Relationships

Are you feeling regretful, unappreciated, or stressed in some area of your life? Do you find yourself “shoulding” on yourself—“I should have done this . . . I should have done that”?  Want a simple solution?  List all that you have to be grateful for. That’s what I did this past weekend . . .

What a wild and wonderful weekend this past one was for us. Mother’s Day weekends can be that way. This one had more emotional activity and impact than most.

On Friday we celebrated my youngest son, Joe’s, 21st birthday. Legal age for everything adults do. After our lunch, Joe proudly gave us a virtual tour on his computer of the Architectural projects he completed this year at the University of Arizona. Joe went from legos at 6 to designing buildings at 21 seemingly in the blink of an eye.

Then on Saturday, we attended graduation ceremonies at the University of Arizona for my eldest son, Dominic. His mom also attended. It was the first time I had seen or talked with his mother in nearly a year. After the ceremonies, Dom left to celebrate with his mom. We felt fortunate to have spent time with him the previous day touring his hydroponic greenhouse project—the fruits of his labor from his Environmental Sciences studies at the U of A. He talked of feeding starving people in remote villages in Africa and other countries.

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Do you feel like you’re going it alone, but you’re reluctant to ask for help because you don’t want to impose on people—or even worse, you think others will think less of you?

I met with a friend last week who is contemplating a career change. He has not been enjoying his job ever since his company was bought out by another. He is being asked by management to do things he feels are out of integrity. So, he has decided that it is time to find a new job

He has been reluctant to ask others for help in finding a new job--a belief inherited from his dad who always told him to, “Be strong. Be a self-made man.” Another belief he has developed over time is not to be boastful and sell himself. Fortunately, he courageously took the step to spend a little time with me to shed these false beliefs and see the issue through different, more positive eyes.

We discussed 3 reasons why it is not a good idea to ‘go it alone.’

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Would you like to have your life run smoother? I have learned that my life is joy-filled, peaceful and successful when I focus my attention purely on my intentions, patiently allow things to flow naturally, and persevere around any obstacles until desired results are achieved. 

In a favorite movie of mine, Evan Almighty, Al Mighty (God) said something that struck a chord, “Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, do you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? 

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Good character is a pathway to happiness and peace of mind. 

When we are out of alignment with our core values, it eats us up inside, destroys our spirit, and undermines 
our society. When we are in alignment with our core values, it makes our souls sing. 

While I was bicycling through ‘Heartland America’ in 2002, people shared about how precious life had 
become for them: “There is no guarantee of tomorrow, so live more fully today.” I compared what they 
said with the code of firefighters who sacrifice their lives for us every day: “Be safe, survive, be nice, and 
prevent harm.” How’s that for practicing good character? What would our world be like if we all chose to 
just practice ‘be nice’?  

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(from Joel Baehr, Guest Blogger, with additions by Ray)

Lesson #3 – Shine, Like a Ray of Yellow Sunlight (Yellow Energy)
(Read Chapters 4, 5 & 6 from Ray of Hope for Peace by Ray Madaghiele)

PAST LESSON #1: Courageously I find the gift in every challenge.
PAST LESSON #2: My feelings of love for life, energize me and are very catching!
THIS LESSON #3: I’m a light in this world, and I’m on!

HEROES! Who do you find heroic?___________________________________ 
Why? Did they overcome insurmountable odds? Accomplish great feats? Demonstrate great values?

What does it take to be a hero? Perhaps, not wanting to be one . . . ? Jesus said there was no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends (John 15:13). 

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By Joel Baehr, Guest Blogger, and
Sr. Minister at Unity of Mesa, Arizona

LAST WEEK’S LESSON, THE EAGLE.  THIS LESSON, ANOTHER BIRD!

This is a bird that refuses to stop living its life!  You and I are that bird. 

THAT BIRD IS PHOENIX

The Phoenix represents rebirth, immortality, and renewal.  When the Hohokam civilization went the way of the “Firebird,” the city of Phoenix rose in its ashes.  Like the Phoenix, Jesus died and returned, illustrating his deathlessness.  So, let us Live Life Today.  Today is food for tomorrow’s phoenix—and tomorrow morning’s ever-resurrecting phoenix is You!  You were created to live forever.  So Live Your Life and love it, love it, love it!  There is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy yourself as long as you live said Solomon in Ecc. 3:12.

(Click here to watch a video excerpt of Ray Madaghiele's Sunday lesson on this topic.) 

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We all yearn for freedom. It is the reason the United States of America was created in the first place. As I bicycled across America in 2002 and asked hundreds of people, “What has become more important to you since 9-11?”, two of the most frequent answers I received were ‘my faith’ and ‘American freedoms’ (democratic process, speech, religious preference, etc.)

Events this past week remind me just how vital freedom of choice is to our well-being.

On Monday, I had the honor and privilege of speaking at a rally for two bicyclists who stopped over in Tempe, Arizona, enroute to Los Angeles, California, from Atlanta, Georgia. Seijin Tranberg and Josh Wildman are 23-year-old college students who were inspired to raise awareness of human rights violations occurring in Japan where some religious organizations are experiencing persecution. Seijin and Josh chose to endure the pain and uncertainty of cycling 2,300 miles in order to be “rays of hope” for improving human rights worldwide.  Seijin and Josh have chosen to make a difference by assuring that people have freedom to choose their own spiritual path.

Click here to view Ray’s “Be a Ray of Hope” 10-minute video.

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Which of these 5 human values is most important to you:  Love, Peace, Truth, Right Conduct, or Nonviolence?

Ray and I recently chose "Peace" as the most important value to us, and participated wholeheartedly in theWalk for Values USA 2012 event in Tempe, Arizona, on Saturday, January 21, sponsored by the Sathya Sai Organization.  More than 700 people registered to walk for their "favorite" value.  This was not a protest, demonstration, or rally -- just a great opportunity to be a "ray of hope" by focusing on some very positive ideas that can make a difference in our world. 

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