GREATNESS -- THE TINY SEED WITHIN

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It's the little things which truly reveal greatness. Not always or necessarily in the grand or grander gestures that man throws at the world. Sometimes done simply for show by some. Rather it's that tiny kind thought or the tiniest glimmer of compassion behind the giving.... behind the smile.... behind the helping which points directly to an outstanding character or heart ..or the awesomeness of the soul.
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It's what Mom would say 'the extra mile - the extra touch' which separates mediocrity from greatness. She would urge me to look for that mark of greatness in people. It's there, she says. Just pay attention. Sometimes though they don't know it themselves because it comes through quite naturally in them. Often too we don't notice it nor give it much attention -- we take for granted those things which we shouldn't. Our bad.
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I guess what she means by 'the extra mile' are those things which a person does out of --- pure generosity... sympathy.. compassion.. understanding.. empathy... care... concern... solicitude.. sensitivity... charity... mercy... tolerance... humanity ---- and acting upon it a little bit more than ordinary.
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Thinking more of the other than of one's self. That isn't always easy. We were raised to think and believe that nothing or no one else in the world matters but ..... I, me, mine, and my. What others do with their life is their business... ours is our own to tend.
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We create walls.. fences.. gaps.. borders.. lines... to keep others out of our lives. Anyone who might cross it is a threat. Only when what they do or can offer serves our best interest would we be inclined to welcome them into our world and space or we in turn would enter their own.
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It really is a solitary and disconnected life we're living, after all. All our fault.
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Yet Mom would remind me that 'greatness' is still in everybody's nature as basically man is created good. By God's design. The thing is it gets buried deep down by the meanness and cares of the world. So then people forget to be kind.... to be human and humane.
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But it's there. And it slips out sometimes, as called forth by some divine intent. Sometimes in bits and pieces. You will miss it if you don't watch for it or look harder. Pay attention. Greatness sometimes comes in small packages.
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God bless you.

BE PRESENT IN THE PRESENT.... GRATEFULLY

 

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I suppose that we all go through dull moments in life. That moment or day when you don't feel that twinkle in your eye or the spring in your step. When not even the nice gentle breeze blowing into your day would make you feel serenely refreshed and energized. When a good book you immensely enjoyed reading just the other day isn't anymore. When a cone of ice cream is just a cone of ice cream.
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So.... you pick up the remote and indifferently switch through the channels on TV hoping that something would catch your eye and inject your disinclination-to-motion with a strong dose of perk-me-up. Nope, that didn't work.
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At this point, I was ready to allow the dull day its full reign in my turf having given up all options for a brighter day.
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And then she came.....
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.....brown fur with a tinge of black here and there, black wet nose, intelligent black eyes, a tail wagging feverishly, and laid her snout on my lap. But the prettiest thing was when she gave me her half-smile. Not a full smile, as humans do, but a half-smile lighting up the left side of her pretty face. Not a crooked half-smile either.. or the so-called sneer a human being is very good at... but a sweet pretty half-smile! (It still puzzles me how she manages to do that!) But it said everything!.. even more than words a human could ever say for another on such a spiritless languid moment. Then she bounded up the couch and snuggled close to me..... looked up into my unbelieving eyes like saying.... 'It's okay, it's just a dull day; this too will pass.' And settled peacefully by my side.
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She was right --- the dull moment passed.
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Sometimes in life we get the brightest wisdom from unexpected sources. If only we would pay attention.
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When perchance a dull day happens to you.... open up your senses, tune in to your surroundings, notice every detail of life around you, forget about yourself. Then you will begin to see awesome beauty and meaning into your day..... and life.
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Blessings are not choosy about time and day --- it comes anytime to a welcoming heart.
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God bless you.
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(That's Maxie in the photo with daughter Malen)

WHY SUFFERING?

 

 

 

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In last Sunday's mass (Easter Sunday), the monsignor posed the question.... 'Why me?' ... He was referring to man's reaction to suffering. I waited for the answers to that much overused line with bated breath. But the homily went on for extra more lengths yet... it looked like no answers were forthrightly coming. Instead he went on to extoll the significance of the Risen Lord. He pointed to the cross but didn't make the proper effort to jell the whole story (suffering and salvation) into one neat package the parishioners would likely understand. To make a long story short, I came out of it with the same fuzzy brain on the subject as when I entered the church earlier.
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Anyway........
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Why do we suffer?
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Allow me to venture my own thoughts on it...
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We all go through the sieve of suffering. I had and have my share. Through it all I have learned a few things which I would like to share with anyone who would care to stop awhile and listen.
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Suffering has its own significance as joy has when it comes to us. It's significance rolls out greatly to our favor if you pay it close attention.
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THROUGH THE FIRE WE ARE TESTED. ---- Like gold is tested through fire, we are made to go through trials with the sole purpose to bring out the best in us.... new and better strengths, courage, hope, faith, resilience, focus, determination, enlightened spirit. Struggles bring out innate talents and abilities, brilliance and resourcefulness which we thought weren't there at all. We then begin to see ourselves as who we really are.... worthy children of God.
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NO GUTS - NO GLORY ---- We get or receive from life what we put into it. If you are content just watching the world revolve by your lonesome self, nothing great will come to your table. On the other hand, if you believe in big dreams -- in the universe's promise of fulfillment to those who bravely reach out for the stars -- to pushing your gifts and talents towards the goal -- and emblazon the skies with confident prayers of trust and faith, things will begin to shape up and honor your belief.
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DIVINE BLUEPRINT OF OUR LIVES ---- No matter how you see it, no matter through whose eyes you see.... you cannot escape what is very clear -- that life and its struggles are just the blueprint of our lives BY DIVINE DESIGN. Struggles though may come in a diversity of rhyme or reason, size or shape, intensity or importance.. but all of that still are called struggles. Others may call it difficulties, trials, tests, hurdles, hardships, affliction, persecution, discipline, challenges..... different words, same meaning and intent. And it's there because Somebody of great wisdom included it in His divine plan.
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MADE TO GROW ---- Simply said... we are made to grow. It's not a request. Rather it's an expectation coming from the Big Guy upstairs. He expects us to grow. Every time He sees us ---- lazy .. nonchalant .. irresponsible .. content in mediocrity .. foolishly proud and conceited .. rejecting change ----- He pushes the button 'Grow'......... and immediately the trials come pouring down on our stupid and stubborn heads all meant to force us to grow up and grow.
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It might hurt, sure it does. I gnash my teeth, clench my fist, curse the high heavens, blame everybody but myself, cry floods of tears, and ache deeply in my heart....... and yet nothing is changed -- it is still part of life and living.
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BUT for a wonderful reason! By God's design. We have a wise and magnificent GOD! His thoughts, not our thoughts; His ways, not our ways. Thank God it is the way it is.
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I wish wonderful blessings for everyone. God bless you!