So, that would mean that we need to do an extra good turn or two each day right? And those thoughtless words that we utter without a thought for feelings that we might hurt? I think that we are going to have to be more careful in the future. It take’s so little to be kind to someone.

Special Picks
Thoughts on Angels
Thoughts on Humanity and Life
Thoughts on Love
Thoughts on Prayers
Thoughts on Spiritual
Thoughts on Time
Thoughts on Women

Post from: Daily Jots

“When I look into the future, I am frightned,
But why plunge into the future?
Only the present moment is precious to me,
As the future may never enter my soul at all.

“It is no longer in my power,
To change, correct or add to the past;
For neither sages nor prophets could do that.
And so, what the past has embraced I must entrust to God.

“Oh present moment, you belong to me, whole and entire.
I desire to use you as best I can.
And although I am weak and small,
You grant me the grace of your omnipotense.”

Sr. M. Faustina Kowalska

Divine Mercy Sunday

Post from: Daily Jots

Thinking Outside of the Box:
Everyone knows the Biblical story of creation. God created light and kind of went from there, ending up with people. (Wondered if he regretted that one?) Anyway, along the way, plants, trees, creepy crawly things, birds, fish, animals and a whole lot of stuff was made. (I don’t know how, I don’t have any opinion on the whole creationism thing – whether it is literal or if God set evolution into gear is immaterial to me. It works – that is all I care about.)

After he was done, washed up and ready for supper, God said, “Let us make man to our image and likeness; and let him have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and the beasts, and the whole earth, and every creeping creature that moveth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26 and incidentally, woman was created AFTER this dominion command so it is implicity implied that woman is not, assuming she could be, dominated by man – loved, yes, dominated, no!)

So what’s up with this dominion thing? Dominion is defined as, “control or the exercise of control.” That doesn’t mean abuse and it doesn’t mean living life without regard to the creatures that share our planet.

I find it ironic that the very people that claim to have received this command from God Himself, namely many in the Christian movement, have interpreted this in a way I cannot understand. They have taken a stand of anti-environmentalism.

I say this as a Catholic so I am, in my opinion, fit to opinionate on this – I interpret dominion differently, as do most people.

This is important, so please consider it. Dominion does not mean dumping toxic waste into lakes and rivers. Dominion does not mean hunting animals into extinction. And dominion certainly does not mean using animals to test our cosmetics and household cleaners.

Dominion means responsibly caring for and living with the animals on the planet. Each is a part of a delicately balanced ecosystem that was created by whatever means, and shouldn’t be tampered with. At times, we do need animals for products and at those times respect and kindness is appropriate.

Just my vent for the day. I do become upset at some of the things people do to their pets and to wildlife. If one person thinks differently after reading this, I am pleased.

Some Last Thoughts:
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
Mahatma Gandhi

“The bee is more honored than other animals, not because she labors, but because she labors for others.”
St. John Chrysostom

“Women and birds are able to see without turning their heads, and that is indeed a necessary provision for they are both surrounded by enemies.”
Unknown

Technorati Tags: Animals, Prayers, Women

Post from: Daily Jots

Thought of the Day:
A Prayer for 2006
“O Father, may it never be said of us that
Having come to an open door, we closed it;
Having come to a lighted candle, we quenched it;
Having heard the voice of a neighbor begging bread,
We made denial, speaking of our own case.”
Jean McKenzie

Thinking Outside of the Box:
I had a thought tonight, just after midnight. I had a pretty tough year last year, and I wasnt at all sad to see the departure of 2005. That naturally led to the next thought: What can I (we) do to make 2006 a better year?

It really is easy. The only way out of a tough period of time or to get through something that is almost impossible to bear, is to reach out to others. If we help another in their time of sorrow or grief, their time of poverty or despair, their time of illness or injury, we can not only help them, but help ourselves as well. Reaching out enables us to reach up; we can then reach toward the stars and perhaps even to God.

A Last Thought:
“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”
John Andrew Holmer

“It is high time that the ideal of success should be replaced by the ideal of service.”
Albert Einstein

“The tree gives shade even to him who cuts off his boughs.”
Sri Chaitanya

“No man or woman of the humblest sort can really be strong, gentle, pure, and good without the world being better for it, without somebody being helped and comforted by the very existence of that goodness.”
Phillips Brooks

Post from: Daily Jots