Assisi column and steps  

The Religion Network publishes Monday, Wednesday & Friday
 
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Welcome To The Religion Network!
I'm Lisa Bowman, editor of The Religion Network, a multi-faith Web site. This site provides inspirational quotes through an
exploration of a new spiritual theme every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The Religion network is offered with the
conviction that inspiration can be found in all spiritual faiths, and furthermore, that finding the commonalities
among the world's religions is more healing than pointing up their differences.

Religion as an institution is a precious gift, blessing individuals and uplifting communities. However you choose to
worship, I hope this site enhances your journey. If you'd like to know my story, click on biography.
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ON TODAY'S SITE:

Washington Irving, Book of Psalms, Billy Graham, Native American prayer,
Kahlil Gibran, Abdu’l-Bahá, Isaac Watts, Book of Jeremiah, Anton Chekov,
Book of Isaiah

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Dear Readers,

Fridays are known as "Cheeseburger Fridays" at my sister and brother-in-law's house in
Coffeyville, Kansas. And they are something special. Boog and Rosemary never know how
many people will show up at noon: it ranges from about eight to as many as 34. It's mostly
relatives - infants, toddlers, young adults, middle-agers and senior citizens, all hungry for
burgers, wieners, chips and cake. The house is filled with jokes and laughter, and the food
just keeps coming. It's remarkable, fun...and healing...for we all know that Mike won't be
there. Boog and Rosemary's grandson was killed about a year ago in an accident, and I
don't think it's too far from anyone's mind yet, especially from his wife's and kids' minds.
I still see the books on grief in the bathroom, yet the love that flows in the family is slowly
helping everyone get through it. Cheeseburger Fridays go a long way to help, I suspect.

Sadness is a part of life. It's just going to happen if we live long enough. We can try to bury
it, but the sores will keep festering if we do. Better to take it out, look at it, share it and find
the sacredness in it. The Lord will gladly take our hand and lead us through it all to a place
of healing and even joy. God is bigger than any sadness. We can start by taking the hand
of someone close to us; a friend, relative, clergyman or even a professional counselor.

- Lisa

desert sunset
      Photo by Chuck Bowman            All rights reserved


There is a sacredness in tears.
They are not the mark of weakness,
but of power. They speak more eloquently
than ten thousand tongues. They are the
messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep
contrition, and of unspeakable love.


Washington Irving (1783-1859)
American author and historian


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Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my soul and by body with grief.

My life is consumed by anguish
and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,
and my bones grow weak.


Psalm 31:8-10
The Holy Bible
New International Version


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All the master pieces of art contain
both light and shadow. A happy life
is not one filled with only sunshine,
but one which uses both light and
shadow to produce beauty.


Billy Graham (1918 -   )
American evangelist; advisor to multiple US Presidents

 

sedona, arizona buttes
Photo by Chuck Bowman           All rights reserved

Mother, heal my heart
So that I can see
The gifts of yours
that can live through me.


Native American Prayer



_________



Sadness is but a wall between two gardens.

Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)
Lebanese American artist, poet, writer


_______


O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit.
Purify my heart. Illumine my powers.
I lay all my affairs in Thy hand.
Thou art my Guide and my Refuge.
I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved;
I will be a happy and joyful being.
O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety,
nor will I let trouble harass me.
I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life.
O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself.
I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord.


Abdu’l-Bahá (1844-1921)
Son of the founder of the Bahá'í Faith

 


sedona, arizona peaks
Photo by Chuck Bowman                               All rights reserved


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


Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Prolific English hymn writer


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For the Lord has redeemed Israel
from those too strong for them.

Their life will be like a watered garden,
and all their sorrows will be gone.
The young women will dance for joy,
and the men--old and young--will join in the celebration.
I will turn their mourning into joy.
I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.


Jeremiah 31:11-13
The Holy Bible
New Living Translation

_________


We shall find peace.
We shall hear the angels,
we shall see the sky
sparkling with diamonds.


Anton Chekov (1860-1904)
Russian short story writer and playwright


 



The Last Word:

O you afflicted one,
Tossed with tempest, and not comforted,
Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems,
And lay your foundations with sapphires.
I will make your pinnacles of rubies,
Your gates of crystal,
And all your walls of precious stones.

Isaiah 54:11-12
The Holy Bible
New King James Version


 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 








 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totally Random Bonus Quote:

But what is it good for?

Engineer at the Advanced Computing
Systems Division of IBM, 1968;
commenting on the microchip

  


OUR PREVIOUS
TOPIC :
YOU ARE
WONDERFULLY
MADE

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RECOMMENDED VIEWING:
Rabbi Mentz presents
a wonderful, brief
video, partially shot
on the streets of
Jerusalem,
on the subject:
WHY AM I HERE?