Category: Inspiration

Wow

Post author By seedthrower1
Post date 08/20/2010
No Comments on Wow

Today was a great day for me, and I hope you had a great one too. First off, I had a meeting with some folks to discuss the possibility of making Faith Fighting Diabetes a reality here in Carroll County. As I gave them the background of this heartfelt desire I have, I could see the concept was resonating with them. It was awesome.

Just to fill you in, I was away on retreat at the beginning of the summer. I was a bit bored one day (it happens on silent retreats), and I started flipping through a magazine in the retreat center library. I saw a small advertisement for an organization called Faith Fights Diabetes.

Although I probably shouldn’t have, I ripped the ad out, and put it in my wallet. When I got home, one of the first things I did was jump on-line to check this organization’s website out. I was really impressed with what I saw. In a nutshell, the website was all about encouraging the leaders of faith communities to educate their congregations about diabetes. Statistics show that people trust their faith leaders more than they do their doctors. Go figure.

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Inspiration Prayer Spirit

Worth Waiting For

I know it may seem like a small and inconsequential thing, but one of my variegated yucca plants bloomed earlier this summer. For the last six years, I’ve cared for this plant, which actually doesn’t require much, but this is the first time it has bloomed. Six years of waiting for the event, which only lasted about a week or so. But it was nice while it lasted.

I think there’s a subtle shift beginning to take hold in our culture right now. People are getting used to the fact that we’re no longer going to be able to have everything we want, whenever we want it. Reality has set in, harder for some than others, but I think we’re all being touched by it.

Inspiration type II diabetes Vegan Vegetarian

Watch What You Eat

Several weeks ago, I was shopping at a Walmart Supercenter with a college student. He was helping me buy food for a college retreat we were setting up. This young man has several relatives with diabetes in his immediate family, and he’s become more aware of the importance to taking care of himself. It’s been great for me, since I bounce a lot of stuff off him, including the feel of this blog. He has great insights.

As we were picking up things on our shopping list, we both paid close attention to the food labels, choosing healthier and less prepared items. At one point, we stopped and I asked him to look around at the people with us in the store. If there was a person there who was not overweight, we didn’t see them. Both of us were shocked. I’m quite sure if you did this little experiment in a grocery store or mall near you, the scene would be pretty much the same. What has happened?

Inspiration Prayer

Time For A Change

Yeah, I know. I’m getting a little ahead of myself. Fall is coming, but you can’t really feel it yet. I love fall, when the evening air begins to cool, leaves start to change, and our appetites turn to heartier fare.

I’m a soup/stew/chili kind of guy. I guess I get this from my mother, who would think nothing of whipping up a pot of chili in even the hottest weather. In fact, just last week I found a new chili recipe, and just had to try it out. So, I dropped the air conditioning a few degrees and began to cook. Actually, this recipe was an easy one and was meant for a crock pot. Just open some cans, chop an onion and a couple of garlic cloves, and six hours later… wow.

Don’t worry, I won’t hold out on you. I’ll get the recipe up in the next couple of days. No matter what the weather’s like where you are, you’ll want to whip up your own batch.

The change of seasons provides each of us with a natural opportunity to pause. We can reflect on where we’ve been, and dream about where we’re going. As the summer winds down, be grateful the down time, a vacation or two, long sunsets and food on the grill. Be grateful!

Spend these last days of summer in the company of friends. Take that trip to the park or the beach that you’ve been putting off. Create some memories that will warm your heart when the weather gets cold. It will be here before you know it.

Inspiration Mind

What A Ride

For the last several weeks, we’ve been waiting to hear who are new pastor will be. We’re losing a much beloved and long-serving man, and it seems like we’re all on this crazy roller coaster ride of emotions as we await his replacement.

I’m sure you’ve found yourself in a similar situation, facing down the unknown with a bit of fear and apprehension. The rumors go flying, and everyone scrambles to get to the truth. We can’t wait to get off this ride.

Inspiration Mind Vegan Vegetarian

Dream Big

By now, you’ve figured out that I have a growing addiction to all these cooking shows that are on cable. Tonight, it was the season finale of The Next Food Network Star. You’ll have to find out who got their own show, but this last episode was pretty engaging. I didn’t watch the show each week, but just catch it from time to time.

The funny thing is, I’m not interested in most of the food that is prepared on these shows. I don’t eat that way anymore, and a lot of it is “heart attack on a plate” kind of stuff. So, if it’s not the food, what is it?

Inspiration Prayer Spirit

The Second Beatitude

The other day, I shared a little commentary on the beatitudes. This my second installment. The beatitudes are found in Matthew’s Gospel (Mt. 5:3-12), and are meant not just for the chosen few, but everyone. The passage begins with the words, “when he saw the crowds…” Maybe today we would call it a message for the masses.

Who of us can remember how many beatitudes there are, and who has forgotten their meaning? Take some time in the next few days and pray over this passage. What is God saying to us through these words meant not just for ancient times, but also for today?

The image above is of one of the many tapestries found in the Cathedral of Los Angeles.

Inspiration Vegan Vegetarian

Bon Appetit

A year ago this weekend, I became a vegetarian. Based on the research that’s currently out there, many illnesses, including Type II diabetes, can be reversed in most patients when they switch to a this type of diet.

Just because the experts tout the benefits of something doesn’t make it easy. I wasn’t convinced, mainly because I didn’t want to give up something that I really enjoy. I decided that I would pray about it while I was on my annual silent retreat. Before heading out to the retreat center, I went to Mass at my church. As it turned out, the celebrant was Fr. Hector. Prior to becoming a priest, he had been a world-class chef, even landing the job as the personal chef to the President of Columbia! This man knows food.

Inspiration Mind

Believe It Can Be Done

Did you know the first skyscraper was the Equitable Life Assurance Building in New York City? Coming in at an amazing seven stories tall, it was built in 1870.

In January of this year, the Burj Kalifa building in Dubai was completed. Coming in at over 200 stories, it is the tallest man-made structure ever built.

Both these buildings made history, and both began with someone’s dream. Despite the odds, and probably quite a few naysayers, someone took a risk and dreamed big. What would our world be without people who don’t spend a lot of time on what can’t be done, but instead focus on possibilities?

There’s plenty of people walking around today who have lost the joy of dreaming big. Maybe one or two are reading these words right now.

Inspiration Mind Prayer Spirit

The First Beatitude

The beatitudes found in Matthew’s Gospel (Mt. 5:3-12) are meant not just for the chosen few, but for everyone. The passage begins with the words, “when he saw the crowds…” Maybe we would say today that it was a message for the masses.

How many of us can remember how many beatitudes there are, and how many have forgotten their meaning? Take some time in the next few days and pray over this passage. What is God saying to us through these words meant not just for ancient times, but also for today?

Here’s a little reflection by Catherine Doherty, found in the book, Grace in Every Season.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” To be poor in spirit does not mean to give up all things and embrace holy poverty with one swoop. Nor is this meant for priests and religious only. No. It is a beatitude for all of us, for it detaches our hearts from earthly possessions and places them into Christ’s Sacred Heart.

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