Snow In Maryland

I love watching the snow fall and pile up beautifully on the tree branches and fence posts. It even looks nice on the street and vehicles. Then I have to go out and deal with it. I can remember spending countless hours sled riding, having snowball fights, and building snowmen (or women). Then mom would fix us hot chocolate or cocoa about mid-morning and tomato soup and grill cheese for lunch. Those were the good old days, ones in which there was less care and worry.

I seemed to have lost sight of that joy and excitement as I immersed myself in this thing called life. I searched far and wide for the component that would once again make me content with with the small things in life like playing in the snow. I turned over many rocks and looked far and wide only to discover that the solution to why I struggle for so many years had actually been with me the whole time. That gift that I was born with is called grace and the best way for it to envelope my life was for me to simply step aside and watch the miracle happen.

I believe all of us are rescued from our tumultuous or not-so tumultuous lives by a phenomenon called grace. Without belaboring you with too much spiritual information, I think its appropriate to say that grace picks up where the human spirit leaves off. What I am saying is that, just we the human being has had far too much of life and all its challenges and thinks there is no solution for their dilemma, the force that guides all steps in and bestows grace on the individual. This is why I am so passionate about spiritual principles as the backbone of human existence. I have been save by grace on more that one occasion and would like to let those who are of the hopeless variety know that your miracle is right around the corner. You must have willingness and commitment to change.

When grace was bestowed on me, I could once again find peace and contentment with life.

Just a few natural wonders. Have you ever thought about the natural wonders you possess? I have and I can tell you that, although they do not occupy space the physical realm, they are no less important. Over the pas few years, I have done something that carries into my life today.

I began a process of observing my thoughts and actions so I could get to know and better understand my motives and tendencies. In the beginning, I learned I was far more judgmental than I originally thought and that I rationalized many thoughts and situations automatically. There were many other things I witnessed about myself that were distasteful.

I was so wrapped up into what I wanted and how I could move to the next level in life that I paid none of this any attention. I liken my life to running on auto pilot. When I committed to observe myself and change what needed to me changed, I received some phenomenal results. There were no riches or fancy materialistic items. However, I did receive the greatest gift of all and that was an honest relationship with self. Nobody can ever take away this wonderful gift and the joy it brings me unless I let them.

Peace

Our Footprint Today

Mornin'! I hope this day holds great promise for all. I was thinking about something early this morning that I thought others could relate to. The concept of forgiveness to all those who "irk" us on a daily basis is crucial to our spiritual growth. You know, the person who you have not even spent time getting to know or someone who you "know well" but don't really know.

So often I judge others by either their past, present, or what I can conjure up in my head in the moment. None of these ways of assessing other is fair or spiritual. In fact, judging others is a convenient way for me, at least, to avoid looking at myself to see where I need to make the appropriate changes in my life so I can judge less and live a much happier existence. Sounds easy doesn't it? We all know that this is one of the greatest challenges we all face on a daily basis. There are plenty of others, some unique to the individual and others shared by all.

The important concept for all of us to grasp is that of being the very best we can in every facet of our lives. There is a block of time called "life" that we have been given for this very purpose. This process need not be filled with gloom and doom. Rather, it should definitely be filled with much joy, happiness, and laughter. Why would we do it if we did not have some fun along the way. It is in those moments when some people lose this mindset and check out.

Loneliness, fear, isolation, and depression are four ingredients with which forms of spiritual sickness are created. When it comes to manipulating and controlling these alone, nearly everybody fails. I, like probably everybody else, have had personal experience with these ills and the two common medications for my problems were people and the Great Spirit.

Enjoy your day and if nobody else tells you they love you today, I do.

Mornin' all. I hope you all had a wonderful time last night and arrived home safe. I did much of nothing, just a quiet evening that culminated in a restful sleep. I can either describe my life as relaxing or boring these days. I have had many New Year's Eves that were wild and full of activity. I am now 46 and in the twilight of my party life. I like it this way better.

I wanted to let everybody know that I am thinking of you on this first day of the New Year and hope that you have the opportunity to obtain all you set out for in the next twelve months. If for any reason you don't, maybe you can at least get a start. I am overjoyed to be a part of your lives and I want to provide you with genuine, interesting, and helpful information this year.

I will share something with you that may help and inspire. I, like everybody else, have been through my fair share of struggles in life. They all culminated when I reached the point where I painted myself in the corner with nowhere to turn for the triage my spiritual sickness needed. I was faced with me and did not like who I had become. All the facades were stripped away and I could not longer fool those around me. Physically and mentally, I was still somewhat fit. The most painful aspect of my life, however, was bearing down on me.

I beat myself of for allowing myself to get in that condition until I had a profound intervention from the Great Spirit. Now I am not religious at all and had given up on any type of spiritual connection to the Creator. There was no burning bush or profound experience in the physical realm. There was, however, an indescribable voice within me one morning when I woke that assured me I would be all right. The only requirement of me was that I make an honest effort and always be true to myself. I was to listen to that voice within which could never be wrong.

That was a little over five years ago and I have enjoyed the ride. I don't have much materially but I do have myself, family, friends, and a career I enjoy and am impassioned by. I hope this intervention happens to all who struggle this year and for those who don't struggle much, may your good fortune continue as well.

Have fun today!!!

Whatever your idea of fun is today and provided you are not damaging yourself or others, indulge in it today. Laugh, joke, and be merry. There is no better way to leave 2013 behind and bring in 2014 than with happiness and cheer.

I hope you can all put your problems, cares, and worries behind you and move forward in the upcoming year. You've done the best you can considering your circumstances. My goal is to improve my circumstances in 2014 so that I can life a productive life from a more positive, uplifting platform.

I wish you all the best in the upcoming year. You can accomplish much during the year. If you do not accomplish much in the material world, maybe your spiritual life will improve. Cleansing of the spirit will most certainly provide you with much peace and harmony, things that the material world can only accentuate when used responsibly.

Don't let the "little things" slip away!

My goal today is to try, once again, to focus on the little, seemingly unimportant details in life. I will be on the lookout for a chance to cheer someone up, bring someone out of loneliness with a kind word or gesture, do a task for someone, sit and talk with a shunned member of society, and anything else that will get me out of myself and make someone else the most important person today. It is fun and, although I began it just a couple of years ago, I have found that I am never disappointed.

Getting out of myself, though it seems like it would drain me more than I would already be from staying inside my head, actually refuels me. The hardest part is putting selfish desires aside in order to let the light shine through. Good Luck!