Daily Jots

Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.
Gloria Steinem

Do you believe that your dreams mean something? Could it be that your dreams are trying to tell you something?? There has to be some reason we dream don’t you think??

“There is no universally agreed-upon biological definition of dreaming. The dogma states that dreams are associated with REM sleep but the evidence for this is not strong. Subjects awakened during REM sleep usually report having been dreaming but since REM sleep is not as deep as non-REM sleep, it would be expected that dreams are better remembered but not necessarily more common during REM sleep. Some neurologists even group mental phenomena such as daydreaming under the umbrella of dreaming.”

During a typical lifetime a person spends about 6 years dreaming (which is about 2 hours each night.

What do you dream about and did your dreams ever come true? My daughter has the most amazing knack of dreaming about the future.

Source

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The rumor mill’s churning overtime with speculation that Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes will tie the knot any minute now. But according to the show biz gossip site TMZ.com, there’s also lots of talk about Katie’s parents — who are said to be “outraged.”

I can understand how they might not like what their daughter is doing, but are they ready to do something that might damage their relationship with Katie on a long term basis?? This is a tough one I admit. If either of my two were making what I thought was a huge mistake, do I simply sit back and do nothing? Pretty much all they can do is voice their objections and then let it go. It is Katie’s choice, however much them might dislike it. But I do feel for them.

All I can say is that it is important to leave the doors open just in case she needs them in the future.

Interview with the Vampire

Source

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“Never allow anyone to rain on your parade and thus cast a pall of gloom and defeat on the entire day. Remember that no talent, no self-denial, no brains, no character, are required to set up in the fault-finding business. Nothing external can have any power over you unless you permit it. Your time is too precious to be sacrificed in wasted days combating the menial forces of hate, jealously, and envy. Guard your fragile life carefully. Only God can shape a flower, but any foolish child can pull it to pieces.”

Og Mandino

“My favourite poem is the one that starts ‘Thirty days hath September’ because it actually tells you something.”

Groucho Marx

In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year,
bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil.
And at no season, safe perhaps in Daffodil time, do we get such
superb colour effects as from August to November.
- Rose G. Kingsley

And my own thoughts for today… (more…)

Technorati Tags: quotes, rainy days, September

We are one another’s angels… unknown

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

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As a kid, we were so open to what the world had to offer. I can even remember laying out on the grass at night and just staring up at the stars and wondering what was out there?? The night was full of magic and so much that I could simply wonder about.

Then you grow up and something happens to all that magic. It’s like you simply haven’t the time to explore anymore. There’s the kitchen to clean up or the grass to cut!

This week, I’m going to take a lawn chair out onto the lawn and do a little star gazing!! Who knows… I always wanted to see a UFO and I’m not going to see one if I don’t take the time to look!

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“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

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I haven’t paid much attention to Lent this year and I feel bad about that.  Perhaps I have had my priorities in the wrong place, or perhaps I haven’t been able to “put my life in the wheelbarrow.”  You will have to read this to understand what I meant by that.

My favorite Lent site, if you will, can be found at Franciscan Radio.  There you will find a complete multimedia online Lenten retreat.  There is music, readings, a homily, and much more.  And, you can listen to it at your convenience. 

Take a few minutes for Lent.  Get away from the noise of the world and immerse yourself in the spirituality that Lent brings us.

Lenten Radio Retreat

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There are a lot of quotations books - good ones - but every now and then one comes along that is absolutely inspired. I found this book in, of all places, Walmart; I picked up a copy, and then another copy for a gift… well, I could have bought a dozen. It really is that good.

The book is titled, “Patches of Godlight,” and is “written” by Father Tim Kavanagh. I put the author’s name in quotes because the author is a character in the well loved “Mitford Series,” written by Jan Karon. All of the books in the series, and related to the series, are ones I would recommend, but this quotation book is something special.

Written in Father Kavanagh’s own hand, “Patches of Godlight,” is a collection of the character’s favorite quotations and thoughts. This book is a bit like finding a journal and being given permission to read it. The quotes are inspirational, gentle, and inspiring; they give insight into the character of the Episcopal priest and the story author Karon has crafted.

“Patches of Godlight,” is a book that will comfort you when you are saddened, boost you when you need some motivation, and always find the time to give you hope for the future.

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Quote of the Day

“Does not Heaven begin that day
When the eager heart can say,
Surely God is in this place,
I have seen him face to face…”
^{Bliss Carman}

I have been writing my “outside of the box” thinking for awhile now, and I will be again. But I think it is important for you to have your own thoughts and, when appropriate for you, perhaps you will share them. So I am changing the format a little bit - just as people grow and change, I am sure our blogs grow and change as well.

So to that end, I am going to change things - just a little bit. I will still be writing my thoughts on various subjects, but I’ll also be asking you questions. You can use them as memes on your blogs if you like - maybe they will jumpstart your thinking. And please comment - different outlooks make for such diversified exchanges! I look forward to hearing from you.

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Question of the Day

• Do you believe in Heaven? If you do, what does it look like?
• Where do you think Heaven is?
• If we had a spaceship that was capable of light-speed, could we fly to Heaven, or is it in another “dimension?”

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“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
Where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,
And where thieves do not break through not steal.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
^{The Bible: Matthew 6}

“I never spoke with God
Nor visited in heaven;
Yet certain am I of the spot
As if the chart were given.”
^{Emily Dickinson}

“Heaven is
The place where
Happiness is
Everywhere.”
^{Langston Hughes}

“As much of heaven is visible as we have eyes to see.”
^{William Winter}

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Thought of the Day:
“Round the spruce top the blue was deepened, concentrated by the fixed point, the memory of that spot, as it were, of the sky is still fresh - I can see it distinctly - still beautiful and full of meaning. It is painted in bright color in my mind, color thrice laid, and indelible; as one passes a shrine and bows the head to the Madonna, so I recall the picture and stoop in spirit to the aspiration it yet arouses. For there is no saint like the sky, sunlight shining from its face.”
Richard Jefferies

Thinking Outside of the Box:
How often do you engage in contemplation? Technically, the term means to study, analyze, observe or thoughtfully consider, especially for spiritual reasons. But the term has changed through its use in our living language. Contemplation also means to allow ourselves to open up to something that is bigger than us and to allow it to fill us with a sense of wonder. Contemplation can often lead to awe and awe is something few people, myself included, allow within their lives and souls.

Richard Jefferies, in the above quote, contemplated the sky. Something that is there everyday and given very little consideration by any one of us as we bustle about in the busyness of life. But if we took some time, considered something, as he contemplated the sky, we could open ourselves to a rare opportunity. The simplicity of the moment could grow. It could become so grand that it shows us our true place in the universe. Even the smallest of snowflakes would dwarf us in its majesty. A leaf sheltering an insect during a rainstorm, would become a temple.

God contemplates us. That is a staggering thought, for then, what does that make us?

Just think about it.

Some Last Thoughts:
“Soon silence will have passed into legend. Man has turned his back on silence. Day after day he invents machines and devices that increase noise and distract humanity from the essence of life, contemplation, meditation.” Jean Arp

“If we know the divine art of concentration, if we know the divine art of meditation, if we know the divine art of contemplation, easily and consciously we can unite the inner world and the outer world.” Sri Chinmoy

“A day spent without the sight or sound of beauty, the contemplation of mystery, or the search of truth or perfection is a poverty-stricken day; and a succession of such days is fatal to human life.” Lewis Mumford

“That pleasure which is at once the most pure, the most elevating and the most intense, is derived, I maintain, from the contemplation of the beautiful.” Edgar Allan Poe

“The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival.”
Aristotle

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