The Best Day of my Life !

Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever !

There were times when I wondered if I would make it to totday, but I did ! And because I did I´m going to celebrate.

Today I´m going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I´ve had so far; the accomplishments, the many blessings, and yes, even the hardships because they had served to make me stronger.

I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy heart. I will marvel at God´s seemingly simple gifts; the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, and the birds. Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.

Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I´ll make someone smile. I´ll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone. Today, I´ll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I´ll tell a child how special they are, and I´ll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for them and how much they mean to me.

Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don´t have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me. I´ll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because
my faith in God an his Divine Plan ensures every thing will be fine.

And tonight, before I go to bed I´ll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures.

As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because I know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever !

God´s home !

"The beautiful things in this world are hints of the beauty of God´s home.

I do not think there is a heaven. I know there is a heaven, just as truly as you know there is a world all around you.

God´s creative power is not limited to the crass material things of earth. God has created things you would never dream of. One day you will see.

For those who believe, death is not a pitiful end. It is the beginning of a new and wonderful life."

- Joshua (Joshua in the holy land, J.Girzone)

Are you listening ?

Someone is whispering:
Have no fear.

Someone is whispering:
I love you.

Someone is whispering:
Trust me.

Someone is whispering:
Follow me.


....are you listening ?!?

The smile of a child

The smile of a child,
lightens up our hearts.

The smile of a child,
makes us forget our hardships.

The smile of a child,
is one moment in time.

The smile of a child,
is God´s way of saying:

What a beautiful life !

- M. Stern

Closing cycles / Paulo Coelho

One always has to know when a stage comes to an end. If we insist on staying longer than the necessary time, we lose the happiness and the meaning of the other stages we have to go through. Closing cycles, shutting doors, ending chapters - whatever name we give it, what matters is to leave in the past the moments of life that have finished.

Did you lose your job? Has a loving relationship come to an end? Did you leave your parents’ house? Gone to live abroad? Has a long lasting friendship ended all of a sudden? You can spend a long time wondering why this has happened. You can tell yourself you won’t take another step until you find out why certain things that were so important and so solid in your life have turned into dust, just like that. But such an attitude will be awfully stressing for everyone involved: your parents, your husband or wife, your friends, your children, your sister, everyone will be finishing chapters, turning over new leaves, getting on with life, and they will all feel bad seeing you at a standstill.

None of us can be in the present and the past at the same time, not even when we try to understand the things that happen to us. What has passed will not return: we cannot for ever be children, late adolescents, sons that feel guilt or rancor towards our parents, lovers who day and night relive an affair with someone who has gone away and has not the least intention of coming back. Things pass, and the best we can do is to let them really go away.

Nobody plays this life with marked cards, so sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. Do not expect anything in return, do not expect your efforts to be appreciated, your genius to be discovered, your love to be understood. Stop turning on your emotional television to watch the same program over and over again, the one that shows how much you suffered from a certain loss: that is only poisoning you, nothing else.

Nothing is more dangerous than not accepting love relationships that are broken off, work that is promised but there is no starting date, decisions that are always put off waiting for the “ideal moment.” Before a new chapter is begun, the old one has to be finished: tell yourself that what has passed will never come back. Remember that there was a time when you could live without that thing or that person - nothing is irreplaceable, a habit is not a need. This may sound so obvious, it may even be difficult, but it is very important.

Closing cycles. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because that no longer fits your life.

Shut the door, change the record, clean the house, shake off the dust.

Stop being who you were, and change into who you are.

(With Thanks to T. Sanders)

Every time !

Every time I look in the mirror,
Every time I fall asleep,
Every time I wake up,
Every time I listen to my favorite song,

Every time I laugh with someone,
Every time I score a basket,
Every time I win a hand,
Every time I drive into sunset,

Every time I embrace a loved one,
Every time I talk to God,

...I try to remind myself:
>>Pay attention and don´t take this for granted !<<

A Winning Attitude

When we play a basketball game, we win it or we lose it. And the outside world defines us based on that win or loss. We´re eihter good or we´re bad on that day. Basically that´s how most people look at it. But that´s not how I look at it.

Sometimes a loss can be a win.
I believe that any team that does its best is a winner.

If we are constantly looking at a win-loss record to determine whether we are doing well, we´re not looking at the right barometer.

A real winning attitude is about standards of excellence - which are variable from year to year, from team to team. Being the best you can be - and doing the best you can - are the constants.

When you view winning the way I do, it becomes clear that leaders are ultimately responsible for how their teams perform - and whether they are the best they can be. But that´s not really pressure, it´s reality - and it is also a wonderful challenge. I really believe that if a leader is a stickler on high performance, on excellence, then winning games will be a natural by-product.

- Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski, Coach of the 2008 Redeem-team and of the Duke University)

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters

Chapter I
I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost...I am helpless. It isn´t my fault. It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter II
I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don´t see it. I fall in again. I can´t believe I am in this same place. But it isn´t my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter III
I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in..it´s a habit...but, my eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately.

Chapter IV
I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.

Chapter V
I walk down another street.

Dedication to Jesus

I dedicate this book to my friend who is always by my side and in my heart, who is never far when I am lonely and confused, who always gives me peace to my soul when I am troubled and frightened, and fearful of the future.

I share with Him my deepest secrets, my joy, my sorrow, my accomplishments, my shame. He always understands. He never accuses or criticizes, but often suggests a different way of doing things. When He does He inevitably prepares the way so it is not as impossible as I thought it might be.

Over the years I have learned to trust Him. It was not easy. I thought that in following Him I would have to give up all the fun in my life, but I found that He is the source of all joy and adventure, and, indeed, He turned my life into a great adventure at a time when I thought it was about to come to an end.

I would like to suggest that He could become your friend, too, if you would like Him to be. Do not be afraid !
He will respect your freedom and your independence more than anyone you have ever met, because He created you to be free.

He just wants more than anything that you will accept Him as your Friend. If you do, I can promise you, you will never be alone !

- Joseph F. Girzone, "Never alone"

Imitation of Christ - Part VI

On bearing with the defects of others

There will always be defects in ourselves or others that we cannot correct. These we must simply tolerate until God in His goodness sees fit to change things.

Learn how to be patient in enduring the faults of others, remembering that you yourself have many that offend others. We wish to see perfection in others, but do not correct our own faults.

God wills us to learn to bear one another´s burdens.No one is without faults or without a cross.

Embrace your sexuality !

Hungers and appetites - for sexual release, for food, for life - are as natural to you as clouds are to the sky or waves to the sea. If you suppress or exploit the surging power of your drives, you create obsessions, compulsions, and guilty secrets.
Life is not a matter of indulging or denying the energies of life, but observing, accepting, and wisely channeling them.
Embracing your sexuality celebrates your humanity.

Only when you fully accept your sexuality can you fully accept your humanity and finally feel whole. Clearly, embracing your sexuality does not imply license to sexually exploit yourself or others, but rather to express who you are and to fully aknowledge that you are worthy of love.

Some of our shame or guilt over sexuality stem from religious traditions. Religious dogma is not wrong. The purpose of it is to awaken our highest ideals and possibilities, make demands, stretch our souls, draw forth the highest and best within us. It calls us to our human maturity. Ultimately it may well be best to practice abstinence and direct our sexual energies into other creative pursuits until married.

But this is not what most imperfect humans actually do. Nowadays this dogma doesn´t seem to be realistic. Even many priests and nuns have problems living up to the ideals of the church. We need to realize that sexuality has no inherent morality or immorality. No absolute, sexual guidelines exist.

- Dan Millman

Imitation of Christ - Part V

On the familiar friendship of Jesus

When our Lord is present, all goes well and nothing seems hard to do for His love; but when he is absent, everything is difficult. When Jesus doesn´t speak to our soul, no other consolation suffices; but if He speaks only one word, we feel great inner joy.

To be without Jesus is the torment of hell, but to be with Him is the joy of paradise. He is the pearl of great price, the highest good.

It is a great art to know how to talk with Jesus, and to know how to keep Him with you is great wisdom. Be humble and peaceful and Jesus will be with you. How foolish to put your trust or happiness in any other. It would be better to have the world against you than to hurt Jesus.Of all who are dear to you, let Jesus be your best beloved.

All others must be loved for Jesus´s sake, but Jesus for Himself alone. For Him, in Him, you must love friends and foes alike, praying to Him for them, that all may come to know and love Him.

But you can only attain this if you are led by His grace; so that setting aside all else; you may become one with Him alone.

Pilatus - Vom Henker zum Verkündiger

Pilatus war der Statthalter des römischen Kaisers in der eroberten Provinz Syrien. Er war der Chef der Besatzungstruppe und ein Machtmensch von der übelsten Sorte.

In den biblischen Berichten kommt er noch relativ gut weg. Andere Zeitgenossen wussten Schlimmes über Pilatus zu berichten. Der Geschichtsschreiber Philo von Alexandrien z.B. erzählt, die Amtsführung des Pilatus habe nur bestanden aus "Bestechlichkeit, Gewalttätigkeit, Räubereien,Misshandlungen, Hinrichtungen, fortwährender und unerträglicher Grausamkeit". Pilatus war so berüchtigt, dass ihn schließlich der Kaiser persönlich nach Rom beorderte, damit er sich dort für sein grausames Verhalten rechtfertigen sollte.

Von diesem Gewaltmenschen Pilatus also erzählt das Johannesevangelium nun etwas Überraschendes. Hier wird erzählt, wie ausgerechnet dieser brutale Pilatus, ganz und gar unfreiwillig, zum Verkündiger der christlichen Botschaft wird:

Pilatus lässt nämlich am Kreuz eine Tafel anbringen. Auf der steht geschrieben: "Jesus von Nazareth, König der Juden". Abgekürzt, wenn man nur die lateinischen Anfangsbuchstaben benutzt, ergibt das "INRI". Das lässt Pilatus da hinschreiben, und zwar auf Hebräisch, Lateinisch und Griechisch. In allen wichtigen Sprachen der damaligen Welt. Jeder kann es lesen und verstehen. Bis ans Ende der Erde. Die Hohepriester protestieren. Sie wollen eine genauere Formulierung.
"Schreibe, dass er nur behauptet hat, er sei der König der Juden.", fordern sie. Aber Pilatus lehnt ab: "Was ich geschrieben habe, habe ich geschrieben."

Durch das Anbringen dieser Tafel wird Pilatus, ohne es zu wissen, vom Henker zum Verkündiger. Er wird zum Zeugen für Jesus Christus. Ohne es zu wollen, verbreitet er die Wahrheit über Jesus. Die Tafel am Kreuz sagt es allen, die es sehen und verstehen wollen: Da am Kreuz stirbt nicht irgendwer. Irgendein Gescheiterter, ein Verbrecher, ein Hochstapler oder Aufrührer. Nein, hier stirbt tatsächlich der König der Juden. Der Messias. Gottes Auserwählter. Gottes Sohn. Und die drei Weltsprachen machen es allen klar: Das geht die ganze Welt was an. Das hier ist keine Privatsache. Dieser Tod geht allen Menschen auf der ganzen Erde etwas an. Auch uns heute.

Das verkündigt Pilatus, wenn auch nicht mit Absicht.

(Ein Beitrag von Renate M., vielen Dank !)

Other side - David Grey

There surely is an "other side" !

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

- Romans 8:18

Face your fears !

Fear is a wonderful servant,
but a terrible master.

Like pain, it can alert and advise you,
but may also cloud or limit your life.

Fear appears in many disguises, such as
"I´m not really interested in doing that"
or "Why bother ?" or "I can´t".

You face your fear every day -
fear of failure, of rejection,
even the fear of being yourself.

Your fears are not walls, but hurdles.
Courage is not the absence of fear,
but the conquering of it.

- Dan Millman

Joshua - A religious person ?

An excerpt from the book "Joshua and the children" , by Joseph F. Girzone:

You know, Joshua, you don´t come across as a particular religious person, and yet your attitudes and insights betray a depth of spirituality that could come only from unusual intimacy with God.


Joshua smiled and said:

I do not attempt to be religious. That has no meaning. To be perfectly human, as God made us, sould be our goal. If we appear to be religious or pious, we´ve missed the point and our piety becomes a caricature and unauthentic. Real holiness is the natural growth of the human personality to its full maturity as an individual, and in the process, becoming a beautiful person. That is all that God wants of us.


And since each individual is unique, and has a different task to accomplish in God´s plan, each one has to grow differently, so holiness for each individual is different and has nothing to do with predetermined religious patterns and practices that mimic real holiness.

Jesus lived in Nazareth for thirty years, and the kids he grew up with were shocked when he began to preach. They never looked upon him as particularly holy, and yet he was the holy one of God.

A true story !

Over a hundred years ago in France, a butler attached to a wealthy family knew where the family kept all their wealth, hidden in a vault underneath the château. He methodically plotted to kill everyone in the family and steal the treasure.

One night, when everyone was asleep, he murdered first the father and mother, and then, one by one, the children. Only the youngest escaped because he had heard noises and couldn´t sleep. When he realized what was happening he quietly slipped out of his room and hid in a closet under a pile of clothes.

For years he wandered the streets as an orphan, and later entered the seminary and became a priest. Eventually he was assigned to Devil´s Island as a chaplain.

One afternoon a convict came running in from the fields, frantically calling for the chaplain: "There is a man dying out on the field, Father, come quickly."

The priest ran out with him and reached the dying man. Kneeling down beside him, he lifted his head onto his lap and asked if he would like to confess his sins. The dying man refused.

"Why, my son ?" the priest asked. "Because God will never forgive me for what I have done"

"But what have you done so bad ?" the priest continued. And the man went on to tell the story of how he had killed this whole family so he could have their money, and only the little boy escaped because he couldn´t find him.

Then the priest said to him, "If I can forgive you, certainly God can forgive you. And I forgive you from my heart. It was my family you killed, and I am that little boy."

The convict cried and told the priest how he had been haunted all his life over what he had done, though no one else knew about it. Even the authorities never found out.

The two men cried together. And, as the priest was giving the dying man absolution, the man died with his head resting on the priest´s lap.

That story is a true story and serves as an inspiration whenever people hurt you. It shows how beautiful and godly is the kind of forgiveness that Jesus taught.

Trying to forgive like that can bring a lot of peace into your life.

Imitation of Christ - Part IV

On following Christ our model

"No follower of Mine will ever walk in darkness." (John 8:12)

These words of our Lord counsel all to walk in His footsteps. Make it your aim to meditate on the life of Jesus Christ.

Christ´s teching surpasses that of all the Saints. But to find this spiritual nourishment you must seek to have the Spirit of Christ.

Be determined to detach your heart from the love of visible things, allowing it to center on those unseen.

Imitation of Christ - Part III

Our final home

Christ

My child, let not the labors which you have undertaken for My sake crush you, nor cause you to lose heart.

Whatever happens, have confidence that My promise will be your strength and consolation. I will reward you beyond all limits and measure.

Labor perseveringly in My vineyard, and I Myself will be your reward. Eternal life is worth all these combats and more. Peace shall come at a time known only to the Lord. It will not last a day or a night as we calculate time; there will be light everlasting, infinite glory, unbroken peace and undisturbed rest.

If we could only see the saints in heaven and in what great glory they now rejoice, how we would humble ourselves to the dust.

If you are really eager to get to heaven , you will relish with joy the struggles and conflicts of this world. Where I am with all My Saints, here in the kingdom of My Father, is where you will remain safe and at rest after your tribulations in this world are at an end.

Disciple

O blessed mansion of the heavenly city ! How bright is the day of eternity ! There no darkness ever obscures, for God, the high Truth , illumines and makes all clear.

I think of heavenly things. Blessed are those who abandon all created things for love of You, O Lord. Then with a serene conscience they may offer pure prayer to You.

The gift of life as an instrument for service

Imagine for a moment that, through a strange twist of fate, you wake up one morning and find yourself imprisoned in a nameless country and for political reasons scheduled for execution at midnight. You gaze out through prison bars and see the first rays of your last sunrise

You feel greedy for every sight, every sound, taste and aroma. You eat your last meal as the shadows grow long outside. And as the sun sets, you say your final farewell to the light of day, for you will never again see the sunrise. Each passing minute draws you closer to your final good-bye, your last prayer, and, finally, your last breath.

A final day awaits us all.

We may know in advance when our end is near, through declining health, a terminal illness, old age. Or we may have only a few seconds´ notice, or none at all.

When the executioner raises his scythe, how many of us may want to say, "Wait ! Just another moment, please ! Let me take one more sweet breath ! Give me one more sight, sound, touch of my beloved ! Just one more moment !"

Now is the time to see, to listen, to touch - bring our best to life while we have the life for it. How much we have, no one can say. Life itself is a near-death experience.

Consider how we appear from nowhere, as microscopic specks on a minuscule, blue-green moving dot through the infinity of space and time. Our lives are ephemeral and brief, and yet we strive to love, to serve, to find meaning and fulfillment while we live. Life itself is a hero´s journey.

But counting our blessings leads to a desire to give something back. Thus begins the path of service.

- Dan Millman