Seasons of the Soul

Angels In the Dust

Sometimes the actions of human beings astounds me. In the case of a national park in Africa, in order to cull out the elephant herds, the South African government killed mature elephants. The result was that the complex elephant society was disrupted, and the young elephants became rogue adolescents, killing and maiming rhinos because they had no appropriate role models. Finally, someone determined that something must be done, and older elephants were introduced to the park herd, turning the situation around.

In a parallel situation, AIDS has claimed the lives of so many people in Africa that there are huge numbers of children left to fend for themselves because the breakdown of family structure is so overwhelming. Whereas in the past, grandparents and other relatives took in children of deceased parents, this is no longer possible. Therefore, an entire generation of children is left to fend for themselves, lacking funds, resources, or education.

Enter an incredible family who left a lifestyle that was comfortable in order to help bring these children hope and safety. And thus, a filmmaker found them and created the documentary, Angels In the Dust. It is being hosted in different areas with donations asked for, or can be purchased online to help this outstanding family further their work with these lost children.

Human beings are a complex species. We represent the best and the worst of what is possible. Here is something to remind us of our potential as humans and to re-ignite in us the knowledge that we CAN make a positive difference in the world in spite of everything that appears to the contrary. And yes...one person can make a huge difference. Please consider sponsoring or purchasing the film to help spread the word and donations to this worthy project!

DailyGood: Angels in the Dust

We May Come This Way Again

The following video explores the real life experience of a little boy who had clear memories of his past life. The family was able to verify who he was and bring resolution to him, ending up writing a book about the experience. We've seen stories in the past of people who have a sense of being here before, and even of knowing who they were, but it's always been swept under the rug. Unfortunately, exploration into things that people don't understand is often branded as evil or meddling with things we shouldn't question, but we are fortunately living in an era where there are multiple openings in research that are showing us that many of our long held beliefs are outmoded. The world is not flat. We are not the center of the universe. And this story, in addition to many other revelations in the field of medicine, our universe, and ourselves, is one more piece to ponder. If we open our minds to possibility, there is no end to what we might discover!

http://www.flixxy.com/world-war-ii-fighter-pilot-reincarnation.htm

Organic Consumers Association

I received an e-mail newsletter this morning that is full of valuable information about our food  from the Organic Consumers Association Organic Consumers Association

More and more we are going to have to look for alternatives to the packaged, processed foods we are being sold in supermarkets. Eating as close to the source will be important as genetically altered strains of wheat, pesticides, and chemical additives become increasingly insidious ingredients  that are used to enhance flavor, not nutrition. Our children are being bombarded by products that appear to be food, but have very little nutritious value, and are often filled with ingredients that are indigestible. The increase in celiac disease, autism, weight gain, and many other dis-eases that have appeared in the past twenty years may be attributed in part to the adulteration of our food supply in pursuit of greater profits and addicting consumers through chemicals that appeal to taste buds.

An old saying is once again very timely: BUYER BEWARE! The antidote: Become Informed!

Quck Stress Reducers for People on the Go

Recently I saw a show on television that spoke of the stress we experience in today’s technological world, filled with over-stimulus and constant bombardment of noise in the guise of communication. The doctor who spoke of the problem also gave some methods for dealing with stress and creating more harmony within the body. She cited three possibilities.

1. When you feel tense, pause for a moment and do this simple exercise: Breathe in to the count of 4 through your nose. Hold the breath for the count of 7, and breathe out through your mouth to the count of 8. Repeat this 4 times, and then breathe naturally. It lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and brings a natural tranquilizing effect to the body.

2. Imagine yourself  in a place that you enjoyed thoroughly. This can be a vacation setting that gave you joy, or any other place within nature where you  felt at peace and connected. Do not just think this image, feel it in your body. As you do, it will lower your blood pressure, and drop the heart rate by 20%

3. Practice laughing. Laughter is used in China therapeutically, and offers a cardio-vascular workout while also releasing endorphins.

These natural methods for releasing tension have mind/body benefits and are enjoyable as well. We may live and work in stressful environments, but we have the ability to do things to make our lives more harmonious no matter where we are.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Exercise

Many computer folks are experiencing tired wrists and carpal tunnel syndrome. 

Here is a little exercise to alleviate the pain and build muscles.

1-  hold your hands in the prayer position
palms together)

2-  lift hands upwards so the bottom of the palms are
at forehead level.

3-  Open and close your elbows, with hands still
held in the praying position, like windshield wipers.

The Questions Are Important

So many of us long to find the answers to our questions. We want to know right now. Yet, the need to take action prematurely can cause us to miss magnificent opportunities for growth and depth in our development. In a book I recently read, Fearless Creating, author Eric Maisel states that any work of art requires a period of anxiousness. In the following excerpt he talks about this process related to art, but the process can be applied to any major creative dilemma in life. He states:

“In order to bind the anxiety that naturally arises when one doesn’t know, an artist may determine to know anyway. The landscape before her is not held as a fantastic problem or a great mystery; instead, she knows what to do. She knows that if she puts down a wash like this and twists her brush like that, decent bushes will appear in the foreground. One sure way of binding anxiety is reflected in this knowing.

“But the artist who is more interested in creating deeply than in ridding herself of anxiety will refuse to know too soon. She will remain with doubts, worries, questions, and the burning desire to realize herself. She will courageously refuse to bind anxiety by knowing too soon, refuse for the sake of her art and for the sake of truth and beauty to reduce her encounter with the landscape to a matter of familiar technique and experience, beneath any surface calm, an internal war. All that not-knowing, all those doubts, all the sense data flooding her from without and within! This is the chaos of working, the necessary chaos that must not be avoided by too much knowing.”

The tendency for many of us to obtain the answer NOW releases the pressure and masks the appearance of an issue because we have “settled” it. This can be a dangerous illusion, and as a good friend wrote to me recently, in his experience “the deepest of questions are often mean and ornery; yet, in the longer run, are spiritually so inviting, potentially golden and ultimately fulfilling….hasty answers prematurely cut off great and noble questions before they naturally come to bloom. A true answer is only identifiable when the question is totally exhausted.”

From Seasons of the Soul print edition 1996

Are You Going to Finish Strong - Video link

Courage in the face of adversity. Belief in oneself regardless of appearances. Please take two minutes to watch this inspiring video that puts life into perspective.

Are You Going to Finish Strong? - Video

Neighborhood Watch

We have a Neighborhood Watch program in our neighborhood and as a result, we’ve met many of the people who live on our block. We know who the retired people are, where those with children live, and who are the handy people and health care professionals in case of emergency.

After Hurricane Katrina it became evident that we must all develop greater self-reliance. Buying extra food and water and having a plan of action in case of emergency is important.  However, it is also a good  idea to include a neighborhood plan in case we are cut off for a period of time from outside help. This would include ways we can assist one another or perhaps pool resources—having a mini-community plan to help if and when it is needed.  Neighborhood Watch groups are an excellent way to open doors to meeting one another. It is also a good way of providing a sense of community and security regardless of disaster or not. It’s reassuring to know that the people who live on the same street or in the same apartment building have a mutual concern about the wellbeing of each other and that we can contact one another in case of emergency or just to be a good neighbor.

In God We Trust!

The elections are over and the people have spoken. As someone who was involved in the election process as a technical field representative, I was up for 20 hours with my partner as we went between precincts to make sure all the machines worked properly and to give assistance where needed. Interestingly enough, we thought it would be one of the busiest and most challenging of the elections we've covered, but it turned out to be the easiest.

Everything worked at the precincts we covered, and it was a day of pride in being an American. People were gracious, the mood was upbeat, and high school students who volunteered to help were inspired and inspiring in their enthusiasm for being part of democracy in action.

Working an election is truly a great reminder of what a wonderful country we are. Regardless of differences, people come together on election day to partake of their right to vote. Although we hear isolated  stories of people having been intimidated, we do not have to deal with what many fledgling democracies endure. Often people who go against the current leader are threatened, their houses are burned, they can be imprisoned, killed, and votes are not counted legitimately.One reporter who was a candidate in another country where democracy was emerging told of the threats that lead to her needing to flee her country in order to save her life and that of her family.

We take our country's peaceful transition of power for granted. After what can be bitter campaigns, everyone comes together in agreement that we are ONE nation and that the reigns of leadership are passed to the people's choice without contention. It is an awesome process, and we are blessed to be people living in this country with these rights and this political freedom.

I would like to suggest that as we enter this season of changing political leadership, we pray for all of our leaders, our country, and wisdom in decisions by those in power that will lead us to renewed vibrancy and hope as well as restoration of our reputation around the world. We are poised in an awesome moment historically, fraught with potential and pitfalls.  Prayer can help to make this a future we can be proud of, and confirm the motto of our founding fathers that In God We Trust!

Prayer for Democracy

Amidst all the last minute tactics of fear mongering and intimidation, please do not let anyone keep you from voting for your choice of candidate in this important election. There are terrible e-mails and scams being perpetrated at this time, telling people that if they have parking tickets or other unsettled lawsuits, they will be arrested at the voting places. There have been false e-mails saying that because of the high numbers of voters expected, Republicans will vote on Tuesday and Democrats will vote on Wednesday. And the list goes on. Last minute television ads are in many cases character assassination - and fear mongering is a mainstay of one political group in order to get what it wants.

We profess to be a nation of fairness, yet we see tactics that imply one group is willing to stoop to any level possible to win what they believe is their divine right. Yet, in a democracy, it is incumbent upon each voice to be heard. When we give up this right and this obligation to continue our form of government, we have fallen to the level of corruption that we so easily point the finger at towards other countries and other governments.

Insist on your right to vote. If you have to fill out a provisional ballot, do so. And make sure that if you feel there is anything intimidating or illegitimate going on at your polling place, find someone in authority from your party to lodge a complaint with.

We need to be the nation of freedom we profess to be. We need to let democracy flourish, and voting is one of the only ways we can make our will be known.

God Bless America and the principles upon which we are supposed to stand!