  Spiritual
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"Religion is a guy sitting in church thinking about fishing.
Spiritual is a guy out fishing thinking about God."
- Fireman Joe -
(as quoted in The Purpose Driven Life daily devotional 10.26.05)
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Welcome to this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter! Your editors are, Puditat  , Love is a Mommy (no foolin)  , kittiara, and me, windac. It is my hope that you walk away from this issue with a desire for harmony, and a clarity of thought and vision for a better world. This cannot be unless each and every one of us takes part.
"While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God's creation."
-Maya Angelou-
It must be said from the start that each and every newsletter written by this editor begins with what I view as a chink in my armor. In other words, any finger pointing is aimed first and foremost at myself. The whole idea of each editorial is to explore those areas of my nature that could stand improvement, and after almost 2 years of being an editor, I've yet to run out of food for thought. That's a lot of chinks.
One of my many problem areas is the swiftness with which I make snap judgements. Not something to be proud of, I have to remind myself over and over again to consider the whole picture, and not just the outward appearance. This is especially true when dealing with people. After all, who am I to judge - do I not have my own sins to answer for? Do I not have my own weaknesses and flaws of character? The answer to these of course, is a resounding yes. I need saving just like everyone else.
Now, as some of you may already know, I am of Christian faith, and that last sentence may bother you a bit. You may not believe that you need saving, but not believing it doesn't make it any less true. But, not to worry. This issue won't attempt to convert or save you. That's really not my job anyway, but God's. My job is to share that which gives me strength and courage, enabling me to put one foot in front of the other on a daily basis. And for me, that would be the fact that, even though I do not deserve it, my sins have been forgiven. But make no mistake. This does not mean that I no longer have the need to grow spiritually - on the contrary. I must search and reach everyday for inspiration to keep going, and this inspiration comes in many forms and from many places.
For example, a woman that I know through work lost her husband recently, and quite suddenly. I don't know her real well, but my husband knew him, so I made sure we sent her a card. This woman happens to be Native American, so there are differences in culture and protocol. Finding the right card seemed important, and the one I picked out was beautiful. The outside bore the picture of an eagle soaring high over mountaintops while rays from the cloud-shrouded sun beamed down. The same image is included on the envelope, and inside there's a paler version of the same, and there are no words printed within. This is always difficult for me... what do I say? The Native American view of death is different from my own, or so I thought at the time. Logging on to surf the net for an Indian blessing or saying that would give some sort of comfort, and one that would be understandable and relevant to us both, I came across several websites, and not finding what I was looking for, was about to give up. I then came across the website, angelfire.com, and found what I thought was apropos for the occasion. It was definitely something I was comfortable in quoting, and included it in the card, also stating that she would be in our thoughts and prayers.
"Death doesn't exist. We just change worlds."
-Chief Seattle-
While perusing this site I also came across the following, and was so moved by the wisdom and beauty of the words that I just had to share it with you. This is a rare and special conversation to the soul. If this does not touch you in some way, however small the touch may be, it would surprise me. Please read on.
The Invitation
By Oriah Mountain Dreamer, A Native American Elder
It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting in your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit in pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it. I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tip of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, or to remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you're telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself, if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. I want to know if you can be faithful and therefore be trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see beauty even when it is not pretty every day, and if you can source your life from God's presence. I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, "Yes!"
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done for the children.
It doesn't interest me who you are, how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself, and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.
How simple it could be to live out our days in harmony - how easy it should be to take each person as they come. Would that we could peel away the outer layers of color, race and creed, and speak directly to the essence within. Would that we could delve into the inner workings of the soul, gently pulling the strings of the heart in the process. Would that we could respect, know and love ourselves in such a way as to bring this to the surface in others. Would that we could rise above the small pettiness of our own thoughts and ideas that hold no true meaning and serve no good purpose. Would that we could reach out to comfort, understand and encourage another. Is this not the path our Creator would prefer to have us walk?
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Submitted By: PastVoices
Submitted Comment:
I really enjoyed this newsletter Wind. When I was a Chaplain Assistant in Training, we spent an entire class session on the gift of humor as it pertained to our mental health and the physical health of the patients. I really enjoyed a couple of real belly laughs with this newsletter!
Thanks for the postive feedback PV!
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Submitted By: Puditat
Submitted Comment:
Dearest Wind, this was a beautiful editorial, and exactly what I needed today. It is a blessing to laugh today when the tears are only too near. I enjoyed your lists of funnies, but "When you choke a smurf, what color does it turn?" got me in particular. Why? I don't know, but I loved the Smurfs growing up.
Thanks Wind!
Blessings,
Puditat
I'm so happy to hear that something as simple as a smurf joke made you smile! Thanks so much for the feedback!
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Submitted By: Brians Next Novel Almost Done!
Submitted Comment:
Holy smokes! Thanks for all the funny anecdotes you put in this most recent NL! I thoroughly enjoyed it and smiled/laughed a lot! See?
I'm so glad you enjoyed the NL, and thanks so much for sending feedback!
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Submitted By: maylee
Submitted Comment:
Wind,
Thanks for the chuckles and outright belly laughs. The jokes were great! My husband is a die-hard redneck and got a kick out of the redneck joke.
I particularly could empathize with your plights with the hormonal power surges. After all the years of dealing with PMS and particularly the emotional highs and lows that go with it seem like a walk in the park compared to the menopausal meltdowns. I've sometimes wondered if the term "menopause" isn't some secret warning code word for men to stop and think before doing something to unleash the hormonal beast in the menopausal woman.
I just enjoyed this newsletter so much!
Don't get me started on menopause again MayLee! Although, I must say that going on medication for mood swings has helped tremendously. My family can certainly attest to that! Thanks for your feedback!!!
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Submitted By: kelly1202
Submitted Comment:
This was a great newsletter, filled with a lot of laughter and smiles. Keep up the good work!
Thank you HighWind! Your positive feedback means so much!
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Submitted By: Tammy~Catchin Up~
Submitted Comment:
Great issue, thanks for all the laughs!
Always, Tammy
Thank you Tammy! I'm happy that so many people enjoyed this issue.
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Submitted By: Maimai J Saves for Upgrade
Submitted Comment:
Hi! I loved the part wherein you enumerated the therapeutic benefits you get from laughing. Being in a nursing course as I am, I really learned from it. Maybe I could include it in my care plan for my patients! Nice job!
Not a bad idea Meela - there have been several studies done on humor as therapy. Thanks for the feedback!
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Submitted By: schipperke
Submitted Comment:
Wonderful newsletter, and I can tell you put a LOT of work into it!
Hey Schip! So glad you stopped by, and thank you for the feedback. Yes, getting all those icons in the right place was horrific, but well worth the effort.
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Submitted By: PastVoices
Submitted Comment:
I am truly abashed to have waited this long to read the newsletter. I was in the midst of planning and pulling off my daughter's wedding.
Prior to that I became discouraged with reviewing and have taken time off from it. I am reading more and reviewing less. I wasn't sure where the anti-Christian sentiment slipped in, but Christianity and spirituality are no more inseparable than any other belief and spirituality are!
Thank you for your frankness my dear!
Ms. PV... I think this is the first time that 2 comments on seperate editions have made the feedback section! Maybe with the wedding behind you time will not be such an issue. Late or not, your comments are ALWAYS welcome! |
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Spiritual: November 02, 2005 Issue [#686]
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