
Jim Rothermel Pete Ray Joe Simmons Diane McPhail
NEW YEARS ’RESOLUTIONS 2012
January 2012
Another year has ended; a year filled with losses and triumphs, pains and healings, sorrows and joys. 2012 is upon us. Let us pause and look upon this New Year as an occasion to assess who we are and where we are in our lives; and to make our course corrections that might be necessary.
Let us remember:
Not to compare our lives to others – we have no idea what their journeys are all about. That everything can change in the blink of an eye. But not to worry; God never blinks. That no one is in charge of our happiness but us. That time heals almost everything. Give time time.
Let us not take ourselves so seriously – no one else does. Let us believe in miracles.
And Dear Lord help us:
To take the time to do things more slowly and enjoyably – to focus more on the journey, and not merely the destination. To be less self-serving and more serving to others; especially to this special community of Highlands. To listen to Your stillness and silence. And to remember that God is present in all people and all things – yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
And the people said: Amen.
SHEER SILENCE August 2011
We live in a mountainous area of our country, and mountains are important in our religious and folk beliefs. Many people climb a mountain for prayer or spiritual vision. The effort of climbing focuses our attention, and the view from the top gives us renewed perspective and vision. Above the clamor of daily life, we can hear “within” more clearly.
The dramatic signs of God’s mountaintop presence might be manifested by mighty winds or storms. Yet our mountaintop experiences of sheer silence might be the most remarkable gift that our Creator has bestowed upon us; for paradoxically, I believe it is in silence that we are best able to hear God.
I have come to understand that my best thinking takes place in the silences I am able to create. More importantly, I realize that God requires silence if his voice is to be heard. So much of prayer is not what we say or think or ask, but is what God expresses to us in that silence. We can so easily be a riddle to ourselves! In the silence and alone with God, so much of the riddle is to be answered.
Amen.
SEEING THEE May 2011
Lord, purge our eyes to see Within the seed a tree, Within the zygote a child, Within the shroud a butterfly.
Within a spring shower a rainbow, Within a stormy sea a safe port, Within inner turmoil thy peace.
Till taught by such we see Beyond all creatures and creations, Thee.
Amen.
With assistance from Christina Rossetti
SPRING 2011
The beauty and magnificence of spring: Daffodils, tulips, new green, Red buds and dogwoods.
The feel of the warming sun, Smells of sweet pastures and the good earth, Regeneration and renewal, Nature’s wondrous cycle of death and rebirth.
The season of the year when God displays himself, When his spirit reminds us that He is always there.
Dear Lord and Creator: Forgive us for our spiritual blindness that prevents us from recognizing the wonders of our earth. Open our eyes to see and our minds to behold Your glorious garden that bursts into life in spring.
Amen.
AT CHRISTMAS
Have you ever noticed how at this time of year our feelings seem to change? We become more open, more tolerant – we’re even nice to people we don’t particularly care for. The Christmas spirit.
This time of the year predisposes our minds to welcome God; a time to recognize Him as present in the events of our daily lives.
In this regard, I offer the following edited poem by Edger Guest.
A man is at his finest towards the finish of the year;
He is almost what he should be when the Christmas season is here;
Then he’s thinking more of others than he’s thought the months before,
And the laughter of his children is a joy worth toiling for.
He is less a selfish creature than at any other time;
When the Christmas spirit rules him he comes close to the sublime.
When it’s Christmas man is bigger and is better in his part;
He is keener for the service that is prompted by the heart.
All the petty thoughts and feelings seem to vanish for awhile
And the true reward he’s seeking is the glory of a smile.
Then for others he is toiling and some how it seems to me
That at Christmas he is almost what God wanted him to be.
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