Author: Susan Schulte

“I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, God will not ask, ‘How many good things have you done in your life?’  Rather God will ask, ‘How much love did you put into what you did?’”

These words of Mother Teresa help us remember that when done with love, each action we do matters.  It can be overwhelming and discouraging to think about the many aspects of life where help is needed to right wrongs, to assist people in need, and to work toward a more just world.  We must counteract the tendency toward discouragement by remembering that actions we do with genuine concern and caring help not only at the time we’re doing them, but often have a ripple effect.  Both directly, as when a person who receives assistance then chooses to help others, and also in less direct ways.  It’s as if the spirit of the act of kindness makes its way to and through others.

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”  This quote is by Meister Eckhart, a German theologian, philosopher, and mystic who lived from 1260 to 1328.

I recently watched a webinar, the topic of which was taking care of oneself during stressful times.  There were many helpful and time-tested suggestions, including eating plant-based foods, making time for physical activity, and doing breathing techniques.  These and a number of other ideas were presented, and the basis for their effectiveness was discussed as well.  Because I have an interest in these topics both for my own well-being and to have knowledge about them in my work as a crisis line counselor, I was familiar with many of the recommendations.  However, one of the ways of taking care of ourselves that had not been presented in other such presentations is to be thankful.

And yet it makes perfect sense.  Being thankful recognizes that that for which we are thankful has been given to us.  Having gratitude goes hand in hand with the quality of being humble.  When we are thankful for the people in our lives who love us, we acknowledge that we did not have control of the family we were born into or that we would meet our spouse, partner, or friends who love us.  When we are thankful for our health, we acknowledge that we were born with certain genes and have the good fortune of having nutritious food available to us.  When we are thankful for a job that we feel good about, we recognize that we weren’t in control of that job opening occurring when it did or whether we would be invited to be interviewed and then selected for it.  When I give these examples, I don’t mean to not acknowledge the effort a person puts into maintaining health, treating others in a loving way, or being a capable employee—those efforts matter very much—but it’s important to see how things came together over which we did not have control and therefore for which we should be grateful.

The way that being thankful helps us during stressful times is that by focusing on the blessings we have, we are not thinking about those material possessions or certain experiences we wish we could have.  Thinking about what we want to have but do not adds to anxiety.  Noticing what we do have and being grateful for it decreases anxiety.

I encourage you to follow what Meister Eckhart said and say prayers of thanksgiving, remembering that all for which we are thankful has been given to us by our Creator.

“Each one has to find peace from within.  And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances.”  When I read this quotation by Mahatma Gandhi, I thought about how inner peace, like faith, is a gift from the Creator.  Although it is a gift, we need to honor it by preparing for and nurturing this gift.  We do that by trying to hear and follow the guidance of our inner voice.

Feeling peaceful isn’t the same as feeling happy.  People can have a sense of inner peace during difficult and sad times as well as during the more serene times.  I believe that is what Gandhi meant when he said real peace is not affected by outside circumstances.  True peace is part of our inner reality no matter what is happening in outer reality.  Growing in consciousness adds to peacefulness.  Jungian psychotherapists write about how clients they’ve assisted and they themselves have found that endeavoring to become a more conscious person has resulted in more serenity within.

When I read Gandhi’s quote, I also thought about this verse from the New Testament where Jesus says:  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid” (John 14:27).  Gandhi’s statement that real peace is not affected “by outside circumstances” is similar to Jesus saying the peace of which he speaks is not “as the world gives.”  They both refer to peace having an inner source.  Sometimes we try to convince ourselves that if only a person we know would change or we had a different job or something from the past hadn’t happened, and so on, we would then have what we need to feel more peaceful.  When we have such thoughts, we need to remind ourselves that true peace does not result from such outer happenings.

My prayer is that all of us will receive, cherish, and nurture the gift of peace.

Twila Paris is a singer, songwriter, and author who has written and recorded many songs based on Christian teachings.  She is creative and talented, and I enjoy listening to the messages of her songs.

One of my favorites is entitled “Undivided Heart” and includes these lyrics:  “Give me an undivided heart; make a new spirit in me.”  For me, having an undivided heart means having the correct spiritual focus, which is possible by being able to discern the right actions to do and words to say in order to be on our spiritual path, and then choosing to do those actions and speak those words.

Because none of us is perfect, we’re not always able to make the correct discernment.  Thus, the need to pray for help from our Creator, just as the words of the song do.  We are often pulled in different directions by family and friends, by the requirements of our work, by societal pressure, and by our ego desires.  For most of us, there are many options from which to choose that affect the decisions we make, and there are many things that can distract us from following our path.

For all of these reasons, it’s essential to try to listen to our inner voice for guidance.  Each time we make this effort, we come closer to having the undivided heart and the new spirit of which Twila Paris sings.

Earlier this evening I looked out the window and saw the sky had become overcast and darker, and I wondered whether it might rain.  A few minutes later it did start raining, quite a downpour, with wind gusts and some lightning and thunder in the distance.  A little later the wind calmed down and the rain became lighter and continued to fall for about a half hour before moving on.  I stood by the screen door to watch the rain coming down and also to hear the sound of it and to smell the freshness that a rainfall brings.

I’ve written several posts about the importance of our connection with nature, usually emphasizing the beauty that we see—the sky, the trees, the animals and birds.  But there are also the sounds and aromas that are part of that connection.  And the sense of touch too, such as when we feel a breeze or the warmth of the sun.  Hearing, seeing, and smelling the rain this evening reminded me of how thankful I am that I’m able to hear and to see and to smell.

It also reminded me of the admiration I have for people who have adapted to not having one or more of the physical senses.  When I see people who are blind walking with a cane, I’m impressed not only with how they have adjusted to not being able to see, but also by their courage.  When I’m at presentations there is usually someone signing for those attending who are deaf, and again I am impressed by the many people who have not let their inability to hear hold them back.

Another thought that came to me this evening as I watched and listened to the rain was how it can be symbolic of life experiences.  Sometimes we find ourselves facing unexpected and difficult challenges that can feel overwhelming and frightening.  The downpour, wind gusts, lightning, and thunder reflected those situations.  And other times things go more smoothly as reflected by the gentle rain, those periods when we feel peaceful.  The quieter times enable us to recognize that going through the more difficult times helps us to grow in qualities such as courage, perseverance, and selflessness.

Embracing both the stormy times and the calmer times helps us to follow our individual life paths and become more whole and grounded persons.

“Compassion brings inner peace and, whatever else is going on, that peace of mind allows us to see the whole picture more clearly.”  This quote by the Dalai Lama is one of many where he speaks about compassion and peace, reminding us of how important these qualities are both for ourselves individually and also for others with whom we interact.  And for the world in general.

I thought about the Dalai Lama’s words after attending a meeting of coworkers and administrative staff today.  During part of the meeting, those attending were invited to express concerns or feedback about aspects of their work.  A young woman had several complaints about administrative staff not dealing with certain work situations as the woman expected them to, and she made generalizations and had what seemed to me to be unrealistic expectations.  She spoke in a demanding and sometimes angry tone of voice.

I had a couple reactions as I listened to her.  One reaction was feeling some compassion for her that she felt the way she did.  I also noticed, however, that her being critical of others and having a demanding tone of voice weren’t helpful in resolving the problem.  A more compassionate approach would have enabled her to have the peace of mind to see the various aspects of the situation.  Had she stated what had happened that concerned her, asked questions, and been open to listening to the perspectives of others involved, she would have been better able to see the larger picture.

I think it’s important to be assertive when a situation calls for it, but a person can be assertive while also being considerate and empathic.  Talking about problems in that way is far more effective and gives the other person or persons an invitation to respond with information that can clarify the issue, set forth present limitations, and describe what changes might be possible.

The incident that I’ve shared is just one of the many that occur in our world every day where the lack of the compassion of which the Dalai Lama speaks greatly decreases the chance of an effective outcome.  Each of us trying to be more compassionate will make a great difference both in our day-to-day interactions with others and in larger causes as well.

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”  These words of Jesus appear in Matthew 10:16 of the New Testament.  Jesus is speaking to his disciples as he directs them to travel to other cities and regions and to share the teachings he has taught to them.  As they travel and teach, some people will welcome them but others will not and will even try to harm them, which is why Jesus gives them the serious counsel he does.

When I am trying to discern how to approach a certain situation or undertaking, I remind myself of Jesus’ words, especially the guidance to be wise as serpents.  Wisdom is one of the attributes snakes symbolize in dreams, art, and literature.  Something I’ve needed to work on over the years is my tendency to be a “good girl.”  Good girls, and there are good boys too, are people who have a strong need for approval from others.  In order to acquire that approval, they readily say yes to requests or agree with what someone else says rather than giving it some thought before responding.  For many of us, it’s a holdover from having been children for whom obedience came easily.  But there’s a difference between being an obedient child and being an adult who uses the intelligence and wisdom he or she has been given.

Our inner voice is the source of wisdom that will help us to make decisions and guide our actions.  Therefore, it’s essential to try to listen to that voice and act on what we discern.  Doing so will enable us to be on our paths and to do those things we were created to do.