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A MESSAGE FROM DEIRDRE
"Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year."
-- Robert Frost
Hi Dear Friends,
For us here in the Northeastern US it is looking like Spring. Yet, as is typical in New England, I see out the window while I'm writing this that it is now snowing! Who knows!
But, most importantly, our thoughts naturally go to this special time of year when many of us turn to celebrating our own very personal beliefs.
Passover begins at the First Seder on the night of Wednesday, April 12th and will last for eight days. The Easter season began with Ash Wednesday on March 1st, but most think of preparations for Easter once Palm Sunday arrives today, April 9th. Good Friday falls on April 14th this year, and Easter Sunday will be celebrated on April 16th.
For me, personally, this time of year brings a time of reflection. It is a difficult time of year, yet, in reliving some sad days at this time, it very often re-lights the fire in my soul, presenting me with a way to process a renewal of Spirit. During this time of reminiscing, I am reminded of the many lessons that I have learned from the little miracles I have experienced throughout my life.
In particular, I would like to share one with you. It happened on a different holiday than Easter, but the overall message is universal.
It was New Year’s Eve in the mid 1970’s. I remember feeling frustrated because we had been asked to spend it with friends we hardly knew. Meanwhile, a great party was just beginning at my parent’s home. We decided to stop in to see our friends first, and then go on to Mum and Dad’s to arrive before midnight.
The children were bathed and in their pajamas, the babysitter had arrived and I was in my usual fluster, trying to get ready on time. Finally ready, I went through my usual ministrations with the babysitter, showing her my new list of emergency numbers, together with the information as to where we would be every second of every minute (no cell phones then), kissed and hugged the kids and with a, "Be good!" remonstration, started for the front door. My husband had been sitting in the car for five minutes already. Suddenly, I was struck with the fact that I needed to show the babysitter where the fire extinguisher was. I had to search for a minute, finally found it and, as I handed it to her, said, "I don’t know why I need to give you this, but here it is." Followed by, "One should always know where the fire extinguisher is." Whether I was qualifying this action just to allay her fears or mine, I didn’t know at that time. I left with a quick glance back at the babysitter, noticing her quizzical look, and thought I hope I didn’t scare her. Why the dickens did I do that? I really didn’t know why I had done it – it was just one of those momentary flashes that we all get now and again, and mostly never react. But this time, I did -- for once. We drove off, heading for a party that we were not in the mood for. Where we were actually heading, I’ve forgotten now. All I was concerned about was eventually arriving at my parent’s home. Neither of us were really in a celebratory mood and we didn’t speak for five miles or so. That is until, I noticed smoke pouring out of the hood and said, "Uh, do you see that?" "Mmmmm, yes," was his answer. "Well?" I asked. "Hmmmmm." That was all I needed. "I think we’d better turn around and go back home," I barked. He did. As we pulled into our road and slowed at the front of the house, flames were pouring out of the hood. He didn’t have time to put on the brakes before I was running to the front door. Before I could scream, "Fire extinguisher!" to the babysitter, she met me at the door with it. I don’t really remember what happened after that. I know we were able to put out the fire before the car exploded, but it was destroyed, nevertheless. I think we finally realized we needed to stay home that New Year’s Eve!
Have you ever had a flash of intuition? I bet all of you have at one point or another. It doesn't take someone special to possess a sixth sense. We all have it. But many of us don't listen to those nagging thoughts that we simply push away as either imagination or unimportant. Experience has told me many times over that it is important to listen!
So, when you get that next tap on the shoulder, remember to listen. It could be the most important time you ever did!
May each and every one of you experience a renewal of Spirit during this sacred season and I send my wishes for a blessed Passover and Easter to you all!
Light and love,
Deirdre
See more of Deirdre's Writing - Especially her thoughts on the correlation between Easter and Passover.
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FEATURE ARTICLE
"Passover affirms the great truth that liberty is the inalienable right of every human being. " -- Morris Joseph
Sharing Passover with Guests of Any Religion by Danielle Stillman
On Passover, we don't merely retell the story of the escape of the Israelite slaves from Egypt -- we also attempt to re-experience it. During the seder (ritual meal) we re-enact the story through ritual actions during the meal. We eat matzah (unleavened bread) to experience the haste with which the Jews fled from Egypt -- with no time to even let the bread rise. We dip parsley into salt water to taste the salty tears the Jews shed at the pain of their slavery. We eat haroset (a mixture of fruit and nuts which resembles mortar for building) and horseradish to experience how difficult, heavy and bitter the work and life of a slave was. We even recline on pillows at the table, in the manner of free Greek men, to remind ourselves that now, today, we are free. Throughout all this symbolic eating, we are recounting the story of Passover in a way that gets us involved. The goal is for all participants in the seder to try to feel as if they themselves had gone out of Egypt -- and had crossed the sea from slavery to freedom.
Many other religions have some ritual, holiday, or occasion where sacred stories are more than shared and repeated, but re-enacted in a ritual sense.
In Hinduism, the sacred story of the Ramayana -- of Sita's kidnapping by the demon Ravana and of Rama and Hanuman saving her from him -- is retold and reenacted in many forms, from shadow puppets to televised performances. Each of these re-tellings is taken seriously as a religious event -- garlands of flowers adorn a television when the Ramayana story is performed on it.
In Islam, part of the ritual of the Hajj -- the great pilgrimage to Mecca which each Muslim strives to complete once in their lives -- is to relive the story of Hagar and Ishmael (a story that is shared by Jews in the Hebrew Bible and Muslims in the Koran). Hagar is cast out into the desert by Sarah and Abraham, and must search for water for her son Ishmael. The pilgrim to Mecca reenacts this story by running back and forth between two hills near the Ka'ba (the central point of the pilgrimage) to empathize with Hagar's desperate search for water. The water that is in the courtyard of the Ka'ba, the Well of Zamzam, represents the well that God reveals to Hagar in the desert when she needs it.
Christianity has the Passion play -- the re-enactment of the story of Jesus' life and death. There is also the walking of the Stations of the Cross in Jerusalem, an attempt to relive the last days of Jesus' life before his crucifixion.
In some schools of Buddhism there are meditations where one visualizes oneself as a certain deity in order to better understand the primary emotion that the deity represents.
As we celebrate Passover with our friends and loved ones who are not Jewish, we can invite our seder guests to bring readings from their own traditions on the themes of freedom and enslavement -- whether physical or mental. We can also ask them (and all seder participants) to reflect on what enslaves them in their own lives, and what gives them a feeling of freedom -- to help them understand the themes of Passover on a more metaphorical level. And we can have our guests share their own religions' story-telling traditions, and the rituals that may have grown out of them.
Happy Passover and happy sharing [of] this experience with your friends and loved ones of all religions.
At the writing of this article, it states that "Danielle Stillman is a rabbinical student at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and the rabbinic intern at Faithways: Interfaith Family Support Network at Jewish Family and Children's Services of Greater Philadelphia. She has a Master's in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School, where she studied South Asian religions, with a particular focus on pilgrimage traditions."
Source: Interfaithfamily.com
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INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS
"Easter is the demonstration of God that life is essentially spiritual and timeless." -- Charles M. Crowe Inspirational Thoughts: Brought to you from various resources around the Globe. We embrace all religions at SpiritLight at Home and will endeavor to bring to you inspirational stories that can be applied to your own beliefs.
Learning Faith from Doubting Thomas by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
Thomas is a late bloomer, I guess. A commercial fisherman, he grew up around the Sea of Galilee. Jesus comes to Capernaum, calls him, and he follows. For three years Thomas follows.
Thomas's Pessimism and Courage
But Thomas is a pessimist. Some people rejoice to see a glass half full, but Thomas sees it half empty. Oh, he's full courage, but also possesses a streak of fatalism. Once, when Jesus and his disciples hear about their friend Lazarus's death near Jerusalem, the center of Jesus' opposition, Thomas comments darkly, "Yes, let's go there that we might die with him." His words are almost prophetic.
Soon, his world falls apart. Thomas sees his Master arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and he flees for his life. On Good Friday he watches at a distance as they spike his Friend to a cross on the Roman killing grounds of Golgotha. As Jesus' life drains away, so does Thomas's hope.
Shock and Disbelief
On Saturday he is in shock. On Sunday he is so disillusioned that he doesn't gather with his fellow disciples for an evening meal. Thomas is dazed, hurt, bitter -- and lashing out. Monday morning, the disciples go looking for Thomas and tell him what has happened in his absence.
"Thomas, we were in that upper room where we'd been meeting. We lock the doors for protection. Yet, all of a sudden, Jesus appears. 'Peace, Shalom,' he says. Then he shows us his hands. There are jagged holes where the nails had been. He pulls back his tunic and shows us where the spear penetrated his chest. But he isn't weak or sick or dying. He is alive, raised from the dead!"
Afraid to Believe
"I don't believe it," barks Thomas. "I don't believe a word of it. You're seeing what you want to see. Jesus is dead. I saw him die, and part of me died with him. But he's dead, and the sooner you accept that fact, the better off you'll be. Give it up!"
Peter pleads with him. "Thomas, I saw him myself, I tell you, and he was as real as you are!"
Thomas is cold, with an edge in his voice that cuts like ice. "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
But Thomas's anger cools, and by the next Sunday evening he is eating with his fellow disciples in the same locked room. Suddenly, Jesus stands among them once again and speaks -- "Shalom, peace be with you."
All the blood drains from Thomas' face. Jesus turns to him and speaks plainly, without any hint of rancor or sarcasm, "Put your finger here, see my hands." Jesus holds out his scarred hands for him to examine. Thomas recoils. Not out of fear, really, but from a mixture of amazement and revulsion.
Jesus begins to open his outer garment and says, "Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
My Lord and My God
Thomas is weeping now and then begins to sob out loud. Jesus reaches out and puts a hand on his shoulder. Then Thomas slips to his knees and says in awe, "My Lord and my God!"
Thomas, "Doubting Thomas," as he is sometimes called, is the first disciple to put into words the truth that Jesus is both Lord and God. "Doubting Thomas" utters the greatest confession of faith recorded anywhere in the Bible.
Jesus replies, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Preacher in the East
What happens to him? Doubting Thomas does not stay a doubter. When he sees the risen Jesus, all that Jesus has taught over the years now clicks in, and to his death Thomas is an outspoken advocate for his Lord.
Church tradition tells us that he preaches in ancient Babylon, near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, where Iraq is today. He travels to Persia, present-day Iran, and continues to win disciples to the Christian faith.
Then he sails south to Malabar on the west coast of India in 52 AD. He preaches, establishes churches, and wins to Christ high caste Brahmins, as well as others. When the Portuguese land in India in the early 1600s, they find a group of Christians there -- the Mar Thoma Church established through Thomas' preaching a millennium and a half before.
Finally, Thomas travels to the east coast of India, preaching relentlessly. He is killed near Mylapore about 72 AD, near present-day Madras. Tradition tells us that he is thrown into a pit, then pierced through with a spear thrown by a Brahmin.
He who had so fervently proclaimed his unbelief carried the Christian message of love and forgiveness to the ends of the earth in his generation.
The Doubter Speaks Today
Thomas would speak to doubters today, to those of us who have seen our hopes and dreams destroyed. Doubting Thomas would tell his story of how Jesus' life had intercepted his own. He would tell us of his fears and his doubts. And then, with a radiant, joyful face, St. Thomas, Apostle to India, would recount his joy at seeing and knowing the risen Jesus himself. "My Lord and my God!" he would say. "My Lord and my God!"
Dr. Ralph F. Wilson is the Director of Joyful Heart Renewal Ministries, and writes nearly all the material on his various websites.
Detail of image: "The Incredulity of Saint Thomas" (1601-02) by Italian artist Caravaggio (1573-1610).
Click for full painting: http://www.joyfulheart.com/caa-images/st_thomas_caravagio_756x548.jpg
Source: Joyfulheart.com - Renewal Ministries
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HOW TO DECORATE EASTER EGGS THE NATURAL WAY
"I think of the garden after the rain; And hope to my heart comes singing, 'At morn the cherry-blooms will be white, And the Easter bells be ringing!'" -- Edna Dean Procter
Art for Children by Traute Klein, biogardener
Try something new. Using natural ingredients, color the eggs which you are going to eat for Easter breakfast. Here are detailed directions on how to prepare them. Color Naturally
As a child, I remember reading the book "Heidi" by Johanna Spyri. It was written in German, but it has been translated into many languages. You may not have read the book, but maybe you have seen the movie with Shirley Temple playing Heidi. [Editor's Note: This was my favorite book when I was a child and from which I took my own daughter's name!] One of the characters in the book is an artistic goat shepherd boy who paints the wildflowers of his alpine home with colors which he extracts from plants. The local school teacher buys the boy some real watercolors, and eventually, he gets to earn money painting wildflowers to illustrate a book on native flowers. Back to NatureHave you ever tried to use the colors which are found in the leaves and flowers around you? My first experience with natural colors could be seen in my clothes which got stained with the colors of the flowers which I used to pick, and I noticed early in life that they were not the same colors as the flowers had been. My mother was not too happy about the dyes on my clothes, but my family has a perfect method to get rid of flower, fruit, and vegetable stains. You pour boiling water over the stain. No soap, no soaking, no rubbing--just boiling water poured directly from a hot water kettle, and the stain disappears completely.
Easter Eggs Naturally
Easter is a good time to experiment with natural colors by using them on the eggs which we are going to eat for Easter breakfast. That way, we can be sure that no one will swallow poisonous dyes, because even food dyes are bad for your health. Some of them cause people to become hyperactive.
The eggs can be boiled in water to which natural ingredients are added. Let me describe to you the method of boiling eggs which produces the best-tasting eggs:
Place the eggs into a pot with cold water, making sure that the water covers the eggs.
Add one teaspoon of vinegar to help the dyes to adhere to the shell.
Add the natural dye from the ones listed below.
Put the lid on the pot.
Bring the water to a light boil and turn the element off immediately.
Leave the eggs in the water for a minimum of 3 minutes. The longer you leave them in, the harder they get and the darker the color.
Fish the eggs out with a slotted spoon, one at a time, and dunk them in cold water. That temperature shock separates the egg from the shell and makes it easy to peel.
Source of the dyes:
Here are some of the ingredients which you can add to the water to give you the natural colors for the eggs:
Onion peels for beige
Red beets, cranberries, or raspberries for pink
Orange peel for orange
Lemon peel or carrot tops for yellow
Spinach for green
Blueberries or red cabbage for blue
Coffee or tea for brown
Back in History
Our ancestors dyed sheep's wool this way, by boiling it like we are boiling our Easter eggs. I have a friend who still dyes sheep's wool this way, and the colors are beautifully soft, just as soft as the sheep's wool.
For Bio on the Author, see: http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/biogardener
Source: A Great Site for Writers - Suite 101
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HUMOR OF THE DAY
"We didn't have the money for a Passover seder when I was a kid, so our family would show up at relatives' homes unannounced. We were seder crashers." -- Jerry Stiller
I just couldn't resist this one. Thanks Su!
3 Old Ladies from Florida
Three elderly ladies are excited about seeing their first baseball game...
They smuggle a bottle of Jack Daniels into the ball park.
The game is real exciting and they are enjoying themselves immensely...mixing the Jack Daniel's with soft drinks.
Soon they realize that the bottle is almost gone and the game has a lot of innings to go.
Based on the given information, what inning is it and how many players are on base?
Think!
Think some more!!
You're gonna love it.
Answer:
It's the bottom of the fifth
And the bags are loaded!
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SUBSCRIBERS' SITES
Many of our subscribers have fascinating web sites. Please let us know about yours so that we might mention it in this section. Write to: deirdre@spiritlighthome.com
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God Bless You All. Happy Easter and a Blessed Passover.
SpiritLight at Home
SpiritLight Works, LLC
860-464-4037
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| Quotes from Church Bulletins
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"There's nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with CHOCOLATE."
-- Linda Grayson
Quotes from church bulletins:
1. The Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
2. Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.
3. The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday morning.
4. Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
5. The pastor will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing, "Break Forth Into Joy."
6. A songfest was hell at the Methodist church Wednesday.
7. Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community.
8. The eighth graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The Congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
9. Thursday night Potluck Supper. Prayer and medication to follow.
10. The rosebud on the altar this morning is to announce the birth of David, the sin of Rev. and Mrs. Adams.
11. Tuesday at 4 PM there will be an ice cream social. All ladies giving milk will please come early.
12. A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
13. At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.
14. Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
15. Mrs. Johnson will be entering the hospital this week for testes.
16. Please join us as we show our support for Amy and Alan who are preparing for the girth of their first child.
17. The Lutheran Men's group will meet at 6 PM. Steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, bread and dessert will be served for a nominal feel.
18. The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours."
19. Our next song is "Angels We Have Heard Get High."
20. Don't let worry kill you, let the church help.
21. For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
22. This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.
23. The service will close with Little Drops of Water. One of the ladies will start quietly and the rest of the congregation will join in.
24. Eight new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
25. The senior choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir.
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| The New Medicine
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| Every year, more and more American doctors and nurses begin to embrace the idea that effective medical care comes from a balance of Eastern and Western treatment plans. This cool PBS program, entitled "The New Medicine", explores this burgeoning movement taking place in hospitals around the U.S.
"The New Medicine" website is an informative journey into the close connection between Mind, Body and Spirit. Check out the site's cool features, which include a "Health Planner", a timeline that shows the
history of integrative medicine, and insights into the highlights of the original program.
The New Medicine Organization
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| The Flash Mind Reader
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| Check out the Flash Mind Reader, a site designed by Andy Naughton that tells you what number are thinking of. I tested it out. When I didn't concentrate, it was wrong. When I did, it was right. Very weird yet very cool. I can't imagine how Andy does it. You try!
The Flash Mind Reader
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| Laser Monks
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Why support corporations when you can support philanthropic monks? LaserMonks.Com was created by a group of Cistercian Monks who sell a range of products at a reduced cost, and then use the proceeds to help others.
Laser Monks
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| Cool Tricks & Trinklets Newsletter
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Enjoy these last three websites? They come recommended by Charles Kessler in his great newsletter. It's free! Subscribe by sending an email to the link below.
Cool Tricks & Trinklets Newsletter
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