Dolphin Deaths...

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The remains of 59 dolphins, roughly half of them newly born or stillborn calves, have been discovered since January 15, on islands, in marshes and on beaches along 200 miles of coastline from Louisiana east across Mississippi to Gulf Shores, Alabama, officials said.

That tally is about 12 times the number normally found washed up dead along those states during this time of the year, which is calving season for some 2,000 to 5,000 dolphins in the region.
Reuters Leigh Coleman

Please pray for all the expectant mothers and their babies during this difficult time.  There has been no  link made to the BP Oil Spill in connection with these deaths.  Yet we all know how careful expectant mothers must be as they move through their pregnancies...exposure to chemicals and other unhealthy materials have an impact.

May this information touch our hearts and make us ever more aware of the known and unknown consequences of our thoughts, words and actions.  Be the Love and Light that you are to all you meet!

Together..one and one and one...

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“Tell me the weight of a snowflake”, a coal-mouse asked a wild dove, “Nothing more than nothing”, was the answer. In that case I must tell you a marvelous story, the coal-mouse said.

“I sat on a branch of a fir, close to its trunk, when it began to snow, not heavily, not in a giant blizzard, no just like in a dream, without any violence. Since I didn’t have anything better to do, I counted the snowflakes settling on the twigs and needles of my branch. Their number was exactly 3,741,952. When the next snowflake dropped onto the branch--nothing more than nothing--as you say, the branch broke off.”

Having said that, the coal-mouse flew away. The dove, since Noah’s time an authority on the matter, thought about the story for awhile and finally said to herself. Perhaps there is only one person’s voice lacking for peace to come into the world.”

This story, taken, from “A Monastery Almnac” by Joan Chittister shows the strong impact each one of us can have especially, when we focus our energy and strength as a group.

 Let's offer the energy and love of our prayer for our sisters and brothers in Northern Africa who are in such pain and turmoil. May peace and freedom be theirs!!

"I Am with you Always..."

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With change swirling all around us may we hold fast to LOVE.  May peace, strength, and hope nourish, support and sustain our sisters and brothers all over the globe in the midst of their pain and struggles.  We do not have the full picture or full understanding of the new life that is unfolding all around us.

May those who are struggling for Peace know our support and may those with hardened hearts, wanting to hold on to control and power, soften their hearts and be fully aware of the pain and suffering their actions have caused.  May they recognize their own pain and no longer deny it or project it on to others.

When I do not understand all that is going on around me I pray  Dear One.. I don't understand but I trust your Love!  Hold us all in your love and bring us to Peace as One Family!

We are loved....

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Though I pass through a gloomy valley,
I fear no harm;
beside me your rod and your staff
are there, to hearten me..

in the midst of quiet hills

steepled with green pines,

I heard within my heart the call

of the gentle Jesus-Shepherd.

a haunting of my heart

yet with consolation offered,

for the valley indeed was dark

and I, in need of courage.

I saw him standing there,

hand outstretched in welcome;

"Ah, little lamb, I love you,

trust in me to care well for you."

I looked from the window

cautious like a Much-Afraid;

then quietly Courage knelt inside me

and my valley of fear began to fade.

The sun took over the shadows,

The Shepherd took over my life.

I knew how precious the tenderness

and believed once more God's love.
                               Joyce Rupp,OSM  Fresh Bread



Time to Enjoy...!

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Loving ourselves by reducing stress does not have to be difficult. As a beginning take a few minutes and think about the following.  Give yourself at least 15 minutes for each .

What are my pleasures?  List them..

What do I like to do for play?  List these... and finally

What do I consider my passions...List those as well...

 Hopefully when you are finished you will find that your pleasures, passion and play are more easily implemented than you think.  Even if you just took one from the entire group and did it for one full month, that's a start.  Yes...dishes, laundry, and many things call us.  Come on one thing...for a half hour...you decide the time... .

Maybe you could do this as a family...and take a set day and a set time for each one to engage in one of their own pleasures, passions or play!

This exercise was given by Jeanette Bessinger as part of her "Enough is Enough"  Program , to help folks eat better and live life more fully.  When I did this the first time.. I could easily name most of my "three P's" as Jeannette called them..the challenge came when I asked myself: When is the last time you did any of these?  It had been a good while...I was caught up in work, and lots of "doing".  I /we can easily say..I haven't got time...and yet as the old saying goes... We make time for the things we really want and value! 

It's time to value ourselves and to know the gift of delight and enjoyment! 

Ancient wisdom....

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Holy persons draw to themselves

all that is earthly...

The earth is at the same time, Mother,

She is mother of all that is natural,

mother of all that is human.

She is the Mother of all,

for contained in her

are the seeds of all. 

                           Hildegarde of Bingen

Tell me your story...

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I'm in the process of re-reading Original Blessing by Matthew Fox.  This quote from Meister Eckhart caught my eye and touched my heart:

Every creature
is a word of God
 and is a book about God!