8 Qawl 163 B.E. - November 30, 2006
Today I was reading post to one of my Yahoo groups. One of the members used a prayer cup. This cup sits on the person’s desk and when someone asks for prayers; he writes the name and date on a piece of paper then put it in the cup. Once a day the person takes the slips of paper out of the cup and prays those of ask for prayers.
Another person uses a God Bag. She writes any problem or difficulty she’s having on a slip of paper, dates the paper, signs it, then at the bottom of the paper puts “Thy will and not mine be done.” she then puts the paper into the bag and forgets about the situation.
There are many ways to put a situation into God’s hands. In the Baha’i Prayer Book, there are prayers for every contingency in a person’s life. These prayers are reveal by Baha’u’llah and the Bab or written by ‘Abdu’l-Baha. It doesn’t matter what one’s need or problem is there is a prayer for the situation. True sometimes the prayer doesn’t specifically mention the problem on is facing, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a prayer for the difficulty.
The prayers are there, all a person has to do is sit down, open the book and read a prayer. If it helps to mention the problem before say the prayer, then mention the problem. If one isn’t sure precisely which prayer to say then say the Remover of Difficulties revealed by the Bab.
"Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding!" - The Báb, Compilations, Baha'i Prayers, p. 27
There are many ways for a person to put their problems in God’s hands. The idea is to turn everything over to the Divine Essence and then get on with one’s life. Sometimes the problem is getting on with one’s life without worrying about what’s been turned over the Divine.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
One
7 Qawl 163 B.E. - November 29, 2006
I love to look at pictures of Earth taken from outer space. Not only are they beautiful, but the reveal the planet in a way our ancestors never saw it. When you look at a picture of the planet, you see only the natural barriers that our ancestors had to cross, to conquer, as some would say, in their migrations.
The pictures of Earth taken from orbit don’t reveal the barrier of nation and country that humanity itself has created. The pictures of Earth taken by orbiting astronauts show Earth as a single homeland to the human race; as “one country” if you will. I like to meditate on the pictures of Earth floating in space. It helps me see myself as a citizen of the planet and visualize humanity as a single species, as one race.
Every time I look at a picture of the planet Earth I think of one of my favorite quotes by Baha’u’llah: “…Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch….” from Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 288. There are other quotes concerning the oneness of humanity and of the planet, but that is my favorite.
Sometimes the world situation seems so hopeless, but when I read the writing of Baha’u’llah I find hope. When I can find hope for myself then I can share it with others. If I am worrying or depressed about something I find myself feeling hopeless and unhappy, but when I read the scriptures and prayers revealed by Baha’u’llah my attitude changes. Once my attitude changes then I can give everyone a smile and speak to them with joy and happiness in my voice.
There is a great deal I don’t have and can’t do, but when I read the writing of Baha’u’llah the things I don’t have or can’t don’t matter any more. Keeping focused on the Baha’u’llah helps me achieve the goals I can achieve. If I don’t have a focus I look at my short comings and am disappointed, but I’m never disappointed with Baha’u’llah. The meaning of Baha’u’llah is the Glory of God. This is my one hope, my one joy, my one happiness.
I love to look at pictures of Earth taken from outer space. Not only are they beautiful, but the reveal the planet in a way our ancestors never saw it. When you look at a picture of the planet, you see only the natural barriers that our ancestors had to cross, to conquer, as some would say, in their migrations.
The pictures of Earth taken from orbit don’t reveal the barrier of nation and country that humanity itself has created. The pictures of Earth taken by orbiting astronauts show Earth as a single homeland to the human race; as “one country” if you will. I like to meditate on the pictures of Earth floating in space. It helps me see myself as a citizen of the planet and visualize humanity as a single species, as one race.
Every time I look at a picture of the planet Earth I think of one of my favorite quotes by Baha’u’llah: “…Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch….” from Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 288. There are other quotes concerning the oneness of humanity and of the planet, but that is my favorite.
Sometimes the world situation seems so hopeless, but when I read the writing of Baha’u’llah I find hope. When I can find hope for myself then I can share it with others. If I am worrying or depressed about something I find myself feeling hopeless and unhappy, but when I read the scriptures and prayers revealed by Baha’u’llah my attitude changes. Once my attitude changes then I can give everyone a smile and speak to them with joy and happiness in my voice.
There is a great deal I don’t have and can’t do, but when I read the writing of Baha’u’llah the things I don’t have or can’t don’t matter any more. Keeping focused on the Baha’u’llah helps me achieve the goals I can achieve. If I don’t have a focus I look at my short comings and am disappointed, but I’m never disappointed with Baha’u’llah. The meaning of Baha’u’llah is the Glory of God. This is my one hope, my one joy, my one happiness.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Now
6 Qawl 163 B.E. - November 28, 2006
When I first learned to type, which was in the high school in Shawnee, Oklahoma, we used sentences written on the chalkboard (no it wasn’t a white board, but a real chalkboard) by the teacher. I remember two of the sentences (not necessary how they were punctuated, just the sentences themselves).
Those sentences were:
“The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.”
“Now is the time for all good men, to come to the aid of their country.”
Maybe it’s time to change one of those sentences to
Now is the time for all concerned people, to come to the aid of their planet.
Although I suppose today instead of writing the sentence on a chalkboard or even a white board the sentence is in a book or on a sheet of paper. I don’t think they use type writers anymore either. Today most people learn to type on keyboards. When I was growing up a keyboard referred to the white and black keys on a piano or similar type of musical instrument.
Times have changed and so have many people. Some human haven’t changed but many have and are in the process of transformation. Humanity is changing it’s world view moving to see the entire planet as humanity’s home land, as the native country of the human race. So maybe it’s time to change some of the typing (do people still call it that or is the word keyboarding now) exercise sentences to reflect the new and emerging view point of the human race.
I know I’ve changed my world view in the past several years. I’ve changed my opinion on a number of things. So change, transformation is possible, not easy mind you, but possible. If a person wants to change then that person can. In order to change one has to change the thoughts behind the actions and the actions slow change. I am becoming more aware all the time of how my actions are changing as I change the way I think about and the world around me and myself.
Those sentences were:
“The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.”
“Now is the time for all good men, to come to the aid of their country.”
Maybe it’s time to change one of those sentences to
Now is the time for all concerned people, to come to the aid of their planet.
Although I suppose today instead of writing the sentence on a chalkboard or even a white board the sentence is in a book or on a sheet of paper. I don’t think they use type writers anymore either. Today most people learn to type on keyboards. When I was growing up a keyboard referred to the white and black keys on a piano or similar type of musical instrument.
Times have changed and so have many people. Some human haven’t changed but many have and are in the process of transformation. Humanity is changing it’s world view moving to see the entire planet as humanity’s home land, as the native country of the human race. So maybe it’s time to change some of the typing (do people still call it that or is the word keyboarding now) exercise sentences to reflect the new and emerging view point of the human race.
I know I’ve changed my world view in the past several years. I’ve changed my opinion on a number of things. So change, transformation is possible, not easy mind you, but possible. If a person wants to change then that person can. In order to change one has to change the thoughts behind the actions and the actions slow change. I am becoming more aware all the time of how my actions are changing as I change the way I think about and the world around me and myself.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Meditation
4 Qawl 163 B.E. - November 26, 2006
Writing in a journal is or can be a form of meditation. It’s an action meditation and rather than emptying your mind of all thought before beginning you use the journal to writing every thought down. That is the gist of an article posted in one of my Yahoo groups. The title of the article is Mapping the Inner Journey. The article didn’t give specific on how to start a writing meditation, it just said to start writing.
When I meditate, I contemplate the sacred writings. I also chant the Most Great Name. The writing meditation sounds intriguing. It’s something I could use after reading a verse of the sacred scriptures. So how would I begin using the writing meditation in conjunction with the scriptures?
First, I would say a prayer revealed by either Baha’u’llah or the Bab.
Second, I would read the scripture over two or three times.
Third, I would set a few minutes contemplating the verse
Fourth, I would type the scripture into my journal.
Fifth, I would free write for about 5 minutes or so on the verse putting into my journal everything that came to my mind.
Writing in a journal is or can be a form of meditation. It’s an action meditation and rather than emptying your mind of all thought before beginning you use the journal to writing every thought down. That is the gist of an article posted in one of my Yahoo groups. The title of the article is Mapping the Inner Journey. The article didn’t give specific on how to start a writing meditation, it just said to start writing.
When I meditate, I contemplate the sacred writings. I also chant the Most Great Name. The writing meditation sounds intriguing. It’s something I could use after reading a verse of the sacred scriptures. So how would I begin using the writing meditation in conjunction with the scriptures?
First, I would say a prayer revealed by either Baha’u’llah or the Bab.
Second, I would read the scripture over two or three times.
Third, I would set a few minutes contemplating the verse
Fourth, I would type the scripture into my journal.
Fifth, I would free write for about 5 minutes or so on the verse putting into my journal everything that came to my mind.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Light
2 Qawl 163 B.E. - November 24, 2006
God wants us to be happy! Light is one of the gifts that the Divine Essence gave us to make us happy. There is so much sadness in the world today that one doesn’t often remember that happiness is a spiritual attribute rather than a physical attribute. Happiness is light in the soul of the individual. It is joy and luminosity. Happiness changes the outlook of the soul and the mind of a person; at least I know it does mine.
I find many things in my life I find joyous. The two things that I often look to change my mood when I’m in a depressed mood is the sacred scriptures and my cats. If I’m depressed and read a prayer of Baha’u’llah, the Bab, or ‘Abdu’l-Baha my mood changes. In order to change my situation, and myself I have to look at the writing of Baha’u’llah and apply them to my life. It isn’t always easy, but it is possible if I just keep going and not give up.
God wants us to be happy! Light is one of the gifts that the Divine Essence gave us to make us happy. There is so much sadness in the world today that one doesn’t often remember that happiness is a spiritual attribute rather than a physical attribute. Happiness is light in the soul of the individual. It is joy and luminosity. Happiness changes the outlook of the soul and the mind of a person; at least I know it does mine.
I find many things in my life I find joyous. The two things that I often look to change my mood when I’m in a depressed mood is the sacred scriptures and my cats. If I’m depressed and read a prayer of Baha’u’llah, the Bab, or ‘Abdu’l-Baha my mood changes. In order to change my situation, and myself I have to look at the writing of Baha’u’llah and apply them to my life. It isn’t always easy, but it is possible if I just keep going and not give up.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Knowledge
1 Qawl 163 B.E. – November 23, 2006
I did a Google search on “How to cook a Turkey in a microwave”. I come up with several different sources telling me how to fix the turkey. The sources said I could fix use a microwave to cook a turkey, but neither my mother nor myself had ever fixed a turkey that way. We had a 12 lb. turkey and the sources said that a microwave would cook a 10 to 12 lb. bird.
What we did (my mother and I) was to cut the bird up and then cooked the drumsticks. We cut the drumsticks and the wings off. We still have to cut the rest of the turkey in half. We’re going to fix the breast in the microwave and put the back bone in the slow cooker and fix macaroni.
Anyway, for Thanksgiving lunch we had turkey drumsticks and green beans. There is only two of use and we don’t eat a lot, so there is no since in fixing a big meal. The rest of the turkey is in the refrigerator and we’ll cook it tomorrow.
Today I gained a interesting piece of knowledge. I didn’t know one could cook a turkey in a microwave. Now that I know that I’m more likely to have turkey more often. I don’t like cooking a big turkey in an oven, it’s way too much work. However, cooking a turkey in a microwave is easier and with just two people it’s better.
I did a Google search on “How to cook a Turkey in a microwave”. I come up with several different sources telling me how to fix the turkey. The sources said I could fix use a microwave to cook a turkey, but neither my mother nor myself had ever fixed a turkey that way. We had a 12 lb. turkey and the sources said that a microwave would cook a 10 to 12 lb. bird.
What we did (my mother and I) was to cut the bird up and then cooked the drumsticks. We cut the drumsticks and the wings off. We still have to cut the rest of the turkey in half. We’re going to fix the breast in the microwave and put the back bone in the slow cooker and fix macaroni.
Anyway, for Thanksgiving lunch we had turkey drumsticks and green beans. There is only two of use and we don’t eat a lot, so there is no since in fixing a big meal. The rest of the turkey is in the refrigerator and we’ll cook it tomorrow.
Today I gained a interesting piece of knowledge. I didn’t know one could cook a turkey in a microwave. Now that I know that I’m more likely to have turkey more often. I don’t like cooking a big turkey in an oven, it’s way too much work. However, cooking a turkey in a microwave is easier and with just two people it’s better.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Joy
18 Qudrat 163 B.E. - November 21, 2006
The feast of Qawl (Speech) is going to occur tomorrow evening at 7:30 at the Baha’i Center. This is the day I celebrate becoming a Baha’i, because this was the first Feast I attended after I declared my belief in Baha’u’llah. Every feast is a joyous occasion because of the fellowship and the reading of the scriptures. However, the Feast of Speech is a special occasion for me because no matter where I attend, I always remember the first feast I attended.
At the time I declared my faith in Baha’u’llah, I was living in a different Las Vegas area township so I was in a different community. I lived in Paradise Township when I declared my faith. The first feast I attended was at the home of a friend who has now passed into the next world.
I attended feast not knowing what to expect. I knew it would be a different experience from attending church, but I didn’t know how different. A Baha’i feast has three portions (1) the Spiritual, (2) the Business, and (3) the Social portion. I was amazed at what occurred. The scriptures read during the first portion of the feast were from the writings of The Bab, Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha. During the consultation in the second part everyone contributed to the discussion and during the third portion we eat all sorts of goodies and had tea, coffee or soda. During the entire event, I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. At every feast I attend, I can feel the presence of the Spirit of God.
The feast of Qawl (Speech) is going to occur tomorrow evening at 7:30 at the Baha’i Center. This is the day I celebrate becoming a Baha’i, because this was the first Feast I attended after I declared my belief in Baha’u’llah. Every feast is a joyous occasion because of the fellowship and the reading of the scriptures. However, the Feast of Speech is a special occasion for me because no matter where I attend, I always remember the first feast I attended.
At the time I declared my faith in Baha’u’llah, I was living in a different Las Vegas area township so I was in a different community. I lived in Paradise Township when I declared my faith. The first feast I attended was at the home of a friend who has now passed into the next world.
I attended feast not knowing what to expect. I knew it would be a different experience from attending church, but I didn’t know how different. A Baha’i feast has three portions (1) the Spiritual, (2) the Business, and (3) the Social portion. I was amazed at what occurred. The scriptures read during the first portion of the feast were from the writings of The Bab, Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha. During the consultation in the second part everyone contributed to the discussion and during the third portion we eat all sorts of goodies and had tea, coffee or soda. During the entire event, I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. At every feast I attend, I can feel the presence of the Spirit of God.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Industrious
17 Qudrat 163 B.E. - November 20, 2006
My entire weekend has been one big blur of activity. Whether it was industrious or not is a question that remains up in the air. The weekend was productive, but since I am doing an alphabetical theme in this blog industrious was the only word that fitted the title of the entry.
I wasn’t home either Saturday or Sunday. On Saturday, my mother and I attended two Ruhi courses. Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, we participated in Book 4: The Twin Manifestations on the east side of Las Vegas. Then stopped at a gas station, got gas and went home to feed the cats. After feeding the cats, (they got their dry food in the house) we went to the west side of town to the Baha’i Center. From 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m., we participated in Book 6: Teaching the Cause. Then we returned home, to find out we hadn’t remembered to turn the lights on when we left the house. I don’t remember what time we got home because I didn’t look at the clock.
Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (I think that was the time) we again participated in Ruhi Book 6, on the east side, and we finished the first section. Then we remained at the lady’s house until after her devotional service which was from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. I got all the tires aired on my car and then we went home. We fed the cats (this time the were able to have their food on the patio), rested a little while and then went to a panel discussion at the Baha’i Center at 7:00 p.m. after the discussion we stayed for refreshments and got home about 9:00 or 9:30 p.m.
That was my entire weekend. The only ones who eat at home those days were the cats.
My entire weekend has been one big blur of activity. Whether it was industrious or not is a question that remains up in the air. The weekend was productive, but since I am doing an alphabetical theme in this blog industrious was the only word that fitted the title of the entry.
I wasn’t home either Saturday or Sunday. On Saturday, my mother and I attended two Ruhi courses. Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, we participated in Book 4: The Twin Manifestations on the east side of Las Vegas. Then stopped at a gas station, got gas and went home to feed the cats. After feeding the cats, (they got their dry food in the house) we went to the west side of town to the Baha’i Center. From 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m., we participated in Book 6: Teaching the Cause. Then we returned home, to find out we hadn’t remembered to turn the lights on when we left the house. I don’t remember what time we got home because I didn’t look at the clock.
Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (I think that was the time) we again participated in Ruhi Book 6, on the east side, and we finished the first section. Then we remained at the lady’s house until after her devotional service which was from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. I got all the tires aired on my car and then we went home. We fed the cats (this time the were able to have their food on the patio), rested a little while and then went to a panel discussion at the Baha’i Center at 7:00 p.m. after the discussion we stayed for refreshments and got home about 9:00 or 9:30 p.m.
That was my entire weekend. The only ones who eat at home those days were the cats.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Holiday
12 Qudrat 163 B.E. - November 15, 2006
The word holiday has an interesting history. According to dictionary.com the word itself comes from the Middle English word holidai, which meant Holy Day. Dictionary.com also gave the Old English word h lig dæg, which also means Holy Day and the origin of holiday. There were several different definitions for the word, but I’m not going to go into those here.
Anyway, what I’m getting at is that the origin of the word is Holy Day, which refers to a day of sacredness, of feasting, celebrating and prayer. In today’s world we don’t often think of the origin of the word holiday, much less the origins of the holidays we take a day off work to celebrate or commemorate or to give gifts. All holidays seem to be for today is spend money to buy things and give to people who could probably use the money themselves rather than the objects. More than likely the people, we give the gifts to would rather have the person giving the gift in their life more often than the gift.
The thing about holiday shopping is that most of the time we go overboard and spend too much. Sometimes we ask the person what they want for the holiday and sometimes we don’t ask. When we don’t ask for gift suggestions from the person, we get what we think the person would like rather than what that person really wants. Even when we do ask and get the gift the person wanted, we presume that was what the person really wanted.
Then there are the gift-exchange holiday parties. We buy the gift in or out of the proper price range without giving the gift itself any thought.
I think what I’m getting at is that when we buy gifts, we never really give it a lot of thought. We just buy something that seems appropriate.
The word holiday has an interesting history. According to dictionary.com the word itself comes from the Middle English word holidai, which meant Holy Day. Dictionary.com also gave the Old English word h lig dæg, which also means Holy Day and the origin of holiday. There were several different definitions for the word, but I’m not going to go into those here.
Anyway, what I’m getting at is that the origin of the word is Holy Day, which refers to a day of sacredness, of feasting, celebrating and prayer. In today’s world we don’t often think of the origin of the word holiday, much less the origins of the holidays we take a day off work to celebrate or commemorate or to give gifts. All holidays seem to be for today is spend money to buy things and give to people who could probably use the money themselves rather than the objects. More than likely the people, we give the gifts to would rather have the person giving the gift in their life more often than the gift.
The thing about holiday shopping is that most of the time we go overboard and spend too much. Sometimes we ask the person what they want for the holiday and sometimes we don’t ask. When we don’t ask for gift suggestions from the person, we get what we think the person would like rather than what that person really wants. Even when we do ask and get the gift the person wanted, we presume that was what the person really wanted.
Then there are the gift-exchange holiday parties. We buy the gift in or out of the proper price range without giving the gift itself any thought.
I think what I’m getting at is that when we buy gifts, we never really give it a lot of thought. We just buy something that seems appropriate.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Gratitude
11 Qudrat 163 B.E. - November 14, 2006
Thanksgiving is coming up. It is one of my favorite holidays. I’ve enjoyed Thanksgiving all my life. My earliest Thanksgiving memory is my Grandmother fixing a turkey. I don’t know how old I was at the time or even what kind of turkey she was dressing. I know the turkey was huge, even gigantic or at least it seemed to me then. I don’t know if the turkey were fresh for frozen.
I remember Grandma Newland taking dressing and stuffing it into to turkey. Then she sprinkled salt and pepper over the outside and brushed it with butter. Or perhaps she brushed it with butter and then sprinkled salt and pepper over it; anyway after that she put the bird in the oven and went on to something else.
We always had turkey for Thanksgiving. The menu consisted of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, creamed corn, candied sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, apple pie and mince pie. When the turkey was done we all sit down at the table and Grandpa Newland would give thanks.
Grandpa never said a long prayer of thanks. It always thanked God for the blessing we received that year, that everyone was well and ended the prayer with Amen.
Thanksgiving is coming up. It is one of my favorite holidays. I’ve enjoyed Thanksgiving all my life. My earliest Thanksgiving memory is my Grandmother fixing a turkey. I don’t know how old I was at the time or even what kind of turkey she was dressing. I know the turkey was huge, even gigantic or at least it seemed to me then. I don’t know if the turkey were fresh for frozen.
I remember Grandma Newland taking dressing and stuffing it into to turkey. Then she sprinkled salt and pepper over the outside and brushed it with butter. Or perhaps she brushed it with butter and then sprinkled salt and pepper over it; anyway after that she put the bird in the oven and went on to something else.
We always had turkey for Thanksgiving. The menu consisted of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, creamed corn, candied sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, apple pie and mince pie. When the turkey was done we all sit down at the table and Grandpa Newland would give thanks.
Grandpa never said a long prayer of thanks. It always thanked God for the blessing we received that year, that everyone was well and ended the prayer with Amen.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
First
9 Qudrat 163 B.E. - November 12, 2006
“What is the first thing you do of a morning?” This is the question asked myself this morning. The obvious answer, of course, is get out of bed, but this isn’t what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the spiritual actions that are necessary to begin the day. Precisely what got me to thinking about this and looking at my morning actions, I’m not sure. Maybe it was the change in my attitude or mood yesterday.
Yesterday, November 11 (8 Qudrat), I woke up between 2:00 and 2:30 a.m. Now I’ve got to admit that getting out of bed and struggling across a cold tile floor to turn the heat up isn’t conducive to sleep. It’s an awakening experience to say the least. Anyway the clock in the living room read 2:30 when I finally arrived in that room and turned the light on, so I must have actually woke up at 2:00 a.m.
When I get up the early I normally shoo a cat off the divan, sit down and wrap myself in a blanket until the house heats up, but yesterday I did something different. I opened my prayer book and said prayers. I have given myself the goal of saying ten or eleven specific prayer during a single twenty-four hour period. Yesterday I had said ten of those prayers before noon. My mood the rest of the day was positive and I felt joyous.
This morning I woke up between 3:00 and 3:30 a.m. I don’t have a clock by my bed so I’m not really sure what time I wake up of a morning. So far this morning, I’ve said two of the prayers and one of them last night before going to bed. Since I plan my life around a solar day, which is from sunset to sunset, this puts the first prayer I said last night in the goal for 9 Qudrat. The other seven or eight prayers I will say or rather read before sunset this evening.
I would rather spread the prayers out over the day. However, sometimes I get distracted with stuff and forget to stop what I’m doing and take a prayer break. After yesterday’s experience though I’m going to attempt to take the breaks at times other then just noon, about the time I say the short obligatory prayer.
“What is the first thing you do of a morning?” This is the question asked myself this morning. The obvious answer, of course, is get out of bed, but this isn’t what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the spiritual actions that are necessary to begin the day. Precisely what got me to thinking about this and looking at my morning actions, I’m not sure. Maybe it was the change in my attitude or mood yesterday.
Yesterday, November 11 (8 Qudrat), I woke up between 2:00 and 2:30 a.m. Now I’ve got to admit that getting out of bed and struggling across a cold tile floor to turn the heat up isn’t conducive to sleep. It’s an awakening experience to say the least. Anyway the clock in the living room read 2:30 when I finally arrived in that room and turned the light on, so I must have actually woke up at 2:00 a.m.
When I get up the early I normally shoo a cat off the divan, sit down and wrap myself in a blanket until the house heats up, but yesterday I did something different. I opened my prayer book and said prayers. I have given myself the goal of saying ten or eleven specific prayer during a single twenty-four hour period. Yesterday I had said ten of those prayers before noon. My mood the rest of the day was positive and I felt joyous.
This morning I woke up between 3:00 and 3:30 a.m. I don’t have a clock by my bed so I’m not really sure what time I wake up of a morning. So far this morning, I’ve said two of the prayers and one of them last night before going to bed. Since I plan my life around a solar day, which is from sunset to sunset, this puts the first prayer I said last night in the goal for 9 Qudrat. The other seven or eight prayers I will say or rather read before sunset this evening.
I would rather spread the prayers out over the day. However, sometimes I get distracted with stuff and forget to stop what I’m doing and take a prayer break. After yesterday’s experience though I’m going to attempt to take the breaks at times other then just noon, about the time I say the short obligatory prayer.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Everyday
8 Qudrat 163 B.E. - November 11, 2006
Everyday is an historic event. Somewhere in the world, somebody is making history. It may not be a big event, but it does have the potential of changing the world.
Everyday children are born. Each child has the potential of doing good. Each child had the potential of making a difference in the world and changing the world for the good.
Everyday each of us wakes up and looks at the world through a curtain of our own thoughts and habits. We think it is going to be a good day if we wake up in a good mood.
Everyday each of us has the potential of doing something good for someone else. Every day we each have the opportunity to change the world for the better. How do we change the world? We change the world through the transformation of our character. We change the world by changing ourselves and acquiring spiritual attributes.
Everyday is an historic event. Somewhere in the world, somebody is making history. It may not be a big event, but it does have the potential of changing the world.
Everyday children are born. Each child has the potential of doing good. Each child had the potential of making a difference in the world and changing the world for the good.
Everyday each of us wakes up and looks at the world through a curtain of our own thoughts and habits. We think it is going to be a good day if we wake up in a good mood.
Everyday each of us has the potential of doing something good for someone else. Every day we each have the opportunity to change the world for the better. How do we change the world? We change the world through the transformation of our character. We change the world by changing ourselves and acquiring spiritual attributes.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Day
2 Qudrat 163 B.E. - November 5, 2006
It’s been a while since I last posted to this blog. My days have consisted of completing the assignments for EDU 636 and considering making myself a time schedule. The time schedule is for achieving the goals I have decided to complete in one day. After considering the time schedule and the reason achievement of some of those goals are difficult, I’ve decided to see where I waste time rather then setting a daily time schedule. A limiting the time I spend on writing a paper or research isn’t going to help until I know where I’m wasting time.
I don’t have another class starting until November 12, so I can spend the week figuring out where I waste the most of my time. OK, so I know at least one spot I’m wasting time. This means that I can’t play FreeCell until I’ve completed a specific word count. That will help, but not completely. I still have other habits that waste time. Oh well, one-step at a time, one day at a time.
I will say this, I’m in a better mood than I’ve been in for a while. It’s fall and I’m in a decent mood and not worried about anything. Circumstances are looking up. I’ve got a pair of new shoes (new to me anyway). It’s interesting, I seem to be able to do the assignments for class no matter what my mood, but I have difficulty posting to my blogs if I’m not in a good mood.
It’s been a while since I last posted to this blog. My days have consisted of completing the assignments for EDU 636 and considering making myself a time schedule. The time schedule is for achieving the goals I have decided to complete in one day. After considering the time schedule and the reason achievement of some of those goals are difficult, I’ve decided to see where I waste time rather then setting a daily time schedule. A limiting the time I spend on writing a paper or research isn’t going to help until I know where I’m wasting time.
I don’t have another class starting until November 12, so I can spend the week figuring out where I waste the most of my time. OK, so I know at least one spot I’m wasting time. This means that I can’t play FreeCell until I’ve completed a specific word count. That will help, but not completely. I still have other habits that waste time. Oh well, one-step at a time, one day at a time.
I will say this, I’m in a better mood than I’ve been in for a while. It’s fall and I’m in a decent mood and not worried about anything. Circumstances are looking up. I’ve got a pair of new shoes (new to me anyway). It’s interesting, I seem to be able to do the assignments for class no matter what my mood, but I have difficulty posting to my blogs if I’m not in a good mood.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)