This will pass
and when it does
humanity will be more united.
This is a test
of our resolve
to spread the Word of God
across the planet.
Stand firm
in the love of God
and humanity.
This will pass
and our faith will be stronger
for the test.
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Showing posts with label test. Show all posts
Showing posts with label test. Show all posts
Sunday, April 05, 2020
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Making Lemonade – Part 2
Fidál (Grace), 17 Mulk (Dominion), 166 BE – Tuesday, February 23, 2010 about 5:05 PM Pacific Time
As I suggested in an earlier post, it seems I have an orchard of lemon trees planted in my backyard. This is figurative, of course, because my backyard isn't big enough for more then one tree. The lemon trees refer to tests and difficulties, which occur to help a person develop spiritual attributes.
My mother is 88 years old; she was born March 19, 1921 on a little farm in Oklahoma. I am 63 years old; I was born on December 24, 1946 in a hospital room in Blackwell, Oklahoma. My mother and I live in the same house in Las Vegas, Nevada. Yes, I am 63 years old and I still live with my mother.
Mom has several physical issues that require her to take daily medication. In some ways, Mom is still capable of taking care of herself. She can get in and out of the bathtub by herself, most days she fixes at least one of her own meals. Mom doesn't drive, so I take her where she needs or wants to go. In addition, she has short-term memory problems.
Recently Mom's doctor diagnosed her with mild or the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. The doctor put her on a generic medication that appears to be working. There are other issues beside the Alzheimer's. I am my mother's caregiver. I never envisioned this job for myself. It has also taught me a lot about myself and has strengthened my faith in God.
As I suggested in an earlier post, it seems I have an orchard of lemon trees planted in my backyard. This is figurative, of course, because my backyard isn't big enough for more then one tree. The lemon trees refer to tests and difficulties, which occur to help a person develop spiritual attributes.
My mother is 88 years old; she was born March 19, 1921 on a little farm in Oklahoma. I am 63 years old; I was born on December 24, 1946 in a hospital room in Blackwell, Oklahoma. My mother and I live in the same house in Las Vegas, Nevada. Yes, I am 63 years old and I still live with my mother.
Mom has several physical issues that require her to take daily medication. In some ways, Mom is still capable of taking care of herself. She can get in and out of the bathtub by herself, most days she fixes at least one of her own meals. Mom doesn't drive, so I take her where she needs or wants to go. In addition, she has short-term memory problems.
Recently Mom's doctor diagnosed her with mild or the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. The doctor put her on a generic medication that appears to be working. There are other issues beside the Alzheimer's. I am my mother's caregiver. I never envisioned this job for myself. It has also taught me a lot about myself and has strengthened my faith in God.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Making Lemonade – Part 1
Jamál (Beauty), 15 Mulk (Dominion), 166 BE – Sunday, February 21, 2010 about 1:03 PM Pacific Time
Life isn't easy and I don't think it's meant to be easy because in this world we develop spiritual attributes. These spiritual attributes cloth a person's soul (spirit) when the physical body dies and the soul ascends to the next world. Each individual encounters tests and difficulties during his or her lifetime in this world. These tests and difficulties help strengthen the spiritual attributes, which go with the soul when it separates from the physical body.
Sometimes it seems instead of encountering one test or difficulty at a time a person encounters an entire orchard of them. I'm walking through one of those orchards of test and difficulties now. I suspect I have an entire orchard of lemon trees (figuratively) planted in my backyard, so the only thing I can do now is make lemonade.
Sometimes I feel it's almost too much to deal with, but I don't think God tests a person beyond his or her capabilities. I think the best way to deal with this orchard of tests and difficulties is to take one tree (one test) at a time, which explains the title of this post. Over the next few day/weeks, I'm going to be looking at some of these test and difficulties on individual basis, all of which concern conditions many people confront at present or will confront in the near future.
Life isn't easy and I don't think it's meant to be easy because in this world we develop spiritual attributes. These spiritual attributes cloth a person's soul (spirit) when the physical body dies and the soul ascends to the next world. Each individual encounters tests and difficulties during his or her lifetime in this world. These tests and difficulties help strengthen the spiritual attributes, which go with the soul when it separates from the physical body.
Sometimes it seems instead of encountering one test or difficulty at a time a person encounters an entire orchard of them. I'm walking through one of those orchards of test and difficulties now. I suspect I have an entire orchard of lemon trees (figuratively) planted in my backyard, so the only thing I can do now is make lemonade.
Sometimes I feel it's almost too much to deal with, but I don't think God tests a person beyond his or her capabilities. I think the best way to deal with this orchard of tests and difficulties is to take one tree (one test) at a time, which explains the title of this post. Over the next few day/weeks, I'm going to be looking at some of these test and difficulties on individual basis, all of which concern conditions many people confront at present or will confront in the near future.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Tests, Difficulties and Dentures
Jalál (Glory), 9 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 166 BE – Saturday, October 24, 2009 about 2:24 PM Pacific Time
I found out long ago that life is full of tests and difficulties, which assist in the development of my soul. These tests and difficulties help me develop spiritual attributes. These tests and difficulties come in expected and unexpected ways.
I never expected to encounter difficulties with my dentures. The problem I have is the denture adhesive; I have not found a denture adhesive I can use. I have to accept the possibility that I may not be able to use safely any type of adhesive to hold my dentures. If that is the case, I am going to have to learn to use my dentures without an adhesive.
The problems I am having with my dentures is to help me develop a spiritual attribute. I am not sure which spiritual attribute, but probably persistence. I still have a couple of different types of denture adhesives to try. I am also learning how to eat again; I am learning to chew my food slowly. One advantage of chewing slowly is enjoying the taste of the food.
I found out long ago that life is full of tests and difficulties, which assist in the development of my soul. These tests and difficulties help me develop spiritual attributes. These tests and difficulties come in expected and unexpected ways.
I never expected to encounter difficulties with my dentures. The problem I have is the denture adhesive; I have not found a denture adhesive I can use. I have to accept the possibility that I may not be able to use safely any type of adhesive to hold my dentures. If that is the case, I am going to have to learn to use my dentures without an adhesive.
The problems I am having with my dentures is to help me develop a spiritual attribute. I am not sure which spiritual attribute, but probably persistence. I still have a couple of different types of denture adhesives to try. I am also learning how to eat again; I am learning to chew my food slowly. One advantage of chewing slowly is enjoying the taste of the food.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Persistence pays off
Istiqlál (Independence), 5 Kalimát (Words), 166 BE – Friday, July 17, 2009 about 8:14 AM Pacific Time
Persistence pays off! I spent the entire morning attempting to make post to my blogs. The connection is slow this morning and when I went to save a draft or publish the post it didn't work. I think the problem is a combination of the weather and a telephone hook-up to my Internet provider. I'm going to have to get DSL there is just no getting around it.
It took me two hours to make one entry to another blog and it appears I'm going to have the same difficulty making this entry. That's all right, eventually I will get the entry posted I just have to be persistent. I can't let difficulty with my connect stop me from making a post.
This experience is a transformative experience. Transformation is the reason a person encounters tests and difficulties. If it weren't for tests and difficulties neither human beings nor civilazation would advance.
Persistence pays off! I spent the entire morning attempting to make post to my blogs. The connection is slow this morning and when I went to save a draft or publish the post it didn't work. I think the problem is a combination of the weather and a telephone hook-up to my Internet provider. I'm going to have to get DSL there is just no getting around it.
It took me two hours to make one entry to another blog and it appears I'm going to have the same difficulty making this entry. That's all right, eventually I will get the entry posted I just have to be persistent. I can't let difficulty with my connect stop me from making a post.
This experience is a transformative experience. Transformation is the reason a person encounters tests and difficulties. If it weren't for tests and difficulties neither human beings nor civilazation would advance.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Transformation the Theme of this Blog
2 'Ilm 164 B.E. - Tuesday, October 16, 2007 about 10:35 PM PDT
'Ilm, a new month has begun, a new nineteen day period to achieve the writing goals, the financial goals and the spiritual goals I've set for myself. That brought to mind the theme of this blog transformation and the butterfly. The butterfly is the symbol of both the soul and transformation.
The butterfly emerges from its cocoon a completely different creature from the larva that entered the pupa case. The larva was a creature of the earth, eating leaves and other plants to survive. The butterfly is a creature of the air, eating nectar. In the pupa case the larva goes through the transformation that creates the butterfly. This process isn't easy for the larva, it's stressful and difficult, but it's necessary for the larva to become a butterfly.
It's the same way with the human soul. The soul is a creation of God. It has the ability to reflect the attributes of God, but it can't do this without going through test and difficulties that bring out those attributes and let the soul fly.
Mashiyyat was a stressful month. Whether it was more stressful than any month since Baha begin 164 B.E. I'm not sure. It could be that the accumulation of stress finally got to me and I broke out in stress (literally). Anyway I decided that I'm going to do something about it and get the major problems solved that are causing the biggest stresses.
One thing I'm doing is setting aside specific times morning, afternoon and evening for prayer and meditation. I thought back to the period before all this stress started and realized that I no longer had specific time periods for prayer. I've usually gotten the obligatory prayer said, but I usually had to work it in my daily life instead of living my daily life so that I didn't have to "work it in". I've set A, B, and C priorities. The A priorities are spiritual and the other important goals are B priorities.
'Ilm, a new month has begun, a new nineteen day period to achieve the writing goals, the financial goals and the spiritual goals I've set for myself. That brought to mind the theme of this blog transformation and the butterfly. The butterfly is the symbol of both the soul and transformation.
The Butterfly and Transformation
The butterfly emerges from its cocoon a completely different creature from the larva that entered the pupa case. The larva was a creature of the earth, eating leaves and other plants to survive. The butterfly is a creature of the air, eating nectar. In the pupa case the larva goes through the transformation that creates the butterfly. This process isn't easy for the larva, it's stressful and difficult, but it's necessary for the larva to become a butterfly.
It's the same way with the human soul. The soul is a creation of God. It has the ability to reflect the attributes of God, but it can't do this without going through test and difficulties that bring out those attributes and let the soul fly.
Mashiyyat Stressful
Mashiyyat was a stressful month. Whether it was more stressful than any month since Baha begin 164 B.E. I'm not sure. It could be that the accumulation of stress finally got to me and I broke out in stress (literally). Anyway I decided that I'm going to do something about it and get the major problems solved that are causing the biggest stresses.
One thing I'm doing is setting aside specific times morning, afternoon and evening for prayer and meditation. I thought back to the period before all this stress started and realized that I no longer had specific time periods for prayer. I've usually gotten the obligatory prayer said, but I usually had to work it in my daily life instead of living my daily life so that I didn't have to "work it in". I've set A, B, and C priorities. The A priorities are spiritual and the other important goals are B priorities.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Solved the Mouse Problem
I've solved the mouse problem, at least temperarly. I think I'm going to have to either get a new mouse or move the one I have to a coffee stand so that the cord doesn't get tangled. I think that's the problem with the mouse, the cord gets tangled and the signals don't go through. Of course, moving the mouse, so that the cord remains straight, is only a temporary fix. I think I'll eventually have to get a new mouse.
Right now though I can use the mousekeys to move the pointer, click and drop and drag (I haven't tried this yet). Moving the mouse pointer with the key on the key pad isn't too bad. It's slow and I can't use the keys for numbers without extra key strokes. I'll use the number on the top of the regular keyboard. I usually use those number anyway so it isn't a big change. I've printed out all the instructions for using the keypad so their in front of me (just in case my short term memory decides to take a vacation on this).
Using the numbered keypad may be a good exercise in patience. It's great to solve a problem without help. I feel like I could solve any problem that confronts me. This was an interesting test, even if it was caused by a technological component rather than a spiritual component. I still haven't decided whether to remove the pass word from my log in and just let the computer start up without it. I don't suppose that's a good idea. I'll have to see how things go in the next few day before I know for sure.
It's not like there is anyone in the house I can't trust. The only other person here is Mom. I'm was going to set her up with a password to this machine so that she could use it to check her bank account. Her compute has the software to connect to the Internet it just doesn't have a long enough telephone cord.
Right now though I can use the mousekeys to move the pointer, click and drop and drag (I haven't tried this yet). Moving the mouse pointer with the key on the key pad isn't too bad. It's slow and I can't use the keys for numbers without extra key strokes. I'll use the number on the top of the regular keyboard. I usually use those number anyway so it isn't a big change. I've printed out all the instructions for using the keypad so their in front of me (just in case my short term memory decides to take a vacation on this).
Using the numbered keypad may be a good exercise in patience. It's great to solve a problem without help. I feel like I could solve any problem that confronts me. This was an interesting test, even if it was caused by a technological component rather than a spiritual component. I still haven't decided whether to remove the pass word from my log in and just let the computer start up without it. I don't suppose that's a good idea. I'll have to see how things go in the next few day before I know for sure.
It's not like there is anyone in the house I can't trust. The only other person here is Mom. I'm was going to set her up with a password to this machine so that she could use it to check her bank account. Her compute has the software to connect to the Internet it just doesn't have a long enough telephone cord.
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