Sunlit Stream of Water

  Being the Best What does it mean to be the best? Does it imply you have to be better than everyone else? If that is your thinking, it is false. Subjectively, you live intelligently by hearing sounds, having sensations, and pursuing goals. Being the best should mean knowing yourself more fully. It is wise to move away from a predominant left-brain way of acting, and thinking where you only focus on the nitty details of life like social media. Instead, aim for a balance, see nature’s big picture with the right-brain, by putting things into context, having a holistic concept of love, being creative, and embracing a spiritual tradition. It is imperative that you become one of a critical mass that causes good change in the world.

  Katharine Graham Katharine Graham’s Personal History is an extraordinary autobiography that won the Pulitzer Prize. It spanned the ownership of the Washington Post as a family business. Started with Eugene Myer, the Post was inherited by Phil Graham - his son-in-law, passed on to Kay, Myer’s daughter, and ended up in the hands of Don, Myer’s grandson. Eugene laid the foundation of the Post. Throughout his leadership as publisher, the paper was competing with four other newspapers in Washington DC. His venture was losing money, but as publisher he held on to it, and set its editorial standards. Eventually, he transferred its reigns to Phil – a Harvard graduate who had just wrapped up his service in the military. He became the publisher, and with Kay they controlled most of the shares. During this period Phil made acquisitions that included Newsweek, WTOP-TV in Washington DC, and WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Florida. He became active politically, and was responsible for Lyndon B. Joh

  Omnipresent Mind According to the Hindu Upanishads people are part of a ubiquitous, ever-understanding eternal reality, and with free will that reflects the Divine truth. This represents order and disorder that underlie the workings of the Universe. That is why life appears as good, and bad, happy, and unhappy, organized, and disorganized, alive, and deadly. But underneath these polarities there exists One Omnipresent Mind.

  Experiencing Cultures Why travel to different countries? Some trips are billed as once in a lifetime experience. What about making sure you visit the continents of the world before you die. Celebrate life in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Take trips to Antarctic and Antarctica. Cruise on the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans before journeying to the Mediterranean Sea, Amazon, or Nile River. As you travel, dress appropriately, greet the natives, try speaking their language, visit historical sites, enjoy the music, and sample the rich array of local foods

  Patterns in Nature Every living organism is determined by time. It is a process that cannot be escaped. A basic tenet of nature is that all life comes alive this way. A species grows and dies. A tree may begin with a seed. This tiny seed is planted in the soil. When it dies it germinates. Eventually a shoot appears. This twig will become larger in its own time. It is sturdier as a trunk sprouting branches in the air. These limbs will form basic patterns that are replicated in leaves, blossoms, flowers, and fruits. Time may manifest itself simply as the patterns in nature.

  Our True Self Our true self is like a TV screen, and not the shows that we are watching. These pictures in our heads are merely electrical impulses seen as actors, places, and objects that are being converted by our brains to look that way. People are basically like transmitters and receptors that are a combination of atoms. Their awareness is consciousness that interacts and interconnects with the natural Universe.

  Harmless Living Do no harm as you live. Have respect for the animate and inanimate. This is a way of reverencing the sacred in nature. A believer does not have to practice Jainism or believe in reincarnation to embrace such ideas. It is true that Jains love the sacredness of life even in a rock, fly, or leaf. They hold that humans are the highest form of life, but by their behavior can ascend or descend the continuum of life. But our goal whether we are Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Daoist, or a Non-Believer must be to treat all life forms with the utmost respect. Such compassion will surely help in protecting our environment.   

  The Sun’s Rays Sunshine brightens our day. It enlivens our spirits and spreads joy. With this ball of fire in the sky, life on earth flourishes. Plants grow and the seas teeming with fishes, ebb, and flow. Its soothing rays are often pleasurable, and people are quite happy. But at times this universal light disappears, and many may wonder why? What does this foretell? Is it going to be the end of life? Still, the sun reappears. There will undoubtedly be phases. It is like everything in nature that opens and closes, bright and dark, happy, and unhappy like people’s moods. On reflection, “To what extent does the sun’s rays affect human behavior?”  

  Life’s Challenges Grab the bull by the horns. Your journey through life is not going to be easy. Daily you will be buffeted by the winds of change blowing in all directions. You will experience joy, sadness, and disappointments. People you trust will let you down. You may begin to feel crushed and unloved. Yet, you must persevere by doing good to others. So, whether it is an argument over family, religion, or politics be sure to take the high road. It is always better to remember that having great friendships are an essential part of a successful life.  

  The Language of God Francis S. Collins’s The Language of God dealt with life’s profound questions. The author who is a Christian scientist endeavored to answer these mysteries people tend to ask. This involved some knowledge in physics, biology, and theology. Since his training was in medical school lots were said about the biological approach. On theology he relied heavily on the writings of English religious scholar C. S. Lewis for answers about the Christian faith. A theme throughout the book was Collins’s belief in the moral law. An understanding that universally people regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or nationality subscribed to the tenets of what was right and wrong. The author used this argument along with other scientific data to support the premise in a God that was in and outside of nature. Nevertheless, he thought that it was up to every individual to figure out their spiritual path. Collins had no problems with Darwin’s evolution, and said that the genome p

  A Positive Force Everyone and everything are a part of nature. People only must observe the ebb and flow of the natural world to understand their role in it. And when they do, they will realize they live with paradoxes. Like nature they are good, and bad, wise, and unwise, sensitive, and insensitive, caring, and uncaring, hot, and cold. At a deeper level all things are in motion, and interrelated. Whatever, good or bad that happens, influences the entire environment. No one or nothing is exempt. We are all in this boat together. So, be a positive force in the world.      

  Living with a Thorn Living means having a thorn in the flesh that shapes our lives. There is always some condition that affects us physically, psychologically, and spiritually. This underlying thorn goads us on to be better people. It is a constant irritation that is part of our hidden life. As expected, most people will have good and bad days. Many learn to go with the flow, while this catalyst makes us focused on what is important. With perseverance we can overcome great odds facing life’s challenges. So, this thorn instead of pulling us down, helps to build us up.

  A Blessed Spark Everyone is blessed with a special spark. This God light motivates them to be quite unique. Life’s abundance makes many people rejoice over such a wonderful gift. Some folks are rich while others are poor, but they may never forget their roots. This spark burns brightly in the service of their community. Like shining stars, they reach out to touch the sky. Their fire touches the despair of the destitute that leads to justice throughout the land. This is how they see all of life rebounding in total brilliance. So, it is a great gift of hope to be a blessed spark.

  Power of Stillness Stillness is sacred. It is the sure way to tap into Divinity. No longer will you depend on the running commentary that dominates the mind. It is that point when the present, past, and future are One. It is Now. But it takes practice to learn to quiet the mind. People who accomplish this task are conscious. They know how to be One with their environment. A thinking mind that is unconscious goes out of the window, and there is a spiritual awakening.

  Smell the Roses Relax, kick back and smell the roses. Life is a bundle of joy punctuated with various challenges. So, endeavor to embrace fully its twists and turns. Some days you will feel on top of the world, but at times you may be in a valley of despair. But as you live just face the undulations of change with dignity. Always remember to pursue your dreams of living a fulfilled life. Have a purpose, shower love abundantly, and be at peace. Smell the roses, sample your favorite wine, and live optimistically. So, the next time you are troubled play soothing music, and watch your troubles melt away with life’s abundant blessings.

  Communing with Nature Nature speaks its own language, and it is phenomenal. Think about the blue sky filled with abundant galaxies, and the earth with its distinct moods. The seasons greet us with spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Trees, plants, oceans, rivers, mountains, hills, and valleys decorate our rolling landscape. Often this ambience is serene, glorious, and wonderful. Then, unexpectedly the earth explodes with terrible hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and forest fires. Eventually, believers may still enjoy watching the interplay of feisty animals, reptiles, birds, and fishes darting back and forth. So, just be sure to sit still when it is pleasant outdoors, and commune with the wonders of nature. All it calls for is being silent, comfortable, watchful, and having a compassionate heart.  

  Blessing to Many People are all actors on the World’s Stage. They often perform incredible acts throughout their lives. Most of all they do extraordinary things to keep their homes in order. They are always washing clothes, cleaning rooms, cooking, and preparing meals. But think about the maid that also looks after our children in the household, trying to make ends meet, and to eke out a living. She works as though the whole world depends on her. This person hitches rides, traverses busy streets, and does the impossible at her job. But her work on the World’s Stage is often overlooked, and taken for granted. This service is however a blessing to many men, women, and children.    

  Leaf or Snowflake At the sublime level everything is One. All living and non-living things are interconnected by love. People know this truth when they commune with nature. They realize that they do not choose their family but they are God’s gift to them. This creative force of love propels them to embrace all species, plants, and objects. God therefore is not seen as some elderly grandfather figure in the heavens to whom people pray. This ubiquitous force is present even in a leaf or snowflake that falls to the ground on a winter’s day.  

  Sowing Love Warmth and tenderness dwell deep within people’s hearts. Love makes hope blossom that must be nurtured. To be happy people need security, and joy springs like a beautiful flower. This is wonderful in a believer’s life. But love must be put into practice in serving humanity. This calls for having a humble heart and a positive outlook. However, a believer’s failure to sow love is a tragedy. It is like good people who do nothing to correct the ills in society. The ultimate tragedy is to remain silent about oppression and cruelty in the world.

  Fleeting Time Glorious days rush by and dreams live and die. Our children grow up before our eyes and we marvel. We say, “Where did time go?” Some folks like to talk about the good old days when they were younger. They reminisce and it gives them pleasure; while their children think about what their life will be in the future. Nevertheless, time keeps marching on. We all enjoy the four seasons of the year. Daily we count these blessings in seconds, minutes, and hours. But to live fully is to savor life in the present, and try not to live solely by the clock.

  A Green Angel O behold the green aloe with its succulent stems. It is Godsend and people view this plant as an angel. Aloe Vera grows best in sunlight, and must be watered frequently. This plant grows outdoors in sandy soil, and have life-generating properties. It is a popular ingredient in South Asian dishes, and can be eaten raw or cooked. This aloe’s meat is used as a tropical skin cream and treats psoriasis. It is also a laxative and has a calming effect of reducing inflammation. That is why Aloe Vera is popular with ordinary folk, gardeners, and planters.

  A Healthy Life It is not a high wire act performing like an acrobat. All it calls for is commonsense to achieve a balanced lifestyle. Why fret and fume about those problems you cannot control. Just sit back, put things in perspective, and let them play themselves out. Try not to overdo, weigh, and consider your options, then act decisively. Take good care of yourself, think, before you make a commitment, by figuring out what is doable, and be at peace with yourself. These are basic practices on the fundamentals of living a healthy life. And it begins by having a clear mind. So, remember to focus on your balance by doing what is important in your heart.

  Behavior of God Nature’s home is where there is peace and chaos. It is the Universe that is warmed by splendid suns and ravaged by raging storms. Still, this home is a blessed place where happiness blossoms like an array of beautiful flowers. Colors adorn all of God’s creation. There is an abundance of animals, plants, and great water resources. But people shiver when there are terrible hurricanes, earthquakes, and forest fires that lambast their lands. Yet, it is delightful to greet the blue sky, a full moon, and shinning stars that decorate our celestial home. Nature’s ways will always be perplexing, but this ubiquitous behavior of God is hard to understand.

  Succeeding in Life Many people do their own thing. Is there one right way to succeed? No! There may be different paths for accomplishing their goals. To some life is going with the flow. They expect everything to fall into place. Others may want to do the hard work and they slug away at their tasks. By the sweat of the brow, they shall eat bread. Still, they are those who may decide to pray for guidance before they take a vital step. To them, success is not magical thinking, but their faith beckons them on. But, figuring out what to do depends on one’s beliefs. Everyone should have a workable plan for succeeding in life.

  Unforgettable Lives People’s love is deep. It is more than frosting on a beautiful cake. Imagine the gift of having an unforgettable life. One that is celebrated by a famous person who is most talented. Such a celebrity may be a renowned film star, scientist, theologian, singer, historian, politician, or writer. This hero’s or heroine’s works have profoundly shaped the world’s culture. It is a story of the indomitable spirit of special people that is revered in the media. Their creative gifts lift us up, and are a tremendous blessing to the world.     

  Colors of Rainbow People come in different colors. Their beauty graces the lands of the world. They hail from the East, West, North, and South with a brilliance that titillates our eyes. Some are as dark as Charcoal; others appear like sparkling White. But do not forget those who have tones of Brown, Yellow, Blue, and Red. Many Africans are considered Black, Europeans - White, Asians - Yellow, and Native Americans - Red. Then, there are the Mixed Races with black, brown, or blonde hair; and blue or dark brown eyes that are dazzling. Some nations are of the colors of the rainbow. Their gifts are revealed in the diversity of ethnic groups that live around the world.  

  Coping with Problems Do you give up easily? Those who are strong persevere in their trials. They know adversities are meant to be faced. So, they make it their duty to confront these problems. Some people grow stronger with suffering. Each moment becomes special in their lives. These individuals are wise, patient, understanding, and hopeful. They do their best and manage their difficulties. Such afflictions serve as catalysts in helping them realize their goals. They just refuse to be beaten down as they cope with problems.