Discovery Ward Newsletter Article

 I prepared this for our Ward newsletter for April:

“The earth is the Lord's,
and the fulness thereof;
the world,
and they that dwell therein.”
Psalm 24 (emphasis added)
 
In other words… everything, and everyone,
actually belongs to the Lord.
 

How are we each doing in our Stewardship of the earth (planet earth,) the fullness thereof (its fruitfulness,) the world (our part of the earth where we live and move and have our daily being,) and all living creatures and the people who dwell around us (including ourselves?)

 
We were born… and, one day, sooner or later, we will each say goodbye to this earth, goodbye to our opportunity for adding any value in our world; we’ll say goodbye to everything we ‘own’ or use, and goodbye to everyone we know here and love.  Also, we will say goodbye to those we neglected, ignored and treated disrespectfully or cruelly.  The time will be past for softening our hearts, humbling ourselves, being of good cheer, proceeding fearlessly and wisely, doing good, and continuing daily, with faith in our every footstep.   
 
We will move into the Spirit World where new dimensions will unfold to our spiritual senses.  As we then look back… We will regret some of our thoughts, words and deeds, knowing we could have done better. We will be grateful for trusting and following our Saviour, and those who had more experience and knew more than we did.  And we will be relieved about our intentional and intelligent decisions made while we had the chance living here on this earth.
 
Since, in the pre-existence, we rejoiced in The Plan, and are now Stewards here for the space of our mortal lives, how are we doing?  Here are some questions we might ask ourselves…
 
The earth: Do I notice this lovely earth and thank my Heavenly Father?  

How can I do better?
The fullness thereof:  What am I doing to multiply and replenish, to enjoy, 

the fruitfulness of my small piece of the earth?  

How can I wisely do a little better each week of my life?
The world:  Who am I?  

How can I become more of Jesus’ Light, of His Life, in my world?
They that dwell therein:  In what ways do I now responsibly bless 

the lives of other Sons and Daughters of God – 

especially those that live around me?  

How can I do better?
In what ways do I respect, honour and encourage myself?  

How do I speak to and of myself?  

One day we’ll each return and report to Him Whom We profess to Follow, 

our Saviour, our Redeemer, our Lord –

and we shall also stand before our Father, His Father!

We CAN clothe ourselves in our righteousness garments. 
With our inspired choices we can be of greater worth and service 

to our Lord, and also to our Brothers and Sisters… 

And, our little world and this beautiful earth will be better.
May we relish and cherish every single day we have left.

This Seems Worth Exploring Some More

I listened to this while pulling weeds in the garden... Perhaps I will make the time to explore more...

"Neuroscientist REVEALS How To COMPLETELY HEAL Your Body & Mind! 

| Caroline Leaf & Lewis Howes"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX4DeCV31YY 

Humility...

Excerpt from the South African Association of Retired Persons (SAARP) 

newsletter  March 2021

“Without humility, you are unable to learn” Laszlo Bock  

HUMILITY:

Richard Feynman (American Physicist,) with his curiosity and growth mindset, certainly saw no shame in admitting his own limitations – and welcomed this intellectual humility in others.

‘I can live with doubt, and uncertainty, and not knowing. I think it’s much more interesting to live not knowing anything than to have answers which might be wrong,’ he told the BBC in 1981.

‘I have approximate answers, and possible beliefs, and different degrees of certainty about different things, but I’m not absolutely sure of anything.’

“The Intelligence Trap: Revolutionise your Thinking and Make Wiser Decisions” by David Robson

When I read this I thought 

"This describes me to me in the most accurate words I've been able to identify so far... 

how I honestly feel about... everything...?"

Then a flash thought... "Is this pride of another sort...?"

Perhaps.  I don't think so at this point.

I don't talk about my "not knowing" most things much.

But... there's little I honestly know.

I know, somehow, that God, my Father Heaven, loves me.

I know, somehow, that I'm a person of worth.

I know I honestly try the best I know how with the knowledge and capacity I have.

I know I tried the best I knew how with the knowledge and experience I then had.

More than that... I don't know.

I hope...

I trust...

I carry on.

And my life is good.

Every day is good.

I'm grateful for my health of body, mind and spirit.

I'm grateful to my core to live in these wonderful days.

Of course there are longings I have, empty spaces that I have.

And I continue on in gratitude and hope.

After visiting the Botanic Gardens on Tuesday and being with my Tai Chi class 

I drove home a back road way.

I came across a patch of Cosmos.

Oh, I love Cosmos!

Memories in abundance associated with travelling on holiday 

with our children each fading Summer.

I stopped.  I took some photos and just enjoyed the immediate Time Out Of Time.

What am I Realising, Understanding this Christmas?

 

To me, Christmas is Jesus' birthday.

So... what gift can I give Him?

I like this Advent of Kindness.

And there are many similar invitations to civility, real aid and respect.

I know Christmas means different things to different people...

How can I be respectful of them, and how can I celebrate in my own meaningful way?

I can be kind to all I come in contact with - as my gift to Jesus Christ on the celebration of His birth.

And I can co-exist with others around me.  I can be interested in their celebrations. I am interested.  I have learnt from experience that I can learn much that is useful to me from everyone I come in contact with.  

What might I be forgetting?

The time might come when I need to decide to separate from some others who might be intent on choosing ways I do not want  to be a part of.  Or they might choose to separate from me and mine.

There's always choosing - every day...

Until then, I can retain my own integrity and allow others to be who they choose to be.

What are you realising and understanding this Christmas?  

What might you be forgetting?

What Are My Personal Gifts and Talents?

Yes, I am...

I know what some of my gifts and talents are...

I know I am a Daughter of God.

I am a woman of faith and commitment, wisdom and courage.

I know I love my husband and children, my grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

I know I love my friends.

I know I love my clients.

I like to do what I like to do.

I love colour, texture, shapes, composition, beauty, function, simplicity, complexity, good food, Tai Chi, the Botanic Garden or nearby place of safety and solitude.  When we were in KZN it was the beach.

I know I like being happy, civil, co-operative, comfortable, attractive, my-own-fashionable, pleasant enough, interested and interesting.

I know I love learning, listening to and watching many people, considering many opinions, drawing my own conclusions, making my own choices.

I know I like to live in pleasant and beautiful enough (to me) circumstances.  

I know I do not like being cold.

I guess others can more easily identify my gifts and talents, or what they see and consider my gifts and talents.

In what way can I truly share them?

Well, I don't think I go out of my way to share them... I live my life as best I know how and hope that something might be useful to someone else.  Sometimes people approach me, and then I'm usually happy to share - if I think it will be good for them, and for me...

I keep a blog and a journal.  In that way someone can access "me" if they want to.

What are your personal gifts and talents?  In what ways can you truly share them?

Who or What Helps Me Discern Between "Good" and "Bad"?

This is so true for me...

It's always been very useful to me to think "Where will this lead...?"  "Will it likely take me to where I want to go in my one precious life?"  These thoughts... these words... these conversations... these actions...  these relationships...  What I am reading, or watching, or listening to...

For me it's also important to read what wise men and women through the ages have said is "good" and "bad," and why.

And what wise men of today have to say.

I've looked briefly into criminology... that was very helpful.

I've talked with many people over many years.  I listen, and decided for myself.

I pray also to know "good" and "bad."

What is good at one time can be bad at another.  And the other way around...

How can I be better at figuring out "good" and "bad?"

Live in "day-tight" compartments... and just do the best I know how any given day...

Long ago I came across this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson.  A copy of it has been in my bedroom for may years.  I work at keeping with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude...

Who or what helps you discern between Good and Bad? 
 

Who or What is My Opposition?

 

And... how can I go around, under, over or through this opposition?

I don't experience much opposition any more... I guess I've learnt lots of lessons.

I suppose the greatest challenges I have now are related to my physical well-being.  

My back-ache is easier.  I continue to ponder what the answers might be and who might be able to help me.

I'm aware that I seem to be more forgetful?  I write more things down... post-it notes are very useful!  I love the neon coloured ones!

I count myself fortunate...  My days are blessed.  My nights are peaceful - most of the time.  The more careful I am with my diet and exercize, the more peacefully I and my body live with each other.  

What is your opposition?  How can you go around, over, under or through this opposition?