Memoria

 God gave us memories that we might have roses in December. 
~J.M. Barrie, Courage, 1922

Today is my birthday...another year older, but hopefully wiser.  As the gap to being 1/2 a century old gets smaller, I find myself reflecting on my life......

• Have I made the right choices?
• Have my desires, fears, instincts, or Holy Spirit guided my decisions?  
• Am I on the best path?
• Is my current status "as good as it gets" or will there be an unexpected epilogue?

My memories of times past help my reflection. Sometimes, I can pull memories forward with little effort while other memories require a word, an odor, a flavor, a sound, or a texture to pull a memory forward from the cobwebs of my brain. Cognitive Psychology is a field of science which studies the mechanisms of memory.  There does seem to be a method to how a brain stores memory even though the experts can't seem to agree where certain memories are stored.  Some scientific evidence shows that the hyppocampus stores more recent memories while other research supports that older memories are stored in the upper surfaces of the frontal, temporal, or parietal lobes.  No matter where the memories are stored....or whether the memories are short-term or long-term, the roses in December either bring me joy; or I find a way to gain wisdom from painful, sorrowful, or disappointing memories.  Dr. Wayne Dyer states that we can create the world that we live in by how we process information from our world, so I figure that I can create positive memories by how I process the facts and feelings from past events......even if negative details and emotions occurred.  

  I’m not going to tell you the story the way it happened. I’m going to tell it the way I remember it.

- Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

Friedrich Nietzsche, a 19th century German philosopher, once stated that the existence of forgetting had never been proven, and that some things just don't come to mind when we want them.  I suppose he believed that there was more than choice involved with the mechanism of forgetting. 

There is one particular memory from an event which occurred more than 25 years ago where a specific detail refuses to come forward. With this memory, it is strange how this one detail can not be remembered while other details from the event are crisp and clear.  I can even remember how I felt throughout the whole event. One day the detail will be revealed to me, but till then, I cherish the positive lessons learned and the affectionate memory of a possibility (2 Maccabees 9).  This event was a blessing for it stirred an enthusiasm within me for the definition of life.  

 He put fresh heart into them by citing the Law and the Prophets and, by stirring up memories of the battles they had already won, he filled them with new enthusiasm. - 2 Maccabees 15

I agree with Helen Keller for she thought that life is always good as long as the memory of certain beloved friends lived in her heart. Through my short life time, I have a few beloved friends who belong to my different rites of passages; and have a permanent resident in my heart for I have shared tears, laughter, love, and faith with each one. When I am in reflective mood, I use my senses to relive the joyful memories.  Not only experiencing life with these friends were blessings, but I am twice blessed with the memories.  This particular birthday has brought birthday blessings of joy, peace, messages from friends, hugs from family, simplicity, hope, new memories, love, encouragement, sunshine, and laughter. The day reminds me of the a verse from Ezekiel 34......"I will cause showers to come down in their season; there will be showers of blessings."  

I believe the purpose of memories is hope. HOPE in the possibility that doors passed up and unopened will come by again; or HOPE in the probability that the doors unopened will still bring joy, because I am striving to fulfill my purpose in life. I believe that God will correct my path if I make a wrong turn as long as I work towards His expectation.  My memories help me evaluate the distance and path which I have traveled, so I can determine which direction I am to go. 

Footfalls echo in the memory
Down the passage which we did not take
Towards the door we never opened
~T.S. Eliot

---

St. Raphael the Archangel, bring God's healing and guide me to open the next unexpected door.

St. Therese the little flower, pray for my humility.

St. Pio, pray for my unborn children.

St. Francis de Sales, pray for my simplicity and gentleness.

St. Jude, please pray for the impossible cases of my heart. 

Thank you dear Lord for a beautiful and blessed day.

Bless those who have blessed me. Amen.

- little petunia

Benedizioni

 Blessing is the sovereign act of God, and the power of benediction like the power of God.

- John Pearson (1600's Theologian)

Brachot is the yiddish word for blessings, and blessing different daily events is a common Hebrew practice.  Most people bless their meals before they consume, and they may send blessings to loved ones for major events like baptism, confirmation, graduation, or marriage.....but what an interesting notion to recite blessings after a meal; when rising from slumber; to set the daily attitude; for God bearing our burdens and meeting our needs; or for recognizing God's sovereign power.  If we would only bless God before, during, and after our daily activities; then our focus would always be on the Trinity.  This practice could bring enlightenment and appreciation for how the "Three in One" influences the direction of our lives.

Benedizioni or blessings are considered to be anything from sacred formal prayers to asking for God's favor to good wishes to joyful praises to guarding from evil.  It is so easy to remember to ask....or beg for God's blessings during challenges, adventures, or catastrophies.....but do we remember to bless God when times are good and running smooth?  King David continuously blessed the LORD and encouraged all of Israel to do the same (Psalm 26:12). How do we bless the LORD?  Our blessings fall upon our Creator every time we recall how He guides us down our path; provided for our needs; kept us from temptation; and protected us.  We bless God when ever we thank Him for His grace and mercy, and each time we express our love to Him. Spending quality time with the LORD as your humble heart overflows with expressive thankfulness and praise also delivers blessings to His doorstep. Blessing the LORD is to be ceaseless, and not only private, but blessing the LORD should occur with other grateful hearts. (Psalm 34)

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus lists who are blessed (Matthew 5:3-10).  This list is referred to as the "Beatitudes".  Jesus stated that blessings will fall upon those who can live a life which fulfills the beatitudes.   To position ourselves for blessings, we must.........

• live a selfless life with a mild cheerful manner and clean loving intentions as we practice, develop, and acquire virtuous characteristics of gentleness, charity, humility, and patience.  
• sacrifice our desires and cheerfully accept God's plans for our lives understanding the difference
  between His sovereign power and our serving position.  
• obtain a tender consciousness which is sensitive to the affects of sin.
• courageously defend the defenseless while bringing peace and mercy to the weary.
• live for the prevalence of justice in all situations even if persecution befalls us. 

Read the list again........God blesses those who bring blessings to others......We are called to live for others and not for ourselves.  We are called to open ourselves.....open our hearts to LOVE outside ourselves.  When we LOVE God and all of His creations........When we LOVE strangers.......When we live virtuous,sinless, sacrificial, and penitence lives.......When His plans become our plans.....Our lives will be BLESSED.

Laying down our lives for others reminds of how tree bark protects the life supporting tissues called xylem and phloem.  Bark is a tree's natural armor.  It protects a tree from external threats from the environment.  The interior tissues of a tree....the cambium and heartwood are tender yet supportive just as the interior rooms of a soul are sensitive and responsive to the harsh injustices and violence of a society.  We must help one another survive society's unmercifulness such as when a spouse is laid off; a home is lost to bankruptcy; a child is lost to a drunk driver; a neighbor is wrongfully accused; or discrimination keeps someone from employment.  Lamentations 3:22-23 describes how the Lord's mercies save us from being consumed due to His unfailing faithful compassion, so as Jesus calls us to be merciful, we should be the compassionate armor for other souls.

As God is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1), we should be a very present help for those who are in trouble.  We are called to soften the blows of life like tannins which soften, transform, and preserve animal skin into leather.  Tannins come from the heartwood of certain very hard tree species like the red and white Quebrachos.   A Quebracho is such a hard wood that is it is named in Spanish for being an "axe breaker".   The tree's hard and soft qualities are similar to our protective and supportive traits which Jesus calls us to use.  We should find merciful and peaceful methods to break the unloving actions which cause trouble; and to support with loving arms which imitate the arms of God.  In Latin, que bracho means "and their arms".   Considering all of this......I am reminded of how our actions (arms) should be guided by our hearts (Song of Solomon 8:6) and should be protective, yet gentle and supportive as the bark of the Quebracho tree.  Our actions should be blessings for others. Que bracho benedixit. We must bless others in order to be blessed.

 May those who have crossed my path and blessed my life receive God's blessing.
May my brachos be blessings to my family, friends, and those who do not know me.
May my life be worthy of God's blessing.
May God be patient yet pleased with my virtuous efforts and brachos.
Grazie dear Lord for the seen and unseen blessings of my life.
St. Raphael, guide me to a holy life.
Blessed are those who have chosen to love me in the past, present, and future. :-)  Amen.
- little petunia

Essere Ancora

 Be still my heart; thou hast known worse than this.

- Homer

Have I known worse than this?  Well......someone else always seems to have a worse life story than mine, but when I am living through my terror.....my disappointments......my heartbreak......my sorrow......my pain....., each trial seems worse than anything else.  The extreme responding feelings are probably due to my hyper focus on my situation.  If I could only hold my focus on God's glory, strength, and power, then the fear, doubt, and uncertainty would not overwhelm my intellect and spirit. 

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.

- Psalm 46:10

Be still is a phrase which is found throughout the bible, in hymns, and in modern songs.  In Katharina von Schlegel's 1752 hymn, Be Still, she described the path which God may lead us as "thorny ways", yet He leads us to a joyful end. Her words advise us to bear our crosses patiently leaving the work to God for He will provide in every change.  As I read Exodus 14:13-18, I am reminded how Moses told the Israelites to not be afraid.....stand firm.......the Lord will bring deliverance today......the Lord will fight for you....you only need to be still.  My interpretation of this verse brings to mind images of myself without fear, worry, fret, impatience, restlessness......breathing calmly and remaining quiet in mind, body, and soul.  These are hopeful images for I so desire to be this trusting of God's glory and power.  Why do I doubt?  What holds me back?  Why can I not be resigned to God's will and plan?  Why can I not live with trusting expectation of His Providence of my path? He knows my story....my  struggles.....He knows what is going to happen before my story unfolds.  Why do I doubt His faith in me? I have been told over and over that God will not give me more than I can handle.....so why do I not believe His belief in me?  Why do I fear?  Moses stated that God will deliver me.......This sounds like He will be there to save the day if I would only allow Him.  I must let go completely......remove all mental dismaying, and give Him the lead to fight the good fight.  He knows the end of my tribulations.....God is all knowing and His Providence is the best game plan......so I need to practice being still and waiting patiently for the Coach (God) to call the play.....to call my name when it is my turn to enter the playing field for His glory. 

John J. Parsons from www.hebrew4christians.com sums up Exodus 14:14 the best.  He describes being still as meaning that we surrender to God's control for He is Ribbono Shel Olam - Master of the Universe.  We "let go" in order to know the saving power of God in our lives.  Parsons adds that we give up trusting in ourselves and our designs in order to experience the glory of God's all-sufficiency.  The Ribbono Shel Olam's game plan may involve working through the people in our lives to win the battle, or may involve the manipulation of our surroundings in ways unseen and indescribable to take out our enemies......either way.....I must remember that He is the Master, and I am His loveable purposeful creation......I need to quit making up my purpose.....Being still and holding fast will reveal His purpose for me in the game of life.....He leads me.....guides me.....He will save me from darkness. 

 Holdfast.............help is on the way............Holdfast..........He's come to save the day........
- Mercy Me

Ribbono Shel Olam, please never give up on me.
St. Raphael, pray for me.....guide me to still patience.
St. Florian, pray for the safety of all emergency responders and firefighters.
St. Gregory the Great, pray for the inspiration and courage of all teachers.
St. Francis de Sales, pray for my humility.
May the heavenly angels help us to spread the Love in our hearts to one another. Amen.
- little petunia

Il nome della rosa

Roses are mysterious labyrinths.  A rose represents a rare beauty which encompasses the senses with its delicate and graceful petals of eye-appealing color and hypnotizing sweet fragrance.  It invites you into an unknown, yet desirable passion. Each bloom symbolizes love and peace, but at the same time, its thorns can produce an intense pain that can cut to the quick.  Roses consume the soul while you walk towards the light at the end of life's tunnel. Each fallen petal either guides to your full purpose or sends you spiraling on paths within your heart's labyrinth. 

What is the name of the rose?  The name of the rose is PASSION.  Passions reside in the hearts of spiritual beings.  It's a flame burning to light your way, yet so many become lost......never finding their way.  Passions should be the kinetic energy to keep you moving forward towards the TRUTH.  The trick is to hold fast to the holy path and not get caught up in where our minds may lead you.  Ego resides in the mind and takes the passionate focus off the TRUTH, and shines a glamorous light on self.  If a passion becomes centered on self, then thorns of loss, despair, and pain prick the heart. 

How can the rose remain in bloom?  A rose will continue to bloom as a heart's passion is shared with others.  Giving a portion of your passion away ignites a reaction and transforms the potential energy of the heart to kinetic energy......This action is inspiring, but doesn't come easy.  Transforming energy is work which means you will have to put forth effort to force your ego to let go over a multitude of distances along the course of your path. As a heart's passion is given away over time, power of love is produced which energizes a mechanical advantage to moving others' passions towards the TRUTH.  When a community of roses are in bloom, the fragrance of love is intoxicating and pressures are relieved which decreases the stress from the ego's masquerading efforts of destruction of life's true purpose and mission. The focus of a heart's passion is LOVE.....to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind.......and to love our neighbors as our self.  Love is empowering.  As LOVE is given to others, love blooms in your heart.  Any other pursued passion leads to dark lonely tunnels.  Your love of the game will lack efficiency.  Your heart's inspiration will become nonrenewable and your rose will not be renewed.....refreshed.  Your rose will stop blooming.   

"Perhaps the mission of those who love mankind is to make people laugh at the truth, to make truth laugh, because the only truth lies in learning to free ourselves from insane passion for the truth."-- The Name of the Rose, Seventh Day, Night

What if a heart's passion shared with a loved one doesn't produce empowering inspiration?  Some spiritual beings are not receptive to a heart's passion.  They don't understand the mechanism of love, so remain lost in the rose's labyrinth......going around in circles.   When someone is unresponsive to love due to ego, love should be given, but even Jesus spoke of cleaning the dust off of your sandals and moving on...........You have more distance to cover on your path, and this type of unresponsiveness clogs up the flow of LOVE.  Love which isn't allowed to flow causes pressure and develops cracks in its structure.  Love's strength and courage disappear. 

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

-Lao Tzu 

St. Francis de Sales, pray for my passion's focus.
St. Theresa the little flower, pray for my humility.

St. Raphael the Archangel, pray for the healing of heart, soul, and body.

St. Pio, pray for my strength and courage.
Blessed Mother Teresa, pray for love in my life. Amen.

- little petunia

Fiorire

Flourishing means that a living thing is thriving while it is growing and developing.  Depending on the organism and the type of environment, certain characteristics are imperative for successful flourishing; and can lead to populations of organisms, like bacteria, vigorously increasing in healthy numbers.  Organisms flourish also due to the ability of physical and behavioral adaptations. Darwin referred to this ability with his description of natural selection. The lack of adaptation can lead to an inability to flourish and to the elimination of organisms.

When applying flourishing; and the same adaptive characteristics and survival behavior to a relationship between spiritual beings; it is found that relationships are naturally resilient.  In an ecosystem, resilience is the ability of the particular area to return its original state after being disturbed.  In physics, resilience is the amount of potential energy stored in an elastic material when deformed.  Keeping these ideas in mind, relationships should be able to recover from tragedy, toxic behavior, sorrow, pain, loss, selfishness, disappointments
......etc....., but sometimes the pressure and stress has been so great that there is not enough potential energy to transform a relationship into a forward positive motion. There may not be enough kinetic energy or other resources to return to the original relationship status.

In bagpipe bands, the tenor drum section has a knack for flourishing.  This traditional skill of the tenor drummers has evolved over the years to become bold and extravagant gestures or actions to add a unique touch to the band's sights and sound during a performance or competition.  Participants in a troubled relationship may attempt the same type of bold actions, but it may not be enough to attract the attention of the other involved parties that the ship is about to sink.  Despite any bleak outlook or lame gestures, though, there is always hope.......hope in that good will come out of the struggle even though the outcome is not what we had planned.  Have courage because God's mercy may just be around the corner.  Expect it.

Flourishing requires the ability to see and accept unseen outcomes.  Opening the mind to other possibilities or scenarios which are beyond our current perspective or logic.  Faith involves stepping out and walking forward as two dear friends recommend.   Trusting with each step that the next step will be under your foot to catch and guide you. Some call it blind faith.  For survival, tough decisions may have to be made.  No matter what direction your flourishing takes you.....no matter what decisions you are led to make.... bounce back and survive.....Enjoy life!.....Be happy!....That's what flourishing is all about......je, je, je.... :-)  

St. Francis de Sales, pray for my patience.

St. Therese the little flower, pray for my humility.
St. Raphael, pray for those who travel.
Mother Mary, please take my prayers for Bernardette's healing to your son, Jesus.

St. Florian, pray for the safety of firefighters and emergency responders.
St. Pio, pray for my healing.
St. Elizabeth Seton, pray for all teachers.  -Amen.

-little petunia

Appena

Just breathe,
Just breathe,
Grace falls down like rain
Filling the brim
Of broken hearts
Lifting chains
Cleansing souls
Raising our buoyancy

Just walk,
Just walk,
Peace pardons like a smile
Spreading out
Into spiritual postures
Laying down
Dying to self
Decreasing pain’s density

Just search,
Just search,
Blessings don’t hide
Located around the bend
Of grief and sorrow
Intercepting vectors
Lead to previous joys
Taking belief to higher altitudes

Just wait,
Just wait,
Faith floats through storms
Relieving the doubts
Of prayers unanswered
Pursuing truth
Praising works
Humbly grateful

-little petunia,  April 2012

Rispetto

People have different opinions about respect.  Confucius says that if you respect yourself, then others will respect you which means you must have the first action.  Leo Tolstoy wrote in Anna Karenina that respect was invented to cover the empty place where love should be which sounds like it is an option or replacement for love.  In Leaving Paradise, Simone Elkeles wrote that mutual respect is involved with loving each other which indicates that respect is a two-step between people who care for one another.  Around the world, there are communities of people who outwardly show a deep form of respect to others through Namaste by bowing to one another in a certain simple method.  Aadil Palkhivala, a yoga teacher, explains that this mannerism acknowledges the soul in one by the soul in another.  What a wonderful heart-endearing way to honor someone!

Personally, I like how Albert Einstein handled respect.  He stated one time that he spoke to everyone in the same way whether the person was a garbage man or the president of the university.  From this I gather that he didn't need to be in a close personal relationship with the person for him to automatically provide respect for the person. The person didn't need to EARN his respect before he gave respect away.  Einstein didn't have a check list of requirements to follow before he gave respect to another human being.  He just did....which is a form of unconditional love, and isn't that what we are called to do as Christians......as spiritual beings?   There is direction provided in Romans 13:7.....Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. 

By definition, respect means to honor someone; to show regard for their well-being; and/or to consider their needs and rights. This means that before one makes decisions which involve others around them that they should think about the others' needs before their own.  It doesn't mean that you can't have goals of your own, but when you are in a relationship with someone, your goals should consider the desires of the other person.  Respecting others appropriately ensures that individual goals are met along side family or community goals.  You can not love and respect others if you always meet your desires first.  There is no honor with attaining your desires if your family and friends continue to suffer over and over.  Respect involves making sacrifices of your needs and desires......not your loved ones sacrificing themselves in order for you to be king of the hill while they roll down the decline. 

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let

 each esteem other better than themselves.

-Philippians 2:3

Respect and love go hand in hand and should be applied to all relationships in one's life.  We should be respecting and loving the sinner as well as those who we think treat us kindly.  I believe that respect is given freely without any requirements.  Respect should not only be given if we feel we are respected....I believe if someone feels like this, then they do not have a healthy positive self-image.  This kind of person has this requirement to puff up their self-image, because they don't like themselves....or don't know how to. They consider their needs first........ THAT IS CALLED SELFISHNESS!  Selfishness is not love.  They can keep telling themselves that they love and respect others, but they are only convincing themselves of a falsehood. Selfish beings are harming their souls.  Their souls are not very attractive.  As St. Augustine stated, "Love is the beauty of the soul."  Do selfish beings really believe that their actions maintain a level of attractiveness that can withstand time and lack of honor? 


To address the self-respect topic, I will admit that beings need to respect themselves, but not to the point of selfishness.  Dr. Wayne Dyer has written in his book, Power of Intention, about things which we can do build or maintain our self-respect. Self-respect provides a fertile foundation for the growth of respect for others. The following are steps for each of us to consider:

Step 1: Look into a mirror, make eye connection with yourself, and say "I love me" as many times
             as possible during your day. 

Step 2: Write the following affirmation and repeat it over and over again to yourself: I am whole
              and perfect as I was created! 

Step 3: Extend more respect to others and to all of life.   

Step 4: Affirm to yourself and all others that you meet, I belong!  

Step 5: Remind yourself that you're never alone. 
Step 6: Respect your body!  

Step 7: Meditate to stay in conscious contact with your Source, which always respects you. 

Step 8: Make amends with adversaries.

Step 9: Always remember the self in self‑respect.

Step 10: Be in a state of gratitude. 

Remember that there are clear cut directions from Divine inspiration to guide our respect for others.  Respect for others is clearly stated in the ten commandments.  Children are guided to respect their parents......and even as adult children, we are to respect our parents.  Respect never stops. The commandments guide spouses to respect one another and neighbors to respect each other. Those 10 commandments are pretty clear, and I don't remember reading anything about requirements nor exceptions. If the concept of respect is new for you, then just begin by initiating a smile. A smile is the simplest form of respect. 

 

 Let us always meet each other with a smile for the smile is the beginning of love.
- Mother Teresa

One last comment about respect deals with a topic of titles.  People have titles because they have accomplished a level of learning or training; or state in life.  A married woman's title is "Mrs.", and it should be a respected title.  A married woman's title should not be altered to make single or divorced woman feel better about themselves whose titles are either "Miss" or "Ms.".  I am sorry, but the feelings of the women in these other states of life are NOT more important than the state of life of a married woman.  I greatly respect the life of a single and divorced woman.  They have their own sufferings and crosses to bear, but married woman should be NOT be forced into their category.  Titles are badges of honor which should be respected across the board.  

A lack of respect for titles is also being experienced in the field of science according to an article written in Physics Today by a physicist, Robert Cassola.   He wrote that he has observed a trend in the referencing of scientific professionals during interviews and states that he believes that titles are used as a sign of respect and credibility.  Cassola recommends that scientists must demand the same level of respect as other professionals; and claims that to demand less diminishes scientific professions.

St. Francis de Sales, pray for my courage to remain.

St. Theresa the little flower, pray for my humility.

St. Raphael, the Archangel, pray for my courage.

Mother Mary, please take my intentions for Bernardette's healing to your son.
St. Pio, pray for my loved ones to learn how to truly respect others before themselves.
Spirit of Jesus, come into my soul. - Amen.

- little petunia