BOOK OF VIRTUES

Today marks the completion of Week 1 of my Lenten journey. I am so happy that I have managed to keep on track with my goals - for once!! - but there are 3 longs weeks to go yet and the Devil is mighty busy this time of the year. The supermarket is a shrine of aromatic Easter eggs, but I'm like a horse and just keep looking straight ahead - away from the danger zone!

Today I will share some beautiful words with you from the Book of Virtues which resonate with me... Hope you enjoy as much as I do!

There are some who drift out in the deserts of doubt
And some who in brutishness wallow;
There are others, I know, who in piety go
Because of a Heaven to follow.
But to labour with zest, and to give of your best,
For the sweetness and joy of the giving
To help folks along, with a hand and a song
Why, there's the real sunshine of living.

Carry on! Carry on!
Fight the good fight and true
Believe in your mission, 
Greet life with a smile
There's big work to be done
and that is why you are here, so
Carry on! Carry on!
Let the world be the better for you
And at last when you die, let this be your cry
Carry on my soul! Carry on!

Love it!

Hugs and kisses,

Polly P xxx

FAITH IS FORGIVENESS

Fr. David delivered the homily at mass today. He is young, enthusiastic and everybody loves him. Prior to joining the priesthood, he worked in the hospitality industry, and also studied Philosophy, so he has a lot to say about the world we live in today. I consider him the Dr. Phil of the church - he would laugh if he heard me say that!

Today's topic was about forgiveness, and the importance of doing things for God which were beyond our comfort zone. Before we even tackle the big task of forgiveness, we must busy ourselves with lots of good deeds - even if we don't feel appreciated or acknowledged for our efforts - Do it anyway, because that is what God wants us to do.

Forgiveness, he acknowledged is not easy, especially when the person who hurt you made you feel so insignificant, and hurt you deeply. We must do it nonetheless. In doing so, we find grace and will have a sense of peace in our hearts, which is what God wants for all of us - Peace.

So, in the spirit of Peace and Reconciliation, I would like to share a little prayer about Healing and Forgiveness. I have given it to people and they have found it very helpful. May it bring comfort and peace to you.

                      HEALING PRAYER AT BEDTIME

Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit go back into my memory as I sleep.
Every hurt that has ever been done to me...heal that hurt.
Every hurt that I have ever caused to another person...heal that hurt.
All the relationships that have been damaged in my whole life that I am aware of
...heal those relationships.
But Lord, if I need to go to a person because he is still suffering from my hand,
bring to my awareness that person.
I choose to forgive, and I ask to be forgiven.
Remove whatever bitterness may be in my heart, Lord,
and fill the empty spaces with your love.

AMEN

Keep the above prayer by your bedside, it will help you have a peaceful night's sleep!

Hugs,

Polly P xxx

DAY 5 - GRADUAL GROWTH

I am dipping into the wisdom of that feisty woman of faith - Joyce Meyer. You should google her, and listen to her speak. I think you will enjoy her as much as I do.

I reached for Joyce's book today - Power Thoughts - Daily inspirations, as I felt I could do with some inspiration for winning the battle of the mind, as she so amusingly puts it! Life is a daily struggle requiring immense discipline to stay on track with all our demands - housework and home maintenance, car maintenance, bills, accounting, cooking, diet and exercise, animals, garden, groceries, career, family - the list is endless. There are so many demands and not enough time.

Prayer, sadly gets dropped to the end of the list because God does not make any demands, yet the day I start with a prayer, is frequently the best day, and I sleep a lot better when I end the day on a prayer. But I don't always do this. I should know better, so hopefully this Lenten journey will put some sense into me!

I feel guilty that I am not doing enough good in the world; that I should be doing more charity work, but Joyce Meyer re-assures me that God operates on the principle of "gradual growth" - things changing little by little. Rather than focusing on how far you will have to go, recognize instead how far you have come. Staying positive will help you in all areas of life.

Power Thought:  It is God's will for me to have peace and not confusion.

Hugs,

Polly P xxx

DAY 4 - BEDSIDE READING

Day 4 of Lent is upon us, and so far so fabulous! Going off sweets has been a breeze because they poisoned me with sugar over in Cuba, and it will take me weeks to get it all out of my system - just as well!!

Anyway, back to the holy part. I'm really getting into the Lenten groove this time (sure, I know I have the zeal of a convert!). I'm going to daily mass, saying a daily rosary, and the spiritual momentum is joyfully building up. I scoured all the nooks and crannies in the house where I put books I intend reading one day. I found some great soul searching gems, including:

Care of the Soul and Meditations by Thomas Moore

Power Thoughts - 365 Daily Inspirations for Winning the Battle of the Mind by Joyce Meyer

100 Days of Grace for Women - author unknown

Anam Cara by John O'Donohue and Benedictus, also by John O'Donohue

Everyday Grace and A Course in Miracles - both by Marianne Williamson

A Year of Spirituality by Ingrid Collins

The Power of the Heart by Baptist De Pape

Living in Gratitude by Angeles Arrien

The Rosary - The Prayer That Saved My Life by Immaculee Ilibagiza 

The above books I bought gradually over the past few years, and some were given to me as gifts. I really enjoy them because you can dip in and out of them with relative ease, and get great bang for your spiritual buck! I love the work of John O'Donohue and Marianne Williamson. These are books you can read over and over again, or simply waltz into as the spirit moves you. Just having these powerful books around me in my 'Sanctuary' helps me focus. 

So that's about the size of it for today! If you're joining me on this journey, let me know how you're doing!

Hugs,

Polly P xxx

GO INTO ALL FOUR ROOMS

I am currently reading 100 Ways to Keep Your Soul Alive by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat. It is a short little book, and ever so sweet. It's a perfect reading companion for the Lenten journey. I found it in a charity shop in Ireland. There are 100 suggestions in the book, and over the next 37 days or so, I will share some of my favourite with you.

One that got my attention was 'Go into all four rooms'.

There is an Indian proverb or axiom that says that everyone is a house with four rooms, a physical, a mental, an emotional, and a spiritual. Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time but, unless we go into every room every day, even if only to keep it aired, we are not a complete person.

I think the four rooms could apply to the four elements in astrology.

Physical -    Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn)  connecting with body.
Mental    -   Air signs     (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius)  connecting with mind.
Emotional - Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) connecting with emotions.
Spiritual    - Fire signs    (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius)  connecting with spirit.

On this, day 3 of our Lenten journey, assess the condition of your four rooms. Which one looks like you visit it regularly? Which needs airing out? Which one needs a little TLC?

Something to ponder...

Hugs,

Polly P xxx

DAY 2...WORRIES...LET GO LET GOD.

"Do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on."

                                                  Luke 12:22

                              Our mantra for today is 'LET GO LET GOD'

Lack of control is one of life's greatest stressors. By control, I mean worrying about other people and situations over which you have zero control. The only person you can control is yourself, though that's easier said than done. If we could only just control our thoughts, how easy life would be. As acclaimed writer James Joyce put it "we have too many thinks." Notice how many times I used the word 'control'? We want it SO badly. Let me tell you, friends -- Faith is the only thing that gives me a sense of control in my life. Because when life gets out of control, there is absolutely nothing you can do but 'LET GO LET GOD'.  

In his book The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle advises us to simply focus on the NOW: "As soon as you honour the present moment, all unhappiness and struggle dissolve, and life begins to flow with joy and ease." It is when you are in the state of 'nowness' as I like to call it, that you can properly connect with the Divine. The Divine needs a quiet mind for a proper connection.

On this the second day of your spiritual journey, spend a few moments observing the way your thoughts can meander in a menacing way. It could be that phone call you just received, or some bad news about a relative, or frustration with the collapse of your New Year's resolutions -- whatever! Thoughts are like fleas, there to bug you! Write down your 3 biggest concerns. Could the burden be a little lighter if you asked the Lord to help you carry it? Take a deep breath when you find the wiggly worries worming their way into your private territory without your permission! Just like friends, try and be a little bit more selective about the thoughts you invite into your private space.

You may wish to write in a journal during this time, and document how that tiny mustard seed of faith is beginning to grow...and grow...and grow. It takes time, and effort. But it's very much worth the effort.

Prayer has the power to move mountains, and many a mountain of worry it has moved! Faith has caused miracles to happen. The deeper you put yourself into the prayer moment, the greater your spiritual high will be. These 40 days will surprise you. Pray for inspiration, and help to develop your faith. As I say over and over and over again, "God is Good."

Prayer for Day 2:

'Lord I repent of all my worrying and fretting! I know that it blocks your Power.

Please help me to place all my trust in you. I leave these worries....(mention them here) in your care. I know you will do what is right. There is nothing that you nor I cannot handle together. Thank you for helping me place all my trust and cares in you'.

                                                     'LET GO LET GOD'

ASH WEDNESDAY...JOIN ME ON A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY...40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS

So yes, today is a very special day. It is the beginning of Lent. The Sun just moved into Pisces, and we have a new moon -- it's a great time to start a spiritual journey. Pisces, with its symbol of the fish, is regarded as the spiritual guru of the zodiac. I do know that I have never met a Pisces who did not believe in a greater power. For the most part, Piscean people are spiritually inclined, compassionate, and believe in the good of humanity.

So let's make today SPECIAL! Let's do something different. I really want to have a great Lent this year d.v. and I am inviting you to join me on the journey of 40 days and 40 nights. I am forever grateful for the year I gave up sugar in my tea -- that one stuck! But there are even greater treasures to be unearthed during our time in the "desert." Alone time to connect with our maker...

Day 1 TODAY:

Find the sunniest, happiest, most peaceful place in your home or garden.

Surround yourself with images that transport you: deceased loved ones, God, Our Lady, Angels -- anything that connects you to the Divine.

Light a candle and focus on the flame.

Close your eyes, and do some relaxation and breathing exercises.

Have some nice soft, angelic music playing in the background, or birds singing in the trees.

NOW...

BE SILENT

BE STILL

ALONE, EMPTY 

BEFORE YOUR GOD

SAY NOTHING

BE SILENT

BE STILL

LET YOUR GOD LOOK UPON YOU

THAT IS ALL

HE KNOWS

HE UNDERSTANDS

HE LOVES YOU WITH AN ENORMOUS LOVE

HE ONLY WANTS TO LOOK UPON YOU WITH HIS LOVE

Q U I E T...

BE STILL

LET YOUR GOD LOVE YOU...


After quiet contemplation and prayer. make a list of some ways you can show your gratitude to God during Lent. Try to practise a random act of kindness each day -- give alms to the poor, visit a shelter, etc. Maybe go off coffee or sweets, and the money spared could go to your charity of choice.

EnJOY Day 1 of the journey...

Love and Hugs,

Polly P xxx