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The great escape

December 24, 2013

Tired of all that snow, ice and weather roulette that Mother Nature has been throwing our way. In many places in North America, she has been having her fun doling out a droll mixture of nasty and nice. While cities and towns around NY city were being bombarded with a nasty snow and ice storm, NY city itself was a balmy 70 degrees. Totally unexpected for the unlucky tourists who arrived in their winter togs for Christmas in New York. That is what life is, isn’t it. One adventure after another. No matter how well we think we have prepared for the day, something usually crops up that is totally not in the plans.

Instead of snow, I went in search of some tropical holiday ambiance. Since it wasn’t practical for me to try to actually travel at this time of year, like you I’ve seen the television coverage of the over crowded airports and all the delayed and cancelled flights, I went into the virtual world of Second Life. In SL I can listen and watch the world go by in the comfort of my home. Today I visited Eliza Wierwight’s Art of Christmas at PATRON, it was my first time to visit her build , it won’t be the last. She is a gifted artist. Her art works are available for sale, with some items shown as 100% profit to one of her causes.

She not only creates an amazing world for you to visit, she has an interest in saving the elephants of Asia. There are places one can donate all through her build. Save the elephant Foundation. http://www.saveelephant.org/index.html (a Thai non profit organization)

I went in to escape from the snow and the constant talk about the weather. In doing so, I spent a pleasant half hour exploring the creativity of an artist till today that was unknown to me, and discovering a cause that was also new to me. In Canada, elephants are not top of mind.

December is a month of STRESS in capital letters. Whether it is happy stress or anxious, sad, worrisome stress, no matter how you cut the cake, it is stress. It seems everyone around me is being “stressed” about something, There are warnings galore about making sure you don’t over exert when shoveling, that seniors dress properly for the cold weather, children and adults are being warned about the dangers of catching a virus/flu, Of course a biggie is “don’t drink and drive”. My two cents. Remember to take time to pray/ meditate. Make time for YOU. Stay mindful and present. No one else can do these things for you. You are the master/mistress of your life.

It isn’t enough to just do things that make us happy, we need to find outcomes that include those around us. Like that little pebble that drops into pond. It creates a little plop, and slowly one ripple begins, then two, three and soon the pond has many expanding ripples that reach out and merge till all the water has felt the impact of the little pebble. Be the catalyst of a happy day. Share your smile, keep your internal batteries charged, stay tuned to GOD/TAO and bring your mega watt smile along with you in all you do. LIFE IS ART

The challenges we deal with in life make us stronger!

PL Precept # 11 Always be with God (PL Church of Perfect Liberty)

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Prayer of Protection

December 21, 2013

Good Morning everyone! How are you doing today? In my world the skies are overcast and the predictions of more freezing rain,snow and then more freezing rain is making for very unhappy holiday travelers. News reports tell of accidents, and cancelled flights, the worry and the frustrations out there have to be numerous. The Unity Church has a prayer that I love, I have kept it with me since I first came to know of it some 20 years ago. I’d like to share it with you today. (Unity offers a 24 hour prayer line,(Silent Unity) and has a huge campus in the States. if you are unaware of Unity, please Google it.) With the electronic age, I don’t know if they still publish the booklet “Daily Word” if they do, sample a copy, you won’t be sorry. I will give you the coordinates I have at the end of the post, i hope it is still current.Christianity

Prayer of Protection

The Light of God surrounds us,

The Love of God enfolds us

The Power of God protects us,

The presence of God watches over us

Wherever we are God is and all is well.

To a negative, there is always a positive, where the snow can give us a wonderland of white and crystals, it can be a very dangerous obstacle if we are trying to drive somewhere, or manouver through it to get somewhere. Please travel safe, be aware, and mindful in all you do. Even if you stay in, eventually you have to go out, shoveling is an activity many of us will be facing. In some areas, there may be power outages, be prepared.

Every day holds a new blessing……

Be open to divine inspirations….

“Strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way” – 1 Corinthians 12:31

http://www.unityworldhq.org

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Courage

December 19, 2013

Have the courage to take the first step.

Sometimes the world seems lonely and we feel a void. To some the world lacks sunshine, not just on occasion but often enough that they forget the days of warmth and sunshine, when life was full and happy. There are days when just getting up out of bed is an effort. We’ve all felt that emptiness that begs to be filled. Some find relief in a relationship, others dive headlong into work and stay buried there. The void may be filled for awhile, but friends come and go, jobs change, that craving/desire for the special “something” returns, often with an even stronger feeling of “need”

In PL (Perfect Liberty) we live a prayerful life, The goal is to live with God all day, everyday, morning prayer and evening prayer at home, meal prayers, before and after. To be thankful, appreciative,and accepting of God/Universe in us and in our daily lives. PL Guides us to work towards our goals. We all of concerns that cannot be resolved easily. PL has a unique way of responding to problems in our daily lives. Through consultations given by PL ministers you receive personal guidance tailored to your individual character and situation

You have to have the courage to take the first step. If you are timid, you will never be able to break free and start something new. BELIEVE in yourSELF and take that first step.

God is the power,source and law of the Universe. Everything that happens in this world is God’s Act. in PL we call God, Mioyaookami.

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Money and “things”

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This is one of the seasons where it seems a lot of money is either being spent, or credit is being used. We all know that when we use credit, the debt is one more thing added to the financial stress we carry most of the year. Many do it anyway. It is very hard to resist all the marketing and highly paid for advertisements that bombard us from all directions. If you live in an urban area, and visit any shopping center or mall, you are blinded by colourful lights and beckoning elves and snowmen. I must get a zillion sale notices starting in November about just what I need added to my already cluttered life if I am to enjoy a good “Christmas”

The truth is, we don’t need anything from a retail store to make us happy. Happiness is a state of mind. Happiness that is acquired through a purchase soon losses its luster and appeal. That electronic must have soon is replaced by something fancier and more sophisticated. The dress or outfit once worn a few times is no longer to be seen in.

The Value of Money and Things Depends on How you Choose to Use Them. (PL teaching) Money and things are materials for your self-expression. Use them to their fullest for the sake of others and society. (Church of Perfect Liberty)

World Peace starts from Peace at Home and in Our Hearts. Inner Peace is the greatest gift of all.

Have a wonderful day everyone, be happy.

Blessings, Oyashikiri

photography – Q

Written

on December 18, 2013

Vulnerabilities

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Vulnerabilities

A warrior takes every person as an adversary
He/she sees all their vulnerable points.
And trains to eliminate his/her own
Only the way of the sage eliminates all weaknesses.
The sage goes beyond concepts of protection,competition,honour and righteousness, and has no fear of death

The sage knows life is merely an illusion.
Life is but one dream flowing into another. Tao –Deng Ming-Dao

A healthy mind is clear and uncluttered, always opened to the heavens/UNIVERSE

Whatever the optimal time of the day for you, set aside time to cultivate your connection/ bond with God/Tao.

virtual photography –Home of the Blue Lotus Clan

Written

on December 17, 2013

World of wonder

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World of Snow

Sometimes, we have to really look to see something.

When we do take the time to be present in our surroundings, we are often blessed with a deeper understanding of the moment we are living.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Slightly%20Twisted/136/92/21

Written

on December 15, 2013

Prayer

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Give your best effort with a prayerful Mind.

God Resides in a prayerful mind. The Universe responds to sincerity (Makoto)

Believe that even if you don’t have what you think you need, you WILL find a way! If you are fixated on “what you don’t have” you will not be blessed with wisdom and a way to solve your problems. Think creatively to get past any obstacles in your way.

Written

on December 13, 2013

mushrooms & greens

December 12, 2013

Wind chill factor of -24 degrees, time to burrow in with a hot bowl of veggies and mushrooms. Nothing too fancy, just something hot and steamy to warm up the insides. Later I can have some rice and Chinese sausage (steam cooked on the rice while it is cooking).

Notice that I finally succeeded in getting my mushrooms to brown just like they do in those cooking shows. I was pumped about that. The greens are called broccoli, but it goes by another name of rappini. This batch I found the stems to be a little chewy, otherwise they were delicious tasting.

Today’s temperature this morning was -11 not counting the chill factor.

Mushrooms are a spore producing a fungal growth that many of us are very fond of in our food. At one time some of the mushrooms now commonly found in Asian grocery stores could only be had by purchasing them in dried form. Bringing them home and soaking them prior to preparing them in a meal. Now we can obtain some of the fresh, interestingly I find them not as appealing fresh, they lack the taste I’ve grown accustomed to.

Life .. is like that… we get used to something, and when there is a change, sometimes for the better, the adjustment on our part is not an easy transition. What is important is that we make the effort and give it a try

Today’s PL lesson >> Don’t let yourself think “it’s too hard…Just give it a try..

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Merry Christmas?

December 10, 2013

Everywhere we go there are decorations, and signs advertising events to celebrate the festive season. Merry Christmas was the standard greeting of the day back when I was a “youngster”. Even though I myself didn’t celebrate “Christmas” I knew what it was supposed to mean. My Mother would take us to church where we would hear about the birth of Jesus and hear the Christmas songs that were being sung. That was pretty much it, in the world away from the Sunday service, it was all about hanging out.music,dancing, & going out. Then there was the formal or family dinner, that no one was really interested in except the parents, I didn’t care for it then anymore than I care for it now.

What I do love and I mean truly have a deep affection for, is the spirit of what the season is supposed to be about. It is my belief that this should be the spirit all year long, not just on a given day or month. Goodwill to all, and Peace on Earth.

Asked why I participate” in the trappings of Xmas. I do so because my family and friends do, it is their tradition. I may not study the bible, or follow the “teacher” they do,but I love them, and respect their way to God. God is our connection, in God we are all ONE. ” Everyone has a different point of view. Let’s enjoy and appreciate the personalities and differences we all have.” (PL Teaching)

We all celebrate the JOY of GOD, we all pray for PEACE on EARTH, if some say it by wishing me a Merry Xmas, then Merry Christmas it is.

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Fresh Vegetables

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Fresh Vegetables

It winter, the days can be dreary and gray, that is no reason to sit down to a boring plate of vegetables. I had left over butternut squash from the other day, and some of the orange cauliflower. To round off the plate, I added steamed corn on the cob, and a steamed mixed veggie dish.

I use fresh green beans, carrots, red potato, red pepper, sliced like potato fries. toss the veggies with some butter, seasoning, garlic and spiracha hot chili sauce. Then I nuke it for about 5 minutes. Letting it sit in the steam for another 2 minutes before service.

The Sriracha hot chili sauce at one time was only available at Asian grocers, but now most of the major grocery stores have it.

Note, the only butter used, is the butter I used in the mixed vegetables. The corn is eaten the way you see it. I discovered that cooking the corn in its husks, in the microwave steams it beautifully. The niblets are plump, tender and sweet, unless you get a bad or old batch of corn. I do my best to buy fresh produce in shops that are well populated. The product does not stay around long.

There are a lot of Japanese rice seasonings that compliment the veggies, they are flavourful, and low in calories.

Being diabetic, I have to really watch what I eat, and there are days when I have to eat often. So smaller meals with lots of vegetables suits me. At lunch today, we had roast pork with baked potato and roasted carrots. I indulged my protein craving at lunch. This evening I might have toast and kippers for an evening snack. =^_^=

One of the lessons I have to learn in life is to be accepting of the fact that I am a diabetic. One of the day to day happenings besides the medications one has to take, is to be creative about meals. Being visual, when my plate of food is appealing, I have a better appreciation of the meal.

PL Precept # 20 Live maintaining equilibrium between mind and matter.