Dear Readers,
Again, thank you for reading my blog. I pray God's blessings on your day and your ministry, whatever that ministry may be.
How is your faith? Mine is challenged at the moment, because my husband had his hours cut back at work, and we are in super-scrimp mode. As I pout about this, I am reminded that half of the world's population doesn't have adaquate food, water, clothing, shelter and access to medical care. Only 7% of the world's popualtion has coins in a jar or money in a bank account.
I also am reminded about a man I met in Haiti, who had incredible faith. He said that Jesus was with him every day; if he needed food, Jesus would give him food; if he was sick then Jesus came and did surgery on him. I was in awe of his faith and the glow from his face!!!
I shared this story at a church gathering one time and someone interpreted it to mean that I was romanticizing poverty. That is not my intent. My aim is to inspire myself and others to have faith when we meet needs in our own lives.
Before I started painting yesterday, I felt depressed about our financial situation, but as I painted my prayers for Haiti, the knot in my stomach eased and I began to feel whole again. This morning the knot is back and I find if I sing the song, "Rejoice in the Lord Always, Again I Say Rejoice" then I feel better.
Do you find it amazing when the Haitian people gather in the street to sing hymns and praise God in the midst of their tragedy? I certainly do!!! It's awe inspiring to me.
Now that I too am facing my own challenges, which are puny in comparison to those in Haiti, I am doing like the Haitians and singing praise in response to my troubles. It truly helps!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Hard Times
Dear Readers,
How are you surviving the recession? I hope you are able to live, be satisfied, and confident about your future.
We received difficult news on Friday; my husband's hours have been cut back indefinately at his job. It's good that the owners chose this option over laying some people off from work altogether, but it's still hard.
I guess our mission trip to Haiti that I mentioned in my last blog, is unlikely, as any money I earn will be needed to put rice and beans on the table. I am disappointed about the hope of taking the trip, but that is a small concern.
Fortunately, we bought a pre-paid tuition package for our son, when he was a toddler, so he will be able to go to college. I am soooo glad that we did that! He is very gifted and self motivated, so he will do well throughout his life.
My concern for the future is to have enough money to live in our old age, since our nest egg is more like a pigeon egg than an ostrich egg. We will have to scrimp enough to save for the future, so we won't be a burden on our kids.
My immediate concern is keeping the freedom to paint. Right now I paint 5 days a week, all day. It is my true love in terms of my vocation. While I'm painting I love my life and feel that I am doing what God created me to do. I know in my gut that this is the work that is not only my passion, but my destiny.
I worked a "day job" throughout my 20's so that I could live and paint on the side. God called me into the pastoral ministry and I gave the next 20 years of my life to serving God in that way.
When I turned 50, I felt that God was calling me from the pulpit to the easel. I believe that I can have more influence for God with my art than with preaching. (I do pastoral care with or without an appointment. It's who I am.) A painting can last for 500 years. If it speaks eternal truths, it will continue to inspire viewers for as long as it lasts.
I am praying and painting with all of my soul, not only for Haiti, but also for my ministry of painting prayers for others in need.
How are you surviving the recession? I hope you are able to live, be satisfied, and confident about your future.
We received difficult news on Friday; my husband's hours have been cut back indefinately at his job. It's good that the owners chose this option over laying some people off from work altogether, but it's still hard.
I guess our mission trip to Haiti that I mentioned in my last blog, is unlikely, as any money I earn will be needed to put rice and beans on the table. I am disappointed about the hope of taking the trip, but that is a small concern.
Fortunately, we bought a pre-paid tuition package for our son, when he was a toddler, so he will be able to go to college. I am soooo glad that we did that! He is very gifted and self motivated, so he will do well throughout his life.
My concern for the future is to have enough money to live in our old age, since our nest egg is more like a pigeon egg than an ostrich egg. We will have to scrimp enough to save for the future, so we won't be a burden on our kids.
My immediate concern is keeping the freedom to paint. Right now I paint 5 days a week, all day. It is my true love in terms of my vocation. While I'm painting I love my life and feel that I am doing what God created me to do. I know in my gut that this is the work that is not only my passion, but my destiny.
I worked a "day job" throughout my 20's so that I could live and paint on the side. God called me into the pastoral ministry and I gave the next 20 years of my life to serving God in that way.
When I turned 50, I felt that God was calling me from the pulpit to the easel. I believe that I can have more influence for God with my art than with preaching. (I do pastoral care with or without an appointment. It's who I am.) A painting can last for 500 years. If it speaks eternal truths, it will continue to inspire viewers for as long as it lasts.
I am praying and painting with all of my soul, not only for Haiti, but also for my ministry of painting prayers for others in need.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Confirmation from God
Dear Readers,
Did you ever have a problem with doubting yourself? This has been an issue with which I have dealt since childhood, so when I received a sense of confirmation from God yesterday, I was and still am overjoyed!!! The doubt was: am I doing the right thing by painting prayers for Haiti and blogging about it; the confirmation is that a friend of mine asked to buy Painted Prayer for Haiti #2 when she gets some money in Feb.!!!
I plan to use the money to open a special savings account to save money to take my husband, our teenage son, and myself on a mission trip to Haiti next winter. My husband, Roger, and our son, Seth, are as just as excited as I am about the idea.
Of course I worry about exposing our son to so much poverty and suffering at a young age, but that is the point of this trip. I know it will transform him into a person who will spend his life serving others in a compassionate way, no matter what career he chooses. He already is a caring kid, but this will make him more so.
Plus it will give him a chance to do some fun things along the way, like snorkeling in the coral reef and enjoying the beauty of the tropics in some of the more remote areas of Haiti.
In our little household, we call ourselves, "The Trowbridge Trio." The dynamic in our family has been especially sweet, since I resolved to give up criticizing others. It's amazing how even parenting a teenager can be done without criticism! I simply ask him politely to do what I would like him to do and to my amazement, he does it most of the time!!!
This dream of taking our trip is bonding us even more closely. There is nothing like feeling close to our kid again after feeling distant for the last year, when I was in a power struggle with him. My loved ones advised me to lighten up on him and I did. Thank you, Jesus for good advice from those who love me!!!
I love my life! I love God and my family and my friends! I love my work! I am in love!!! It feels soooooo GOOD!!!
Did you ever have a problem with doubting yourself? This has been an issue with which I have dealt since childhood, so when I received a sense of confirmation from God yesterday, I was and still am overjoyed!!! The doubt was: am I doing the right thing by painting prayers for Haiti and blogging about it; the confirmation is that a friend of mine asked to buy Painted Prayer for Haiti #2 when she gets some money in Feb.!!!
I plan to use the money to open a special savings account to save money to take my husband, our teenage son, and myself on a mission trip to Haiti next winter. My husband, Roger, and our son, Seth, are as just as excited as I am about the idea.
Of course I worry about exposing our son to so much poverty and suffering at a young age, but that is the point of this trip. I know it will transform him into a person who will spend his life serving others in a compassionate way, no matter what career he chooses. He already is a caring kid, but this will make him more so.
Plus it will give him a chance to do some fun things along the way, like snorkeling in the coral reef and enjoying the beauty of the tropics in some of the more remote areas of Haiti.
In our little household, we call ourselves, "The Trowbridge Trio." The dynamic in our family has been especially sweet, since I resolved to give up criticizing others. It's amazing how even parenting a teenager can be done without criticism! I simply ask him politely to do what I would like him to do and to my amazement, he does it most of the time!!!
This dream of taking our trip is bonding us even more closely. There is nothing like feeling close to our kid again after feeling distant for the last year, when I was in a power struggle with him. My loved ones advised me to lighten up on him and I did. Thank you, Jesus for good advice from those who love me!!!
I love my life! I love God and my family and my friends! I love my work! I am in love!!! It feels soooooo GOOD!!!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Shopping in Haiti
Dear Readers,
Thank you for signing into my blog. I hope you have something special to do today that nurishes your soul.
One half of a suitcase doesn't afford space for a lot of things to take on a 10 day trip to Haiti. Plus I am good at forgetting things, so I found myself without a towel in a compound outside of a village in Haiti and I did not appreciate the value of a towel until I tried to do without one. I was fortunate enough to be able to break rank with our group and go with our Haitian cook to the market to buy one. I was hoping for a beach towel, but what I found was a dinky bath towel with blue and white flowers on it. I didn't speak Creole and the woman with the towel didn't speak English, except to say, "Eight dollars." I had a ten dollar bill and of course she didn't have change so I paid ten for the towel, then found our cook and we walked back to our camp.
When I told my savvy colleagues how much I paid for the towel, they laughed at me. They said that merchants give a price that is four times what they expect to be paid and then the buyer is supposed to dicker with them until they arrive at a price. Buyers are not supposed to ask for a price on something unless they intend to buy it or they will insult the seller.
I argued that the woman was poor and I didn't mind paying the price she asked and they laughed again. They said that it was just not the way things were done.
Despite the laughter, I found that my towel was perfect! When I took my shower with cold water under the mango tree, I looked up and felt like I was in paradise. I dried myself inside of the skimpy four walls with provided a little bit of privacy and put on clean clothes and felt refreshed!
After my snorkeling adventure I used my towel to remove the salty water and wrap it around me for the chilly boat ride back to shore. I loved that towel.
I kept my towel for years and years until it finally turned into a rag. It was a reminder of special moments in the tropics, like showering under the canopy of a mango tree.
I'm glad I paid ten dollars for that towel. Perhaps a family got to fill their stomachs that night, rather than go hungry. Plus I got a keepsake to treasure!
Thank you for signing into my blog. I hope you have something special to do today that nurishes your soul.
One half of a suitcase doesn't afford space for a lot of things to take on a 10 day trip to Haiti. Plus I am good at forgetting things, so I found myself without a towel in a compound outside of a village in Haiti and I did not appreciate the value of a towel until I tried to do without one. I was fortunate enough to be able to break rank with our group and go with our Haitian cook to the market to buy one. I was hoping for a beach towel, but what I found was a dinky bath towel with blue and white flowers on it. I didn't speak Creole and the woman with the towel didn't speak English, except to say, "Eight dollars." I had a ten dollar bill and of course she didn't have change so I paid ten for the towel, then found our cook and we walked back to our camp.
When I told my savvy colleagues how much I paid for the towel, they laughed at me. They said that merchants give a price that is four times what they expect to be paid and then the buyer is supposed to dicker with them until they arrive at a price. Buyers are not supposed to ask for a price on something unless they intend to buy it or they will insult the seller.
I argued that the woman was poor and I didn't mind paying the price she asked and they laughed again. They said that it was just not the way things were done.
Despite the laughter, I found that my towel was perfect! When I took my shower with cold water under the mango tree, I looked up and felt like I was in paradise. I dried myself inside of the skimpy four walls with provided a little bit of privacy and put on clean clothes and felt refreshed!
After my snorkeling adventure I used my towel to remove the salty water and wrap it around me for the chilly boat ride back to shore. I loved that towel.
I kept my towel for years and years until it finally turned into a rag. It was a reminder of special moments in the tropics, like showering under the canopy of a mango tree.
I'm glad I paid ten dollars for that towel. Perhaps a family got to fill their stomachs that night, rather than go hungry. Plus I got a keepsake to treasure!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Out House at Night in Haiti
Dear Readers,
What a priviledge you have given to me by taking the time to read my stories and my theological reflections on them. Thank you!
I had my 30th birtday in Haiti on Dec. 29, 1984 and was grateful for the cake and the birthday song sung in Creole. I don't remember what my wish was when I blew out the candles, but I was at a pivotal point in my life. Like Jesus I was taking the leap from a career as a craft worker to a life in the ministry at age 30. He went into the wilderness for a period of time at the onset of his ministry and Haiti felt very much like wilderness to me at that time.
We were met at the airport and rode in the back of a large pickup truck to our compound in a village a couple of hours away from Port-au-Prince. The air smelled like burning rubber from people who were melting new treads onto bald tires. Everything was loud: dogs barking, roosters crowing, people making music, rickety vehicles revving their engines to climb up steep hills. The colors were bright everywhere! Houses were painted four different colors, taxis (called tap taps) were painted with tropical flowers all over the entire vehicles and women wore brightly colored clothing. It was my first time out of the country, other than Canada. and my eyes must have been as big as saucers.
When we got to our "dormitory" we had cots with lice infested pillows and there was a small turantula spider on the wall, about the size of a quarter. I am not afraid of any bugs, even spiders, but did I mention that I am terrified of rats? That is what we saw in the dining room when we ate supper, not one rat, but a small heard of large ones running across the floor. I started to think, "what did I get myself into?" The ultimate challenge came when I had to use the outhouse in the dark with no flashlight. Why didn't anyone think to bring a flashlight? I didn't even think of it and there wouldn't have been room in my half of the suitcase anyway with all of my snorkeling gear.
I asked the other ladies with me to hold the door open while I did my business, so I could get the light from the moon. That totally dark outhouse terrified me after I saw those rats. I was sure that one was going to bite my butt, so I pushed as hard as I could to get it over ASAP!
I survived!!! I went to bed and prayed a prayer that went something like this: "God, I don't have enough faith for this! Please help me to do this! I'm scared!"
About an hour later, we heard drums and someone asked, "Are those Voodoo drums?" Someone else said, "Yes." I felt afraid and started praying again.
When we left the compound in the morning the sun was up and the foliage was beautiful!!! We stepped out onto the road and saw that someone had drawn Voodoo symbols in the sand at our gatepost. This too frightened me, but nothing came of it.
After a day or two, I had learned how to cope with my fears and felt at ease with our surroundings. I didn't use the outhouse in the dark again and I learned to take a shower with cold water (that's all there was) in the middle of the day when it was hot, etc..
I could not get used to seeing the malnurishished children though. It broke my heart. We were strictly warned and forbidden to give to beggers, because they said that we would be swarmed. I regretted not doing it though and those big brown eyes still haunt me.
In the Bible, Peter steps out of the boat onto the water to walk toward Christ who was walking on the water toward him. I felt like Peter, out of the boat, walking on the water, aware of the wind and the waves and having to keep my focus on Christ in order to proceed. Perhaps those experiences we have that are way outside of our comfort zones are how we grow spiritually. We certainly don't want too many of them, but when we find ourselves in the midst of one, it is a great opportunity to change for the better.
What a priviledge you have given to me by taking the time to read my stories and my theological reflections on them. Thank you!
I had my 30th birtday in Haiti on Dec. 29, 1984 and was grateful for the cake and the birthday song sung in Creole. I don't remember what my wish was when I blew out the candles, but I was at a pivotal point in my life. Like Jesus I was taking the leap from a career as a craft worker to a life in the ministry at age 30. He went into the wilderness for a period of time at the onset of his ministry and Haiti felt very much like wilderness to me at that time.
We were met at the airport and rode in the back of a large pickup truck to our compound in a village a couple of hours away from Port-au-Prince. The air smelled like burning rubber from people who were melting new treads onto bald tires. Everything was loud: dogs barking, roosters crowing, people making music, rickety vehicles revving their engines to climb up steep hills. The colors were bright everywhere! Houses were painted four different colors, taxis (called tap taps) were painted with tropical flowers all over the entire vehicles and women wore brightly colored clothing. It was my first time out of the country, other than Canada. and my eyes must have been as big as saucers.
When we got to our "dormitory" we had cots with lice infested pillows and there was a small turantula spider on the wall, about the size of a quarter. I am not afraid of any bugs, even spiders, but did I mention that I am terrified of rats? That is what we saw in the dining room when we ate supper, not one rat, but a small heard of large ones running across the floor. I started to think, "what did I get myself into?" The ultimate challenge came when I had to use the outhouse in the dark with no flashlight. Why didn't anyone think to bring a flashlight? I didn't even think of it and there wouldn't have been room in my half of the suitcase anyway with all of my snorkeling gear.
I asked the other ladies with me to hold the door open while I did my business, so I could get the light from the moon. That totally dark outhouse terrified me after I saw those rats. I was sure that one was going to bite my butt, so I pushed as hard as I could to get it over ASAP!
I survived!!! I went to bed and prayed a prayer that went something like this: "God, I don't have enough faith for this! Please help me to do this! I'm scared!"
About an hour later, we heard drums and someone asked, "Are those Voodoo drums?" Someone else said, "Yes." I felt afraid and started praying again.
When we left the compound in the morning the sun was up and the foliage was beautiful!!! We stepped out onto the road and saw that someone had drawn Voodoo symbols in the sand at our gatepost. This too frightened me, but nothing came of it.
After a day or two, I had learned how to cope with my fears and felt at ease with our surroundings. I didn't use the outhouse in the dark again and I learned to take a shower with cold water (that's all there was) in the middle of the day when it was hot, etc..
I could not get used to seeing the malnurishished children though. It broke my heart. We were strictly warned and forbidden to give to beggers, because they said that we would be swarmed. I regretted not doing it though and those big brown eyes still haunt me.
In the Bible, Peter steps out of the boat onto the water to walk toward Christ who was walking on the water toward him. I felt like Peter, out of the boat, walking on the water, aware of the wind and the waves and having to keep my focus on Christ in order to proceed. Perhaps those experiences we have that are way outside of our comfort zones are how we grow spiritually. We certainly don't want too many of them, but when we find ourselves in the midst of one, it is a great opportunity to change for the better.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Snorkeling in Haiti
Dear Readers,
I am grateful for your time. Thank you and I hope your days are going well.
In 1985, I went snorkeling in Haiti. I was 30 years old and just about to enter seminary at Boston University. I went with a United Methodist group led by Rev. Dave Strong and there were lots of college students on our trip. We were allowed 1/2 of a suitcase for our belongings on the way down, so there would be room for meds. and soap for the mission we were visiting. I used most of my alloted space in the suitcase for my snorkel, mask, fins and bathing suit. I am happy I did, because my snorkeling experience was one of the highlights of my time here on earth!
The coral reef was beautiful!!! The colors were fantastic and everything was so exotic, like underwater photos I had seen in National Geographic magazine. I found a live star fish, sea anemonies, and blue and yellow fish. The coral came in various colors and I wanted to pick some to take home, but knew I shouldn't. I had to come up for air and the reef was a little bit deep so I had to strain a bit to hold my breath long enough. On one of my trip to the surface I found myself in the middle of a school of baby jellyfish and I was scared. I tried to swim away, but there was no avoiding them. I felt a sting on the inside of my arm and I had no idea what would happen after that, so I felt anxious about it.
After I got back in the boat, the string kept hurting, but I didn't get sick. The pain lasted for about a 1/2 hour and then went away. It was like a bee sting! I had endured plenty of those as a barefoot child.
My fears felt silly to me after that.
My family was afraid when I went to Haiti, but they knew better than to try to stop me, because as my husband says, I am a "determined" person. Their fears for me were unfounded as well. I was not harmed in Haiti in any way. In fact I was a better and far more grateful person afterwards.
I had complained many times about my job before my trip to Haiti, but afterwards I was aware that most of the people in that island nation would have gotten of a boat and risked their lives to have that job. Before my trip to Haiti I took my morning shower for granted, afterwards I couldn't take a shower without thinking of the people there. Formerly my prayers of thanks before meals were simply words in my mouth, after the trip, the words took on a whole new meaning.
I wish everyone in America could take a trip to Haiti. We would be better off because of it.
I am grateful for your time. Thank you and I hope your days are going well.
In 1985, I went snorkeling in Haiti. I was 30 years old and just about to enter seminary at Boston University. I went with a United Methodist group led by Rev. Dave Strong and there were lots of college students on our trip. We were allowed 1/2 of a suitcase for our belongings on the way down, so there would be room for meds. and soap for the mission we were visiting. I used most of my alloted space in the suitcase for my snorkel, mask, fins and bathing suit. I am happy I did, because my snorkeling experience was one of the highlights of my time here on earth!
The coral reef was beautiful!!! The colors were fantastic and everything was so exotic, like underwater photos I had seen in National Geographic magazine. I found a live star fish, sea anemonies, and blue and yellow fish. The coral came in various colors and I wanted to pick some to take home, but knew I shouldn't. I had to come up for air and the reef was a little bit deep so I had to strain a bit to hold my breath long enough. On one of my trip to the surface I found myself in the middle of a school of baby jellyfish and I was scared. I tried to swim away, but there was no avoiding them. I felt a sting on the inside of my arm and I had no idea what would happen after that, so I felt anxious about it.
After I got back in the boat, the string kept hurting, but I didn't get sick. The pain lasted for about a 1/2 hour and then went away. It was like a bee sting! I had endured plenty of those as a barefoot child.
My fears felt silly to me after that.
My family was afraid when I went to Haiti, but they knew better than to try to stop me, because as my husband says, I am a "determined" person. Their fears for me were unfounded as well. I was not harmed in Haiti in any way. In fact I was a better and far more grateful person afterwards.
I had complained many times about my job before my trip to Haiti, but afterwards I was aware that most of the people in that island nation would have gotten of a boat and risked their lives to have that job. Before my trip to Haiti I took my morning shower for granted, afterwards I couldn't take a shower without thinking of the people there. Formerly my prayers of thanks before meals were simply words in my mouth, after the trip, the words took on a whole new meaning.
I wish everyone in America could take a trip to Haiti. We would be better off because of it.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Thoughts on Love
Dear Readers,
Well it's Monday and I imagine you are back at work, of one sort or another. I hope that your hands, mind and heart are all satisfied with your occupation.
What do you think of love?
I find that I learn more about it every week. I am blessed to have a lot of people to love, both family and friends, who teach me how to love more completely as the days, weeks and years continue.
Isaiah prophesied that the wolf would one day lie down with the lamb and that the leopard would lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together.....for the earth would be full of the knowledge of the Lord.
What is the knowledge of the Lord?
This is what I believe. God has given us time and relationships. The very nature of our being requires relationships; that is how we were conceived, nurtured in a womb and born. Without others we would not survive infancy or childhood.
Hopefully, these relationships were good enough for us to learn about the knowledge of the Lord which I interpret as holy love, true love, unconditional love, love that is felt, love that lasts forever.
Sadly, there are 80 million orpans in the world that do not have permanant families. There are also people who have families, but the dynamics in the family are far from loving. We have not yet reached the place where the earth is full of the knowledge of the Lord.
What can we do? We can take steps daily toward this vision of an earth filled with unconditional, true, committed, unending love in the circle of our own relationships. Plus we can expand our circle, bit by bit, until the whole world knows this kind of love.
One of the steps I have discovered for myself is to resolve to stop critcizing people. I am growing in my resolve and I will never be perfect at this in my life on earth, but I can do my best. I have taken good strides in reducing the criticism I give to my husband and I cannot believe the difference in our marriage! I am embarrassed to admit to myself how often I did criticize him and now I can see the damage that I was doing, all "for his own good" I thought.
The change in him is remarkable! He is doing sweet little favors for me often. He smiles at me and speaks kind words more readily. He picks up the cat more often to pet her and talk to her. He is cheerier in the morning and less discouraged when other people are unkind.
We all need relationships that are sanctuaries; we need safety and encouragement. We need to feel loved and accepted, even appreciated for who we really are, deep inside. We start by accepting God's love. God teaches us how to love in return. Then we learn to forgive and accept ourselves, and when we do that we are able to forgive and accept others. It all boils down to the two commandments that Christ taught us: love God and love one another as we love ourselves.
Love has ingredients: attraction, admiration and devotion. Devotion is the bottom line, it will keep us together through thick and thin. Love begins with attraction and admiration, which leads us toward devotion. But when attraction and admiration fade, devotion will help us to revive them over time.
The world is constantly evolving. We can all work together to fill the world with the knowledge of the Lord so that everyone can use the time given to them for the ultimate satisfaction which can only be found in devoted love. As this change occurs, perhaps nature itself will evolve to the point that the wolf and the lamb will lie down together!
Well it's Monday and I imagine you are back at work, of one sort or another. I hope that your hands, mind and heart are all satisfied with your occupation.
What do you think of love?
I find that I learn more about it every week. I am blessed to have a lot of people to love, both family and friends, who teach me how to love more completely as the days, weeks and years continue.
Isaiah prophesied that the wolf would one day lie down with the lamb and that the leopard would lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together.....for the earth would be full of the knowledge of the Lord.
What is the knowledge of the Lord?
This is what I believe. God has given us time and relationships. The very nature of our being requires relationships; that is how we were conceived, nurtured in a womb and born. Without others we would not survive infancy or childhood.
Hopefully, these relationships were good enough for us to learn about the knowledge of the Lord which I interpret as holy love, true love, unconditional love, love that is felt, love that lasts forever.
Sadly, there are 80 million orpans in the world that do not have permanant families. There are also people who have families, but the dynamics in the family are far from loving. We have not yet reached the place where the earth is full of the knowledge of the Lord.
What can we do? We can take steps daily toward this vision of an earth filled with unconditional, true, committed, unending love in the circle of our own relationships. Plus we can expand our circle, bit by bit, until the whole world knows this kind of love.
One of the steps I have discovered for myself is to resolve to stop critcizing people. I am growing in my resolve and I will never be perfect at this in my life on earth, but I can do my best. I have taken good strides in reducing the criticism I give to my husband and I cannot believe the difference in our marriage! I am embarrassed to admit to myself how often I did criticize him and now I can see the damage that I was doing, all "for his own good" I thought.
The change in him is remarkable! He is doing sweet little favors for me often. He smiles at me and speaks kind words more readily. He picks up the cat more often to pet her and talk to her. He is cheerier in the morning and less discouraged when other people are unkind.
We all need relationships that are sanctuaries; we need safety and encouragement. We need to feel loved and accepted, even appreciated for who we really are, deep inside. We start by accepting God's love. God teaches us how to love in return. Then we learn to forgive and accept ourselves, and when we do that we are able to forgive and accept others. It all boils down to the two commandments that Christ taught us: love God and love one another as we love ourselves.
Love has ingredients: attraction, admiration and devotion. Devotion is the bottom line, it will keep us together through thick and thin. Love begins with attraction and admiration, which leads us toward devotion. But when attraction and admiration fade, devotion will help us to revive them over time.
The world is constantly evolving. We can all work together to fill the world with the knowledge of the Lord so that everyone can use the time given to them for the ultimate satisfaction which can only be found in devoted love. As this change occurs, perhaps nature itself will evolve to the point that the wolf and the lamb will lie down together!
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