PARTY OF DISCOVERY

This is my question, "Whatcha thinking about?"

I love to think. If you asked me what my hobbies are, I would have to say thinking is one of them.  I suppose I have always had vast interests in pondering, daydreaming, meditating, or contemplating and even been guilty of fading off into La La Land.  Yes, I think thinking is intriguing; it gives an essence of discovery.

One person I appreciate is Marilyn vos Savant.  I became acquainted with the book "Brain Building: (Bantam Book ISBN 0-553-05770-7) and from there became a devoted follower of Marilyn.  She holds the honor of being listed in Guinness Book of World Records Hall of Fame, under "Highest IQ" in 1986, when she was ten years old.  She is a "think tank!"

Marilyn is a person of profound thinking and learning skills.  She has written an article in the Pride magazine under the title, "Ask Marilyn" for the past thirty years.  She ponders, daydreams, and contemplates, but her thinking consists of the significant.  One quote she wrote, some time ago before the terrorists attacked New York, shows how practical she is:

• "Skill is successfully walking a tightrope between the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center. Intelligence is not trying."

She is an advocate of WHY? Also WHAT IF? Two inquiring questions, which energized me.

Why do we enjoy... 

At one point in Hubby's life, he would go swimming early each weekday morning to an outside swimming pool. One morning while doing laps he felt a something on his shoulder. Further investigation proved a very confused frog, which had taken Hubby to be a lily pad. Poor froggy became even more confused when swatted through the air onto the pool's hard deck; landing with a sudden PLUNK -- oh, froggy seemed so dazed and befuddled.

While investigating the price of a hand-held electronic device called a BlackBerry, Hubby called a store to get information and a price.  The call began with, "Could you give me the price on a BlackBerry?" Long pause, then a voice on the other end answered, "Produce Department."  Okay, think about it!

Remember the saying, "Kids say the darndest things."

What do you think about the antics of kids?  Why do they say and do what seems so natural to them?

After taking the sacrament, a five-year-old boy shouted out, "Well, that was not a very nourishing lunch!"

Hal, who did not often conceal his glass eye, was appointed to lead the young group in the Primary song called, "Do As I'm Doing."  At the proper time, Hal popped out his glass eye!  The boys laughed, the girls squealed, the chorister almost passed out.

Why mixed messages?  Could it be they are amusing, giving a refreshing new perspective, and a wonderful way to release the stress of the soul in our busy arena of life?

Note:   Marci McPhee lead me to this website.

More inspired messages by children can be found on:
                                              

https://primaryinzion.wordpress.com/?s=emma+lu
                                                                                                       

What if we delight in

 Painted Horse

I've been thinking about artistically painted horses.  The ones you find on the Merry-Go-Round at the amusement park.  What if I had never experienced the exciting up and down pony ride, which carried me into the magical world of make-believe.  I would be very sad indeed.  I wonder who painted those mythical horses?

What did you think about when you rode the Merry-Go-Round on such a brightly colored, gallant steed?

I have been thinking about 

I have had good neighbors and questionable neighbors over the years.  Come to think of it - maybe I have been one of the questionable ones.  Who knows?  As a teenage girl, my neighbors proved to be fabulous.  I knew who lived in every house in the four-block area.  I remember Aunt Ida, not my Aunt but my true friend, and Wanda, one among many who cheered me on.  Alma who had a dance studio in his basement and tenderly helped me learn how to dance with grand fashion around a ballroom.

What if my neighbors did not set my path in the right direction; where could I have ended up?  By the way, my Bishop lived just down the street and kept an eagle eye on me, as did the others.

Some time ago, a well-liked TV program featuring Mr. Rogers, opened his show with the cheery words, "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood," and closed with "Won't you be my neighbor?"

Who are our neighbors?  What if we considered taking a spin around the neighborhood or going up and down the halls of our apartment building asking ourselves, "Who lives here and are they doing well?  What if we became the humble helper to a neighbor in need?

I have been thinking about
Why do people always face the closed doors when standing in the moving elevator?  Who is Otis"  Why does his sign appear on the wall of the elevator?  Oh, horrors, here is a thought, what if the elevator malfunctions?

• Did you know there is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs?

I have been thinking about
 How much more enjoyable would life be for all of us if we noticed what is around us and inside of us?  What if we had a telescope instead of a microscope to magnify the beauty of our wondrous world and the goodness within us?

Have you watched an inspiring sunset lately?  The stunning experience begins when the sun melts into the earth.  We see a show of rose-tinged clouds mingling with shades of amber and rich golden hues.  The magnificent kaleidoscope of colors appears blending into the broad vastness of the sky.  What if we watched the beautiful gift from heaven with the tingling reaction of awe and paused to give thanks?

• Albert Einstein stated, "Look deep into  nature, and then you will understand everything better."

Ponder, if you will, the following statement:  "What if we only seek the answers we want and miss the answers we need?"   - Jan Goldstein

What if we give ourselves a "Party of Discovery" with an invitation list of one?

Won't you be my partner and enjoy the hobby of thinking?

Remeber the good Lord loves all of us and wants all to be happy, ponder life's questions, grow in sensible wisdom, and return to him with honor.

Next post we will discuss celebrations.

The Phenomenon of Love

That is a fabulous way to say it, "The Phenomenon of Love."

Love is messy and confusing.  It's part of the human experience.  We are wired to desire and value love.  Words cannot express love; it is a feeling.  Love happens when your heart arrives in a certain 

place.

By the way, who invented such a thing as love?

Answer:  GOD!  God is love (1 John 4:8).

God loved us first.  God loves us unconditionally, regardless of our behavior or what we've done.  He loves!  Love is not a duty, but genuine feelings God Himself experiences.

FEELINGS of LOVE:

There are many facets involving feelings of love.  The superior feeling of love is the planned and spontaneous expressions in benevolent charity. Other facets also include feelings of love in the setting of romance, parental, brotherhood/sisterhood, loyalty to a cause, and political, such as Joan of Ark had for her country of France.  Sometimes, there is a love-hate relationship.  I suppose we have all felt it.  Please tell me I am not the only one!

By giving love, we open up a place where more love flows in.  With each relationship comes, hope for the whispered sensation of bonding, today, tomorrow, and evermore.

Hope is the

Thing with feathers,

That perches in the soul,

And sings the tune

Without the words,

And never stops at all.

-- Emily Dickinson

Please join me in saying,

"I sincerely want to experience the feeling of sincere love."

FORGIVENESS is LOVE:

Forgiveness clears the space for the light of love.  When we truly practice forgiveness toward ourselves and others, we tackle the knots and tangles of past misdeeds and find love is the replacement.  We begin to recognize the practice of true love, it requires us to master the art of forgiveness.

Mark Twain stated. "Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it."

Let's work together to hold no resentments

and freely forgive where needed.  

Forgiveness is a beautiful thing.

As I ponder a past adventure, I found love with its feelings and forgiveness all mixed in one afternoon's adventure.  Yes, I also remember it being messy and confusing.

The day seemed pleasant and offered some relaxing time.  Others at the South Fork Campground were busy either breaking camp or starting to set one up. For me, I was satisfied to stay in our camp trailer and be with the children.  However, Hubby appeared at the outside door and beckoned me to come out of the trailer and join him.  "Hey, its time for the two of us to have fun," he said with a twinkle of mischief in his eyes.  

I responded with, "What do you have in mind?" 

He whispered in a  soft teasing voice, "To start off let's, take a stroll down the winding mysterious path." 

"I can't leave the children!" was my curt reply.

His voice sounded authoritative, "Yes, you can I've made arrangements with our oldest and all will be okay; let's move it!"

Reluctantly I joined him by walking away from the trailer.  Hubby's loving hand took mine; it felt good. I always desire and love his companionship.  He led me to the river bank, where I spied two rubber innertubes he had borrowed from a camping neighbor. Hubby announced, "We're tubing down the river to have fun!"

MY VEHICLE 

I found myself wading into the river, about chest high, where Hubby helped me situate myself in the tube, then cheerfully chimed out, "Happy Floating!"  He gave me a shove and off I drifted. As I bobbed up and down to the cadence of the river, I found myself relaxing. I admired the view of the impressive, white, fluffy, clouds floating amid the blue sky, marveled at nature's beauty and the whiff of a campfire, and also savored the magnificent hushed environment along the river bank. I shifted my weight to look backward, making sure Hubby followed behind me.

WHAM! Darkness and confusion, along with powerful water moving and holding me upside down with no air to breath --TOTAL SHOCK!  The tube had flipped over leaving me to scramble in the river's decisive current.  In my struggle to upright myself, I felt a hand on my arm and a forceful pull. When I surfaced, a young girl, responsible for saving the tube from floating away and my rescue, smiled at me.  I think I thanked her; however, I am not sure.  It all happened so fast.

I became aware Hubby had jumped out of his tube and helped me to the river bank.  I struggled to dry ground. With a tube over each of Hubby's shoulders, and drenched to the skin, he asked, "Are you all right?"  Oh, the audacity of the man!  What nerve! I nearly drowned in that river!

Heated with rage, I walked back to the trailer.  No, I stomped with indignation, and a quickening pace, as water oozed out of my shoes, hair dripping water on my face and waterlogged clothes sticking to my body.  Why? Why? Why did I listen to him?  To me, the happy adventure ended as a total mess.

As I entered the trailer, the children sitting at the table looked up at me with wide eyes. I responded, "Don't even ask!" Then I  hurried off to change clothes.  When I returned, I spied Hubby sitting among our offsprings.  He looked up at me with total kindness and understanding.  My heart melted.  He smiled and I responded to his love with an affectionate chuckle. Oh, what a confusing adventure we had.  What did I learn?  NEVER, NEVER shift your weight while floating in a tube!  Also, resentments fly away on wings of tender forgiveness.

I feel love for another and from another.

Remember, remember life is often messy and confusing; however, we are wired to desire and value sincere love.

IT'S GOD'S WAY!

The next post will feature thoughts on thinking.

Dare to Challenge Courage

This post addresses the broad subject of  

Are you up to the challenge?

Lay down your comfort zones because they are death traps.  To have a large dose of spirited courage, we need a strong challenge to face.  Perhaps we could say courage is the power and faith to let go of the familiar.  Christopher Columbus said, "God gave me the faith and afterward the courage so that I was quite willing to undertake the journey."

Bless Columbus's courageous heart, we can thank him daily for our blessing of living in the land called America and his example of hanging on to the finish.  I don't feel we need to go as far as Columus, but perhaps we do need to face each day with just a tad more courage.  Challenge is the name of the game, and it can be rather humorous at times.

I had a strong challenge to face. Let me tell you about it.  Hubby and I were vacationing in Yosemite National Park and chose to lodge in a very, very small, quaint cabin.  The three rooms consisted of what you might call a "blink of an eye" as you viewed a tiny room with the porcelain necessity (toilet), a kitchen, made for a minuscule body, and a small space containing a hideaway bed.  It is the bed I will focus on.

It had been a long, hot day, flavored with excitement, and we were ready for a good night's sleep.  We opened up the hideaway bed, which almost covered the entire room.  I choose to sleep on the outside so I could dash, if needed, to the porcelain necessity.  I retired first. Hubby came last and crawled over me to his side of the bed next to the wall.  We had just settled in when we said to each other, "The light needs to be turned off."  I arose from the bed to flip the switch when an undeniable situation of a colossal challenge became mine to conquer. 

As I got up, my side of the bed shot straight upward toward the ceiling.  Hubby's side down almost to the floor with Hubby wedged between bed and wall, his head not seen, his man legs waving madly upright in the open air and his feet reaching toward the ceiling lashing out as if frantically hitting a punching bag; like one who is in total desperation.  The scene appeared unbelievably hilarious.  I stood in shock!  Suddenly, I heard his distressed muffled voice, "Help! Help! Help me I can barely breathe!" I felt his frightening dilemma.  What to do?  Run outside and scream for assistance? Pretend I was having a nightmare? Take on the challenge of pulling the bed, now a contraption, down to its proper place?  I felt a call to action. I tried. I tried again, and again, but laughter prevented me from having the strength needed to up-right the contraption and liberate Hubby being held hostage. However, with fresh courage rushing through my body, I gave one more courageous, athletic jump to grab the upward side of the contraption and at last  --  success became mine. Poor Hubby "popped up" with hair grossly tangled, eyes wide open in stark unbelief, and mouth gaping as if a cat had his tongue rending him speechless. Just so comical!

After the mighty challenge calmed itself, we detected the contraption needed to be locked in place to prevent such a calamity. It has been years since our trip and the night of misfortune, but I still giggle when I relive the funny experience and the challenge of courage to save my ever loving Hubby.

• Expect Hope:

There is hope in all things especially when you share it with another understanding someone.

Don't go it alone.

There is a place for prayer to help heal our needs.  It does not matter if it is a broken life, a broken heart, or a broken something, even a shoe with a broken clasp.  

Prayer is needed.

Hope has the potential for immense happiness.  There is no guarantee life will be easy, but it can be magical, entertaining, adventurous, and awesome.

Seek and find.

Chieko N. Okazaki in her talk "Raised in Hope" stated, "Hope is like a fan-hat, it is ready for either sunny or stormy weather."

Be prepared.

• Anticipate Beauty:       

Let's climb on the bus destined for adventure.  We'll see beauty as we tour our life on earth.  We will explore new adventures and let go of the familiar.  

On our journey, we will learn the value of having the beauty of our soul embedded into our daily goals, even the smallest goals, giving us faith and the courage to not quit but to push and grind to the finish line.

When we place beautiful thoughts into the exhausted places of our lives, we will feel strong, brave and courageous, and we must know our courage will strengthen our fellow travelers to win their battles too.

Let's discover how to laugh while traveling. Adding humor to our courage can enhance confidence in our twists and turns of life.

Enjoy a beautiful song to sing "If the Way be Full of trail, Weary Not" - John R. Sweney No. 158 in the LDS Hymnbook published 1909

or go to

https://www.Mormon Tabernacle If the way be Full of Trial, Weary Not

Dear Readers, I dare us to gain courage with hope, beauty, power, and faith to face our mighty challenges, which often times flood our lives with darkness.

Until the next post, serve the good Lord with gladness 

and look forward to thoughts on the subject of love.

The Charity Challenge

This post recognizes and respects charity.

What is Charity?

The wisest teacher in the world, Jesus Christ, taught and lived a life of charity and asked us to follow him.  He said:

"Love one another as I have loved you." 

"Judge not, that ye be not judged."  

"Freely ye have received, freely give."  

"Forgive men their trespasses."  

(Suggested reading - Sermon on the Mount - Matt. 5-6-7)

We have many patterns of charity to enhance and make our lives happier.

I wonder, to have charity is it necessary to have a softer heart?  

YES, is the answer.

However, once in a while, I find myself caught up in the following:

Cranky

Have you, as I have said deep inside, "I don't want to do it!"  Then saying to yourself, "Never, never must another know the dark feelings roaming around inside of me."  Well, I did take the call of working at the church cannery by a conveyor belt until I suffered dizziness, also working at the stake farm in the hot, hot, sun until I became fully baked. I sure hope I am not the only one who starts out with a cranky attitude.  Now, I am happy to report after each assignment was finished, I felt pleased I accepted the call.

Yes, I softened my heart and the lesson learned: Serving is good for one's character.

Crazy:

You want me to do what?  Did you say, be the chairperson to build a float for the stake to be entered into the annual parade?  I don't have the time for such a crazy assignment! But I did it anyway.  The float turned out exquisite; I felt pleased.

             

With a softened heart, I learned:  Charity is never convenient.

Charitable: 

A long, long, time ago on Christmas Eve, my grandma turned out all the lights in the house except for the large, trinket-filled Christmas tree standing stately in her parlor. The quietness of the house seemed divine as Grandma took me, a sad, lonely, little four-year-old girl, by the hand and pulled me close to her side.

We rocked and rocked.  I felt safe to be with her.  Suddenly she burst out in song. Among the many were, "Up On the House Top," "Jolly Old St Nicholas," and Suzy Wants a Dolly." Her strong voice reached a grand crescendo rising to the ceiling as if she represented a magnificent singing cherub.

I am sure all spiders from the attic to the basement were swaying to the beat of the rhythm, and the mice in Christmas slumber awakened with a sudden jolt.  Grandma ended the magic concert with soft subdued tones of "Silent Night."  What a lovely gift of charity she gave to me.  One I have long remembered.

Leason learned:  Meeting the needs of the sad and lonely is the Lord's way.

Caring Bucket List:

Do you know anyone who has a wish list of things they want to accomplish before departure from the world?  How would it be if we drew up a bucket list of caring charitable acts we want to accomplish within the next two months.  You may be interested in the following ideas to add to your personal, caring, bucket list.


Here we go!

Offer to wash somebody's windshield at the gas station pump next to you.
Forgive someone today -- even if it's really, really hard.
Pray for someone who feels brokenhearted.
Leave a happy surprise on someone's doorstep.
Hide a $1 bill in the toy section of the dollar store -- make a little person happy.
Joyfully, invite a new family in the neighborhood to dinner and serve the food with a gracious smile.
Read to one who is homebound.
Help a neighbor by babysitting, so she can attend to some needed errands.
Take five minutes a day to send an uplifting message to someone.

Let's remember charity is the highest form of love.  It matters not if it's a hand-out, donation, welfare project, or forgiveness toward others or to ourselves.  Every compassionate deed, whether to our family, neighbors or to the world's poor and suffering, it is a gift of love to the Lord, who considers all of us equal.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing for charity never faileth.  Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all.  - Moroni 7:46

Let's be sure to fill our personal caring buckets to the brim!

Join me in taking the challenge of recognizing and respecting charity, with a softened heart, by diligently focusing on Christ and following His pattern of a charitable life.  He loves us and wants us to be happy by giving sincere happiness to others.

Our next post will address courage.

Stabilizing Happiness and Gratitude

This post's goal:  

How to generate and stabilize happiness and gratitude.

Hey, I thought I knew all about happiness and gratitude!  I was surprised to find I needed to broaden my perspectives.  I felt like I was in a secret garden, and needed to find the key to open the sealed door, which I spied  Once I found the key I opened the squeaky door and my adventure began.  I am eager to share it with you.

I have become aware of what happiness is not!  It's not having fun at a party, attending an exciting game, tasting a fine meal, or enjoying zealous music.  All are wonderful experiences to be cherished and cultivated, but they are not true happiness they are pleasures; they are fleeting and must be repeated to feel pleasure once again.

True happiness is when one feels satisfied and fulfilled.  Happiness is a feeling of contentment when one's needs are satisfied.  Okay, what are the needs?  The question generated a deep and sincere investigation.

• What makes a person happy?

Stabilizing Needs

 Need to care for our body.  An old saying is, "Your health is your wealth."

Research tells us our body and our mind are connected, being active and caring for our bodies lifts our spirit and improves our mental well being.  Okay, a strong need is to 1)Eat healthily.  2) Enjoy food in moderation. 3) Participate in wise physical activity, and 4) Get enough sleep.

Promise: You will feel more alive and interested in life.

 Need to look at what is good.  Use the idea of the glass being half full - not half empty.  Postive thoughts and emotions have the effect of enhancing our lives. Being creative with our optimistic thoughts and actions makes us more open to ideas, people, and well-chosen adventures.

Promise:  We will enjoy improved relationships and be more trusting of others.

Need to keep learning: There are many activities to engage in.  The wise ones tell us learning affects our well-being in positive ways. See if any of these ideas would be something you would consider. You could join a club, learn to sing, play a new sport, study photography, take an oil or watercolor painting class, become an accomplished chef, take an armchair vacation and study a country.  In other words, do what pushes your button and drive on with a cheerful attitude. 

Promise:  We gain new skills and remain curious and engaged.  We develop a sense of accomplishment, which enhances our self-confidence.

Need to be comfortable with who we are.  What I am going to tell you is not new. 

                                                          "No one is perfect!"

Often we compare our insides to other people's outsides, which makes us uncomfortable. One step to happiness is to realize failing is a normal part of life and learning from it is a marvelous characteristic.  Henry Van Dyke said, "Happiness is inward and not outward, and so it does not depend on what we have, but on what we are."

Promise: One who is a productive worker; is thoughtful and kind; is one who has a happy countenance because they know the life they lead is pleasing to the Lord.

Eleanor Roosevelt summed it up for all of us.  "Happiness is not a goal . . .  it's a by-product of a life well lived."

A link for more information:   http://www.actionforhappiness.org/10-keys-to-happier-living/ 

• What is the foundation of gratitude?

Gratitude is the foundation for feelings of appreciation and thankfulness for blessings or benefits we received. It is a powerful expression of love and can perform miracles in our lives. We must thank our Heavenly Father for His goodness by acknowledging His hand in all things.  Let's give thanks for the tremendous opportunities we have.  Let's give thanks for our parents, family, friends, and teachers. We should express gratitude to everyone who has assisted us in any way.

 Let's show gratitude for all things; large and small.  

I can not resist giving gratitude for the "FUN" in our lives.  I post the following picture and ask,

 "Are we grateful for all the necessities of life?"

The house behind the house was truly appreciated by so many; young and old.

Also the magical sunrise and sunset, beautiful landscapes, excellent music, 

supporting family and friends, aromatic food, 

and safe shelter.

You dear reader, count your many blessings and give thanks; they are truly 

terrific stabilizers in your life.

Promise:  "And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (D&C 78:19)

I give my thanks of gratitude to you my dear readers.  

You are special to me and I pray for your safety and well being.

Thanks for joining me as I opened the door in the secret garden and found

how to generate and stabilize happiness and gratitude.

Watch for the next post when we will explore 

"CHARITY"

Searching for Beauty

This post gives insight into our world of profound beauty 

One fall day while digging in our flower garden with the purpose of repositioning a medium-size rock, I became aware of a black spider meandering its way across the rough stone -- I hate spiders! However, I became intrigued by the movement of its eight pedipalps (legs) in a distinct synchronized pattern.  As I began to move the rock, of course, it scampered in a very rapid fashion to find a hiding place.  To the spider, I appeared the foe.  To my surprise, I could see the beauty of its small body, black and definitely finely coordinated.  It was God's creation!  No, I have not lost my repugnance for spiders, but the experience prompted the search to answer the questions of what is beauty, where do we find beauty, and why develop the desire for beauty.

What is beauty?

The Webster Dictionary defines beauty as the quality credited to whatever pleases or satisfies the senses of the mind as in line, form, texture, proportion, rhythmic motion, the tone of behavior, and attitude.

Wow, would you agree with the idea, beauty is everywhere if we look for it, feel a sensation from it and do what is necessary to enjoy it?

Let's sum it all up and say: Beauty is Happiness. 

I find comfort in the simplicity 

of the sensible statement.

Where do we find beauty?

As I write the post, I realize I have not been as observant as I could be. What have I missed on my journey of going to and from my destinations perhaps not seeing an interesting home nestled in the background of a well-kept yard; a lovely garden; a mighty tree; a sign; impressive rock; a child scampering along the sidewalk; the unique design of a building; my relationship with family, friends, and Deity. How much richer and fuller, and more interesting my life would be if I took time to notice what's around me and the feelings inside of me toward rich music, well designed murals, natures wonders displayed in our beautiful world.

Last spring I noticed a little bird flew, crash bang, into a large window pane and lay on the ground in a death position.  Hovering, in what seemed like a  panic situation, were six other small bright yellow birds with blue-grey wings.  To me, they appeared as if they were beautiful Golden Swamp Warblers (The website reports they are common in the southeast but can come far north.  You might be interested in a book titled Backyard Birds by Karen Stray Nolting and Jonathan Latimer.) The group of colorful birds flew to a tall red bush about 15 feet away from the injured one and perched there for the next three days. They fluttered about and seemed to consult with each other while the injured bird continued not to move.  On the third day to my surprise, the injured one had gone; along with its faithful companions.

Even though I enjoyed the beauty of the birds, I regret I did not reach deep into my feelings and soak in the beautiful love and devotion the petite birds displayed in their concern and patience in waiting for the injured one to revive.  I failed to feel compassion for them, pray for them, and have more respect for them. Yes, I could have used a large magnifying glass to find the buried feelings deep inside of me. I could have enjoyed the greater beauty.  

Please tell me I am not alone!

Do you agree we must conduct ourselves with a deeper appreciation and look more carefully, even if it seems unattractive, with a discerning eye, trusting in the power of angels to guide us?

Why develop the desire for beauty?

Recently I read these interesting words:

God created beauty for the life of the soul.  It has no corporal usefulness.  It does not satisfy hunger, shelter us from a storm or provide warmth, or the life of the body, it is perfectly useless. However, beauty is more useful than food, shelter and warmth.  This is because beauty is useful to the soul and and the soul is worth more than the body.

- Tradition, Family, Property - TFP

We must recognize beauty is a gift from our Lord, it is His love and comfort to all of us. Let's join together and say beauty brings happiness, self-fulfillment, and peace to our core.  

Dear reader, pause and recall a beautiful scene or thought you have had in the past. Bring back the memories of the dramatic moment and enjoy how it explodes into a true exquisiteness.

The good Lord loves all of us and wants us to search

deep into our souls to ask ourselves what, where, and why we desire and enjoy profound beauty. 

A dear friend shared with me a this lovely thought.

My friends, search for beauty in all avenues of life.

Our next post will address:

"Happiness and Gratitude"

You Will Never Believe My Unusual . . .

This statement is intriguing:  

"Hum, that's very unusual."

• Appearing Most Unusual

On a morning walk, I detected two crows sitting on a high wire. I spoke to them; nothing too serious just a "Good Morning."  They cocked their heads and began crowing; I mean offensively loud.  Not along afterwards, a number of their friends assembled themselves in a nearby tree.  I asked, "Have you come to participate in a council meeting?"  After making the statement, I turned and began walking home.  To my surprise, the entire flock took flight and followed me. 

•  Experiencing The Unusual

For the following three mornings, two crows sitting on a high wire greeted me.  If I walked into the backyard, they followed me and swooped down close to my head. Then as I returned to the front of the house, those bold crows followed me, each diving down approaching me closer and closer. On the third morning, they became incredibly aggressive.  One fearless crow dove so close to my head I felt the rush of wind on the left side of my face as it passed. They always approached me from my back, but I could hear the earsplitting, distinctive sound increasing as they came closer to me.  One plucky black crow, passed at the right side of my head causing me to feel the tip of its wing brush my hair.  Did I experience fear? No! Well, maybe a little.     

The crow experience, which gave me great pleasure, came to an end.  They no longer pay attention to me. Their assignment stamped by the power of heaven reads - COMPLETED.

The crow is now my totem symbol, which I explain in the following section.  I wonder could the adventure with the crows, be because I have a small portion of Native American Heritage in my DNA?

• Researching The Unusual

In my opinion, Google holds terrific information and you may want to do further research on the crow.  Go to Google.com and add "Crow Spirit Animal."  Seeking knowledge on Google always leads to interesting awareness.  I offer the information I gleaned:

The crow is a spirit animal associated with life's mysteries and magic.  

They offer luck.

If the crow has chosen you as your spirit or totem animal, it supports you in developing the power of sight, transformation, and connection with life's magic.

Life does seem magic as we look at the sunrise and sunset, the magic of loving relationships, the magic of birth and death.  Could we say, magic is a wonder of life given to us by our loving and giving creator?

• Accepting The Unusual

How many times have you, my dear reader, been known to make such a statement, "Hum, that's very unusual."

Would you agree we all can claim an unusual trait or two in the way we look, walk, dress, talk, and conduct ourselves?  I suppose what is unusual to one is quite normal to another.  A young man living across town is known as a "weird duck" and classified by others as very unusual, but actually, he's quite bright and has a lot of wisdom to share.  When you get acquainted with him, he is not so unusual.

Let's look for, get acquainted with, and appreciate the unusual.

*****

Thanks to Christy Monson for her kind words regarding "Work Horse."  She wrote: Beautiful post.  Many things to think about.  Thanks for this comparison.  I will think about it and my relationship to my work ethic for time to come.

*****

Until the next post when we will explore the topic,

"Searching for Beauty"

The Lord loves you and wants you to serve gladly.