Healing Conversations

Making A Difference

2009-04-20T07:40:00.002-06:00

There is a small office tucked away in a small corner office in St. Paul that is making a powerful difference in the lives of people who have been affected by child abuse. The organization is called, Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota. They are a dedicated group of staff and volunteers who advocate on behalf of the victims, help people heal from the trauma of abuse and offer support for both the victims and those who are the perpetrators of that abuse. You may have seen lawn signs like this one as April is Child Abuse Awareness Month.

This morning as I drove to work and saw several of these signs, I said a quiet prayer for both the victims and the perpetrators. Somewhere along my healing journey I realized that we have a tremendous amount of compassion for children who are victim's of this kind of trauma. However, when those same children grow up and repeat what they had been taught we can't believe how someone could do such a thing. I am asking for compassion for those who have been hurt and are hurting and understanding and forgiveness for those who do these kinds of things. They need our help as well and our thoughts and prayers will make a big difference.

Blessings to you,

Sandy

2009-04-09T12:21:00.003-06:00

Help For Stress – Filled Times
By Paula Becker

Use Your Breath To Reduce Stress

The most powerful way to decrease stress is through your breathing. When we are stressed and worried our muscles tighten and our breathing becomes fast and shallow. Many people notice that they will even hold their breath for periods of time. Muscle tension and shallow breathing add to anxiety and decreases our ability to think clearly. Remarkable improvements to health and mood can be experienced simply by increasing the amount of oxygen in the body.

This simple and effective process can be used anytime and in almost any setting:

Sit or stand so that your back is straight and both feet are on the floor.
Bring your attention into your body and your awareness onto your breath.
Slowly take a breath through your nose counting to five. Let your lungs fill from the bottom, expanding your belly first and then your chest.
Release air slowly out of your mouth to the count of eight.
The idea is not only to breathe more deeply, but to reduce the number of breaths taken from 10 or 12 per minute down to 4 or 5 per minute.
Practice this for three to five minutes or stop periodically throughout the day and take one minute to breathe in this manner.

As you practice this kind of slow deep breathing you will find yourself less anxious and more energetic. Changing your breathing pattern to this type of healthy breathing takes practice and concentration. Use a cell phone timer or a timer on your computer to help to remember to stop and breathe.

Paula Becker is a licensed psychologist and Director of InnerLight Healing Center (Formerly Burnsville Counseling and Healing Center). For information about stress reduction and wellness programs for individuals, businesses or churches, visit our website at http://www.counselingandhealing.com or call 952-435-4144

A Prayer For the World

2009-04-01T14:17:00.002-06:00

Let the rain come and wash away

the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds

held and nurtured over generations.

Let the rain wash away the memory

of the hurt and neglect.

Then let the sun come out and

fill the sky with rainbows.

Let the warmth of the sun heal us

wherever we are broken.

Let it burn away the fog so that

we can see each other clearly.

So that we can see beyond labels,

beyond accents, gender or skin color.

Let the warmth and brightness

of the sun melt our selfishness.

So that we share the joys and

feel the sorrows of our neighbors.

And let the light of the sun

be so strong that we will see all

people as our neighbors.

Let the earth, nourished by rain

bring forth flowers

to surround us with beauty.

And let the mountains teach our hearts

to reach toward heaven.

~Rabbi Harold Kushner

The World We Can Imagine

2009-03-27T08:18:00.004-06:00

As much as we might want to, it is very hard to escape what is going on in the world around us. If we have not been personally affected, we have friends or family who have lost their jobs or are in severe financial crises. We only have to tune into the nightly news to hear how grim the situation appears. It often feels like it is too much to take in as we try to make sense of how this will improve. People tell me they often feel overwhelmed, describing that they can feel the stress in their bodies. It is true, that never before have we experienced this kind of stress and anxiety about the state of our circumstances. We are in uncharted waters and are fearful of the things we know and paralyzed by the things we don’t know.
This kind of fear and anxiety zaps our precious energy, limits our ability to solve our own problems and skews our perception in a way that causes us to lose hope. Consciously we are a hopeful in the face of adversity, but people are feeling the need to be reminded of that now more than ever.
Stress is most often described as something that happens outside of our selves. It is the unexpected life circumstances of which we have little control over that shake our foundation, leaving us feeling vulnerable and at the mercy of life. As common as this belief is, deep down we know that it is not true. Stress comes from the way that we react, emotionally and spiritually, to the things that are happening to us. That is how one person’s blessing is another’s worst case scenario; it all depends on how we choose to view it. I learned this profound lesson while on a mission trip in Tanzania. We had the privilege to stay among the people in a village called Idunda. One morning my friend and I were watching the sun rise over the mountain top in this poor, but beautiful place. As we were watching this magnificent sight, we saw women coming toward us carrying 5 gallon pails of water on their heads. This is a common sight in Africa, but what we noticed was something more profound. As these women carried these pails of water on their head, some with babies on their backs, they were singing and joyful. My friend and I were almost moved to tears when we realized that our perspective would be very different. The people in Africa have this deep connection to Spirit that helps them trust in things they don’t know and believe in things they cannot see. They have this perpetual hope that in the midst of the poverty that surrounds them that they can imagine a world where all things are possible.
It is true our world looks somewhat grim and there appears to be no easy answers. In times like this we are asked to not judge what is possible by what is in front of us but by what lies within each of us. It is imperative that we build a relationship with the spirit that lives within us and through us. Einstein said that we cannot solve a problem with the consciousness that created it and we won’t solve our problems now either unless we embrace a higher perspective that includes this connection.
You and I are being called to imagine a different world than the one being presented to us through the media. We are being asked to go back to the long forgotten idea of looking inside ourselves for the answers. We are not different than the people of Africa because we are being asked to imagine the world as we would like to see it, knowing our thoughts and actions will make this vision a reality. Remembering that we are spiritual beings and our connection to what is deep inside of us, gives us a way to look at the world through a different lens. Within each of us lies this untapped possibility choose to choose which lens we wish to view our life our life and world through. This perspective helps us begin to imagine the world we would like to see; it is up to each of us. There as never been a more important time to embrace the spirit within, and begin to trust without knowing and believe without seeing. Blessings on your journey.

This article was written by Sandy Thibault and first appeared in the Savage Pacer, Feb. 2009.

Sandy Thibault is a life coach and Director at InnerLight Healing Center and co-founder of the Institute for Peace and Joy. To find out more about individual coaching sessions or speaking, you may call 952-435-4144 or email inpeaceandjoy@msn.com

2009-01-24T08:42:00.002-06:00

The picture to the left is a little big, don't you think? I made it that big because that is what it feels like when we encounter an obstacle, especially one that is recurring or significant. I know where my mind goes when I can't find my way through something and feel pressured to find the way. I'm guessing I don't have to spend time telling you because that might be where you go too.

A dramatic learning for me is to realize that we can hold two perspectives at the same time. In fact, I think it is important because you must honor your experience and what you feel; it is imperative that you do without trying to fix it. As you are honoring what you feel you can also embrace that this is not the only truth of your life.

We know that we can rise above were we are and hold a higher perspective. It is harder sometimes than others but as seekers on this spiritual path we understand our connection to all that is. Eckhart Tolle say it this way..." You are here to enable the divine purpose of the universe to unfold. This is how important you are!"

When we are faced with an obstacle that seems insurmountable we have to keep a perspective that moves us toward what we want not away from it. This morning I asked these questions and asked God for guidance:

What is God's vision for me and what do I have to embrace to open up space for that vision to unfold?

With the light of your vision ask yourself; what opportunity does this obstacle present that will help me move forward. I believe life challenges are never put in your path to make you fail but they are there to help you grow past them and into your light. I know it takes courage to walk through these experiences but I believe it brings us to our most important work. Remember, you are loved and created holy and divine.

Sandy

A Prayer For Our Nation

2009-01-20T11:51:00.002-06:00

A Prayer for Our Nation

We ask you to join with us wherever you are, for prayer and meditation for the bright future of your nation, with the following prayer:

May we as nation be guided by the Divine to rediscover the sacred flame of our national heritage, which so many have given their lives to safeguard;

Let the wounds of separation and division be healed by opening our hearts to listen to the truth on all sides, allowing us to find a higher truth that includes us all;

May we learn to honor and enjoy our diversity and differences as a people, even as we more deeply touch our fundamental unity;

May we, as a people, undergo a transformation that will draw forth individuals to lead our nation who embody courage, compassion and a higher vision;

May our leaders inspire us, and we so inspire each other with our potential as individuals and as a nation, that a new spirit of forgiveness, caring and honesty be born in our nation;

May we, as a united people, move with clear, directed purpose to take our place within the community of nations to help build a better future for all humankind;

May we as a nation rededicate ourselves to truly living as one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all;

And may God's Will be done for the United States, as we, the people, align with that Will.

By Gordon Davidson and Corinne McLaughlin, Center for Visionary Leadership

Christmas Quiet

2008-12-13T05:53:00.003-06:00

Last night I had the privilege to participate in a contemplative prayer service called Christmas Quiet. A little hard to imagine right now, but it was my friend Deb Gorczychi's idea that people needed time to come together to be quiet and reflect on the wonder and hope that this season brings. It was a time to honor what your heart was asking you to pay attention to and to honor the light that is shinning so brightly within you.

Each year, Deb has asked me to do a mediation to help people prepare their hearts and minds to receive the light of this season. I would like to share that with you as a meditative reading and I urge you to take a few minutes every day to become quiet and let the light of God that is within you shine shine brightly.

Christmas Quiet Meditative Reading

It is time to take a pause from the world around us, to open our hearts and minds to the light of the season, and to remember that God resides in our very own heart. Right where you are, right now, take a deep breath as you begin to prepare your heart and mind to receive God's ever present blessings. As you consciously take deep breaths allow your body to relax and allow your mind to calm, putting everything else aside and begin to imagine the magnificence of this Season of Light.

In the stars that grace the darkness...in the blazing sun of dawn... in the light of peace and wisdom...I can hear your quiet song. It is love that fills the night with wonder...love that warms the weary soul and it is love that sets us free and makes us whole.

Imagine that in the stars that grace the darkness, one belongs to you. Imagine that this star will guide your way when your path is cloudy. Right now close your eyes for a moment and let this star come into your minds eye. This star is your light, it is there to remind you of the light that is within you and the light that is ever present. This illuminates the wonder that is all around us, not just now but always.

Wonder comes in the kindness of a person. Where were you shown kindness today? Where did you show kindness? It is the grace we extend to one another...it is the acknowledgement of the goodness present in our lives. How did you see the goodness in the world today? It is the mystery of God and your star is a reminder of love and goodness... of unconditional love.

We are called to extend love, without condition, to ourselves and others; love is the healing balm that heals the weariest of souls. This is the invitation to us...it is simple...to love and let our own lights shine. This is what gives way to peace... hearing God voice...and hearing the wisdom of our own hearts.

Allow this to warm your heart and again imagine you can see the bright star as it shines right into you. Take it in...it is love...imagine that it will guide your heart and give your strength and guidance. Now imagine your star falling gently from the night sky, with no effort from you, to land right in your very own hands. That is God's grace extended to you... look at it in awe and wonder... and like a prayer rising up like incense into the heavens...allow your light to extend out of you as an offering and a blessing to everyone you meet.

Christmas Blessings,

Sandy

The Risk of Truth

2008-11-23T09:23:00.005-06:00

There comes a time when it is imperative that we really listen to everything we are telling ourselves. We have to decide if we are being honest with ourselves or if we are telling ourselves a little white lie. In my experience, I have found that when we do not tell ourselves or others the truth it is because we are fearful thinking the lie will be protecting the person or ourselves. Lately I have become aware of the ways I have not been honest with myself . Often it was blatant but other times, it is often so subtle it is hard to recognize.

My past was abusive so I always lied about my living circumstances, the amount of danger I was living in and how much fear I really had. One might say that it was justified but I continued it long after the abuse ended and into adulthood. I never told the truth to anyone about my life but that was not really the problem; I never told the truth to myself either. And those lies affected everything.

I eventually had to make peace not only with what happened but with the lies I had told myself. That is where the risk comes in...it is not easy to look inside and realize what I had told myself and realize where that had lead me. Although one day I realized I could no longer be dishonest with myself.

This is where the subtly comes in...it is sometimes so automatic we don't realize we are even doing it. Paula and I just finished the Stories of Hope program where we focused on seeing the light in others but more importantly about seeing it in ourselves. I think many of us are dishonest about that. If we see our deception to seeing our own light it bears some risk. That risk is about knowing our own truth and creating new paths to follow based on a new truth. With this knowledge of who we are, we can no longer stay on a path that limits our vision and our purpose; we must live out our purpose in the world. It is the light in ourselves and others that opens us to the great possibilities that are already there for each of us...we only have to tap into the energy of it to be in sync with our highest purpose.

I would ask each of you to consider looking at the story you are living out each and every day and be sure that it is based on your highest good. That is our true calling to risk what we truly believe and to trust the light that shines from within.

Blessings to you~

Sandy

Living Each Day

2008-11-21T09:20:00.003-06:00

There is no question about it, the busyness of our lives today have taken center stage. How many people are trying to balance work, kids, volunteer commitments, as well as keeping groceries in the house and a clean clothes in the closet? We have not even added to that the stress of how we live our lives with the stress that comes from the uncertainty in our world today.

It is easy to feel overwhelmed with everything that has to be done, cared for, decided upon or watched over. Sometimes we can even feel like a victim of our own circumstances; a never ending cycle that keeps repeating itself despite our best efforts to change it. As this cycle continues it often begins to feel like there is no hope of breaking it, which chips away at our spirits and does not allow the best of ourselves to come out. So the question becomes, how do you begin to break this cycle?

As with any change in your life, the most critical part depends on how much you want the change to occur. It will take a conscious thought and effort to create the life you desire rather than to be at the mercy of your circumstances.

Making this change, means taking control of your thoughts because your thoughts direct your actions. If you can, right now stop and jot down what your thoughts are? Are your thoughts based on fear? Are you telling yourself that things won’t change anyway? Thoughts are so powerful that you are right whatever you think. If you think things will not get better, you are right they will not. If you think that you can make a change, you are also right because you will be able to make the change you want. Having a mindset that empowers you is the first step to moving into what you want more of in your daily life.

With a positive attitude in place, ask yourself these questions. What are the most important things I want to create in my life each day? Do I want to meet each day with stress and anxiety or peace and joy? Which activities feel like I “have to” do them and which ones bring me contentment? Being honest with yourself and your situation will help you define what it is you want. It requires looking within to uncover any beliefs that may be keeping you stuck in old patterns and agreeing to change them so you can move ahead.

Answering these questions will give you a place to start. The next step is to ask how. How can I make the things I want in my life be a priority? How can I reduce stress in even a small way? What small thing can I change today that will bring a welcome change?
Making a change is hard work and requires constant and consistent effort to make it happen. It takes time and often the results you desire do not come overnight, but know that every small change gives you confidence to create the life you want. The most important part of this article is that each one of us possesses amazing possibilities to live a life that nourishes our spirits and fills us with joy. Remember this is a journey that is unfolding so be kind and gentle with yourself and you move into your unlimited potential to create everything you want.

Sandy Thibault is an author, speaker and life coach. She is part owner in Burnsville Counseling and Healing Center and co-founder of the Institute for Peace and Joy. She can be contacted at 952-435-4144 or http://www.counselingandhealing.com

A Call To Prayer

2008-10-26T13:16:00.002-06:00

A few years ago I spent three weeks in Tanzania. While there I got to know people from many different cultures including people from the remote villages, members of the Maasi tribe as well as people who where Muslim. On the first morning there I remember waking up at sunrise to the Muslim tradition of calling everyone to prayer. Chanting comes over the loudspeaker that reminds everyone in hearing distance that it is time to stop what they are doing and turn their attention to a power higher than themselves. This call goes out 5 times a day and is strictly adhered too.

I was aware of what it was because we had been told about it...but it was different being there and hearing it. The chanting was loud and clear in the still of the morning with the sun just coming up. I could imagine people waking up and their first thoughts were about prayer. It reminded me too that it was important to acknowledge God's spirit within me.

This was on my mind because I was recently reminded of this tradition by the friends I had traveled with. As it sat in my mind I wondered how my responses to the world would be different if I was reminded of God 5 times a day. What if the call to prayer came during a difficult conversation with someone? What if the call came when you were overwhelmed and fearful? What if you were fighting with someone? As I pose these questions I can't help but wonder if I would drop my defenses and come to love and forgiveness faster. I don't know for sure but it would change the perspective.

Every morning when I wake up before I do anything else I mediate and ask for Divine guidance to open my heart and to guide my words and actions in a way that is loving to all. But I am like everyone else sometimes with my best intentions, I fall short of how I want to be. The call to prayer is not part of our culture but I think the idea of it reminds all of us that God is guiding us at every moment even when things are hard. It is a wonderful assurance.
Blessings,
Sandy

2008-10-16T12:13:00.002-06:00

An Apache Blessing...

May the sun
bring you new energy by day

May the moon
softly restore you by night

May the rain
wash away your worries

May the breeze
blow new strength into your being

May you walk
gently through the world and know
its beauty all the days of your life

I am wondering how many times we take a moment to send a blessing to those people that are important to us? I wonder further... how many times we send a blessing to those people who have hurt us in some way? I choose the picture I did because it represents to me what happens inside when we bless the people around us. And as we do it that, the same blessing happens in us. May you be blessed beyond measure.
Sandy

You are invited to attend Stories of Hope on Nov. 7th at St. James Lutheran Church in Burnsville. Visit our web site for more information
www.counselingandhealing.com/stories_of_hope.aspx

Holding Hope...

2008-10-12T12:46:00.002-06:00

In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. ~Albert Camus

With Stories of Hope right around the corner I have been thinking a lot about the idea of hope. My question over the last few weeks has been, how do you hold on to hope when all the evidence is to the contrary? It is an interesting and complex question to answer.

I have been trying to answer this for myself. My life circumstances as a child were very hopeless. As an abused child, my life continued to get worse with the violence escalating against me. It literally felt like no way out and and my future looked bleak indeed. In the face of all odds stacked against me, I knew that there was a different life for me and that would change my family.

I have been asked how I knew that and I have had difficulty putting into words. It was not something that came from my logical mind but from my spirit. I had a knowing at a young age that I would be given everything I needed to make a different life for myself. It is hard to hang on to that feeling when the world around me was crumbling, but in the darkest hour the feeling would come back to me. It would allow me to get up and press on. I came to realize at an early age how resilient the human spirit is. This knowing was not in my mind but in my heart and I could feel it in every part of my body. I realize now what an incredible gift I was given to experience this Divine knowing that helped me hold hope in my heart.

I know that this is not only true for me but for you as well. We all have times in our life that seem hopeless and out of our control, but yet we continue on moving into the future with a hopeful heart. That is what our world needs; for each one of us to hold hope for healing our own lives so we can create a future for our children that is hopeful.

That is what Stories of Hope...We Are The Hope For Our Children is about. It is about how we can each look at our own lives, heal the places were we feel wounded and create a world where love and compassion is a generous outpouring of who we are.

I invite each one of you to come to this free gift to the community on Friday night, Nov. 7th at St. James Lutheran Church. Invite others to join you for inspiring program.

Blessings,

Sandy

For more information visit us at www.counselingandhealing.com/stories_of_hope.aspx

Healing Stories

2008-09-27T06:30:00.004-06:00

One of my favorite things to do is to get up early and sit on my deck with my coffee to welcome the day. I am often looking at the moon and stars, thinking about the beauty of this world, and the opportunities that lay waiting to unfold in the day before me.

This morning, I am in the after glow of a presentation that my business Partner, Paula and I did last night at our center called, Living Stories. Long ago, story was the way a family or culture would pass down their history, values and beliefs to the next generation. When these stories were told it was much more than passing on the information, it was an eye into the person's heart that was telling the story. When we speak our truth, however painful that may be, we open the door where we can connect to others through the heart: a powerful and transformative tool.

Last night we had an opportunity to do just that. Using my story of abuse as a basis, we talked about the healing journey. I like to call it, A Story of Love and Forgiveness ~ A Journey to Peace.

That is not just what I wanted, we all want that in our lives, regardless of our story. I believe there are some universal principals to healing. An essential part of this process is forgiveness for yourself and others, acknowledging the Divine guidance in your life, seeing God in everything and everyone and offering everyone, including yourself unconditional love.

Is this an easy task? Of course not, it does not come from a logical mind but from a spiritual perspective. They say that you cannot heal a situation with the same consciousness that created it. Forgiving someone, or offering love to a person you think does not deserve it, does not come from your mind; it comes from your heart and for that you need a higher perspective.

I sat in awe last night as I watched the people who had gathered there to hear about what it means to heal. How courageous they were to open themselves to the idea's being presented. I listened as Paula spoke about the ideas that she has always believed since she was a small child.

Early in her life, she had an understanding that is uncommon even among adults now. She was given a gift to help people see God in everything and everyone. She knew early about the power of forgiveness and how that frees you give love and compassion to yourself and others. I watch her as she lives this out each day.

Individually and together, this is our message to all who want to hear it. We each have to refuse to carry anger, judgement and hatred toward ourselves and others. Healing the wounds we carry is a light that shines brightly for others along the path. The picture above shows it best...we all need each other and when we allow our heart to open, we offer our hand to others. I would invite you to come to Stories of Hope...We Are The Hope For Our Children. Healing ourselves is how we create a better world for our children. Please join us on Friday night, November 7th at St. James Lutheran Church in Burnsville, MN . For more information http://www.counselingandhealing.com/stories_of_hope.aspx

May you be blessed and be a blessing,

Sandy

Sonnet To Morning

2008-09-21T19:52:00.002-06:00

Let me wrap the gift of this new day

and view its contents as a innocent child

accepts the world: with eyes that see the way

to sun beyond dark clouds, where skies are mild;

with voice that lifts in prayer, as birds praise dawn;

with hands that touch each miracle, in awe

of budding leaves or flowers on a lawn

or furry friends with hoof, horn and paw.

Lead me along a path where I will find

in all the precious hours that stretch before,

the chance to help,to listen,to be kind;

to heal the wounds that make the world heartsore.

Oh, let me fill each second so that I

may greet the day with an appreciative eye.

~Sheila Forsyth

Spend a quiet moment this morning to contemplate the day that is yours to create. Blessings to you this day.

Sandy

Offering What We Have...

2008-09-14T10:46:00.004-06:00

Today I heard a friend of mine peform a song entitled, Changed for Good with music and lyrics by Ken Medema. I wish you would be able to hear this beatuful song but I would like to share just a few words that have stuck with me.

No more watching from the top of a tree;
No more watching from a distance to see;
Love is here and love is calling me;
I am being changed
Here is my promise, here is my vow

These are powerful words for our times and the only healing balm. I think of how often our thoughts and actions are the result of the discord we feel within ourselves and in our relationships. We need to know that difficulties in our life cannot be solved with the same consciousness that created them, therefore a higher perspective is needed. I believe that place is the place of love. It is the place where we can hear more than the words being spoken and see more than appears before us. It is in this place of our deepest knowing that holds the most transforming power of all, and that is unconditional love. This is the place where we can all hold each other in our humanness and extend the hand of love, compassion and forgiveness to those around us.

My friends in Idunda, Tanzania, would say it like this...ne-no-la wo-ko-vu updendo te-na-je-ma . It means offering forgiveness, love, comfort and joy.

So I can offer what I have so here is my promise and here is my vow...offering forgiveness, comfort and joy and extending love to all. Love IS calling me...How about you?

Blessings,
Sandy

For more information about our upcoming events go to www.counselingandhealing.com/upcomingeventscalendar.aspx

More Than One Way to Achieve Dreams...

2008-08-21T07:23:00.005-06:00

I have been reading a book called, The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. You may have heard about it, as it has received a lot of publicity in recent months. Randy was a Virtual Reality Scientist and professor at Carnegie Mellon University, well known for its accomplishments in this field. As I understand it, it is customary for professors to give what is called a, "Last Lecture" as a way to impart the wisdom they have learned. What is unusual, is that it is not usually done at the end of their life. What makes this book unusual is that he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given only months to live, and this was indeed his last lecture.

I was awed by his attitude to keep on living and creating in the midst of his illness. He had a wife and very young children he knew he would not see grow up. Randy could have decided to stop living but he did not, instead he decided he could leave a legacy not only for his family, but for anyone who wanted to listen.

There is much to be inspired about in the book, but what caught my attention was how he achieved his own dreams and used that as a model to help others. He believed there was more than one way, or line of thinking that would move someone closer to their dreams. As a child he had a dream to float in the air. Not knowing how that would ever happen he just kept the idea in his mind. One day, more than 20 years later, an invitation came that would allow his students to participate in a virtual reality experience at NASA that included being in the simulator that allowed an experience of floating in space. However, soon he found out that an instructor was not allowed to accompany the students...he was devastated! He decided to resign his position as a professor and apply to go along as a journalist. He was accepted and his dream was realized.

Well, I'm not suggesting that this is a solution for all of us, but it does point us in the direction of re-evaluating how we think about things and the way we have come to believe they need to be done. We all sometimes operate under a set thoughts that have us believe there is one prescribed path, one way to get from A to B and deviating from it does not make sense. When I hold this idea I have to turn my attention inward and ask, Could there be another way? Or how about when another way becomes clear and you reject it because it is not what you thought? My guess is that Randy could have easily dismissed this solution as illogical or impossible, instead of opening to the idea.

When I get to that place, I know I have been holding on too tightly and it is time to let go. I believe that you can never really have something unless you are willing to let it go. It is in the letting go that opens us to spirit, and that opening brings us the place of holiness where the possibilities are more than we can ever imagine. It is as though we have literally stepped into another world, and in reality we have...we have stepped into the fullness of God within us. The place that guides, fulfills and nurtures our souls.

As you think about your dreams pay attention to the places that keep you stuck and separate from yourself and God. I found this wonderful quote today as I looked for something else. It is "The boundary to what we can accept is the boundary to our freedom." The time is now to let nothing stand between you and your dreams!

Blessings,

Sandy

Sandy is a life coach at Burnsville Counseling and Healing Center and author of Selma's Spirit, A Story of Love and Forgiveness. She will be speaking about her healing journey on Friday, Sept. 26 at 6:30. For more information go to www.counselingandhealing.com/sandy_thibault.aspx

Following Your Heart...

2008-08-09T07:38:00.005-06:00

The idea and the inspiration for this entry actually came yesterday during my mediation. I however did not write it yesterday because I knew there was more to come before it was to be committed to paper, or in this case the blog. I love the picture I found, our path laid out in front of us and the picture of our heart on that path.

Our head represents our deepest longings and our greatest dreams, but to bring them into being it is imperative that we follow where our heart is leading us. As much as I love this picture, it gives the impression that this road is smooth, and sometimes it is. But what do we do when it is not?

That is the question I have had on my mind this week. I think more often than not, when we consciously choose to be true to who we are, we are asked to prove it. Sometimes I feel that obstacles are put in front of us to help us commit to our dream. If we have so much conviction in what we are trying to pursue, whether it is a personal or professional endeavor, life itself asks to commit to it again and again. I have come to the conclusion that this gives energy and momentum to the dream. I would also be lying if I did not tell you that sometimes it is just nice to have smooth sailing.

Many times following my heart meant smooth sailing, but I noticed when the dream was really big, boulders seem to block the path. In my life I had many reasons to "throw in the towel" as they say it. but I always choose not too. Looking back through my life, I had to make life and death decisions with only my heart as a guide. All of us have situations in our life where we have to weigh what our head is saying against what our hearts know to be true. I have found that my head will give me the easy answer, trying to protect me from more conflict or hurt. But when I check in with my heart, I tap into the spirit of God that surrounds and guides my every step. It is that spirit that I have come to rely on as I move forward in this journey. A bit ago I said I have never been a quitter and often I wondered why; often it was the easy way out. So as I write this I know that my path is to follow my heart, even in the middle of obstacles.

Abraham Lincoln said this, "Sooner or later every man of character will have that character questioned. Every man of honor and courage will be faced with unjust criticism, but never forget the unjust criticism has no impact upon the truth." The book that this quote came from is called, A Traveler"s Journey. The main character in the book is faced with what seems like insurmountable challenges and decides to take his own life. In that space between life and death he is granted the privilege of meeting extraordinary people, some famous and some not. In one part of the book he had the opportunity to meet Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln talked about what people thought about him and his decisions, such as putting an end to slavery. In his day and time he was not winning any popularity contest, but he was a man of heart. He knew that slavery was not right and despite harsh criticism, set people free. When asked how he could deal with such harsh criticism he answered this way, "The secret is forgiveness, it is a secret that is hidden in plain sight. It costs nothing and is worth millions. It is available to all but used by few. If you harness the power of forgiveness, you will be revered, sought after, and wealthy. And not so coincidentally, you will be forgiven by others." Lincoln went to say that he can't change people's opinion of him or the anger they held against him, but he can offer the gift of forgiveness. These are profound words said over a hundred years ago and yet they still speak the truth to us today.

I don't have to tell any of you reading this that standing strong in the face of adversity is not any easy task, but I think it is the most important thing we can do to be true to ourselves. Take a deep breath and decide that you will be true to who you are, what you believe and what you were put on this earth to do. And then with all the heart and love that we have inside us offer forgiveness to those who have hurt us. It then becomes our gift to ourselves, offering us unconditional love that nurtures the very spirit that guides us.

Blessings to you this day,

Sandy

To get get more information, visit our web site at: http://www.counselingandhealing.com/upcomingevents.aspx

All IN

2008-08-03T17:22:00.003-06:00

This morning I had an opportunity to attend an outdoor community worship service. A friend of mine is part of a singing group called "Sister" and they were leading the service. Just a side note: They are fabulous and right here in our community, so if you ever have the chance to see them perform, please do. The service was simple set in a beautiful park with inspirational music and message. The speaker told his personal story of having it all... money, great career. a wife and family and yet his life was empty and still he was days away from signing the divorce papers that would end his marriage. In desperation he confided in a friend and said he tried it all. His friend replied that he had not tried it all, he did not have a relationship with God. As the story goes, he said his life had always been about him and his ability to make it all happen. He decided then to let it all go and used the metaphor of a poker game. In No Limits Texas Hold'em, when you think you have the best hand you take all your chips and put them in the middle, giving it all up, hoping your hand will take it all. He then suggested you part the chips in the middle and add God to represent that the real power in our lives comes from God.

The speaker was very charismatic and went on for some time as I waded into my own thoughts about what he had said. I very much agree that we have come individually and as a society into a place of making things happen. Most of us believe, at least sometimes, that if we work harder we can make things happen. However, mostly we are left exhausted and still feeling empty just like the speaker said was true in his life.

It is easy to let fear run rampant in our thoughts and wonder how we will meet all the demands placed in front of us. Sometimes it is humanly impossible to see how a solution will ever come. That is it exactly...in our humanness we cannot come to an answer. It is then that we must relay on Spirit to guide and inform us. I believe that our lives our spiritually guided, we were each created with a purpose so unique it is not duplicated anywhere else. If we push all our concerns to the middle of the table and ask that their very essence be blessed and that we give over to spirit our need to make it happen, infinite possibilities will abound.

A few days ago I was working on our web site and could not get a picture on. I had done it so many times before I could have done it in my sleep. The more I tried the more it would not work. I asked all the computer people I knew and no one could help me. In frustration I sat down and tried again but to no avail. It was then that I closed by eyes and sent blessings to the computer. After a few minutes I tried again to still no avail. I took a deep breath in and whispered a prayer that asked for guidance to complete this. The picture got on without any more problems.

This is not a profound story but it is an example of paying attention to the guidance from spirit that is within us and let that inform our lives. Today, as you move through the day, think about if you are trying to control the outcome or if you are working in harmony with spirit.

Blessings to you,
Sandy

The Voice of the Eagle

2008-07-13T08:05:00.002-06:00

This past Saturday, I had the privilege and the honor to attend an Eagle Scout Ceremony for a boy I had mentored almost three years ago. He was thirteen years old when he asked me if I would help him with two of the most difficult Merit Badges required for Eagle. He said he wanted to do more than the minimum...he wanted to do it in the best way possible. It took almost six months for him to complete these badges as they were not easy, yet he never chose to quit.

As I sat in the school gym waiting for the ceremony to begin, I could not help but notice all the people who had come to help him celebrate this honored rank. The ceremony began with a tradition called, The Voice of the Eagle. It starts by recognizing that the compass is more than a way to find your way in the woods but a guide for life. Four scouts represented the four directions by talking about how each direction gives them guidance to lead their life in a way that is fitting to the ideals of an Eagle Scout.

Since the beginning of scouting the Eagle has represented the ideals that they hold in high regard. The Voice of the Eagle in the ceremony reminds all of us that we must live in a way that is honorable, calling forth loyalty to ourselves and others, be courageous in our ways, and compassionate to those less fortunate than ourselves.

In the Native American culture the Four Directions are also used as a guide for daily life. They regularly honor these directions not only in daily life but in ceremony. The North represents wisdom and strength, East - clarity and illumination, South - wholeness and expectation and the West - authenticity and introspection.

After Andy was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout, I listened as he talked about how he was a model for others and would uphold the ideals that he had learned in a way that would benefit himself, his community and the world. It was a reminder to me to think about, what are the ideals that I hold and how do I live them out each day.? How do I honor the spiritual guidance that comes into my life and how does that light my path? These questions are not new, but serve to add guidance and direction to our lives. Just like the scouts hiking in the woods, they check their compass often to be sure they are on the path they want to be. That is no different for us...we to need to check our internal and spiritual compass and allow it to guide our path.

The wisdom of the Native Americans reminds me of the spiritual aspects of life, that each direction offers a different perspective that adds wholeness to how I see the world. The Voice of the Eagle is also a reminder to me that we are all courageous and strong in our own ways, that each one of us is looking for ways to live with integrity, but most important of all... each one of us has the essence of the eagle within us and are meant to soar in our lives.
Blessings to you as you listen to the Voice of the Eagle that resides inside your heart.
Sandy

Sandy Thibault is a Life Coach, Partner in Burnsville Counseling and Healing Center and co-founder of the Institute for Peace and Joy. For individual appointments or to inquire about workshops, retreats or speaking for your organization contact her at 952-435-4144. Please visit our web site for more information on all our services www.counselingandhealing.com

Sweetness In The Belly...What I really wanted to Say...

2008-06-26T11:59:00.004-06:00

I read back over the last two entries and realized I have not said what I really wanted to say. Maybe that is why it has taken me six months to write about it, as it is hard to put it into words. The surgery that I thought would heal my back, did not. After three months and much pain, I found myself having the surgery all over again. A gamut of emotions ran through me, sometimes I felt vulnerable, frightened, hopeful and discouraged, to mention only a few. But mostly I tried to stay positive through it all...I realized from the beginning that this would be a time of incredible healing for me, and it has been. This experience has brought with it many ways to experience a deeper level of healing than I would have imagined.

I realized that my body had learned at an early age what it needed to do to protect me. It did a wonderful job and when this injury happened, it again did what it knew how to do; tighten the muscles to protect the body from further pain. But now, my body needed to "let go" so the muscles could relax and begin to heal. It was so evident that even with the work I had done on my past, my body still carried the trauma. I used guided imagery, Reiki, massage and energy work to facilitate this process. But the most important thing I did, was to begin to thank my body on a regular basis for everything it had done for me. This was and still is a powerful and awesome thing for me to experience. I call it Sweetness in the belly...it is that place inside us where all things come together; the deep hurt pain of the trauma and expressing deep love and honor for that body that endured it. It is a process of deciding to really love yourself and your body and giving it what it needs to heal.

I have found that when something bad happens to people they tend to shut the windows and lock the doors and pretend that everything is really just fine. In the past, that was my mode of operation too. To let people in would have made me too vulnerable and no one likes to in that place. This idea fosters the belief that we can take care of things our self...thank you very much. This time I knew I could not do this alone nor should I. So if I would allow people to encourage, support and help me through this, it would be important to pay attention to the feelings that come up in me...and that they did. There it is again...that place of sweetness in the belly, the place where our deepest vulnerability meets our deepest desire to receive the blessings others have to offer.

And lastly, I experienced yet another level of forgiveness for both my dad and the man who molested and raped me. It is hard for me to put into words because there was not anything more I had to talk through or do; this was something that I was feeling and experiencing. In meditation I would often feel great compassion for these two men and send them light. So there is was again, that place of being able to hold both the anguish of what they did and forgiveness and love for them.

I think I have said the things I wanted to say for now, but who knows what else may be coming. I look at this journey with a bit of wonder and awe at life for always bringing us what we need to learn and somehow we are blessed by the process itself. I am grateful for everyone in my life who has extended their love and support and I acknowledge Spirit for coming to that place I now call, Sweetness in the belly.

Blessings,

Sandy

Sandy Thibault is a speaker, author and life coach at Burnsville Counseling and Healing Center. She is also co-founder of the Institute for Peace and Joy. To make an appointment for call 952-435-4144 or go to www.counselingandhealing.com

Restoring The Divine In You

2008-06-26T11:46:00.006-06:00

In my training I as a coach, I was introduced to the Hawaiian method of healing called Ho'oponopono. The word itself means to "make right" and bring "Divine Light" into self and others. This healing method brings to our awareness the discord that arises within us from painful memories that we have held unto, the release of which would bring us into a place of peace and love. I remember learning this process of letting go and bringing love and light into any situation. It was powerful and trans formative as I did this for myself and clients. The native Hawaiians use this every evening to let go of the events of the day, whether they were viewed as good or bad. The idea being that nothing would be carried into the next day so that the day could begin with a clean slate.

Recently I read a book about an updated form of this ancient healing method. The author begins by talking how he became interested in this. He heard a story about a therapist who healed a whole ward of criminally insane men while on staff at a hospital in Hawaii. What piqued his interest is that this therapist never saw the men in a professional capacity. When the author found out that the story was true, he eventually tracked down the man, Ihaleakala Hew Len, PhD, and asked him how he did it. His reply was simple but profound. He said he would open each case and look it over, and then ask himself the question, What in me contributed to this man's problems? He would then notice what feelings and emotions came up in him and worked to clear them in himself. After he had been doing this for several months, the administration began to notice that the attitudes of the men and the staff were getting better. There was less violence and eventually the restraints from the men could be removed. Soon programs were being created and the men were able to participate in the larger community without the threat of harming themselves or someone else. Eventually the ward was closed because it was no longer needed.

This is truly an amazing story, an account of how one therapist used Ho'oponopono to make right what was within him and restore himself to the Divinity that is within each of us. Dr. Hew Len believed that we are responsible for the pain of others by what we still have to heal in us. The process he used was so simple that many were skeptical at first. He would be in a meditative state and used these words...

I'm sorry for the part I played in your pain
Please forgive me
I love you
Peace

I agree that at first one might wonder how these words could be so powerful but it is much more than just the words, it is the intention behind the words that make it powerful. The first phrase is really about repentance and forgiveness for yourself. How often do we stop and remember that we are not only responsible for our actions, but also our thoughts and feelings we have about others. And then equally important forgive ourselves for that action. The words I love you and peace are calling upon and connecting that which is Divine. It is truly a process of making right and calling upon love and peace to restore balance to our souls.

As children, we learned to say I'm sorry, forgive one another and "make right" the situation. But as adults we have sometimes forgotten to do this in our relationships, and almost never for ourselves. To me it almost feels a little like unconditional love you can offer yourself, infused by the divine light of Spirit. As I have been using this process for myself over the last several weeks, I have found it peaceful and transformative. It is not often we readily take responsibility for the pain in ourselves and others and then offer forgiveness, love and peace. Sometimes at night I find myself going over the events of the day and saying these simple words. I can feel the energy that comes up inside me as I work to heal myself and I know that energy extends out beyond me. Imagine how much healing capacity we each hold within us and we can affect each other and the world around us. Blessings to you as you use these simple words to restore the Divinity that is within you.

Blessings to you,

Sandy

For more information about us go to http://www.counselingandhealing.com/

Sandy Thibault is a speaker, author and Life Coach at Burnsville Counseling and Healing Center. She is also co-founder of the Institute for Peace and Joy. If you would like to make an appointment for coaching please call 952-435-4144.

Sweetness In The Belly...Continued

2008-06-22T18:40:00.003-06:00

I have the most perfect place to write this entry. I am sitting on my deck looking at the deer in the preserve behind our house. It is a gorgeous evening to be writing outside...So, here is more of my experience.

A whole wave of emotions moved through me in those first few days...anger that I had yet another reminder of what had happened to me all those years ago. I felt scared as the pain increased in my right and I began to limp. My emotions were up and down as I looked deep inside for answers. I have done a lot to heal my life and really felt I was moving past many of the triggers and traps that had kept me stuck. So I took another deeper look...what did I still need to look at? What still needed to be forgiven? What is the blessing in this? After all, I knew in the deepest part of myself that this healing was about healing mind, body and spirit. My mind had went over the memories to often to recall and my unconscious mind understood that I could never change what happened to me, but I could and have changed my relationship to it. Over the years, I had spent much time forgiving the people who hurt me...but now it would happen at an even deeper level.

One day in meditation I saw myself looking face to face with the man who had sexually abused me. I observed myself looking into his eyes with compassion as I said thank you to him. Somehow I understood that what happened to me and what I learned about healing was for me to share with others. I'm not sure what had happened in his life that made him do the things he did to me but I felt great compassion for him and a understanding that this was part of my path. I can't tell you why growing up the way I did was my path...but I will tell you looking back it was clear I had been given a gift...to share my story in a way that might help others heal.

I was on all kinds of meds to help me until the surgery in mid-February but I also used other things to help me. I spent much in meditation asking for insight and clarity to help me understand. One day I quite simply realized that this was about moving the trauma out of my body. My muscles were taught early what to do to protect me, they did their job well but now it was time to let go. They were tight and spasming around my injury...the only thing is they could not tell the difference between this new injury and the hurts from long ago. You have heard the words...issues in the tissues...well, that is what I am talking about. But safety is a big issue, but thru guided imagery, I was able to just be with my body and start to let myself feel what had been hidden in my muscles. Sometimes we leave our bodies when the pain gets to much too tolerate...and I was good at it. Sometimes it was just too hard to stay with the pain and yet thsat is what we have to do. So now it was about stating present with the pain in my back and staying present to what it brought up. Easy...of course not, that is why we need each other...I knew many people were sending kind thoughts and saying prayers for my healing. When I would sit quietly I could feel the energy of those intentions my friends were sending my way and I could feel the presence of God in each thought and prayer.

I urge all of you to take five minutes to day and be full present with your body. Notice the places of discomfort and simply what your feelings. There is nothing to say or do except to send light and love to that part of you that hurts.

More next week...Blessings to you.

Sandy
For more information about us go to http://www.counselingandhealing.com/

Sweetness In The Belly...

2008-06-15T19:23:00.005-06:00

It's been a while since I have added something new to this blog. It is not like me...I always write about about what has inspired me, what has intrigued me or made me wonder as I stood in awe of something miraculous. But whatever it is I write about it comes from my experience and the deepest part of my heart. For the last six months however, I have been quiet in my writing, not writing about something that has been going on in my life and the tremendous learning from it. Why I have been so quiet? I'm exactly sure but a week ago I had an insight that as soon I started writing about this experience it would offer healing to myself and others.

It was in mid-December that I started to have an incredible pain in my lower back that ran down by right leg. At the beginning I thought it was nothing that would not go away in a few days, but by Christmas I was in incredible pain that seemed to get worse by the day. I tried a few sessions of physical therapy with no relief and was soon sent for an MRI. Most often, the doctor is the person who gives you the report but I got mine as I went for my last physical therapy appointment. She told me I had a herniated and fragmented disc the was laying at a place where many nerves comes together causing the extreme pain. She said she could nothing to help me and I would need surgery. This is not the worst thing, it happens to many people.

But it what she said next and what my body already knew that made me know this had much greater depth to it than a simple surgery. For a good share of my childhood I was severely abused in many ways. Even though it took me weeks to acknowledge it, I knew that this pain in my back was the same as when my dad used to kick me in my lower back and butt with his cowboy boots or steel tipped work boots. As I sat with the physical therapist, she told me that I was way more likely to have this happen to me than most people. She explained that she could see from the report that my spine had some abnormality to it. When I asked her about it, she said it was from previous injuries...Her words sat hard, and I'm sure she saw it too. Finally I told her about what had happened to me growing up and asked the question I never wanted to ask...is the reason for what has happened now? I don't think she wanted to give me the answer any more than I wanted to hear, but she had to say it and I had to hear it. We sat in silence...I fought back tears and she offered her hand and said I'm sorry. I felt like I was experiencing the abuse all over again.

That's when I realized that the surgery was a small part of this and healing would come in a deep and profound understanding and learning on many levels. I did not even understand what it all meant, but I knew without a doubt that I could not do it alone.

Paula, my friend and business partner, asked if she could inform the staff of what was in front of me and ask for thoughts and prayers. Even though I am open about my story, I felt vulnerable and wanted to cover my ache without anyone knowing. But we are a healing center and teach others that we they need each other and it is no different for us. So the email went out and my road to healing at a deep level... body, mind and spirit began to unfold.

I can't tell it all at once but this is a beginning for me to talk about what this experience has been like. It is good for my soul to write and maybe you will see a bit of yourself or have a flash of insight for yourself, but regardless, when we share our stories we are a blessing to each other.

As for the title of this...Sweetness In The Belly...you will have to wait for more entries to know why it has been given this name.

Blessings,

Sandy

I Arise Today...

2008-05-21T06:28:00.002-06:00

I came across this wonderful poem this morning tucked inside a book and it was so nice I just wanted to share it with you as a morning blessing.

I arise today through strength in the sky:

light of sun and moon's reflection

dazzle of fire

speed of lightning

wild wind

deep sea

firm earth

hard rock.

I arise today

with God's strength to pilot me:

God's might to uphold me

Gods wisdom to guide me

God's eye to look ahead for me

God's ear to hear me

God's word to speak for me

God's hand to defend me

Gods way to lie before me

God's shield to protect me

God's host to safeguard me.

This is a Celtic poem translated by John Skinner. I hope you enjoyed it and remember the blessings yet to unfold this and every day.

Sandy

Simple Math

2008-04-28T07:42:00.002-06:00

Simple Math...

Over the last few years I have had a fascination with math especially as it relates to Quantum Physics. I have been so intrigued that I had to buy the book on Einstein when it came out. Now you have to understand that I know very little about math, and the fact of the matter is, I am terrible at it. But there I was at Barnes and Noble to purchase the book. It was at least 3 inches thick and on first, second and third glance I knew I understood very little about what he was trying to say, but I bought it anyway. It is now many months later and I still do not understand most of what I am reading, but I am drawn to the concepts. What I do know is that quantum physics is the science of matter and energy and how they interact. The word quantum means a measurement of energy that is transmitted as a frequency of light. For a long time it has been known that the principles of quantum physics have been associated with what we are now calling, "New Age" idea's. The idea's and the relationship of matter and energy fit together and give explanation to concepts such as abundance, gratitude, attraction and many others. In essence it is really talking about tapping into an energy flow that is all around us. There are many terms for this, some may call that God and others spirit, but regardless of what it is called, our energy is in constant communication with it.

The other day I was reading something and I came across this simple math problem. The author was talking about what matters most in our life and if we knew, we would live our lives much different. So he suggests that you multiply your age times 365. That will give you the number of days you have been breathing on the planet. Now subtract from that 25,000, that is the average number of days people live in the U.S. The result is the average number of days you can expect to live. We might have good genes and live much longer, but we also know that life can end or change in a flash. It is a stark wake up call to pay attention to our lives. How does this simple math problem relate to Quantum Physics...within the principals of Quantum theory lies the idea that we can tap into that energy and that energy interacts in such a way that more possibilities than we ever thought of exist in the universe. Since we know that our thoughts and actions have energy associated with them and are in constant communication with the energy around us, does it not make sense to use our thoughts and actions in such a way that it benefits ourselves and those around us? What would happen if we would open ourselves to the possibility that exists in the universe? It is all available and waiting for us to tap into it!

So I would ask you...when you think about your life are you living it in a way that is most true to you? Are you embracing your passions? Are you finding peace and joy in your life? Knowing that your every thought and action is sending out energy to your body and everyone around you, how might that give you a new perspective of what you do? Today, I invite you to really pay attention to what you are creating with every thought and action and embrace the gift to the world that you are.

Blessings to you~

Sandy

Healing Intentions Update

Please join us in holding this intention or prayer: That people experience peace, connection and kindness with their neighbors. Our intention is that people will do this form May until the end of August. During that time you will be updated with regular emails and we will have a gathering of all those who participated in September. For more information please visit our web site at www.counselingandhealing.com/intent.aspx If you are joining us in this intention please send us an email so you can be included in the updates and the gathering in the September. Email: inpeaceandjoy@msn.com

Please Join us...

2008-04-27T18:50:00.002-06:00

Healing Intentions

Over the last years there have been many experiments done around the idea of focused thought and how that changes the outcome of something. In the book, The Intention Experiment, a group of scientists have actually ran experiments where people sent positive thoughts to plants, and with special equipment, they could measure changes in the plant as compared to a control group. I find these idea's just fascinating, but most of us do not have the scientific knowledge or equipment to try this for ourselves...or do we? We don't need to get that scientific to know that the idea of purposefully focusing our attention on something specific works. We are calling it Healing Intentions and some may call it prayer, but most of us believe that we can make a difference in our life, the lives of the people around us and the world we live in when we focus our attention on it.

I think about the people in my own life that have told me about the power of groups of people who have come together to pray for someone; about healing circles I have participated in by spending focused attention on one specific request and what an incredible experience that was. About a month ago we did a Healing Intention group for our staff. We came together for the purpose of focused attention on something that needed healing in their own lives and then also for someone else who needed healing. We spent a few minutes in purposeful and focused attention on each person. When we finished, everyone reported they felt a warm and wonderful even peaceful feeling come over them. Together we talked about the experience itself and many shared their insights and thoughts from this time of quiet repose.

Because we know the power of people coming together to do this, we are expanding this idea to focus on a need within our community. Over the last several weeks we have been meeting with area Mayor's to ask for a community concern that we could use as our focus. With their help we have decided our intention is to bring connection, peace and kindness to our neighborhoods. We have been asking churches and groups of people to join in this effort by spending 3 minutes of focused attention or prayer on this. If you already meet with a group on a regular basis we are asking you to do this as part of your meeting, if not, ask someone to do this with you. We will be doing this for the months of May,June,July, and August. In September we will be having a gathering of everyone who participated. Already churches are joining this effort, as well as individuals and groups. We are very excited about the response we have received already and only expect that to grow.

We invite you to participate with us as we focus our intention on bringing connection, peace and kindness to our neighbors. Everyone who is participating will receive regular emails from us with pertinent information. If you are doing this with us please send us an email and let us know so you can be added to the list. For more information or to join this effort send is an email at inpeaceandjoy@msn.com

Never underestimate the power that comes when people gather in common purpose. Blessings to you and peace, connection and kindness with all your neighbors.

Sandy and paula

In His Wisdom

2008-04-20T18:16:00.004-06:00

God in His Wisdom made not only seas and seasons, ground and growing things, but time aplenty for each of us to know and to enjoy his inventions and creations. Too often we do not go easy through the day, take our time, settle in awhile to just enjoy the wonder. Maybe if we did we'd not only enjoy our lives a little more but learn to appreciate this, His, most unusual world. ~ Rod McKuen

This morning, quite by accident I found this book of poetry by Rod McKuen. I'm not sure if any of you reading this blog are old enough to remember, but he was quite popular in the early 70's. I read the words over and over again as I sat with the meaning and looked outside to the glorious day emerging. I love it when it is early in the morning and I can sit with all the wonder of a new day. A chance to do things different, be a helping hand to someone in need or enjoy a hug from a friend. In this new day...everything is new and full of possibility. Today, take a full breath and settle in for a moment and be in awe of this world that is around us.

Blessings,

Sandy

2008-04-13T13:53:00.004-06:00

I am passionate about many things and child abuse awareness and prevention is one of them. The month of April is a month that nationally as well as locally is dedicated to this cause. In 2006 in Minnesota 7,000 children were abused and neglected, 48 children had injuries that were life threatening and 19 children died at the hands of their abusers. As a survivor of child abuse I almost get sick when I type these words because I know the damage it causes physically, emotionally and spiritually to one's very essence.

That's what I would like to talk about here...one's own essence. For much of my life this was way to painful to look at so keeping it hidden was the only option I could imagine for myself. I learned from my abusers that I was not good enough, smart enough, that everything was my fault...well you get the picture. Living into this story about myself was automatic until one day I was challenged to begin to look at my life. Under the cover of trying to prove I was all the things I believed I was not, I found anger, hurt and a deep sadness for everything that was lost because of what happened to me. One day a brave person took a risk and asked how long I was going to hang unto this story. However, I'm not the only one with a story...we all have stories that we carry with us that need love and forgiveness. It was a pivotal moment in my healing when I realized that forgiveness is something you do for yourself so you can find peace and move on.

My father was one of my abusers and after he died I learned from a relative that the abuse in my dad's family went back 4 generations. The abuse was so severe that my great-grandmother went blind because of repeatably being hit in the Head. My dad had many teachers so is it any wonder he handled his own anger in the same way. You can't go back in time, but I wonder how things may have been different if he could have found forgiveness and peace for those who harmed him.

What I do know is that to come to peace, we must forgive ourselves and others. Harboring anger and sadness only eats away at our spirits and closes the door to love. You might be wondering what this has to do with child abuse...It is call for each of us to practice love and forgiveness and come to peace in our lives. Child abuse prevention is my passion but helping people forgive and find peace in their lives is also my passion. If we are going to make a change is this world it first must come thru us...so today choose forgiveness for those who have hurt you, embrace peace and allow unconditional love to flow thru you to everyone around you and I promise you...that is the best gift you can give to yourself, those around you and the world.

Blessings and Peace,

Sandy

Joy In Life

2008-03-27T10:44:00.004-06:00

This is the true Joy in life.

Being used for purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one.

Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, little clod of ailments.

Complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community.

And as I live it is my privilege...

My privilege to do it for whatever I can.

I want to be thoroughly used up when I die,

for the harder I work, the more I love.

I rejoice in life for its own sake.

Life is no brief candle to me, it is a sort of splendid torch which

I have a hold of for the moment.

And I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before

handing it on to future generations.

~George Bernard Shaw

For more information about Burnsville Counseling and Healing Center and the Institute for Peace and Joy visit http://www.counselingandhealing.com/

Spinning Straw Into Gold

2008-03-21T06:54:00.003-06:00

I bet you have forgotten about the fairy tale that this phrase comes from? I certainly had until it came to me this morning! I always thought that fairy tales really did not have much merit, but if they don't, how have they been around all these years! The reason this came to me is because I was thinking about the events of our life that shape us into who we are or put us on a different path than we might have otherwise taken. The straw of our lives... how does that turn into gold?

It seems that has been a question for a long time. A long, long time ago, before fairy tales, there was a process called alchemy. It is the process of turning a base metal into gold. The word also has two additional meanings; transforming something ordinary into something special and/or, an inexplicable or mysterious change. That is really what I am talking about here...when has that happened for you...something extraordinary has happened that defied what should have happened? What event, relationship, or situation was a transforming moment that helped to shape you you are today?

This has been a life long passion for me. Since I was a small child I was fascinated by the lives of extraordinary people and how they took the events of their lives and used them to guide their path in life. As I became an adult I realized that as a child I thought those people only lived in books or on T.V., I did not realize then, that we all have times in our life when the ordinary has been turned into the extraordinary or we have beat the odds.

At our staff meeting this week I asked these questions and then sat back to listen. With every story I was so inspired by the personal moments of extraordinary guidance and transformation. I was in awe of how straw turned into gold and how the universe conspires to help turn something that seemed like adversity into a blessing.

So...I would like to ask you...Where are the places in your life that straw has turned into gold for you? What is one thing that was a transforming event for you? or Where has something in your life defied the odds? As I go back to those places in my own life or have the privilege of hearing someone story, I find it is a place of Spirit and can feel the sacredness at what has transpired because of it.

I would love to hear from you if you care to share your own expereince. You can post a comment on this blog or send an email to http://www.inpeaceandjoy@msn.com

Peace and Joy,

Sandy

Please visit our April calender at: http://www.counselingandhealing.com

The Spirit of Bagger Vance

2008-03-16T11:37:00.005-06:00

One of my favorite movies of all time is, The Legend of Bagger Vance. The movie has been around a while, but it has a wonderful message about finding your inner spirit and using it to guide your life. The story itself is about three famous golfers from the 1940's who are playing in a tournament in Savannah, Georgia. One of the golfers, Randolf Juneau, has just returned from the war where his whole platoon perished and he was the only survivor. He returned home feeling like he had lost his spirit, his inner compass. Before going to war, he had been a world class golfer and was finally convinced to be the third golfer for this tournament. He agreed under much protest as he had lost his will to live much less to play golf. But he had agreed, a promise was a promise. He found his clubs, hit a few balls and seriously questioned his decision. It was then that someone named Bagger Vance appeared out of nowhere and agreed to be his caddy. Along the way he offers him a lot of advice but not really about golf.

At first his advice is about overcoming his obstacles and at one crucial juncture where the course got hard and it looked like the shot was impossible, Bagger said, you will have to choose...Everyone has one true purpose and you will have to choose to align yourself with that purpose if you intend to play this game. His advice to Juneau all along had been about going inside to find his center and allow that to guide him, but the game is was talking about was life itself.

That is why this is such a great movie, because this is good advice for us too. Our life is not much different,we all have obstacles to get over. There are times when things get hard and it is difficult to see our way. We all need to find our center; that place where spirit resides and we can access the wisdom that is waiting for us. I like to think this is the place to live life from...a place of integrity, compassion and love. To live from this place you have to choose just like the advice Bagger gave;to align yourself with your inner most self and there you will find your purpose.

In the movie, Juneau comes to a place in the tournament where he has to choose to tell the truth even though it might mean he will lose this tournament. His golf ball moved ever slightly and to tell the truth he had to call a penalty on himself. That same thing happens to us every day...something happens and we have to decide if we will honor our spirits and what we know or let it slip by. Even his opponents in the golf game wanted to let it slide but he said, " I will know and so will you. " Every time we let something slip by, we chip away at our spirit and soon we find that we too have lost touch with the very thing that acts as our compass and guides our way.

Events in life continually ask us to live out what we believe. We are beckoned to find our center, embrace our spirits and live in alighment with that. That is why I have chosen a picture of a labyrinth. It is a tool by which we can find our center and reside there for a bit. There are many places where you can walk a labyrinth but you can also get personal ones you can trace with your finger. I have added two links where you can get information on labyrinth's and print off one to use. It does not matter how you decide to do it just that you do it. Consider this an invitation to find find some quiet time, light a candle and trace your spirit back to your center and allow it to guide your life.

For more information about who we are and what we do visit us at http://www.counselingandhealing.com/

Blessings,

Sandy

http://www.labyrinthsociety.org/assets/pdf/ChartresLabyrinth.pdf to print a personal labyrinth or for more information on labyrinth's go to http://www.labyrinthsociety.org/html/about_labyrinths.html

The Spirit Within

2008-03-09T19:35:00.004-06:00

I carry you within me,

just as you carry me.

You who console and comfort,

inspire and instruct,

shelter and shape my soul.

More than a refuge,

you are a complex community,

living in me as I live in you.

If I look I will see you,

If I listen I will hear.

You call me to live.

You call me home.

I want to answer.

This poem found me a few days ago and begged to be shared. It came from a book called Earth's Echo, a book of sacred encounters. Today find a sacred space to come home to spirit...it is what we are all longing for.

Sandy

Please visit us at http://www.inpeaceandjoy.org

A Day of Grace

2008-03-01T07:12:00.002-06:00

A Day of Grace

Oh, God, give me grace for this day.

Not for a lifetime, nor for this week, nor

for tomorrow, just for this day.

Direct my thoughts and guide them.

Direct my work and bless it.

Direct the things I say and give them blessing too.

Direct and bless everything I think and speak

and do. So that for this one day, just this one day,

I have the gift of grace that comes from your presence...

~Marjorie Holmes

Yesterday, this poem found me and I wanted to share it with you. I have decided its beauty comes in its simplicity...grace, it is pure and simple and a gift for all of us to accept and extend to each other. So rather than taking away its essence by adding words, I would invite you to let grace enter into you and surround your day.

Wishing you a grace filled day,

Sandy

For more information about who we are please go to http://www.counselingandhealing.com

I'm Sorry...Not So Much!!!

2008-02-24T06:03:00.002-06:00

Have you ever felt yourself be in a habit of saying or doing something that you can't quite break out of? For me, it has been saying I am sorry...a lot! People who know me will most certainly agree that I will apologize for everything! Because for some strange reason, which I might add is out of others understanding, I can find how I was at fault...somehow...I had to be! Who else would be????

This is really not funny, but I can't help but laugh at myself as I write this and just how out of balance it seems. But I'm not going to be too hard on myself this time. That would be my usual mode as it is for many of us, to make judgments about what we are and are not, or who knows what other evidence our mind can use to further it's case for negative thinking. But No!, not this time. I know what has brought me to the, " I'm sorry state" and that is all I need...the awareness that this is where I am and where I am moving from helps me to move forward to get more of what I want. I have a newly coined phrase for that called a "conscious choice point". It is the place where I can use the awareness that has come to me, refuse to harbor judgement about it, and make a conscious choice to move into what I want as a gift to myself and then that also becomes a gift to others.

This was like an AH HA moment that has been coming for a long time. I knew I was doing it and even wanted to say I was sorry for saying it...not all that pretty. It came to me over the last two months as I have been dealing with a back issue that has put restrictions on what I can and cannot do that has been a drain on my energy. There were things I could not do or energy I did not have to give that made me feel not as capable...and everyone knows how uncomfortable that feeling is! Well, it is where I went a time or two also. And then, just like that, I realized this is one more way I keep myself a victim, by being less than . It is one thing to apologize for something I truly did, but quite another to do it from a place of not being equal. Think about that for a moment and realize of powerful that can be? How often by our own hand ,do we deal a powerful blow to our inner being, our very own hearts? That's where those messages end up you know unless they get redirected.

Each one of us has this incredible light that is inside just waiting to beam out into the world and for our own well-being and as a gift to others. What awareness comes to you that would help you remove the perspective that clouds the light? When I think about this simple idea of saying I'm sorry too much and the blessing from learning this, I can't help but to feel free and joyful. It is like a breath of fresh air! So that is why I picked this particular picture because it makes me feel free and alive. I want that for you too.. give yourself a little freedom to remember the great spirit within you and is a guide that is helping you illuminate your very being. Close your eyes and take a breath and for this very moment, allow light to fill your heart and let it fill you!

So for now...I'm sorry...not so much! And when I forget...thank you for reminding me!

Joy to you,

Sandy

An Artist's Prayer

2008-02-10T19:39:00.000-06:00

O Great Creator,

We are gathered together in your name

That we may be of greater service to you

And to our fellows.

We offer ourselves to you as instruments.

We open ourselves to your cereativity in our lives.

We surrender to you our old idea's

We welcome your new and more expansive ideas.

We trust that you will lead us.

We trust that it is safe to follow you.

We know that you created us and that creativity

Is your nature and our own.

We ask you to unfold in our lives

According to your plan, not our low self worth.

Help us to believe that it is not too late

And that we are not too small or too flawed

To be healed~

By you and through each other ~ and made whole.

Help us to love one another,

To nurture each other's unfolding,

To encourage each others growth,

And understand each others fears.

Help us to know we are not alone,

That we are loved and lovable.

Help us to create as an act of worship to you.

~Julia Cameron

This prayer is in the book, Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. I think it ia a prayer for life. Blessings!

Sandy

Please visit our web site for current Retreats, Groups and Workshops. Click here http://www.counselingandhealing.com/upcomingevents%20calendar.aspx calendar.aspx

Coming into the Sacred...

2008-02-03T18:30:00.000-06:00

This week I heard soneone talk about an interview that Dan Rather had done years ago with Mother Theresa. He asked her, when you pray, what do you say in your prayers? She replied, nothing... I just listen. He again asked her, what does God say to you? Again she replied, nothing...I just listen.

Surely one might think that a woman who unselfishlly gave of yourself to the poorest of the poor might have diect line to God. I would have guessed that when she prayed she may have asked for the suffering of those she served to be eased. Perhaps, she might hear His voice as clear as her own when he talked to her, guiding her days. But she insisted that the answer to Dan Rathers question was nothing...I just listen.

This idea has been in my thoughts most of the day as I wondered about its meaning for me. I can picture her in my mind, kneeling in prayer to God and His arms outstreached to meet hers, with only sacred silence between them. It is a place of surrendering the daily cares and stepping into the sacred communion with the deepest part of ourselves and something much greater than we can know. It is a place of oneness with ourselves and spirit that helps us know more than we can see and feel the enourmous possiabililttes that surrounds us.

I'm not sure what you might make of this story or what insights you might have, but as I write this I can't help but feel what it is like to put everything aside and be present with the sacredness that forms the connection between me and the spirit that guides my days. May this be a reminder to you to find the time to surrender the cares of the day and come into the place that is holy within you. May your days be blessed and your life abundant.

Sandy

Please vist our web site for current retreats and workshops http://www.counselingandhealing.com/upcomingeventscalendar.aspx

The Blessings and Peace

2008-01-27T18:43:00.000-06:00

Several years ago a friend of mind gave me a deck of Angel Cards. The cards are beautifully done and have a wonderful inspirational messages to go with them. Tonight when I was having trouble finding just the right topic to write about, I pulled a random card from the deck. The card I pulled was about finding the blessings in your current situation. I had to laugh because the idea of Blessings was the theme of this last week. It started with a women I met who said that she wanted to have a Internet site just for the purpose of wishing everyone Blessings and Peace. What a simple and powerful thing to do...just sending Blessings and Peace to everyone we know. So now just for a minute close your eyes and begin to send Blessings and Peace to everyone you know... now include all the people you are having difficulty with...how does that feel.

I carried this idea around with me for the week and it made me wonder what change might be created if we all did that each day. I know we don't always feel like we are blessed, often we feel lost and discouraged. So how does one make that shift from feeling discouraged to feeling blessed. I think it is a conscious decision to look for the blessings despite the circumstances. For me it is getting out of my head and into my heart...most often I have found that I have stood in my own way to receiving the blessings that are already there. Sometimes I have to gently push aside the fear and trust that I am exactly where I am supposed to be and God has richly blessed me.

Each day in my early morning meditation I send Blessings and Peace to everyone and to all parts of the world to bring about understanding and harmony in this world. Will you join me? I will end with this beautiful prayer ~

May the blessing of God go before you.

May her grace and peace abound

May her spirit live within you.

May her love wrap around you.

May her blessings remain with you always.

May you walk on holy ground.

~Miriam Therese Winter

Blessings and Peace,
Sandy

Saint Theresa's Prayer

2008-01-20T17:47:00.000-06:00

Saint Theresa' s Prayer

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

This week a friend sent this to me and it could not have been more timely. We all reach times in our lives when we reach down deep to find faith and courage and it is our ultimate call to remember that "infinite possibilities are born of faith" . Remember this prayer this week and as you go about your day and don't forget that you are a vehicle of grace and love.

Blessings to you~

Sandy

A Celebration of Light

2008-01-12T14:39:00.000-06:00

If you follow the church calendar, this is the season of Epiphany which means celebration of light. I think it is interesting that we celebrate light during one of the darkest and often coldest months of the year. January is also the first month of a brand new year that lies ahead of us. We might think if only we could see what is to come, but as we all know, that is not how it is.

Elisabeth Kubler Ross says, "It's only when we truly know and understand that we have limited time on earth ~ and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up ~ that we'll begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had."

She is right, none of us know when our time is up but we also don't know where our path this year might take us. We may not get a choice in where we go, but we always have a choice in how we go. In the flurry of our everyday living we often forget to open ourselves to the wonder that is part of even the most ordinary day. Opening ourselves to wonder helps us recognize the sacred in the ordinary.

I picked this picture because I have loved stained glass since I was a child. When you see a window at night it looks nice, but in the light of day with the sun coming through it, it is extraordinary. That is no different for us, when we light the light that is in us shine forth we see how wonderful we are. When we let our own light shine we are opening ourselves to the wonder around us and the joy each day brings.

Decide for yourself to celebrate the light that is within you and the joy and wonder of living, regardless of your situation. Wishing you the light of the season.

Blessings,

Sandy

Please visit our web site at http://www.counselingandhealing.com

You Are Holding the Key

2007-12-30T08:17:00.000-06:00

Salvation happens every time someone with a key uses it to open a door he could lock instead. ~Barbara Brown Taylor

This quote has been with me since I read it a few weeks ago. I'm not really sure why it has stuck with me other than I must need to explore it for myself. My guess it if I need to hear it, maybe you do too. Instead of salvation, I think the beginning word of the quote should be grace. Salvation suggests that there is a deliverance from sin and grace suggests an unmerited Divine intervention that happens. I believe that it is a better fit for the quote.

We are both the person who can open a door and the person who can lock it. We do it all the time to ourselves and others. How often do we lock ourselves out of our own life? The life I am talking about is the life that is there waiting for all of us. It is where we can move into our dreams and aspirations; the place inside us where who we are, aligns with what we do.

Sometimes it comes in the most unusual ways, barely recognizable to us. Other times it may be pretty clear if we stop ourselves long enough to reflect. What are the thoughts going through our head's? That is a good place to start. What we think about is what we create in our life. One of the things I always teach the people I work with is, you have to create it in your head before you can hold it in your hand. I know it takes conscious thought to do this ,but I believe it is very important since you hold the key to your heart. That's right...you hold the key to your heart, not anyone else. There is no lack of opportunities where we can choose to either open the door or lock it.

We also hold the key in our relationships with others. Relationship is about allowing ourselves to give and receive from each other, bringing out the best in the other person, while staying true to ourselves. In a relationship, when have you locked the door by what you have said or done? When have you opened it?

Regardless of where you may be in this, the important part of this is the idea of extending grace by opening a door. When you know how you want to be in your life and relationships, you can move past the thoughts that keep you hostage; you open a door. It opens the perspective to encompass more than what meets the eye. When we can do this we open to the power of Spirit that is all around us. That is grace...it is what happens in us when we open the door to our heart and to our relationships. It allows us to feel what we may not be able to see. Grace may be one of the most important things we can do for ourselves and for others. Rather than letting our fears get in the way, I would invite you to extend grace to yourself and to someone else today. You hold the key to peace and joy, use it to open doors to a grander vision for yourself and others than you ever imagined.

Peace and Joy to you in the New Year!

Sandy

Beholding the Miracle...

2007-12-15T06:41:00.000-06:00

Beholding the Miracle

I have always known that the month of December is a special month. For most of us that idea started when we were children with the Christmas Story and the idea of a Santa that delivered in such a mysterious way, what we wanted most. There were other miracles too, an unexpected and undeserved gesture of kindness, or a strained relationship that just seemed to heal. All seemingly miracles of the season. Sometimes as we grew older we become too busy with the "have too's" of the season and the miracles passed us by without much acknowledgement at all. Last night my son that is in college in Georgia came home for Christmas break, and of course there were a few tears of joy...one or two. After a late dinner we settled in to watch a movie...The Polar Express. Many of you know this about me; I love children's books and this movie is based on this book. It is about believing in yourself and the miracles of the season. In the story, a boy rides the Polar Express to the North Pole and receives the First Gift of Christmas which is a bright shiny sleigh bell. He is told that is will always ring for those who truly believe. I'm telling you this because I realized in a heart centered way, that the gift we are all to behold is in us, and when we feel it in within ourselves, we can extend the gift to others. Watching the movie last night reminded me that when my sons were little, I always gave them a gift on December 1st, which was the First Gift of Christmas. It was always a book that held a miracle of spirit. I know it is long past December 1st, but it is not too late to give yourself the First Gift of Christmas. Early this morning I came across the quote by May Sarton..."There is only one real deprivation...and that is not to be able to give one's gifts to those one loves most." This Christmas behold the miracle that is within you...the gift of you. For sure there are beautiful things to buy, but they are just that, things. The most wonderful gift comes from within and is extended out to others. This gift becomes precious because of what is held in your heart, the intentions you hold for the miraculous to be reveled and the mystery of it all embraced through our relationship with those close to us. The time is now to behold the miracle that is within you, a gift more needed and precious than you may ever know. Peace and Joy to you as you go about your day.

Sandy

Please visit our new web site http://www.inpeaceandjoy.org

Passing on the Hope...

2007-11-30T06:57:00.001-06:00

Passing on the Hope...

It's very early morning and most of the world is still asleep. I look out my window to see it is still dark and a soft sprinkle of snow covers the ground. I pour coffee into my favorite Christmas mug, light a candle and spend some time alone to reflect and ponder about all that is and all that will be. People tease me that I am not a morning person, but this is a precious time of the day. It is a time when the day is new and we can focus our intentions on how we want to participate in the coming day. But it is also a time to be open to wisdom, guidance. and the awe and wonder of this world.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of December, a month that calls forth peace, joy and light in the darkness of the year. It is also the month of miracles. While these things are always here just waiting for us to embrace them, we often push them aside unable to take them in. But December calls them forth again like a cherished friend.

Not only this month, but this day brings brings gifts and miracles into our lives. Surely the kind that is wrapped in pretty paper and ribbons, but more so the kind of gift we carry in our hearts. The miracle and wonder of the oil that burned for eight days, the royal son born in Bethlehem and the return of light on the longest darkest night of the year and yes, most of all...the light that shines within all of us.

It is time for all of us to get reacquainted with our own light and begin to let it shine for all to see. It is fitting that just as I am witting this, something has called my attention to the window where I see the the first light of the day. It is just a sliver, but it is beautiful as it sits on the horizon. This light is beautiful in all of us and as we let it shine, it brings the gifts of peace and joy, opening us to the place inside us where hope resides.

I would invite you to helps us remind people of the hope that is within them and comes to them. Read the following blessing for yourself and for someone else. Each time you do this you help brighten the light in yourself and the world

A Blessing for Self
Light a candle and say: I give thanks for the light that shines in me from the Source of all Life. Let the light that is within me increase and grow to extend kindness and compassion for all.

A Blessings for Other
Light another candle and say: I give thanks for the light that shines in (persons name) from the Source of all Life. Let the light that is within (persons name) increase and grow to extend kindness and compassion for all.

Blessings to you as you let the light shine within you and extend the light out to others.

Sandy and Paula

If you would like us to add your names to our tree in our waiting room please send their first names by email. We would also love to hear any comments or stories you might have about Passing on the Hope. Feel free to pass this on to others. Click here to send an email

Institute for Peace and Joy 17305 Cedar Ave. Suite 230Lakeville, Minnesota 55044 952-435-4i44

The Wonder and Light of the Season...

2007-11-25T10:02:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving is over, my sons have gone back to their college's and homes, and some of the preparations for Christmas have begun. In our family, we have a tradition to watch the Muppet Christmas Carol on Thanksgiving night, which officially begins the holiday season. I especially like the music, in part because it is happy, but also for the meaning in the lyrics. Toward the end of the movie, a question is asked...How do you keep Christmas in your heart? That is a question worth pondering, regardless of your religious belief. It is true that Christmas is a religious holiday, but I believe it is also a time of spiritual wonder and light.

My heart must have known I would ask how I can keep wonder and light in my heart even before the words were spoken. In reality, it is not really a holiday question, it is a life question. This past week a wonderful children's book was put in my hands...well actually about 10 books. I won't be keeping them all, but I'm sure you will hear about a few of them. The one I want to tell you about is called, Kiki's Hats by St. Paul author Warren Hanson. It is about his next door neighbor who knitted hats for fun and gave them away. When she gave her hats away she always gave two, one for the person and one for them to give away. It caught on like an epidemic and soon people far and wide were giving away her hats because it was a good thing to do.The inside cover of the book says, "We each have the power to create something good that can last a lifetime ~ and beyond. That what happens when we let our own lights shine; we pass hope on to others. I think that is what we are all called to do...to let our inner light shine so that it can illuminate the path for someone else.

With this story in mind, I ask you... how will you let your light shine? How will you let the wonder and light of the season fill your heart? How will you pass on the hope?

In the week to come you will receive more information about how you can Pass on the Hope. We realized the need for hope is on-going and continues long after Stories of Hope ended, so we have idea's that will help you pass it on to others. Look for that information coming soon.

If you would like to hear what others said about Stories of Hope and see pictures of the event go to http://www.counselingandhealing.com/stories_of_hope.aspx

Peace and Joy,

Sandy

A Thanksgiving Blessing

2007-11-20T09:56:00.000-06:00

A Thanksgiving Blessing

~I remember with gratitude the fruits of the labors of others, which I have shared as a part of the normal experience of daily living.

~I remember the beautiful things that I have seen, heard, and felt ~ some as a result of definite seeking on my part, and many that came unheralded into my path, warming my heart and rejoicing my spirit.

~I remember the moments of distress that proved to be groundless and those that taught me profoundly about the evilness if evil and the goodness of good.

~I remember the new people I have met, from whom I have caught glimpses of the meaning of my own life and the true character of human dignity.

~I remember the dreams that haunted me during the year, keeping me ever mindful of goals and hopes which I did not realize but from which I drew inspiration to sustain my life and keep steady my purposes.

~I remember the awareness of the spirit of God that sought me out in my alones and gave me a sense of assurance that undercut my despair and confirmed my life with new courage ans abiding hope.

~For all...I am ever thankful~

~Howard Thurman

The Perspective of the Heart~

2007-11-17T07:00:00.000-06:00

Have you ever wished that everything in life was smooth and easy? How silly is that question; of course you have and so have I! But what happens when we hit a rough spot, perhaps it is with a life circumstance or a relationship that is not as smooth as we would like. When things get difficult, all of our worst fears come to the surface. Sometimes making it difficult to discern between what is fear, and what is not. It alters our perspective, and as a result we say and do things that are out of alignment with our deepest intentions. Years ago, I learned this little saying about fear using the first letter of the word: False Evidence Appearing Real. Sometimes fear seems bigger than life itself, but is not the only thing that clouds our perspective in difficult times. We all have our experiences and beliefs that inform us, telling who we are, and who we should or could be, but often we forget who we really are.

Difficulties in our life cannot be resolved with the same consciousness that created them, therefore a larger and higher perspective is needed. I believe, that is the exact purpose of the things in our life that are difficult, it is so that we look deep inside to that place of our greatest knowing. This is the place where we can hear more than the words that are spoken and see more than what appears before us. In is the place of our deepest knowing that holds the most transforming power of all, and that it is unconditional love. It is the love we have for ourselves when we fall back rather than stepping up, it is the love we extend to our friends and family when they are not seeing all of who they are. This is the place where can all hold each other in our humanness...how we don't live up to what we are capable of and how we do let our own light shine. In times that are difficult it is imperative that we reside in this place of spirit to heal and transform. In our society, we often just leave when things are hard, we believe it is just easier than figuring it out. When we stay with, using our heart as a guide, we find the true gift of relationship.

The people of Africa are highly relational, and they understand the importance of relationship as a basis for their daily living...it is one of the most important things I learned. They do not leave anything unsettled for long. In fact, after something has been resolved, perhaps a difficulty with a friend, they extend a blessing to each other as they move forward. The relationships we have, are gifts to be treasured. I would invite you to offer a blessing to those who are important in your life, especially if something has been hard. I chose this picture, Angel of Spirit, to remind me to extend unconditional love to those around me, and let the mystery and power of love, guide, heal and transform. Blessings to you this day~
Sandy

If you would like more information about the Institute for Peace and Joy please visit our new website at www.inpeaceandjoy.org

The Darkest Hour is Just Before Dawn

2007-11-04T18:59:00.000-06:00

I have been thinking for days about what I would write on the blog this week. Nothing really came to mind which is a bit unusual for me... but the one thing I know for sure, is that I always write about what is on my heart and mind.

I have been thinking a lot about hope as we prepare for Stories of Hope on Friday. The question I have been sitting with is, what brings us hope when things get difficult and there is no evidence that everything will be ok? You probably know what this place feels like... when the world you know does not make sense. What keeps us putting one foot in front of the other in a forward movement to what we desire? What keeps us from shrinking back and hiding our head in a pillow? Where do we find hope?

I can't answer that question for you, but I do know that we will not find it outside of ourselves. Hope comes from that place deep inside of us where spirit resides...the place we go to that gives us life even when we we feel lost. It is a homecoming of sorts, when we surrender our need to make sense of it all, to our deepest knowing that the outcome does not rest in our hands. When we know this in our heart we relinquish everything to something much greater than ourselves. In our logical world we may try to understand it, but it is not meant to be understood. When our hearts are open this great mystery guides, enlightens and transforms us.

There is a saying that says, the darkest hour is just before dawn. In the darkest hour we may be scared and not be able to see our way out and then in the middle of what seems black , a sliver of light appears and soon the magnificence of dawn is upon us. We stand in awe of what is before us just like we stand in awe of the spirit inside us that gives peace that passes our human understanding. Blessings to you as you find that place of your deepest knowing.

~Sandy

Transformation

2007-10-28T15:53:00.000-06:00

Two years ago I had the pleasure of being a teaching assistant for the Therapeutic Coaching program I had graduated from. It was a remarkable experience as I watched them change and transform every part of themselves throughout the duration of the class. I became very close to these students and we shared a special bond. This weekend I came across a beautiful poem they had written and framed for me. It goes like this...

Transformation

In its very essence...

Creative manifestations with remarkable results, effects and outcomes.

Open ended in how it happens, beginning with an idea or an intention, and continually proceeding with the surrender and reshaping of the self.

Holding surprises, teaching us what we did not know before we began, ever expanding our awareness of our true selves.

Guiding us along the path of our purest unique potential.

As I read this I could not help but think that this is what life does for us if we let it. Our life experience continually asks us for a gentle surrender so we can awaken to something new. John O'Donohue, a well known spiritual writer tells us, " We live between the act of awakening and the act of surrender." I have realized for myself the gentle peace that comes from surrendering all of who I am to something much greater than myself. The gift in that is the gift of grace...the divine assistance given to us for the nurturing of our souls. In this place we can be cradled in unconditional love.

I hope you can join us for Stories of Hope, Friday November 9th, 7 PM at Prince of Peace Church in Burnsville.

Blessings

Sandy

Are we seperate from each other?

2007-10-14T10:54:00.000-06:00

My cousin in Tibet is an illiterate subsistence farmer. By accident
of birth, I was raised in the West and have a Ph.D.
The task of our generation is to cut through the illusion
that we inhabit separate worlds. Only then will be find
the heart to rise to the daunting but urgent challenges of

global disparity. ~Losang Rabgey, Ph.D.

I found this quote somewhere in my daily travels and knew it had to show up on the blog. I agree the task of our generation is to not see ourselves as separate from other parts of the world. But we can't start there; we have to start with ourselves first. We are becoming more and more isolated from one another with many people feel isolated and alone. It seems we have lost the art of being in relationship with one another. We hurry from place to place interacting with others only enough to be polite and finish the task at hand. Is it any wonder we feel separate when we connect only on the surface? When was the last time that you looked someone in the eyes and listened to them with understanding as your goal? When was the last time you had a heart felt conversation with someone and really felt connected? Relationship is a bridge that moves you from a place of separation to a place of belonging...and after all that is what we all want, a place where we belong and are loved. When we learn to do this for ourselves it will have far reaching impact on everyone and everything. Then and only then we will feel like we are in community with with the world around us. Blessings to you~

Sandy

A Story of Hope

2007-10-14T05:44:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends,
I am sitting here in front of my computer and it is quite early for a Sunday morning but I am in my warm bathrobe with a steaming cup of coffee in my favorite cup. This story has been with me all night and so it is time to put it to print. Many of you know we are doing an event called, Stories of Hope on November 9Th, 7PM at Prince of Peace Church. This universal idea of hope is with me everywhere I go and I see it in everyone and everything. Yesterday, another story of hope was told that acted like a beacon of light to all who heard it. My son is in graduate school to be a physical therapist and yesterday we were invited to an open house and celebration of the program and its students. .It was a wonderful day, starting out with tours of this state of the art facility. I have to admit I was fascinated and my son had to keep reminding me to keep my hands off the equipment. However I did get to experiment in the bio mechanics lab which was a lot of fun.

The afternoon was a contrast to what we had seen in the morning. The morning was all about the academics and the highly supplicated tools that are used with patients. But the afternoon really showcased the human spirit in each of us to be the best we can and sometimes skill is only a small part of that. You can all the knowledge and skill but you all need spirit in your work. That afternoon, 8 scholarships were given out for $8,000.00 each for a total of $64,000.00 dollars by one man. No, he was not rich but he made a commitment to his wife's passion for her life and work.

His wife, Cindi, had been a physical therapist with an commitment to the people she worked with beyond what most people had ever seen. Every where she went she carried a passion for life that extended beyond her and reached every person she met. She died of lung cancer just weeks after being diagnosed at the age of 35. It was not only her husband who wanted to keep her passion for life and excellence in her job alive. Her friends suggested it as well. The scholarship started small with $1,000.00 but a few years ago it was gifted with a million dollar donation. It came from her neighbor an elderly gentleman who looked a lot like a homeless man. This did not matter to Cindi, they became friends. When she died he was devastated and vowed to keep her spirit alive. When he died years later. he left this tremendous gift.

I looked around the room and saw people wiping the tears away, viably moved by what they had heard. What we had experienced in this story was about the power of the human spirit and our capacity to let it move to a new perspective. The people in the room were richer for what he shared, and the students had a idea of the impact they might have with the people their work will affect. I urge you today to keep your ears and heart open to all the hope that is around you and let it move and inspire to to a life where everything is possible. Invite friends and family to an evening of hope and inspiration!

Stories of Hope

November 9th, 7PM

Prince of Peace Church ~ Burnsville

Call 898-6200 for more information or go to

http://www.counselingandhealing.com/htm/stories.htm

Blessings,

Sandy

African Children's Choir

2007-10-01T05:29:00.001-06:00

A Story of Hope and vision...

A year and a half ago, I had the opportunity to go on a humanitarian trip to Tanzania, Africa. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about what I learned from the incredible spirit of the people in Tanzania. All I have to do is close my eyes and I can be right back in the villages...I can hear the men dancing with bells on their ankles and bare feet stomping out a beat on the clay earth. The drum resonates in your heart and the song being sung moves you to tears. I am surrounded with women and children with babies on their back, dancing around me begging with their eyes to join the dance. I do, and the spirit just moves in and around us until you forget that there could ever be anything that would separate us. It is clear we are all one.

Last night I had the privilege to see the African Children's choir perform. They are part of a program called Music for life. This program was formed in 1984 by accident when people were fleeing from Rwanda. A few adults were able to flag down a bus in the middle of a mass exodus and started picking up orphaned children so they could cross the border to safety. One of those adults realized that the music that is so much a part of their culture would help them heal but also raise money to support them. The program just grew from there. Each year a large number of orphans from Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, Nigeria, and Ghana are helped by the choir program. They have set up schools and camps to help care and educate the children. Along with their studies they learn about the performing arts as a way to heal from the trauma of their lives. From all the children that come to Music for Life, 26 are picked to go on tour to America. These are the children I saw last perform last night.

The children are from 7 to 11 years old and sang with enough passion to set your heart on fire. At one point I closed my eyes and imagined myself back in the villages listening as the children sang and I could feel their spirit move in and around me just like when I was there. Each child introduced themselves in English and told what they were dreaming of becoming, and thanked us for whatever part we played in that.. In Africa education is a privilege and not taken lightly. It is your responsibility to do well in school so that one day you will give back to your family and to Africa so they can become self reliant.

I am sitting in this pew with my eyes closed listening to this choir and my heart goes back to Africa. The people of the villages have nothing in the way of money or material things but they have hope and vision beyond our comprehension The people we talked to had a knowing that if they worked hard enough and was persistent enough they could achieve anything they wanted despite insurmountable odds. The hope and vision I am talking about came from deep inside them. This incredible spirit that knew what was possible for them in spite of what seemed impossible.

That is my question to you...where is that place inside of you where your hope and vision comes from? What is the spark that allows you to keep on, even when things are hard? We would love to hear your stories or poems, see your artwork or hear your music that reflects that spark inside you. If you would like to submit your work you can get more information at http://www.counselingandhealing.com/htm/stories.htm

We are having an event called Stories of Hope. An evening of stories, poetry, artwork and music meant to fill you with hope and inspiration. This is our free gift to the community and we would like you to attend. Please feel free to invite others to join you.

Stories of Hope

A Celebration of the human spirit through music, art and story.

Friday, November 9, 2007 7:00pm
Prince of Peace Church ~ 13901 Fairview Drive, Burnsville, MN

Please join us for this evening of inspiration
offered as a gift to this community!

The Institute for Peace and Joy/
Burnsville Counseling and Healing Center
www.counselingandhealing.com 952-898-6200

Ticket not needed for admission ~ Please invite others to join you

Blessings,

Sandy

Spirituality

2007-09-29T13:15:00.000-06:00

I am a collector of spiritual quotes and sayings and so they seem to make their way to me. When I am touched by something I will tuck it in a book, always finding it again at just the right time. That's the case today, I was looking for just the right thing, and it appeared. The following is how U Thant, former Secretary of the United Nations, envisions the Spiritual. It is nicely said, and I hope you enjoy it.

"Spirituality is a state of connectedness to life.

It is an experience of being, belonging and caring.

It is sensitivity and compassion, joy and hope.

It is harmony between the innermost life and the outer life,

or the life of the world and the life of the universe.

It is the supreme comphension of life in time and space,

the tuning of the inner person with the great mysteries

and secrets that are around us.

It is the belief in the goodness of life

and the possibility for each human person

to contribute goodness to it.

It is the belief in life as part of the eternal stream of time,

that each of us came from somewhere and is destined to somewhere, that

without such belief there could be no prayer, no meditation, no peace, and no happiness."

We invite you to Stories of Hope on November 9th, 7 PM Prince of Peace Church in Burnsville MN. This is a free and is our gift to you to come and expereince an eveing of inspirationa stories, music and artwork all meant to instill hope and inspiration into our everday lives. We are asking for your stories and artwork that reflect how you have come through a difficult time to a place of greater peace. For more information about submitting a story or about the event go to our web site at http://www.counselingandhealing.com/htm/stories.htm

Blessings,

Sandy

Stories of Hope

2007-09-23T18:42:00.000-06:00

Stories of Hope

From the time I was a small child in grade school, I was fascinated with people's stories. As a third or fourth grader, I would go to the library and pick out books about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Mostly they were humanitarians helping to make this world a better place. I was so fascinated with people lives and how they chose to do live their Passion's out in the world. Of course as a small child I did not know that, but in the most basic form, I knew they had much to teach me about life. At the same time, even tho I did not know it, the story of my own life was unfolding. I began looking outside of books for ways to learn about life. My life growing up was traumatic at best and I needed to learn ways to cope. So I listened intently to people as they told their stories so I could learn who they were and what they valued. At an early age I knew if I listened hard enough, I could hear something that would help me find my way. Little did I know that all these years later, I would become a story teller too.
Stories have been around before we had a written language. For centuries it was the only way that traditions and customs of families and villages were passed from one generation to the next. As we have moved on we have found many other ways to tell our stories but none as powerful as when we speak from our hearts. I love to tell stories and almost everything I tell has a story to it. Through the years I have told about my family, my children and the many projects and experience's I have had. Through it all I never once thought I would tell the story of my life that started to unfold when I was a small child. This part I kept hidden away never to be told...or so I thought. Sometimes our life begins to unfold in ways we never imagined and that is what happened to me. As a young child up through high school I was physically, emotionally and sexually abused. This is a story that I had kept under lock and key. I never thought it would be told, but life had other plans. It was a long journey to heal my life but as I did, I started to tell what it was like to go through this difficult time and what it was like to heal from it. I soon realized other people found hope and inspiration for their own lives in what I said. I felt like I entered a holy place each time someone told me thy found a something that helped them see their life in a different light.
That is how the idea of Stories of Hope came about. The idea is that we all learn from each other's life experiences and that gives us hope and inspiration for our own lives. Stories of Hope is an event that will take place on Friday evening, November 9Th at 7 PM at Prince of Peace Church in Burnsviile, MN. The Institute of Peace and Joy, a new non profit in partnership with Burnsville Counseling and Healing Center is sponsoring this event. It is a program of hope and inspiration through people's stories, poetry, music and artwork. We believe in the power of people's stories to inspire and help people find possibilities for their own lives. This program is open for all to attend and is our free gift to the community. There has never been a time when the community as a whole is in need of inspiration.
I am not the only with a story to tell...we are looking for your stories, art work, music and poetry that has lead you through and dark and difficult place to more peace and wholeness. WE want to hear from you and we are asking you to submit your story! You will find more information about this event as well as guidelines to submit your work. You can find this by visiting our web site at http://www.counselingandhealing.com/htm/stories.htm
Of all the stories I have told, and the most powerful I have heard, all came from the same place; that sacred and deep place within our very own hearts. We want you to mark your calendars gather some friends and come to this evening of extraordinary hope and inspiration. See you on November 9th!
Blessings to you,
Sandy

Webkinz...What are we doing?

2007-09-16T19:10:00.001-06:00

On Saturday, I stopped by a local gift shop to pick up a few items. As I entered the store I saw a sign announcing they had Webkinz. I had seen the sign in a few other stores so I guessed this must be a popular item, much like the Beanie Babies had been many years earlier. When I checked out I thought I would ask what they were. The clerk was excited to tell me they were small stuffed animals and each one comes with a secret code that you use to log into the Webkinz web site. The stuffed animals, or pets as they are referred to, need to be taken care of. The secret code entitles you to play games so you can earn virtual money to buy virtual food, clothing and other things for your pet.

Well...I just started to laugh almost hysterically at how absurd it was. I was quickly told that the pets teach children to be responsible since they have to be fed and taken care of daily. In one instance a girl became concerned about how she would care for her pet while on vacation because she may not have access to a computer. I knew better than to keep on laughing at the absurdity of it, but I could hardly believe what I was hearing. I simply said, what are we doing and what are we teaching our children? The look on the clerk's face told me I had said enough as she reminded me that they taught kids to be responsible.

I got in my car and as I drove home I could not get this out of my head. We buy children a stuffed animal by which they get a code to play computer games so they can buy fake food to feed a fake pet? What are we doing and what are we teaching our children?

Surely I must have missed the point of this. I logged unto the Webkinz site to check it out and sure enough that is what it is. They even address questions like can my pet die? They assure you that a pet can only get sick from not enough food or attention. If that happens you log on, play more games to earn money to buy food for your pet.

I will stop carrying on about this but I did stop to wonder about some things. What happened to parents teaching their children responsibility? How can we teach caring, love and respect for things when our model isn't even real? Today in our culture we are losing our ability to connect to one another in ways that are meaningful. If we believe certain things are important to teach our children we can't let someone or something else do that for us. I'm wondering if we care for others in a way that is compassionate and loving. There is no substitute or anything more powerful than teaching our children the values we hold dear...that is a sacred task and it belongs to each of us. I understand we can get lost in the craziness if life and lose sight of things but we have to step back and get some perspective. It is important to to ask if our actions are matching what we think is important. So today, take a step back and get some perspective on your life.

Blessings,
Sandy

It's All About Grace...

2007-09-09T19:36:00.000-06:00

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost and now I'm found, was blind bit now I see. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved...

As you read these words you can probably hear the song being sung in your head. I have to be honest, this has never been one of my favorite songs. However, it was my grandmother Selma's favorite. As a small child I would sit next to her in church as she sang this song with great reverence. I knew there was something important about it but never really knew what it was. Many years later I sat in that same church and sang this song with great reverence at her funeral. Again, I knew there was something I was not understanding. I have spent much time thinking about it...not the song as much as the idea of grace.

Our year long theme at church this year is Amazing Grace. Everything will revolve around this idea. And So I had to ask myself, just what is so amazing about grace? According to Webster it is unmerited Divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification. When I think about this meaning I can't help but think that alone is pretty amazing! It is true that you will often hear that grace is a free gift from God. It is available to all and does not have to be earned. It is given for the sacred purpose of spiritual renewal to each one of us. I believe it comes to us a peace, joy, understanding at the most unlikely times. So if grace is a Divine and Holy gift given by our Creator...how do we extend it out beyond ourselves....

That is what I want to keep learning about...how to extend grace to others. Sometimes I have trouble putting into words how exactly it is we can extend this Divine gift to those around us. I have a friend who has taught me more about this amazing gift than I could have learned alone. She has taught me what I have come to know about grace

~It comes in the softness of a persons eyes when they speak

~It is not in the words as much as in the spaces between the words

~Sometimes it is no words at all

~It is the unconditional love held for another

~In times of difficulty it is saying, bless you and change me

In essence it is not so much about what is done as what is felt that describes grace. It is a state of being that comes from the heart and enters the very essence of another person with love and compassion. That is what my friend and my grandmother Selma taught me.. just how amazing it really is and how we each can show each other the essence of grace.

Grace to you,

Sandy

Who Are You Most Like?

2007-09-02T07:06:00.000-06:00

What an absolutely beautiful morning...it could not be more perfect! I have been sitting on my deck meditating and taking in the nature that surrounds me. I am in awe of this universe.

Many times I include a reading as part of my early morning ritual. The book I am using right now is, The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo. He talks about two people who changed our world, Christopher Columbus-explorer and Carl Jung-psychologist. Columbus set out looking for a new world to claim while Jung looked inwardly with intent for the very same thing. They both found something... Columbus found a new world, fame and fortune and Jung found the inner most places of ourselves; the place of unconditional love. Both men became famous but the path seems quite different. One looked outwardly and one looked inward. One keeps you separate from the universe and the other connects to it. I can see myself in both of these men. The part that wants to conquer and the part that realizes I am a part of this grand universe. I am not separate at all just like you are not. Of course I have choice about my actions, but we are all connected and guided to a force much greater than ourselves. I had to ask myself, who am I most of the time, Columbus or Jung? I would like to say the answer is always Jung but I am human, and sometimes I slip into fear that takes me away from what I know to be true. If you look at your life who are you most like? What if we need some of each...looking inward and then acting outward? That is what living conscious is about. We must learn to look deep inside ourselves for answers, trust in the guidance of that which is greater than us and live our life with passion and purpose. Trust that the unconditional love that available to all of us, is the greatest gift of all.

Blessings to you this day! I hope you are enjoying this Labor Day Weekend...and be sure to have some fun!

Sandy

Living With Integrity

2007-08-25T07:57:00.000-06:00

I believe that life always has a way of bringing us what we need to learn, whether we are aware of it at the time, or not. Many times it is only with a little perspective that we can truly see what was there for us to learn. It is not that we don't know it, we may just need to learn it on a deeper level. I think that is what happens when we decide to live in a way that is more conscious, we are presented with life situations that help us do just that. One aspect of that is living with integrity. Do we live our life with personal integrity? A quick overview might say that we do. For the most part we tell the truth, treat others with respect, trust the goodness in others and do the things we say we will. It is important to do more than that...we must look at how we carry out integrity in our lives a little more closely. If we believe treating others with respect is important, we compromise our integrity whenever we lack respect in our relationships with others. In the same vein, we lack integrity when we allow others to treat us in a way that is disrespectful. The same thinking applies to telling the truth, trusting others and believing in the goodness of humanity. The thoughts, words and actions have to match to live with authenticity and integrity. But we are human, none of us can do this all the time. Therefore this idea of living with integrity, is something that takes conscious thought and action. Over the last several weeks I have had many opportunities to look at my own integrity. It is not always easy to stay in truth and respect, especially when that gets challenged, but staying with situations when they get hard, can lead to mutual understanding. If we can stay stay with a difficult situation, we bring a tremendous gift to that relationship. To live our life in aliment with our thoughts, words and deeds, we must look at our daily interactions. In this way, we have a new opportunity to define and refine, how we want to live. We can create the context for how we will treat others and how we want to be treated. Imagine...for just a moment...what our relationships would be like like if everyone gave conscious thought to their everyday interactions. Then imagine the ripple effect of that...this very idea going out beyond us, and how that would create a world that is more peaceful and joyful. Blessings to you as you live more consciously.
Sandy

Our Children Need...

2007-08-18T19:08:00.000-06:00

All children need a laptop. not a computer but a human laptop. Moms, dads, grannies and grandpas, aunts, uncles - someone to hold them, teach them. Loved ones who will embrace them and pass on the experience, rituals and knowledge of a hundred generations. Loved ones who will pass to the next generation their expectations of them, their hopes and their dreams. ~ General Colin Powell

I stopped for a Starbucks coffee as I was driving to Georgia bringing my youngest son to college. I have to admit that I was feeling a bit sad about leaving him so far from home and then I read this quote on my latte cup. I have three sons and ever since they were small I wanted them to know their extended family in such a way that they could go to them with anything. It was important to me that they learned about who they are and what they stand for. And now I am about to drop my son off so far away and the only thing that makes this better is that we have family about and hour and a half away. They are so excited to have him closer for another school year. They take good care of him and he enjoys being with them. It is a home away from home. In a moments notice they would drive to Atlanta if he ever needed anything or got lonesome.

So tonight, my first night without him since May, I realize how lucky we both are. He has extended family to to be his family when we cannot. They love and care for him as they would their own children. But most of all he will learn from their experience and listen to their hopes and dreams. Take some time today to connect to people close to your family.

In Georgia, my family said that everyone says, Bless your heart...so I said I would sign off my blog with that tonight. So...Bless your heart and those that are close to you!

Sandy

Trust Your Knowing

2007-08-12T20:07:00.000-06:00

Have you ever had a insight or gut feeling about something ? Sometimes this gut feeling even goes against what seems logical or right, but have you done it anyway?, It is hard to trust something that we don't know the outcome of, but we are often asked to do just that. Today at church, I heard that a fellow parishioner had won $10,000.00 in a raffle. When I asked her about it, she told me that a neighbor had asked her to buy a ticket for church event. The raffle ticket was $100.00,not quite the average price of a raffle ticket. They had decided it might not be prudent to purchase a ticket since they had many medical expenses to pay this past year. In addition to the extra medical expenses they were newly retired with a $10,000.00 deductible on their medical insurance. A high deductible they would need to cover! She went on to say that they really could not afford to buy the ticket but knew she had to. Anyway if they did not win, it went for a good cause. After some discussion, the ticket was purchased and set aside. Some time later, the neighbor who had sold the ticket ,came over to present the winnings with much delight to a surprised couple. In talking with her today she just could not get over how sure she was that she need to buy that ticket. Not only that but the winnings was exactly the amount of their medical insurance deductible! She said it was amazing.

This is amazing indeed! Everyday each of us has these knowings and insights that guide us. We happened to know the ending to this story but often we do not. We are asked to trust our insights even we we cannot see the outcome. Today as you trust what you know, also trust that God is really watching over us all.
Blessings,
Sandy

Nothing Is Impossible

2007-08-05T14:37:00.000-06:00

I have just finished reading an incredible book called, Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson. Greg was born in Minnesota but at a very young age his parents moved to Tanzania, Africa to be missionaries. At age 11 he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with his dad and is now an avid mountain climber. When is was a teenager he parents moved back and he went on to finish high school and then earned a degree in nursing. When he finished school he organized an expedition to climb K2 in the Himalayas. While on that climb he became separated from his party and thought he would freeze on the mountain. He spent the night with no tent or shelter. Surprised to find himself alive in the morning, he set out to try to get off the mountain. In his condition he became more disorientated. Finally just before nightfall, he was rescued by one of the porters that had been guiding the group up the mountain to the summit. The porter took Greg to his village of Korpe where the village nursed him back to health. While in the village he realized the plight of the people and their need to educate their children. He promised to repay them for saving his life by coming back and building a school in this remote village. He went home, got a nursing job and lived out of his car to save money for the school. He talked with every one he knew to get donations to build his school without much success. Finally when he had given up hope, he was given $12,000 to build the school. He went back and bought the material in the closest town and began transporting the goods to the village. When the villagers heard he had come back they were overjoyed. However he was informed that the bridge could not support getting the material;s to the village. First he would have to build a new bridge that could support the supplies. Discouraged and disappointed, he went home and started to raise the money for a bridge. Finally with money in hand, he went back and built the bridge and eventually the school. In re-telling this story I cannot do justice to the determination of this man and his commitment to the vision he had for the children of the Himalayas. This is only part of the story, he beat insurmountable odds in a very remote part of the world to make his vision happen. In all, he has now build 28 schools and women's centers!

I have been so taken by this book that I can't stop thinking about it. This man defied the odds against him and refused to take no for an answer. I know for myself, I had a great teacher, my grandmother Selma. She believed that nothing could stand in the way of doing what she believed in. What is that for you? What is the vision that is burning inside you?

For me it has been creating a healing center...a place where people can learn to find peace and joy in their lives. That is why we have created the Institute for Peace and Joy...it is the vision that has been burning inside Paula and I. We are getting closer than we ever have before to getting this dream. Sometimes the odds seem insurmountable, sometimes it is disappointing, but most of all it is the passion we have to do this work that will bring this vision to life.

If you would like to talk about what we are doing please give us a call 952-435-4144. Blessings to you this day!

Sandy

We are All on a journey together...

2007-07-16T08:16:00.001-06:00

We are all on a journey together...

To the center of the universe...

Look deep

Into yourself, into another:

It is to a center which is everywhere

That is the holy journey...

First you need to look:

Notice and honor the radiance of

Everything about you...

Play in this universe. Tend

All these shinning things around you:

The smallest plant, the creatures and

objests in your care.

Be gentle and nurture. Listen...

As we experience and accept

All that we really are...

We grow in care.

We begin to embrace others

As ourselves, and learn to live

As one among many...

~ Anne Hillman

Nourishing My Soul

2007-07-12T14:40:00.000-06:00

In the last several weeks I have read articles and heard news reports about how hard American people work. Many times choosing work over taking a vacation. I listened with intent, as I heard several people interviewed about why they don't take a vacation. The most common reason is because they needed to be at work because of the heavy work load or they might be needed in case something went wrong. The people interviewed all desperately wanted a vacation, but could not imagine getting away. In many countries around the world you are expected to take several vacations a year. Having vacation and leisure time is part of the mind set of the workplace. When you have time to rest and rejuvenate you nourish your body, mind and spirit. As you read this, I will be doing just that. I am looking forward to spending time with my family, enjoying nature and nourishing my spirit. I hope you take some time this week to do that for yourself. Enjoy!

Sandy

When Your Life Is...

2007-07-09T09:59:00.000-06:00

" When your life is filled with the desire to see the holiness in everyday life, something magical happens: ordinary life becomes extraordinary, and the very process of life begins to nourish your soul!"

This is one of my favorite quotes and it is by the Rabbi Harold Kushner. Every time I read this it reminds me that there is nothing we do that is not without meaning. Our every thought has within it the possibility to change what is ordinary into something that is extraordinary. It is all a matter of our perception. In essence it is seeing the blessings in everything, even the things that do not appear at first sight to be a blessing.

Everything that God created is holy. Sometimes we can easily see this and other times it is much harder to see. When traveling to the remote places in Africa with overwhelming poverty, I asked myself this question everyday. What is extraordinary today? Where do I see the holiness in everyday life? It would have been easy to get swept up in the extreme conditions and let that be the focus but I would have missed the beauty of the African spirit.

It is like that in our everyday life too, sometimes we struggle to see the beauty, the holiness that is all around us. I'm not sure it is about changing anything as much as it is an awareness that we each day we create our life anew. In this process we have the opportunity to choose our perspective. When we look at life with the desire to see holiness it feeds our very soul. It is as though we look with a new set of eyes.

Blessings in this extraordinary journey!

Sandy

A Common Foundation

2007-07-05T14:22:00.000-06:00

I just read about an initiative sponsored by religious leaders in Minnesota called, A Common Foundation: Shared Principals for Overcoming Poverty. In 2004, 35 leaders signed a document that would help people have a voice to help end poverty. They are asking people to start to hold the vision of a Minnesota without poverty become a reality.

Half way across the world a man named, Muhammed Yunus is waging his own war on poverty. He believes that poverty generates hostility and anger and peace is not possible where poverty exists. Yunas is a banker in Bangladesh and a winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. His mission to to provide very small income producing or educational loans that will help people out of poverty. He is pictured above with Mosammat Taslima Begum the first recipient of a loan. She used the money to purchase a goat and now has a small business that feeds her family. In all he has given loans to 7 million poor people, 97% who are women in 73,000 villages! What I find amazing that something so simple could make such a huge impact.

What if we looked at our world from a place of a common foundation? What can you as one person do to make this a better place? Blessings~

Sandy

The Guest House

2007-06-27T08:37:00.000-06:00

The Guest House by Rumi

This being human is a guest house

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

Some momentary awareness comes

As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all

Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,

Who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture.

Still, treat each guest honorably,

He may be cleaning you out for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

Meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,

Because each has been sent

As a guide from beyond.

I found this poem quite by accident but as always it was very timely. Part of my life pattern has been to look at emotions I don't like as negative and then judge myself for having them. In the process of doing that I tap into even more negative thoughts that run rampant. Over the last years it has been a turning point for me to look at what comes my way as a gift. It is not something that has to fought and conquered, but instead something to be embraced and learned from. As much as I know this, I can still let fear get in the way. Paulo Coelho wrote it beautifully when he said, "We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it's about our life or our possessions and property. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world are written by the same hand. "

Blessings,

Sandy

Elusive Hope

2007-06-19T11:17:00.000-06:00

Over the last few weeks I have been thinking and talking a lot about the idea of visioning. The process of looking outward to see what is possible for ourselves, friends and family, our community and world. I love the process because you get to throw out all the rules of how it should be to imagine how things could be. The next step is to explore how that could actually come to be. That's the place we often get stuck, in the movement from what we want to what can be. It is also the place of most opportunity because so much is possible. This is not a place for those who are faint of heart; this is a place to muster all the courage and heart you have and move toward your vision.

In my conversations with people I have heard that maybe we have lost hope that things can be different in our world. You only have to watch the news to see that our world is not at peace and people feel the uneasiness in themselves. The security we once felt on all levels is no longer there and spans from job security to the security of our nation. It makes think me that vision is of no use without hope and hope is not possible without seeing things in a new way.

Just recently I was given this excerpt from a publication and it goes like this: " The world is to big for us. Too much is going on, too many crimes, too much violence and excitement. Try as you will, you get behind in the race in spite of yourself. It is an incessant strain to keep pace, and you still lose ground. Science empties its discoveries on you so fast you stagger beneath them in hopeless bewilderment. The political world is news changing so rapidly that you're out of breath trying to keep pace with who's in and who's out. Everything is high pressure. Human nature can't endure much more."

Does this sound familiar? This was actually written in The Atlantic Journal in 1833! I'm guessing that the author felt hopeless in what was happening around him or her. How this is much different than today I'm not sure, but I do know that hope is one of our biggest attributes.

There is a song by Andre Thomas, an African American poet and writer called, I Dream A World. The beginning of the song goes like this, I dream a world where man No other man will scorn, Where love will bless the earth And peace its path adorn" We are in the very process of asking ourselves this very same question, what kind of world do we dream and how can we dream it together? What do we want for ourselves and our world?

I want to leave you with one final thought and it is from Margaret Mead, " Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. " If you could answer the question I dream a world....what do you imagine? We would love to hear from you! ~Blessings~

Sandy

Expect God...

2007-06-12T11:08:00.001-06:00

I am sitting on a crude wooden bench surrounded by red clay mud walls and a tin roof. The floor is dirt and high above my head are wooden beams draped with beautiful cloth and tied to look like butterflies. The altar is simple, made complete with a cross and hand woven baskets. This humble room is a church packed with people dressed in traditional African and Maasi clothing. It is vibrant and colorful. The people who cannot get in are 4 deep at the windows peering in to get a glimpse of what is going on. Inside the people are singing and dancing in such a way that it appears well orchestrated. But nothing is orchestrated, they are simply letting the spirit move them. The harmony of their voices and the beat of the drum seem to reach right into my soul...I cannot help but be moved. The tears are running down my face, I have never experienced God in this way. Many times in my life I have looked for God's presence in my life. But here I am, sitting with some of the poorest people in the world and they feel God's presence...they expect God to be there. They don't even expect it, they just have a knowing that is like nothing I have ever witnessed. I could ask where is God in this monetarily poor country, but it never enters my mind. When asked if they ever asked that question they said, Why should we do that...He is here.

I am in the mountain top village of Idunda, Tanzania. It has been more than a year since I visited this village, but all I have to do is close my eyes and I can be right back there. But I am not there, I am here, in one of the richest countries in the world. I have more than I need of material possessions but yet I sometimes find myself asking, where is God today or looking for signs of His presence. How often I forget that His hand is in everything. I was truly blessed to have this experience of grace and love. What if we just for this moment remembered that there is nothing that God's hand is not in...what if today instead of looking for the places we see God that we could just close our eyes and know His presence. May you be blessed and be a blessing.

Sandy

the dot...ish

2007-06-05T10:27:00.000-06:00

Recently, a friend gave me two new books to add to my collection of children's books. I love children's books and these two are exceptional in their message. The first one, The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, is a Christopher award winner. This award is given to films, television programs or books that affirm the highest values of the human spirit. Vashti, the character in the book claims she cannot draw when invited to do so by her teacher. Her teacher encourages her to "Just make a mark and see where it takes you", but she is angry! To prove she cannot draw, she puts a dot right in the middle of the page and exclaims, There! Many more pages of angry dots appeared, but soon Vashti softened and that "dot" marked the beginning of a journey to surprise and self discovery thru drawing dots.

The second book by the same author, is simply called, Ish. In this book Ramon does what makes him happy, which is drawing. One day, his older brother made a critical comment about his drawing. From then on Ramon worked hard to do it right and make it perfect, but he never succeeded. Instead his papers ended up crumpled in the trash can. His sister saw the world in a different way, and helped him see the creative process was more important than getting it right.

Does any of this sound familiar to you? I know I sure can see myself in both of these books. On the inside cover of the books it says The Dot and Ish are books that"shine a bright beam of light on the need to kindle and tend our creative flames with care." I could not agree more! We have forgotten to embrace our creative side and honor the value of creativity in our life, however it is expressed. I will often recommend that people start with crayons and a coloring book or better yet, get out their favorite medium and just start to create whatever comes to mind. We are so much in our heads, organizing and figuring things out, that we need to just break away from our thoughts. Using the creative process allows us access to inner most wisdom that can help new perspectives emerge.

Today, make some time to sit down with a box of crayons and a blank sheet of paper and just allow your hand to move on the paper. Remember there is no" right way" or "wrong way" to do it. It is important for all of us to find ways to get out what is deep inside of us and creativity is one way to that. Have fun and give it a try! If you care to post a comment we would love to hear from you!

Sandy

An Awesome Picture

2007-05-30T10:59:00.000-06:00

I came across this picture that was recently taken by the Hubble Telescope, the Spitzer Telescope and the Evolution Explorer. These three telescopes worked together over a span of several years to capture this galaxy. The astronomers were amazed at the depth, clarity and beauty that the use of three telescopes produced in this image. I thought it was such an awesome picture that I wanted to share it with you...however the computer had a different idea in mind. This is the fourth time I have downloaded this picture and written this blog; each time it just disappeared! Even though it was saved it seemed to vanish into thin air. Since this picture is about discoveries and working together I have to assume there is a lesson for me in this. Ok...anyone who is laughing can just quit! I guess I am persistent! Just like the astronomers I was so struck by the beauty of this image. As I look at it, I am reminded of how much we don't know and how much is yet to be discovered. Not just in the world but within each of us. Each time I think I know the next step to take or the right answer I am shown another way. And what I always discover in that process is different than I could have ever imagined. I think this picture is a reminder to me to keep my heart open to everything and remember that the beauty in each of us is brought out by others. As you go through your days be grateful for the discoveries you make and the beauty in your relationships.
Sandy

Everyday Is A Gift

2007-05-22T11:52:00.000-06:00

I would like to tell you about my friend Doug. I met him about 15 years ago as we were volunteering in Boy Scouts. You just can't help but like his cheerful attitude, his ability to tell a good story and to see the positive side of life. After our years in scouting ended, I did not have as much opportunity to see him as I did before. He always loved to tell stories and just recently published a book about them. It was so fun to visit with him as he talked about the stories he put in his book. His cheerful attitude, his ability to see everything as positive and of course still tell a good story as well as write one was evident.

There is one thing that has changed and that is his health. He has a degenerative form of MS. When I first met him you never even knew he had it but for many years he has been confined to a wheel chair. With each passing year there has been something lost, a bit of mobility or something he can no longer do. Doug now lives in a group home so he can have round the clock care. As I entered his room, I could not help but be struck by the sign on the wall, Everyday Is A Gift. In my conversation with him, there is no doubt in my mind that he lives that each and every day.

As I left, he told me to come back and visit, but reminded me he is a busy man. It made me know how much richer my life is because I know him and made me wonder about everything he was there to teach me and others. I too, believe that everyday is a gift but often I forget that. I forget that gratitude is a gift and if my friend Doug can be grateful for what he has, it is a powerful lesson for me.

Take time today to remember that everyday is a gift and we have much to be grateful for. Acknowledge the people in your life that bring richness by who they are and what they give to others and remember to acknowledge that in yourself. ~ Remember that each day is truly a gift~
Sandy

A Personal Sabbath

2007-05-17T13:16:00.000-06:00

In pursuit of knowledge,

everyday something is acquired.

In pursuit of wisdom, every day something is dropped.

~LAO TZU

This week I have been thinking a lot about the idea of rest and not pushing so hard to get to a destination. To move at the pace of guidance, rather than to "push on" no matter what. The idea of sabbath is not new, but certainly is not practiced in our society. I first learned about the meaning of it when I worked at a church. They felt strongly that the staff needed time to rest, reflect and restore themselves. It was an important part of the ministry there and enhanced all parts of life. It carried with it the importance of self care as we cared for others. Each month, each staff member was given a half day with pay to have a time for a personal sabbath. It was clear that this was not a time to get caught up on house or yard work, or run errands; it was a time to refresh yourself. Not only were we to do it, we had to come back to the staff meeting and report what we did and what we were learning in the process of embracing rest in our lives.

In the beginning this felt odd and foreign to me. I was unaccustomed to having a half day with no agenda or "to do" list. It took several months to really get the hang of it...to learn how to spend time rejuvenating my body, mind and spirit. I had to look at my life and ask myself how I nurtured and took care of myself. Did I rest when I was tired? Did I cram 36 hours into a 24 hour day? Did I take time to nurture my spirit? Needless to say, I had a hard time answering these questions. In the process I realized I had never really learned how to do that. That is the case for most of us, we have not learned how to do that. Like most things, it takes practice to make it a priority. I wish could tell you I am an expert at it but that is not the case! But it is part of my intention every day, to allow myself time to do nothing, to enjoy nature or to be creative.

I would encourage you today to take a look at how you restore yourself. Do you rest when you are tired or push on anyway? How do you care for your spirit? When does your mind shut off? Take time today to find a way to have a personal sabbath whether it is 15 minutes or a whole day? Finding a way to soothe our mind and spirit and rest our body is essential to our own well being. It may be the most important thing we can do for yourself. We would love to hear about your personal sabbath if you care to post a comment or send an email.

The Quilt Makers Gift

2007-05-09T11:41:00.000-06:00

I have a collection of children's books that I absolutely love. Each and every book has been selected with special care, either for the story or the pictures, and sometimes both. It has always been an idea of mine that children's books were really written because adults had to be reminded of the simpler things in life. The wonderfully designed pictures and simplicity of the story is a perfect way to do that. Unless we have children to read to, we don't get the opportunity to be around children's books.

I want to share one of my favorite books with you called, The QuiltMakers Gift. It is beautifully written and illustrated and I believe it won a Caldecott Medal for the illustrations. The story goes like this...

There was a elderly woman who lived alone in the mountains. She made the most beautiful and sought after quilts in all the land. Because she put all her effort into designing and picking out the fabric for her quilts, she lived a contended life on the mountain never straying much from home. The exception to this was once a quilt was finished, she would sneak into town at night, finding someone who was homeless and sleeping in the street. She would cover them with the beautiful quilt she made, careful not to wake them. Quietly she would leave to return to her mountain home. Some how word spread about her craftsmanship and beauty of the fabric she used. People started coming to her door and asking to buy them. She always refused, stating that they were not for sale. The king of the village, a man of great wealth and many possessions, made his way up the mountain to purchase one of her lovely quilts, certain she would not say no to him. After several visits from him, she finally tired of telling him no and made a deal with him. She told the king that if he gave away all of his wealth and possessions she would then give him a quilt. He agreed and went about the painful process of giving away his great fortune. When he had emptied his bank and his castle, he proceeded up the mountain to get his quilt. The woman gave him his quilt and asked him to accompany her to the village. When he saw her take one of her lovely quilts and very gently cover a homeless man with it, he was taken back that she would give such a exquisite gift to a man who was sleeping in the street. She very quietly said, he needs it too. In that moment the king had a change of heart and together they made beautiful quilts and gave them to those who needed them.

I love this story so much because of the great care and love that went into each quilt. They could have been sold for a lot of money, but instead she gave them away to those in need, making no judgement. It is a powerful message for all of us to think about. It also makes me wonder what gifts I have that could be given each day just for the sake of humanity. Will you wonder with me? Blessings~
Sandy

An Amazing Discovery...

2007-05-06T14:43:00.000-06:00

In the May 7th issue of Newsweek Magazine there is a fascinating article about the new science of death. Researchers found an amazing discovery that changes the way doctors are thinking about heart attacks, as well as death itself. When someone dies of a heart attack, what has happened is that their heart has stopped beating. This is the clinical definition of death and the brain then shuts down to conserve oxygen. The conventional thinking by the medical community has been that if a patient could not be revived within 4 to 5 minutes, the brain and heart would sustain irreversible damage from lack of oxygen to the cells. This went unquestioned until Dr. Lance Becker, an authority on emergency room medicine, decided to look at the heart cells they assumed were oxygen starved and dying. They found that the cells had oxygen and there was no evidence that they were dying. It was an incredible discovery that led them to look farther into the biology of cells. What they found in the cells, led them to look at how patients may be resuscitated in the future.

I found this article so intriguing because I have always loved the idea of wondering and questioning the way things are done or thought about. The idea of doing that opens my mind and heart to a broader perspective that leads to new understandings. Each day we act in accordance to what we think is true, but too often we move through life and forget to wonder and question. What if something we hold as true, turns out after questioning to have shed light on a new perspective? I have experienced that many times in my life. Many of the beliefs that guided my life turned out to be based on old information and when I really spent time with them, realized that I had an opportunity to embrace something new. For me, embracing something new literally changed by life just like this discovery of resuscitating people might actually allow them to live. That is really the truth of it, in order to truly live and embrace life, we have to continually keep wondering, questioning and opening our heart and mind to new perspectives.

One man's courage to question something believed as true lead to this amazing discovery that in fact the cells of the brain and heart live for hours after death with no damage. This in turn led to a whole new way to think about death, but also about how people can live. We have that same opportunity. Everyday each of us has the chance to make these same kinds of miraculous discoveries about ourselves. We can wonder and question and come to new understandings that allow us to fully embrace life. It is not surprising that they found this discovery about the heart. It’s long been known that the heart has its own wisdom and has the capacity to allow our lives to be guided by the infinite love found there. There has never been a time when it is more important to open our hearts and minds to new ways of thinking and deeper understandings about ourselves and others. Imagine living life in the full embrace and love of ones heart. ~ Blessings on your Journey ~

Sandy

Through The Eyes of Children

2007-04-29T20:40:00.000-06:00

For many years I worked in an elementary school helping kids in the classroom. Third and fourth grades were my favorite, but I loved all the grades. Going to work each day was an adventure. You were never quite sure how the day might unfold, but more specifically it was wonderful to see the world through the eyes of a child. I remember the countless times when the adults in the room were stuck on how to solve something and the kids in all their innocence said, why don't you do it like this?. The adults would look at each other as if to say, it was so simple we could not see it. It makes me wonder if most of what we need is right in front of us. Our ability to see it gets clouded over with self inflicted rules of how we view life. Even if we are not always aware of it we can't help but bring into our life all of our past experiences that have influenced how we see the world. We all carry this with us, but it only becomes a problem when it gets in the way of what we want. That's what I love about children...the world looks different to them, not so full of clutter. Most often, the experiences of life have not etched away at their innocence. Their view of the world is one of wide eyed curiosity and marvel at even the smallest things. They are open to being vulnerable when they get hurt and receive love more openly. Yet they are quick to let you know when they can do it for themselves. In essence, children give and receive love more easily, speak what is true, and forgive others so they can move on. What comes so easily to children is much harder for us, but what would happen if we tried it out for a hour or a day? It makes me wonder what is there for us to learn when we remember the child that is part of all of us.

When was the last time you lingered long enough to marvel at the beauty of nature?

When was the last time you did something fun right in the middle of the day?

Today, no matter what take time to honor the child in you!

Blessings,
Sandy

A "Not So" African Reflection

2007-04-20T08:50:00.000-06:00

It has been one year exactly since I had the opportunity to spend three weeks in Africa. The one question I asked myself before I went was, am I willing to allow my heart to open wide enough to take in the experience and would I allow a change to occur in me? I asked the question around Africa, but it is really a life question. We can all ask ourselves right now, in the places where we are at, that very same question. I have heard people say over and over again, there is nothing more constant in life than change. In my own life I know that to be true. I found myself breaking in the places that I hold rigid and opening in the places where I bend. And so yes, I was changed by Africa but I have also been profoundly changed my things right here in my life and community. Change in our world is standing before us like a beacon. It is up to us to use our experience and faith in God to guide our path toward change. In light of the violence in our world, we can no longer afford to be close minded and close hearted. Opening places in ourselves for change to occur is a risk. Our group felt it in Africa, and I feel it at home. However, my experience tells me that allowing a change in me has rewards beyond what I can imagine. Blessings~
Sandy

A Moment of Silence

2007-04-19T13:29:00.000-06:00

A Moment of Silence

It has been one week since the shootings at Virginia Tech. This is an invitation to take a moment of silence for the victims of that tragedy. Remember the places in your own life that need healing and nurturing. A while ago a friend gave me this Prayer for Peace. Even though it feels like our peace had been disrupted, I would like to share it with you now. We need to hear it now more than ever.

Prayer for Peace

Thank you spirit for manifesting peace in our world

Thank you for teaching me how to be peaceful

Thank you for the peace I feel inside now

May I be a catalyst for peace in the world

May I live peacefully

I am at peace

I am peace

~from Praying with Power

Intentional Conversations

2007-04-04T15:00:00.000-06:00

Many of you know we have a cable television show called, Healing Conversations. The reason we think the show and this blog are so important, is because people need to have a way to connect with each other to talk about things that are heartfelt and meaningful. Much of our time is spent talking about the tasks of everyday life, often leaving little time for this kind of conversation. But the truth is that we need to connect with others in a deep and profound way. In our busy lives these kind of connections may not happen unless they are made a priority. In the show we talk about the ways people get together just for the purpose of heartfelt conversation. For me it happens in a few different ways. I meet monthly with a group of woman around a topic. We come together and speak what is true for us and in the process learn a great deal about ourselves and our world. Another way is through a friendship I have. My friend and I have met together for 27 years. For 14 of those years we met at 6 AM every Saturday to walk, have coffee and talk... and talk... and talk. For the last 13 years we have just met to talk. I know...it is a long time. Over the years people would ask us if we were still doing it, but no one ever asked us if it was worth it. Most people really wanted to make it happen for themselves; having a person or group to talk to. It was all about the relationship that was being created. We figured how to be in a relationship where it was OK to tell the truth, no matter what. We both learned a lot about ourselves and came to new perspectives and ideas. It was never about trying to fix or change the other person, but just to be heard and to listen. Being present for someone and learning to accept the gift of presence is very powerful.

We would very much like to hear about the ways you come together in meaningful conversation. If you wish you can post a comment on this blog.

Blessings~
Sandy

Stepping Out In Courage

2007-04-02T08:48:00.000-06:00

I came across a reflection that I had written about a year and a half ago that seems appropriate to share here. I wrote it as part of devotional book that I was helping to write for my church. The purpose of the book was to help them be a part of our trip to Africa. I think it is important here because I was talking about so much more than that; I was really talking about how we live each day. Not in Africa, but right here in our everyday life! Here it is...

It has been said that the world shrinks or expands according to one's courage. Every day we are presented with many possibilities for our life, some of which we know and understand, but many that we do not. It is difficult when we don't understand or know the outcome but yet we are asked to trust and step out in faith. It takes a huge amount of courage to step beyond our comfort zone to see the world that is waiting for us to discover. As our group of 8 travels to Tanzania and visits the remote villages, we have no idea what gift we may bring or far greater, what gifts we may receive. By stepping out in courage, our world will be changed we ways we can't even imagine. But you don't have to travel to Africa for that! Everyday we are asked to act out in courage as a response to our lives. I would invite all of you to take a moment and look at the times when you acted without knowing or understanding. Know that in those times it was trust that guided your path and relied on an understanding that was beyond human understanding.

Blessings to you this day as you look at the opportunities that life brings your way with courage. Trust that your path is being guided even when you are uncertain. Know that when you step out in courage, our world will be changed in ways we can't imagine.

The Angel of Possibility

2007-03-29T14:12:00.000-06:00

The picture to the left is called a Possibility Angel. When I saw it I just knew it was perfect for this entry. As I was thinking about the idea of What is Possible, two people kept coming to my mind. They were Anne Frank and Nelson Mandela. I could not help but wonder how Anne could see the possibility in life when she could not even see the light of day. Hidden away in an attic, knowing that at any moment her family could be found and taken away to a death camp. How could she see the light in that? Yet her writing shows a person of great inspiration and compassion. I think about Nelson Mandela, who through his years in prison, never grew bitter and could still see possibility for his life while offering compassion to those who held him captive. More recently, in fact just a few months ago, I heard about a group of climbers who got caught in a terrible storm on Mount Hood. They were lost for several days in a raging storm with little chance of survival. When they were rescued they were asked, " What did you do?" They reported that they did many things right, but the most important thing they did, was to maintain a positive frame of mind. They made this their intention, and never allowed each other to think negative thoughts. They never allowed themselves to give up hope. In essence, they believed what was possible in midst of a situation that looked impossible. I think that belief in what we can't often see or feel is the Angel of Possibility.

Many of us have probably not been in this extreme kind of situation but I am sure we have all been in places in our life where we have been left with the question of what is possible? I know that is certainly true in my own life. All of my growing up years were filled with all the forms of abuse. My world looked pretty dark not only to me, but also to everyone who came in contact with me. It was difficult to see that there was any possibility of of keeping myself safe, much less find a way out of my oppressive and desperate situation. As an adult, when the trauma of my childhood looked me square in the face, I again had to ask, what is possible? I remember one day when I was 8 years old I saw in my minds eye, my heart. In the center of it I saw a flame so small it could barely be seen. I did not have words for what I saw, but I knew that flame meant a way out of where I was. I knew it then, as much as I know it now, that the flame showed me that something else was possible for my life and that it was present inside me. You might say this wisdom was beyond my chronological years of understanding, but that is the point exactly. This wisdom does not have barriers, it is a simple truth that is available to all of us. It does not matter what our life situation is, because we all have that flame inside us that allows us to see what is possible. I encourage you to look into your heart to find the essence that allows you to see what can be. Embrace it with all you have and let the Angel of Possibility guide your path.
Blessings to you!

Sandy

The Mystery of the Ocean

2007-03-22T10:41:00.000-06:00

I believe their is a life force that is part of all of our lives. It is like an energy so to speak, a natural order of things that helps to guide our path. For the most part is runs outside of our awareness, but if we allow ourselves to become quiet and still enough, we can feel its presence. Sometimes I get a visual representation of it and for me one of the places I feel it is when I am at the ocean. It is a very powerful visual indeed. For the last several days I have been walking in the ocean and I find myself getting lost in the waves. Sometimes the waves have carried me farther out than I intended to go or farther down the beach than I planned. I almost felt lost in the power and mystery of it. At that same time I noticed feeling lost, I would look up to refocus and get another perspective. I thought how much like life this is...sometimes I get lost, sometimes for a short while and sometimes much longer. I love the idea of letting the waves carry me to unknown places to experience life in many different ways. But I also know that I am partially a creature that needs focus. How wonderful it is that we can have both forces at play in my life. I can't describe a better or more exhilarating feeling than when the energy of our life is in alignment with our focus or vice verse. Whatever you are doing today, stop and take a moment to become still tap into the energy that guides your path. Be present to the incredible wonder and mystery of your life as you allow both focus and spirit to guide your days. ~Blessings

The Gift of Relationship

2007-03-13T14:59:00.000-06:00

I came across these words written by Rosella Kameo who is a missionary in Indonesia. She writes, "Individualism has always been part of our Western identity. I wonder if we are so individualistic now, though, that we have lost sight of who we are. Have we lost our sense of community and commitment to the common good? Rising divorce rates, child abuse, and school shootings dominate our deadlines. Code orange warns us that we need to protect ourselves from the rest of the world. Could it be we are losing our ability to relate to others?"

That is a very powerful question and it makes me ask myself if indeed, are we losing our ability to be in relationship with each other? I don't think we ever really lose our ability, but somehow it has lost its importance. There was a time when our very survival depended on being in community with each other. Families lived close together and everyone helped each other with the day to day living. In some cultures and in some parts of the world it is still very much like that. Technology has made it possible to do almost anything through the computer so we don't have to talk to each other. Many of our children have grown up in front the this same computer as parents are busy trying to get everything done. One distraction can mean something gets left undone. I often hear people decribe that this feels like a treadmill and there is no time for relationship with family or anyone else. Each day becomes a list of things that have to get completed. Virginia Satir says describes it like this: " How often have I noticed people who looked without seeing, listened without hearing, spoke without meaning, moved without awareness, touched without feeling...The greatest gift I can give is to see, hear, understand and to touch another person." Peole have a basic human need to connect and be in relationship with others and when we get too busy to make that a priority, we lose our sense of belonging. And it is this sense of belonging that nurtures and sustains us.

We would love to hear your stories and comments about being in relationship and community with others. You can email us at inpeaceandjoy@msn.com

Holden Prayer for Peace

2007-03-09T10:01:00.000-06:00

The picture you see to the left is a picture of Holden Village nestled in the Cascade Mountains of the Wenatchee National Forest in Chelan, WA. It is a place to retreat, but also a place to be in community with others. It is probably the most serene and peaceful place I have ever been. They make it very clear to you that the intention of Holden village is to provide a place for people to come to nourish their spirit. And in so doing they carry that renewed spirit back into the world as a way to help bring peace and well-being to our world. In 1985-1986 a piece of music was written called, Holden Evening Prayer, to hold and uplift the spirit of people and facilitate peace in our world. In that same spirit of peace, an excerpt of the prayer is offered here.

~ For peace between nations, for peace between peoples...hold us in love
~For all those who govern, that justice might guide them...hold us in love
~For all those who labor in service to others...hold us in Love
~Grant weather that nourishes all of creation...hold us in love
~Keep watch on our loved ones and keep us from danger...hold us in love
~Help us, comfort us, all of our days.

It is a beautiful prayer. May you be held in grace and love~

Open Your Hands

2007-03-08T15:41:00.000-06:00

Open Your Hands

I always find that when I am in need of a bit of inspiration or a different perspective, just the right thing will come along to remind me of what I need to know. That happened today as I realized I was holding unto something that I needed to let go of. I opened a book and this story appeared as if it was just waiting for me. Maybe some of you have heard it before; it is simple and yet powerful. The story goes like this...

In China, traps were set for monkey's by hollowing out a hole in a coconut the size of a monkey's open hand. Rice was put inside the coconut and left in a place where they would surely find it. Hungry monkeys could smell the rice and would put their open hand inside to get the rice. When they grabbed the rice in their fisted hand, it would no longer fit through the hole and they became trapped. The only way they could free themselves was to unclench their hand and let go of the rice.

As I read this again, I wondered what the motivation was for me to hang on so tightly and what it was exactly that I was holding on to? It may not be as important to get the answer, as it is to ask the question. The process of that opens your heart and mind to new possibilities. The story suggests that you open your hand to let go but I also know there is more. When you open your hand to do this, you are also opening your hand to receive what comes back to you. We tend to think of it as a one way movement, but in reality it is reciprocal. When we loosen our grip and set free what we are holding we put in motion the possibility of receiving. The native Hawaiian people have a ritual they practice each evening of letting go of the events of the day. This process opens the pathway for them to receive.They know and trust this two-fold process as a powerful way to embrace possibility.This is an invitation for you to imagine what the power of this process might look like in your own life. Blessings to you as you practice opening your hand to this reciprocal process!

Sandy

We would love to hear your stories, either by posting a comment or by sending us a email at: inpeaceandjoy@msn.com

Am I Good Enough?

2007-03-03T08:10:00.000-06:00

Last week I watched the T.V. special by Oprah called, Building a Dream. It had been a dream of hers to build and develop a leadership school for girls in Africa. Just a few months ago, this dream became a reality when the school opened in South Africa. This show talked about the thought, care and love that went into making this dream a reality.

Having travelled to Africa just last year this show held special interest for me. The picture above was taken in Tanzania, Africa. These students are from the Image (E-magi) School and they were welcoming our group to their small village. While I was there I had the opportunity to visit many schools and interact with students of all ages. In a country where half the population is dying from AIDS and are largely uneducated in many areas, education is of extreme importance. Headmasters of schools and other leaders we met with, understand that if Africa is to rise from poverty and disease they need to educate their people. That is why the leadership academy Oprah built is so important.

But, that is not what really peaked my interest as I watched the special. As I traveled the villages of Tanzania and watched and interacted with the people (sometimes with translators and sometimes not)I realized the people have a strong sense of self. For the most part, they are clear about who they are and what they bring to the world. But they are also human. As I watched Oprah interview each girl I heard this same sense of self come through. Then she interviewed one girl who said with tears rolling down her cheeks, "Do you think I am good enough?" It is true, that question is part of all of us. Sometimes we are brave enough to say it out loud and sometimes it just hangs there like a cloud. With a tear coming down her face, Oprah gave the girl a hug and said, "Yes, I think you are good enough". We should all know we are "good enough" but sometimes we just need someone to put their arms around us and help us remember that yes, we are all "good enough" just as we are.

I believe that is the most important thing we can do for ourselves and others is to stay connected to our own self worth and help others do the same. That is the beauty of being in relationship with self and others...it helps us to re-connect to that part of us that gives us life. And it is our relationship with others that helps us remember when we have forgotten.

~Blessings to you~

We would love to hear from YOU...post a comment, or email us at inpeaceandjoy@msn.com. This is so important because it is part of relationship and being part of community. We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Sandy and Paula

Practicing the Presence of God

2007-02-19T16:23:00.000-06:00

Months ago I came across the words, Practicing the Presence of God, in something I was reading. I don't even remember what book it was in but I know that these words spoke to me. So for the last several months I have had them written on a torn piece of post-it note on my desk. Every day I look at the words and wonder what it means to be Practicing the Presence of God. As a way to think about this I broke the phrase down to ask myself, what is the presence of God? After all, how could I practice something if I could not define it! There was a time in my life when the answer to this question would be that I would have to go someplace to be in His presence. It meant that I was always seeking to find something that was outside of me, and often it was just outside my grasp. Over the last years I have come to understand that I don't have to go or do anything special to find this presence because it is right inside of me. I'm not quite sure how it was or even when it was that this happened. My guess it that it was many new understandings that finally brought me to this place of knowing. One day I realized that I was indeed created in His image and I was called, so to speak, to share the gifts I have been given with the world. The truth is that what each of has is different and unique. So unique in fact that what we offer is ours alone to bring. So each and every person is created with wonderful gifts and called to share them. That brings me back to Practicing the presence of God. It is everyday remembering what I bring to this world and honoring it not only as a gift I give myself but a gift I give to those around me. I say remembering, because sometimes life itself gets in the way. Every day we are called to bring into focus and let go of anything that would keep us from that. Here is a wonderful quote I found by Elizabeth O'Conner that speaks to this..."When that surrender is made, one is connected not only to one's own life, but to the pulsating, energizing heart of God at the center of the universe and at the center of every life.

What is does it mean for you to Practice being in the Presence of God? We would love to hear your comments and thoughts. Blessings to you as your journey unfolds.

Healing Conversations in New Orleans

2007-02-05T11:14:00.000-06:00

I believe that we never really know how or when we might be in need of a Healing Conversation or when our ability to offer just that may be needed. I have just returned from a week of training on Mind/Body techniques in New Orleans. When I went, I knew that the training would be a nice complement to what I already have, but I was not prepared for what else the week might bring. I had only been there a few hours when a friend and I stopped in the hotel gift shop to buy a bottle of water. The clerk inquired about why we were there and then started to tell us her story of Katrina. As she told her story to us you could see the loss and hopelessness written on her face. She said, "We need someone to hear our stories. It feels like we have been forgotten even a year and a half later." We could not help but to be moved by what she told us. As we left, we stopped to ask the bellman a question and he told us his own story. He talked about all the dead bodies, poisonous snakes and alligators that were in the water after the storm. He looked away and said it gave him shivers just to think about it. We had heard two stories in such a short amount of time that gave us much reason to pause and be with what they had said.

As the training began, we realized about 40 of the participants were from New Orleans. On the first day we heard what it was like to live through Katrina, but also what it has been like since. At the end of the first day many people were at a loss of how to be of help to them. Then one woman said it very eloquently, "We just need you to hear us and be a witness to our stories. We are all in the same or worse position and so we have no one to tell our stories to. If you just listen to us that will be very powerful."

That is the one thing I could do, I could listen with a compassionate ear. As the week progressed I listened to many, many stories. One day several of us were shopping and the owner of the store started talking to us about her life after Katrina. She said she was under so much stress she finally had to get medication to help her. The store was empty so we asked her if she would like to learn some things that would help her stress. She quickly agreed and was deeply grateful for this small amount of help. I felt privileged to be a witness to her pain and maybe somehow offer a spark of hope.

While I was there, I made friends with Malcolm the hotel doorman. I asked how he made out in the hurricane and he said, "Oh Darling...I lost it all." He said this with a smile on his face, and then he said, "What should I do? Feeling sad will not help me so I come to work with a smile on my face because you only get one chance to make a first impression." Having said that, he gave me a big smile and hug and said, "Darling...have a great day!" His wonderful spirit was a gift to me and every person he greeted in the hotel lobby.

I came home and realized that each time someone told me their story and I listened with an open heart, that it was a healing conversation. Not only was it healing for them but also for me as I was reminded of the resiliency of the human spirit.

I don't know when you might unexpectedly find yourself in a place where the best thing you can offer is a listening ear and an open heart, but I know it is powerful beyond words.

We would very much like to hear your thoughts, so we invite you to post a comment on this blog or send us an email at inpeaceandjoy@msn.com

Mystical Hope

2007-01-26T07:31:00.000-06:00

It seems like people for the most part are hopeful about their lives and our world. At least on the better days. But sometimes we have moments of disbelief when we are not sure what it looks like. It is a though it gets lost among the laundry, the running from place to place, but it gets really buried beneath the news of our world.

I came across a book called Mystical Hope. The author writes, "If it could be shown to be true that our life is connected to an innermost essence of great profundity and power, and that access to it is through what is innermost in our own selves, then we would have not only a conceptual understanding of mystical hope, but a practical way of orientating ourselves toward it."

In essence, mystical hope would simply mean that we find hope when we touch the innermost part of ourselves. What springs forth into the world from that, has the capacity to simply and profoundly change the world.

Tell us about the many ways in which you find hope in your life. We invite and welcome your comments.

Blessings to you~

Keep Imagining...

2007-01-26T07:04:00.000-06:00

In December, we asked people to help us imagine what they wanted for themselves and the world. And imagine you did! We have had a great response to this blog and a even greater response to our Imgine 2007 Tree. Over 90 people responded to our invitation to add to what we started. Often as I walked through the waiting room of our office I would see people adding things and often I stopped to talk with them about they imagined. One thing we all agreed upon is that if we want to live in a world of peace and joy, we first have to imagine it as possible.

We have read every response many times and it makes us know that the work we all do is important beyond what we know. Can you imagine what we can all do collectively...that is where possibility is born and nurtured. So the invitation continues...please help us imagine in every way you know how. We very much want to hear from you so please post a comment on this blog or email Sandy and Paula at inpeaceandjoy@msn.com Thank you for taking this journey with us.
Blessings~

Imagine 2007

2006-12-26T12:14:00.000-06:00

As part of our desire to imagine good things for the future, we are decorating a tree that sits in our waiting room. Ornaments in the shape of a globe are available for people to write what they imagine and hope for 2007. The staff and people who come into our office, young and old, are encouraged to participate. We would love to hear what each one of you reading this blog might imagine for 2007. You may do that by clicking on "comment" button after this entry and write your comment. We will fill out an ornament with your entry and add it to the tree. We thought you might like to read what others have said...

~ People seeing good in each other
~ A World at peace
~ Families loving each another
~ Have fun
~ That no child ever goes hungry or gets harmed
~ Accepting differences
~ Happiness and total Forgiveness
~ Love based programs and help
~ People believing in a God that loves us all
~ Cures for all illnesses
~ Tolerance and understanding
~ Each of us can make waves of peace. Together we can make peaceful rivers. Keep the river flowing.
~ People who no longer bully others
~ Peace with neighbors
~ No more war - ever
~ Happiness and joy.
~ Trust
~ Enlightenment

~The Breath of Christmas~

2006-12-17T11:09:00.000-06:00

Listen...can you hear it...the breath of Christmas that is? I know it is there, I heard it this morning...

~ It came in the words spoken in Amharinga, Mandrain, French and Spanish. The words were not understood but the message came through just the same.

~ It can be heard in the voice of the songs being sung...each voice as unique as the person singing it, letting this expression of who they are come forth.

~ It can be seen in the sparkle of a friends eye ~ the look of soft understanding that permeates your very being.

~ It comes as grace...the grace bestowed upon us and the grace we in turn give to those around us for the well-being of ourselves and the world.

That is what the breath of Christmas is...a reciprocal giving and receiving that nourishes our very being. Just like our breath, taking in life giving air and letting out what no longer serves us. The giving and receiving, we need them both to nourish our soul.

The Breath of Christmas...what is it for you?

We would love to hear from you... we invite you to post a comment or reflection on this blog.

Dona Nobois Pacem
~

The Power of One

2006-12-01T08:41:00.000-06:00

This is a quote on authentic power from a book called, The Power of One by Sharif Abdullah. He writes, "In Chinese, the character for "power" has three elements. One part is forward motion; the second part is a heart; the third part is a goal. Therefore, the Chinese definition of power is moving forward, with heart, to achieve a goal. When you have all three elements, heart, forward motion, and a goal, you are beginning to achieve authentic power. If you do something without heart, without love, it lacks power. If you act without a goal, you act without power."

People define personal power in various ways and I wonder how the impact of that definition gets played out in our everyday life and in the interactions we have with others. The idea of personal power brought to mind this quote by Margaret Mead when she says, " A small group of thoughtful people could change the world, indeed its the only thing that ever has." With this in mind, imagine what the world might look like if we acted from a place of authentic power.

We would love to hear from you and invite you to make comments by clicking on the comment section at the bottom of the post. Blessings in your journey.

A Time of Preparation

2006-11-30T13:46:00.000-06:00

The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas seems to be a time of waiting for Christmas to come. It is really much more than that. In the Christian traditions this time is called Advent and is really about preparation as well as waiting. We are not a culture that waits for much of anything. There is fast food, information at our fingertips, fast and easy answers to the most complex problems...you know exactly what I am talking about. The mind set seems to be that there is not time to wait for much of anything. A question that comes to mind is what are we willing to wait for and what would make that worthwhile?

The idea of waiting can also be about preparation just like this time of Advent. You hear it in Biblical songs and text that people were waiting and preparing their hearts and minds for a birth of a Saviour. Even if this is not your belief system, there is something very important about preparing your heart and mind for the mystery of everyday living. This is not a place of instant gratification...instead this is a place of pause. The pause may be meditation, prayer, journaling, or painting. It does not much matter because the pause is the quiet place in which the spirit can enter. It might be called a sacred place, an opening in which grace can enter our lives. What would our world look like if individually and collectively we were willing to prepare and wait as our lives unfold?

Blessings,
Sandy

Welcome to Healing Conversations

2006-11-28T15:11:00.000-06:00

This blog has been created in hopes of initiating and encouraging healing conversations with friends, co-workers, communities and all those interested in perpetuating peace and connection with one another and our world. We are in desperate need of finding deeper truths within ourselves and for seeing the potential for harmony in the midst of the turmoil we experience in our world. Healing conversations is meant to provide a forum for openhearted and open minded discussion about what draws us together and lifts us to awareness that rises above the pain of separation. We invite you to share your ideas here, read what others have to say, and bring them to your families, your workplace and anywhere you are in conversation with people. Then bring back what you hear and share it on this blog.

For those of you that are in our area, we invite you to participate in a face to face discussion of matters that are of importance to all of humanity, we invite you to join us for Questions of the Heart, an open forum held the first and third Mondays of each month from 6:30 to 8:00pm at Burnsville Counseling and Healing Center, 17305 Cedar Avenue, Lakeville, MN 55044. Seating is limited, call to save a space at 952-435-4144.