Friday, December 31, 2010

Let It Be So


To all those who inspired me; to all those whose patience I have tried; to all those whom I have wronged; to those I have neglected; to all those who have lost faith in me; to all those whom I have faith in; to all those individuals who have come and gone in my life -- who have taught me so much - have touched me so deeply; have pushed me hard to look "within"; challenged me, encouraged me and taught me it's okay to cry, it's okay to show weakness, it's okay to look stupid, it's okay to make mistakes, it's okay JUST TO BE ME. I ask your forgiveness and offer a humble thank you. To those people who have that special twinkle in their eyes and a zest for life; to those who have hit rock bottom and are now at the lowest point in their lives--my prayers are with you; to the addicts and the afflicted I wish for you the true realization of your problem(s), and the courage and strength to address them. And to my wonderful partner and husband who has stuck by me all these years (boy, what a job he's had); to my grandchildren who have brought so much joy into my life; to my sons who still have a long way to go along with the author of this post; and to a Rabbi who profoundly changed my life, again a humble thank you. And to all of my fellow human beings who inhabit this beautiful Planet, I wish You All Peace. Peace in Your Homes, Peace in your Countries, Peace in Your Hearts, and Peace in Your Souls. And maybe, G-d willing, very soon, World Peace. Not just words, but a reality. Let it begin now with each one of us so that soon there will be true everlasting Peace in Our World. Happy New Year 2011.

All Paths Lead to Home...

Tranquility

Grace

Waiting for Spring

The Intelligent Forecaster

http://expectedreturnsblog.com/the-intelligent-forecaster/#

Monday, December 20, 2010

Let the Ego Go

Rabbi M. M. Schneerson, "Spiritual Leader of World Jewry"
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"Let the Ego Go" by soule:
If we're ever to accomplish anything worthy during our lifetime, it's time to recognize that we need to let go of the Ego. Ego is a powerful force. It drives us, compels us, can blind us and bind us and consume us if we let it. Eventually, if left unchecked, destroy us. There is nothing wrong with seeking to make one's life better, to reach for the stars, to set lofty goals. This is America and this is called freedom to make our own decisions (free will). But when Ego gets so powerful and so all-consuming that it is now Master of one's soul, having triumphed in trumping the individual, when Ego is only concerned with ITS own self-interests, this is where we can run headlong into problems. Ego in this country is on a mission. I believe it is destroying our religious beliefs, our families, relationships and this country's infrastructure. Marriage vows, honesty, compassion and Truth have been thrown under the bus. Congress is a good example of one gigantic Ego Trip. But let's not forget ordinary, hard-working men and women who are so consumed by their haste to get ahead, workaholics continuing to put their job first and family/relationships second. Many times these people wind up with failed marriages, mental anguish, having affairs, turning to alcohol and drugs. The structure that once held everything together, marriage and the family unit is now immeasurably harmed or permanently destroyed. This slow "eating away" at the underbelly of this country can take place over a period of years or can happen much more quickly, leaving us to wonder "what has happened???" America has replaced virtue with success. We are now a success-desperate society that has lost its way. Our frantic longing for "success" is killing us. When are we going to wake up, look around and realize that we brought children into this world? That when we stood at the altar, we made a vow "to love and cherish till death do us part". When we looked each other in the eyes we repeated these words..."Together, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health". It seems we've gotten this twisted around. The Death part seems to be coming at us first. Shouldn't we be taking a hard look at returning to G-d's principles...the Ten Commandments, The Noahide Laws, which I believe apply to all of us. It's a roadmap for success all laid out for us but no one is paying attention. We've made some gains on putting this country back on the road to fiscal sanity, albeit very tiny, but it's a start. But now our biggest commitment should be getting our own, personal, priorities straight...taking time for G-d, family and relationships. And thanking Him for His many blessings. Finding comfort in the simplest of things that He has provided for us. Everything else can take a back seat.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Solstice-eclipse overlap first in 456 years


http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Solstice+eclipse+first+years/3983582/story.html

Dirty Tricks

This morning I watched a news man expressing incredulity that "President Obama and a Democrat Congress actually passed the extension of the Bush Tax cuts and voted against a huge pork-filled spending bill". "Why, this is unbelievable" he went on to say". This is a victory for the American people and he's right. Yes, but only temporary and a small one. Could be the President had no choice because the opposition against not doing so was insurmountable. Maybe, maybe not. Knowing the President's track record, isn't it fair to say that this was unusual, to say the least, i.e., way out of line, for a far left President who has driven this nation into the financial abyss? He did have a big smile on his face, though, as he picked up the pen and signed these two pieces of legislation. "This is a great victory for the American people, and will enable you folks to pay your bills (you poor shmucks), send your kids to school and will even be a boon to small business". What???? Have I lost my mind, did I just hear all this? And, all, with the stroke of a pen. But, I ask you, just who is stroking whom? Have we forgotten that Obama invited former President Bill Clinton for a brief "visit" just before this great bill signing event? Did these two just chit chat about old times, the weather, or, "oh, BTW, how is Monica doing", or quite possibly could it have been perhaps, more of a a pre-2012 planning meeting? So now I'm connecting the dots.....what could have compelled this President to do the unthinkable in record time? What could have compelled he and a Democrat Congress to make such a swift and dramatic turn around? Not the wascilly Republicans who are now in control (if they can ever get their collective a***s together). No, I think it was as I stated above. Clinton knows how to persuade, cajole, manipulate and compromise (when his back is to the wall). And that, I believe, is exactly why he and Obama had their little meeting. Clinton had been faced with the same situation Obama now finds himself in and Obama desperately needed his advice. Clinton: "Ah, Mr. President, you must look ahead to the 2012 elections. You are losing, have lost much of your base that swept you into office in '08. How do you go about getting those votes back? Why, you do exactly this.....sign the Bush Tax Cut extension and squash this huge spending bill that Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi so desperately want. They are now "getting in the way" of any re-election chances you have. Why, if you give me the chance I'll even take over the podium for you and field some questions (that you obviously don't have a clue how to answer) while you and the lovely Michelle grab a bite to eat. Heck, I don't mind, (reminiscing) it seems (sigh) like old times". The best part of this is that Reid and Pelosi, because they got trampled by a herd of Bluffalo, didn't get what they wanted and were "in absentia" from this great bill signing event. soule: I personally didn't need to see those two sorry mugs staring at me again, anyway. Politricks, isn't it great? Without batting an eye, you just eliminate the opposition, (don't matter how) even if it's from your own party, because "their services are no longer needed". And let's work with the opposition for the good of the American people. If you believe that one, then it's time for you to check yourself into the local Shrink.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Contemplating Our World


Have you ever picked up a pebble, held it for a moment in your hands and felt its smoothness, wondered about where it came from, what it was made of, how old it was? Or were you more inclined to pitch it away, because it was annoying or interfering with something you were doing? Were you able to watch the Geminid Meteor Showers Monday morning? I wasn't able to be up at 3:00 or 4:00 am but did manage to open one eye and catch one space rock hurtling through the dawn sky with its tail on fire. Have you ever stood under a tree, looked up, and marvelled at how tall it is, how its branches seemingly extend forever and thought, "what a majestic piece of work"? Have you ever looked into a newborn's eyes and seen a piece of Heaven stare back at you? BEING. "Being" is the state where you are, right here, right now. It is the ongoing state of just being alive, being a part of some thing. It is being a part of the ongoing process of creation. You are CREATION. You breathe in, you breathe out. You think thoughts and express emotion. You make the conscious decision to take this path or that one. You think an evil thought and act on it or suppress it. The seconds keep ticking away as you go about your busy day. Every moment we are alive, every act and thought is a state called "BEING". We take this all for granted. If we were to collectively think good thoughts I believe the world would change for the good. For our thoughts are energy, WE are energy. Energy as we all know is a powerful force. On the other hand, if we were to think bad thoughts, then the outcome would be just the opposite. Our walking, blinking, heart beating, talking, our breathing, thoughts, the simple act of pushing a grocery cart, combing our hair, picking up children from school, hailing a taxi, preparing meals, constructing a house, tying a shoelace, even sleeping, is all a state of "BEING". We have been given free will to do good things or bad things. Free will to make a decision to go down this path or take the next. We have many different thought processes going on in our world today. But this has been going on since the Beginning. We have a tug of war going on in this world today. There is a tremenous battle going on between two forces and I fervently believe that this battle is only becoming more brazen, more stronger. It is the battle for our souls. We have groups who know nothing more other than to "wipe people off the face of this planet" just because they do not fit in with their "ideology", ie. thinking. They are actually training and being schooled and exist just for this one purpose. On the other hand we have those who are pushing back against this menace. Soldiers who are putting their lives on the front lines, to keep this menace "in check", politicians, and peaceful leaders are showing the world there is another way. The Dali Lama comes to mind along with scholars and religious leaders. Eli Weizel was on Fox News yesterday morning. A Holocaust survivor who is now a Professor at Boston University. I've never seen or even heard this man talk before but the one thing that struck me about him was his "humanity". Even though Mr. Weizel was marched off to a concentration camp and lost several family members, he does not "blame" the Germans for what transpired. Maybe some people and organizations here in this country should take note. Instead of laying guilt on those who were responsible and angrily denouncing them, he reaches out to those who are guilt-ridden and embraces them with love and compassion. And Mr. Weizel makes no bones about calling a country stupid when their national interests trump peaceful ones. Mr. Weizel has written several books and I am going to research them. I am standing on a beach and watching a wave rising higher and higher. This wave is either going to turn into a tsunami and wash us all away into oblivion or, bring us through and to a new reality. The reality being, that in the end, after we get through all that Almighty G-d has in store for us, we will see a new dawn, a new day, in which all mankind will no longer look upon their neighbor as a target and one that has to be put to death, but with a new awareness of love and compassion. Neighbor will embrace neighbor and, in unison, we will all sing praises to a Creator as the old world (as we knew it) will have passed away. We will then be face to face with the One who made the tree and the pebble. This new world will be His world and His domain, and everything will finally be in its rightful order.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Mulberry Tree


Bury me ‘neath
Ye ole Mulberry Tree
Stately branches
Stretching to Infinity
Wisdom’s notches
Deeply etched
Throughout a gnarled and cobbled trunk
Steadfastly she stands her watch
A silent Sentinel
With her broad canopy fanning out
Spreading like angelic wings
Over the wounded and dying
She stood over them many years ago
She heard many shots
She saw many blows
But never once
Did she leave their side
Her leaves draping their bodies
As they died
Her limbs cried out
But no one heard
Not deer, not fox, not even bird
She watched the seasons
Come and go
In Summer, green
In Winter, snow
In Autumn she was all aglow
But in the Spring was her big show
She bore her fruit
Deep, dark, succulent, sweet and
Dripping down
Loosened from brittle fingers
On to the ground
She’s safe harbor for all
Who cometh near
A true friend you can
Count on
From year to year