For a Very Special Friend

Threw a smooth small stone Into a vase of water On a flower-bedecked table Thinking of you And the life you threw away Gone now, but never forgotten Will I ever understand the darkness that destroyed your will to live?Perhaps someday… For now I am only sure of one thing I will always love you.

An Answered Prayer

For the last few months, I have been hoping and praying to have a dream about my mother. My much-loved mom died 18 years ago so I can only visit her in my dreams. One of my older sisters told me she often dreamt about our mother. I was annoyed at this and said to … Continue reading An Answered Prayer →

Psalm 151 for Troubled Times

Hello friends. If you know something about the psalms you probably know that there are 150 of them in The Bible. In my Bible Study group, we are studying the psalms. For homework, we have been asked to write our own. So here is my attempt at writing my own psalm. I hope you like … Continue reading Psalm 151 for Troubled Times →

Who Jesus Really Was

I think Jesus was a very important messenger sent by God to remind people of the importance of loving and caring for each other. As he advised others, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37. Mural painting from the catacomb of … Continue reading Who Jesus Really Was →

Lesson 13: Connect with Animals to find Joy

“Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.” – Dean Koontz, American author I was lucky to be brought up in a home with a dog. Our first dog was Dixie. She was a pure-bred collie … Continue reading Lesson 13: Connect with Animals to find Joy →

Lesson Seven: Be a Good Listener

“Listening is an art that requires attention over talent, spirit over ego, others over self.” Dean Jackson, author of The Poetry of Oneness: Illuminating Awareness of the True Self. Have you ever noticed that most people aren’t very good listeners? Typically, when I am at a party or other social gathering, the people I meet … Continue reading Lesson Seven: Be a Good Listener →

Lesson Five: Some Questions Don’t Have Answers

"Zen wants us to acquire a new point of view to look into the mysteries of life. This is because Zen has come to the conclusion that the logical process of reasoning is powerless to give satisfaction to our deepest spiritual needs." ~ D.T. Suzuki Are you an orphan? Are both your parents gone now? … Continue reading Lesson Five: Some Questions Don’t Have Answers →

Lesson Two: Make a Difference

“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.”― Dalai Lama XIV When I was in my thirties, I worked as an editor for a legal management magazine. One day while there, I had one of my co-workers, a petite blonde woman in her late twenties named Sheila, review an article I intended to publish … Continue reading Lesson Two: Make a Difference →