That Which Is Good And Right And True
Stories
LECTIONARY TALES FOR THE PULPIT
Series III, Cycle A
Many, many people have tried to give a formula for the secret of happiness. Some give complex rules that have to be followed. Others declare a person is either lucky - or unlucky. Some give up and feebly give the Ten Commandments as the secret to happiness. Still others feel happiness is only attained by being rich, beautiful, or successful. Rarely do people give a list of things to look at in life to focus attention on the blessings one has.
Author Robin Silverman, in her acclaimed book The Ten Gifts, gives positive guidelines to bring peace about in a person's life. Her ways are not a complicated list of do's and don'ts; they are natural ways to bring about joy and harmony in a person's life. As a deeply religious person, Robin has found ways to focus on living in the light, as children of light. The fruit of light, then, is found in all that is good and right and true.
Following is a shortened version of her ten gifts:
1) The Gift Of Warning: Learn to listen to your common sense and your inner promptings. When something makes you fearful, get quiet and ask yourself, "What's better than this?" Follow the directions of your still, small voice within.
2) The Gift Of Refuge: When you're feeling joyless, find a place of refuge. This can be a physical place, or taking refuge in prayer, music, reading, and so on. Discover new joy by focusing on what is close to you in the present moment.
3) The Gift Of Love: Be fearless about asking for the help you want or need. Accept the good that others offer you, and be willing to respond unconditionally with your best.
4) The Gift Of Surrender: If life seems to be going against you, let go. Stop insisting that things have to be a certain way, and open to the wonder and awe of how wonderful they can be.
5) The Gift Of Simplicity: Eliminate, eliminate, eliminate. Get rid of clutter. Eat simpler foods. Plan fewer activities each day. Delegate. Give away everything you no longer need that you spend your time defending, insuring, maintaining, or managing.
6) The Gift Of Action: Begin anything that feels right to you. Make it a baby step, rather than a giant one, so you won't put off doing it. Just start.
7) The Gift Of Return: Instead of always worrying about what others think of you, get comfortable with who you are right now. Welcome yourself home. Do the same for others.
8) The Gift Of Commitment: Decide where and how you're going to spend your energy. Ask yourself: "Who do I want to BE?" Be that. Keep making the same choice over and over, no matter what others say. Commit to your values, your abilities, your nature, and your ideas.
9) The Gift Of Trust: Begin treating all of your relationships and encounters as holy. Assume that each one is meant as a gift or an opportunity for you to show your own light to the world.
10) The Gift Of Thanks: Count your blessings. Pray. Find the good around you and praise it.
"For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light - for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord."
For more information, write to:
Robin Silverman
Creativisions
P. O. Box 13135
Grand Forks, ND 58208--3135
Author Robin Silverman, in her acclaimed book The Ten Gifts, gives positive guidelines to bring peace about in a person's life. Her ways are not a complicated list of do's and don'ts; they are natural ways to bring about joy and harmony in a person's life. As a deeply religious person, Robin has found ways to focus on living in the light, as children of light. The fruit of light, then, is found in all that is good and right and true.
Following is a shortened version of her ten gifts:
1) The Gift Of Warning: Learn to listen to your common sense and your inner promptings. When something makes you fearful, get quiet and ask yourself, "What's better than this?" Follow the directions of your still, small voice within.
2) The Gift Of Refuge: When you're feeling joyless, find a place of refuge. This can be a physical place, or taking refuge in prayer, music, reading, and so on. Discover new joy by focusing on what is close to you in the present moment.
3) The Gift Of Love: Be fearless about asking for the help you want or need. Accept the good that others offer you, and be willing to respond unconditionally with your best.
4) The Gift Of Surrender: If life seems to be going against you, let go. Stop insisting that things have to be a certain way, and open to the wonder and awe of how wonderful they can be.
5) The Gift Of Simplicity: Eliminate, eliminate, eliminate. Get rid of clutter. Eat simpler foods. Plan fewer activities each day. Delegate. Give away everything you no longer need that you spend your time defending, insuring, maintaining, or managing.
6) The Gift Of Action: Begin anything that feels right to you. Make it a baby step, rather than a giant one, so you won't put off doing it. Just start.
7) The Gift Of Return: Instead of always worrying about what others think of you, get comfortable with who you are right now. Welcome yourself home. Do the same for others.
8) The Gift Of Commitment: Decide where and how you're going to spend your energy. Ask yourself: "Who do I want to BE?" Be that. Keep making the same choice over and over, no matter what others say. Commit to your values, your abilities, your nature, and your ideas.
9) The Gift Of Trust: Begin treating all of your relationships and encounters as holy. Assume that each one is meant as a gift or an opportunity for you to show your own light to the world.
10) The Gift Of Thanks: Count your blessings. Pray. Find the good around you and praise it.
"For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light - for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord."
For more information, write to:
Robin Silverman
Creativisions
P. O. Box 13135
Grand Forks, ND 58208--3135
