Today I’m grateful for my ability to read
It has allowed me to discover truths
to think for myself
and for my imagination to be freed…
And though I don’t always agree with ever word
and may or may not choose to heed them….
I rejoice I have been blessed
with the ability to read them.
For today’s blessing I’d like to re-introduce
to you the words and the wisdom of…Dr. Seuss.
May we never be too old,
to wacky
to wild
to pick up a book
and read to a child.
Have you ever wondered why we love reading bedtime stories to our children
once they pray to God their soul to keep?
It’s more than, as parents, we are tired and we’d like to get some sleep.
It’s a wonderful moment at the end of the day
when the world slows down a tad
a quiet, intimate moment between a child, Mom and Dad.
We sit together on the bed…whatever trials and tribulations of the day are freed
as we wait with baited breath…for the story we’re about to read.
It’s like the bed is a roller coaster…and we’re all strapped in there
knowing sometimes we’ll have to hold on tight
while other times we’ll raise our arms high in the air.
We don’t know what’s in store…what pitfalls we’ll have to weather….
dragons, pirates, ogres, witches…we will face them all…together.
We enter each page hand-in-hand
unaware as to which way our imaginations will be bending
and knowing the heroes are depending on us to help them reach a happy ending.
And when we finish the story…that might not be the end
because there is a good chance we’ll be asked to read it all again.
When their eyes finally close we gently rise, quietly turn out the light
we pull their blankets up, tuck them in and kiss their head…good night.
We stop at the door, we turn, we smile
knowing this story, like all bedtime stories, was much more that is seems….
It’s about love and family and sharing a moment together with our child
and…teaching them to dream.
Today I’m grateful for how far my family extends…
and it fills me with elation…
knowing as I look out on the world…
how all of creation…is my relation.
May we be blessed when we begin to think we’re superior
when in our minds this idea we try to plant…
to remember in the hierarchy of nature
we stand somewhere
between the mountain and the ant
After an election that has left us divided…a nation torn apart…
one bishop hoped her words would resonate…would find a way into our hearts.
With the courage of her convictions she spoke…
words filled with hope and humility.
She made a plea for, respect, for honesty
for compassion, for kindness and empathy
She spoke of her hopes and wishes…simply…unpretentiously…
ideas that form the basis of all religions….
all faiths…all spirituality.
Her words were not new words…they’ve been spoken many times before…
You can find them in the words of Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad, the Tao
and many many more.
Unfortunately her words meant to unite and help to ease our nation’s fears
floated from her pulpit and landed on deaf ears.
Some people, even those who call themselves religious,
who have forgotten their religion states to love everyone the same
called her uninspiring, nasty and displayed to the world their wickedness
when they chose to call her names.
I believe every religion was created for concepts, like the Bishop’s, to extol.
and though they may walk down different pathways
I believe love and acceptance is every religion’s goal.
A love that’s meant to find its way into our minds and souls and hearts
A love that’s meant to unite us as a people…not to tear us all apart.
So I stand with the bishop…whose words transcend all religions
who set a perfect example of piety…
And I pray for the day when everyone…
will stand with the bishop and me.
Today I’m grateful for diversity
which leads directly to all the music I hear
and all the art I see…
because…
there can be no creativity…
in a world without diversity.
