Lectures and Other Spiritual Contributions This area has contributions from members of the church. We are blessed with talented people in the congregation, and we wish to share their talents with you.
Passages by Rosemary Valentine
I saw passages; they were like stages of development, I stood at the entrance of one passage, I leaned forward, slowly; I went in. I saw the word integrity, it had been written all over the walls, I contemplated my honesty! My conduct! When I decided to change, Immediately, I was lifted and carried through the channel, To the entrance of another passage
I leaned forward and I looked in. The word responsibility had been written all over the ceiling I entered contemplating the recklessness of my actions!!! I looked at the walls, and like a movie; I saw all the people I had hurt And its ripple effect! I begged for forgiveness!!!!! And suddenly everything disappeared. A pinpoint of light was in the distance; I walked toward it and when I reached it, Once again, I was at the entrance of another passage
I saw exchange, bribery and greed! I heard bells ringing and cries from those who would not heed!!! I didn’t want to enter, but I had no options! I felt drained from all of the exchange, I reach for the wall to kept from falling and a tainted gift was placed in my hand I opened my hand and I let it go!
I lifted my head and saw the Tree of Life ahead, outside of the passage The leaves were crystal green! A light appeared and I began walking toward it, I would not look at anything but it!!!!!!!! Yes! I heard the bells ringing! The bribery, the exchange and the greed! I heard the cries from those who would not heed! But, I saw the light, And I would not look at anything but it!!! The heaven opened and the Angels began rejoicing, saying The lesson is being learned, the advancement toward the Higher Good!!!
I reached the end of the passage exhausted, I sat and the Angels came to comfort me I wanted to rest, but sparkles from the Tree of Life beckoned me to come! Slowly, I began to run and I stumbled!!!! My hands went straight out And I touched the Tree of Life, and a voice said, Well done my servant, well done!!
A female humpback whale had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth.
A fisherman spotted her just east of the Faralon Islands (outside the Golden Gate) and radioed for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her -- a very dangerous proposition. One slap of the tail could kill a rescuer. They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her.
When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, nudged them, and pushed gently, thanking them. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth says her eye was following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.
May you, and all those you love, be so fortunate... To be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you. And, may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude. I pass this on to you, my friend, in the same spirit.
Hugs
Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably... Never regret anything that made you smile
Contributed by Linda Coate from a true story off the web.
Beautifully Being You Always
If life is seen through the moon and the stars,
some things are so near, and some things are so far.
Our senses deceive us so that we would believe
that All that is around us is what we perceive.
All is the energy that drives the creation,
defining the boundaries without limitations.
All's source is unknown, but we need not fear,
For All is the Heavens, the Now, and the Here.
If life is seen through the eyes of our dreams,
We are surrounded by love and safe in All things.
Strive for serenity.Live life with love, peace and grace.
Let the moonlight and starlight fall on your face.
