”
Joy is a pathway to love. Take a moment and find your joy and bask in the love.
Affirmation: I am grateful for the opulent abundance that surrounds me.
I am often overwhelmed with the conflicts and issues about our country. I am grateful for this prayer from Ernest Holmes.
My Prayer for My Country
by Ernest Holmes
Believing in the Divine destiny of the United States of America and in the preservation of liberty, security, and self-expression for all, I offer this, my prayer for my country:
I know that Divine Intelligence governs the destiny of the United States of America, directing the thought and the activity of all who guide its affairs.
I know that success, prosperity, and happiness are the gifts of freedom, the Divine heritage and is now operating in the affairs of every individual in this country.
I know that Divine guidance enlightens the collective mind of the people of this country, causing it to know that economic security may come to all without the loss of either personal freedom or individual self-expression.
I know that no one can believe or be led to believe that freedom must be surrendered in order to insure economic security for all.The All-Knowing Mind contains the answer to every problem which confronts this country.
I know that every leader in this country is now directed by this All-Knowing Mind and has the knowledge of a complete solution to every problem. Each is compelled to act upon this knowledge to the end that abundance, security, and peace shall come to all.
And I know that this spiritual democracy shall endure, guaranteeing to everyone in this country personal liberty, happiness, and self-expression. Amen.
“People encounter God under shady oak trees, on riverbanks, at the tops of mountains, and in long stretches of barren wilderness. God shows up in whirlwinds, starry skies, burning bushes and perfect strangers.” Barbara Brown Taylor
Growing up my experience of sanctuary was a tall building with a steeple, enormous stained glass windows, large looming statues, and lots of marble everywhere. There were so many rules in the sanctuary, one of them required being still and quiet. Only whispers were allowed unless you were praying or singing in the mass. When I was there I recited prayers I had memorized and followed the instructions of the adults. There was no laughing allowed, of course, that rule alone brought out the giggles at the most inopportune moments.
I never felt good enough to be in the sanctuary. I was there to confess my sins and my unworthiness.
Today my experience of sanctuary is anywhere I feel connection with the Divine. In the forest, at the beach, or out to dinner with friends. Sanctuary can be playing with a puppy, helping a neighbor, or going for a walk in the park.
My home is my sacred sanctuary — a place where I feel love, peace, freedom and harmony. Laughter, joy and fun are absolutely permitted in my sanctuary. I affirm everyone who comes into my home feels the presence of love. I am free to communicate with Spirit through my tears, my anger, my gratitude. My prayers are free flowing, joy-filled whispers, shouts, songs and cheers.
How freeing it is to have the world as my sanctuary. It is such a blessing to feel God’s presence and love wherever I am.
In her book, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, author Sheryl Sandberg shares that Forbes ranked her as the fifth most powerful woman in the world in 2011. Even though she was a CEO at Facebook, she felt embarrassed and self-conscious to be listed with such a powerful group of women. When anyone congratulated her, she told them the list was ridiculous.
Finally, her executive assistant took her aside and told her she was revealing her insecurity by not receiving the acknowledgement graciously. It was a wake-up call for Sandberg to recognize her doubts.
We all face doubts. Whether in the boardroom or on the assembly line, as a stay-at-home Mom or an entrepreneur, we all have feelings of fear and misgiving. Doubt stops us from moving forward and using our talents and strengths to their full potential. Doubt weakens us and takes away our power if we let it.
Here is the good news! Once we admit the doubt, we can begin to change it. We don’t have to be victim to it. We can recognize our fears for what they are, get them under control and take dominion over our own lives. We can build our faith.
As we develop faith we expand our awareness and realize we don’t have to walk the path alone. A necessary step in our spiritual growth is to practice placing faith in trust in God. In Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knows, the door will be opened.”
The hospital staff person came in to empty the trash. “Thank you so much,” Laurence said. “Where are you from?” “Guatemala,” she replied. He asked her about her family, her life, and her journey to the United States.
My husband Laurence was in the hospital at the time diagnosed with leukemia. It was just one more jolt in a long series of medical complications. Wherever he was or whatever he was doing, he always stopped to express his gratitude.
He said thank you to everyone. He thanked his business associates, children, family members, clients, and the clerk at the neighborhood deli. He thanked me for taking care of our home, for doing the laundry and for buying the groceries. He said a prayer of thanks before every meal.
More trauma. A bone marrow transplant, complications with medications, a series of strokes. Laurence was in a coma for a week in Intensive Care. At Day 7, his doctor told us to get his affairs in order.
Prayers intervened and Laurence miraculously awoke out of his coma. As he regained consciousness, he began to whisper. Can you guess his first words? Thank you.
Laurence is no longer here on this earthly plane. But he left those of us who knew him with a reminder of the power of giving thanks. Gratitude acknowledges that we have received the gift that is being given, whether it is a compliment or an act of kindness. Gratitude puts us into a humbled state of appreciation. It connects us with God.
I am quite confident that Laurence is aware of the love and gratitude being sent his way. I am convinced he watches over his children and grandchildren, his mother, siblings and me. I am certain he is sending each of us extraordinary beams of love.
I know he hears my prayers of gratitude in the middle of the night for the amazing life we shared. I hear him whisper his reply. Thank you. I love you too.
Have you listened to the voice lately? No, not the TV show with the amazing singers. I mean the voice in the back of the mind. Some days it reminds me of being in a car with a back seat driver who is constantly nagging, criticizing and itemizing all the things I’ve done wrong. It can be exhausting!
The voice is the inner critic and it is very sneaky. It shifts attention away from itself and makes me believe that “those people” are the enemy. THEY are the ones who are judging and criticizing me. THEY are the ones who are keeping me from success. THEY are the ones who are out to make my life miserable.
Truth is, “those people” are a fabrication of my imagination. There is no one waiting to pounce on my mistakes or criticize my actions. We are all on this journey of life together. THEY were created out of fear. Together we are love.
When I step out from behind the walls and barricades created by fear, I look out at the smiling faces that are glad to see me. I notice people that are eager to help and those that are willing to listen. They have been there all along. Now I can clearly see them!
The next time the voice in the back seat starts ranting about what you are doing and where you are going, tell it to chill, be quiet, or take a hike. There is no time to listen. Life is full of amazing people ready to connect and collaborate with us. We are on a mission to make the world a better place. Together we can get it done!
