REMEMBERING NELSON MANDELA ON RESILIENCY

EVERGREEN TREE ON TOP OF THE STONE MOUNTAIN 
STONE  MOUNTAIN, GA
(elevation is 1686 ft and 825 ft around sourrounding area)-

"Difficulties break some men but make others. 

No axe is sharp enough 

to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying, 

one armed with the hope

 that he will rise even in the end."


"Everyone can rise 
above their circumstances and achieve success 
if they are dedicated to and passionate about 
what they do."

 "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear,
 but the triumph over it. 
The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, 
but he who conquers that fear."

"Do not judge me by my successes,
 judge me by how many times I fell down 
and got back up again."

-NELSON MANDELA-

May our visions and life directions be enriched and our spirits be inspired
by the rich legacies that he lived and shared with us all!

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

THE  PROFOUNDEST LOVE

"LOVE is not a feeling;

it is AN ACT OF THE WILL, A COMMITMENT  
THAT SUSTAINS THE RELATIONSHIP

even when the Beloved 

is no longer even likable."

Instances abound like

"the LOVE OF THE MOTHER of the death-row convict,

the LOVE OF PARENTS when their children say,

"I've found someone I love more than I love you -

at least in a different way,"

the LOVE OF THE ALCOHOLIC FAMILY,

the PRODIGAL LOVE OF THE FATHER

for his runaway son,

GOD'S LOVE FOR US

when we say,"I don't need you,"

and

OUR LOVE OF GOD

when God chooses to be silent."

-William O'Malley, "Redemptive Suffering"-



May our lives continue to be enriched and to be transformed
by the profound love that others have lived and shared
and may their examples ever propel us 
in our efforts to "know God more deeply,
love God more dearly, 
and follow God more closely"
in our lives!

The Light will Dispel the Darkness!

The morning will surely come; the darkness will vanish,

and your Voice will pour down in golden streams through the sky.

-Rabindranath Tagore-

O God of Light!

Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead me on!
Keep thou my fee! I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

(Venerable John Henry Newman (1801-1890)! 

PRAYER - SURPRISE AND COMMUNION WITH GOD

PRAYING does not always take place 
in a contained or predetermined place of reflection.

 We NEVER know when 
there might be an interior turning 
toward the one who dwells 
within us and among us.... 
       

...at any time and any place 

we can be 
SURPRISED and DRAWN INTO COMMUNION

   by the unanticipated sense of God's nearness.

- Joyce Rupp, Prayer -



May we always be open to be surprised
and to be transformed in our lives
as "we know God deeper, love God dearer and follow God closer!"

ALL THAT WE LOVE BECOME A PART OF US

What we once enjoyed we can never lose -

ALL THAT WE LOVE 

BECOME A PART OF US!

-Helen Keller-



I cannot cause light!

"You are the light of the world....
Your light must shine before others
so that they may see your good acts
and give praise to your Abba in heaven."
Matthew 5:14-16

"I cannot cause light.

The most I can do is

to put myself

in the path of its beam."

-Anne Dillard-

"A ROOT SHALL COME FROM THE STUMP OF JESSE AND A BRANCH SHALL GROW OUT FROM ITS ROOTS"

"A root shall come from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of its roots,

The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of the knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord."  - Isaiah 11:1-3

CHRIST'S COMING 

IN THE MIDST OF OUR BROKEN WORLD

AS WE CELEBRATE THE ADVENT SEASON

I am reminded of powerful words of the late Henri Nouwen 

from"Gracias! A Latin American Journal" that have always helped me focus my attention 

on the what is really the heart of the liturgical season.

"I keep expecting loud and impressive events

to convince me and others of God saving power...

Our temptation is to be distracted by them...

When I have no eyes for the small signs

of God's presence - the smile of a baby,

the carefree play of children, the words

of encouragement and gestures of love

offered by friends - I will always

remain tempted to despair.

The small child of Bethlehem, the unknown

man of Nazareth, the rejected preacher,

the naked man on the cross,

he asks for my attention.

The work of our salvation takes place

in a world that continues to shout,

scream, and overwhelm us with

its claims and promises."

AS WE MOVE ON TO THE ADVENT WEEKS,

MAY OUR EYES AND MINDS BE SHIELDED 

FROM THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF EMPTY PROMISES AROUND US.

RATHER, MAY OUR HEARTS BE FOCUSED 

ON THE PROMISE OF GENUINE HOPE AND LIFE 

 FROM A LOVING AND COMPASSIONATE GOD,

 WHO CHOSE TO BE BORN IN THE POOR STABLE OF BETHLEHEM

AND WHO CHOSE TO DWELL AND LIVE WITH US 

IN OUR BROKEN WORLD!

LET US OPEN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS

AND BE PREPARED FOR HIS COMING!