Category: Spirituality and Religion

I Want the Truth

“In quarreling, the truth is always lost.” (Publilius Syrus, first century, B.C.)

 

Civil discourse and illuminating debate are an endangered species.  We have become victims of 30 second sound bytes and pre-scripted revelations masquerading as fact.  We are no longer offered factual reporting, allowing us to form our own conclusions.  In the name of political correctness, we are force – fed opinions and agendas to which we are encouraged to choose sides.  Agreed upon standards have been obliterated and replaced by anarchy in words, thoughts, and deeds that reign untouched by a sense of the greater good.

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Why I Trust In Hope

“The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.  The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are.  (Marcus Aurelius)

 

In the past, I have had no success in conquering the first rule of Aurelius. Therefore, I have not been able to proceed to the second rule. When in the past, due to an unsettled spirit, a metaphorical/existential fork in the road has appeared before me, my spirit has imploded.  This is no way to live. Too many forks in the road, too many decisions to be made to have a troubled spirit.  That’s why I decided to seek out the spirit and confront it head on.  And as a result of this quest, I have found my trust in hope.

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Standards of Hope

“People never improve unless they look to some standard or example higher and better than themselves.” (Tyron Edwards – 1809-1894)

 

 

 

 

There are groups and individuals with which we have contact.  Some inspire us, some attempt to control us, others categorize us.  How do we find those who will give us fresh perspective, give us affirmation, give us friendship?  Are we looking?                                                                               Continue reading “Standards of Hope”

The Language of Hope

 

“Instead, evaluate what you are doing, why you are doing it, and where accomplishing it will take you.  If you don’t have a good answer, then stop.” (from The Daily Stoic:366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living, Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman)

How do you convince yourself and others that you live in hope?  How do you communicate the intensity of your emotions leading you to a future rooted in hope?

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Melancholy’s Hold

“Something happened along the way, what used to be happy was sad. Something happened along the way and yesterday was all we had.”  (Earth, Wind, and Fire – Greatest Hits, 1998)

 

 

 

 

Another rainy day – I have no desire to run and jump in puddles.  I am too old for that.  What will I do while I wait for the sun to return?

The rain increases in intensity.  I begin to wonder if the sun will ever show up again.  Three, now four days of continuous cold rain, darkness and drear – where is the sun?  Where is the brightness and warmth?

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Bearing Defeat

“The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.”       Robert G. Ingersoll               (1833-1899)

 

 

 

 

Don’t spend too much time worrying about the source of hope in your life.  Just use your hope to fulfill some noble purpose.

As many of you know, the theme of my blog is, “The Power and Promise of Hope.”  As a person of faith, my strength comes from the hope I have in a Triune God.  I realize not everyone shares that same source of hope and strength.

That being said, I have not always found my strength in God to be an immediate source of hope.  I have not always found the courage to bear adversity with the knowledge that my defeat will only be temporary in nature.

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Crushing Hope

You’ve got no choice.

Turn off the news.  Go outside and take a deep breath.  Do the one thing you know will bring a smile to your face.  Forget your troubles for an hour.

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Exquisite Kindness

Exquisite Kindness

A day or two ago, I was surfing Facebook sites to which I post.  On the website of one of the churches I served was a note from a church member that stopped me in my tracks.  I have no real idea what led that church member to write what he/she did.  But that post reminded me that in the midst of a difficult world there are folks who exhibit exquisite kindness.

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When To Give Up Hope

Hope is not something you and I were meant to hold on to until better times showed up.   Hope isn’t the ultimate healer of all of our problems.  Hope is a state of mind, a worldview, an attitude that transcends how we look back at the past and how we encounter the present.  As you and I approach our unique futures, hope is not intended to be the automatic antidote for all things problematic.

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Serendipity

Ever have a thought come to mind and not know where it came from or where it was going to lead you?  That happened to me today.  What was I going to do with my nagging thought?  It would not leave me alone.

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