The Image that We Present

Our personal image expresses our beliefs and how we regard life in general. As we look at other people, we are constantly reminded that we are only one of the billions that inhabit this world and that we are an important part of it. The very way we live as individuals shows others where we stand in society. All people have a set of beliefs that are reflected in their image and that are different from others. They believe that they are right and that’s all that is necessary. They don't need or want anyone else telling them they are wrong – they wouldn’t believe it anyhow.

A person’s personal image of themselves is one of the most important things that we have that expresses who we really are. We cannot hide who we are. Our personal image is what other people perceive. It is the image that we project to others that allows them to come to know us. We do try to make people believe that we are truly the person we are trying to present to them and not what others may believe.

The teachings of one’s parents and society forms ones personal image that stays with them throughout their life. For some, just the way they walk, the way they dress or the look on their face tells all. To others, it's only when they open their mouth that they can be known. And yet, everybody has, what is known as, "off days". For some reason they just keep saying and doing the wrong things or talking when they should be quiet, and because we are always changing, our image also changes from minute-to-minute and day-to-day.

We are told in the Bible and by our parents not to judge others "lest ye be judged" and yet, we can't help judging everyone we meet. It is part of our personal image and it is because we were taught to judge others from the time of our birth. For some, it became a survival mechanism in order for them to survive in a "hostile" world. This is seen in every walk of life from the poorest to the richest. We judge others and the question may come up, how can we change that image? Can going to church change our image? I believe that the answer is yes. Going to church and studying the Bible, their belief system and teachings can change a person’s image and their very outlook on life. I have known criminals who became “born again Christians” that have developed a new image for themselves; an image of humbleness, loving care and respect. These people have discovered within themselves their own true nature - the real person. It doesn’t matter how it happened the fact is it did. Did the church give this to them? The true image of a person is within. Church is only one place where one's image can be developed.

All churches teach personal responsibility. This teaching goes beyond anything that is taught in the school of life and produces an image of us that is reflected in our every action and thought. We are taught from an early age that “life is the pits" and "we are to do them before they can do us" - what ever that means. The church has its own image. The church represents God, a way of life and a way of looking at things that reflects our true beliefs.

Can the church help people develop a new image for themselves? I believe so. The church through its teaching of the "Principle of Personal Responsibility" provides the most effective means of changing one's personal image.

As a psychologist in Hawaii, Paul Pearsall, Ph.D., wrote in his book, “Miracle in Maui”, how he took personal responsibility to a new level. He took personal responsibility to mean that he was responsible for the criminally insane men that he worked with and through his understanding, brought sanity to those men. Through his work on himself, the men were rehabilitated and moved to prisons where they were no longer a threat to themselves and the lives of others. He understood that it was him that caused those men to be insane in the first place. So he simply worked on himself. He went within to correct the source of the insanity and cure the illness. As you can see, one man's personal image of himself and practicing personal responsibility made the difference. He changed the image that others had of themselves to become who they really were. A lesson we can all learn.

I had never thought about personal responsibility in the terms the Hawaiian psychologist did, and it made me think of just how important my own image is and how as a Spiritualist my image is reflected in my life. Having the truth about life through personal responsibility presents an image of our teachings and us. What a difference we could make in this world.

The Greatest Change

The greatest change came about when Mark began to express his independence. He wanted to make changes in the way people around him lived. He wanted the village people to live in harmony with one another as one people as though they all had the same parents. He talked to his parents and his brothers and sisters about what he had in mind. He talked to everyone in the village who would listen to him. But he learned that even though a family may have a dozen or a hundred members, it will never have more than a few who can actually get along with each other. Mark learned this but still wondered what he could do to make changes.

As I look at the story of Mark, I can’t help thinking about all of the people that I have known in my life. How many of them did I get along with as though they were family? Some of course, but far too many I didn’t. This reminded me of a play I read by Herb Gardner. The title comes from how the main character tries to help his young nephew understand the wonder of being alive. “He said to the boy, everyday is like going to the circus. You remember how a little car always drives into the middle of the ring, and it looks so tiny, and then all of a sudden, all the sides open up and out pops a thousand clowns? You never dreamed that all those people could fit into such a tiny vehicle, but somehow they did.”

“This is the shape of life, my boy. There is always so much more to any event than we humans can see on the surface. Do not ever assume you know everything about anything. Everyday is a little car filled with a thousand clowns – learn to be humble and a friend of mystery and who knows how you will be surprised?”

Life is a mystery and filled with surprises that change our outlook on life everyday. We think that we have figured out all of the various aspects of a situation and everything will be, as we believed. Then someone comes along and asks us “did you consider this or that?”

As we look at life in this physical world, we can’t help thinking about all of the things that have taken place. We were born, a miracle in itself, and started school where we learned so many things.

Some of us even went to college or university, learning all the time. Life in this world is for us to learn how to get along with others and make changes we believe will be good for all. Consider all the possibilities for changes that we can make and then go out and serve others in such a way that will advance humanity.

We all want the things that Mark wanted. We all want to live together as one big happy family. We want to understand that we all came from one God and that we are therefore all brothers and sisters. But how many of us really consider this to be true?

As we look at life we know that there are so many possibilities for us. We understand that there are people in this world who do not have as much as we do. We understand that the greatest changes in life come about when we take charge of our life and do something that will make changes in our society and for our highest good and the highest good of others. Life really is full of surprises and that when the clowns emerge from their little car, there will even be a greater mystery expressed and a greater number of life surprises for us all.

Christmas Greetings

Christmas

Christmas comes but once a year

To light our life and stir our soul

It brings great joy and peace within

To sing of Christmas all year long

This is a special time of year and one that is especially meaningful for me. I was born in December and enjoy the season a lot. Christmas has always been a special time for me with all the colored lights, the decorated houses with there Christmas trees all lit up and even the snow, all have they’re meaning special meaning for me. Yes, special because it is the time when we celebrate the birth of Christ. To sing of his birth and act out the story of his birth as described in the Bible.

A time when the shortest day of the year is celebrated by the billons of people on this earth. Celebrated for thousands of year as a “pagan” holiday with music, dancing, and drinking. A time to celebrates the fact that each day will become longer as we look forward to Spring. Spring, as the time the earth bring forth its abundance and fills us with hope.

As we look at this time of year, we can’t help thinking about all of the people who have so much and all those who have so little. We all share in this time. We all think about family, friends and giving. We give to those who are in need, and we give to each other as an expression of love that says, “your special to me”.

As you think about this time, I hope you will think about all the people in your life now and all those who where part of your life in time past. Send each one a special blessing and a prayer of love for the New Year.

May God bless you one and all.

Taking the Time

You have already read the article I wrote on “Listening” in this book. As I reviewed that article I could not help thinking about how busy we are in our lives. We seem to have something to do all the time that makes it almost impossible for us to take time for others and ourselves.

We seem to be going here and there and everywhere without thinking of whether or not we have time for our loved ones. We think that we are always there for them, but it seems that when they want to just talk to us or see us for a few minutes we always have something to do or we cancel the meeting for some reason.

Why, this can be attributed to the “pace of life” something we all know something about. We only have twenty-four hours to do forty-eight hours of work and then we are unable to complete the task, whatever that may be. Taking time for others is a must. We need to set aside sometime for others and ourselves – our family, our spouse or our mothers and fathers and especially for our children. Not waiting for holidays just to be together with them – as expected.

How often have you thought about visiting someone only to forget that you even had that thought? Maybe today, maybe yesterday you thought of them. Think of them now while you are reading this article, get in touch with them and see them in person if you can. How long has it been since you saw them? Don’t just say, “Let’s go for coffee”, only not to make the time in your schedule to do so – do it.

I know a person who has been writing a book for more than ten years. I asked her why she only works on it sporadically. She didn’t have a good reason for me. I then said, “Why don’t you take the time and work on it and complete it so you can have it published. I want to read what you wrote. From what you tell me it is a good book.” Time, a big word with so many strings attached to it.

It seems that if we are not paid to do something, we are not compelled to do it. One of the greatest “pays” we can have for our work is just completing it and seeing the expression on the face of another when we present it to them.

I always wanted to write a book, but didn’t think I really would until I helped another friend get her book published. Her book was published after ten years of just wanting the book to be published. Now it is available on Amazon, Chapters-Indigo, Barns&Noble, LuLu.com and others. The book is about elementary age children who have written poems, made drawings and written short sayings. The book really represents children from all over the world even though the children in the book are Cuban. The book is printed in three languages that are really great for children. It is printed as an on “demand” book.

So the jest of this article is – TAKE TIME to complete your special project(s), call, or email, write a letter or just take the time to go see your friends and loved ones; take some time for yourself. No matter how much time you think you “don’t have”, complete that special project(s) and talk to that friend - just do it.

My friend’s book is titled “Ninos de Habana”. A must buy.

A Walk Through The Earth

Wondering through a forest can be an enjoyable past time. The number of birds one may observe, the animals as small chipmunks to deers, and maybe even a bear.

How many times have you walked in a forest or wilderness area? Can you count the number of time you have done this on one hand, or maybe you have done it so often that you have lost count.

The forest is a place for a person to loose themselves in its beauty and quietness. Hear the many bird songs, smell the fresh air and just being out there.

When you talk to people about what they have learned while walking in a forest, they may scratch their head and look a little bewildered. How do you answer the question when you have never really thought about it? The forest is a place where a person can learn about vegetation and the wildlife. Observe the types of trees and undergrowth. Look for mushrooms and other eatable fungi. Observe the number and variety of insects.

There is no better place to just sit and mediate. When a person is quiet, they are able to hear and feel things that they just never feel or hear otherwise.

This earth was created by the source of all creation just for us, His children. We have been given the lifesaving vegetation, variety of animals and insects to maintain us in good health. We have been given all that we need in order to live with out worrying about anything. This earth rotates in order to produce gravity that keeps us from floating out into space. We have been given a brain that automatically controls every function of our bodies. We have a mind that allows us to use all that we have been given for whatever we desire and continually think of new things to produce. There is no end to what we can do in our life. We only need to recognize that we have the capability to do it.

We have even developed things that can destroy all that we have in an instant. Do things that will pollute this earth to such a degree that we can literally make the earth unlivable. Poison every thing within tens to thousands of miles around us.

When we walk in a forest do we really appreciate what we have and how much it gives us? Can a walk in a forest change our whole outlook on life to the place where we can really appreciate what we have? This question has been asked so many times that it is impossible to count, but what can we do?

We can start by looking at who we are and our relationship to our environment and to other people. We can tell others of the beauty of this world. Take and show photos that we have taken of forest and mountain areas, state and provincial parks. Write books about the variety of life that is in this world from the smallest microbe to the largest thing, natural or man made on this earth. Everything that man has made has its own beauty. Something, that appeals to our sense of sight, taste, smell and touch. It’s all there for us.

My Poems

She Walked

She walked into my life
With a smile and light
A light that shone in all directions
Pushing away the darkness

It was a beautiful sight that light
I’ll never forget it
It shown so bright

Its has dimmed a little
But it’s still there
Shinning in my heart forever

The Worker

He worked and worked and worked
Saw the path so clear
Took the way to life
That became a cause
Long ago he was called
To the life so true
To help the needy
And strengthen the lowly

Now his is ordained and on his way
In the right direction
Of love and faith and healing
For all who come his way

To be helped and send on their way
He is open and so dear
To make the way for others
And be all that tho can be as time goes by

Spring has come and gone
Summer is almost over and
Fall and Winter are on their way.

To No Avail

Its been a good life full of ups and downs
But with you its been nice

We met and clicked and went from there \
To new heights we sprang with out a care

Then came the woe and a look of despair
From the way we saw the fare
Out in the forest we ran for a while
To walk and talk to no avai
For the light had faded away
Leaving a dark turn in the way
What happened and where are we going
Is there still a chance for the uniting?
We walk and talk to no avail

Milestones

A milestone has been reached
We are on the right track
Tomorrow will bring anew
All that we can endure

Today is all we have
And tomorrow is just a dream
A dream that makes anew all that we have

So let get going, we are on the right path
See you in the light, but only if you like
Where is the light you say?
It’s only a smile away

Is their no end to this conflict

When we look at the world and all its problems, we are immediately drawn to the fact that men, women and children are dying at an alarming rate, through out the world.
Sickness and war has been a part of human life since man first set foot on this earth, and when they began to gather in groups and small communities, things got worst.

If seems that one group has been warring against one another since time began and for some, it has even become a way of life. Gathering in communities has contributed to the wide spread of war, disease and sickness of all kinds.
People and governments use almost any excuse to go to war. They mark out their countries borders; mark out territories for hunting and fishing. They started fighting and killing their neighbors if they intruded on their land. They make raids on their neighbors taking away their wives, children, personal belongings, stealing their tools, food, clothes and even their homes.

Because man has deemed it necessary, they have become quite possessive of what God has given them to use freely and share with each other. We think that because we have purchased a plot of ground or home that we own it. But what happens when we don’t pay our taxes?

Is their anything that can be done to stop, or at least minimize the destruction, killing, sickness and disease in this world? The 64000 dollar question! Ah.

What about sickness?

Sickness has becomes a way of life for some people and they believe that being sick will attract sympathy, a sense of being wanted, love and attention to them. While others, seem to attract sickness by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Medical doctors and their science, Shamans, Natural Paths, Spiritual Healers, Missionaries, you and me working together by praying and doing our best to avoid sickness and disease is of the utmost importance. We all do our best to help others and ourselves to be healthy.

In this world there are men and women who work constantly to personally try and stop war, famine, disease and sickness. They provide political and medical aid, food and clothing; raise money through television, radio, marathons and other means. They give all they have to established organizations that have the means to aid and distribute the goods and medicine to those in need. Are they effective? Sure, but it is never enough, it is a never-ending battle, and in most cases a monumental task.
WE are to work to provide service to others. It is our responsibility to help our fellow man. To do our best and keep working to stop wars and cures sickness and disease through out the world.


What about us?

Some of us are very sensitive to the tragedies that happen through out the world. One friend told me of having dreams about the young girl that disappeared from Three Rivers Quebec, Canada, last year, of volcanoes, earth quakes, storms and other tragedies. And what are we to think about what is happening through out the world? Is their anything that we can do?

I have tried to think of some way that I can have an affect on world events. And I have not been able to do much about it. I give of my finances, I pray. I plead, I cry, I even demand that God do something, anything about all the destruction, killing, sickness and disease in the world. But God has said – I gave you, my children and total freedom of choice. You have the freedom to make choices with out interference, do what you want, say what you want, and even believe what you want. It has been your choice to make war on each other. It has been your choice to commit crimes against each other. It has been your choice to suffer the consequences of your choices through war, sickness and disease. As your 6th principle says: “Personal responsibility, with compensation and retribution for all the good and evil deeds done here.” It is then our responsibility to correct our way of thinking and choices in life in whatever means we deem best. It is my responsibility, says God, to help you accomplish your goals. I hear your prayers, your pleading and your crying. I even hear your demands. But it is up to you to make the decisions to act. It is up to you to help each other find a cure for war, disease and sickness in the world by making good decisions.

How?

It is a service that we give each other. Without a means of service to others there would be nothing for us to do but sit around and contemplate our navel. We need some thing to keep them busy and in service to others. In the world of spirit, all of the people there are in service to each other and to their brothers and sisters on the earth plain. This is the way in which humanity grows spiritually. Service to others! Service to others produces happiness, joy, a sense of well being and a knowing that each one of us is making a difference in the life of others and the world.

Again, Infinite Intelligence, God, has said, I will help you in all of your endeavors, but you must take responsibility for your actions and do something yourself to be of service to others. Again, I will help you according to your efforts to making good choices and to try and minimize your errors that you call sins through your choices.

This then is an answer. Maybe not the answer you were looking for about how to end the never ending conflict, but an answer. We are all ultimately responsible for our actions. We must take the first step to correct our own errors and make choices for our highest good and then we can do something to help others. Again, we must start with ourselves so that we can then help others. And in doing so, war, disease and sickness will cease to exist.