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Gratitude Lounge

Welcome! We are glad you are here. This is an open space where everyone belongs, and everyone is welcome. Please introduce yourself as you feel comfortable and join in sharing your experience of grateful living. To get started you might reflect upon questions such as these: What am I grateful for? What is grateful living inspiring me to do? What are some blessings in my life (including ones in disguise)? How am I being supported right now? What connects me to wonder, awe, or a sense of the sacred? You are welcome to include images and links for videos to illustrate your reflections.

  • Mike S

    Thanks everyone for your prayers and well wishes. I am glad to say that my vertigo is beginning to abate. Truly something to be thankful for

  • Alicia

    I hope this photo of Ursula can be seen. I had copied it to remember her by. Beautiful soul.

    • Palm

      I am now keeping it too ❤️🌈

    • Mica

      Thank you, dear Alicia!

    • Anna

      Dear Ursula…🌷

    • Pilgrim

      Thank you, Alicia. I remember this photo of beautiful Ursula, posted originally as I remember by her husband. My heart is full.

      • Alicia

        Yes. Her husband did post it. I don’t download usually, but I needed a visual of this brave , beautiful soul.
        Wishing her family , sister, mother, sons well.

  • Mica

    Intriguing picture with today’s quote – all these strange little vertical cloud formations rising from the horizon, along with the Thomas Merton quote about us interfering with nature. I wonder what they are. And now I get to enjoy your new posts –

    • Holly in Ohio
      I think the little vertical clouds are pollution, Mica. I think the photo is of smog. 🙁 I thought the quote was intriguing, but I wonder more particularly what Thomas Merton was thinking when he wrote it. I wish I had more context. Thinking of smog, three years ago I was working as the Lead Gardener at a community center, where I grew a lot of organic food and taught vegetable gardening each week, mostly to people who were receiving food assistance and were interested in gardening. I ...

      I think the little vertical clouds are pollution, Mica. I think the photo is of smog. 🙁

      I thought the quote was intriguing, but I wonder more particularly what Thomas Merton was thinking when he wrote it. I wish I had more context.

      Thinking of smog, three years ago I was working as the Lead Gardener at a community center, where I grew a lot of organic food and taught vegetable gardening each week, mostly to people who were receiving food assistance and were interested in gardening. I would also get volunteers from a nearby college whom I had to train in gardening, too, and that particular year I got to know a wonderful young man from Beijing, who was a pre-med student at the college, and who volunteered for me several times a week. When he first came from Beijing, he had “never seen grass,” which surprised me. He loved working with the plants and soil. It was fun watching him put his hands in soil with worms for the first time! And one of the things he taught me that stuck in my head was he told me his grandparents never left home without wearing masks because of the smog in the city being so unhealthy for them.

      We are so lucky, MIca, to have clean air to breathe and nature near by. I wish everyone on earth had clean air to breathe, clean water, and nature at hand to experience.

      Read More
      • Mica
        Yes, thanks, Holly - that would be pollution from industrial sites, wouldn't it? I was reminded of mushroom clouds from atomic bombs, from the picture and the quote, but of course it's not that. [The U.S. had only 2 atomic bombs in WWII..] Here’s a pdf someone wrote in 2016 with this quote and some other writings by Merton: https://sjnfreetown.org/documents/2016/11/10-16-16%20Merton.pdf Thanks for your gardening story, and the guy from Beijing 🙂 Have you had smoke from fires this summer? Bo...

        Yes, thanks, Holly – that would be pollution from industrial sites, wouldn’t it? I was reminded of mushroom clouds from atomic bombs, from the picture and the quote, but of course it’s not that. [The U.S. had only 2 atomic bombs in WWII..] Here’s a pdf someone wrote in 2016 with this quote and some other writings by Merton: https://sjnfreetown.org/documents/2016/11/10-16-16%20Merton.pdf
        Thanks for your gardening story, and the guy from Beijing 🙂 Have you had smoke from fires this summer? Both my bros have had smoke from the west, even tho they live in Vermont[!!] and Wyoming. We’ve had hardly any in the SF Bay area.

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        • Holly in Ohio
          Wow. No I have not had any smoke here in NE Ohio. I have noticed some pretty sunsets this summer, but who knows? Only 2 atomic bombs? Erh... kind of. But there were quite a few test bombs in locations in the southwest of the U.S., and there was also Christmas Island. Even the tests caused some serious radioactive fallout and have, over time, cost lives. Thank you for the link for the Thomas Merton! It might take me a day or two to look at it. Tomorrow is our inspection and this evening I...

          Wow. No I have not had any smoke here in NE Ohio. I have noticed some pretty sunsets this summer, but who knows?

          Only 2 atomic bombs? Erh… kind of. But there were quite a few test bombs in locations in the southwest of the U.S., and there was also Christmas Island. Even the tests caused some serious radioactive fallout and have, over time, cost lives.

          Thank you for the link for the Thomas Merton! It might take me a day or two to look at it. Tomorrow is our inspection and this evening I suddenly got nervous about it and started putting as much away as I could. I got the hardware back on some of my recently painted kitchen drawers, loaded them up and put them back into the cabinet, and I got the covers back on the light switches, but I still have a lot to do in the morning… only now I can’t sleep, Lol. I’m trying to “chill out” at the moment so I can fall asleep soon. I think it was when my husband picked up a broom after dinner that I was like, “Whaaat?” And got nervous, hahaha! Ah, well. It will be what it will be. 😅

          Read More
          • Holly in Ohio

            hahaha… funny you should mention the drawers… cupboard shelves, too!…

            I have a trick for that… cornstarch! Just a wee little dusting and all is good! 😀

          • Mica
            Warm wishes to you, dear Holly, with your inspection! I didn't find the Thomas Merton page particularly exciting, so don't feel pressured to read it. I've hear that the bomb was dropped so soon on Nagasaki because it was the only other one they had, and they wanted to speed up the end of the war, not being able to produce more of those bombs. But of course there were other bombs and bomb tests later. One of my friends had done image analysis of the first Mercury fly-by and loved it. Then her hus...

            Warm wishes to you, dear Holly, with your inspection! I didn’t find the Thomas Merton page particularly exciting, so don’t feel pressured to read it. I’ve hear that the bomb was dropped so soon on Nagasaki because it was the only other one they had, and they wanted to speed up the end of the war, not being able to produce more of those bombs. But of course there were other bombs and bomb tests later. One of my friends had done image analysis of the first Mercury fly-by and loved it. Then her husband got a job at Los Alamos, and she got a job analyzing images of underground bomb tests – much less interesting images.. Hiroshima was my parents’ 1st wedding anniversary. Be sure the stuff in your drawers doesn’t stick to the new paint 🙂 May you fare well today!

            Read More
  • Alicia

    Remembering Ursula and grateful for her insight, tenderness, fragility, and wisdom.
    I am grateful for you all. I thank you all most heartfully.

    • Anna

      Thank you dear Alicia.
      I am grateful for you all as well.
      Today I will pray for you.

    • Mica

      Thank you, Alicia, for reminding me, yet again!, that it’s grateful Tuesday again. Warm wishes to you 🤗💕

    • Holly in Ohio

      Well said, Alicia. I’m grateful for everyone here, too!

      Good morning, everyone!

    • Palm

      Thank you, dear Alicia. I am thinking of you on this prayer Tuesday. We are grateful for you. All will be well

      • Alicia

        By your last sentence, I have received hope. I nearly wept sitting on warm granite in the sun. I work at keeping myself above what troubles burden me.
        I often go back to the hymn ALL IS WELL WITH MY SOUL. I am aware of the writer’s history before he wrote it in the 1800’s.
        And then your words. I felt as if I heard them out loud.
        Thank you, thank you.

        • Mica

          Oh, Dear, Alicia – that’s hard. I don’t know if you can read this article, but I like it:
          Sit With Negative Emotions, Don’t Push Them Away
          https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/06/dont-push-away-your-negative-emotions/613180/
          Give yourself a hug 🤗

        • Holly in Ohio

          Another day, sweet Alicia, that I hope has been without disturbances for you and your children. Troubles will be behind you one day. 🌼

  • Holly in Ohio
    Good morning, everyone! I wonder what today will bring. I have come to love the early morning. I ponder the question of the day, get myself a cup of tea or coffee, do a little reading, and try to figure out a few things to do to move forward, whatever that forward happens to be at the time. The question of today is about kindness, so I will hold that in my awareness as I go about my day. I can relate to this lovely cat, but appreciate the joyfulness of it! I have a friend who is fond of...

    Good morning, everyone!

    I wonder what today will bring.
    I have come to love the early morning. I ponder the question of the day, get myself a cup of tea or coffee, do a little reading, and try to figure out a few things to do to move forward, whatever that forward happens to be at the time. The question of today is about kindness, so I will hold that in my awareness as I go about my day.

    I can relate to this lovely cat, but appreciate the joyfulness of it! I have a friend who is fond of saying in all situations, “It’s all good.” I am working on that attitude. 😄

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    • Mica

      Thanks, Holly, for MORE belly laughs! ‘Tea or coffee’ – interesting. I’ve drunk both in the last week, and over my lifetime.

      • Holly in Ohio
        Every once in a while I start my day with tea instead, and I like it in the late afternoon or evenings. The cat in the photo above looks rather like my own cat, Fishy. Fishy was a rescue cat, and when I got him he was very wild and would bite and attack me a lot.. unprovoked!! I mellowed him out by finding games we could play together that didn't involve my getting bloody. He's so mellow and sweet now that I can hold him upside down in my arms and pet his belly and he just relaxes and purrs. My...

        Every once in a while I start my day with tea instead, and I like it in the late afternoon or evenings. The cat in the photo above looks rather like my own cat, Fishy. Fishy was a rescue cat, and when I got him he was very wild and would bite and attack me a lot.. unprovoked!! I mellowed him out by finding games we could play together that didn’t involve my getting bloody. He’s so mellow and sweet now that I can hold him upside down in my arms and pet his belly and he just relaxes and purrs. My friend Liz called him a “Mush-mush,” Lol. The first game I found to play with him was fishing. Even in the beginning he would come running whenever I ran water, so I would line up plastic sample bottles on the side of the bathtub and he would knock them in and go bobbing for them with his paws, so I called him “Fisher,” but when the kids came they started calling him “Fishy” or “Fish” and it just stuck. Here’s a picture of Fishy that I took about a week ago. He’s old now. He’s hoping I will turn the bathwater on for him here! He likes me to comb him with a wet comb while he drinks the drips from the bathtub faucet. Spoiled thing.

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        • Palm

          So true, Holly… I am now working in the middle of the night and he is right next to me, giving me company and comfort..

        • Palm

          He’s gorgeous, Holly. he looks so much like the cat that visits us and I’m in love with

          • Holly in Ohio
            Oh look at that, he does!!!! Right down to the cute black streaks on the sides of their faces! I can see why you're in love. He has a sweet face. Look at that expression! 😸 I have been thinking today of how much our animal companions give to us, and it doesn't matter much what kind of animal. I had a housemate decades ago who paid for her elderly rat to be on chemotherapy, and it was the first I'd heard of any animal getting it. But her rat was her dear pal, and a sweet thing. We were bo...

            Oh look at that, he does!!!! Right down to the cute black streaks on the sides of their faces! I can see why you’re in love. He has a sweet face. Look at that expression! 😸

            I have been thinking today of how much our animal companions give to us, and it doesn’t matter much what kind of animal. I had a housemate decades ago who paid for her elderly rat to be on chemotherapy, and it was the first I’d heard of any animal getting it. But her rat was her dear pal, and a sweet thing. We were both sad when he passed. And my friend Liz helped at a farm that rehabilitated thoroughbred race horses and “retrained them for a new career after being abused.” She would talk to me for a long time about their personalities and what they were doing and learning and if they were recovering. Sadly, sometimes the damage was too great and once in a while one would need to be put down because it could not heal or transition, but most were beautiful successes. And then there was my other friend who got two miniature goats and kept them in her house to help her get over depression when she lost a grandchild. Animals give us so much! We are quite lucky to have their love.

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  • Mike S

    Nature is not a place to visit. It is home. –Gary Snyder

  • Holly in Ohio
    This morning I am hoping to get some things done in the house before the inspection later this week, and to get down to a little antique shop that I am hoping will want some of my furniture to sell on consignment (I have too much, I think. It's old! But is it antique?). Anyway, it feels good to be making some progress at "lightening up" around here and simple home updates, little repairs, and some deeper cleaning. This morning I am grateful for the progress made in this last week, for my husb...

    This morning I am hoping to get some things done in the house before the inspection later this week, and to get down to a little antique shop that I am hoping will want some of my furniture to sell on consignment (I have too much, I think. It’s old! But is it antique?). Anyway, it feels good to be making some progress at “lightening up” around here and simple home updates, little repairs, and some deeper cleaning.

    This morning I am grateful for the progress made in this last week, for my husband and partner in this (who replaced a toilet interior to fix a leak and has been scraping paint from the porch floor), I’m grateful that we have a home, and even grateful for the chores I have today (that I am able to do them). I would love to hear what others are grateful for today.

    Good morning!

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    • Christine
      If you watch 'how to become a minimalist' on youtube you may be grateful in the knowledge that your house is not in the terrible state that is indicative of some of these young things who endeavour to teach us how they have improved their mental health by chucking their stuff out and sterilising everything and 'living simply'. Even a houseproud person such as I, am grateful for the tips they give as they show me how to minimalise and clean by demonstrating how they minimalise and clean. God bl...

      If you watch ‘how to become a minimalist’ on youtube you may be grateful in the knowledge that your house is not in the terrible state that is indicative of some of these young things who endeavour to teach us how they have improved their mental health by chucking their stuff out and sterilising everything and ‘living simply’. Even a houseproud person such as I, am grateful for the tips they give as they show me how to minimalise and clean by demonstrating how they minimalise and clean. God bless them!

      Read More
      • Holly in Ohio
        Christine, that video was great to listen to! I SEE now what you mean! 😃I am tidying my house after my three kids have moved out, three of our parents passed away and we brought many things here... and then I'm an artist type AND a homesteader type, LOL. I'm good with having a small wardrobe where everything gets used and it does look very minimalist. On the other hand, I went through a kitchen drawer and found SIX vegetable peelers today, and this is after getting rid of one last month! B...

        Christine, that video was great to listen to! I SEE now what you mean! 😃I am tidying my house after my three kids have moved out, three of our parents passed away and we brought many things here… and then I’m an artist type AND a homesteader type, LOL. I’m good with having a small wardrobe where everything gets used and it does look very minimalist. On the other hand, I went through a kitchen drawer and found SIX vegetable peelers today, and this is after getting rid of one last month! Bath oils? I have one small one. Vegetable peelers? Lol. My values are revealed! I got it down to four peelers today (two my husband likes… his favorite is duct-taped together so I got him a similar one as a spare… and two I like, similarly one is getting very worn down and won’t last much longer) and I feel like getting that reduced to four was a great success!

        You are right. I feel SO much better having watched that video! Thank you so much for mentioning it 🧡

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    • Mica

      Thank you, dear Holly – I’ll post my other fav lo budget home improvement – the upgrade of my dingy old porcelain kitchen sink – I’d look at it and be dragged down a bit by the various little black scratches, but now I look at it with happiness – and I know I can improve it still more whenever I want by applying a bit more of this nail polish with mica in it – mica is my fav mineral; are you [not] surprised?

  • Holly in Ohio
    There is being cheery when we are really aching inside, and then there is genuinely deciding to appreciate the day. I would never want anyone to hide their pain. I think of my own children, and how, at times, they secretly tried to hold the hurts inside, and how that hurt, no matter how much they hid it, would not go away until it came out in the open, and I could hold them in my arms and tell them not all of it was true, and even what was true, was deeply sad, but that I loved them. So no, I...

    There is being cheery when we are really aching inside, and then there is genuinely deciding to appreciate the day.
    I would never want anyone to hide their pain. I think of my own children, and how, at times, they secretly tried to hold the hurts inside, and how that hurt, no matter how much they hid it, would not go away until it came out in the open, and I could hold them in my arms and tell them not all of it was true, and even what was true, was deeply sad, but that I loved them. So no, I would never ask someone not to share their pain and just ‘suck it up’ and be cheery.

    But on the other hand, I also remember the day when I realized there were not enough days in my life to grieve properly all that had happened in my childhood. And I looked at the stretch of years before me and thought, “How do I want to spend it? Grieving?” and, “What do I deserve?” …and it was that day when I DECIDED to set down my pain as much as I could, and enjoy each day. It was then that I could SEE things for which to be grateful, and mean it.

    And life has been wonderful since. Not without bumps and adventures, but overall, pretty good.

    Anyway, just something to ponder.
    Love you, my friends!

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    • Anna

      Thank you dear Holly, I love what you say in your post.
      The quote of Voltaire is true. Being in a good mood can make a difference not only for others…

    • Palm

      Dear Holly, thank you for sharing this. It is something to ponder for me. If gratefulness can be a practice then why not practicing being in a good mood? Sending love back to you

  • Mike S

    I want to thank all of you who have kindly written to me was supportive comments about my vertigo condition and for your prayers. It truly does make a difference to know that other people are with you on our sometimes solitary journeys.

  • Holly in Ohio

    I thought Alicia might like this:

    • Mica

      Thank you, Holly, for another of what seems to be a treasure trove of wonderful quotes and images 🙂

    • Alicia

      I do , indeed. A very thoughtful gesture , Holly.❤️🕊

  • Anna

    Dear friends, this is for Alicia, because I read her response to my greetings and was struck by her new and dramatic challenge, against such a negative person. To me, it seems impossibile that a woman can keep on such a behaviour.
    Dear Alicia, I will pray for you, and I would also suggest to other friends to be here next Tuesday, our prayer day, for a common prayer.
    Alicia, my heart for you, dear friend.

    • Alicia
      Anna, I was very disconsolate just a while ago.. and I see the posts from old and new friends. This is a time I need prayer and am very grateful . I always advise others in times of trouble to keep their dignity. I am keeping mine but I’m up against forces I didn’t think I’d see again since I was a very young woman. I am stronger and ready thanks to kind responses here. Knowing I’m prayed for will keep my armor strong . Unfortunately, authorities tell me to be prepared for further vin...

      Anna, I was very disconsolate just a while ago.. and I see the posts from old and new friends. This is a time I need prayer and am very grateful .
      I always advise others in times of trouble to keep their dignity. I am keeping mine but I’m up against forces I didn’t think I’d see again since I was a very young woman. I am stronger and ready thanks to kind responses here. Knowing I’m prayed for will keep my armor strong .
      Unfortunately, authorities tell me to be prepared for further vindictiveness for sins I never committed . I’ve actually prayed for the delusional individual .
      I admit I have fear. But I will keep going out and living as I have. One foot in front of the other…Thank you all. (With Hand over my heart ).

      Read More
      • Palm

        Dear Alicia, I was overjoyed to see you again and thank you for thinking of us. I am sorry to hear about this ordeal. I am praying for you and joining our common prayer day next Tuesday. I feel your fear but I am reminded of a thought by Anne Lamott, something like “life tilts towards good” which has given me hope lately. Sending love from Palm

      • Pilgrim

        Dear Alicia, I did not see the post several steps below until just now. I am so sorry for what you are experiencing. I do not understand why authorities cannot act in such situations. I believe you are in the U.S., and so I must ask, as I have asked a million times in the last 2 years, have we learned nothing about keeping people safe and hearing their fears and truths? I continue to hold you in prayer, light and love, my friend.

        • Alicia
          I live in the Northeastern part of US. No, sadly and tragically, no one here has learned from the patterns of , quite frankly, evil. I have people who believe me and are putting all into place that is possible . The most disturbing to me is my daughter (who lives in Europe was here briefly) was fed lies and left for home worrying about her mother’s ( me) safety. The cruelest is to after a person’s children and instill fear. I will rise above and keep myself safe. If the perpetrator k...

          I live in the Northeastern part of US.
          No, sadly and tragically, no one here has learned from the patterns of , quite frankly, evil.
          I have people who believe me and are putting all into place that is possible .
          The most disturbing to me is my daughter (who lives in Europe was here briefly) was fed lies and left for home worrying about her mother’s ( me) safety. The cruelest is to after a person’s children and instill fear.
          I will rise above and keep myself safe.
          If the perpetrator knew I’d contacted authorities, my life would be worse . But it’s on the record …
          And, thanks to my self disclosure here, I am feeling strengthened by prayers and concern .
          I am determined I will not fail or be hurt. I am determined to protect my children.
          I thank God I never revealed to the abuser I have an ill daughter seeing an oncologist. If I had, it would’ve been more fuel for her to attack me with ie nasty remarks and suggestions of my responsibility or the child’s fault for being ill.
          I will not make this a focus here on the site because others come here for respite.
          You all know prayer is powerful and I thank you… I cannot find enough words to express my gratitude.
          I am stronger because of the responses I got. No one ran from me but rather ran to me. Most grateful. With a full heart , your friend, Alicia .

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    • Holly in Ohio

      I will pray for you, too, Alicia.

      • Alicia

        Holly, I am so very grateful . And, I am a warrior. But a very tired one. Thank you for the above post .. that could’ve been me years ago ( with the long dark hair ). I still find strength in the cathedral of pines . How wonderful I am being held in prayer .

  • Drew Blanton

    I feel well today. Earlier this year I joined an interfaith ministry called David’s Table, and a week after tomorrow I’m going to camp with them.

    • Alicia

      Dear Drew, I am so happy for you. It will be wonderful to have fellowship! I am relieved you posted you feel well.

    • Ose

      Wishing you a time full of joy and sharing in depth, dear Drew. May you have a wonderful time all together.

    • Anna

      Enjoy your camp, dear Drew!

    • Holly in Ohio

      That sounds fun, Drew! And I’m so glad you are feeling better!

    • Mica

      Camp sounds fun, Drew, and I like interfaith ministries. David’s Table sounds great. Enjoy 😉 ☺️ 😌 😊 😋 [so many emojis for ‘enjoy’ 🙂 ]

    • Diane

      Good morning Drew! So happy to hear that you are feeling well. And how lovely that you joined an interfaith ministry….I’m sure it is a joyous place to be. Have fun on your camping trip!

  • Mike S

    Anyone ever had vertigo and balance problems? I’ve been dealing with this for about the last three weeks. Just went to the physical therapist and did something called the Epley manoever, Which st simulates the problems of these tiny crystals in the inner ear being out of place and trying to put them back in the right place. It really makes you dizzy. Hope you will never have to go through something like this

    • Ose

      Dear Mike, so sorry for your vertigo symptoms and feeling unwell that much due to it. Sending prayers for your healing, dear friend. May you be well again soon! Blessings be with you.

    • Anna

      Dear Mike, I’m sorry for you. I only got dizzy when I had blood pressure issues.
      I am now taking my medications and everything is fine.
      I hope you will recover soon.

    • Pilgrim

      My sister went through this and had that same treatment. It took awhile, but she came back full circle. Blessings to you, my friend.

    • Mica

      Thanks, Mike S, and I hope your dizziness goes away! Happily, I haven’t been dizzy lately, but sometimes when I get up in the night, my body feels out of balance and it tilts a bit. Here’s an interesting link for the Epley maneuver: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/home-epley-maneuver

    • Diane

      Mike…I’m sorry to hear you are experiencing this discomfort. I have had bouts of vertigo myself and it can be quite frightening.

      I am saying a prayer for your continued healing my friend 🙏

      • Holly in Ohio

        Sorry to hear you are experiencing this. I’m glad you are getting medical help!

        Do you remember when we were kids and we’d spin around on the ground or on a swing until we were dizzy and couldn’t walk…. ON PURPOSE?! Why?!!! It doesn’t sound fun anymore.
        I do hope you feel better soon!!!

  • Holly in Ohio
    Our daily question today was about how we are inspired to serve, and we had a question recently about paying it forward. Yesterday my husband and I were in our car coming back from grocery shopping and we were stopped at a busy intersection near a Walmart. As we were sitting there waiting for a 4-way light to change, we saw two men pushing a very old car through the intersection, the white guy steering and pushing the open driver's side door, and a tall black man pushing behind the car, and ...

    Our daily question today was about how we are inspired to serve, and we had a question recently about paying it forward.

    Yesterday my husband and I were in our car coming back from grocery shopping and we were stopped at a busy intersection near a Walmart. As we were sitting there waiting for a 4-way light to change, we saw two men pushing a very old car through the intersection, the white guy steering and pushing the open driver’s side door, and a tall black man pushing behind the car, and they were followed by another car that was not trying to go around them, it looked like they were just being patient.

    We saw the two men (still while we are waiting on the light), push beyond the intersection, then into a gas station and push the car up to a pump. Then we saw the two guys “high five” it while jumping in the air like you see on a sports field, in pure joy!

    Then I realized the car following had turned into the gas station and that the two men did not know each other.

    😂💚💙💜

    Read More
    • Anna

      Thank you Holly for this story of kindness. For me, these circumstances means that love, gentleness are still among humanity, don’t you think?

  • Diane
    Good morning lovely friends on this our Prayer Tuesday. As always, my thoughts turn to our dear sweet Ursula. As Palm shared last week, it is like she is still with us...and I believe that in some mysterious way she is. Dearest Pilgrim and Anna...."old" friends, it made my heart smile with gratitude that you have been thinking of me. And I admit to feeling a bit selfish for not answering sooner. For whatever reason, I have not had the wherewithal to write......I suspect that you underst...

    Good morning lovely friends on this our Prayer Tuesday. As always, my thoughts turn to our dear sweet Ursula. As Palm shared last week, it is like she is still with us…and I believe that in some mysterious way she is.

    Dearest Pilgrim and Anna….”old” friends, it made my heart smile with gratitude that you have been thinking of me. And I admit to feeling a bit selfish for not answering sooner. For whatever reason, I have not had the wherewithal to write……I suspect that you understand this and am reminded once again of the unconditional love that is so graciously gifted here in this sacred space. It really is a miracle of sorts…I think perhaps especially for those of us who have been a part of this community for so long. Palm, Mica, and Ose….I include you in this as well…thank you all for your enduring companionship on this journey.
    And our “new” friends, Mike and Holly among others, you have brought so much joy to our lounge! Although I have not been writing, I visit every day and your generous sharing has enriched us all.
    I am in a time of transition in my life. I am sort of stumbling around trying to navigate through this transition, which has wrapped within it enormous blessings that I am so very grateful for. I am grateful to remain grateful through this time of change. This website with all it offers and especially this community is instrumental in maintaining that gratefulness during the “ebb and flow” of life.

    As part of my morning devotions and meditations I read daily from one of my most beloved spiritual guides, Henry Nouwen. In this morning’s reflection, he quotes Vincent van Gogh, who just happens to be my very favorite artist. It really spoke to me and where I am in this part of my journey.
    “It is true there is an ebb and flow, but the sea remains the sea”

    His prayer at the end of this reflection, touched my heart and, with grateful love, I share it with you, friends both new and old. ♥♥

    “O Lord, sea of love and goodness, let me not fear too much the storms and winds of my daily life, and let me know there is ebb and flow but the sea remains the sea.”

    Read More
    • Palm

      🌸❤️

    • Anna

      Dear Diane, I am so happy to find you here!
      So happy!
      As always I bow to you, for your wise and gentle spirit, your thought, and your sharing with us.
      You, I understand you. There are times when we have no energy to answer.
      Do not worry, dear friend!🌼

      • Diane

        Cara Anna….I bow right back to you my friend. Something happens in my heart when I discover that I am missed here. I find I need those affirmations during this time in my life.

        ~Have a blessed day mio amica. ♥

        • Anna

          Dear Diane, I think we long for being listened and loved , and this is always true, even here, in this sacred place. Knowing that someone is waiting for us is comforting.
          I often feel this.❤

    • Pilgrim
      Dear Diane, I am so grateful to find you here today, and to know you have been with us in spirit all along. What a wonderful quote from Henry Nouwen (quoting Van Gogh). Transitions can surely be challenging, sometimes inviting us to dig deep, as they say. I am preparing for a transition myself, downsizing my living space but more importantly, moving to my favorite area near Lake Michigan. The downsizing is quite challenging, primarily because I moved here quickly when I did move, and kind of...

      Dear Diane, I am so grateful to find you here today, and to know you have been with us in spirit all along. What a wonderful quote from Henry Nouwen (quoting Van Gogh). Transitions can surely be challenging, sometimes inviting us to dig deep, as they say.

      I am preparing for a transition myself, downsizing my living space but more importantly, moving to my favorite area near Lake Michigan. The downsizing is quite challenging, primarily because I moved here quickly when I did move, and kind of brought everything with me. The current discernment has been waiting in the wings. Just going through my books took hours! But the library was a grateful recipient. Step by step.

      May you be well, my friend. You have made my day!

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      • Diane

        And you have made my day dear friend. ♥

        As often happens, we are kindred spirits on our journeys. I am so very happy to hear that you are moving…I have sensed for some time that you have been missing your beloved Lake Michigan.

        I am with you on the downsizing challenge!! But as my daughter the Spanish teacher would say “Poco a poco”. Little by little….it will get done. 🙂

        ~Sending you my love and moving prayers 💜🙏 Grateful for you!

    • Mica

      Thank you, Diane – I added this to my gratefulness doc; It’s lovely :
      I am grateful to remain grateful through this time of change.

  • Mica

    New baby dove born last night in the nest on my balcony!

  • Mica

    Wonderful quote today; if only I can remember it when in need:

    It is a powerful practice to be generous when you are the one feeling in need.

    ALLAN LOKOS

  • Mike S

    Weather here in the Lowcountry South Carolina has started to cool down as of this morning, and my wife and I had a wonderful walk at 7 o’clock surrounded by missed. Life is so good!

    • Holly in Ohio

      That sounds lovely, Mike! I’m glad life is good!

      It cooled off up here in NE Ohio, too. We had a storm in early evening, and then in the night there was a lot of heat lightning in the sky, almost like northern lights! Then later we had a second, gentler rain storm and the cool air came in with that.

  • Mica

    Br. David again –

  • Holly in Ohio

    It is good to laugh! 🙂

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