Posted on 04/05/2010 2:57:17 AM PDT by Scanian
When I was growing up, my parents forbade me from ever opening up the curtains. It had something to do with their fear that the sun would bleach the furnishings.
If I even sneaked a peek outside, I'd find myself on the receiving end of my parents' wrath. Just as children become acclimated to all kinds of environments, I learned to live in the dark.
This habit caused problems when Jon and I moved in together. He'd walk into the house on a sunlit day to find me with the curtains drawn and every light on. He'd groan and give me a stern lecture about wasting electricity.
It took me years to learn to live in natural light. I remember the day; it was when a new client asked if she could open up my venetian blinds.
I had been in my office for years, always with the blinds tightly shut. My rationale was that the bright California rays would irritate our eyes. But given that the blinding sun fades in the afternoon, there really was no good reason to cloister myself.
My client having requested it, I lifted up the blinds. A nature-lover replenished by the world, she drank in the sight of foliage as though taking in vital substances.
As it turns out, I have a lovely view out my window of all kinds of trees and, if you lean over and crook your neck, the Golden Gate Bridge. She pointed all this out, as well as the games the light was playing on the rooftops.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Well, they try and shut God out as much as possible. But, God is more powerful and omnipresent than we realize.
But the Judeo-Christian kind -- the Torah and the Gospel, churches or synagogues without a social justice bent? Few and far between.
The disdain for traditional religion in places like Berkeley isn't new. But with Obama at the helm, the crusade to banish God is becoming ferocious. Obama covers up religious symbols during speeches, no-shows at the National Day of Prayer, and eschews church. For this president, nothing is Sacred.
In these dark times, I spend my days searching for God. Sometimes I glimpse Him in a starry-eyed babe or an exuberant pup.
Occasionally I see Him in one of my clients, though she doesn't notice that He's there. I'll recognize a gentle spirit, a tender heart, and a hunger and longing for something, though she hasn't the slightest idea what it is.
And once in a blue moon, the Real Thing appears.
The other day, I went into the biggest and baddest grocery store around. I usually avoid it like the plague, since the place is a union stronghold with an excess of attitude.
But I needed something for dinner, so I proceeded cautiously to the chilly deli section. There I found a woman who appeared totally out of place. An attractive, middle-aged black woman, she just glowed. She called everyone "sweetie," and she smiled ebulliently.
Being third in line, I watched her imbue each customer with her warmth. To a woman who looked down-in-the-mouth, she asked softly, "Is everything OK, sweetie?"
When it was my turn, I received the same kindness. After she handed me my sandwich, I did something I'd never done in my life.
I said to her the following: "I just want you to know that you have a beautiful spirit."
Taken aback, she looked at me and then said, "Oh, sweetie, I try, but things are so hard. I was laid off of work and now I'm just working here part time. But I pray and try to have faith."
I responded, "I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles. But I want you to know that your spirit is still so strong, and that you affect people like me."
And then I did something that surprised us both. I extended my hand. She took off her plastic glove, and she gently held my hand in hers. We stood looking at each other and holding hands for several seconds.
As I turned to leave, she called out to me, "Sweetie, you have a beautiful spirit, too. But I'm sure you know this."
I answered, "Thanks. I don't always remember this."
I left the store, soaring, lifted up by the power of this woman so infused with God.
But it wasn't just my encounter with this beatific spirit that fueled my joy. It was knowing that the Light has not gone out, no matter how hard this government is trying to extinguish it.
It was a reminder that Divine Love is alive and well and taking in breath, even in the most unlikely of places.
She nails it on the head. The Divine lives in us all; we just have to have the wisdom to let him take over.
Thanks for the ping. Great article.
BUMP
Glad you liked the post.
Great article. Among other points, it reminds us how easy it is to make people happier. A couple of months ago, I bought some flowers for the girl who cleans my teeth, and she’s still talking about it, according to my husband.
thank you so much, that was just beautiful.
This is a reminder that we must always let our light shine, wherever we are. Even in the really dark places. Light always overcomes the dark. Be reminded that He said, ‘You are the light of the world’ - where that light shines, there can be no darkness. Even the Godless, dark, evil that occupies the highest office in this land will be overcome by His light, shining in and through us, if we do not hide it under a bushel.
That ALONE should dismay the Christians. How many ways can Obama dishonor Christianity? Because that's the religion that he's being disrespectful of.
We've never had a President COVER UP religious symbols before! Obama a Christian? Yeah, right.
Better to spend your time on more productive tasks. There is no intelligent life in Berkeley.
Thanks for sharing!
Oh gosh...she has much to learn. Observant Jews and observant Christians have a social justice "bent". It's an essential part of their faith. Just because marxists use the term, doesn't mean it isn't valid. Secondly, there is no "Judeo-Christian kind". They are radically different faiths. Tikkum Olam is very different from John 18:36. Which is why, well, there are two faiths. Progressives, in their attempt to water down both faiths, coined the term "Judeo-Christian".
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