Speaking of Spirit

Five Angels Dancing Giovanni di Paolo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Several months ago, my doctor suggested I try doing Zumba at home. (Zumba is a form of cardio-vascular exercise that incorporates Latin dance moves and other forms of aerobic exercise done to the beat of music.) He suggested it because I was having trouble exercising enough to lose weight that I had gained over the winter. I love to dance, so I thought, why not! I got the DVD's for Baby Boomers...these are not as intense as the regular Zumba dances. The minute the music started I was hooked.  The music is upbeat and happy. I don't see how anyone can help but move when you listen to the Latin and African Rhythms.  I have lost weight...but not all of it is body weight. My time doing Zumba also helped me spiritually. Dancing released the weight of stress that built up with my mind and soul. As that decreased, I was more open to filling with Spirit. At first, dancing was a chore of...

Holy One - we come today to pray for the fathers of this world, who daily struggle to provide for families, to care for and nurture their children,  and for whom the responsibility can be too great.    Bless all the fathers  that, daily, hold their children in wonder, sharing with them Your Love.    Bless all the fathers - even those who are absent - Open their hearts and minds to Love. Bless all the families of fathers who are in eternal rest. Give them joyous memories, strength to carry them through the days ahead,  and the balm of Your Love to soothe their grief. Creator of All - we come to you in prayer for all the fathers of this world. Hold them in Your Hand, give them wisdom, strength and gentleness, so that they may be models of Your Love to their children, and their children's children, now and for years to come. Amen.

Photo Credit: (c) 2017 L M Neas Each year at this time, young people graduate from high schools and colleges. This is a rite of passage for these young people. The door of childhood is closing as they are guided into the world of adults, hopefully with the tools and wisdom that will sustain them through the rest of their lives. Let us pray - Great Teacher of All that Is, bless these young people, near and far, as they take their first steps of independence. Watch over them as they test themselves - and the world; bless them with wisdom to know when to stop, and when to go forward; bless them with courage to say, no, and to fearlessly say, yes, to the challenges  before them;  bless them with open hearts and minds. Protect them, Dear Blessed One, from harm, from despair and from bad judgement. Surround them with your angels -  both ethereal and corporeal - to guide them through the dark tunnels, twisting paths and ...

Photo Credit: (c) 2017 Linda M. Rhinehart Neas       Blessings! For Christians around the world, today is Pentecost Sunday. This is the feast of the Holy Spirit. Today, more than ever, I believe we are in great need of the Spirit in all our lives. We, like the early disciples, are full of fear. The world around us is dangerous. Sometimes it feels that hatred is running rampant through our lives. But, if we open ourselves to Spirit, remembering that we all carry within us the Spark of Light from the Divine, then we can release the fear and walk fearlessly into the darkness of the world. How can we do that? How can we joyously leave the shelter of our rooms to share Love with the world? First, we must disassociate ourselves from that which sucks our hope, trust and love dry. Turn off the media. Leave the doomsayers behind. Second, we must nurture our own timid hearts. We must feed our souls with Love and Beauty. We must spend alone time with Creator. W...