Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
If you want your dream to be
Build it slow and surely.
Small beginnings, greater ends
Heartfelt work grows purely.
If you want to live life free
Take your time go slowly.
Do few things but do them well
Simple joys are holy.
Day by day,
Stone by stone,
Build your secret slowly.
Day by day,
You'll grow too,
You'll know heaven's glory.
If you want your dream to be
Build it slow and surely.
Small beginnings, greater ends,
Heartfelt work grows purely.
If you want to live life free
Take your time go slowly.
{St. Francis of Assisi}
Build it slow and surely.
Small beginnings, greater ends
Heartfelt work grows purely.
If you want to live life free
Take your time go slowly.
Do few things but do them well
Simple joys are holy.
Day by day,
Stone by stone,
Build your secret slowly.
Day by day,
You'll grow too,
You'll know heaven's glory.
If you want your dream to be
Build it slow and surely.
Small beginnings, greater ends,
Heartfelt work grows purely.
If you want to live life free
Take your time go slowly.
{St. Francis of Assisi}
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
St. Francis of Assisi | Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org
Francis of Assisi was a poor little man who astounded and inspired the Church by taking the gospel literally—not in a narrow fundamentalist sense, but by actually following all that Jesus said and did, joyfully, without limit and without a sense of self-importance.
Serious illness brought the young Francis to see the emptiness of his frolicking life as leader of Assisi's youth. Prayer—lengthy and difficult—led him to a self-emptying like that of Christ, climaxed by embracing a leper he met on the road. It symbolized his complete obedience to what he had heard in prayer: "Francis! Everything you have loved and desired in the flesh it is your duty to despise and hate, if you wish to know my will. And when you have begun this, all that now seems sweet and lovely to you will become intolerable and bitter, but all that you used to avoid will turn itself to great sweetness and exceeding joy."
From the cross in the neglected field-chapel of San Damiano, Christ told him, "Francis, go out and build up my house, for it is nearly falling down." Francis became the totally poor and humble workman.
He must have suspected a deeper meaning to "build up my house." But he would have been content to be for the rest of his life the poor "nothing" man actually putting brick on brick in abandoned chapels. He gave up all his possessions, piling even his clothes before his earthly father (who was demanding restitution for Francis' "gifts" to the poor) so that he would be totally free to say, "Our Father in heaven." He was, for a time, considered to be a religious fanatic, begging from door to door when he could not get money for his work, evokng sadness or disgust to the hearts of his former friends, ridicule from the unthinking.
But genuineness will tell. A few people began to realize that this man was actually trying to be Christian. He really believed what Jesus said: "Announce the kingdom! Possess no gold or silver or copper in your purses, no traveling bag, no sandals, no staff" (see Luke 9:1-3).
Francis' first rule for his followers was a collection of texts from the Gospels. He had no idea of founding an order, but once it began he protected it and accepted all the legal structures needed to support it. His devotion and loyalty to the Church were absolute and highly exemplary at a time when various movements of reform tended to break the Church's unity.
He was torn between a life devoted entirely to prayer and a life of active preaching of the Good News. He decided in favor of the latter, but always returned to solitude when he could. He wanted to be a missionary in Syria or in Africa, but was prevented by shipwreck and illness in both cases. He did try to convert the sultan of Egypt during the Fifth Crusade.
During the last years of his relatively short life (he died at 44), he was half blind and seriously ill. Two years before his death, he received the stigmata, the real and painful wounds of Christ in his hands, feet and side.
On his deathbed, he said over and over again the last addition to his Canticle of the Sun, "Be praised, O Lord, for our Sister Death." He sang Psalm 141, and at the end asked his superior to have his clothes removed when the last hour came and for permission to expire lying naked on the earth, in imitation of his Lord.
Francis of Assisi was a poor little man who astounded and inspired the Church by taking the gospel literally—not in a narrow fundamentalist sense, but by actually following all that Jesus said and did, joyfully, without limit and without a sense of self-importance.
Serious illness brought the young Francis to see the emptiness of his frolicking life as leader of Assisi's youth. Prayer—lengthy and difficult—led him to a self-emptying like that of Christ, climaxed by embracing a leper he met on the road. It symbolized his complete obedience to what he had heard in prayer: "Francis! Everything you have loved and desired in the flesh it is your duty to despise and hate, if you wish to know my will. And when you have begun this, all that now seems sweet and lovely to you will become intolerable and bitter, but all that you used to avoid will turn itself to great sweetness and exceeding joy."
From the cross in the neglected field-chapel of San Damiano, Christ told him, "Francis, go out and build up my house, for it is nearly falling down." Francis became the totally poor and humble workman.
He must have suspected a deeper meaning to "build up my house." But he would have been content to be for the rest of his life the poor "nothing" man actually putting brick on brick in abandoned chapels. He gave up all his possessions, piling even his clothes before his earthly father (who was demanding restitution for Francis' "gifts" to the poor) so that he would be totally free to say, "Our Father in heaven." He was, for a time, considered to be a religious fanatic, begging from door to door when he could not get money for his work, evokng sadness or disgust to the hearts of his former friends, ridicule from the unthinking.
But genuineness will tell. A few people began to realize that this man was actually trying to be Christian. He really believed what Jesus said: "Announce the kingdom! Possess no gold or silver or copper in your purses, no traveling bag, no sandals, no staff" (see Luke 9:1-3).
Francis' first rule for his followers was a collection of texts from the Gospels. He had no idea of founding an order, but once it began he protected it and accepted all the legal structures needed to support it. His devotion and loyalty to the Church were absolute and highly exemplary at a time when various movements of reform tended to break the Church's unity.
He was torn between a life devoted entirely to prayer and a life of active preaching of the Good News. He decided in favor of the latter, but always returned to solitude when he could. He wanted to be a missionary in Syria or in Africa, but was prevented by shipwreck and illness in both cases. He did try to convert the sultan of Egypt during the Fifth Crusade.
During the last years of his relatively short life (he died at 44), he was half blind and seriously ill. Two years before his death, he received the stigmata, the real and painful wounds of Christ in his hands, feet and side.
On his deathbed, he said over and over again the last addition to his Canticle of the Sun, "Be praised, O Lord, for our Sister Death." He sang Psalm 141, and at the end asked his superior to have his clothes removed when the last hour came and for permission to expire lying naked on the earth, in imitation of his Lord.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Ideas for Indoor Serenity Gardens | Garden Guides
Ideas for Indoor Serenity Gardens | Garden Guides
An indoor serenity garden is a room you can escape to for some quiet thought, a cup of tea or a yoga stretch. It is the perfect place to keep stone monuments to remember lost loved ones as well as a space to keep open and flowing to inspire you to the future. No matter what direction you take with your indoor serenity garden, you want to keep it simple. With a serenity garden, less is more.
Placement
Find a room in your house that comforts and calms you, a room you are drawn to when you are stressed. Ideally, this room--or enclosed porch--will be a quiet room with with a peaceful view. Windows allow for a breeze in warmer weather as well as sunlight for you and your plants. However, you can always enhance lighting with simple paper lanterns and candles. Keep open space in your room and consider having an indoor rock garden or a miniature Zen sand garden for simple meditation and relaxation.
Color
Keep the color in your indoor serenity garden soft. If your walls are not white, at least have them a quiet, earthy shade such as sage green. Choose plants with soft colors as well--white and green are always calming. Palms, ferns and vines are all simple green plants to keep potted in your indoor serenity garden. Bonsai and bamboo add an element of the exotic while keeping the color soft. Instead of brilliant flowering plants with contrasting blooms, choose plants with soft-colored blooms such as African violets, orchids and lilies.
Scent
Scent is a wonderful feature of your meditation room. Aromatherapy is known for calming people and for reducing stress. Add an herb garden to your indoor serenity garden, including aeromatics such as rosemary and lavender. Other calming scents that you can procure--be it through candles, incense, oils or plants--are grapefruit, mandarin, jasmine, rose and ylang-ylang.
Sound
The sound of water can be relaxing. Obtain an indoor fountain for your indoor garden, or keep your fish tank in that space. The filter will supply the soothing sound of water while the fish are visually calming. Birds are also a pleasant addition to a serenity garden if you have caged birds or can attract wild birds to feed outside of your windows. Wind chimes outside or inside will supply a sense of serenity. If all else fails, purchase a recording of soothing sounds such as rain, whale sounds or soft music to play in your indoor serenity garden.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Detox Juice Recipes
Detox Juice
Blend the juice of ¼ beetroot, ½ lemon, 2 celery sticks and 2 carrots with a pinch of turmeric and ½tsp extra virgin olive oil.
Detox Antioxidant Smoothie
Great served as a breakfast or mid-morning snack.
Put 5 blueberries, 5 strawberries, 5 goji berries (optional), 1 kiwi, juice of ½ a lemon or 1tbsp apple cider vinegar, plus 3tbsp water in a blender, and whizz until smooth.
Digestive Enzyme Smoothie
Enjoy after any meal, to help your digestive system in its important work.
Put 2 slices pineapple, ½ papaya (cubed), 2tbsp low-fat plain bio yogurt, juice ½ a lemon (optional) and 1 sprig mint in a blender, and whizz until smooth.
http://www.womanandhome.com
Detox Juice
Blend the juice of ¼ beetroot, ½ lemon, 2 celery sticks and 2 carrots with a pinch of turmeric and ½tsp extra virgin olive oil.
Detox Antioxidant Smoothie
Great served as a breakfast or mid-morning snack.
Put 5 blueberries, 5 strawberries, 5 goji berries (optional), 1 kiwi, juice of ½ a lemon or 1tbsp apple cider vinegar, plus 3tbsp water in a blender, and whizz until smooth.
Digestive Enzyme Smoothie
Enjoy after any meal, to help your digestive system in its important work.
Put 2 slices pineapple, ½ papaya (cubed), 2tbsp low-fat plain bio yogurt, juice ½ a lemon (optional) and 1 sprig mint in a blender, and whizz until smooth.
http://www.womanandhome.com
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Recycled Gift Bags
Supplies:
Brown paper bag or an old gift bag
Handmade paper(s)
Glue or Adhesive
Pencil and scissors
Instructions:
1. Carefully open the brown paper bag and unglue the bottom flaps. Don't worry about a little tearing.
2. Place the opened bag on the paper and draw the outlines keeping the length slightly longer than the original bag.
3. Cut the paper to cover the bag all the way around, with some extra paper to fold over the top.
4. Apply a layer of glue to original bag - specially at the folds.
5. Nicely place the cut handmade paper on it and align the bottom edge with the bottom of the bag. Attach to one side of the bag, making sure that the paper sticks on smoothly.
6. Cut a slit at each corner of extra paper fold at the top of the bag for an easier fold. Fold the excess paper down into the paper bag, making sure it is smooth.
7. Glue the bottom flaps.
Tip: If you have a card (thicker) paper, you don't need to use the underlying bag. (You can still use a brown bag to trace the folds. When the bag is ready, use a drawstring or ribbons to make the handles.
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/recycling-crafts/gift-bags.shtml
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
