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Published 12-6-10
ON TODAY'S SITE:
Julia Older, Issac Watts, Tzvi Freeman, Swami Vivekananda, Elizabeth Sherrill
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Dear Readers,

Baby-cheek-pink roses in December - what a joy. I cut a bunch
and arranged them on the kitchen windowsill. Their fragrance
gentled the air like the sweet promise of dawn.

Two days later I walked into the kitchen to discover the petals in
soft puddles on the sill. For once, though, I wasn't disappointed.
Instead, I was struck by the meaning of the scene. I could see the
beauty of surrender and the joy of certain renewal in the fallen
petals. I understood for a moment why it is we can trust that no
matter how "life" treats us, God is revealing Himself to us; that
He is showing us in infinite ways that truly, everything works
together for good to those who love Him - even when
our life seems dark and we want to despair.

- Lisa

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flowers
 Photo by Chuck Bowman          All rights reserved


Starry Field

I was sunk into darkness

and you lifted me to Light.

The ground was pulled from under me,

You picked me up

and set me again in your starry field.

I was weary. My eyes closed.

You opened them

and made me look.

My ears heard only laughter,

noise, and confusion.

You sang a simple song,

for the infant unable

to make known its smallest need and said:

"Let us begin."

I am beginning again.


Julia Older

Excerpted from "Bless the Day,"
by June Cotner
Kodansha International, 1998



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The Lord can clear the darkest skies
Can give us day for night.
Make sacred sorrow rise
To rivers of delight.


Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Prolific and popular English hymn writer


flowers
Photo by Chuck Bowman         All rights reserved



Worry is self-humiliation. Trust is dignity.
To worry is to worship the world. To fall on
your knees in dread and grovel before it.

To trust is to lift up your eyes and stand as
tall as the heavens. To live with nothing else
but the bond between G-d above and you below.



Tzvi Freeman
From the wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

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It is our own mental attitude which makes the world
what it is for us. Our thoughts make things beautiful,
... Learn to see things in the proper light. First, believe
in this world - that there is meaning
behind everything...


Swami Vivekananda (1883-1902)
Hindu; founder of the Ramakrishna Mission



The Last Word:

There is nothing that happens to us, not a thing
we see or hear or touch that God cannot use
to show us more of himself. Our lives are
a daily journey in his company...


Elizabeth Sherrill
Roving Editor, Guideposts magazine

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 








 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 








 







 







































Utterly Random Bonus Quote:

Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard.

Anne Sexton (1928-1974)
American poet; Pulitzer Prize winner

 




Welcome to
The Religion Network!

I'm Lisa Bowman, editor
of The Religion Network,
a multi-faith Web site.
We offer inspirational,
motivational and
encouraging wisdom
for dealing with life's
challenges. Fresh
subjects and new
quotes are published
on every Monday,
Wednesday and Friday.

The Religion Network
holds that inspiration is
found in all faiths; and
furthermore, that finding
commonalities in the
world's religions builds
bridges of understanding.

Religion as an institution
is a precious gift,
encouraging us and
uplifting communities.
However you worship,
may this site enhance
your journey. To read
my personal story, click:
biography.

_______



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