Mark's profileMark's Monday Morning Mo...PhotosBlogListsMore  |  Tools Help |
|
December 26 A Christmas ReminderIn a Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens) Scrooge is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve. Scrooge sees more and more of the reality from which he has turned away. He sees the reality of his past, how the choices he made steadily whittled away his compassion and increased his self-centeredness. He sees the reality of his likely future, the future that will occur if he continues in his present ways. But then he wakes up. He realizes that he is not the captive of these realities. He realizes that he has a choice. He chooses to change.
Dickens says that life always avails the option of seeing the truth, no matter how blind or prejudiced we may be. And if we have the courage to respond to that option, we have the power to change ourselves profoundly. Scrooge couldn't make the choice to change before he became aware of his current reality.
Only through truth do we come to grace (Peter Senge. The Fifth Discipline)
Wishing you peace and well being as you face your current reality. December 18 PrioritiesAt work and in other circumstances of daily life, we cannot do all the things that we want to do. We have to determine those activities that we can do, those that we have to postpone, and those that we cannot do in the near future, or perhaps at all. To make these choices, we have to consider each potential activity individually - its value and cost to ourselves - as well as its relationship to all others. In addition to establishing these priorities we have to determine how we will take care of the activities we choose to do, providing the highest quality of work that we can while completing the tasks in a timely manner. (Les Kay. Zen at Work)
Wishing you peace and well being as you do the next thing to the best of your ability. December 11 FaithMost of us are uncomfortable thinking of ourselves as artists...But each of us is an artist...With every choice, every day, you are creating a unique work of art. Something that only you can do...The reason you were born was to leave your own indelible mark on the world. This is your authenticity...Respect your creative urges...step out in faith...you will discover your choices are as authentic as you are. What is more, you will discover that your life is all it was meant to be: a joyous sense of thanksgiving. (Sarah Ban Breathnach. Simple Abundance)
Wishing you peace and well being as you have faith in yourself. December 04 Two HorsesJust up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing.
If nearby and listening, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her. As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray. When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.
Like the owners of these two horses, The universe does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. The universe watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need. Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see. Good friends and relatives are like this. You don't always see them, but you know they are always there. (author unknown) Wishing and peace well being as you listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours. |
|
|
