OT: Religious so don't read if you don't believe.
I think this is interesting and wanted to share it. Jan
Cherokee Legend
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of Passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone.
He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it.
He cannot cry out for help to anyone.
Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.
He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.
The boy is naturally terrified.
He can hear all kinds of noises.
Wild beasts must surely be all around him.
Maybe even some human might do him harm
The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold.
It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him.
He had been a****ch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.
We, too, are never alone.
Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us.
When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.
If you liked this story, pass it on.
If not, you took off your blindfold before dawn.
Moral of the story:
Just because you can't see God,
Doesn't mean He is not there.
'For we walk by faith, not by sight.'
Cherokee Legend
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of Passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone.
He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it.
He cannot cry out for help to anyone.
Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.
He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.
The boy is naturally terrified.
He can hear all kinds of noises.
Wild beasts must surely be all around him.
Maybe even some human might do him harm
The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold.
It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him.
He had been a****ch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.
We, too, are never alone.
Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us.
When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.
If you liked this story, pass it on.
If not, you took off your blindfold before dawn.
Moral of the story:
Just because you can't see God,
Doesn't mean He is not there.
'For we walk by faith, not by sight.'
(deactivated member)
on 7/15/09 6:20 am - West Central FL☼RIDA , FL
on 7/15/09 6:20 am - West Central FL☼RIDA , FL
I love it.
Especially given what I've been coping with the last few weeks.
During the last 3 weeks I told myself every day.......if he brought me to it, he'll bring me through it......
I said a silent thank you yesterday and again this morning after getting the good results. :-)
Thanks for sharing and the reminder
Especially given what I've been coping with the last few weeks.
During the last 3 weeks I told myself every day.......if he brought me to it, he'll bring me through it......
I said a silent thank you yesterday and again this morning after getting the good results. :-)
Thanks for sharing and the reminder
Aloha Jani....I know I'm going to get into serious trouble here....but your post of "Religious so don't read if you don't believe" is incredibly biased!
Believe what? Believe only as you do? I have beliefs and they aren't religious...but they are very spiritual. I grew up in a household that forced upon me a dogma that I lived for a long time, and eventually I came to believe in a different way of thinking......loving life, and the beauty around me, but NOT affiliated with religion.
I LOVE to read about the beliefs of every different tribe, sect, organization.....and I also chose to teach my children that there are many ways of believing and to find what they thought made sense to them....not what was a family tradition.
Jani...I so hope you have a wonderful experience with your surgery...and forgive me if I've upset you.
Aloha nui loa,
Maui Karen
Believe what? Believe only as you do? I have beliefs and they aren't religious...but they are very spiritual. I grew up in a household that forced upon me a dogma that I lived for a long time, and eventually I came to believe in a different way of thinking......loving life, and the beauty around me, but NOT affiliated with religion.
I LOVE to read about the beliefs of every different tribe, sect, organization.....and I also chose to teach my children that there are many ways of believing and to find what they thought made sense to them....not what was a family tradition.
Jani...I so hope you have a wonderful experience with your surgery...and forgive me if I've upset you.
Aloha nui loa,
Maui Karen
I'm not upset at all. I believe that everyone is entitled to their own 'beliefs' whether it's God or whatever. It's just that I posted something religious once before and got slammed. I wanted to warn people that this was religious (at the end) and I didn't want anyone to be offended by my post. I guess I didn't succeed with my title. Sorry, didn't mean to offend. I just thought it was a really neat passage to read.
I think we're all protected. I was forced to be catholic when I was growing up. I have since switched my beliefs. Everyone is entitled to their opinions.
Tomorrow I begin my new life.
Jan
I think we're all protected. I was forced to be catholic when I was growing up. I have since switched my beliefs. Everyone is entitled to their opinions.
Tomorrow I begin my new life.
Jan
Aloha Jani.....I think on this forum "religion....or religious beliefs" is a hot topic. If you grew up being indoctrinated into a certain "religion" then I think you can understand that we all come to where we are in our beliefs because of how we were taught....and then later, when we had the freedom to learn more, we might have changed our "beliefs." I guess the words that bothered me were "don't read if you don't believe." Immediate reaction was WHAT? I don't avoid anything because it might not coincide with what I have come to believe. I think coming from a very primitive place. I try and have an open mind.......and have come to my place in life and what I believe through much research, education and sharing with friends/family and educators.
OK....you KNOW I rarely spout off.....but this is a sensitive subject with me. Having said that.......wipe the blackboard clean....and from the bottom of my heart, I hope your surgery goes smoothly and that you are happy dancing for us soon.
Aloha nui loa,
Maui Karen
OK....you KNOW I rarely spout off.....but this is a sensitive subject with me. Having said that.......wipe the blackboard clean....and from the bottom of my heart, I hope your surgery goes smoothly and that you are happy dancing for us soon.
Aloha nui loa,
Maui Karen
Jani,I think we know you meant no harm,it is damn hard not to offend someone.
I had a rule for awhile,and a good reason for this rule,I refused to discuss religion or politics with anyone. I still avoid it a lot.Of course,one can not grow that way either.
You are a kind person,and I am sorry someone slammed you,as Margo said we need to play nicely,I am guilty of not always playing nicely to my shame,but I do try.
I am so excited for you!!
I had a rule for awhile,and a good reason for this rule,I refused to discuss religion or politics with anyone. I still avoid it a lot.Of course,one can not grow that way either.
You are a kind person,and I am sorry someone slammed you,as Margo said we need to play nicely,I am guilty of not always playing nicely to my shame,but I do try.
I am so excited for you!!
WHAT WE FEAR,WE CREATE.
Karen,you are so beautiful. I too love hearing about the beliefs of others, yet,I am not religious,but spiritual,I do not say this often,as many do not understand.
My Olivia is raising the grands as you raised your kids,and it is a wonder to behold. They are not shackled with traditionalism.
Grandma has Buddha,rosaries,candles,a beautiful Star of David,and other things in her home,because they are puristic positive vibe things for me...hopefully I do not offend anyone. My dad's mom was Voodooin.
AJ,my oldest grand has read up on Buddhism,starting with a book he found in my home. He tends toward that and Hinduism so far,but no labels,just what I see. I guess my basic belief is "do no harm",sigh something I strive for,but fall short of.
My Olivia is raising the grands as you raised your kids,and it is a wonder to behold. They are not shackled with traditionalism.
Grandma has Buddha,rosaries,candles,a beautiful Star of David,and other things in her home,because they are puristic positive vibe things for me...hopefully I do not offend anyone. My dad's mom was Voodooin.
AJ,my oldest grand has read up on Buddhism,starting with a book he found in my home. He tends toward that and Hinduism so far,but no labels,just what I see. I guess my basic belief is "do no harm",sigh something I strive for,but fall short of.
WHAT WE FEAR,WE CREATE.
Karen and everyone,I did receive a back lash because of my posting here yesterday.
Number 1-my grandma was not a witch,I suppose the closest to definition today would be Pagan. Voo Doo in it's purest form, not the Hollywood version, has nothing to do with evil. My grandma made tonics,honored goodness,and had great respect for the earth,perhaps it is also like feminism,as it gives the power where it belongs,to the woman,(no offense meant).
Number 2- I have symbols of various religions,because I consider it a part of good energy,which I like to have surround me, I also have crystals (gasp),LOL.
I am not a part of any organized religion,because I believe it has been used to support political agendas,squash individuality.promote segregation,and to rationalize loss of civilizations and lives.
3- I respect any,and all forms of religions,I can not believe one has the upper hand on all others,therefore all others are going to "hell",I do not even want to share my beliefs about hell,Dante comes to mind,and I do want to stay away from Pandora's box,LOL.
4- I think the symbols that represent various beliefs are beautiful.
5- I surround myself,and respect any beliefs that are benevolent.
When I was in Hawaii,and we walked up to see the inactive volcanoes,I was touched by the offerings,the people whose beliefs have not changed for ages.
I sometimes wonder if the redemption,therefore salvation, lies in the "act" of believing.
Anyway,enough of this,I like anyone else,have a right to my own beliefs,or lack of beliefs.
Any,way,may the force be with all of you.I live in the gray,if others find their security in the black or the white of any separative religion,I salute you,I am fortunate that the Christian friends I have do not think like this,they do believe in love.
"I do not agree with what you say,but I will fight to the death your right to say it," (All credit do to the gentleman who said this it is not my quote and is not verbatim).
It is the spirit of the goodness of man,the idealism of believing in a higher power,that has me engulfed in personal belief.
Thank you for listening,I can not apologize for my spiritual beliefs,no more than anyone else need to for theirs.
I am sorry if I rambled on,but I was taken aback by my personal messages,now I can smile again,and none of them were mean,if I take them in the spirit in witch it was given ...it was more like "Linda,you don't want people think __________",fill in the blank,smile.
I am sorry if I offended anyone.I care about the people on OFF,because despite our differences,the caring always shines through. I care,but that does not sway me from my personal convictions,the same is true for my OFF family,I am sure. In my case it may add up to not being able to teach a old dog new tricks,LOL. I have worked a lifetime developing my own belief system. I love having discussions here,we learn a lot more about who people are. I always think of you, Karen with your beautiful walking stick,and also when you had said I had lost the weight that was your goal weight. On my bad days,as I look at the flabby skin,I am able to have a attitude of gratitude,I am able to look past the physical,because of OFF,and my collage of wonderful people who are in it.I sometimes think of OFF as a patch blanket,I remember grandma cutting and fitting cloth to sew into this beautiful blanket,that brings comfort and security to me.
Thank you so much.
Number 1-my grandma was not a witch,I suppose the closest to definition today would be Pagan. Voo Doo in it's purest form, not the Hollywood version, has nothing to do with evil. My grandma made tonics,honored goodness,and had great respect for the earth,perhaps it is also like feminism,as it gives the power where it belongs,to the woman,(no offense meant).
Number 2- I have symbols of various religions,because I consider it a part of good energy,which I like to have surround me, I also have crystals (gasp),LOL.
I am not a part of any organized religion,because I believe it has been used to support political agendas,squash individuality.promote segregation,and to rationalize loss of civilizations and lives.
3- I respect any,and all forms of religions,I can not believe one has the upper hand on all others,therefore all others are going to "hell",I do not even want to share my beliefs about hell,Dante comes to mind,and I do want to stay away from Pandora's box,LOL.
4- I think the symbols that represent various beliefs are beautiful.
5- I surround myself,and respect any beliefs that are benevolent.
When I was in Hawaii,and we walked up to see the inactive volcanoes,I was touched by the offerings,the people whose beliefs have not changed for ages.
I sometimes wonder if the redemption,therefore salvation, lies in the "act" of believing.
Anyway,enough of this,I like anyone else,have a right to my own beliefs,or lack of beliefs.
Any,way,may the force be with all of you.I live in the gray,if others find their security in the black or the white of any separative religion,I salute you,I am fortunate that the Christian friends I have do not think like this,they do believe in love.
"I do not agree with what you say,but I will fight to the death your right to say it," (All credit do to the gentleman who said this it is not my quote and is not verbatim).
It is the spirit of the goodness of man,the idealism of believing in a higher power,that has me engulfed in personal belief.
Thank you for listening,I can not apologize for my spiritual beliefs,no more than anyone else need to for theirs.
I am sorry if I rambled on,but I was taken aback by my personal messages,now I can smile again,and none of them were mean,if I take them in the spirit in witch it was given ...it was more like "Linda,you don't want people think __________",fill in the blank,smile.
I am sorry if I offended anyone.I care about the people on OFF,because despite our differences,the caring always shines through. I care,but that does not sway me from my personal convictions,the same is true for my OFF family,I am sure. In my case it may add up to not being able to teach a old dog new tricks,LOL. I have worked a lifetime developing my own belief system. I love having discussions here,we learn a lot more about who people are. I always think of you, Karen with your beautiful walking stick,and also when you had said I had lost the weight that was your goal weight. On my bad days,as I look at the flabby skin,I am able to have a attitude of gratitude,I am able to look past the physical,because of OFF,and my collage of wonderful people who are in it.I sometimes think of OFF as a patch blanket,I remember grandma cutting and fitting cloth to sew into this beautiful blanket,that brings comfort and security to me.
Thank you so much.
WHAT WE FEAR,WE CREATE.
got2gethealthy
on 7/15/09 8:44 am - orange, CA
on 7/15/09 8:44 am - orange, CA
thanks jeni I needed to read this today..Some times I feel very alone..truely loved it..sue
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