Life is a Gift

"Life is a gift. Live every day as a thank you note."

Quote from Joanie in Long Beach, read by Oprah on A NEW EARTH series webcast April 28, 2008

Absolute Knowing

Grace is knowing you'll be all right no matter what.

Way to Live

"Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live."

Jackie Windspear

Conversations of a Sea Gull

While doing errands I stopped at a fast food place for a quick lunch. I drove to a far corner of the parking lot to listen to a book on CD while eating in the car. No sooner had I parked than a sea gull landed about four feet from my car and began to have a staring contest with me. No words were exchanged, but I supposed it was expecting a tidbit of food. I threw a piece of lettuce out the window, but the wind prevented it from landing very far from the car.

The gull looked longingly toward the lettuce and even made a motion as if to come closer, but thought better of it. Soon the gull began screeching its eerie sea gull call, and another gull came swooping in. I thought, "How nice. He's telling is friends about the free lunch," but I was wrong. I think he was saying, "All you other gulls out there. Stay away, this car is mine," because he chased the interloper away.

I threw out another piece of lettuce, and the scene was repeated. My gull friend continued to call out intermittently, and several times another gull flew down, only to be chased away. He was never brave enough to come close enough to pick up the lettuce, but kept a vigilant watch. When I drove away, the gull quickly grabbed the lettuce, then I watched him find himself another car with a lunching passenger.

What does this have to do with grace? My CD story was long forgotten in the saga of the panhandling sea gull. Nature's grace provided me with the best story I could have imagined.

Detachment

"Detachment does not feel apathetic or sad. True detachment feels like grace. It feels like wow, I've just been blessed."

Anisa Aven

Grace Is Hiding

"Behind every form of suffering, there is grace hiding, concealed. It does not reveal itself until you surrender."

Eckhart Tolle

Mother's Blessing

Mother's blessing is probably not what you would think. At nearly ninety years old, my mother has lived through many fashion styles, and she has out-lived the need to put fashion above comfort. She said, with surprising emotion, "Sweatshirts are such a blessing! They keep me warmer than almost anything."