Beautiful words from my favorite contemporary poet....

When I am Among the Trees

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks, and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness,
I would almost say they they save me, and daily.
-- Mary Oliver

Niagara Falls is in NYS where I am now

Niagara Falls is beautiful being frozen, but our hearts are never beautiful being frozen -- it just makes us -- cold --

This is actually viewed from the Canadian side. There is no snow in Jamestown, NY where I am now, just rain. Lots of rain. And it is cold today. Last year at this time there was SO much snow. Global warming? I remember green Christmases from when I was a kid growing up in this area.

Church of the Living Spirit, Lilydale, NY

Near-Death Experiences

I have had a near-death experience. Have you? It really does change your life in many ways. More and more research is finding that these experiences are real and result in profound changes for those who have had them. Here you can read more about them: 
https://www.idexpertscorp.com/Healthcare/toolkit.pdf

Happy Christmas and may we - in the New Year - be open for the help of the many angels around us...

One of your classmates sent me this, and said I could share it with you. 

As the days grow darker, may your heart grow lighter . . .

Merry Christmas

As usual, I dig all the posts on this page. It is my favorite place to stop by and drink a cup of coffee and browse and rest from the world. Inspiring and positive, no matter how often I visit. I want to take this chance to wish you all a Merry Christmas as we celebrate the gifts of the heart. Love, Kevin

"Associate with the noblest people you can find; read the best books; live with the mighty. But learn to be happy alone. Rely on your own energies, and so not wait for, or depend on other people." -Professor Thomas Davidson

 

Normal?

church photos made in to mandalas

http://blog.tagesanzeiger.ch/zoom/index.php/69090/69090/

FULL MOON RISING CHRISTMAS DAY 2015

This Christmas 2015 the full moon will rise for the first time since 1977.  It was called THE FULL COLD MOON by Native Americans, who named moons to mark the seasons. This is the month when the winter cold locks in and the nights become longer and darker. This full Moon is also called the Long Nights Moon by some Native American tribes.

With the winter looking to be warmer this year, even in colder climates (like New York State where I am right now) perhaps it will not be such a cold moon. Hopefully the nights will be clear and we will be able to look up (looking UP is always good advice) and see The Full Cold Moon as she grows round and fat with the light of the sun reflecting against her beautiful body, peaking at around 6:11 EST (in the USA).

Wherever you are, this is a good time to turn within as winter officially begins December 21, 11:48 P.M. EST. Just as some animals are set to hibernate during the winter and awaken hungry, so can we use this time for inner meditation and awaken even more hungry for spiritual Truth.

Much love to you.

poem

I Am Not Old

 
I am not old…she said
I am rare.
I am the standing ovation
At the end of the play.
I am the retrospective
Of my life as art
I am the hours
Connected like dots
Into good sense
I am the fullness
Of existing.
You think I am waiting to die…
But I am waiting to be found
I am a treasure.
I am a map.
And these wrinkles are
Imprints of my journey
Ask me anything.

- Samantha Reynolds

Photo: Riitta Ikonen,
Norwegian photographer Karoline Hjorth

 

 

Another of my favorite books...

...written for young people, but good for all people....The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, first published in 1922. It's about becoming real. We all need help with that!

Hi Everyone

I like the new theme for the Classroom a lot, as well as all the posts. In this world of tragedy, what a wonderful, uplifting place to come, to visit Truth and get a taste of the angel energy. I love it here. Is is the best classroom I was ever in. I have a Madeline L'engle quote to share:

“We don’t have to know everything at once. We just do one thing at a time, as it is given us to do.” ― Madeleine L'Engle, A Wind in the Door

I like this one. It reminds me that I need to stay in the present moment, with whatever I am doing in that moment. I do not need to worry about the future or think about the past. Just stay in the present. It reminds me that all I have to do is my best in that moment, leave the rest to God. It reminds me that I can have faith in the future when I have faith in the present. And it reminds me also that when I am present with the moment, my work and life and actions will be better because I will really be there. All I have to do is one thing at a time, that is all I can do, really, and the rest will take care of itself.

There--I tried some spontaneous writing on a subject and am pleased with the results. I stayed in the present moment and just wrote quickly like we are advised to do in our lessons. It works!!

Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR INDIRA! I wish you a day of peace and calm under the sun wherever you are right now. Thank you for being who you are. Love, Kevin P.S. and here are many birthday candles to light your way...

One of my favorite authors...

“In a very real sense not one of us is qualified, but it seems that God continually chooses the most unqualified to do his work, to bear his glory. If we are qualified, we tend to think that we have done the job ourselves. If we are forced to accept our evident lack of qualification, then there's no danger that we will confuse God's work with our own, or God's glory with our own.”
   
― Madeleine L'Engle, Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art