LIVING IN LOVE AND JOY BY JOSEPH J. MAZZELLA joemazzella@frontier.com

Get my book WALKING THE PATH OF LOVE at www.amazon.com

SEA OF LOVE

It was a bitterly cold morning in the middle of a relatively mild Winter. The chill cut through my light jacket as I took my dogs out for their morning walk. The frosted grass crunched beneath my feet as I walked along. The stars were shining in the still dark sky. I paused and watched as my frozen breath floated up towards them. They seemed so far away. I thought about the billions of stars stretched across the vast sea of black out there. Our galaxy was just one of many in this incomprehensible universe. Our sun was just one tiny star in the massive Milky Way. Our planet was just one little lump of rock flying around it. It all made me feel small and insignificant. I wondered what part I could play in such an endless creation.

Suddenly, I felt a surprising warmth envelope me. It was like being wrapped in a blanket of love. In my moment of doubt God was touching my heart. I felt filled with peace and joy. I looked to the stars again and saw them sparkle as tears filled my eyes. I recognized then that God’s love was everywhere. That vast sea of black was filled with it. The entire universe was made from it. I saw too that even though I am only a tiny person on a tiny planet that I was important in His eyes. I was loved! I was watched over! I was cared for! And I could make a difference too! I smiled, petted my dogs, and walked back inside ready to start the day and be a part of the sea of love that fills our universe.

You can be a part of that vast sea of love as well. Just open your heart to the love that surrounds you. Just open your mind and let God guide you. Just open your soul and let His Oneness fill you. Then you will know what a powerful part you have in this endless creation that is life. You are loved by God! You can give His love to the world! You can share your love as well! You can help to create a better universe for us all! ---------------

MUSIC OF THE HEART

When my children were babies I spent many hours feeding them, changing them, bathing them, and dressing them. Yet, all of these hours combined are probably still less than the time I spent trying to make them laugh. From tickling toes, to belly blows, to making faces, to weird noises there was no limit to what I would do to hear the sweet sound of laughter coming from their tiny mouths. Their laughter brought such joy to my ears and my soul. It was so musical, so delightful, and so contagious that I found myself joining in every time I heard it. It made me think that this is what Heaven must sound like at times.

I have never understood the fact that as we grow older we tend to laugh less and less when instead we should be trying to laugh more and more. Laughter brings beauty to our faces. It reverses our wrinkles. It exercises our insides. It keeps us young. Laughter clears our thoughts. It wipes out our worries. It reduces our fears. It puts our problems in perspective. Laughter helps our souls to sing. It sets our spirits to soaring. It makes us sound like angels. It helps us to see the world through the eyes of love.

I am going to do my best to keep laughing all of my days here. I am going to keep my mind open for all the joys each day may bring. When my days are done I want my laugh lines deep enough to drive a truck in. When my life here is over I want to hear our Heavenly Father say: "Well lived, well laughed, and well loved!"

A good friend of mine recently sent me a framed saying. It says: "Laughter is the music of the heart." I hope then that you always fill your heart with music. I hope that your days are full of giggles, grins, chuckles, and belly laughs. I hope that you laugh and love your way all through this life and right into Heaven. ---------------

IN THIS MOMENT

It was a cold, cloudy and rainy morning outside my kitchen window today. I shivered and walked over to the kitchen table with a hot cup of coffee in one hand and a steaming bowl of oatmeal in the other. I sat down, gave thanks, and took in a spoonful of the oatmeal and a sip of the coffee. I sighed as my chilled insides grew instantly warmer.

Just then I felt a nudge on my knee. I looked down and saw my little beagle, Snoopy’s warm brown eyes looking up at me. I petted her head and smiled down at her. Suddenly, I felt two arms wrap gently around my neck as my daughter gave me a loving hug. I squeezed her arms with my hand and said "Good morning" to her. I gazed out the window and saw a single ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds and shining on the Maple tree in the meadow behind my house. A red Cardinal flew down, landed on a branch, and looked at me. It was beautiful. At that moment I felt so loved! I felt loved not only by my daughter and my dog, but by God and life itself. At that moment I had what we all want in this life: sweet, wonderful, glorious happiness! I looked to the heavens, laughed, and thanked God for my life!

Most of us go through life with one eye looking towards the future and the other eye gazing into the past. Half our sight is focused on our goals and desires. The other half is looking back with regret at mistakes and missed opportunities. In order to be happy, though, both of our eyes have to be here in the present. In order to be happy we have to live here now.

The future is only a dream and the past is only a memory. God doesn’t want us to live in either. God wants us to live in this moment. God wants us to love each other in this moment. God wants us to share kindness and have happiness in this moment. Life is a collection of moments. May you always fill yours with love, joy, and oneness with God. ---------------

A JOYFUL NOISE

It has been a long time since anyone has enjoyed my singing. That is if never can be classified as a long time. While my singing voice sounds fine to me to others it is no treat. I have been told it is far too high and off key at times and that it sounds strangely soft and raspy as well. Even my speaking voice has been likened to Winnie the Pooh with a cold.

I can remember as a boy in Church when my older brother nudged me so I wouldn’t sing the hymns so loud. In school I was never invited to join the choir or any band. Even when I used to sing lullabies to my children during their baby years I would get puzzled expressions instead of sleepy eyes. And often when I used to sing aloud in the house my dogs would join in and howl the melody. Finally, I decided that it would be best if I only sang aloud when I was alone.

Still I sing. When I am walking outside by myself, I sing. When I am in the shower I belt out a tune or two. When I am driving my car and a great song comes on the radio I join right in. Even when I am mowing the lawn in the Summer and shoveling snow from the drive in the Winter I find myself pouring out all the love and joy in my soul through my voice. Even though it may not be pleasant to others’ ears, it still brings happiness to my heart. After all, God never asked us to make a beautiful noise, only a joyful one.

God doesn’t care about the sound of our voices, the features of our faces, or the cut of our clothes. God only cares about the song in our souls. I pray then that all of you never stop singing yours. I hope that all of you make a joyful noise all the days of your lives here. When you are too shy to sing with your voices then sing with your hearts. Sing with your thoughts. Sing with your feelings. Sing with your actions. Sing with your lives. Make your every moment here a love song that delights Heaven with its sweet music. --------------

DON’T DUCK

It was a bitterly cold day and six inches of snow had fallen the night before. I was five years old and being bundled up by my Mom in front of the stove. In those days a heavy snow was no reason to cancel school. After my Mom pulled on my mittens and snapped the hood around my head I walked outside to wait for the school bus to arrive.

The snow was heavy on the old, swinging bridge that led from our house, across the river and to the main road. Me and my brothers had grown up walking across it, though, so I wasn’t scared. In fact, when I saw my ten and twelve year old brothers involved in a snowball fight on it I joined right in. After hitting my oldest brother in the back with a well thrown snowball, I laughed while he picked one up to throw back at me. I ran back to the far end of the bridge and thought I was safe, but he flung his snowball at me with all his might. In slow motion I saw the white sphere getting closer and closer. I bent down and ducked thinking it would sail harmlessly over my head. But at the last second the icy missile dropped and instead of bouncing off of my thick coat, it hit me square in the face. It stung so much that I ran crying back inside to my Mom who just shook her head and wiped off my nose, mouth, and eyes. Then she smiled, hugged me and sent me back outside to get on the bus and face life once again.

That wasn’t the last time that I tried to duck the troubles that were headed my way and got smacked in the face instead. Over the years I have learned that it is far better to not duck them at all, but rather to look them straight in the eye and learn what they have to teach me.

In truth, God uses both the good and the bad to strengthen our souls, open our hearts, and teach us the value of love in this life. And when we cry out to Him, He is always there as well to comfort us with a smile, give us a hug, and send us back out to face life once again. ---------------

MIRRORS

Several years ago I noticed something strange: people seemed to be smiling at me more often. During my young adult years people had never smiled at me that much. Most of the people I saw seemed to have grim, tense faces. They would look at me for only a second or avert their eyes altogether. Sometimes they would nod or say "hi" but more often said nothing at all.

All that seemed to change, though, as I got older. For some surprising reason people were suddenly greeting me with a warm smile when I passed them. Their eyes seemed to sparkle when they said, "hello" and many times they would even stop to chat happily with me for a few minutes. At first I didn’t know what to make of this. Had the whole world suddenly gotten kinder without telling me? Had the hearts and souls of everyone I met suddenly grown more loving and joyful for some reason?

Then one day when I was walking alone in a store the answer came to me. I was thinking to myself of how much God loved me and of all the blessings I had been given in this life. At that moment I walked by a display of mirrors and saw that I had the happiest expression on my face. I had been smiling without even knowing it. Then suddenly I realized that I was the one who had changed. I had grown so much in love, joy, and oneness with God. And it was the light shining from my own soul that others were reflecting back to me.

We are all mirrors in this life. We all reflect each other’s love. We all share each other’s light. We all help each other to become the image of God that we were meant to be. May you always mirror every bit of goodness, kindness, and joy that you see in this world. May your own soul always shine bright as well. And may you make your whole life here a reflection of the light of Heaven and the love of God. ---------------

A MORNING GIFT

Every morning when I wake up I find a neatly wrapped gift lying on my chest. Now I have to admit that in my past I always pushed this gift aside without even looking at it. I was too rushed and determined to get things done to even consider opening it. I was working, pushing, and trying so hard to make my life work out with so little progress at the end of each day. I trudged through all of my pains, challenges and difficulties while things went from bad to worse. I kept crawling through my life until I was too exhausted to go on. Then one morning I finally noticed that beautiful gift lying there and opened it for the first time.

These days when I open my eyes and see the gift waiting for me, I smile. I carefully and happily tear off the paper and open the box. I take out the gift and hold it in my arms. I give thanks for it and bring it with me wherever I go all through the day. This gift makes my life so much better. I meet people with a smiling face and a loving heart. I laugh easily, sing often, and feel my spirit dancing even when my feet don’t. I face life’s struggles, challenges, difficulties, and pains with hope, determination, optimism, and joy. I know that whatever I must face and whatever I must do that this glorious gift will carry me through.

This gift is Grace. It is the unconditional love of God. It is the unmerited help of our Heavenly Father in all we do. Grace is waiting for us each and every morning of our lives. It is waiting to make a home in our hearts and minds. It is waiting for us to share it with the world. Grace is there ready to help us live our live with love every single day.

What are you going to do when you wake up tomorrow morning? Are you going to shove this gift aside and struggle to make it on your own? Or are you going to thank God for this precious gift, take it in your hands, and place it joyfully into your soul? ---------------

THE NIGHT PEACE FOUND ME

My oldest son turned 24 recently. When it comes to the soul, however, time is irrelevant and memory can melt away the years in a second. When I looked at my grown son my mind took me back to one very special time only a few weeks after his birth. I had awakened in the middle of the night after hearing him stir in his cradle. My wife was still recovering from the emergency c-section that was needed when complications occurred during his delivery. Wanting to let her rest, I picked my boy up and slowly walked into the living room.

Taking a bottle with me I sat down in our rocking chair and fed him while I gently rocked us both. His loving, innocent eyes gazed up at me and I smiled down at him. After feeding him and burping him I watched him fall asleep on my shoulder. I continued to rock and looked out the window at the starry, night sky. In that second, time stood still and I felt something I had never felt before: true peace. All the worries of life faded away. Every desire, want, and fear of the future seemed meaningless. All the anger, frustration, hatred, greed, jealousy, envy, and sadness that had plagued me in my life melted away from my heart. All that was left was that moment of perfect peace. All that was left was a feeling of oneness with God carried straight into my soul on the wings of love and joy. I sat there with tears in my eyes, thanking God for my baby boy and for this wondrous feeling of peace.

That special moment started a change in me. Material things soon lost their importance. What I wanted instead was the peace that I had felt in that moment. What I wanted was the joy and oneness with God that went with it. What I wanted was to show everyone how to have it as well. Thankfully, that peace isn’t hard to find. It is waiting for us in every loving choice we make, prayer we pray, and thing we do. May it find you always. --------------

THE LIGHT TO COME

It was the darkest time of the year, the last few weeks before the Winter Solstice. The long, black nights seemed to go on forever. When the sun did rise it would race across the sky and set again before you even had a chance to enjoy it. The cloudy days were the worst of all. Then even the few hours of sunlight were covered in gray.

I felt my energy ebb during these days. It was tougher to get out of bed in the morning and harder to get everything done during the day. The darkness made my body feel tired and lowered my normally good spirits. I definitely wasn’t looking forward to the 3 long months of Winter that lay ahead.

To fight off these Winter blues I decided to do all I could to nurture my own inner light. I prayed often and asked God’s love to fill my heart and soul. I sang along to the Christmas carols playing on my record player. I read uplifting books. I laughed with my children and played with my dogs. I walked outside during the short, sunny hours and breathed in the cold, frosty air. I crunched through the snow, smiled towards the sky, and thanked my Heavenly Father for all the blessings He had given me in this life. Doing these things rekindled the embers in my soul and turned them into a roaring fire once again. I knew that Spring was 3 months away, but I knew too that each day would bring more light both in the sky and inside of me.

As these months of Winter go by don’t just bide your time waiting for the greater light to come. Instead brighten the light and love that glows deep within you. Then let it out, let it shine, and share it with the world. And remember too that the greatest light to come won’t be on the first day of Spring or the first day of Summer. It will be when we enter into the glorious light of Heaven and the loving arms of God. ---------------

WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT

Sometimes it takes the wisdom of a 2 year old to remind us of what Christmas and life are all about. It was the day after Christmas 19 years ago. I was a struggling substitute teacher who had barely earned enough to pay the rent and electric bills for our tiny apartment that month. The only gifts my wife and I could afford for our children were a few stuffed animals.

I put my kids to bed that night and wearily walked back into the living room. I was sad about not being able to give them a better Christmas. Suddenly, I heard a giggle. I walked back into their bedroom and my foot stepped on one of those stuffed animals. A second giggle came from within the big cardboard box that held their toys. I peeked over the top of it. My 2 year old daughter had dragged her 5 year old brother into the box to hide from Daddy. I gently stepped over the toys they had emptied out to make room for themselves, leaned down and tickled my little girl. She squealed with delight and wrapped her arms around my neck. I smiled and gave her a big kiss on the cheek. I hugged her and her brother then put them back to bed. Gazing down at them I realized that Love was the only Christmas gift we needed.

Looking back on that time reminds me of what Christmas is all about. It isn’t about how expensive the gifts we give and receive are. It is rather about the birth of another special child some two thousand years ago. This child would grow up to teach us all how to love each other. He would give us all so much joy. He would show us all how to face the trials of this life with faith and hope while preparing our souls for the greater life to come.

May we all embrace the wisdom of this special child. May we all fill this Christmas with hugs, kisses, laughter, and joy. And may we all spend all of our days here on Earth sharing God’s greatest gift: Love! ---------------

THE BELL RINGER

"Ring-a-ding-ding. Ringity-dingity-ding." The sound floated towards me as I walked across a parking lot the other day. I had enjoyed a rare lunch out with my daughter and decided to do a little Christmas shopping before heading home. The department store looked warm on that chilly, wintry day and the ringing bell beckoned me with its sweet music.

As I got to the store entrance I saw the music maker. He was an old bell ringer working tirelessly beside the Salvation Army bucket at the front of the store. His lean frame and scruffy white beard made him look like an underfed Santa Claus in blue jeans. His eyes sparkled and his face shined with a youthful energy as he rang out a joyful rhythm with his little bell. I fished a bill out of my wallet and dropped it in the bucket. The bell ringer smiled and said, "God bless you. Have a Merry Christmas!" with a warm, raspy voice.

I went into the store and tried to look around at all the items for sale but my eyes kept drifting back to that wonderful music maker out front. His aged arm never stopped ringing. His merry bell never stopped singing. His body may have been old but his spirit was younger than mine. His warm soul seemed immune to the cold, blustery winds. His vitality seemed to come from Heaven itself. His efforts may not have helped to feed every hungry child or help every homeless family. Yet, he was working with all of his heart to help those he could. With a loving spirit and swinging arm he was making this world a better place. I stood there wondering what this planet of ours would be like if only all of us did the same.

May we all follow the shining example of this skinny Santa in blue jeans. May our hearts ring out with God’s love. May our strong arms never tire of helping others in need. And may we all do everything we can to make this world a more Heavenly place at Christmastime and always. ---------------

3 DIMES

When I was a boy I used to love to find a stray penny on the sidewalk. I would save them in a jar in my room and then use them to buy candy or gum when I had found enough. Later as an adult I read a story about how a minister still loved to find pennies on the sidewalk because on each one was written the words: "In God we trust." He said that each penny was a message from Heaven that reminded him of just how much God loved him.

Today I was headed to the store to buy a week’s worth of groceries for my family. I didn’t really feel up to it, though. My stomach was nauseous and I felt weak. I wondered if I was coming down with a virus. Still, our cupboards were bare and it couldn’t be put off. I stopped first to fill my car with gas before heading to the store. As I walked in to pay I saw a dime laying on the asphalt. I picked it up and remembered the minister’s story. I felt blessed 10 times over. I read the words, "In God we trust" written on it and realized that sick or not God loved me and was with me today and always.

Later as I was heading into the store I saw a local club doing a Christmas fund drive to buy toys for the needy children in our area. I pulled out a few dollars and handed them to the people. They thanked me and wished me a "Merry Christmas" as I turned to go into the store. Then I saw it. A second dime laying right in front of the door. This time I felt so good that my stomach stopped feeling queasy. I pocketed the dime, looked to the sky, and smiled.

I took my time shopping since I was still feeling a little weak. Finally before heading home I stopped to pick up a take out pizza for dinner. I didn’t really feel up to cooking. When I got my change I dropped it along with my first two dimes into the charity box on the counter. I enjoyed the idea of passing them and the love that went with them on to others. I walked out with a happy heart. I took one step toward my car and saw a third dime gleaming in the sunshine on the sidewalk. I laughed with delight. I knew that Heaven was watching over me and God was encouraging me to keep loving, caring, and sharing all that I could in this life. I felt loved not 30 times over, but 30,000 times over. When I got home too every bit of sickness and weakness had disappeared from my body. I felt healthy, alive and full of joy.

As you go through this life with all of its struggles, sickness, and problems know that you are loved. You are loved with a love more powerful than you can ever imagine. You are loved by God, Our Heavenly Father, the creator of us all! And the proof of it is all around you. It is in every sunrise and every flower. It is in every smile you see and every hug you get. It is in every good thing, miraculous message, or curious coincidence that happens upon you in this life. It is even in every penny or dime you find on the ground. Rejoice in that love, cherish it, welcome it into your heart and soul, and make your whole life a celebration and sharing of it. ---------------

COMFORT FOODS

It was a gray and gloomy November day. An icy rain was falling from the overcast sky. The bare trees were mourning their loss of leaves. I felt the day’s cold and darkness working its way into me as well. I zipped up my sweater to fight off the chill in my bones and said a prayer to keep the melancholy from creeping into my soul. I knew then just what I needed to warm up my insides and lift my spirits: a big bowl of vegetable soup.

I laughed as I walked over to the stove and turned the eye on. I smiled as I put the hearty portions of mushrooms, potatoes, carrots, green beans, and celery into the pot and stirred them slowly. The bubbling broth and rising steam brought back so many loving moments from my childhood. I remembered my Mom calling hot soup one of life’s great comforts. I remembered my sweet Italian Nana saying that it nourished the soul.

I sat down at the table with this steaming bowl of goodness and took my time blowing on each spoonful before savoring each bite. While I ate I quietly thought about all the other "comfort foods" that had filled my stomach and warmed my heart over the years. There was homemade bread, Sunday spaghetti dinners, birthday cake with ice cream, Provolone cheese, morning cereal, evening popcorn, and so many others. I knew, however, that it wasn’t the foods themselves, but rather Mom and Nana’s love that made them so special. When the world was at its coldest it was this love that kept me warmer than any blanket, sweater, or bowl of soup ever could. When the world was at its darkest it was this love that kept my childhood home full of light.

I hope that no matter how cold, dark, or hungry your days may feel at times you can still find God’s greatest comfort food: LOVE simmering on the stove in your heart. And I hope that you will always share a bowl of it with every starving soul you meet along the way. ---------------

ADVICE TO A YOUNGER ME

All of us at some point in our lives have wished that we could write a letter to our younger selves. We have wished we could pass on the wisdom we have learned and help them to avoid some of the pain and struggles that we have gone through. I think that my own advice to the younger me would be quite simple. This is what I would say.

Wake up earlier more often and take the time to watch the sun rising over the hills. Bend down to smell the flowers in the Spring. Swim more in the Summer. Play in the Fall leaves. Make snow angels every Winter. Turn the TV off in the afternoon and go play with your dogs instead. Don’t rush through those Sunday family dinners. Savor every bite of food and joy in them. Tell your Mom and Grandma you love them everyday and hug them every chance you can. . Don’t complain about chopping wood with your Dad. Enjoy every moment you have with him. And don’t argue so much with your brothers. Life is too short to spend being miserable.

Stop being so shy. Other people are just like you inside. Smile more. Laugh a lot. Sing often. They are joy creators. Share a kind word every chance you get. Give your inner goodness to everyone. Don’t worry about the future. Instead enjoy this day God has given you. Make the time to play with your young children. One day you will blink and they will be as big as you are. Quit wishing you were rich in money. Yet. rejoice at being rich in heart. Realize that happiness is simple. It is we who are complicated. Know in your heart that God loves you just as you are. Know in your heart that you can love too. Then go out and share your love with the world. When you do you will have the joy you have always longed for.

How I wish I could give this advice to the younger me, but I can’t. He probably wouldn’t have listened anyway. Still, it isn’t too late to follow this advice today and that is all that matters. ---------------

COOKIES

I had just picked up my son from the sheltered workshop for the handicapped where he works part-time. We were driving home listening to music on the radio when suddenly a news break came on. It appeared that a reality television star had just wasted 10 million dollars on a wedding for a marriage that lasted 72 days. The next story predicted that BILLIONS of dollars could be spent on negative attack ads in the coming election year. I sighed and wondered about this weird and crazy world we live in. "Is there any hope for us at all?," I thought.

"Dad, I shared my cookies!" I turned my head to see my son’s sparkling eyes. He started telling me how he had shared the cookies I had put in his lunch box that morning with some of the other handicapped people who worked at the sheltered workshop. I smiled and told him what a great boy he was. Then I realized that God had instantly answered the question in my mind with the sweet voice and loving example of my own son.

Is there any hope for us at all? Yes there is! It lies in the beautiful souls of people like my son. It lies in the caring hearts of people like you and me. It lies in the common sense of all of us who know that it is better to give than to receive, that people are far more important than profits, and that when you stop to help even one person you change the world for the better.

Yes it is a crazy and weird world we live in. It is a world of warped values where inequality and stupidity often go hand in hand. Yet, in this world live so many caring souls, so many loving hearts, and so many joyful spirits shining their light for all to see. There is hope for us all then. Our choices are clear and the path of love lies straight before all of us. All we need to do is take it and walk it in joy. All we need to do is grasp the hands of those we meet along the way, stroll together in God’s sunshine, and maybe even share a few cookies together. ---------------

A FAMILY TRADITION

It was mid-October when I first spotted them. They were nestled in next to the candy and Halloween costumes as I walked through the store. They were the first Christmas decorations of the year. It was the beginning of the 10 week period when the stores do all they can to get us to buy all we can. It was the great Christmas shopping rush and the bigger the gifts the better. I shook my head sadly and walked on, but then a wonderful memory came back into my mind.

It was late-December from several years earlier. I was shopping alone trying to pick up some thick Winter socks to warm my frozen feet. As I rounded the corner in the store I saw a Christmas tree full of paper angels. On each angel was the name of a needy child whose family couldn’t afford to buy them a gift that year. Shoppers who picked an angel could buy a simple toy or gift and the store would wrap it and send it to the child that Christmas. Around the tree I saw a teenage boy and girl picking out several angels apiece. Their mother was smiling while she watched them. I walked up next to her and started talking with her. She told me that her children started this several years ago when she first explained to them what the Charity Angel tree was for. Each offered to give up one of their toys that year so that a needy child could have one. It didn’t stop then, though. Each year since the kids had saved money they earned throughout the year and bought more and more children the gifts they wouldn’t have otherwise. It had become a family tradition. I smiled when she finished, walked over to the tree, and picked out a few angels too. I left the store feeling in touch with God, Christmas, and life once again.

May we always remember that life is about the love you share not the money you have. Life is about the people you help not the things you own. And may we also see that it is never too late to start a family tradition that makes the Father of us all smile.-------------

MY FIRST KISS

I can still remember my first real kiss like it was yesterday. I was in the eighth grade. Since kindergarten I had always been the shortest student in class, but a recent growth spurt had caught me up with the other boys. I was still awkward around girls, though, and was surprised when one of the prettiest in school asked to be my girlfriend. It felt strange walking her to class and holding her hand, yet it felt good too. When she had an argument with her Mom one morning she cried on my shoulder and I placed my arms around her to comfort her.

Just before we were about to get on the school buses to head home that day she turned to me and pressed her lips to mine. Neurons fired like crazy in my brain. My eyes closed while my heart swelled. My body tingled all the way down to my toes. A wonderful warmth filled my whole being. She then ran quickly to her bus while I walked slowly to mine. On the inside, however, it felt like I was floating on a cloud of Pure Joy.

That first romance soon ended like most first ones do. It crashed into a wall of my own jealousy and immaturity. Yet, I will forever cherish it for the feeling that first kiss brought into my life. It was a Heavenly Joy that I would rediscover time and again. It was there with me on my wedding day. It was with me the first time I held each of my newborn babies in my arms. It was waiting for me when I first realized just how much God loves us all. And it filled my heart once more when I saw that I too could love and have happiness no matter what life might bring. Now I do my best to carry that joy in my heart and share it with my life every chance I can.

May this joy become a permanent guest in your soul as well. May you choose it, cherish it, and create it from your first kiss to your last sigh. May you give it to everyone you meet and make your little corner of the Earth feel more like a little corner of Heaven. ----------------

I AM OPTIMISTIC

I am optimistic about the future of the human race. Now many of my friends have asked me time and again how I can have such hope for the future in the face of the problems we have today. Hunger, pollution, sickness, inflation, recession, unemployment, wars, and terrorism fill so many hearts with fear. This world seems to be overflowing too with greed, hypocrisy, anger, hatred, prejudice, and intolerance. A better life for ourselves and our children seems for many to be some impossible dream. How then can I be so optimistic?

My optimism comes from looking into the hearts and souls of all the people I see everyday. I see a little boy holding open a heavy door for an elderly man walking with a cane. I see a young mother carrying a baby in her arms buy an extra box of macaroni in the store and put it in the food drive box to help feed the hungry. I see 3 different people pull off the road to help a motorist whose car broke down. I see a lady going door to door to share the extra vegetables she had grown in her garden with her neighbors. I see teenagers giving up their Spring and Summer vacations to spend their time helping to repair the homes of the poor and elderly. I see a man taking off his one Winter coat and giving it to a woman who has none. I see people give their time, talents, and energies to make the life of someone else a little better and a little brighter. Everywhere I look I see people with smiling faces and kind hearts. Everywhere I look I see people helping people, people caring for our world, and people loving their neighbors as themselves. Everywhere I look I see people living as God meant for us to live.

That is why I remain so optimistic about us all. Sometimes we fail, are selfish, and create more problems than we solve. Still, in our hearts we are good. In our souls we are God’s children. In our lives we are loving beings capable of saving this world for us and our children. --------------

WITH JOY AND THANKSGIVING

I recently got some pictures of my Aunt’s 86th birthday party. Although I haven’t been able to visit her in many years she looked as happy and beautiful as ever. Her eyes sparkled with the same youth and vitality that I remembered from our Summer visits to her home some 35 years ago. Gazing at her picture took me back in an instant to those wonderful times once again.

Her home was an eight hour drive from ours over mountainous roads so we could only visit during the Summer. When we arrived, though, we were always greeted with hugs, tears, laughter and love. The highlight of our visits was always the early Thanksgiving dinner that we shared. The dining room table would groan under the platters of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, yams, rolls, stuffing, pumpkin pies, and ice cream. After saying grace we would all feast until we couldn’t feast anymore. My late Uncle Rich would always smile after dinner and joke that we had to visit more often because this was the only time that Aunt Charlotte ever fed him well.

In the evening I would go to bed with a full stomach and a happy heart. Sweet laughter would drift up from the front porch and into my open bedroom window while Mom, Dad, Uncle Rich, and Aunt Charlotte talked long into the night. A peaceful feeling would fill my spirit as the sounds of joy and thankfulness floated up from below to be my loving lullaby.

Those beautiful childhood memories have stayed with me to this day. They were by far the greatest gifts my Aunt Charlotte could have ever given me. They helped shape my soul and opened my heart to the love of God that was all around me. They helped me to see the kind of life that I wanted to live and share with others. I will be forever thankful to her for her wonderful lessons on living with laughter and love. I will be forever grateful to her for showing me how to go through each day with both joy and thanksgiving. ----------------

MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ALL

I decided to take my sons for a walk the other day. Autumn was in the air. Rich, delightful reds painted by God’s own hand were coloring some of the trees. Heavenly yellows shining brightly in the afternoon sunshine were coloring others. On the ground a carpet of dry leaves had begun to form along the path. They smelled wonderful and crunched under our feet as we walked along. A light breeze swirled newly falling ones around and around until they too gently floated to the ground. High in the sky we noticed a V-shaped flock of birds heading south for the Winter. As we walked along I smiled. Beauty was all around us. It felt so good to be out in nature. I felt blessed to be watching God’s glorious creation at its best.

As we turned a corner along the walking trail. I noticed a woman slowly making her way toward us. She was an elderly lady with an unkempt mass of gray hair. She wore old jeans and work boots. Her sweater was threadbare in spots and had obviously seen better days. She was carrying a trash bag in one hand and a pointed stick with a nail driven through it in the other. As she slowly made her way toward us she stopped to jab a piece of trash she saw on the ground with her stick. Then quickly and neatly she placed it in the trash bag. When we met she smiled and said: "Hello" to us. Her teeth were cracked and worn, but her voice was as youthful and angelic as I had heard in many a day. We talked for a bit and I thanked her for making our nature walk more beautiful with her work. She smiled again and said: " I just do what I can" before continuing down the path. Of all the things I saw that day, she was the most beautiful.

May we all live as lovely a life as her. May God help us all to grow more and more loving so that our last days here are our best days here. May God help us all to be a beautiful blessing to this world today, tomorrow, and for the rest of our lives. ---------------

A RAY OF SUNSHINE

I had never seen a ray of sunshine walk before. Still, there it was walking into a local store ahead of me. As soon as this ray walked in too it lit up the whole room. The faces of everyone there brightened with joy. People who were staring down at the floor looked up with sparkling eyes. Mouths that were closed and frowning quickly opened with cheerful smiles. Voices that were quiet before suddenly spoke out with both laughter and kindness greeting this beam of light by name. Spirits that were feeling a little down were soon soaring skyward again. The entire store seemed happier all thanks to this walking ray of sunshine.

This ray of light is my oldest son. In the eyes of the world he is seen as mentally handicapped. In the eyes of Heaven, however, he is seen as so much more. His concern, caring, laughter, love, gentleness, and good cheer light up the lives of everyone he meets. His bright and beautiful spirit touches the hearts of so many everyday. When it comes to the essential things in life he is far less handicapped than the rest of us. In the eyes of Heaven he is a shining angel on a divine mission to bring more love and more light into this world that needs it so much.

While my son happily goes about making this world a better place I do my best to follow his example. I do my best to love as simply, freely, enthusiastically, and unconditionally as he does. I do my best to brighten the days of others without any thought for myself. I do my best to live as a Child of God and a being of light each and everyday here.

You too can be a ray of sunshine in this often cloudy world. You too can shine bright and light up the lives of so many others. Just fill yourself full of God’s love and light and then go out and share it with the world. It isn’t hard to do. In fact, it is the most joyous thing any of us can do. Live well, love others, and like my son you will make this world a little brighter today. ---------------

TUNING INTO GOD

I find myself using the mute button on my remote control more and more these days. There is just so much on television right now that I don’t want to listen to. Whether it is hypocritical politicians blowing enough hot air to cause a Summer heat wave, shallow television stars arguing on horrible reality shows, or screaming commercials trying to force me to buy something I neither need nor want, I find myself turning them down, tuning them out, and turning them off.

Usually after muting the media I will sit at my kitchen table, sip some cold tea, and gaze out the window. I will look at the beauty of nature instead of the glare of the television. I will allow the noise of the world to melt away and rest in the silence of my own soul. Then I will breath deeply, close my eyes, and listen carefully for the loving voice that never lies, argues, or screams. This sweet voice uplifts me and encourages me. It tells me to keep trying, to keep loving, and to keep doing all I can to make this world a better place. It reminds me that life is worth living, that goodness lies in us all, and that we are all here for a purpose.

This gentle voice is God speaking to my heart, soul, and mind. He is always ready to talk to us in these quiet moments of prayer. He is always ready to bless us with His peace. He is always ready to guide us with His wisdom. He is waiting patiently to fill us with His love. He is waiting patiently to show us how we can love each other as well. He is waiting patiently to give us joy.

Take the time today to tune into God. Turn off the television, silence the cell phone, and shut down the computer. Sit down in the quiet. Close your eyes and open your heart. Breath slowly and deeply. Gently pray to God for His love and His guidance. Then just listen. You will be amazed at the thoughts that come into your mind, the peace that comes into your heart, and the love that fills your soul. You will be amazed at how tuning into God can tune up your life. ---------------

CLOSER TO HOME

It was near the end of Summer in my 16th year. I was riding gloomily in the back seat of a large van heading down an endless interstate. I was at the end of a two week road trip with several other teenagers to visit a seminary college in Iowa. Along the way I had spent several days in Pittsburgh, Chicago, and on the road. I felt tired, lonely, and homesick. It was the longest I had ever been away from my family.

I glanced out my window and suddenly my heart leapt up. There in the distance I could see them: the beautiful mountains of my home. After days and days on the dry, brown plains I finally saw the green hills that I grew up in again. As we got closer and closer to those glorious Appalachian mountains I felt myself growing happier and happier. My face lit up, my smile returned, and my eyes moistened. There was a warmth filling my spirit. It felt so good to be going home. It was such a joy to be headed back to the place that I was raised. It was such a blessing to finally know that I was almost back where I belonged.

Looking back on that memory makes me wonder what it will be like when I finally return to my true home. Even for the longest life this world is just a temporary residence. It is a place that we learn, love, and grow in but it isn’t really home. Our true home lies beyond this world and its love, light, joy, and beauty are beyond my words to describe. Our true home is Heaven, it is where our family awaits us, and it is where our spirits all long to be.

Until I reach that blessed place, though, I will do my best to enjoy each day of life’s journey here. I will do my best to use every moment to get a little closer to home. I will do my best to travel through life with a loving heart, a joyous smile, and a giving spirit. I will do my best to keep God in my soul until the day when my soul returns to God. ---------------

WHAT YOU CAN GIVE TO LIFE

"I’m not sure what I want out of life." Those were the words I spoke to my high school guidance counselor some 27 years ago. At that point life seemed to be a mysterious adventure that lay far beyond the security of high school. Little did I know then just how much of an adventure that next quarter of a century would be. It was full of ups and downs, joys and tragedies, triumphs and mistakes, laughter and pain, love and heartbreak. One thing is sure, though, I definitely didn’t get what I wanted. And for that I am eternally grateful.

You see, God in His infinite wisdom always gave me what I needed and not what I thought I wanted. If I had gotten what I had wished for I would be a far more selfish and far less loving person today. Instead God kept me growing, learning, and becoming the person I was meant to be. Life was my school, troubles were my teachers, and the twists and turns of this world were my courses. The classes continue on as well for me, you, and everyone here.

These days I try not to think of what I want out of life but think of what I can give to life instead. I strive to be a loving father, a caring friend, and a good neighbor. I seek to do what I can with what I have to make Earth a little more like Heaven and to show others that they can do the same. I try to share all the things I have learned these past 27 years: that God loves us more than we could ever dream, that we can love each other as well, and that when we do so we will have JOY no matter what struggles we may face or losses we may endure.

Take some time today then to think about what you can give to life. You are a beloved Child of God with unique talents, knowledge, and blessings. You can give this world so much love and do so much to help others. You can make this world and your soul a little better each day. And when you do so you will get what we all truly want out of life: sweet happiness. ---------------

YOU CAN’T KEEP TIME

My watch broke a few days ago. The band snapped without me noticing, causing it to fall to the floor while I was doing the laundry. As I stepped back to grab another armful of clothes I heard a nasty crunch underfoot. I picked up the watch face and saw a spider web of cracks overtop the now frozen hands. I could see at once that it was beyond repair and sadly tossed it in the garbage.

Strangely, now that it is gone I find that I have no wish to buy a new one. Perhaps it is because in this digital age clocks are everywhere. They are on my wall, in my car, on my computer, and even on my phone. I can’t even turn my head without seeing what time it is.

I think that the real reason, however, is that as I have grown older my relationship with time itself has changed. While my soul feels as young and ageless as ever, time in this world has gone by much too fast. The little puppy I once held in the palm of my hand is now an elderly dog with arthritis. The little baby boy I once rocked to sleep on my chest is now a 23 year old man who is bigger than me. Young, vibrant, and energetic adults from my childhood have now grown old, sickened and even passed away. I can see now that, in truth, time can’t be kept. It flows on and on and carries us with it on a river of change. The days zoom by, our hair grays, our skin wrinkles, and our bodies wear out. No amount of looking at our watches can slow it down. All we can do is embrace it and enjoy each day we are given.

Earth isn’t meant for eternity only Heaven is. Do your best then to spend each precious moment here in joy. Do your best to spend your days living, laughing, hugging, helping, praying, and smiling. Do your best to spend your seconds here loving God, yourself, and others. Do your best to make the passage of time on Earth a passageway to Heaven. ---------------

A PLACE AT THE TABLE

I was sitting at the kitchen table this afternoon eating my dinner. My two hungry boys had already finished their’s and taken their plates to the sink. I wasn’t in a hurry, however. Outside my kitchen window a mother deer and her two fawns were eating fallen apples around the Apple tree at the far end of the meadow. Watching them delight in their Heaven sent snack made my own dinner taste even better so I ate my rice slowly and enjoyed the view.

When I was down to just a few spoonfuls left I felt thirsty and got up to get myself another cold glass of iced tea. When I turned back to the table, though, I saw my little dog standing on it finishing off the last of my rice. She had jumped up on my pushed out chair, bounded up on the table, and made short work of what was left of my dinner. When she was done she looked up at me with grateful, big, brown eyes and I didn’t have the heart to scold her.

After I put my licked clean plate in the sink I petted my dog and smiled. I thought of my Heavenly Father who loved me so much. He didn’t offer me the left over scraps of life but instead prepared me a daily feast of love, joy, friendship, family, beauty, and laughter. Each day I found my plate full to overflowing with all the blessings God wanted me to have. Each day I was given not only my daily bread but also His loving company while I ate it. Each day I found the chair pushed out and my place at the table waiting for me to join in this banquet of life. All I had to do was sit down, eat, and ask others to join me as well.

That invitation isn’t just extended to me either. God wants all of you to join in this banquet. God wants all of you to share in all the good things in life that nourish our souls. God wants all of you to bring others to the table as well. Don’t let the feast of life pass you by then. As my old Italian Grandma used to say, "Mangia, Mangia," (Eat, Eat)! ---------------

IT’S FREE

I was doing my monthly bills again recently. The stack was huge, so I took a moment to enjoy the balance at the top of the page. Then I clutched my pen and started to write check after check to pay bill after bill while the balance got smaller and smaller with each one.

I finally finished and looked at what was left. The ending balance wasn’t much. It amazed me just how much everything costs these days. I looked down again at the tiny amount left over and sighed. It was then, however, that I felt someone behind me. I turned and saw my youngest son smiling down on me. His handicapped mind had no concept of money, yet his gentle spirit seemed to know that I could use his smile right then. I put my pen down, got up from the table, and gave my boy a hug. I rested my chin on his shoulder, patted him on the back, and thanked God one more time for giving him to me. At that moment I felt like the richest man in the entire world. I thanked God again for helping me to see the truth that the most priceless thing in this whole world is free.

Love is a greater treasure than all the crown jewels that ever sat on a Queen’s head. Love is more precious than every ounce of gold that was ever mined from the ground. Love is more valuable than all the stocks and bonds that Wall Street ever sold. Love is what we are here for. Love is what life is all about. And love is free!

The next time then that your pockets are empty, the next time that your bank balance is low, the next time that you don’t have a thin dime to your name remember that the most valuable thing in this life doesn’t cost a cent. Love is a gift from God that we are all free to share. It brings us more joy than all the money in the world and the more we give it away the more of it we have in our hearts, souls, and lives. ---------------

THE POWER OF WORDS

It was 15 years ago. I was driving home with my 8 year old son after a trip to the grocery store. Traffic was light. The sun was shining. A cool Autumn breeze was in the air. I was quietly singing along to the song playing on the radio. I pulled to a stop at the intersection and looked both ways. The road was clear. I slowly started to make a right turn when suddenly a car rounded a curve at high speed and came straight at me. I stomped on the breaks of my car killing the engine in the process. The speeder zoomed past my dead car without even slowing down missing me by inches.

Before I knew it a stream of profanity was flying from my lips, chasing after the car and its driver. I then looked over to my son who was staring up at me innocently. With a red face and an embarrassed smile I started the car, pulled back onto the road, and headed home.

Later that evening I was reading a book when I heard certain, unpleasant words coming from my son’s bedroom. He was replaying the incident over and over in his mind and swearing enough to make a sailor blush. Too late I realized the power of those words that had flown from my lips in that moment of anger. It took a lot of talks about good language and bad language with my son to undo the damage of that one incident.

That mistake, however, did teach me just how strong words can be. It helped me to swear off swearing in my own life and to start using words that uplift and inspire instead. I slowly realized that language is a gift from God and should be used to make our world better not worse. I learned too that a few loving words can help a hurting heart, strengthen a struggling spirit, and lighten a heavy load. I pray then that all of your words today are full of love, joy, happiness, and light. I pray that everything that comes from your lips flows from your soul.--------------

TRYING IS ENOUGH

A few weeks ago I was taking a quiet walk enjoying the cool breezes of a Summer evening. I came to the solitary Maple tree in my backyard and there I saw it, a baby bird laying in the grass. I knew that the Robin that had raised a family of birds earlier this Spring on my Dad’s porch across the road had started a second nest in this Maple tree. Looking up I saw the nest high in the branches. The baby bird had taken quite a fall and I was sure it was dead. I reached down to pick it up when suddenly it moved. Its bald head with still closed eyes was stretching from side to side looking for its Mother.

Amazed at this miracle, I pondered what to do. I knew that my Dad had a ladder at his house so I ran over to get it. Hurrying back I checked on the baby robin. It was still alive. I placed the ladder against the tree and tried to get it near the branch with the nest. It was then that I heard the Maple leaves "meow". Gazing through them I saw the culprit, a neighborhood Tomcat. Looking for a quick meal he must have shaken the bird out of the nest and gotten himself trapped up in the tree as well. Climbing up through the branches I grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, gave him a scolding "Hiss!" and dropped him softly to the ground. He ran off as fast as he could.

I climbed back down, took a paper towel out of my pocket and gently picked up the baby bird. Then slowly I climbed up the ladder and stretching my arm out as far as I could placed it in the nest. I said a little prayer for the baby bird and then took the ladder back to my Dad’s house.

In the weeks that have followed I have looked up at the nest several times but have only been able to see the mother bird. I may never know if I saved the baby or not, but trying was enough. Sometimes we don’t get to know if our efforts have made a difference or not. Sometimes we have to just trust God and do what good we can. Sometimes love has to be its own reward. ---------------

A MORNING BLESSING

I have been given a special morning blessing several times this Summer. It usually happens on the weekends when I am not awakened by an alarm clock beeping in the dark but instead by the dawn light peeking through my window. After the first rays of sunshine pry my eyelids open, I get up, put my clothes on, and take my dogs out for their morning walk. It is while I am walking my furry friends that I get to see this special morning blessing. It is the rising sun climbing over the trees and shining down on the cemetery next to my backyard.

Every time this morning miracle occurs I gaze in awe while my dogs sit patiently by my side. The silent grave stones stand solemnly as a testament that life on this world is brief. They whisper to me that one day I too will no longer be here. They remind me that every moment here is precious and should be treasured. At the same time the glorious sun shining down on those stones gives me a fresh sense of hope for the new day ahead. It reminds me that I have at least one more day to shine brightly from my own heart and to share the light from deep within me. It helps me to start that day too with a thankful heart, a prayerful spirit, and a loving soul.

This wonderful morning blessing feels like a kiss from Heaven. I begin the day wrapped in light, love, and truth. I pet my dogs, smell the sweet Summer air, and watch the last twinkling of the fireflies floating above the solitary deer nibbling grass at the far end of the meadow. I go inside smiling, knowing that God loves me and that I too can share love in this world.

This life is full of blessings in the morning, evening, and all throughout the day. It is up to us to see them, however. It is up to us to welcome them into our hearts and souls. It is up to us to be a blessing ourselves to everyone we meet. Life itself is a blessing from God. Let us always rejoice in it and be a part of it ourselves. ---------------

HUNGRY HEARTS

I woke up hungry today, but I didn’t know for what. I could feel a pain in the pit of my stomach that breakfast didn’t ease. At first I thought it might be a craving for the brown beans and sweet cornbread that my Mom used to make me when I was a boy. As I ate my breakfast oatmeal my mind was remembering how I would butter up a slice of that cornbread and savor every spoonful of those delicious beans. It made me smile just thinking of it.

After breakfast my stomach was full but the pain was still there. I found my mind wandering back once more to those wonderful dinners of spaghetti and homemade bread that my Italian Grandma, "Nanny", would make for us on Sunday’s after church. I looked forward to them all week. Each one of those meals made my belly feel heavy but my heart feel light.

It was then that I realized that the pain in the pit of my stomach was really a longing from the depths of my heart. What I was hungry for wasn’t those meals so much as the love that came with them. I remembered the sweet sound of my Mom and Nanny calling to me to come and eat. I remembered the big hug and gentle kiss I would so often get before I sat down at the table. I remembered the laughter, joyful voices, and happy hearts as we would sit down to eat as a family. I longed for one more family meal from my childhood. I longed for one more chance to hug Mom and Nanny and to tell them just how much I love them. As I sat wrapped in the love of those old memories I wiped away a tear and sent a little "Thank You" Heavenward to Mom and Nanny for all the love they gave me over the years and to God for giving me so many years with them. Then I smiled and headed out to share some more love today.

Every hungry heart can be filled with love, but it is up to us to do so. Remember, the more love you share, the more love you have. And the best way to get a hug is to give one yourself. ---------------

MYSTERIOUS WAYS

God sometimes works in mysterious and wondrous ways. If you don’t believe me then let me share with you what happened here recently. I was out walking my dogs a few days ago when my neighbor called out to me. She was upset and asked if I had seen her own little black dog. It had gotten out of her yard and hadn’t come back since that morning. I spent the rest of that afternoon helping my neighbors search for him but to no avail. That night I said a little prayer that he would be found or follow his nose back home.

The next day I was catching up with some friends on Facebook when I saw a picture that my cousin had posted online. There he was. His black furry face was looking sadly into the camera. I quickly let my cousin know that it may be my neighbor’s dog that she had found and rescued. Then my son, neighbor, and I hopped into my car and drove the half mile to my cousin’s house. The little pooch was waiting for us on the porch and was more than happy to get back home into his owner’s loving arms.

Now isn’t it amazing that a lost little dog found his way safely through woodlands and a very busy roadway to the home of my cousin? Isn’t it amazing that my cousin would post his picture online and that it would travel through cyberspace right to my waiting eyes the next day? Is it all just a big coincidence or is there perhaps a Loving, Heavenly hand at work behind it all?

What I do know is that this is just one of a hundred times that God’s mysterious, wondrous, and loving ways have been shown to me. I fully believe that He is watching over us, guiding us, and giving us all countless opportunities to help, learn, and love here. All we have to do is open our hearts to His love, our minds to His guidance, and our lives to His will. Then our own lost souls will find their way back home again into His loving arms. ---------------

SPARKLING EYES

I got a new picture of my sponsor child Lizther in the mail today. I was amazed at how different she seemed now. It looked like she had grown up overnight. I went and took her older pictures of her younger days and placed them side by side with the new photo. There was no doubt about it. The little child I had started sponsoring through Children International several years ago had grown into a lovely, young lady.

I went into my bedroom and pulled out my scrapbook full of her letters and drawings. It was incredible seeing her grow up in them too. With each one I saw her becoming better and more beautiful both inside and out. This once scared little girl, living in poverty, was now a wise, wonderful teenager determined to finish school, start a career, and help her family. I have no doubt either that she is going to bless this world with her life.

Smiling I put the scrapbook down and looked once again at her pictures over the years. Year by year the sparkle of light and joy in her eyes seemed to grow a little brighter. It made me happy thinking that my support, encouragement, and letters over the years might have had some small part in nurturing that light.

Any day that you can add to the sparkle of love and joy in other’s eyes is a day well lived. Anything that you can do to increase the light that shines in another’s soul is worth doing. God put us here to spread His light, to share our own, and to help everyone we meet to shine a little brighter as well. Do all you can then to bring a little laughter, a little light, a little help, and a little happiness to another’s day. Do all you can to bless this world with your talents and with your love. Do all you can to live your life so that even the eyes of those watching over you from Heaven sparkle with joy. ---------------

WATCHING OVER ME

When I was a little boy growing up in my Grandma’s old house I would play outside for hours on the sunny, Summer days and then curl up in my bed at night for a deep, peaceful sleep. Occasionally, however, there would be some particularly vivid dream that would jar me awake for a moment. I would stare out into the darkness to see if anything was there and then roll over and go back to sleep. I can remember a few times too when I woke up, looked out into the darkness, and actually saw someone there. It was my Mom watching over me as I slept. Each time she gently told me to go back to sleep and I closed my eyes again feeling safe and loved.

I never asked Mom why she watched me sleep from time to time, but after seeing my own children grow up so fast I think I know why. She wanted to capture a moment in time and hold it in her soul forever. I just hope that she carried a lot of those moments with her into Heaven when she passed away at only 55 years old.

Last night I was sleeping lightly when I suddenly felt someone near me. I opened my eyes and for the briefest of moments saw Mom’s figure standing in the room, smiling at me. And then she was gone. Now some may say that this was just a dream, a wish, or a fragment of an old memory. To me, though, it was proof that my Mom’s loving spirit was still watching over me. To me it was evidence enough to know that one day I will be reunited with her and everyone I have ever loved.

Whether we see them or not we are all being watched over by those above. Whether we believe it or not we are all being loved and helped by those above. Trust in their love then. Trust in the love of our Heavenly Father. Know that your own life can be full of love too. Then joyfully go out and live it with a brave heart, a helping hand, and a smiling soul. ---------------

READY TO FLY

Something new showed up on my Dad’s front porch this Spring: a nest. A robin decided that the top of a corner post just under the metal roof would be the perfect place to put her new home. Slowly she started to build it stick by stick. My Dad noticed what she was doing and tossed her work back off the porch, hoping that she would take the hint and choose a nearby tree instead. The robin was determined, however, and kept returning to rebuild her nest again and again. Finally, my Dad gave in and let her finish her work. When it was done the robin laid her eggs and settled into her warm, dry, safe home.

A few weeks later three tiny heads suddenly emerged over the corner of the nest. I had never seen baby birds so close up before. Each one looked like a tiny vulture dressed in a fluffy, wool sweater. I watched in wonder as the little heads tilted back and the ugly beaks stretched wide to receive the food that was dropped into them. I knew too that their mom would continue her work everyday, lovingly feeding her babies until they were grown, beautiful, and ready to fly.

Watching those baby birds made me think too about how so many of us huddle in our own nests day after day waiting for the time when we will be ready to fly. So many of us look over the edge terrified to make that first leap to live and to love. So many of us spend our hours dreaming of soaring in the clouds while we sit scared on a pile of sticks.

We aren’t meant to hide in our nests, though. God created us to fly. God created us to soar into the sky on the wings of love and joy. God created us to go higher and higher with every good thought we think and kind act we do. We just have to make that first leap. Don’t let the birds have all the fun then. You are ready. Live well, fly high, and help a few others out of their nests along the way. Keep your spirit in the heavens even while your feet are here on Earth. ---------------

A YOUNG SPIRIT

It was my daughter’s 21st birthday. Dinner was finished and cake and ice cream were about to be served. As I looked out on my three grown children I was amazed at how quickly the years had gone by. My youngest was now 18 years old. My daughter was a college graduate. My oldest boy was 23 and getting older every minute. Just thinking about it I could feel my hair getting thinner and grayer and my wrinkles getting deeper.

I dragged my aching, aging body into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. Yes, the hair was thin and gray. The face and forehead were wrinkled a bit. The few extra pounds of middle-age were showing in places. Then I gazed into the eyes staring back at me from the mirror and I saw him: a young spirit shining out of them from deep within me. He was the spirit that still delighted in the twinkling lights of the fireflies every Summer. He was the spirit that still soared along with the birds in the morning sky. He was the spirit that still thought the laughter of a child was the most beautiful music in the world. He was the spirit that had always known that bodies are temporary but that life is eternal. He was the spirit that had always tried to keep one foot in the wonder of childhood and one foot in the love of Heaven.

I smiled back at that shining spirit and took my youthful soul back out to the kitchen table to join my forever young children in some red velvet cake and vanilla ice cream. I thanked God too for reminding me that I will always be young no matter how old I get.

Always remember who you really are. You are a beautiful, shining, loving soul. You are blessed by Heaven and loved by God. You are both eternal and forever young. You can never grow old unless you let yourself. May all your days be blessed with youth, laughter, and joy then. May all your years be full of loving God, yourself, and others. ---------------

THE END

"Do you believe that this is the end of days?" That was the question a friend wrote me a few days ago. It is a question that I have gotten a lot of times over the years. With all the wars, tornados, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, fires, and nuclear meltdowns we are facing these days, it is easy to understand why people would wonder and ask as well.

The truth is noone knows when the last days of this world will be. Noone knows when their own last day will be either. All that we can do is to live each day we have here to the fullest with love, kindness, goodness, joy, and oneness with God.

This is why I start each day by saying, "Good morning God, thank you for my life!" This is why I watch every sunrise and sunset I can. This is why I stop to smell the flowers and listen to the birds sing every Spring. This is why I hug my grown up children everyday and tell them that I love them. This is why I always take the time to bend down and pet a dog or cat. This is why I lend a hand to a neighbor who needs my help. This is why I share a smile and a friendly wave with the people I pass on life’s road. This is why I do what I can to house the homeless, feed the hungry, and care for the sick. This is why I write my simple words and share them with the world. I want to do all I can to show others that they can choose life, share love, and spread joy. I want to show them that everyday is precious, that every act of kindness is priceless, and that everyone of them is a powerful person who can make this world a better place.

None of us knows when this world will end. None of us knows when our own lives here will end. What we do know is that we can love today. We can learn today. We can laugh today. We can help each other today. We can bring a little Heaven to Earth today. Live today then and when the end does come you will be able to face God with a loving and happy heart. ---------------

A LONG WAY

It was six years ago. I was walking into a local animal shelter on a cold, rainy day. Although my house was already full to overflowing with cats and dogs, I still couldn’t resist an occasional visit to the shelter. I would scratch the cats’ heads, pet the dogs, and drop off a donation of pet food when I could afford it. This time as I was walking down the row of pens full of barking dogs I noticed a small boy looking into one of them. He had a thin almost malnourished looking body and a bony face with a big nose jutting out of the middle of it. He was looking at a small, mixed breed dog. Its Golden Retriever like hair was matted. Its bony ribs were showing and its thin tail was tucked between its legs. It wasn’t begging for attention like the other puppies but was cowering in the corner instead. The boy looked up at me with sad eyes and asked what was wrong with it. "It was probably abused and neglected", I said. "That is why it is so scared."

The boy immediately turned to an older lady and said, "Grandma, I want this one." The old woman smiled and walked to the front desk to fill out the adoption forms. I followed and asked about the boy. I found out that he’d had a rough start in life too. She had just gotten custody of him after the state had taken him from his parents. She had hoped getting a dog would make it easier on him. I looked back at him, holding his scared puppy, and said a prayer for them both.

It was yesterday. I was driving down the road enjoying a gloriously sunny, Spring day. Then in a green front yard I saw him. His teenage body was tall and strong. His nose no longer seemed big and fit well into his smiling face. He was throwing a ball to a healthy, happy dog with shining golden hair. His little act of love and kindness had indeed gone a long way. It had saved a dog’s life, healed his own heart, and given this middle-aged man fresh hope for us all. I drove on in joy and said a little "Thank You" to God for the gift of love that lies in each of our hearts. ---------------

DAD AND THE SNAKE

When I was a boy growing up my Dad, Mom, Grandma, two brothers and I all lived together in an aging house. The house had originally been built from two Shanty cars. Other rooms had been added later as money allowed. Finally, as a finishing touch my Dad had decided to build a porch. Because of the house’s strange shape with all of its add on’s and lean to’s, the only place to build the porch was off the side of the bedroom my brother and I shared.

A few weeks after the porch was finished I was playing in my room when my Mom walked in carrying a new flower pot to hang on the porch. My Dad was in the living room resting in his chair after a long, exhausting day at work. A surprise was waiting for us all, though. The night before a snake had crawled up the bank from the river near our home and made its way up the steps and onto the wooden roof beams of the porch. Just as my Mom opened the door to go out on the porch then, the head of the snake dropped from the beams right in front of her face.

In my entire life I had never heard my Mom scream so loud or seen my Dad move so fast. He was by me in a second, grabbing the snake by the back of the head, and pulling it away from my terrified Mom. Later with the snake safely gone the whole family laughed with relief while my Dad wrapped his arms around my Mom in love.

The story of that day became a part of our family lore and was retold many times over the years. Each time it brought smiles to our faces, laughter to our lips, and joy to our hearts. As I think back on it today I can still see the wonderful example of my Dad’s love in action. He didn’t think of himself for a second. Someone he loved was in danger and he risked his life to save her. It is how he has lived his whole life here, with the unselfish love that God wishes for us all. May the same be said for you, me, and everyone in this world. ---------------

MY DAUGHTER THE GRADUATE

My daughter graduated from college this Spring. I couldn’t be more proud of her. Through countless hours of study, books read, papers written, and tests taken, her hard work has paid off. She is no longer the little girl I once pushed on a swing and taught to ride a bike. She has become a wise, mature, giving, caring, and loving adult. She has learned so much and is ready to start the rest of her life.

I think the things I am most proud of her learning, though, aren’t the ones she learned in the classroom. They are the ones she learned through living her life. My daughter already knows things that it took me much longer to learn. She knows that money can’t buy or even rent happiness. She knows that you never rise higher than when you stoop to help up another. She knows that laughter exercises the lungs and love opens up the heart. She knows that a good cry isn’t a bad thing. It washes out your eyes so you can see more clearly. She knows that petting a dog warms your heart and hugging a friend uplifts your soul. She knows that doing what you love and loving what you do turns work into play. She knows that children are life’s most precious gift and that every child should be treated with gentleness, kindness, and love.

My daughter knows that life often isn’t fair, that society often isn’t wise, and that everyone of us will face our share of problems. She also knows, however, that with love in our hearts we can bring learning, laughter, and joy to even the toughest days. She knows that true faith brings us closer to God’s love and never seeks to judge or hurt another. She knows that life is a journey taken on a rocky road and that sometimes we stumble and fall. She knows too that we can pick ourselves up each time and even help someone else up as well. Most of all she knows that she is still learning, just as we all are. May she always know too just how much I love her. ---------------

A FEW MORE GEORGE BAILEY’S

Sometimes blessings come wrapped in strange packages. I got one today when a fiber optic cable somewhere got cut accidentally. This caused my cable to be out for most of the day and sent me to my dusty old collection of DVD’s to find something to watch as I cleaned up the house. The one I found myself pulling out was the old Christmas classic, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. At first it seemed strange watching this movie in the middle of Spring but after a while I found myself putting the chores aside and sitting down to enjoy it once again.

The powerful story of George Bailey, a common man who spent his life helping others touched my heart. George’s kindness and character helped me to see again just what it means to live a good life in this world. Mr. Potter’s meanness and greed on the other hand reflected all that is wrong with our society today. I found myself aching with George as he saw how terrible the world would be without him. I found myself praying along with him as he asked God to please let him live again. I found myself laughing and cheering too as the movie came to its beautiful ending. I even found myself singing along in its last minutes as George was surrounded by his family and friends in a room overflowing with love and joy.

This blessing of a movie made me think that this world could use a few more George Bailey’s and a lot less Mr. Potter’s in it. This world needs to see again that people are more important than profits, that kindness is more valuable than cash, that friends and family mean more than stocks and bonds, and that goodness and love are the greatest riches of all.

I wish all of you a wonderful life. May you live a life that makes God smile. May your days overflow with kindness. May your heart be full of love. May your actions always help others. And may you even get a chance to help an angel earn his wings. ---------------

BREAD, WATER AND LOVE

I was hungry! My stomach ached as I opened and shut the kitchen cabinets. Every single one of them was empty. Mechanical breakdowns at the sawmill I was working at had caused the hours I worked to be cut back a lot that month. I was due to pick up my next paycheck the following day and that would buy my young family another week’s worth of food. I just wasn’t sure, however, if we would be eating until then.

I opened the last cabinet and smiled with relief. There was a box of macaroni and cheese left for dinner that night and a little cereal left for my children’s breakfast the next morning. "At least my kids wouldn’t be hungry", I thought. Another pain from my empty stomach sent me over to the breadbox. I opened it and saw two slices of bread left. I went to the refrigerator and glanced inside. It was empty except for a little milk for breakfast and a jar of jelly with less than a spoonful left in it. I grabbed the jelly and put the bread in the toaster. Spreading the jelly thinly I was able to cover both slices. Then I poured a glass of cold water and sat down by the window.

As I slowly ate my toast I watched the butterflies floating above the dandelions in my back yard. Seeing them having their own flower feast made me smile and feel at peace again. As I relaxed my little dog walked into the room and licked my hand. I laughed, fed him the last bite of my toast and then petted his head. At that moment love and happiness filled my heart and I thanked God once again for giving me all I needed for the day.

Thinking of that time again makes me realize what really is essential in this life. We all want so much when in truth we need so little in order to be happy. A little bread, a little water, and the love of our Heavenly Father is all we need to choose love and to have joy. Sometimes it takes not having anything to make you see that you really have everything. ---------------

LAYING AWAKE AT NIGHT

I was a young boy reading a book on the floor of our living room. A few feet away a fire was blazing inside our old coal stove. Its warmth filled the room. Still, my Dad looked chilled and weak as he sat in his chair under a blanket. Times were tough financially so a few weeks earlier he had taken a higher paying job in an underground coal mine. He had started work with high hopes of bringing in more money for his family. He had also started the job, however, with a case of the flu. Working in the cold, damp mine had quickly turned it into pneumonia and he had been forced to quit and go back to his old job as a mechanic.

My Mom walked into the room and told me to put up the book because it was time for bed. I saw the worried look on her face when she looked at my Dad. For days he had come home coughing because he couldn’t afford to miss any more work. Putting in full days working on cars while fighting the infection had left him pale and thin.

I walked into my bedroom next to the living room while my Mom gave Dad some soup and straightened his blanket. For a long time I lay awake scared while I listened to the voices drifting in from the living room. I wondered if my Dad would ever be well again. Then I heard something I hadn’t heard in a while: laughter. Its sweet sound floated on the air. First my Mom’s, then my Grandma’s, and finally my Dad’s happy laughter filled my ears. I noticed too that for the first time in weeks my Dad wasn’t coughing. At that moment I felt safe, happy, and loved. I knew that my family was going to be alright and that we were rich in everything that mattered. I said "Thank You" to God for making my Daddy well and then fell blissfully asleep, wrapped in the love that binds us all together.

It is that love which is the real wealth of this world. May your life always be rich in it. ---------------

A SWING AND A HUG

It was a warm, sunny, Saturday afternoon some fifteen or sixteen years ago. I had volunteered to take my two older kids to the local playground while my wife put the youngest down for a nap. As soon as we got there my daughter headed for the swings and asked for a push. As I was helping my daughter to go higher and higher, I noticed another little girl 3 swings down trying in vain to get her own swing going. Her elderly grandmother was sitting quietly on a nearby bench and smiled at me. I gave my daughter one last big push and then walked over to the little girl and asked if she could use a push too. She smiled and said "Yes!" I soon had her feet soaring towards the clouds while she laughed happily. For the next two hours I found myself pushing swings and playing tag with my son, daughter, and the other little girl. By the time we headed home I was physically exhausted but my spirit was still flying higher than those swings.

Two years later I was exhausted again after a long day’s work. Still, I needed to pick up my kids from the local grade school before heading home. I stood wearily in the parents’ waiting area watching for my children. Suddenly, I felt two tiny arms wrap around my stomach. I looked down and there was the little girl from the playground smiling up at me. She gave me one more big hug before heading off to catch her bus. As I watched her go I didn’t feel quite so tired anymore and my spirit was once again soaring in the Heavens.

In this life every single bit of love we share finds its way back to us again. It may travel from heart to heart or it may blossom in the soul where it was planted. It may take seconds or it may take years. God’s law of love, though, is never broken. What we give, we get back. What we sow, we reap. The love we share, the kindness we give, and the joy we create will always come back to bless us in this life and even more so in the next. ---------------

THE REAL FIRST DAY OF SPRING

In the mountains where I live there are always two first days of Spring. There is the first one that shows up on the calendar in March and then there is the second one that comes later on. The second one is the real one. It is the first day when you can feel in your heart and soul that Spring has finally arrived.

I felt that real first day of Spring recently. The sun was gently making its way across the sky and bathing the world in its golden warmth. The temperatures climbed steadily into the seventies. The breezes tickled instead of biting into my face. On the trees I could see the first buds and blossoms of the year. For the first time in months flowers were showing their heads above the ground and stretching their bodies toward the light. Sweet, loving birdsongs were serenading the world from the trees. Hikers were walking the roads and paths in t-shirts and tennis shoes. On a playground I saw a girl determinedly running with a kite behind her rising higher and higher. Near her a boy was throwing a stick again and again while a happy dog brought it back to him every time.

As I walked through this amazing day I could feel the Springtime in my own soul awakening once again. My eyes and heart cleared and I saw this world as the beautiful and blessed place that it is. I looked around and felt my love going out to everyone I saw. I knew each one of them was a fellow Child of God put here to learn, grow, and love. I felt the love of our Heavenly Father surrounding us all and my hope was renewed that one day all of us would live as the family we are. I felt as if a day in Heaven had somehow made its way down here to Earth.

Days like that may seem rare, but they don’t have to be. By allowing God’s love to warm our hearts and by sharing our love with the world we can make everyday the first day of Spring. ---------------

A SUNBATHER

It was an early Spring morning. The sun was out but the chill of Winter past was still fighting against the warmth of Spring. I was driving down a quiet country lane and heading home after running some errands. As I was rounding a curve I saw a rock up ahead in the middle of the road. As I slowed to go around it, I noticed too that it had a head and was staring up at me. It was a turtle who had decided to warm up by sunbathing on the asphalt.

I pulled over to the side of the road and picked up the sunbather. I knew if I moved the turtle off to the side of the road he would just crawl back to the warmer spot as soon as I left. Not knowing what else to do then I carried him to my car and placed him on the passenger seat. As I drove home I would glance over every so often and see the distrusting eyes glaring back at me from within his shell. I tried to comfort him with a few gentle words, but they had no effect.

When I finally made it home I picked up the sunbather again and headed to the woods behind my house. After looking around a bit I saw a clear spot where the sun was shining down on a single rock. I gently placed the turtle down on it and took a few steps back. A few minutes later the head slowly emerged and started soaking up the sun once more. I smiled and headed back to my house. My simple act of kindness may not have seemed like much in the eyes of the world, but it made a difference in the life of one turtle and in the heart of one man.

Most of us go through our lives wanting to make some big difference in this world. In the eyes of Heaven, however, any kind act no matter how small makes a difference. God loves you and He only wants you to do what you can, with what you have, whenever you get a chance. We help God the most too not with some big act of courage but rather with a thousand little acts of love. Remember this then the next time you see a person or a turtle needing a helping hand. ---------------

HE LOVED

I stared at the blank page nervously. The school assignment was to write your own obituary but how was I supposed to write a summation of my life when I hadn’t even lived it yet? I looked to my left and right and saw people pouring paragraphs out of their pens. I tried to think of what I wanted to accomplish in my life but my crazily racing thoughts crashed into each other. I glanced back at my clean sheet of paper and my writer’s block intensified. I tried to imagine the man I wanted to become but couldn’t see him clearly. Looking up at the clock on the wall I saw that there were only fifteen minutes left in class. Finally, in a panic I scribbled down a few sentences of what I hoped someday to do and turned it in. Let’s just say when I got the paper back it wasn’t the highest grade I had ever gotten.

If I had that assignment to do over today, however, I think that my obituary would be even shorter. It would probably get me an F on the assignment, but it would get me an A in life. In fact, I would sum it up in two words: He Loved. To love is what I want to do today, tomorrow, and for the rest of my life. To love is what living is all about. The rest is just details.

Everything about living well and good and right is wrapped up in the arms of love. To love is to serve, to give, to be kind, and to help others. To love is to have joy and to bring joy as well. To love is to make this world a better place just by being in it. To love is to create a little Heaven everyday while still here on Earth. To love is to be the wonderful child, caring parent, tender spouse, fantastic friend, and beautiful person that you have always wanted to be. To love is to become the bright, shining soul that God meant for you to become.

Fill your days with love then and you will have truly lived. Fill yourself with love and you will be the best possible you. Fill your life with love and your obituary will take care of itself. ---------------

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

I have a dusty old box full of books stashed in the corner of my bedroom. It has all the children’s stories that I used to read to my kids when they were still young. I am patiently waiting for the day when I can open it again. I am waiting for the special moments when I will have grandchildren on my lap, a book in my hands, and a story on my lips once again.

There are a few books, however, that I won’t be reading to them. These are the books that I gave away a long time ago. They are the ones ending in, "And they lived happily ever after." You see, I spent far too many of my own years waiting for that magical "happily ever after" that never came. It took me a long time to realize that some problem free future doesn’t exist. Each solved problem is soon replaced by another and then another. Life is full of challenges, growth, pain, and learning. There is no escape from it. There is no perfect "happily ever after" waiting over the next horizon.

Happiness isn’t some reward we finally get either. It is rather a choice we make day by day and moment by moment. Happiness is created by loving each other through all the challenges, growth, problems, and pain. Happiness comes from giving of yourself, helping others, and loving God. It comes from being the person your Heavenly Father meant for you to be. That is the truth I want my future grandchildren to know someday.

We need to teach the children that Cinderella’s problems and challenges didn’t end the moment she tried on that glass slipper. We need to teach them that the true adventure in life isn’t in living "happily ever after" but in loving each other no matter what may come our way. Only then will brief moments of happiness be replaced by lasting days of joy. Only then will a problem free tomorrow be replaced by a well-lived today. ---------------

TRAVELING LIGHT

There is a picture of me in an old scrapbook. It was taken by my Mom a quarter of a century ago. I was taking Summer classes in college and was moving into an apartment with 3 other boys to save money. In the photograph I was carrying two suitcases loaded with everything I was going to need to get me through the 6 weeks of classes. It is the last time I can remember ever traveling that light.

Since then my possessions have grown. Most of them like my furniture and appliances are useful and practical. Many of them are gifts given to me with love that bring me joy just to look at and hold. Still, there are times when I feel weighed down by all of them. I know if I ever move again I will need two trucks rather than two suitcases.

One thought, however, brings me comfort. It is the knowledge that when I make my final journey from this world I won’t be taking any of those things with me. The only things I will take with me will be what I have packed in the suitcase of my soul. I will be carrying with me every kind thing I ever did, every loving thought I ever shared, and every bit of laughter I ever brought into this world. I will be carrying all the joy I created, all the goodness I gave to others, and all the love I was able to choose and share. These things won’t be weighing me down either. They instead will be lifting me up. In fact, I will be traveling lighter than ever before on the wings of God’s glorious love.

As you get ready for your own final trip then make sure that you are traveling light. Make sure that the stuff in your home always takes second place to the love in your heart. Make sure that your greatest possession is your own soul. And make sure that when you unpack it in Heaven God and all His angels will smile. ---------------

THE SMALL STILL VOICE

It was a sunny, Spring day, but that was lost on me. In my mind a thousand concerns and worries were racing around and around. Looking back now I can’t for the life of me remember a single one of them. In the days that followed like most worries they all either faded or amounted to nothing. At the time, though, they seemed like they were going to wreck my life. I had even foolishly taken the day off work so I could spend more time on my worrying. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t relax. I couldn’t even sit still.

Hoping to clear my head I drove to a local lake that had a graveled path around it. As I walked along my brain continued to race. Halfway around I stopped at a small bench and sat down. My legs weren’t tired, but my brain was exhausted.

After sitting a few minutes I just let go and stopped thinking. I listened to the gentle music of the birds singing their love songs in the trees. I watched as the sun sparkled and danced off the crystal clear waves of the lake. I noticed the first wild flowers of Spring growing towards the light. I breathed in the fresh, clean air. I felt at peace for the first time all day. It was then that I heard the small, still voice of God whispering in my mind. "What are you so worried about?," He said. "I have loved you since the day you were born. I love you now. And I will continue to love you forever." I stayed happily there on that bench for a long time. And when I finally left I took the peace and love with me. I remember singing childhood hymns as I half walked and half danced the rest of the way around the lake. It felt so good knowing that I was loved.

The next time that the foolish voices of worry start chattering in your head, tell them to shut up. Then sit down, be quiet, and listen for the small, still voice of God. He will be there waiting to love you, to guide you, to strengthen you, and to bless you with His peace forever. ---------------

BRINGING HEAVEN TO EARTH

I believe in Heaven. I have for a long time now. With me it is not just a matter of faith either. I also believe in Heaven because of all the evidence I see here on Earth. I see this evidence not only in the glorious natural world all around us but also in the endless acts of love that come from the hearts of people as well. These are the people who bring a bit of Heaven to Earth everyday and they are the ones I wish to thank now.

To all the people then who pick up the trash off the ground and plant trees and flowers in its place, thank you. To every parent who spends the day hard at work and then goes home and makes the time to play with and read to their kids, thank you. To every kind heart who has ever taken in and loved a stray dog or cat, thank you. To every person who has ever opened their purse or wallet and given to a charity not out of duty but out of love, thank you. To everyone who has ever offered a ride, opened a door, or shared a smile with a stranger, thank you. To every good Samaritan who has stopped along the way to help a person in need, thank you. To every gentle spirit who has shared their laughter, encouraged a friend, or inspired another soul, thank you. To every single person who has tried to make this world a little better through what they do, thank you. And to every soul who not only knows the words "Love your neighbor as yourself" but tries to live them as well, thank you.

God doesn’t just want each of us to one day reach Heaven, He also wants each of us to bring a little Heaven down here to Earth as well. Do your best then to love and be loved, to care for others and the world around you, to create joy rather than sadness, and to help everyone you can every chance you can. Do your best to let God’s love live through you. Then you will be ready for Heaven, because you will carry a bit of Heaven with you wherever you go. ---------------

TEARING DOWN THE FENCES

"Good fences make good neighbors", the television commentator said, misquoting Robert Frost for the millionth time in my memory. It made me wonder if the esteemed poet was not looking down from Heaven and sadly shaking his head.

No line of poetry has ever been more misused in history than that one. It comes from Frost’s great poem MENDING WALL. In it he writes of him and his neighbor repairing the broken stone wall that divides their property. Frost questions why they are doing so, because there are no animals that need fencing in. He sees as well that the wall is a symbol of the barriers that people create to distance themselves from each other. He wisely writes that, "Before I built a wall I’d ask to know what I was walling in or walling out, And to whom I was like to give offence. Something there is that doesn’t love a wall, That wants it down."

His neighbor, however, who Frost describes as a "stone savage" who "moves in darkness" refuses to part from the ways of his forefathers and goes along foolishly with their belief that "Good fences make good neighbors."

I wonder if Mr. Frost would have ever written this poem if he knew that the line he wrote in irony would be used again and again to encourage what he was so against. Perhaps he would have written a different one about tearing down the fences that separate us and breaking apart the walls that hide our hearts from each other. Either way, we should embrace the wisdom he shared with us. Fences and walls separate us from each other and from God. We need to take them down stone by stone, walk through them, and embrace each other in joy. We need to love our neighbors just as our Father in Heaven meant for us to. We need to see that good fences DO NOT make good neighbors. They just make lonely hearts. ---------------

SLEEPING IN CLASS

I can still remember it like it was yesterday. I was a college freshman and had stayed up most of the night before laughing and talking with friends. Now just before my first class of the day my eyelids were feeling heavier and heavier and my head was drifting down to my desk to make my textbook a pillow. A few minutes nap time before class couldn’t hurt, I thought.

BOOM! My head jerked up and my eyes snapped open wider than saucers. I looked around with my heart pounding trying to find the cause of the noise. My young professor was looking back at me with a mischievous, boyish grin on his face. He had intentionally dropped the stack of textbooks he was carrying onto his podium. "Good morning!", he said still smiling. "I am glad to see everyone is awake. Now let’s get started."

For the next hour I wasn’t sleepy at all. It wasn’t from the shock of my professor’s textbook alarm clock either. It was instead from the fascinating discussion he lead. With knowledge and good humor he made the material come alive. His insights were full of both wisdom and loving-kindness. And the enthusiasm and joy that he taught with were contagious. I left the classroom not only wide awake, but a little smarter and a little better as well.

I learned something far more important than not sleeping in class that day too. I learned that if you are going to do something in this life do it well, do it with joy, and make it an expression of your love. What a glorious place this would be if all of us did our work joyously and well. What a beautiful world we could create if every doctor, teacher, musician, preacher, cook, mechanic, waitress, businessman, fisherman, poet, miner, farmer, and laborer made their work an expression of their love. Don’t sleepwalk your way through life then. Wake up! Let your love fill your work and God’s love fill your soul. Life is too short not to live it well. ---------------

WHAT HAPPENED TODAY

The television news was droning on and on this evening. It was full of every bad thing that happened in the world today. Finally I had to turn the set off. It wasn’t that I couldn’t handle the bad news. It was just that I knew all that was being left out. I knew what else happened today.

Today a mother held her newborn baby in her arms for the first time and felt her heart open with a love she never knew she had. Today mothers and fathers both played with their children, hugged them tight, and kissed them goodnight when they tucked them into bed. Today animals were petted, fed, and cared for by loving owners. Today a child learned how to be kind when she saw her Mom hold a door open for an elderly lady. Today wise words were spoken and minds were opened in a million school classrooms across the world. Today clothes, food, and money were collected to be shared with the poor and hungry. Today the sick were cared for, the disabled were helped, and the crying were comforted by so many caring souls. Today smiles were shared and kind acts preformed with no thought of reward. Today songs were sung, sweet words were said, and laughter was heard. Today adult children gathered around their Mom’s deathbed to hold her hand, tell her they love her, and kiss her for one last time. Today someone finally realized just how much God loves them. Today a million prayers went up to Heaven on the wings of faith and a million "Thank You’s" were said to God with hearts full of love. Today this world was made better by the good we did, the kindness we shared, and the love we gave to others. Today all the angels of Heaven joyfully smiled as they watched us strive to love each other, to help each other, and to live as God’s Children here on Earth.

That is what happened today. That is what happens every day of our lives here. Don’t let the bad news bring you down then. Its hate and darkness can never stand against our love and light. ---------------

SPRINGTIME IN MY SOUL

I was standing in front of my oven looking out my kitchen window on a cold, frozen, and barren Winter’s day. The latest snowstorm in a long line of snowstorms had covered everything the day before and no thaw was in sight. I huddled close to the oven while our dinner baked inside of it. Its warmth, however, had little effect on me. It had been a long and rough Winter and its coldness and bleakness seemed to be seeping into my spirit on this dark afternoon.

A loud thumping noise let me know that my youngest son was bouncing down the hallway towards me. He was over 18 now but his severe Autism had frozen his mind at a 2 year old’s level. Sometimes the frustrations of his handicap would even cause him to cry, pinch his face, or hit himself. Most of the time, though, his energy, laughter, and delight in living were a pleasure to behold. He lived with the joy of a child even now in his adult size body.

Seeing me standing in front of the stove, he walked up to me, leaned his forehead close to mine, giggled, and smiled. His eyes sparkled with happiness and as I looked deep into them I could see something else: God’s love. We hugged each other for a moment and then he bounced down the hallway again. He had in an instant removed all the darkness and barrenness of my Wintertime blues. And in its place he had awakened a little Springtime in my soul.

My sweet, special son had reminded me without words that when we have love in our hearts, it is always Springtime in our souls. He had reminded me once again that we live in God’s world and that we are all one family here. He had showed me one more time that while we may not understand all the difficulties and challenges we face in this life we can still use them all to grow better, more loving, and closer to God. May life’s Winter days then never weaken the Springtime in your own soul. And may you forever share its warmth and beauty with the world. ---------------

ONE SHOVEL AT A TIME

Another massive snowstorm had hit the mountains of my home. A foot and a half of the white stuff had covered everything. Living on the side of a hill I looked out the window at the task that lay ahead of me. Two cars were snowed in on the driveway. Paths had to be shoveled out to the trash bin and newspaper box. A place had to be dug out for my dogs to walk and relieve themselves. The porches and steps also needed to be cleared. My back ached already from recent days of shoveling. It felt like an impossible job. Still, I knew it had to be done.

I bundled up in my hooded coat and thick gloves and stepped out the door. The bitterly cold wind instantly bit into my face. I smiled grimly, gave a quick look to the heavens, and grabbed my snow shovel. I bent down, scooped up a shovel full of snow, lifted it slightly, and tossed it to the side. Slowly, one shovel at a time I worked my way down the side of the hill, creating my own walking path as I went. I bent, scooped, lifted, and tossed again and again. Each step needed another shovel full of snow to be moved. After a few minutes I would stop, rest, and stretch my sore back. I would look up at the gently falling flakes, breath in the ice cold air, and start again. Minute by minute and shovel by shovel I made my way down the paths, cleaned the cars, and cleared the porches. When I was finally finished I was amazed that I had done it all. It had taken my best effort. My fingers were froze, but my heart was warm with happiness. I smiled and thanked God for once again giving me the strength to do what I needed to do.

This life gives us many heavy snows to dig out of. This life gives us countless impossible jobs to do. Still, with the strength God gives us we can get them done. All we need to remember is to do them lovingly and joyfully one day, one choice, and one shovel at a time. God asks for nothing more and we should give nothing less. ---------------

REDIRECTED TRAFFIC

It was a sunny but cold Winter day here in the mountains where I live. I was driving home along the clear, dry roads. The last snow had been over a week ago but down the sides of the hills lining the highway the huge walls of ice were still melting. As I started to round a particularly sharp curve I noticed that a large chunk of this ice had broken off and fallen into the road. I was bearing down on it fast. Instinctively I braked and quickly steered my car to the other lane to miss it. Just as I did, however, I noticed something else. A small, black dog was walking in my former lane just beyond where the ice had fallen. If I had still been in that lane I would have surely hit him. Slowing down I honked my horn. The startled pooch looked at me for a moment and then ran off the road and into the safety of the woods.

I pulled over to a wide spot and parked. Then I quickly walked back to the large chunk of ice and moved it off the road so no one would hit it. As I walked back to my car I looked up at the sky. The clouds had just parted again to allow the sun to shine through. I smiled and thanked God for putting that ice chunk just where it needed to be to keep me from hitting that little dog.

As I continued driving home I started thinking of all the times that God in His infinite love must have redirected traffic in my own life. How many times had I been the foolish dog walking into traffic only to have God redirect things so I wouldn’t be run over? How many times had God spared me the full consequences of my own stupidity? How many times had God given me another chance to find my way back to the right path without being hurt?

God loves us all so much. He watches over us, guides us, and protects us more than we know. Let’s do our best then to make His job easier. Let’s live wisely, love deeply, and choose daily to be His Children. Let’s take His hand and joyfully walk with Him forever. ---------------

MOM’S SOUP

It was one of the hardest days of my young life. I was a 13 year old freshman trying out for the high school football team. It was the first day of full contact in helmets and pads and my 110 pound body had been knocked to the ground more times than I could count. It had become clear as the practice went on that there was no way I was ever going to be able to compete against the bigger, faster, and stronger boys. My dream of being a high school football star had been crashed to the ground along with my bruised and battered body.

I made it home sore, sullen, and sad and my Mom met me at the door. She could see I was troubled in a glance and had me sit at the kitchen table. I think she knew all along what was going to happen that day. She warmed me up a bowl of soup to hold me until dinner. While I sipped at its warm broth I felt her hand gently rubbing my aching back. We never said a word, but by the time the soup was done I was feeling better again. I knew I was loved and that was all that mattered.

I have carried that memory in my heart all of these years. Even today, no matter what problems or difficulties life throws at me a bowl of soup always raises my spirits. Sometimes I can even feel Mom’s gentle hand rubbing my back from Heaven and see her beautiful face smiling down on me with love.

In this world all of us have had our dreams crashed to the ground at one time or another. Sometimes it takes a lot of broken dreams until we find our true purpose in life too. God is always there, though, to comfort us, to remind us that we are loved, and to help us back to our feet again. May you always rejoice in the love God has for you and may you always share your own love freely be it with a kind act, a gentle touch, or even a bowl of soup. ---------------

HEAVEN SHINES THROUGH

When I was a boy Heaven seemed a far off place beyond the clouds and above the sky. As I grew older and wiser, though, Heaven seemed to grow closer and nearer as well. Now I can see that Heaven can be everywhere even in each of us. In fact, there have been many instances in my life when love opened a window to my soul and Heaven shined through.

Here are just a few of those moments when the light of Heaven brightened my day here on Earth. There was huddling close by the stove with my brothers on those cold Winter days when I was a boy. There was the sweet sound of the first birds singing in the trees to herald the coming of Spring. There was seeing the Sun majestically rising over the hillside at dawn. There was hearing a cat purring on my lap and feeling a dog licking my hand. There was sitting down to a family dinner after a long, hard day at work. There was hearing those wonderful words, "I Love You!" And there was saying those wonderful words, "I Love You!"

Those moments are just the beginning, however. There was also every time I ever held a sleeping baby in my arms. There was every moment I stopped to help someone in need. There was every time I read something that both cleared my mind and touched my heart. There was every instance I started a prayer with " I love you dear God and I thank you for my life." There was every time I did something good with no thought of reward. There was every moment I took time to play with children or to listen to an elderly soul share the stories of their life. There was every second I spent sharing encouraging words, doing kind acts, and giving out loving hugs.

Heaven shines through to our lives here on Earth. It is carried on the beams of love. Heaven can be as close as the beat of our own hearts. And God can make a forever home inside our souls. We need only to welcome Him in. ---------------

WHILE IT LASTS

I found myself shoveling snow yet again the other day. It was the wet, heavy kind too. As I was cleaning off my driveway I had to stop more often than ever before to stretch out my aching back. Later as I laid down on my bed to rest it and read I found myself facing another problem. Should I leave my glasses on and hold the book at arm’s length or should I put the glasses on top of my head and hold the book just a few inches from my face?

These two things made me realize that this 44 year old body of mine is starting to wear down a little. They made me more determined than ever, though, to make the most of it while it lasts. My brain may be a bit more forgetful, but I am going to keep using it to remember just how much God loves me and to think of all the good I can do for others today. My eyes may be weaker, but I am going to use them to take in all the beauty of this world and welcome it into my soul. My ears may not be as acute, but I can still listen to the birds sing, the laughter of children, and the glorious music that uplifts my spirit and warms my heart. My nose may no longer be as sensitive, but I can still smell the flowers in the Spring and the homemade spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove. My teeth may be a bit worn, but they can still share smiles with friends and strangers alike. My lips are a little thinner now, but they can still say kind words and share loving thoughts. My arms aren’t as strong as they once were, but they can still lend others a helping hand and share a caring hug. My aging fingers too will keep writing these words of love that God blesses me with and my tired legs will keep carrying me where I need to go, to do what I need to do, to help make this world a better place.

God gives us these bodies for a limited time. While yours lasts then use it well to do all the good you can, share all the love you can, and bring all the Heaven you can down here to Earth. ---------------

A STORY OF TWO BOYS

It has been said that a simple smile can change a person’s life. It has been said that a single kind word can spread throughout the whole world and change history. I was thinking of these sayings recently when I remembered a story I had once heard about two boys.

Both of these boys were born in the late eighteen hundreds. The first boy was the son of a poor cobbler and had contracted smallpox as a child. This left his face scarred and caused him to face teasing from the other boys. He sought solace by dreaming of a career in the church. His first job was as an altar boy but he was sharply criticized by the priest when he made a mistake during a service. This boy later abandoned the seminary as a young adult. The second boy was sickly as a child too contracting tuberculosis as a baby. He also felt drawn to a career in the church. He too had his first experience in church as an altar boy. And he as well made several mistakes once during a service. The difference was he was forgiven and encouraged to keep trying by the kindhearted priest there.

The first of these boys grew up to become Joseph Stalin, the dictator of the Soviet Union, who slaughtered untold millions of his own people to maintain his power and control over his country. The second boy grew up to become Bishop Fulton J. Sheen who touched millions of lives and brought joy to millions of hearts by sharing God’s message through his television show "Life is Worth Living" in the nineteen fifties.

This story reminded me of how much power God gives us to change lives in this world. Every smile we share is important. Every kind word we speak is essential. Every loving act we do can encircle this entire world. May we always use this power wisely. May we always give every little boy or girl the same love our Heavenly Father gives us. --------------

MAKING ROOM AT THE INN

In his wonderful book "Seven Stories of Christmas Love" the author Leo Buscaglia writes about arriving in Hindu Bali on the day before Christmas. The natives in the village of Ubud welcome him with open arms and invite him to join in their feasts and celebrations.

At one point Leo mentions how happy he is to be with them at Christmas and is asked by the natives, "What is Christmas?" Leo then tells them the Christmas story about the birth of Jesus. The villagers are entranced by the beauty of it, but one point confuses them. Why did noone invite Mary and Joseph into their home? Why didn’t anyone make room at the Inn for the pregnant mother about to give birth? In their culture room would always be made for visitors. Leo left a few days later with them still puzzling over why noone would make room for Mary.

That story made me wonder if I would have made room for Joseph and Mary myself. Would I have opened my door to a homeless family with nowhere else to go? Would I have shared my home and food with them? Would I have seen to their needs, opened my heart, and put my selfishness aside? Would I have been good enough and wise enough to share in the joy of those frightened shepherds two thousand years ago? I just pray my answer would have been yes.

Thankfully, even today God gives us the choice to make room for at the Inn. At Christmastime and everyday we are given chances to open our hearts to love, our lives to giving, and our souls to grace. With each fresh morning we are given fresh opportunities to share our goodness, to help others, and to make this world a better place. With each new dawn we are blessed with another day to love the lest of our brethren as we love ourselves. When it comes to the Inn of our souls there is always room for more love. Open your door wide then. Make room. And welcome God into your home with a smile. ---------------

FOREVER GIFTS

Christmas is a season when we give gifts to those we love. Like the three wise men of old too we each hope to find the perfect gift to express our love. As I look back on all the perfect gifts that I have gotten over the years, however, I have noticed that none of them came wrapped in paper or were put under a tree. Still, each of them found a forever home in my heart.

My Italian Grandma gave me the forever gifts of her big, strong hugs and soft, gentle kisses. My Mom’s sweet smile, twinkling eyes, and joyful laughter were gifts which lit up my life for so many years. My Dad gave me the gifts of his wisdom and common sense even though I didn’t always use them. My brothers gave me the gift of time. Although I was several years younger they always made the time to play with their "little brother." My first dog gave me the gift of unconditional love and loyalty. A beautiful girl gave me the gift of my first kiss which made me tingle from head to toe. A favorite teacher gave me the gift of seeing that learning can be a joy instead of a job. My children gave me the gifts of tiny arms wrapped around my neck and "I love you Daddy" whispered in my ear. So many beautiful souls blessed me with the gift of their friendship. I also got gifts in the smiles of strangers, the hugs of neighbors, and the kind letters from people all over the world who had read my writings. Each one of them was precious. Each one of them was eternal.

Not a single one of these forever gifts could be bought in a store. They all had to be given from the heart. They won’t break, rust, or rot either. Instead I will carry them in my soul all through this life and into the next. This Christmas then and every day of the year give your own forever gifts to those you love. Remember too the wise words of Leo Buscaglia: "This life you are given is God’s gift to you and how you live it is your gift to God." ---------------

A BOOK BY IT’S COVER

I was driving home the other day on a sunny afternoon. I had a smile on my face as I sang along to the songs on the radio. It was a beautiful day. I felt full of happiness and oneness with God. My good mood ended, however, when the radio station took a news break between songs. Suddenly I found myself listening to yet another story of a rich, beautiful celebrity involved in scandal, hypocrisy, and lawlessness. I shook my head in disbelief as I came to a stoplight.

As I pulled to a stop I noticed four, leather jacketed bikers. They were standing in the middle of the road with two on either side of the light. They looked rough and dangerous, but as I got closer I noticed each one was holding their helmet in their hands. I rolled down my window as one approached my car. "We are the Brother’s of the Wheel", he said. "We are collecting for a Christmas toy drive for needy children this year." As I pulled a dollar out of my wallet I looked past his beard and tattoos and into his eyes. They shined with a goodness and kindness that came right from his soul. I dropped the money in his helmet and waved to the other bikers as I drove off. My good mood had returned. My faith in mankind had been bolstered. And I had to laugh along with God as I remembered once again never to judge a book by it’s cover.

Our society often judges books by their covers but God reads what is written in our hearts and souls. Perhaps one day we will all learn to see the world through Heaven’s eyes. Perhaps one day we will realize that looks matter little and actions matter much. Perhaps one day we will see that the wealth and success of Earth are not the wealth and success of Heaven.

Over two thousand years ago a poor, homeless outcast walked the Earth. His clothes were tattered and His companions were rough fishermen. He was scorned by the elite of the day. Yet, He showed everyone of us how to live and how to love. May we all follow the truth He shared. ---------------

PACKING YOUR SUITCASE

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that, "Though we travel the world to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." When I first read that, it’s truth and wisdom found a home in my heart. Since then I have always done my best to carry the beautiful with me wherever I may travel. Since then I have always strived to pack the suitcase of my soul as full as possible with the most beautiful memories, thoughts, and feelings that I can.

Here are just a few of the things I have packed over the years. Each one of them has made my travels a little more beautiful. The sight of the clouds turning pink, purple and yellow during a mountain sunrise. The sound of my children’s laughter. The smell of my Nana’s home cooked spaghetti sauce on a Sunday afternoon after Church. The taste of cold water from a pure, mountain stream. The feeling of a hug given in love. The sight of my daughter’s dog wiggling with delight when she comes home from school. The joy of singing along with an uplifting song. The pleasure of watching a butterfly feed on the flowers I planted in the Spring. The peace that comes from breathing in deep the fresh air right after a Summer rain. The bliss of saying, "I love You God" and then hearing God’s gentle voice say in my heart, "I love you too My Child". The glorious knowledge that love, laughter, joy, and oneness with God are choices that we can make everyday of our lives. The Heavenly happiness that comes when I share all my love, all my learning, and all that I am with everyone I can.

You don’t have to travel the world to find the beautiful. As Emerson said it is right there inside of you. Pack the suitcase of your own soul well. Fill it with all the beauty this world, this life, your spirit, and Heaven above has to offer. Then you will carry the beautiful with you always and you will forever share it with all of your fellow travelers. ---------------

JUMPING IN THE LEAVES

Whenever the bare trees and grey skies of mid November start to get me down and I start to mope about how Autumn always ends too early, I go to a special place in my mind. This place holds a beautiful memory that I cherish to this day.

It was many years ago when my grown children were still young. A warm Indian Summer had blessed us with a beautiful Wednesday. It was the day before Thanksgiving and the temperature was in the seventies with a gentle breeze in the air. My wife was baking pumpkin pies to take to her Mom’s house for Thanksgiving dinner, so I decided to take the three kids to a local park for the afternoon. Mighty Oak trees throughout the park had laid down a blanket of dry leaves on the ground. I found an old fallen tree branch nearby and decided to make some good use of it. Using it as a rake I slowly made several huge piles of leaves on the side of a hill. Then I called my children over. They knew just what to do.

The next hour was spent jumping, sliding, running, and playing in the leaves. We took turns burying each other. We played hide and seek. We pretended to be leaf monsters. And we saw who could make the biggest splash in the dry and crunchy piles. It was a magical time full of smiles, laughter, and the simple joys of childhood. After that day too we made many more happy trips to the park to play in the leaves.

Happy memories of loving times are a lot like those fallen leaves in November. They nourish the soil of our souls and bring forth new life inside of us whenever we think of them. They give us the strength to keep on creating fresh joy and a new Springtime everyday of our lives. This Thanksgiving then give a special "Thank You" to God for all of your happy memories and loving times. And also whenever you get the chance, jump in the leaves! ---------------

ONENESS

Have you ever had a moment of Oneness? Have you ever had a moment when you felt at one not only with your highest self but also with life, love, the universe, God, and everyone everywhere? Have you ever had a moment when you felt the heart beating in your chest was in perfect rhythm with the song of all creation? Have you ever had a moment when you finally felt the joy inside of you that you have wanted all of your life?

The first time I had a moment like that I was a little boy sitting on my Mom’s lap while she read me a story. In that second everything felt right with the world. I remember too having moments like that each time I held my own baby children in my arms and gently rocked them to sleep. Holding those peaceful angels so close made my heart grow warmer and my love grow deeper. I had another moment like that the first time I realized that God loves me just as I am with all my weaknesses and faults. It was then too that I first decided that I wanted to grow better for the Heavenly Father who loved me so much. Over the years these moments of Oneness have grown more frequent as well. Each one has filled me with joy. Each one has connected me with others. Each one has brought a wholeness, completeness and divinity into my life. Each one has made me more at One with the Love that created us all.

Our moments of Oneness are the greatest moments in life. They are moments we would all forever create if we could. Well, the wonderful truth is we can!

How do you create these moments of Oneness? You just love. It is that simple. It is that easy. The more you love the more you become one with others, with life, and with God. The more you love the more these joyous moments begin to fill your life. The more you love the more you bring the eternal Oneness of Heaven down here to Earth. ---------------

A DROP IN THE OCEAN

I was in the post office the other day waiting to mail out a few letters. As the line moved slowly forward I chatted with the woman in front of me. She was carrying a large package that she was mailing to her daughter who lived on the other side of the country. It was clear from her voice too just how much she loved and missed her girl.

When it was finally her turn she slowly but happily counted out her money for the postage. Her smile faded, however, as she discovered that she didn’t have enough cash with her to mail out the package. Quickly, I reached into my own pocket and got the extra change she needed. It was only a few coins but the smile and thanks she gave me in return were priceless treasures. I left that post office with a smiling face and a happy heart.

Now I know that my little act of kindness was only a tiny drop compared to the vast ocean of God’s love. Still, over the years I have come to see that in the eyes of Heaven every single drop counts. Every kind act, every caring smile, every loving thought, and every helping hand adds to the ocean of God’s love here. Every single drop makes it greater.

Every little thing we do in this life is important. Every little thing we do makes a difference. Drop by drop God wants us to add to the endless waters of His love that wash over this world. Start today then. Give the world the gift of your smile. Share a laugh with your friends. Give your loved ones a heartfelt hug. Open a door for a stranger. Give a few coins to a person in need. Pass on a friendly wave, a bit of good news, or a positive thought. Shower people with your kindness and love. Help everyone you can every chance you can. Sow a few seeds of joy in the Winter even if you won’t get to see them bloom in the Spring. Keep adding to your drops of love until they become a river that flows joyously back into Heaven’s sea. ---------------

CHANGING COLORS

Autumn this year in the mountains of my home has been truly spectacular. It is like an angel artist has been assigned to paint each tree in the most glorious colors imaginable. Perhaps it is the wisdom of age that has helped my eyes to see more clearly. Still, to me the leaves have never looked as beautiful as they do this Fall.

One tree in my backyard has especially caught my attention. Every year before this one its leaves had always turned to a rich, vibrant red in October. This year, though, the entire tree was bathed in the most outrageous orange. It was both delightful and amazing to watch this tree suddenly change its colors.

Looking at that bright, orange beacon in my backyard made me think too of how we can go about changing our own colors. I remember when cold, dark hues colored my own heart, soul, and mind. I remember when fear, apathy, and selfishness colored my life. I remember when my only thoughts were of my own wants, needs, and desires. It was an ugly picture indeed. One day, however, I am not sure exactly when, that picture started to change. It started with a single brush stroke, one kind act, and one loving thought. This was followed by another and another. Each one brought a new dab of color and brightness into my heart, soul, and mind. Slowly, choice by choice, moment by moment, and day by day I began to turn the cold, dark, miserable November of my life into a warm, shining, and loving October.

God in His endless love never ceases to give us fresh chances to change our colors, change our lives, and change the world. Each day is full of new opportunities to paint our hearts, souls, and minds with the brightness of love. Each day is full of moments to bring the colors of joy to this often drab world. We are the artists of our own lives. May we forever color them beautiful. ---------------

LISTENING TO OUR BETTER ANGELS

I was driving my daughter home from college for the weekend on a Fall Friday afternoon. The air was warm, the sun was shining, the sky was clear, and Gods paintbrush had just begun to color the mountains of my home. Spectacular reds, yellows, and oranges glowed from the trees and kept a smile glowing on my own face as we drove up the narrow mountain road. As I rounded a curve I saw an old gentleman who I knew didn’t own a car walking the way we were going. I was happy then to give him a lift since it was on our way home.

Two days later I was driving up the same road on a Sunday afternoon after taking my daughter back to college. A cold rain was falling from an overcast sky and the fallen leaves on the road were slick and caused me to drive extra slow. As I neared the top of the mountain road I noticed the same old gentleman only this time headed back down the mountain. He smiled and waved as we drove by and at that very moment I heard one of my better angels whispering in my ear. I listened to the gentle voice telling my heart what to do, turned my car around, and gave that kind, old man a ride back down the road. I shook his hand, accepted his thanks, and headed home.

The trip cost me 20 minutes of my time and maybe half a gallon of gas. The peace that filled my heart, though, was worth all the money in the world. I drove home singing along with the radio, wrapped in a blanket of love and joy, and surrounded by all of my better angels.

We all should listen to our better angels. We all should pay heed to those quiet voices we hear in our hearts, souls, and minds. They are a guide for good and the guidance of God. They help us to help others and ourselves. They fill us with the peace of knowing that we are living as Gods Children in this world. How do we recognize these angels? They are always the voices of love and they always lead us to joy. Listen closely then. Heaven may be speaking to your heart. ---------------

DAD, HELP!

When I was a little boy we lived in a house by a river. The only way to reach our home from the road was to walk across a rickety, old, swinging bridge. It made for a long trip unloading the groceries from the car. Once when I was six years old I decided to help my Dad and big brothers carry the things in from the store. As soon as my brothers started across the bridge with their bags I quickly grabbed a big bag full of canned goods and left the bag of bread for my Dad. My Dad smiled and asked if I needed help. "I can do it myself!," I said determinedly.

About half way across the swaying bridge, however, the sack began to feel heavier and heavier. I took a few more steps, staggered, and yelled "Dad, Help!" Quickly my Dad steadied me and switched my bag of cans with his bag of bread. Then together we walked happily the rest of the way into our home.

Most of us go through life determinedly saying, "I can do it myself!" There always comes a time, though, when life gives us too much to carry. There comes a time when we all start to stagger and fall. Wouldn’t it be better if before then we wisely asked our Heavenly Father for His help? It would be a lot safer, a lot easier and we would be a lot happier too.

Do not wait until you are about to fall off the bridge of life before you ask God to help you. Do so this morning, today, right now. Ask God to help you with your problems, struggles, and difficulties. Ask your Heavenly Father to help you to do your work and live your life the best you can. Ask the Dad of us all to help you to do His will and share His love. Life doesn’t have to rest on your shoulders alone. Our loving Father is always ready to help you carry your bags. His hand is there to steady you. His smile is there to shine on you. And His love is there to uplift you. All you have to do is ask. ---------------

BIRTHDAY THOUGHTS

I celebrated another birthday recently. As I sat down that evening with a belly full of red velvet cake and chocolate chip ice cream, wearing the new Hawaiian shirt my daughter had bought me, it occurred to me that I had already passed the midway point of my life here. I had already lived 44 years on this world. Statistically, I had about another 30 years left, God willing. Sitting in the quiet of the evening, though, I realized that whether I had 30 years, 30 days, or 30 minutes left I did not just want to let them pass me by. I wanted to truly live them.

I have decided then to give up regretting the past and dreaming about the future. Both are a waste of time. The past is over. It taught me a lot and for that I am truly grateful, but I can only live today. The future has not even happened yet. Why should I dream of being happy in some fantasy, perfect future when I can instead choose to be happy in the wonderful if imperfect present?

I have decided as well to stop worrying about money and thinking about how much better my life would be with more of it. Looking back I realized that money had never once bought me happiness. Money had paid bills and bought stuff, but every bit of joy in my life had come from love. It had come from God loving me and me loving God. It had come from the love I gave to others and the love I received back from them. It had come from loving life, myself, and my neighbor as myself. Money may have helped feed my stomach, but love is what fed my soul.

That then is what I have decided to do with my next 30 years: just love. With love life is glorious and without love life is meaningless. Is it any wonder the two greatest commandments are about love? Is it any wonder that every great story, beautiful song, and well-lived life is about love? Love is what God created us for. Love is what we are meant for. Without love life is wasted. With love life is truly lived.

Look for me in the next 30 years. I will be the one hugging my children with loving arms. I will be the one watching the sunset with a loving smile. I will be the one singing along with the radio with a poor voice, but a rich heart. I will be the one dancing in the leaves, playing with my grandchildren, and petting my cats and dogs. I will be the one living with love, writing about love, walking the path of love, and sharing Gods love with everyone I can. I will be the one cherishing every single, beautiful, loving moment that I am given here.

I hope that all of your birthdays are joyous ones. I pray that all of your years are loving ones. I wish that you truly live every day you get here. And most of all I pray that you will take Gods hand and sing, dance, laugh, and love your way into Heaven. ---------------

A FEW SIMPLE SECRETS

There is a story from long ago that I really love. A young novice had entered a monastery run by a wise abbot. One day the abbot told his monks that he was going to share a secret teaching with them that would bring them lasting peace and happiness, but if they shared it with anyone else they would be expelled from the monastery. The next day several of the older monks saw the young novice sharing the secret teaching with everyone in a nearby town. They ran back and told the abbot what they had saw. The abbot just smiled and said, "I can teach this young novice nothing further. He is already an abbot in his own right."

In the spirit of that young novice then I have a few simple secrets that I would love to share with you today. In truth, they aren’t really secrets. Everyone knows them in their hearts even when they don’t accept them in their minds. Like that young novice, though, once I welcomed them into my soul I couldn’t wait to share them with all of you. Here then are a few simple secrets from a student of life who is still learning.

God loves you. God loves you even when you don’t love Him back. God loves you with a love so powerful and eternal that nothing can destroy it. And you can love too. You can choose love. You can share love. You can pray for love. You can learn of love. You can grow in oneness with God’s love each and everyday of your life here. And when you love, you will have joy. You will have the lasting peace and happiness we all search for and want. Then no matter what troubles you deal with or tragedies you go through you will know God is with you and you will face them with love.

The secrets of life are simple but never easy. Do your best then to learn them, live them, and share them with everyone you can. Be the eager student and loving teacher of life always. ---------------

FILLING THE BARREL

I love it when God blesses us with bright, shining opportunities to help others. God always uses these opportunities to help us become better people as well. Sometimes, however, these opportunities come with difficulties. And they are the ones that challenge us the most.

I had just arrived at the grocery store the other day. My shopping list was long and my cash was short. It seemed like we had run out of everything at once. It looked like there was no way that I would be able to get all the food I needed for my family that week with the money I had. As I walked in the store I noticed a big, blue barrel. On the side was a plea for food donations for the local food bank to help the needy. I glanced inside it. It was completely empty. Apparently, I wasn�t the only one struggling to make ends meet that week.

As I walked through the store, though, I couldn�t get that barrel out of my mind. With each food item I put in my cart I thought of all the people who couldn�t even afford to feed their own children right now. Finally, I picked up some extra boxes of noodles and put them in my cart. I prayed they would fill at least a few empty bellies that week. I knew if I had to I could put back something of my own to make up the difference. I paid for the groceries and had just enough to get them all. I smiled and walked to the barrel with an empty wallet but a full heart. As I dropped the boxes of noodles in the barrel I noticed too that it was slowly starting to fill up. I wasn�t the only one who had decided to help the hungry that day.

Every opportunity to help others is a gift from God. Every time we do help others God is helping us as well to become better and more loving people. We are here, after all, to love each other and to help each other. We are here to fill both empty barrels and empty hearts. We are here to live as God�s Children. May we always do so. ---------------

HOME

I have lived in several different houses and apartments in my life and none of them seemed like home. Well, that is at least not at first. You see, in all the hustle and bustle of settling in, unpacking boxes, hunting for lost items, hanging pictures, adjusting to new surroundings, and the general craziness of moving your life from one place to another there is no real sense of home. That sense comes much later and often unexpectedly. It comes one day when after a long day�s work you settle into your chair, breath in deep, relax, and suddenly feel at peace. That is when you look around at those walls and ceiling as if for the first time and give thanks to God for this wonderful place to live. That is when you finally make your house into your home by blessing it with your love.

No matter how small, old, or run down the places I have lived in have been there has always been that point when I blessed them with my love, took them into my heart, and made them my home. There has always been that point when I realized that any hut, shack, or hovel could still be a castle as long as God and love lived inside it with me.

There is another place that we all should bless with our love and make our home. That is this world we live in. It may not be our permanent home, but while we are here we should do all we can to make it our loving home. We are here, after all, for only a short time. Why not use it to bring as much Heaven as we can down here to Earth?

Whether you are sitting in your favorite chair, cooking your dinner, looking up at the night sky, or walking outside on a cool, brisk morning then know that you are home. Know that you are living in a world created in love. Know that you can bless that world with your love as well. Home is where the love is. Home is where God is. May everywhere you live be home to you. ---------------

LETTER TO STEPHEN HAWKING

Dear Mr. Hawking,

First let me say that I have always admired you. Your intellectual achievements and your courageous battle against the disease of ALS for all these decades have been an inspiration for thousands of people in this world. However, when I saw your recent statements on television about how with the law of gravity and physics, science can explain the universe without the need for God I felt moved to write this letter and politely disagree with you.

I may be a simple inspirational writer and not know that much about the laws of the universe. Still, most scientists admit that they don�t know everything about them either. When I look at this world around me, though, I cannot bring myself to believe that it was made through some random actions even if they took place over billions of years. Can science explain the millions upon millions of different plants and animals in this single, little world of ours? Can physics tell us why a single cell organism would suddenly divide and form a perfect copy of itself? Can the law of gravity explain how LIFE came from a collection of gases, dust, and particles? Can evolutionists show us why all adaption that occurs in nature has a distinct intelligence behind it?

Can evolution, physics, science, or the law of gravity explain us? Can they explain the love, caring, and compassion that exists in the human heart? Can they explain the goodness, kindness, and oneness of the human spirit? Can they explain why we care for our sick, handicapped, and aged who can no longer contribute to the survival of our communities? Can they explain our need for something greater than ourselves? Can they explain our thirst for God? Can they explain LOVE with all of its wonder and power to change lives, make this world a better place, and bring happiness to countless hearts?

Looking at this world with its flowers, trees, Autumn leaves, sunsets, oceans, cool breezes, smiling faces, and caring hearts makes me see not only an intelligent designer, but also a loving Creator. Looking at this world makes me rejoice in my faith in God, my love for God, and most importantly God�s love for me and everyone in this world. Science will ever be able to explain the JOY that God�s love brings.

I hope that one day you rediscover your own faith and feel that powerful love of God living in your own heart and soul. Until then I wish you well in all you do even if I don�t agree with all you say. ---------------

THE GREAT ACORN WAR

The first school I ever attended sat halfway up the side of a hill. Along the ridge right above it were several matronly Oak trees and down at the bottom of the hill was the playground with seesaws and swing sets. Every afternoon at recess most of the boys and girls would make a mad dash down the hill to be the first on the swings and seesaws. A group of us boys, however, found another great toy to play with, the acorns from the Oak trees. Thus began the Great Acorn War.

For several days we divided into armies, gathered our acorns, and spent recess throwing them at each other. It was great fun until you got hit. One day I found myself trapped behind a tree with the other army all around me. I said a quick prayer to God to please not let me get hit and then made a break for it. Dozens of expertly thrown acorns stung into my face, head, arms, and back. I ran as fast as I could all the way back into the school. The next day I decided the swings might be more fun and left the warfare to others. Soon after that one of the teachers saw the acorn fighters in action and put a stop to the Great Acorn War once and for all.

That was one of the first times I remember asking God for something and it was also one of the first times I remember Him saying No! It took me many years to finally see that sometimes what we think is best for us really isn�t and that God�s wisdom is far greater than ours.

Since then I have had a lot of my prayers answered and the answer hasn�t always been yes. I asked God to cure my boys of their Autism but God showed me instead how to look beyond their handicaps and see their loving souls shining through. I asked God for an easy life, but God gave me a challenging one to grow my character and learn the importance of love. I asked God for the ability to help others and heard Him say in my heart, "You are finally getting it!" May God then always give you what you need even if it isn�t always what you want. ---------------

HOW DO YOU BUILD A BETTER WORLD?

How do you build a better world? That is a question that has puzzled mankind for centuries. Many things have been tried. Some have helped and some haven�t. I think, though, that I was given a part of the answer just the other day.

My brother had just cleaned out his closet. It was something I needed to do as well even though I was afraid I might get lost in there and not find my way back out. When he brought over some of the extra clothes to my Dad�s house, he asked me to look through them and see if there was anything I could use. I ended up just picking out a few pair of short pants to replace my worn out cut off jeans. I couldn�t see keeping more clothes that I didn�t need. I volunteered instead to take the rest of them over to the Goodwill store and donate them for him.

I loaded his clothes in the back of my car and then decided to brave the clutter of my own closet to add to his donation. It was a scary sight opening that door. The mess was tremendous. Still, the thought of doing something good for another spurred me on and kept me going. It took a long time, but I got it done. I was left with a much emptier closet, but a much fuller heart. As I carried my own bags of clothes to add to my brothers I couldn�t help but smile. It was then that I saw how we all can go about building a better world.

We can do it one kind act at a time. We can do it one gift of charity at a time. We can do it one shared smile at a time. We can do it one uplifting word at a time. We can do it one heartfelt hug at a time. We can even do it one donated shirt at a time. We can build a better world with each act of love we share and good thing we do. We can do it with helpful hands and caring hearts. We can do it with cheerful spirits and joyous souls. We can do it knowing that God and His angels are smiling down upon us and helping us every step of the way. ---------------

THE FIRST LEAF

It was an early August night. Even with the fans on the heat was stifling as I tried to sleep. I awoke early, wiped the sweat from my forehead, and took my dogs out for their morning walk. The lone Maple tree in my backyard kept a quiet watch on the rising sun. As I walked over to it I was surprised to see the first red leaf of the year glowing in the grass below it.

I gently picked up the red leaf and smiled. In the midst of the Summer�s heat and humidity it signaled the coming Fall. It was leading the way to a glorious change that would soon take place. I could feel the cooler breezes blowing on my face. I could see the trees covered with thousands of red, yellow, burgundy, and orange leaves shimmering in the sunlight. I could see the forests and mountains here painted by Heaven�s own hand. I could feel the joy of a beautiful Autumn awakening in my soul.

I took the little leaf into my home so I could see it every day. I still smile every time I look at it. It reminds me that there is a radiant, red leaf in all of us just waiting to come out. It reminds me that on the hottest Summer�s day and coldest Winter�s night we can still share our love and joy with others. It reminds me that our purpose is to add the colors of Heaven to the sometimes grey world around us. I only wish that I had been the first leaf of Fall instead of such a late changer myself.

Whether you changed sooner or later isn�t important, however. What is important is that you shine today. What matters is that you make this world a better and more loving place now. Let your true colors out then. Share a smile. Give a hug. Say a kind word. Feed the hungry. Visit the lonely. Comfort the crying. Care for the hurting. Show others just how much God loves them from the life you lead. Then your soul will glow like the leaves of Heaven. ---------------

A SORE NECK AND A SUNBEAM

I woke up this morning with a crick in my neck from a worn out pillow and a crick in my spirit from a worried out mind. For the past few days I had regressed into a determined pessimist staring at the single mud hole in a field full of flowers. As we all sometimes do I had foolishly allowed myself to worry about my life instead of trusting in God. I had tried to live in the future instead of enjoying today. I had put off my happiness until all my problems were gone instead of tackling each one of them with faith, hope, and joy. All in all I had literally wasted two days of my life.

I was still rubbing my sore neck as I walked to the garbage bin with the pillow. As I opened the bin with a snarl, though, I felt a ray of warmth touch my face. The sun had just risen over the trees and God had used its beams to give me a gentle kiss on the cheek. I looked up as the light bathed my face and saw a single bird soaring across the sky and flying into the sunrise. It was a sight so beautiful that it filled me with God�s love.

In that moment my soul went soaring to the heavens as well and I smiled again. In that second love flowed from my heart and joy touched my spirit. In that instant I felt full of faith and trust. I crumpled up my wasteful worries and tossed them in the trash with that worn out pillow. I looked towards the sky and asked God to forgive my foolishness. Then I dedicated another day to doing His will, sharing His love, and spreading His truth.

I only wish I hadn�t wasted those 48 hours before I awoke again. Worry is an insidious habit that sneaks back into our brains every chance it gets. It eats away at our lives and drains us of our love. Sometimes God even needs a sore neck and a sunbeam to awaken us from the nightmare that it brings to our days. Keep your worry where it belongs then, in the trash. ---------------

AN ENCOURAGING WORD

In the few years I was a teacher I learned a lot of things. Perhaps the most important one of all was the glorious, life changing power of an encouraging word. I discovered it early while I was still in college completing my student teaching hours in a local middle school.

I had read the work Leo Buscaglia had done with his University of Southern California students. In one exercise Leo and his students had made two lists of words, one positive and one negative. Then they had thrown the negative words in the trash and tried to use only the positive words for one month. They were amazed at how much better their lives became just by using words full of kindness and encouragement.

I decided to try this as well by finding something good to write on each paper my students handed in. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. No matter how many errors a student�s paper contained there was always a funny sentence, beautiful thought, or great idea that I could comment on. I remember glancing over my desk and seeing some of the students rereading those encouraging words again and again. It was a joy seeing their eyes shine a little brighter, their backs sit up a little straighter, and their learning climb a lot higher.

I recently saw one of my former students from that class and we talked for a while. He was married, doing well in his job, and had two children of his own now. As I was saying goodbye he said, "You know I still have a few of those old papers from your class. I still look at them from time to time. I just hope my kids have as good a teacher as you." I walked off amazed at the effect those few positive words had on his life. I thanked God too for always giving me the words I needed as a teacher and as a writer. May your own life be forever full of encouraging words in your ears, from your lips, and in your heart. ---------------

A WINK

We have all had those times. They are the times when one bad thing after another seems to crash into your life. Your heart feels bruised, your soul feels weak, and your body feels tired. Then just when you think that you can�t handle one more bad thing, two more bad things hit you from either side.

I was going through one of those times recently. I was driving home in a mood that would have had to climb 50 feet just to reach dejected and depressed. As I rounded the last curve before my house I noticed that my car�s antenna had smashed into a butterfly. Seeing that beautiful creature�s wings crumbled around it was the last straw.

Butterflies had always been special to me. My Mom had loved their simple beauty and delicate grace. Seeing them always reminded me too of her own lovely and loving spirit. Now I was going to have to peel a dead one off my car. After I stopped I walked sadly around to the antenna. I reached over, gently touched the tip of the butterfly�s wing, and lifted it away from the antenna. Suddenly, to my utter delight the butterfly moved. It hadn�t been crushed at all! It fluttered its wings and flew happily up into the air. It swirled around my head and then floated off to find a good flower to feast on.

I was left smiling and laughing with joy. It felt like God and my Mom had found the perfect way to remind me that I was still watched over and still loved. Squire Rushnell calls these moments, "Godwinks." They can be a coincidence, an answered prayer, or a second of great happiness that reminds you that God loves you and is forever one with you. My life didn�t instantly get any better after this moment, but my soul sure did. In that wink I was shown once again that God�s eyes are upon us and His love is with us forever. --------------

I SEE GOD

"Sometimes it is so hard to believe in a God that you can�t see." These were the words at the end of a letter a friend sent me. It was full of the pain and suffering that life often brings. My friend had endured so much in his young life and his latest tragedy had even made him doubt his lifelong faith.

I pondered his words as I looked out my window. The cool breeze was gently swaying the trees back and forth. I walked outside and felt its tender touch on my own face while the branches of a mighty Oak seemed to wave to me. Then I smiled because I knew that God had given me the answer my friend needed.

This is what I wrote back to him. "My friend, I can�t see the wind, but I still know it is there. I can see its affect on the trees as they dance in its breeze. I can feel its gentle kiss on my cheek. I can watch as it lifts a fallen leaf and makes it dance and fly through the air. In the same way I can�t see God�s face while I am here on Earth, but I still know He is here. I can see the affect He has on countless souls. I can feel His gentle love flow through so many human hearts. I can watch as He lifts a fallen person and helps them to dance and fly once again.

I can see God in a thousand kind acts everyday. He smiles in every person�s smile. He greets us in every friendly wave. He touches us in every heartfelt hug. He inspires us in every caring thought. He uplifts us in every encouraging word. His love lives in our love and His life lives in each of our lives. He will carry you through this pain and loss you are facing and lead you back to love and joy once again. Remember, we all can see God if we only look through the eyes of our hearts. Open yours to His love and allow Him to heal you now." May all of you who read this see God in your lives as well. ---------------

LAUGH LINES

I try not to listen to other people�s conversations, but sometimes you can�t help but hear something that sticks with you. Sometimes a pearl of great wisdom slips into your ears and finds its way into your heart, mind, and soul.

This is what happened to me the other day while I was walking in a store. I was looking for acne pads to help my youngest son�s teenage face. As I rounded the corner I heard a middle-aged woman with a little girl in her arms asking her grandmother what she thought about a brand new face cream that was supposed to diminish wrinkles and laugh lines. The grandmother just laughed and said, "Sweetie, I am 80 years old. I have learned to love all my laugh lines. After all, I earned every one of them." Then just to prove her point she laughed again and tickled her great granddaughter. The little girl�s and the old woman�s laughter blended together with a sound as musical and beautiful as an angel�s song.

I left the store feeling a lot better about all the laugh lines I had earned in my own life. I remembered too all the beautiful faces I had seen over the years. The most radiant ones of all always seemed to have the most laugh lines as well as the fewest frown creases. They shined with joyous smiles and sparkling, loving eyes. Their beauty was ageless and eternal. It didn�t matter if they were 48, or 80 years old. They still glowed as true Children of God.

I think then that I will follow that wise grandma�s advice and continue to love my laugh lines for all the years I have left here. They are the living proof of a life well lived. They are the foot prints that a loving soul leaves on the face. They are the roadmap that traces our wonderful journey with God. I hope that all of you learn to love your laugh lines as well. May you have the time of your life earning every one of them. -----------------

LASTING AND PERMANENT

I turned the television on after breakfast today. A loud commercial blared out at me urging me to buy something and make my life happier. This was followed by another commercial and another each one saying the same thing: buy this or that and your life will be great. After a while I couldn�t take it anymore. The commercials weren�t making me feel better. They were just trying to make me want things I didn�t need. Finally I shut off the set and looked out the window at the sun coming up over the mountains. The clouds were painted purple, pink, and yellow by God�s own hand. Watching them I finally smiled and felt at peace.

In my life over the years I have listened to a lot of commercials and bought a lot of things. I have bought cars, televisions, computers, cell phones, stereos, and more appliances than I could use. The happiness they brought me was temporary and fleeting at best. They may have at times made my life more convenient, but they never once made my life more joyful.

The things that did make my life happier, the things that brought lasting and permanent joy into my heart and soul couldn�t be bought in a store. They instead were found in the wide open arms of love. They were found in prayer, in thanking God everyday for my life, and in inviting His love into my soul. They were found in simple acts of kindness, freely shared, expecting nothing in return. They were found in gentle words of encouragement, big hugs of affection, and inspiring thoughts of goodness. They were found in all the little choices I made everyday to grow in oneness with God and to do my best to be His Child. They were found in living a life of caring for others and giving back what I could to this wonderful world.

What do you want: the momentary pleasure the commercials offer and the empty wallet that goes with it or the eternal joy of living a life of love? It is up to you. Choose well. ---------------

GIFT OF A HUG

It was two days before Father�s Day and my eldest son and I were having breakfast. Just as he finished off the last bite of his Cheerios my boy caught me off guard by asking me what I wanted as a present for Father�s Day. I looked him in the eyes and saw his good and earnest soul shining through them. Then in a moment of inspiration and wisdom I said: "I think that a big hug from you would be the best gift in the world." My dear son got right up, wrapped his arms around me and gave me just what I asked for. The precious gifts didn�t end there either. On Father�s Day I got several more hugs from both of my sons and my daughter too. Each one shared all the love they had for me and I had for them. Each one brought us so much joy. Each one made us feel connected, cherished, and whole. Those wonderful hugs made it one of the best Father�s Days of my life.

I have received a lot of gifts from family and friends over the years. I enjoyed every single one of them too. Still, those hugs from my 3 children have to be at the top of my list of the best gifts ever. They won�t tear, break, or wear out. They will last forever in a special place in my heart and mind. And when I leave this world for the next I know that those hugs and the love they carried into my soul will go with me as well.

I hope that you spend all of your days here collecting and sharing all the hugs that you can. I hope that you go through life with your arms wide open and are never embarrassed to wrap those arms around someone you love. I hope you give hugs freely and happily to everyone around you and send heart hugs with your thoughts and words to those far away. I hope that even when you are alone you aren�t afraid to give yourself a hug as well. And one day when you enter into Heaven I hope that you are ready for the greatest hug of all, the eternal hug of God�s love. ---------------

THANK YOU DAD

Hi Dad. I just wanted to write you a little note to thank you for all the things you have done for me over the years, but I realized if I did that it would be a whole book. I hope you don�t mind then if I just hit the highlights.

Thanks Dad for having the good sense to marry Mom all those years ago. You couldn�t have chosen a better wife or mother for all of us. Thanks Dad for not stopping at two sons or else I wouldn�t be here today. Thanks Dad for that stack of books you kept in the corner of the living room. It got me reading early and I haven�t stopped since. Thanks for taking me to church when I didn�t want to go and making me work in the garden when I would have rather been riding my bike. Both made me a better person. Thanks for everyone of those homemade, Italian dinners over the years. They were food for both the stomach and the soul. Thanks for all those bags of groceries you brought me that got me through college. Thanks too for always bringing my old, dead cars back to life with your miracle mechanic work. You kept me driving instead of walking.

Thanks Dad for always encouraging me and supporting my choices even when I made the wrong ones. Thanks for always being there to talk to when I had problems and pain. You helped me through a lot more than you know over the years. Thanks for being such a great dad to all your sons and such a loving grandfather to all of your grandchildren.

Thanks so much Dad for being there through laughter and tears, triumph and tragedy, love and loss, happiness and heartbreak. I am so happy that you were my Dad. You taught me how to always be there for my own children. You showed me how to be a good man. You helped me to find my way through life and back to love, joy, and God. Happy Father�s Day Dad. I hope that we share many more of them together. I love you. ---------------

LET IT FLOW

I used to love to play in the woods near my home when I was a boy. I especially enjoyed sitting by a certain crystal clear mountain stream that flowed musically down the side of a hill. Green moss covered the rocks and made a comfortable seat on either side of it and when I would bend down I could see my own smiling face reflected back at me. I used to love taking a sip of its pure, sweet water. It always tasted like a drink from Heaven.

Going back in my mind to those carefree days beside those blessed waters reminds me of all the wonderful lessons they taught me. They taught me not to grasp too tightly. If I did the water would seep through my fingers and I would be left with nothing. Instead I learned to let the water flow over my hand and to lift it gently in my cupped palm when I wanted a sip or to water the daises, buttercups, and Queen Anne�s lace that lined the stream�s banks. I learned too that just a few drops of that water helped those flowers to grow healthy and strong. Most of all I learned that I didn�t always have to be doing something to be living. Just sitting by that tiny mountain stream, listening to it gently splash over the rocks, and feeling its peace was all that I needed for a great afternoon.

That mountain stream is a lot like the river of God�s love that flows through our lives. Just like that stream God�s love can�t be grasped and held tightly. In order to drink from it and experience it we have to let it flow through us and use it to bless the world around us. A few drops of that living water too is all that we need to help us grow better and stronger each day of our lives here. And sometimes it is good to just spend some time sitting quietly by the stream with God and let His peace fill us once again. May you always let God�s loving water flow through your life then. May you drink deep, live well, and pass the cup on to all you can. ---------------

EVERY LITTLE THING

I have always wanted to do something big in my life. Since I was a boy watching those old television cowboys rescuing people on a runaway stage or those heroic tv firemen saving a baby from a burning building, I wanted to do something like that. Well, almost 44 years have gone by now and I still haven�t done anything even close to that.

Still, today when I took my dogs out for their morning walk I made sure to give each of them a pet on the head first. Today before breakfast was over I made sure that I gave each of my children a hug and told each one of them that I loved them. Today instead of rushing into the grocery store I pulled the door open wide and held it so an elderly lad with a walker could go before me. Today before I pulled out on the road I motioned another driver on a side street to go on ahead of me. Today when I had to stop driving for road work I didn�t complain and instead gave a friendly wave to the highway worker holding the stop sign. Today instead of walking past the people in my office I stopped to exchange a few kind words. Today on the way back to my home I stopped to give a hitchhiker a ride back to his. Today when I answered e-mails and wrote letters I tried to pass on a little encouragement and inspiration in each one of them. Today when I took a break in the evening to read a book I made room on my lap for a cat wanting its head scratched. Today as I moved from task to task I paused to talk to God, to thank Him for my life, to tell Him again how much I loved Him, and to ask Him to fill me with His love always. Today I did my best to live well and to love deeply.

You see, I learned a while ago that God isn�t waiting for us to do something big in our lives. God instead is watching every little thing we do. It is the little things that are important. It is the little things that make up our lives. And it is in the little things that we can best share our love. ---------------

WORKS IN PROGRESS

I snapped at my son today. In a moment of frustration I scolded him over something trivial that I could have easily ignored. I saw the hurt in his eyes after I did it and apologized to him. Afterwards, I gave him a hug, reminded him of what a good son he is, and told him how proud I am of him. Still, I wished I could have taken back what I said earlier.

Later in the day I was in the store getting a few items for dinner. An elderly lady was stretching in vain to reach something on a high self. I walked over and asked if I could help. She said,"Yes" and I got what she needed down for her. She then thanked me for the helping hand and I told her it was my pleasure. I left the store feeling both happier and closer to God.

How do I reconcile that frustrated Father I was earlier in the day with the smiling, good Samaritan I was later in the afternoon? The answer is simple. I am still a work in progress. In truth, we are all works in progress from the second of our birth to the moment of our death. We are here to learn to love, to grow in love, to share our love, and to become one with our Heavenly Father�s love. It may seem simple but it isn�t always easy. It takes a lifetime too. That is why no matter how many times we stumble and fall it is important to rise up, to ask God�s forgiveness, to dust ourselves off, and to begin again to love with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. At the end of our lives only one thing matters: how much we loved.

I know that my son will forgive me for my short temper earlier today. I know that God will forgive me too. Like everyone else I still have a lot of work to do to become the person I want to be. Thankfully, God is patient with me. I know too that the job of growing into our goodness can mainly be done with laughter, smiles, and great joy. Yes, we are all works in progress, but we still can have the time of our lives becoming better for God. ---------------

MAKING A LIVING AND LIVING

The best on the job training I ever got in my life came from a very special woman: my Mom. It happened when I was in my early twenties. I had just recently graduated from college but couldn�t find that well paying job I had been hoping for. With a wife and baby son to support at home I found myself reluctantly taking a job as a busboy in a local restaurant. I was bitter, sad, and depressed to find myself working there to say the least.

God works in mysterious ways, though, because that restaurant was the same one that my Mom had recently started working at after years of being a stay at home Mother. The first time I saw her come in the kitchen it was like an extra light had been turned on. Her smile was returned by everyone of the cooks and her gentle laughter and sweet good humor made the shift go by quickly. Her concern for her fellow workers made them open up their hearts to her and she was happy to fill those hearts with her compassion and love. She did her physical work well and did her spiritual work even better. And at the end of the day she seemed to have even more energy than when she had started.

It was both strange and delightful to see my Mom in this new and wonderful way. I had thought that I had learned all that she could teach me, but now I was learning something brand new. Me and most of the other workers at that restaurant were there just to make a living but my Mom was actually LIVING. Her job and her joy had become one. She cooked up love both on the stove and in the hearts of all those around her. She was doing Heaven�s work here on Earth.

I have had a lot of jobs since then. Some have been backbreaking and some have been inspiring but I have always tried to follow Mom�s example and bring my love and joy to each one. May you do the same and always LIVE while you make a living. ---------------

ASKING FORGIVENESS

My Grandma whom we all called Nanny was a solid, first-generation, Italian immigrant. She came to this country with her family on a tiny ship during World War I when she was only 8 years old. During the trip she survived stormy seas, little food, and an attack by a German U-boat. After getting here her large family worked hard to build a new life in America. They never had much money but were rich in love. Nanny grew up, married, and raised 4 sons of her own. And then when my parents moved back into her home she helped to raise me too.

One day when I was about 5 or 6 years old my parents and brothers went on a trip. It was just me and Nanny in the house for the weekend. Nanny seemed so happy to be taking care of me all by herself. She made me a special breakfast that first morning. I was too young, selfish, and foolish to see that then, however. All I could do was complain about how the food was not how Mom always made it. Nanny quietly put down the plate and went into the living room. I followed a minute later and saw that she had tears in her eyes. It was the first time I had ever seen my strong, rugged, and proud Grandmother cry and I was the one who had caused it.

I walked over to Nanny, climbed on her lap, and for the first time in my short life I did something else too: I apologized without being told too and asked Nanny to forgive me. She smiled, rubbed my head, and told me I was a good boy even though I didn�t feel like one then.

That memory just like my Nanny�s love will stay in my heart forever. It is strange that so many people think it shows weakness to admit your mistakes and say you are sorry. In truth, it is a sign of both strength and wisdom. Asking forgiveness helps us to learn, to grow, and to love. It brings us closer to Heaven and blesses us with God�s love. It helps us to become the people we were meant to be. It is those who never say they�re sorry who end up living sorry lives. ---------------

GIVING, HAVING AND RECEIVING

Love is an amazing thing. It is a glorious gift from God that defies logic, reason, and even explanation. It created the universe, it bonds us all together, and it shines bright in every soul that chooses to share it. The truth is the more love you give the more love you have, and the more love you have the more love you receive.

This truth was made especially clear to me one day last Winter. It was during a spell when each day brought another 8 inches of snow and we wondered if it would ever end. On this day even the heavy snow plows couldn�t keep the roads clear. I was on my way to the post office driving 20 mph under the speed limit. It was then that I saw a man and woman hitchhiking on the side of the road. I carefully pulled over and asked where they were going. Although it was an extra 10 miles out of my way I agreed to take them anyway. Traffic was light and I didn�t see them catching another ride anytime soon.

As we drove along I learned that they were headed to an elderly friend�s home to shovel out her driveway. They had agreed to do so out of the kindness of their hearts, with no thought of reward, and knowing that it would take most of the day to do so and get back home. They thanked me more than once as I dropped them off, but they didn�t have to. Their loving example had already touched my heart. It made me smile knowing that my small act of kindness had helped them with their large act of love. Driving back home I felt a wonderful peace and happiness that nothing in this world can give. I felt the powerful, limitless love of God fill my spirit full to overflowing. At that moment I knew what it felt like to live as a true Child of God.

Love truly is what life is all about. It enlightens our souls and encircles our lives here. It connects us to Heaven and makes us one with God. It brings us what we all want: Joy! ---------------

APPRECIATION

Spring is continuing to work her wonders in the mountains this year. The skies are full of sunshine with only a few clouds floating on the wisps of the winds. My flower box is full to overflowing with purple phlox. A patch of bluebonnets sits proudly next to my front porch. A million dandelions dot the fields. Thousands of bees and butterflies are doing their best to help them flourish and grow. In the morning the birds sing their own "Ode to Joy" while in the evening a blanket of stars keeps you warm in the cool night air.

It seems too that this year I am appreciating Spring�s beauty more than ever before. I am standing outside a bit longer in the morning to admire the rising sun and am staying out a few more minutes each night to gaze at the smiling moon. I am lying down on the warm grass to smell the flowers and am taking the time to rescue the few, stray moths that fly into my house. I am taking deeper breaths of the fresh, Spring air and am saying some extra "Thank You�s" to God for giving us such a blessed time of the year.

Perhaps this greater appreciation comes from the long and difficult Winter we had this year or perhaps as I am getting older and wiser I am finally beginning to see the glory and majesty that was around me all the time. Either way I am grateful and happy. There is nothing sadder than passing by a treasure everyday and not seeing it.

This world is full of beauty, wonder, and delight. It is full of countless blessings given to us by our loving Father above. All we have to do is open our eyes to see them and open our hearts to feel them. Don�t ignore these glorious gifts from God. Don�t allow yourself to pass them by. Open the door of your soul and welcome them in. Let them warm you, nourish you, and strengthen you. Let them become one with you. Then go out and share their joys with everyone. ---------------

STOLEN CHECKS AND STUPIDITY

This story starts with a few stolen checks but ends with simple stupidity. I had to take my son to a doctor�s appointment today and afterwards was hoping to pay for and pick up the new registration for my car. I took my checkbook then and tossed it into my car�s glove box before going to the doctors. We were running a little late so my son and I hurried into the office without locking up the car. The appointment went well and I headed off next to pay for the new car registration. It was only there that I saw that my last few checks had been stolen. I looked at the check register and the last one I had written was four short of the end of the booklet. I raced out of the building and rushed to the bank in order to put a stop payment on my stolen checks.

I was angry more at myself than at the person who had taken my checks. I was also a bit sad because my faith in humanity had been shaken a little. I got to the bank in record time and hurried in. I told the teller what had happened and she checked to see if any of the checks had been used. To the surprise of us both she found that the checks had been cashed days earlier and for the exact amount of my last four bills. It was then that I flipped the check register page back and saw that I had written down a check ending in 97 as a 94. After that mistake had followed mistake down the next page. No checks had been stolen. I had just stupidly written the wrong numbers in the register and also failed to notice that it was I who had ripped out the last check in the booklet. I laughed at myself and thanked the teller for her help. My brain felt old and I felt foolish, but I thanked God that my faith in humanity had been restored.

I will take a little humbling any day to keep my faith in humanity going strong. In this crazy, modern society it is easy to forget that this world is full of good, caring, and loving people. We are all God�s Children. May we always see His light shining in each other. ---------------

A TAP ON THE SHOULDER

A long time ago when my full grown children were still "children" I saw something that still brings a burst of joy to my heart whenever I think about it. My youngest son who was still a toddler at the time was very attached to his big sister. When she first started going to school he would stand by the window waiting everyday for her bus to bring her home. And when I would walk her up the hill to our house he would be waiting at the door to hug her.

One day, however, after a particularly nasty diaper incident his Mom needed to give him a quick bath right when the bus was scheduled to arrive. When his sister and I made it to the door then he was still in the tub. His sister went into her room to put her coat up and as soon as she shut the door out toddled her brother from the bathroom and right to the window he went. His internal clock knew that his sister should be home any second. I smiled as I watched him looking intently out the window while his sister emerged from her room. Quietly she snuck up behind him and ever so gently tapped him on the shoulder. The look on his face when he turned around and saw his big sis was one I have rarely seen in this life. It was pure bliss, pure joy, and pure love. His big eyes shined with delight, his toothless smile took up most of his face, and his tiny arms opened up to give his sister a very big hug.

I realized a while ago that I had spent far too much of my own life looking out a window waiting for something or someone to bring me what I wanted in this life. It took me a long time to finally feel the gentle tapping on my own shoulder. When I turned around there was God ready to take me in His arms and fill me with His love. I saw then that everything I had ever needed: love, joy, peace, and oneness with God had been with me all along. I had just been looking the wrong way. I hope that you too will turn around when you feel that tap. ---------------

AN IRISH MEMORY

I was 17 years old when I met him and I only knew him for two days. Yet, the memory of him warms my heart even now. He was a middle-aged priest from Ireland visiting the same Chicago seminary that I was. He had a stock of thick, red hair and a thousand freckles. His cheerfulness, laughter, and smile were contagious to everyone around him. His deep, Irish accent seemed to sing when he spoke and every room he entered seemed a little brighter.

Over the years I have forgotten the jokes he told and the stories he shared, but one thing he said still lives on in my mind. One evening one of the other teenagers visiting the seminary joked that our smiling "Saint Patrick" certainly didn�t fit the mold of the solemn and serious priest. To this our new friend just laughed harder and said, "Well my boy if God didn�t want us to be happy then why does smiling feel so darned good and frowning feel so darned bad?"

I took that moment with me and stored it in a special place in my soul. Even though I took a different path and didn�t become a priest myself, the lesson I learned from that merry Irishman has stayed with me. I knew from that time on that God not only loves us, but also wants us to be happy in our lives here. We may face challenges, tragedies, suffering, loss, and eventually our own deaths. But with God�s love within us we can still choose joy, give joy, live in joy, and make this world a more loving and joyous place for everyone.

I never saw that angel from Ireland again. I am sure, though, that wherever he is right now, he is spreading joy and he is sharing love. That red-headed Child of God gave me a glorious example of how to live in the Kingdom of Heaven even while we are still here on Earth. Because of him I laugh more. Because of him I love more. Because of him I smile more. He was right too. Smiling does feel so darned good. May all of your days then be full of smiles. ---------------

REBIRTH

Spring in the mountains of my home is a thing of beauty to behold. Clear skies and a golden sun make everything glow. Warm temperatures and gentle rains make everything grow. Tulips and dandelions each pop their heads out of the ground side by side. The trees are full of apple and cherry blossoms and their sweet fragrance fills the air. Butterflies emerge and begin to float happily from flower to flower. The morning air is full of the sweet songs of hundreds of birds. Bunny rabbits and deer sneak into the meadows before dawn to munch on the fresh, sweet grass. The gentle music of young children playing outside fills the ears with the sound of joy. Neighbors sweep off their porches and sit in their swings to take in the wonder all around them. It is a special time when the whole world seems to come back to life again.

Watching the rebirth of the Earth again this Spring has made me think of all the times in my own life when I felt dead inside only to be reborn. There have been moments of pain, purposelessness, and pride when I felt all the zest for life draining out of me. There have been times of despair, depression, and desperation when I never thought I would feel alive again. Yet, each time God in His love and wisdom has planted a few seeds in my soul that sprouted, grew, and gave life to me once again.

In truth, each of us is reborn many times in our lives. Each time we awake in the morning, we are reborn. Each time we rise up after we stumble and fall, we are reborn. Each time we invite our Creator into our hearts, souls, and lives, we are reborn. Each time we choose to love God, ourselves, and others, we are reborn. Each time we do a single, kind act, we are reborn. When it comes to rebirth the most glorious Spring still can�t compare to us. May you make everyday of your life then a day of rebirth. And may you always live from the Springtime of your soul. ---------------

KIND EYES

I read an old story the other day that both knocked on the door of my heart and opened a window into my mind. I am not sure if it is factual or just a myth. One thing is certain, though, it spoke to my soul.

Early in the eighteen hundreds an old man stood along a riverbank. It was the middle of a dark, Winter�s night in Virginia and the ice cold water was raging. There were no bridges or ferries across the river. The only way to cross safely was on horseback, so the old man waited patiently until he saw four riders approaching. As the first three riders rode up and crossed the river, however, the old man said nothing. It was only when the last rider came to the riverbank that he asked for a ride across. The rider kindly agreed and offered the old man a hand up on his mount. After making it to the other side of the rushing river he helped the old man down and questioned him on why he hadn�t asked any of the previous riders for help.

The old man said, "I looked into the eyes of each man as they rode past and saw that their hearts were cold. I knew that they wouldn�t help an old man. Your eyes were kind and I knew that you would help me. Thank you for the ride." The fourth rider, President Thomas Jefferson smiled at the man and then rode on towards his home.

After reading that story I prayed to God. I asked Him to help me to nurture the goodness in my own heart. I asked Him to help me to develop a caring soul and a giving spirit. I asked Him to fill me with His love so that anyone who looks into my eyes will find them kind. I am sure too that when Thomas Jefferson entered into the light of Heaven the angels were cheering. They were cheering not because he had been President of the United States. They were cheering instead for every ride he gave, kindness he shared, and good thing he did in his life here. ---------------

A HELPING HAND

It was the perfect weather for a walk the other day. It was that beautiful time of the year right between the end of Winter and the start of Spring. Cool breezes tickled my face while the rising sun quickly burnt away the morning fog. Birds were starting to sing their love songs again and to built nests for their future young. My heavy coat had been traded for a light jacket. The grass was still moist from the freshly melted snow and the Maples and Oaks seemed to be deep in thought over whether to send out their buds now or wait a few more weeks.

I walked along the edge of the woods and gazed up at the bright, blue sky. As I was thanking God for another glorious morning, however, a sad sound reached my ears. It was a mewing that sounded like a newborn kitten. I looked around on the ground but couldn�t see one anywhere. Then I noticed that the crying seemed to be coming from above and glanced up into the trees. I soon spotted him. It was no kitten but a full grown tomcat who had let Spring fever get the best of him. He had scaled an Oak like it was nothing but was now too scared to climb back down.

I knew I couldn�t leave him up there but wondered if I would need a ladder to get to him. I decided to let my boyhood tree climbing skills guide me instead. Grasping the rough branches I slowly made my way up to the cat. Then cradling him in one arm I lowered myself down again and safely let him go. He gave me a quick thank you glance and then scurried off. I smiled as I watched him go then headed for home with scraped up hands but a warm heart.

Few things in this life make you feel better than offering a helping hand to someone in need. It connects you with God. It brings you closer to others. It helps you become who you were meant to be. The next time then that you get a chance to give someone a hand up or in the cat�s case a hand down take it. A helping hand like a loving heart always leads to a happy soul. ---------------

LOOKING IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR

When I was a young boy my family would always make a Summer trip out of state to visit my Grandma and Aunt. It was a long drive over curvy, mountainous roads. It often took up to eight hours to get there. This was before the age of i-pods and DVD players too. My Dad didn�t care much for the rock music the radio stations played in the nineteen seventies either, so the trip was a quiet one. Stuffed in the back seat of the family sedan with my two brothers, I only had one thing that I could do and that was look out the window.

A window seat was best for scenery watching, but being the youngest and the smallest I was always stuck in the middle. That left gazing over my brothers� shoulders or looking through the rearview mirror at what we had just passed. The second option, however, could never be done for long. With mountain roads I never knew when the next curve was coming up and if what I was looking at didn�t match what my body was feeling then I was carsick in minutes.

After a few times of my stomach turning flip flops I learned my lesson and kept my eyes on the road ahead. That way I could gaze in wonder at the golden light of the sun shining down on the green leafs of the trees as we drove by them. That way I could enjoy seeing the deer peacefully eating grass along the side of the road. That way I could delight in what was coming next instead of being sick over what was already left behind.

Those long trips taught me that you can�t live your life always looking in the rearview mirror. If you want to enjoy the beautiful moments of today then you have to see them as they happen. God doesn�t want us to live in the past. He wants us to embrace the joy that each new day brings. He wants us to realize the preciousness of every second and use them all to love Him, ourselves, and others. Keep your eyes on the road ahead then and trust God to lead you Home. ---------------

JOY IS FREE

I was driving down the road the other day listening to sweet music coming out of my car radio. My heart felt peaceful, my mind was clear, and my soul was full of love. Even with all its problems life seemed good. Then the music stopped and the news came on. There was talk of another millionaire celebrity in drug rehab after an incident with the police. There was news on the murder of a poor man whose life was supposed to be changed after winning the lottery. There was even a discussion on how much greed and excess had damaged our world.

Every story seemed to point once again to the old adage that money can�t buy happiness. Hearing them made me think of a documentary I saw many years ago on Mother Teresa�s home for the dying in Calcutta. What struck me the most when I watched it wasn�t the grinding poverty there. It wasn�t the sickness and suffering that the people there were going through. It was rather the peaceful smiles of love, kindness, and happiness that they shared with the Sisters and with each other. These people had nothing. Many were on the verge of death. Yet, they knew the simple truth that so many of us here are still learning: Joy is Free.

The truth is God loves you and wants you to be happy right now. He wants His light to brighten you, His peace to calm you, and His happiness to uplift you. He wants you to fill your life with His love and then share it with the world. He wants you to have joy and to spread joy everyday of your life here. Don�t worship dollar signs and think that money will bring you happiness then. Joy can�t be purchased. It can�t be owned. It can only be chosen and then given freely to others. In the eyes of eternity money is only worthless paper. The only thing that matters is the love within you and the love that you give to the world. Make that your legacy and your life will forever be rich in joy. ---------------

MIRACLE WORKERS

This world is full of miracles from the rising of the sun at dawn, to the first flower in the Spring, to the colors of the leaves in the Fall. The miracles that touch my heart the most, though, are the tiny ones. These are the ones that go unnoticed by most people, but they are the ones that make life worth living.

One of the best of these tiny miracles is preformed by a local miracle worker everyday. Her job in this world is ringing up and bagging groceries, but her job from Heaven is bringing a little more joy to each heart she meets. I saw her hard at work just today. It had been a rainy morning with cold air and gray skies. Everyone who walked into the grocery store had a shiver in their walk and a frown on their face. I was no exception to this either. It had been a long, hard Winter and I felt tired as I bought extra bread and bananas to get me through the next coming storm. As I got to the check out line, however, the miracle worker went to work. She greeted me with a warmth that went straight to my heart. Her kind smile caused one to appear on my own face as well. Her shining, compassionate eyes reminded me once again that this is God�s world and that it is full of loving souls like her. We chatted briefly as I paid for my food. As I left she told me to enjoy the day and I promised that I would. As I was walking out the store she was already uplifting the spirit of the next person in line. It occurred to me too that in all the years I had shopped there I had never once seen someone leave her counter without a smile on their face.

I thank God for that miracle worker and all the miracle workers of this world. The truth is we all can become miracle workers if we choose. We all can lend our strength, talents, hearts, and souls to making this world a better place. We all can bring a little Heaven down to Earth with our joy, laughter, and smiles. And we all can share the miracle of God�s love every single day. ---------------

YOUR OWN SPRING

I sent my Aunt another birthday card today. It was nowhere near her birthday but that didn�t matter. You see, my Aunt has lived over eighty years in this world. She has done her best to make each and every day of them too a celebration of love, kindness, giving, and good cheer. I saw no reason then to limit such a beautiful soul to just one card a year.

The card I sent her this time had a beautiful Spring scene on the front of it. It was full of blossoming trees and blooming flowers. It felt especially good sending it out today too, because I had just finished my second round of shoveling out the drive in two days. A foot and a half of freshly fallen snow had covered everything, closed schools, and made any flowers in the ground here shiver and think twice about ever coming out again.

As I mailed out my Aunt�s card, though, I remembered one of the many things that I have learned from her over the years. "If you want to make it through life�s Winter days then you have to carry your own Spring within you." That is what she always did. Even when the heaviest of snows fell in her life, her spirit stayed sunny. Even when this world was cold and bitter, she still warmed everyone around her with her laughter and her smile. Even when she had to dig out from under life�s pains and troubles, she always carried a flower garden of faith, love and caring in her heart.

Spring will be here soon, I know. In life, however, Winter days can come at any time and in any season. If you are going through some right now remember that God loves you. Remember that each day you wake up is another day that you can be reborn in love and joy. Remember that even when you are shoveling snow in the world, you can still be planting flowers in your soul. And remember that even when Winter drags on and on, you can still share your Spring. ---------------

SEEING THROUGH AUTISM�S WALLS

I pulled an old photo album from its shelf yesterday and wiped the dust off of it. It is one that I rarely open, but something moved me to open it then. Inside of it were baby pictures of my youngest son from the day of his birth until he was 18 months old. Looking at them made my heart ache, not with nostalgia but with loss. You see, the reason I hardly ever look at these pictures is that I can see in them the normal child my son could of been. When I look at those happy, intelligent, and shining eyes in the photos I can see all the years of learning, growing, and becoming that my son could have had before the autism came.

The severe autism that came upon my son in his second year stole his language, changed his personality, and forever clouded his mind. It left him with a life of frustration, mood swings, compulsive behavior, and mental pain. Each day now is a struggle for him and although I try to make his life easier and give him as much love and joy as I can, in the end the autism is always there keeping him from being the person he could have been.

One thing, however, that brings me joy is that everyday I can see his gentle spirit break through those autistic walls around him. Sometimes it is in a laugh, sometimes it is in a smile, sometimes it is in a hug, but it always lets me know that a loving soul still lives within him. One day in the life after this one I hope to get to talk to that sweet spirit and thank him for all the love he gave me and all that he taught me about patience, compassion, and life.

I am going to try and look at those old pictures more often now. I want them to remind me of who my son truly is: a Child of God, a Being of Light, and a Spirit full of Love. The next time then that you see a person trapped in a handicapped body or mind don�t look away, look within. If you do you will see a brother or sister who wants and needs your love. ---------------

YOUR INNER ANGEL

I saw another angel recently. Sometimes it is hard to spot them because they are so good at disguises. There was no white robe on this one. She was wearing a faded, flowered, sun dress not suited for the Winter weather. Her coat too was well worn and probably older than my grown up son. She didn�t have a halo. Her white hair, though, sparkled when the light hit it and her smile shined with joy. There were no wings to be seen either. She was walking slowly in her scuffed up shoes while she pushed her shopping cart through the supermarket.

I knew that she was an angel, however, when at the checkout she divided her groceries into 3 small piles. She apologized to me for doing so but explained that she was buying food for two other elderly people who couldn�t make it out in the bad weather. I just laughed and told her to take her time. It isn�t everyday that you get to see an angel in action after all.

My ancient cherub squinted through her thick glasses and counted out the last of her change to pay for the groceries. Then she picked up her full bags and started to head out into the cold. She stopped for just a second though at a collection bin for the local humane society and quietly dropped in a bag of cat food and a bag of dog food. As I watched her walk into the swirling snow, I smiled and wondered if she was going to head for a car or fly up to Heaven.

That elderly angel in disguise reminded me once again to look for the inner angel in myself. She showed me one more time that doing good and spreading joy can be as natural here on Earth as it is in Heaven. She let me see that sharing God�s love is not only easy to do, it is what we are meant to do. I hope then that all of you take the time today to find the inner angel inside yourselves. I hope that you let that angel out to bless the world with your love. And I hope that you always remember that you don�t need wings to fly. ---------------

STAYING CONNECTED

When I was a boy there were bikes to ride but no cell phones to text on. There was a river for swimming but no world wide web for surfing. There were basketballs to bounce but few video games to play. There were paths to walk but no reality televison shows to watch. When we did sit in front of the tv we could choose between two channels and had to go outside and turn the antenna to get in the second one. When we wanted to make a call too we had to sit in the chair next to the phone, pick up the receiver gently to make sure noone else was taking on the party line, and then slowly dial each number on the rotary wheel.

These days my home is wireless and yet has more wires than I can count. I have a mobile phone, cell phone, and computer. I have two televisions and a hundred cable channels. I have CD and DVD players. My daughter has an i-pod and a cell phone with more functions than she could ever hope to use. I am connected with friends and family all over the globe and can communicate at the speed of light. I am a part of the vast electronic web that encircles our world.

I know too that there is no going back to the simpler age that I grew up in. Still, there are times each day when I shut down my computer and turn off my televisions and cell phone. I do so to spend some quiet time in prayer, to talk to my children and hear about their day, to chat with my friends and neighbors, to read a good book, to pet my dogs, and to take a walk outside and watch the birds flying across the sky. I do so to stay connected to things far more important than the internet. I do so to stay connected to God, to love, to life, to humanity, and to my own soul. Without these connections technology is nothing more than a meaningless distraction.

Use your technology wisely then. Stay connected not distracted. Live your life, share your love, nourish your soul, and make this world a better place both online and off. ---------------

GROWING YOUNG

As I have moved into my forties now I have begun to see more and more that body age has very little to do with soul age. My body keeps telling me again and again that I am getting older. My soul, however, seems to laugh at the thought. Just this morning I awoke to an aching back and stumbled into the bathroom. I stretched and popped my back as much as I could and then looked in the mirror. My thinning salt and pepper hair was mostly salt. My forehead was lined with deep wrinkles and my frowning face made me look like a tired, middle-aged man.

This depressed me but only for a few seconds. Then I remembered that whether I grow old or grow young is very much up to me. I said, "good morning" to God, thanked Him once again for my life and smiled in the mirror. Amazingly, the wrinkles in my forehead disappeared while the laugh lines around my eyes grinned with joy. My sleepy eyes began to sparkle and I watched as fifteen years disappeared from my face in a second.

No matter how old this body of mine may get my soul remains young. This is true for all of you as well. Whether you are 18, 48, or 80 you can still live with the love and laughter of an 8 year old. When it comes to eternity age is a number and the body is a liar. The only years that matter are the years you spend loving others.

Before you get lost looking for the fountain of youth then, take a look inside of yourself. You may find that your spirit is still young, vital, happy, and wrinkle free. You may see that the ability to give love and share joy knows no age. You may realize that when it comes to eternity our lives are here for only a brief moment in time. God created your soul and God created the body that carries it around. One is temporary, but one is forever. Don�t spend too much time then worrying about the one that won�t last when you can be living for the one that will. ---------------

KAI

My good friend and neighbor, Kai died yesterday. It wasn�t unexpected. She had told me in our very first conversation that she had a terminal disease. This week after battling it for several years her body finally gave out. Her soul, however, never did.

Kai was one of those special people who could light up a room just by coming into it. Her full name was Kailani which means Heavenly Sea. It couldn�t have been more fitting because she washed over all of us with waves of love. Her dear husband Sean, her family, her friends, her neighbors, her church, and everyone she met was showered with her kindness. She became an adopted grandmother to a neighbor�s children. She nursed a dog injured in a bear attack back to health and then adopted it as her own. She helped my daughter make that difficult transition from teenager to adult. She showed me how to be a more open and caring person as well. She invited so many of us into her home and her heart. She fed us cake, told us stories, and gave us the gift of her laughter. She listened to our problems, soothed our fears, and showed us everyday how to live and how to love. And she did it all while facing her own coming death.

In the last talk we had she told me that she hated the fact that she was going to die in the middle of Winter. Well, sometimes God in His love gives me just the right words. I said, "Don�t worry Kai, when you awake it will be Spring."

We are going to miss you Kai. We are going to miss that high voice that seemed to sing hello. We are going to miss that gentle smile that warmed our souls. We are going to miss that light you shared that made all of ours burn a little brighter. The tears we are shedding now aren�t for you. Your place in Paradise is guaranteed. The tears we are shedding are for us, because we love you. Thank you for coming into our lives and making a forever home in our hearts. ---------------

THE GIFT

It was almost the middle of January and the snow had been on the ground since before Christmas. Storm after storm had hit us with no breaks in-between. Almost 6 feet of the white stuff had fallen in 6 weeks here. The bitterly cold temperatures had largely kept the snow from melting too. The arctic air had crept through the walls of my house and into my bones as well. All in all, it was the prefect recipe for a case of the Winter blahs.

To lighten my mood then I got out my old Christmas records that I had owned since I was a boy. I turned on the old record player I had bought at a yard sale a few years ago and put the needle to the vinyl. Soon the sweet sounds of "Silver Bells", "Silent Night", "Joy to the World", "Carol of the Bells", and "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" filled the air. Even the January snow looked more beautiful with "The Christmas Song" playing in the background. As I sang along I could feel the loving and joyous music heat up my heart and my home. It didn�t matter that my home was no longer decorated, that there was no tree in the corner or presents under it, or that Christmas dinner had been replaced with hot dogs today. What mattered was that the gift of Christmas lived on inside of me. What mattered was that God�s Love and Oneness filled my spirit not just on December 25th but every single day of my life.

Don�t put the gift of Christmas up on some shelf on December 26th . Unwrap it and carry it in your heart all through the year. Its spirit will warm your Winter, brighten your Spring, make your Summer more special, and put even more Awe in your Autumn. It will remind you of God�s unconditional love for you and help you to keep your own life focused on love as well. It will allow you to live everyday from your soul. And it will even allow you to sing the "Hallelujah Chorus" be it December, May, January, or June. ---------------

HOMEMADE HAPPINESS

The Italian dinners we had after church every Sunday when I was a boy were feasts fit for a king. There were mounds of pasta. There were potatoes, chicken, and meatballs which had been slow cooked for hours in tomato sauce. There were salads too covered in olive oil and vinegar. Most of all, though, there were loaves of Italian bread ready to be devoured. They were great with butter and even better when you dipped them in the sauce. My Grandma, whom we called "Nanny" would always bake them a day ahead so they would be ready. I remember watching her hand kneed the dough. I would often ask to help but only because I wanted to have a bite of the dough before she placed it in the pans to bake. After they were done she would set them on the counter to cool and the whole house would be filled with their Heavenly aroma.

One day I foolishly asked Nanny why she didn�t just buy bread at the store to save time. "Cause they�re not as a good," she said in her thick Italian accent. Then she laughed, smiled, and gave me a pinch of dough to nibble on.

Nanny was right. Today I buy my bread at the store and it isn�t as good. It is factory made and lacks all the taste, warmth, and love that Nanny put into hers. I think that Nanny knew way back then that the best way to bake bread or to make joy was by cutting out the middle man.

I hope that one day all of us realize the same thing. Store bought happiness is a sad substitute for homemade joy. All the pleasures made and sold by the middle men of this world are bland, fleeting, and temporary at best. If you want lasting love, permanent peace, and unending joy then you have to follow God�s cookbook and bake them in your own soul. Remember, God loves us and invites us everyday to His table for a feast of goodness and delight. All that He asks is that we roll up our sleeves and help Him a bit with the cooking. ---------------

BAD WEATHER AND GOOD HEARTS

It is amazing how even the worst times can be used by our loving God to bring out the best in us. I saw ample evidence of this recently when a fast moving Winter storm dumped an incredible two and a half feet of snow here. Cars were buried, businesses and schools were closed, roads were impassible, people were stranded, and tree limbs were snapped taking down power lines with them. A state of emergency was declared and it looked like the bad weather had beaten us all down forever. In the mist of all this misery, though, the best in everyone emerged.

We slowly came out of our houses, grabbed our snow shovels, and went to work. We started by shoveling out our drives and cars. We greeted neighbors doing the same. Then we started helping each other whenever we could. Snow blowers were shared. Paths were dug out so little dogs could have a place to walk and relieve themselves. Anyone with an extra snow plow attached it to their truck and cleared side drives while the state workers cleared the main roads. People who still had electricity thanked God for it and then went out to help those who had lost theirs. Electric line workers were tireless in their efforts to restore as many homes power as quickly as possible and every person whose home was lit back up smiled with a new appreciation for the energy they once took for granted. Families gathered around stoves, hugged each other in blankets, and looked out on the majestic mountains covered in snow. Then when the warm sun returned after days of cold they greeted it like a long lost friend. They watched the beautiful sunrise too like it was for the very first time.

All of this gave me a new respect for all the tough times and bad weather I have faced in my own life. I see now that God is always with us in our Winter nights as well as our Summer days. I see too that our love and joy sometimes grow warmest when life is at its coldest. ---------------

THE RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD

I was doing my monthly budget today. That is when you divide one check by ten bills and pray that there is a little something left over. The whole kitchen table was covered with bills, notebooks, stamps, envelops, labels, money orders, and my oversize calculator. I had just hit the wrong button on that calculator for the third time and was groaning with frustration when suddenly my little Beagle, Snoopy came racing out of my bedroom. Without breaking stride she bounced up on the chair next to mine and then leapt up on the table. She spun out on the papers sending them flying everywhere while my calculator crashed to the floor. Then without missing a beat she started licking my chin as fast as she could. I was about to yell at her but found myself laughing instead. Leave it to that sweet dog of mine to remind me that I am one of the richest men in the world.

My riches can�t be placed in checking accounts or used to pay bills, but they are more priceless than a thousand treasure chests full of gold. My riches come from the furry friendship that follows me around on four legs all day long. My wealth flows from every smile that my children give me. My money comes in the form of hugged backs rather than greenbacks. My gems are the kind words and caring thoughts I give and receive. My gold comes from the shining spirits of my family, friends, and neighbors. My vast fortune is one of Love. It comes from knowing that God loves me. It comes from knowing that I can choose and share love myself everyday of my life. It comes from knowing that when I love, I have joy.

My bankbook may never be heavy, but when it comes to the treasures of Heaven my heart is full to overflowing. May you always choose God�s love and Heaven�s wealth yourselves. And may you always take the time to pet your dog even when she�s sitting on top of your bills. --------------------

THEN I�LL BE HAPPY

For a good part of my life I suffered from a disease. This disease dampened my spirits, drained me of my energy, and robbed me of my vitality. Sometimes it even made it hard to get out of bed in the morning. It made every part of my life more difficult and demanding. For a while too it looked like this disease would be a weight I would have to carry for the rest of my life. This disease was called, "And then I�ll be happy."

I think I first caught it in middle school. During my younger years I seemed to always enjoy the moment and relish each day of my life. At some point during those middle school years, however, I remember starting to look to the future more and more and enjoying today less and less. At first I thought getting into high school and being a teenager would make me happy. Then the dream switched to being the high school football star. That was followed by being on my own in college. Next came having a great career and high paying job. Getting rich and having that big house followed it. After that was the dream of raising a family. Then there was retiring and finally enjoying my life. Each dream postponed my happiness a little further down the road. Finally I realized that if I kept going this way, I would be dead before I was happy.

That is when I came to see that it would be a lot better to be happy now than to live with this disease. Life I knew would always have fresh problems and frustrations, but I thought it would be a lot better to meet them with a happy heart and loving soul rather than waiting for life to be perfect. These days I am in remission. I still have occasional flare ups of "And then I�ll be happy," but I heal them by knowing that I can choose love and joy every second of my life.

God loves us all so much and wants us to be happy today, tomorrow, and forever. Let�s not let Him down. Let�s choose love, share joy, and spread happiness with every moment we have. ----------------

A GIFT OF LOVE

I have always loved Nativity scenes ever since I was a boy. I remember growing up seeing the great care my Grandma always took unwrapping ours. She would gently lift each ceramic statue out of the box and lovingly arrange them in the tiny, wooden barn. The baby Jesus was always the last one lifted out and she would always smile before placing Him in the manger.

It was at another manger too that I saw the most beautiful picture of the real meaning of Christmas. This was years ago when public Nativity scenes were everywhere at Christmastime. It was before the fear of offending others made most of them sadly disappear from parks and town squares. I remember taking a moment to look at one of these public Nativity scenes during a cold, December day. A snow was gently falling on each of the statues and even in the manger. About this time a mother walked up with her young son. The boy couldn�t have been more than three years old. As they too stopped to stare at the beautiful sight the little boy removed his scarf and walked over to the Nativity. Then he folded it and placed it over the manger. He smiled as he walked back and said, "Baby Jesus looked cold." I thought that his mother would make him go back and retrieve the scarf, but thankfully she was made of wiser stuff than me at that time. She just smiled, wiped away a tear, and kissed her son on top of his head. Then leaving his gift of love, they slowly walked down the snow covered street together while the boy happily sang all the words he knew to "Silent Night."

It took a lot of years for me to grow as wise as that child, but when I did I realized that Christmas truly is about Love. It is about a love that is both joyfully shared and unconditional. It is about a love that sacrifices, cares, and gives. It is about loving each other just as much as God loves us at Christmastime and always. ---------------

THE PRODIGAL CAT

My prodigal cat has returned! I found her meowing pitifully on my back porch yesterday after a week of living on the wild side. I was pretty sure that sooner or later the cold, November weather here would make her come home. Right now she is sitting on my lap while I type this, skinnier but wiser, gently rubbing her head on my arm and purring joyfully.

We first rescued our prodigal cat, Honey several years ago when she jumped into our open car without being invited. It appears Honey was on the run from several bigger and meaner cats at the time and was happy to find a pair of protective arms to rest in. The tiny calico soon made herself right at home too. Adjusting to an indoor life didn�t seem to bother her at all. She was always first cat in the house to the bowl at feeding time and she loved to nap all day on the nearest available lap. She nuzzled and purred with the best of them too and was loved by all of us. This last year, however, Honey�s wilder nature seemed to be calling to her. Several times she snuck outside on us only to return back after realizing just how tough life is out there. I am hoping that this latest outdoor romp is her last and that she finally realizes that struggling to survive in the wild just can�t compare to napping on her Dad�s lap.

My cat, however, isn�t the only one who has made this mistake. I think most of us are prodigal children at some point in our lives. Just as in Jesus� Parable we wander away from our Heavenly Father and waste our days on wild living and foolish pursuits. Soon we find ourselves miserable, alone, and just struggling to survive. We return home to our Father broken, repentant, and hungry for His love again. Thankfully, God is always ready to forgive us and welcome us back into His loving arms once more. There is no better or more joyous place to be either, because it is the one place were we truly belong. ---------------

BIG BOYS DO CRY

"Big boys don�t cry." I heard those words a lot growing up in America in the late sixties and early seventies. In those days men were expected to be tough and rugged and never shed a tear no matter what. Our heros were all stone faced cowboys who were too strong to cry. Believing this then I tried my best never to cry at all during my teenage and early adult years.

All that changed, however, as I was driving home alone one night shortly after my Mom died. It was dark and raining outside. I was struggling to keep the car on the road while at the same time struggling to hold the tears back in my eyes. I remember almost going off the road twice as I blinked back the salty water that was burning my eyes and blurring my vision. My hands shook, my heart hurt, and my soul felt dead. Finally I could do it no longer. I stopped, pulled over, lay my head on the steering wheel, and cried. I cried until the tears couldn�t fall anymore. I cried until the pain that I was holding onto so strongly finally fled my heart.

After that night I realized something. Big boys do cry. In fact, it is the biggest hearts that cry the most. I realized too that it is our tears that can release us from our anger and our grief while reconnecting us to our love and our God. Tears help us to embrace this often bittersweet life. They help us to keep growing closer to each other in love and joy instead of shutting ourselves up in dull, aching, and lonely hearts.

These days I cry a lot more often. Sometimes the tears are sad. Sometimes the tears are joyous. But always the tears are full of love. I do my best to follow the advice of Leo Buscaglia who said, "Crying is good! It cleans out your eyeballs!" My eyeballs are a lot cleaner now than they used to be and my heart is as well. I hope then that every boy and girl out there realizes that tears are a gift from Heaven. They wash away the pain and water the seeds of love in your soul. ---------------

WANT SOME CRACKERS?

When I was growing up every Summer my family would pile into our old car and make the 8 hour trip over the mountains to spend a week visiting my Grandma in Tennessee. Each year too my Grandma and Aunt Charlotte would make us an early Thanksgiving dinner. The table would be full of mashed potatoes, turkey, gravy, corn, yams, sweet potatoes, green beans, rolls, butter, pumpkin pie, and whipped cream. It was a feast of love and we would relish every bite of it.

During one of those visits on the day of our big meal, I met a new boy in the neighborhood while playing outside. His mom and he had just moved into town after his dad had left them. Like most young boys we became friends right away and spent the rest of the afternoon playing and talking. After we were pretty worn out from all of our adventures he invited me over to his home. It was older house that had seen better days. He said his mom was renting it and was away at work but that we could get a snack if we wanted. We searched the kitchen but there was nothing but empty shelves. I was shocked. I had never seen a house with no food in it before. Finally I heard, "Want some crackers?" My friend had found half a box of crackers and a peanut butter jar with a tiny bit left in it. He told me not to worry. His mom was getting paid soon and would fill the shelves again. Still, I didn�t eat any of his crackers that afternoon.

That evening as I sat down to our early Thanksgiving dinner I looked at all the food and realized that my new friend had given me a gift. For the first time I was truly thankful to God for everything on my plate. For the first time too I truly saw the need in another�s life.

I never saw my new friend after that. They moved again later that year. I still pray for him even today, though. He opened my heart that day to gratitude and compassion. He made me see that we are all one family in this world in need of both food and love. ---------------

THE LONGEST LINE

The longest line that I ever stood in wasn�t in a store. It wasn�t to see a movie or a concert either. It wasn�t even in the Department of Motor Vehicles. The longest line I ever stood in was at my friend Tim�s wake. Tim had died a young man and his loss had shocked our small community. When I arrived at the wake I was amazed to see the line stretching from inside the small funeral home to down the street as far as the eye could see. People had come from hundreds of miles away to be there and to offer their love to Tim one last time. I saw people there that I hadn�t seen since high school and others whom I had thought I would never see again.

The line moved slowly forward as we waited and shared our memories of Tim. We talked about how funny he had always been without ever seeming mean-spirited once. He loved a good joke and would share them even in a football huddle during the middle of a game. We talked about how Tim was always kind and helpful to anyone in need. In his short but loving life his joyful spirit had touched a thousand people in a thousand different ways. We grieved about how he would never see his kids graduate from school, but also took comfort in knowing that a part of Tim lived on in each of them. We laughed, cried, remembered, and thanked God for the time we had Tim�s good soul with us. When his funeral was held later no indoor building could hold it. We had it on the junior high school football field that was later renamed after him.

In his short time here Tim had made his family, our community, and the world so much better. His loss left a hole in us all. Still, I think that we now laugh a little more, love a little deeper, and share joy a bit more often because of how he touched our hearts. Is there any more fitting tribute to a life well lived? May all of us live as well and love as much. May all of us too never wait in line when it comes to sharing God�s love and making the Earth a little more like Heaven. ---------------

THE BEST GIFTS

I had yet another birthday recently. It is strange how they keep popping up year after year. They must come from the same place as the grey hairs and wrinkles, because each year I seem to have more of them too. Still, as my body gets older and older my soul seems to get younger and younger, so I don�t mind celebrating a birthday now and then.

For some reason too this one seemed especially good. It may have been the chocolate cake and chocolate chip ice cream that made both my face and my stomach smile. It may have been the good natured teasing and hugs I got. It may have been seeing that childlike sparkle in my grown children�s eyes when they gave me my gifts. It may have even been the thoughtful gifts themselves picked out with such care. I think most of all, though, it was the gifts behind the gifts that filled my day with so much joy. You see, each gift was filled with the love of the person who gave it. Each gift was a package of love delivered from their heart to mine and each gift made my own love burn brighter.

The more birthdays I celebrate in this life, the more I see that love is really the only thing that matters. The parties you have, presents you get, or years you age aren�t important. All that counts is how much love you choose, share, and give in this world, because love itself is the greatest gift there is.

God in His loving wisdom has given each of us the two best gifts we can ever get: a life to live and the love to live it with. Let�s not waste them. Let�s not put them on a shelf and ignore them. Let�s use them instead. Let�s fill each of our birthdays and all the days in between with loving others, helping others, giving to others, teaching others, and sharing joy with others. Let�s truly enjoy these gifts God gives us from our first breath until our last sigh. -------------------

GOD�S GPS

I saw one of those new Global Positioning System units today. Those are the ones that hook up to satellites to tell you where you are and what turn to take to get where you are going. It wasn�t in my car of course. Like a lot of men I prefer to go where the road takes me even if I do get lost once in a while. Some of my best times too have come when I have taken my old car on a wrong turn or down a road less traveled. I find that the scenery is always a bit more exciting too when everything isn�t mapped out for you.

In fact, life itself is full of wrong turns, missing maps, and frequent potholes. That is what makes it such an interesting drive. Thankfully, there is one GPS that we all can use when we find ourselves lost on this road of life. This GPS won�t give us a lighted map or step by step directions. It will, however, help us to make the right choices to get where we need to go. This GPS will even let us make a wrong turn if we want to, but it will always gently nudge us back to the right highway to take us home. This GPS is God�s love.

God�s love is always there to nurture us and guide us as we travel on. It is there to help us make every choice and decide on every turn. It is there to help us drive our lives down the right road and to enjoy the scenery along the way. It may even guide us off the highway at times to help a stranded motorist or pick up a lost hitchhiker. One thing is sure though. God�s love will always lead you home in this life and in the next.

Dannion Brinkley said that: �When love alone acts as your compass, your life is always right on course.� I may never want a GPS telling me how to drive my car, but I will always welcome God and His love to guide me on how to drive my life. He may not always let me see the map, but I trust that He knows where we are going.----------------------

THE EYES THAT SEE

I have a blind friend who lives in New York City. Although we have never met face to face, we still write each other frequently. She is a remarkable lady and has become like a sister to me. Her optimistic and enthusiastic letters always lift my spirits and the inspiring poems she shares with the world always bring a smile to my face. She is all the more amazing due to the fact that she lost her sight halfway through her life. She had to give up her career and relearn to do everything that most of us take for granted. Many would have given up after such a loss but not her. Instead she embarked on a glorious new life full of award winning volunteer work. Her days are full of teaching English to new immigrants, counseling hurting hearts, writing, serving her religious community, and helping others in every way she can.

The light of my friend�s example is a beacon that I try to follow as well. Whenever I feel too challenged in my own life I look at the challenges that she has overcome in hers. She may have lost her sight but she never lost her soul. She knows that the eyes that really see are the eyes of the heart, and she does her best everyday to follow the loving vision that they give to her. I am sure too that the eyes of the angels watching over her are always filled with tears of joy and that their faces are always full of shining smiles.

I hope then that when you go through your own life you are not distracted by the murky view that this world so often gives you. I hope that you see it for the illusion it is and instead look at life with the clear vision of your heart�s eyes. God wants us to see this world and our lives through the eyes of love. It is only then that our sight will be pure. It is only then that our path will shine brightly before us. It is only then that we will see how we were meant to live and how we can best bring Heaven to Earth.--------------

CAKE WITH KAI

For the last several weeks my oldest son and I have been visiting our neighbor and friend, Kai every Wednesday afternoon. I always bring over my newest bit of writing to share with her and she always greets us with a hug, a smile, and a freshly baked cake. Each week she fills our bellies with another frosted delight. First it was chocolate, then lemon, strawberry, and vanilla. Everyone of them too melts in your mouth and makes your stomach sigh. After cake we all sit down for a long talk full of shared laughs and shared lives.

Kai�s name rhymes with Hi and that is fitting because her every greeting is full of love and kindness. It doesn�t matter if it is me, the delivery man, or the dog next door. Kai is always ready to give a little joy to everyone she meets. Since she and her husband Sean moved here a few years ago they have made our neighborhood, our community, and our lives so much better. This is all the more amazing considering that the whole time I have known her Kai has been racked by terminal illnesses that have battered every part of her except her spirit.

In the book "Tuesday�s With Morrie" author Mitch Albom writes about his visits to an old, college professor who is dying and how much he learned about living from him. I think that my Wednesday afternoons with Kai have done the same for me. Kai has taught me so much about how to be a more loving human being through her words and through her life. I couldn�t have asked for better knowledge or a greater gift than that.

I thank God everyday for Kai and Sean and all the wonderful people He has brought into my life over the years. I know too that even after Kai leaves us that we will see her again one day in Paradise. Then there will be plenty of time for sitting, smiles, laughter, love, happiness, hugs, long talks, and perhaps even a piece of cake. ---------------

TWO ARMS NO WAITING

I got to hug my Mom and my Grandma again today. It felt so good that for a moment my heart leapt for joy and my eyes filled with tears. In that second the whole world was full of love and the Earth felt like Heaven. Then it was over, because I awoke from my daydream.

You see, my Mom and my Grandma both died years ago. I enjoyed every hug we shared over the years they were alive, but now I see I didn�t hug them nearly enough. I don�t know why I kept my arms and my heart closed so many times over the years. I don�t know why it took me so long to realize that you can�t take love or life for granted. If I had it to do over I would have hugged them a dozen times a day, every single day they were with me. If I could have those moments back I would have followed the example of my own son who gives me more hugs everyday than I can count. I would have taken the lead of my son�s childhood friend too. She may be confined to a wheelchair but she can still hug your heart out with the squeeze of her hand or lift your spirits with a smile that is brighter than the noonday sun. If I could live those years again I would do so with my arms, my heart, and my soul wide open.

Thankfully, God in His love gives us a lifetime to learn from our mistakes. I can�t live those years again, but I can live today. I can love today. I can share a hug today. My Mom and Grandma may have left this world, but in my heart and soul my arms will always be around them.

I hope that you share a few hugs yourself today. I hope that you hang a sign on your heart that says, "two arms, no waiting." I hope that you give your love to all those around you. I hope that you shine a smile to everyone you meet. I hope that you fill your every phone call, letter, or e-mail with "heart hugs" as well. Life is short. Time flies. Our days here are brief. Don�t pass up a single chance then to love, to share, to help, and to hug. ----------------

THE LETTER

When I was a freshman in college I received a letter that forever opened a window in my soul. I had just started writing and the editor of my local county newspaper had been kind enough to publish some of my work. About a month later the letter arrived. Sadly, I lost it in the many moves I have made since then, but it�s essence still lives in my heart.

Here is what it said. "You may not remember me. We last saw each other in kindergarten and my family moved the next year. We still get the county paper in the mail, though, and when I saw your name I had to write you. You see that first year in school was very difficult for me. I was a tiny, sickly, and homely girl that the other children teased everyday. The thing I remember about you is that you never did. You were always kind to me. When we lined up to go out the teacher always put me beside you and you would hold my hand as we crossed the street. You talked to me and played with me. When you were around too the other kids didn�t tease me. You saw me as a person, not someone different and I will be forever grateful for that. My whole life was better because of how you treated me all those years ago."

I quickly wrote back to my kindergarten friend and we corresponded happily for several years before the illness that she had struggled with since childhood finally took her life. I will never forget, however, just how much that simple kindness I had shared meant to her. It made me see that kindness, goodness, love, and joy truly are the most important things in the world.

Every act of kindness we do touches another�s heart. Every bit of goodness we share makes the world a better place. Every choice for love we make brings us and those around us closer to God. God blessed us with the power to help, heal, love, and change this world forever. Let�s use that power and make both Earth and Heaven smile. ---------------

I ALREADY AM

When I was a teenager I was in a group of students who took a trip to Pittsburgh. Being a country boy, I found it exciting just being in such a big city. While most of the students headed for the mall then I decided to tour the streets alone. It was almost Christmastime and the store windows were filled with beautiful displays, full of joy and delight. I bought several cinnamon sticks to ward off the chill and spent a while just walking and looking at the sights.

At some point, however, the stores became less and less and the bars became more and more. I realized I had crossed into a not so good section of town. I saw a small bus stop and decided to sit and take a rest before walking back. The bus stop was just in front of a grocery store and before long an old woman in a tattered coat came out. She was carrying two large bags in one hand. Her other hand held a cane that steadied her slow, shaky walk. Her young, dark haired granddaughter clutched her coat as they made their way to the bench. I smiled at them both and we joked and laughed for a bit about how cold it was before the bus pulled up. When it arrived I picked up the old lady�s bags and carried them up the steps. Then I helped her cherub faced granddaughter up them while her grandma slowly climbed on behind us. I pulled out my last cinnamon stick and gave it to the sweet girl while her grandma smiled her thanks to me. I got off the bus and looked up to the window where the little, curly-haired Child of God was waving goodbye to me. Then I started back to meet the other students a little warmer at heart if not in body. As I was turning the corner, though, a voice called out from an alley. "Hey man! Want to get high?" I smiled without looking over and said, "No thanks. I already am."

No drug in the world can ever match the high that comes from one kind act, one shared laugh, one second of giving love, or one moment of making God smile. Kindness is Heaven�s high. --------

AUTUMN OF OUR LIVES

I love Autumn here in the mountains of West Virginia. The cool air and the hum of the heater in the morning soon gives way to the warm breezes flowing through the window fans in the afternoon. The delightful smell of dry leaves fills the air and in the evening I can sometimes catch glimpses of the deer feeding on the fallen apples from the apple tree in our backyard. The sound of happy children riding their bikes makes a sweet music for the ears as they play away the evening hours until darkness arrives. All of this wonderful joy takes place too under the brilliance of the mountains themselves. This time of the year they look like they were painted by Heaven�s hand. Bit by bit the leaves on the trees transform into glorious golds, radiant reds, and outrageous oranges. Beautiful burgundies and browns soon appear too, as well as yellows that shine like the sun itself. This time of the year always gives me a hint of what Paradise itself must be like.

It really amazes me then that the phrase "the Autumn of our lives" is always said with such fear. The very mention of it stirs up images of aging, illness, and approaching death. I guess so many are afraid of that last leaf falling that they fail to see the beautiful Spring that awaits them.

I think the Autumn of your life should instead be embraced with joy. It should be the peak of a beautiful, colorful, and well-lived life. It should be full of choosing love, sharing happiness, and helping others. It should be filled with making yourself a better person and the world a better place. It should be overflowing with peace, understanding, and oneness with God.

May the Autumn of your life then shine as brightly as the leaves on these mountains. May you live simply, love deeply, and grow daily. May your last days be your best days. And may you walk through the fallen leaves knowing that the journey leads not to death but to eternal life. ------------------------

FATHER ED

Father Ed, the priest of the church I attended as a child passed away this Summer. He will be missed by many including me. I can still see him so clearly in my heart and mind. Tall, thin, quiet, friendly, and smart with thinning hair and thick glasses, he always looked more like an engineer than a priest. He was a great lover of classical music. One of my most vibrant memories of him was a long trip we took together over curvy, mountainous roads. Father Ed was steering the car with one hand and directing with the other while Beethoven�s 9th symphony serenaded us from his cassette deck. Looking back now I can still feel his spirit swaying in his body while the music played.

Father Ed�s greatest love, however, was the tireless work he did for God. He preached, wrote columns and books, visited prisons, taught in schools, and ministered everywhere for the love of God from the streets of Indianapolis to the hills of West Virginia. It was these mountains and their people that touched his heart the most deeply, though, and I am happy that he was able to end his work on Earth here. He did the very best work he could every single day. Even though his body aged, wore down, and finally surrendered to death, his spirit never did.

Father Ed may have left us now, but his work goes on. The work we do for the love of God never ends, but thankfully God�s love for us never ends either. God�s love not only produces the best work but also the best people. Father Ed was one of them.

Thinking of Father Ed reminds me that we are more than just these bodies that carry us around. We are spirits dancing in the flesh. We are more than just the work we do. We are the love of God working inside of us. We are more than just these lives we live. We are the love we give and the joy we share every moment of them. God bless you Father Ed. We miss you. -------------

I�LL BE SHOPPING WITH YOU

I heard a story today that found a warm place in my heart. I don�t know if it is true or not, but if it isn�t then it should be. It seems a mother was recently approached by her teenage daughter who asked for a new $160 piece of electronics equipment to replace her old one. Her old one by the way was only a year old and was working fine. The wise mom said she would think about it but first could her daughter help her with some errands that afternoon.

That afternoon the mother and daughter climbed into their car and headed for the local grocery store. Once there the mom went straight to the bulk food section and started loading food in the carts. Soon two shopping carts were overflowing with bags of generic rice, sacks of potatoes, boxes of ramen noodles, cases of canned vegetables, jars of peanut butter and jelly, and loaves upon loaves of bread. Without a word the mom headed straight for the checkout lines, paid for the food, and loaded up the car. The daughter was curious but said nothing.

The mom then drove in silence straight to a local food bank. Without a sound she started to carry in the groceries while her startled daughter helped. Soon both of them were filling up the empty shelves while the workers and needy families looked on. After a few seconds, however, both of them were showered with teary eyes, crushed with hugs, and thanked with more "God bless you�s" than the daughter had ever heard before. As they were driving home the mom finally smiled and handed her daughter the receipt for the groceries. The total was $162 and change. "That is what $160 is really worth", the mom said. "Now next week we can buy you that gadget you want or we can make another trip to shop for the food bank that helped keep us alive and together when you were just a baby. It�s up to you."

The daughter smiled and with tears in her eyes said, "I�ll be shopping with you, Mom!" -----------------------

A DOG�S LOVE

It was raining on the day I took my St. Bernard, Buddy to the vet for the last time. It was raining on my windshield, it was raining in my eyes, and it was raining in my soul. My heart was heavy with the sadness of knowing that I would soon be losing a friend who had always touched my soul with his sad face and sweet personality. When he was a puppy I used to carry him around in one arm. Now his 170 lb body was ancient and ailing. Throughout all his life he had protected us with his strength and loved us with his gentleness. He was a part of our family and taking him on this last ride was one of the hardest things I ever had to do.

My voice like my spirit felt broken as I told the vet that it was best to end Buddy�s suffering now. I had watched over the last year as he slowed down. He was in a lot of pain. He seemed more and more irritable and uncomfortable with each passing day. Finally there came a point when I knew it was time to let him go. His days here on Earth may have been short by our standards, but every single one of them was full of love.

A person who didn�t own dogs once asked me why I would put myself through such pain. Why would I bring dogs into my home knowing that eight, ten, or fifteen years later I would be losing them to death? I couldn�t answer him at the time, but looking back on Buddy�s years with us I think I can now. A dog�s love is unconditional. It is pure. It is strong. It is blessed. It gives us such great happiness. It reminds us of what God�s love for us must be like. It shows us what our own love is capable of becoming. A dog�s love makes us better. If I have to suffer this pain then to have that love then I will do so gladly.

Take care dear Buddy until I see you again. You made me better. You helped me to love. You gave me so much joy. I will forever cherish in my heart the years we had here together. ---------------------------

THREE CELL PHONES

I saw something that both amused me and saddened me the other day. Three teenage girls were walking up the street together, but they didn�t seem together at all. Even though they walked side by side, they weren�t talking to each other. They weren�t laughing together. They weren�t even looking at each other. Instead each girl�s eyes rested firmly on their hands outstretched in front of them because in each girl�s palm was a cell phone. I am not sure why they weren�t talking to each other. Perhaps they were. With today�s technology it is hard to tell. Still, it made me shake my head to think that something as small as a cell phone could put so much distance between girls who were so close together.

Since the beginning of time ideas and inventions have flowed from the mind of God to the minds of people. Since the beginning of time too, however, people have used these ideas and inventions to both help and hurt themselves. The person who first cast metal saw their idea turned into plowshares that helped feed thousands and swords that killed thousands more. Nobel saw his invention of dynamite used to blow apart mountains, to build roads for the benefit of everyone. He also saw it used to blow apart bodies and end countless lives in war. Albert Einstein saw the fruit of his genius used to create abundant power that helps millions of people everyday. He saw as well it used to build bombs that could kill us all a hundred times over.

Every invention and every piece of technology can be used to help us grow better and closer together or it can be used to distance us and destroy us. The choice is in how we use it. The key I feel is love. God�s greatest wish is for us to love each other. I hope you make all of your calls and e-mails joyous gifts of love then. But if there is someone right beside you who needs your love don�t be afraid to turn off the electronics, look them in the eye, and give them a hug. --------------------------

SUNRISES AND WALKING STICKS

When I was a boy our church sent some of us on a youth retreat. I had a great time although I didn�t realize it then. Being a teenager I was far more interested in talking to the other teens and joking around than I was in the experiences our youth counselors had planned for us. It is only now many years later that I remember and cherish the lessons they taught.

I remember moaning and groaning when they got us up early to watch the sun rise over the mountains. Then I only wanted a few more hours of sleep instead of the breathtaking sight I was seeing. Now, however, I watch every sunrise and sunset that I can. It is the best way I know to share a joyous "Good morning" and "Good night" with the loving God who made me.

I remember too a counselor of somewhat generous proportions wearing out a group of us fit, young teens as he led us on a hike up the side of a mountain. He carried two walking sticks with him. One of them was in his hand and he used it to help himself up even the steepest parts of the path. The other was in his heart, soul, and mind and he used it to point out every beautiful thing there was to see along the walk from a single flower blooming in a bush, to a nest of robins living in a tree, to the wonderful view that awaited us at the end. Then I only wanted to head back down the hill and play basketball. Now, though, I try to see the beautiful in everything just as he did. He showed me that God gives us all a wonderful walking stick called our thoughts and that we all can use it to help us travel joyously through this journey called life. Either that or we can beat ourselves over the head with it. The choice is ours.

That retreat remains the most fun I ever had 30 years after the fact. I guess sometimes it just takes us a bit longer to get what people, life, and God are trying to teach us. I hope you use your walking stick well, live your life with love, and watch the sunrise every chance you get. -------------------------------

CONNIE

Is it possible to mourn someone you�ve never even met? Is it possible to cry for someone you have never even seen? My friend Connie passed away recently. She was just 68 years old. I had never met her face to face or even seen her picture. I had never heard her voice on the phone. I had never had the chance to give her a hug. She and her husband Charlie lived several states away from me and we never were able to visit each other although we had hoped to one day.

Connie and Charlie ran a newsletter about angel stories online and wrote me an e-mail once asking to use one of my articles. I agreed and with most people that would have been the end of it. Connie, however, had a joyous, youthful, laughing, loving, and playful spirit that found its way into everything from her marriage, to her friendships, to her work, and even to her letters. She and Charlie then quickly became my online friends. Soon they were sharing my writings with their readers every month. With each thing I wrote and shared I would get a letter of encouragement from Connie and Charlie. They were a gift sent by God above and I cherished their friendship. They touched my heart, uplifted my spirits, lightened my soul, and helped me to be a better person with just their simple e-mails.

When their e-mail address stopped working a few weeks ago I feared that their old computer had crashed. Sadly, it was something far worse. Connie has now passed into paradise, but the pain and loss lingers on for Charlie and all of us who knew her. Her love, her joy, and her light will outlast the pain, though. It will live on in all of us who knew her, forever.

Is it possible to mourn someone you�ve never even met? Is it possible to cry for someone you have never even seen? Yes it is. God bless you, Connie. Thank you so much for blessing all of us with your life. --------------------------

GLUED GLASSES AND SEWED JACKETS

The longer I live the more I see that our souls� eyes and the world�s eyes aren�t the same. Just today, for instance, I was sitting at my kitchen table when suddenly my soul�s memories took me back 13 years in an instant. I remembered sitting at that same table getting out a needle and thread to sew a rip in my jacket. It was one of many gotten from years of working in a lumber mill. That day, however, was my day off and I was enjoying every moment of it with my kids.

Suddenly my toddler climbed on my knee for a game of "blow on my belly". His giggles tickled my soul but his arm also accidently knocked off my glasses, breaking the frames for the hundredth time that year. At that time money was tight, miracle glue was cheap, and new glasses were not. I put my son down then, glued and reset the frames, and set them on the table to dry. Sewing the jacket without my glasses, though, was no easy task. On my thirtieth try at threading the needle my little daughter came in the room. I asked her if she could put the thread through the eye for me. She did on the first try and handed it back to me with a smile. "There you go, Daddy!", she said with sparkling eyes before heading back to her room to play.

I often wondered back then why I was having to struggle so hard just to get by. I wondered why I didn�t have the money to buy the new clothes and glasses that others took for granted. Now thirteen years later I think that maybe God was having my soul spend that time learning what the true riches in life really are. That giggling toddler in my arms was one of them. That loving daughter with the sparkling eyes was another. Compared to them all the money in the world was just worthless paper. Nowadays money doesn�t seem quite so important, but every loving hug I get from one of my children remains priceless. These lessons in love sometimes take a lifetime to learn, but what�s a lifetime when seen from the eternal eyes of your soul. -----------------------------

PART OF THE CHOIR

When I was a boy our church didn�t have a choir so everyone was expected to sing. That didn�t bother me since I was an enthusiastic singer to say the least. Still, my talent didn�t quite match my zest for singing. More often than not I was too loud and off key. Many times my singing would get me a nudge and a look from my older brother. In time, though, I learned to sing more softly and found that even my less than perfect voice blended in beautifully with the choir of joyous singers that was our church.

As I grew up too I found many other ways to sing my soul�s song without using my throat�s voice. One way was by putting a pen to paper and later my fingers to a keyboard. In this way I was able to share the inspiring thoughts, words, and experiences that my Heavenly Father so often gave me. In this way I was able to encourage others as well to choose love, share joy, and grow in oneness with God even as I learned to do so more and more in my own life.

As the years have gone by too I have realized something. I am only one voice in millions out there writing, speaking, and singing out the beautiful truth for all the world to hear. I often see the others online, in newspapers, on television, in books, and even on the street. Some have become rich and famous for the work they have done, but most like me are just delighting in freely sharing the wisdom, joy, love, and light that God has given them.

Now I find myself happy to be a part of a new choir that is doing all it can to bring the glorious music of love to this world. I hope that you will join it as well. You may be just one voice among many, but if you share your soul�s song you can add so much to the choir. It doesn�t matter either if your voice or life is less than perfect. If you sing your song and live your life with love, you can help to make the Earth sound a lot more like Heaven. ------------------------------

CRAZY WEATHER

We have been having some crazy weather here in the mountains of my home this summer. The other day, for instance, started out beautifully with a sunrise that could make the heavens' sing. The air was warm and the breezes gently kissed your cheek as you walked outside. The shining sun filtered through the leaves and lit up the world in a thousand different places. Just being outside lit up my own soul as well and I thanked God for another great day to be alive.

By afternoon, however, the weather had turned hot and muggy. The skies had become partly cloudy and the distant roar of thunder was in the air. As I went to run an errand it started to rain. Driving down the road I could still see the sun behind me but thick, grey clouds lay ahead. After only a few miles a gentle sprinkling of rain became a torrent that rolled down the roads and turned every pothole into a puddle. I stopped to go into a store but was drenched before I got three feet. Lightening flashes could be seen over the hills and I wondered if the storm would ever end. As I drove back home, though, the clouds parted and the sunshine reappeared. I arrived home soaked but safe and looked up to see the most glorious rainbow bridging the sky. I stopped in my dripping clothes to take in the sight and store it safely in the memories of my soul.

Life too can give us some crazy weather at times. Clear days can suddenly turn stormy in an instant. Sunny skies and gentle breezes can give way to pounding rains and lightening for no reason. Problems, troubles, and frustrations can soak you to the skin and you can find yourself wondering if the storm will ever end. When this happens take heart in knowing that God loves you through every type of weather and that you have enough sunlight in your soul to ride out any storm that life throws at you. Let that rain help you to grow and remember that the storms always end, the clouds always part, and sometimes you even get blessed with a rainbow. ------------------------

WORK AND LOVE

My daughter was having trouble recently deciding on what to major in at college, so she asked my advice. I told her the one thing I wish that I had been told at her age: "Find a career that you love and you will never work a day." She caught me off guard, though, when she next asked what she should do if she couldn�t get that career right away. What should she do if she had to take a job that she hated?

That question brought back a lot of memories of jobs that I had worked at over the years. I remembered one in particular. My young family was struggling. We had no money and there were no good jobs to be had in the area. My brother, however, was able to get me a job at a local lumber mill. The work was hard and meant constant pain for my back. Hours were spent loading and stacking lumber. The pay was just above minimum wage. In the winter the skin on my fingers split and bled from the cold, dry air. The job turnover was high. In the several years I worked there only the four of us supporting families didn�t leave to look for something better.

Still, I also remembered singing hymns to myself while I stacked and loaded that lumber. I remembered the jokes and laughter we all shared during lunch and on breaks. I remembered as I pushed the lumber carts, glancing out the window and joyously watching the leaves changing in the Fall. I remembered how a simple sandwich tasted like the greatest gourmet meal in the world after 4 hours of hard work. I remembered thanking God for this job so I could feed my family. Remembering all this gave me the answer I needed for my daughter. "Just bring your love to your job then sweetheart," I said. "If you can�t do what you love then love what you do."

In this life we work to live, but we live to love. Without love work is drudgery. Yet, with love work is joy. May all of your working days then be full of love, joy, goodness, and God. ---------------------------------

PARADISE WITHIN

My good friend and neighbor is dying. She has battled more health problems through the years than anyone should have to endure. Now as she approaches her 57th birthday she knows that it will probably be her last. She has started giving away a lot of her things so her loving husband won�t be stuck with her "Junk" as she says. She has already given me several books, containers, clothes for my daughter, and a beautiful Hawaiian shirt to add to my collection.

She has given all of us around her much more than just her stuff, though. She has also given us her friendship, her kindness, and her joyous smile. She has given us her wit, wisdom, and sweet laughter. She has given us her shining spirit that has made all of our lives so much brighter. When my daughter turned 19 my friend made her a red velvet cake and talked with her about what is important in life. When a local dog was nearly killed by a bear my friend welcomed it into her home and nursed it back to health. When any of us needed anything she was there doing all that she could with a heart full of love and a soul full of goodness.

She did all of this too while her health continued to grow worse and worse. My friend, however, is not afraid of death. She has told me several times that she believes it will only be like a brief sleep and then she will awaken in Paradise. I am sure as well that she will fit right in there, because she already has a lot of paradise within herself. It is the paradise within her that she has so freely and beautifully given to us all.

I thank God for giving me a chance to get to know her. She has shown me that we all have a bit of paradise within ourselves. She has shown me too that the best way to enjoy that paradise is to share it with everyone you meet. I wish my friend only joy in her remaining days here and endless love and life in her coming days in Paradise. --------------------------------------------------------

SUMMER LIGHT SHOW

It is going to feel like Christmas in July in the field behind my home for the next few weeks. My backyard buddies, the fireflies have finally returned to put on another Summer light show every evening for all of us to enjoy. It is such a delight seeing their little, golden lights blinking on and off just like the lights on a Christmas tree. It brings me such joy watching my whole backyard and the woods around it twinkle like it is Christmastime while the warm, summer breezes tickle my face. It reminds me that anytime of the year can feel like Christmas if you have love in your heart and light in your soul.

Still, there are times I feel a bit sorry for my firefly friends. They shine for only a brief time each Summer and their lights while beautiful last only a moment before fading again. In fact, I sometimes feel like a firefly myself. I try my best to shine long and bright with love, joy, and oneness with God, but it seems at times the most I can do is flicker. I am working hard, though, to leave my light on a bit longer each time and trying my best to make my moments of darkness less and less. I am asking God to help me everyday too and hope to one day shine more like a star and less like a blinker.

I hope that you are doing your best as well to shine bright and leave your light on in this life. I pray too that if you can�t keep your light on all the time then you are at least blinking as much light, love, joy, kindness, goodness, peace, happiness, helpfulness, laughter, and caring as you can. Perhaps one day all of us will shine together and with God�s help will create a summer light show that never ends. Perhaps we will not just help make everyday feel more like Christmas, but make everyday be Christmas. Perhaps one day we all will work together to help the fireflies chase the darkness away forever. -----------------------------------------------------

WHERE THE LIGHT IS

There is a delightful, old story that always brings a smile to my face. One day a man was walking down the street and saw his friend crawling around on his hands and knees looking for something. The man asks his friend what he is looking for on the ground. His friend says, "I lost my key." The man feels sorry for his friend and gets down to help look for it. After a long time of looking without success the man asks his friend where he was standing when he lost his key. The friend replies, "Oh, I lost it in my house." Outraged by this the man asks why they are looking on the street then. His friend says, "Because there is more light here."

As funny as that sounds it is the way a lot of people think. They want to know the purpose of their lives. They want to figure out the secret to their own happiness. They want to find the key to living a loving and joyous life. Yet, they look everywhere except inside of themselves. Perhaps they think it is too dark and frightening to look within for these answers. They keep looking on the outside instead because they think the light is better there.

The truth is if they were willing to look within they would find a light far brighter and more illuminating than any on the outside. They would find the glorious glow of their own souls that have been patiently waiting for their arrival. They would find the love of God that lights up the world and the light of their own love as well. They would find a beautiful fire that would warm their hearts and that they could give to everyone everywhere.

Don�t be afraid to look on the inside. The light on the outside is nowhere near as magnificent and golden as the loving light that shines from your own soul. God�s loving light lives within each of us. That is the light you should seek. That is the light that will guide you to a joyous life and that is the light that you should share with the whole world. ------------------------------------------------------------

A FATHER�S FORGIVENESS

When I was a boy I always wanted to be a cowboy. I remember my Mom worrying about me getting sick from the heat in the summer, because I wore a thick blue sweater all the time. No respectable cowboy, however, would wear short sleeves so I sweated while I played.

I was overjoyed too when one day my parents gave me a bb gun. It looked just like a lever action rifle that all the cowboys used in the movies. I spent hours each day during those summer months shooting at stumps and pretending to be John Wayne. I even mastered the one-handed, swing, cock and shoot move I had seen him do in a movie once. At least that is what I thought. As I was coming into the house one afternoon, though, I tried it one time too many. The gun that I thought was empty let out a soft pop and a bb flew across the room and parted the hair of my Dad who was asleep on the couch. My Dad took one look at the bb hole a half inch above his head, walked over to me, took my gun, walked outside, and calmly broke it in half.

I didn�t cry too much over this. I knew how close I had come to hurting my Dad with my stupidity. I didn�t expect to ever get another bb gun either. That is why I was so surprised when my Dad bought me another one the next year. I guess he thought I had wised up enough to know how to use it this time. I never put a single bb in the new gun, but in my imagination John Wayne rode again.

I eventually outgrew my cowboy stage, but I never did outgrow my appreciation for my Father�s forgiveness. He showed me that even when I messed up in the worse way I was still loved. He gave me another chance and let me know that I was forgiven whether I deserved it or not. He shared with me some of the unconditional love and forgiveness that our Father in Heaven has for us all. May we always embrace and share that love and forgiveness as well. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

SWEET MORNING MUSIC

I love the sweet morning music that comes to the woodlands here in the Springtime. As I go out to walk my dogs at daybreak I can literally hear dozens of birds singing songs of love, joy, and delight. Often I pause our walk to just listen to the beautiful music of these feathered angels. The dozens of different songs float through the cool morning air to form a Heavenly symphony for my happy ears. They bring a smile to my face and a song to my own heart as well. They awaken the sweet morning music in my own soul as I watch the sun climb over the mountains, tell God how much I love Him, and thank Him again for my life here.

Of course, not all of the music in this world is so sweet. There are lyrics of loneliness in this world. There are notes of pain that can pierce your heart. There are songs of discord and disharmony that poison the air of our lives everyday. One thing that I have learned, however, is that while we can�t always control the music we hear in this world we can always control the songs that we sing.

What song is going to come from your spirit today? What lyrics are you going to sing? What notes are you going to play? Are you going to add to the sweet morning music that is so often around you or are you going to lend your voice to the disharmony that often comes your way?

The choice is yours. You can start your mornings with prayerful lyrics of love and thanks to your Heavenly Father who made you. You can fill your days with a melody of kind words for family, friends, and strangers alike. You can send a silent chorus of well wishes to every soul you pass on the street. You can share the harmony of help and happiness with your neighbors and the whole world. You can make your entire life such a sweet song of love that every angel in Heaven will want to sing along. -------------------------------------------------------------------------

GUARDIAN ANGELS

I believe in guardian angels. Since I was a boy I have felt watched over, loved, and protected by my unseen friends and I am so thankful to God for them. I have had far too many near misses with hurt and harm over the years for it to be mere luck. I guess my guardian angels are keeping me around for a reason and I will do my best not to make their work too hard in the future.

I also believe in guardian angels because I have seen one in action over the years. My oldest son graduates from high school this Spring. Through all of his years in school he has struggled with Autism. It has made it difficult for him to learn, to relate to others, and to function in this world. Thankfully, though, he has had a guardian angel with him every step of the way. His aide has been there with him through all the difficulties, through all the triumphs, through all the pains, and through all the joys. She was there when he first started to speak in sentences. She was there when he first started to read. She was there when he first started to make friends and play with the other children. She helped him through every frustration he faced and comforted him through every bit of sadness he had to endure. She helped him to become the happy and loving soul that he is today. She loved him, cared for him, guided him, encouraged him, and watched over him. She has been his aide, his friend, his second mother, and his guardian angel. Words can never express all the good that she has done for him. All I can say to her is "Thank you so much for being such an angel in my son�s life."

There are many guardian angels in our lives. Some are unseen, but some walk with us and help us everyday. Take the time then to thank God for all the guardian angels in this world. Take the time as well to thank all the guardian angels that touch your own life. But most of all take the time to be a loving, joyous guardian angel yourself to every hurting heart that needs you. ---------------------------------------------------------------------

THE WALK

Did you ever have one of those dreams that seemed to go on forever? I had one like that last night. I was walking down an old, side road that I used to walk along as a teenager. I wasn�t quite sure where I was headed, but I felt very determined to get there. Like in many dreams time seemed fluid and people seemed ageless. As I walked along I kept meeting people from both my past and my present. I saw both my Mom and my Grandma who have passed away and was able to give them both one more hug. I ran into many childhood friends and we talked, joked, and laughed just like we were kids again.

Still, I kept walking hoping to reach wherever I was headed. Around every curve, though, there was something new. I saw strangers in need and stopped to help them. I found ancient books and gemstones along the side of the road and shared them with others. I met a smiling, old man who happily shared his life�s wisdom with me and then I lovingly passed it on to young children further down the road. With every few steps it seemed there was a fresh adventure in learning and love. I never did get where I was going and woke up feeling like I had lived a lifetime in a single night. It bothered me for a bit that I never did reach where I was headed but then I realized that this dream was a lot like our years here. Maybe we are not supposed to reach where we are going, at least not in this life. Maybe it is the walk that matters.

As you walk through this life don�t keep your eyes so far down the road that you miss what is right in front of you. Life is a journey of joy. Life is a journey of learning. Life is a journey of love. Take God�s hand then and delight in every step you take. You will meet a lot of wonderful people and go through a lot of interesting experiences. And you might just want to reach out your hand and help up a few hurting hearts who stumble along the way. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

BOOKS

My dear friend and neighbor gave me some new books recently. As I looked through them I decided to follow the advice of one of my favorite authors, Leo Buscaglia. Taking Leo�s lead then I ignored the covers, skipped the introductions, and dived right into the middle of them. Opening each book halfway through I started to read. I have found that this is often the best way to see if a book can grab your mind, speak to your heart, and touch your soul. In the best books a few lines can say more to you than a chapter and a single page can enlighten you more than a dozen volumes. Both of my friend�s books did just this and I look forward to reading them from end to end.

Whether we know it or not each of us is writing a book right now. It is called our life story and we pen it every day we live and with every choice we make. Some people spend a lot of time working on their covers. They throw all their efforts into making them as attractive as possible. Other people spend their time writing and rewriting their introductions. They hope that a great introduction will lead to a great life. What all of these people don�t realize is that life is the pages that follow. Life is the thoughts we think, the love we share, and the good we do everyday. Life is the joyous times we create as well as the pains and trials we learn from. Life is work, play, kindness, laughter, family, and friendships. Life is living.

When it comes to your life story then don�t spend too much time on the cover and let the introduction write itself. Concentrate instead on filling the rest of your pages with living, loving, and learning and always let God be your co-writer. If you do your book will grab a lot of minds, speak to a lot of hearts, and touch a lot of souls with its wisdom and light. It may just end up being a classic both on Earth and in Heaven. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

FLYING HIGH

I was driving down the road on a warm, Spring day recently with my windows rolled down. I wanted to feel the wind on my face and smell the wonderfully sweet scent of the flowers in the air. It was my ears, however, that were blessed with sweetness as I slowed down for a school zone. The laughter of dozens of children filled the air as they ran and played on the playground. I heard several of them yelling with delight as they swung on the swing set. With each pass they flew higher and higher. It brought a smile to my lips, a warmth to my heart, and a flood of memories to my mind.

I remembered being their age. Us boys would always give the girls a push and then jump in the empty swings next to them and try to catch up. With our legs pumping we would soon be soaring through the air. We laughed at the thrill of freedom, at the joy of flight, and at the feeling that at any moment we could zoom into the heavens. I remembered later being a young father and pushing my own children on the swings. Watching their happiness was a bit of Heaven itself. I remembered as well one time my five year old daughter saying, "You swing too, Daddy!" I was embarrassed at first but once I saw my feet headed towards the clouds again all those wonderful feelings of childhood came rushing back. I was flying high once more. After that I always swung with my kids no matter who was there to see me.

I think that sometimes we forget that we were meant to fly and we need the children to remind us. God didn�t put us in this world to sit and suffer with our feet in a mud puddle and our eyes on the ground. He wants us to fly higher and higher in love, joy, and wonderful oneness with Him. He wants our spirits to soar into Heaven while still here on Earth. And most of all He wants us to give a push skyward to anyone who needs it. May you love well and fly high always. ----------------------------------------------------------------------

WHAT YOU CAN TAKE WITH YOU

I stopped at a local convenience store the other day to fill up my gas tank before heading back home. After pumping the gas I headed in, grabbed a pack of gum, and got in line to pay. In the front of the line was a tired looking woman, holding a toddler in her arms. Behind her and just in front of me was an older man with white hair and a white shirt. He smiled kindly at me and patiently waited while the woman struggled to hold her child while she counted out change with her free hand. She searched twice in her pocket book but still didn�t have enough money to pay for the two gallons of milk she had brought to the counter. I could see her lips tremble and her eyes moisten as she apologized and picked up one of the gallons to take back.

It was then that the older man stopped her. With a gentle smile he told the cashier that he would pay for the milk. The look of relief on the poor woman�s face touched my heart. She thanked the older man while he smiled again and said not to worry about it. As she exited the store I could see that her eyes were still moist, but this time the tears were for a different reason. As he paid for her milk and his own items the white haired angel in disguise smiled at me one last time. Then as he was walking out of the store he gave me a wink and said, "You can�t take it with you, you know."

What he said is true. You won�t need any pockets for the clothes you are buried in. Every dime you have made in this world has only been a loan for you to use for a short time. Still, there are a few things that the white haired gentleman and all of us will be taking with us when we do go to our final home. Every look of relief that we bring to another will go with us as will every bit of love we share and kindness we do. Every moment of learning and joy will come with us as well. And every smile that we bring to God�s face will be waiting for us when we get there. --------------------------------------------------------------------

YOU DON�T HAVE TO TELL ME TWICE

An early April snow had caught us by surprise here in the mountains of my home. Flowers that had just popped out of the ground a week before were now drowning in a sea of white. It felt like someone had turned back the clock two months. Slowly it grew warm enough for the snow to begin to melt in the late afternoon but soon the temperatures dipped again as the cold, evening air turned the melted snow into ice.

Early the next morning I walked out to my cars. I needed to take my sons to school and then had a 30 mile round trip to make after that. I wondered which car to take. My little one had the better gas mileage, but the tires on my bigger one were less worn. Just as I took a step towards my little car, however, my foot slipped on a patch of black ice and I felt my body hitting the driveway. I got up slowly and smiled. "You don�t have to tell me twice God!", I said before heading over to start the car with the better tires. After dropping off my boys at school I made the round trip safely. I felt my car hit patches of black ice several times, but each time the tires gripped and adjusted well. I found myself laughing and grinning even with my still sore left hip and shoulder. I was happy I had followed God�s guidance and I felt loved and watched over.

God�s loving guidance comes in many ways. You can hear its gentle whisper in your heart. You can listen to it come out in the touching lyrics of a beautiful song. You can see it in the wise passage of a book. You can notice it in an overheard scrap of conversation. You can feel it in the quietness of nature. You can even get it when you fall to the pavement of your driveway. However it comes to you, though, don�t turn away from it. Don�t make God have to tell you twice. Listen to Him the first time. Trust Him, love Him, and follow Him. He will take you to ever greater love, joy, and learning. He will keep you safe and lead you home. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

A LOVING THOUGHT

George Macdonald wrote that "If instead of a gem or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give." I can remember one of the first loving thoughts that was cast into my own heart and the angel who placed it there. I was a young boy and my parents, brothers, and I were spending the afternoon at the home of a family friend. This friend was the hymn leader at our church as well as the music teacher at my grade school. I remember I used to sit and listen to her play songs on her guitar for hours at a time. On this day my dad was outside once again working his mechanic magic or her ailing, old car. My mom was setting up a picnic for everyone and my brothers were in the yard playing. I was inside talking with our friend and listening to her sweet music. I don�t remember exactly what we were talking about, but I do remember at one point her saying, "Joe, for someone so young you already understand a lot about life."

That loving thought made a home in my heart that day. Before it I never cared much about understanding life, but just as a seed grows into a flower those kind words by that caring angel awakened a desire in me to understand as much as I could about life and living. It helped me start a journey that is still going on today. That gem of an idea that I could really understand what life was all about and that I could live my life as it was meant to be lived shined in my soul and kept me searching, learning, and growing.

That loving thought led me through pain, sorrow, and back home to God again. It led me to writing, sharing, and who I am today. It led me to the knowledge that God is love, that life is joy, and that we are all here to love and help each other. I hope you cast the gift of a few loving thoughts yourself today then. Why let the angels have all the fun? ----------------------------------------------------------------

THE HITCHHIKER

It was the middle of Winter and I was just getting out of a training for my job. The drive home was 25 miles and I needed to get on the road quick so I could get back in time to pick up my sons from school. I pulled my coat on and headed out to my car. The temperatures were below freezing, the snow was steadily falling, and the wind felt like a punch in the face. I hurried into my car and pulled out. I had only been driving a few minutes, though, when I saw him. He was dressed in an old, thin coat. His long hair and grey bread looked frosted from the air. In one hand he held 3 grocery bags. The other hand was up, hitchhiking in the swirling snowstorm.

I don�t usually pick up hitchhikers because with 3 grown kids and one small car there usually isn�t room. This time, however, I pulled over fast and opened the door for the shivering man. He wasn�t headed to the same town I was but I agreed to give him a ride halfway home. For the next 12 miles then we rode and talked. It was one of the most enjoyable and enlightening conversations I�d had in a long time. We talked of education, money, my children, the kindness of strangers, and even touched on spirituality. My passenger was a retired school teacher living on a fixed income, but he didn�t let having little money and no car keep him from experiencing life to the fullest. In fact, only one of his 3 bags had actual groceries. Another was full of books and the third carried a new plant for his home. He reminded me again that appearances can be deceiving and that the brightest souls often come in disguise.

I felt sorry for all the other drivers who passed by this fine man. They missed out on a great talk full of wisdom and joy. They missed out on meeting a shining soul still sharing his light. They chose fear and lost. May you always choose love instead. May you help your neighbor whenever you can. And may you treat everyone you meet as God in disguise. ---------------------------------------------------------------------

FOUR-LEGGED COMEDIANS

Here is a riddle for you. What is black, white and brown, has eight legs, and can do 60 miles an hour down a carpeted hallway? Do you give up? The answer is two puppies playing together. Yes, we have a new puppy in the house named Lemmy. He came about when I mistakenly assumed that our male Saint Bernard was way too big to ever get our little female mixed-breed pregnant. Now at two months old Lemmy is living proof I was wrong. He is already as big as our six month old beagle pup, Snoopy and I am sure he will one day be as big as his dad too.

Watching Lemmy and Snoopy charging down the hall always brings a smile to my face. They chase, pant, and chew on each other. They bounce, roll, and run. They go faster and faster until their legs tangle and they end up in a pile of fur at the foot of the couch. I delight so much in the joy they bring. They remind me that the greatest happiness comes from a playful spirit and a loving heart. They remind me too that fur-filled carpets and teeth marked shoes are a small price to pay for a laughing soul.

The theologian Karl Barth once said that "Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God." I thank God then for giving me so many four-legged comedians to grace my life. My house may be small and crowded but I always have a lot of furry heads to pet on. My furniture may be worn and fur covered but I can get a warm snuggle or slurp on the chin whenever I need one. My home may not be the neatest place but it is full of playful puppies and lots of laughter.

I think God knew what He was doing when He brought dogs into the lives of people. Dogs help us to see that life is meant for joy. They help us to see that play can be just as important as work. They help us to see that happiness comes from within. And they help us to see that love and laughter are the greatest gifts of all. May you share them always with dogs and people alike. ----------------------------------------------------------------

EMBRACING SPRING

After a long, cold, and rough Winter I am patiently counting the days now until Spring arrives here in the mountains of my home. It will be so glorious to see the rebirth of the world once again. Soon the first dandelion will cautiously poke its head through the ground to delight in the newly warm air. Soon the Apple, Dogwood, and Cherry trees will awaken and fill their limbs with brilliant and fragrant blossoms. Soon the mountains will turn a thousand shades of green as the leaves appear and every glance at them will bring a smile to my face. Soon the meadows will be full of fresh, new grass that will an inviting carpet for any barefoot child to walk on. Soon the skies will be full of returning birds and their Heavenly songs will make my heart sing as well. Soon the gentle breezes will carry the dance of the butterflies as they float happily from flower to flower. Soon the beautiful sounds of talking neighbors, laughing teenagers, and playing children will fill the air as everyone ventures out to enjoy the mild temperatures and golden sunshine.

When those days get here I will embrace them with all of my heart, soul, and mind. I will look to the Heavens as well and thank God for once again bringing new life to this world. Most of all, though, I will seek out the Springtime within myself and continue to share it with everyone I meet.

You see, God blesses the world with Spring once a year but blesses us with Spring everyday of our lives. Each time we pray, share our love, spread our joy, stop to help another, or do a single act of kindness it is once again Springtime in our souls. Embrace the Springtime in within you then no matter what the season. Live from the eternal Spring of life, goodness, and love that God gives you and help Him renew this world each and everyday. Spring is the season of new life. May your Springtime last forever. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FAITH

"What does faith feel like?" That was the question a friend sent me in a letter the other day. As I was thinking about how to answer him a single memory kept coming back into my mind. I was 5 years old and very sick. The doctors told my Mom that my tonsils were swollen, infected, and needed to come out. Surgery was scheduled for the next day and I spent the night in the hospital with my Mom sitting at my bedside. She told me gently not to be scared, that she was there for me and would be right here when I woke up after the operation.

The next morning the nurses gave me something to sleep before surgery and the last thing I remembered before going under was seeing my Mom�s smiling face. That is until I suddenly woke up to find myself surrounded by strange adults wearing masks. I had come to just before the operation was to begin. My young heart was filled with terror and I sat straight up and screamed "Mommy!" as loud as my painful throat possibly could. The next thing I remembered was seeing my Mom�s loving smile again in the recovery room. She held my hand, whispered words of comfort, and brought me a bowl of ice cream. Even though my throat still hurt I wasn�t scared anymore. I felt loved and everything seemed right with the world again.

That is what faith feels like to me. It is feeling loved, cared for, and watched over. It is knowing that no matter how painful or scary life gets you need only to call out to God and He will be there for you. It is having the gentle touch of His hand on your spirit and the loving whisper of His voice in your heart. It is even enjoying the delicious, ice cream filled days of happiness that He gives you here. Most of all, though, it is knowing that you are His Child. Your Heavenly Father loves you joyously, powerfully, and perfectly. Have faith in His love then. Rejoice in your birthright. And share your love with the world. --------------------------------------------------------------------

SOMEBODY LOVES YOU

When my children were young I used to read to them every evening before bed. One of their favorite stories was called, "Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch." Mr. Hatch was a lonely man living a lonely life. He never smiled. He walked alone to work everyday and ate his lunch alone in a corner. He never talked to anyone on his way home either. In the evening he would buy a newspaper, read it after supper, and go to bed early.

His life changed, however, on Valentine�s Day when he got a heart shaped box in the mail full of candy and a note that said, "Somebody loves you." At first he couldn�t believe it but as he let the message sink in he began to laugh and dance around. That single message had opened his heart to the power of love. Soon he found himself sharing his smile and laughter with others. He became a joy at work and began to help out people in the neighborhood. As the days and weeks went by his laughter, smiles, kindness, caring, happiness and love touched the hearts of everyone in his community.

Later Mr. Hatch found out that the candy heart had been delivered to him by mistake. He felt crushed and began again to withdraw from the world. When his neighbors found out, however, they were determined not to lose the light he shared. They surprised him with a party and a huge banner that read: "Everybody Loves Mr. Hatch." Mr. Hatch cried when he realized that somebody loved him after all. Then he laughed, smiled, and rejoined his friends.

I think that we all have a tiny bit of Mr. Hatch in us. At times we all feel unloved and unlovable. Somebody does love us, though. God loves us. He loves us with a powerful, unconditional, and life-changing love and He wants us to love each other as well. It is what we are here for. It is what we were meant for. May the pages of your life story be full of love then. ----------------------------------------------------------------------

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT

Do you ever wish that life came with a pause button? Do you ever wish that you could just take a moment from your life and stay there forever? I was remembering a moment like that from my own life recently. It was the night I brought my newborn, baby son home from the hospital. My son was 3 weeks late in arriving and my wife needed an emergency Caesarian section to bring him into the world. She was still in a lot of pain and sleeping when I heard him wake up during the night. Gently I picked him up and carried him into the living room so my wife could sleep. Rocking him in my arms I told him how much I loved him and how I would always be there for him no matter what. Then I saw his sweet eyes gazing up at me and the smallest of smiles form on his lips. It was a moment of pure joy that I wished would never end.

Over the next 21 years I watched my son grow into a wonderful young man. In spite of having to deal with Autism he has still spread more joy, shared more love, and shined more light than I could ever hope to. He has brightened up every room he has ever walked into and he has filled my life with so many happy moments. My only regret is that I let far too many of them go by without cherishing them as I should have.

Still, no matter how much we may wish it life doesn�t come with a rewind or a pause button and can only be lived moment by moment. Do your best then to embrace each moment as it comes. Celebrate each and everyone of them as a gift from God. Cherish the moments of love you give and the moments of joy you share. Learn from your moments of pain and grow from your moments of failure. Most of all, though, take the time to pause for a moment right now and give thanks to God for your life and all the moments of happiness it has brought you. Life may be momentary but the love it gives you lasts forever. ------------------------------------------------------------------

THE YOUNG MAN AND THE LEPER

There is a story from the Middle Ages that has always touched my heart. The grown son of a rich merchant was walking down the road towards his home after visiting friends. As he neared a curb he heard the ring of a leper�s bell coming from the other way. At that time Leprosy was a highly contagious and incurable disease. Lepers were not allowed in the towns and were forced to ring bells and warn others of their approach as they walked the roads. Before the young man could leave the road the leper rounded the curb and was suddenly face to face with him.

The leper�s face and body had become horribly disfigured by the disease and when the young man saw him he drew back in disgust. As the leper lowered his head and began to walk on, however, the young man felt his heart breaking for the man. He quickly caught up to the leper and apologized for how he had acted. Then he gave the leper all the money he was carrying and hugged him. The leper looked at the young man with tears in his eyes and said that was the first time anyone had touched him in many years. That blessed moment began a change in the young man�s heart and started him on a different path that would also affect the whole world. You see, that young man would later become Saint Francis of Assisi.

There are many types of "lepers" in our modern world that could use our love, help, and hugs. The homeless, sick, poor, disabled, elderly, and mentally handicapped often have to wear the "bells" that society forces on them. Many of them go through life either avoided or looked down upon. Like that young man, though, we can make a difference in their lives with just one gesture of caring and love. Like him we can let God�s love shine through us to touch their hearts and souls. And we may also find as he did that their love can touch and change us for the better as well. Remember, in God�s eyes there are no lepers only children needing and deserving love. -----------------------------------------------------------------

THE WHISPER

There is a whisper that comes to us all in countless ways everyday. Sometimes it is soft and sometimes it is loud. Sometimes it echoes in our mind, sometimes it tickles our ears, but it can always be heard most clearly in our hearts no matter what form it takes.

This whisper came to me in a lot of ways today. It started out with a thump and a slurp as my beeping alarm clock inspired my beagle pup to jump on my chest and lick my face until I sat up in bed. Next it came to me with a purr and a nuzzle as my big, gray cat refused to eat her breakfast until she had gotten her morning head scratch. The whisper came down the hall with a "good morning" and a hug from my son too. Then as I went out to get the morning newspaper it came through loud and clear with a dazzling sunrise and a chorus of birdsong. Later in the day I also heard it hiding in the sweet music coming from the radio and the not so sweet sound of my own voice singing along. As I was bringing my boys home from school it came to me once more this time in the smile and wave of my friend and neighbor who lives down the hill from me.

This whisper was the gentle voice of God saying, "I love you my child", and every time I heard it I could feel my heart grow warmer and my soul shine brighter. It took me a long time to see just how much, how often, and in how many ways God whispers His love for us everyday. His love for us is everywhere, in everything, and flows through all of us as well. His love is what created the universe and His love is what can help us to become who we were meant to be.

Open your ears, eyes, mind, and heart. Listen carefully with them all, each day of your life. Hear the gentle voice of our Father telling you just how much He loves you. Then joyously say, "I love you too God and I thank you for my life." God�s love whispers on the winds of everything in this world. Let it whisper through your voice and your life as well. ---------------------------------------------------------------------

A SHINING MOMENT

I was never a starter for my high school football team. No matter how much I trained and how hard I practiced I was always on the second string. A few of us backups even jokingly called ourselves the bench boys and gave each other nicknames. Mine was "Splinter."

During one of the last games of the year, though, there came a point when I finally made it onto the field with the starters. It was my big chance and I was determined to prove myself. It wasn�t long either before a fumble miraculously bounced its way into my hands. I saw the end zone and turned to run down the field for a touchdown. It was my shining moment and it felt so good. It lasted for about one second. That is when the shoulder pads of three opposing players crashed into my knees, stomach, and back all at once. It was Splinter�s first and last hurrah before heading back to the bench.

Since that time I have had a lot of shining moments in my life although most of them probably didn�t look that bright in the eyes of the world. I have come to see, however, that Heaven looks at life from a different viewpoint. Heaven sees life through God�s eyes and God�s eyes are always the eyes of love. When I open a door for someone, share a smile with a stranger, and laugh with my children then I know that I am glowing bright. When I stop to help another, pass on a kind word, and do a loving act then I know that I am shining in Heaven�s sight. I have come to learn too that it is these shining moments that make up our lives here. When we finally meet God face to face we aren�t going to be asked how many touchdowns we scored but rather how many lives we touched.

May all of your moments here shine with joy. May you glow with Heaven�s goodness and light every single day. And may your entire life be a touchdown of love in God�s eyes. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COINCIDENCE

When I was a boy I was always amazed by what a heavy sleeper my Grandma was. I knew this mainly because her bedroom was right next to the one my brother and I shared. When I would wake up in the morning I would hear her steady snoring echoing through the thin walls. She rarely if ever got up during the night and when she napped in her chair the television and record player never woke her up.

It seemed a strange coincidence then that during the middle of one night she would suddenly awake the moment that frayed wiring in her room caught fire. Her screams awoke my brother who then rushed through the house waking up the rest of the family. The house was made of old, dry timbers and the fire raced through it in a matter of minutes. Smoke filled every room. None of us could see anything. We were all filled with fear and confusion. Still, thanks to my Grandma waking up at just that moment we all made it out safely. My Mom even found our small dog cowering at her feet and picked him up just as we ran out the front door.

Doris Lessing once said that "Coincidences are God�s way of remaining anonymous." I fully believe that to be true. Without the coincidence of my Grandma waking up at just the right second that fire would have cost us our lives as well as our home. Without that coincidence my Grandma, Mom, and Dad would never have touched the lives they did over the years that followed. Without it my brother would never have become a teacher and I would never have written a word. Without it my brothers and I would never have raised seven wonderful children. Without it all the love, learning, and joy my family has shared with others would have been lost.

The next time a coincidence blesses your life then embrace it for the gift from God that it is. We are all watched over with so much love. May we make our lives a gift of love as well. --------------------------------------------------------------

WATCHING WHAT YOU DRINK

When I began my first semester of college I am sorry to say that I didn�t get off to a good start. My friends and I excited with our new found freedom from parental supervision spent far too many hours in the campus pub and far too few in the campus library. Thankfully, three things helped to shock me off the drunken path I was taking and back onto the right one. The first of these was having people telling me about all of the stupid things I had done while drinking that I didn�t even remember doing. The second was seeing my first semester grades and realizing just how low my beer powered brain had made them.

The straw that broke the camel�s back, though, happened on an evening when I decided to stay in my dorm room and go to bed early. I had only been asleep a few hours when my roommate came in from a night at a local bar. Heartbroken over a breakup with a girlfriend he had drowned his sorrows in 13 shots of whiskey. Stumbling over to our bunk beds he stepped on me as he struggled his way up to his top one. Then laying down he let out a sad moan and proceeded to throw up. After stripping off his dripping, vomit soaked sheets and helping him back into bed I decided that it would probably be best if I didn�t drink alcohol anymore.

I still carry the wisdom of that lesson with me even now. I know that whatever we drink into our hearts and minds will sooner or later come back out of us. If we are always drinking down shots of anger, frustration, jealousy, envy, fear, and hate then sooner or later that is what is going to come spewing out of us as well. If we watch what we drink, however, and gulp down glasses of love, peace, prayer, kindness, goodness, and closeness with God everyday then that is what will pour out of our souls and bless all those around us. May all of your drinks then be divine ones that bring you only joy and wonderful oneness with God. Cheers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------

A YOUNG PUP

My aging Saint Bernard, Buddy and six month old Beagle puppy, Snoopy Girl are doing their morning wrestling match as I write this. It is always such a joy to watch. Snoopy will stand on her hind legs to nibble on the hanging jowls of old Buddy and run in circles around him while he tries to pin her down with his big head and long legs. There is a lot of barking, playful growling, jumping, and bouncing around too. Sometimes the whole house will shake as they have their morning fun. It makes me laugh seeing the carefree happiness in them. It delights my soul as well seeing my little Beagle bring out the puppy that still lives inside my senior citizen Saint Bernard.

Watching the two of them helps me see again that we really aren�t these aging bodies that carry us around but rather the shining souls that live within them. Never let yourself be fooled by that person in the mirror. Our bodies may wrinkle and shrink and our hair may gray and thin out, but on the inside we are as vibrant and beautiful as we ever were. Our souls are eternal. They may grow wiser and more loving in this life, but they will remain forever young. And while our bodies will all one day return to dust the souls within them will go on to an even greater life beyond this one.

Don�t let yourself become an old dog in this life then. Let that young pup that still lives within you come out to play instead. Live from your soul and love from your heart. You were put here to learn, grow, and become. You were put here to create, enjoy, and delight in your life. You were put here to be the most loving, giving, caring, joyous, and beautiful person you can be. And you were put here to share that person with everyone you meet. Have the time of your life doing so and always remember that God love