Monday Morning Memory

Growing up in small town Bellevue, I would ride my bike a mile or two to get milk or bread.  Sometimes I would forget the money at home or drop a quarter, and the store always sent me home with what we needed and mom settled up the next time she was in.  I never feared traveling without my mom.  I knew when to be home and where I was allowed to go.  And didn’t change course without her knowing.  (can you believe we did this without email, text messages or cell phones?)  LOL

I wonder if anyone would allow children to travel 1-2 miles on a bike today, alone?  Would a store send a child home without full payment?  I find comfort knowing I experienced life during a time that life was like that… safe, happy, community, predictable. 

I know that times change, people change, I get that.  I think it would be nice if we could maintain a type of world that would allow for those same experiences for others.

I CAN BE THE CHANGE I SEEK IN THIS WORLD…  I can remember that I am a reflection of my community just as my community mirrors who lives in it.

We know that up to 70% of the population in America does not attend worship on a regular basis.  Who can individuals, couples and families turn to when they need care & services traditionally found by a place of worship?  US!  We are Inclusive Life, and we serve all without exception.  Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital & Couples Coaching-Funeral Ministers-Pastoral Care.

(402) 575-7006     www.inclusivelife.org     [TEXT ‘ceremony’ to 90210 for TEXT info!]

Inclusive Life is very proud to be a member of “All About Weddings”, a local organization focusing on bringing together premier local vendors that provide wedding services.  Inclusive Life is a member in good standing with American Association of Wedding Officiant’s.  We receive training from the International Association of Faith Based Counselors. 

www.inclusivelife.org, www.ulcnetwork.socialgo.com, www.2grooms2brides.com, www.weddingsinomaha.org, www.weddingsinlincoln.org, www.weddingsincouncilbluffs.org, www.spiritualfriendsofnebraska.org, www.funeralministers.org, www.ceremonyofficiants.org, www.allaboutweddings.com

Something to Share on Sunday

When I first read the quote “Compassion is the radicalism of our time” I thought having compassion is something that should not be radical and is something that we should all strive to practice and share. 

I thought about the quote today.  I normally post in the morning, but I needed to ponder this one a bit longer.  I think about reading newspapers and magazines, not a lot of compassion in those stories.  I watch TV and movies and I see violence and reality shows.  All the time I observe my fellow human beings, and politicians, and I believe that the Dalai Lama has the quote right on.

The Dalai Lama goes on to say that “Compassion is not religious business, it is human business, it is not luxury, it is essential for our own peace and mental stability, it is essential for human survival.” 

Compassion can be explained as a virtue; one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy (for the suffering of others) are regarded as a part of love itself, and a cornerstone of greater social interconnection and humanism.

Compassion allows each of us to relate with one another because you no longer regard people as interruptions.  Compassion allows us to slow down or stop and allows us to hear, see and feel nothing but the person whom we are focusing on.

I can be the change we seek in this world… We can practice planned acts of compassion with and for others.

I offer to share the following prayer with you today “Heavenly father we come to you this day in prayer, this time of stillness.  We give thanks for the many blessings in our life, we ask for continued help to share love, gifts and lessons with others.  We ask for lessons for all in help share and spread compassion with one another.  In your precious name we pray, Amen.”

We know that up to 70% of the population in America does not attend worship on a regular basis.  Who can individuals, couples and families turn to when they need care & services traditionally found by a place of worship?  US!  We are Inclusive Life, and we serve all without exception.  Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital & Couples Coaching-Funeral Ministers-Pastoral Care.

(402) 575-7006     www.inclusivelife.org     [TEXT ‘ceremony’ to 90210 for TEXT info!]

Inclusive Life is very proud to be a member of “All About Weddings”, a local organization focusing on bringing together premier local vendors that provide wedding services.  Inclusive Life is a member in good standing with American Association of Wedding Officiant’s.  We receive training from the International Association of Faith Based Counselors. 

www.inclusivelife.org, www.ulcnetwork.socialgo.com, www.2grooms2brides.com, www.weddingsinomaha.org, www.weddingsinlincoln.org, www.weddingsincouncilbluffs.org, www.spiritualfriendsofnebraska.org, www.funeralministers.org, www.ceremonyofficiants.org, www.allaboutweddings.com

Saturday Morning

God has no blackberry, but is my favorite contact ... He does not have Facebook, but is my best Friend ... He does not have twitter, but I still follow Him ... And even without internet, I am always have a way to connect with the Sacred!  What do we do with that extra time that it saves us?  Do we allow ourselves periods of the day to; pray, meditate, be silent, be still, soak, relax, and just be?

God has no blackberry, but is my favorite contact ... He does not have Facebook, but is my best Friend ... He does not have twitter, but I still follow Him ... And even without internet, I am always have a way to connect with the Sacred!  Texting, emailing, internet… in all the many ways we now use to communicate with one another, it sure does save time.  What do we do with that extra time that it saves us?  Do we allow ourselves periods of the day to; pray, meditate, be silent, be still, soak, relax, and just be?

Regardless of your religion, your path or how you choose to live your life; it is important that you do so with meaning, integrity, and within the boundaries you have established for yourself.  Living in community with others, worshiping with others in community helps some stay accountable to their beliefs.

Do we preach one thing and do another?  Do we teach one thing and do another?  Do we walk the walk or just talk the talk? 

One of my favorite lines to use after worship is “now that worship has ended, let the service begin” that can be service for what ails us, service to our family, friends, others, neighbors, co-workers, strangers!

I can be the change that I seek in this world…  I know to be faithful in small things because it is in them that my strength lies.

We know that up to 70% of the population in America does not attend worship on a regular basis.  Who can individuals, couples and families turn to when they need care & services traditionally found by a place of worship?  US!  We are Inclusive Life, and we serve all without exception.  Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital & Couples Coaching-Funeral Ministers-Pastoral Care.

(402) 575-7006     www.inclusivelife.org     [TEXT ‘ceremony’ to 90210 for TEXT info!]

Inclusive Life is very proud to be a member of “All About Weddings”, a local organization focusing on bringing together premier local vendors that provide wedding services.  Inclusive Life is a member in good standing with American Association of Wedding Officiant’s.  We receive training from the International Association of Faith Based Counselors. 

www.inclusivelife.org, www.ulcnetwork.socialgo.com, www.2grooms2brides.com, www.weddingsinomaha.org, www.weddingsinlincoln.org, www.weddingsincouncilbluffs.org, www.spiritualfriendsofnebraska.org, www.funeralministers.org, www.ceremonyofficiants.org, www.allaboutweddings.com

Family Friday

Some people have families with many relatives that share that common lineage, the given family.  Others have assembled a family made up of various people, a family of choice.  I am reminded of two quotes; “You don't choose your family.  They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.” -Desmond Tutu and; Barbra Bush “To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.”Celebrate your family!

I do not come from a large family myself.  I was adopted within my family at birth, my grandmother adopted me from her daughter when I was born.  I was raised in a single parent family.  As I grew up I met the few of our relatives that still were living, many had passed by the time I was a teenager.  Today, at 43, I can count on two hands of what family I have left.  Having in laws helps a lot, I now have a set of nephews and nieces I LOVE IT!  But that isn’t enough.

I need that, I want that, I embrace it; the need for a symbiotic family of aunt like, uncle like, brother like, sister like people whom you count on as they had been in your life since birth (and maybe they have!)  They may not look like me, live near me, think like me, act like me, or even live like me AND they love me.  They love me for the way I look, despite where I live, how I think, how I act, “they like me, they really, really like me!”  And with every fiber in my being, I return the same to them!

Although the thought of having a “chosen” family unit is foreign to some (yes I have met them) the concept is VERY much practiced and in use today by many of us.

Regardless of the type of families you are a part of, celebrate them, love them, give thanks for them, do not take them for granted, take time for them, listen to them, let them know what they mean to you, treat them… like family.

I can be the change I seek in this world…   I know the love of a family is a great blessing of life.

We know that up to 70% of the population in America does not attend worship on a regular basis.  Who can individuals, couples and families turn to when they need care & services traditionally found by a place of worship?  US!  We are Inclusive Life, and we serve all without exception.  Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital & Couples Coaching-Funeral Ministers-Pastoral Care.

(402) 575-7006     www.inclusivelife.org     [TEXT ‘ceremony’ to 90210 for TEXT info!]

Inclusive Life is very proud to be a member of “All About Weddings”, a local organization focusing on bringing together premier local vendors that provide wedding services.  Inclusive Life is a member in good standing with American Association of Wedding Officiant’s.  We receive training from the International Association of Faith Based Counselors. 

www.inclusivelife.org, www.ulcnetwork.socialgo.com, www.2grooms2brides.com, www.weddingsinomaha.org, www.weddingsinlincoln.org, www.weddingsincouncilbluffs.org, www.spiritualfriendsofnebraska.org, www.funeralministers.org, www.ceremonyofficiants.org, www.allaboutweddings.com