  Spiritual
This week: The Inspiration of Spring Edited by: KimChi  
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Hello, I'm Kimchi. With so much pain in the world, it's easy to fall into depression, regret, and remorse. Let's fill ourselves to overflowing with gratitude, joy, and hope. Spring might be just the thing.
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...I sat alone, and drew the blessing in
Of all that nature. With a gradual step,
A stir among the leaves, a breath, a ray,
It came in softly, while the angels made
A place for it beside me. The moon came,
And swept my chamber clean of foolish thoughts
The sun came, saying, 'Shall I lift this light
Against the lime-tree, and you will not look?
I make the birds sing-listen! . . but, for you.
God never hears your voice, excepting when
You lie upon the bed at nights and weep
Then, something moved me. Then, I wakened up
More slowly than I verily write now,
But wholly, at last, I wakened, opened wide
The window and my soul, and let the airs .
And out-door sights sweep gradual gospels in,
Regenerating what I was....
from "Aurora Lee" Elizabeth Barrett Browning
This poem always says, "Spring" to me. New beginnings. A renewed zest for life. Who can resist the inspiration of warm breezes, the beauty of tiny crocus popping up in unexpected places? Nature awakens and struts her stuff, only asking us to pay attention.
Listen closely and you may hear a soft whisper: "All this beauty is for you. Breathe it in."
Beyond the fact that we're sick of the cold and bored inside the house, spring brings the urge to explore as our spirit breaks free of winter's introspection. We are all "born again", if you will, thankful for another season of planning and planting. We linger outside in the growing warmth; absorb the scents and sights of nature's renewal with the fresh wonder of a child.
It's an awesome realization, this ability of nature to re-cycle itself each year. Life hums all around us; bunnies, bees, birds, daffodils and pear blossoms. Green, yellow, purple, and white flowers light up the back yard. Who could not be "in-spired" by God's fantastic creations?
As for me, one whiff of a damp, earthy spring breeze is all it takes. As if from death, I spring off the couch with renewed enthusiasm, pumped up with grandiose visions of writing a trilogy or building a tree house. I'm infected with poetry and eager to jump out into the world. Taking a cue from the birds, I sing at the top of my lungs for absolutely no reason..
Doors and windows wide open, my mind open to new ideas and new friends. And my soul open, awaiting the blessings of "gradual gospels."
May you find inspiration right outside your doorstep.
Happy Spring and Blessed Easter!
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This month's picks all relate to gardens or nature, though each theme is unique, like the tiny pink blooms of the Asian pear. Stories and poems of birth, imagination, and most importantly, the will to live and thrive another year. Kindly leave a few words or some pretty stars for these authors.
Emotions rise,
break the surface,
ready to open
a hidden flower.
Beautiful but noxious,
breathing and sighing,
I leap upward
toward your love.
"I have dibs on this one!" My kid brother, David, yells as he all but pushes me out of the way to claim the bedroom I HAD originally wanted.
"Mom!" I bellow in growing agitation. I'm tired and hungry and to think I'm about to lose my bedroom... "David took the room I wanted!"
I hated McBeth when she took me away from my mother, and have hated her ever since. I decided that no human being had the right to snap my neck, take me inside, and stick me in a pot the way she did. Everyday, as I wilted, she would approach me. I would attempt to stick my thorns into her probing fingers, but she always kept just out of reach, pouring water into the foreign soil in which I was dying.
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When he yelled, "Now!", I screwed the bulb into the ground and my eyes nearly fell out as the dang thing lit up like a strong gaslight ~ all by itself! Right there in the dirt! Then earthworms began wiggling out of the ground, but I heard Nikola yell: "Keep filling up that wheelbarrow!"
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Down the broken path, far beyond the marbled wall. Inside the safety of a set of large iron gates resides a most special of place. A place where the sun never sets. A place where the sky is always blue. A place the air smells of jasmine, lilac, roses, and truth. A place where I can go to dream of all that it means to be free in an existence beyond my own reality.
Willow lifted the cauldron's lid and peeked over the brim. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Mmm-mmm, she thought, giving the contents two quick counter-clockwise stirs followed by a slurpy sip from the wooden spoon before replacing the lid. "Come on in, Penney!" she yelled as she rinsed her hands and dried them on her apron. "I'm in the kitchen!"
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It stands alone and unique as if in a dimension of its own;
a dead soldier stripped of its uniform...
...yet stronger, more powerful and prouder than the rest.
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So grateful for all the responses to last month's newsletter: "Spiritual Newsletter (February 23, 2011)"
and the question: "How do you pray?"
Between the personal emails and the newsletter responses I get the idea that prayer is automatic for most spiritual people.
BIG BAD WOLF is Howling  sends this note with his poem:
Always something to think about.
Always a pleasure to hear your feedback!
Joy  says: Splendid take on prayer, Kim. From where I stand, you covered all aspects of it. Thanks for a wonderful newsletter.
Thanks for your kind feedback.
embe sends a poetic response:
"My need to pray to God"
When summer day is gone
And night has come for love
My little ones to brush their teeth
And pray to God that they may sleep
Under stars of light that shine without fright
But joy in me my love to be their loving light
With dreams of steaming chocolate pudding
And candy bars that last till morning.
To wake in a thought where are we?
Seeing at last mommy peeping
Turning to go to sleep a dream
When she was two and new
In a fantasy world
The baby girl
Playing her games
Being married with children
Her precious ones lying with her -
Oh! To wish and not know
Where and why has daddy gone?
Without saying goodbye again
Our need to pray to God
His answer from above -
"My love for you in heaven
I died for you my children."
Thank you Kimchi,
your wonderful newsletter.
embe.
Thank you, Embe. Always a delight to read your poems.
shepherd46 says: My definition of prayer comes from the Bible and one I have been practicing for many years.."I pray without ceasing." In other words, I pray throughout the day--no matter what the need or wht is going on at the time. I pray for someone who is hurting, if I'm hurting, or if I or others are in danger..
Thanks for your comments!
Jessette  claims: prayer is the gateway to open the heaven. it is important for every person that she/he should to God it means without God we are nothing coz everything it comes from God and we need to acknowledge his very presence to move in our midst. Prayer is the language of our soul and Pray always that God will come near to you.
"Prayer is the language of the soul." Lovely sentiment.
kristiana says: I didn't subscribe to the Spiritual Newsletter at first because I thought I would hear a lot of hogwash about how organized religions were the only true religions. I am glad I decided to take a look. It warms my heart that this newsletter truly is "spiritual". I am Wiccan, but I let everyone believe what they wish. Part of the Wiccan beliefs is that "we do not mock the beliefs of others". All I ask from others is the same respect for me to believe what I want. Blessed Be to All.
Blessed Be, Kristiana. Thanks so much for your reminder to respect those of other faiths.
Duchess Laughing Lemurs says: My definition of prayer is much like yours. It's a sincere, heartfelt conversation between a loving Father and His children, one that ought to be able to reach beyond the ceiling. But how often does it really? I've been taught since childhood to pray anytime, anyplace. And it doesn't always have to be on your knees, as long as it can be reverently directed to Him. I just have to remind myself that the answers don't necessarily come in the way or time I expect them to. And I have to pay attention to recognize the answer.
So true,Grace. Sometimes the answers are not what we wanted to hear. I appreciate your feedback.
doves comments: Reason I find strength when I pray in trials.
It is in the mist of struggles you can be a single bird in the storm struggling as you lash your wings while your flightless and afraid or you can use your wings to cover others that are in there storms also, God gives us trials so we can help others face the same challenges in life so we can understand there pain to help them to know there not alone God can carry them through with the love of Jesus Christ ,Others feel the pain you fell or felt even when You don't see them, its through the storms of life we learn to build our shelter with walls thinking of only ourselves or we can use our trials to help others through the love of Jesus Christ .Its when we peck for morsels we find the meaning of endurance,strength in faith and the courage to carry on.Prayers let us know were not alone and with gods grace he will see us through .
t was I:
It was I who unpon my knees who would pray when life challenges came befor me,knocking me into despair as tears trailed down my cheeks.
It was I who was tangled in lifes weave.
it was I would pray to heat a hint of hope in the darkend night to unweave this tangled web.
It was I who when down on my knees learned to stand in faith while leaned on Gods grace.
It was I who learned it isnt about I it is about God and his grace and mercy and decipline and his son.
Its when we can take the I out of Ourself and put Him in,then we can see Its never been about I but about God and Gods love for us and his son.
It was I who learned there isnt a I without him .
Thanks, Willow. Lovely poem. I agree that trials give us strength, and that strength only grows when we help others.
Specter says: The cathedral of prayer is the heart, since it is the resonance of life and love. Prayer comes from the inner need of ourselves to belong to Christ. Prayer is the song of souls to meet the Lord.
Beautifully expressed, Slick, thanks so much for your thoughts.
Fi says: Prayer is talking to God, thanking Him, requesting something from Him and apologizing for sin.
I pray as often as I can - when I read the Bible, when I am in a bad spot; when someone else is in a bad spot; when I just want to share a really peaceful, satisfied, happy time with my Lord and Saviour; when I have a request; something to confess and/or something in particular to thank Him for.
I pray first and foremost because God commands it in His Word. I pray because I can share, vent and unleash feelings; I know He always hears me, no matter how stupid my words may be or if I have rejected Him; He always answers me, whether it be yes, no or wait; He is always near me and shares everything I experience; He understands me better than I do myself; I love Him and how could I not talk to the one I love?
Good point--why wouldn't we want to communicate with someone we love? Thanks for your response.
Zeke  claims: My definition of prayer is to ask God in His perfect love to grant me and my loved ones everything we need. Not my will but His.
I like that..."what we need". Thanks for your reply.
Poppy Moss says: To me prayer is a personal conversation between myself and God. I do not have to attend a religious building to have this conversation. It can be any time, any place, anywhere and for whatever question that I need answers too.
God never fails me.
I agree one needs no temple to talk with God. Appreciate your thoughts on the subject.
Light replies: In many New Age circles, there is no right or wrong way to pray. In fact, ones every thought, word, and act is thought to be just as much of a prayer as anything practiced in any religion. It is also said that you experience what you send out. If you send out, "I need love," you exerience needing love. If you send out, "I need money," you experience needing money. If you send out, "I am happy," you experience happieness. If you are greatful in advance, your prayer is more powerful.
It's a fact our moods not only affect our day, but affect others, so that's an example of the power of positive (or negative) thinking.
This month's question: What inspires your soul to creativity and brings out your spiritual muse? The best answer(s) will receive a spiritual merit badge. Please send your response as a bitem link and I'll feature them in next month's newsletter. Until then--write on, from the heart.
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Spiritual: March 23, 2011 Issue [#4296]
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