11 Asma 162 B.E. August 29 - 30, 2005 A.D.
I believe peace on earth is, not only, possible, but inevitable. It is a promise from God, given in every Holy Book and assured by every Prophet-Messenger. I believe humanity is a single species created to carry forward a constantly advancing civilization. I believe my purpose is to know and love God. To reflect the divine attributes as best I can.
10 Asma 162 B.E. August 28 - 29, 2005 A.D.
Every day is a test waiting to happen. A struggle between what spirit desires and what the I (animal-ego) desires. To survive the one must pray and bring self to account for actions. Ask the hard questions that come up. Knowledge of self is gained through tests. Faith is gained through tests.
9 Asma 162 B.E. August 27 - 28, 2005 A.D.
Love is the reason God created the universe and put the planet into orbit. Love is the reason every Prophet-Messenger appeared. Love is the reason every Holy Book was revealed. Love is a divine attribute and a gift to humanity.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Saturday, August 27, 2005
My Favorite Time of Day
8 Asma 162 B.E. August 26 - 27, 2005 A.D.
Morning is my favorite time of day. That is the time when the world is fresh and life is renewed from a night's sleep. It is the time when I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit strongest. It is the time when I chant God's Most Great Name. It is the time when I feel closest to my Lord.
Morning is my favorite time of day. That is the time when the world is fresh and life is renewed from a night's sleep. It is the time when I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit strongest. It is the time when I chant God's Most Great Name. It is the time when I feel closest to my Lord.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Things That Make Me Happy
7 Asma 162 B.E. August 25-26, 2005 A.D.
A couple of days ago I posted a list of Things That Make Me Happy. I discovered something else this morning that makes me happy. Today we received a newspaper, the first newspaper I have had delivered to the house for over a year. Reading it I found that another thing that makes me happy is reading the comic page and drinking coffee. This brought up a question concerning happiness. The question is - Since happiness is a spiritual attribute and both the comic page and coffee are material things, How can a material thing make one happy? I have thought about this question and I have no answer at this time. This is something I need to explore a little more.
I know why reading the sacred scriptures makes me happy. I can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit when I read the scriptures Baha'u'llah or the Bab have revealed. It is the presence of the Holy Spirit that makes me happy then. However, when I am reading a comic page and drinking a cup of coffee what is it that makes me happy then? Is it that this action reminds me of a happy time in my childhood. My father would hold me on his lap while he drink a cup of coffee and read the comic pages to me. Is this why drinking coffee and reading the comic pages makes me happy? That explanation sounds logical.
A couple of days ago I posted a list of Things That Make Me Happy. I discovered something else this morning that makes me happy. Today we received a newspaper, the first newspaper I have had delivered to the house for over a year. Reading it I found that another thing that makes me happy is reading the comic page and drinking coffee. This brought up a question concerning happiness. The question is - Since happiness is a spiritual attribute and both the comic page and coffee are material things, How can a material thing make one happy? I have thought about this question and I have no answer at this time. This is something I need to explore a little more.
I know why reading the sacred scriptures makes me happy. I can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit when I read the scriptures Baha'u'llah or the Bab have revealed. It is the presence of the Holy Spirit that makes me happy then. However, when I am reading a comic page and drinking a cup of coffee what is it that makes me happy then? Is it that this action reminds me of a happy time in my childhood. My father would hold me on his lap while he drink a cup of coffee and read the comic pages to me. Is this why drinking coffee and reading the comic pages makes me happy? That explanation sounds logical.
Friday, August 05, 2005
My Inner Critic
5 Kamal 162 B.E. August 4 - 5, 2005 A.D.
Everybody, whether writer or nonwriter, has an inner critic. It is the negative voice that shouts to you whenever you start to do something that is out side your comfort zone. It yells and ties your stomach in knots whenever you attempt something new. Sometimes it shouts in a familiar voice from one's childhood and sometimes it takes the voice of the person him/herself. We all know it when we hear it. It speaks to us in derogatory phrases and tells us we are incapable of succeeding.
Everyone has a different way of handling the inner critic. Some of us continue pushing, writing or whatever we are doing until it goes away. Some of use a system of rewards for not listening to it. Some of us have go so far as to describe it and found similar images in cultural icons or our personal lives; then went on to burn those images, shut them into closets or put them in trash cans to overcome that voice. My personal way for overcoming the voice is to say a prayer of protection before I start a writing project or any type of project that activates my inner critic.
Everybody, whether writer or nonwriter, has an inner critic. It is the negative voice that shouts to you whenever you start to do something that is out side your comfort zone. It yells and ties your stomach in knots whenever you attempt something new. Sometimes it shouts in a familiar voice from one's childhood and sometimes it takes the voice of the person him/herself. We all know it when we hear it. It speaks to us in derogatory phrases and tells us we are incapable of succeeding.
Everyone has a different way of handling the inner critic. Some of us continue pushing, writing or whatever we are doing until it goes away. Some of use a system of rewards for not listening to it. Some of us have go so far as to describe it and found similar images in cultural icons or our personal lives; then went on to burn those images, shut them into closets or put them in trash cans to overcome that voice. My personal way for overcoming the voice is to say a prayer of protection before I start a writing project or any type of project that activates my inner critic.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Writing Prompts
3 Kamal 162 B.E. July 2 - 3, 2005 A.D.
Have you ever considered how much fun it is to write from a writing prompt. I have. I am subscribed to several writing prompt groups that send a writing prompt either every day, every week or every month. True I have not used them in some time, but I have saved some of them that I found intriguing. I have decided to use some of those prompts in this journal. Some of the prompts are easy to find a personal approach, while other prove difficult. However, I (and this is just a personal opinion) think a writer can find a personal approach to any subject. Since I am finding it difficult to find something to write about, I am going to be using some of those prompts in the next few days and/or weeks. I will put the group that the prompt came from and how to find it in the introduction to the essay or article.
Have you ever considered how much fun it is to write from a writing prompt. I have. I am subscribed to several writing prompt groups that send a writing prompt either every day, every week or every month. True I have not used them in some time, but I have saved some of them that I found intriguing. I have decided to use some of those prompts in this journal. Some of the prompts are easy to find a personal approach, while other prove difficult. However, I (and this is just a personal opinion) think a writer can find a personal approach to any subject. Since I am finding it difficult to find something to write about, I am going to be using some of those prompts in the next few days and/or weeks. I will put the group that the prompt came from and how to find it in the introduction to the essay or article.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
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