My theme this week is Internal Change.  You are probably familiar with the saying "don't sweat the small stuff."  Overall, that's pretty good advice.  Sometimes, however, the small stuff is not so small, and we really must address (or "sweat") it, in order to get rid of it and make room for the blessings. One […]

Happy New Year!  As we enter 2009, I've been reflecting a lot on the theme of "change."  If we change our way of thinking, we can change our way of seeing.  And when we change our perspective on things, Grace follows. I know that for many of us, January is a pivotal month.  Whether we […]

Kwanzaa is a unique African-American festival that focuses on the traditional African values of family, community responsibility, commerce and self-improvement.  The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, which means "first fruits."  The festival, celebrated from December 26 to January 1, is based on the Nguzo Saba (seven guiding principles), and each […]

Christmas is celebrated in remembrance of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.  The date of the celebration is generally not thought to be Jesus' actual date of birth, and may have been chosen to coincide with ancient Roman solar festivals that were held on December 25.  Like the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah (Festival of Lights), […]

This year at sundown on December 21, the eight-day observance of Hanukkah begins.  The spirit of Hanukkah is the remembrance of a great miracle.  Nearly 200 years before the birth of Christ, a Hebrew tribe known as the Maccabees wanted to rededicate the temple after driving out the Greeks in a three-year struggle.  However, the […]

It's uncomfortable for you to wear clothes that no longer fit.  On the other hand, trying to make others stay a certain way makes everyone uncomfortable.  You can choose to try and prevent others from changing, but this will only result in pain for you.  The alternative is to step back and watch the unfolding […]

And so the holiday season officially starts.  What does that mean for you?  For many people, it usually means the beginning of holiday shopping.  For some of us, this year will be different.  We will have to think twice about spending money on lots of gifts.  And for some, it will not even be a […]

Is not every day a day of thanks?  Knowing that there are others who don't have what we have is one thing.  Doing something about it is another.  We can all do something.  Smile to all you see.  Help others in whatever way you can.  You can always give something: a prayer, a dollar, food, […]

When we slow down and smell the roses, as the saying goes, we can see that everything that happens reflects Divine timing.  Does that mean we do nothing?  No!  We do what we think is the right thing.  We vote for who we believe is the best person to run our great nation, our state, […]

For the primordial man, trust brought freedom, faith and the ability to practice unconditional forgiveness.  Unconditional forgiveness means to forgive without expecting anything in return. This does not mean that you are meant to be a doormat so that people can walk all over you.  It means that you can forgive others and, if necessary, […]